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 59
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 59
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 59
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 59
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 59
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 59
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 59
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 59
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 59
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 59
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Le Roy having been erected from Caledonia in 1812, when the war spirit was rife, it was named Bellona ; afterwards, and in better taste, it assumed the name of one of the original proprietors of the Triangle. William Sheldon was the first supervisor, Thomas Tufts town clerk. Other town officers : - David Le Barron, Philo Pierson, Benjamin Ganson, Ella Smith, John Ganson, Asa Buel, Zalmon Turrell, David Bidlecum, Harvey Prindle, Richard Waite, Levi Farnum, H. Graham Newell, George Terry, Amasa Hascall, Jeremiah Hascall. At first State election, in 1813. for Governor, Daniel D. Tompkins had 123 votes, Stephen Van Rensselaer, 24.
It will be observed by the preceding list of names, and periods of settlement, that the settlement of what is now Bergen had but com- menced along in 1804, '5 and '6. The early road was the north and south road already mentioned. The road from where Roch- ester now is to Batavia, was not opened through Bergen until 1810. The town was organized in 1818. Those whose names follow, were
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PHELPS AND GORHAM'S PURCHASE.
early pioneers, other than those already named some of them among the earliest : -
Levi Bissell,
Uriah Kelsey,
M. Wright, Jacob Spafford, Sen.,
Alexander Bissel,
Jedediah Crosby, [his
Nathaniel Spafford,
Patrick Fowler,
tice of the peace in Ber-
Oliver Avery,
Joel Wright,
in the town.]
David G. Everts,
Wickham Field,
Abel Fuller,
Amos Hewett,
Uriah Crampton,
Bela Munger,
Phineas Parmalee,
Ashbell Crampton,
Jesse Barber,
Nathan Field,
Samuel Bassett,
James Munger
Jonah Buell,
Harvey Kelsey,
LEVI WARD.
Dr. Levi Ward was a native of Killingworth, Conn., a son of Levi Ward. He studied his profession with Dr. Jonathan Todd, of Guilford, and marrying the daughter of Daniel Hand,* settled in practice in Haddam, in 1790, where he continued until 1807, in which year he emigrated to the Genesee country ; his family then consisting of his wife, and four sons, and four daughters. He was accompanied by his brother, John Ward, and his family. The em- igrants arrived at Le Roy undetermined as to their location ; falling in with R. M. Stoddard, the then agent of the Triangle, whom they had known in New England, they were induced to cast their lot with a few old neighbors who had preceded them, in what was then called the " north woods ;" then mostly a dense, heavily timbered forest, rugged in all its features; now the smiling and prosperous agricultural neighborhood, contiguous to the Rail Road station in Bergen. Finding temporary quarters in the newly erected log house of Daniel Kelsey, Dr. Ward erected a small framed house, covering it with cedar shingles, and using rived cedar for siding. The Dr. quaintly observes, that even that manner of building was ahead of the times, and in a region of log cabins, was deemed some- what aristocratic, His brother erected a log house ; both went to clearing land, but it took about a year to make an opening sufficient to see out without looking up.
It was on Saturday when the emigrants arrived at their new home in the wilderness ; accustomed to a regular attendence upon public worship, the first business was to provide for religious exer- cises ; a meeting was agreed upon at the house of a new settler ; 14 or 15 persons convened from their scattered woods homes ; prayers
* Captain Hand was an officer of the Revolution, a highly respected and useful member of society, a professor and promoter of religion. He died at an advanced age, in Guilford, the place of his birth.
Aaron Arnold,
Timothy Hill,
gen, was the first born
Samuel Butler.
Stephen Everts,
son Luther, a present jus-
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PHELPS AND GORHAM'S PURCHASE.
were made, a sermon was read, and Mrs. Ward says they "had ex- cellent singing."*
For nine years Dr. Ward was one of the active and prominent Pioneers of his locality ; an efficient helper in all there was to be done in the backwoods, in religious and school organizations in, the opening of new roads, &c. Coming to the new region, to be the founder of a new home for himself and his large family, rather than with reference to the practice of his profession, his practice was only to the extent that the absence of other physicians in the new region made necessary. To the labor of clearing heavily timbered land, and subduing a rugged soil, was soon added, as will be observ- ed, a land agency, which made him the founder, or agent of settle- ment in his immediate neighborhood. In 1811 he was appointed an agent or commissioner, to settle the accounts of the commission- ers who had constructed the primitive bridge over the Genesee River. upon the site of Rochester. There was no mail routes, or post offices north of the main Buffalo road until 1812. In that year, Dr. Ward interceded with the then P. M. General, Gideon Granger, and obtained from him authority to transport a weekly mail from Caladonia, via Riga, Murray, Parma, Northampton, to Charlotte, at the mouth of the Genesee River. His compensation was the net proceeds of letter and newspaper postages collected on the route. It was provided in the contract that the P. M. G. would appoint deputy post masters, in any locations the contractor should disignate, which were seven miles distant from each other. The plan was put in successful operation. Routes were extended by Dr. Ward, upon the same terms, along on Ridge Road to Oak Orchard Creek ; from Clarkson corners through Sweeden, to Bergen ; from Parma through Ogden and Riga to Bergen ; from Bergen to Bata- via.+ This system continued until 1820, supplying the early con- venience of mail facilities to a wide, sparsely populated region, when it was superceded by the ordinary contract system.
In the war of 1812, in an exigency of anticipated invasion, and a want of arms, Dr. Ward collected all the muskets, rifles, cartouch boxes and bayonets in his neighborhood, and delivered them to Col. Daniel Davis for the use of his Regiment. Twenty-one muskets, and cartouch boxes, and bayonets, and four rifles ; į and besides all
* In the same year a Congregational Church was organized, the second one west of Genesee River. The Rev. Allen Hollister, ministered alternately to this church and the one organized in Riga. The Rev. Harmon Halsey, now a resident of Wilson, Niagara county, was an early settled minister. Dr. Levi Ward and Uriah Cramptou are among the few who survive of the carliest members of this church.
t Prettly liberal time was allowed, corresponding with the condition of primitive roads. It was stipulated that the mail should " leave Caladonia every Monday at & A. M., and arrive at Charlotte on Tuesday, by 4 P. M."
# It has been before remarked that a large proportion of the Pioneers of the Genesee country had been officers and soldiers of the Revolution. Most of the muskets col - lected in Bergen, belonged at the time to those who had used them in that contest for nationaal independence.
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PHELPS AND GORHAM'S PURCHASE.
the powder and balls of the new settlement were put in requisition. In another erisis, at the requisition of Major General Hall, a com- pany of exempts, or " silver grays," were raised in Bergen, and Dr. Ward was elected to the command of it. Though the company saw no service, no marching orders having been received, and no inva- sion extending as far as that locality, the muster roll is copied, ex- hibiting as it does Pioneer names, and shewing who were willing in that crisis to waive a legal exemption and engage in the defence of their country :
Levi Ward. Jr. Capt.
John Ward,
Private. Martin Richmond, Private.
Jesse Barber, Lt.
Jesse Munger,
Nathan Rogers,
Amos Hewit, 2d Lt.
Samuel Taggart,
Isaac Baker,
Joseph Langdon, Ensign.
Joseph Lord,
66
Dennis Magden,
Calvin Wells, Sergeant,
Lodowick Wright,
Abner Phelps,
Reuben Langdon,
William Crowell.
Orange Throop,
Wheaton Southworth, "
Jehoida Page.
66
Joshua Green, ..
William Peters,
John Dulap,
Moses Brown,
Leonard Tuttle, Corporal. Benj W. Elsworth,
Asa Williams,
William Shepherd,
John Colman,
66
William Jones,
Samuel Throop,
John K Larkins,
66
Amasa Walker,
Asa Merrills,
Wm. H. Ward, MUSIC.
Cyrus Walker, Samuel Hammond, 66
Wm. Buel,
James Munger, Drummer. Joshua Wright,
Adin Hurd,
Simon Pierson, Fufer,
James Tillotson,
Amnos Chamberlin, ..
Benjamin Wright, Private,
Amos Allen, 66 Samuel Tillotson,
Josiah Pierson,
Elijah Loomis,
Dr. Ward was for six or seven years the supervisor of his town, and at one period one of the Judges of Genesee county.
In 1817 he changed his residence from Bergen to the village of Rochester ; thus becoming a Pioneer in a new locality, with which he has been prominently identified in most of its history of rapid progress. One of the first to break into the wilderness region north of the old Buffalo road - he has survived to see it become one broad theatre of agricultural wealth, comfort and prosperity. One of the first to cast his lot in a primitive village, while the forest was yet but partially cleared away ; where the wolf, the bear, the deer and the rattlesnake had but just had notice to quit -he has survived to see it become the fifth city of the Empire State; to see it a scene of unsurpassed business activity and enterprise ; endowed with re- ligious and literary institutions, and all the evidences of substantial progress, intelligence, and refinement.
He is now in his 80th year; the wife and mother, who accompa- nied him in his primitive advent, nearly of the same age. With the sands of life running low, yet blessed with a more than usual exemption from the infirmities of age, enjoying all of temporal bless- ings, in the midst of a large circle of their descendants, they are calmly and serenely awating the summons to depart from the the- atre of life, upon which they have so well performed their parts.
The eldest son, Wm. H. Ward, who was P. M. at Bergen, the
16
Theophilus M. Fenn, “
Linus Kelsey,
John Dibble,
Benham Preston,
John T. Freeman, 66
Josiah Buel,
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PHELPS AND GORHAM'S PURCHASE.
first north of Le Roy and Caladonia; a Colonel of Militia in early years, and an early merchant of Rochester ; died in 1833, aged 45 years. Another son, Daniel H., died in 1846, aged 50 years. Sur- viving sons, are : - Henry M. Ward, a resident of Illinois; Levi A. Ward, an Ex-Mayor of Rochester; Ferdinand D. W. Ward, a returned Missionary from Madras, in the East Indies, author of a work entitled "India and the Hindoos," now a settled minister at Geneseo. Daughters, are the wives of Silas O. Smith, Samuel L. Selden, Charles L. Clarke and Freeman Clark, of Rochester. A deceased daughter was the wife of Moses Chapin ; she died in 1823, aged 25 years. Another deceased daughter was the wife of Dan- iel Hand, a prominent and successful merchant in Augusta, Georgia; she died in 1839, aged 35 years.
The father of Dr. Ward, who followed him to the Genesee coun- try in early years, died in Bergen in 1838 at the advanced age of over 92 years. The brother, John Ward, survives, a resident of Bergen, aged 81 years ; his surviving sons are, Martin, Abel, John, Philo and Horatio Ward.
The northern portion of the Triangle, Sweeden and Clarkson, began to be settled in 1804. '5, or rather land contracts were taken in those years, and it is presumed that actual settlement soon follow- ed, though it progressed slowly, as in all the region north of the then principal thorough-fare, the Buffalo Road.
Dr. Abel Baldwin, is one of the oldest surviving residents. He was a native of Norwich, Vermont; studied medicine with Dr. Nathan Smith of Hanover, N. H. Dr. Thurber, of Riga, Dr. Nathaniel Rowley, of Clarkson, Dr. Jacobs and the late Dr. Bemis, of Canandaigua, were his fellow students. Dr. Baldwin settled in practice in Saratoga county in 1807 -- in 1810 first visited the Gen- esee country - in 1811 removed to Clarkson. Practicing medicine only in the earliest years, he opened a public house in 1815, at what was then called "Murray Corners," now Clarkson village. He erected the first framed tavern house on the Ridge Road ; travel up- on the Ridge had then became pretty brisk - Falls travel had be- gan to take that route ; the house of Dr. Baldwin being about half way from Canandaigua to Lewiston, was a prominent halting place. In fact, Clarkson Corners, at that period, and up to the final com- pletion of the Erie Canal, in reference to all the northern region, was a prominent locality. Dr. Baldwin continued a landlord until 1825, when he was succeeded by Mr. Silas Walbridge; he is now an enterprising and successful farmer. He was an Elector of Pres-
NOTE .- It will give the reader some idea of the slow progress of settlement in all the region between the old Buffalo road and Lake Ontario, to learn, that as late as the war of 1812, so little was known of that best of all natural highways in the world, the Ridge Road, that a large army, with heavy artillery, camp equipage &c., the des- tination of which was Lewiston, actually diverged from the Ridge at Clarkson, and went via Bergen and Batavia.
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ident and Vice President, in 1832. Mrs. Baldwin also survives ; an only daughter is the wife of Henry R. Selden.
REMINISCENCES OF DR. BALDWIN.
When I moved into the country in 1811, with my family, we were fer- ried over the Genesee river at Rochester; the Ridge road was only cut out wide enough for a wagon track; the streams were crossed by means of log bridges. Upon the present site of Clarkson village, there were three log-houses; and in all, perhaps, thirty acres of land cleared. James Sayre was the Pioneer of the locality; in fact, the first settler on Ridge, in what is now Clarkson and Murray, and I think, Parma. He had selected this spot on account of a fine spring, before any thing was known of a continu- ous Ridge road. Sayre, who had taken up considerable land, sold his contracts and removed. Beside him, I found here :- David Forsyth, who remained here until 1849, when he removed to Michigan. Deacon Joel Palmer had just commenced tanning and currying in a rude primitive es- tablishment, the first upon all the Ridge road. He still survives, a resi- dent of Clarkson; Joel Albert and John Palmer, of Clarkson, are his sons. Dr. Nathaniel Rowell had preceded me a few months, and was in practice among the new settlers. He was from Hanover, N. H .; died in 1826; Hopkins Rowell, of Clarkson, is his son; two other sons are clergymen in New Jersey; Mrs. Henry Smith and Mrs. Danforth are his daughters. Eldridge Farwell had located here, but removed soon, and became the Pioneer of what is now Clarendon, erecting mills there. Eldridge, Geo. and Horace Farwell are his sons. West of the Corners, on the Ridge, John and Isaac Farwell, brothers of Eldridge, had settled. The saw-mill of the afterwards Judge Eldridge Farwell, in Clarendon, made the first boards had in all this region, and his was the pioneer grist-mill, excepting a small log mill the Atchinsons had erected on Salmon Creek. We had our first milling done at Church's mill in Riga.
In all the region north of Ridge, in what is now Clarkson and Murray, Moody Freeman was the Pioneer. He was originally from Hanover, N. H .; had pioneered his way all along; had been the proprietor of the town of Ellisburg, Jefferson county; and one of the earliest settlers of Broad- albin, Montgomery county. He made his solitary home two miles north of the Corners, at the centre of the township. He was an early Justice of the Peace: a man of more than ordinary natural abilities; was an early backwood's lawyer, or pettifogger. There was in Clarkson, north of Ridge, beside Freeman, in 1811 :- Eratus Haskell, who had taken up land upon which there were salt springs-and set up a few kettles, and was boiling salt for the new settlers. Haskell was a captain of militia in the war of 1812; was at the sortie of Fort Erie. He now resides in Joliet, Illinois. Stephen Baxter settled in that neighborhood in 1811, and also engaged early in salt boiling. He still survives, and has a large number of de-
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scendants in the neighborhood. John Nowlan was also settled in the Free- man neighborhood ; still survives, over 80 years of age.
The war of 1812 stopped all settlement and improvement. There was a constant state of excitement and alarm; many new settlers broke up and left the country. The Ridge road was a thoroughfare for troops passing, to and from the Frontier. When Lewiston was burned, many families came and wintered along on Ridge road; the families of the late Sheldon Thompson, of Buffalo, Joshua Fairbanks, Mr. Townsend, and Dr. Smith, stopped in Clarkson. A company of riflemen was raised in this vicinity, commanded by captain Stewart; went upon the frontier, and at one period at the mouth of the river; they acted mostly as minute men. There were besides, militia drafts and volunteering during the war.
Immediately after the war, settlers came in rapidly. The Ridge road may almost be said to have settled in its whole extent west of Genesee river, in 1816. Previous to that, there was but few settlers upon it; es- pecially in Monroe and Orleans.
The first town meeting of Murray, was held at the barn of Johnson Bedel, about four miles south of Brockport. The Pioneer of Brockport and its neighborhood, was Rufus Hammond. His farm embraced a part of the northern portion of the village. He had been settled five or six years when I came; had an orchard and a considerable improvement. He had formerly lived in Avon; died in 1824; Shubel Hammond, of Clark- son, is his son. Either Mr. Hammond or Mr. Freeman raised the first crops in this region. I raised the first framed barn; Isaac B. Williams the first framed house, upon the site of the present brick tavern. I omitted to name Mr. Williams, as one who was here previous to 1811; he was the Pioneer blacksmith. He removed to Hartland, where he died several years since ; William Williams, of Clarkson, is his son.
In 1817, a considerable settlement had been made at Sandy Creek, on the Ridge-15 or 20 families, perhaps-in which year, Henry M'Call and Robert Perry built mills there; raising a dam and overflowing 15 or 20 acres of timbered land. A sickness that pervaded every household in the neighborhood, soon followed; in one season, in a population of about 100, there were 27 deaths. The settlers from other neighborhoods had to go there and take care of the sick, as there were not well ones enough there to do so ;- it was a neighborhood of gloom and desolation. The mill dam was taken down, and the sickness disappeared.
The first settler at the mouth of Sandy Creek, was a Dutchman by the name of Strunk. When I first visited the place in 1812, he had died, and a man by the name of Billings was living there; and others had been there, I presume, for there were several deserted log houses. Billings removed to Canada. After that, settlers would come in by water, and after remain-
NOTE .- Salt springs break out all along on the slope north of Ridge-generally about three miles distant. They break out from the Clinton Group, which is next above the Medina Sand Stone. In the early settlement of the country, salt was manu- factured near Lockport, Medina, at Oak Orchard, in Clarkson, Parma, Holley, Webster, Ontario and Sodus. The salt was usually afforded at about a dollar per bushel. The weakness of the brine forbid competition with the works at Montezuma and Salt Point, when the Erie Canal was finished ; and the business, in fact, had began to de- cline previous to that.
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ing a short time, would be taken sick, and have to be brought out to the older settlements on ox-sleds. The first permanent settler in that locality, was Alanson Thomas, at the head of still water. He purchased a saw- mill that Le Roy and Bayard had built there in 1820; to which he added a grist-mill. Thomas sold out to a community of Fourerites .*
The whole region between Ridge and Lake, and more especially, per- haps, in Murray, Clarkson and Parma, was as forbidding as any that stout hearted Pioneers ever ventured to break into. Its settlement was attend- ed with long years of hardships and privations ; many changes of inhabitants occurred before there was a permanent population. It was heavy timbered, mostly a wet soil; when the timber was removed, openings made, the heat of summer suns would engender disease. Those who lived along on the im - mediate shores of the Lake, or on the Ridge, not in the immediate vicinity of ponds or marshes, would generally escape; the scourge would principal- ly prevail where openings had been made in heavily timbered wet lands. Sickness would generally commence in August, and continue until winter; it was by no means fatal; where there could be even good nursing, the proportions of deaths to the number of cases would be small; but at times sickness would be so pervading, that 'good nursing could not be had. It was a common thing to bring whole families out of the woods upon ox- sleds.
Speaking from observation and experience, my advice would be to all those who are settling a new timbered region, to select the most elevated sites for their residence, and leave several acres of timber standing for the few earliest years about their dwellings; and what is of still greater im- portance, if they have not good springs of water, dig wells to begin with, and thus avoid the poisonous surface water, which is of itself a pregnant source of disease in new settlements in the forests.
A log school house had been erected, and a school was in operation, when I came there in 1811. Our first settled minister was the Rev. John F. Bliss; the Rev. Mr. James, of Albany, was settled here in 1825 or '6.
No where in a wide region of prosperity, has there been a greater change than in the locality that Dr. Baldwin embraces in his obser- vations, north of the Ridge. Even the Pioneers, stout hearted, san- quine as their anticipations must have been, in reference to the ultimate value of the land, to have endured what they did, could hardly have anticipated the sources of agricultural wealth that through so many trials and difficulties they were developing. The soil they were not strong handed enough to drain ; that they could but imperfectly cultivate while the stumps and roots remained in it ; and which gave them but poor returns for the labor, is now dry, sub- dued, its surface mould mingled with the rich elements that lay hid-
* The whole thing has been a failure. The principal leaders were :- Simeon Dag- gett, Dr. Theller, Thomas Pound. Many dwellings were erected, and a population of about 300 gathered there. The community broke up after an experiment of two years.
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den its sub-soil ; and no where does the earth make more bountiful returns for the labor bestowed upon it. It has become a region of high priced and desirable farms. The sites of bark covered log houses and thatched hovels, have now upon them comfortable and even luxurious brick and framed farm houses, and all the appoint- ments of flourishing farming establishments. Good common roads and even plank roads have taken the place of the wood's roads through which the pioneers plodded - more than half the season waded through mud and mire - and over which some of them, as we have seen, and their families, were carried by the good Sama- ritans of the older settlements, who would find them in the dark recesses of the forest, prostrated by disease.
Asa Clark, the father of Gustavus Clark, of Clarkson, was from East Haddam, Conn., emigrated to Geneseo in 1802 ; soon removed to Avon, where he resided until 1830. He died at Sandy Creek in 1834, aged 76 years. His sons were : - Asa Clark, who resided in Avon until 1828, when he removed to Sandy Creek, where he was a merchant for many years. He was a representative in the State legislature of Orleans, in 1834, '5, had been a Presidential Elector in 1828. He still survives, at the age of 66 years. George W., and Charles Clark of Buffalo, are his sons. Erastus Clark, of Lima, who in early early years was the mercantile partner of James K. Guernsey, and afterwards established in the mercantile business by himself in Lima. He still survives; a son and a son-in-law, are his successors in business. Gustavus Clark, who as early as 1806, was a clerk with Minor & Hall, at Geneseo; afterwards a clerk of James K. Guernsey in Lima, under whose auspices he commenced busi- ness in Clarkson, where he has resided since 1815, and where he still resides. His wife, who still survives, was a daughter of John Pierson, one of the pioneers of Avon; Edwin E., of Clarkson, and Bushrod W. Clark, of Buffalo, are sons of Gustavus ; an only daugh- ter is the wife of W. L. G. Smith, of Buffalo. He was a represen- tative from Monroe, in the Legislature, in 1825; and was the first President of the Bank of Orleans; an early Supervisor of Clarkson, and more recently, a magistrate. The daughters of the elder Asa Clark, became the wives of Robert M'Kay, of Caladonia, Ephraim Chapman, a pioneer in Portage county, Ohio, and Chandler Pierson, of Avon.
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