USA > New York > Livingston County > Conesus > History of the town of Conesus, Livingston Co., N. Y. : from its first settlement in 1793, to 1887, with a brief genealogical record of the Conesus families > Part 15
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William Slaighter enlisted in 1862; now living in Livonia, N. Y.
William Spears. No record.
Charles Ray enlisted in 1862, and after the war came back and bought a farm on the Mar- rowback hills, where he resided until 1886, when he moved to Livonia, N. Y.
Mose Acker, went as a Captain's waiter in 1862. No more record.
Moses Slaighter enlisted in 1862, and is supposed to have been shot on the field of bat- tle, as that was the last heard of him.
Co. I., 136th Regiment, N. Y S. V.
Henry L. Arnold enlisted in 1862, and en- tered the army as Captain; was promoted to Colonel of the regiment for bravery ; was shot in the leg at the battle of Bentonville, Ga., March 19th, 1865, as he was standing on a log and cheering his men on to action. He now
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THE HISTORY OF CONESUS.
resides at Geneseo, where he went soon after the war, and now holds the position in the ser- vice of the state, as "Commissioner of Dis- charged Convicts."
Matthew Mead served as Second Lieutenant through the war. He returned home and soon after went to Rochester, were he is now follow- ing the profession of shoe-maker.
Charles Bullard was First Lieutenant of his Company, and while in service was wounded. He left the town soon after the war, and where he is now, I am unable to say.
William Lawn was sergeant of his company. He fell upon the blood-stained field of Resaca, Ga., May 16th, 1864, and was buried on the field. Before entering the service, he was a farm laborer, and at the time of his enlistment was residing with the late Hector Hitchcock. He left a wife and child.
Fayette McFarlin enlisted in 1862, and died with dysentery at Washington, D. C., in Au- gust of that year.
Watson Thomas enlisted in August of 1862, and was taken sick with dysentery and can:e home on a furlough November 11th, 1863. A short tinte after he reached home, and on the day that his furlough expired, he died ; and his last resting place is in the Conesus cemetery.
John Duane Alger enlisted in 1862, and in the fall of 1863 were taken sick at Camp Smokey Hollow, Va., and died, and his body was buried where he died, and never brought home for burial.
Jerome Henry enlisted in 1862. In the Spring of 1863, he was taken sick and died in the Hospital at Washington, D. C., and his body was brought home for burial in the Cone- sus cemetery. He left a wife and several chil- dren, who still live at Union Corners.
James Conlon enlisted at Conesus Center, August 31st, 1862; was wounded at Gettys-
burgh. in the arm July 3d, 1863, which was amputated at Philadelphia, August 13th. He was discharged June 24th, 1865, and came back to Conesus Center-where he now lives,- and carried the mail between that place and Scottsburgh for several years.
Charles Beadle was a shoe-maker, and en- listed in 1862, and served until 1864. He is now in Wisconsin.
Orville M. Chapen enlisted in 1862, and served through the war. He came home and purchased a farm east of Conesus Center, where he now lives.
Allen Timbrooks enlisted in 1862, and served through the war, and came back to the town. Now in Michigan.
James McGlin enlisted in 1862; he was wounded a the battle of Chancellorville, May 3d, 1863, and taken prisoner and sent to Lib- by Prison, Richmond, Va., from which he was afterwards exchanged. He is still single, and lives in Livonia.
William Polen enlisted in 1862; was dis- charged at Stafford Court House, Va., in 1863 for inability; came home, and purchased a house and lot at Foot's Corners, where he re- sided until his wife died, in 1882. He now lives in Sparta, N. Y.
Henry Compton enlisted as Company's cook in 1862, and held the position through the war; is now in Illinois, where he went soon after.
James Compton enlisted in 1862; deserted in 1863, at the battle of Gettysburgh, Pa.
Chester Gould enlisted in 1862, and served until 1863, when he lost the use of his voice, and was discharged. Soon after his return, he inoved to Pontiac, Mich., where he resded un- til 1882, when he moved back to the town.
Joel Johnson enlisted in 1862, and was dis- charged on account of inability, and came back to the town and married, and then moved to
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Springwater, and back to the town again. He now owns a small place in the southern part of the Marrowback hills.
Horace Wing enlisted in 1862, but was dis- charged on account of sickness in 1863. From here he went to Dansville, and for a time was the Proprietor of the Clinton Hotel. Now owns a farm in Sparta.
Harrison Coleman enlisted in 1862, and served through the war, and was promoted to Ist. Sergeant. After his return, he married and went to Saginaw, Mich., where he is in the Livery business.
Joseph Barnhart enlisted in 1862, and was discharged in the fall of that year. Re-en- listed in 1863, in the 14th Heavy Artillery, and was wounded at Cold Harbor in 1864. Now a resident of Canadice, N. Y,
Abram Tittsworth enlisted in 1862, and was discharged the same year, by being sick. On his return, he and his family moved to Kal- amazoo, Mich.
Orlando Webster enlisted in 1862. Deserted in 1863. At the close of the war came back to the town, and was drowned in Conesus lake, in 1872.
William Cole enlisted in 1862, and deserted at the first battle of Gettysburgh.
Theodore Acker enlisted in 1862. Now in Michigan.
Robert F. Bullard enlisted in. 1862, and was wounded at Mission Ridge, Tenn., November of 1864. Now in Perry, N. Y.
Samuel Maring enlisted in 1862, and died in the Hospitipal in 1863.
Reuben Cole enlisted in 1862, and deserted at the first days battle of Gettysburgh.
Issac Philhower enlisted in 1862, and served until 1865. He now lives at Conesus Center.
John Gills enlisted in 1862, and was wounded at Gettysburgh in 1863, and discharged.
A. F. Tompson enlisted in 1862. After a short time he came home sick, and died Oc- tober 27th, 1864.
Samuel Compton enlisted in 1862; was killed in a threshing-machine on the Marrow- back hills, in 1885.
Henry Piatt enlisted in 1862, and soon af- ter taken sick, and came home and died, and was buried in the Conesus cemetery.
William Burdick enlisted in 1862, and was honorably discharged. He now resides in the town.
William Agen enlisted in 1862, but his health failed him, and he was transferred to the Inva- lid corps in 1864. Now resides in the town, on Turkey Hill.
John Swartout enlisted in 1862, and came home sick, and died September 10th 1862, and is buried in the Conesus cemetery.
Gilbert Lewis enlisted in 1862, and was honorable discharged, has since resided in town.
Jonas Sourbier, Christopher Sylvester and John Tierney enlisted in 1862; but we have no more record of them.
188th Regiment, N. Y. S. V.
Wilber Payne enlisted in Company K, in 1864; was wounded at the battle of Five Forks, Va., April 1st, 1865; came home and soon went to Maryland, and came back to Conesus again.
Daniel Sliker enlisted in Company D, in 1864. Was honorable discharged in 1865, and is now in Ohio.
Morgan Shafer enlisted in Company C, in 1864. Came back, and now resides in the south-west part of the town.
Daniel Hoes enlisted in Company K, in 1864. Was honorably discharged at the close of the war, and came back to the town, and now re- sides at Belfast, N. Y.
William Gray enlisted in Company I, in
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1864. Came home at the close of the war and went to Michigan, and there died, and his body was brought back and buried in the Conesus Center cemetery.
Joseph Harvey enlisted in Company K., in 1864, and was promoted to Ist. Lieutenant. At the close of the war, came back to Conesus and married, and then went to Michigan.
Jacob Gray enlisted in Company I., in 1864, and was discharged in 1865. He is now liv- ing in the south part of the town.
William Wiliston enlisted in Company B., in 1864. Came back to the town and now re- sides at Union Corners.
Alvin Bearss enlisted in Con.pany D., in 1864. Now resides on Turkey Hill.
John McNinch, George Patten and Arling- ton Sylvester enlisted in Company D., in 1864. No n.ore record of them.
ยท The following is a list of those belonging to other regiments than what we have given.
G. Wiley Wells enlisted in 1861, in Com- pany -, 27th Regiment, in which he served with honor, and was promoted to Ist. Lieuten- ant. Upon his return, he was detailed to re- cruit for the 130th Regiment, and re-entered the same as 1st. Lieutenant. After the close of the war, he went to Mississippi, and from that State he was sent as Representative to Congress, and under President Grant's Admin- istration, was sent as U. S. Consul to China.
Theodore Redmond enlisted in the 14th. Heavy Artillery in 1863, and served until 1865, and then came home and went to Michigan, where he died in 1872 or '73.
Jessie B. Losey enlisted in 1864 in the 222nd N. Y. Cavalry as Assistant Surgeon. Now a physician in Conesus.
William Brown enlisted in 1864 in the 22nd Cavalry. At the close of the war was sent West to fight Indians, and was wounded over
the eye, by being kicked with a horse. I am unable to state where he is now.
Livingston Clark, Israel Wells and Ward Moore enlisted in 1864 in the 21st N. Y. Cav- alry. No more record of them.
Joseph Orr belonged to the 93d Regiment, but did not go from the town, yet he come back here to live.
William Harrison enlisted in the U. S. Na- vy in 1864. Was discharged for inability in 1865, and now resides in the town.
George Northrup enlisted in the U. S Na- vy in March of 1864. Was sent to Tunica Island, La., where he became home-sick, and while in a fit of dispondency, jumped over- board and was drowned.
John Puane Scott enlisted in March of 1864 in the U. S. Navy. He served faithful the period of his enlistment, and now resides in Conesus.
Andrew Kuder enlisted in Company L., 8th N. Y. Cavalry, August 25th, 1862, and was promoted to Captain of Company B., of the same regiment. He went from Groveland, but now resides in Conesus.
Joseph Thomas-who was born and reared to manhood in the town before going West,- enlisted in Company H., Ist. Michigan Volun- teers. He was killed in the following man- ner :- A Comrade had been out on duty and came into Joseph's tent, as he was preparing to go out on picket duty. In some manner the lock of the Comrade's gun became entangled in his clothes, and was discharged, and Joseph received the contents through the body. He lived about five hours, and was buried where he died.
STATE MILITIA OF THE TOWN.
Before the year of 1860, there were several Companies of State Militia in the town. For
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in those days, every man between the age of eighteen and forty-five, was enrolled to serve a length of time in the militia service of the State. How many different organziations there has been in the town, we are unable to say. But at one time, there were three companies, as follows :-
Ist. The Horse Company, commanded by Jones Scott, who held the office of Colonel. How many men he had, we can not say.
2nd. The Infantry Company, commanded by Henry Arnold as Captain, who served so faithful in the last war.
3d. The Artillery Company, under the command of Lewis Clark, Colonel. This com- pany had a six pound cannon, which in the late years has been destroyed. The fate of this " old cannon," is remarkable, and it has been through many trying scenes, and in particular on a certain occasion, I will describe as follows:
The cannon had been used many times to give forth its echo upon election news. One night the victorious party made due prepreation to salute their defeated friends .. The defeated party not cherishing the idea, stole the march of the victorious party, seized the cannon and drew it to a spot north of the Grist-mill, and dumped it into the gully, breaking it badly. " No cannon, that night, sent forth the songs of the victorious party." In a few days, the defeated party had the pleasure of getting the " old cannon " out of the gully, and repairing it. Several times it has been spiked, for nothing more then the work of mischievous boys; and to-day, without doubt, it has gone to the melt- ing furnace.
The training grounds, used by the different organizations of the town, seems to have been held at two places. One at Foot's Corners, and the other near the present residence of Ezra Gray's-then owned by Thomas Young-at
Conesus Center. These company trainings were generally held one day in the week, ex- cept on general training days, when they would last several days in succession. The "Gen- eral Training days," were looked for in great anticipation, and would draw together a large number of men, who would come from far and near,-if for nothing more then to get a piece of ginger-bread baked on a board, which the loaf would often be from ten to twelve feet in length.
Many different ways was resorted too, to pass the time away. One of the most impor- ant, was the "Sham fights," which was held to test the discipline of the officers, in the hand- ling of their men. These battles sometimes were made to lead to a serious affair; as all men were not honest, while others were mis- chievous. One of these sad affairs, which came near shedding innocent blood, transpired at Conesus Center, some fifty years ago, as fol- lows :
One of these fights was advertised to take place near the residence then of Thomas Youngs. The two contending companies consisted of what was called the " Invalid Corps," consist- ing of men not belonging to the regular service, and under command of the late Rev. Sylvester Morris,-then a Captain in the Militia of the town. The Regular Militia was commanded by Hiram Boyd, then a Lieutenant in the same.
The two companies were placed in position. The "Invalid Corps," cccupying the orchard north of the house, and the Militia south of the same. The two companies then charged upon each other several times, and at last, resorted to the taking of prisoners.
The " Invalid Company," thinking it smart and unknown to their Captain, filled their pockets with cider apples, and when they ad- vanced upon the Militia, drew a shower of ap-
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ples upon Lieut. Boyd's men, hitting many about the head and face. This treatment en- raged the soldiers of Lieut. Boyd to a high pitch, and they at once, fixed their bayonets and prepared to charge upon the "Invalid Corpse." Lieut. Boyd and Capt. Morris, saw at once that something must be done to preserve order, or blood would soon flow. Lieut. Boyd graspped his sword,-which he soon spoiled,-and rushed in front of his men, and Capt. Morris did the same toward his, and between the two, suc- ceeded in quiteing the malcontents.
In the conflict, many received bloody noses, and the Drum-major of the militia, smashed out both ends of his drumn over one of the " In- valid mens" head. This wound up this kind of sport for several years to come.
One of the saddest events connected with the militia of the town, was the shooting of Abner Wilcox, near Upper Lakeville, about fifty years ago. This family lived upon the farm now owned by the family of the late Sylvester Morris, and had a young son, about fifteen years of age, who had accompanied his father -who belonged to the militia company of the town, under command of Lieut. Hiram Boyd-to a general training at the above place.
The company had been called into line, and Lieut. Boyd was at the front of his men, and engaged in making out a list of arms in his company, and at the time was writing it on the head of a drum.
At the time, there had been a company from Lima, detailed for guard duty, and stationed over the grounds. As it was the custom in those days for each man to furnish his own gun. In this company, there was a young man,-perhaps poor-had borrowed a gun of a neighbor, who had used it on a hunt the day before, and left it loaded, and had forgot to inform the young man. At this time the young man was kneel- ing and had his gun resting across his knee, and was snapping the hammer, wlien to his sur- prise it was discharged, and the ball went on its deathly course, passing over the head of Lieut. Boyd and scarcely missing it, striking Poor Willcox in the region of the heart, kill- ing him in an instant. He threw his hand to his heart and exclaimed as he fell : " My God! I am shot." This at once ended the days sport, as they bore his cold form to his father's house, and the next day, his friends in tears followed his remains to their last resting place in the Conesus Center cemetery.
CHAPTER XVII. -
Harratives and Record of Historical Events.
I was not long after the settlement of the town, before the early settlers be- gan the task of building saw and grist- mills, distillieries, woolen-mills, etc., to assist them in their manual labor, and to make the daily toils of life easy.
The first of these improvements, was the saw-mill, and the first one built in the town, was known as the " Henderson's mill," built by Esq. Henderson in 1795, near the present sight of Conesus Center. To raise this mill, he was obliged to obtain assistance from the surrounding towns. This mill stood upon the sight of the present grist-mill, and did good service for the early settlers.
The next saw-mill, was the Wing mill, that stood upon lot No. 104, built by Nathan- iel Cole, in 1816. This stood in the Calabogue Hollow, of which we know but little about.
The next was the Purchase saw-mill, built by Davenport Alger, about the year of 1828. It was situated in the gully of that name, and about one hundred rods south of the residence of Jacob Wester. Another saw-mill was built by Hosea Gilbert in 1833 or '34, in the Mill gully, east of the residence of McMillen Bros. The old dilapidated frame of this mill is still
standing, being the only one standing, except Humphry's, which we have already described. "
The first portable saw-mill ever used in the town, was by Charles Humphry about the year of 1881 or '82. It was used upon lands owned by Lawrence Webster, on the Marrow- back hills.
The first grist-mill was built by Purchase & Baker, in 1824. It stood in the Purchase gully, south of the residence of Jacob Wester, on lot No. 42. All that is now left of this useful enterprise, is the old foundation of the mill, the dilapidated ends of the mill-dam, the mill-stones that was shaped out of a solid boul- der, found in our lands, and now lies partly buried up with the earth, and through the center, a woodchuck uses it as the mouth of his retreat. The next grist-mill was a mill that stood north of the residence of John Jerome, on land now owned by Franklin Foot. This mill was only used to grind grain for a distill- ery that was there. The next mill was the Rockafellow mill at Conesus Center, which we have already described.
There has been several distileries at one time in the town. These aided the early set- tlers to a great extent, for they would take their -
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wheat there and exchange it for whiskey, which they would trade for labor. The whiskey at this time, being worth but eighteen cents per gallon. This was abandoned a number of years ago. There was another distillery situated in the Purchase gully, which was built by Pur- chase & Baker, about the year of 1824. This also was of great service to the settlers. There were two other distillerys at the same time in the town,-one on lot No. 54,-of which we have no record.
The most important manufactury, was the old woolen factory, at the head of Conesus lake, at the mouth of the Purchase gully. It was a large frame building, and was crected by Es- quire Henderson in 1816 or '17, and was used as a fulling mill. After a few years, the water supply was found to be inadiquate, and Hosea Gilbert opened a water-course from Mill creek, through hog-back, and carried the water in a trough to the north side of the Purchase gully to the flume leading to the woolen-mill. Toac- complish this, they were obliged to cut through a high mountain of some sixty feet of solid or slate rocks, for the distance of a hundred feet. This task, was considered a great undertaking at the time ; in the present day it would be ac- complished by tunneling, instead of blasting from top to bottom. The mill after being used for several years, and no longer of service to the inhabitants, was abandoned, and since has been torn down. In this mill, the late Williamn Scott, of Scottsburgh, N. Y., in 1818 or '19, carded the first yard of cloth, that were ever carded in the town.
One of the most charitable enterprises in the town, that gave aid to the early settlers, was the pot-asheries. The poor would save all of their wood ashes-and even would burn log heaps for them,-and then take it to the ash- erys, and sell it for goods or money.
To our knowledge, there were two of these enterprises in town. One of them was owned by Hiram May, who kept a small store near the residence of Romeyn Cole, and in a short time moved it to Foot's Corners, in the year of 1819. He would sell his goods to the poor, and take ashes for pay, which he would convert into pot- ash, and sell the same to replenish his stock. He was succeeded in 1820 by Martin Neal, who carried on business at this place, on a lar- ger scale, and after a few years, it was aban- ed. The other one, was that of Purchase & Baker, situated in the Purchase gully, near the residence of Jacob Wester in 1825, of which we are unable to describe.
Charcoal was another enterprise among the early settlers. This was accomplished by dig- ing a large hole in the ground, and cutting wood-which was principally soft timber-and standing it in the hole on the end, and covering it over with dirt, and then setting it on fire. Often these pits would contain from sixty to one hundred cords. These pits were obliged to be watched night and day; for, should a hole break through the top, it would have to be repaired at once, of the wood would burn to ashes. In caring for these pits, it would have to be done with great risk to the tender, and many narrow escapes were made, from falling into these " firey furnaces," which would have been certain death. Some times nearly a week would pass, before the pit could be opened, and the coals raked out. Many places can be seen to-day by the dark earth and burned coals, where one of the enterprises has taken place.
The first reaper that was in the town, was purchased by Hiram Boyd and Jotham Clark, Sen., about the year of 1850. It was called the " Huzzy," and was built at Auburn, N. Y. " This was a huge machine." It had a drive- wheel about four feet high and a six inch face.
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The felly and spokes were made of wood, and had a cast iron hub, about eight inches in diameter and the same in length. The main shaft was three inches in diameter, and from two and one-half to three feet in length. On the same was a strait gear of about two feet in diameter, with a three inch face. This con- nected another bevel gear upon an inch and one-half shaft, which ran in another bevel gear of about four inches on a crank shaft of an inch and one-half in diameter, which drove the knives. The section bar was wrought iron, weighing about fifty pounds. The guards were of wrought iron, three-fourth of an inch square and was riveted to a wooden cutter-bar made of two inch plank, ten inches wide, and about eight feet in length. The frame was made of three by four inch square ash timber, bolted strongly together, and the machine was at- tached to the forward wheels of a wagon, to draw and guide it with. It would cut seven feet in width and each corner of the lot had to craddled into, so as to turn the same. All the grain was raked on and off by hand. It took three horses to draw it, as it weighed nearly a ton. When the owners brought it into the town, it was a great curiosity, and many came to see the wonders. It was used first upon the lower side of the road between Conesus and Livonia, on the lands of Hiram Boyd. All day long the fences were lined with teams from far and near, who had come to see it work. It was in operation for nearly twenty years.
The first self-raking reaper used in the town, was a Hubbard machine, purchased and used by Timothy Degraw on the hill lot, north of his residence, in 1868. The first self-binding reaper was brought into the town, by Stephen E. Sherwood, in 1876 or '77. It was a very heavy machine, and failed to do its work satis- factorily, and was sent back to the company
again. I believe it was made by the Johnston Harvester Company, of Batavia, N. Y.
One of the first mowers in the town, was purchased by my father (Hiram Boyd), in 1857. It was a Howard, made at Buffalo, N. Y. "I remember very well, when my father purchased the machine. A Mr. Thurston of Livonia came to our house a few days before he would wish to use one, and urged very hard for my father to buy a mower of him. My father hesitated at first, for he could not believe there could be such a machine made, as Mr. Thurston represented to him. At last Mr. Thurston made such an impression on my father, that he consented to let him send him one for trial, with the understanding if it did not do as Mr. Thurston represented, my father was to draw it by the side of the road and leave it, and Mr. Thurston was to come after it."
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