USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > History of Rochester and Monroe county, New York, from the earliest historic times to the beginning of 1907 > Part 55
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
creek, James Sayres built the second, Aretas Has- kell the third. Alanson Thomas built the first grist-mill, followed by O. C. Webster and E. K. Webster. The first death was that of Mr. Strunk in 1812. Philander Kane built the first tavern at East Hamlin, about 1830, and the locality be- came known as Kane's Corners. A. D. Raymond opened a tavern at the center in 1842, and south of that hamlet David Look previously kept a hotel. H. Beebe had the first store at the east village, and Daniel Pease the first at the Center, while the first postmaster here was Henry Kimball. At East Hamlin the postmaster was Elisha Wheeler, and at East Kendall, Andrew Clark. At Thomas- ville, North Hamlin, the first postmaster was L. Hovey. Hamlin has never built up a municipality of either size or note, nor have manufacturing in- dustries flourished there, but at the same time it has been a frugal, industrions, agricultural com- munity. and has never had need of any jail or station-house. The first town meeting was held March 1st, 1853, at the house of John Patterson, at which time Ebenezer Barringer was elected supervisor. Hamlin has an acreage of 26,443 acres, and its total assessed valuation for 1906 was $1,- 503,525.
THE TOWN OF HENRIETTA.
Henrietta was named for Henrietta Laura, countess of Bath, the danghter of Sir William Pul- teney and was formed from Pittsford March 27th, 1818. The first settler was Jesse Pangborn, in 1806. The Baptist church was the first church, organized in 1811. Major Isaac Scott received for military services nine hundred acres of land in the southwest part of the town and attempted a settle- ment in 1790, but abandoned it in 1792. In 1806 Charles Rice, William Thompson, Thomas Sparks, Moses Goodall, George Dickinson, Selah Reed and Gideon Griswold settled in the west part of the town. In 1807 Ira Hatch, Jonathan Russell, Ben- jamin Hale, and the Baldwin family settled ob what was called the Wadsworth road. In 1809 the Spring family settled near the center. Sarah Leg- gett taught the first school, in 1809; James Smith kept the first store, Jonathan Smith built the first saw-mill in 1811, and the second was built av Eager Wells. Daniel Richards put up a small tan- nery in 1813, and, with the leather there made,
Phineas Baldwin and Mr. Austin made shoes for the townspeople. John Gooding was the first distiller, having come from Bloomfield, with his brother Ebenezer. Sidney Warner made the first chairs in town, and Daniel Henges afterward fol- lowed him in the same business. Among the pio- neers of Henrietta were a number of old Revolu- tionary soldiers, among whom were Major Gilbert, Joel Clark, Robert McLoud, Lyman Wright, and Daniel Phillips. The town was also represented by men who made honorable records in the war of 1812-15, notably Jacob, John and Samuel Hib- bard, Loren Connise, who died in service, -
Bartlett (killed). Beckwith (died in 1813), Samuel Cady (died in service), Ira James and Dr. Phillips. In the town at an early day were a number of squatters, who occupied land without claim or color of title. Several of these were worthy pioneers, and afterward hecame per- manent residents. This settlement before it was taken from Pittsford was known as "West town," and settlement developed here so rapidly that it naturally gave rise to a discussion of the question as to a division of the town; and considerable dif- ficulty was experienced between the representatives of the east and west districts of Pittsford, each, of course, looking for the chief town officers and pub- lic improvements for their respective localities. Other disputed questions entered into the contro- versy, but a division was finally accomplished on March 27th, 1818, and on April 20th of the same year the first town meeting was held, and Jacob Stevens was elected the first supervisor. Henrietta is a distinctly agricultural town, having an acre- age of 21,791 acres, and an assessed valnation in 1906 of $1.738.150.
THE TOWN OF IRONDEQUOIT.
Irondequoit was formed from Brighton in 1839, and named from Irondequoit bay. called by the In- dians Neo-da-on-da-quat, signifying a bay. Lake Ontario forms the northern bonndary, and the Genesee river the western boundary. Its surface is rolling, with an inclination in the north part toward the lake, and the deep valley of Irondeqnoit bay on the east. The streams are small and flow north and east into the lake and bay. The first settlement was made by William Walker, in 1791. He was a ranger and settled at the mouth of the
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
Genesee river, but shortly thereafter moved to the west side of the river into the present town of Greece. He is frequently referred to as the "Tory Walker," as he had been engaged with Butler and Brant during the Revolution, and taken part in the freqnent merciless slaughter of white men, women and children, in the frontier settlements. Later he became involved in difficulties and removed to Canada. The second settler was one Dunbar, a mulatto, who came from Massachusetts in 1795. He was a hunter and fisher. Oliver Culver and Samuel Spafford visited Irondequoit landing, at the head of the bay, in 1296, but afterward went west with a party of emigrants. Ju the same year Jobn Parks located in the town.
During the period of French dominion in Amer- ica, and nearly a hundred years previous to the Revolution, this locality was invaded by Marquis de Denonville, in July, 1687, who came with his French forces and allied Canadian Indians to chastise and subdue the native Senecas. He pro- ceeded to the head of the bay and built a palisade fort for the protection of his forces. Among other early settlers were Jesse Case, Jesse Taintor, Elmer Reynolds, John Culver, Ransford Perrin, Adonijah Green, Abner Wakley and Abel Densmore. In 1815 Elisha B. Strong, afterward first judge of the old Common Pleas court, and Elisha Beach, pur- chased a thousand acre tract of land on the east side of the Genesce river, and established a little hamlet called Carthage, abont opposite Hanford's landing, which was intended to outrival Rochester- ville, and become the seat of justice of a new coun- ty. Bounded on three sides by water, with numer- ous bays, indentations and marsh lands, in early days the region offered temptation only to the hunter and trapper. but, after the forests were cleared out, it was found that this town possessed some of the most fertile soil in the whole Genesce country, and at present it is the garden spot of the county, standing first among the market gar- dening spots of the country, with the possible ex- ception of the market-gardening region aronnd Boston. The greenlionses are numerous and some of them are quite extensive, notably those of the Titus family, covering acres, and being cultivated by team and plow. The first meeting of electors was held April 21. 1839, when William Shepherd was chosen supervisor, and Alexander A. Honker town clerk. The town contains 11.067 acres, aud
the assessed value of its property in 1906 was $2,104,313.
THE TOWN OF MENDON.
This town was formed from Bloomfield, Ontario county, May 26th, 1812. It lies on the southern horder of the county, cast of the center. Honeoye creek flows through the southwest corner, and the head waters of Irondequoit creek flow through near the center. There are three small ponds in the northwest part of the town. Mendon was organ- ized as a town of Ontario county, and was annexed to Monroe county upon the erection of the latter in 1821. Township 11, range 5, was sold by Phelps and Gorham to Messrs. Franklin and Boughton, and by the latter was subdivided aud sold in smaller tracts. The first settlement wax made by Zebulon Norton from Vermont, in 1790, at Honeoye Falls, formerly known as "Norton Mills." from the first mills erected by Zebulon Norton. Captain Jonathan Ball and Peter Sinea came in with Mr. Norton. Among the other early settlers were Daniel Williams, Captain Treat, Ru- fus Parks, Ebenezer Rathbun, Benjamin Parks, William Hickox, Lorin Wait and Reuben Hiil. from Massachusetts, in 1793. They all settled in the eastern part of the town. Samuel Sterling. Jason Cross and Calvin Perrine settled at Honeoye Falls in 1794, John Parks, Jonas Allan and Joseph Bryan in 195; Charles Foot and Samuel Lane in 1297. The first birth was that of William E. Ster- ling, in 1795; the first marriage that of Jason Cross and Mary Moon, in 1796, and the first death that of John Moon, in 1801. Welcome Garfield taught the first school, Abram Parrish kept the first inn and James Dickinson the first store. The first church was a Baptist church, organized in 1809. Rev. Jesse Brayman was the first settled minister. Later tavern-keepers were John Case, Daniel Gibson, Samuel Ladd and Captain John Lines. Benjamin Baker was the first blacksmith. John and James Dunn built a distillery about 1813, and about the same time James Dixon and Atwell and Grout had potasheries. Clark and Wright were the pioneer tanners. Smith Wieks had the first carding machine, but Samnel Hanna changed the building to a trip-hammer shop. James Wadsworth purchased the "Eleven Thou- sand Acre Tract," which was numerously settled.
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
The hamlets or villages of the town are Houcoye Falls, Mendon, Mendon Center and Sibleyville, Honeoye Falls being the only incorporated village, incorporated in 1838; it contains an excellent union free school. The first town meeting was held in April, 1813, at the house of Thomas Ewer, and adjourned to his barn. Timothy Barnard was moderator and John Allen was elected the first supervisor. Mendou contains 23,532 acres and its assessed valuation for 1906 was $2,387,150.
THE TOWN OF OGDEN,
On the 27th of January, 1817, Ogden was formed from l'arma, then one of the civil divisions of Genesee county, so called in allusion to William Ogden, the son-in-law of John Murray, the orig- inal proprietor. The streams are small brooke forming head branches of Sandy, Salmon and Little Black creeks. It is one of the best wheat- growing towns in the county. The settlements are Spencerport, a canal village; Adams Basin, Ogden Center and Ogden. Spencerport was named for William H. Spencer, the pioneer settler of the village and the one who built the first saw- mill. Ogden comprises one township, divided originally into 230 town lots, of about 100 acres each, and contains a little more than thirty-seven square miles of land.
Settlement was commenced in 1802 by George W. Willey, from East Haddan, Conn. The first preacher was Rev. Daniel Brown, in 1807, and the first church was Presbyterian, formed in 1811. Among other early settlers were Ephraim, Abra- ham, Timothy and Isaac Colby, Josiah Mather, Jonathan Brown, Henry Hahn, Daniel Wandel, Benejah Willey, John Webster, Benjamin Free- man, Daniel and Austin Spencer, Judge Willian B. Brown and Daniel Arnold, all from Connecti- ent. The first child born was John Colby, in 1805, and the first death way that of Mrs. G. W. Willey, in 1803. Miss Willey taught the first school, in 1807. George Huntley kept the first inn, Charles Church the first store. Eastman Colby was a colonel of militia in the war of 1812- 15 and one of the foremost men of the town in his day. He died in 1859. Ansel Chapman was the pioneer of the southern part of the town. About the same time came the Gotts, Samuel and John, who located near the center. Stephen Ross
in 1816 settled a mile south of Adams Basin, where he had a farm and cabinet shop. The early set- tlers were chiefly New England Yankees, with a sprinkling of Mohawk and New Jersey Dutch. The disposition and settlement of the lands in this town was under the direction of James Wads- worth, the representative of the proprietor, and John Gott was appointed lowal agent under Wads worth, the latter being located at Geneseo, or "Big Tree." John Gott was a brother of Samuel Gott and father of Oscar F. Gott of Spencerport. To carry out his agency Mr. Wadsworth visited New' England to induce settlement in the Genesen country, then referred to as Fairfield, in the town of Northampton. A public meeting was called at Haddam, Connecticut, after which Daniel Ar- nold visited this region and reported favorably therron. The construction of the Erie canal did much to build up Spencerport and this section and the construction of the railroad later added impetus to the movement. The present acreage of the town is 22,318 acres, and the assessed value of its taxable property in 1906 was $1,921,979.
THE TOWN OF PARMA.
In the original division of territory of Western New York into towns of the original county of Ontario all of the territory west of the Genesee river in said county was included in the town of Northampton, formed April 4th, 1797. This great town was divided December 8th, 1807, into Pul- teney, Bayard, Fairfield and Northampton. Fair- field included Parma and Ogden, and April 8th, 1808, the name Fairfield was dropped and Parma adopted in its stead. Ogden was taken off in 181 ;. The original dividing line between Parma and Ogden was the center of the once famous Ridge road, but a subsequent change established the line one mile further south, including the gore within Parma. It lies upon Lake Ontario west of the center of the county. Its streams are Salmon, Little Salmon, Buttonwood and Long Pond creeks. All authorities agree that the honor of having been the pioneers of Parma belongs to Bezaleel, Stephen and John Atchinson, brothers, who with the family of the first mentioned came to the town early in 1796 and settled one mile and a half northwest of Parma Center. Among the other carly settlers were Michael Beach, Sila-
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
Leonard, George Goodhue and Timothy Madden in 1802. and Jonathan Underwood, Gibbon Jewell, George Huntley, Abner Brockway, jr., James Eg- bert and Jonathan Ogden in 1805, Hope and Elisha Downs in 1809, Augustus Mather, Lendell Curtiss, Samuel Castle and Kinnicone Roberts in 1810, and Joshua Whitney in 1811. The first marriage was that of Captain Jonathan Leonard to a daughter of William Hincher; Alpheus Mad- den opened and taught the first school in 1804; J. Thompson kept the first store; Hope and Elisha Davis built the first tavern in the town; Jonathan Whitney built the first grist-mill, and it is claimed that the first saw-mill was that of E. W. Thayer, on Long Pond creek, built in 1806 or 1807. Be- zaleel Atchinson constructed a grist-mill on Sal- mon creek in 1809 and a few years later a saw-mill. The Gulf mille, otherwise known as the Fowler mills, were built on the Ridge road, about 1812, by Whitney & Markham. The first saw-mill in the north part of the town was built in 1820 on West creek by Mr. Winchell. Philander Curtis built the second and the Buells, Joseph and George, the third. The Sperry mills were built about 1840, as was also the carding and planing mill of Mr. Trimmer. The settlements are North Parma, formerly called Unionville, now the village of Hilton, Parma Corners and Parma Center. The town is noted for its orchards and fine fruit raised along its lake belt. It contains 25,384 acres of land and the assessed value of its taxable prop- erty in 1906 was $1,820,626.
THE TOWN OF PENFIELD.
Penfield was named from Daniel Penfield, an extensive landholder during the early settlement, and was formed from Boyle. March 30th, 1810. Webster was taken off in 1840. Its surface is roll- ing and in the west it is much broken. Ironde- quoit bay enters the northwest corner. Irondequoit creek flows through the southwest corner and forms a part of the western boundary. It falls about ninety feet in the village of Penfield. The other streams are small brooks. The first perma- nent settlement was made by Lebbeus Ross and Calvin Clark, in 1801. Asa Carpenter had previ- ously settled, but did not remain. Phelps and Gorham about 1790 sold the township to General
Jonathan Fassett, a Vermont Yankee, who visit- ed his purchase and made some small improve- ments, but the situation of the town and its ma- larial districts were too much even for a Yankee and he abandoned his purchase and subsequently sold it to Mr. Ham, of New Jersey, for less than he paid for it. Proprietor Ham sold the town to General Silas Pepoon, reserving to himself a two- hundred-acre tract a mile north of Penfield village. Pepoon sold to Samuel P. Lloyd and the latter in 1810 disposed of all that remained to Daniel Pen- field. Caleb Hopkins and a Mr. Maybee, together with four others, made an early settlement. As early as 1804 Josiah J. Kellogg, Danicl Stilwell, Benjamin Minor, Jonathan and David Baker, Isaac Beatty and Henry Paddock moved in. The first birth was that of a child of Mrs. Fiske and the first death was that of Benjamin Stilwell, in 1804. Joseph Hatch taught the first school, Dan- iel Stilwell kept the first inn, 1806, and William Mckinstry the first store. The first mills were built by Daniel Penfield. Irondequoit creek fur- nishies excellent water power and upon its banke many industries were early started. The old trip hammer was started in 1800 by Mr. Bronson. The first distillery was that of William Mckinstry, in 1810, and the second was John Hipp's. Daniel Penfield, Alpheus Clark, Josinh J. Clark and Jo- sinh J. Kellogg were later distillers, and the last was Henry Fellows in 1835. Nathaniel Case and Nelson Fullam built mills on Irondequoit creek about 1815. About 1805 Captain Benja- min Minor built a fulling mill on the creek, and in 1815 a cloth factory was erected. The first tannery was built about 1812 by Henry Fellows. The first town meeting was held at the school- house, April 20th, 1811, at which time William M.Kinstry was elected supervisor and Brooks Mason town clerk. The principal settlements are at Penfield village, Penfield Center and East Pen- field. Penfield contains 22,068 acres, and the as- sessed value of its taxable property, as appears from the assessment rolls for 1906, was $1,430,652.
THE TOWN OF PERINTON.
Perinton was named for Glover Perrin, the first permanent settler in the town, in 1789. His orig- inal log cabin stond a mile south of Fairport.
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
'The township was first formed as Northfield, was afterward known as Boyle, and May 26th, 1812, for $3,060,807.
was formed as Perinton, It is the south town on the east line of the county. Turk Hill, in the south- ern part, is the highest point in the county. The town is drained by the headwater of Irondequoit creek and its branches. The soil is a sandy loam. The first settlement was commenced in 1790, but was mostly abandoned soon after. Among the early settlers were Jesse Perrin in 1792, Abner Wright in 1795, Caleb Walker in 1799 and Asa and Ed- ward l'errin, Levi Treadwell, Major Norton, John Scott, John Peters and Gideon Ramsdell soon after. Rev. Mr. Crane preached the first sermon. The first birth was that of Asa Wright, in 1797. Glover l'errin kept the first inn, Gregory and Dean the first store and Richard Lincoln built the first grist-mill and Joseph Richardson one in 1810 on Irondequoit creek; Packard and Watson, in 1818, built one in Egypt, another in 1821 was built by Rich, Lincoln and Lathrop. The first saw-mill was built on Thomas creek by Peter Ripley, about 1812; another a little further down the creek about 1817 by E. Lewis; a third was built on Irondequoit creek about 1820 by Bailey and Richardson; a clothing mill was connected with it. The pioneer period of the town of Perinton may be said to have ended with the opening of the Erie canal in 1822. Thirty-one years later the direct line of the Central railroad was built through the town and through the village of Fairport. Perinton in the original survey was township number 12, range 4, of the Phelps and Gorham purchase, and was one of the six-mile-square townships and has not suffered any change in its original boundaries. In 1789 the entire township passed by purchase to William Walker, land agent for Phelps and Gor- ham. Walker sold to Daniel Penfield and the lat- ter to a Mr. Duncan. The first town meeting was held April 6th, 1813, in Egypt, and the officials elected were: Supervisor, Cyrus Packard; town clerk, Amasa Slocum; assessors, Elisha Slocum, Joseph Beal and Charles Aldrich ; commissioners of highways, Olney Staples, John Scott and David Stout; poormasters, Thomas Ramsdell and Ste- phen Eaton. The principal settlement is the vil- lage of Fairport, which was incorporated April 30th, 1867, a prosperous village containing a con- plete system of waterworks, n union free school and large manufacturing interests. Perinton contains
21,450 acres, and its taxable property is assessed
THE TOWN OF PITTSFORD.
Pittsford was formed from Smallwood, March 25th, 1814. It is an interior town lying east of the center of the county. Irondequoit creek flows through the northeast part and Allen's creek through the west part. The first settlement was commenced in 1789 by Israel and Simon Stone. The first church, Congregational, was organized in 1809. It is a small part of the Phelps and Gor- ham purchase and was by them sold to Israel and Simon Stone and Seth Dodge, or at least 13,300 acres of it, for which they paid eighteen pence per acre. The lands of this region increased in value so rapidly that Phelps and Gorham sought to regain this tract, and they agreed with the Stones and Dodge to give them one-half of the tract without further payment if the latter would relinquish their claim to the other half. This was done, and by it the Stones and Dodge became the absolute owners of nearly one-half of the town for the merely nominal consideration of about thirty dollars. Simon Stone's log house stood a short distance south of Pittsford village, while the house of his brother stood on a site near a spring in the village. John Lusk and his son Ste- phen had a squatter's residence near the head of Irondequoit bay two or three years before the Stones arrived. Among the other settlers who set- tled in the town from 1791 to 1800 were Silas Nye, Joseph Farr, Alexander Dunn, David Davis, Thomas Clelland, Ezra Patterson, Josiah Crinin- son, Caleb Hopkins, William Acer, Israel Can- field and Benjamin Miller. The first marriage was that of N. Armstrong and Miss E. Cole. The first school was taught in 1794. Noah Norton built the first frame house, in 1795. Simon Stone built the first saw-mill and he was also a nail maker. John Mann built a saw-mill in 1805 on Irondequoit creek, in the east part of the town. Among the early settlers who had served in the Revolutionary war were Ebenezer Graves, Cap- tain Henry Gale, Captain Silas Nye, Deacon Sam- nel Stone, Thomas Clelland and others. Among those who served in the war of 1812 were Caleb Hopkins, William Jones, A. M. Gallagher, Amon Dunn, who was killed and scalped by the Indians;
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HISTORY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.
Joel Dunn, James Merrill and Candius Boughton. This district had no special town organization pre- vious to 1796, in which year the following town ยท officers were chosen : Silas Nye, supervisor ; John Ray, town clerk; Noah Norton, Caleb Hopkins, Glover Perrin, assessors. The principal settlement is the village of Pittsford, located near the center of the town. Pittsford contains 14,748 acres and the assessed value of its taxable property for 1906 was $1,931,019.
THE TOWN OF RIGA.
This town originally formed a part of old Northampton, the mother of Monroe county towns west of the Genesee. Northampton was divided December 8th, 180;, and Pulteney erected out of a part of its territory, the latter including what is now Chili and Riga, respectively known as East and West Pulteney. Riga was formed from Northampton April 8th, 1808. Black creek, a dull, sluggish stream, flows east in a tortuous course through near the center. The soil is a clayey loam. These lands were a part of the famous "Mill-Seat tract," deeded to Phelps and Gorham by the In- dians and afterward sold to Robert Morris, of Philadelphia, the financier of the Revolution, and by him sold to the Pulteney estate. The agency for these lands was entrusted to James Wads- worth, under whose auspices the first settlement was commenced in 1805. The first church was a Congregational church, organized in 1806, Rev. Allen Hollister being the first pastor. The first settlers were mostly from Massachusetts. Elihu Church settled near the Center in March, 1806. Soon after Samuel Shepherd settled in the south- weil part of the town : Henry Brewster, Samuel Baldwin, William Parker, Ezekiel Barnes, Nehe- miah Frost, Samuel Church, for whom the prin- cipal settlement, the village of Churchville, was named; James Knowles, Thomas Bingham, Jo- seph Tucker, Enos Morse and George Richmond, in 1807, and Joseph Emerson and Eber and Ches- ter Orcutt, in 1808. The first birth was that of a daughter of Samuel Church, the first male child born was Hiram Shepherd in 1806. the first death was that of Richard Church in 1807; Elihu Church built the first house; the first marriage was that of Joseph Sibley and Clarissa, daughter of Richard Church : Joseph Thompson kept the first
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