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 34
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Parma Corners, situated at the intersection of the Canawaugus and Ridge roads, is perhaps the most historic of the villages of the town,
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although from a business standpoint the hamlet has never attained any considerable importance. Here settled pioneers Hope and Elisha Davis in 1805, and in 1809 these worthy brothers built and opened the first public house in the town. This building at once gave the Corners an unusual local importance and during the early history of the Ridge road the hotel was a famous resort ; and notwithstanding the fact that other taverns were soon afterward built, that of Davis brothers for a long time maintained a supremacy. It was a log building and near it was a large framed barn, both standing near the site afterward used for the Insti- tute building. Levi Talmadge became its proprietor in 1811 and dur- ing his regime the house became famous. Still later proprietors were landlords Rochester, Montgomery and McKnight. A second public house was built here about 1816 by one Bentley, while the Tillotson House was third. In 1818 Davis Goodell succeeded landlord Bentley and named his hotel " Goodell House," and in this house it is claimed that Morgan, the recalcitrant Mason, was last seen. However, so many hotels and localities are historic for the same cause the reader may accept the above statement with proper allowance. On the northwest corner in 1820 Levi Talmadge built a large hotel. A little to the west was builtin 1816 Zolved Stevens's distillery, that indispensable requisite to the success of the Ridge at that time. Mr. S. also built a hotel near his " still " and did a good business on the road. In fact the early history of the Cor- ners was by far the richest, and the same is also true of the whole Ridge road region. At one time there were in operation in the imme- diate vicinity of Parma Corners no less than four or five hotels, at least one distillery and three stores. There was also projected a race course in which Rochester capital was to be largely interested, and this mere suggestion resulted in the building of another large hotel west of the distillery and on the farm now owned by the Webster family. In 1825 Randall Curtis built a tannery near the distillery, and about 1830 Henry Stevens put up another hotel. Now, after a lapse of seventy years, the Corners, and in fact the Ridge in Parma, has but one hotel, neither distillery or tannery, and but two stores.
The Parma Institute was one of the most praiseworthy enterprises ever in operation in the town, and productive of great good during its brief career. The school was organized September 14, 1858, at a meet-
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ing in the Baptist church, at which time a board of fourteen trustees was chosen. J. Tripp was elected president, James Gorsline, secretary, and J. M. Webster, treasurer. Under favorable conditions the school was opened, the old hotel building at the northwest of the four corners being utilized for the purpose. Later on it was moved across the street and attached to the new building erected for the school. The Institute was maintained with varying success until 1863, and then sold at forced sale. It was purchased by seven of the old trustees, and by them leased to Prof. Williams for one year. The previous principals were Profs. Robinson, Blennerhassett and Palmer. However, as an investment the Parma Institute proved unfortunate for its worthy corporators, and all efforts to sustain it properly were unavailing In 1870 Prof. S. W. Clark, an educator and manager of excellent repute, came to the relief of the stockholders and undertook to establish the school on a secure footing. A virtual reorganization was effected in the directory and a capable corps of instructors was engaged, but notwithstanding this determined effort five years of vicissitudes proved clearly that the school could not be profitably operated ; hence it was closed and the building sold to the third school district. It is now used in part as a fruit house.
The present business interests of Parma Corners comprise the stores of Judson Knickerbocker and Francis A. Castle, and a few small shops such as are incident to similar hamlets. There is also a hotel and an Odd Fellows' hall.
Parma Lodge No. 199 was instituted in 1868, and after about seven years of successful life was provided with a good hall, which it now occupies. More than this, the lodge has a good invested fund of avail- able moneys The members number about fifty. The officers are Charles Collins, N. G .; William Behler, V. G .; Miles Upton, rec. sec'y ; D. M. Farrier, perm. sec'y ; Frank Huber, treas.
The Baptist church of Parma Corners was organized January 10, 1832, by Rev. C. Hartshorn, with twenty-four members. The church edifice was built in 1837 and is located east of the Corners a few rods. This society has ever been one of the permanent institutions of the town, and the church edifice has been kept in remarkably good repair. The present members numbers 129, and in the Sunday school are 120 regular attendants. The trustees of the society are Eroy D. Hillman,
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G. A. Smith, Nathan Meserve and John M. Sweeting. The present pastor is Rev. A. F. Groesbeck, settled September 20, 1894.
In the eastern part of the town, on the line between Parma and Greece are two other church edifices, and known, respectively, as the First Congregational church of Parma and Greece, and the Church of Christ of Parma and Greece. The first mentioned of these churches was organized at Parma Corners, December 2, 1819, and included in its membership a large number of the best families of both towns. The first pastor was Rev. Solomon Allen. The church edifice was erected during the years 1824 and '25 and is located on the town line, a portion of the structure being in each town. This society enjoyed a life of prosperity and success from its formation until within the last half score of years, when declining interest compelled the suspension of its pas- torate.
The Church of Christ, located two miles further north, although smaller in number of members from first to last, has ever maintained its organization and is now in good condition. It was formed in 1830 and drew its membership from both towns The society was legally incorporated in 1843, and in the next year the church edifice was built. The membership numbers about seventy-five persons, and in connec- tion with the regular worship services is a good Sunday school.
The proper education of the youth of the town has ever been held an important object among the people of Parma, and since the earliest his- tory of the town ample provision has been made to accomplish this end. Well authenticated tradition informs us that Daniel Arnold taught the first school in a log house owned by Bezaleel Atchinson and standing near his residence, while the first regular school was taught by Alpheus Madden, beginning in 1804, also located near the Center. At Hunt's Corners Michael Beach was the first pedagogue. In 1815 Unionville was provided with a school and about three years later the Cross dis- trict was likewise organized. The work of districting the town began in April, 1813, and Norman Dawson, Oliver Gates, Josiah Fish, Enos Pembrooke and Elisha Cross comprised the committee to make the division.
From this humble beginning the present school system has grown, and now, more complete, thorough and comprehensive than ever before
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in its history. According to the present arrangement, the town com- prises fifteen districts, and each has its school house. Seventeen teach- ers are employed. The assessed value of the town is $1,972,674, and the value of school property is $16,625. The number of children of school age is 892 and the average daily attendance is 432. As shown by Commissioner Brainard's last report, the amount of public moneys received for school purposes in the town was $2,323.35, while the town raised by tax $5,537.84. There was paid to the teachers during the last year $5,420.41 and all other expenses amounted to $2,617.13.
CHAPTER XII.
THE TOWN OF PENFIELD.
An early writer of local history in describing the town of Penfield as it was previous to the year 1824, said : " A post township in the north- east corner of Monroe county, ten miles east of Rochester. On the west it embraces a part of 'Teoronto Bay,' the boundary towards Brighton, and it has some streamlets that run into the lake, and one, the largest, into the head of the bay. The area of this town (which then included Webster) is about sixty- seven square miles, and it has the greatest aggregate population of any one in the county (population in 1820 was 3,224). The land all descends northward and is inferior in quality to many other towns, in soil and other advantages."
Such was a reasonable and fair description of Penfield as constituted in 1824, and from other records and known events in connection with the early times of the town, we may infer that the writer was in no manner prejudiced in his statements. The town indeed was an unde- sirable region during the first twenty-five years of the century, and more than one speculative land proprietor gladly released himself from his investments here. Phelps and Gorham of course acquired title from Massachusetts, and the Indians of this State, but about 1790 sold the township to General Jonathan Fassett, a Vermont Yankee. This ad- venturous pioneer visited his purchase and made some small improve-
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ments, but the situation of the town and its malarial districts were rather too much for even his Yankee determination, and the result was in his abandoning the purchase and its subsequent sale to Mr. Ham, of New Jersey, the consideration being, it is said, somewhat less than was paid for the town by the general.
Proprietor Ham sold the town to General Silas Pepoon, reserving to himself a two hundred acre tract about a mile north of Penfield vil- lage. Pepoon in turn sold to Samuel P. Lloyd, and the latter, in 1810, disposed of all that then remained unsold, to Daniel Penfield. In this year the town was separated from the mother district of Boyle, and, in- clusive of Webster, was given a distinct organization under the name of " Penfield," and so called in honor of Daniel Penfield, the final proprie- tor. Webster was set off from Penfield February 6, 1840, thus reduc- ing the area of this town to 22,004 acres, as now constituted.
General Jonathan Fassett is perhaps entitled to be named as the pio- neer of this town, although he gave up the attempt to make even for himself a permanent home here. He came soon after his purchase, in 1791, and at the same time also came Jonathan Fassett, jr., his son, and Mr. Maybee, all locating near the old Indian landing place, about three miles below the village. However, previous to this time Asa Carpenter had dwelt in the town, and in fact the whole region, but was hardly regarded as a settler or pioneer. Others like him had also been here, for the region was indeed one of the most desirable hunting grounds of the State, and trappers, fishers and hunters had their huts and cabins in plenty.
In 1791 Caleb Hopkins made a permanent settlement near Ironde- quoit Falls, and was regarded as the pioneer in fact of the town. Dur- ing the next ten years, very little was done in the way of settlement, the proprietors giving more attention to getting out of what they con- sidered a bad bargain rather than developing the latent resources of the town. But be it said to the praise of Penfield, that although its lands were originally much depressed, marshy and exceedingly unhealthy, when once cleared and drained proved to be one of the most fertile dis- tricts of Monroe county ; and in 1820 was more populous than any town in the region. If the inhabitant of the three-quarters of a cen- tury ago could now visit Penfield and note the fertility and general
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agricultural worth of the town, he would indeed be surprised to think that Mr. Wadsworth " would not take it as a gift," as he is charged with having said when seeking purchases in the Genesee country.
However, returning to the subject of early settlement, we may note the arrival in 1801 of Libbeus Ross and Calvin Clark and their families, and in 1804 of John Hipp and his family from New Jersey, among the latter six children, Margaret, James, Leonard, John, Mary and Betsey, who in later years became associated prominently in local events. Other settlers in 1804 were Josiah J. Kellogg, Daniel Stilwell, Benjamin Minor, Henry Paddock, Herrington Baker and the three sons of the latter, David, Jonathan and Elisha. Joseph and John Fuller, Deacon Peter Marlett and the Monroe and Southwick families were settlers of about the same period. Later comers, yet all pioneers, were Abner Coles, Samuel Rich, Mr. Bronson, John Shoecraft and his sons William, James, John and Peter, also William Harris, John Stroger, Jacob Perrin (for whom Perinton was named), Elijah Case, William Mckinstry, Brooks Mason, Solomon and Alexander Case, Seth Crowell, Ebenezer Peet, Nathaniel Case, Alpheus Clark, Gerdon Lewis, C. Prentice, and the families Tuttle, Fiske, Amsden and Smith, whose christian names are forgotten. There were also Dr. Daniel Armes, Jacob Bryant, Dr. Dake, all at Penfield village, and Henry Fuller, Oliver Kingsbury, Ja- bez Matthews, Joseph Hatch, Daniel Penfield, Benjamin Weeks, and others, all of whom did their share in the early development of the town, which, when they came here, was at best an uninviting region.
Nothwithstanding all the discouragements which attended early set- tlement in Penfield, the town increased rapidly in population and pro- ductiveness, and here lands were much more reasonable in price than elsewhere. As a result of this we find the number of inhabitants in 1814 to be 1,874. It is small wonder, therefore, that an early division of Boyle, became necessary to suit the convenience of the people in this vicinity. This was accomplished March 30, 1810, and the jurisdiction then created included all that is now Penfield and Webster.
The first town meeting was held the school house near William Mc- Kinstry's, on April 20, 1811, at which time officers were elected as fol- lows: William Mckinstry, supervisor ; Brooks Mason, town clerk ; Nathaniel Case, Charles P. Moore, Josiah J. Kellogg, assessors ; Caleb 45
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.
Lyon, John Shoecraft and David Lee, road commissioners ; Benjamin Tripp and W. Spears, overseers of the poor; Daniel Wilson, collector ; Daniel Wilson, Joseph J. Shew and Reuben Bailey, constables.
In this connection it is interesting to note the succession of supervi- sors of Penfield from the organization of the town to 1895, excepting the years between 1817 and 1822, the records of which are not be found. The list is as follows : Wm. Mckinstry, 1811; William Spears, 1812-16; Henry Fellows, 1817, and 1821-29; Byron Woodhull, 1829-30; Al- pheus Crocker, 1831-32 ; B. Woodhull, 1833-35 ; A. Crocker, 1836-37 ; Anson Beardslee, 1838 ; Joseph Patterson, 1839 ; Daniel E. Lewis, 1840- 41 ; Ebenezer L. Gage, 1842; Isaac T. Raymond, 1843-44 ; Daniel E. Lewis, 1845 ; I. T. Raymond, 1846; D. E. Lewis, 1847-51; Elias Beach, 1852; James Harris, 1853; Alanson Higbie, 1854; James Harris, 1855-56 ; Albert H. King, 1857 ; Oliver C. Ross, 1858 ; James Harris, 1859; Daniel Fuller, 1860; Fairchild Andrus, 1861-63 ; James Harris, 1864-65 ; Orestes Case, 1866; James Harris, 1867-75 ; Alan- son Higbie, 1876-78 ; Charles N. Leonard, 1879-80; George W. Clark, 1881-83 ; Irving B. Eldridge, 1884-85 ; George A. Raymond, 1886-87 ; Charles N. Leonard, 1888-89 ; George W. Clark, 1890-93 ; Charles C. Raymond, 1894-95.
The town officers for the year 1895 are Charles C. Raymond, super- visor ; G. C. Schemerhorn, town clerk; Guy McGowan, H. C. Fuller, James K. Kennedy and George I. Eldridge, justices of the peace ; J. H. Gaston, A. F. Church and Thomas Blood, assessors ; Burr F. Northrup, overseer of the poor ; C. E. Schutt, collector; William Fellows, road commissioner ; J. G. Haskell, W. H. Brewer, Jerome Rundel, excise commissioners ; J. G. Fisk, W. G. Eldridge, Perry Howe, Leonard Smith and Fred B. Thompson, constables.
As evidence of substantial growth in Penfield we have but to refer to the census reports. As has been stated the town in 1814 had a popu- lation of 1,874, and in 1820 the number of inhabitants had increased to 3,224, then being the largest town in the county. Ten years later, or in 1830, the population was 4,474 but the erection of Webster in 1840, taking from the mother town 20,241 acres of land, also reduced the lo- cal population to 2,842. During the next ten years a slight increase was made, the number in 1850 being 3,185. In 1860 it was 3,210; in
Cohabo Leonaño for
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1870 was 2,928 ; in 1880 was 2,955 ; and in 1890 was 2,845 ; or about the same as in 1840.
Irondequoit creek has for many years been noted for the excellence of its water power ; in truth much of the prosperity of the town, and particularly of the village, during more recent years, may be attributed to this fact. In 1820 the industries of the town comprised two grist mills, four saw mills, one fulling mill, one carding machine, one distillery, three asheries and two tanneries. The first manufacturing establishment in the town was probably the old trip-hammer started in 1800 by Mr. Bronson. The first distillery was that of William Mckinstry, built in 1810, and the second was John Hipp's. Daniel Penfield, Alpheus Clark, Josiah J. Clark and Josiah J. Kellogg were later distillers in the town ; the last was that of Henry Fellows, about 1835. In 1806 Mr. Penfield built a saw mill in the Hollow, and afterward a grist mill. In 1815 Nathaniel Case built a grist mill on Irondequoit creek, and about two years later Nelson Fullam also had a grist mill. About 1805 Capt. Benjamin Minor built a fulling mill on the creek, and in 1815 a cloth factory was also erected. The first tannery was built about 1812, by Henry Fellows. Other kindred industries were started at various times, but to recall them all would be difficult and not specially interesting.
Penfield Village .- This pretty and progressive little hamlet had its origin in the establishment of these milling enterprises on Irondequoit creek, and they led to the starting of several stores in the village proper. Among the early business men here were Mckinstry & Adams, Gilson & Penfield, Penfield & Clark, Rich & Ward, Bryant & Ely, Orange Owen, S H. Scoville, Carpenter & Matthews, Griffin & Randall, Kil- mer & Skidder, Kellogg & Minor and Joseph Vanness. Henry Amsden was an early hotel keeper, as were also Robert Staring, Jona- than Baker, and others. A post-office was established here about 1810, and Oliver Kingsbury was the first postmaster ; the second was Jacob B. Bryant.
In 1827 the Penfield Academy was established and the building con- structed with money raised by subscription. It was granted a pro- visional charter by the regents, and was incorporated October 8, 1857, and then called Penfield Seminary. In later years this old institution lost its corporate character but to the present time has been supported
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liberally. It is now a first-class graded school, employing four teach- ers, and in it are taught about 175 pupils. The present trustees are James Haskell, M. C. Ryan and George Leonard.
The fire departmentapparatus of the village comprises one good hand- engine, 300 feet of hose and other necessary equipment.
The present manufacturing interests of the locality are the Lincoln flour mills, water power, stone building, operated by March, Austin & Co., the Penfield flour mills, water-power, stone building, operated by John Webb ; the Lawless Paper Company, water power, stone building ; the frame saw mill of George Westerman. Mercantile and business in- terests are represented by the general stores of Ockenden & Unglish, W. J. Hipp, E. J. Hawkins, and the customary repair shops found in hamlets of like condition and population. There are also two hotels, the Penfield House and the Sherman House. The village has a popu- lation of about 300, and is situate one and one-half miles from the Central railroad.
Penfield Center and East Penfield are hamlets which in the early his - tory of the town, were of some importance, but now are mere trading or visiting points. Local interests in all such settlements have suffered seriously during the past thirty or forty years, those of Penfield in com- mon with the majority. However, each of these hamlets is in the cen- ter of a fertile agricultural region, peopled with a thrifty and industrious class.
Like Webster, Penfield is noted for the number and substantial quality of its church and religious organizations. Indeed, one of the first religious societies of the whole region was formed and had an abid- ing place within what is now the town. This was the First Presbyte- rian church of Penfield, organized February 7, 1806, in the locality now called the village. Even previous to this, however, and as early as 1804, a Congregational society had been formed in the town, the latter organization on the 7th of February, 1806, resolving itself into the society first noted. The first members were Elisha and Sarah Sheldon, Sam- uel Stone, Abraham and Mary Barnum, Thomas and Esther Brooks, William and Love Spear, Huldah White, Daniel and Esther Wilson, Josiah Kellogg, Rachel Perrin and John Stroger. The earliest pastors are unknown, the records being lost, but in 1816, Asa Carpenter offici-
Henry Stanley
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ated in that capacity, followed by Gerritt Hollenbeck, Eber Childs, Lemuel Brooks, Elijah Buck, Simeon Peck, Conrad Ten Eyck, Moses Ordway and others. In 1825 the first church edifice was built, on a lot donated by Daniel Penfield. It was a fine brick structure, having a capacity for seating four hundred persons. At one time in its history, about 1840, the membership in this church aggregated one hundred and forty persons, but in later years the number became materially reduced, and a struggling and feeble existence only was maintained. The society of the German Methodist church purchased the Presbyte- rian edifice and now occupies the building. The last mentioned church is a comparatively recent organization, but since its formation has had a progressive record. It is at present under the pastoral care of Rev. A. Schlenck.
The Baptist church of Penfield has a history equally important with that of the old Presbyterian society, and, unlike the latter, has been perpetual in its record and existence. It was the direct outgrowth of the Baptist church of Northfield, which was granted letters by the Pal- myra church as early as 1803, but the local church dates its organiza- tion from the following year. In 1813 the membership was about seventy-five. Among the earliest ministers here were Elders Joseph Case, Bartlett Dake, Benjamin Calkins, Nehemiah Lamb, Thomas Tut- tle, Joseph Monroe, Joseph Maltby, Jason Corwin, Norman Bentley and others. In 1822 the Northfield and Penfield societies became united and together erected a little frame edifice about three-fourths of a mile east of Penfield village. In 1847 a little chapel known as " Bethel," was built at Lovett's Corners, and here was maintained an out post from the mother church. Other offshoots of this church have been those at Pittsford, Perinton, Walworth and Webster. The present active members of the Penfield church number one hundred, although the rolls show a total membership since organization of more than one thousand persons. The present pastor is Rev. M. V. Wilson.
Methodism in Penfield dates its beginning from the little informal meetings held as early as the year 1806, at the dwelling of pioneer John Hipp, under the class leadership of Stephen Graves of Lima. The mem- bers of the first-class were Lucy Owen, Phebe Chase, Phebe Hill, Sarah Barrett, Lucy Williams and Lois Mann. John Tillotson was also an
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early class leader. The Methodist Episcopal church of Penfield had its origin in the primitive meetings mentioned, although the society organization was not perfected until about 1830. Four years later a building was purchased and fitted up for purposes of public worship by the society, and still later modifications remodeled the building entirely, the result being a suitable church edifice. This church has been con- tinued, both in history and progress, and now has 150 members. The pastor is Rev. L. T. Foot.
The Freewill Baptist church of Penfield, otherwise known as the East Penfield brick church, was organized in 1829, though early meet- ings of this denomination were frequently held in the town at a previ- ous date. The brick church edifice was erected in 1830, and was located on the old stage road, about a mile east of East Penfield. The present pastor of this church is Rev. R. W. Pickett.
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