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 58
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 58
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 58
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 58
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 58
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 58
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 58
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 58
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 58
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 58
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
Gen. Daniel Davis was a settler as early as 1801, and also became an early tavern keeper. He was an early military officer, succeed- ing Joseph Hewitt in the command of a company of militia; had attained the rank of Brig. General on the occurrence of the war of 1812; was killed at the sortie of Fort Erie.
Asa Buell was a settler soon after 1800 ; had held a commission in the Revolution ; was a member of the Legislature of Conn .; died in 1825 or '6 ; a son was killed with Gen. Davis at the sortie of Fort Erie ; a surviving son occupies the homested.
The following list embraces the names of all who purchased land upon the Triangle, from commencement of sales until the close of 1809. Generally it is the names of the early Pioneers, though in some instances, it is presumed, the purchasers, or holders of contracts never became residents. And it is also to be considered that many
NOTE. - In reminiscences ef Le Roy, reference will be had to the whole town, with- out any distinction as to that portion of it which is on the Triangle.
* Mr. Chamberlin has forwarded to the author the first deed given for a farm lot, west of Caladonia. John Johnstone, as the agent of William Hornby, conveys 100 acres of land in Le Roy, to Joseph Hewitt. The blank was printed by "L. Cary, Canandaigua." Mr. Hewett paid for his farm thus early with the proceeds of a con- tract with Mr. Ellicott, for building the first bridge over Allan's creek, at Le Roy. He removed to Lewiston, Niagara county, in early years, where he became a successful farmer, and where his descendants now reside.
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PHELPS AND GORHAM'S PURCHASE.
transfers of contracts were made, in which cases the names of the actual settlers may not appear : -
TOWNSHIP 1. Dudley Saltonstall, R. M. Stoddard,
TOWNSHIP 1. David Fairchild, Thaddeus Keys,
TOWNSHIP 1. Ebenezer Green, Aaron Scribner.
1802.
TOWNSHIP 1. Lemuel F. Prindell,
TOWNSHIP 1. Abraham Russell,
Horace Shepherd, Joshua Woodward.
1803.
TOWNSHIP 5.
John Barns, Amos W. Sweet, John Cobb.
1804.
TOWNSHIP 2.
David Scott.
John Landon,
Benajah Worden. TOWNSHIP 4. James Sayres,
1805.
TOWNSHIP 1.
Gaines Brown,
Jessee Foskett,
David Potter,
Solomon Leach,
Simeon Daggett,
Cephas Fordham,' Martin Kelsey, James Bates, Jessee Griswold,
Cotton Leach,
David Stanton,
Gideon Elliott,
Isaac Leach,
Benj. Boyd,
Levi Leach,
Isaac Farwell,
John Farwell.
Daniel Kelsey,
David Franklin,
John Pierson. TOWNSHIP 3. Isaiah White, Jonathan Freeman, Thomas White.
1806.
TOWNSHIP 2.
Roger Kelsey, James Gano. TOWNSHIP 3. Jas. D. Mowlat, Archibald M'Knight,
Joseph Hopkins,
Levi Gilbert, Gideon Orr, John Ellis, TOWNSHIP 4. Wm. Spafford, Samuel Algur,
TOWNSHIP 4. Aretas Haskell, Julius Curtiss, Samuel Chiswell,
Ebenezer Towle, Sylvester Eldridge,
Noah Owen, Olney F. Rice, Carr Draper.
TOWNSHIP 5. Perry G. Nichols.
TOWNSHIP 1. Simon Pierson, Joseph Pierson, Oliver Bates. TOWNSHIP 2. Samuel Gleason. William Peters,
Jonathan Thompson, Willard Leach, George Letson, Joseph Eldridge, Samuel Farley, David Johnson,
1801.
TOWNSHIP 1. Elias Underwood, E. Bacon, William Gilmore,
TOWNSHIP 1. Isaac Marsh, TOWNSHIP 4. Moody Freeman .;
TOWNSHIP 1. Philemon Nettleton, James Bates, John Fordham.
TOWNSHIP 2. Benj. Fox,
TOWNSHIP 2.
TOWNSHIP 4. John Fowle,
James Austin,
Wm. Davis,
Noah Owen,
Daniel Le Barron, Sylvanus Fairfield, Joseph Mapes, Ella Smith. TOWNSHIP 2.
TOWNSHIP 5. Abigal Saver, John Chapman,
Richard Abbey,
Abraham Davis, Alexander White,
TOWNSHIP 2.
Jacob Fuller.
TOWNSHIP 4. Elijah Blodgett.
TOWNSHIP 5. James M'Casson.
Nathan Harvey, Jeremiah Hascall,
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PHELPS AND GORHAM'S PURCHASE.
1807.
TOWNSHIP 1.
Oliver Bates, James Bates, Lockwood G. Hoyt, Sylvanus Franklin, Philo Pierson. TOWNSHIP 2. Abraham Davis, Levi Russell Jr., Philip Conklin, John A. Lackor, Aaron H. Kelsey,
Wheaton South worth, Henry D. Gifford, Jeremiah Hart, Abner Lovejoy, D. R. Peters, Benj. Woodward, Wm. Woodward,
TOWNSHIP 2. James Landon, Sylvanus Durlam, Aug. Buell, John Gifford,
Cyrus Gifford,
Dyre Thomas,
Joseph Throop,
Orange Throop,
David Johnson,
A. Bissell. TOWNSHIP 3.
John Ellis,
John Reed,
Samuel Bishop,
Stephen Johnson,
Joseph Hopkins, Wm. Dunsha, Samuel Lincoln,
Luke Chase,
1808.
TOWNSHIP 3.
Walter Palmer, Lincoln Palmer,
Cyrus Hatch, Rufus Harman,
John A. Tone, Reuben Stickney, Joseph Eldridge,
Stephen Lyman, Joshua Green,
Cyrus Galloway,
Wm. M. Bentley,
L. W. Udall,
Charles Warren,
Wm. B. Worden,
Aaron Hill,
Moses J. Hill,
Polly Gifford,
Judah Church,
Peleg Thomas,
Nathaniel Pool,
Abijah Capron,
Daniel C. Stone,
David Lovett, Jacob Bartlett,
Benj. Knight, Nathaniel Pool. Micajah Moon,
Reuben Downs,
1809.
TOWNSHIP 2. Joshua Green. Daniel Guthrie, Azariah Haywood, George Orman, Jacob Orman. TOWNSHIP 3. Mathias Pease, Ebenezer Champney, Gale Furman,
TOWNSHIP 3.
Amos Frink, Alanson Thomas, Isaac Howard, Zadock Hurd, Joseph Langdon, Levi Merrills, Joshua Green, John Marshall, Stephen Clark,
TOWNSHIP 3. Ephraim Carter, Bethuel Barron, Amos Parks, Uriah L. James, Wm. James, W. Stewart, Elisha Stewart,
Benj. Sheldon, Elisha Ewer.
TOWNSHIP 4. Patrick Fowler, Joseph Grover, Wilbur Sweet, Levi Leach, Eli Glass, Wm. Dickinson, Anthony Case, S. Bigelow.
TOWNSHIP 1. John Richards, Leonard Parmelee, Wm. Wolcott, Daniel Waite. Nathaniel King. TOWNSHIP 2. Benj. Wright, Levi Ward, Sen. John Ward, Levi Ward, Jr.,
TOWNSHIP 3.
Wm. Bentley, Nicholas Lake, Oramel Butler, Simeon Gray, Joseph Luce. TOWNSHIP 4. Eldridge Farwell, John Mallory, Isaac Lincoln, Eli Mead, Wilbur Sweet,
Betsey Whipple. Wm, Munger, John Wright, Joseph Throop,
Simeon Gray, Wm. H. Munger, TOWNSPIP 3. Samuel Lincoln, Johnson Bedell, Amos Parks, Edward Parks,
Robert Clark, Robert Hoy, Robert Brown, Jas. M. Brown, Oliver Hamlin, Danforth Howe, Macy Brown. Eli Runde 1, Jonathan Mead, Elisha Lake.
TOWNSHIP 3. Reuben Stickney. Jr., Thos. W. Taylor, Reuben Downs, TOWNSHIP 4. Isaac Holmes, James Hoy, Joshua H. Brown, Walter Billings, Orange Risden.
Eber Griswold,
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PHELPS AND GORHAM'S PURCHASE.
The successor of R. M. Stoddard in the land agency, was Gra- ham Newell, who was succeeded by Egbert Benson, Jr. The suc- cessor of the last named, was Jacob Le Rov, a son of one of the proprietors. In 1839, Mr. Le Roy returned to New York, and Joshua Lothrop who had been his clerk, succeeded him in the agency, which position he still retains; though the affairs of the agency are pretty much closed ; the whole traet being sold, deeded, and paid for, with the exception of a small amount which remains in the form of loans.
The reader by a cursory examination of the list of early settlers, will observe that for the first few years, settlement of the Triangle beyond the immediate neighborhood of Le Roy, had a slow progress. In 1803, there were but two lots sold in Bergen ; in 1804, but seven ; in 1805, but twenty-one. In 1805, but three in Sweden ; in 1806. but nine ; in 1807, but twenty-six. In 1803, but one in Clarkson , in 1804, but three ; in 1805, but twelve. And it is not to be pre- sumed that all who purchased became actual settlers ; in fact, many did not.
Jeremiah Hascall removed from Canandaigua, where he had set- tled in 1800, to Le Roy, with his family, in 1805 ; having pur- chased a part of the present Murphy farm in 1802. He was a Justice of the Peace when his jurisdiction embraced all the territo- ry west of Genesee river. He died in 1835, aged 96 years ; his wife in 1834, aged 84 years. They had thirteen children, twelve of whom arrived at adult age. The surviving sons are :- David, Amasa, and Augustus P. Hascall, of Le Roy, the last named being the member of Congress eleet, from the county of Genesee ; John Haseall, of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Daughters :- Mrs. Wiard, of Le Roy ; Mrs. Harvey, of Pike ; Mrs. Austin, of Le Roy ; Mrs. Knowlton, of Ohio.
James Austin was an officer of the Revolutionary army ; settled first in Bristol; in Le Roy soon after 1800. He died in Bergen. His widow still survives, over 90 years of age. Mrs. Bissell and Mrs. Lee; of Bergen, Mrs. Allen, of Mendon, were his daughters.
Nathan Harvey settled in Le Roy in 1802. He and Jeremiah Hascall were both engaged in opening what is now called the Brock- port road. It was done at the expense of the proprietors of the Trian- gle. The road makers took camp equippage, and encamped as they progressed. Mr. Harvey died in 1839. Harmon Harvey, of Le Roy, and Nathaniel Harvey, of Allegany, are his sons; Mrs. Hiram Butler, of Le Roy, is a daughter.
Richard Waite was the Pioneer blacksmith ; was an early officer of the militia. He still survives, a resident of Alexander. He is the father of the Rev. Richard L. Waite, of Caryville; Daniel D. Waite, editor of the Advocate, Batavia; Elisha Waite, of Adrian, Michigan ; Mrs. Newton, of Alexander, is a daughter.
Stephen Stilwell was the Pioneer shoemaker ; coming in with a
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PHELPS AND GORHAM'S PURCHASE.
large family in the fall of the year, for the want of a better tene- ment, he was obliged to cover and make a small addition to a frame raised by Major Waite for shoeing oxen; in which he wintered, and began the shoeing of the new settlers. He was not only a. shoemaker, but a preacher, and a famous coon hunter. One of a family of emigrants dying at Capt. Gansons, he preached the fu- neral sermon in the bar-room. This was the first death and burial in Le Roy.
The Parmalee family were early settlers. Col. Parmalee, of Wilson, Niagara county, is one of the survivors. Martin Kelsey, Timothy Hatch, Washington Weld, Isaac Marsh, Hugh Murphy, David Scott, Martin O. Coe, were in Le Roy previous to, and be- fore the close of the war of 1812. Mr. Kelsey survives at the age of 70 years ; Mrs. Elmore, of Le Roy, is his daughter. Mr. Hatch died in 1844 ; his widow still survives ; M. P. Hatch, of Oswego, is a son of his ; Mrs. Martin O. Coe, of Le Roy, a daughter. Mr. Weld died in 1849 ; Willard Weld, residing near Lockport, is a son of his ; the widow still survives. Mr. Marsh died many years since ; some of the family are residing in Bushville, near Batavia. Mr. Murphy settled first in Cambria, Niagara county ; in 1810, changed his residence to Le Roy, purchasing the tract which now constitutes the fine farm occupied by his sons and daughters, border- ing upon the eastern boundaries of the village. He died in 1826. David Scott was an officer of the regular army in 1812; now re- sides in Michigan. Mr. Coe still survives : George, Joseph and Charles Coe, of Le Roy, and William Coe, of Boston, are his sons. Dr. Ella Smith was the first settled physician in Le Roy. Dr. William Sheldon settled there in 1811, and has continued practice up to this period. William H. Sheldon, of Le Roy, who married a daughter of one of the early pioneers at Allen's Hill, Ontario county ; Joseph Garlinghouse ; Lucius Sheldon, of Le Roy ; G. T. Sheldon, of Detroit, and Horatio Sheldon, of Wisconsin, are his sons.
Dudley Saltonstall was the first practicing lawyer in Le Roy. Heman J. Redfield commenced practice there soon after the war of 1812 ; his students, while at Le Roy, were :- Seth M. Gates, of Warsaw, Lucas Beecher of Sandusky, Willis Buell of Zanesville. and Albert Smith of Milwaukee. John B. and Samuel Skinner, and John and Augustus Hascall, succeeded the early lawyers in practice there.
In 1810, the first building was erected exclusively for merchan- dizing. It was first occupied by George A. Tiffany, a son of one of the early printers at Canandaigua, and by -- Johnson and Joseph Annin, in succession. Thaddeus Joy, so long and widely known, first as a teamster in the days of " big wagons," on the Al- bany and Buffalo road, then as a merchant, and in later years, in connection with transportation on the Erie Canal, was merchan- dizing in Le Roy as early as 1810. He went to Buffalo in 1823 :
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PHELPS AND GORHAM'S PURCHASE.
now resides in the city of New York. Judge Samuel De Veaux, of Niagara Falls, now one of the most wealthy and publie spirited citizens of all that region, had been attached to the commissary department at Fort Niagara, and subsequently had commenced merchandizing there. The winter after the breaking out of the war, he removed to Le Roy, and was engaged in merchan- dizing there until after the close of the war. In some reminiscen- ces of the war of 1812, which he has furnished the author, and which will form an interesting chapter in a volume now partly pre- pared for the press-" Sketches of the War of 1812 upon the Nia- gara Frontier "-he pays a well merited tribute to the patriotism of the citizens of Le Roy, in that trying crisis ; and especially names the circumstance of the furnishing of gratuitous supplies from that village and neighborhood, at a period of want and destitution upon the Frontier ; and it but accords with the author's recollection of the patriotism of the citizens of that locality during the war.
A Presbyterian church was organized in Le Roy in 1812. The Rev. Mr. Tuller was the first to officiate ; the Rev. Calvin C. Colton, author of the "Life of Henry Clay," was the first settled clergy- man. The society erected a church in 1825. Previous to the or- ganization of this society, religious meetings had been held in a barn near the present residence of Judge Brewster; and subsequently, in a school house opposite the residence of Col. Shedd. The Bap- tists erected a church in 1822. A Methodist society was formed in 1823, by Elder A. Seager. An Episcopal church was erected in 1826.
The Le Roy Female Seminary was founded in 1836. An asso- ciation, the members of which were, A. P. Hascall, Samuel Com- stock, Lee Comstock, Ezra Rathbun, S. M. Gates, Albert Brewster, Jonathan P. Darling, Alonzo S. Upham, Richard Hollister, William S. Bradley, and Enos Bachelor, purchased a private residence for the purpose of converting it into a literary institution. The Misses Inghams, having previously located themselves in the village of At- tica, as an inducement for them to remove to Le Roy, the associa- tion took their property in Attica in exchange for the building and lot in Le Roy. The school was immediately started under their auspices, was flourishing, and has become, by their unremitting en- terprise and perseverance, one of the best Female Seminaries in the State. Improving the grounds, and from time to time enlarging the edifice, it now has the imposing appearance of some of the eastern colleges. Few, if any, female institutions in the State have turned out more well educated graduates: many of whom are either at the head of, or teachers in seminaries in different portions of the United States ; especially in the western States. One of the founders of the institution has become the wife of Mr. Phineas Stanton, a son of one of the prominent pioneers of the Holland Purchase, the late Colonel Stanton, of Middlebury.
551
PHIELPS AND GORHAM'S PURCHASE.
The author is indebted to the venerable Simon Pierson, a surviv- ing pioneer of the northern portion of the town of Le Roy-the neighborhood of Fort Hill-for many early reminiscences of that locality, especially in reference to the interesting ancient remains which has given to the spot considerable celebrity. - The remains found at Fort Hill, were embraced in a previous work of the au- thors, and the public have been made familiar with the subject in other forms. Mr. Pierson's account of early settlement, the author cheerfully and thankfully makes available.
Deacon Hinds Chamberlin was a pioneer in this, as he had been in other localities. He broke into what was called the north- ern woods, built a cabin, and made an opening in the forest, in the neighborhood of Fort Hill, in 1801. In 1802, Alexander M'Pherson became his neighbor; John, James, Allen, and Alexander M'Pher- son, jr., are his sons. In 1804, Francis Le Barron: descendants principally reside in Michigan. In 1804, Gideon Fordham. Also, in 1804, Philemon Nettleton; descendants principally reside in Michigan. In 1805, these five first settlers rolled up some huge basswood logs, at the foot of Fort Hill, near the brook, and made one of the rudest specimens of a backwoods school house. The first teacher was Addrew M'Nabb, a Scotchman ; the second, Samuel Crocker ; the third, Major Nathan Wilson ; the last of whom died in 1813 of the prevailing epidemic ; his son, Nathan Wilson, jr., died from a wound received in battle in the war of 1812; Stephen S. and Jared E. Wilson, of Le Roy, are surviving sons. Alexander M'Pherson died in 1833, aged 80 years ; Francis Le Bar- ron in 1832, aged 61 years ; Philemon Nettleton in 1848, aged 72 years ; Gideon Fordham in 1821, aged 77 years.
David Le Barron, Samuel Smith, Ebenezer Parmalee, Ishi Franklin, Abner Hull, Russell Pierson, Rev. Josiah Pierson, Philo Pierson, John Pierson, Simon Pierson, Sylvanus Franklin, Linus Pierson, were all settled in the neighborhood before the close of 1810. The first named died in 1829, aged 54 years ; two sons are supposed to be with the Mormons at Salt Lake. The second died in 1829, aged 77 years ; descendants reside in Michigan. The third died in 1847, aged 73 years; David W., Harlow and William Parmalee are his sons. The fourth died in 1843, aged 62 years ; Warren, Watson, Henry, William and David Franklin, are his sons. The sixth died in 1815, aged 70 years ; Luther and Adolphus Pier- son, of Bergen, Edwin Pierson, of Chili, Willis Pierson, of Ogden, and John Pierson, of Careyville, are his sons. The seventh died in Bergen in 1846; Hamilton W. and Nelson Pierson, of Bergen, Carloss Pierson, of Ohio, and Josiah Pierson, of Mount Morris, are his sons. The eighth died in 1820; William Pierson, a lawyer in Kentucky, and David B. Pierson, a merchant in Cincinnati, are his sons. The tenth died of the prevailing epidemic in 1813, contract- ed upon the frontier, aged 30 years ; an only son was drowned from
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PHELPS AND GORHAMS' PURCHASE.
on board the S. B. Washington, on Lake Erie, in 1838; Mrs. Flint, of Batavia, is a daughter. The eleventh still survives, re- siding near Churchville.
David Frankin, a brother of Sylvanus Franklin, had come in previous to 1809. In March of that year, the two brothers, with their wives and two children, were descending the primitive road at Fort Hill, which ran along upon one side of a deep ravine, in a sleigh drawn by spirited horses. The horses became unmanage- able, set off at full speed, and turning an angle of the road, the sleigh upset, throwing the whole party a considerable distance, with great violence ; David Franklin striking a stump, and receiving an injury that he did not long survive. "This sorrowful accident," says Mr. Pierson, " threw a shade of gloom over our backwoods settlement ; for it seemed as if we could hardly do without our neighbor Franklin, who was forward in every good word and work." This, and other accidents that had happened there, induced a change in the location of the road.
Touching the advent of our friend Mr. Pierson, he must be al- jowed to tell his story in his own humorous way.
REMINISCENCES OF SIMON PIERSON.
In October, 1806, in company with my brother, the late Rev. Josiah Pierson, of Bergen, and our families, I started from Killingworth, Conn., with a wagon load of household goods, bound for the Genesee country, which we then understood as embracing all west of Whitestown. I was then 28 years old, my brother 26. From Albany to Whitestown, we met a vast number of teams loaded with wheat for the Albany market. On the road, we met De Witt Clinton returning from a western tour. At Whitestown, there were three log-houses, one of them a tavern, kept by Mr. Baggs. We then supposed we had arrived at the western verge of civilization, and that we were now coming to a region --
" Where nothing dwelt but beasts of prey, Or men as wild and fierce as they."
But which has proved to be a region where-
" The worthy, needy, poor repair, And build them towns and cities there." * * " They sow their seed, and trees they plant, Whose yearly fruit supplies their want ; Their race grows up in fruitful stock, Their wealth increases with their flock."
* *
From Whitestown we passed on, I should think, about three miles, where there was a log school house, and where they were holding a meeting -- for it was Sunday-and they were singing the good old familiar tune --- New Jerusalem :- .
" From the third heavens where God resides," &c.
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PHELPS AND GORHAM'S PURCHASE.
We travelled on the Sabbath, because we were told that travellers had no bome but the tavern; and that they were thronged on that day with those whose society would not contribute to a Sabbath day's rest ; loafers they would be called now that we have got such a word. From Whitestown to Canandaigua, 112 miles, was a new turnpike, much of the way through the woods and very muddy. Once in ten miles was a toll gate where we had to pay 25 cents for poaching ten miles of road. On arriving at the outlet of Canandaigna Lake, we found a small grist-mill, said to have been built by one of our townsmen, Mr. Harris; who, it was said, had brought a half bushel of wheat on his back from Whitestown, for seed. I saw the old man on his return from the Genesee country. His friends in Con- necticut had conjectured that the Indians would use him up, and that he would never reach home again.
At Genesee river, we had no way of crossing, but in a wretched scow. On the west side of the river, we saw many Indian huts, from the corners of which was suspended, by braided husks, large quantities of corn. An old Indian told us we were at " Canawaugus." I began to think of toma- hawks and scalping knives. About four miles west of the river, we came to a log tavern kept by Major Smith. Here we found a small man with a very large wife. Says Major Smith to the small man :- " Is that woman your wife ?" " Yes, sir," was the reply. Says the Major :-- " How did you get across the river ?- I should suppose that your wife would have sunk that old scow ." "O," said the little man, "I went twice for her ."
Arriving at " Ganson's settlement," now Le Roy, we found friends who advised us not to purchase land " down in the north woods," for, said they, "it will always be sickly there; and the region will never be settled." But having a brother and brother-in-law at Fort Hill, who had preceded us a few months, we resolved upon going there. Fort Hill was then cov- ered with a dense forest of heavy timber from its base to its summit. Its appearance was that of gloom and solitude, except when enlivened by the music of the water rushing over the falls at Allan's * Creek.
Mr. Pierson is now in his 73d year ; his surviving sons are, Philo L. Pierson, of Le Roy, and M. D. Pierson, of Dansville.
The prominent ancient remains in Le Roy, other than those at Fort Hill and its immediate vicinity, were upon a bluff, near Allan's creek, a short distance below the village. It was a mound, or tumuli in size, according to Mr. Pierson's recollection, who saw it in an early day, about that of an ordinary coal pit ; others who saw it in an early day, think it was about 15 feet in height, with a base
* Mr. Pierson, in consideration of the unamiable character of the person from whom this beautiful stream is named, would change it to Mrs. Jemison's Indian name- " Ginisaga." Other citizens of Le Roy, would call it " Oatka," the Indian name for a stream coming out from between high banks. The latter name would only be ap- plicable to the peculiar topography of Le Roy and its neighborhood. Desirable as some change of the name of the stream may be regarded, it would require the co- operation of those generally who reside upon its banks, in its whole extent ; a con- ventional decision that the author has not ventured to anticipate.
35
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PHELPS AND GORHAM'S PURCHASE.
of 30 feet. Trees were growing upon it 18 inches in diameter The foxes in burrowing into it had brought out human bones, which led to an assembling of the early settlers, on a given day, in consid- erable numbers, who made several excavations in the tumuli, and disenterred a large quantity of human skeletons. They were the bones of all ages and both sexes ; some of them judged to be consid- erable larger than the bones of the largest of our own race. DO See Appendix to supplement, No. 2.
In a considerable area of the locality ; especially in the immediate neighborhood of Fort Hilt, many relics of ancient occupancy have been discovered ; and occasionally evidences of French occupancy. During the Revolution. those who fled from the Mohawk to Canada, and made frequent journies backwards and forwards upon the old Niagara trail, had favorite camping grounds upon the creek in the immediate vicinity of Le Roy village. They had left considerable plats of tame grass, which were very convenient for travellers when settlement was tending in that direction; attracting the deer from the surrounding forest, they were often killed in those little openings.
Allan's creek has a fall of over sixty feet, within the corporate limits of Le Roy village ; thus creating a durable and valuable water power, in the midst of a rich agricultural region, where it is much required. It takes its rise from springs in Wyoming county ; passes through Warsaw, Middlebury, Covington, Bethany, a cor- ner of Stafford, Le Roy, and Wheatland, discharging into the Gen- esee river at Scottsville. It furnishes mill power at Gainesville, Warsaw, Pavillion, Bailey's mills, Roanoke, Northrup's Factory, Tomlinson's mills, Le Roy ; a mile below Le Roy, Albright's, (now Finch's) mills, Garbuttville, and Scottsville.
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