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 9
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" 10. James Mann, Jr.
"
" 11.
Samuel Pike.
" 12.
Joshua Gates.
" 13. Ezra P. Strong.
" 14.
Peter Bevins
" 15. Ira Baker.
" 16. James S. Redman.
" 17. Jotham Clark.
" 18. Joseph Horton.
The following resolutions was passed :
Ist. Voted to comply with the School Act, and to raise fifty dollars, for school purposes.
2nd. Voted to raise eighty dollars for the poor.
3d. Voted that Waite Arnold be pound- keeper, and his barn and barn-yard, to be used as a pound-yard for the coming year.
4th. Voted that every path-master, be the fence viewer of his district.
5th. Voted that Hogs weighing over sixty pounds be free to run at large.
6th. Voted that male Hogs weighing less than 25lbs., not to be allowed to run at large. Penalty, $ 1.00.
7th. Voted that male Sheep not be allowed to run at large from the 15th. of August to the 1st. of .December. Penalty $2.00.
8th. Voted that male Colts over eighteen months old, should not be allowed to run at large. Penalty, $10.00.
9th. Voted that the next Town Meeting be held at Jerry Youngs.
On the 17th day of June, 1820, the town of Conesus made a final settlement with the town of Groveland. We find the same re- corded on the Town Clerk's book, and it reads
as follows :-
"SETTLEMENT WITH GROVELAND." Amount of assesment in Groveland, . . $916.62. The amount assesed to Freeport, .... 194.85. Amount of money for the poor to be divided,. 45.16.
Freeport's portion of the money for the poor,. 9.59.
Of the $9.59 : two dollars and seventy-eight cents, have been applied to the support of Richard Smith, leaving a balance of $6.81. in the hands of the Overseer of the Poor of Groveland, due Freeport."
"Expenses of attending Richard Smith from the 1st Tuesday in April to the 20th of June, -11 weeks at 10 shillings per week-$2.75. We have settled the division of the poor mon- eys and expense of attending Richard Smith, and have agreed to support him in the same ratio hereafter, this 17th. day of June, 1820."
"Supervisors, Wmn. Fitzhugh, Groveland. Davenport Alger, Freeport. Overseers of the Poor,
Robert Burns, Groveland. James Rosebrugh, " Alexander Patterson, Freeport. Hector Mckay.
There was a special town meeting held Sep- tember 30th, 1820, at the residence of Jerry Youngs, to rescind some former resolutions, and to raise moneys. The Town Clerk's book reads thus :-
" At a 'Special Town Meeting,' Sept. 30th. 1820, held at Jerry Youngs, 'Voted to recall the vote, for which to raise $80 for the poor.' Voted to add $30 to the $50 for the schools."
We also find the following Election Notice for the year of 1820, in the Town Clerk's book, which reads thus ;-
73
THE HISTORY OF CONESUS.
" An estimate of Votes taken at the Annual Election, held for the town of Freeport, which commenced on Tuesday the 25th day April, 1820, at the house of Erastus Wilcox, and closed Thursday, the 27th, at the house of ('harles Thorpe, Town of Freeport, County of Ontario, were as follows :-
For Governor ; Daniel D. Tompkins, 11 votes, against Dewitt-Clinton, 6 votes.
For Lieut. Governor ; Benjamin Moores, 11 votes against John Taylor, 6 votes.
For Senators; Philetus Swift, Nathan Will- iams and Nathaniel Garrow, each 11 votes, against Ephraim Hart, Elijah Mills and Oliver Forward, each 6 votes.
For Assembly; John Price, Matthew War- ner, Byram Green, Elijah B. Strong, Birdsey Brooks and James Rosebrugh, each 72 votes, against John C. Spencer. Trumain Hart, My- ron Holley, Oliver Culver, William Cornwall, William H. Spencer and Claudeus V. Bough- ton, each 33 votes.
We do certify the above to be just and true:
Davenport Alger. Samuel Chapin, Jessie Me Millin, Alexander Patterson,
Inspectors of Election."
The following Excise Meeting of 1820, was recorded in the Town Book in the following words :-
"At a meeting of the Commissioners of Excise for the town of Freeport, in the county of On- tario, on the 24th day of June, 1820. Pres- ent, Davenport Alger, Supervisor of the said town, Matthew McNinch and Andrew Arnold, Justices of the Peace, residence in the said town, Thomas Collar and Russell Taylor of the said town. appears to us for a lisence to keep an Inn in town, and to retail liquoirs un-
der five gallons, as Inn keepers at their Dwell- ing House in said town, and we, Commissioners aforsaid, having satisfied evidences that the said Thomas Collar and Russell Taylor, are of good moral character, and suficient ability to keep an Inn or Tavern, and that they have goood accommodations to entertain travelers, and that an Inn or Tavern is absolutely neces- sary at the Dwelling House of Thomas Collar and Russell Taylor, and for actual accommo- dation of travelers aforesaid, it is therefore ordered that lisence be granted to the said Thomas Collar and Russell Taylor according to their application."
Davenport Alger, Super.
Andrew Arnold, Matthew McNinch, S Commiss.
The following by-laws are found in the Town Clerk's book, in regard what was to consti- tute a lawful fence, and reads as follows :-
" April 3d, 1825. Voted a lawful fence of the Town shall be 45 feet high, and 5 inches beteen the rails, and a fence viewer should have 75cts. for each day labor."
" April 5th. 1832. Voted a lawful fence to be 5 feet high."
The following is a list of Supervisors and Town Clerks of Conesus, from the year of 1820, to 1885.
LIST OF SUPERVISORS.
1820, '21, Davenport Alger.
1822, Samuel Chapin.
1823, '24, '25, Andrew Arnold.
1826, Alexander Patterson.
1827, "28, David C. Higgins.
1829, Andrew Arnold.
1830, Samuel Robinson, Jr.
1831, Jotham Clark.
1832, Ely Y. Barnes.
1833, Jotham Clark.
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THE HISTORY OF CONESUS.
1834, '35, Gardner Arnold.
1836, '37, Harvey Purchase. 1838, Hosea Gilbert. 1839, Robert Baylis.
1840, Gardner Arnold. 1841, Robert Baylis.
1842, Hector Hitchcock.
1843, Luther Chapin.
1844, Hector Hitchcock.
1845, Robert Baylis.
1846, Hector Hitchcock.
1847, '48, Solomon Hitchcock.
1849, Robert Baylis.
1850, Davenport Alger.
1851, '52, Lewis Kingsbury.
1853, '54, '55, '56, George F. Coe.
1857, '58, Henry L. Arnold.
1859, '60, 461, '62, Ezra W. Clark.
1863, '64, R. Fulton McMillin.
1865, Ezra W. Clark. 1866, Henry C. Coe. 1867, Ezra W. Clark.
1868, Solomon Hitchcock (by appointment.)
1869, '70, '71, 472, Henry C. Coe.
1873, '74, Jotham Clark, Jr.
1875, '76, Amos D. Coe. 1877, '78, '79, '80, George F. Coe.
1881, R. Fulton McMillin. 1882, Granger Griswold. 1883, Amos D. Coe. 1884, '85. Floyd McNinch.
LIST OF TOWN CLERKS.
1820, '21, Samuel Chapin.
1822, Andrew Arnold.
1823, Davenport Alger.
1824, 25, '26, Peter Stiles.
1827, '28, David Gilbert.
1829, Joshua Huntington.
1830, '31, '32, '33, '34, '35, '36, '37, Be- nona Fosdick.
1838, Joseph Wells.
1839' '40, '41, Charles Pixley.
1842, '43, '44, Justus Allen.
1845, '46, '47, '48, '49, '50, 451, '52, '53, '54, '55, '56, 57, '58, '59, '60, '61, 462, '63, 464, '65, '66, '67, '68, '69, '70, '71, '72, '73, Benona Fosdick.
1874, John F. Clark.
1875, '76, '77, '78, '79, '80, '81, '82, Will- iam H. Mills. 1883, '84, Arthur A. Stark. 1885, William Miller.
CHAPTER X.
"The Villages of Conesug."
N 1886, the little town of Conesus has three small hamlets or villages, known at the present day as Conesus Center, Union Corners, and Foots Corners. The largest of these villages, is Co- nesus Center, situated nearly in the center of the town, and upon the northern bank of Mill creek.
This Village contains 2 Stores, 3 Churches, 2 Wagon Shops, I Grist-mill, 1 Saw-mill, 1 Harness Shop, 3 Black-smith Shops, 1 Cabinet Shop, 1 Repair Shop, 1 Hardware, 1 Hotel & Town Hall, 1 Millinery Store, 1 Grain Ware- house, 1 Evaporator, 1 Agricultural Building, Post Office, and about 100 houses, and a pop- ulation of nearly 200 human souls.
The first settlement was made here in the year of 1800, by Jacob Durham, who built a log house, a little west of the Grave-yard, and on lands now owned by Solomon Trescott.
The first saw-mill was built here by James Henderson, in 1795. In raising this mill, he obtained assistance from Lima and Dansville. This mill stood upon the present sight of the Grist-mill.
The first store was opened here in the year of 1817, by Andrew Arnold and his nephew
Gardner Arnold. This store is said to have been kept in a log building.
The first hotel was built here between the year of 1830 and '35, by Daniel Bump. It was a large three story building, with a base- ment below, and a ball-room in the upper story. The second story consisted of bed-rooms and a setting room. On the floor above the base- ment, was the dining-room, bar-room and par- lor. This hotel stood upon the present sight of the Universalist Church ; and a few years after- wards it passed into the hands of John McVic- ar, who owned it for several years. In 1865, he rented it to Horace Brunson, and in 1866 sold it to Davenport Alger, who in a few years afterward sold it to Luman Baldwin, who owned it, when it was destroyed by the great fire of 1871.
After the fire, Baldwin opened a hotel in the present dwelling house of Granger Grisworld, for a year or more. In the spring of 1873, George K. Vincent opened the present one; and in 1880, he rented it to Thomas Ward, and in 1882, to S. Robinson, and in 1885, sold the same to Davenport Alger, the present proprietor.
The first post-office was opened here in 1819,
75
76
THE HISTORY OF CONESUS.
and kept at the store of Andrew Arnold. In these days, the mail was carried by Post Ri- ders, of whom B. F. Fosdick was the same at this time, and he brought the mails twice a week from Lima or Bloomfield, on horseback. In 1823, Sylvester Morris was the first person who performed the same service between here and Springwater. This route was established the spring before, and was continued until the building of the Corning & Buffalo Railroad.
The first church was built here by the Meth- odist Society, in 1836. It stood upon the sight of their church of the present day. After serv- ing them as a place of worship for a number of years, it was totally destroyed by fire, Dec. 30, 1871. The present church was built in 1876.
The first shoe-shop was opened by Andrew Arnold and Gardner Arnold, in 1817, and was kept at their store. In 18 8, William Will- iams, open the first shop in a frame building, in the town, at this place. We are unable to give a list of the different shoe-makers that has made their home in this village. But among those who has once lived here, is that of ('has. Beadle, Matthew Mead, William Helin, Chas. and Clark Dibble, Joseph Lockwood and Ed- win Brown.
As we have said the first saw-mill was built by James Henderson; the next saw-mill, was the "old mill " that stood at the south end of the east dam of the grist-mill. This mill was built by David Coleman, in 1853. It was run by a wooden turbine wheel, and an up-down saw. After doing good service to the town, it took fire by some unknown cause, on the night of Febuary 21st 1873, and was burned to the ground. The next saw-mill in this village, is that of the steam mill, now owned by Amos D. Coe and Charles Humphrey, built in 1875 or '76.
The first grist-mill, is that of the present
one which was built by George Rockafellow in 1840. He owned and ran the same until 1854 or '55, when there came upon him a financial crisis, by a depreciation in the prices of wheat, and having purchased heavily upon credit, and borrowed capital, he failed ; causing a heavy loss to many of the town citizens who had put too much confidence in him. After this failure, the mill fell into the possession of George F. Coe and Robert Baylis, of which the former a few years afterwards, sold out his interest to the latter, who retained the same until his death, Febuary 7th, 1870. The mill now fell into the hands of Ezra W. and John F. Clark, until about the year of 1878, when the latter sold his interest to Jacob C. Green, who trans- ferred the same in "875, to Clark M. Herrick.
When the mill was built, it was run by two large over-shot water-wheels, each 36 feet in diameter, and were placed one above the other. When the mill was in the possession of Baylis and Coe, they placed a large powerful steam engine in the same to drive the mill through the dry season of the year. When it came in the possession of Ezra and John Clark, they re- moved these water-wheels and engine and boil- er, and placed in their place, a small turbine wheel, engine and boiler, which are used at the present day as the motive power. This mill has a water fall of 70 feet, being said, to be one of the largest in the state.
A little north of the grist-mill, and on the sight of C. M. Herrick's barn, stood the "old Mill-right shop," owned by Bell and Hedges. When this was built, we have no record; but it could not have been far from 1825 or '30. This shop was used as a tool and turning shop, and the building was set on posts placed in the ground. During the great flood of 1835-which we will speak more of hereafter,-it was swept away, and the owners with it, found a watery
77
THE HISTORY OF CONESUS.
gave.
The first cabinet shop and undertaking es- tablishment, was opened here in 1851, by Fred- erick Straub. It was in a little old building, which had formerly been used for a blacksmith shop, and stood upon the sight now occupied by the store of Arthur Stark, south of the Uni- versalist church. This building being inade- quate for his business, he built the new one he now occupies, in 1856.
The present store of Arthur Stark, was built by Thomas Grover, in the year of 1835, He was soon followed by Charles Pixley, and in about 1840, by George Rockafellow, who sold a part of the same soon after to Lewis Kings- bury. About 1812, they sold the same to James Dart, who transferred it to Benjamim Moulton and Clark M. Herrick about the year of 1866. The former sold out to Davenport Morris, and 1873 or '74, they sold the same to Granger Griswold and William Mills, and the former sold to the latter, about 1880, and he transferred the store to Arthur 1. Stark in the spring of 1885.
The store that stands upon the south-east corner, and on lands now owned by Amos D. Coe, was built by Gardner Arnold, about 1825. In 1827, Joseph Wells and Foster Foot rented the same and occupied it until 1834, when Allen & Whitlock bought the same and in a few years failed; then it came into Oscar Rip- ley's possession, and he in a few years afterwards also failed. It was now bought by Amos D. Coe, who occupied the same until about 1870, when he moved the same across the way, and has since been converted into a dwelling house now occupied by Granger Griswold.
In this building, was the first millinery shop in the town. It was kept by Miss Mary Coe ; but in what year, we have no date. She kept the same here at the time when it was own-
ed by Amos Coe. When the building was moved across the way, she transferred her goods to the dwelling house purchased by her across the way from the Methodist church, where she carried on business until a few years ago.
The store that was burned in 1871 that stood south of the present Universalist church, was the cabinet shop of Fredrick Straub, rigged over into the same soon after he vacated it, and moved into his new building. It was first oc- cupied by Colvin Barnes & Co., until his death in 1868, when it fell into the possession of Granger Griswold and William Mills, who oc- cupied it until the fire. In this building for several years the Post Office was kept.
The store that now stands on this sight, was built about the year of 1875 or '77, and the first person to occupy the same was George Vincent in !878, who opened the first drug store in the town. He was succeded by Arther A. Stark in 1880, who carried on the same line of business, and connected with it the grocery trade, until 1885, when he moved into the store he now occupies. In the spring after Mr. Stark's removal, it was occupied by Brown as a grocery store, and is still in his possession ; but the building is owned by A. A. Stark.
The store that stands on the north-east cor- ner of the center of the village, was built by G. Lewis, in the winter of 1882 and '83. In the spring he opened in one-half of the store, a grocery, boot and shoe store, until January of 1884, when he failed. The other half of the same, he rented to Miss Emma Scott as a mil- linery store, who imoved her stock from her dwelling house on the "Pinacle"" where she was in business for several years before. She remained here for one year, and then 'returned to her former place of business.
In the spring or summer of 1874, it came in the possession of Clark M. Herrick, who ex
78
THE HISTORY OF CONESUS.
change his interest in the eating saloon at the depot for the same. The building remained unoccupied until the spring of 1885, when it passed into J.C. Green's possession, who traded for the same his interest in the grist-mill, and still owns it. In the spring of 1885, he rented it to Mrs. Lockwood-a lady from Nunda,- who opened a millinery store for two or three months, and then to Fred. Eno, for a billiard- room, being the first tables ever in town. Af- ter a few months Eno sold out his interest to Davenport Alger, who now occupies the build- ing.
One of the first blacksmith shops was that of T. Wells, which stood upon the sight of Green's store. It was built at an early day, and he carried on business until his death, when the building was moved toward the depot and con- verted into a dwelling house, now occupied by William Miller.
The blacksmith shop now owned by George Baker, was built by Moses Knights in 1849. It was bought by Solomon Trescott in 1851, who sold the same to George Baker in 1854 or '55, who moved it across the way in 1863, and now occupies it.
There has been at different times, several other blacksmith shops that has sprung up for a short time through this village, of which we have no definite history. Among these is that of P. Philhower, situated in the east part of the village; also one east of the present school- house, on the north side of the way .; one now kept in the building occupied by Alex. Green, who still carries on the same in connection with his wagon shop; another by John D. Webster east of the Town Hall. The latter has not been in operation for only two or three years. The one in Green's building, has been connected with a wagon shop for the most of the time. Among the owners are the names of Frank
Huffman, J. V. Jones, William Clark, Or- naldo Morris, and others.
The repair shop of M. Jincks that stands east of the Town Hall, was first built in 1880, upon the sight of the Agriultural building, and in 1882, moved to its present location.
A store or grocery was kept by L. Snyder upon the sight of the Agricultural building. It was kept in an extention of a dwelling house toward the street. While he owned the same, it was destroyed by fire in 1871. Upon this sight was erected the Agricultural building of George W. Baker & Son in 1882, who carried on the business until 1883, when they rented it to Frank Shafer, who still occupies it.
The village of Conesus Center at the time of the first settlement, was covered with thick Pine and Hemlock trees. To day can be seen a floor in one of the barns owned by Hiram Boyd, that was made from trees that grew up- on the "pinacle," now occupied by Stark's store, Alger's hotel, and the dwelling houses of Maring, Scott, Darrow, Herrick, and others.
After the building of the Buffalo & Corning railroad, the village grew very fast until the afternoon of August 26th, 1871, when in midst of a heavy thunder-storm, a thunder-bolt struck a barn of Granger Griswold situated on the sight of his present barn, on the lot now owned by him-and the building was soon in flames. It soon communicated to a barn be- longing to Henry Gilbert, situated back of the Hardware store of John Dodge ; from this to a small Scale building, a few feet south of Stark's store; then to a store owned by Gris- wold & Mills, which stood on the sight of Stark's store ; then to a small building used as a meat-market north of the same; then to the three story hotel, sheds and barns owned by Luman Baldwin, situated on the sight of the Universalist church. It now crossed an alley
79
-THE HISTORY OF CONESUS.
north of the hotel and communicated to the grocery store of L. Shyder, when the wind changed, and the fire was stopped. In less than an hour, the fire had burned over several acres, and caused a loss of nearly $10.000. Since then, this territory has been rebuilt.
UNION CORNERS.
Union Corners-sometimes called " Crockett Corners," from a nick-name given it by Lewis Clark-is situated about one-half of a mile north of Conesus Center, and on lot No. 43. It contains about a dozen houses, and a popu- lation of about fifty persons. The place once contained a hotel, tailor shop and church.
The first log house was built here by Abel Root in 1807.
The first tailor shop was built by - Bates in 1820. The first frame tailor shop was built by - Gardner in 1837. It stood upon the present sight of the dwelling house of Matilda Romig, and after he had carried on a suc- cessful business for several years, it was burned down. The next shop was that of John Magee built by him in 1850. This stood upon the south-east corner, and was occupied by him until Sunday morning, March 6th 1881, when by some unknown cause it took fire and burned down, with a total loss (except an insurance of $1.500,) to the owner.
The first hotel was built here in 1842 or '43, by Lewis Clark-better known to the town's people, as "Col. Crockett," a name he adopted at the time of the Mexican war, and retained the same up to the time of his death. He fol- lowed the business here until his death in 1874 when the hotel was taken as a private dwelling house by one of his daughters, Mrs. Phoebe Henry.
Lewis Clark, also carried on the shoe-makers trade in the west part of his house, and in the
little building that stands south of the hotel. In this building was the first millinery store, that was every opened in this village. This was by Miss. Lillie Henry in the year of 1882 or '83. It has been used for the past year as a wash- board manufactory, by Jincks & Co ..
The Universalist church, which stands upon the road leading from the west, was built in 1837. (See Chapter on Churches.)
Union Corners is now simply a village of the past. No stores! no shops! but a resident village. The Old Universalist church, is still standing to the age of time. .
FOOT'S CORNERS.
Foot's Corners, is a small hamlet situated about one mile south of the northern town line of C'onesus, and two miles north of Conesus Center, on lot No. 24. It is a village of ten houses and about thirty inhabitants.
The first settlement was made here by Har- vey May, who built the first log house in 1806. This house stood on the south side of the little orchard of Franklin Foot, west of the railroad, and within a few rods of the same. The east and west road at an early day used to pass on the south side of this orchard down near to the center of the village, and then in a south-west course across the flats, toward the residence of Ezra W. Clark.
This village was called for a long time " May's Corners," after the first settler ; but in 1834, Joseph Wells, Foster Foot & Son (Franklin Foot), built a three-story frame store in the south-west corner of the present door-yard of Franklin Foot, and then the name of the vil- lage was changed to " Foot's Corners."
After the firm had done business successfully for a number of years, the firm was dissolved, and the store fell into the possession of F. Foot, who moved away the building in 1881,
80
THE HISTORY OF CONESUS.
and converted the same into a horse-barn, that now stands east of his residence.
Upon the south-east corner, stands an "old frame building" now owned by Ira Foot, that used to be used as a tavern, and was built in 1811, by Samuel Chapin and Harvey May. This is the oldest tavern in town, and many lively times has been held within its walls. It has not been used as a tavern for over thirty years, and is now used as a tenant dwelling house.
The first store kept at this place, was in the "old red house" of Franklin Foot, that stands on the north side of the road leading across the flats. This was in operation at an early day, by Harvey May, who ran the same in connec- tion to a potashery that he owned, and stood on the present sight of Hiram MeNinch's dwelling house, on the south side of the creek.
This store though not overstocked with goods, proved of great value to the poor people; for they would save up their ashes, and take them to this Ashery, and there receive an order on the store, and for them receive the scanty necessities of life, which otherwise they would have to go without. This mode of business, was in operation for several years.
The first blacksmith shop was built here by Daniel Bump, in about 1825 or '30. It stood upon the east side of the road leading to Cone- sus Center. In a few years afterwards it was moved across the way, on the north side of the creek, and there used for several years, and in about 1857, was torn down. The next shop that was built here, was the Sherwood's shop built by James Ward, of which we have no date. Ward carried on business until 1845 or '46, when it came into possession of Stephen E. Sherwood, who still carried on business un- til about 1870 or '75, when it ceased to be used for that purpose, except the year of 1880,
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