Landmarks of Orleans County, New York, Part 46

Author: Signor, Isaac S., ed
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1084

USA > New York > Orleans County > Landmarks of Orleans County, New York > Part 46

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their bank went to the bad, but their fine farms, choice garden spots, and unrivaled Ridge road remain as good as ever."

Gaines Village now contains two churches, a hotel and livery, a public hall, three general stores, one harness shop, a jewelry store, a meat market, one blacksmith, two cooperages, a shoe shop, one' dry house, a physician, a dentist, and about 300 inhabitants. The first post-office in town was established here July 1, 1816, upon an applica- tion from William J. Babbitt, who was appointed the first postmaster and held the office five years. A later incumbent was Arba Chubb. The present postmaster is B. Frank David, who was appointed in the fall of 1893.

EAGLE HARBOR .- This village is said to have been so named be- cause a large nest of a bird, supposed to be that of an eagle, was found in a tree there when the canal was surveyed. The original grantees of land where the village now is may be learned by reference to the account given of sales by the. Holland Land Company in lots 27 and 36, second range, in Gaines, and 26 and 35 in Barre. A clearing was made here by Stephen Abbott in the winter of 1811-12. The locality gave no indication of becoming a village till after the construction of the Erie Canal was commenced. A Mr. Richardson built the large embankment over Otter Creek, and for the accommodation of his work- men he opened a store. This was the pioneer mercantile establishmant of the village. It was sold to Hicks & Sherman, and by them the business was conducted for a time. Mr. Hicks, who was an active busi- ness man here at an early period, built the first warehouse in the vil- lage, on the south side of the canal. It afterward became the property of A. S. Samson. In 1832 W. P. Collins purchased it, and occupied it as a store about six years, but afterward built and occupied a ware- house and store on the east side of the street. Col. Jonathan Delano was the first carpenter and joiner, a Mr. Hurd the first blacksmith, Samuel Robinson the first shoemaker, David Smith the first hotel keeper, Samuel Robinson and Jonathan Delano the first grocers, Dr. James Brown the first physician. and Willis T. Collins the first post- master. A school house was erected in 1822 on the west side of the street. Another was built in 1841, and the present one was erected in 1846. James Smith built the first saw mill here, on Otter Creek, north

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from the canal. In 1825, Pratt, Delano & Northrup built the lower dam and saw mill, and in 1826 James Mather built a saw mill on the north side of the canal.

Collins & Leighton built the first grist mill at Eagle Harbor, and conducted it many years. It was sold by them to Gen. E. S. Beach. It was burned and rebuilt by him, and after his death it became the property of Collins & O'Hara and subsequently of O'Hara alone. Albert Collins and A. M. Backus purchased it from O'Hara, and after about seven years sold it to Rackham Brothers, of Waterport. Two years later, or in the winter of 1879, it was burned. In 1880 it was rebuilt by Charles A. Danolds, and was conducted by him as a custom and flouring mill till 1889, when it was purchased by Powell Brothers, the former proprietors of a mill at Waterport that was burned, who still own and operate it. In 1845 Collins & Beach built a flouring mill on on the bank of the canal, one-fourth of a mile east of the village. It was carried on by different firms till 1867, when it was burned. An- other was built on the same site, but this was destroyed by fire two years later. In 18go Frank Ellicott erected on the site a churn and washing machine factory. September 6, 1893, a fire destroyed a por- tion of the village, on which stood the stores of A. S. Reed and William Putt, a blacksmith shop, a warehouse, and William Walter's dwelling house. On the site of Reed's store Bennett Brothers have built a large frame building which they use as a general store and dwelling. In 1861 Charles Bennett bought a barn and converted it into a cooperage, and about five years later took in as partners William H. Bennett, Wil- liam Lee, and Nathaniel Cole, who have since conducted a large barrel manufactory. It was originally started to manufacture flour barrels for the Collins mills. Eagle Harbor village now contains three general stores, a hotel and livery, a large barrel factory, two blacksmiths, a wagon shop, a churn and washing machine factory, a meat market, one grist mill, a warehouse, two churches, two school houses, and about 350 inhabitants. The post-office was established here about 1837 with Willis P. Collins as postmaster. The present incumbent, William Putt, was appointed November 1, 1893, succeeding William H. Bennett.

EAST GAINES .- This is a small hamlet on the Ridge road in the northeast part of the town containing a post-office and store, a black-

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smith shop, a Baptist church, and twelve or fifteen dwellings. The first school house here was built of logs in 1815; the first term of school was taught by Hannah Strickland and the next by Ira H. Beach. Peter Runion in 1826 erected the East Gaines Hotel, better known as the Perry House from Silas Perry, one of its early landlords. This hostelry made the place quite an important point for immigrants The present postmaster is Harry Lattin.

WEST GAINES .- Situated on the Ridge road in the western part of the town, West Gaines formerly contained a hotel and some business interests, but these have long since ceased to exist. A little west of here was started the first public house in Orleans county. It is now a quiet rural hamlet comprising a few dwellings.

FAIRHAVEN .- This is a small hamlet a little northeast from the center of the town, on the Ridge road, containing a store, hotel, church, school, and about a dozen dwellings.

FIVE CORNERS .- The intersection of three roads gives the name of Five Corners to a pretty rural hamlet in the south part of the town a little north from the limits of Albion village. It contains several fine residences, a number of which are of brick, and formerly ranked as a manufacturing point by the erection of a large stone building, in which Scott Bacon conducted a steam saw mill and a foundry and machine shop. These industries have been partially abandoned and the structure shows signs of decay.

The Baptist and Congregational Churches of Gaines .- Probably the first religious society in town was the Baptist. The date of its organi- zation is not known, but it is believed to have been prior to 1821. Deacon Lemuel Daniels, Archibald and Ebenezer Daniels, his sons, Rufus Reed, a Mr. Durkee and his wife, Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. Levi Hale, and Hull Tomlinson are remembered as very early members, and Elders Dutcher, Davis, Irons, Blood and Beckwith were some of the ministers. Services were held in private houses and afterward in the old Union church building erected in Gaines village in 1824. This edifice, in a slightly remodeled form, is still in use and is one of the most interesting landmarks in Orleans county. Deaths, removals, and withdrawals weakened the Baptist society, and it ceased to exist some thirty - five years since.

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During the first ten years after the active settlement of Gaines com- menced the Congregationalists and Baptists here were supplied with preaching by missionaries and local elders, and the Methodists by cir- cuit preachers. Prior to 1824 services were held in such places as were temporarily available. In August, 1821, the first Congregational society of Gaines was organized by Rev. Mr. Fairbanks with Samuel Percival, Moses Bacon, Daniel Gates, Oliver Booth 2d, Zelotes Sheldon and Jacob Moore as trustees. It united with the Presbytery of Rochester, April 16, 1822, and when the Presbytery of Niagara was organized it was transferred to that body. October 13, 1840, it was dismissed from the Presbytery to unite with the Genesee convocation. In 1824 an association was formed consisting of Elisha Nichols, Elijah D. Nichols, James Mather, Van Rensselaer Hawkins, Elijah Blount, Jonathan Blount, Olivor Booth 2d, Zelotes Sheldon, John J. Wal- bridge, Romeyn Ostrander and Asahel Lee for the purpose of building a house of worship. The last two named were the contractors. 'Squire Booth donated the site, and the building was erected and finished at a cost of $1, 200. By a sale at auction of the pews and slips this sum was realized, leaving six slips for free use. The Congregational and Baptist denominations were given the use of the house for worship on alternate Sundays, and other denominations when not used by them. In 1834, after the Congregational society had erected their church edifice in the east part of the village, they transferred their interest in the old church building to John Stevens and John Hinckley in trust for the Methodist Episcopal society. This society failed to pay these gentlemen the money they had advanced, and in 1840 they deeded their interest to John Proctor for $250. During some years Mr. Proctor granted the use of the church to the Universalists and to others who desired to use it. Robert Anderson and Almanzor Hutchinson purchased the house from Mr. Proctor about 1848 for $150, and held it in trust for the Free Con- gregational society of Gaines, which was formed in 1847. The building was thoroughly repaired, and in 1853 Messrs. Anderson and Hutchinson quit-claimed it to the society. This was the first house built for relig- ious worship north of Batavia and the first one on the Ridge road be- tween Rochester and Lewiston. It was used for the semi-centennial celebration of the Declaration of Independence in 1828, for the closing

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exercises of the academy in its early years, for the meetings of six different religious societies at various times, and for its own semi-cen- tennial eclebration August 26, 1874, when Alamanzor Hutchinson read a paper he had prepared upon its history. On this occasion the sole survivor of its building committee, Romeyn Ostrander, was present. Miss Charlotte Cummings, a sister of John Proctor's first wife and afterward the wife of 'Squire Booth, and one of the first members of this church, organized in 1817, in the school house near there, the first Sabbath school in town and probably the first in Orleans county. Her class book was the New England Primer.

The first Congregational Church Society of Gaines, which was or- ganized August 9, 1821, resolved at a meeting held February 4, 1834, to build a new house of worship, and one was accordingly erected that year at a cost of $2,500. In 1869 $3,884 were raised, and $2,400 were expended in repairs on the church building. The residue was laid out in refitting and refurnishing the parsonage. Both are still in use. In 1822 the Gospel lot (i. e., 100 acres of land given to the first religious society in town) was deeded by the Holland Land Company to the Board of Trustees of this society previously named. Tradition says that although the Baptist Society was presumably the first religious organiz- ation in Gaines, while the Baptists were talking about getting the Gospel lot, the Congregationalists organized and secured it. In 1825 this church had thirty-one members ; in 1836 they numbered 187. January, 26th of the latter year the society in Kenyonville was united with the Congregational church of Gaines, but it has long since ceased to be an active organization, though the present Congregational society in Gaines still owns an interest in the Union church property there. The pastors of this church were Revs. Fairbanks, Cook, Winchester, Raw- son, Evans, Joel Byington, Hiland Hulbert, J. P. Hovey, Milton But- torph, Horatio N. Short, Buttorph again, J. S. Barrs, Rev. Mr. Judson, D. J. B. Hoyt, E. A. Keeler, Rev. Mr. Erdman and M. H. Wilder.

The First Free Congregational church of Gaines was organized in December, 1847. In the spring of that year some members withdrew from the First Congregational church, and others followed in the autumn. These withdrawals were the result of differences of opinion which had arisen among the members on the subjects of slavery, tem-

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perance, etc, and the seceders organized the above named society. The constituent members were: Robert Anderson, Anson Backus, Flavel Loomis, Mrs Margaret Loomis, Rev. A. S. Shafer, Mrs. Almira Shafer, Miss Amaretta Ketchum, Miss Clarissa Burbank, Mrs. Abigail Willard, Daniel D. Sherman, Samuel Scovil, and Mrs. Betsey Lovewell. The church adopted articles of faith in accordance with views held at Oberlin, Ohio, and also very strong resolutions in opposition to slavery and intemperance. The society occupied the old Union church edifice during its existence, a title to which it acquired by a quit-claim deed given by Messrs. Anderson and Hutchinson in 1853. On February 3, 1864, the following resolution was adopted :

Whereas, The providence of God has prepared a way for a harmonious union with the members of the Presbyterian church in Gaines in a new Congregational church ; and,

Whereus, Fifty-one of the members of this church have asked letters of dismission and recommendation that they may unite in a new church to be called the Congrega- tional church of Gaines, therefore,

Resolved, That the First Free Congregational church approve of the proposed organization.

This resolution was carried out. the First Free Congregational Society ceased to exist, and their interest in the old Union church property was formally conveyed by deed to the trustees of the Free Methodist Society. The pastors of this church were : Revs. A. S. Shafer, William Dewey, and William Richardson.

From the foregoing paragraphs it would seem that the First Congre- gational Society of Gaines worshiped under a Presbyterian form of government, but when or how long can not be determined. The present Congregational church, however, sustains in reality a direct and continuous succession of the original organization of 1821, but nominally it is the result of the consolidation proposed in the above resolution, at which time Rev. M. H. Wilder was pastor. His successors have been: Revs. H. M. Higley, R. S. Eggleston, Mr. Burrit, George Ander- son, H. B. Frye, and G. S. Merrick (since May, 1886). The society now has about 130 members and a Sunday-school with an average at- tendance of 100 scholars. It is free from debt and owns a neat frame parsonage.

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The Free Methodist church of Gaines was organized about 1868 by Rev. George P. Marcellus. In 1869 the trustees purchased the old Union church building from the Free Congregational Society, and at once made some needed repairs and improvements on it. As the re- sult of a revival in 1870 the membership was doubled. The pastors have been : Revs. George W. Marcellus, William Jackson, N. A. More, Joseph Travis, Samuel Chesbrough, R. S. Phillips, G. W. Marcellus again, C. B. Essex, G. W. Worthington, J. K. Chesbrough, J. J. Thomp- son, W. T. Hoag, J. G. Terrill, W. Manning, Frank Chamberlain, and A. G. Matthewson. The society has about forty members and a well- attended Sunday-school. The society in Kenyonville, which owns a parsonage there, is connected with this charge.

The Methodist Episcopal Church, of Eagle Harbor .- In 1827, at a meeting held for the purpose, a society was incorporated under the name of the "First Union Society of Episcopal Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians of Gaines." Durfy Delano, Jonathan Clark, Stephen N. Chubb, George C. Davis, and Ezra B. Delano, constituted the first Board of Trustees. It was resolved at once to build a house of worship, and within a year a brick church building was erected. This was used by the union society about twenty years, when it was taken down and the present edifice was erected. Worship was held by the different denominations separately, at different stated times or hours, and there was no record of discord or lack of harmony. Gradually, by reason of deaths and removals, the Baptists and Presbyterians became fewer and fewer in number until they ceased to hold services. The Methodists continued to occupy the house and they still do so, though they have acquired no separate title to the property. The name and style of the organization has not been changed. This society has long been a part of the Knowlesville charge. Harvey L. Shook is superintendent of its Sunday-school.

The Wesleyan Methodist Church of Eagle Harbor was organized in July, 1843, with H. J. Wirt. Aaron Phipps, and Nathan Shelley as trustees. In 1845 and 1846 a framed church building was erected south of the canal. The following have been pastors of this society : Revs. Asa Warren, Samuel Salisbury, Mr. Masten, Jonathan Sibley, Joseph A. Swallow, Benjamin Rider, D. B. Douglas, P. Glanson, C. W. Swift,

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D. B. Baker, L. W. Krahl, John Randolph, A F. Dempsey, H. S. Besse, E. J. Pope, J. B. Fleming, R. F. Dutcher, O. Wight, F. S. Lee, and H. W. McDowell (since April, 1891). The society has about fifty members 'and owns a frame parsonage in the village. The Sunday- school has some sixty scholars with Charles Bennett superintendent. The Wes- leyan Methodist church in the southeast corner of the town of Yates is connected with this charge.

The Church of the Good Shepherd (Universalist) at Fairhaven was organized July 1, 1877, with about 125 members, and with Rev. T. D. Cook as pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Borden. This de- nomination had an organization here nearly fifty years prior to this. John Proctor, at his personal expense, built the present stone house of wor- ship and donated it to the society. Over the entrance is a tablet bear- ing this inscription : "Erected by First Universalist Society A. D. 1834. God is Love." For a time the organization increased in num- bers, but deaths, removals, etc., caused it to cease holding regular services for several years, and many of its members have recently united with the new church in Albion.

The Freewill Baptist Church of East Gaines has a neat frame house of worship and sustains regular services. Rev. C. H. Hoag, the present pastor, assumed the charge in the spring of 1891. David Nesbitt is superintendent of the Sunday-school.

CHAPTER XX.

THE TOWN OF BARRE.

This town was erected from Gaines by an act of the Legislature dated March 6, 1818, and formed a part of Genesee county until the county of Orleans was organized in 1824. It was named by Hon. John Lee from Barre, Mass., where he was born. Judge Lee came here in 1816 and located in that part of the town since called Lee's Settlement. Dr. Thomas Cushing says :

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There was a time when surnames, or family designations, were not used. Then it often happened that several persons in the same neighborhood had the same name, and it became necessary to distinguish one from another by adding to the name something expressive of some peculiarity concerning him ; such as his complexion, his form, occu- pation, parentage or residence. These designations came afterward to be family names ; thus, in Normandy, a man named Jean or Pierre, to distinguish him from some other of the same name, was called Pierre De La Barre, or Peter of the Bar, from certain heraldic marks in the coat of arms of his family. This was adopted as his surname. In time the De ( of ) was dropped, and the name was La Barre. Some of the family emigrated to England and after a time dropped the prefix La (the ) and left the name simply Barre, which is the exact equivalent of the English bar. There was at the time of the American Revolution a Colonel Barre, who was a member of the English Par- liament and a firm friend of the colonies. In honor of him the town of Barre, Mass., received its name.

The town of Barre, at the time of its organization, was bounded on the north by Gaines, on the east by Murray and Sweden (a part of which is now Clarendon), on the south by the present Genesee county. and on the west by Ridgeway (a portion of which became the town of Shelby on March 6, 1818). In 1830 three lots on what is now the western boundary of Albion were annexed to Ridgeway, and in 1875 the town of Albion was set off, leaving Barre with its present area of 33,- 764 acres and bounded as follows : On the north by Albion, on the east by Clarendon, on the south by Genesee county, and on the west by Shelby. The line between this town and Albion extends east and west near to where the Niagara limestone stratum crops out. This rock underlies nearly the whole of Barre.

The surface is gently undulating, and the soil is generally a clay loam on the uplands and muck in the swamps. Being very fertile it produces abundant crops of grass, beans, grain, fruit, etc., large quantities of which are annually shipped to distant markets. In the west part of Barre is a locality called Pine Hill, from the fact that it is the hilliest portion of the town. The soil there is largely sand, yet it contains a number of fine farms. In the south part is the Tonawanda swamp, which is generally covered with timber, which furnishes large quanti- ties of elm, oak and soft maple for heading and black ash and cedar for fencing. The portions that have been cleared produce coarse grass and other marsh vegetation. Much of the timber has been consumed by fires, which continue to sweep over parts of the swamp each year.

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In several places the land rises to moderate elevations, and some of these, which are known as islands, have been converted into excellent farms. The swamp is gradually being drained by natural and artificial methods, and its area is becoming more and more available for agricul- tural purposes. There are no streams of any importance in the town, butlying as it does in the middle of what was formerly the famous Genesee country, it early became an extensive wheat growing seetion, and has always maintained a front rank as a profitable farming locality. Of late years it has become noted for its large apple orchards, which produce fruit of unexcelled quality, and from which thousands of gal- lons of cider and vinegar are annually manufactured. These industries, and the growing of peas, beans, onions and potatoes for market, have instituted extensive cooperage interests, which have developed since about 1860.

The first town meeting in Barre, which then included Albion, was held at the dwelling of Abram Mattison on the Oak Orchard road, a mile and a half south from Albion village, in the spring of 1818. Judge Lee presided. The old records were burned in 1866 and hence a list of the first town officers cannot be obtained. Later town meetings con- vened at Benton's Corners and still later at Barre Center. The super- visors of Barre have been as follows :

Nathan Whitney, 1818, '20; Calvin Smith, 1821; Nathan Whitney, 1822; Ithamar Hebard, 1823; Nathan Whitney, 1824; O. H. Gardner, 1825; Nathan Whitney, 1826; Lansing Bailey, 1827, '28, '29, '30, '31, '32; A. Hyde Core, 1833; Alvah Mattison, 1834, '35; Lansing Bailey, 1836, '37, '38, '39; Alvah Mattison, 1840, '41; Avery M. Starkweather, 1842, '43 ; Elisha Wright, 1844; Lorenzo Burrows, 1845; Warren Par- ker, 1846; William Love, 1847, '48; Anthony Brown, 1849, '50, '51; Austin Day, 1852 ; Henry M. Gibson, 1853. '54, '55; John D. Buckland, 1856, '57 ; Luther Porter, 1858, '59, '60, '61, '62; John D. Buckland, 1863. '64; Norman S. Field, 1865 ; Orpheus A. Root, 1866, '67, '68; Charles H. Mattison, 1869, '70, '71; A. Gregory, 1872; Ozro Love, 1873, '74 ; H. D. Waldo, 1875, '76, '77, '78 ; E. E. Allis, 1879, '80, '81; Sylves- ter Bragg, 1882, '83, '84; Asahel D. Bannister, 1885; John A. Raymond, 1886, '87, '88; Oman Everts, 1889 ; John Grinell, 1890; George W. Posson, 1891, '92, '93; William Luttenton, 1894.

The town includes ranges one and two of township 14 of the Holland Purchase, except the north three-fourths of the northern tier of lots in these ranges, which are included in the town of Albion. The first range in this township was divided into forty lots, which were articled and

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deeded according to the books of the Holland Land Company, as fol- lows :

Lots 1, 2 and east part of 3 were purchased by Charles E. Dudley, esq., on the 26th of January, 1828. These were assigned to the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company July 3, 1854.

The west part of lot 3, containing 100 acres, was articled September 6, 1825, to Will- iam Snyder, who held it till 1833. November 28, of that year, it was articled to Lewis Burgess. The part of the same lot, 100 acres, lying next east from this was articled to Lyman Fletcher September 6, 1825. October 9, 1833, it was transferred to Thomas Burgess, and $65 in cattle was paid. December 27, 1837, the west 200 acres of lot 3 were deeded to Channcey Woodworth and Levi Gray.

February 28, 1817, the north part of lot 4, 100 acres, was articled to Samuel Bidwell, jr., August 7, 1830, the east half of this part was articled to Lyman Fletcher, and Octo- ber 31, 1833, was deeded by the company to Eli E. White. November 20, 1833, the west half was deeded to Clark Fuller. October 13, 1817, the part of lot 4, next south from the above, 100 acres, was articled to Amos Dodge, jr., and in 1829 it reverted. A portion of this was articled to Walter Bradley September 25, 1830, but it reverted in 1834. A portion was articled to Orson Tousley, but it subsequently reverted. The next tract south from this, on the same lot, was sold by article to Amos Palmer March 19, 1818. He was followed, in succession, by Walter Bradley, Jacob B. Hill, Abner Bishop and George Mills. The east part of these, 32 acres, was deeded to Volen- tine Tousley December 3, 1833. The middle part, with the middle part of the south tract, 100 acres, was deeded by the F. L. & T. Co. to Trumbull Cary Jany 1, 1839. The west part, 82 acres, was deeded to Jacob B. Hill December 4, 1835. The southwest part of lot 4 was sold by article to John R. Sturdevant November 2, 1818. Forty acres of this were transferred to James Barber November 27, 1827, and to Jonathan Perry December 2, 1833. December 4, 1835, this, with 40 acres more, was deeded to Jacob B. Hill. The southeast part of lot 4, 126 acres, was articled to Nathaniel W. Cole Oc- tober 8, 1818, and 50 acres of this were transferred to John Cesler October 19, 1829. Payments were made in cattle, wheat and cash; but it reverted July 1, 1839. Seventy- six acres of this part were transferred to Abner Bishop, jr., and Bradley Bishop Octo- ber 19, 1829, and to Lyman and Ephraim Fletcher October 7, 1834, and were deeded to Aaron Orr November 21, 1837.

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Landmarks of Orleans County, New York, Part 46

Author: Signor, Isaac S., ed Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Syracuse : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Signor, Isaac S., ed
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1084