USA > New York > Wayne County > Landmarks of Wayne County, New York, Pt. 1 > Part 24
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William and Benjamin Ennis, brothers, migrated hither from New Jersey in 1806. The former died about 1822; his son Robert was a canal contractor, and in 1847 purchased the homestead and saw-mill of Capt. Henry Towar at Alloway, and died in 1860. Benjamin Ennis went to Ohio in 1832 and died there. George Ennis was a prominent farmer near Alloway and a president of the Wayne County Agricultural Society. HIe died in December, 1883.
Thomas D. Gale, brother-in-law of Judge Sisson, came to Lyons in 1809 and bought of Joseph Hathaway the tavern on the west side of Broad street that was subsequently known as the " Old Museum." . Be- sides this he had a store and ashery and butchered cattle for the Cana-
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dian market. At his house the first town meeting was held in April, 1811.
There was a militia company in Lyons, attached to the 21st Regi- ment, as early as 1808, the officers of which were William Paton, cap- tain; Peter Perrine, lieutenant ; and James Bound, ensign. Elias Hull was colonel, and his hotel was a favorite rendezvous.
John Barrick came from Maryland about 1805 and died in 1851. John Close settled here in 1810, but removed to Lock Berlin about 1830 and died the next year. Samuel Minkler, a tanner, located in Lyons in 1808. Peter Eisenlord was a resident of the town as early as 1806; he finally sold his farm and moved to Michigan. Jeremiah Brown came to Lyons prior to 1808. He was a cooper, had a distillery, and also went to Michigan. Jonathan Clark, sr., removed hither from New Jersey about 1810. He had four sons, two of whom were David and Abraham. William Paton was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, came to America in 1994, when twenty-four years of age, and settled in 1800, where he died in 1813. He was an ardent admirer of Robert Burns. Henry Beard, a pioneer from Pennsylvania, was both a pettifogger and jockey.
John Perrine came here from New Jersey. He built the first dam across the Canandaigua outlet, erected the first saw mill in town a mile south of the village, and was one of the founders of the Presbyterian Church, whose services he often conducted in the absence of a minister. With John Van Wickle, William Paton and others, he obtained from the land office in 1806 a grant of land long known as the Parsonage farm, which was designed as a permanent endowment of the church. He organized a Sunday school in 1818, and owned with Paton and Van Wickle a number of village lots on Queen street between William and Broad. He was a justice of the peace and supervisor, and prominent in all local affairs. He finally moved to, Michigan and died in 1836. His sons were Henry, William, Ira, and David W. The latter was a lieutenant in the war of 1812 and succeeded to the paternal homestead.
Dr. Robert W. Ashley, a native of Massachusetts, came to Lyons in 1804 and afterward began housekeeping in Samuel Mummy's old house on the east side of Broad street. He was long a practicing physician, supervisor in 1827-30, candidate for the Assembly in 1830, and died in 1853. He was the father of Samuel J., Robert, and William F. Ashley and Mrs. H. G. Hotchkiss.
Milton Barney was born in Massachusetts in 1796. In 1818 he trans- ported a wool-carding and cloth-dressing machine to " Arms Cross Roads" (now Wallington in Sodus), which he sold to Elisha Bushnell,
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and in 1819 came to Lyons. He carried on his trade here, bought a saw mill of Judge Dorsey, erected a new dam across the outlet and built a wool-carding and cloth-dressing mill, and in 1825 with Samuel Wilcox and William E. Perrine put up a flouring mill on the present site of the Shuler mill in the village. Afterward he purchased the grist mill of Jacob Leach and added a clothier's shop, but finally resold the establish- ment to Leach and went West.
Stephen H. and John Hartman settled two miles southwest of Lyons village in 1816. The former died in 1872. Dr. Joseph Varnum came here in 1812, and died in 1822, being buried with Masonic honors. Levi Geer removed to Lyons the same year and first purchased of Abraham Clark the original Stansell farm for $7,000. He had eight children and died December 15, 1853, aged seventy-eight years. Cyrus Avery, a Montezuma turnpike contractor, settled in this town with $1,500 in cash. He was a typical Connecticut Yankee, and died in January, 1868, aged eighty-four years. He secured his deed from the Pultney estate, and was succeeded on the homestead by his son, A G. Avery.
Joseph M. Demmon was born in Rensselaer county, N. Y., October 30, 1790, came to Phelps with his parents in 1801, and removed thence to Lyons in 1813, where he died in March, 1886. He brought the first stock of goods to this village, and besides being a merchant was also a tavern keeper, a liveryman, and a contractor. He was the first town clerk, and except four years held either the office of overseer of the poor, town clerk, or village treasurer until his death. He was a highly respected citizen.
Michael Vanderbilt, from New Jersey, settled in Lyons in 1812, and died March 16, 185 4, aged eighty-eight years. Josiah Wright, a brother- in-law of Joseph Farwell, removed to the village about 1814 and built a tavern in Joppa. About 1828 he exchanged this for the Lyons Hotel (later the Graham House), and finally died in Buffalo. William Patrick purchased of David W. Perrine a farm north of Lyons village about 1816. A carpenter by trade he was master workman during the con- struction of the long bridge across Seneca River on the Montezuma turnpike. Ile was the father of Frank, William, and Pierce Patrick. Robert Holmes, sr., settled in Lyons in 1818, made brick and potash, and died in 1848. His sons were: John, Gilman, Abram, William F., and Robert, jr. The latter was born in 1803, and died in February, 1881.
Ziba Lane, born in Bedford, Mass., in 1756, removed with his wife to
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Maine, and came thence to Lyons in 1814. . He located on lot 80, built a log cabin and afterwards a commodious residence, accumulated a hand- some property, and died at a good old age. His son Levi was born in Amherst, Mass., in 1806.
Newell Taft and Farnum White removed to Lyons in 1816 and en- gaged in manufacturing chairs; afterward the partnership was dissolved and White continued the business alone. Mr. Taft became a contractor and builder, and with Henry Seymour began casting plows, making the first of the kind in town. Taft later built a foundry which he sold in 1866 to Wickson & Van Wickle. The establishment was burned in 1869, and rebuilt. Mr. Taft had twelve children. He was a prominent member of the Presbyterian church from 1822 until his death, Decem . ber 8, 1874, aged nearly eighty-one years.
Philip Dorscheimer was the first miller in Lyons village. He after- ward kept the old Wayne County Hotel and then the Lyons Hotel, and finally moved to Buffalo. He was a respected citizen, and through his influence a large number of sturdy Germans were induced to settle in the town. Elijah P. Taylor, born in Massachusetts in 1805, came to Lyons in 1822, and after completing his trade carried on the tanning business till 1838, when he removed to Sodus and engaged in dealing in boots and shoes. Returning to Lyons in 1850 he again became a tanner. Columbus Croul became a blacksmith in the village in 1821. Hle was an elder in the Presbyterian church from 1841 until his death in April, 1881. Jonas Parker, a cooper, came to Lyons about 1820. Hc was at one time keeper of the county poorhouse, and eventually re- moved to Indiana. Oliver Penoyer, born in Columbia county, N. Y., in 1806, settled in this town in 1837, and died in March, 1881. Thompson Harrington, a settler of 1826, was a partner or proprietor of the Lyons pottery until his death in October, 1874. James Pollock came here early and died November 18, 1872, aged eighty-two years. James MeElwain, a wagonmaker and captain in the State militia, was a resident of Lyons from 1827 until his death in December, 1868. Ephraim Jeffer- son Whitney came here on foot from Ontario county in 1822 to learn the printer's trade in the office of the Lyons Advertiser. He also had a book store, and died in 1856. . Robert and John Stanton, Englishmen, carly settled on the hill that took their name; they subsequently moved to Geneva.
Hon. Van Rensselaer Richmond, born in Preston, N. Y., in 1812, became resident canal engineer at Lyons in 1837. In 1842 he had charge
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of the middle division, a position he resigned in 1848. He was a mem- ber of the canal board, and in 1850 was made division engineer of the Syracuse and Rochester direct railroad. In 1852 he became engineer of the middle division of the Erie Canal, and in 1857, 1859, 1867, and 1869 was elected State engineer and surveyor. He settled permanently in Lyons in 1852 and died in November, 1883.
Calvin D. Palmeter, a native of Berkshire, Mass , came to Sodus in 1816, whence he removed to Lyons about 1821. He was a tanner and currier, and was engaged in that business with Cyrus Hecox. He was constable, deputy sheriff, and in 1831 sheriff of Wayne county. He was also a keeper of the county poorhouse, and a Democrat and Presby- terian. His sons were Edwin, Ira F., Frank S., and Calvin S. David Gilson was an early cooper in Lyons village, and ran a Durham boat on the Clyde river, being engaged in the salt trade. Jonathan Colborn settled very early on a farm one-half mile northeast of Alloway, and moved thence to Rose. Edward S., Matthew A., Augustus, and John Stewart came to Wayne county as pioneers; Edward S. was a lawyer in Lyons village, and the others located in Galen. William McGown was for twenty-four years a magistrate, and died at Alloway in January, 1885. Coll Roy, a Scotchman and the father of James Roy, settled south of Lyons and kept a hotel several years. .
Thomas Bradley became a distiller with Capt. Henry Towar at Allo- way. About 1820 he removed to a farm and died in 1835. In 1812 Beri Foote came to Lyons from Massachusetts, but soon located in the northeast corner of Galen.
Samuel Hecox came here in 1817, and was a merchant and county treasurer. Eli flecos, his brother, was a carpenter and soldier in the war of 1812, and located in Lyons in 1831. Another brother, Cyrus, was a prominent merchant and tanner in the village. Cullen Foster was a politican in his younger days, held several town offices, and was both county sheriff and clerk. He died March 29, 18TO. Smith A. Dewey, born in Whitestown, N. Y., December 2, 1814, came to Lyons in 1839, engaged in business as a merchant, and upon the death of John Adams in 1862 was appointed county treasurer, to which office he was elected in 1865 and again in 1868. He was highly esteemed, and died in November, 1875.
William Wallace Sandford, who came to Lyons in 1836, was first a merchant and later proprietor of the Wayne County Hotel. He was supervisor in 1853, and died in April, 1883. John Sparks, a farmer,
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settled in this town in 1836 and died in June, 1883. Stephen Marshall, born in Connecticut in 1802, removed to Lyons in 1832. He was a shoe- maker and a lumberman, and was appointed one of three commissioners to build the present court house. He died in April, 1883. Nelson R. Mirick was born in Rose in 1831 and died here in March, 1886. He was a miller and maltster, and served as supervisor several years. Dr. Hugh Jameson, long a practicing dentist in the village, was born here in 1835 and died January 4, 1890.
Prominent among other carly settlers of the village and town may be mentioned E. G. Thurston, long a successful merchant, who died No- vember 8, 1857; John Evenden, a native of Kent, Eng., who died in February, 1863; John Knowles, sr., whose death occurred here No- vember 19, 1864; Daniel Ford, who died May 2, 1861, and was buried with Masonic honors; David June, who died April 6, 1861; George Al- exander who died about 1820; John Layton, the father of Daniel W., who died in Feburary, 1885; George W. Cramer, merchant, who died in May, 1882; Thomas Cotter, a tailor noted for his miserly habits; who died in March, 1886: John Riley (son of Rev. Lawrence Riley), who died March 1, 1887; George M. Hatter, a prominent merchant here af- ter 1851, who died in January, 1888; and Andrew Failing, Hugh Brown and John Paton.
James Dunn purchased 418 acres of the Dorsey farm in 1834, and died here in May, 1850. Alfred Hale settled at Alloway in 1823, and began growing peppermint in 1832. In 1854 he built a small mint still, after which he erected five or six others. In 1862 he formed a partnership with a Mr. Parshall for the manufacture of essential oils in Lyons vil- lage, and the firm built up an enormous business. In 1822 Mr. Hale married a daughter of Levi Geer and has had three daughters and a son (Alfred S.)
Hiram G. Hotchkiss, the founder of the great peppermint industry of Wayne county, was born in Oneida county, N. Y., June 10, 1810, and moved to Phelps with his parents about 1817. His father, Leman, was a merchant, and the son began life in the same business. He became a miller, and in 1837 began buying peppermint from the farmers. In 1841 he removed to Lyons and devoted his entire attention to the business. He married a daughter of Dr. Ashley and had twelve chil- dren, of whom Lemon, Calvin, and Hiram G., jr., succeeded to the business founded in Lyons by their father.
Dr. E. Ware Sylvester, born in Cazenovia, N. Y., in 1814, graduated
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at Union College in 1836, and at Auburn Theological Seminary in 1840, and after studying dentistry practiced in Lyons and elsewhere for twenty years. He finally abandoned his profession and established the Lyons nurseries.
The first grist mill in the town was built at Alloway about 1494 by Henry Towar, agent for Captain Charles Williamson. John Featherly was the miller here, and when the structure was burned in 1804 Mr. Towar rebuilt it on the same site. Subsequent owners were George Ennis, Lawrence Riley, and Isaac Roy. The next grist mill was the one erected by Jacob Leach, one mile south of Lyons. In 1825 Samuel Hecox, Milton Barney, and William E. Perrine built a large mill in Lyons village on the site of the Shuler flouring mill and cut a raceway to it from Canandaigua outlet. It had four runs of stone, and the first miller was Philip Dorscheimer .. The mill was burned about 1820 and the present one erected. In 1823 Henry Towar built a flouring mill four miles west of the village. It passed to William Young, and lacking. a sufficient water supply was taken down and the frame brought to Lyons. The Leach mill on the outlet was finally burned and rebuilt by Mr. Towar, and passed into the hands of Shuler Brothers.
The first saw mill was built by John Perrine in 1880. It stood one mile south of the village, on the west side of Canandaigua outlet, and after running several years was dismantled. Simeon Van Wickle had another early mill three miles northwest of Lyons village, but both mill and stream have long since passed away. Judge Dorsey built a saw mill near the Shuler flouring mill, which in 1825 was removed to a better water power. Henry Towar erected several saw mills in various parts of the town.
About 1810 Gabriel Rogers erected in Lyons village a tannery, which he operated for twenty years. Samuel Minkler built a second one on Water street, and Cyrus Hecox a third. The latter was purchased by the Rogers brothers. Among other tanners here were Colonel Bartlett R. Rogers, Henry Teachout, and E. P. Taylor.
Numerous distilleries existed in the town at an early day, notably that of Jacob Leach, which was built in 1810 at the junction of the out- let with Ganargwa Creek. Joseph Farwell had another on the site of the old warehouse in Lyons village.
Henry Towar and Thomas Beals erected a clothiery at Alloway on the west side of the outlet at an early day, and Milton Barney and Judge Dorsey had another in Lyons village. Mr. Barney did an extensive
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business in this line for many years. He married a daughter of Judge Dorsey. ' The first ashery started in Lyons was operated by a Mr. Hessinger west of the Lutheran church. Others were conducted by Joseph Farwell and Robert Holmes.
In 1822 William Clark & Company built a pottery in Lyons village that was managed by T. Harrington. It passed to Thompson & Har- rington and later to J. Fisher & Company.
In 1858 the town had 15, 917 acres improved land, real estate valued at $1,355,531, personal property at $313, 950; there were 2, 604 male and 2,601 female inhabitants, 844 dwellings, 676 freeholders, 978 families, 13 school districts, 1,849 school children, 1,320 horses, 1, 610 cows, 7,122 sheep, and 2,406 swine. There were produced 27,354 bushels winter and 134, 153 bushels spring wheat, 3, 430 tons hay, 17, 443 bushels pota- toes, 51, 526 bushels apples, 89, 422 pounds butter, 4, 128 pounds cheese, and 660 yards domestic cloths.
In 1890 the town had a population of 6,228, or 466 less than in 1880. Statistics of 1893: Assessed value of land, $882, 107 (equalized $1,054,- 381); village and mill property, $1, 221, 600 (equalized $1, 204, 192); rail. roads and telegraphs, equalized, $436, 209; personal property, $301, 650. Schedule of taxes, 1893: Contingent fund, $6, 152.53; town poor fund, $2, 200; roads and bridges, $250; special town tax, $3, 104; school tax, $2,141.61; county tax, $6,559.61; State tax, $3, 614.70; State insane tax, $932.52; dog tax, $111.50. Total tax levy, $27,071.06; rate per cent., .00982474. The town has five election districts and in 1893 polled 1,125 votes.
During the war of the Rebellion the town of Lyons contributed large numbers of her brave citizens for the Union Army and gave liberally of both money and supplies to aid the soldiers and ameliorate their condition at the front. Being the shire town of Wayne county many of the more important events that transpired during that long struggle occurred within these borders, and all are properly detailed in a preced- ing chapter.
The first school house in Lyons village and probably the first in town was a primitive structure that stood on the hill on the west side of Butternut street, at the head of Queen. It was there as early as 1804 or 1805, but was burned soon afterward. In June, 1813, the town was divided into twelve school districts; J. W. Gillispie and John Brown were school commissioners. Another school house was built of logs on the northeast corner of the Presbyterian church lot, and a third school
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was kept in the old Glover house in 1808-9, while a fourth was held in an old building where the German church now stands. Still another was situated on Church street, and was purchased by the Catholics for a house of worship. Among the earlier teachers in the various schools were: Thomas Rogers, Capt. James Hill, Mr. Fuller, Andrew Hull, Mr. Trowbridge, Mr. Starr, and Rev. Jeremiah Flint. At Alloway schools were opened at an early day, and two of the first teachers were Rev. Mr. Flint and Abner Brown. In 1852 a large brick school house was erected and the first teachers therein were Professor Ballou and Miss Julia Dorsey. In 1831 Miss Clarissa Thurston opened a " School for Young Ladies" on Geneva street, nearly opposite the old Joppa House. She finally discontinued it and went to Geneva.
March 29, 1837, the Lyons Academy was incorporated, and was merged into the present school on September 23, 1843, by the organiza- tion of Union school district No. 6. At the meeting held on that day Jacob Leach was chosen moderator; John M. Holley, Eli Johnson, and Jabez Green, trustees; and Daniel Chapman, clerk. In 1844 the Ver- non lot was purchased and a brick building, containing seven rooms, was erected at a total cost of over $10,000. There were four grades of study, and the first term, which opened the new structure on May 4, 1845, was attended by 519 pupils. The first teachers were Nathan Brit- tan, A. M., principal; E. B. Elliott, A. B., Mr. Delia Rogers, M. C. G. Nichols, Miss Hermans, Mrs. L. G. Blount, Miss E. H. Allen, Mrs. E. W. Redgrave, Miss Cornelia Haight, Levi S. Fulton, William C. Wright, and M. M. Rodgers, M. D. July 6, 1847, it was decided to purchase the Newell Taft lot adjoining and erect an addition, and $5,000 were voted for the purpose. The new building contained, besides other rooms, a laboratory, a geological cabinet, and a chapel, and the whole, including furnishings, etc., cost about about $14,000. In 1855 the school house was repaired at an expense of $2,000, and the school was placed by legislation under the regulations governing incorporated academies. December 7, 1855, a project was considered to make the school frec, but resulted adversely, and on December 19th a committee was ap- pointed to procure a law changing the board of trustees to a board of education and authorize graduate tuition. The law was passed and took effect in May, 1856. The new board consisted of Saxon B. Gavitt, J. T. Mackenzie, Morton Brownson, Lyman Sherwood, Zebulon. Moore, C. Rice, George W. Cramer, A. D. Polhamus, and William H. Sisson. In 1860 the number was reduced to three, and another grade was established.
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In December, 1862, a free school system was adopted and legislation secured for the purpose. In 1865 a German department was added with Jacob T. Eitelman as teacher.
July 25, 1889, the citizens voted in favor of building a new school house, and on October 10th ground was formally broken and the corner stone laid by William Kreutzer, president of the board, for the present handsome and commodious brick and stone structure. Joseph Blaby was the architect and the contract was let to William C. Long for $44, - 500, the heating and ventilating to cost $5,500 more. The new building was opened November 21, 1890. The principals of the old school, with the dates of their service, were as follows.
Nathan Brittan, May, 1845, to February, 1849; John T. Clark, Feb- urary, 1849, to July, 1851 ; Rev. Wm. A: Benedict, August, 1851, to July, 1854; Francis B. Snow, August, 1854, to July, 1858; Howard M. Smith, August, 1858, to July, 1860; William Kreutzer, August, 1860, to No- vember, 1861; James C. Benschotten, November, 1861, to July, 1862; Cicero M. Hutchins, September, 1862, to July, 1866 ; Alexander D. Adams, September, 1866, to April, 1871; Edward A. Kingsley, April, 1871, to July, 1873; Timothy A. Roberts, September, 1873, to April, 1876; Rev. William HI. Lord, July, 1896, to July, 1822; J. B. Fraser, September, Isti, to April, 1818; J. H. Clark, July, 1818, to July, 1887 ; William G. White, July, 1887, to .August, ISSS; W' HI Kinney, August, 1885. The Lyons Union school was one of the first of the kind established in this State. It has always maintained a foremost position among simi- lar institutions.
In December, 1853, the Lyons Musical Academy was started by Rev. 1. IL. Sherwood and for many years was a prominent feature of the village. It gained a wide and respectable reputation and offered rare advantages to those desiring a musical education. Rev. Mr. Sherwood's successor was O. H. Adams. Both were eminent teachers and thorough scholars. Its popularity waned, however, and the institution was dis- continued a few years ago. Its last home on Queen street was built during the winter of 1881-2, and first occupied in April, 1882.
The town now has thirteen school districts with a building in each. In 1892-3 these were attended by 1,348 scholars and taught by thirty- two teachers. The value of school houses and sites is $12, 525 ; assessed valuation of the districts, $2, 251,360; public money received from the State in 1892 3, $1, 986. 19; raised by local tax, $14,258.63.
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LYONS VILLAGE .-- The capital of any county naturally takes precedence over all other villages, and Lyons is no exception to the rule. In this case we have not only the county seat to notice, but a place rich in his- tory, interesting in growth and development, replete in commercial, social, and manufacturing importance, attractive in location, and the very oldest in settlement. The improvements inaugurated by Capt. Charles Williamson, through his agent, Charles Cameron, and many of the earlier industries have already been noted in this chapter. William- son bestowed upon the place the name of Lyons, and caused a village to be surveyed in acre lots and a warehouse, distillery, dwelling, and barn to be built-all in 1294 or 1795. This dwelling was the first frame building erected in the town. It was also used as a storehouse and was finally purchased by the Presbyterians, removed to lot No. 1, and oc- cupied for both religious and school purposes. In it, on October 23, 1809, the Presbyterian Society was organized; in May, 1823, the first court in Wayne county convened; and the first meeting of the Wayne County Medical Society was held here after its formation. In 1825 it was sold to Francis Glover, who removed it to the north side of Jackson street, west of the furnace, and occupied it for a dwelling. From him it derived the name of Glover house.
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