History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county, Part 18

Author: Turner, O. (Orsamus); Lookup, George E. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1851
Publisher: Rochester, W. Alling
Number of Pages: 640


USA > New York > Monroe County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 18
USA > New York > Allegany County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming > Part 18
USA > New York > Livingston County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 18
USA > New York > Yates County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 18
USA > New York > Ontario County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 18
USA > New York > Wyoming County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 18
USA > New York > Steuben County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 18
USA > New York > Genesee County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 18
USA > New York > Wayne County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 18
USA > New York > Orleans County > History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve; embracing the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Yates, Steuben, most of Wayne and Allegany, and parts of Orleans, Genesee, and Wyoming. To which is added, a Supplement, or Extension of the pioneer history of Monroe county > Part 18


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


ton. Attornies, Thomas Morris, John Wickham, James Wads- worth, Vincent Matthews. There was a number of suits upon the calendar, but no jury trial. The organization of the court would seem have been the principal business. There was, however, a grand jury, and one indictment was found.


The next session of the court was in June, 1795. James Parker was an associate justice. Peter B. Porter and Nathaniel W. Howell, being attornies of the Supreme Court, were admitted to practice in the courts of Ontario county. Stephen Ross and Thomas Mum- ford were also admitted. At this court, the first jury trial was had west of the county of Herkimer. It was the trial of the indict- ment that had been preferred at the previous session, for stealing a cow bell. John Wickham, as County Clerk, was ex-officio District Attorney, but the management of the prosecution devolved upon Nathaniel W. Howell. Peter B. Porter and Vincent Matthews managed the defence.


In November, 1795, Moses Atwater was added to the bench. It was ordered that "Nathan Whitney be appointed the guardian of Parkhurst Whitney, an infant at the age of eleven years." David Saltonstall, Herman Bogert, David Jones, Ambrose Hall, Peter Masterton, John Nelson, Major Bostwick, George D. Cooper, H. K. Van Rensselaer, were admitted as attornies, [most of them non- residents.]


From Book of " Miscellaneous Records," 1797 : - Peter B. Por- ter as county clerk, records the medical diplomas of Daniel Good- win, Ralph Wilcox, Jeremiah Atwater, Moses Atwater, Augustus Williams and Joel Prescott. 1799-Chiefs of Seneca Nation ac- knowledged the receipt of $8,000 from Gen. Chapin, as a dividend upon the sum of $100,000, which the United States government had received of Robert Morris, as purchase money for the Holland Pur- chase and Morris Reserve, and invested in the stock of the United States Bank. The medical diplomas of Drs. John Ray, Samuel Dungan, David Fairchild, Arnold Willis, are recorded. Peter B. Porter appoints Thomas Cloudesly, deputy clerk. Theophilus Caze- nove and Paul Busti appoint Joseph Ellicott and James Wadsworth, their lawful attornies. 1800-Robert Troup as general agent for Sir William Pultney, appoints Robert Scott local agent. De Witt Clinton executes a mortgage to Oliver Phelps, on an " undivided fourth part of 100,000 acres lying west of the Genesee River." 1801,


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Peter B. Porter as clerk, makes Augustus Porter his deputy. 1803 ---- Benj. Barton and Polydore B. Wisner are made appraisers of dam- ages incurred by the construction of the Seneca Turnpike. 1804 -- Sylvester Tiffany as county clerk appoints Dudley Saltonstall his deputy. Thomas Morris appoints John Greig his lawful attorney. Harry Hickox files certificate of license to practice medicine. 1806- John Hornby of the county of Middlesex, Kingdom of G. B. ap- points John Greig his lawful attorney. T. Spencer Colman is ap- pointed deputy clerk. Phineas P. Bates is succeeded as Sheriff, by James K. Guernsey. 1807-Oliver Phelps arpoints Virtue Bronson his lawful attorney. 1808-Stephen Bates as Sheriff ap- points Nathaniel Allen deputy. James B. Mower succeeded Syl- vester Tiffany as clerk. 1810-Myron Holley is county clerk. Canandaigua Library organized. 1811-James B. Mower as clerk appoints Daniel D. Barnard his deputy.


In all the earliest years, the Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga and Seneca Indians received their annuities at Canandaigua, which made it the place of annual gatherings of those nations, and the centre of the Indian trade.


Although not entitled to it from population, in 1791, by a special act, Ontario was entitled to be represented in the Assembly. This was not known in the new settlements of Canandaigua, Geneva, and their neighborhoods, but in a small settlement that had con- menced on the Canisteo in what is now Steuben Co., they were in possession of the secret. Col. Eleazor Lindley, under whose auspi- cies the settlement was made, collected together a few back woods- men, held an election, got a few votes for himself, carried them to New York and was admitted a member of the Legislature. The whole proceeding was irregular, but there was no one to contest the seat, and the Legislature did not wish to deprive the backwoods of a representative. General Israel Chapin was its representative in 1792.


In a letter to Sir Wm. Pultney, in 1791, Robert Morris had de- clared his intention of settling his son Thomas in the Genesee coun- try, as an evidence of his faith in its value and prospects. He states that Thomas was then reading law with Richard Harrison Esq. by whom he was deemed a " worthy young man." In August 1791, Thomas Morris with some companions, passed through the country, visited Niagara Falls, and on his return, made a considera-


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ble stay at Canandaigua .* He returned and became a resident of Canandaigua, marrying a daughter of Elias Kane, of Albany. His father having become the purchaser of the pre-emption right of what was afterwards the Holland Purchase and Morris' Reserve, it was probably intended that he should be the local agent. That interest however being parted with, he had much to do with closing up his father's affairs in this region, and in all the preliminary meas- ures adopted by the Holland Company, in reference to their pur- chase. His father having in his sale to the Holland Company, guarantied the extinguishment of the Indian title, he acted in all that affair as his agent. He was the first representative in Congress from all the region west of Seneca Lake; and as a lawyer, land proprietor, and agent, was intimately blended with all the local history of this region. Becoming through his father, an early pro- prietor of the Allan tract at Mount Morris, that locality derives its name from him. He was the intimate friend of Mr. Williamson ; and in fact, enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all the early Pioneers. Like others of that early period, he over-traded in lands, shared in his father's reverses, and as early as 1803 or '4, retired to the city of New York, where he practiced law, until his death, in 1848. The author knows nothing of his family, save the fact, that Mr. Morris an Engineer upon the southern rail road, and Lieut. Morris of the Navy are his sons.


* Major Hoops, who was then surveying for the father, Robert Morris, in Steuben, writes to him, Sept. 1791 :- " Your son Thomas is an excellent woodsman. He got lost about a mile from Canandaigua, night came on ; he made his way through swamps and over hills, and at length espied a solitary light at a distance. Entering the hut from whence it proceeded, he asked for lodging, but he appeared in such a question- able shape that it was denied. Upon being told who he was, the occupant made amends for his incivility by turning half a dozen boys and girls out of their bed into his own. Tom turned in, slept till morning among flees and bed bugs, &c., &c .; then rose and trudged on six miles, to Canandaigua, arriving before sun rise."


And another case of a benighted traveller, of greater note perhaps, but of far less real merit, had happened years before settlement commenced : - John Jacob Astor, with a pack of Indian goods upon his back, wandered from the Indian trail, got lost in the low grounds at the foot of Seneca Lake, in an inelement night, wandered amid the howl and the rustling of wild beasts, until almost morning, when he was attracted by the light of an Indian cabin, near the old castle, and following it, obtained shelter and warmth.


NOTE .- Mr. Morris, in his manuscripts which were prepared in 1844, says : - " The excursion that has been spoken of was undertaken by me, partly from a desire to witness an Indian treaty, and see the Falls of Niagara; and partly with a desire to see a country in which my father, at that time had so extensive an interest ; and with the determination to settle in it if I liked it. I was pleased with it, and made up my mind to settle at Canandaigua, as soon as I should have attained the age of 21, and my admission to the bar. Accordingly, in the early part of March, 1792, I left New


1


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John Fellows, who is named among the residents in Canandai- gua in 1790, was in the Massachusetts line during the Revolution, with the rank of Brig. General. He was a resident of Sheffield, Mass., was sheriff of Berkshire county, and its representative in the State legislature. He was one of the associates of Bacon and Adams, in the purchase of East Bloomfield ; drawing his share - 3,000 acres, - on Mud creek, he erected a saw mill there in 1790, in company with the late Augustus Porter. Besides this tract, he had lands in Canandaigua and Honeoye. He never became a per- inanent resident of the country -got discouraged, or rather looked upon the dark side of things; said there was no use of having good wheat lands, if they never were to have any market. He re- sold the 3,000 acres on Mud creed for 18d. per acre. He died in his native town, Sheffield, in 1808. He was the father of Henry Fel- lows, Esq. of Penfield, and of Mrs. Daniel Penfield.


James D. Fish, was first town clerk ; his wife's death was the second one in Canandaigua ; and he died in early years.


John Clark came with Mr. Phelps to the treaty. His trade be- ing that of a tanner and currier, he manufactured the first leather in the Genesee country. This was from the hides of the cattle driven on to furnish beef for the Indians at the treaty. His vats were made by sawing off sections of hollow trees. From this small beginning, his business was extended, and in early years his shoe and leather establishment was well known throughout a wide region. His wife was the daughter of the early pioneer, Lemuel Castle. Mr. Clarke died in 1813, and Mrs. Clark in 1842. They were the parents of Mrs. Mark H. Sibley of Canandaigua, and Mrs. W. H. Adams of Lyons.


Luther Cole came into the country with Gen. Israel Chapin. He was the first to carry the mail from Whitesboro to Canandaigua ; on horseback when the roads would allow of it, and often on foot .* In winters he would travel with a sleigh, buy goods in Whitesboro


York for Canandaigua. I was induced to fix on that place for my residence, from the character and respectability of the families already established there. In the course of that year I commenced building a framed house, filled in with brick, and which was finished in the early part of the year 1793. That house still subsists, and even in that handsome town, where there are so many beautiful buildings, is not considered as an eye sore. When it was completed, that and the house built by Oliver Phelps were the only framed houses west of Whitesboro." The house is now owned and occupied by Judge Wells.


* See Post Office Canandaigua, Appendix, No. 8.


.


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and sell them in Canandaigua. From this small beginning he be- came an early and prominent merchant. His wife was a niece of Mrs. Phineas Bates. He died many years since. His sons, Henry and James, emigrated to Detroit; James will be remembered as an early and highly gifted poet.


Dr. Hart was another early physician, and died in early years. He married the widow of Hezekiah Boughton, a brother of Jared and Enos Boughton, and father of Claudius V. and George H. Boughton.


William Antiss emigrated from Pennsylvania, and established himself in Canandaigua as a gun smith, at an early period. He was employed by Gen. Chapin to make and repair rifles for the In- dians, and the white hunters and sportsmen, over a wide region, were for a long period, the customers of his establishment. He died in early years, and was succeeded by his son William Antiss 2d, who continued in the business until his death in 1813. The sons of Wm. Antiss 2d, are William Antiss of Canandaigua, Robert Antiss, who is the successor of his father and grand-father in busi- ness. Mrs. Byron Hays and Mrs. Wm. Reed of Canandaigua, are daughters of Wm. Antiss 2d.


In his rambles in June, 1795, the Duke, Liancourt, went from Bath to Canandaigua. He staid all night at "Capt. Metcalf's," and mentions the fact that a few years before the Capt. had bought his land for Is. per acre, and sold a part of it for $3 per acre. He says the settlement was "called Watkinstown, from several families of that name who possess the greatest property here."* "Capt. Metcalf besides his lands and Inn, possesses a saw mill, where 4500 feet of boards are cut daily. These boards he sends on the lake to Canandaigua, where they are sold for 10s. per 100 feet." "There is a school master at Watkinstown, with a salary of twelve dollars per month." Speaking of Canandaigua he says : - " The houses, although built of wood, are much better than any of that descrip- tion I have hitherto seen. They consist mostly of joiner's work, and are prettily painted. In front of some of them are small courts, surrounded with neat railings. There are two Inns in the town, and several shops, where commodities are sold, and shoes and other


* The Duke was in Naples. Phelps and Gorham sold the township to "Watkins, Harriss & Co."


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articles made. The price of land here is three dollars per acre without the town, and fifteen dollars within. Speaking of a visit to " Mr. Chipping," * (Chapin) he says he found him surrounded by a dozen Seneca Indians, (among whom was Red Jacket,) who had come to partake of his whiskey and meat." The Duke was evi- dently in bad humor at Canandaigua. His friend Blacons had selected the "second Inn, which was far inferior to the first," and he says their dissatisfaction was greatly increased, when they were "shewn into a corn loft to sleep, being four of us, in company with ten or twelve other men," and after he had got to sleep, he says he was disturbed by a recruit of lodgers, an old man and a handsome young woman, who I believe was his daughter." At the idea of a young woman occupying the same room, with twelve or fifteen of the other sex, he thinks his European readers " will scoff, or laugh," but he thinks it showed in "an advantageous light, the laudable simplicity and innocence of American manners."


Phineas Bates was a native of Durham, Conn. He came to the Genesee country in early summer in 1789, with the early Pioneer, Gamaliel Wilder, and remained with him until the fall of the year, making the commencement at Wilder's Point, in Bristol. He re- turned to Connecticut in the fall, making the journey on foot. Early in the spring of 1790, accompanied by his eldest son, Stephen, his son-in-law, Orange Brace, and several others, he return- ed, starting with a yoke of oxen and sled, the party bringing with them a year's provision, and some household goods. Arriving at Schenectady, they put every thing they could not conveniently carry in their knapsacks, on board of a batteaux, left their sled, un- yoked their oxen, travelled up the Mohawk, and struck off into the wilderness, preceding the Wadsworths a few weeks. At Onon- daga, Mr. Bates bought half a bushel of potatoes, slung them across the neck of one of his oxen, brought them to Canandaigua, and planted them upon some village lots he purchased. During the summer, he cleared ten acres, and sowed it to wheat.


Returning to Connecticut late in the fall, in company with Amos Hall, - Sweet, Samuel Knapp; soon after the party left, they encountered a severe snow storm, the snow falling to such a depth


* The translator of the Duke's "Travels," made bad work with names. William Wadsworth for instance, is called Capt. Watworth."


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as to render their progress extremely slow. Walking in single file, one would go forward to break the path, until he wearied out, when another would take his place. Anticipating no such delay, they had provided themselves with an inadequate stock of provisions, and long before they reached Whitestown, the suffering of hunger was added to that of cold and fatigue. The carcass of an otter, their dog killed in the Nine Mile Creek, was a substitute for more palatable food.


Undismayed by the scene of suffering and privation he had passed through, Mr. Bates on reaching home, made preparations for the removal of his family, and in February, 1791, brought them by sleighing to Canandaigua, making the seventh in the new settle- ment.


He opened a public house at an early day, near the upper end of Main-street, which was continued by him and his son for many years. He was an early Justice of the Peace, and in all respects, a worthy citizen. He died in 1829, at an advanced age. Bring- ing with him into the country at so early a period, active and en- terprising sons, the family occupied a prominent position for a long series of years. His eldest son, Stephen, marrying the daughter of Deacon Handy of W. Bloomfield, became a successful farmer in Gorham, was sheriff of Ontario, a member of Assembly, and a Senator. In 1845, he emigrated to Sauk, Wisconsin, where he died the year following ; and of a large family of children, but few survive. Asher Bates married the daughter of Elisha Steel, of East Bloomfield; in 1803, moved west of the Genesee river, and opened a public house on the main road between Caledonia and Le Roy; was one of the earliest sheriff's of Genesee ; died in 1810. An only son studied law with Spencer and Sibley in Canandaigua, settled in Detroit, and is now a resident. at Honolulu, one of the Sandwich Islands, acting in the capacity of the King's attorney or counsellor. His first wife was the daughter of Thomas Beals of Canandaigua ; the second, is a sister of Dr. Judd, the physician of the missionaries in the Sandwich Islands. The widow of Asher Bates is now the wife of Dr. Wm. Sheldon of Le Roy. Phineas P. Bates succeeded his father as a landlord in Canandaigua, and was for many years a deputy sheriff and sheriff of Ontario. He is the only one of a large family that survives : is the occupant of a fine farm adjoining the village of Canandaigua. David C.


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Bates was a farmer near Canandaigua ; died in 1849. A daughter of the elder Phineas Bates became the wife of Jolin A. Stevens, the carly Printer, and Editor of the Ontario Messenger. An elder daughter was the wife of Orange Brace, who has been named in connection with the early advent of the family ; in 1806, he be- came one of the earliest settlers upon the purchase of Phelps and Chipman, in Sheldon, Wyoming county. *


Phineas P. Bates, Esq., the survivor of the family, who has been named, in 1800, was the mail boy from Canandaigua to Fort Nia- gara. The mail route had been established about two years pre- vious, and was carried through by Jasper Marvin, who sometimes dispensed with mail bags, and carried the contents in a pocket book. Mr. Bates observes that when he commenced carrying it for his brother Stephen, who was the mail contractor, it used to take six days to go and return. His stopping places over night, were at Mrs. Berry's, among the Indians at Tonawanda, and at Fort Niagara.


In some reminiscences of Mr. Bates, he observes, that "in 1793, one of those fatal accidents occurred at Canandaigua, which always cast a gloom over small communities. A Mr. Miles, from what is now Lima, and a citizen of Canada, were on their way to Massa- chusetts. Riding into the village, when they were within a few rods of Main-street, a tree turned out by the roots, fell upon the travellers, killing them both, and one of their horses. What made the affair a very singular one, was the fact, that although it was raining moderately at the time, there was not the least wind to cause the fall of the tree."


Dr. Moses Atwater settled in Canandaigua as a physician, at the early period of 1791. In some correspondence that passed be- tween Gen. Chapin and Judge Phelps, there was much gratifica- tion manifested that their new settlement was to have the benefit of a physician. Dr. Atwater enjoyed for a long period an extensive practice, and made himselt eminently useful in the new country.


* The Pioneer and a son, both died on the frontier, where they had gone under Smyth's proclamation, in the war of 1812. Another son and a daughter died about the same period. Toward the close of the war, a son-in-law, Ardin Merrill, was kill- ed on board of a ferry boat, at the Canada landing, opposite Black Rock. Many households of all the Genesee country were thinned by disease, and deaths upon bat- tle grounds, during the war ; but there were few, if any, hearthstones made as desolate as was theirs. Leicester Brace of Buffalo, late sheriff of Erie county, is a surviving son of Orange Brace, and a surviving son and daughter reside in Illinois.


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He was an early Judge of Ontario county. He died in 1848, at the advanced age of 82 years. Samuel Atwater of Canandaigua, and Moses Atwater of Buffalo, are his sons ; a daughter became the wife of Robert Pomeroy, of Buffalo; and another, the wife of Lewis Jenkins, formerly a merchant of Canandaigua, now a resi- dent of Buffalo. Dr. Jeremiah Atwater, a brother of Moses, set- tled in Canandaigua in early years. He still survives at the age of 80 years, laboring, however, under the infirmity of a loss of sight.


Mr. Samuel Dungan was a native of Pennsylvania, a student with the celebrated Dr. Wistar. He settled in practice in Canan- daigua in 1797. He possessed extraordinary skill as a surgeon, and in that capacity, was known throughout a wide region. He died nearly thirty years since. He left a son and a daughter, both of whom are still living.


Dr. William A. Williams was from Wallingford, Conn. He en- tered Yale College at the close of the Revolution, and graduated at the early age of sixteen. After passing through a regular course of medical studies, he commenced practice in Hatfield, Mass .; but in a few years, in 1793, emigrated to Canandaigua, established him- self in a large and successful practice, which he retained until near the close of a long life. One who was his neighbor for near forty years, observes : - " He was a man of plain and simple manners, amiable and kind hearted; at the bed side of his patients, he min- gled the consolations of friendship with professional advice ; in day or night time, in sunshine or in storm, whether his patients were rich or poor, he was the same indefatigable, faithful physician and good neighbor. He died in 1833 or '4. Col. George Williams, of Portage, and Charles Williams, of Nunda, are his sons. His daughters became the wives of the late Jared Wilson, Esq., and John A. Granger, of Canandaigua, and - Whitney, the present P. M. at Canandaigua, and Editor of the Ontario Repository.


NATHANIEL W. HOWELL.


The venerable Nathaniel W. Howell, now in his 81st year, is the oldest resident member of the Bar of Western New York. His native place is Blooming Grove, Orange County, N. Y. The son


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of a farmer, at a period when farmer's sons were early inured to toil, a naturally robust and vigorous constitution was aided by the healthy labors of the field. At the age of thirteen he was placed in an Academy in Goshen, founded by Noah Webster, the widely known author; where he remained for nearly two years ; after which he entered the Academy at Hackensack, N. J., the Principal of which was Dr. Peter Wilson, formerly Professor of languages in Columbia College. In May, 1787, he entered the junior class in Princeton College, and graduated, in Sept. 1788. A few months after graduating, making choice of the legal profession, he com- menced the study of law in the office of the late Gen. Wilkin, in Goshen. Remaining there but a short period, he accepted a call to take charge of an Academy at Ward's Bridge in Ulster Co., where he continued for over three years ; after which, he resumed the study of law in the office of the late Judge Hoffman, in the city of New York. He was admitted an Attorney of the Supreme Court in May, 1794.


In May, 1795, he opened an office in the town of Union, near the now village of Binghampton, in Tioga county. The late Gen. Matthews was then practicing law in Newtown, now Elmira. The two were the only Supreme court lawyers then in the county.


Judge Howell was admitted as an Attorney of the court of com- mon pleas in Ontario in June, 1795, and in the following February, removed to Canandaigua, where he has continued to reside until the present time. The records of the courts bear evidence of his having acquired a large practice in early years. He was one of the local legal advisers of Mr. Williamson, and was employed by Joseph Ellicott in his earliest movements upon the Holland Purchase. Laying before the author at this present writing, are copies of his letters to Mr. Williamson written in 1795, and a letter written with- in the present year, in a fair hand, but little marked by the tremor of age. Fifty six-years have intervened !


In 1799, he was appointed by the council of appointment, on the nomination of Gov. Jay, assistant Attorney General for the five western counties of this state, the duties of which office he contin- ued to discharge until his resignation in 1802. In 1819 he was appointed by the council of appointment, on the nomination of Gov Dewitt Clinton, First Judge of the county of Ontario, which office he filled for thirteen years. He was an early representative in the




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