Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Genesee County, New York, v. 2, Part 12

Author: North, Safford E
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: [United States] : Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 768


USA > New York > Genesee County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Genesee County, New York, v. 2 > Part 12


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 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42



472


OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.


Whiting C. Woolsey. 1890, George Burt; 1891, John M. Seacord; 1892, William W. Lewis; 1893-1899, Willis D. Sanford.


The village records for many of the early years of the corporation are either incomplete or missing entirely. The following list of other offi- cers is as nearly complete as it can be made after an exhaustive search of the original records on file with the village clerk :


Village clerks-1810, M. W. Hewitt; 1842, Branon Young; 1943, William S. Br- ram; 1854, William Tyrrell: 1855-1856. George Bowen: 1860-1861, David Seaver: 1862-1863, Smith Frost; 1864-1-65, W. Nelson Cross: 1967-1870, Myron H. Peck, jr. , 1-71-1974, John G. Johnson; 1875-1878, Myron H. Peck, jr. ; 1879-1880, Safford E. North; 1881-1542, Lawrence L. Crosby ; 1883-1881, William E. Webster: 15A5-1987. Lawrence L. Crosby; 18-8-1859, George E. Perrin; 1890, William D. Smith; 1991- 1898. George E. Perrin.


Village treasurers-1810-1941, Alva Smith; 1812, John S. Ganson: 1849, Alva Sinith; 1844-1546, James P. Smith : 1819-1851, Branon Young, 1852, Charles R. Gan- son; 1853, Gad B. Worthington; 1834-1856, Henry T. Cross; 1863, S. H. Russell : 1-67-1868, Augustus N. Cowdin: 1874-1476, Charles R. Gould; 1877-1880, Albert Weber; 1841-18-2, Hiland H. Benjamin, 1883. Frank Page; 1\84, H. H. Benjamin , 1550, John O'Connor, 1880-1987, George E. Perrin; 1888-1890, George Roth; 1501. H. T. Booth: 1992-1595, Oren C. Steele ; 1896, Charles W. Stickle; 1897-1599, Richard L. Cotes.


Collectors-18:4. Richard G. Tompkins, 1875, Nicholas Frank : 1876, Oscar Frost ; 1477, John Thomas: 1875, Elhis R. Hay, 1879, Arthur Ferris; 1850, Philip J. Weiss; 1-81, Roderick F. Thompson, 1550, John F. Mackey; 1899, John K. Giddings; 1984. William H. MeCann; 1-85, James Berns: 1946, Patrick Green , 1847. Samuel Cooper , 1898. David S. Mackey: 1989. L. E. Champlain; 1890, John Quirk; 1891, W. Frank Squires; 1992, William Radley. 1893, Jobn F. Gallagher; 1894, Wilham II. Kendall ; 1995, D. Burt Benedict; 1896, Robert J. Hutchinson; 1897, A Elliott; 1895, Ralph A. Griswold.


TOWN OF BERGEN.


Bergen is the most northeasterly town in Genesee county. It is bounded on the north by Clarendon. Orleans county, and Sweden, Monroe county; on the east by Riga, Monroe county; on the south by Le Roy, and on the west by Byron. The town contains an area of 17,289 acres. It is a portion of the triangular tract sold to Le Roy and others from the Morris Reserve; and it also contains two tiers of lots from the Connecticut tract. The latter are in the western part of the town.


The surface of the town is gently undulating, with a slight inclina- tion toward the north, but in most portions is very nearly level. The soil is a fertile and productive elayey loam. Black ereek flows in an


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MORRIS W. TOWNSEND, M. D.


473


GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-BERGEN.


easterly direction through the town, north of the centre, The main line of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad passes through in a northeasterly and southwesterly direction, south of the centre.


Bergen was first settled in 1801 by Samuel Lincoln. In the same year George Letson, William Letson, Benajah Worden, Richard Abbey, Solomon Levi, Jesse Leach, James Letson, Gideon Elliott and David Scott settled in town. The first church organization was established in December, 1807. The Congregational church was founded January 25, ISO8. Harry Kelsey, a graduate of Vale college, taught the first school. The first frame house in the town was erected by Dr. Levi Ward, the pioneer physician. Jared Merritt built the first saw mill. Dr. Ward was also proprietor of the first store, in 1808. The first inn was opened in 1809 by Samuel Butler, Colonel W. H. Ward was the first postmaster.


The town of Bergen was erected from Batavia, June 8, 1812. The town of Byron was set off in 1820. Prior to the erection of Bergen the town formed a part of the great original town of Northampton, In the existing records in the office of the town clerk the name of Justin Wor- thington appears as town clerk for Northampton in 1808 and 1809. Unfortunately the records do not give an account of the first town meet - ing. The list of supervisors begins with the year 1831 and is as fol- lows :


1831-1933, Rufus Hubbard: 1834-1835. Samuel Richmond ; 1936. Franklin D. King- man: 1537, Joseph Chipman, jr. : 1-38-1-40, Samuel Richmond, 1811, Franklin D. Kingman; 1842-1541, Joseph Chipman; 1845, Franklin D. Kingman: 1816, Martin C. Ward; 1847, Luther Crosby, 1848, Martin C. Ward: 1849, Joseph Chipman : 1850. 1851, Abner Hull, jr. ; 1952, Luther Crosby ; 1853, Franklin D. Kingman, 1854, Daniel F. Merritt; 1855, Elisha H. Parish; 1956, Samuel Richmond: 1857, Elisha H. Parish; 1858. Ebenezer Scofield: 1-59-1861, Josiah Pierson; 1862, David Hooper: 1863-1867, Edward H. Parmelee: 1868-1869, Andrew J. Gleason: 1870-1872, Elisha 11. Parish; 1878-1974, Chas. N. Reed: 1825. John H. Ward, 1576, James D. Doolit- tle: 1877. Henry S. Andrews; 1875-1879, Henty S. Andrews; 1850, Alonzo L. Greene; 1881-1842, Myron H. Parmelee: 1543, Morris W. Townsend; 1>84, Philip Snyder; 1845, Morris W. Townsend: 1846, Myron Il. Parmelee; 1887, Philip Sny- der; 18-8-1889, Samuel E. Bower; 1800, Morris W. Townsend; 1991, Benjamin N. Walker; 1892. Morris W. Townsend; 1893. Benjamin N. Walker: 1594-1895, Eugene D. Hull.


The names of the town clerks appearing upon the records are as fol- lows :


1815-1816, Josiah Pierson; 1817-1821, Samuel Taggart; 1823-1524 James Manger,


474


OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.


1925, David Evarts: 1826-1828, D. G. Evarts; 1829, John Cushing: 1830-1832. Then- dore Cushing, 1833-1834, Samuel Richmond: 1835-1836, James Gibson; 1837, Nathan B. Griffin ; 1835-1839. James Gibson; 1439, Franklin D. Kingman; 1810-1843, Moses S. Gibson: 1844-1846, Francis T. Moseley; 1847, J. B. Hatch; 1848, Lansing W. Hoyt: 1849, Jolin M. Gillette; 1550-1852, James D. Doolittle; 1851, Ezra T. Merrill 1855, Henry M. Ward; 1856, Andrew Southworth; 1857-1858, Francis T. Moseley. 1959-1860, Chapin Hall; 1861, John II Parish; 1862, J. H Moore; 1803-1865, Chaan- eey D. Graves: 1566, Samuel K. Green: 1867-1868, Elias P. Green; I>69-1-70. Thomas J. Tone; 1871, C. T. Moseley; 1872-1974, T. J. Tone; 1875, Peter S. Hark- ness; 1876-1875. Delos Murdock: 1879-1880, J. W. Stratton; ISS1, D. H. Murdock ; 1882, George C. Wolcott; 1943-1884, E L. Fisher; 1885-1887, Daniel J. Mc Pherson ; 1898-1893, E. L. Fisher; 1894-1898, Will E. Gillette.


The following are recorded as having been elected to the office of justice of the peace in Bergen in the years designated :


1-32. Hart Spafford: 1834, Jonah Guthrie, Abner Hull; 1935, Oren Bliss, 1936, Hart Spafford; 1937. Luther Crosby: 1836 Abner Hull; 1839, Shubael Reed; 1540. Samuel Richmond : 1841, Ebenezer Schofield: 1543. Wilham L. Lewis, 1841, Abner Hull: 1815, Samuel Riebmond (1 t.), Stephen Putnam (s. t.): 1846, Luther Crosby 1847. Stephen Putnam (1. t.), Erasmus C. Dibble (s. t.): 1848, Abner Hull; 1949, Alonzo E Richmond (1. t ), Johnson N. Tower (s. t.): 1851, D. T. Merrill (1. t.), W. P. Munger, Samuel Richmond (s. t.), 1852, Abner Hull; 1854, Luther Crosby, 1855, Daniel T. Merrill; 1856, Edward Parmalee: 1857, Stephen F. Curtiss; 1858, Luther Crosby: 1859, D. T. Merrill. 1860, E. H. Parmalee; 1861, Stephen F. Curtiss; 1562, Samuel Church, Is69, David R. Fuller; 1864, Horace M. Ward; 1865, Sebastian R. Moore (1. t.) IJenry B. Bowman (s. t.); 1566, William P. Munger (I. t.), David Fancher (s. t.); 1567. Horace M. Ward (1. t.), Lawrence L. Crosby (s. t.): 1868, II. M. Ward (l. t.), L L. Crosby (s. t.): 1869, Porter Davis (I. t.), William Phillips (s. t.), 1370, D. F. Merrill, D. C. Rumsey, 1. t., N. J. Munger, s. t. , 1871, Harlan Fordham, Thomas J. Dean; 1872, T. J. Dean, J. R. Mckenzie, Myron Lewellyn: 1873. George H. Church, full term, Jerome T. Feezlear, 1. t., A. A. Arnold. s. t .; 1874, Francis E. Terry : 1875, Silas C. Pratt. 1476, J. M. Templeton, Jerome T. Feeclear: 1877, A. T. Southworth, 1. t., M. M. Conklin, s. t. . 1978, B F. Henderson, 1579, Silas C. Pratt, 1. t., Frank S. Weeks, s. t., 1880, H. W. Arnold, Alexander Campbell ; 1851, J. M. Templeton; 19-2, S E. Parker, 1. t., J. W. Stratton, s. t. : 18-3, John D. Gifford : I>>4, Cyrus Beswick, 1895, Jay W. Stratton; 1886, S. E. Parker: 1597, H. F. Ford- ham, Thomas J. Deane; 1943, E. II. Parmalee; 1589, Jay W. Stratton; 1890. George W. Emerson; 1891. T. J. Dean, 1592, Thomas J. Bissell, I. t., James A. Growney, s. t., 1893, James A Growney: 1894, E. HI. Parmalee; 1895, Daniel J. McPherson. Frederick 1I Sizer; 1806, James A Bissell; 1897, Frank S. Weeks; 1805, Daniel J. MePherson


The principal village in the town is Bergen, located near the centre of the eastern boundary Jine, on the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. It has a population of about one thousand. It con- tains four churches, two hotels, a bank, a union free school, a cigar


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475


GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-BETHANY.


factory employing over thirty hands, a machine shop, an elevator for grain, two feed mills, a saw mill, and a number of smaller manufac- tories. It also has an excellent fire department. One weekly newspa- per is published. The village is incorporated.


North Bergen is a post-office in the northwest part of the town. It contains a church, a store, one or two small manufactories and about one hundred and fifty inhabitants.


West Bergen is a hamlet, with post-office, in the western part, on the line of the railroad. It has a store, a hotel and some minor manufac- tures. .


Stone Church, in the southeastern part of the town, contains one church and store. It is a small hamlet.


TOWN OF BETHANY.


Bethany is one of the four towns in the southern tier. It is bounded on the north by Batavia and Stafford, on the east by Stafford and Pa- vilion, on the south by Middlebury, Wyoming county, and on the west by Alexander. Bethany, like Alexander, is perfectly square in form. Its northern half is gently undulating, while in the southern section it is somewhat hilly. Black creek passes in a northerly direction through the town, east of the centre. White creek rises in the southeast corner, and flows northeasterly. Little Tonawanda creek passes northwesterly through the southwest corner. The soil is fertile and well adapted to the culture of fruit and grain, and to grazing. The Delaware, Lacka. wanna and Western Railroad passes through the northern part of the town and a branch of the Erie Railroad crosses the southwest corner.


Bethany was first settled in 1803 by John Torry, who came from Ca- yuga county. During the same year Orsamus Kellogg, Lyman D. Prindle, Samuel Prindle, Charles Culver, John Dewey, Jedediah Riggs, Nathaniel Pinney, Horace Shepard. M. Scott, David Hall, Captain George Lathrop, Solomon Lathrop, Richard Pearson, and O. Fletcher purchased farms in town and either settled there or declared their in- tentions of doing so. The first grist mill is believed to have been that built by John Wilder for Judge Wilson, in 1810, on the Little Ton- wanda creek, in the southestern part of the town. That stream fur- nishes a good water power at that point. A carding and woolen mill was built in 1809 by Calvin Barrows. A saw mill was built even earlier -in 1808-by a Mr. Coles. The first tavern at Linden-then known


476


OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.


as Gad-Ponch-was conducted by Joseph Chamberlain in a house built by Mr. Lusk. Sylvester Lincoln had a tavern near by as early as 1805. In later years Nathaniel Eastman had a stone distillery there, W. H. Barrows a cabinet shop, Mr. Webster and Mr. Gardner had asheries, Mr. Towner a grist mill. The Freewill Baptist church, organized in 1809, was the first in town. :


Bethany was formed from Batavia, June 8, 1812. But there are in existence no official town records prior to 1847, excepting the list of supervisors since 1831, which are to be found in the office of the county clerk. Following are the names of the supervisors of Bethany :


1831, Nathan Rumsey : 1\32-1-39, Ira Wait: 1831, Josiah Churchill: 1835-1837, Ira Wait: 1838-1840, John Jenne. 1941-1543, Charles Kendall; 1944, William W. Ram- sey: 1845-1846, Jesse Norton: 1947-1949, John Jenne, 1949-1851, William W. Rum- sey: 1852, Reuben Kendall. 1855, John Jenne. 1951. Daniel L. Worthington, 1855- 1856, Orlando R. Croff, 1-57-1 59. Carlos A. Huggins: 1-60-1561, Lemuel F. Lin- coln: 1862, Almon Smith, 1509-1865, Robert S. Fargo. 1866-1967, Lyman Brown. 1968-1869, William L. Hamilton. 1870-1871. Charles A. Lathrop. 1872-1873, Benja- min F. Peck; 1974-1475, Carlos A. Huggins. 1876-1581. Benjamin F. Hamilton ; 1482. Jolin Markley: 18-3, Joseph Crawford. 1884, John Markley, 1885- 199>. Collis H. Sammis; 1889-1890. James H. Gifford; 1891-1892, Daniel Harris; 1993, Charles W. Hamilton : 1894-1898, John R. Bennington.


The names of the town clerks as they appear on the records in the possession of the town clerk are:


Charles Kendall, jr . 1847. E:astus Northrup, 1848; Ira R. Gifford, 1849, Erastus Northrup, 1850: Ira R. Gifford, 1-51-1852; Solomon B. Lathrop, 1858 - 1855; Cyrus R Nichols, 1856-1859. Ebenezer W. Lincoln, 1-60-1871; Ganson W. Croff, 1872-1-75. Charles W. Come, 1874; Ganson W. Croff, 1875-1986. Charles W. Rumsey, 1887-1559. Charles M. Stebbins, 1889-1890; Orra R. Croff, 1891-1893; Cary E. Hoxie, 1894-1895: Henry Webster, 1896-189%


The records of the election of justices are not complete. The names as they appear are as follows:


1847, Mason Blood, Luman Stevens, Charles S. Cone, Daniel L. Worthington. 1949, Dr. Orlando R. Croff. 1851, John C. Cranston; 1932, Alexander G. Perry : 1959, Carlos A. Huggins: 1854, Carlos S. Conc, 1. t., Jabin W. Bosworth, s. t. : 1856. Peleg H. Cornell; 1:57, Charles Sprague: 1-58. Jabin W. Bosworth; 1859, John F. Perry : 1×60, Alexander G. Perry. 1501. Dr. Orlando R. Croff; 1862, Peleg II. Cornell; 1863, Charles Sprague; 1864, Alexander G. Perry ; 1865, Charles W. Rumsey : 1867, Charles Sprague: 1565, Peleg Il. Cornell; 1869. Charles W. Rumsey; 1820, Jabin W. Bos- worth, 1. t., Henry C. Adgate, s. t. , 1572, Abram J. Voorhees, 1. t., Ilenry C. Adgate. s. t .: 1873, Charles W. Rumsey. 1874, Henry O. Bostwick; 1575, Wilham G. Peck ; 1876, Nelson Blood: 1877, John M. Webster; 1978, Henry O. Bostwick. 1579, James H. Gifford; 1450, Nelson Blood; 1981, John M. Webster, 1. t., Frederick W. Hamil-


477


GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-BYRON.


ton, s. t ; 1852, Frederick W, Hamilton ; 1853, J. 11. Gifford, I. t., Charles A. Norton, s. t .; 1834, Nelson Blood; 18-5, John M. Watson; 1686, Charles A. Norton: 1867, G. M. Peck; 1889, Alexander G. Perry; 1889, J. M. Webster; 1890, Walter Brown : 1-91, G. M. Peck; 1802, 1I. M. Smith, 1. t., William Carson, s. t. : 1893, J. M. Webster; 1994, William Carson; 1895, G. M. Peck, 1. t., Charles A. Norton, s. t. : 1896, II. M. Smith ; 1897, Charles A. Norton ; 1899, William Carson, I. t., Thurman A Hart, s. t.


Bethany contains the Genesee county almhouse, which is located in the southern part of the town. Richard Pierson has been a superin- tendent of the poor for twenty years. Connected with the house is a farm of two hundred acres. The Genesee Manual Labor Seminary, long since extinet, was founded in 1832, with a capital of twenty thou- sand dollars. Its first principal was R. Whiting.


Linden, the most important village in Bethany, is located in the southwestern part of the town on the Erie Railroad. It has a good school, a grist mill, built by George Perry in 1SS1, a sawmill, and one or two other small industries.


East Bethany is in the northeastern section, on the D., L. & W. Railroad. It has one church ( Presbyterian), a school, a hotel, two stores and a mill.


Bethany Centre is a short distance south of the centre of the town, has two churches ( Presbyterian and Baptist), two stores and a school.


Little Canada (formerly known as Bennett's), is located in the north- eastern part of the town, has a Free Methodist church, a school, a grist and saw mill.


West Bethany is a hamlet on the western bounds of the town. 1t has a church ( Freeville Baptist), a school and a store.


Bethany is an agricultural town, and has had and now has few indus- tries aside from farming.


TOWN OF BYRON.


Byron is one of the the five towns in the northern tier, lying in the northeastern part of the county. It is bounded on the north by Claren- don, Orleans county; on the east by Bergen, on the south by Le Roy and Stafford, and on the west by Stafford and Elba. The surface is gently undulating, and the soil a gravelly and sandy loam of great fer- tility, perfectly adapted to the culture of fruit trees and of many other forms of agriculture. The principal stream, Black ereck, flows in a northeasterly direction through the central part of the town. Spring creek and Bigelow creek are its principal tributaries, on the west. A


478


OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.


short distance north of Byron, on Black creek, is a sulphur spring emit . ting carburetted hydrogen gas. In the southwestern part is an acid spring known as the " sour spring," issuing from an elevation four of five feet above the plain The West Shore Railroad runs nearly east and west through the central part of the town. The town is a portion of the Connecticut traet of the Morris Reserve, and of the Pultney tract.


Byron was first settled in 180? or 1808 by Benhani Preston, who pur- chased lot 191. In the latter year Mr. Hoskins and Elisha Taylor, who came from Otsego county, located on lot 186. In 1800 Wheaton Car- penter came from Rhode Island and Elisha Miller from Pennsylvania. The first school was opened by Chester T. Holbrook about 1810. In 1815 Ira Newburg opened an inn, the first in town. Amos Hewitt opened a store as early as 1813. The first saw mill was erected by William Shepherd in 1815, and the first grist mill by Asa Williams in 1814. The Byron Library Society was organized May 9, 1824. The first religious services were held in 1809 by the Rev. Royal Phelps, a Presbyterian missionary. The first church established was of the Baptist denomination, in lolo, and was located at Byron Centre. It was disbanded many years ago.


The town was formed from Bergen April 4, 1820, and named in honor of Lord Byron. The records prior to 1850 are missing. The names of the supervisors as they apper on the records in the county clerk's office are as follows:


1931, Amos Hewitt: 1532, James Pendill: 1533-1834, Bartholomew Benham. 1535, Amos Hewitt: 1536-1837, David P. Coy, 1834-1839, Andrew Dibble: 1840, Andrew H. Green: 1-41-1942. Andrew Dibble; 1543, Andrew H. Green: 1814, Andrew Dib- ble: 1845-1847, Andrew Adam -: 1845-1850, Levi Fisk; 1851. Addison Terry, 1852- 1553, Wheaton S. Miller; 1-31-1-55. Hitam Tuttle; 1856, Cyrus Walker, 1857-1-63. Loren Green: 1864. James T. Boynton: 1865-1566, Loren Green: 1867, Cyrenus Walker, 1-88-1-20. Hoiden T. Miller: 1872-1875. Newton II. Green; 1576-1-7%. Charles A Seaver: 1979-1881. Francis T. Miller, 1892-1851, John C. Walker, 19-5- 199> Elisha II. Miller. 1>59-1-91, Isaac Dillingham; 1892. Newton II. Greene; 1-03. Henry W. Merriman : 1591-1-96. Lawton A. Terry . 1598, Iverson W. White.


Following are the names of the town clerks as they appear on the official records:


Charles P. Hall, 1950-1-53. John S. Fisk, 1854; Alvirus Loomis, 1-55-1856; James W. Seaver, 1857; Theodore Comming, 1858-1960, Oliver C. Stone, 1861; Holden T. Miller, 1862-1861: Francis C. Terry, 186; John Seaver, 1466-1867; Earl B. Louns- bury, 1868-1-72. Seth C. Hall 1-53 1986; Burt L. MeElver, 1ssG-1-90, George H. Radley. 1590-1-03, Bart L. MeElver, 1891-1596, E. L. McElver, 1897-1598,


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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-BYRON.


The justices of the peace since 1850 have been :


1550, Milo W. Shedd: 1551, John Green: 1552, Ezra Ilazen: 1853, Wheaton S. Miller; 1854, Milo W. Shedd; 1855, Isaac A. Todd; 1956, Isaac A Todd: 1557, Alex- der Gardner, 1. t., L. J. Woods, s. t : 1958, Milo W. Shedd; 1-59, John Rambo; Isti0. Moses B. Gage; 1461, George W. Dewey; 1862, Milo W. Shedd, I. t., Theodore Cumming. s. t .; 1863, John Rambo; 1564, Wheaton S. Miller; 1565, Theodore Cum- ming, Rialto O. Arnold, s. t. : 1866, Milo W. Shedd. I. t, James W. Seaver, s. t .; 1567. John Rambo, l. t., Irving D. Southworth, s. t., 186>, Irving D. Southworth ; 1-69, James W. Seaver; 1570. Milo W. Shedd: 1871, John Rambo, Hyram Tuttle: 1872, Loren Green; 1873, Charles A. Seaver; 1874, Milo W. Shedd, I. t., Irving D. Southworth, s. t ; 18:5, John Rambo. 1876, Irving D. Southworth, 1. t., Charles B. Judd. s. t. ; 1977, Charles B. Judd: 1975, Milo W. Shedd, 1. t., A. W. Billings, s. t., James W. Seaver, v. : 1870, H. S. Peckbam; 1880, Irving D. Southworth, I. t., Charles E. Cook, s. t .; 1991, James W. Seaver. I. t., William Coward, s t. : 1982. James F. Mills, 1. t., Clifford L. Benham, s. t .. Elisha H. Miller, v., George G. Check. v. : 1553. George C. Check, I. t . Albert Eaton, 1. v .. Zeno T. Croker, s. v. : 1954, Elisha H. Miller : 1885, Zeno T. Crocker . 1856, Albert Eaton, 1. t. , Dr. A. M. Whiton, s.t. : 1887. F. P. Coward, 1. t., E. M. Crocker, s t. , 198, Elisha A. Miller, I. t., F. D Bar- ber, s. t. ; 1859, J. MI Sherwood. I. t . George Prentice, I. v., James G. Perry, s. v. . 1800, James G. Perry, 1. t., M. C Bet.ham, s. t. , 1-91, Elisha H. Miller, 1. t., Bert S. Bean, s t .; 1892, Charles H Shedd, I. t., William H. Coward, s. t. , 1803, John M. Sherwood; 1894, George MeDaniels: 1895, William H. Coward, 1-96, John E. Moore, 1-97. John M. Sherwood. I. t , Henry C. Perry, s. t. , 1-0s. J. M. Gibbs, I. t, A. F. Bennett, s. t.


Byron Centre, the most important village in the town, is situated near the centre of the town, on Black creek and the West Shore Rail- road. A considerable business in grain and pork is done at this point. The village contains two churches ( Presbyterian and German Evangeli- cal), a good school, two flouring mills, an iron foundry and manufac- tory of agricultural implements, a hotel, about ten stores, and a few smaller industries. Near the village is the Bergen cheese factory, built in 1867. The Genesee mills stand half a mile east of the village, on Black creek. McElver & Sons agricultural works were established at Byron Centre about fifteen years ago.


North Byron is situated about a mile north of Byron Centre. It is a small hamlet. It has one church ( Freewill Baptist).


South Byron is in the southern part of the town, on the main line of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. It contains a Methodist Episcopal church, an excellent school, three or four stores, a hotel, a mill and a produce warehouse.


480


OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.


TOWN OF DARIEN.


Darien occupies the southwestern corner of Genesee county. It is bounded on the north by Pembroke, on the east by Alexander, on the south by Bennington, Wyoming county, and on the west by Alden, Erie county. The surface is undulating in the north and hilly in the south. Murder creek flows in a northerly direction through the eastern section. Elliott creek, Huron creek and Eleven Mile creek are the other principal streams. In the northern part of the town the soil is a gravelly and sandy loam. In the southern part it is a clayey loam in- derlaid by limestone The Erie Railroad extends through the town from east to west, south of the centre; the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern Railroad extends east and west, north of the centre; the New York Central & Hudson River and the Lehigh Valley Railroads pass through the northwestern part.


The first settlement was made near Darien City in 1803 by Orange Carter, who came from Vermont. In 1804 Isaac Chaddock, also from Vermont, settled near the same place. The first tavern was that con- dueted by Stephen Parker at Darien City in 1808, and the first sawmill was erected in 1809 by Amos Humphrey. It was located on Eleven Mile creek. Stephen King had the first store, which he opened at Da- rien Centre in 1815. The earliest religious services of which any record has been left were held in 1820 by Elder William Throop, a Baptist minister. The first church society, which has been extinct since 1860, was a Congregational church organized at Darien Centre, May 9, 1823, with twelve members.


Darien was formed from Pembroke February 10, 1832. The first annual town meeting was held April 3, 1832, at the tavern of Stephen King, when these officers were elected:


Supervisor, Hugh Long, town clerk, Thomas Riddle; justices of the peace, Joud- than Durkee, James Sutherland. Adna Tenney, assessors, William Thayer, William Williams, Thomas Miller, overseers of the poor, Chilson Mullet, Price Mattison ; com- missioners of highways, Lyman HI. Seaver, Lewis Clark, William Kidder; commi -- sioners of schools, Daniel Carter, Constantine Gilman, Newton Haws, collector, Daniel Kendrick.


The supervisors of the town from its organization to the present time have been as follows:


1832, Hugh Long: 1893-1435, Selvey Kidder; 1836-1837, William Thayer; 1835- 1840. James Long: 1-41, Zina Warte, 1542 -1843, Stephen King: 1811. Lewis Clark. 1845-1816, Ebenezer Losee, 1517-1548, Adna Tenney. 1$19, Daniel Carter, 1850-




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