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 41
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Justices of the Peace.2-Daniel Brown, jr., Giles Kinney, John Beal, Thomas Sutton, Joel Dorman, Joseph Gay, Nathaniel Cothern, Nicho- las Bennett, Erastus Cole, sr., Ezra Pierce, Elisha Mills, Erastus Cole, 1830, '34; Uriah Hanford, 1830, '31, '32, '37 ; Jonathan Talmadge, 1831 ; Bartleson Shearman, 1832, '35; Hixon Anderson, 1833; Mar- tin Quick, 1836, '43, '45; William Culver, 1838; John A. Gallett, 1838; Israel Comstock, 1839, '43; Henry Hicks, 1840; Hiram Cole, 1841; George Wagener, 1844; Benedict R. Carr, 1846; Almon S. Kidder, 1847, '51 ; . James P. Pardon, 1848 ; Heman Squires, 1848; S. S. Millspaugh, 1849, '53, Benj. Colegrove, 1850; Isaac Purdy, 1852; Jo- siah White, 1854, '58 ; Jeremiah S. Burtch, 1855 ; Miles B. Andrus, 1856, '60, '64, '69 ; Charles H. Vail, 1857; Watkins Davis, 1859, '63; Levi
1 There appears no reliable record of supervisors of Jerusalem prior to 1799, except that the office was held by Thomas Lee in 1792, and by James Spencer in 1797.
2 Dates of election given when known.
.
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TOWN OF TORREY.
Millspaugh, 1861, '65, ; Thos. W. Smith, 1862, '66; J. Warren Brown, 1867 ; Botsford A. Comstock, 1868, '72, '76, '80, '84; James Hender- son, 1870; Seymour B. Coe, 1871, '77, '81; James McKie, 1874; Henry Stork, 1875, '79; James E. Watkins, 1878; Thomas Campbell, 1882, '86; John N. Macomb, jr., 1883 ; Robert C. Bishop, 1885 ; William Van Tuyl, 1887; John J. Comstock, 1888; William M. Bar- ron, 1889 ; Rowland Champlin, 1890; Nathaniel Keech, 1891.
CHAPTER XXIV.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF TORREY.
O F the nine separate townships which comprise the county of Yates, that called Torrey is the youngest in point of organization, but at the same time the town enjoys the distinction of having been the site of the first white civilized settlement west of Seneca Lake. In fact, as early as the year 1776, emissaries of the Society of Friends visited the lake country of New York State for the purpose of selecting a home and location for their society, and after casting about in various locali- ties, finally and by mere accident pitched upon this as the most suitable of all the places they had examined. The result was, though not until a further examination had been made, that in the year 1788 about twenty-five persons, among them Abel Botsford, Peleg and John Briggs, George Sisson, Isaac Nichols, Stephen Card, John Reynolds, James Parker, with others, members of the families named, came to the locality and made the first permanent settlement in all this vast Genesee country.
The pioneers of 1788 built for their accommodation during the com- ing winter a single log house, and here dwelt until the next spring all that remained in the locality, a number having returned to their homes in the east. In 1789 many other Friends came to the New Jerusalem, as the locality was called, and more log houses were erected for their
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
accommodation. A road had been opened from the settlement to Norris Landing, so called, and along this highway the houses were built, and farms cleared and improved. In 1790 the Friend's frame house was built and made ready for occupancy by the distinguished leader of the society.
Thomas Hathaway, one of the leaders of the society, lived in a log house about half a mile, perhaps less, east of the Friend's house. The aristocratic Potter family, headed by Judge William Potter, lived south of Hathaway's place. Benjamin Brown, sr., lived nearer the Friend's home, and only about a quarter of a mile therefrom. Abel Botsford dwelt northwest of the leader, and Elnathan and Jonathan Botsford directly west of City Hill. Within a circuit of two or three miles dwelt all the familiar names of the remarkable community.
In the year 1790 the Friend herself, the distinguished leader of the devoted following, left her former residence in Pennsylvania and made the journey to the New Jerusalem, joining her faithful adherents early in the spring. This same year the log meeting-house was built on the road leading from Norris Landing to the Friend's mill. The Friend's frame house was also built this year, the means therefor being mainly contributed by Anna Wagener. This also stood on the old road fre- quently mentioned, between the mill and the landing; and it still stands, though but a wreck of its former greatness.
These original settlers of the Genesee country came singly and in family groups, commencing with the year 1788, and continuing for several years after the arrival of the Friend. Upon the organization of Ontario County in 1789, it was provided that the territory thereof should be formed into districts as the country should become settled, or as the government of the shire should seem to warrant and require. In accordance with this provision the district of Jerusalem was created, but it was not until the year 1792 that any government was attempted to be established therein. In that year Thomas Lee was chosen super- visor, and he made the first tax roll of the district, which roll was signed by the supervisors of Ontario County. A copy of the names contained in this roll will show to the reader who were the taxable inhabitants of the district at that time. But the reader must understand that the dis- trict of Jerusalem embraced all the territory now included by the towns
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TOWN OF TORREY.
of Benton, Jerusalem, Milo, Potter and Torrey. However, although settlement had in a measure progressed in other towns, the greater por- tion of the then population was within the present limits of Torrey township. The roll, less the amount assessed against name, was as fol- lows : Peleg Briggs, Peleg Briggs, jr., John Briggs, Isaac Nichols, John Supplee, William Davis, William Robinson, Micajah Brown, Elijah Brown, Beloved Luther, Thomas Sherman, James Hathaway, Lewis Birdsall, Daniel Brown, jr., John Lawrence, Abraham Dayton, Richard Smith, Adam Hunt, Silas Hunt, Silas Spink, Thomas Prentiss, James Parker, David Wagener, Jesse Dains, Castle Dains, Eleazer Ingraham, Amos Gurnsey, Reuben Luther, George Sisson, Sheffield Luther, Eze- kiel Shearman, Noah Richards, Hezekiah Townsend, Joseph Landers, Enoch and Elijah Malin, Stephen Card, Benedict Robinson, Sarah Richards, Elnathan Botsford, Mercy Aldrich (widow), Susannah and Temperance Brown, Jonathan Dains, Ashael Stone, Jonathan Botsford, Jacob Wagener, Jedediah Holmes, Thomas Hathaway, Abel Botsford, Benajah Mallory, Benjamin Brown, John Blake, Anna Wagener, Elijah Botsford, Barnabas Brown, Levi Benton, Samuel Taylor, Capt. David Brown, James Spencer, Martin Spencer, Richard Hathaway, Philemon Baldwin, James Scofield, George Wheeler, John Pond, Perley Dean, Robert Chissom, Truman Spencer, Abraham Voak, Edward Walworth.
The little settlement on the lake, practically within the limits of the present town of Torrey, was composed almost exclusively of members of the Society of Friends and their families. And throughout the dis- trict of Jerusalem, although there were many pioneers who had nothing in common with the Friends, particularly in religious opinion, the greater part of the population was either directly or indirectly affiliated with the society.
In making their first settlement on and near the shores of Seneca Lake, the society believed themselves to be located upon State lands, to which they might readily acquire title through the governor. For this purpose early application was made to the proper authorities, and the agents of the society were requested to attend the public land sales at Albany. This was done, with result in the purchase of a vast area of 14,040 acres of land by James Parker, William Potter and Thomas Hathaway. This tract afterward became known as the Potter Loca-
55
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
tion. North of it lay Read and Ryckman's Tract; west of it was Lan- sing's Location and other grants. The deed to the grantees above named was dated October 10, 1792. But the Friends were in a measure mistaken in the belief that they were locating on State territory, but the fault lay not with them. As the old or first pre-emption line was run or surveyed, their location was appropriate, but, as in the course of a few years became apparent, there had been perpetrated a gross fraud in making the original east boundary of the Phelps and Gorham purchase ; and in running the true line, some four years later, it was found that a considerable portion of the Friend's settlement and improved lands lay west of the line, and therefore were then the property of the association represented by Charles Williamson, the latter the grantee of Robert Morris, and he the successor to Phelps and Gorham.
This unfortunate discovery worked to the disadvantage of the society, and was the occasion of a petition by twenty three prominent members thereof to Mr. Williamson, requesting that they be quieted in their pos- session of the lands through permission to purchase from him. This request was granted, and none of the settlers lost his lands through the fault of the first surveyors of the pre-emption line on the east. The State, however, was obliged to make proper restitution to Mr. Williamson and others who suffered on account of the fraudulent survey. But the one thing above all others that contributed to the decline in the society, and of its strength and influence in this locality, was the with- drawal in membership and support of James Parker and William Pot- ter. In fact, the disturbance and complications growing out of this withdrawal worked a partial disintegration of the society, and was a controlling cause in influencing the Friend to depart from the settle- ment and take up her final abode in the town of Jerusalem, which town her faithful followers had purchased for this purpose. But although it may be an essential subject of Torrey's early history to thus treat at length of the events herein narrated, the same has also been done in one of the general chapters of the present volume. Therefore the at- tention of the reader is directed to the chapter devoted to the Society of Friends for more particular narrative concerning the early history of Torrey.
Running through several chapters of township history in this work,
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TOWN OF TORREY.
particularly in those relating to Benton, Jerusalem and Milo, the reader will find a record of many of the early families who were originally dwellers in Torrey, as afterward constituted, and who changed their places of abode at such an early day as to make them pioneers of the towns to which they moved. Still, there are yet resident in the locality now called Torrey many descendants of pioneer heads of families, who are worthy of at least some brief mention in this connection; and in another department of this work will be found still further mention of the prominent men of the town within the last half century, and since the town was brought into existence.
The family of Benedict Robinson was one prominently conspicuous and important in the Friend's settlement on Seneca Lake. The head of this family was not only a pioneer, but is said to have been one of the commissioners sent to locate a tract for the society's home, although the name of Mr. Robinson has not been previously mentioned in that connection. Mr. Robinson was also one of the leading men who became alienated from the society, and from that time forth was in bitter enmity with the Friend's doctrine. Benedict Robinson died in 1832, and his wife in 1837. The family home was on the "gore," as it has been com- monly known. The children in this family were Phebe, Daniel A., James C., and Abigail.
In 1869 Dr. John Hatmaker, at the expense of much time and labor, made and reported to the Yates County Historical Society a complete list of the first settlers in the town of Torrey, together with the names of persons who in 1869 were the occupants of the lands on which the pioneers located. The report was as follows: "The south part of what is now the town of Torrey, on the south side of the stream, was all a part of John Lansing, jr.'s location, where small improvements were made by different individuals, viz. : Elisha Botsford, Sheffield, Elisha and Beloved Luthur; and afterwards Benedict Robinson and William Potter became owners or agents of the location, and it was sold to those who made improvements."
The first settlers, with occupants at the time of making the report, 1869, were as follows : Jeptha Randolph,' Daniel Randolph ; Jonathan
1 For convenience and brevity the names of first settlers are given in italics.
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
Lamb, Moses Rapalee ; Jonathan Sisson, George Y. Dains ; Isaiah Youngs, Benjamin Youngs; James Meek, Perry Denniston; Richard Hayes, Henry Brown; Wright Brown, Wright Brown, jr .; Esther Briggs (or Plant), Mr. Gelder and Mrs. J. Perry ; Silas Hunt, Dr. E. S. Smith ; Elsie Hazard, Russell Buckley and D. W. Dox. Above the road : Silas Hunt, Uriah Bennett; Jesse Dains, N. Rapalee; George Sisson, -; George and Abner Gardner, George G. Gardner; Sheffield Luther, Rufus E. Townsend and Mr. Deniston ; David King, Daniel King, J. Bell and J. Beard ; The Friend's place, owned by C. J. Townsend ; Abel Botsford, A. Leach and James Clark; Adam and John Castner, Charles J. Townsend ; William and Arnold Potter, Adam Clark; John Bruce, G. Turner ; Hezekiah Townsend, Allen Owens ; Elijah Malin, Samuel Embree ; Gilbert Hathaway, Richard H. Hathaway ; Thomas Hath- away, Manchester Townsend ; John Remer, J. J. and G. B. Hazard ; . B. W. Hazard, Andrew Oliver ; Benedict Robinson, William Benedict, P. J. Seeley and David Hatmaker; Latimore and Birkett, A. V. Remer.
One of the most historic and sadly interesting situations in the town of Torrey is that commonly called the City Hill Cemetery. It is well known that the Friends intended to not only found a colony and spread their possessions over a considerable area of country, but it was also their purpose and design to found and establish a village or city, where should be the chief center of trade for their community of people. They did establish a village, and named it Hopeton. As a necessary adjunct also to this village, and as well of their entire settlement, they laid out and founded a cemetery for the burial of their dead. The Friend herself here on many an occasion officiated at a funeral, and laid peacefully away some of the most devout and worthy members of her flock.
The cemetery itself was laid out on the elevated land that took the name of City Hill, from whence the burial place was likewise named. It was and is a beautiful situation, about one mile west from the lake. The first person here buried was the wife of pioneer Jedediah Holmes, one of the first comers of the Friend's society, and one of her most faithful adherents. To make a coffin or burial casket, a log was hol- lowed out after splitting a slab from one side ; and being afterward re- placed, the slab served as a cover.
437
TOWN OF TORREY.
Among the prominent Friends and others buried in the City Hill Cemetery, we furnish the names of a number, with the age of the per- son at the time of death. They were all, or nearly all, members of the society, and it will be observed that the simple and frugal manner of living observed by nearly all of them was especially conducive to lon- gevity. Stephen Card died and was buried in 1836, aged seventy · five years; Hannah, wife of Stephen Card, died in 1851, aged ninety-four ; Mary, wife of George Gardner, died in 1848, aged ninety-four ; Abner Gardner, 1860, aged seventy-nine; Rowland Champlin in 1848, aged seventy-four ; Jonathan J. Hazard in 1812, aged eighty-four ; Patience, wife of J. J. Hazard, in 1810, at seventy-six; Mary, wife of Griffin B. Hazard, in 1845, at seventy-nine; Mary Norris, daughter of Thomas Hathaway, in 1847, at seventy-six; Hezekiah Townsend in 1812, at sixty ; Daniel Castner in 1811, at eighty- five ; Andrew Castner in 1847, at eighty- one; Adam Castner in 1858, at eighty-five ; John D. Castner in 1852, at seventy- eight ; John Remer in 1820, at seventy-five; Sarah, wife of John Remer, in 1817, at sixty-three; Aaron Remer in 1841, at sixty ; George I. Remer in 1845, at seventy ; Isaiah Youngs in 1829, at eighty ; Mary, wife of Isaiah Youngs, at seventy-three ; George Sis- son, of the first company of Friends, in 1831, at seventy eight; James Pitney in 1845, at eighty-three ; Rebecca, his wife, in 1853, at eighty ; Sheffield Luther in 1845, at eighty-four; and Mary, his wife, in 1849, at ninety-two; James Meek in 1836, at seventy-three, and Mary Ann, his wife, in 1855, at eighty-nine; Wright Brown in 1837, at eighty- seven, and Bethany, his wife, in 1828, at sixty-nine ; Thomas Hatha- way, jr. in 1853, at eighty-four, and Mary, his wife, in 1866, at ninety- five ; Abel Botsford in 1817, at seventy, and Mary, his wife, in 1830, at eighty-eight ; Jonathan Botsford in 1833, at ninety-two ; Robert Buckley in 1849, at seventy six ; Peleg Briggs in 1807, at seventy-eight, and Margaret Briggs in 1800, at sixty-six; Rowland Embree in 1837, at seventy-seven, and Allah, his wife, in 1852, at seventy- seven; Samuel Hadley in 1847, at eighty-three, and Elizabeth, his wife, in 1846, at seventy.
In the year 1851 a number of the enterprising citizens residing in the northeast part of Milo and the southeast part of Benton, conceived the idea of organizing a new township in Yates County. It is just possible
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
that the projectors of this scheme had this erection in mind at an earlier date than that mentioned, but the matter did not assume any tangible form prior to that time. In the result sought to be accomplished the chief actors had a double purpose to actuate their movement. They desired on the one hand to have organized in the county a truly Dem- ocratic town, while the other moving consideration had its object in the building up of the little borough of Dresden, and the making thereof the chief center of trade and business for the town to be erected. The sec- ond object was certainly commendable, while the first named was not to be condemned.
The proposition to create a new town out of the lands of Benton and Milo came before the county legislative body, the Board of Supervis- ors, at its annual session in 1851. Of course the taking of the most desirable section of these two old towns, and therefore depriving them of long established and thoroughly developed resources, met with serious opposition on the part of their people and representatives, and the re- sult was that the scheme was defeated by the supervisors' vote. At that time Henry Torrey, of Rushville, in the town of Potter, was a member of the board, and its chairman. After the proposition had been defeated, Chairman Torrey said if the town was to be named after his surname he would move a reconsideration of the former vote, and again put the proposition upon its passage. This was agreeable to the friends of the new town; the vote was reconsidered and the town formed by a majority of the board on the 14th of November, 1851.
In 1852 the first town meeting was held, and a complete set of offi- cers was elected. From that time to the present the supervisors of the town of Torrey have been as follows: 1852, Charles J. Townsend ; 1853, Heman Chapman ; 1854, Luther Sisson; 1855, Luther Sisson ; 1856-57, Levi Speelman ; 1858, George W. Gardner ; 1859, Charles J. Townsend; 1860, Harvey W. Norman; 1861, Jacob Van Deventer ; 1862, Darius Baker ; 1863, Dudley W. Dox (resigned), George W. Gardner (appointed) ; 1864, George W. Gardner; 1865, Harvey W. Norman; 1866, George W. Gardner; 1867-68, Jacob Van Deventer ; 1869-70, Stephen D. Graves; 1871, Eben S. Smith; 1872, James M. Clark ; 1873, Lewis B. Dunning; 1874, James M. Clark; 1875, Ste- phen D. Graves ; 1876, Charles M. Speelman ; 1877, Horatio N. Ha-
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TOWN OF TORREY.
zen ; 1878, Charles M. Speelman ; 1879, Charles J. Townsend ; 1880, Eben S. Smith ; 1881, Charles M. Speelman ; 1882, Stephen D. Graves; 1883, Amos A. Norman ; 1884, Charles H. Gardner ; 1885-87, John W. Smith; 1888-89, Johnson J. Denniston ; 1890-91, John W. Smith 2d.
Dresden Village .- With the building of the Crooked Lake Canal, in 1830-33, there was about the same time built up at its eastern termina- tion a thriving, prosperous village to which was given the name of Dresden ; but why so named there appears no present satisfactory ex- planation. The village of Dresden, as originally established, occupied that part of the then town of Milo that bordered upon Seneca Lake, and in close proximity to the canal line, but as the hamlet increased many fine houses and a number of public buildings were erected on the more elevated lands north of the village proper, and all were included within corporate boundaries in 1867.
As early as the erection of Yates County, Dresden village had an ex- istence, and the good people of the locality presented to the commis- sioners selected to designate a site for county buildings their claims to the seat of justice of the county. The broad table-lands overlooking the beautiful waters of Seneca Lake presented a most attractive situa- tion, not only for the buildings themselves, but as well for the gradual building up of a municipality of considerable size and importance. But, unfortunately for Dresden and its people, the then owner of this table- land refused to part with any portion of his possessions for less consid- eration than $1,000 per acre; nor would he sell his entire tract for anything less than a. fabulous sum. The result was that the county buildings were given to Penn Yan, and the possibilities of a future Dres- den of some note were practically destroyed. However, during the early canal days Dresden, in a way, was an important place. On the outlet were saw and grist-mills, a woolen-factory and other industries, while a boat-yard and dry-dock on the canal added to the business of the locality. But when canal boating on and between the lakes began to decline, and yielded to the more rapid transportation by rail, there began also a decline in the importance of Dresden and her business in- terests. The old industries were changed in occupancy, and a number of them were destroyed by fire; and the only manufacturing concerns
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
now within the village are the Russell & Birkett mills, and one other not in operation.
On the 16th of July, 1867, the village of Dresden was incorporated. To accomplish this a numerously signed petition was presented to the County Court, and five months later the application was granted. At that time the territory sought to be incorporated contained a popula- tion of slightly more than 300 persons, and the survey made by Lori- mer Ogden included within the village limits a little more than 200 acres. The committee to superintend the survey and census taking comprised Jacob Van Deventer, Charles W. Brown and George S. Downey. The first officers elected were: Trustees, Luther Harris, Edward M. Van · Clief, Charles W. Brown, George W. Brundage and James Thomas ; assessors, Aaron M. Davis, Charles F. Sisson and Albert G. Prosper ; collector, George W. Hazard ; treasurer, Francis Hood; clerk, Aaron R. McLean. The officers for 1891 are : President, Benjamin F. Pad- dock, and trustees, Christopher Halpin and Michael Kinney ; treasurer, George C. Smith; collector, Charles C. Carr, and clerk, Seth Youngs.
The business interests of Dresden now comprise the general stores of Caleb Brundage and Denniston & Son ; the post-office and grocery of C. A. Davis; the drug store of Edward Castle; the Dresden Hotel of George R. Hazard; the American Hotel, kept by Albert Norman; the ele- vator of Denniston & Birkett, and the mills before mentioned. The public buildings of the village are the large brick school-house, and the churches of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Episcopal societies. These, although located in the village, are institutions of the town, and as such will be treated.
Torrey Church History .- Religious services of various church socie- ties have from time to time been conducted in the town of Torrey, but of the many denominations that have had a temporary existence in the town, but three have found here a permanent abiding place. With the possible exception of the First Presbyterian Church of Benton (from which town Torrey was in part formed), which had its organization dur- ing the early years of the century, the Methodists appear to have been the pioneers in making church history. But of course from this state- ment must also be excepted the Society of Friends, who built a log meeting-house in 1791.
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TOWN OF TORREY.
In 1827 Dresden was made an appointment in the Crooked Lake Methodist Episcopal circuit, at which time Dennison Smith and Jacob Early were circuit preachers, and conducted semi-monthly services in the school-house. In 1831 the first class was organized, Alfred Ly- man being its leader. In 1829 Herman H. and Isaac Bogart built at their own expense a free church, in which all denominations were per- mitted to worship. Services were held in this edifice on occasions by Methodists, Presbyterians, Dutch Reformed, Baptists and Universalists, just as they came along and made appointments. The Sunday-school of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in May, 1833.
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