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 39
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There was no separate division of Rush into school districts until after the organization of the town in 1818. In 1820 here were 236 children of school age, which number increased during the next fifteen years to 763. In 1835 there were twelve districts, and but ten in 1860. As now constituted the town is divided into ten districts, one of which (No. 8) has no school house. During the school year ending July 31, 1894, this town received for school purposes $3,437.29, of which amount $1,974. 16 was raised by town tax. The number of children of school
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age was 463, for whose instruction ten teachers were employed and paid $2,801.40. The total value of school property in the town is $7,725.00.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE TOWN OF SWEDEN AND VILLAGE OF BROCKPORT.1
The termination of hostilities between Great Britain and the Colonies in 1783 found the people of the thirteen States possessed of but little more than freedom from English oppression. Eight years of stubborn unyielding on the part of George III and his parliament was a most serious matter to the struggling State.
The conflict for independence had cost an enormous sum. The want of unity between the sovereign States rendered legislation for the benefit of the people slow and of doubtful result. Private enterprise was utterly crippled, agriculture had been almost wholly abandoned, trade with foreign nations had long since ceased to be a source of revenue and the entire resources of the whole nation were so depleted that the greatest privation was endured by all classes.
The suffering brought about by the Revolution was an important factor in causing the increased emigration to the central and western portions of the State of New York. In 1788 Messrs. Phelps and Gorham began negotiations with the commonwealth of Massachusetts, who claimed jurisdiction by virtue of an old charter, for the purchase of an immense tract of land in the western part of New York. The territory which they proposed to acquire was still in the possession of the Seneca nation, but the Legislature of Massachusetts sold to Phelps and Gorham the right to extinguish the Indian title. A council was held at Buffalo Creek and the Indians agreed to dispose of a part of their territory, but refused to sell any land west of the Genesee River. Phelps, however, who was present, represented to the Indians that a " mill seat" lot was of great importance and ultimately prevailed upon
1 By Morley B. Turpin, of Rochester,
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THE TOWN OF SWEDEN
them to give to him the title to a tract of valuable land west of the Genesee River. This was known as the " Mill Seat" lot and extended northward from the village of Canawagus to Lake Ontario and was to be twelve miles in width throughout. In the survey of the "mill seat " lot an error was made by Hugh Maxwell in 1789. He ran the west line due north instead of parallel with the general course of the Genesee River. This error was afterwards corrected by Augustus Porter, who ran the west line 22° east of north.
The area included between Maxwell's erroneous line and the correct line as surveyed by Porter contained 87,000 acres and was and is known as the "Triangle " tract. This triangle, which embraces the towns of . Sweden, Clarkson and Hamlin in Monroe county, came into the posses- sion of Robert Morris in 1801, who conveyed it to Le Roy, Bayard and McEvers, gentlemen engaged in mercantile pursuits in the city of New York.
The transactions of Phelps and Gorham, Robert Morris and the pro- prietors of the "Triangle " were now well known throughout the State. The improvements made by them had placed the advantages of the western part of the State in strong contrast with the over-burdened and at that time non productive east. . The alluring offers made by the agents of Phelps and Gorham and others were taken advantage of by a large number of persons who were desirous of bettering their condition and the tide of emigration turned so strongly westward that in two years from the date of their purchase Phelps and Gorham had disposed of a considerable number of townships.
The county of Ontario was taken from Montgomery in 1789 and at that time comprised all the territory westward to Lake Erie and the Niagara frontier. As early as 1797 all the region west of the Genesee River in the State of New York was known as the town of Northamp- ton.
The " Triangle " tract above mentioned lies between the " Mill Seat " lot on the east and the east line of the Connecticut tract and Morris reserve on the west. The base rests on Lake Ontario and the apex of the triangle is at a point in the line between the towns of Pavilion and Le Roy in Genesee county. It was surveyed into five townships num- bering from south to north. Each township was divided into sections
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of one and one half miles square and these sections subdivided into farm lots of 120 acres each. The surveys were made by Richard M. Stoddard in 1801 and the property immediately put upon the market. Mr. Stoddard acting as agent for the owners.
In the early days the land in the "Triangle" was considered to be of the poorest quality. A long unbroken forest stretched to the west- ward, marshes abounded and the general uninviting aspect of the coun - try made the sales slow, although land was offered at two dollars and two dollars and fifty cents an acre. In 1805 but three lots were sold in Sweden, in 1806 nine, in 1807 but twenty-six. and it is uncertain as to whether all who made purchases became actual settlers or not; probably they did not.
In 1802 a road was opened to the lake. It was the gift of the owners and was not included in the lots bordering on it, but the then principal thoroughfare was the Buffalo Road and the country north of it was but little thought of.
So lit le progress was made in the matter of highways that as late as 18II the Ridge Road, so well adapted by nature to the purposes of travel, was but little more than a pathway cut through the woods, wide enough only for a single wagon to pass and crossed and recrossed by innumerable small streams often swollen and proving serious obstacles to the passage of the few pioneers who journeyed into the wilds of Western New York. So unfamiliar were the settlers with the country that in 1812 a large army whose destination was Lewiston actually turned southward from the ridge at Clarkson and continued their march to the front by the way of Bergen and Batavia.
There were no mail routes north of the Buffalo road until after 1812, and no means of communicating with the outside world save by long and tedious journeys through the thick forests in wagons drawn by oxen or on horseback. Supplies for household use and utensils for farm work were obtained under great difficulties and from points far removed, and the marketing of the little the settler was able to produce was at- tended with an enormous outlay of time and energy.
The advantages of living at the present time are not calculated to instill into our minds a realizing sense of the obstacles met and over- come by the pioneers who were the makers of the Empire State.
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THE TOWN OF SWEDEN.
The settler in the western State of to-day has infinitely less to con- tend with than did the early settler in our own State. In the case of the one all that modern thought can devise lessens his labor and brings to his fireside the comforts of a prosperous nation. On the other hand the pioneer in western New York was compelled to undergo the sever- est trials, possessing only the barest necessities procured through the greatest difficulties and oftentimes in the face of personal danger, where are now thriving farms, prosperous towns and villages bound together in the closest relations- by telegraph and telephone, where railroads and canal make marketing an easy matter; where postal service and news- papers bring intelligence of interest and value and where all that science can suggest is made the instrument of good, was seventy five or eighty years ago a barren wilderness of wood and marsh, with no churches, no educational institutions, and but little to lighten the dreary life of the pioneer.
In the early part of 1813 the first steps toward a better civilization were taken, and the town of Sweden was erected from Murray, which had been originally designated Bayard, and the town of Northampton was divided. On the 5th day of April in 1814, the first meeting of the town of Sweden was held at the house of Reuben Stickney, one of the earliest settlers on township No. 3. The officers elected at that time were the first to be elected in the town of Sweden, the act of the Legis- lature necessary at that time for the erection of a town having been passed on the 2d day of April of the previous year.
The following were the officers chosen : Supervisor, John Reed ; town clerk, Elisha Stewart ; assessors, Joshua B. Adams, Henry Hill, John Marshal ; road commissioners, Alanson Dudley, Zenas Case, Colvin Gibbs; poormasters, Benajah Warden, Record W. Vining; school com- missioners, John Reed, William James, Colvin Gibbs; school inspect- ors, David Gliddon, William Sheldon, Lyman Humphreys, Elisha Stewart, Amos Frink, Peleg Sanders; collector and constable, William James ; constable, William Luther ; pound master, Reuben Stickney ; and twenty seven overseers of highways.
From 1814 to 1820 inclusive John Reed was the supervisor for the town of Sweden in Genesee county, Sweden being in that county up to February 23, 1821, when Genesee county was divided and Monroe county erected.
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The succession of supervisors from Sweden to the Monroe County Board embraces the following named persons: Silas Judson, 1821 to 1823; James Seymour, 1824 to 1825 ; Joseph Randall, 1826 to 1829; Robert Staples, 1830 to 1835 ; Samuel H. Davis, 1836 to 1838; Joseph Randall, 1839 to 1840; Nathaniel Palmer, 1841 to 1842; Robert Sta- ples, 1843 to 1847; Humphrey Palmer, 1848; Robert Staples, 1849; Asa Rowe, 1850; Samuel H. Davis, 1851 to 1853 ; Frederick P. Root, 1854 to 1858; Chauncey S. White, 1859 to 1860; Henry Root, 1861 ; Thomas Cornes, 1862; Samuel H. Davis, 1863 to 1864; Thomas Cornes, 1865 to 1866; Walter C. Fairbanks, 1867; Luther Gordon, 1868 to 1869; F. F. Capen, 1870 to 1871; E. A. Young, 1872 to 1873 ; Ira Crawford, 1874 to 1875 ; Lucius T. Underhill, 1876 and 1878 ; William J. Edmunds, 1879 to 1881 ; George W. Sime, 1882 to 1884; Henry L. White, 1885 to 1887 ; Frank E. Williams, 1888 to 1889; Clifford M. White, 1890; George L. Smith, 1891 ; Alfred M. White, 1892 ; George L. Smith, 1893 and Benjamin F. Gleason, 1894.
The present limits of the town of Sweden comprise the third town- ship of the Triangle tract. Its extension from north to south is about six miles, its width from east to west five and three- quarter miles, with an area of 22,942 acres, or about thirty-four and one-half square miles.
The earliest settlements made in Sweden of which any record is to be had, were in 1804, '05, at least contracts for land were made in those years and it is presumed that active settlement followed within a rea- sonable time. The increase in the population of township No. 3 was slow, but the growth was healthful and here and there along the lake road, clearings were made in the forest large enough only, at first, for the primitive dwellings of the pioneer. But little money was brought into the country by the early comers and whatever was done in the way of improvements was made under difficulty and discouragement. By slow stages the little openings in the woods were enlarged and suffi- cient land cultivated to supply what was actually needed. Other set- tlers cames and logging bees and raising bees were common oc- currences.
In 1807 Nathaniel Poole and Walter Palmer settled on the Lake road and later in the same year Samuel Bishop, Isaac White, Stephen Johnson, and Joseph Hopkins purchased land and settled on the
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THE TOWN OF SWEDEN.
highway to the lake. In the following year John Reed purchased 900 acres of land in the southern part of the town and soon became identified with the best interests of the district. Timothy Taylor located south of the center of the town ; Edward Parks south of what is now Brockport, and Deacon Rice at Wilkie's Corners; also James and Amos Stickney and Reuben Stickney, jr., Israel Stickney and Lewis Gardner all of whom settled on the Lake road ; Reuben Moore, Zenas Case and Elder Zenas Case, jr., settled in the east part of the town, and somewhat later settlements were made on what is now known as the Fourth Section road by Elijah Steward, Walter Steward, Uriah L. James, William James, Simeon Palmer and Joshua B. Adams. Ben- jamin S. Sheldon settled in the same neighborhood about 1810 and in the same year William Warden, Aaron Hill and Moses J. Hill on the town line road leading from Wilkie's Corners to Holley. In the same year and the year following settlements were made in the east and south part of the town by Joseph Hutchinson, Joseph Luce, and Oramel But- ler; also Roland Saunders and Edward H. Raleigh on the Lake road south of the center of the town; Levi Page and Ezra Brown settled at west Sweden and Abijah Cooper one mile west on the Lake road in 18II or 1812.
A few other pioneers whose names are nowhere mentioned had set- tled in this vicinity up to 1812, but only a small portion of the town was occupied. A census report made in November, 1813, shows that in the towns of Sweden and Clarendon, comprised one hundred and forty families, composed of eight hundred and nineteen persons. They were divided as follows : twenty-two males and the same number of females who were forty-five years of age and over; one hundred and fifty-four males and one hundred and thirty four females who were between the ages of eighteen and forty- five; and two hundred and sixty-five males and two hundred and twenty-one females who were under eighteen. The number of electors with freehold who rented tenements of the yearly value of forty shillings, was one hundred and forty-two; of the value of twenty to one hundred pounds, none ; and of the value of one hundred pounds and over, five.
The constant state of excitement and alarm incident to the war of 1812 proved disastrous to the further increase in the population of
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LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.
Sweden. Emigration was not wholly discontinued, but was somewhat restricted, and not a few of those who had already located here were frightened into leaving.
During the progress of the war the prices of farm produce were ex- tremely high, wheat ranging from three to four dollars a bushel, and two dollars was the average price demanded for a bushel of oats. The prices of other produce and supplies were proportionately high. After the conclusion of the war, and the uncertainties incident thereto were removed, the settlement of Sweden was again begun with renewed vigor and the population so rapidly increased that in 1816 almost the entire Ridge road west of the Genesee river was settled.
The year 1816 was a disastrous one, being cold and unproductive, and barely enough was raised to prevent the settlers from suffering actual want. This order of things was not of long duration, and for the next few years the naturally productive soil yielded so bountifully that the price of the best quality of wheat dropped to thirty-seven and one-half cents per bushel. Discouraging as this must have been to the producers, who were almost without exception in debt for land, and dependent upon what they raised to pay the interest on their invest- ments, the problem was met and overcome.
During the first decade much was done in the way of improvement and those who were able to meet the obligations imposed upon them by the contracts entered into with Messrs. Le Roy, Bayard and Mc Evers found themselves in 1825 amply repaid for their trials by the in- creased value of their property. In this year the Erie Canal became a reality and by reason of the increased facilities for transportation and communication a greater impetus was given to the life and vigor of the district.
The education of the young and movements tending toward the re. finement of those of more mature years were not overlooked during these busy days, and although the means at hand were somewhat prim- itive in their nature, yet they were far reaching and eminently beneficial in the results accomplished.
Much that was done in the way of educating the younger members of the community was performed in the home and by members of the home circle, yet there were schools where the elements of an educa-
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THE TOWN OF SWEDEN.
tion were to be had. In a sparsely settled country the schools were necessarily few and far between, but the sturdy mind of the early settler fully understood the advantages of preparing their children to meet and intelligently overcome the obstacles of life.
Meetings of a religious nature aiming toward the betterment of society were frequent and the foundation laid in those early days by church and school is to-day noticeable in the solidity of the present in- stitutions of Sweden.
The names of those who were instrumental in shaping the destinies of the town, in directing and maintaining all that was for the "greatest good of the greatest number," in guarding the interests of both church state, are here given in recognition of their services as makers of history, Prominent in all movements for progress were : Joseph Staples, Robert Staples, Peter Stutphin, Oliver Spencer, Edmond Spencer, Chauncey Staples, John White, James Stickney, Amos Stickney, Samual H. Davis, Abel Root, Joseph Randall, Chester Roberts, Elvis Lee, Samuel Mor- gan, David Morgan, Dr. David Avery, Dr. E. B. Elliott, Levi Pond, Humphrey Palmer, Thaddeus Stone, Oramel Butler, Daniel Butler, Nathaniel Bangs, Dudley Root, William Root, Julius Comstock, Eli Gallup, Aaron Root, Samuel V.Way, Timothy Taylor, Joseph Hutchin- son, Sisson Taylor, Reuben Allen, John House, Job Whipple, John Clark, Mr. Bronson, Thomas Cooley, Lieutenant Crippen, Deacon Niles, Zadoc Hurd, Elisha Locke and sons, Samuel C. Bentley, C. J. Whitcher, Uriah L. James, William King, Alanson Thomas, Elder Brackett, Royal Barlow, Elder Bigalow, James Jackson, Walter Phelps, Artemus Lyman, James Hart, Peleg Thomas, Seth L. King, E. H. Raleigh, Asa Babcock, William Ward, James White, Silas Parker, Abijah Capen, Ezra Brown, Rowland Sanders, Simeon Palmer, Benja- min J. Sheldon, Aaron Hill, Moses Hill, Daniel Freeman, Joseph Pres- ton, Benjamin Pemington, Elish Brace, Lyons Udell, Samuel Chadsey, William Seldon, Erastus Lawrence, Samuel Bishop, Silas Judson, John Reed, John Beadle, Elisha Steward, Chauncey Robinson, Elisha Hunt- ley, Eldrige Farwell, Jacob Cooley, Harmon Cooley, and many others whose names cannot be mentioned but to whose memory we pay tribute.
The topography of Sweden is generally level, though gently undu-
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LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.
lating in some parts. The soil is a sandy loam with a mixture of gravel or clay in some localities and is as fertile and productive as any in the State. Streams flow in every direction from the center of the town, which is slightly elevated, thus supplying abundant water and ad- mirable drainage. The Salmon rises west and southwest of the center and flows easterly into Ogden. The west branch of the same stream rises south of Brockport, flowing northeast. A stream of consider- able size has its origin in the west part of the town and flows southerly into Riga. Numerous other small streams supply water in plenty. The Erie Canal crosses the town from east to west and the Niagara Falls branch of the New York Central extends entirely across the northern portion. Competition between canal and railroad has been of benefit to the farmer in keeping transportation rates at a minimum. In early days the low health rate was an inducement for physicians to settle in Sweden and at an early date Dr. John B. Eliott located in the town on Beach Ridge, but shortly after removed to Brockport and opened a drug store. In 1830 or 1831 Dr. Ralph A. Gillet commenced the practice of medicine at Sweden Center and also conducted a grocery and dry goods business. Daniel J. Avery and D. N. Glazier opened stores at the Center a few years later, but as the village of Brockport absorbed the trade, the enterprise was abandoned in 1850. Dr. S. M. Olden succeeded Dr. Gillet as town physician in 1839 or 1840, but re- moved to Brockport about 1850. Dr. Huntley also located at the Center, but he, too, removed to Brockport in 1855.
Nathaniel Poole built the first log house on the north side of Beach Ridge and James Beadle erected the first frame house and kept the first tavern It was located about one-half mile south of Sweden Center. Jehial Davis built the first grist mill in 1813 or 1814; it was in the east part of the town, on Salmon Creek. Roswell Burroughs erected the first saw mill on the same stream in 1815. The first distillery be- gan operations in 1816 and in 1827 there were three distilleries in the town.
The population of the town was in 1820, 2,761 ; in 1830, 2,937; in 1840, 3,133 ; in 1850, 3,623 ; in 1860, 4,025 ; in 1870, 4,558 ; in 1880, 5,734, and in 1890, 5,201.
The details of life in Sweden were much the same during the suc-
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THE TOWN OF SWEDEN.
ceeding years, and to further follow its history would be unnecessary In the course of events the number of schools were increased, churches were founded and society fully organized. The town was active during the dark days of 1861-65 and sent to the front a large number of men who bravely fought for the cause they so well represented. Sweden is to-day one of the most prosperous towns in Monroe county and it is difficult to realize that within the memory of men yet living the flourishing farms, quiet homes of an intelligent and God fearing people was the abode of a savage nation.
The town officers for 1895 are : Justices, John N. Drake, Delbert A. Adams, Theodere S. Dean and James Mershon. Assessors, George Gallup, Franklin Sparlin and Edwin C. Hendrick. Collector, Charles Mershon. Constables, William H. Pollock, William B. Hendrick, Con- rad Guenther, William H. Patten and Edgar Coates. Town clerk, George Benson. The total value of real estate is $2,657,468.00.
The First Presbyterian church of Sweden was organized at Sweden Centre on the 5th of September, 1817, by a council convened for that purpose and consisting of the following persons : Rev. Comfort Will- iams of Rochester ; Rev. Alanson Darwin of Riga; Rev. Henry Smith, from the Female Missionary Society of Utica; Rev. Elam Clark, from the Youth's -Missionary Society of Oneida; Deacon Ward, of Bergen ; Deacon Davis, of Parma ; Justus Brown and Asahel Finch also of Par- ma. The first members were Theda Clark, Abigail Smith, Lydia Lee, Sally Hollister, Lucretia Bennett, Abigail Beedle, Daniel Avery, Elisha Smith, Samuel Blair, Joseph Langdon, Rebecca Cone, Anna Brown, Artemus Lyman, Sarah Stickney, Rosanna Avery, and Silas Judson. Daniel Avery was chosen the first clerk. Josiah Pierson was the first minister.
On the 4th of January, 1819, the society numbered thirty-three members, and Silas Judson was a delegate to the Ontario presbytery. The church was originally Congregational but on the 23d of June, 1833, it was received in the presbytery of Rochester and became a regular Presbyterian church. The first church building was erected in 1821. It was a wooden structure and was dedicated by Rev. Abraham Fore- man. The present church building is of brick and was erected and con- secrated in 1836. The Sabbath school was organized in 1818 or 1819
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LANDMARKS OF MONROE COUNTY.
in the school house and Dr. Daniel Avery and Calvin Gibbs were super- intendents. The library connected with the school was purchased in 1826. Emerson G. Wickes is the present pastor.
The Second Baptist church of Sweden was organized on the 6th of May, 1819, with the following membership : Rebecca Mills, Daniel Freeman, Nabby Freeman, Joseph Lee, Rhoda Douglass, Davis Doug- lass, Patty Lee, Samuel G. Lewis, Hannah Allen, Judah Church, Sarah Lewis, Amos B. Niles, Eunice Cooley, Henry Niles, Nancy Howard, Orrin Case, Olive Lee, Jildin Tennant, Nancy Cooley, Ruben J. Allen, Almy Howard, John Smith, Amy Allen, Barnard M. Howard, Susanna Bently, Samuel Bently, Betsey Phillips, Sybel Case, and Anna Smith. The clerk was David Douglass. The present church building was erected in 1835 and 1836 at a cost of $2,849. It was dedicated by Elder Coleman and Elders Putnam and Case on the 14th of September, 1836. Elder Vining was the first pastor. He entered upon his duties June 26, 1819 at an annual compensation of seventy dollars.
The Methodist Episopal church of Sweden Centre was organized in 1855 in the school house with a membership of forty. Class meetings had been held for many years previous to the organization of the so- ciety but the present church edifice was not erected until 1856. The cost price was five thousand dollars, furnished by the Ladies Aid Society who also supplied an organ costing ninety. five dollars. The church was dedicated March 8, 1856, the first pastor being the Rev. Joseph Latham who served two years. The Sabbath school was organized in March, 1856, and held meetings in the new church building. The school began with forty-five pupils and fifteen teachers.
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