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 39
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100
In the year 1825 the Board of Supervisors of the county purchased a farm of one hundred acres, situated in the southeast part of Hope- well, which was fitted up for a home for the county poor. The cost of the property was less than $2,000, but by subsequent management of the farmn (now exceeding 200 acres) and the erection of necessary build- ings, many thousand dollars have been expended. Previous to 1815 the indigent poor of the county were maintained by the towns sepa- rately, in accordance with New England custom). Although this is not a town institution, but of the county, its location in Hopewell makes necessary a passing reference to it. The Ontario county poor- house and farm are among the most noted institutions of the county, and one in which every loyal citizen feels a just pride ; and it is a fact that no
427
TOWN OF HOPEWELL.
similar county in the State can lay claim to a like property which is conducted on more thorough and practical business principles than is this one. During the last five years the direct care of the inmates and the management of the farm has been entrusted to Ralph Wisner, as keeper, and much of the fame which this institution has acquired is due to the efforts of the keeper and his wife.
On the 22d of March, 1822, the Legislature passed an act dividing the township of Gorham, and setting off the north half thereof, which was the original town No. 10, of range 2, and creating a new town called Hopewell. On the 17th day of April following, the electors held their first annual town meeting, at which time officers were elected as follows : Supervisor, Nathan Lewis ; town clerk, John Price ; assessors, Elisha Higby, George Brundage, James Birdseye ; highway commis- sioners, Joel S. Hart, Erastus Larned, William Canfield ; overseers of poor, Rufus Warner, Lemuel Babcock ; commissioners of schools, Wm. Buchan, Jason Angel, Joshua Case ; inspectors of schools, Joseph Mer- rill, Wm Bodman, Joel Amsden ; constables, Timothy Dunham, Hiram Dillon, Wm. Larned, Jos, Parker; collector, Walter Wells. The first justices of the peace were Nathaniel Lewis, John Price, Amos Jones and Elisha Higby.
Although lying adjacent to the county seat, Hopewell has never at- tained a position of much importance among the towns of the county. The outlet has afforded an abundant water privilege to manufacturing enterprises, and during the early history of the town this power was employed to a considerable extent, and tliere has been maintained an industry of some sort on this stream ever since the settlement of the town. However, the proximity of Hopewell to the county village has operated to the disadvantage of the former, as enterprises have chosen Canandaigua as a place of operation rather than a remote locality.
Chapinville is a small hamlet located in the northeast part of the town, about in the center of school district No. 4. This is one of the oldest settled localities in this part of the county, for here Captain Chapin and Oliver Phelps caused to be erected a mill at a very early day, and about the mill a settlement was at once begun. At a com- paratively recent period the Auburn and Rochester railroad was con- structed through the village, which had the effect to temporarily stim-
428
HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
nlate business in the locality, but within less than twenty years the hamlet had resumed its former condition. The important industry of the Chapinville vicinity at this time is the " Chapinville Wheel Com- pany," which was incorporated January 5, 1891, by Jacob Martin, Ed- ward D. Martin, David N. Salisbury, Edward C. Scudelbach, and Ad- dison D. Kelley and the object of which is the manufacture of wheels, gears and bodies of carriages and wagons. The capital stock of the company is $45,000.
The First Society of the M. E. Church and congregation in Chapinville was incorporated May 24, 1865, but the society was organized at a much earlier date, in 1852, by James L. and Harriet P. Munson, Will- iam and Elizabeth Callister, George W. Caton, Jerusha Caldwell, Eliz- abeth Stead, Mary Jackson, and Margaret Redfield, as original mem- bers. However, we may state that Methodist meetings were held in this neighborhood at a day far earlier than indicated by the above dates. In 1853 the church edifice of this society was built. The first pastors were John Spink, D. S. Chase, Geo. W. Paddock, E. J. Hermans, A. F. Morey, and L. D. Chase, in the order named The present pastoral supply of the church is D. D. Davis, who also officiates in the same ca- pacity at Shortsville.
Hopewell Center is a hamlet still older than Chapinville, and being situated away from any railroad is of perhaps less importance than the other village. In a way. however, the Center has much local impor- tance, and is the natural trading point for a large and productive agri- cultural district. The business enterprises of the Center are few, being the stores, hotels, shops and other adjuncts of hamlet existence. Here also is located the school of district No. 6, and the M. E. Church. The latter is known as the First Society of the M. E. Church in the town of Hopewell, and had its organization in 1819, Silas Smith, Eben - ezer Benham and Ezra Newton being its first trustees. For a time, however, this society was discontinued, but was reorganized in 1841, and has since enjoyed a prosperous existence. It is now under the pas- toral care of Rev. S. F. Beardslee, who also supplies the pulpit of the M E. Church at Seneca Castle.
In the southeast part of the town is the little hamlet called Lewis, a station on the Northern Central road, and a center of trade for a well-
429
TOWN OF HOPEWELL.
peopled region. This hamlet is in school district No. 8, the school- house and church being the most important of its local institutions. The latter is under the present pastoral care of Rev. Cordello Herrick, he also being pastor of the M. E. Church at Flint Creek. The post- office here is called Hopewell, while the name Lewis applies to the rail- road station.
The Wesleyan church of Hopewell is to be mentioned among the in- stitutions of Hopewell Center, although its members came from the town generally. The church was organized in 1843, by Rev. Ralph Bennett, and numbered in its membership some of the most substantial families of the town. Its earlier pastors were Revs. Bennett, H. M. Booth, Spoor, Ryder, Thompson, Brain, May, Slosson and others.
Ennerdale is a station on the Northern Central Railroad, between Lewis and Canandaigua. The post- office here is called Beulah. Other than a convenient point in the midst of a fertile. farming region, this hamlet has no special importance. South of its locality and in the south part of the township was organized one of the pioneer church societies of the county. This was the Presbyterian church, the first meeting of which were held as early as 1803, although the organization was not completed until many years later. Rev. Jedediah Chapman was the or- ganizing minister and the society drew its members from both Hope- well and Gorham, the latter of which towns included the territory of the former at that time. At an early day this church had a large member- ship, but the organization of a church of the same denomination in Gor- ham, after Hopewell was set off, very much weakened the old society in the town last named. The Presbyterian church, parsonage and cen- etery were situated in district No. 9, about fifty rods north of the Gor- ham line.
Schools .- In all matters pertaining to education the inhabitants of Hopewell have kept even step with the people of other towns of the county. Although the records are quite incomplete there is evidence which tends to show that schools were opened and maintained during the pioneer period, the first school being taught by Calvin Bacon in 1702, and that Elesta Murray, All Tracy and Nathaniel Lewis were among the earlier teachers in the little old school house which stood on the turnpike road leading from Geneva to the county seat. Directly
430
HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
north of the old site, and in the extreme north part of the town, was another pioneer school house, in which Walter Fitzgerald was a teacher. Chapinville, likewise an old settled locality, had its school in operation at an early day. The settlement of Hopewell was accomplished so rap- idly that the territory of the town was early divided and formed into school districts, and these have since been increased and rearranged to suit the convenience of the town's people. According to the present disposition of the town's area, there are twelve school districts, each of which has a good school building. The total value of school property in the town is $5,735. The number of children of school age in the town is four hundred and fifty one, as shown by the enumeration of 1892, to instruct whom twelve teachers are employed at a cost, in the year mentioned, of $2,704. The total amount of moneys received for school purposes in 1892 was $3,519. 12. Of the school houses, nine are of frame, two of brick and one of stone material:
CHAPTER XXVI.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BRISTOL.
T HIS town was formed in January, 1789, and originally included all which is now Bristol and South Bristol, or townships 8 and 9 in the 4th range, as described according to the Phelps and Gorham surveys. In March, 1838, number 8, or South Bristol, was set off and separately organized. On March 23, 1848, a part of Bristol was annexed to Richmond, but on February 25, 1852, the strip was restored. The town derives its name from Bristol in Connecticut, from whence came many of its pioneer settlers.
The settlement of this town began in 1788, at which time several brothers named Gooding came to the region, made an improvement on lot No. I, in the northeast corner of the town, sowed wheat and planted turnips, and then, with the exception of Elnathan Gooding, all returned east to spend the winter and prepare for an early return in the next spring. Wherefore, the honor of being the pioneer of this town natu-
431
TOWN OF BRISTOL.
rally falls to Elnathan Gooding, whose long watch and wait appear to have been somewhat relieved by the presence and company of an Indian lad known as Jack Beary. In 1789 he returned to the town, accompanied with his family and brothers, and made a location in the vicinity of the improvement of the year before. Mr. Gooding was a veteran of the Revolution and a man of much influence in the new formed settlement. He was by trade a blacksmith, and his knowledge of that work made him especially serviceable to the pioneers. He was the first supervisor of the town.
In 1788 George Codding and his family came to the town, also locat- ing in the northeast portion. Pioneer Codding had five sons in his party, and their coming greatly added to the little community. The boys were John, George, Farmer, Burt and William. Other settlers of the same vicinity, and about the same time or soon afterward, were Capt. Peter Pitts, William Pitts, Calvin Jacobs, John Smith, James Gooding, all of whom are believed to have been permanently located in the town as early as 1792, and some of them in 1789. Seth Simmons was a settler in the town in 1798. Alden Sears settled in 1792. Thomas Hunn opened a school in 1790, and in the same year pioneer Gameliel Wilder had a grist-mill in operation. Three years later, 1793, Stephen Sisson opened a store and kept a public house in the town. Cornelius McCrum is said to have been the first white child born in the town.
In the preceding paragraphs we have named the first pioneers of the town, but great difficulties are encountered in learning the date of each settlement, while an attempt to preserve succession of settlement is wholly useless; wherefore we may only recall the names of pioneers with date and general locality of settlement when ascertainable. Daniel Taylor settled in 1804, on lot 4, and an early dealer of cattle, Faunce Codding, located on lot 5. Marcius Marsh settled on lot 5 in 1796 or '97. Abijah Spencer settled in 1789 on lot 6, and the place was occu- pied in 1797 by Dr. Thomas Vincent, who formerly lived in Geneva. On the same lot Hezekiah Hills settled in 1797. Burt Codding and John Whitmarsh were settlers on lot 7 in 1791. Ephraim Wilder located in 1793 on lot 14, and remained only one season and then moved to lot 10. He built a mill in the town in 1810, and died in 1826.
>
432
HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
Theopholis Short settled on lot 11 in 1796, and was the first brick- maker in the town. Eleazer Hill settled on lot 13 in 1794. He organized a militia company in the town in 1812. John Taylor, settled in the town in 1797 on lot 13. Samuel Mallory settled on lot 14 in 1797. In 1794 John Crow located on lot 15. John Trafton settled on the same lot in 1797. Oliver Mitchell settled early on lot 16. Alden Sears's settlement in 1792 was on lot 36. Aaron Wheeler came to the same locality in 1798, and Samuel Torrence in 1800. Aaron Hicks located on lot 37 in 1795. John Simmons settled on lot 38 in 1792. John Kent settled on lot 37 in 1795, and Seth Jones on lot 38 in 1802. The latter is remembered as a tavern-keeper at Baptist Hill as early as 1816 William Francis came to the town in 1800. Solomon Goodale came to the town in 1802, and was a Baptist minister. Luther Phillips settled in Bristol in 1803, and was an early shoemaker. Job Gooding located on lot 39 in 1794, and four years afterward Joshua Reed and Nathaniel Cudworth settled on the same lot. Samuel Andrews settled on lot 40 in 1791, and five years later Benjamin Andrews occupied a part of the same lot. Zephaniah Gooding came to Bristol in 1798 and located on lot 41, and in 1800 John Phillips settled on the same lot. Thomas Gooding came in 1802. David Simmons settled on lot 42 in 1797, and in the same year also came Ephraim, Simeon, Benjamin, Raymond and Constance Simmons, all of the same family. Jeremiah Brown located on lot 45 in 1800. Asa James came to lot 47 about 1801. In . 1805 Philip Simmons located on lot 50, and Capt. Amos Barber on lot 51 in 1796 or '97.
In the same manner there may be recalled the names of other early settlers in Bristol, among them Nathan Fisher, who located near Bap- tist Hill about 1795. Abijah Warren settled in 1805. Rufus Whit- marsh came in 1806. Jonas and Joseph Wilder came a little earlier. James Case came in 1800, and John Case in 1802. James Austin and Eliakim Walker were also early settlers. Daniel Smith was on lot 43 in 1800, and Tisdell Walker on lot 42 in 1802. John Mason located on lot 44 in 1801. Sylvanus Jones and John Crandall were settlers in 1802, and Azer Jackson and Elias Jackson in 1803. George Reed located on lot 52, and Ephraim Jones on lot 53 in 1805.
Such was the pioneer settlement of township No. 9 in the 4th range, which is now and for more than a century has been known as Bristol.
433
TOWN OF BRISTOL.
Glancing over the names of pioneers there appear very many which are still familiar, and are represented by persons still resident in the county ; and cases are not wanting in which some of the descendants of these pioneer heads of families have attained high standing in professional and public life. It is a conceded fact, too, that Bristol has furnished some of the best and strongest men of Ontario county ; men who have adorned the medical and legal professions, and others have reached an enviable position in political affairs.
The early settlement of Bristol was indeed rapid, and in fact the town reached its maximum population in 1830. The census of that year gave it 2,952, but in 1838 South Bristol was taken off, hence, in 1840, the number was reduced to 1,953. Since the last mentioned year the number of inhabitants has been steadily reduced, the result of the same causes that have operated to decrease the population in the majority of interior towns in this State, and as well all the Eastern States. In 1850 the population was 1,773 ; in 1860 was 1,657; in 1870 was 1,551 ; in 1880 was 1,550; and in 1890 was 1,510. From this we discover that half a century witnessed a diminution of Bristol's popula- tion by more than 500.
Organization .- The town of Bristol, as has been stated, was formed in 1789, but it seems not to have been fully organized until 1797, the first meeting for that purpose being held on April 4. The justices of the peace-Gameliel Wilder and George Codding presided, and officers were elected as follows: Supervisor, William Gooding; town clerk, John Codding; assessors, Faunce Codding, Nathan Allen and Nathaniel Fisher ; commissioners of highways, James Gooding, Jabez Hicks and Moses Porter ; constables, Amos Barber, Nathan Allen and Alden Sears, jr .; overseers of the poor, George Codding, jr., and Stephen Sisson; overseers of highways, Eleazer Hills, Peter Ganyard, Theoph- ilus Allen, Elnathan Gooding, John Simmons and Amos Barber ; school commissioners, Aaron Rice, Ephraim Wilder and Nathaniel Fisher ; collectors, Amos Barber and Nathan Hatch.
Although Bristol was early populated, its location in the county is such that the building up of large villages or trading centers has been an impossibility, and such as have been and are in existence, are for the accommodation of trade within the town. Mud Creek is the principal
55
434
HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
water course of the town, having its source in South Bristol, whence it flows north into and across Bristol. Along this stream from the earliest settlement there has been both saw and grist-mills in operation, but the latter have outstripped the former in length of standing and usefulness. Mill Creek is a smaller stream, having its headwaters and course in the southwest part of the town, whence its flows into Richmond and dis- charges into the outlet of Honeoye Lake.
Of the hamlets or centers of trade in Bristol, that commonly called Bristol Center is perhaps the largest and most important, although Baptist Hill, or Bristol, may hold a supremacy in historical recollections. Ephraim Wilder was the pioneer in the Center neighborhood, he having located on lot 14 in 1793, where he built a log house, and afterward a frame dwelling, and kept public house, or tavern ; also he started a dis- tillery and otherwise laid the foundation for a village. Abijah Spencer and Major Jones were also early residents of this locality. In Landlord Wilder's hostelry Horace and Allen Hooker opened the first store of the Center, and were followed in the same line by one Bradbury, also George Gooding, the latter likewise keeping a hotel. The pioneer blacksmith was Learned Johnson, while the tanner of the village was Isaac Mason. Abijah Warien also had an early tannery. Other former residents of the Center, all of whom were more or less associated with the early history of the town, were Zenas Briggs, Mr. Pool, Antony Low and one Warrells, the last mentioned being a cabinet- maker. The public buildings of the Center are the Methodist church and the school-house, while the Congregational church is located outside the village proper and about three-quarters of a mile to the northward.
In the month of August, 1669, La Salle, accompanied by De Casson and Galinee, visited the Senecas. While the negotiations with the In- dians were pending the following event is recorded by Galinee. " In order to pass away the time, I went with M. de la Salle, under the escort of two Indians, about four leagues (ten miles) south of the vil- lage where we were staying, to see a very extraordinary spring. Issu- ing from a moderately high rock, it forms a small brook. The water is very clear but it has a bad odor, like that of the mineral marshes of Paris, when the mud on the bottom is stirred with the foot. I applied
435
TOWN OF BRISTOL.
a torch and the water immediately took fire and burned like brandy, and was not extinguished until it rained. This flame is among the In- dians a sign of abundance or fertility according as it exhibits the con- trary qualities. There is no appearance of sulphur, saltpetre, or any other combustible material. The water has not even any taste, and I can neither offer nor imagine any better explanation than that it ac- quires this combustible property by passing over some aluminous land." In 1700 Col. Romer was sent by the Earl of Bellomont, governor of the province of New York, on a journey through the country of the Iroquois. In the instructions given him is the following: "You are to go and view a well or spring which is eight miles beyond the Sinek's furthest Castle, which they have told me blazes up in a flame when a light coale or fire-brand is put into it ; you will do well to taste the said water, and give me your opinion thereof, and bring with you some of it." This BURNING SPRING is located at Bristol Center, about eight miles from the foot of Canandaigua Lake, in a direct line south of Boughton Hill. The late N. W. Randall, in giving the writer a descrip- tion of this spring, said : "The spring is on the south side of a small brook which empties through a ravine into the west side of the Ganargua or Mud Creek. The banks opposite the spring are from eight to twenty feet high, the spring being on a level with the bed of the brook. By applying a match the water appears to burn, and is not easily ex- tinguished, except by a heavy rain or a high wind."
The present business interests of Bristol Center are few, being the stores of Mrs. A. H. Case, who also is postmistress, Frank Simmons and Whitfield Burge ; also the grist-mill of Henry Codding. The ham- let contains about thirty dwellings, and has a population of about one hundred and fifty persons.
The hamlet called Baptist Hill, the correct name of which, however, is Bristol, is located in the north part of the township in school district No. I. This place took the character of a village about 1810, when Mr. Hunt opened a store. Later on he was followed in business by Joel Park, Dr. Jacob Gillett and others. Aaron Van Orman was the first blacksmith, and Luther Phillips the first tavern-keeper. Stephen Sisson built the first frame building here, which was used both for store and tavern. The present hotel-keeper is John Baker, and the mer-
436
HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
chants are Messrs. Wm. Doyle and Mr. Shelters, both of whom have general stores. Frank Hicks-has a harness shop. The public proper- ties of Bristol are the Baptist and Universalist churches, the school of district No. I, and the cemetery, the latter a burial place of much note.
Muttonville, as originally called, but Vincent of later designation, is, or at least was, a hamlet of some importance half a century ago. The name first mentioned was given the locality about 1845, when a tallow- chandlery was built there by Asahel Gooding. It is said that 30,000 sheep were annually slaughtered here, the tallow from which was made into candles ; the hind quarters were sold at less than three cents per pound ; the skins were tanned by Abijah Warren and Isaac Mason ; and the remainder of the slain animals was fed to swine. However, the good old days of Muttonville have passed, its industries are all gone, and during the spring of 1892 the remnant of the hamlet was nearly all destroyed by fire.
Bristol has been called the town of many churches, there having been no less then seven society organizations in the town since its first settle- ment. The oldest of these, and in fact one of the oldest in the county, is that known as the First Congregational Church of Bristol, which was organized in January, 1779, although Congregational services were held in the town as early as 1793, conducted by that earnest Christian worker, Rev. Zadoc Hunn ; and who was followed by Rev. John Smith. The first members were Isaac Hunn, George and Sarah Codding, Ephraim and Lydia Wilder, Nathaniel and Hannah Fisher, Chauncey and Polly Allen, Marcius and Amerilus Marsh, Wm. and Lydia Gooding, Samuel and Phebe Mallory, Selah Pitts, Mr. Foster, James Gooding, Alden Sears and Thomas Vincent. Rev. Joseph Grover was called to the pastorate, accepting and moving to the town in February, 1800, being the first of a long succession of pastors who have ministered to the spiritual wants of the people of Bristol. Other early pastors and supplies were Revs. Ezekiel Chapman, Aaron C. Collins, A. B. Law- rence, Edwin Bronson, Warren Day, S. C. Brown, Ebenezer Raymond, W. P. Jackson, Mr. Bryson, Mr. Jackson, E. A. Platt, Hiram Harris, E. C. Winchester, Timothy Stowe, H. B. Pierpont and others in succes- sion. In 1823 this church was under the charge of the Ontario pres- bytery, but in 1844 it withdrew and became Congregational. The first
437
TOWN OF BRISTOL.
primitive meeting-house of this society is said to have been " the first edifice exclusively for the worship of God in the Genesee country " (Hotchkin.) It was built of logs and stood on lot five. The second edifice was erected in 1813-14, to which subsequent enlargements and repairs have resulted in a substantially new structure. It stands north of Bristol Center, about three-fourths of a mile.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.