USA > New York > Monroe County > Landmarks of Monroe County, New York : containing followed by brief historical sketches of the towns of the county with biography and family history > Part 25
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In the town, also, though not a part of any village settlement, is the large nursery farm of the Green Nursery Company. This enterprise is the leading industry of the town, and one of the most extensive in the entire region and is worthy of mention in this chapter. The managing officer of the company is Charles A. Green.
North Chili is a small hamlet in the north part of the town, and de- rives its greatest importance from the presence of the somewhat noted Chili Seminary. As a trading or business center this hamlet has never attained a position of importance, and only a few years ago the post- office was removed from North Chili to Chili Station on the line of the
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THE TOWN OF CHILI.
railroad. It was re-established, however, later on. The only business interest here is the general store of A. H. Cady.
The Chili Seminary, to which occasional reference has been made, was founded during the fall of the year 1869, through the efforts of the Rev. Benson H. Roberts and in the interests of the Free Methodist Church. The school was first organized in the old tavern at North Chili, that building being used until the completion of the commod- ious structure occupied so many years for the purposes of the school. However, in the winter of 1893, an unfortunate fire destroyed the main building, causing serious loss, but in the following year a new and per- haps more attractive seminary building was erected. From the time of its founding to this day, Rev. Benson H. Roberts has been at the head of this most worthy institution, and much of its success during all these years has been due to his untiring efforts. In connection with the course of instruction pursued in Chili Seminary, a religious monthly publica- tion is conducted, and known as the Earnest Christian. Mr. Roberts acts in the capacity of editor. The number of students in regular at- tendance at the seminary averages about seventy-five.
Chili Station is the name of a hamlet and post-office on the line of the Central railroad, and to the construction of the latter it owes its very existence. Chili is a post village, and South Chili is a mere cluster of houses in the south part of the town.
During the long and interesting period of its history, several church and religious societies have been organized in this town, and of each of them we may briefly speak. The pioneer religious society of Chili was the Presbyterian church, for it appears that a majority of the first set- tlers in this region were either Presbyterians or Congregationalists, The local society was organized in June, 1816, in Isaac Brokaw's barn, the original members being Abel and Bertha Belknap, Patty Heming- way, Leah Merlin, Apollos Dewey, Daniel Clark, Conrad Mortman, Nancy Merlin, Sarah Gridley, Timothy, Joel and Sarah Baldwin, Daniel and Fanny Deming, and Lemuel Potter. The first deacons were Apol- los Dewey and Joel Baldwin. This church was formed as a Riga so- ciety, but after the division of the town assumed a local name. The first edifice was built in 1821, and stood one mile east of Buckbee's Corners. A second edifice was erected on the same site in 1833. The first pastor
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was Rev Mr. Chase, who took charge in 1817. The last pastor was Rev. John Kincaid who resigned in the spring of 1895.
The First Methodist Episcopal church of Chili was organized at Buckbee's Corners, March 20, 1832, with thirty- three original members. For a time meetings were held in the school-house, but in 1836 the brick church edifice was built at the Corners. This was destroyed about 1850 and at once replaced with a more suitable church house. The present members of this church number about eighty, and the society is under the pastoral charge of Rev. D. D. Cook. A second Methodist church and society were organized in the town at a later day, and had its place of meeting at North Chili, where the church edifice was erected. This society was practically an off-shoot from the mother church above mentioned, and has a healthful membership of about sixty persons.
The Free Methodist church of North Chili was organized during the latter part of 1860, by a few former members of the M. E. church who withdrew therefrom and established a new church, and from the latter there grew and developed the Chili Seminary above noted. The church edifice was erected in 1860. The first pastor was Rev. J. W. Reddy. The members at present number about sixty persons, and are under the pastoral direction of Rev. B. H. Roberts. The Baptist church of Clif- ton was organized in 1852, by residents of the vicinity of that village who had previously been members of the older church at Wheatland. The first deacons of the new church were Charles Tenny, A. Harmon and A. Hosmer; the first pastor was Rev. H. K. Stimson, succeeded by Rev. E. F. Crane. The church edifice was built in 1852. At one time the members of this church numbered one hundred and sixty, but now the number does not exceed eighty. The present pastor is Rev. W. T. Taylor. The Baptist church at Chili Center includes many for- mer members of the Clifton church, and is in all respects a prosperous society. Its members number about seventy persons. The present pastor is Rev. F. J. Palmer.
St. Fechan's church, Roman Catholic, is also one of the religious or- ganizations of Chili, and was formed in 1850. In the same year the church edifice was erected. For several years this church was an out- post, attended from Rochester, Churchville or Scottsville. The present pastor is Rev. Father D. J. Curran. The communicating members number about seventy.
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THE TOWN OF CHILI.
In closing this chapter it is proper to make some brief allusion to the schools and educational system of the town of Chili. Early records, though quite brief and meagre, disclose the fact that a school was opened in this part of Riga as early as 1805 or '6, and the first north of Black creek was that at the Center, taught by Mr. Thompson. An- other early school was that taught by Anna Niles, in her father's house, although the first in the town was one of several opened in the south- west part, in the vicinity of Streetor's tavern.
In 1822, at the first town meeting, Isaac Burritt and Berkley Gillett were elected school commissioners, and Daniel Bassett, Alfred Schofield and Pliny Fields were chosen school inspectors. After the division the new town was divided into districts and provision made for the support of a school in each. In 1835 these districts numbered thirteen, and the number of children of school age in the town was seven hundred and eighteen. Twenty years later, in 1855, the districts were eleven in number and the children six hundred and ninety-seven.
According to the present arrangement, Chili is divided into eleven school districts, and each is provided with a comfortable school- house. Of the buildings, eight are of frame and three of stone construction. The total value of school property in the town is estimated at $11, 500. For the school year ending July 31, 1894, the amount of school money available in the town was $4,448.82, of which $1,560.94 was appor- tioned to the town, and $2,761.94 was raised by tax. Twelve teachers were employed during the year, and were paid $3,496.17. The school population of Chili is 612.
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CHAPTER III.
THE TOWN OF CLARKSON.
On the 2d of April, 1819, the Legislature divided the town of Murray, in Genesee county, and erected a new town under the name of Clark- son. It was so called in honor of General Clarkson, an extensive land - holder in this locality, and who donated one hundred acres to the town.
Murray, the mother town, now one of the civil divisions of Orleans county, was formed from old North Hampton on the 8th of April, 1808. As originally formed and organized Clarkson was a large district and embraced within its boundaries the fourth and fifth townships of the Triangle tract. It extended along the lake more than nine miles, and south from the lake nine and one-half miles. On the south boundary the town was nearly seven miles wide. The total area was 47, 173 acres, or about seventy four square miles of land. Union, now Ham- lin, was formed from Clarkson October II, 1852, and took from the other towns 26,395 acres of land, or considerably more than half of its territory.
Clarkson, as now constituted, has an area of 20,778 acres, and is situated in the northwest portion of this county, having for its western boundary the Orleans county line. The land surface is generally level, with slight undulations in the southern part. It is drained to the northeast by the head branches of Salmon and Little Salmon creeks. The soil is a sandy loam, mixed alternately with gravel and clay, pro- ducing strength and fertility, remarkably adapted to the growth of cereals, to fruit culture and to general agriculture.
Although a question never satisfactorily determined, common con- sent has granted to Moody Freeman the honor of having been the first permanent settler in Clarkson. He made his purchase in 1803 and is believed to have settled in the town soon after that time. James Sayres purchased at Clarkson Corners in 1804 and was the first settler on the
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Ridge road. Eli Blodgett also came to the town in 1804. In 1805 several settlers came, among them Simeon Daggett, west of the Cor- ners; John and Isaac Farwell, north of the Ridge; William Davis, John Fowle, Benjamin Boyd, Dr. Noah Owen and David Stanton. Still other early settlers were Olney F. Rice, 1806; Robert Hoy, with his family of seven children, James, John, Robert, jr., Jane, Ann, Nancy and Betsy, in 1808, locating one mile north of East Clarkson. They came from New York city, as did also Thomas Caleb, Robert and other members of the Brown family. In the same connection may also be mentioned the names of Eldridge Farwell, Isaac Lincoln, John Mallory, Wilber Sweet, Eli Mead, L W. Udall, Robert Clarke, Danforth Howe, Alvin Hamlin, Eli Randall, Jonathan Mead and Eli ha Lake, all of whom were settlers in this town previous to 1809.
In 1810 and the year immediately following the settlement and de- velopment of the town progressed rapidly, and among those worthy of mention in connection with the period were David Forsyth, James, Adam, and Henry Moore, Silas Taft, Simeon B. Nathan, John Daggatt, William B. Worden, Henry Grinnell, Isaac Randall, Walter Billings, James Ladd (for whom Ladd's Corners was named), Ebenezer Toles, H. McCall, Dr. Abel Baldwin, Dr. Nathaniel Rowe, Deacon Joel Palmer, Joshua Fields, Bannister Williams, Lewis Swift, Gustavus Clark, and others whose names are perhaps equally worthy of mention, but who through lapse of years are now forgotten.
The war of 1812-15, was an eventful period in local history, for Clarkson appears to have been a general rendezvous for troops and also the temporary depository for supplies and munitions of war. At that time Clarkson village, or as then known, Murray Corners, was a hamlet of considerable note ; the Ridge road was sufficiently improved to allow the transportation of stores, and was the great thoroughfare of travel between Canandaigua and Lewiston. The Corners was a stopping place where horses were exchanged and travelers allowed brief rest.
The Ridge maintained its importance until the completion of the Erie Canal, after which time most of the travel to the western part of the State naturally sought that great thoroughfare. During the period of its prosperity the Ridge road became well settled, many fine farms were built up along its route, and many public houses were opened in
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the town. The still later construction and operation of the Rochester, Lockport & Niagara Falls railroad, in 1852, had the effect to largely attract travel to more southern localities and the result was a natural yet lasting decline in local interests.
Clarkson, according to local traditions, was a fruitful field of first events, to some of which a brief reference may properly be made. Pio- neer Moody Freeman, the first settler, built the first log house, cleared the first land, raised the first grain, was the first farmer and also the first justice of the peace The first white male child born was a son of Mrs. Clarkson, and the first born of the opposite sex was Elmira Palmer, daughter of Deacon Joel Palmer. Isaac Williams built the first frame house, and was the first blacksmith in Clarkson village. Laura White taught the first school, though Charlotte Cummins also taught about the same time. Dr. Noah Owen was the first physician, and Dr. Rowe the second John Bowman was the first lawyer. Henry McCall built and kept the first store, also the first tavern at East Clarkson. James Ladd was the first storekeeper at the latter point. The first and about the only newspaper published in Clarkson was the Jeffersonian, first issue June 17, 1835, and continued for about a year when it was suspended. The first saw mill was erected previous to 1811, by James Sayres, and stood a half mile east of the Corners. A grist mill was built about the same time by one Toles, and stood just south of East Clarkson, but was soon afterward moved to the Ridge. Later on Henry McCall and Robert Perry also built mills in the town. Several distil- leries were also among the early local industries, having their location along the Ridge road. A post-office was established at Clarkson in 1816, the first postmaster being Dr. Baldwin. Other early post-offices were at East Clarkson, also West Clarkson, but both were discontinued after a few years. A school house was built at Clarkson village during the war of 1812-15, and at East Clarkson in 1818.
From what has been stated in this narrative it will be seen that set- tlement in this town, and the developments of local interests, was rap- idly accomplished; in fact, in 1820, the population of the town numbered 1,612, and it was but natural that the inhabitants of this part of Murray should be set off into a separate jurisdiction. This was done, as has been stated, in 1819, and the first town meeting was held on the 4th of
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THE TOWN OF CLARKSON.
April of the next year at the house of Dr. Baldwin. The officers elected were as follows :
Aretas Haskell, supervisor; Gustavus Clark, town clerk; E. Cook, collector ; Frederick R. Stewart, William Cook and B. Cook, assessors ; Isaac Allen, Samuel Perry and Jonathan Cobb, highway commission - ers; Nathaniel Rowell, Gustavus Clark and Ariel Chase, school com- missioners ; Abel Baldwin, William Graves and Ezekiel Harmon, school inspectors ; Eli Hannibal and Walter Billings, overseers of the poor ; David Forsyth, poundmaster ; Aretas Haskell, William Lambert, Robert Walker and Worden F. Perry, constables.
The supervisors of Clarkson, from its organization to 1895 have been as follows: Aretas Haskell, 1820-22; Gustavus Clark, 1823-24; Aretas Haskell, 1825 ; Abel Baldwin, 1826; William Grover, 1827-29 ; Gustavus Clark, 1830-32 ; Simeon B. Jewett, 1833-34; Henry Martin, 1835-36; Isaac F. Allen, 1837; Theodore Chapin, 1838; Jonathan Prosser, 1839; William Grover, 1840; Henry Martin, 1841-42 ; Samuel R. S. Mather, 1843; Alphonzo Perry, 1844; Isaac Houston, 1845-46; George W. Clark, 1847; James R. Thompson, 1848 ; James H. Warren, 1849-51; George W. Estes, 1852; James H. Warren, 1853; Isaac Garrison, 1854; James H. Warren, 1855-56; William P. Rice, 1857; William H. Bowman, 1858; Cicero J. Prosser, 1859-60; Adam Moore, 1861-62; Elias Garrison, 1863-64; G. W. Estes, 1865-66; J. H. Warren, 1867-73 ; W. L. Rockwell, 1874-76; John B. Snyder, 1877-79; A. P. Chapman, 1880-81 ; Eli H. Gallup, 1882; Henry Allen, 1883-84 ; William Leach, 1885-86; John B. Haskell, 1887; William Leach, 1888; John Prosser, 1889-90; William M. Gallup, 1891-93; Irad Crip- pen, 1894-95.
The officers of Clarkson for the year 1895 are as follows: Irad Crip- pin, supervisor ; Baxter A. Rounds, town clerk; J. J. Babcock, W. H. Clarke, C. J. Hendrickson and Henry Webster, justices of the peace ; Reuben Paine, Thomas Murphy and Elias Garrison, assessors ; W. L. Rockwell, collector; H. J. Vosburg, overseer of poor; Joseph Good - berlet, highway commissioner; Samuel Stanley, Thomas Murphy and George Lawton, excise commissioners; Isaac Thompson, George Soper, and William Graham, constables.
The pioneers and early settlers of Clarkson came to this region that
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LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.
they might better their condition in a new and rich agricultural county. The majority of them were farmers and sought to pursue the same oc- cupation in this locality, and a few of them were mechanics and artisans who also hoped to improve their condition in this locality ; however, the laying out and opening of the once famous Ridge road had the effect to change somewhat the character of the occupancy of Clarkson, and where were once large original farms were soon afterwards public houses, mills, distilleries or other places of business instead of legitimate farms. Still these things had the effect of building up and populating Clarkson very early in its history. In 1820, a single year after the erec- tion of the town, the population was 1,612, and in 1830, had more than doubled, and was 3,249. In 1840 the number was 3,486 and in 1850 was 4,555. In 1860, Union in the meantime having been set off, the number of inhabitants in Clarkson was reduced 2,093. In 1870 the number was 1,884; in 1880 was 2, 100, and in 1890 was 1,741, about one hundred more than seventy years previous.
Clarkson village is a pretty yet small hamlet of about 500 population, situated near the center of the town, and one and one-half miles north of Brockport. Previous to the construction of the Erie Canal and dur- ing the palmy days of the old Ridge road, Clarkson was a place of con- siderable importance, but since completion of the canal and the still later construction of the railroad, Brockport has gained an ascendency over this village, and all Sweden has profited while this town has cor- respondingly lost in commercial importance.
Reference has already been made to the early business of Clarkson Center, wherefore in the present connection reference need only be made to the present condition of affairs. The business interests of to- day, comprise the general stores of Fred K. Hixson and Charles H. Bellinger, the water-power grist mill of M. J. Hillyer, and the extensive industry carried on by the Ridge Road Creamery Company. The lat- ter is incorporated, and is of first importance in the industries of the town. Its officers are E. R. Campbell, president ; F. R. Hixson, secre- tary ; M. Minot, treasurer; and William M. Gallup, manager. Addi- tional local interests are the carriage works of Flagler & Oelih, the cus- tomary small shops found in country villages, and two hotels. Here also is a district school and a Presbyterian church.
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THE TOWN OF CLARKSON.
The Presbyterian church of Clarkson Corners was organized as a Congregational society on the 4th of September, 1816, and it was not until the year 1825 that a house of worship was erected. In 1830 the church became Presbyterian, but in 1853 returned to its original form of government. However, in 1869 Presbyterian government was adopted and has since so continued. The church now numbers seventy- five members and is under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Foster.
Garland is a hamlet in the east part of the town, on the Ridge road. This place was originally called Ladd's Corners, so named for James Ladd, an early storekeeper. The name was afterwards changed to East Clarkson, and during President Polk's administration a post-office was established here. The office was discontinued after a few years, and has been quite recently re-established under the name of Garland. The merchant here is Edward Root, and there is also a hotel kept by Land- lord Bates and called the Garland House.
The eastern portion of the town appears to have been for many years a center of Methodism, for during the history of the town no less than three Methodist societies have been formed here. The first was the Bethel Methodist Episcopal church of Clarkson, organized January 8, 1825, with nine members. The next was the Second Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Clarkson, organized in 1848 at the school house two miles north of East Clarkson. The third was the First Methodist church of East Clarkson, organized January 25, 1861. At least two of these societies are in active existence at the present time and have a joint membership of about 125 persons, and under the pastorate of Rev. D. D. Cook.
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The educational interests of Clarkson have ever been zealously fostered and carefully guarded. Imperfect though the records may be, we nevertheless know that the first school house in the town was located at Clarkson Corners, and was built during the war of 1812-15; and we are also told that while the work of construction was in progress the builders distinctly heard the artillery firing at the battle of Lundy's Lane. Laura White and Charlotte Cummins are said to have been the first school teachers in the town. In 1821 the territory was divided into nine school districts, and these were afterward occasionally changed to suit the convenience of the inhabitants. In 1853, after Union had
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been set off, the remaining territory of the town was rearranged into districts, yet the number was maintained, for, in the meantime the population had increased, thus necessitating smaller districts and better facilities in general.
As at present constituted, there are ten school districts in Clarkson, one of which, No. 5, is joint with Murray, the school house being located in the latter town. In this town we have nine good school buildings, five of which are frame, two of brick, and two of stone. During the school year ending July 31, 1894, ten teachers were em- ployed for the instruction of 393 children of school age in the town. These teachers were paid the sum of $2,584 85. Additional expenses were $9 45 for libraries; $261.22 for repairs, and $324.56 for main- tenance. In the year mentioned the town raised by tax for the support of schools, $2,029.67, and there was apportioned to the town of public moneys, $1,265.36. The total available school revenue was $3,502.04. The estimated value of school sites and buildings in Clarkson is $9,200.
CHAPTER IV.
THE TOWN OF GATES.
The original town of Northampton, one of the civil divisions of On- tario county, included within its boundaries all that vast area of country lying between the Genesee and Niagara rivers .. The town was organ- ized in April, 1797, and the territory remained undisturbed until the general division of 1808, when four separate towns were formed out of it. The two townships bordering on the Genesee and immediately south of Lake Ontario comprised one of the four and retained the name of the mother town of Northampton. However, on June 10, 1812, the old name was dropped and in its stead Gates was adopted, the latter in allusion to Gen. Horatio Gates, one of the heroes of the war for Amer- ican independence.
In regard to the absolute accuracy of the above statements, there seems to exist the possibility of doubt, for another authority, equally
Jerederisk of Rome
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THE TOWN OF GATES.
reliable with that from which the foregoing is taken, informs us the town Northampton was divided and Gates set off as early as March 30, 1802, the latter including all that is now Gates, Greece, Parma and Riga. The last two towns were taken off in 1808, and Greece in 1822. However the truth may have been is perhaps unimportant at this time, for the fact is well known that Gates was one of the principal elements of old Northampton township and was duly and regularly set off from it ; and that from the time of its separation to March 22, 1822, it included what is now Greece and constituted one of the best and most fertile agricultural regions of Ontario, Genesee and Monroe counties, to which it successively belonged.
Gates, reduced to its present limits, contains an aggregate of eleven thousand nine hundred and fifty-one acres of land, the city of Roch- ester having taken from the east side of the town a considerable area of its best land. But notwithstanding these several reductions, Gates is assessed (1894) at $2,336,845, standing third in real estate value among the towns of the county.
The land surface in Gates is undulating, with an inclination toward the north. It is drained by small streams. The soil is a fine quality of calcareous loam, intermixed with clay. In this connection it is inter- esting to reproduce a descriptive sketch of this town, published soon after 1820, and long before the enlargements of Rochester city had deprived the town of its richest lands.
The sketch runs as follows: "Gates, a post township near the center, the capital of Monroe county. The post borough of Rochester, the seat of the county buildings, is in this town. Greece was erected from the north end in 1822, and Chili, the adjoining township on the south, from the east part of Riga ; previous to which Gates comprised the area of about two townships of the surveys of this county." Further, in reference to the characteristics of the town the sketch continues : "There is a pleasing undulation of surface in the lands of this township, in which the mountain ridge just shows itself and disappears to make room for the valley of the Genesee River, rising again toward its level on the east side. The land is as good and as rich as it ever ought to be immediately around a populous town, just at the falls, and is excel- lent farming land in other parts, waving, and for that country, well sup-
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