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 37
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cumstance in this region it is not surprising when we remember that the early settlers were chiefly New Englanders and that slavery was at that time one of the firmly rooted institutions of that region of country. However, not many years passed by before the slaves owned in Pitts- ford were set free.
In a preceding portion of this chapter reference has been made to the observations of an early writer wherein it is stated that the early growth of the town was somewhat retarded. While measurably true, we are inclined to doubt the absolute accuracy of the writer when we recall the fact that in 1820 Pittsford had a population of 1,582, while Henrietta, the child town of Pittsford, in the same year had a popula- tion of 2.181. As evidence of substantial growth in later years we glean from census reports the fact that in 1830 the inhabitants num- bered 1,831 ; in 1840 the number was 1,983; in 1850 was 2,061 ; in 1860 was 2,028; in 1870 was 1,974; in 1880 was 2,236, and in 1890 was 2,129.
In 1824, according to statistics, there were in the town 290 farmers, seventy mechanics, ten merchants or persons engaged in trade, ten free blacks and no slaves. There were owned in the town at that time 1,330 cattle, 272 horses, 2,880 sheep, and there was in operation two grist mills, three saw mills, two distilleries, and one ashery. Ten years later the cattle numbered 2,257 ; horses, 789; sheep, 3,234; swine, 2,338; and there were three grist mills, one saw mill, three distilleries, three tanneries, and one brewery in successful operation.
In addition to these early enterprises and industries the town had several others of more or less importance, but from what has been stated the reader will discover that Pittsford has not been wholly wanting in the matter of internal improvement and development. The one great acquisition which above all others added to early local pros- perity was the construction of the Erie canal, one grand result of which was the founding and building up of an attractive and substantial village, besides the advancement of numerous other interests in the locality. Still later (1840) the Rochester and Auburn railroad was completed and opened for traffic through the town, and this, too, was of the greatest benefit to the inhabitants.
The Village of Pittsford .- Like all New Englanders, the early settlers
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THE TOWN OF PITTSFORD.
in this town made provision for a trading center, but just when the village took definite character is difficult to determine at this time. Israel Stone, the pioneer, built his house on the village site and had much to do with its early history. He had a stock of goods, yet gave more attention to the sale of his land than to trade. Augustus Elliott opened a store as early as 1810 and soon after the war, opened a hotel. Samuel Hildreth came here in 1814, opened a store and soon afterward a hotel and was also proprietor of a stage line between Rochester and Canandaigua. Henry S. Potter started in trade here in 1821 and con- tinued until 1850. Charles Richardson and Thomas Benedict were also early merchants. Elihu Doud had a brick yard. In 1814, Dr. A. G. Smith, Nathan Nye, Colonel Hopkins and John Acer opened a large store, but the concern failed after four years. Sylvanus Lathrop was an early surveyor and undertook to bridge Irondequoit valley for the Erie canal, but his project proved a failure. Among the first physicians in the village were Drs. Smith, Carver, Ray, Rood, Monroe, Bowen, Huntington, Camp, Reynolds and Carne. Jabez Hull was a lawyer and was in the town before 1800 and was followed later on by Simon Stone 2d, William G. Taylor, Ira Bellows and others. The village was incorporated April 7, 1827, and on the 7th of May following its first officers were elected. The trustees were John Lane, Philo Hurd, Simon Stone 2d, Samuel Hopkins and Carmi Hart ; treasurer, Henry S. Potter ; collector, Palmer B. Wilder; constable, Ephraim Hopkins ; assessors, John Acer, Uriah Parker and Joseph E. Camp ; clerks, Mor- timer F. Delano and Edward Dodd; fire wardens, Ira Buck, Thomas Hartwell, George Hart. Mr. Hard was elected president of the board and village, but resigned and was succeeded in both offices by James K. Guernsey. From 1827 to the present time the presidents of the village have been as follows: James K. Guernsey, L. H. Clapp, Ira Bellows, M. F. Delano, John Acer, Erastus Gaylord, Alexander Voor- hees, Frederick Boughton, Henry S. Potter, Henry Fitch, David Hay- wood, Albert Marcellus, David W. Smith, E. Goss, George Marvin, E. W. Gaskin, P. Malone, Lucius M. May, James M. Wiltsie, George A. Goss (the record for the years 1877 and 1878 were burned), Samuel H. Stone, Wesley Van Buskirk, George A. Goss, G. F. Vought, Thomas Spiegel. The present president is Wesley Van Buskirk ; clerk, Burton M. Wiltsie.
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As at present constituted and governed, Pittsford enjoys the distinc- tion of being one of the prettiest and most desirable residence villages in Monroe county. Early in its history a number of the most influen- tial men sought to establish this as a manufacturing and commercial center of prominence, and put forth very laudable efforts to accomplish that result. But manufacturers found the admirable water power and other superior advantages of the county seat far more desirable, hence all business of magnitude naturally centered there Neverthe- less, in a moderate way, Pittsford has become a, rather important municipality in the county. It is pleasantly situated and always pre- sents a clean and inviting appearance. Many of the old structures are preserved and still standing, a pleasant contrast with surrounding build- ings of modern construction. The public or village properties are few, and according to the necessities of the times fair provision is made. The fire department consists of two hand engines, with hose and hooks and ladders. The first fire wardens, elected in 1827, were Ira Buck, Thomas Hartwell and George Hart. The principal fraternal and social organizations of the village are Northfield Lodge, F. & A. M., which has a temple building owned by the lodge. James Harmer is the present master. There are also the Grange, Knights of " S. F. I.," and G. A. R. organizations, each in good condition.
The business interests of the present day are well represented and appear to be established on a firm basis. J T. Vought & Son are pro- prietors of a large steam roller flouring mill; Rand Bros. have a hosiery knitting mill and are doing a good business. W. & J. Agate are maltsters, and Samuel Hutchinson has an extensive cooper shop. Wadhams & Whitlock are proprietors of the local planing and lumber mill and yards. The principal merchants are Wiltsie & Crump, and J. B. Bacon & Co., each of which firms carry a large stock of general merchandise. The hotels are the Phoenix, National, Exchange and Cottage.
The people of the village feel a just and pardonable pride in their Union Free School, and in the system of instruction employed therein. The present Board of Education is composed of Drs. P. D. Carpenter, W. W. Johnson and W. H. Doane, also Charles H. True, Samuel H. Stone, Grandin T. Vought and J. M. Wiltsie. The principal is F. J. Withington.
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THE TOWN OF PITTSFORD.
The ecclesiastical history of Pittsford relates to village and town in combination and cannot be mentioned as pertaining specially to either, and will be generally treated in this chapter.
The Presbyterian Church of Pittsford is one of the oldest religious organizations in the Genesee country, and was formed in the year 1807, including in its first membership many of the pioneer families of the region, and antedating in its history the town itself. The first trustees were Orange Stone, Thomas Kempshall, Amos Bronson, William Spear, Glover Perrin and Samuel Stone. According to its original organiza- tion the society was known as "The Congregational Society of North- field," but became Presbyterian in form of church organization on April 20, 1814, at which time it was received into the Geneva Presby- tery. Rev. John Stewart was the first settled pastor, in February, 1808, succeeded by Rev. Solomon Allen in 1809. The first services were held in the log meeting house north of the village, but in 1816 a frame building was erected on the hill a mile south of the village. In 1826 a third edifice was built in the settlement, which burned in 1861, and was replaced with a more modern and substantial structure in 1862; dedicated May 13, 1863. This society is numerically and perhaps in- fluentially stronger than any of its contemporaries in Pittsford. Its present members number 200, and the church is under the pastoral care of Rev. Arthur M. Smith. The Sunday school has 150 attendants. The present trustees are Angelo Crump, George Goss and Henry Thornell.
The Baptist church of Pittsford had its origin in the early informal meetings held in the region as early as 1804, but not until the 20th of October, 1809, was the Second Baptist Church of Boyle duly organ- ized. Elder Daniel Brown, of Ogden, was ordained pastor November 30, 1809. Robert Heath and Noah Norton were the first deacons, while the original members were Richard and Ann Priestly, Robert Heath, John Roworth and Daniel Brown. William Hill and Jacob Mann were baptized October 20. 1809. The first church edifice was erected in 1826, on the hill, the meetings of the society previous to this time being held in dwellings, school houses and barns. In 1850 the old house on the hill was vacated and a substantial church home provided in the village. The present condition of the church is progressive, although
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its past life and experience have not been wholly without vicissitudes. In membership it now numbers ninety persons, and in the Sunday school are 125 children. The pastor is Rev. George R. Varney, and the trustees are James T. Burlingame, William Agate, sr., and Merritt Tobey.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Pittsford was founded and estab- lished in January, 1831, though as early as 1815 local preachers and circuit riders had held occasional services in the town. The first trustees of the local society were Ephraim Goss, Michael Miller, Peter Hopkins, Nehemiah Phillips, Lemuel Hard, Daniel True, Henry S. Potter, Alfred Doud, Moses Mather and Caleb Munson. After the organization a meeting house was at once erected on a lot deeded the society by Ebenezer Sutherland, but the location proved unfortunate and injured the early increase of the society. In 1843 the building was torn down and moved to a more convenient site in the village. The church has a present membership of fifty persons ; the Sunday school, thirty-five. The pastor is Rev. James E. Wallace, and the trustees, J. W. Geare, S. A. Wilson, George Kingsley, George Hooker and Albert Rowe.
A Free Methodist church and society were organized in Pittsford in 1864. A house of worship was provided and the society progressed for a time, but later on, through lack of interest and membership, was dissolved, several of its members uniting with the M. E. church.
Christ Church, Protestant Episcopal, of Pittsford, was organized as a parish, November 2, 1846, although as early as 1817 church services had been conducted in the town ; and in 1844 regular services began. When organized Sylvester Parker and A. Vought were chosen wardens. In 1846 a little building was provided as a church home, and in 1868 the new edifice was erected and dedicated. The present officers of the church and society are H. L. Wood, rector; C. H. Porter, senior warden ; F. G. Barnard, junior warden; and George Thomas, J. B. Bacon, Henry Smalley, M. W. Rand and H. C. Knickerbocker, vestry- men.
St. Paul's German Lutheran Church of Pittsford was organized and edifice built in 1866, Rev. B. Mueller, and from that time the society and church have grown and enlarged until its total membership and congregation includes 425 persons. The present pastor is Rev. G. H. Gomph. The trustees are John Hertzer, John Baker, Andrew Wentz, Frederick Buckholz and John Stero.
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THE TOWN OF PITTSFORD.
The parish of St. Louis' church, Roman Catholic, was organized in 1873, and during the same year the church edifice was erected. How- ever, as early as 1856, Fathers Casey and Miller said masses in the town. In the parish to-day are 200 Catholic members, under the pas- toral charge of Rev. Father J. L. Coydre.
A Universalist society was organized in Pittsfield at an early day, and lived and flourished for many years, until about 1850, when it dis- solved.
Of the schools and educational system of the town of Pittsford little can be said, for the reason that this special and important department of local government preserves few of its records. However, tradition informs us that a log school house was built or in existence one mile south of the village as early as 1794, and in 1806 a frame school house was built on the same site. The first frame school house was built in 1804, in then district No. 2. After Henrietta was set off in 1818, it became necessary to rearrange the Pittsford districts. In 1824 the town had nine districts, and 444 children of school age. In 1835 the districts nnmbered ten, and children, 531. In 1894, and at the present time, the number of districts is ten, and children of school age, 571. There are also ten school houses, five of which are frame and five brick. The school property of the town is valued at $25,050. For the year ending July 31, 1894, the town had school revenues to the amount of $7,855.55, of which $1.793.96 were public moneys; raised by town tax $5,005.37. During the year fifteen teachers were employed and paid $4,900.28. Repairs for the year cost $1,398, and other expenses about $1, 300.
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CHAPTER XV.
THE TOWN OF RIGA.
This town originally formed a part of old Northampton, the mother to Monroe county towns west of the Genesee. Northampton, however, was divided on December 8, 1807, and Pultney erected out of a part of its territory, the latter including what is now Chili and Riga, respect- ively known as East and West Pultney. They formed a part of the same jurisdiction until 1822, when the eastern township was set off and named Chili.
Riga occupies a position on the western border of the county, and is bounded north by Ogden; east by Chili; south by Wheatland and a part of Genesee county, and west by Bergen, Genesee county. It has an area of 21,356 acres of land, all as well cleared and as susceptible of continuous cultivation as any in the county. The land surface is level or gently undulating, the only water course of any note being Black Creek, a dull, sluggish stream, flowing in a tortuous course through the town near its center. The soil generally is a clayey loam, rich and fer- tile and yields abundantly and profitably under proper tillage.
As a matter of fact, Riga is and for many years has been known as one of the best farming towns of the county, but this condition has been produced through the energy and perseverance of the inhabitants, for naturally the town has no features that make it superior to surrounding towns. It so happened that this special region was settled under the personal direction of James Wadsworth, land agent, and he succeeded in bringing to the locality a class of persons who were practical, thor- ough, energetic and determined men, chiefly Massachusetts Yankees, who laid the proper foundation for lasting benefits to succeeding gene- rations, and to-day the inhabitants of Riga live in the enjoyment of results of their forefathers' thrift. And it is, also, a fact that the later occupants of the soil have not been neglectful of their interests, but
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THE TOWN OF RIGA
have, as a rule, faithfully kept up and maintained the early standard of excellence established by the pioneers. This suggestion naturally leads us to inquire into the first settlement of the town and discover who were those worthy pioneers.
Before proceeding to the subject of pioneership in the town it is well enough to state that the lands of Riga were a part of the famous " Mill- Seat Tract," deeded to the Phelps and Gorham proprietors by the Ind- ians. The region, however, soon passed into the hands of Robert Mor- ris, of Philadelphia, the financier of the Revolution, and by him were sold to the Pultney estate, alias the Pultneys, the Pultney Associates, and the Pultney heirs. The agency for the sale and development of these lands was entrusted to James Wadsworth, and through his efforts they were peopled by a thrifty class of inhabitants.
Settlement in Riga was somewhat delayed by reason of the fact that its lands lay rather to the north of the great thoroughfare of travel to the west-the highway leading from Canandaigua to Le Roy, Batavia and Buffalo-and it was not until 1806 that the first pioneer settler came to the town. This honor, if such it be, fell to Elihu Church who then located on lot 94, but during the same year, Amasa and Deacon Nehemiah Frost, William Parker, Richard and Samuel Church, Ezekiel Barnes, Samuel Shepard Samuel Baldwin, Henry Brewster also came to the town and made improvements, though the families of some of them did not come here until the following year.
In 1807 still more families became settlers in Riga, and among them may be recalled the names of Enos Moore and his sons, Ephraim and Samuel, Joseph Thompson, George Richmond, Benajah Holbrook, Charles and Eber Orcutt, Thomas Bingham and his three sons, Joseph, Justin and William, and also his daughter who became Mrs. Pratt. There were also James Knowles and his sons James, William and Paul ; Joseph Emerson and three stalwart sons, Erastus, Joseph and George, Jesse Church, Clark Hall, Rev. Robert Hill, Thomas and George Hill, and their sister, Mrs. Emerson. In 1808 Benjamin F. Richmond set- tled south of Churchville hamlet, and about the same time Dr. John Darling located at the Center.
Between 1808 and 1811 the tide of immigration equaled that of any previous period, and among the settlers of the time were Deacon Hill,
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Erastus Sprague, Daniel Hawes, Thomas Gay, Hibbard Hall, George E. Harmon, Oliver Ide, the blacksmith, Ebenezer Clark, Dr. Richard Dibble, Joseph Sibley, -- Tuttle, Thomas Adams, Elisha P. Davis, George Baldwin and John Crocker. Other and perhaps later settlers were Billings Richmond, Dr. Thurber, Richard Chamberlain, H. Orton, Isaac Lacy, William Frost, A. Nettleton, Linus Pierson, Jonathan Tup- per, William Chafney, Warner Douglass, Charles Harward, Ebenezer Slater, Jacob Cole, I. C. Griswold, Solomon Blood, Daniel Densmore, and others, all of whom were here at least as early as the first years of the war of 1812. During this period settlement was of course much retarded, and for a time absolutely stopped, in fact some of the timid ones returned east, but the great majority remained and were reason- ably well prepared to join any movement whenever called into service.
Having brought to notice the names of nearly all the first settlers in Riga, we may now with equal propriety note the first events in town history, for these Yankees were energetic and established whatever was needful for material welfare. Pioneer Elisha Church is accredited with building the first dwelling house, in 1806, the year of his settlement in the town. He also cleared the first land and raised the first grain. The death of Richard Church, father to Elisha, was the first event of its kind in Riga. The first birth was a daughter of Samuel Church, born 1806, while the first male child was Hiram, son of Samuel Shep . ard, born also in 1806. The first marriage was that of Joseph Sibley, and Clarissa, daughter of Richard Church.
The first store was opened in 1808 by Thompson & Tuttle, at the Center, while in the same year Amasa Frost opened tavern in a log house, also at the Center. Here, too, the first school was taught by Thomas Gay. John Darling was the first physician in 1808, and Rich- ard Dibble the second, two years later. Both lived at the Center. The first postmaster was Joseph Thompson, when appointed is not now known, but Dr. Dibble held the office in 1814. Benajah Holbrook was the first blacksmith. The first pastor was Rev. Allen Hollister, founder in part of the Congregational church in Riga.
This little hamlet near the center of the town which we call Riga Center, was once known to the pioneers as West Pultney, and under that name the settlement was founded. It has ever been a custom among
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THE TOWN OF RIGA.
native New Englanders to establish a convenient trading center, and they generally make ample provision for future growth and develop- ment. So they did in Riga. After the name Pultney had been dropped the two little hamlets became known as Riga and East Riga, the latter now is Chili and so called. From this we infer correctly that Riga was the principal of the villages named, Churchville being a later growth and owing much of its prosperity to its railroad connections.
Among the various primitive industries of Riga was the saw mill built by Samuel Church in 1808, and also the grist mill by the same owner, erected in 1811. These structures led to the founding of Churchville, the village so called being named in allusion to and in honor of Samuel Church. These mills were built on Black Creek, as also were others in later years. George Baldwin built a saw mill in 1812, south of the village, and a third was put up in 1818 by Thomas Adams. Mr. Church then built his second saw mill on the creek. The first dis- tillery was built in 1814 by John Crocker, and the second a few years afterward by Erastus Sprague.
Thus it will be noticed that the resources of Riga were quite fully de- veloped at a very early day by the determined inhabitants of the town. The first settlement was made in 1806 and within a dozen years from that time the town became well populated, and the people were engaged in various manufacturing enterprises. The census reports for 1820 in- form us that Riga (inclusive of Chili) then had two grist mills, twelve saw mills, two fulling mills, two carding machines, five distilleries and seven asheries. In 1810, four years after the first pioneer came to the town, the population numbered 864, and in the next ten years increased to 3,139, a record rarely equaled in the whole Genesee country. The erection of Chili in 1822 took from Riga 24,558 acres of land and nearly half its population, the number of inhabitants in Riga in 1825 being 1,745, while Chili had 1,827.
Indeed so rapid was the settlement of the region when once begun that the creation of a new jurisdiction became imperative, hence on the 8th of December, 1807, the town of Pultney was formed, and on the 4th of April, 1809, Riga was organized, supsereding Pultney both in name and government. At the first town meeting, held at the house of Henry Waidener, these officers were elected : Thomas Hill, supervisor ;
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Joshua Howell, town clerk; Ebenezer Slater, Jesse Church and Isaac Douglass, assessors; Thomas Gay, collector ; Warner Douglass, con - stable ; Thomas Bingham, I. C. Griswold and Jacob Cole, road com- missioners ; Amasa Frost and Henry Waidener, overseers of the poor ; Daniel Densmore, George Richmond and Solomon Blood, fence viewers.
In this connection it is interesting to note the succession of incum- bents of the supervisorship, the principal office in the town, viz : Thomas Hill, 1809-10; Elihu Church, 1811-13 ; Richard Dibble, 1814; Elihu Church, 1815-16 ; Joseph Sibley, 1817-18 ; Isaac Lacey, 1819-20; Joseph Sibley, 1821 ; Joseph Thompson, 1822-23 ; Joseph Sibley, 1824; Joseph Thompson, 1825-26; Phineas Smith, 1827-29; Thomas Bingham, 1830; Hubbard Hall, 1831-32; Elihu Church, 1833-35; John R. Smith, 1836; Asa Adams, 1837; Lucius Lilley, 1838-40 ; Spencer Smith, 1841 ; James R. Flynn, 1842 ; Aretas Adams, 1843-44 ; Ashabel A. Hosmer, 1845-49 ; Dennis Church, 1850; Aretas Adams, 1851-53 ; Paul Knowles, 1854-55 ; Volney Lacey, 1856-57; George Brown, 1858-61 ; Zophar Willard, 1862-63 ; M. J. Molloch, 1864-65 ; Henry W. Davis, 1866-69; James W. Craig, 1870 ; James P. Knowles, 1871; George Savage, 1872-75 ; Henry W. Davis, 1876-78; Stewart Church, 1879-80 ; George Savage, 1881-84; Oscar S Babcock, 1885- 89; William S. Church, 1890-91 ; Henry J. Snyder, 1892-95.
The officers of Riga for the year 1895 are as follows : Henry J. Snyder supervisor ; Alfred Harrison, town clerk; Oscar S. Babcock, Edward Fitch, Henry Richmond and James L. Sackett, justices of the peace ; Edwin Emens, Spencer Johnson and Angus McIntosh, assessors ; John Lemmon, overseer of the poor; Richard Barnum, collector; James Brady, Ellsworth Savage and Robert Snyder, excise commissioners ; James Dennis, Charles Lear and Richard Barnum, constables ; John McIntosh, Richard Atbridge and John Stewart, road commissioners.
The little centrally located village of Riga Center was the chief cen- ter of trade and business in the town for a period of about twenty-five years; and then began to yield its importance to the village of Church- ville. Still later, in 1852, the completion of the Rochester and Buffalo railroad gave to Churchville an additional importance and correspond- ingly injured local interests at the Center. Almost the only institution of the latter place which has been permanent and enduring, is the old First
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