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 31
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In the year 1880 Mr. Andrew Pierce erected what has since been known as the Pierce Pavilion, upon which and the grading and beauti- fying the grounds he expended $15,000, out of gratitude and good will to the instutition.
The Tabernacle is a recently constructed building, one story high with its sides constructed largely of glass ; it has a large veranda, and is fitted up on the interior for public meetings. Here various religious bodies meet every summer to further their good works.
Opposite the Annex is Dr. Foster's cottage home, which forms a part of the Sanitarium property.
The time came, and that just at the present, when the Sanitarium proper, with all of its various additions and improvements, became in- adequate for its purposes and the best results. To meet the require- ments, plans were obtained and early in the year 1893 was begun the rebuilding of the entire structure, which will take on the appearance shown in the accompanying engraving, which shows also several of the other structures. This step was taken to secure ample room, to improve the accommodations for patients, and particularly to secure a strictly fire- proof structure. Said Dr. Foster in the address from which we have already quoted, " I have walked these halls many nights, stormy nights, watching against fire, and have taken every precaution possible, and we have gone on forty-two years without burning, but we fear when I
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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
am gone (and that may not be but a short time now), that the person who succeeds me will not watch the house with the same vigilance. We know human nature too well to expect it." Yes; when the watchful eye is closed forever, and the tireless hand is cold, it will be well that the structure wherein are at all times so many lives, shall be fire- proof, self-supporting and able to stand and flourish upon the solid foundations laid by its faithful founder.
The farm as it is now connected with the Sanitarium, embraces nearly four hundred acres of land, and the same careful system prevails in its management that governs the Sanitarium. As an accessory to the in- stitution and its cuisine it is of paramount importance.
It is perhaps not proper in this place to attempt a detailed description of the treatment of disease in this Sanitarium, as it would occupy much space. It must suffice to say that it embraces " the use in a liberal spirit of all known remedial agents." The faculty is composed of mem- bers of every reputable school of medicine. It is a water cure only so far as water may prove an efficient aid to other remedies; while the waters of the springs are used in all kinds of baths and in connection with electricity, massage, and that stimulation and recreation of the mind afforded by books and religious services daily in the chapel in which Dr. Foster so ardently believes. More than three thousand patients were treated in the past year, and the number is constantly on the increase.
As before intimated, the Sanitarium is not a money-making enter- prise. Twelve years ago, in 1881, Dr. Foster and his wife drew up a deed of trust which commits to a board of thirteen trustees comprising seven denominations the management of the whole property. The provisions of this deed of trust are such that in the course of time the property becomes a free home for invalids to recuperate, but not a per- manent home for incurables. The majority of the board of trustees are non-elective, but hold their office ex officio so that the provisions of the deeds of trust cannot be tampered with by mercenary persons. The readers will best get a clear idea of the character of the men at present constituting the Board of Trustees by a reference to their names. The Right Rev. Arthur C. Coxe, of Buffalo, N. Y. ; the Rev. N. G. Clark, D.D., of Boston ; the Rev. F. F. Ellenwood, D.D., of New York; the Rev. Henry Y. Satterlee, of New York; the Hon. James C. Smith, of
In the Park
The Tabernacle
-
PEIRCE PAVILION HAYA
Stansbury Nor Del.
= 1893 -
The Annex
CLIFTON SPRINGS SANITARIUM
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TOWN OF MANCHESTER.
Canandaigua ; Bishop J. H. Vincent, of Buffalo; the Rev. D. J. Hill, D.D., president of Rochester University, Rev. Samuel Hopkins, presi- dent of Auburn Theological Seminary, the Rev. H. M. Cobb, D.D., of New York, and Henry Foster, M. D., of Clifton Springs.
Following are the names of the faculty and officers of the Sanitarium : Henry Foster, M. D., president, assisted by C. C. Thayer, M. D., J. H. North, M. D., E. O. Crossman, M. D., J. C. Smith, M. D., B. C. Love- land, M. D., Mrs. M. Dunbar Adams, M. D.
The Rev. Lewis Bodwell has for many years been chaplain of the in- stitution. E. A. Miles is hotel keeper, and J. J. Dewey, cashier. The force of employees embraces about one hundred and sixty five other persons.
The following description recently prepared for a current publication, will give the reader a correct idea of the new Sanitarium:
Six stories lift their stately proportions into the air and 244 feet are occupied by the front. In the center a graceful tower surmounts the whole and at each end two other towers are constructed. From this building a wing extends backward one hundred feet. In the basement story is a smoking room in the corner and also lavatories and water closets. Two elevators start from the rear end of the center, one for the transportation of guests and the other for servants and the carriage of baggage. All baggage is taken to a glass covered trunk room in the rear where it can be elevated without the annoyance of its being in the way in the lobbies. In this basement story are found other apartments, such as a ladies' movement room and gentlemen's movement room, a room for wheel carriages, etc. The dining room, ninety- four by fifty- one and one-half feet occupies a considerable portion of the first story above the basement.
The dining room is a magnificent hall, and all accessories to make it beautiful, and its service easily attended to, are found here. The en- trance is in the center of this story ; just back of this are the lobby and business offices. A large reception room extends its spacious quarters to the visitors, and three parlors, richly furnished, make intercourse pleasant among the guests. Another large room is used as a library on this floor, and a beautiful chapel also is here, thus making the place of divine service one quickly reached. This chapel will be, as in the
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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
past, a great element in promoting the work of the institution. The upper stories are divided into private rooms and special apartments suited to the peculiar service of the Sanitarium. There are bath rooms on every floor for both sexes as well as water closets of the most ap- proved type. Many rooms have both attached. In each room is a fire place with a gas log which sheds its cheerful light and warmth through- out the apartment. Transoms are placed over every door; the build- ing at all portions is lighted with electricity, and the system of heat and ventilation adopted is simply the best possible. The result is that the entire building will be uniformly cool in summer and warm in winter. The roof forms a great winter garden where patients can obtain exer- cise and watch the varying landscape of the surrounding country ; be- sides they can obtain sun baths and at any season of the year be in the midst of a tropical climate, as the roof is enclosed with glass. The ele- vators make this portion of the building easily accessible. The plan adopted for the construction of this edifice gives fourteen rooms to the benevolence of charitable persons. Any one of these rooms may be en- dowed for $15,000.
The Village of Shortsville .- In all respects this is the most impor- tant village in Manchester, and in point of manufactures it ranks second only to Geneva in the county. In 1804 Theophilus Short came to this locality and built both flour and saw-mills, from which fact the little hamlet thus built up became known as Short's Mills. In 1822 Mr. Short built a second flour mill north of the first one, but before this, and in 1818, William Grimes had a woolen mill in operation, while the year 1818 witnessed the founding of a foundry and furnace.
All these old industries, however, had their period of existence many years ago, and are now unknown to the locality. They were succeeded by other and more important enterprises which have been continuously maintained until the present time, and all have combined as elements of strength in building up one of the most progressive little villages of Ontario county. In truth it may be said that the increase of businees interests in Shortsville has never declined since the founding of the vil- lage ; on the contrary there has been maintained a steady progression and the village was never more prosperous than now, although one of the large factory buildings is idle while the ravages of fire destroyed one
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TOWN OF MANCHESTER.
or two others. From this the statement may be made that the history of Shortsville is best written in the history of its manufactures, its churches, schools, and other enterprises, public and private. In 1889 the village interests were of such character and importance that the people thereof procured its incorporation, the proceedings being com- pleted in November. Within its limits there are about 1,000 inhab- itants, and few there are of them who are not in some manner directly interested in the welfare of the municipality. The present trustees are J. Morgan Stoddard, president, and C. M. Sisco, E. P. Babcock and E. D. Mather ; village clerk, Charles Davidson.
On the old mill site where Theophilus Short built his pioneer mills, now stands the extensive works of the Empire Drill Company, incor- porated with $150,000 capital. In 1855 Hiram F. and Calvin P. Brown established a business of manufacturing grain drills in a somewhat small way. Their product was originally called the "Pioneer Force Feed Drill," but in later years became known as the "Empire Drill." The first year they produced thirty completed drills ; in 1892 the company made 4,000 drills. Two men began the work, now nearly one hundred are employed.
The Star Paper Company was organized in 1867 and on the outlet where formerly stood one of the Short mills and the old distillery a building was erected. In 1871 the old wooden mill site was utilized as the " Diamond " paper mill. The company had a capital of $50,000, and for many years did a large and successful business. Dr. J. P. H. Deming was its president ; Stephen T. Seymour, secretary and treas- urer. However, this was one of the industries of the village which ulti- mately failed, its affairs being closed about five years ago.
The Ontario Paper Mills is the name of one of the substantial and en- during industries of the village, and under the present proprietorship of James Jones does a large business. These mills have also been in operation many years.
The Shortsville Wheel Company was incorporated January 7, 1889, by Charles W. Brown, Jennie B. Heath, Charles E. Brown and Calvin P. Brown. The works were situated on the outlet about half a mile above the village. The company above named sold to the American
44
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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
Wheel Company, but the latter failed and the plant passed into the hands of Calvin P. and H. L. Brown, by whom it is now operated.
The Shortsville Cart Company was organized in December, 1891, and continued operations for about two years.
In this connection mention may also be made of the general planing mill of Charles M. Clark, which does a successful business ; and also of the former enterprises known as G. Van Sickle's Champion Grain and Hay Unloader, and the machine and implement shops of H. C. Sheffer & Co.
The first school in Shortsville was conducted in Asel Kent's dwelling and Manning Redfield was its teacher. The first school-house was built in 1807 on the farm of Elam Dewey, just outside the village proper. In I811 the first district school in the village was built, the first teachers being Harry Robinson, Sylvester Miner and Aaron Pomeroy. In edu- cational matters Shortsville has kept even step with the villages of the county, but in 1886 it advanced beyond many others and erected a large and attractive Union school building, being the property of dis- trict number seven.
The Myron Buck Free Library is one of the institutions of the vil- lage, and was established in a handsome memorial building on Main street, and although only a few years old is recognized as a contribu- tion of much worth to the village residents.
On the 16th of April, 1888, Edgar D. Mather opened a private bank in Shortsville, which was another progressive step in village history, this being the first bank to be established here.
The First Presbyterian Church of Manchester was in fact organized in January. 1860, although meetings were held and an effort at organ- ization several years earlier. A Sunday-school of the Presbyterian Society was started in the village in 1857. In 1859 and '60 a church edifice was completed, which was replaced in 1884 by the present beautiful structure which now adorns Main street, near the center of the village. This church is by far the largest and most influential in this part of the town, numbering about 265 members, while the Sun- day-school has about 250 pupils. Since the organization the pastors and supplies in succession of this church have been as follows : Revs. Charles H. Chester, William J. Stoughtenburgh, Richmond James,
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TOWN OF MANCHESTER.
James M. Harlow, Chester C. Thorn, E. G. Cheesman, W. O. Carrier, J. C. Lenhart, W. I. Coburn, and John T. Crumrine, the latter being the present pastor, who was called to the church in December, 1892.
The other church societies of Shortsville are the Protestant Epis- copal, the Methodist Episcopal, and the Roman Catholic, each of which are of comparatively recent organization, and neither of which has a resident pastor. Trinity Church was built about 1884, and is a small chapel edifice standing on Main street. The Methodist Church is organized and beyond the condition of a mission, and its pastorate is supplied by Rev. J. E. Showers. St. Dominick's Church and parish was organized about ten or twelve years ago, and holds monthly serv- ices under the charge of Father Patrick Leel, of Clifton Springs.
The Village of Manchester .- This locality at an early day acquired some prominence as a manfacturing center, and here there was in opera- tion a pioneer woolen- mill, hence the townspeople called the hamlet Manchester, in allusion to the great manufacturing city of the same name in England. The mill referred to was built in 1812, and the village was established soon afterward. In 1822 the town was given the same name as the village.
On this site of the pioneer woolen-mill now stands the roller flour- mill of W. G. Mason, which, with the spoke factory adjoining, com- prises all there is of manufactures in the village at this time. The original settler on the village site was Valentine Coon, from whom the locality was first called Coonsville. In 1892 the village of Manchester was incorporated, having a population of about 450 persons. In 1891 the Lehigh Valley road was built through the village, thus giving an impetus to trade, and, what is still better, extensive round-houses have been built conveniently near the center of the village, with a promise of large machine shops in the near future. The trustees of Manchester village are Dr. J. R. Pratt, president, and W. A. Wilson, W. G. Mason and Isaac Reed ; clerk, Elmer Ver Planck.
The First Baptist Church of Manchester was originally organized as the First Baptist Church of Farmington (before the division of the town), and dates back to 1797, although not until 1810 was the first log meeting-house built, followed by a stone chapel in 1815. In 1822 Farmington was divided and Manchester was formed, whereupon the
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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
society took the name of the First Baptist Church of Manchester. The property on which the present large church edifice now stands was pur- chased in 1849, and in the same year the meeting-house was built. The church has a present membership of about 190 persons, and a Sun- day school with about seventy- five members, all under the pastoral care of Rev. Edwin C. Long.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Manchester (village) also had its origin in pioneer times, but no reliable record of its early history seems to have been preserved. The present church edifice was built in 1841, and recent repairs have given it an attractive appearance. The society has about 130 members on the church roll, the Sunday-school about 100 pupils. Pastor, Rev. De Witt Tooker.
Manchester Center is the name of a small hamlet situate about mid- way between Manchester village and Clifton Springs. Having a loca ยท tion on the outlet of Canandaigua Lake, this has been a manufacturing point of some note during the early history of the town, but the growth of Shortsville and Clifton Springs have drawn trade from the Center to those places. The recent construction of the Lehigh Valley railroad has given an impetus to trade in this locality, and the Center is un- doubtedly benefited thereby.
Port Gibson enjoys the distinction of being the only village in On- tario couuty which touches the Erie Canal, in fact the port owes its very existence to the construction of the canal, which famous water- way was completed and opened for traffic in 1825, Among the lead- ing men of Canandaigua who were prominently interested in the con- struction of the canal was Henry B. Gibson, and in his honor this hamlet was named Port Gibson, and in the laying out of the village tract the names of other influential residents of the county seat are preserved, for here are found Grieg street (for John Grieg), Atwater street (Moses or Freeman Atwater), Granger street (Francis Granger), Bemis street (James D. Bemis), and others. However, it was during the palmy days of exclusive canal transportation that Port Gibson enjoyed its greatest glory, for with the construction of railroads across the State canal traf- fic began to decline, consequently the village also lost its importance in a corresponding degree. The village now has two or three stores, several shops, a school and a M. E. Church, the latter having a mem-
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TOWN OF PHELPS.
bership of 128 persons, and now being under the pastoral charge of Rev. John Easter. The total value of church property (edifice and parsonage) is about $9,000.
Littleville was first called Parker's Mills, the latter name being given in allusion to Edward Parker, the former proprietor of the grist-mill at that place. Norman C. Little afterward purchased the site, and the name was thereupon changed to Littleville. However useful and profitable these mills may have been, they have been discarded as such, and the buildings have recently been remodeled and fitted for use as an electric power station, form which point it is proposed to furnish electric lights for Clifton Springs, Shortsville and Canandaigua, and also to furnish power for the electric cars in the last mentioned village. A further ac- count of this place may be found in the history of the town of Hopewell.
Gypsum is the name of a small hamlet situate on the line between Man- chester and Phelps, and about two miles north of Clifton Springs. In this locality Pioneer Van Derhoof settled, followed by other Dutch families, from which fact the place or vicinity was originally called the Dutch settlement, later it became known as Plainsville, and still more recently as Gypsum. Having its location on the outlet, this has been a manufacturing point of some note in the past, and the opening of a plaster bed here also added to the industry of the place.
The Baptist Church at Gypsum was the second society of that de- nomination in the town, having been organized in 1813 under Elder William Rowe as first pastor. The early meetings were held at various convenient places in the town, and it was not until about 1835 that the somewhat historic old stone meeting-house was built.
CHAPTER XVIII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PHELPS.
T HE town of Phelps includes within its boundaries the northern half of township No. 10 and the southern part of No. 11 in the first range, together with all that part of the "gore " lying east of the portion above mentioned. This town or district was originally known
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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
as " Sullivan," and so named in allusion to General Sullivan, the com- mander of the historic expedition against the western Indians during the summer and fall of 1779. Upon the organization of the town in 1796, at the solicitation of the proprietary, the name was changed to "Phelps ;" in consideration of which change it is said that Oliver Phelps regaled the inhabitants with a sumptuous feast at the tavern of Jona- than Oaks.
The honor of being the pioneer settler of this town is generally con- ceded to John Decker Robison, and enough of history on this subject has been furnished by past writers to fill a volume; but in the present narrative we mainly rely on the accuracy of the statements of Dr. Caleb Bannister in his address before the Agricultural Society in 1852. Ac- cording to the address, in the summer of 1888, James Robison, son of the pioneer, was employed with Nathaniel Sanborn to drive 100 head of cattle into the Genesee country, which were intended as presents to the Indians, in order to conciliate their friendship and good will, that subsequent negotiations for their title to the lands might be consummated with as little difficulty as possible. Robison and Sanborn reached Geneva with the cattle on June 3, 1788, and on the next day John Decker Robison arrived at the same place. The latter at once pro- ceeded to the town of Phelps, as afterward known, but then unnamed, and settled on lot No. 14 in township 11, first range, which was sur- veyed to contain 320 acres of land, but by an error the tract actually contained more than 320 acres, and its total cost to the pioneer was not far from $100.
The foregoing statement is corroborated by the fact that the consid- eration was paid by Robison in building for Phelps and Gorham a house in Canandaigua, according to the following contract :
Memorandum of an agreement between William Walker on the one part and John D. Robison of the other part, witnesseth, that the said Robinson doth agree to Build for the said Walker a house at Canadauque of the Same Dimensions and in the same manner as the house now building by Captain Bartles at Geneva, with this Variation, viz .: he is to build but one Chimney and is not either of the floors, or make the Doors or window Shets, he is to board himself, and procure all the materials except nails, the building is to be com-
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TOWN OF PHELPS.
pleted every way as well as the said Bartles, there is to be a twelve square, seven by nine Glass Window frame in the front and rear of each room, the work is to be completed this fall, for which the said Walker doth agree to pay the said Robinson forty pounds New York Currency in the following manner, viz .: in provisions Sufficient for him the said Robinson's self and hands, while building said house, and the remainder in a Lot of Land in No. Eleven, first range, to be valued according to Quality and Situation, reckoning the whole Township at two Shillings per acre, and if the said Lot should be found to exceed the Remainder of the said forty pounds, said Walker agrees to take his pay in Said Rob- inson's Labour after the first day of June next, when the said Walker may demand it, witness our hands interchangeably, Signed this Twenty- eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord, 1788.
WM. WALKER, JOHN DK'R ROBISON.
Witnesses present, Ezekiel Scott, Enos Boughton.
The above building was used as a land office and for the residence of Judge Walker, the agent for surveys and sales of Phelps and Gorham.
This worthy pioneer, John Decker Robison, built and opened a tav- ern on his tract in 1793, the first event of its kind in the town ; also his son, Harry H. Robison, was the first white child born in the town. The Robison purchase included a part of the Phelps village site, being that portion thereof lying east of the town hall. In 1789 Mr. Robison's family came to the town, and nine days later there also came Pierce and Elihu Granger, Nathaniel Sanborn and a Mr. Gould, but all these returned to Connecticut (for all were Yankees) in the fall, leaving Rob- ison and his family alone in the town, eight miles from the nearest set- tlement (Geneva.) Following those who have been mentioned, the next settlers in the town were Jonathan Oaks, Seth Dean, Oliver Hum- phrey, Charles Humphrey and Elias Dickinson. In 1793 or '94 Mr. Oaks built a large frame house, which for many years was occupied as a hotel, and was located at Oaks' Corners, a small hamlet of the town, its name being applied in honor of the pioneer. This was the second frame tavern west of Geneva, a place of much note in early days, while its founder was hardly less prominent in the new community. Philetus Swift was a pioneer of 1789, a man of much energy and influence, par-
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