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 32
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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
ticularly in early political history ; and as well was he prominent in military affairs, he being commander of a company during the war of 1812. Seth Dean, who has been mentioned, was a pioneer on the Phelps village site, and here in company with Oliver Phelps he erected a saw- mill on Flint Creek, on the location where an industry of some sort afterward became a fixture.
Another very prominent early pioneer was Dr. Joel Prescott, who settled in the town at an early day and was one of the prominent physi- cians of the county. He came to this region as early as May, 1788, and, probably, for a while resided at Kanadesaga, as during that and the succeeding year his name is found as a witness on several papers dated at that place. At the first town meeting in Phelps, 1796, Dr. Prescott was elected school commissioner and assessor, was appointed justice of peace, January, 1798, was supervisor of the town from 1797 to 1809 inclusive, except 1805, and for several years chairman of the board ; was school commissioner of the town for several years. He located on a farm one mile west of Oaks' Corners, and was the first physician of Phelps, his practice being very extensive and laborious with the old time saddle bags strapped to his saddle. He was married in Phelps to Lucy Reed, September 8, 1793, and had seven children, two of whom died in infancy, the rest living to mature years. His home was among the earliest of frame houses in the town. With an active interest and efficient in rendering them he was repeatedly placed in po- sitions of trust by his fellow-citizens, and so great was the esteem for him that his counsels were called for in all departments of life. He was born June 20, 1759, and died October 5, 1841. His funeral took place on the afternoon of Sunday, October 6, and was attended by the largest number of people that had ever before been gathered together on such an occasion, from 1,000 to 1,200 being present, among whom were the principal and prominent men of Geneva and the surrounding country.
The following is worthy of a record in this place. Horatio Jones was one of the early pioneers at Kanadesaga or Geneva. In 1788 he was joined by his brother, John H., at that place, and having obtained a yoke of oxen in the spring of 1789, the two brothers went into the town of Phelps, found an open spot, ploughed and planted five or six acres of
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corn, which they sold on the ground, and finally removed to the west of the Genesee River.
Referring again to the address of Dr. Bannister, we find the names of other early settlers, among them being John Salisbury, who settled in 1791 a short distance west of Melvin Hill. Also in the same year came Walter Chase and Nicholas Pullen ; in 1792, John Patten and David Boyd; in 1793, Jonathan Melvin ; in 1794, John Sherman ; in 1795, Osee Crittenden and Cornelius Westfall ; in 1796, Jesse Warner and John Newhall; in 1797, Theodore and Lemuel Bannister, who located just north of Oaks' Corners. Another account says Theo. Bannister settled in 1798, and Lemuel one year later, which latter is probably cor- rect. Deacon John Warner was a pioneer at Orleans, while the first settler at Melvin Hill was Jonathan Melvin, from whom the hill derived its name. Jesse Warner settled at Warner Hill, east of Flint Creek. Joseph Vandemark, Lodowick Vandemark, John and Patrick Burnett, came about or during the year 1794. Lodowick was a skillful mill- wright, and put up an excellent saw-mill in the town. Other early set- tlers were Coll Roy, Joseph, Eleazer and Cephas Hawks, Augustus Dick- inson, and others now forgotten. About 1799 Cephas Hawks, Augustus Dickinson and Theo. Bannister built a grist-mill on the outlet, on the site in later years known successively as Dickinson's, Norton's, and the Exchange Mills.
In 1800 George Wilson and Harvey Stephenson came to the town, followed in 1802 or '3 by John Hildreth. John R. Green was the first merchant at Oaks' Corners. Wills Whitman came with the Oaks. The first marriage in the town was that of Joseph Annin with the daughter of pioneer Seth Reed. Magistrate Thomas Sisson performed the cere- mony. Cephas Hawks erected the first plaster-mill, and about the same time Luther and Francis Root, Ezekiel Webb, and Nathaniel Hall, bought the Seth Dean grist-mill, and converted it into a plaster- mill.
The persons who have been mentioned thus far in this narrative were, it is thought, the pioneers of the town of Phelps; there may have been others whose names are lost and forgotten, but drawing information from all reliable sources, the statements above made are probably ac- curate in general. It will be observed that when once begun the settle- 45
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ment progressed rapidly ; in fact, in 1796, on April 1, the inhabitants were so many that it became advisable to organize the town and elect officers. Prior to this time the town formed part of a district, and was known as Sullivan, as has been stated, but at the time of organization the name was changed to Phelps. We may further state that according to Dr. Bannister the change in name from Sullivan to Phelps was made in 1795. Boyd's Gazetteer of the State of New York, Albany, 1872, states that Phelps was formed in 1796, under the act of January 27, I779.
The officers elected at the first town meeting were as follows : Super- visor, Jonathan Oaks; town clerk, Solomon Goodale ; assessors, Joel Prescott, Philetus Swift and Pierce Granger ; collector, Augustus Dick- inson ; overseers of the poor, Oliver Humphrey and Patrick Burnett ; commissioners of highways, Jesse Warner, Oliver Humphrey and Phi- letus Swift ; overseers of highways, Cornelius Westfall, Abram D. Spurn, Charles Humphrey, Elijah Gates, John Patten, Augustus Dickinson, David Woodard ; pound-master, Jonathan Oaks.
The present town officers are : Wm. E. Edmonston, supervisor ; Jno. T. Watkins, town clerk; Lysander Redfield, Richard M. Green, Jesse P. Warner and Jno. B. Armstrong, justices ; Stalham Crittenden, Wm. H. Hunt and Judson Raymer, assessors; Russell B. Cobb, Thos. H. Gerow, Samuel Cuddeback, commissioners of highways ; Jno. M. White, overseer of the poor; Willard R. Laughlin, collector ; Epenetus T. Lamb, James T. Sweeney, Adrian Easterly, commissioners of excise.
Succession of Supervisors : Jonathan Oaks, 1796; Joel Prescott, 1797-1804, and 1806-09 ; Pierce Granger, 1805 ; Elihu Granger, 1810- II ; Wm. Burnett, 1812-13, and 1816-17 ; Lemuel Bannister, jr., 1814; Thaddeus Bannister, 1815 ; Philetus Swift, 1818-22 ; Wm. Hildreth, sen., 1823-26 ; Thos. Edmonston, 1827 ; Jas. Van Demark, 1828-29, and 1832-33 ; Richard D. Cuyler, 1831 ; David McNiel, 1834; Isaac M. Norton, 1835; Fred'k Van Demark, 1836-37; Wm. Dickinson, 1838-40; Jno. S. Harris, 1841-42 ; Moses Chapman, 1843 ; Cornelius Horton, 1844-52 ; Henry C. Swift, 1853; Hubbard McLoud, 1854; Sylvanus B. Pond, 1855; Lewis Peck, 1856-59; Ambrose L. Van Dusen, 1860 ; Nathan Oaks, 1861-64; Lysander Redfield, 1865 ; Henry Ray, 1866-67 ; Horatio N. Mather, 1868 ; Samuel E. Horton, 1869-70;
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David Cosad, jr., 1871 ; Thaddeus O. Hotchkiss, 1872-73, and 1875 -79; Hamilton McBurney, 1874; Jno. C. Warner, 1880; Benj. F. Odell, 1881-82; Abram S. Smith, 1883-87 ; Thaddeus O. Hotchkiss, 1888-90; Geo. B. Shepperd, 1891; Wm. C. Edmonston, 1892-93.
On the IIth of April, 1823, a portion of the town of Phelps was set off to Lyons, Wayne county, therefore to correctly note subsequent changes in population we may properly begin with the federal census of 1830. In that year the number of inhabitants in the town was 4,798 ; ten years later it had increased to 5,563; in 1850 was 5,542 ; in 1860 was 5,586, the greatest number ever attained in its history. By 1870 it had fallen to 5,130. During the next decade it increased to 5,189, and by 1890 had again fallen to 5,086, which is about the present population. From this we discover that Phelps had a less population in 1890 than in 1840, or half a century before.
Among the pioneers of Phelps were a number of Revolutionary sur- vivors, the names of some of whom can still be recalled, but there were others who are now forgotten. At a later period, and during what may more properly be termed the early history of the town, the inhabitants were called upon to furnish men for frontier service in the second war with Great Britain. The enrolled militia of Phelps were frequently under arms during the War of 1812-15, and also they performed duty on the Niagara frontier. Unfortunately no reliable record of the Phelps company has been preserved. However it was during the War of 1861-65 that the men of the town made their most glorious military record, at a time when the population of Phelps had reached its maxi- mum, in 1860, the number of inhabitants then being 5,586. In 1861 the war began, and from that time until no more volunteers were needed, Phelps was ever ready to contribute men and means for the prosecution of the war. More than that, the patriotic people of the town, both men and women, had local organizations the object of which was to relieve and administer to the personal comfort of the sick and wounded soldiers. This organization was known as "The Phelps Union Soldiers' Aid Society," formed in 1863, and prominently con- nected with which were Mrs. Hibbard, president; Mrs. Stebbins, vice- president ; Mrs. Browning, secretary and treasurer ; Mrs. C. P. Moser, assistant secretary and treasurer ; and Mrs. W. A. Smith, Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. A. Hawks, Mrs. A. Swan and Mrs. Williams, directresses.
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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
During the course of the war the town of Phelps furnished to all branches of the service a grand total of more than 500 men, although the imperfect records extant show a number slightly less. An exam- ination of the muster rolls will disclose the fact that hardly a regiment formed in Western New York in which were any Ontario county men that did not contain Phelps enlistments. A preceding chapter of this work has narrated at length the composition of the several com- panies recruited in whole or in part in the county, and a reference thereto will show the towns which contributed to the county contingent of volunteers.
THE VILLAGE OF PHELPS.
First in importance in this town, and one of the first in commercial and industrial importance in Ontario county, is the incorporated village of Phelps. John Decker Robison was a pioneer of the town, and also of the village, his purchase including a part of the village tract (lying east of the town hall). Seth Dean is also to be mentioned in the same connection, for he also located on the village site and afterward became identified with Oliver Phelps in the erection of a saw-mill on Flint Creek, where the Nelson & Bowker mill of later days was built. How- ever, pioneer Robison laid the real foundation for the subsequent village by erecting in 1793 his famous tavern. The locality at once thereafter became a trade center, and before long we find Orin Redfield in general mercantile business on the land now occupied by the Phelps Hotel. Hotchkiss & McNeil opened trade in 1810 in Root's bar-room, but later on moved to the site of the Odell block. Wing & Nelson began business in 1813 ; Dwight and Partridge in 1816; while David D. Van Auken and the Thayers were later business men. In 1816 Hotchkiss & McNeil built the first brick block in the village.
As is elsewhere stated, Seth Dean built the first grist mill, and he was followed in the same line by the larger mill built by pioneers Hawks, Dickinson and Bannister, the latter being erected in 1799 on the outlet, while Dean's mill was on Flint Creek. In the village, about 1812, Luther and Francis Root and Erastus Butler built a rather large woolen-mill, and established an industry that prospered about three years and was then abandoned.
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TOWN OF PHELPS.
In fact, by this time (1812) the village had become a place of much importance, and had industries and business interests. The truth is that in the early history of this village the whole people were imbued mainly with the spirit of enterprise, while in some other localities large tracts of land, and business interests as well, were held for speculative purposes only. To outsiders, and to wits who spoke in derision, this village was known as "Woodpecker City," yet no person will now venture to trace the origin of the name. In 1812 the village was made a post station under the name of " Vienna," and so called in accord- ance with the then prevailing custom of naming towns and villages after foreign municipalities (excepting English names, which were even then distasteful to the Yankees). David McNiel was the first post- master. About the same time mail stage routes were established between Phelps and Geneva, Palmyra and Pittsford. Weekly mails were at first carried by Francis Root and Lyman Williams.
As Vienna this village continued without corporate character from 1812 to 1855, and then, under the name of Phelps the court of sessions granted the petition of the people for an incorporation, thereby enabling its citizens to carry to a completion certain desirable improvements which met with some opposition from the residents of the town at large, who were not directly interested in village affairs and property, hence were not willing to be taxed for those improvements. The order of incorporation was granted by Judge Folger in February, 1855, and thereafter the first village trustees were elected, as follows: Zenus Wheeler, Dolphin Stephenson, Harvey Carey, Anson Titus and John Trisler.
Thus constituted and organized, Phelps village entered upon an era of prosperity not before enjoyed during the period of its history. In all these years there had been a gradual and healthful increase in popu- lation and industry, and at the time of incorporation we find the village possessed of such local institutions as were usual to other similar vil- lages of the county, and in many respects was far in advance of some other of the municipalities. It had then church accommodations suffi- cient for the town's people added to those of the village; the schools were of such character as to commend them to the public favor; and the impetus given to manufacture in various branches made Phelps,
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forty years ago, a place of much importance. The railroad between Syracuse and Rochester furnished ready transportation to both east and west markets, and before many years passed another thoroughfare of travel provided a north and south outlet. These facilities have been in- creased quite recently, yet the confession must be made that business in general in the village is not so great in volume as a quarter of a cen- tury ago. However, avoiding comment, we may briefly refer to some of the leading institutions of the village, and in a measure trace their growth.
Schools .- Tradition has it that a school was opened in Phelps village prior to 1800, but on this point there is a possibility of doubt. It is well known, however, that in 1805 a school was maintained in the vil- lage, the building standing on the site of the Hotchkiss bank, being a double house, one story in height, and occupied in part as a dwelling- house. Among the early teachers who are remembered as having charge of the first regular district school were Chloe Warner (better known as Aunt Chloe), Rowland Dewey, Ann Bigelow, Abigail Bige- low, Betsey Newell, Caleb Bannister, Jared Willson (later a prominent lawyer at the county seat), Dr. Harry E. Phinney, Miss Knapp, Oliver Moore, Erastus Kellogg and John Chapman.
After the term of Mr. Chapman had expired (in 1820), the district was divided, in order that two schools might be maintained, and to bet- ter suit the convenience of the children then living in the vicinity. Therefore the " East" and "West" districts, so-called, were established and each provided with a school-house, that of the east district being of stone and standing just south of St. Francis' Church, and that of the west district being of brick. After the division above mentioned the teachers in the east school were Wm. King, Mr. Noble, Jacob Moon, Erastus Marvin, Ziba Crawford, Chas. E. Pinkney, Sybil Marvin, T. A. Pinkney, Hiram Frazer, John S. Moore, Cornelius Horton, Philander Dawley, J. C. Anderson, Fanny Henry and Mr. Coon, the latter con- cluding his period of service about 1845. Among the teachers in the other districts during the same period were Cornelius E. Crosby, Rich- ard Marvin, F. Root and Ann S. Frazer.
However, about the year 1845, the districts were consolidated, and in 1846 the large brick building now owned by district number eight
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was built. In after years material repairs were made, but in 1890 the new rear addition was erected, while the general structure was entirely remodeled. Also about the same time (1846) the Phelps Union and Classical School was incorporated, and the affairs of its management vested in a Board of Education. This proceeding placed the Phelps school on a level with the best academic institutions of the county, and at that time it took the name above mentioned.
Succession of Principals: Lewis Peck, Thomas Purington, W. F. Crosby, Ziba H. Potter, Ezra J. Peck, Rev. Ferris Scott, Lockwood Hoyt, John S. Coe, Ezra J. Peck, James S. Root, H. C. Kirk, Geo. W. Rafter, H. C. Kirk, F. M. Smith, Cicero Hutchins, Daniel D. Edgerton.
The members of the Board of Education are as follows: H. K. Bowker, president ; Wm. B. Hobbie, secretary ; and F. H. Wisewell, Dr. Wm. Howe and Edward Hicks.
The village fire department is equipped with one serviceable hand engine, controlled and operated by the Crothers Fire Engine Company ; and a good hook and ladder apparatus, operated by the Redfield Hook and Ladder Company.
In the spring of 1889 the village gave permission to the Phelps Water Works Company to lay water mains through the principal streets. Although a local improvement, the stock of this company is owned by non residents. The water supply is taken from the locality known as Melvin Hill.
The Baptist church of Phelps village was organized January 31, 1843, although a society of this denomination was formed in the town as early as 1808, and was known as the First Baptist Church of Phelps. The old society continued in existence from 1808 to about the year 1860, but its life was one of vicissitudes and hardships. For many years its meetings were held in school-houses and other convenient places, and not until about 1831 was a minister employed. The Second and Third Baptist churches of Phelps were the outgrowths of this mother society. However, in 1843 the Baptists of the village were sufficiently strong in numbers and influence to accomplish the formation of a society, and on January 31 the organization was effected with fifty-one original members. The first pastor was J. H. Stebbins, followed, in succession, by Revs. Bingham, Luke Davis, G. W. Mead, J. M. Wade,
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C. M. Newland, M. W. Holmes, W. D. Woodruff, H. C. De Witt, Mr. Chase, C. A. Vottley and others. The membership of this church is now small. The church edifice was built in 1845 and dedicated in 1847. The present pastoral supply is Rev. Mr. Long.
The Presbyterian church of Phelps village was organized May 10, 1831, with sixty constituent members, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Levi Griswold. A comfortable church edifice was erected for the society on what is now known as Church street, and here the society met and prospered, growing constantly in numbers and influence, until certain dissensions worked a division in the church, followed by the withdrawal of about twenty members in 1840, who organized a new society and held regular services. In 1858 the old school adher- ents, having then become numerous, built a large and commodious edifice on Main street, while the dissentients occupied the old building on Church street. However, about 1869 or 1870 the factions were once more united and consolidated, and all worshiped thereafter in the Main street edifice. The building on Church street was then sold to the bishop of the diocese for the use of the parish of St. Francis' Roman Catholic church. The Presbyterian church of the village is a large organization, and is under the pastoral care of Rev. Wm. Henry Bates, who was in January, 1892, called to succeed Dr. Porter. This society has a large Sunday school, and also helps to support several benevolent dependencies.
St. John's Episcopal church was founded in 1832. Its early services were held in public buildings until 1845 when the erection of the stone church edifice was completed and consecrated in 1856. The communi- cating membership numbers fifty-three. The rectors in succession have been Erastus Spaulding, Edward de Zeng, Eli Wheeler, Erastus Spaulding (second rectorship), Dr. Kendrick Metcalf, Francis T. Rus- sell, Dr. Wm. B. Edson (who died December, 1892), and Dr. Charles Wells Hayes. St. John's has an endowment fund of $12,500, the gift of the well-known Stanley family ; the rectory lot also was given to the society by the same generous donors.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Phelps, or, as legally organized, the "First Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church," had a beginning in this village and locality during the early years of
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the present century, although the formal organization was not effected until July 19, 1831, at which time Josiah Maffitt, Erastus S. Morin and Caleb Bannister were elected trustees. In 1856 the substantial brick church edifice on Main street was erected. The church has a present membership of about 200, and a Sunday school with about 150 pupils. The present pastor is Rev. Platt T. Hughston.
St. Francis' Roman Catholic Church. A mission was established in Phelps in July, 1856, which afterward developed into a parish and church organization, and named as above mentioned, in 1857. The parish of course includes all the Catholic families of the village and vicinity, and is under the pastoral care of Father A. M. O'Niel. As has been mentioned in an earlier church history, the congregation of St. Francis' own and occupy the building formerly used by the Pres- byterian society.
The record of the press of Phelps village forms a brief though inter- esting local history, and while the newspaper publications have not been many the proprietors have indeed been numerous; almost "too numerous to mention." About the year 1832 the Phelps Citizen and Clifton Springs News was founded, but since that time the paper, in its various stages of prosperity, and under its numerous proprietorships, has been known as the Vienna Advertiser, The Phelps Democrat, The Western Atlas, The Phelps Union Star, The Phelps Citizen, The Ontario Citizen and News, and finally, as at present permanently established, as The Phelps Citizen. And we may here state, parenthetically, per- haps, that at no time during the entire history of the paper (or papers) has its success been greater than at present-under the management of Bussey Brothers. It is a bright, newsy, clean and interesting publica- tion, enjoying a large circulation and liberal advertising patronage.
Other papers of the village, which have had a transient existence only, were The Neighbor's Home Mail and The Phelps Advertiser.
As a manufacturing locality Phelps village has for many years held a position of importance among the municipalities of the county. The two principal waterways of the town-Canandaigua Lake outlet and Flint Creek-have provided abundant mill sites and privileges, and while the former stream has its general course north of the village, its principal influences have ever extended to the village and contributed
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to its welfare. Flint Creek is a stream of good size and crosses the village in an east and west direction, and its " fall " being considerable, abundant power has been provided for operating the machinery of the many mills which have for nearly a century lined its banks. In a pre- ceding portion of this chapter reference has been made to the old mill- ing and manufacturing enterprises that have been operated in the vicinity, wherefore a repetition of them here is unnecessary ; nor in the present connection need we be confined by corporate limits, for the adjoining mills are quite a part of the local interests, and may be so treated.
The commonly called Stone Mill, but in fact the old " Farmers' and Mechanics' Mill," now owned by the estate of Dr. J. Q. Howe, was built in 1834, under the ownership of F. Van Demark; A. More, builder. This mill is in the center of the village, and in the immediate vicinity is the basket factory of Henry J Whiting, which formerly was the Miller & Hoff mill ; also the malt-house of Oliver Crothers & Son, the store-house and machine shop. The old Edmonston mills, which were erected in 1819 are no longer used as originally built, but are now the cider mill and brandy distillery of Peter Garlock. The mill is north of the Phelps Hotel. The Red Mill at Phelps, built many years ago by Wm. Hildreth, has not been in operation during the last fifteen years.
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