USA > New York > Wayne County > Landmarks of Wayne County, New York, Pt. 1 > Part 20
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The Globe Manufacturing Company .- In 1864 J. M. Jones patented the "Globe " job printing press, began its manufacture, and in 1867 formed the Jones Manufacturing Company, of which Henry Johnson was president, George Bowman vice-president, and Mr. Jones superin- tendent. In 1870 the firm was reorganized, Mr. Jones giving place to WV. I. Reid. In 1843 the name became the Globe Manufacturing Co., incorporated, with A. P. Crandall, president; Geo. Bowman, secretary; W. I. Reid, superintendent. The capital was $152,000. The present officers are Henry R. Durfee, president; B. H. Davis, treasurer; A. P. Seeley, secretary. They manufacture job printing presses and paper cutters, giving employment to a large force of skilled mechanics. This is one of the largest printing press factories in the United States, and the goods are sold throughout this country, Mexico, South America, and Europe.
J. M. Jones & Co., in 1871, established another printing press and paper cutter factory opposite the above works, in which from fifteen to twenty-five hands are employed. They manufacture goods almost ex- clusively from Mr. Jones's inventions.
The Garlock Packing Company had its inception about 1880, when O. J. Garlock, a practical engineer, invented and afterwards patented a packing for steam engines. He began its manufacturing about 1884, and for a few months was in partnership with T. V. Garlock. In the fall of 1885 the firm became Garlock & Crandall and in December of that year Eugene Nichols became a partner under the name of Garlock, Crandall & Co. In September, 1887, F. W. Griffith purchased Crandall's interest and the present firm was organized. In 1888 a branch factory was started in Rome, Ga. The company has branch offices in the larger cities, and employ from fifteen to twenty men here. The extensive . business has been built up from a capital of less than $500.
The Crandall Packing Company was started as Crandall & Chase in 1887, and in June, 1891, the present firm was incorporated, the officers
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being George H. Crandall, president; W. J. Hennessey, vice-president ; C. HI. North, secretary; B. H. Davis, treasurer. The present officers are: A. S. Downing, president; B. H. Davis, vice-president; C. H. North, secretary; W. J. Hennessey, treasurer. The capital is $15, 000, and ten or fifteen men are employed. Packing for steam engines is manufactured.
Palmyra village in 1828 had eighteen dry goods stores and three tan- neries, and the usual complement of shops, mills, etc. It now contains three dry goods stores, ten groceries, three hardware stores, three printing offices and weekly newspapers, three clothing stores, three millinery shops, three furniture and undertaking establishments, four drug stores, two jewelry and two shoe stores, two banks, a bakery, five variety stores, five hotels, three liveries, seven lawyers, five physicians, three dentists, six churches, a classical union school, two printing press and two packing manufactories, a second-hand store, two cigar factories, a laundry, two agricultural implement dealers, two carriage shops, a harness shop, one warehouse, two coal dealers, a lumber yard, two produce dealers, three malt houses, two grist mills, several small shops, and a population of about 2,100. While the canal was depended upon as a means of transportation, the village grew and prospered, but the construction of the New York Central Railroad, with a station at some distance from the business center, had a blighting effect. The worst blow to its activity, however, was the opening of the Lake Ontario Shore (now the R. W. & O.) Railroad, which shut off a large territory that had long been a field of tributary trade.
EAST PALMYRA .- This is a post village on the New York Central Rail- road, near the east border of the town. It was settled by Humphrey Sherman in 1994, in which year he buit an ashery. and a blacksmith shop, the former near the subsequent shop (erected in 183%) of his grandson, D. A. Sherman. In 1795 he started a distillery, which in 1812 passed to his sons Alexander and Stephen; Stephen Sherman died in 1823, and in 1831 it came into the hands of Charles Curtis, and in 1842 to D. A. Sherman, with whom it went down. Humphrey Sher- man erected on the site of the old log cabin a large brick building in 1801, which he opened and kept many years as a tavern; Stephen and Gideon Sherman were his successors until the death of the latter in 1825, when the structure was converted into a dwelling, and finally passed into the possession of Caleb Beals. In 1806 Sherman built a brick storehouse, which was kept by a Mr. White; it eventually became
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a dwelling and was occupied by John Beals. In 1811 the Shermans erected a dam and grist mill, of which Erastus Stacey was proprietor several years. In 1835 Moore & Stacey built a second grist mill. Jacob Sherman was an early shoemaker, and J. Girard a groceryman; the former lived in the old house near the railroad and was postmaster for forty years. In 1830 a school house was built, in which Dexter Clark was an early teacher; later the present stone school house was erected. The village now contains two stores, a blacksmith and wagon shop, an evaporator, a peppermint still, two churches, a district school, and about 180 inhabitants. The postmaster is Andrew P. Gambell, who succeeded William H. Cronise.
CHURCHES .- Religious services in the present town of Palmyra were first held in private houses among the members of the Long Island colony in 1692. They were of the Presbyterian order, and in 1793 were moved to the annex of David H. Foster's house, which had been used as a school room, where, on December 5, a church was organized under the Congregational form of government. The organizer was Rev. Ira Condit, and the constituent members were: David H. Foster and wife Mary, Stephen Reeves and wife Mary, Howell Fort, Mrs. Sarah Starks, Nathaniel Terry and wife Anna, Moses Culver, Jonah Howell, sr., Benjamin Hopkins and wife Sarah. James Reeves was clerk; Stephen Reeves and David H. Foster, elders; Elias Reeves, Stephen Post, and Benjamin Hopkins, trustees. This was the first church organized in the State west of the pre-emption line. Meetings were held in the school house and in private dwellings until 1802. November 10, 1806, fifty-one members subscribed $1,026 for the erection of a house of wor- ship, and March 23, 1804, Gideon' Durfee and Humphrey Sherman deeded the site at East Palmyra to the trustees, who were: Arnold Franklin, Samuel Soverhill, Paul Reeves, Benjamin Hopkins, James Reeves, and Howell Post. Paul Reeves had charge of the work, and the raising of the frame occupied a day and a half. A recent number of the Palmyra Dispatch contains a history of this church, and it is stated therein that the frame was not raised until a few gallons of whisky had been supplied to the men. In September, 1807, the edifice, having been inclosed, was opened for services, but its dedication did not occur until September 11, 1810, when Rev. Benjamin Bell was pastor. Rev. Howell Powell, of Phelps, officiated. The building was inclosed with basswood boards and contained doors on the east, north, and west. It had galleries on three sides and the pulpit resembled a goblet. It
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was taken down in 1840, and the present edifice erected on the old site; the new structure was dedicated January 12, 1843, by Rev. Ira Ingra- ham, of Lyons. This was remodeled, and on January 12, 1870, was re- consecrated by Rev. Horace Eaton, D. D. In 1807 this church adopted the Presbyterian form of government and was attached to the Geneva presbytery. In February, 1812, two churches were formed, this one taking the name of the Presbyterian Church of East Palmyra. The society has about 130 members, and the pastor is Rev. M. G. Henry.
The Western Presbyterian church of Palmyra was "set off" from the parent society at East Palmyra on February 26, 1814, with fifty-six members, the organizer being Rev. Francis Pomeroy. The first pastor was Rev. Jesse Townsend, who was installed August 29, of that year, and who died in Palmyra in August, 1838. Other pastors took charge, and in November, 1828, Rev. G. R. H. Shumway was ordained and remained seven years; he was subsequently pastor in Newark for a quarter of a century, and died in Pennsylvania in 1874. Services were held in the Union church (the town hall, built in 1811, and destroyed by fire) until 1832, when the present brick edifice was erected on the northeast corner of Main and Church streets. It was dedicated in 1834. This society is the second daughter of the East Palmyra church, the first or oldest being a union of all creeds at Lyons on October 23, 1809, from which the Lyons Presbyterian church was organized in 1816. Rev. Horace Eaton, D. D., began his pastorate in the Palmyra church in 1849, and died here in October, 1883. The society has about 350 members, under the pastorship of Rev. Stephen G. Hopkins.
The First Baptist Church of Palmyra was organized May 29, 1800, at the house of Lemuel Spear, with nineteen members. In 1808 a frame meeting house, 40x50 feet, was built at Kent's Corners in Macedon, and the society continued worship until 1835. November 9, 1832, another Baptist church was organized at the house of Rev. John D. Heart in Palmyra, with forty-seven members; on December 13, it adopted articles of faith and covenant, and January 16, 1833, the church was formally recognized by council. Rev. Mr. Heart was pastor, William Parke and Erastus R. Spear were the deacons, and Josiah Francis was the clerk. This society existed but one year, for on December 14, 1833, it asked to be received back into the church at Kent's Corners, which was done. Rev. Mr. Richards, the pastor, thenceforward preached in the High School building in Palmyra every alternate Sunday until February 11, 1835, when a mutual separation was agreed upon and two distinct
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churches were formed-the old society to retain the property and change its name to the First Baptist Church of Macedon, and the new one to become the First Baptist Church and Society of Palmyra. This latter organization consisted of seventy-eight members, who chose R. C. Jackson, William Rogers, and Stephen Spear, trustees; R. C. Jackson, William Parke, and E. R. Spears, deacons; and Denison Rogers, clerk. Their first pastor was Rev. Henry V. Jones, who was installed April 26, 1835, at a salary of $250 per year. The old town hall, located on the old burying ground, a little north of the Methodist parsonage, hav- ing been vacated in 1834 by the Presbyterians, was occupied by the Baptists until it was burned in April, 1839, when Horton's hall (after- ward known as Williamson's hall) was secured and used as a place of worship. September 19, 1838, "Deacons R. C. Jackson, Stephen Spear, S. B. Jordan, and Samuel Palmer were appointed a committee to look up a site for the location of a meeting house," and February 24, 1839, it was voted to "exchange the lot owned by Hendee Parshall for the lot cornering on Main and Canandaigua streets, and owned by R. Nichols, by paying him $400." This indicates that Deacon Parshall had given the church a lot, which was exchanged for the present one. Denison Rogers, Stephen Spear, S. T. Horton, S. B. Jordan, Alanson Sherman, Hendee Sherman, Samuel Palmer, and D. J. Rosman were constituted a building committee. The structure was built of stone and dedicated January 28, 1841, by Rev. W. I. Crane, a former pastor. April 18, Rev. A. H. Burlingame assumed the pastorate. In June, 1868, a parsonage was purchased for $5,000. In 1870 the old stone church was demolished and the present brick edifice erected on the site at a cost of $20,000; it was dedicated March 29, 1871. October 23, 1881, $13,000 were contributed to liquidate the indebtedness, leaving a small sum for repairs. The society has received a total of over 1,000 mem- bers since its organization. It was received into the Wayne Baptist Association at its first annual meeting, at Rose, in 1835, and now com- prises a membership of 335. The present pastor, Rev. J. R. Henderson, assumed charge in September, 1885, and is also superintendent of the Sunday school, which numbers about 275 scholars and officers. His pastorate is the longest in the history of the church, to which he has added 112 members. The first parsonage, purchased in 1867, stood on the corner of Jackson and Canandaigua streets; the second was located on the corner of Main and Liberty streets; the third and present one stands on the north side of Jackson street.
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The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Palmyra had its inception in a class of this denomination that was founded as early as 1811. It was connected with the Ontario Circuit of the Genesee Conference, and for several years worshiped in barns, dwellings, school houses, and groves. In 1822 a society was organized and incorporated, and a church built near the cemetery on Vienna street, where services were held for twenty-five years or more. In 1832 the membership numbered 155 persons, of whom the last resident survivor was William F. Jarvis. In 1847 the meeting house was moved to Cuyler street, south of the Jarvis block, whereit was enlarged and remodeled and still stands, now the property of the Dutch Reformed Church. At the time of the re- moval Rev. B. McLouth was pastor and when a new edifice was pro- jected, about 1864, Rev. Thomas Tousey occupied the pulpit. The latter secured a fund of $15,000, and July 23, 1866, ground was broken for the present structure, the corner stone of which was laid on August 21 of that year. It was dedicated during the pastorate of Rev. C. S. Fox on October 31, 1867, on which day $6,000 was raised to remove all indebtedness. It stands on the corner of Main and Church streets and cost complete $30,000. It is of brick with stone trimmings, and will seat 600 persons. The society has 260 members and is within the bounds of the Geneva district of the Central New York Conference. Rev. James H. Rogers is pastor and G. A. Tuttle superintendent of the Sun- day school, which numbers 235 scholars and officers. The parsonage just north of the church was formerly the old Washington hall.
Zion Episcopal Church of Palmyra was organized as a parish June 23, 1823, under the ministry of Rev. Rufus Murray, who had been elected to the charge in 1822, prior to which occasional services had been held here by Rev. Davenport Phelps. In 1824 Rev. John A. Clark became rector and was succeeded in 1826 by Rev. Ezekiel G. Geer. The next rector was Rev. John M. Guion in 1829, and was followed in 1830 by Rev. Burton H. Hickox. Originally the services were held in the school house situated near the site of St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church. Sep- tember 28, 1827, the corner stone of their first edifice was laid, and on February 1, 1829, it was consecrated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Hobart. It was of wood, 40 by 55 feet, with galleries on three sides, and would seat 200 persons. In 1852 a chancel was added with other improvements, and it served its purpose until 1872, when the present handsome struc- ture was commenced. It is of Medina sandstone, in the early English style of ecclesiastical architecture, and graced by a tower and spire, the
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latter being 125 feet high and built at the cost of the late George W. Cuyler as a memorial to his deceased children. It was consecrated by Rt. Rev. Bishop A. Cleveland Coxe July 22, 1873. The name of the church, formerly in white, was embellished with mural decorations in October, 1890. During the rectorship of Rev. Charles T. Coerr a pipe organ was put in by the Young Ladies' Society and a reredos of quar- tered oak and mural decorations in the chancel were added by Mrs. Heminway in memory of her husband, Albert G. In 1831 a bell was procured and through the liberality of two members a rectory was built which was enlarged in 1854. In 1851 Rev. George D. Gillespie became rector, and during his pastorate the Gillespie fund, intended to endow the parish against adversity, was started; he resigned in 1861 and be- came bishop of Western Michigan. The first wardens were Joseph Colt and Benjamin Billings. Their successors have been William Chapman, Martin Butterfieid, George W. Cuyler, Benjamin Billings, jr., George Capron, Isaac G. Bronson, William H. Farnham, and Christopher Til- den. Truman Heminway was a vestryman thirty-two years; he died in 1864. The parish has about 120 communicants and a Sunday school of 150 scholars and officers with H. P. Knowles as superintendent. The present rector, Rev. Leonard Woods Richardson, assumed charge in August, 1886.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of East Palmyra was legally incor- porated May 8, 1834, with Samuel Moore, A. Salisbury, Olien Evans, Samuel E. Hudson, Caleb Beal, sr., Samuel Sherman, and James Hub- bell, trustees. The certificate of incorporation was signed by Samuel Moore and Jacob Howell. Its organization wasdue to a series of meet- ings held in August, 1823, at the house of Alexander Sherman, sr., by Samuel Moore and Wilson Osborn, local preachers, and among the first members of the class were Ambrose Salisbury and wife, Samuel Sher- man and wife, Jacob Howell and wife, Stephen Sherman and wife, Is- rael Perry and wife, Harry Rowley and wife, S. I. Buck and wife, Syl- vanus Rowley and wife, William and Washington Beal, Marcus Swift, Gideon Osborn, Wilson Osborn, William Fowler, I. Foster, and Willard Chase, seven of whom became Methodist preachers. The organizers were Revs. R. M. Everetts and William Snow, and meetings were held for a time in the Hopkins school house in East Palmyra. In 1825 the society bought the Hawthorne house and lot, just south of that building, and fitted it up for a place of worship. July 21, 1866, it was burned, and the present edifice was erected on the site and dedicated December
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29, 1867, by Rev. B. I. Ives. The society was successively connected with the Lyons, Palmyra, Marion, and Port Gibson charges, and in 1852 it became a separate station. There are now about 130 members under the pastoral care of Rev. C. E. Hermans.
St. Ann's Congregation (Roman Catholic Church) of Palmyra was or- ganized by Rev. Edmund O'Connor, pastor of St. Mary's Church, Canandaigua, about 1848. He occasionally celebrated mass in William- son's hall, and about 1849 he purchased from William Aldrich the old brick academy building and lot on Church street. This was used for worship until 1864, when, on July 26, the corner stone of the present edifice was laid by Rev. Michael O'Brien, vicar-general of the diocese of Buffalo, and then pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Rochester. The old building was demolished. The new structure was blessed by Bishop Timon in February, 1861, completed in 1870, and dedicated by Rt. Rev. Bernard J. M. McQuaid on October 23, 1870. The earlier pastors were Revs. John Toohey, Michael Gilbride, James Donelly, and Thomas Walsh. Rev. William Casey was appointed to the charge August 1, 1855, and served until May 20, 1893, when he was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. James E. Hartley. Rev. Father Casey was very active in extending the work and founded several churches in neighbor- ing towns, among which were those at Macedon, Ontario, Fairport, etc. In September, 1856, he purchased of George G. Jessup for $2,000 two lots, with house and barn, south of the old church. This parsonage has been twice remodeled, the last time in 1873 at a cost of $3,000. In 1868 he bought of Carlton H. Rogers three and one-fourth acres of land southeast of the village cemetery, which he consecrated and laid out into lots for a Catholic burial ground. The parish now has about 180 fami- lies or 850 souls.
The Reformed Dutch Church of Palmyra was organized August 15, 1887, with thirty-four members. The first pastor was Rev. W. G. Baas, who began March 21, 1888, and served until January, 1890, when he was succeeded by the present incumbent, Rev. Wietze Lubach. The society now has about 160 members and a Sunday school, of which the pastor is superintendent. The Presbyterian Church was used for wor- ship until March 19, 1890, when the old frame M. E. edifice on Cuyler street was purchased of Pliny T. Sexton for $1,700. It was repaired and has since been occupied by this society. In May, 1894, a frame parsonage on Jackson street was bought of Messrs. Allen Brothers.
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CHAPTER XVI.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF SODUS. 1
THE town of Sodus lies upon the northern border of Wayne county, with Lake Ontario on the north, Wolcott on the east, Lyons and Arcadia on the south, and Williamson on the west. It comprises the northeast part of the old "District of Sodus,"? which was organized on or about the same day the Legislature created the county of Ontario-January 27, 1789. At the formation this " District " embraced what are now the towns of Sodus, Lyons, Arcadia, Marion, Walworth, Ontario, and Will- iamson. Williamson (then including Ontario, Walworth, and Marion) was set off February 20, 1802, and Lyons (then including Arcadia) on the 1st of March, 1811 ; a narrow strip was subsequently taken from the west side of Williamson and annexed to Sodus, leaving this town with its present area of about seventy-three square miles. It includes town- ships thirteen and fourteen of the first range of the Pultney estate, and that part of the " Gore " lying cast of them.
The northern part of this town is mostly level, inclining towards the lake. The "Ridge" forms the southern boundary of this level portion, and south of that the surface is considerably broken by ridges extending from north to south. The eastern part belongs to the great basin of
1 The editor hereby acknowledges his indebtedness to the masterful labors of Prof. Lewis II. Clark, of Sodus Academy, who has long been an indefatigable collector of local history. Professor Clark has rescued from oblivion quantities of interesting matter pertaining to the town and county, and in the preparation of this and other chapters of this volume his efforts have been of material aid.
2 Authorities differ as to the derivation of the name Sodus. On Governor Tryon's map the large bay is designated " Asserotus" (an Indian word meaning " silvery waters"), while Little Sodus Bay is called Sodus. In Clark's History of Onondaga County the former is given as " Osenodus." Rev. H. L. Beauchamp, of Baldwins- ville, N. Y., suggests the last three syllables of " Te-ga-hone-sa-o-ta" (" place of the beautiful rivers") as significant; another writer states that the Seneca Indians called the great inlet "Seadose," but early in the eighteenth century it was known as the " Bay of the Cayugas." The French, however, termed it Sodus Bay, and this desig- nation was applied to the district or town upon the organization of the latter.
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Sodus Bay, which washes the northeast corner. The largest streams of the town are Salmon and Second Creeks, the former emptying into the lake at Preston's Mills, and the latter into the bay at Nicholas Point. There are many smaller streams which flow into the lake.
To Briscoe's cove on the shore of Sodus bay is attached a pathetic tale In 1791 a party of surveyors was sent to this region to lay out cer- tain lines, and just as they had finished, one of their number, a man named Briscoe, sickened and died. His companions buried the remains at the water's edge of an indentation of the coast, which became ever afterward Briscoe's cove. About 1843 the Fourierite Association, desir- ing the site for a saw mill, removed the bones to the high bluff near by. Constant splashing of the waves finally wore the bank away, and the exact location of the grave is now unknown. In August, 1877, a rude flat stone was picked up and found to bear this inscription; "A. N. Briscoe, May 22, 1791.
The soil in the northern part of the town is a clay and sandy loam and in the southern a gravelly loam. The limestone formation, which has been described herein, extends across the town line and has been ex- tensively manufactured at various points. Iron ore is found on Salmon Creek, and many years ago was worked in a small way. In the south- west part the quarrying of red sandstone was formerly quite an impor- tant industry. Sodus forms a part of the excellent apple and pear pro- ducing district of this county.
In 1858 the town had 29,964 acres of improved land, and produced 25,396 bushels of winter and 207,539 bushels of spring wheat, 5, 073 tons of hay, 30,847 bushels potatoes, 20,448 bushels apples, 177, 259 pounds butter, 9,756 pounds cheese, and 779 yards domestic cloth; it also had 1,616 horses, 2,516 oxen and calves, 1,846 cows, 15,525 sheep, and 3, 149 swinc.
Salt springs exist on First Creek and at other points in the northern part of the town, and salt was once produced in considerable quantities. At what is known as "Salt Hollow," or Salt Works, the manufacture was begun about 1831 by Charles Field and his brother, but they con- tinued it only a few years. The business was revived about 1886 by the Sodus Manufacturing Company, of which Manley Sturges was presi- dent. Wells were sunk, but the industry proved unprofitable.
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