USA > New York > Ontario County > History of Ontario county, New York : with illustrations and family sketches of some of the prominent men and families > Part 10
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The present court-house of the county was begun in the early part of 1857, the corner-stone being laid with Masonic ceremonies and great formality on the 4th July of that year. However, it must be said that the people of the county seat and vicinity were somewhat divided in sentiment regarding the erection of the new building; not that there was much serious dispute concerning the necessity of a new and hand- some structure, but rather as to its exact location and the direction it should front. In fact three sites were considered, and of them, the old square, was finally chosen. The building, which has a base measure- ment of 76x96 feet, was erected by Canandaigua and Geneva contract ors, and cost $46,000, a large portion of which was borne by the United States government. The court-house is surmounted by a large dome,
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ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
on which is a statue twelve feet in height, and the general outside ap- pearance of the structure is not greatly dissimilar to the court-house in Rochester, and is quite like that of Broome county in Binghamton. The lower floor of the Ontario county court-house is arranged for county offices and post-office, while the upper or second story has court-rooms for both United States and county courts. The building was completed and opened for use early in January, 1859.
The first Ontario county jail was originally built as a block-house to be used in case an attack should be made upon the village by the In- dians. The use of this structure as a place of confinement was of a later date. In 1813 the supervisors adopted measures for the erection of a more suitable jail building, and, under the direction of commis- sioners John Price, Rogers Sprague and Septimus Evans, a jail was built. At one time, also, in the early history of the county, a hotel, sheriff's residence and jail were built, the lower part being used as a place of residence and hotel, while the second story was arranged for confining prisoners. This building, which stood on the Webster Hotel site, is said to have been first used about 1816. The present Ontario county jail was built at a somewhat later date, and was, at the time of its erection, considered a very substantial structure. Its appointments were complete and somewhat elaborate. It still stands and is in use, but the ravages of time are becoming apparent, and the building must soon give way to one of greater security.
Upon the erection and organization of Ontario county, its vast terri- tory was but little developed and settled. Previous to that time there appears to have been little government in the region, except the general authority exercised by the State. In fact there was no need of officers or law, for the few settlers of the region were inspired by other desires than those of lawlessness or violence. The town of Whites- town, a subdivision of Montgomery county, was formed in March, 1788, and included within its boundaries an indefinite area of territory to the westward; so that previous to the formation of districts and towns in Ontario county, whatever jurisdiction was necessary to be exercised over the region was as a part of the town named. However, during the next year, this county was created, and separated in its territory from the mother county-Montgomery-and its townships
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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
organized into provisional districts, having limited jurisdiction, but in the nature of town organizations as at present constituted. This was done for the convenience of the scattered settlements of the county ; but, unfortunately, there appears to be no records of the old districts of Ontario county, neither is it known the full extent of those that were formed. These districts were Canandaigua, Tolland, Sodus, Seneca, Jerusalem, Painted Post and Geneseo, each of which held their first town meeting on April 5, 1791. The original towns of Ontario county (within the county's present boundaries) were Bristol, Canan- daigua, Bloomfield, Farmington, Gorham, Middletown (Naples), Seneca and Phelps and were formed under the erecting act of 1789.
The first reduction in area of Ontario county was made on the 18th of March, 1796, when Steuben county was created out of its territory, the north boundary of the new formation being the south lines of Milo, Jerusalem, and that same line continued east and west, and the west boundary was the west line of the seventh range of townships on the Phelps and Gorham tract. At the time of its erection Steuben county had not to exceed 1,500 population.
The next surrender of land which Ontario county was called upon to make was on the 30th of March, 1802, when an act of the Legislature created Genesee county, by taking all that part of old Ontario which lay west of the Genesee River and a line running due south from the junction of the river and Canaseraga Creek. The formation of Genesee county took from the mother county at least half its original territory, and still the people of the old region seem to have submitted uncom- plainingly to the reduction. However, in 1805 another scheme was set on foot looking to still another division of Ontario, and against the proposed measure the inhabitants of Canandaigua and adjoining towns did earnestly protest; and the result was that the bill to divide the county was defeated. At that time the county contained 4, 150 taxable inhabitants, and its boundaries were the lake on the north; the Genesee on the west; the new pre-emption line on the east; and a continuation of the south lines of Milo and Jerusalem on the south.
After the erection of Genesee county there was no further division of what was then left to old Ontario until the formation of Livingston and Monroe counties, both of which were created February 23, 1821.
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ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
However, from 1805 until the division of the county was again accom- plished, there was a constant agitation of the subject, and the discussion engendered considerable feeling throughout the region. During these years the development of the country and its consequent increase in population were almost marvelous, and as fine villages were constantly being built up, the more progressive of them were each naturally desir- ous of becoming the shire town of a county. It is claimed, and with much show of reason, that the then villages of Rochester, Palmyra, Avon, Geneva and Penn Yan had aspirations in this direction ; and subsequent events showed that some of them succeeded in gaining the desired prominence.
As has been stated, Livingston and Monroe counties were created February 23, 1821, each taking lands from Ontario and Genesee coun- ties. The next formation which took further from the territory of Ontario was Yates county created February 5, 1823, followed on the IIth of April of the same year by the erection of Wayne county, the latter taking lands from Ontario and Seneca counties.
Briefly recapitulating events, Ontario was created January 27, 1789, including within its boundaries all that part of the State lying west of the pre emption line. Out of this vast territory there has been erected and at present exists fourteen counties, the names of which, with the date of the erection of each, are as follows : Steuben, March 18, 1796, taken wholly from Ontario; Genesee, March 30, 1802, taken wholly from Ontario; Allegany, April 7, 1806, taken from Genesee ; Cattarau- gus, Niagara and Chautauqua, March 11, 1808, taken from Genesee; Livingston and Monroe, February 23, 1821, taken from Genesee and Ontario; Erie, April 2, 1821, taken from Niagara ; Yates, February 5, 1823, taken from Ontario; Wayne, April 11, 1823, taken from Ontario and Seneca; Orleans, November 12, 1824, taken from Genesee ; Wyoming, May 14, 1841, taken from Genesee ; and Schuyler, April 17, 1854, taken from Chemung, Steuben and Tompkins counties. From this, and what has already been narrated in preceding chapters, we discover that Ontario county originally contained about 6,600,000 acres, or more than 10,300 square miles of land, and that by the re- duction of its territory, taken for the creation of other counties, it con- tains at present 409,600 acres, or 640 square miles of land.
15
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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
Ontario county, as at present constituted, contains sixteen towns, and in the present connection we may note briefly concerning them, but refer the reader, for detailed information, to the several chapters relat- ing especially to town history.
Bristol was formed January 27, 1789, and was named from Bristol county, Mass. In 1838 South Bristol was taken off and a part was an- nexed to Richmond in 1848, but restored in 1852. It is an interior town, lying southwest of the center of the county. Its population in 1830 was 2,952, and in 1890 was 1,510.
Canadice, the name of which is a corruption of the Indian name of the lake situate in the center of the town, was formed from Richmond, April 15, 1829. A part of it was annexed to Richmond in 1836. It is the southwest corner town of the county.
Canandaigua, the shire town of the county, was one of the original towns, formed January 27, 1789, and a part of it was annexed to Gor- ham in 1824.
East Bloomfield was formed as Bloomfield January 27, 1789, and Mendon and Victor were taken off in 1812.
Farmington, named from Farmington, Conn., was also one of the original towns of the county, and was formed January 27, 1789.
Gorham was likewise an original town, formed January 27, 1789, under the name of Easton, but changed to Lincoln in April, 1806, and to Gorham one year later. The last name was given the town in honor of Nathaniel Gorham. Hopewell was set off from this town in 1822, and a part of Canandaigua was annexed in 1824.
Hopewell was formed from Gorham, March 29, 1822.
Manchester was formed March 31, 1821, under the name of Burt, which was changed to Manchester April 6, 1822.
Naples was one of the original towns of the county, formed January 27, 1789, under the name of Middletown. However, the region em- braced by the town was originally known as Watkinstown, so named from William Watkins, of Berkshire, Mass., one of the purchasers under Phelps and Gorham. This region was called by the Indians Nundawao, in reference to the " great hill," of which mention has been made in a preceding chapter. The name Middletown was changed to Naples April 6, 1808. Italy was set off from it in 1815, and a part of Spring- water in 1816.
Ellige G. Lapham.
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ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
Phelps was formed in 1796, under the act of January 27, 1789, and was named in honor of Oliver Phelps, one of the proprietors. A part of this town was annexed to Lyons, Wayne county, April 11, 1823.
Richmond was also formed under the act of 1789, and called Pitts- town. April 6, 1808, the name was changed to Honeoye, and to Rich- mond, April 11, 1815. A part of Canadice was annexed April 30, 1836, and parts of Bristol and South Bristol in 1848, but the latter were restored in 1852.
Seneca was formed in 1793 under the provisions of the act of 1789, and its territory remained substantially undisturbed until November 15, 1872, when the town of Geneva was erected by the Board of Super- visors.
South Bristol was formed from Bristol March 8, 1838.
Victor was formed from Bloomfield May 26, 1812.
West Bloomfield was formed from Bloomfield February 11, 1833.
Now, having sufficiently referred to the various properties and civil divisions of Ontario county, it is proper that there should also be made a record of the names of persons of the county who have been identified with the political history of the Federal, State and county governments:
United States Senator-Elbridge G. Lapham, elected July 22, 1881.
Secretary of War United States-John C. Spencer, October 12, 1841. Postmaster-General United States-Francis Granger, March 6, 1841.
Secretary of Treasury United States-Charles J. Folger, October 27, 1881.
Representatives in United States Congress-Thomas Morris, 1801-3; Oliver Phelps, 1803-5 ; Nathaniel W. Howell, 1813-15 ; Micah Brooks, 1815-17; John C. Spencer, 1817-19; Nathaniel Allen, 1819-21 ; John Dickson, 1831-35 ; Francis Granger, 1835-37 ; Mark H. Sibley, 1837-39; Francis Granger, 1839-41; John Greig, 1841 ; Robert L. Rose, 1847-51; Emory B. Pottle, 1857-61 ; William H. Lamport, 1871-75 ; Elbridge G. Lapham, 1875-83 ; John Raines, 1889-92.
Governor-Myron H. Clark, elected November, 1854.
Secretaries of State-John C. Spencer, appointed February 4, 1839, served to February 7, 1842 ; Frank Rice, elected November, 1889, and November, 1891.
Comptroller-Thomas Hillhouse, elected November 7, 1865.
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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
Canal Commissioners- Myron Holley, appointed April 17, 1816; William W. Wright, elected November 5, 1861.
Adjutant- Generals-Levi Hubbell, appointed June 4, 1833 ; Thomas Hillhouse, August 19, 1861.
Bank Commissioner-James Rees, appointed February 1, 1830. Inspector of State Prisons-Jared Wilson, appointed May 10, 1835.
State Engineer-Charles B. Stewart, elected November 2, 1847.
Regents of the University-John Greig, January 12, 1825 ; William H. Goodwin, June 24, 1865.
Members of Constitutional Conventions-Convention of 1801, Moses Atwater ; convention of 1821, Micah Brooks, John Price, David Suther- land, Philetus Swift, Joshua Van Fleet ; convention of 1846, Robert C. Nicholas, Alvah Worden; convention of 1867, Henry O. Cheesebro, Angus McDonald, Charles J. Folger, Elbridge G. Lapham.
Judges of Court of Appeals-Samuel A. Foote, April 11, 1851 ; Charles J. Folger, May 17, 1870, and chief judge, May 20, 1880.
Justices of the Supreme Court-Henry W. Taylor, March 27, 1850; James C. Smith, May 23, 1862; William H. Adams, November 8, 1887.
Senators-Thomas Morris, 1797-1801 ; Lemuel Chipman, 1802-5 ; John Nicholas, 1806-9 ; Amos Hall, 1810-13 ; Philetus Swift, 1814- 15, 1817 ; Stephen Bates, 1815-16, 1817-19; Gideon Granger, 1820- 21 ; John C. Spencer, 1825-28; Chester Loomis, 1835-38 ; Robert C. Nicholas, 1839-42 ; Mark H. Sibley, 1840-41 ; Albert Lester, 1844- 47 ; Myron H. Clark, 1852-54 (resigned January 1, 1855, elected gov- ernor) ; William H. Goodwin, 1855; Thomas Hillhouse, 1860-61; Charles J. Folger, 1862-69 ; Stephen H. Hammond, 1876-77 ; Edwin Hicks, 1878-79; John Raines, 1888-89.
Members of Assembly-Eleazer Lindsley1, 1791 ; Israel Chapin, 1792-93; Thomas Morris, 1794-96; Lemuel Chipman and Charles Williamson, 1796-97 ; Amos Hall2 and Charles Williamson, 1798-99 ; Nathaniel Norton and Charles Williamson, 1800; Lemuel Chipman and Nathaniel Norton, 1800-01 ; Daniel Chapin and Peter B. Porter, 1802; Thaddeus Chapin, Augustus Porter and Polydore B. Wisner, 18033 ; Amos Hall, Nathanial W. Howell and Polydore B. Wisner, 1804 ;
1 Served from Jan. 4 to April 12. 2 From Ontario and Steuben counties. 3 Genesee and On- tario counties.
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ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
Amos Hall, Daniel W. Lewis and Alex. Rea, 1804-05 ; D. W. Lewis, Ezra Patterson, Alex. Rea, 1806; Alex. Rea, Philetus Swift, Asahel Warner,1 1807 ; Amos Hall, William Rumsey, Philetus Swift and Asahel Warner, jr., 1808; Micah Brooks, Samuel Lawrence, Richard Leech, Hugh McNair and Wm. Rogers, 1808-09; Valentine Brother, Israel Chapin, Daniel Dorsey, Wm. Markham, Gideon Pitts, 1810; Septimus Evans, Reuben Hart, Hugh McNair, Stephen Phelps, Asahel Warner, 1811 ; Nathaniel Allen, Valentine Brother, David Sutherland, Joshua Van Fleet, Ezra Waite, 1812; Abraham Dox, Gilbert Howell, Hugh McNair, David Sutherland, Asahel Warner, 1813-14 ; Hugh McNair, Stephen Phelps, David Sutherland, Joshua Van Fleet, Asahel Warner, 1814; Peter Allen, John Price, James Roseburgh, Ira Selby, David Sutherland, 1814-15 ; Peter Allen, Israel Chapin, Jonathan Child, Henry Fellows, Myron Holley, Alex. Kelsey, Thos. Lee, Roger Sprague, 1816; Peter Allen, Jonathan Child, Byram Green, Caleb Hopkins, Joshua Lee, James Roseburgh, Nathan Whitney, 1816-17 ; Phineas P. Bates, Nathaniel Case, Samuel Lawrence, James Roseburgh, Ira Selby, John Van Fossen, Ezra White, 1818; William Billinghurst, Byram Green, Eli Hill, Wm. McCartney, Elijah Spencer, John A. Stevens, Asahel Warner, 1819; Valentine Brother, Byram Green, John Price, John C. Spencer, Elisha B. Strong, John Van Fossen, Matthew Warner, 1820; Claudius V. Boughton, William Cornwell, Oliver Cul- ver, Truman Hart, Myron Holley, John C. Spencer, Wm. H. Spencer, 1820-21 ; Birdseye Brooks, Byram Green, Isaac Marsh, Aaron Remer, David White, 1822 ; Birdseye Brooks, Richard Hogarth, Jacob Leach, Aaron Remer, Ira Selby, Philetus Swift, 1823 ; Daniel Ashley, Gideon Pitts, Bowen Whiting, 1824; Claudius V. Boughton, Gideon Pitts, Bowen Whiting, 1825 ; Claudius V. Boughton, Francis Granger, Gideon Pitts, 1826; Francis Granger, Lemuel Morse, Nathan Parke, 1827 ; Heman Chapin, Francis Granger, Robert C. Nicholas, 1828; John Dickson, Walter Hubbell, Robert C. Nicholas, 1829; John Dickson, Fran- cis Granger, Robert C. Nicholas, 1830; Thomas Ottley, Samuel Rawson, John C. Spencer, 1831 ; Francis Granger, Jonathan Mason, Robert C. Nicholas, 1832 ; Ephraim W. Cleveland, John C. Spencer, James H. Woods, 1833 ; Peter Mitchell, Oliver Phelps, Aaron Younglove, 1834;
1 Allegany, Genesee and Ontario counties.
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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
Ariel Hendee, William Hildreth, Mark H. Sibley, 1835; Amos Jones, Henry Pardee, Mark H. Sibley, 1836; Amos Jones, Henry Pardee, Henry W. Taylor, 1837 ; Jonathan Buell, David Hudson, Henry W. Taylor, 1838 ; Augustus Sawyer, Z. Barton Stout, Henry W. Taylor, 1839; Reynold Peck, Abraham A. Post, Henry W. Taylor, 1840; Isaac Mills, Daniel A. Robinson, Alvah Worden, 1841 ; Peter M. Dox, Staats Green, Joseph C. Shelton, 1842; Sylvester Austin, James C. Crown, Jedediah Dewey, jr., 1843; Lorenzo Clark, Israel Huntington, Henry Pardee, 1844; Timothy Buel, jr., Israel Huntington, Alvah Worden, 1845; Elias Cost, Joseph C. Shelton, Alvah Worden, 1846; Emery B. Pottle, Ezra Pierce, 1847 ; Charles S. Brother, Hiram Ashley, 1848; Dolphin Stevenson, Josiah Porter, 1849; John L. Dox, Josiah Porter, 1850; Thomas J. McLouth, Henry Pardee, 1851; William R. Pettit, Elnathan W. Simmons, 1852; Marcus Parsons, Hiram Ashley, 1853 ; Jesse Cost, Stephen V. R. Mallory, 1854; William H. Lamport, Oliver Case, 1855 ; Samuel A. Foot, Oliver Case, 1856; Samuel A. Foot, Zoroastar Paul, 1857; Volney Edgerton, Ira R. Peck, 1858; Ulysses Warner, Shotwell Powell, 1859 ; Lewis Peck, Shotwell Powell, 1860; Perez H. Field, Stephen H. Ainsworth, 1861 ; David Pickett, Francis O. Mason, 1862 ; Perez H. Field, Lanson Dewey, 1863 ; Perez H. Field, Lanson Dewey, 1864; Volney Edgerton, Edward Brunson, 1865; Hiram Schutt, Edward Brunson, 1866; Hiram Schutt, Samuel H. Torrey, 1867 ; Henry Ray, Samuel H. Torrey, 1868 ; Henry Ray, George Cook, 1869; Henry Ray, David E. Wilson, 1870; George W. Nicholas, David E. Wilson, 1871 ; Ambrose L. Van Dusen, Cyrillo S. Lincoln, 1872-73 ; Stephen H. Hammond Cyrillo S. Lincoln, 1874-75 ; Seth Stanley, Hiram Maxfield, 1876; Dwight B. Backenstose, Amasa T. Winch, 1877; David Cosad, jr., Amasa T. Winch, 1878; John Robson, Charles R. Case, 1879; Charles R. Case, 1800; John Raines, 1881-82 ; Frank Rice, 1883-84; John Raines, 1885 ; Edward P. Babcock, 1886 -87; Robert Moody, 1888-89; Sanford W. Abbey, 1890; Frank O. Chamberlain, 1891-92; Wm. L. Parkhurst, 1893.
County Judges-Oliver Phelps1, May 5, 1789; Timothy Hosmer, October 5, 1793 ; John Nicholas2, January 27, 1803 ; Natnaniel W.
1 Date of appointment or election.
2 No record of his appointment found in minutes of Com. of Appointments .- Civil Abstract No. I Sec'y St. Off. shows that he received a general commission as first judge, dated March 11, 1805.
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ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
Howell, March 13, 1819; Oliver Phelps, April 30, 1833 ; Bowen Whit- ing, July 17, 1838 ; Charles J. Folger, May 7, 1844; E Fitch Smith, February 10, 1845; Mark H. Sibley, June, 1847 ; Charles J. Folger, 1851 ; Peter M. Dox, 1855 ; John M. Bradford, March 18, 1856; Henry W. Taylor, 1857; George B. Dusinberre, 1860 ; William H. Smith, 1868; Francis O. Mason, 1872 ; William H. Smith, 1878; Frank Rice, 1884; J. Henry Metcalf, app. January, 1890, and elected November, 1890.
Surrogates-John Cooper, May 5, 1789 ; Samuel Mellish, March 22, 1792 ; Israel Chapin, jr., March 18, 1795; Amos Hall, February 23, 1796; Dudley Satonstall, January 25, 1798 ; Reuben Hart, February 16, 1809; Eliphalet Taylor, February 13, 1810; Reuben Hart, Febru- ary 5, 1811 ; Eliphalet Taylor, March 9, 1813; Reuben Hart, March 17, 1815 ; Stephen Phelps, April 10, 1817; Ira Selby, March 5, 1821 ; Jared Wilcox, March 28, 1823 ; Jared Wilson, March 31, 1827 ; Orson Benjamin, January 29, 1840; George R. Parburt, April 10, 1844, count. judge, June, 1847; George Wilson 2d, November 2, 1851; Orson Benjamin, December 2, 1852 ; Samuel Salisbury, February 18, 1853; John N. Whiting, November, 1855 ; Orson Benjamin, Novem ber, 1857 ; Elihu M. Morse, October 11, 1861 ; Isaac R. Parcell, No- vember, 1869; Charles A. Richardson, 1873; Edward P. Babcock, 1879; David G. Lapham, 1885 ; David G. Lapham, 1891.
District Attorneys-William Stuart, appointed March 31, 1796 ; Nathaniel W. Howell, appointed February 9, 1797, for the Sixth Dis- trict ; William Stuart,1 1802; Daniel W. Lewis, 1810; William Stuart, 1811, Vincent Matthews, 1813; Daniel Creger, 1815; John C. Spen- cer,2 1818; Abraham P. Vosburgh, 1821; Bowen Whiting, 1823; Henry F. Penfield, 1832; George W. Clinton, 1835; Nathan Parke, 1836; Thomas M. Howell, 1840; Barzillai Slosson, 1847; James C. Brown, 1849; Stephen R. Mallory, 1851; Jacob B. B. Faurot, 1853 ; Thomas O. Perkins, 1855 ; Edwin Hicks, 1857; William H. Smith, 1857; Edwin Hicks, 1863; Frank Rice, 1875 ; Oliver C. Armstrong, 1881-84; Maynard N. Clement, 1887-90, and re-elected for second time.
1 The above were appointed under the act of 18or for the Seventh District.
2 Year of appointment or election under act of 1818.
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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
Sheriffs-Judah Colt, 1790 ; Nathaniel Norton, 1794 ; Roger Sprague, 1798 ; Benjamin Barton, 1802; Stephen Bates, 1806; James R. Gurn- sey, 1807 ; Stephen Bates, 1808 ; James Rees, 1810 ; Stephen Bates, 1811; William Shepard, 1813; Nathaniel Allen, 1815; Phinehas P. Bates, 1819; Samuel Lawrence, 1821 ; Phineas P. Bates, 1822 ; Joseph Garlinghouse, 1825 ; Jonathan Buell, 1828; Jonas M. Wheeler, 1831 ; Joseph Garlinghouse, 1834; Myron H. Clark, 1837 ; John Lamport, 1840; Eri Densmore, 1843; Phenas Kent, 1846; William H. Lam- port, 1849; Owen Edmondston, 1852 ; Henry C. Swift, 1855; William Hildreth, 1858; Harlow Munson, 1861; John Whitwell, 1864; William W. Clarke, 1867; Darwin Cheney, 1870; Nathaniel R. Boswell, 1873 ; David V. Benham, 1876; Orrin S. Bacon, 1879; Hiram Peck, 1882; Robert H. Wheeler, 1885; Irving Corwin, 1888; Avery Ingraham, 1891.
County Clerks-Nathaniel Gorham, jr., 1789; John Wickham, 1795 ; Peter B. Porter, 1797; Sylvester Tiffany, 1804; James B. Mower, 1808 ; Myron Holley, 1810; James B. Mower, 1811 ; Myron Holley, 1813; Hugh McNair, 1815; John Van Forsen, 1819; Gavin L. Nicholas, 1821-24; Ralph Lester, 1825 ; Charles Crane, 1831; John L. Dox, 1834; Thomas Hall, 1837; Alexander H. Howell, 1843 ; Reuben Murray, jr., 1849 ; John J. Lyon, 1852 ; Elnathan W. Sim- mons, 1858 ; Jefferson J. Whitney, 1861; Nathan J. Milliken, 1864; Frederick W. Prince, 1867; Walter Marks, 1870; Washington L. Hicks, 1873; Myron S. Hall, 1876; William G. Dove, 1879; Bolivar Ellis, 1882; Martin H. Smith, 1885 ; William R. Marks, 1888 ; Devoy J. Harkness, 1891.
County Treasurers1-Henry K. Sanger, 1848; Ralph Chapin, 1851 ; William H. Phelps, 1854; Jacob J. Mattison, 1855 ; Spencer Gooding, 1858; Charles A. Richardson, 1864; George N. Williams, 1870; Harrison B. Ferguson, 1876; Ira B. Howe, 1882; E. Chapin Church, 1885; Jesse B. Coutant, 1891.
1 Elected under Constitution of 1846; formerly were appointed by supervisors
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FROM THE REVOLUTION TO 1815.
CHAPTER XI.
Early Settlement in Ontario County -- Character of the Pioneers -- Yankees, Eng- lish, Scotch and Irish-Disturbances on the Frontier -- British Soldiers Still Occupy Forts on the United States Side of the Treaty Line -- The Simcoe Scare -- Their Withdrawal in 1796 -- Events Preceding the War of 1812-15 -- Political Sentiment in Ontario County -- " War " and " Peace " -- Meetings -- The Outbreak, the Struggle and Final Peace-Population of the County at Different Periods.
T HE permanent and substantial settlement of the Genesee country began soon after the purchase by Phelps and Gorham of the pre- emption right ceded to Massachusetts. However, there was made by the pioneer " Friends," or followers of Jemima Wilkinson, a permanent colonization on the west side of Seneca Lake even before Phelps and Gorham acquired and perfected their title. As is well known, these proprietors held the right to purchase from the Indians all the territory of the State west of Seneca Lake, but as a matter of fact, they secured only about 2,600,000 of the more than 6,000,000 acres included within the region, the large remainder having reverted to Massachu- setts, and being secured by Robert Morris, was by him sold to the so- called Holland Land Company, except that portion west of the Phelps and Gorham purchase and east of a meridian line, starting at a point twelve miles west of the southwest corner of the Phelps and Gorham purchase, which was supposed to contain about 500,000 acres, which Mr. Morris reserved, and which was commonly called the Morris Reserve, and which was afterwards sold to different parties in various tracts ; and it was under these proprietorships that the legitimate settle- ment of the region was begun.
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