USA > New York > Orleans County > Landmarks of Orleans County, New York > Part 55
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Rev. Jotham Morse was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1793, and in 1814 was married to Dorcas Ferris. About 1814 he came to Orleans county and took up land west of Eagle Harbor. He first lived in a shanty which he found empty, but soon built and occupied a log house on his own land He was married three times and had fourteen children. He was one of the constituent members of the Christian church in the west part of the town of Albion, and he preached there more or less for more than fifty years. In the latter part of his life he · resided at West Shelby. He was blind for many years. In Thomas's History Rev. Mr. Morse writes :
I bought a three year old heifer, and paid for her in chopping three acres of timber and fitting it for logging, going three miles to the place where I did my work. In time of haying and harvest I walked to Palmyra and worked there three weeks to buy pork and wheat for my family. The next fall I moved into a log house I had built and felt at home. The next year I had a little trial such as was common to pioneer settlers in those days. It was before harvest. My cow had lost her bell, and had been gone in the woods eight days. We were destitute of provisions, except a small piece of bread, some sugar, and some vinegar. I went to the nearest place where flour was
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sold and could get none. On my return we gave the last morsel of bread to our chil- dren. I picked some potato tops, which my wife boiled, and we ate, dressing them with vinegar. Our empty stomachs would not retain this diet. We speedily vomited them up and retired supperless to bed. Early next morning I arose and went to my neighbor's, a mile away, and they divided their small store of flour with me. I carried it home and my wife salted some water and made some pudding, which we ate with maple sugar, and this seemed to me to be truly the best meal of victuals I ever ate.
Joseph, John J., and Jacob Snell, brothers, natives of Herkimer county, N. Y., came to Shelby at an early day and located in the west part of the town. Daniel and Solomon Snell were brothers and rela- tives of the others, and John P. Snell, also a relative, came early and all settled in the same vicinity. The descendants of these have been some- what numerous, and have scattered in various directions, but many still remain here.
William Sowle, a native of Massachusetts, born in 1800, removed to Saratoga county, N. Y., and after two years came to Shelby and located nearly a mile east from Shelby Center, where he remained till his death in 1863. His wife, to whom he was married in 1823, was Hannah Meeker, born in Saratoga county in 1804. She died in 1866. Of their sixteen children eleven lived to manhood and womanhood.
Joseph Wyman, a native of Vermont, came to Shelby prior to 1820, and lived in a rented log house on lot 24. With him came two sons and two daughters, all young men and women. Oliver Wyman, oldest son of Joseph, married a daughter of Rev. Jotham Morse, and they set- tled three-fourths of a mile from Millville. Oliver died some twenty- five years since. John Wyman, second son of Joseph, was a mechanic. He removed early to Berea, Ohio.
Isaiah Grinell was a native of Rhode Island ; from there he removed to Saratoga county, N. Y., thence to Oneida county, and thence to Onondaga county where he died at the age of ninety. His children were Ezra, John, Major, Amos, Betsey (Mrs. Alanson Tinkham), Eliza (Mrs. William Tyler), Chloe (Mrs. Relly Tinkham), and Anny (Mrs. Weston Wetherbee). Ezra Grinell was born in Saratoga county, in 1795, and married Lucretia Leonard, who was born in the same year. Their chil- dren were Marcus, who married Josephine Manchester; Lauren, who married Marilla Leach ; Isaiah ; Leonard ; Horace, who married Thurza Green; Jane, who married Seth Balcom; Perry, who married Kate
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Clark; Eliza, who married Wesley Gregory; Jeanette, who married Frank Carpenter; and Willis, who married, first, Lura Avery, and sec- ond, Emily Potts. John Grinell was born in Saratoga county in 1796. He came to Orleans county in 1820, and first located in Barre, but re- moved in 1854 to Shelby, where he remained till his death. He was three times married : first to Roxana Tinkham, then to Lucy Babcock, and lastly to Mrs. Julia Ann Abbott. His children were: Cyrene, Daniel, Paul, Peter, Lyman, Andrew J., J. Wesley, Mahala, Harley, John Jr., and Ella J. Mr. Grinell was an active, energetic man and at different times was the owner of many farms in Shelby. Major Grinell was born in 1803. He married, first, Betsey Fisher, and second, Delilah Wheeler. His children were: Lorenzo, George, Loranus, Sally, Noah, Celinda, Emeline, Alanson, Marvin, Ann, and Clayson.
Nathan Ide was born in Mayfield, N. Y., in 1787. His wife was Alu- shia Bigford, also of Fulton county. They removed to Riga, Monroe county, and thence in 1820 to Shelby. They settled on lot 5, just north from East Shelby, where both died in 1871. Of their six children Samuel was for many years a house builder in Medina, and of his eight sons seven are mechanics.
Alanson Tinkham was born in New England in 1800. When quite young he removed to Onondaga county, N. Y., whence about 1820, he came to Orleans county and took up 54 acres on lot 59 in the south- west part of Barre. Thence in 1833, he removed to a farm which he purchased on lot 3 in the southeast part of Shelby, where he remained till his death in 1872, and where his son, Morris Tinkham, succeeded him. His wife, to whom he was married in 1820, was Betsey Grinell, sister of the late John Grinell. She died in 1882. Of their twelve children eight lived to adult age: Minerva married Jeremiah Hatha- way; Darius married Mary Gregory; Jane married Harvey Gregory ; Eliza married Joseph Dorrance ; Maryette married William Neal ; Maria married Wilson Kirkham ; Morris married Juliette Winchester; and Alice married M. N. Downing.
John Shelp, a native of Schoharie county, N. Y., was born in 1791. He married Mary A. Cone in 1818. In 1821 they came to Shelby and purchased land on lot 42, a mile west from West Shelby, .where they remained till their deaths. He died in 1868 and she in 1883. His
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ORLEANS COUNTY.
brother, William Shelp, came to Shelby at a subsequent date but re- moved west afterward. John Shelp reared five daughters and one son. The son, William Shelp, died in 1887.
Caleb and Cornelius Stillwell, sons of Caleb, were settlers on lot 6, south from Shelby Center, in 1823. Cornelius died in 1866 and Caleb in 1880.
Lathrop A. G. B. Grant, came to Shelby about 1824 and established himself in the mercantile business. He afterward became a large dealer in produce. His wife was a daughter of Col. A. G. Ellicott. About 185 I he built the large stone mills at Shelby Center, and conducted them for some years. He was an active and influential citizen and was five times elected supervisor of the town. He was also the first repre- sentative of Orleans county in the Assembly, to which position he was elected in 1826, He passed the latter years of his life in Oswego, N. Y.
William Hill, a native of Dutchess county, N. Y., was born in 1793. In 1798 his father removed to Saratoga county, whence, in the spring of 1824, William came to Shelby and located on lot 31. During that summer he labored a portion of the time on the canal feeder, and in the autumn returned to Saratoga county, where he married Clarissa Miller, of Montgomery county, born in 1801. They at once removed to their home in Shelby where they remained till their deaths. He died in 1868, she in 1888. They raised to adult age five sons and four daughters, of whom Horatio N. died at West Barre in 1891, and Jud- son died in Michigan.
William E. Woodford, born in Onondaga county, N. Y., in 1807, in early manhood came to Shelby and purchased land a mile south from Millville. After several removals he settled again half a mile west from Milville, where he died in 1885. He was twice married: first to Margaret Bent in 1833, by whom he had two sons. He was again married in 1843 to Mrs. Dolly Ann Wood. They reared four children.
Gardner Berry was born in Seneca county, N. Y., in 1801. His wife, whose maiden name was Betsey Russell, was born at Phelps, Ontario county, in 1805, and they were married in 1823. In the same year they removed to Genesee county and in 1826 to Shelby and set- tled on lot 10, near East Shelby, where they resided till their deaths. She died in 1851, and he in 1861. Their children were Andrew J.
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Betsey J., Eliza A., Lucinda, John G., and Clark. All lived to man- hood and womanhood, Andrew J. died in the army. John G. Berry was born at Shelby in 1832 and was married in 1852 to Fidelia Crane, a native of Barre. He died in 1891 ; she resides on the farm where his father settled in 1821.
Henry L'Hommedieu, of French descent, was born in Vermont in 1799. In 1826 he came to Shelby and located a mile west from Mill- ville on the farm now occupied by his son, Hon. Wallace L'Homme- dieu. He was married in 1825 to Almira Hathaway of Granby, Vt. They reared to adult age six children. Of these one son, Hon. Wallace L'Hommedieu, and three daughters reside in Shelby.
Otis Baker, a native of New England, born in 1796, came to Shelby in 1829 and located on lot 22, two miles from Medina, where he resided till about 1860. He afterward lived in Albion and Medina, and lastly in Shelby a mile west from Millville, where he died in 1860. He was twice married and reared ten children.
John Childs, jr, was born in Massachusetts. He received a classical education, and studied both theology and medicine, but never became a clergyman or a practicing physician. He resided in several places after removing from Massachusetts, and in 1818 settled in Royalton, Niagara county, whence he afterward removed to Michigan, where he died. He was the father of thirteen children by two wives. Of these Daniel and Rev. J. D. Childs became citizens of Shelby ; Daniel was a farmer. He died at West Shelby in 1872. Rev. J. D. Childs, who was born in 1816, became a clergyman of the Christian denomination at the age of eighteen, and has been a preacher and a farmer ever since. His wife, to whom he was married in 1838, was Betsey Letts, of Shelby. She died in 1889. Their children were: Mandana (Mrs. Luther Reming- ton), and Mary (Mrs. George Eckerson). Liberality and independence of thought, and courage in the expression of his convictions are the dis- tinguishing characteristics of Mr. Childs. In 1894 he had conferred on him the degrees of Ph.D. and D.D.
Horace Linsley was born in Vermont in 1799. He was four times married and reared nine children, six of whom were born in Vermont. He came to Orleans county in 1832, and settled in the northwestern part of Barre, where he remained till his death in 1886.
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Rev. Daniel Jenkins was born in 1806. In 1832 he married Mary Ainsworth, who was born in 181I. The same year they came to Shelby and purchased from Jacob Wetherwax a farm on lot 25, south from West Shelby. They remained here till their death. She died in 1878, he in 1887. They reared five children : Wesley, Martha, Dr. John, Rev. Menzo, and Mary. Soon after coming to Shelby Mr. Jen- kins was licensed as a local preacher, and in due time he was ordained.
Amnon Blair was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1793. In 1833 he removed to Shelby and located on lot 7, near Shelby Center, where he remained till his death in 1878. His first wife was Maria Stark- weather, of Saratoga county. She died in 1830, and he afterward mar- ried Eliza Manchester, of Broadalbin, Fulton county. He was married a third time to Virtue Sherman, also of Broadalbin. By his first mar- riage he had two children : Nancy D. (Mrs. S. A. Poler), and Avery S. By the second marriage the only child was David A. Blair.
Simon Poler, a native of Saratoga county, was born in 1798. In 1833 he removed to Shelby and located on lot 27, about a mile north from West Shelby. His wife was Fanny Sayles, a native of Saratoga county. They reared five children. Mr. Poler died in 1868, his wife in 1865. .
Philip B. Jackson was born in Redfield, Conn., in 1780, and removed thence to Wayne county. In 1833 he came to East Shelby and located on lot 4, where he died in 1865. The place was long known as Jack- son's Corners, or West Jackson's Corners, to distinguish it from West Barre. His son, Philip B., succeeded him on the farm, and died there in 1885. He was a prominent citizen and was many years a magis- trate, and was also a justice of sessions. His son, George B. Jackson, was a soldier in the Union Army during the late civil war.
Silas Culver was born in Otsego county, N. Y., in 1808. His wife, Elmira Swart, was born in 1812. They had ten children. She died in 1855, and in 1857 he married Sarah Ann Mundon. They had six children. He died in 1888. His widow married J. W. Gregory. Mr. Culver came to Shelby in 1834, and purchased the north part of lot 19, a mile west from East Shelby, where he resided till his death. He was a prosperous farmer, and accumulated a large property.
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David Burroughs, the first supervisor of the town, was born in New Jersey. Removing to Shelby in 1818 he settled on a farm two miles southwest from the Center, and during the remainder of his life was one of the most active of citizens. In 1820 he was appointed a justice of the peace and held the office until his death in 1822, aged forty-six years, at which time he was a member of the Constitutional Convention. His son, Hon. Silas M. Burroughs, was first a merchant and afterward a lawyer, and represented Orleans county four years in the Assembly, and was twice elected to Congress, but died before the end of his second term.
In the winter of 1819 Abner Hunt, in order to get money to pay his taxes, threshed wheat for John Burt for every tenth bushel. The work was done on the floor of a log barn, ten by eighteen feet, and the chaff was separated from the wheat with a hand fan made of boards. Mr. Hunt carried his share of the wheat on his back two miles, and sold it to Micah Harrington for twenty-five cents a bushel.
William Bennett died October 4, 1812, which was the first death of a white person in Shelby. His remains were interred in the cemetery at the Center. The first school house in town was built a short distance south from Shelby Center and the first brick building was a school house at that village. The first school was taught by Cornelius Ashton in the winter of 1815-16. About 1820 Judge William Penniman taught school near Millville. Upon the erection of the present school house in Shelby Center, the district, in payment for collecting the taxes for con- structing the new building, gave Robert Drake the old structure and it was metamorphosed into a dwelling. The first frame house in town was located near the old Wormuth tannery at the Center. The first resident physician, Dr. Christopher Whaley, settled at Shelby Center in September, 1819, and was followed soon after by Dr. George Norton. Dr. Whaley was born in Montville, Conn., June 16, 1798, was gradu- ated from Fairfield Medical College in June, 1819, and died October 26, 1867. Dr. Abiel Bowen was a physician and farmer at West Shelby many years. He died in 1847.
On subsequent pages of this volume will be found extended mention of many other pioneers and representative families of Shelby, one and all of whom have contributed to the steady growth and material advance-
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ment of one of the finest sections of Western New York. Those hardy settlers of early days are gone to their reward, but their children and grandchildren and others are enjoying the fruits of labor performed amid privations, sufferings, and hardships, and with commendable pride are perpetuating their names and deeds of heroism on the page of history.
During the war of the Rebellion the town of Shelby contributed lib- erally and promptly of both money and men to sustain the nation's cause. Her volunteers fought and fell side by side with the brave soldiers from other portions of the North; a few still remain to tell of deeds and sufferings heroic-to retell the ever interesting story of that sanguinary conflict. A list of those who went out from this town is as follows :
Henry Allen, 28th Inf.
Edwin Bentley.
Samuel Amos, 17th Bat.
George Bentley, 8th Art.
Frederick Addleburg, 21st Bat.
Henry Breed, 90th Inf.
Daniel Arnold, 151st Inf.
Robert Coleman, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Harrison Allen, 2d Mounted Rifles.
John Clark, 28th Inf.
John Altre, 90th Inf.
Joseph Caldwell, 8th Art.
George A. Bennett, 14th Art.
Andrew Coon, 17th Bat.
Silas A. Bird, 8th Art.
Samuel Coleman, Ist Art.
Jesse Benson, 151st Inf.
Theodore Collins, drafted.
Luther L. Benson, 8th Art.
Joseph H. Cromer, 90th Inf.
John W. Bleekman, 17th Bat.
Henry Cox, 28th Inf.
George R. Bleekman, 97th Inf.
Royal Corey, 14th Art.
Alexander Butterfield, 90th Inf.
John Corey, 3d Cav.
William H. Bartram 28th Inf.
George Combe, 13th Art.
William Barker, 8th Inf.
Benjamin Cook, 21st Cav.
John Bothrick, 8th Art. Carlos Beecher, 8th Art.
Wyndle P. Clute.
Ovid W. Barney, 8th Art.
Eugene Cheeseman.
George Bidleman, 8th Art.
Jacob Deyc, 17th Bat.
William Buck, N. Y. Cav.
Robert W. Drake, 17th Bat.
George Bigford, 28th Inf.
James K. Bidleman, 8th Art.
William Deyo, Ist Art. Carlton C. Demera, 8th Art.
Henry Bentley, 97th Inf.
Alexander Dietrich, Ist Art.
Leander Davis, Ist Art.
J. Alfred Barringer, 17th Bat. Frank Bentley, 2d Mounted Rifles. Alvin Brown, 151st Inf.
David Dun, Ist Art.
Peter Dingy, 17th Bat.
- - Aldrich, 5th Bat.
James Caldwell, 8th Art.
Lehman Brace, 28th Inf.
John Culver, Ist Art.
Thomas Carr
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Joseph L. Dorrance, 27th Inf. Henry Draper, Ist Art.
Joseph Edick, 8th Art. David Ellicott, Ist Art. Frank Ellicott, 1st Art.
Chandler Ellicott, 17th Bat.
Morton M. Edmonds, 17th Bat.
Richard F. Easton, 98th Inf.
Edward Evans, 3d Cav. Frederick Fish, 17th Bat.
William T. Filer, 17th Bat.
William T. Fearly, 8th Cav. Lynns T. Finch, 8th Art.
Henry Fritcher, 8th Art.
George W. Farley, 31st Bat.
John Foye, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Thomas Foley, 2d Mounted Rifles. Thomas Freely. John Grinnell, jr., 90th Inf.
Isaac N. Green, jr., 14th Art.
Thomas W. Green, 14th Art.
William H. Graves, 17th Bat. Clark Gifford, 8th Art.
David Glancy. William Griffin.
Grazier Gates.
Edgar Hoaglan, 2d Mounted Rifles. Melville Hatch, 17th Bat.
Charles Hatch, Ist Art.
Edward E. Hill, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Nelson L. Huxley, 17th Bat.
Asa Hill, 28th Inf.
August Hankey, 28th Inf.
Alonzo Ham, 17th Bat. James Hawkins, 8th Art. David Hall, Ist Art.
Henry Hill, 4th Art.
William M. Ham, 17th Bat.
Elliott E. Hoaglan, 28th Inf. William H. Hardy, 8th Art. Sward Huff, 17th Bat.
Francis Holland, 3d Cav.
Edward E. Headley, 21st Bat. George Headley.
Cornelius Howard, 90th Inf. William Harland, 90th Inf. Henry Hawley, 90th Inf.
Dewey Hawkins, 3d Cav. Gilbert Harrington. Henry Ide, 90th Inf. Cephas Jones.
George B. Jackson, 17th Bat. John Jenkins, 49th Inf.
Frank Ketcham, 8th Art. Lawrence Keegan, Ist Art. Frank B. Kent, 3d Cav ; Major 2d col'd Cav. Aaron Lewis, 28th Inf. James Lasher, 8th Art.
Abner Leafler, 17th Bat. James Lysett, 17th Bat. John Leighbody, 8th Art.
Joseph Little, 2d Mounted Rifles. William H. Lamson. Wilbur Lott. John McGunn, 17th Bat.
David McCarger, 17th Bat.
Robert Montgomery, 17th Bat.
James Mundion 90th Inf. John Miller, 28th Inf., 2d Mounted Rifles. George A. Marshall, 8th Art.
James Mann, 8th Art. George Mann, 8th Art.
Francis Martin, 8th Art.
John McDonald, 17th Bat. Charles Mace, 17th Bat. James Mace, 17th Bat. Josiah F. Morgan, Ist Bat. George Moore, 17th Bat. Wallace McDonald, 28th Inf.
Edward J. Miller, 18th Bat.
George F. Norman, 8th Art. William Neal, 17th Bat.
Edward Olds, 17th Bat.
Ar drew Ondordonk, 90th Inf. James O'Brien.
Monroe Peaslee, 151st Inf. Jesse Pratt, 151st Inf. Stillman Pratt, 151st Inf.
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ORLEANS COUNTY.
George W. Palmer, 28th Inf. John Phelan, 8th Art,
August Praell, 3d Cav. Edward Priddy, 90th Inf. Wilber F. Prescott, 90th Inf. Mandeville Phelps, 1st Art.
Newell J. Phelps, 151st Inf. Charles Price, 28th Inf.
William H. Perry, 25th Bat.
James Panders, 2d Mounted Rifles. Herbert M. Prentice, 2d Mounted Rifles. William Quinby. Jacob Ross, 151st Inf. Henry Ross, 8th Art. Michael Ryan. Ziba Roberts, 28tb Inf.
James Roach, 164th Inf.
Orlando Reynolds, 14th Art.
William H. Reynolds, 8th Art. Preston Ryan, 151st Inf.
Lysander Robbins, 8th Art.
Jacob Rinker, 31st Bat. Charles Ross, 8th Cav. Charles Riordan, 3d Cav. John Riley. William Ryan, 90th Inf.
Eugene H. Seeley, 8th Art.
Avery Smith, 17th Bat. John A. Smith, 28th Inf.
Alonzo W. Snyder, 90th Inf. James C. Swarthout, 14th Art.
David Sanderson, 29th Inf.
Frank Sanderson, 28th Inf. Caleb Stillwell, 28th Inf. Myron Sherwood, 8th Art. William Shelby, 8th Art. Robert W. Smith, 17th Bat.
Thomas Smalley, 28th Bat. Edward C. Sleight, Ind Co. Harvey W. Swarthout, 2d Mounted Rifles. Albert D. Sowle, Ist Art.
Francis M. Phelps, 187th Inf.
Daniel B. Seeley, 21st Cav. William Sowle, jr., 17th Bat. George Sowle, Ist Art.
George A. Stanton, 8th Art. James Smith. Snell. Frederick Streeter, 17th Bat. Uriah Schwartz.
John Shean, 90th Inf.
James Theodore, 18th Art.
William C. Tucker, 90th Inf. Lorenzo Toney, 100th Inf.
John Travis, 8th Art.
Burt J. Trowbridge, 90th Inf. William Thurston, 90th Inf.
Rensselaer Tobis, 90th Inf. William Trow, 8th Art.
F. H. B. Taylor, 3d Cav. John T. Tenbroeck. William Thurston.
Abram Vreeland, 28th Inf. Syron Vreeland, 17th Bat. Sidney Vaugh, 129th Inf; Capt. 12th U. S. colored Art.
Alexander Vedder, jr., 25th Bat.
Charles Van Wormer.
Francis E. Warner, 8th Art.
Ralph Wood, 90th Inf.
Henry Webb, 28th Inf.
Lamont Wickham, 8th Art.
Eli Ward, 17th Bat. William Waldron, 4th Art.
Milton Whipple, 17th Bat. Nathan S. Wood, jr., 4th Art. Charles Woodford, 2d Mounted Rifles.
Jacob H. Wager, 2d Mounted Rifles.
James H. Whitmore, 17th Bat.
Charles Winegar, Ist Art. Francis Wilmarth, 17th Bat.
Sands C. Wheeler, 90th Inf. Gilbert Woodhull, 151st Inf. George Woodhull, 8th Art. William G. Wade, 28th Inf. John M. Wheeler, 8th Art. Davis Wildey, 17th Bat. Bradley Webster, 8th Cav. Charles Williams.
James B. Wells, 2d Mounted Rifles.
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In this connection the following certificate found among the town's records is worthy of preservation :
PENSION CERTIFICATE, WAR OF 1775. War Department, Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that in conformity with the laws of the United States, of the 18th of March, 1818, Joseph Flood, late a private in the army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the pension list roll of the New York agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the 30th day of May, 1818. Given at the war office of the United States, this 24th day of November, 1818.
J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War.
In 1850 the Medina and Alabama plank road was chartered and con- structed through the center of the town, but the plank soon proved a failure and it was stoned and graveled. The charter expired in 1880. Through the western part of Shelby passes the old salt works road. The first highway that was opened and worked north and south across the county was the Oak Orchard road, and from this to Shelby Center the Holland Land Company cut a road at an early day to enable settlers to reach the Ellicott mill. The present highways are well kept and com- pare favorably with those of any section of the State.
In 1820 the average value of land in Shelby was $5.91 per acre ; number of taxable inhabitants, 199; valuation of real estate owned by residents, $130,916 ; and of personal property, $1,750; tax upon real estate of residents, $293.64, and of non-residents assessed to the Hol- land Land Company, $191.26. In 1890 the town had a population, ex- clusive of that portion of Medina village lying within its territory, of 2,098, a decrease since 1880 of 464. In 1893 its real estate was as- sessed at $1,827,515 (equalized $1,633,940) and its personal property at $88,850. The total tax on roll aggregated $12,174.53, the rate per cent. being .0060868. The dog tax amounted to $273, and the town audits allowed $3,089.83. The corporations doing business or owning property in Shelby are assessed on real estate as follows : N. Y. C. & H. R. R. R. Co, $152,000; Medina Electric Light Company, $1,750 ; Medina Water Works Company, $15,000; Postal Telegraph Company, $5,250 ; Western Union Telegraph Company, $3,375 ; Bell Telephone Company, $1,875 ; Milsons Fertilizer Company, $125. The present (1894) town officers are Ervin Posson, supervisor ; Herbert L. Olmstead,
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town clerk; Grandison W. Liddle, Herbert E. Kilner, A. A. Danields, Egbert B. Simonds, justices of the peace ; Marcellus Culver, collector ; Nelson Posson, assessor ; W. C. Culver, overseer of the poor ; R. A. Saunders, highway commissioner.
SHELBY (locally known as Shelby Center.)-November 9, 1810, the north part of lot thirty-seven and the whole of lot thirty-eight in the third range, were articled to Col. Andrew A. Ellicott, October 14, 1823, he took up the east part of lot 7, range 3. The land thus articled to Mr. Ellicott included the water power at Sheby Center and nearly or quite all the present village. The line between the third and fourth ranges was run by Warham Shepard in November. 1798, and on the 13th of that month the camp of the surveying party was within the present limits of Medina. The surveys of the Holland purchase were made under the direction of Joseph Ellicott, and in their field notes the surveyors set down such items of information concerning the re- gions surveyed as would subsequently be of value to the agents of the company. It was noted that here the stream afforded excellent water power, and the surveyors who afterward divided the ranges and town- ships into lots gave more detailed descriptions of the lands which they surveyed. By these means the company's agents in the land office were made acquainted with the physicial features of all parts of the purchase, and could estimate very closely the advantages and disadvantages which every locality presented. Except at the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek there was, at the commencement of this century, no point within the present limits or Orleans county that gave greater promise of develop- ment into an active and prosperous village in the near future than did this place. The canal had not then been dreamed of, and the site of Medina gave no promise of being anything more than a suburb of the town that was destined to spring up here with a certainty that the cir- cumstances warranted. Joseph Ellicott secured about 800 acres here by article to his nephew, Col. Andrew A. Ellicott, in 1810, and 500 acres, extending two miles down the creek, to Joseph Ellicott, jr., some ten years later.
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