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 65
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 65
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 65
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 65
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 65
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 65
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 65
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 65
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 65
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 65
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The author has been favored by Judge Bond with a copy of the famous handbill ; an interesting historical reminiscence. It is signed by Roswell Hart, Ira West, Thos. Kempshall, Russell Ensworth, Chas. J. Hill, Ralph Parker, D. D. Hatch, J. Ludden, John G. Bond, Chas. Harford, Benjamin Blossom, Enos Blossom, Solomon Close, Anson House, Samuel J. Andrews, Oliver Culver, Enos Stone. Azel Ensworth.
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Thomas Kempshall, the more immediate subject of this brief bio- graphical sketch, worked with his brother in early years ; in the winter of 1813, '14, had the good fortune to be placed in the store of that early Pioneer merchant and excellent man, Ira West, to whose examples, councils and friendship, he was largely indebted for a good business education, and moral attainments which prepared him for a career of extraordinary enterprise and usefulness .* The clerkship ended with Mr. West, he became his partner, at a period when his business had become largely extended and profitable. Mr. West retiring in 1824, Mr. Kempshall continued the business on his own account for several years, when John F. Bush, who had been a clerk in the establishment, became his partner. The business was prose- cuted for a few years under the firm of Kempshall & Bush, when it was changed to that of an extensive furnace, and mill furnish- ing establishment, under the management, mainly, of Mr. Bush. This business was discontinued about ten years since. In 1826, Mr. Kempshall formed a business connection with Gen. E. S. Beach, and the two erected the Aqueduct Mill, an extensive flouring es- tablishment at the west end of the Aqueduct, fronting Child's Basin. It was put in operation in 1827, and carried on under the firm of Beach & Kempshall, until 1834, when Mr. Kempshall became the sole owner and manager. He prosecuted the business until he was obliged to suspend it in consequence of losses sustained during the severe financial revulsion of 1838, '39, '40. The property passed into the hands of Gen. Beach ; Mr. Kempshall continuing his con- nection with it until the present time.
Uninterrupted success, wealth, had rewarded his early enterprise, and long years of close application to business, when reverses and embarrasments came upon him under which he has struggled with a bearing of manliness, fortitude, and an integrity unimpaired, that have commanded respect and esteem. The orphan boy of a foreign em- igrant, thrown upon his own resources, unaided but by the patron who had the discrimination to discover merit, and a heart large enough to reward it, he "grew with the growth and strengthened with the strength" of the locality where his lot was cast. Entering it while as yet the forest had not receded from its now main thorough- fares, and the sites of its costly public edifices, it became an incor- porated village, and he became one of its officers ; it became a city, and in progress of time, he became its Mayor.
And not less intimately or honorably is his history blended with that of the whole county of Monroe. The occupant of a log cabin, when it was "a region of log cabins," the boy and man, the primitive region, the populous and wealthy county, had
* Hitherto there has been but incidental allusions to Ira West. It should be added that to his public spirit, enterprise and liberality, Rochester was largely indebted in its early years.
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kept pace with each other, in the march of progress ; and in 1838, the one bore the relation to the other, of its Representative in our national councils.
Rochester has many examples among its Pioneers and founders, of self made, (and well made,) men ; and when its history, and their histories, are so blended as in this instance, it is a pleasing task to turn aside and for a few moments dwell upon the analogy. Were this not the history of a wide region, instead of a single locality, far more would be said of the early men of Rochester.
Mr. Kempshall still survives, his enterprise and industry unabated by misfortune, or declining years.
Josiah Bissell, Jr., had a business connection with the Elys in their primitive advent in 1813, but he did not become a resident until 1817. He was previously a merchant in Pittsfield, Mass. He was an early and efficient helper in church organizations ; was the principal founder of the 3d Presbyterian church; and also of the six day line of stages, the object of which was to avoid the desecra- tion of the Sabbath occasioned by the seven day lines. There are few names and memories more closely identified with Rochester. In 1827 he purchased in company with Ashbel W. Riley, of Enos Stone, with small exceptions, all of the unsold portion of his origi- nal large farm. Erecting his dwelling - which is now a part of the fine mansion house of Dr. Levi Ward, in " The Grove"- in the midst of the purchase, a large addition to the city was made under his auspicies ; new streets laid out, and dwellings erected. He died in the prime of life, at Seneca Falls, where he was engaged in a business enterprise, in 1830, aged 40 years. His surviving sons are Josiah W. Bissell, of Rochester, a broker ; Charles P. Bissell, Presi- dent of the Eagle Bank of Rochester ; George P. Bissell, Cashier of the Western Bank, Pittsfield, Mass. ; Champion Bissell, of New York. An only daughter is the wife of Willard Parker, Professor of the University of New York.
In 1817, Elisha Johnson removed from Canandaigua to Roches- ter. He was a son of Capt. Ebenezer Johnson, who was an early Pioneer in Chautauque county ; a brother of Dr. Johnson, who is so closely identified with the history of Buffalo. His profession was that of an Engineer. On coming to Rochester he purchased of Enos Stone all the unsold portion of his original farm, (and but little had been sold previously,) lying upon the River and extending back to North street. This purchase embraced the water power upon the east side of the River, principally above the Upper Falls, and about 80 acres of what is now a compactly occupied and built up portion of the city. Mr. Johnson paid $10,000 for the property, and before the close of the first year expended upon it $12,000 in the erection of a dam across the river, and the construction of a race. Orson Seymour, of Canandaigua soon became a joint owner. This may be said to have been the starting period of all that portion of
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the city lying east of the river, as but little had been done there pre- viously. The name, and enterprises of Mr. Johnson, are probably more closely associated with what used to be called the " Brighton side"- now almost one half of the entire city - than those of any other individual.
He was the Mayor of the city in 1838; an Elector of President and Vice President in 1844. One of his many business enterprises was the formidable work of constructing the tunnel of the Genesee Valley Canal at Portage, or prosecuting it until the work was sus- pended by the State. He is now in his 66th year, yet in active life, a citizen of East Tenessee, where his only son, Mortimer F. John- son also resides. His daughters became the wives of Chauncey L. Grant, of Ithica, Elihu H. S. Mumford, Benj. F. Young, Edward B. Young.
CARTHAGE.
Elisha B. Strong was from Windsor, Conn., a descendant of the Pioneer colonists of that town. After graduating at college, in 1809, he made a trip to Niagara Falls, was pleased with the country, located at Canandaigua, entering the office of Howell and Greig as a law student. Admitted to practice in 1812, he was for several years the law partner of Wm. H. Adams, who was his successor in business at Canandaigua. In 1816 he purchased in company with Elisha Beach, 1000 acres embracing the site of Carthage, of Caleb Lyon,* who had been settled there for several years, had made a small opening in the forest, and erected a few log cabins. The few families upon the tract were mostly squatters. Nearly all of what is Irondequoit was a wilderness ; Mr. Greig was offering some of the poorest lands at 50 cents per acre; for the best he asked $5. Sylvester Woodman, a retired sea captain, was the first purchaser of a farm; those that preceded him had been squatters engaged principally in lumbering. In 1816, there was no access to the site of Carthage or the mouth of the River, from the east and west Brighton road, other than the " Merchants road," made prin- cipally by the merchants of Canandaigua some years before, which left the Brighton road a little east of the farm of Oliver Culver, and a woods road, with blazed trees as guides, that had been made by Mr. Lyon, on the River, to the Brighton road.
In 1817, a bridge was projected and commenced across the Gen- esee River at Carthage, by a joint stock company consisting of Elisha B. Strong, Elisha Beach, Heman Norton and Francis Al-
* The father of "Caleb Lyon, of Lyonsdale," the newly elected Senator from Lew- is and Jefferson. After selling here, the old gentleman purchased a large tract of land in the Black river country, and became a patroon of settlement there.
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bright. It was completed in Feb. 1819; the architects were Brain- ard and Chapman. Considering the period of the enterprise, it was one of great magnitude, and would have proved one of great public utility had it been permanent. "It consisted of an entire arch, the chord of which was 352 feet, and the versed sine 54 feet. The summit of the arch was 196 feet above the surface of the water. The entire length of the bridge was 718 feet, and the width 30 feet, be- sides four large elbow braces, placed at the extremity of the arch, and projecting 15 feet on each side of it."* The bridge stood and was crossed a little over one year - loaded teams with more than 1500 weight had passed over it; and it was traveled over with a feeling of security, until it gave way, when there was no weight upon it ; the fault in the construction having been a want of bracing to pre- vent the springing up of the arch. It was crossed about 18 months. The Ridge Road broken by the River and the deep wide gorge, the Bridge was designed as a connecting link. A facility for crossing Irondequoit Bay was a part of the plan which contemplated the making of the long continuous natural highway, a main eastern and western thoroughfare. Under the auspices of the proprietors of Carthage, a store house and wharf was constructed upon the River, and a road made leading down to them.
The main design of the proprietors, was the forwarding of a de- pot for the commerce of the Lake and the erection of mills and machinery, using the hydraulic power of the Lower Falls. Aside from the failure of the bridge there were other early untoward events : - The failure of the old and hitherto substantial firm of Norton & Beach, which threw the enterprise pretty much upon the hands of Judge Strong; an interruption of the trade with Montre- al; and most of all perhaps, the sudden and rapid start of a power- ful rival. When the decision as to the place of crossing the River with the canal was pending, that locality was a competitor ; a route was surveyed, and the estimates of an aqueduct made. Mr. Holley, the acting commissioner, at one period offered to receive proposals for the work ; a re-estimate however of the cost of an aqueduct to span the deep and wide chasm, led to the abandonment of the route.t
In addition to the improvements named, the proprietors of Carth- age and the Bridge, erected a public house which was opened by Ebenezer Spear, who has been named in connection with Palmyra and Penfield. He was succeeded by Justin Smith. Harvey Kim- ball and Oliver Strong opened mercantile establishments. Levi H. Clark, a lawyer settled there as early as 1818. He was the partner
* Jesse Hawley, in Rochester Directory, 1827.
t Those who had become interested in Rochester, were divided upon the question of Canal location ; a portion of them being of opinion that the diversion of water from mills and machinery to feed the canal, would not have its equivalent in any advanta- ges that would grow out of the near proximity of it to their business sites.
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of Dr. Ward, in the purchase of the residuary land interest of the State of Connecticut. Returning to the east after a residence there of a few years, he was at one period a reporter at Washing- ton; died a few years since in New York. John W. Strong was a resident of Carthage, as early as 1818; was an early prominent merchant in Rochester ; removed to Detroit in 1830 ; is now a clerk of the Commissioner of the Land Office. Oliver Strong was con- nected in the mercantile and milling business with Judge Strong until 1832, in which year he died at Detroit. He was at one period the Major General of a Rifle Brigade. Horace Hooker was early at Carthage, engaged in mercantile and distilling business. He still resides there. Francis Babcock built a flouring mill at the Lower Falls as early as 1824 ; built the dwelling now occupied by Ansel Frost ; leaving here, he engaged in mercantile pursuits ; was captured and killed by pirates on the coast of Africa. Capt. Cru- ger, of the U. S. Army, was early at Carthage ; now resides in the city of New York.
Heman Norton was the son of Nathaniel Norton, the early Pio- neer of Bloomfield, and merchant of Canandaigua; married a sis- ter of Judge Strong. He removed to the city of New York, where he died several years since. His sons are, Professor Wm. P. Nor- ton, John Norton, a Merchant in New York. A daughter became the wife of Walter Griffith of New York. Eilsha Beach who was a son-in-law of Nathaniel Norton, died in Monroe, Michigan, in 1850.
Elisha B. Strong has continued to reside in Carthage since his early advent; witnessing and participating in its rise and decline, and surviving to see the village that became its successful rival, grow into an overshadowing city, and generously embrace it in its limits. That portion of the original site of Carthage remaining in his hands, and for many years constituting his farm, is now selling in lots of 100 feet front, at from $100 to $500. He is now in his 62d year. He was a member of Assembly from Ontario in 1819 and '20. In 1821, when the application was made for the erection of Monroe, from parts of Ontario and Genesee, he was in attend- ance at Albany, and contributed essentially in thwarting a strong opposition, and bringing the measure to a consummation. He was appointed First Judge on the organization of the courts of Monroe, holding the office until succeeded by Judge Samson.
Capt. John T. Trowbridge, now residing in Racine, Wisconsin, long known in connection with the commerce of Lake Ontario, re- sided at Carthage as early as 1820.
All of what is now Irondequoit was slow in settling. The lands, especially between Ridge and Lake, being mostly pine plains, the soil light and sandy - "barrens," they used to be called. But a change has come over them, such as has been noticed in other lo- calities. Their present value is from $50 to $100 per acre.
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The early proprietors of that portion of the city on the east side of the River, between the Andrews and Atwater tract, and the Carthage tract, were John W. Strong, who after making a farm and residing there, sold his possessions to Martin Galusha, under whose auspices it has been platted and sold ; Caleb Lyon, who owned 32 acres, and sold it to Elon Huntington. The whole space, the Carth- age plat included. affords some of the most eligible building grounds within the city, overlooking the River and its romantic scenery, and the lower part of the city on the east side of the River. It is fast filling up.
Ashbel W. Riley emigrated from Wethersfield, Conn., in 1816; was in early years extensively engaged in the lumber trade ; in 1835 was one of the principal founders of a six day transportation line upon the Erie Canal, and at the same time was the joint propri- etor with Josiah Bissell in real estate operations, which have been named. The last ten years of his life has been principally devoted to the temperance reformation, in which cause he is a widely known and popular public lecturer. His military title is derived from the holding of the commission of Major General of the 3d division of Riflemen.
Gideon Cobb was a young adventurer to the Genesee country from Vermont, just previous to the war of 1812 ; a travelling ped- lar of scythes and axes; temporarily making some improvements on a tract of wild land among the hemlocks of the western portion of Wyoming county; serving a brief season upon the frontier ; then a travelling dealer in hollow ware; until 1814, when he went into the employ of the Messrs. Browns, at Frankfort. He estab- lished the first " public conveyance," in Monroe county : -- a four ox team which went twice a week from Rochester to the mouth of the River, principally to do the transportation for the primitive mer- chants of Rochester. He used to get his beans and pork "cooked by Mrs. Culver except in warm weather, when his beans would get sour," and he "had his cooking done twice a week." He finally got board with Willis Kempshall, but had " to sleep under the work bench." He cleared the timber from North and Monroe streets. And all these were but a part of his early industry and enterprise. He is now 61 years of age, "hale and hearty," the owner and occupant of one of the largest farms in Brighton; and as if he knew not how to suspend labor and enterprise, is building for the county of Monroe, the splendid edifice for its courts and public offices, at a cost to county and city, of $60,000.
William Cobb, a brother of Gideon, had been connected with Dr. Matthew Brown in the axe and scythe manufactory, near Rome. In 1816, the business was transferred to Rochester, and commenced upon the site now occupied by Lewis Seely's buildings ; a machine
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shop was added. In 1820, in partnership with Lawson Thayer, he purchased the site now occupied by D. R. Barton, to which the business of scythe manufacturing was transferred. The rear of the lot was occupied by Thomas Morgan, with the first manufactory of the cut nail started west of the Hudson. Mr. Cobb left Roches- ter previous to 1830, under an engagement with the late Nathaniel Allen, of Allen's Hill, to take charge of a tool shop connected with the contract for constructing the canal around the Falls of the Ohio at Louisville. The employer and the employed -- two valued cit- izens of western New York-both died at Louisville. Three daugh- ters reside in Michigan, one in Buffalo, and one, (Mrs. Wm. J. Hanford,) in Rochester.
Dr. John Cobb, of Ogden, who was a brother of Gideon and William, was a settled physician in Ogden, as early as 1816.
Chauncey Dean was an early citizen of Rochester - was a broth- er of L. Q. C. Dean, of the present wife of David Thomas, of Aurora ; was of one branch of the Pioneer family of the name in Phelps. He was the founder of mills on Black creek, in Chili. He died soon after 1825. His wife, who was the sister of Austin Wing, of Michigan, is a resident with her sons at Monroc.
The following, as near as the author has been able to ascertain, were the pioneer mechanics, other than those already recognized :-
Erastus Cook, established silver smithing and watch repairing in 1815; still survives, and continues the business. Salmon Scofield, soon after him ; died in early years. In 1816, Jonathan Packard ; still survives, and continues business. In 1817, Samuel W. Lee ; still survives, carrying on chiefly the manufacture of silver ware.
Ebenezer Watts started copper, tin and sheet iron business, in 1817, to which was added in process of time, an extensive hardware establishment. He still survives, retired from business. He is the father of John H. Watts, broker, of Rochester. Frazer & Shel- don, were early in the same business. Mr. Frazer removed to Al- bany. Josiah Sheldon died in 1849 ; Benjamin Sheldon, of Roch- ester is a son of his.
Preston Smith had established a small cabinet shop previous to 1816 ; he still survives. In that year. William Brewster commen - ced the business. In 1819 Frederick, Starr. Both survive, and are at the head of establishments, that in magnitude, and work- manship, vie with the best establishments of the kind in the older cities of the Union.
Isaac and Aldridge Colvin were first to start the manufacture of hats : they still survive, are farmers in Henrietta. John and Will- iam Haywood followed them ; John Haywood still survives and continues the business. Next to Mr. Reynolds, Pelatiah West, a brother of Ira West, started the business of a saddler and harness maker. He removedto Palmyra, where he died 8 or 10 years since. John Shethar was early in the same business ; died at Seneca Falls.
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John H. Thompson, started the manufacture of looking glasses, as early as 1821, '2 ; still survives and continues the business.
After Jehiel Barnard, the principal early tailors were Smith & Holden. In fact theirs was the first considerable establishment.
Jacob How started a bakery as early as 1815, continued it until his death; was succeeded by his son, Jacob How, who still contin- ues the business.
Jacob Graves and Samuel Works, emigrated from Vermont in 1816, purchased a small tannery that had been started by Kellog Vosburgh. In the hands of Messrs. Graves & Works, and in later years, in the hands of Mr. Graves, the business has been one of great magnitude. It is now carried on by Jacob Graves & Sons. Mr. Works is a resident of Lockport; was an early and efficient helper in advancing the prosperity of Rochester ; has in later years filled the offices of a State Senator, and Canal Superintendent.
The early master builders were, Daniel Mack, Phelps Smith, Robert and Jonathan King, the last two of whom survive and are residents of Rochester. Philip Allen was an early builder; was the father of Asa K., and of the early forwarder upon the Erie Canal, Pliny Allen. The Allen family, some years since emigrated to Wis- consin, to a locality now called " Allen's Grove," where the old patriarch, surrounded by over an 100 descendants, died in 1845, aged 88 years. He was the father of Mrs. Samuel W. Lee, of Rochester.
Charles Magney was the pioneer cooper ; -- Eggleston was early in that branch of business. Mrs. Jewell, of Rochester, is a daughter of Charles Magney; a street of the city takes its name from him.
Although he was preceded by others, in a small way, in the boot and shoe business, Abner Wakelee was the first to establish a shoe store. He is now a farmer in Brighton. Jacob Gould was early in that branch of business ; commencing when Rochester was a small village, his establishment, in his hands and those of George Gould & Co., has kept up in the march of progress. The early mechanic, Jacob Gould, has been a prominent citizen of Rochester, and an efficient helper in its prosperity, He has held the military rank of a Major General, has been Mayor of the city ; in later years, Mar- shall of the Northern District of N. Y. He is now President of the Farmer's and Mechanic's Bank. Thomas and Jesse Congdon, were early shoe dealers.
Brown, established the earliest regular machine shop ; was the first to set up the engine lathe in Rochester. Thomas Morgan, who is named as the founder of a nail factory, was an ingenious and enterprising mechanic, worthy of being the predecessor of the host of enterprising men who have made Rochester almost a city of me- chanics and manufacturers. His wife and family still resides in Rochester.
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The early lawyers of Rochester, were John Mastick, who was the first in the county. He studied law with George Hosmer, of Avon ; was admitted to practice and settled at the mouth of the river, previous to 1811; removed to Rochester during the war, opening an office in a small wooden building near the site of Gould's shoe store. He died childless, in 1828 or '9.
Enos Pomeroy was a native of Massachusetts ; studied law in the office of Gen. Kirkland, was admitted to practice in 1815, and in the same year opened an office in Rochester. He still survives, residing upon a farm in Brighton, at the age of 60 years. He is succeeded in practice by his son, John N. Pomeroy ; another son was recently in Engineer corps on the Genesee Valley canal.
Joseph Spencer was from Hartford, Conn., a son of Isaac Spen- cer, the Treasurer of the State at one period; graduated at Yale College ; commenced practice in Rochester in 1816. He was at one period in the Senate of this State. Possessed of fine talents, with the promise of professional success and eminence, he had but a short career ; dying previous to 1830. His wife was the sister of Samuel L. and Henry R. Selden. She is now the wife of Capt. Eaton of the U. S. Army, a son of Professor Eaton.
Roswell Babbit was from Lewis county ; studied law in Lowville ; died at Saratoga Springs soon after 1830. Charles R. Babbit, of Rochester is his son.
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