USA > New York > Genesee County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Genesee County, New York, v. 1 > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
The act of the State Legislature passed March 19, 1831, authorizing the erection of a new jail in Genesee county contained the following provisions :
The supervisors of the county of Genesee shall cause to be assessed . for the purpose of erecting a new jail in said county, the sum of three thousand dollars. The said jail shall be built on the public ground now belonging to said county in the village of Batavia, and David Scott of Attica, Ziba S. Beardsley of Alexander, Daniel II. Chandler, Hinman Holden and Benjamin Porter junior. of the town of Batavia, are hereby appointed commissioners to superintend the build- ing of the said jail, and they, or any three of them, are hereby authorized to fix or lay out the site, and devise a plan for the same. . . The said commissioners shall be allowed the sum of one dollar and twenty-five cents per day for their serv- ices in the actual performance of their duty.
The jail was built under the direction of the commissioners named, and still stands on the south side of West Main street, in Batavia.
By act of the Legislature April 26, 1831, Nathan Rumsey, Henry C. 12
178
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Jones and James Sprague, second, were appointed commissioners to lay out a public highway from Angelica, Allegany county, to Batavia. By the opening of this road traffic between the two points named was greatly expedited, and the rural community particularly were bene- fited by the improvement.
One of the most noteworthy events in the history of Genesee county in these days was the disturbance which since has been generally known as "the land office war." Though some of the principal scenes in this uprising transpired in the village of Batavia, the trouble was not con- fined to that community, but was widespread throughout Genesee county and over a large portion of the Holland Purchase. Batavia was seriously involved in the trouble as the principal land office of the com- pany was located in that village. Several accounts of this little "war" have been written. One of the most trustworthy appears in William Seaver's " Historical Sketch of the Village of Batavia," which is here reproduced : .
The origin of the difficulty, as we understand it, was briefly this: Early in 1836 certain companies purchased of the Holland company all its unsold lands, mortgages. contracts, &c., indeed, all its remaining interest in these western counties, and im- mediately instituted a new order of things in reference to the settlers. Previous to this, however, a restive spirit, (engendered as it was said, by certain lawyers, anx- ious for a fee) had for some time been manifested against the company in reference to its original Title to the land .; , so that when the new landlords came in, the settlers were by no means in the most amiable mood towards eitlier the old or the new pro- prietors.
This state of things did not deter the new owners (or some of them at least) from going forward in the exercise of their legal rights and adopting some new and more stringent measures than had before existed for the collection of land debts, and by way of stimulus to prompt payment, a little addition to the price of the land was also proposed in case the old contracts were not fulfilled. All this had the effect to exasperate many who were directly interested, and their indignation at length broke forth in open acts of violence, intended not only to affect the interests of the new proprietors, but also the old company in consequence of whose transfer the new order of things had been introduced.
In Chatauque and the south part of Erie and Genesee counties the excitement prevailed with more intensity than in any other sections. Large and enthusiastic public meetings were there held, for the purpose, either by argument or intimida- tion, of inducing the proprietors to rescind some of their measures and adopt a more lenient system, but as these movements failed of producing the designed effect, open war was declared, and the belligerent forces were marshalled for the conflict.
The first object was to destroy the Land Office at Mayville, and for that purpose a large mob assembled on the night of Feb. 6th, 1836, commenced the grand assault, and without meeting the slightest resistance demolished the whole superstructure,
179
THE "LAND OFFICE WAR."
laying it even with the ground. They tore open the vault whose impregnable walls withstood their efforts for three hours, and having collected all the books and papers in one pile on the green, the torch was applied, and they were offered up as a burnt sacrifice to the demon of mobocracy.
Exulting in the complete success of this brilliant achievement. the belligerents, taking courage from victory, began to pant for wider fields of glory, and having proved the temper of their " maiden swords" on the Fortress of Mayville they re - solved upon the higher and more chivalrous feat of undertaking to storm and de- molish the very citadel of Land Office power at Batavia. Accordingly emissarys were sent in every direction to rouse up all the disaffected forces, and congregate them on a certain night prepared for the grand assault.
Meantime David E. Evans Esq., who then held the Land Office keys, and who had been informed of the transactions at Mayville, was also apprised of the threat- ened attack at Batavia, but not knowing when the demonstration might be made, he took the precaution to send all the books and valuable papers to Rochester be- yond the reach of danger in any untoward emergency. Thus several weeks passed on, and as no hostile movement appeared, the books &c. were brought back and hopes were entertained that the storm would quietly subside. These hopes, how- ever, were of short duration, for the fires of discontent had only been smouldering preparatory to breaking forth with renewed violence.
To give some idea of the feeling which prevailed in the south part of Erie county we quote the language of an agent sent into that quarter, who reported that "all labor is suspended, the whole adult male population meeting at taverns and stores, rowing vengeance against the ' land sharks,' threatening to burn their houses, and intimating that assassination will be the consequence of attempts to enforce the terms proposed by the new purchasers."
Without dwelling upon further preliminaries it will be sufficient to say that the ferment continued to increase until about the 12th of May, when intelligence was received that a very large mob trom the south part of this and Erie counties were gathering, with the avowed intention of marching to this place and tearing down the land office, and the jail (in which two of their friends were imprisoned), and of committing other depredations on some of our citizens who had become obnoxious to them.
To know that such an attempt would be made was sufficient for our people at once to resolve upon the most firm and united resistance, and accordingly our public authorities both civil and military, aided by the citizens, made immediate prepa- rations to repel the foe. The Land Office was converted into a sort of fortification, well stored with arms and ammunition, and thus matters rested in suspense, not knowing when the attack would be made, until about nudnight on the 13th of May. when messengers arrived post haste from Attica and Alexander giving information that the mob was concentrating at the latter place in great force, supposed to be from 700 to 1,000, and that it would soon be upon us.
No sooner had this intelligence been received than all the bells in the village rang the alarm and a general muster of our " fighting" men immediately followed. Videtts were sent out by the sheriff on the different roads, to reconnoiter the enemy, and men were sent to the arsenal for a sufficient supply of muskets to arm all our citizens. Two boxes of ball cartridges of 1,000 each were also brought up, one of
4
180
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
which was left at the Land Office, and the other taken to the Court House where the sheriff (Nathan Townsend), who was the commanding officer on the occasion, held his headquarters, surrounded by the "chivalry" of the village ready for the conflict. What then followed we cannot better describe than in the language of a letter, from D. E. Evans, to J. J. Vanderkemp, written soon after the event and from which we are permitted to make the following extracts:
"Our force in the Land Office consisting of fifty men, remained patiently await- ing the arrival of the enemy till about sun rise, and none appearing we concluded they had abandoned the enterprise, and we appointed a committee to go to Alexan- der to ascertain what number had been there and who their leaders were. Col. Sea- ver, Col. Davis, and myself (the committee) immediately started, and meeting Mr. Cary near the bridge took him with us. We had proceeded but two miles when we met two of our expresses returning at full gallop, who told us they had just left the mob at Fargo's Tavern, two miles distant, forming in order to march to Batavia. They estimated the whole number at 700, about 400 of which were armed with fire- arms, and the residue with bludgeons, crow-bars and sledge hammers.
Previous to leaving the office I requested Mr. Chandler to remain at it with thirty men, till we either returned of sent him positive information that the mob had dis- persed. On receiving information that the mob had really advanced to Fargo's, the committee lost no time in returning, and taking such requisite steps to reassemble the citizens, most of whom had gone to their respective homes. The mob soon after appeared in sight and halted on the road east of Judge Stevens's House, where they were met by Gen. Verplanck, and asked what they wanted ? They answered "to right themselves." He asked in what manner ? and was answered, " that it was none of his business." He then said it was his duty to inform them that if they con- mitted any outrages in an organized body, upon either public or private property, they would be fired upon. Some of them then said they wished to have a conference with me, and he promised to inform me of it, and came to the office and did so. I desired him to return and say, that I positively declined having any communication whatever with an armed mob. Their number he estimated at about five hundred nien.
Soon after he returned they put themselves in motion, crossed the bridge, marched to the office, and I supposed we should soon come to blows. After having halted in front of the office, and become sensible that an attack upon it would be at- tended with danger, it was evident to all spectators that they felt the awkwardness of their situation. After remaining still for a few minutes, four men came under the window in which I was sitting, and requested a conference with me, which I de- clined, refusing in a peremptory manner to have anything to do with them, and bid them defiance in no measured terms.
About this time I saw a sudden movement among them which I could not account for, but which I soon learned was occasioned by the (to them) unexpected appear- ance of Sheriff Townsend, with 120 men, armed with bright muskets, with bayonets fixed, in full march for the Office. He halted his men in front of my house, and ad- vanced himself with three or four attendants, towards the mob, and was met by sev- eral of them. He told them his object in meeting them was to say, that if they at- tempted to destroy any building in the village, he should, without any further notice, fire a full volley among them. One of them was proceeding to argue the legality of
-----
181
THE " LAND OFFICE WAR."
his doing it, but he cut the matter short by assuring them that he should do it whether legal or not, and advised them to be off very quickly.
They soon after went down the street half a mile, and had a boisterous consult- ation, some professing to wish to return and attack the Office, but by far the greatest part thought it best to go home. Some forty or fifty continued on westward, and the residue returned as they came, passing the Office without apparently looking at it. The most of them re crossed the Bridge and went off, but a few lurked about the Village, some of whom were apprehended and committed to prison, and among the number their reputed leader, a man by the name of Hill, a Constable in Holland, Erie County.
As you may readily imagine, our Village remained for several days, in a high state of excitement. The Military were called out, and two Cannons, assigned to Artillery. Companys at Le Roy and Bethany, were sent for, and brought to the Village, and strong guards, composed of the Villagers only, were kept at night, as great appre- hensions were entertained that the Village would be set on fire by incendiaries, which was threatened by the mob on their retreat, and those threats were reiterated from sections of the Country where we had reason to expect better things. Almost all business was at a stand in the Village, the Country people afraid to come to it, and the consequence was, the Mercantile men, Tavern-keepers, Grocers, and Mechanics, became apprehensive that the business of the place would go elsewhere.
It therefore became obvious, that either the office must be removed from this place, or some means devised to defend it with a few men, and I determined on erecting two strong block houses, one on the northeast, and the other on the southwest cor- ners. They are made of solid timber from 10 to 12 inches thick, and each armed with thirty muskets, and amply supplied with ammunition, and twelve men in each, would drive a mob of 1,000 men from the vicinity of the office in a very short time. I have employed four men as a night guard, with directions to keep three of their number in the Block-houses, and one on the look out on the outside. I now consider the office secure.
After the mob had taken their departure, and the citizens their breakfast, notice was given that a meeting would be held at the Court House to take measures for the security of the village. At this meeting, Messrs. Wm. Seaver, D. II. Chandler, and myself, were appointed a committee of safety, the duties of which I found vastly more arduous and unpleasant than I imagined. Having received positive informa- tion that a considerable number of persons, residents of Chautauque, Erie, and Gen- esee counties, were passing from town to town, endeavoring to raise another and larger, and in every respect more efficient force than the last, we concluded to lay the case before the Governor, and ask him to issue a proclamation, not that we sup- posed it would tend to allay the irritation against the new land company, but to sat- isfy the malcontents, that the state Government was not friendly to their proceed- ings, which they had been made to believe. Accordingly we despatched Dr. Van Tuyl to Albany, deeming it advisable to send a person who could give a clear and distinct account of the actual state of the country.
When the Doctor arrived in Albany the Governor was at Saratoga Springs, but re- turned next day, and very promptly issued the proclamation. He also authorized us to retain the two six-pounders we had, as long as we might want them, sent us two more with a supply of powder and round and canister shot, and several thousand
182
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
musket cartridges, and authorized us to take two twelve pounders from the arsenal at Canandaigua.
The captain of an artillery company at Bennington, by the name of Norris, having stated that he and his company and gun, a brass three pounder, were ready at any moment's notice, to turn out and attack Batavia, we represented the case to the Gov- ernor, who immediately directed the commissary general to order Capt. Norris to deliver the gun to the keeper of the arsenal at this place, forthwith. The Capt. was very unwilling to obey the order, pleading as an excuse that the people in the neighborhood would not permit the gun to be taken away but on being threatened to have his delinquency reported to the commissary general, and told that the conse- quence would be very serious to himself, he concluded to bring it."
Having been apprised of our formidable preparations for a determined resistance to mobocracy, the malcontents were not slow in coming to the wise conclusion that "prudence was the better part of valor," and all further attempts to attain their ob- jeet by violent means, was at once abandoned as utterly hopeless.
Thus terminated the " Land Office War," and so far as the people of this place were concerned, it is but justice to say that they acquitted themselves in a manner worthy of all praise. No matter what may have been their individual opinions in regard to the origin of the difficulty, no sooner did they know that lawless violence was about to be committed, and that an enfuriated mob, perhaps with the midnight torch, was preparing to invade us, than the fire of '76 kindled in every bosom, and they were prepared to resist, even at the price of their blood, the threatened aggres- sion. As the ' Times' well said. "never before had we witnessed the interesting spectacle of a whole village of peaceful and quiet citizens transformed at the mo- ment, and by a common impulse, from the varied and ordinary pursuits of business into efficient citizen soldiers -- all, from highest to lowest, actuated by a common im- pulse-that of self defense at any and every hazard." The affair satisfied us by ocular demonstration that there is nothing so potent to quell a mob as ball and bay- onet, and sure we are that had it not been for a fear of those articles in the hands of resolute citizens, and a perfect assurance that they would be used " to kill" in case the slightest aggression had been committed, the mob would have destroyed at least the Land Office and the Jail.
An event which occurred in Erie and Niagara counties in 1836 was of interest to many of the inhabitants of Genesee county. Benjamin Rath- bun, a daring speculator residing in Buffalo, who seemed not to have profited by the financial disasters and ominous conditions of 1836, made plans for carrying on his speculations on a gigantic plan. He bought land and laid out a magnificent city at Niagara Falls, advertising an auction sale of lots for August 2. Just before this David E. Evans of Batavia, agent for the Holland Land Company, had made the discovery while on a visit to Philadelphia that Rathbun had forged his name on notes for large amounts. Returning to Buffalo after Rathbun had con- ducted his great sale at Niagara Falls, Mr. Evans confronted the swind- ling speculator, who confessed his crime and admitted that the paper
183
OPPOSITION TO THE LAND COMPANY.
bearing Mr. Evans's name was but a small item in a large list of similar forgeries. The forgeries had reached nearly a million dollars. Rath- bun's arrest followed at once. His trial began in Batavia March 29, 1837, and he was found guilty and sentenced to State prison for five years.
The general discontent and feeling of discouragement produced by the stringency of the money market augmented and intensified the opposition to the Holland Land Company. The holders of many farms owed not only the principal but the interest for many years on the debts on their lands, and the scarcity of money rendered payment more difficult than ever. Meetings were held in various places, not only in Genesee but in other counties whose territory was included in the Hol- land Purchase, where this dissatisfaction and opposition was publicly expressed. At these meetings the company was denounced, a modifi- cation of its terms of payment demanded, legislative interference re- quested, and the attorney-general called upon to contest the title of the company.
In February, 1837, a meeting termed an " agrarian convention " was held at Aurora, the counties of Genesee, Erie, Niagara and Chautauqua being represented. Dyre Tillinghast of Buffalo acted as president, Charles Richardson of Java and Hawxhurst Addington of Aurora as vice-presidents, and H. N. A. Holmes of Wales and A. M. Clapp of Aurora as secretaries. Resolutions were adopted expressive of the sentiment of those present as indicated in the foregoing, and those who favored the company were termed " Judases " and strongly censured. In some sections actual resistance to the agents of the company was offered. If an agent made an attempt to take possession of a farm, the holder of which was in arrears, threatening notices were placed be- fore his eyes, and armed men so terrified him that he was glad to es- cape without having accomplished his mission. The Legislature refused to accede to the request of the farmers, knowing full well that there was no ground for contesting the title. In many of the towns the ma- jority of the settlers succeeded in discharging their indebtedness. In a few localities the resistance was so stubborn and long continued that the company deferred the final resort to force until the holders acquired title to their farms by adverse possession, in which they were sustained by the courts. This condition of affairs in the rural communities un- doubtedly tended tocripple the energies of the settlers, prevent progress and seriously delay improvements which would have been made under
£
£
184
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
more favorable circumstances. And all this time the conditions in favor of an ultimate open armed revolt were ripening.
Though the existing Genesee County Agricultural Society was not organized until 1839, an association with a similar aim and scope had been founded in Genesee county just a score of years previous to that date. On June 22, 1819, a number of representative men of Batavia and vicinity met at the home of Hinman Holden in that village and made arrangements for holding annual fairs. An agricultural society was organized at that meeting, with Joseph Ellicott for president. Hon. Samuel M. Hopkins president pro tem., and Parmenio Adams treasurer pro tem. It was decided to hold a meeting and exhibit in the month of October following, and those present agreed to raise five hundred dollars to defray the expenses of the event. Of this amount three hundred and fifty dollars was appropriated for premiums. Colonel Green and Colonel Towner were appointed marshals of the day. Little is known of this early agricultural society, but it must have been pros- perous to a certain degree, as it was in existence for nearly, if not quite, twenty years.
The present society was organized in 1839. For twenty years the annual fairs were held in various places, sometimes on the Mix prop- erty, opposite the jail; some on Walnut street across the creek ; others on the Clark property, at the head of Jackson street. But by the end of that time the society had reached such proportions, and its facilities were so limited that it was decided to purchase a permanent site for the annual fair and erect thereon buildings adequate to the needs of the growing organization. A half-mile track for horse racing and stock exhibits was constructed. on the old grounds on Ellicott street, costing $3,017, and the expositions held annually under the auspices of the society became more successful with every succeeding year. The so- ciety was incorporated with the secretary of state, May 24, 1856, with these officers: President, Eden Foster; vice-president, John F. Plato; secretary, Horatio N. Wright; treasurer, Chauncey Kirkham, jr. In 1890 the society sold its old grounds to the Buffalo and Geneva Rail- road Company and voted to purchase what was known as the Redfield grounds, the price agreed upon being six thousand dollars. This is the old " driving park property " of nearly twenty-four acres, and eight and one-half acres additional on the east side of the track, which in- cludes an oak grove of two and one-half acres. A short time after- ward the society purchased two additional aeres of Mr. Redfield, mak- ing its total possessions about thirty-five aeres.
185
THE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
Unfortunately the records of the society prior to 1870 are missing. Since that year, however, the principal officers have been as follows:
1810 .- President, I. A. Todd; secretary, Lucien R. Bailey; treasurer, Augustus N. Cowdin.
18:1 .- President, George Burt; secretary, L. R. Bailey.
1872 .- President, E. G. Townsend; secretary, G. H. Robertson; treasurer, A. R. Warner.
18:3 .- President, M. N. Moulthrop; secretary, F. M. Jameson; treas- urer, A. R. Warner.
18:4 .- President, S. B. Lusk; secretary, J. H. McCulley; treasurer, A. R. Warner.
1815 .- President, Warren J. Tyler ; secretary, J. H. McCulley ; treas- urer, A. R. Warner.
1876 .-- President, Cortland Crosman; secretary, E. R. Hay; treas- urer, A. R. Warner.
18:1 .- President, I. S. Durfee; secretary, E. R. Hay; treasurer, A. R. Warner.
18:8 .- President, Albert Parker; secretary, J. H. Robson; treas. urer, E. L. Kenyon.
1849 .-- President, C. W. Van De Bogart; secretary, Nelson Bogue; treasurer, Robert A. Maxwell.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.