USA > New York > Orleans County > Pioneer history of Orleans County, New York, containing some account of the civil divisions of western New York > Part 21
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OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Some years after the canal was dug, Erastus Cone bored for stronger brine to a depth of nearly one hundred feet, near the old spring, but the result did not warrant his making salt there and none has been made since.
The first school house in the village of Holley was made of logs, about the year 1815, and stood not far from the present railroad depot. It had no arrange- ments for making a fire in it, and was used for a school only in the summer, for several years. The first teacher in this school was Lydia Thomas. after- wards Mrs. Henry Hill.
When laborers were excavating and building the canal embankment, a tooth of some huge animal, a mammoth, perhaps, was dug up. The tooth was a grinder, and weighed two pounds and two ounces. No other bones of such a creature have been found, and it has been conjectured this tooth must have been shed there by the animal to which it belonged, when it came after salt. It is now in the State collection in Albany.
Holley was sometimes called 'Salt Port,' by the boatmen ; but that name was soon dropped for Hol- ley, a name given to the village in honor of Myron Holley, one of the Canal Commissioners, when the canal was dug.
On the 5th of January, 1819, a Congregational Church was organized at the village of Sandy Creek, in Murray, which was distinguished as the 'Congre- gational Church of Sandy Creek.' July 13, 1831, by act of the Presbytery of Rochester, this Church was united with the Presbyterian Church in Clarendon, and removed to Holley, where the new organization was thereafter known as the ' Church of Murray.'
The village of Holley was incorporated under the general Act of the Legislature, July 1, 1850.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE VILLAGE OF HULBERTON.
Joseph Budd-Canal Basin-First Warehouse-First Grocery-First Tavern-I. H. S. Hulbert-First Named Scio-Methodist Society -- Abijah Reed and Sons.
HIE village of Hulberton is a canal village in the town of Murray. Joseph Budd, from the county of Rensselaer, New York, settled here in May, 1826, and purchased of a former proprietor about one hundred acres of land lying on both sides of the canal. At first Mr. Budd resided in a log honse standing a little south of the Methodist Meeting house. He afterwards erected a substantial stone dwelling in which he resided. now occupied by Mr. Marens H. Phillips.
Mr. Budd was a large hearted, generous and public spirited man, with sagacity enough to see here must be a village if the advantages were properly improved, and he set to work accordingly.
In 1828 he dug a basin in the south bank of the canal west of the bridge, large enough for canal boats to turn about in, and commenced to sell village lots to such as he could induce to purchase of him. Settlers soon located here.
In 1830, Dr. Frisbie built a warehouse on the basin Budd had dug out. This was the first ware- house.
Isaac H. S. Hulburt opened a grocery on the tow path east of the bridge in 1830, being the first grocery.
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OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
Orsamus Squire built and occupied a store on the lot now used for a hotel, in 1828. This was the first store.
This store was altered over and fitted up for a tavern, and the first tavern kept here by Timothy Tuttle, in 1832.
In 1833 Mr. Budd caused his land next to the high- way and canal to be laid out into village lots by 1. Cantine, surveyor, and the village has been built on this plan.
I. H. S. Hulburt was an active business man, who sold goods, bonght farm produce, staves and lumber, and drove a brisk trade with the boatmen, and served as justice of the peace.
Finding it inconvenient to go over to Sandy Creek, on the Ridge for all their mail business, he applied for a post office here.
The village was named Scio at an early day by Mr. George Squire.
On examining for a name for the new post office, it was found there was one post office named Scio in New York already, and the village name of Scio was changed to Hulberton, in honor of Mr. Hulburt, by which name the village and the post office have ever since been called.
The post office was established in 1835. I. H. S. Hul- burt, first postmaster.
Mr. Joseph Budd was a religious man, and desiring to promote the cause of religion and good morals among the people in his settlement, he invited Elders Wooster and Hemenway of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to make this one of their preaching stations, and through these instrumentalities, a society and church of Methodists was organized. This society erected their meeting house in 1835. Its trustees at that time were I. II. S. Hulburt, Samuel Cope-
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land. Hiram Hibbard, Joseph Budd, and George Squire.
Among the prominent business men whose wealth and industry aided largely to build up Hulberton, were the Reed family, consisting of Abijah Reed and his sons Epenetus, Hercules and Jacob, and his son-in-law Edward Mulford.
They were merchants, upright, honorable, and fair, who came here from Greene county, N. Y. They en- joyed the confidence of the community, and carried on a large business while they lived.
Gilbert Turner was the first blacksmith, and Wm. Perrigo was the first shoemaker.
Among the early settlers in and near Hulberton were Remember S. Wheeler, George Squire, and Hanford Phillips, who bought the farm on which Mr. Budd formerly resided and on which he set out the apple orchard, which has since become justly cele- brated, now owned by Mr. Phillips.
Mr. Joseph Budd, who is worthy to be called the Pioneer of Hulberton, died in May. 1856.
CHAPTER XXIV.
VILLAGE OF HINDSBURGH.
Jacob Luttenton-Jacob Hinds and Brothers-First Warehouse-Jabez Allison-First Hotel.
INDSBURGH. a little village in the town of Murray, is situated on land which was first settled by JJacob Luttenton, who built the first. house here. Mr L. sold out to Jacob Hinds in 1829, and Mr. Hinds commenced building up a village. Mr. Hinds built the first warehouse in 1830, and the first tavern in 1835.
He, in connexion with his brother Joel, built the first store for selling dry goods and groceries, in 1835. opened it for trade in 1836.
In the year 1832, considerable trade having been. established here, and the emigration to Kendall and other places north generally, making this its point of debarkation from the canal, the Hinds Brothers and their neighbors in public meeting resolved to call their place Hindsburgh. believing a small village would be here located.
The trade in produce proving good at Hindsburgh, Mr. W. Whitney, of Rochester, built another ware- house here in 1836.
Hindsburgh has always been a good place from which to ship the abundant erops of grain, apples, and farm produce raised in this neighborhood. As long as travel by passengers went by the canal, boats stopping here, with the help of local trade, made busi- ness lively.
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Several grocery stores have been kept here, a num- ber of mechanies maintained, and a large trade in dry goods sustained by the Hinds Brothers and others.
The death of Joel and Darius Hinds, the removal of their younger brother Franklin to Iowa, and the death of Jabez Allison, who was an early settler here, and who had dealt largely in produce, seemed to check the transaction of business, and for some time Hindsburgh has not increased in trade or popula- tion.
Mr. Allison was for many years a justice of the peace. and Supervisor of the town.
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CHAPTER XXV.
THE TOWN OF RIDGEWAY.
Formed from Batavia-First Town Meeting-Turner, White & Hook- er's Grist Mill-First Saw Mill-Dr. Wm. White-Salt Works- Seymour Murdock-Eli Moore First Tavern Keeper and Merch- ant-School Districts-First School-Universalist Society-Firs! Stage-Isaac Bennett-Biographies of Early Settlers.
IDGEWAY was formed from the town of Ba- tavia. June 8th, 1812, and included in its & original limits what now comprises Ridgeway. Gaines, Barre, Shelby, Yates and Carlton.
In 1830 the west tier of lots in the town of Gaines. and three lots lying next south of them in Barre, be- ing part of the most western tier of lots in the 15th town- ship, second range of the Holland Purchase, wore added to the east side of Ridgeway, in order to in- elnde the whole village of Knowlesville in one town.
This town was named from the Ridge Road, or natural embankment called "The Ridge, " which runs through the county, parallel with the shore of Lake Ontario, and was the first town incorporated in Or- leans county.
The first town meeting in this county was held at Oak Orchard, in Ridgeway, April 6th, 1813. At this meeting Oliver Booth. of Gaines Corners, was elected Supervisor.
A bounty of five dollars on each wolf killed in town was voted yearly at several town meetings.
Judge Otis Turner removed with his family from
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Palmyra, N. Y., and settled at Oak Orchard in No- vember, 1811. His brother-in-law, Dr. Wm. White, came from Palmyra shortly after and settled 'near Mr. Turner.
Turner. White & Hooker built a grist mill on Oak Orchard Creek. between the Ridge and Medina in 1812.
The Holland Company built a sawmill on the same creek, near Medina, in 1805.
Dr. William White was the first physician who settled in Orleans Co. After a few years he removed to Albion and built a sawmill there on Sandy Creek. a little south of the village.
As settlers came in Dr. White gave more attention to the practice of his profession, and did a large busi- ness. And about the time of the digging and open- ing of the canal. he kept a small drug store in con- nexion with his other business, practicing medicine in partnership with Dr. O. Nichoson.
When Orleans county was organized he was ap- pointed the first Surrogate.
He was afterwards engaged in boating on the canal: then carried on a farm in Carlton, and about 1842 he returned to Albion and resumed the practice of med- icine, adopting the homeopathie system. Not getting much practice he removed to Holley, where he served several years as justice of the peace of Murray, and died a few years after.
The Holland Company cut out roads to the brine springs north of Medina, and built works for making salt. But little salt was made until the works passed into possession of Isaac Bennett, in 1818. He bored about one hundred and fifty feet and obtained brine which he boiled into salt, having at one time as many as seventy kettles in use, furnishing a large portion of all the salt used in this portion of the country. At the time of opening the canal these salt works
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OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
were superseded by Onondaga salt, and discontinued.
Mr. James H. Perry, of Ridgeway, has furnished the following additional history of this town :
"The first permanent settlement in this town was made by Seymour Murdock. In the spring of 1810, he started with his family to remove to western New York to settle where he might find a place to suit. Arriving at Avon, he left his family there, which con- sisted of twelve besides himself, and with his oldest son went to the land office at Batavia. He there learned that the Ridge Road had been opened, and a few set- tlements made on it.
From Batavia he went to Buffalo, followed down the river to Lewiston, then went east along the Ridge Road, and when about two miles east of the western boundary of Orleans county, he came to two men by the name of Lampson, eating their dinner by a tree they had just ent down.
These men had contracted with the Holland Com- pany to buy part of lot twenty-four, township fif- teen, range four, and Mr. Murdock purchased of them their rights to the land they had selected. This done he returned to Avon after his family, going by way of Batavia, while his son went east on the Ridge to find the best route to get through.
His eldest daughter declared she would go no far- ther into the woods and was left at Avon. Taking the remainder of the family he started for Ridgeway, traveling through a dense forest to Clarkson, thence west on the Ridge Road, they reached their new home June 1st, 1810.
A Mr. William Davis began to build a log house on the lot next west of Murdock's about this time, but did not move his family there till September, 1810.
Soon after this two men located at the Salt Works one and one-half miles south of the Ridge on the bank
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of Oak Orchard Creek, in a log house erected by the Land Company.
Erza D. Barnes came the same summer and boarded at Murdocks while he was building his house two and a half miles east, and working two days in each week for Mr. Murdock to pay for his board. At that time there was in the present town of Ridgeway five horses, two yoke of oxen, and three cows, all the an- imals of the kind in town. These, were brought in by Seymour Murdock.
Eli Moore moved to Ridgeway Corners in the spring of 1811, and built a block house which he opened as a tavern the same season, and which still comprises a part of the large hotel standing there.
The same season he opened a small store for the sale of dry goods and groceries, which makes him no doubt the pioneer landlord and merchant of Ridge- way, if not of Orleans county.
Sholes and Cheeney were the first blacksmiths. Isaac A. Bullard the first tanner and currier and shoemaker. Dr. Win. White the first physician, Israel Donglass the first justice of the peace, Cyrus Har- wood the first lawyer, and Elijah Hawley the first postmaster.
In 1814, the town was divided into school districts, by William White, Micah Harrington and Gideon Freeman, three Commissioners of Common Schools.
District No. 2 extended on the Ridge from the County Line on the west to Oak Orchard Creek on the east. a distance of about seven miles, the bounda- ries north and south were unlimited.
The first school house was built of logs, in 1815, on the north-west corner of lot number twenty-four, on the south side of the Ridge Road.
The first school in town was taught by Betsey Murdock in 1814, in a barn built by her father, Seymour Murdock. This barn is still standing.
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OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
A daughter of William Davis was the first person who died in town. She was buried about a mile west of the Corners, in what is probably the oldest bury- ing ground in town. and by some said to be the old- est in the County.
The first birth in town was a daughter of John Murdock.
The first Universalist Society was organized Dec., 14. 1833. Mrs. Julia A. Perry gave them a site on which their present church edifice was erected and dedicated in June, 1835. Rev. Charles Hammond was the first pastor of that church. .
Mr. Hildreth, of Vienna, drove the first public con- veyance for carrying passengers, and the mail between Rochester and Lewiston, being a covered wagon drawn by two horses.
When Isaac Bennett commenced salt boiling at Oak Orchard, Israel and Seymour B. Murdock, contract- ed to furnish him sixty-five cauldron kettles by a day set. They bought the kettles near Utica, sent them by lake to the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek. where they did not arrive until the day before the contract expired. They raised teams enough to transport all the kettles to the Salt Works, at one trip in time to perform their contract and get their pay in gold."
BIOGRAPHIES OF EARLY SETTLERS.
ISRAEL DOUGLASS.
Mr. Douglass was born in New Milford. Connecti- eut, November 20, 1777. He moved to Scottsville. Monroe County, N. Y., in 1806. In 1810, he removed to the town of Batavia, now Ridgeway, Orleans Co. He was the first Justice of the Peace in Orleans Co.
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PIONEER HISTORY
having been appointed previous to 1812, for the town of Batavia.
At the first town meeting held in and for the town of Ridgeway, after that town was set off from Bata- via, at the house of John G. Brown, at Oak Orchard, April 6, 1813, he was elected town Clerk. This was the first town officer elected by the people residing in what is now Orleans County.
There being no magistrate to preside at town meet- ing in the new town of Ridgeway, a Justice by the name of Smith was sent from Batavia for that pur- pose. The other town officers were elected afterwards at the same meeting.
Mr. Douglass held the office of Justice of the Peace for three terms in Ridgeway ; he also held various other town offices, and at one time was Justice, Over- seer of the Poor and Supervisor.
He was generally and justly regarded as an honest, fair minded man, and one of the best business men in the county. He always resided on the Ridge Road, near Oak Orchard Creek. Mr. Douglass died January 2, 1864, aged 86 years.
WM. 6. TANNER.
"I was born in Clarendon, Rutland County, Ver- mont, April 30, 1793. My father gave me a good common school education, with a few months study at an academy.
On the first day of May, 1815, I left home with a friend, and spent most of the next summer exploring the western country. We bought land in the town of Ridgeway, then nearly three miles away from any set- tlement. I returned to Vermont to prepare for perma- nent settlement on my land the next spring.
When the time came to go back, my friend was sick and could not go, and my father permitted my
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OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
younger brother Josias, not then twenty-one years of age, to accompany me.
We began our journey February 14, 1816, with a good yoke of oxen and wagon, and in company with another team we went on our weary way.
We bought two barrels of pork at Skaneatelas, which completed our outfit. We arrived at our new home March 6, 1816, being twenty-one days on the road. I cut the first tree that was cut on the farm on which I now live, lot seventeen, township fifteen. range three. We. my brother and I, kept ' bachelor's hall' on my land two years.
In October, 1816, my brother went to Vermont. leaving me in the woods alone, out of sight and hear- ing of my neighbors. I suffered many hardships that winter, principally for want of proper food. I ent all the trees I could and fed our oxen on the tops, for we had raised little in that cold season for the sustenance of man or beast. I enjoyed my work well, but the nights were long and lonesome.
On leaving home, my mother gave me her bible and I read it through that winter by fire light.
My brother returned in February. The next win- ter I left him to 'keep house,' but in comparative romfort, for we had plenty of provisions.
I went to Vermont in the fall of 1817, and returned in March following, bringing with me my younger sister for a housekeeper. She still resides near me, as the wife of Avery V. Andrews, is the mother of a large family, and in good circumstances.
My sister and myself left my father's the last day of February, in a eutter, and arrived in Ridgeway, March 12, 1818. Her bed, bedding and clothing we brought packed in a box, which contained all her worldly effects, with which she commenced life as an independent housekeeper.
She was a tall, slim girl, active and cheerful, car-
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rying sunshine in her countenance and manners wherever she was. She left a large circle of young friends and associates, the pleasures of a father's house and a mother's care, to obscure herself in the woods, for the benefit of her brothers. She found a respectable circle of young people here, although rather widely scattered.
We brought with us at that time a favorite dog, concluding our sister would feel greater security in hor wilderness home, when we were absent at our work : and he fully justified our conclusions, for he soon learned to consider himself as her special pro- tector in our absence, and nothing could induce him to leave her when we were away from home.
If she went for an afternoon's visit through the woods to a neighbor's, the dog was sure to accom- pany her. lie down by the door, and be ready to at- tend her home. She always felt secure in his pres- once.
As cold weather approached, our season for eve- ning parties commenced. Most of the houses in town were cheerfully opened for our accommodation, and the young folks, with a few couple of young married people, formed a company quite respectable in point of numbers. We were quite democratic, there were no exclusions. Many a time did we spend our eve- nings dancing on a split plank floor, traveling several miles to the place appointed, walking on logs, over brooks and wet grounds, some of the company car- rying a torch to light the way.
We sometimes went four or five miles to an evening party, on an ox sled, drawn by two yoke of oxen, with as many passengers as could 'pile on ;' and as far as appearances would prove, all enjoyed both the ride and the dance first rate.
The first regular ball we attended was held at what is now Millville, in Shelby, July 4, 1819, and as it
321
OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
was quite a primitive one, and perhaps the first one 'ever held in this county, it may justify an imperfect description.
There were no carriages, and but few horses in the country. The young men would bring their girls be- hind them, both riding the same horse. Others would be in waiting to take the horse and go after their girls, and so on until the company had assem- bled. The same course was pursued on their return home.
At the time of which I write, we met in the upper room of a new building made for a store. The floor was good, but the ceiling over head was low at the sides where the seats were placed, and it cansed much polite bowing, to prevent our heads from coming in contact with the rafters.
Our table was spread in the street in front of the store, and it was well supplied with substantial fare. We had a fine, social time, formed many pleasant ac- quaintances and friendships, which were destined to endure through life. It is presumed there are few persons to whom it does not give pleasure, when the thought of such gatherings, in which they have par -- ticipated, recurs to mind. Of more than twenty young ladies, who attended that party, but three are- known to be living at this time (1863.)
As bear stories are sometimes entertaining to pio- neers, I will relate one with which my sister was somewhat connected :
A respectable young man of the neighborhood called to visit her one evening, and continued his stay into the small hours of the night. His way home lay for a mile and a half through the woods. He reported next day that as he was returning through these woods, he treed a bear; but men who were: alarmed by his outcries, were so uncharitable as to report that the bear treed him. He was never very
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PIONEER HISTORY
communicative on the subject, and it was generally believed the latter was the fact.
Our first religious meetings were held in a log school house, half a mile west of Millville. The peo- ple would assemble from quite a distance and the house would be well filled.
Elder Gregory, a Methodist, was our preacher. He resided near by, was a good man and practiced what he taught.
A Mr. Fairbanks preached occasionally. He or- ganized the first Presbyterian Church in Shelby, at that school house, in 1820.
Judge William Penniman, a popular school teacher in those days, taught a school in that school house several terms.
My sister Anna was a pupil in his school out there in the winter of 1820. The old school house has long since disappeared. An academy and fine church buildings have arisen in Millville in its stead. There are, however, associations connected with that old school house that will cause it to be remembered by the old settlers.
I received a lieutenant's commission in the militia service, dated March 4th, 1817, which I believe to be the oldest commission granted to any one now a resi- dent of Orleans county. I was promoted in regular gradation to other military offices, and was finally olected Brigadier General, my commission being da- ted April 30th. 1826. I was the first officer of that rank ever commissioned in this county. I discharged its duties as well as I was able for two years, and then resigned my commission.
I appointed the following named gentlemen my brigade staff officers, viz .: William Allis, Brigade Inspector ; Samuel B. Ayers, Paymaster ; John Fish, Aid-de-Camp; Harmon Goodrich, Quartermaster ; Or-
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OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
"son Nichoson, Surgeon ; Alexis Ward, Judge Advo- cate.
I was married March 15th, 1821, to Esther Lee, daughter of Judge John Lee, of Barre. My wife died in August, 1835.
I married for my second wife Julia A. Flagler, daughter of Rev. J. S. Flagler, of Genesee county, N. Y.
WILLIAM C. TANNER."
Ridgeway, Dec. 5th, 1863.
Gen. Wm. C. Tanner died July 8th, 1869.
LEVI DAVIS.
"I was born in Wardsborough, Vermont, in 1793. My father was a revolutionary soldier. My father afterwards removed with his family to New Salem, Mass., at which place I was married in November, 1816, to Miss Lorana Hunt.
In 1814 I served a short time as soldier in the war with England.
Soon after I was married, in company with two other families, I moved my wife and a few articles of furniture with a yoke of oxen and wagon, to El- licott, Chautauqua county, N. Y., a journey it took us thirty-five days to perform, during which snow fell almost every day.
After passing Canandaigua, we entered a forest with few settlers, and even these residing from three to ten miles apart ; and in one case we traveled four- teen miles without passing a single house. The road most of the way was only marked trees, with the un- derbrush cut out, and no bridges over the streams ex- cept the ice.
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