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 27
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In 1821 the north part of Gates become quite well settled, while along the Ridge road the whole territory had been taken up and occupied, and along this great highway three small villages were built up. They were Hanford's Landing, on the Genesee ; Greece, or Center Greece, near the central part of the town, and West Greece, on the line between this town and Parma. At that time Hanford's Landing was a busy little hamlet, and in 1820, according to an old and reliable authority, had a post office, store, tavern and a few dwellings. Here was the first landing place for boats on the river, and here also was built, in 1798, the first dwelling, and in 1810 the first store on the river below Avon on the west side. Falltown was the name of another old settlement on the river, about half a mile below the Landing and opposite Carthage in Irondequoit.
ethos the Eddy
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THE TOWN OF GREECE.
According to the census of 1820, Gates had a population of 2,463 persons, scattered over a territory some six miles in width and a dozen or so in length. Many of the early town meetings had been held on the north side of the town, to the great inconvenience of the residents further south, and when held in the south part a corresponding annoy - ance was occasioned to the residents on the north. As a result the peo- ple determined to divide the territory, and the erection of Greece on March 22, 1822, followed. A full board of town officers was elected.
In 1825 the population of this town was 1,547, and in 1830 the num- ber had increased to 2,571. At the end of the next ten years the number was 3,669, and in 1850 it was 4,219. The next ten years showed a slight reduction in number, the census of 1860 showing a population of 4,177, but since that year the increase has been gradual and constant. In 1870 the inhabitants were 4,314 in number, in 1880 the number was 4,848, and in 1890, 5,145. Few towns in Monroe county can show a like healthful increase.
As has been stated, Greece was organized as a town in 1822, but we are prevented from furnishing a complete list of the first officers by reason of the fact that the town records, previous to 1865, have been lost. However, having recourse to the proceedings of the board of supervisors, the succession of supervisors of Greece is obtainable, and is as follows :
John Williams, 1822; Frederick Bushnell, 1823-25 ; Silas Walker, 1826-29; John Williams, 1830; - Haghitt, 1831 ; - Holden, 1832-33 ; Asa Rowe, 1834-35 ; Samuel B. Bradley, 1836-38 ; L. B. Langworthy, 1839-41; Asa Rowe, 1842; A. B. Carpenter, 1843 ; George C. Latta, 1844-45 ; James S. Stone, 1846-47 ; A. B. Carpen- ter, 1848 ; George C. Latta, 1849; L. B. Langworthy, 1850; Levi H. Parrish, 1851-52; James S. Stone, 1853 ; Elias Avery, 1854-55 ; Erastus Walker, 1856-57; Joshua Eaton, 1858; Simeon Butts, 1859; A. Wilder, 1860; Peter Larkin, 1861-62 ; H. A. Olmsted, 1863; Nelson Lewis, 1864-69 ; Simeon Butts, 1870-71; Peter Larkin, 1872 ; Erastus Walker, 1873 ; David Todd, 1874-75; Peter Larkin, 1876; A. P. Britton, 1877-78 ; John M. Lowden, 1879-80 ; John Kintz, 1881 ; E. S. Benedict, 1882-83 ; A. P. Britton, 1884-85; Lucian A. Rowe, 1886; A. P. Britton, 1887; John M. Lowden, 1888-89; Thomas H. Eddy, 35
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1890; Joseph R. Beaty, 1891-92; A. P. Britton, 1893; James B. Castle, 1894-95.
The town officers of Greece for the year 1895 are James B. Castle, supervisor ; William H. Anderson, town clerk; Jacob Smith, Edward S. Brown, Owen Rigney and Thomas Laverty, justices of the peace ; Edward Frisbie, Edward Truesdale and John Garrison, assessors ; Aaron Garrett and John J. Patten, overseers of the poor; Charles H. Banker, collector ; Thomas Toal, Francis Vance. and John McShea, excise commissioners ; Lewis Seigler, John Curran, John D. Harris and F. Donavan, constables; Joseph Flemming, road commissioner.
During the full hundred years of its occupancy, the town of Greece has had built up and established within its borders not less than half a dozen villages and hamlets. Hanford's Landing and Charlottsburgh, now Charlotte, for several years were of about the same size and the same importance, but the latter at least gained the supremacy and developed into an incorporated village of some note. The Landing held sway for a time, but its interests declined or went elsewhere.
On the Ridge road, near the center of the town, is the old hamlet of Greece, a place of prominence when the Ridge was the chief thorough- fare of travel into the western part of the State, but it declined in im- portance with the completion and operation of the canal and railroad on the south. In its best days the population here numbered about one hundred and fifty. The present interests are few, the principal ones being the general store of W. H. Anderson, the evaporator works of Burling, Casburn & Dyson, while in the vicinity is the " Big Elm Stock Farm" of C. W. Voshall. Here also is the wagon and blacksmith shops and grist mill of John Fitzner, and the blacksmith shop of Joseph Paille.
West Greece is a small hamlet on the Parma line, and contains one or two stores and hotels and the shops usual to such villages. The Con- gregational church here stands on the line between the towns. It was one of the old institutions of the locality, but is now abandoned. The merchant here is Henry Pulis.
South Greece is also a small hamlet on the line of the "Falls " road, a station being established here for local accommodation. Hon. George Payne has a large general store, and also an evaporator. Henry Brinke has a large warehouse here.
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THE TOWN OF GREECE.
North Greece is another little settlement in the center of a fertile farming region. Its merchants are Henry Phelps and John Haddock, and Thomas Greenwald has a wagon and blacksmith shop. Greece Center and Read's Corners are other localities having a name.
In the southeast part of the town, near the city line, there have been built up and established several industries and institutions, among them the extensive works of the Eastman Kodak Company, the Charles Upton stock farm, Herman Glass's seed farm and others, built and operated by city capital yet having their place of business in the town. Here also, near the line, is the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, and adjacent to it that recently erected yet grand educational institution known as St. Bernard's Seminary, the most elegant structure in the town.
The church societies of Greece, outside the village of Charlotte, are a part of the history of the town at large, and may be mentioned gen- erally though briefly in this connection. The old First Congregational church of Parma and Greece was organized at Parma Corners Decem- ber 2, 1819, and included in its membership residents of both towns. The church edifice was begun in 1824, and completed the next year. The society grew and prospered for many years, but at length declined and was dissolved.
The Methodist Protestant church of Greece was organized July 25, 1841, but in 1866 changed its doctrinal teaching and thereafter became known as the Methodist church. In 1867 the society purchased the old Christian church building (erected in 1844). The present pastor is Rev. Bela Post.
The First Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Greece, near North Greece, was organized November 22, 1843, and among the first trustees were Henry Miller, William Wilkinson, Jesse Townsend, A. S. Mckinney, Cornelius Soper, John Lewis and Joseph Lake. For a few years, and until the erection of the church edifice at North Greece post- office, the meetings of this society were held in the school house. This church and society is not now reported in the conference minutes.
The First Free Methodist church at West Greece was organized February 4, 1861, and during the same year the church edifice was erected. This is the only church of its denomination in the town.
Roman Catholic Church .- The following account of the Catholic
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LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.
church in Greece is furnished by an excellent authority : "The first Catholic church erected in any country place in the State of New York was built in the township of Greece in the year 1829, a frame build- ing under the inspection of Felix McGuire, one of the first settlers of the neighborhood, assisted by a few of his countrymen who immigrated from Ireland and located in the vicinity for a permanent home. It
was then called the 'Church in the Woods,' and was noticed as such
in a supplement to the New York Truth Letter of November 15, 1834, in poetic style by Patrick Bulger, brother of the Rev. Father Bulger. The church was opened for divine service by the Rev. Father O'Dono-
hue, who celebrated mass and dedicated the church to St. Ambrose. A
resident clergyman was stationed at St. Ambrose in the year 1840.
This church has recently given place to a splendid brick structure, the corner stone of which was laid June 19, 1859, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Tieman, of Buffalo, N Y. Said edifice was carried to completion in the course of fifteen months under the very auspicious supervision of
the Rev. John M. Maurice, the present pastor of the church and the late
pastor of St. Ambrose. The indefatigable exertions of the reverend
father in erecting said church were ably assisted by Messrs. Joseph Flemming and Peter Larkin, his associate, inspector of the work, who generously rendered their services gratis, thereby meriting the everlast- ing gratitude of the congregation. The new church was dedicated to the Mother of the Seven Sorrows on September 16, 1860, by the Very Rev. Michael O'Brien, pastor of St. Patrick's church of Rochester,. N.Y. The Very Rev. Dr. Cahill delivered the dedicatory sermon ; sub-
ject, 'The Immaculate Conception.' Among the above recorded
names, the name of Nicholas Read, who for nearly half a century has been foremost among the benefactors of the church, should not be for- gotten. The following extracts are taken by permission from the address written by Joseph Flemming, esq., upon the occasion of Rev. Father John M. Maurice's golden jubilee, and of his thirty years' pas- torate among his people here : 'On Sunday the feast of the Mother of Sorrows in September, 1856, Father Maurice said mass for the first time in Greece, and his parishioners believe that Almighty God sent his servant, Father Maurice, to administer to their spiritual wants. As referred to above, he ably with others supervised the erection of the
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THE TOWN OF GREECE.
brick church at a cost of over eight thousand dollars. The old church was removed from the cemetery and converted into a parochial resi- dence, and a stone memorial cross was erected in its place, at a cost of $800, and beneath that cross on every second day of November, after mass said here, you and your people assemble in the midst of our de - parted friends to pray to Almighty God for the repose of their souls, and for the repose of the souls of all the faithful departed. Next we find you negotiating for this large and beautiful picture above our altar painted under the supervision of His Eminence Cardinal Bedini, at Rome, at a cost of over a thousand dollars, and you pro ured this painting and placed it above the altar. not as a memorial of Rome, not for a mere ornament, nor for the delight which as a true work of art it gives to sense and intellect, nor for religious adoration-Catholics never adore pictures, statues, or images-but that it might when we come into the temple of the living God and looking up behold it, bring our minds, as it does in a most vivid manner, to the crucifixion, suffering and death of our Divine Redeemer, and the sorrow of his immaculate Mother. Again, in 1867, we find you erecting a tower to the church at a cost of $6,800. This tower, with its tall, graceful, symmetrical steeple, and the cross, its finale, pointing heavenward, indicates the direction in which, by your works and your example, you constantly endeavor to direct our thoughts. Then again you procured at a cost of $1,050 a large, sweet-toned bell from a celebrated foundry at Troy, N.Y., and placed it in the tower to call our people, and remind them of their spiritual duty. Our bishop, who honors us with his presence to- day. blessed and baptized our bell and named it the Maria Dolorosa. When a member of this congregation dies word is immediately sent to the church and the bell is tolled in order that all who hear it may with you, dear father, at the same moment offer up a prayer to Almighty God for mercy on the departed soul summoned into his presence for judgment. And you having with the blessing of God achieved so much with your own people, cast longing eyes west and east, so the people of Greece had a church erected for them under your supervision and had it dedicated to Almighty God under the patronage of St. John the Evangelist. And still again we find you in Charlotte purchasing two village lots on the beautiful eminence overlooking the Port of
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LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.
Genesee, converting a frame building into a church and had it dedicated to Almighty God with the beautiful name of the Holy Cross. Both of these new churches to the eastward and westward you attended regu- larly for nine or ten years. From the people of Charlotte you accepted no compensation ; your salary you left to them to assist in providing for the needs of the new congregation. The good bishop abridged your labors by putting other priests in these new churches, which were organized uuder your fostering hand and fatherly care. Joseph Flem- ming, esq , has served very ably as a trustee of the mother church at Mount Read ever since Father Maurice came and took charge of this branch of the Lord's vineyard.'"
The Church of St. John the Evangelist (Roman Catholic), at Greece, was organized in 1865, by Father Maurice. The first edifice was the old Rowe tavern, on the Ridge, remodeled for church purposes. It was dedicated May 22, 1865, and was used until 1875, and then replaced with the present edifice. This church is now under the pastoral charge of Rev. Father Jacob F. Staub.
In concluding this department of the present chapter we may briefly allude to the educational interests and system of the town, though the data furnished by the town records is indeed incomplete. In 1822, when Greece was set off from Gates, the town was organized into eight school districts. In 1836 the districts numbered fifteen, and the chil- dren of school age 1,060. In 1876 there were eighteen districts, each provided with a good school house. According to the commissioner's report for the year ending July 31, 1894, the total number of districts is sixteen, including the Union school at Charlotte. For the year the town was apportioned of the public moneys, the sum of $2,787.04, received from the regents, $232.58; raised by tax in the town, $6,727. II. Total amount for the year, $11,214.38. During the year the amount paid teachers was $7,252; for libraries, $250.02; for apparatus, $45 ; school repairs and additions (exclusive of the addition to the Charlotte school), $1,742.65 ; all other expenses, $1,236.77. The number of teachers employed in the schools was twenty, and the number of children of school age, 1,653. Of the school buildings, eight are of frame, seven of brick, and one of stone construction. The value of school sites in the town is estimated at $4,600, and of sites and buildings, $22,450.
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THE TOWN OF GREECE.
Charlotte .- In the early history of Western New York the little ham- let at the mouth of the Genesee was a point of more than passing impor- tance, and its origin by several years antedated the organization of the county or town of which it now is an integral part. The names from time to time applied to this village have been various, at one time Char- lottsburg, then Charlotte, later Port Genesee and finally and permna- nently Charlotte, now incorporated as such, but with a strong indica- tion at one time on the part of its people to name the village North Rochester. This may have been a prophetic desire, for, should the city increase as rapidly during the next score of years as in a like time past, Charlotte may indeed form a part of the " Greater Rochester."
In this immediate vicinity pioneer William Hencher made his settle- ment in 1792, and here also Samuel Latta located and did business as the agent of the Phelps and Gorham proprietary, one of his first enter- prises being the erection of a warehouse. Mr. Latta later on became collector of customs at the Port of Genesee, which port was established here about 1815. The custom house stood about on the site of the Stutson House. As the interior regions were developed this place be- came a customs port of much importance, in proof of which statement we quote from an old publication describing this point in 1820: "The exports from Port Genesee, according to the collector of customs, for the years 1818, '19, '20 and '21 were about $375,000. In 1820 the ex- ports were 67,468 barrels of flour ; 5,310 barrels of potatoes ; 2,643 barrels of beef and pork; 709 barrels of whiskey, and 175,000 staves." The total value of these exports was estimated at $375,000. In 1822 the collector estimated the quantity of flour exported from here at 100,000 barrels, and the value of exports for the year at $500,000.
The first merchants at Charlotte were the firm of Childs & Gardiner, while the vessel owner was Porter Benton. Charles Sweet commanded the boat and did business between Charlotte and Kingston and Ogdens- burg. This was in 1810. The next year Frederic Bushnell and James K. Guernsey commenced business, but soon afterward, on account of the possible disastrous results of the war, they thought prudent to remove their stock to Victor, Ontario county. However, in 1815 they returned to Charlotte. Samuel Currier built the first hotel here in 1807 or '08, its site being afterward occupied by the Craig House. The second
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LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.
public house was opened about 1810 by Erastus Spaulding, and stood where the Stutson House was afterward built. A school was opened in the village in 1813.
During the early history of this hamlet, its village portion lay down the hill, along the river front, where the railroad was afterward built. The now principal business and residence part of Charlotte, along the Boulevard, has been built up within the last quarter of a century, though here are occasionally noticeable some of the dwellings of old residents. At that time, also, the little village gained quite a promi- nence as a boat building point, and from here dozens of craft, large and small, have been launched into the river and lake. In 1809 Roswell Lewis built and launched the schooner " Experiment," and his experi- ment became an assured success. Later on were built the other schooners " General Brown," " Julia," "Mary Jane." and "Charlotte," also the river steamer "United States," and the other schooners " Guernsey " and "Cleveland." The lighthouse was constructed in 1818.
Thus we discover that at a very early day Charlotte wasa hamlet of con- siderable importance in a commercial way, and among the men of the times who contributed to the prosperous condition of affairs may be re- called by name Samuel Latta, James K. Guernsey, Frederic Bushnell, Porter Barton, James Currier, Dr. Bingham, T. R. Hawkins, George C. Latta, and others perhaps now forgotten.
Other villages of Monroe county have noticeably decreased in popu- lation and business importance as the city of Rochester has increased and enlarged, but Charlotte seems to have been an exception to this rule in many respects. To be sure, some local interests have declined and been abandoned, while others equally important and valuable have been established in their places. Instead of a manufacturing or exten- sive business center, Charlotte has become a summer resorting place of much note; its industries are few while its resources in other directions have developed wonderfully, and all have tended to the general good.
In 1867 and '68 the inhabitants of the then hamlet began to discuss the project of incorporation, and in the early part of 1869 that consum- mation was reached. The first election of village officers was held on June 24, of the year last mentioned, and resulted in the choice of Am-
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THE TOWN OF GREECE.
brose Jones, Joshua Eaton, John Farnham, George Hardison and Alex- ander Wilder as trustees. Mr. Jones was elected president of the board of trustees, and F. A. Jones as clerk and treasurer ; D. K. Thompson, constable and collector. In 1874 a charter was obtained and thereafter a village president was elected by the people, Samuel H. Barnes being the first incumbent of that office.
However, after several years of prosperous village life there came a period of disturbance and litigation that threatened the downfall of the village itself, at least in a political way. For a time there were two boards of trustees and occasionally two incumbents for the village offices, with the natural clashing of interests, and also personal conflicts. For a time public excitement ran high but without very serious results. At last better counsel prevailed and good order was speedily restored.
The village of Charlotte, as at present constituted, has a permanent population of about twelve hundred persons, and it is in all respects a well governed municipality. The village property consists of a good hall or public building, which was erected during the fall of 1889. The upper part of the hall is used for village purposes, and the lower for fire department apparatus. The latter comprises a good Silsby steamer, a hook and ladder truck, and two serviceable hose carts. There are two organized fire companies, commanded by a chief engineer-John T. Cunningham, and a board of fire wardens, the latter comprising Peter M. Schwartz, John W. Preston, Bert Allen, William Shawnessy, J. T. Cunningham, Benjamin F. East and Nicholas Wickham.
The village officers for the year 1895 are George W. Ruggles, presi- dent ; Peter M. Schwartz, clerk ; William H. Denise, treasurer ; Frank P. Farnam, collector ; Thomas Laverty, police justice ; William J. Pol- lock, William H. Newcomb, Francis J. Vance and Robert C. Corbett, trustees.
Charlotte is also provided with four regularly organized church societies, each of which has a suitable house of worship. They are the Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic and Protestant Episcopal.
The First Society of the Methodist Episcopal church of Charlotte was formed at a meeting held at the school house in the village on the 17th of May, 1848, and the board of trustees elected at that time were
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P
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LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.
William Rankin, John Baker, Collins Wells, George C. Latta and Charles Wickham. For several years after the society had been formed services were held in the school house, but about 1857 the church edi- fice in the village was erected. It is a plain and unpretentious wooden structure, sufficient for the society at the time of organization, but now somewhat small and unsuitable. About the year 1868 or '69 the soci- ety experienced a period of depression and barely escaped dissolution, but in 1873 a reorganization was effected upon a secure and permanent basis. The church is now under the pastoral care of Rev. A. D. Wil- ber, of Rochester. The membership numbers thirty three persons, and in the Sunday school are about fifty attendants.
The Presbyterian Society of Charlotte was organized in January, 1852, and immediately thereafter the erection of a church edifice was begun. It was completed in June following, and in the edifice on the 24th day of the month the church organization was perfected, with four- teen original members. The first elders were Joshua Eaton and Z. N. Colburn ; first pastor, Rev. A. Furgeson. This is perhaps the largest religious society in this part of the town, the church members number- ing about one hundred, and about the same number in the Sunday school. The present pastor is Rev. A. M. Lindsay.
The Church of the Holy Cross (Roman Catholic) at Charlotte, was organized in 1863, by Rev. John M. Maurice and had an original mem- bership of about twenty five persons. The parish is now materially increased, including all the Catholic families in the northeast part of Greece. After about eighteen years of almost constant use the church edifice, originally a dwelling house, was burned, and in its place, in 1881, a large and substantial brick church was erected. This church and its parish are under the pastoral care of Rev. Father John M. Fitz- gerald.
St. George's Protestant Church at Charlotte is the youngest of the religious societies of the village. The church was organized several years ago, and even earlier mission services had been held in the vil- lage. The pretty little chapel was built in 1892. The membership in this church is small but includes all the Protestant Episcopal families of the vicinity. The present rector of the church is Rev. Henry Rollings.
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