History of Yates County, N.Y. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers, Part 10

Author: Aldrich, Lewis Cass
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 754


USA > New York > Yates County > History of Yates County, N.Y. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers > Part 10


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).


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Under the direction of Commissioners Shattuck, Shearman, and Stew-


109


THE COUNTY'S COURT-HOUSES.


art the first court-house was erected. It is still remembered by some older residents as a plain, substantial brick building, not vastly different in appearance from the present court-house, but somewhat smaller in size. Its interior was so arranged and constructed as to furnish accom- modations for county officers, and also was provided with cells for the confinement of prisoners. In fact it was a sort of combination building for use both as court- house and jail. Yet it was honestly and faithfully built, and ample for the requirements of the county at that time. Un- like many more recent structures in this county and elsewhere the old court-house is understood as having been built within the appropriation.


In 1834, as near as can at present be ascertained, the old court house of Yates County was destroyed by an unfortunate fire. The loss oc- curred just at noon on the 4th or 5th of the month. Of course it became necessary to erect a new building, the site for which was desig- nated as the same upon which the first structure occupied. The new court-house is still standing, although occasional repairs have been made since 1840. It was not completed and ready for occupancy until about 1835, as is evidenced in the fact that the Common Pleas judges in Aug- ust, 1834, designated the house of Robert R. Beecher as the place for holding the next term of court. The second court-house was an im- provement upon the first in that it was larger, more comfortable, and relieved of the often annoying presence of jail occupants. The lower floor was arranged for county officers' quarters, while the upper story was finished for court uses. The building still stands, and while not at- tractive in appearance is nevertheless a firm structure. The new jail was built about the same time on the land fronting Liberty street. This was also a substantial building of stone and frame, but was burned about 1857, having been set on fire by a prisoner confined within its walls. The prisoner was Albert Hathaway, of Barrington, who had burned several buildings in his town, but was at last arrested, indicted, and put on trial. The defence made was the more recently popular plea of insanity and the trial resulted in acquittal on that ground.


In 1857 the new and present substantial jail and sheriff's residence was erected. It is of stone, covered with a coating of plastic material. The cells are constructed with solid cast-iron fronts, making the jail de- partment secure as a place of imprisonment and remarkably free from


IIO


HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.


the possibility of burning. It was built by Charles V. Bush, of Penn Yan, at a cost of about $8,000. In 1889 there was erected on the court- house lot an elegant county building for the use of the clerk and sur- rogate. It is virtually a double building, the north side being the clerk's office and depository for county records, while the south side is occu- pied on the ground floor as the surrogate's office and above for private offices by the same officer. This building was erected at an expense of about $10,000 or $11,000, an amount considerably in excess of the con- tract price. It was built by Hershel Pierce, of Dundee.


This was the second building of its special kind in the county, the former having stood on the same site, but occupying less ground and being less ornamental. The old so-called county building was a small stone structure and was built soon after the burning of the first court- house. The front was occupied by the clerk's office and the rear part by the surrogate. It was an unsightly affair and unsuitable for the use required of it; therefore it was torn down to make room for a new and more convenient structure, one that should be a credit to the county which owned it.


The foregoing is a record of the public buildings of the county of Yates which have been and are in use in connection with its administra- tion and governmental affairs. But the county has one other property which demands some notice in this place. Yates County had not been a separate organization for more than four or five years before its people and officers began discussing the question of establishing a home for the unfortunate and indigent element of local population. In 1824 the State legislature passed an act which made a general provision for the maintenance of the poor of the several counties of the State, and under this law the supervisors of the county took the initial steps toward the establishment of a county infirmary. The matter was under discussion early in October, 1829, at which time the supervisors filed with the clerk a certificate which read as follows :


" In compliance with the tenth section of an act passed the 27th of November, 1824, relative to County Poor-Houses, we hereby determine that it will be beneficial to the county of Yates to erect a county poor-house therein.


" Given under our hands this Ioth day of October, 1829.


"Jonathan Whittaker, George Youngs, Clarkson Martin, Alfred Brown, Asher Spicer, James Christie, Abraham Maxfield."


III


THE POOR-HOUSE AND FARM.


Thereafter the supervisors of the county agreed upon the purchase of lands for poor-house purposes. The deed was executed April 14, 1830, by Alfred Brown, of Jerusalem, to the superintendents of the poor of Yates County, Elijah Spencer, Joel Dorman, Jabez French, John War- ner, and James C. Robinson, whereby, in consideration of the sum of $1,200, the grantor conveyed to the grantees, or to their successors in office or legal representatives, 125 acres of land in the town of Jerusa- lem. This is the same tract of land now in part used by the county as a poor-house farm, although the area of the same has been increased so as to now contain 180 acres.


The Yates County poor- house and its management have at times been the subjects of much discussion, and no little anxiety on the part of the supervisors, the press, and the people of the county as well. There have been charges of corruption and extravagance which may not have been wholly groundless. It was during the period extending from 1855 to 1860 that the subject was uppermost in the public and official mind, but eventually the matter was adjusted, or settled, and affairs resumed their usual quiet state. From that to the present time there has been no serious disturbance concerning the county poor-house management.


Now having at some length referred to the various properties and in- terests of Yates County it is proper that there should be also made a rec- ord of the names of persons who have been identified with the county in the administration of its affairs. In other words the present connection is a proper one in which to publish a complete civil list of officers who have represented Yates County either in Federal, State, or local government :


Presidential Electors .-- Truman Spencer, 1832; Elisha Doubleday, 1836; Eli Sheldon, 1848; Darius A. Ogden, 1852; Meletiah H. Lawrence, 1856; Myron H. Weaver, 1864 ; Everett Brown, 1888.


Members of Congress .-- William Babcock,: 1831-32; Joshua Lee, 1835-36; John T. Andrews, 1837-38 (then living at Bath) ; William M. Oliver, 1841-42 ; Samuel S. Ells- worth, 1845-46; Andrew Oliver, 1853-54, 1855-56; Daniel Morris, 1863-64, 1865-66.


Canal Commissioner New York State .- Darius A. Ogden, November 7, 1876, to Febru- ary 8, 1878.


Canal Appraiser .-- Darius A. Ogden, appointed March 1, 1853.


Inspector of State Prisons .-- George Wagener, elected November 3, 1874.


Prison Labor Commissioner .- Darius A. Ogden, appointed February 11. 1884.


State Senators .- William M. Oliver, 1827-30, president pro tempore in 1829 ; Richard H. Williams, 1846-47 ; James Huntington, 1856-57; Abraham V. Harpending, 1870- 71; George P. Lord, 1880-83.


II2


HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.


Members of Assembly.1 - Aaron Remer, 1823; Philip Robinson, 1824; Avery Smith, 1825; James P. Robinson, 1826; Morris F. Sheppard, 1827-29; Aaron Remer, 1830- 31; Joshua Lee, 1832; James P. Robinson, 1833; Meredith Mallory, 1834; Mordecai Ogden, 1835-36 ; Miles Benham, 1837-38; Samuel S. Ellsworth, 1839; Heman Chap- man, 1840 ; Henry Spence, 1841; Richard H. Williams, 1842; Thomas Seamans, 1843; Ezekiel Castner, 1844; George W. Wolcott, 1845; Nehemiah Raplee, 1846; Hatley N. Dox, 1847; John Wisewell, 1848; Melatiah H. Lawrence, 1849; Samuel Jayne, jr., 1850; Charles S. Hoyt, 1851; De Witt C. Stanford, 1852; D. G. Underwood, 1853; J. R. Van Osdel, 1854 ; Henry H. Gage, 1855; A. V. Harpending, 1856 ; John Mather, 1857 ; Daniel Morris, 1858; George R. Barden, 1859; Gilbert Sherer, 1860; Darius A. Ogden, 1861 ; Guy Shaw, 1862; O. G. Loomis, 1863 ; Eben S. Smith, 1864-65; Charles S. Hoyt, 1866; Oliver S. Williams, 1867; Foster A. Hixon, 1868; William T. Remer, 1869; George P. Lord, 1870-71; Morris B. Flinn, 1872; George W. Spencer, 1873; Hanford Struble, 1874; John Sutherland, 1875; Mason L. Baldwin, 1876; Joel M. Clark, 1877-78; Asa P. Fish, 1879-80; John T. Andrews, 1881 ; Stafford C. Cleveland, 1882; Henry C. Harpending, 1883; Clark E. Smith, 1884-85; George R. Cornwell, 1886-87; William A. Carson, 1888; Calvin J. Huson, 1889; Everett Brown, 1890-91.


Judges of Common Pleas .-- William M. Oliver, 1823-27 ; Samuel S. Ellsworth, 1828- 32; Cornelius Masten, 1833-37 ; William M. Oliver, 1838-43 ; Andrew Oliver, 1844-46. Surrogates .- Abraham P. Vosburg, 1823-26; Andrew F. Oliver, 1827-39; Edward J. Fowle, 1840-43 ; Evert Van Buren, 1844-46.


The constitution of 1846 abolished the office of surrogate except in counties where the population exceeds 40,000, and devolved its duties on the county judge.


County Judges and Surrogates .- Andrew Oliver, 1847-50; John L. Lewis, 1851-54; William S. Briggs, 1855-70; Andrew Oliver, 1871-76; William S. Briggs, 1877-82; Hanford Struble, 1883.


County Clerks .- Abraham H. Bennett, 1823-31 ; George Shearman, 1832-37; Abner Woodworth, 1838-40; Samuel Stevens, 1841-43; David H. Buell, 1844-46; Russell R. Fargo, 1847-49; Alfred Reed, 1850-52; Clarkson Martin, 1853-55; Lewis R. Gra- ham, 1856-61; Alexander Bassett, 1862-64; Samuel Botsford, 1865-67; Alden D. Fox, 1868-70 ; George W. Spencer, 1871-73; Joseph F. Crosby, 1874-76; Edward M. Carpenter, 1877-79 ; Horatio N. Hazen, 1880-82; Edward Kendall, 1883-88; Joseph Crosby, 1889-91; William S. Cornwell, 1892.


Treasurers .- William Babcock, 1823-26; Henry Bradley, 1829 ; Eben Smith, 1830- 35; E. B. Jones, 1836-39; Leander Reddy, 1841; James D. Morgan, 1844; William Whitney, 1847-51 ; Stephen B. Ayres, 1852-54; John Ellsworth, 1855-60; James Burns, 1861-71; S. B. Ayres, by appointment, 1872 ; Seymour Tracy, 1873-75; Oliver G. Shearman, 1876-78 ; Jareb D. Bordwell, 1879; Daniel F. Randolph, 1880-85; J. Henry Smith, 1886-94.


1 In the lists of county officers this explanation is necessary : The date of election is given of mem- bers of Assembly, county judge, and district attorney ; the date of appointment of first judges of Common Pleas ; and the date of commencement or term of office of clerk, sheriff, treasurer, and school commissioner.


113


COUNTY OFFICERS-COUNTY SOCIETIES.


Sheriffs .-- James P. Robinson, 1823-25; Ebenezer Brown, 1826-28; Miles Benham, 1829-31; Alfred Brown, 1832-34; Joseph Ketchum, 1835-37 ; Uriah Hanford, 1838- 40; Jeremiah B. Andrews, 1841-43; Smith D. Mallory, 1844-46; Martin Holmes, 1847-49; George Wagener, 1850-52; Nathanial Squire, 1853-55; Daniel Lanning, 1856-58 ; William T. Remer, 1859-61; John Underwood, 1862-64; Joseph Crosby, 1865-67; George Wagener, 1868-70; John L. Dinturff, 1871-73; Theodore Bogart, 1874-76; Spencer Clark, 1877-79; Charles Bell, 1880-82 ; Charles Speelman, 1883-85 ; Michael A. Pearce, 1886-88; Perry W. Danes, 1889-91; William T. Beaumont, 1892.


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District Attorneys .-- James Taylor, 1826-30; Charles G. Judd, 1831-38; John L. Lewis, 1839-46; Daniel Morris, 1847-50; D. J. Sunderlin, 1851-52; A. V. Harpend- ing, 1853-58; Henry M. Stewart, 1859-61; John L. Wolcott, 1863-67 ; Hanford Struble, 1868-73; Henry M. Stewart, 1874-76; John T. Knox, 1877-82; Andrew C. Harwick, 1883-85; Charles S. Baker, 1886-91; Thomas Cormody, by appointment from April, 1891, to January 1, 1892; John T. Knox, 1892.


School Commissioners .-- Henry A. Bruner, 1858-60 ; George P. Lord, 1859-66 ; Schuy- ler Sutherland, 1867-69 ; J. Warren Brown, 1870-72; Bradford S. Wixon, 1873-75 ; William F. Van Tuyl, 1876-81 ; Harlan P. Bush, 1882-84; James A. Thayer, 1885-90; Llewellyn J. Barden, 1891.


While possibly not appropriate subjects of discussion and narration in this particular connection the writer nevertheless makes bold enough to here devote space to a record of the organizations and societies of the county. Of these there are but two in the county that are not local in their general character, and these are the Yates County Agri- cultural Society and the Yates County Historical Society, which will be treated in the order of seniority.


As early as the year 1840 an agricultural society was organized in Yates County under the name as above given, and from that or the suc- ceeding year there has been held an annual fair in the county, generally at or near the county seat, but occasionally in some other town than Milo. The records of the first year of the society's existence are mea- ger and imperfect, and it is quite difficult to determine whether or not any fair meeting was held during 1840. The first exhibition was held in the court-house park, as were several after that time. For a time also they were held at Dundee. The society at length, about 1857 or '58, obtained a few acres of land on what is now Pine street, not far from where the Catholic school is situated, and here the annual fair was held until the re-organized society obtained the new and more ex- tensive grounds on Lake street.


The first county fair held at Dundee was in the year 1851, and was


15


II4


HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.


thereafter occasionally held there for some time. In 1871 the old grounds on Pine street were disposed of and a lease at once made for the new tract on Lake street. The latter was afterward purchased by the society. The exhibition hall originally used has been transformed into a horse barn and a new and more appropriate building has been erected near the entrance to the grounds. The latter was built during the year 1891. The racing track, half a mile in extent, was laid out and built soon after the premises were occupied. The grand stand was erected by the Penn Yan Driving Park Association, a local organization of the county seat who have a lease-hold interest in the grounds.


But what can be said of the history of the Yates County Agricultural Society ? With each annual fair there is some change in the character of exhibits, each recurring event showing some new development of the county's resources. To describe them all would require a volume, and there would be shown a record of no special value or importance. Under the system of business inaugurated by the old society the offi- cers chosen annually were a president, a vice-president from each town, secretary, and treasurer. At a later period the same officers were elected with the addition of an executive board, one member from each town. In 1855, under the laws of 1853, a re-organization of the society was made and the officers thereafter annually elected were president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. The society was organized March 14, 1840. From the time of organization, 1840, to the present the chief officers of the society have been as follows :


There appears to have been no officers elected in 1840. 1841, John Hatmaker, pres- ident; Darius A. Ogden, secretary ; Eben Smith, treasurer. 1842, Uriah Hanford, president ; D. A. Ogden, secretary ; E. Smith, treasurer. 1843, Ludlow E. Lapham, · president ; D. A. Ogden, secretary ; Ezekiel Castner, treasurer. 1844, Romulus Gilder- sleeve, president ; L. E. Lapham, secretary ; Fitz A. Stebbins, treasurer. 1845, M. H. Lawrence, president; B. L. Hoyt, secretary ; F. A. Stebbins, treasurer. 1846, Charles Lee, president; A. Bigelow, secretary ; F. A. Stebbins, treasurer. 1847, John Mallory, president; A. Bigelow, secretary ; F. A. Stebbins, treasurer. 1848, Adam Clark, presi- dent; A. Bigelow, secretary ; F. A. Stebbins, treasurer. 1849 and 1850, same as in 1848. 1851, Nathan Raplee, president; James Armstrong, secretary ; F. A. Stebbins, treasurer. 1852, M. Holmes, president; R. Gildersleeve, secretary ; F. A. Stebbins, treasurer. 1853, Nelson Thompson, president; Edwin R. Randall, secretary ; Guy Shaw, treasurer. 1854, Nelson Thompson, president ; E. R. Randall, secretary ; George Wagener, treasurer. 1855, Nelson Thompson, president; George A. Sheppard, vice- president ; W. S. Judd, secretary ; J. S. Gillett, treasurer. 1856, Gilbert Sherer, pres-


115


YATES COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.


ident; Samuel V. Miller, vice-president; B. L. Hoyt, secretary ; W. S. Judd, treas- urer .. 1857, William T. Remer, president ; Ezekiel Clark, vice-president; B. L. Hoyt, secretary ; W. S. Judd, treasurer. 1858, Job L. Babcock, president; Guy Shaw, vice- president; A. F. Stark, secretary ; B. L. Hoyt, treasurer. 1859 and 1860, no record. 1861, Guy Shaw, president ; John Southerland, vice-president; J. Mallory, secretary ; B. L. Hoyt, treasurer. 1862, Guy Shaw, president ; John Smith, vice-president ; J. Mallory, secretary ; B. L. Hoyt, treasurer. 1863, George Wagener, president ; John Southerland, vice-president; W. S. Judd, secretary ; B. L. Hoyt, treasurer. 1864, John Southerland, president; Joseph Abbott, vice-president; W. S. Judd, secretary ; B. L. Hoyt, treasurer. 1865 and 1866, no record. 1867, Thomas J. Lewis, president ; Charles H. Ketchum, vice-president; J. D. Jacobus, secretary ; James Burns, treasurer, 1868, Thomas J. Lewis, president; C. H. Ketchum, vice-president; G. Y. Eastman, secretary ; O. G. Shearman, treasurer. 1869, Charles H. Ketchum, president ; Darius Baker, vice-president ; G. Y. Eastman, secretary ; O. G. Shearman, treasurer. 1870, C. H. Ketchum, president ; D. Baker, vice-president ; S. C. Hatmaker, secretary ; O. G. Shearman, treasurer. 1871, Dudley W. Dox, president; John N. Macomb, jr., vice- president ; John W. Stewart, secretary ; O. G. Shearman, treasurer. 1872, D. W. Dox, president; J. N. Macomb, jr., vice-president ; J. D. Morgan, secretary ; O. G. Shearman, treasurer. 1873, William J. Rector, president; O. G. Shearman, vice-presi- dent ; J. D. Morgan, secretary ; G. Y. Eastman, treasurer. 1874, William J. Rector, president ; O. G. Shearman, vice-president ; J. D. Morgan, secretary ; G. Y. Eastman, treasurer. 1875, Rowland J. Gardner, president ; Watkins Davis, vice-president ; J. D. Morgan, secretary ; B. L. Hoyt, treasurer. 1876, R. J. Gardner, president ; J. Warner Smith, vice-president; J. D. Morgan, secretary ; B. L. Hoyt, treasurer. 1877, Watkins Davis, president; Samuel B. Gage, vice-president ; J. D. Morgan, secre- tary ; B. L. Hoyt, treasurer. 1878, Samuel B. Gage, president; Dr. Byron Spence, vice president ; J. D. Morgan, secretary ; B. L. Hoyt, treasurer. 1879, Samuel B. Gage, president ; James Miller, vice-president ; J. D. Morgan, secretary ; W. T. Remer, treasurer. 1880, Ira Brundage, president ; Frank R. Cole, vice-president ; W. S. Judd, secretary ; O. G. Shearman, treasurer. 1881 and 1882, Ira Brundage, president ; F. R. Cole, vice-president; James A. Thayer, secretary ; O. G. Shearman, treasurer. 1883, Ira Brundage, president; A. C. Shearman, vice-president; J. A. Thayer, secretary ; O. G. Shearman, treasurer. 1884, Frank R. Cole, president; James C. Spooner, vice- president ; J. A. Thayer, secretary ; D. F. Randolph, treasurer. 1885, F. R. Cole, president ; J. C. Spooner, vice-president ; George C. Snow, secretary ; D. F. Randolph, treasurer. 1886, F. R. Cole, president; Abner Gardner, vice-president; Charles D. Davis, secretary ; O. G. Shearman, treasurer. 1887, Ira Brundage, president ; John R. · Gardner, vice-president; C. D. Davis, secretary ; Charles W. Taylor, treasurer. 1888, John H. Butler, president ; H. C. Tallmadge, vice-president ; James A. Thayer, secre- tary ; C. W. Taylor, treasurer. 1889, John H. Butler, president ; H. C. Tallmadge, vice-president ; J. A. Thayer, secretary ; E. C. Gillett, treasurer. 1890 and 1891, Reading B. Lefferts, president; Oscar Hazen, vice-president; James S. Whitaker, sec- retary ; E. C. Gillett, treasurer.


.


:16


HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.


In January, 1860, there appeared in the press of the county an "Early Settlers Notice," which read as follows :


" A meeting of those who were settlers of the territory embraced in Yates County prior to its establishment, February 5, 1823, and their descendants, will be held at the office of John L. Lewis, jr., in Penn Yan, on Saturday, January 1, 1860, at one o'clock in the afternoon, for the purpose of adopting measures to form a County Historical So- ciety, for the collection of the memorials of the early settlement of the towns in the county and of the early settlers, and other kindred facts connected with the history of the county.


" Dated January 16th, 1860.


" Samuel G. Gage, Abner Woodworth, S. S. Ellsworth, W. M. Oliver, A. F. Whit- aker, Charles Wagener, Henry Bradley, William S. Briggs, Charles C. Sheppard, John L. Lewis, jr., Josiah C. Swarthout, John D. Wolcott, M. H. Lawrence," and many others.


In accordance with the notice a general meeting was held at the time and place indicated, and for the purpose of temporary organization Russell A. Hunt was chosen chairman and John L. Lewis, jr., secretary. Then a resolution was offered by William M. Oliver and unanimously adopted, as follows :


" Resolved, That it is expedient to organize and form a County Historical Society for the purpose of collecting and preserving the memorials of the early settlement of the county and of the early settlers, and all other facts connected with the history of the county, including Indian antiquity and history, and that the necessary measures be taken for that purpose."


By another resolution adopted at this meeting John L. Lewis, jr., William S. Briggs, and M. H. Lawrence were chosen a committee to report articles of association for the purpose of incorporating the so- ciety under the general corporation law. The result was the filing a certificate of incorporation on the 4th of February, 1860, which certifi- cate reads in part as follows :


" We, the undersigned, Samuel G. Gage, William S. Hudson, Martin Brown, Squire B. Whitaker, Horace B. Taylor, George S. Wheeler, David H. Buell, and Joseph W. H. Havens, of Benton ; James D. Morgan, James Cooley, Cornelius C. Masten, John Hatmaker, Samuel S. Ellsworth, Russell A. Hunt, Darius A. Ogden, Ebenezer B. Jones, John Buxton, Charles Wagener, Stafford C. Cleveland, Adam Hunt, George A. Sheppard, Abraham W. Shearman, William T. Remer, Samuel H. Wells, Alexan- der F. Whitaker, William S. Briggs, Melatiah H. Lawrence, George D. A. Bridgman, of Milo ; Uriah Hanford and Seneca M. Badger, of Jerusalem ; John Mather, of Mid- dlesex ; and Jeptha A. Potter, of Potter,-being severally citizens of the county of Yates, and of the State of New York, and of the United States, and of full age, do


II7


THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ORGANIZED.


hereby certify that we have this day formed, and do hereby constitute a body politic and corporate, for ourselves and our associates and successors, under the provisions and in pursuance of the act of the legislature of this State, entitled ' An Act for the In- corporation of Benevolent, Charitable, Scientific, and Missionary Societies,' passed April 12, 1848, and the amendments thereto.


" That the name and title of the said society and corporation, and by which it is to be known in law, is ' The Yates County Historical Society,' and its place of business is to be in the village of Penn Yan in said county of Yates ; that the particular busi- ness and objects of said society and corporation are of a literary and scientific charac- ter, being the collection and preservation of the facts and materials connected with the early history and settlement of the several towns in the county of Yates and of the settlers thereof, and with the civil, and ecclesiastical, and general history of said towns and of the county, and biographies of its citizens from its settlement aforesaid ; and of the various benevolent, charitable, scientific, and missionary and other societies and or- ganizations which do now exist and have existed in the said towns or county ; and with Indian history, antiquities, language, manners, and customs within the bounds of said county ; and with the natural history and topography of said county, and all other mat- ters not herein enumerated connected with the history of said towns and of the county ; and also the collection and keeping of a cabinet of curiosities and such books, maps, papers, and documents, and other articles as may relate to or be connected with the business and objects of the society. That the number of directors to manage said so- ciety and corporation is nine, and that the names of said directors for the first year of its existence are Uriah Hanford, Alexander F. Whitaker, Meletiah H. Lawrence, Charles Wagener, Darius A. Ogden, William S. Briggs, David H. Buell, Jeptha A. Potter, and John Hatmaker."




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