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 24
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 24
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 24
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 24
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 24
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 24
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 24
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 24
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 24
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 24
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
NOTE .- Col Cost, died in April last, whilst this work was in press.
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Benjamin Shekell, whose advent is mentioned in connection with Col. Cost, died in 1818. His son Richard resides in Hopewell ; a daughter, is Mrs. Stephens of Hopewell. Samuel Shekell came in 1803 ; died in 1828 ; his son Thomas in 1804, and opened a store at Clifton Springs; returning to Maryland in a few years; another son, Jacob M., resides near Ann Arbor, Michigan ; another, John, in Waterloo; another, Cephus, in Milwaukee. His daughters became the wives of Col. Elias Cost, Major Wm. Howe Cuyler, Alexander Howard, and Andrew Dorsey, of Lyons. The Shekells were from Bladensburg, Maryland.
William Hildreth was an early merchant and distiller ; was a Supervisor of the town, and a member of the legislature. IIe erected mills on Flint Creek, was a large farmer, and in all, a man of extraordinary enterprise, carrying on for many years an exten- sive business. He died in 1838 ; his widow survives. His sons, William and Spencer, reside in Vienna.
Eleazor, Cephas and Joseph Hawks, were early settlers in Vienna. Cephas Hawks, just previous to the war, erected a large woolen factory at White Sprin s, on the Nicholas (now Mrs. Lee's) farm, near Geneva ; bought the fine wool of the Wadsworths; sold cloth at from $5 to $12 per yard ; made money rapidly ; but low prices and consequent failure succeeded after the war. He emigrated to Michigan. Benjamin F. Hawks, of Vienna, is a son of Elcazor.
Luther Root was the first clothier in Phelps; he died 25 years since ; his widow and sons are residents of Vienna.
The town of Phelps was first the "L'istrict of Sullivan ;" the first town meeting was held at the house of Jonathan Oaks, in 1796. Jonathan Oaks was chosen Supervisor, Solomon Goodale, Town Clerk. Other town officers : - Joel Prescott, Philetus Swift, Pierce Granger, Cornelius Westfall, Abraham F. Spurr, Chas. Humphrey, Elijah Gates, Augustus Dickinson, John Patton, Wells Whitmore, Jonathan Melvin, Oliver Humphrey, Patrick Burnett, Jesse Warner, Oliver Humphrey, Philetus Swift, Augustus Dickinson, Joel Prescott, Oliver Humphrey, Solomon Goodale.
A "gratuity of four pounds " was voted for "every wolf's head that shall be killed in this district by an inhabitant thereof."
At a court of special sessions of Ontario county, in June, 1796, name was changed to " Dist ict of Phelps."
In February, 1797, a special town meeting was called "for the
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purpose of establishing some regulations in reference to schools." After the town had assumed his name, Mr. Phelps gave an enter- tainment at Oaks' Tavern, and a jovial time the backwoodsmen had of it, as but few of them live to recollect.
GENEVA.
While the Pioneer events we have been recording, were going on in other localities, the little village of Kanadesaga, at the foot of Seneca Lake, had been going a head under the auspices of Reed and Ryckman, and the Lessces. In the compromise with Phelps and Gorham, the Lessees had come in possession of townships 6, 7, and 8, in the 1st Range, and 9 in the 2d. These townships were deeded to the Lessees under the name of the "New York Com- pany ;" and a fifth township (No. 9 in the 1st,) was decded to " Benton and Livingston." * "In the fall of 1788," says a manu- script in the author's possession, "number 8 was divided into lots, and balloted for at Geneva ; Benjamin Barton, sen., at that time being agent for the Niagara (or Canada) Company, drew the num- ber of lots assigned to them ; and Messrs. Benton and Birdsall, being present, drew for themselves and associates." ¡
In the fall of 1788, about the time that the Pioneer movements were making at Canandaigua, Geneva had become a pretty brisk place ; the focus of speculators, explorers, the Lessee Company and their agents ; and the principal seat of the Indian trade for a wide region. Horatio Jones was living in a log house covered with bark, on the bank of the Lake, and had a small stock of goods for the Indian trade ; Asa Ransom (the afterwards Pioneer at Buffalo
* But the four townships were included in the compromise. Benton and Livingston were prominent among the Lessees ; and either acquired the fifth township by pur- chase, or it was a bonus to them individually, for their agency in effecting the com- promise.
t The author has in his possession the original draft of this lottery scheme, with the names of all who drew lofs-over an hundred -and the numbers of the lots they severally drew. The lots are said to be in the "town of Geneva and county thereof." Either the village of Geneva that had been laid out by Reed and Ryckman was merged with the lands of the Lessees, or they laid out a village upon the Lake shore, opposite T. 8, as ca h shareholder drew a "town lot," and a "large lot," which evidently meant a village lot and a farm lot. Lots were drawn in the name of "Street & Co .. " "Samuel Street." "Street and Ba ler," "John Butler," and by all the members of the New York and Canada joint Lessee Companies.
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and Ransom's Grove,) occupied a hut, and was manufacturing Indian trinkets ; Lark Jennings had a log tavern on the bank of the Lake; the Lessee Company had a framed tavern and trading establishment, covered with bark, on the Lake shore, "near where the bluff approaches the Lake," which was occupied by Dr. Ben- ton. There was a cluster of log houses all along on the low ground near the Lake shore. The geographical designations were " hill and bottom." Peter Ryckman and Peter Bortle were residing there, and several others whose names are not recollected. Col. Seth Reed was residing at the Old Castle. Dominick Debartzch, an Indian trader from Montreal, was rather the great man of the country. His principal seat was the Cashong farm, which he claimed as an Indian grant, and where he had a trading establish- ment ; though his trade extended to the western Indians, among whom he went after selling his claim to the Cashong farm to the late Major Benj. Barton. of Lewiston.
The Lessees were then strenuously claiming all of the lands of the six nations up to the old pre-emption line. A letter from one of the company at Geneva, to one of the Canada associates, dated in Nov. '88, speaks confidently of a compromise with the State, " by which we shall be enabled to hold a part, if not the whole of the lands contained in our lease." To further this object, it is proposed that the Canada influence shall be brought to bear upon the Indians; and that a strong delegation of the chiefs shall be at Allriny when the legislature meets, and "remonstrate openly to the sovereignty of the State, against the late proceedings at Fort Stanwix, and demand the restitution of their lands."+ In April and May, 1789, the New York company held out to their Canada associates, the strongest assurances of being enabled with their assistance, to induce the In- lians to abide by the Lease, instead of their cessions to the State ; but in the fall of that year, they began to be disposed to take what- ever they could get. In September, one of the auditors of the " New
* John H. Jones witnessed the confirmation of this bargain. Major Barton, in part payment, pulled off his overcoat, and gave it to Debartzch. It has heretofore been said that the purchase was made of Poudry. Mr. Jones corrects this, and says that Poudry at the time was a servant of Debartzch, occasionally assisting him in the Indian trade. Both gloried in native wives.
t In the month of September preceding, the Onondagas had, at a treaty at Fort Stanwix, ceded their lands to the State; and in the same month, the Oneidas had ceded theirs.
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York Genesce Company," writing to the " Niagara Genesee Com- pany," says :- " Our business has fallen much short of our first idea;" and after ast ing their concurrence in a proposed compromise with the State, the letter closes with, " I am, with due respect, but like the rest of the company at this time, somewhat dejected, your very humble servant."
All that was done at Geneva previous to the spring of 1793, was under the auspices of Reed and Ryckman and the Lessees. The little backwoods village that had grown up there, the scattered set- tlements in the Lessee towns and upon the Gore, and at Jerusalem, constituted a majority perhaps of all the population west of Seneca Lake. " The district of Seneca," which, so far as organization was concerned. embraced all the region north to Lake Ontario, and the Lessee towns, had its first town meeting in April, 1793. It was held at the house of Joshua Fairbanks, who still survives, a resident of Lewiston, Niagara county. Ezra Patterson was chosen Supervisor, Thomas Sisson, Town Clerk. Other town officers, Oliver Whit- more, Jas. Rice, Phineas Pierce, Patrick Burnett, Samuel Wheedon, Peter Bortle, Jr., Sanford Williams, Jonathan Oaks, David Smith, Benjamin Tuttle, Win. Smith, Jr., David Benton, Benj. Dixon, Amos Jenks, John Reed, Caleb Culver, Charles Harris, Stephen · Sisson, W. Whitmore, Joseph Kilbourn, Seba Squires.
In 1791, Ambrose Hull was Supervisor. Store and tavern licen- ses were granted to Graham S. Scott, Thomas Sergeants, Joseph Annin, Hewson & Co. 1795. Timothy Allen was Supervisor, and Samuel Colt, Town Clerk ; town meeting was held at the house of Ezra Patterson, who was chosen Supervisor of the town for several successive years. In 1800, the number of persons assessed to work on the highways in the town of Seneca, was 290.
Mr. Williamson turned his attention to Geneva, in the spring of 1793; and as will be observed, many of the early reminiscences of the locality occur in connection with him. In fact, Geneva is more or less mingled with the earliest events of the whole region. It was the door or gateway to the Genesee country, and there our race first made a stand preliminary to farther advances.
Herman H. Bogert, commenced the practice of law in Geneva, in 1797, being now the oldest resident member of the profession, except Judge Howell, in western New York. His father was Isaac Bogert, a captain in the Revolution, attached to the New York line ;
PHELPS AND GORHAM'S PURCHASE. 233
was at the siege of Fort Stanwix, and at the close of the war be- came a merchant in Albany. The son was preceded in his profes- sion at Geneva, only by Henry H. Van Rensselaer, who remained but a few years.
Mr. Bogert observes, that at the period he came to Geneva, land speculations were at their height ; high prices were the order of the day ; board was $4,00 per week at the hotel ; and all things were going on as swimmingly as in the later years, 1836, '37. Eligible building lots of three-fourths of an acre, sold for $500; farming lands in the neighborhood, sold for $5,00 an acre, that afterwards brought but $2 and $3,00. Mr. Williamson had a sloop upon the Lake that was engaged in bringing down lumber. The mail was brought from Albany once in two weeks upon horseback. Mr. Wil- liamson's head quarters were then principally at the Geneva Hotel. In addition to his other enterprizes, he was actively engaged in the construction of the turnpike.
Mr. Bogert is now 77 years of age ; his wife, the daughter of John Witbeck, of Red Hook, who also survives, is 73. Charles A. Bogert of Dresden, Yates county, is a son ; a daughter became the wife of Derick C. Delamater, of Columbia county ; another, of Her- man Ten Eyck, of Albany ; another, of Godfrey J. Grosvenor, of Geneva.
Early lawyers in Geneva, other than Mr. Bogert, Pollydore B. Wisner, Daniel W. Lewis, Robert W. Stoddard, John Collins, Da- vid Hudson. Mr. Wisner was an early District Attorney. He died in 1814. He was from Orange county ; studied law with Richard Varick; at one period member of the Legislature. Mr. Lewis died within a few years in Buffalo, leaving no children. An adopted daughter of his was the wife of Stephen K. Grosvenor, and is now the wife of the Rev. Dr. Shelton, of Buffalo. Mr. Stoddard died in 1847. A son of his is a practicing lawyer in Brooklyn, and another son is an officer of the navy. Mr. Collins is now a prac- ticing lawyer in Angelica. Mr. Hudson still survives, and contin- ues a resident of Geneva. Mr. Parks is yet a practicing Attorney
NOTE .- Mr. Bogert, among other interesting reminiscences of early times, which the author has used in other connections, speaks of a marked event-a thunder storm in 1797. There seemed to be a meeting of two large, dense, black clouds. For two hours, there was peal after peal, in quick succession, of thunder; not unlike the re- ports of parks of artillery. Water spouts rose upon the Lake, column after column ; the atmosphere seemed on fire; the whole was a scene of grandeur and terror, that has had few parallels.
15
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in Geneva. He studied law with Lewis and Collins, and was ad- mitted to practice in 1814. In the war of 1812, he was upon the frontier, and in the battle of Queenston, in command of a company of volunteers.
The early merchants of Geneva, other than those who were loca- ted there under Indian and Lessee occupancy, were: Grieve and Moffat, Samuel Colt, Richard M. Williams, Elijah H. Gordon, Richard M. Bailey, Abraham Dox. Grieve & Moffatt established the first brewery in all this region. Mr. Grieve was in the employ of Mr. Williamson, in the earliest years, as it is presumed Mr. Mof- fat was, as his name occurs in connection with the early move- ments at Sodus. Mr. Grieve was out in the war of 1812, a colone!, under Gen. Me Clure. He died in 1835. Mr. Moffat removed to Buffalo. Richard M. Williams became a farmer in Middlesex, On- tario county, (or in Yates county) where he died a few years since ; a son of his was lately in the Senate of this State. Mr. Colt was a brother of Joseph Colt, the early merchant of Canandaigua, Auburn, and Palmyra. Ile removed to New York, and on a visit to Ge- neva, attending the commencement at the College, he died suddenly, at the Hotel, in 1834. Mr. Baily is still living. He entered the regular army in 1812; had a staff appointment, was taken prisoner at the battle of Queenston ; went to Quebec in company with Gen. Scott, where he was parolled.
Elijah H. Gordon is one of the three or four survivors of all who were residents of Geneva previous to 1798 ; is in his 80th year. Ilis goods came in early years, from Schenectady, via the usual water route, costing for transportation, generally about $3 per ewt. Barter trade, in furs especially, constituted his principal early busi- ness ; potash and ginseng was added after a few years.
Mr. Gordon was a Judge of Ontario county courts in early years ; and the second Post Master at Geneva, succeeding Walter Grieves, who was the first. His two sons, John H., and Win. W. Gordon, reside in Washington, Louisana.
Dr. Adams was a physician in Geneva in the earliest years of settlement. Dr. John Henry and Daniel Goodwin, were the ear- liest permanent physicians. Dr. Henry died in 1812. Dr. Good- win removed to Detroit, where he died a few years since. Stephen A. Goodwin, an attorney at law, in Auburn, is a son of his ; another son, Daniel Goodwin, is an attorney in Detroit.
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A Presbyterian society was organized in Geneva, as early as 1798. In July of that year, a meeting was held : John Fulton and Oliver Whitmore presided ; Oliver Whitmore, Elijah Wilder, Sep- timus Evans, Ezra Patterson, Samuel Latta, Wm. Smith, jr., and Pollydore B. Wisner, were chosen trustees. The Rev. Jedediah Chapman became the first settled minister, continuing as such, until his death in 1813. He was succeeded by the Rev. Henry Axtell. The society built a church in 1811.
In 1806, " nineteen persons of full age, belonging to the Protest- ant Episcopal church, assembled, and there being no Rector, John Nicholas presided." Trinity church was organized by the election of the following officers :- John Nicholas and Daniel W. Lewis, Wardens ; Samuel Shekell, John Collins, Robert S. Rose, Richard Hughes, Ralph T. Wood, David Nagler, Jas. Reese, Thomas Pow- ell, Vestrymen.
The Rev. Davenport Phelps was the first officiating clergyman ; was succeeded by the Rev. Orrin Clark, who officiated for many years. He died in 1828. The society erected a church in 1809, which was removed, and its site occupied by the present Trinity Church, in 1845.
Baptist and Methodist societies were organized, and churches erected, soon after the war of 1812, but the author has no farther record or information concerning them.
Among the earliest mechanics at Geneva, were : Wm. Tappan, John and Abraham B. Hall, John Sweeny, Elisha Douner, Moses Hall, W. W. Watson, John Woods,* Lucius Cary, Jonathan Doane, t Foster Barnard, Richard Lazalere, Jacob and Joseph Backenstose.j.
John Nicholas, emigrated from Virginia, and settled at Geneva in 1801. He was a lawyer by profession, but had retired from practice. He was for several terms, a member of the State Senate, and a Judge of the courts of Ontario. He engaged extensively in
* Mr. Wood, was also an early landlord.
t He erected the primative churches ; was the father of Bishop Doane of New Jer- sey, who received his primary education in Geneva.
# They were brothers, came to Geneva in the earliest years. They were the pioneer " tailors of the Genesee country. Time was, when to wear a coat from their press board, marked the wearer as an aristocrat. Men going to Congress, or the Legislature, gen- erally got a coat from a "Geneva tailor," but never before election. "Generals" and "Colonels" sometimes indulged in such an extravagant luxury. The surviving sons of Jacob, are : - John Barkenstore a merchant of Geneva, and Jacob and Frederick, of Bloomfield. Jacob Barkenstore yet survives, a resident of Lockport.
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agricultural pursuits, owning and occupying the large farm after wards purchased by Gideon Lee. Judge Nicholas died in 1817. His surviving sons are Robert C. Nicholas, Lawson Nicholas, Gavin L. Nicholas, John Nicholas ; a daughter became the wife of Abra- ham Dox, and another the wife of Dr. Leonard, of Lansingburg.
Robert S. Rose, a brother-in-law of Judge Nicholas, emigrated with him from Virginia. He located upon a farm on the opposite side of Seneca Lake, where for many years, he was one of the largest farmers in western New York. Both he and Judge Nich- olas, were at one pericd extensive wool growers, and did much to promote the improvement of sheep husbandry in this region. He was for one or two terms, a representative in Congress. He died, suddenly, at Waterloo, in 1845 .* His widow, who was of the Virginia family of Lawsons, so highly esteemed for her quiet and unobtrusive charities, and especially for her zealous aid to the Epis- copal church, whose doctrines she adorned through life, died in 1847, or 'S. The surviving sons, are :- Dr. Lawson G. Rose, cf Geneva ; John and Henry Rose, of Jerusalem, Yates county ; Robert L. Rose, of Allen's Hill, Ontario county, late a representative in Congress, from the Ontario and Livingston district, and Charles Rose, of the town of Rose, Wayne county. A daughter became the wife of Robert C. Nicholas; another, the wife of Hopkins Sill.
BRIEF REMINISCENCES.
From old newspaper files, preserved by James Bogart Esq., an early and worthy conductor of the newspaper press in Ontario county. See some account of the early printers and editors of the Genesee country.
In Bath Gazette, 1799, by an advertisement, it would seem that the "Bath Theatre" was in full blast. The plays announced, are the " Mock Doctor, or the Dumb Lady cured." " A peep into the Seraglio." "Pit, six shillings; Gallery three shillings." In same paper, George M'Clure, announces that he
* In early life he had entertained a presentiment of sudden death, arising from some disorganization in the region of the heart. Many years previous to his death he had assured his family it would be sudden, as it proved to be. He had dined with some friends at Waterloo -at the table had spoken of his unusual good health; and in the act of stepping into his sleigh to return home, fell and soon expired. So abiding was his presentiment, that he had kept all his business affairs prepared for such an exigen- cy as actually occured.
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has opened a "house of entertainment," at Bath. Bath races are advertised. "Northumberland and Sunbury Gazette," 1792: - Charles Williamson offers for sale " 1,000,000 acres of good land in the Genesee country, at $1,00 per acre to actual settlers." He says : - " A village called Williamsburg, is laid out at the junction of the Canascraga and Genesee Rivers, where there is excellent navigation for boats carrying ten tons, in the driest season." " The village will have the advantage of a school, church, &re." "Mechanics wanted, to whom village lots will be donated." "Mr. Williamson begs leave to inform the German settlers in Pennsylvania, that he expects to hear of the arrival of 400 Saxons from Germany, who have taken up lands in the Genesee country. They sailed from Hamburg in April last." %
In "Seneca Museum," 1800, Elkanah Watson and Wm. Mynderse, adver- tise that they will contract the making of a turnpike from Onondaga Hollow to Geneva, and make payment for the same "in good land." In same paper it is announced that "Sloop Seneca, will sail from Geneva every Tuesday, wind and weather permitting, for the head of the Lake, and will generally return from there the Friday following. For freight or passage, apply to Captain on board."
From the Geneva Gazette, April, 1806 : - " Positive proof has been ob- tained by Joseph H. Davis, attorney general for Kentucky district, that Burr had formed an association for making war against Spain, invading Mexico, and forming a distinct empire in the western country."
JAMES REESE.
In all our country there are but few survivors of our Revolution- ary period - not one, perhaps - certainly not in our local region, survives, who was so familiar with its stirring events as the venera- ble James Reese, of Geneva, now in his 87th year. Entering the counting house of Willing & Morris, in Philadelphia, in the memora- ble year of the Declaration of Independence, he remained there until the close of the long struggle that ensued. Transferred from the commercial department of the firm to the private desk, and confi- dence, of one of its partners, Robert Morris, then so blended with and so participating in all that was transpiring, it may well be con- ceived that his yet vigorous mind is a rich storehouse of historical reminiscences. The man survives, a citizen of our own local region, who was a witness of the interviews that often occurred between Geo. Washington and Robert Morris ; when he who wielded the
* And they proved, as the reader will see, rather the hardest case that the enterpris- ing founder of settlements, had upon his hands.
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sword, would meet him who wielded the purse, and the two, with painful anxiety, surrounded by embarrassments - with an unclothed and unpaid army, and an empty treasury - would discuss the por- tentuous questions, the ways and means of our nation's deliverance. When unpaid armies, disheartened, wore down by fatigue and pri- vation, would threaten dispersion and a return to their long neglect- ed homes ; when even their stout-hearted leader would temporarily yield to despondency, and almost in despair appeal to him whose financial expedients were seemingly exhaustless, for council and aid.
The printed notes of hand that Mr. Morris issued in several emergencies during the Revolution, - especially those used in addi- tion to the sum borrowed of the French to enable Washington to put the army upon its march, preparatory to the battle of Yorktown, were filled up and afterwards cancelled by Mr. Reese. Of the hundreds in Mr. Morris' employment at that period, in all his com- mercial relations - as Superintendent of the finances, and Secre- tary of the Treasury - Mr. Reese alone survives. His position brought him in contact, and made him acquainted with the leaders of both the American and French army, and the officers of the Navy, of those whose memories are embalmed in a nation's heart. He names them with all the familiarity of recent intercourse ; but there are few, if any, in the long list that have not gone to their final rest. He is one of the few remaining links that connect the Past with the Present - and his is not only in reference to our national history, but to the Pioneer history of our local region.
Mr. Reese's first visit to this region was as clerk or secretary to the commissioners for holding a treaty with the Indians, at "Big Tree," commonly called the Morris' treaty. Returning to Phila- delphia he acquired an interest in the new region, and in 1798, he removed his family to Geneva, where he has since resided, with the exception of one year spent in Bath, in connection with the land of- fice there. When Mr. Williamson came out as the Pultney agent, his first business was with Mr. Morris, where Mr. Reese became one of his earliest acquaintances in this country. On arriving here, he entered into his agency service, and after that, was his private agent until he returned to England.
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