USA > New York > Monroe County > Wheatland > Wheatland, Monroe County, New York : a brief sketch of its history > Part 2
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Peter Campbell located in the vicinity of the big spring in Caledonia, and Donald Mc Vean two miles farther south.
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SETTLERS FROM 1800 TO 1810.
During the first decade of the Nineteenth Century the tide of immigration set in with a stronger current. The opening year brought an accession to the Scotch settlement. Alexander Thompson, Donald and John Anderson, John Mc Pherson, John Christie, and John Mc Dermid, settled on the Creek road and in the vicinity of Beulah. Located in other parts of the town were John Smith, Christopher Laybourn, John Finch, James Wood, Newman Warren, Samuel Cox and sons Joseph, Isaac and James; John, William and Philip Garbutt, John W. Lawson, Donald Mc Kenzie, John and Robert Mc Kay, Powell Carpenter, Thomas Stokoe, Darius Shadbolt, John Sage, William Reed, William Lacy, Harris Rogers, Thomas Mumford, David and Elisha Farwell, William Shirts, James Fraser, George Goodhue, Joseph Blackmer, Rufus Cady, Joseph Tucker, Andrew Cone, Benjamin Irish, and others, affording unmistakable evidence that the scattered famil- ies were soon to reap the social and educational advantages inci- dent to a more thickly settled community.
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SETTLERS FROM 1810 TO 1820.
During the second decade of the Century the incoming of home seekers was checked by the war of 1812 -- 1814, and yet the number was large. In the roster of Captain Lacy's Company which went to the frontier in 1814, will be found the names of many early settlers of Wheatland, together with the names of many sons of the early settlers. In addition to the names record- ed the following are added, all of whom became residents of the town prior to the year 1820 :--
Augustus Bristol, Freeman Edson, Abraham and William Haynes Hanford, Donald and John Mc Vean, Alvah Savage, Isaac I. Lewis, Henry Tarbox, Osborn Filer, Caleb Allen, Jona- than Babcock, George H. Smith, Rawson Harmon, Donald Mann, Ebenezer Skinner, Thomas Faulkner, John Welch, James Olms- tead, Solomon Brown and sons, Calvin Armstrong, Frederick Bennett, Clark Hall, George Ensign, Seeley Finch, William Fraser, and Thomas Lowry.
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EARLY MERCHANTS, PHYSICIANS
AND LAWYERS.
MERCHANTS.
Abraham Hanford opened a store for the sale of merchandise in Scottsville in 1814. His followers in trade to the middle of the century were: Osborn Filer, Wm. Haynes Hanford, Ira Carpenter, E. T. Miller, Freeman M. Edson, J. P. Sill, Lucius C. Andrus, Joseph Cox, Samuel Scofield, Elmer Garbutt, and Wm. H. Hanford, Jr.
Philip Garbutt commenced selling goods at Garbuttsville in the twenties; and about the same time Clark Hall opened a store at Wheatland Centre.
The first in this branch of trade in Mumford was Robert Brown. Others who have been in the same pursuit in that village are Philip Garbutt, Phelps and Havens, Otis Comstock, Milton A. Hyde and A. F. McPherson.
PHYSICIANS.
The first medical practitioner in Scottsville was Dr. Guthrie; followed by Augustus Bristol, Freeman Edson, E. G. Munn, Peter Mc Naughton and Wm. G. Lacy. Wm. J. Howe and J. F. Mc Ammond are the present physicians in Scottsville.
Dr. Tower was Mumford's first physician, followed by Dr. John R. Craig. Lucius W. Byam is the present physician of that village.
LAWYERS.
Phederus Cartter opened a law office in Scottsville in 1831. His successors down to 1850 were Joseph A. Eastman, Thomas Frothingham, John C. Chumasero, Alexander Mann, E. Peshine Smith, John Dorr, and D. D. S. Brown. Later Menzo Van Voorhis and W. G. Ashby practiced law in Scottsville, and in 1906 David C. Salyerds opened an office there.
The late Donald Mc Naughton, of Mumford, was the only legal advisor that village ever possessed.
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FLOURING MILLS.
For fifteen years after the advent of Sheffer in 1789 the only means the settlers had of obtaining flour and meal, except by crushing the grain in a hand mortar, was from the Allan Mill at the Falls of the Genesee.
In 1804 Francis Albright built the first grist mill ( upon the site afterward occupied by Hiram Smith, ) not only of Wheatland but the first ever erected upon the banks of the Oatka. This was a one and a half story frame building containing but a single run of stone. It was an exceedingly crude affair, and yet so superior to the slow and laborious product of the mortar, that it became widely known and drew trade from a long distance, the custom- ers patiently awaiting each his turn. In 1820 this mill passed to the possession of his son Fowler Albright, and at a later period to that of Clark Hall, each of whom enlarged the structure and increased its productive power. In 1844 the property came into the possession of Hiram Smith, who built upon its site a large mill containing five run of stone with new and modern machinery. Mr. Smith manufactured a grade of flour that acquired a high reputation and was in great demand in the eastern market. This mill was in successful operation until the fall of 1875, when it was consumed by fire and has never been rebuilt.
In 1811 Peter Sheffer built the grist mill in Garbuttsville which soon after passed into the hands of his son-in-law, Philip Garbutt, by whom it was operated for many years. Mr. Garbutt was followed by his son John W. Garbutt, Elon Armstrong, Wm. C. Page, Isaac W. Salyerds and others. After standing idle for many years it has been leased by the Garbutt Gypsum Co, and converted to the manufacture of wall plaster.
The first mill in the village of Scottsville was erected by Donald Mc Vean in 1816, and consisted of the central portion of the old wood structure long known as the " Hanford Mill. " The front and rear portions were added at a later period. A dam was constructed across the Oatka some thirty rods west of the mill, and the water conducted to it by a race-way along the base of the high bank, thus obtaining a fall of four or five feet. By the use of what was known as a " tub wheel " sufficient power was obtained to operate the simple machinery of the mill. .
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The location of this dam and race-way, constructed ninety years ago and unused for nearly four score years, is plainly discernible at the present time. Upon the completion of this mill it was sold by Mc Vean to Abraham Hanford, who conducted it for many years, when it passed into the hands of Joseph and Isaac Cox, Samuel Scofield, Wm. H. Hanford, Jr., and others. The mill was destroyed by fire on September 17, 1884, at the time in possession of S. N. Holmes, of Syracuse.
In 1826 Abraham Hanford, jointly with Powell Carpenter, built a dam across the Catka on what are now Burrell's flats, and under the engineering and supervision of Alvin Savage constructed a race-way one and a quarter miles in length from the dam to the mill, thus obtaining a fall of twenty feet and a volume of water with power sufficient to operate two mills.
In 1830 Mr. Carpenter erected a three story brick mill a few rods west of the Hanford mill, which he conducted for some years, being succeeded in the business by his son Ira. This mill at the time owned and operated by Malcolm Mc Vean, was burned in the day time September 16, 1878. After the lapse of some months a stock company was formed under the name of the " Scottsville Milling Co., " with the avowed purpose of replac- ing the brick mill. This building was erected in 1880 but upon its completion was used by M. C. Mordoff as a fruit evaporator and cider mill. In 1886 the mill was filled with machinery for the manufacture of flour by L. M. Godley & Co. In the following year the capacity of the mill was greatly increased, steam was added to assist the water power, a switch was laid from the W. N. Y. & Penn. R. R., to the warehouse in the rear of the mill, and for several years an extensive business was conducted. This new mill was destroyed by fire January 10, 1895. After remain- ing idle for the period of nine years the owners of the property, The Merchants Bank of Rochester, sold it to the Wheatland Power Company, who erected a flouring mill and electric light plant, it being the third mill that has stood upon the same site.
In 1849 George Sheffer built a grist mill upon the north bank of the abandoned " Scottsville & Genesee River Canal " some twelve rods south of the site of the famous Ebenezer Allan cabin. A race-way was constructed east of and parallel with the Genesee Valley Canal from the Oatka to its intersection with the old chan- nel of the abandoned Scottsville and River Canal. A rude dam of loose stone across the Oatka, a few rods below the aqueduct,
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turned a sufficient quantity of water into the race-way to operate the mill.
This mill had a good custom trade, much of which came from Henrietta over the new bridge across the Genesee, one-half mile below. This mill, at the time leased and conducted by Mr. Balzac, of Rochester, was burned to the ground November 25, 1860, and never rebuilt.
In 1808 the Mc Kay Brothers built upon Spring Creek in Mum- ford a small custom mill, consisting of but a single run of stone. A year or more later the interest of Robert Mc Kay in the prop- erty was transferred to Thomas Mumford and the firm of Mc Kay & Mumford conducted the business until 1817 when the old mill was removed and upon its site a solid stone foundation laid, upon which a strong oak three story frame was erected and the mill equipped with four run of stone. In 1823 the mill passed into the hands of E. H. S. Mumford who conducted the business for the period of ten years. Since 1833 its owners and operators have been many, among whom were H. Hutchinson, Philip and Peter Garbutt, S. Salsbury, Gilbraith & Hammond, James Mc Queen, Page & Son, and Wm. C. Page. It was in the custody of the last named when it burned to the ground September 15, 1894. Its site remains vacant.
The mill that stood upon the banks of the Oatka a few rods west of the Allen woolen factory in Mumford, was built by Donald Mc Kenzie in 1827 and the business conducted by him twelve years, when it passed into the hands of Remington & Allen, by whom, and by Oliver Allen & Son or their tenants, it was conducted until the fall of 1901, when it followed the exam- ple of its predecessors and went up in smoke.
It will be observed that a singular fatality has attended the flouring mills of wheatland. Omitting the new mill in Scottsville, completed and in operation in 1905, there have been eight in number, and with the single exception of the Garbutt Mill (which has been converted to another use) they have all been consumed by fire.
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HOTELS.
The first hotel in Wheatland, that of Isaac Scott, has been mentioned in the chapter on "Settlers prior to 1800," while that of Augustus Bristol and Powell Carpenter are referred to in the chapter on "Scottsville's First Houses."
The front part of the frame hotel on the south side of Main Street, opposite the market of Theodore Berry, was built in 1824 by James Brown and opened by him as a public house. After a few years the property passed into the possession of E. T. Miller, who added the rear portion of the building. This building has been used continually as a public house to the present time. Its owners and occupants have been many, among whom in addition to those named above are: George Ensign, John T. Spencer, John W. Innis, M. O. Baxter, C. P. White, Abram H. Robinson, C. C. Merrett, J. Stringham, and Malcolm Mc Vean.
The brick building east of and adjoining the Catholic Church was built by James Cox in 1825 for a hotel, and as such kept by him for several years. Afterward Dr. E. G. Munn used it for an eye infirmary. It has been used for a parochial school and is now the Priest's residence.
The brick building on the south side of Main Street, now occu- pied by L. M. Slocum as a hardware store, was built in 1863 by Ellis Mc Queen for a hotel and was kept as such by him for several years. Mc Queen was followed by Benjamin B. Carpenter, William Ackley, Malcolm Mc Vean and others down to 1878, when it was converted to its present use.
The brick house on the corner, in Garbutt, latterly known as the Price House, was built in 1832 by Jefferson Edmonds for a hotel and kept as such by him for several years.
The house in Garbutt now occupied by D. D. T. Brown was for a number of years kept as a public house.
The brick house on the Mudge farm at Hall's Corners was built by Clark Hall about 1825 and conducted by him as a pub- lic house for a brief period. Hall's successors were a Mr. Mc Lean, Mr. Ayers, Benjamin B. Bissell, Harris Rogers and John Murdock. It was abandoned as a public house in the 50's.
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As early as 1814 John Sage opened his log cabin, which was located in the forks of road north of Belcoda, as a house of entertainment to the traveling public.
The first public house in Mumford was a small frame building that stood upon the site now occupied by the brick " Exchange." It was built in the early twenties and for some years was kept by John W. Watkins and afterward by Benjamin Dobson. This building was removed about 1835 next east of the Campbell store and is still standing.
The brick Exchange Hotel was built by Libbirs White in 1835. Its first landlord was Duncan Mc Naughton, who kept the house for a period of twenty years, since which time it has had many landlords and tenants, among those best remembered are Thomas Ward, and Malcolm Mc Vean.
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RIVER NAVIGATION.
Prior to the construction of the Erie Canal a portion of the surplus products of the farms and mills of Wheatland was drawn by ox teams to Hanford's Landing, north of Rochester, and there shipped by river and lake to Montreal.
The completion of the Erie Canal to Rochester in 1825 opened a new channel to tide water, and a new market, of which the shippers of the valley availed themselves. Warehouses were erected at frequent intervals upon the banks of the Genesee, one of which was located at the Cox Ferry, and another at the Sheffer Landing, two miles below, north of Allan's Creek and not far from its mouth. The boats navigating the river at this time were flat bottomed scows, propelled up stream with setting poles, receiving their cargo from the warehouses and moved down with the current of the stream.
This class of boats continued to ply the river until the opening of the Genesee Valley Canal in 1840. In 1825 a small stern wheel steamer, the " Genesee," Capt. Wm. W. Wood, was put on the river to ply between Geneseo and the Rapids, for passengers, freight, and the towing of boats. This venture was not a success. and at the close of the second season the boat was withdrawn.
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FERRIES.
A ferry was established between the towns of Avon and Caledonia by Benjamin R. Barry in 1790. This at first consisted of row boats, but a few years later what was known as a rope ferry was constructed.
Between Wheatland and the towns of Rush and Henrietta, until a much later date, the only method of crossing the Genesee was upon the ice in winter and by fording in the summer, both of which was attended with some danger; and at certain seasons of the year impracticable. The following from the records of the Clerk of Genesee County gives us the date of the establishment of the Cox Ferry.
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" Court of Common Pleas, Genesee Co., N. Y.
June term; 1820.
On reading and hearing the petition of Joseph Cox, of the town of Caledonia, praying for a license to establish a ferry across the Genesee River, from the town of Caledonia near the mouth of Allan's Creek, and near the dwelling of said Cox, on motion of E. S. Allen, counsel for said petitioner, it is ordered that said Joseph Cox have license to establish and use a ferry across said river, at the place aforesaid, for the term of one year from this date."
Then follows a list of the rates of toll which he was authorized to collect for transporting passengers, horses, cattle, sheep, etc., across the river.
In 1820 and 1821 Mr. Cox employed a young man living in Scottsville named Buck to take charge of and operate said ferry. More than three score years afterward the Rev. William D. Buck, of the Methodist E. Church, gave the writer the following account of its construction and method of propulsion. A hawser or large rope cable was thrown across the river and fastened to trees upon each side. The boat was a large flat bottomed scow, attached to the cable by iron rings. It was propelled across the
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stream by pulling on the cable hand over hand. A windlass with long ropes attached was erected upon the banks, to use in case of heavy loads, or when the current was rapid. Mr. Buck said that the volume of water in the Genesee was much greater in 1820 than it was in 1880.
About the same time the Cox Ferry was built, another simliar in construction and operation was started on the Sheffer flats, at the point where the Henrietta road strikes the river bank. Both of these ferries were maintained until the construction of the bridge between Wheatland and Rush, at the point where the Cox Ferry had operated.
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BRIDGES.
The first bridge ever erected over the Genesee was the one between Avon and Canawaugus, built probably in 1807 or 1808. One of the Livingston County histories gives an earlier date, that of 1804, but this is improbable. Simon Pierson, a resident of Le Roy, states in Turner's " Phelps and Gorham's Purchase, " that he came to Genesee County by way of Avon late in the Fall of 1806, and that the only method of crossing the Genesee was by a wretched scow.
The first bridge between the towns of Wheatland and Rush, of which Ora Carpenter was the contractor, was built in 1830. This was a double track wooden bridge, its sides, the sustaining power, was formed of 3 x 12 inch plank, placed diagonally across each other, and pinned together at the point of crossing, the whole protected by a roof. This bridge with only ordinary repairs was in use forty years, and was not in a bad condition when removed. The present structure which replaced the old wood bridge, was made by a Detroit, Mich., firm, and set up under the superintendence of Mr. De Graffe in 1869, at an ex- pense of $12,000.00. It is an iron structure consisting of a single span of 230 feet.
The first bridge between Wheatland and Henrietta was of wood, built in 1849, at a point where the West Henrietta Road strikes the river bank. This bridge and the road to it across the Sheffer flats were opened to the public in 1850. This bridge was swept from its abutments by a flood in the Fall of 1857.
A second bridge, constructed of iron, was built between these towns in 1860 at a point forty rods south of the location of the first bridge. The long continued high water in the spring of 1892 washed the earth from the west abutment, and so weakened it as to render it unsafe. This bridge was then con- demned and closed to the public.
The third bridge, of wrought iron, was erected still farther south, in line with the highway that crosses the Sheffer flats. This bridge was built in 1895, at a cost of $18,000.00.
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HIGHWAYS.
The first settlers in Wheatland found, upon their arrival here, a well beaten Indian trail, from Canawaugus to the Lake.
The road laid out by Peter and Jacob Sheffer in 1792 and '93 from the Oatka to the Falls of the Genesee, consisted in widening this trail sufficiently for the passage of ox teams and the removal of the trees within its lines. The streams were bridged with logs in 1794.
Prior to the town organization, probably in 1795, Hinds Cham- berlain, acting as Commissioner of Highways, laid out the road from Scottsville to Wheatland Centre.
At about the same time the road running west from the Sheffer farm was opened; Reuben Heath, Frederick and Nicholas Hetzler had built log houses on that road and were occupying them.
The first road recorded by the town board of Northampton was in 1799, known as the " Canawaugus " road from Braddocks Bay south to the Chili line, - thence south-easterly to its intersection with the River road, at Stephen Peabody's distillery, one and a half miles north of Scottsville. This road was surveyed by Alex. Rea, and the work upon it done under the supervision of Cyrus Douglass and Reuben Heath, two residents of Scottsville. After the lapse of ten years that portion of the road lying in Chili was abandoned and the fences removed. The northern portion of the road is still in use. .
In 1826 a road was opened from David Farwell's past Eben- ezer Skinner's to Weaver's Mill. This mill was west of the Wheatland Center Road, on the outlet of Blue Pond.
In 1832 a road was laid out from Farwell's Mill,- west past Shirts' tan yard. This road was discontinued in 1848. Farwell's Mill was on the north end of the farm now owned by the Cam- eron Mc Vean Estate and must have been run by power from the streams embraced in the L. M. Drury place and now known as "The Cedars. " Shirts' tan yard was on the south or south east side of the road from Belcoda to Clifton. The road from Farwell's Mill past this tan yard was on the north line of the present Cameron Mc Vean and Joseph Blaker farms.
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The road from Rochester Street Scottsville, across Sheffers flats to the River bridge, was opened in 1850.
Railroad Street from Freidel's cooper shop in Scottsville to its intersection with Caledonia Avenue, in 1852. This street was so named because it was the route over which the Scottsville and Le Roy R. R. had entered the village.
Road across Lewis's flats, from Caledonia Avenue in Scottsville to Luther Bowerman's, in 1854.
Brown's Avenue, from Church Street north to Rufus Green's, in 1856.
Third Street, from Brown's Avenue to Rochester Street in 1862.
Beckwith Avenue, from Brown's Avenue to Rochester Street, in 1863, -- released 1876.
Maple Street, from Brown's Avenue to B. R. & Pittsburg Station, in 1873.
Hanford Avenue, from the B. R. & Pittsburg Station to Cale- donia Avenue, laid out in 1906.
There is no record upon the town books in relation to Railroad Street, or the road across the Lewis flats.
What is now called Second Street was one of the early highways in Scottsville, and was at first known as Edson's Lane.
The first section of road built in Wheatland by State aid, was that part of Rochester Street and the River Road north from the Oatka Creek bridge in Scottsville to the Chili town line, completed in 1905.
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EARLY MANUFACTORIES.
Among the earliest of Wheatland's manufacturing industries were its distilleries. The first of these was John Mc Naughton's, on the Creek road a short distance west of his dwelling. At this period of time there was no home market for grain, and the cost of transportation to an eastern one was greater than its market value. Under these circumstances Mc Naughton's example was quickly followed by Stephen Peabody, Peter Sheffer, Sherman Bills, John Finch, Abraham Hanford and others, until it is said there were eight of these concerns in operation in the town. They were, however, all small affairs; and their united product not large. By the United States Census of 1820 it appears this number had been reduced to four, viz: Hutchinson's, Brown's, Finch's and Hanford's. It has been stated by those who were deemed competent to judge, that the quality of the product of these early stills has never been improved. This branch of in- dustry long ago ceased to exist in Wheatland.
1755221
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EARLY MECHANICS.
John Finch was Scottsvilles' first blacksmith. He was one of the founders of the " Farmers Library," and is briefly noticed in the chapter on that institution. Soon after Finchs' arrival a Mr. Sharp built and occupied a small shop that stood upon the site now occupied by S. Mc Conkey. After a few years Sharp's shop was burned and he left the village. Luman Guthrie built and for some years occupied the building still standing. This shop has been owned, and the business conducted by many persons, among whom were Isaiah North, Orrin Cartwright, George Hahn, and the present owner, Samuel Mc Conkey.
A Mr. Brown was the first shoemaker. His shop was upon the south side of Main Street, east of Wm. Carver's house.
Early in the Nineteenth Century William Dickinson conducted the shoe business in a log house that stood upon the lot now occupied by Mrs. Wm. R. Mc Vean. J. T. Spencer and Harry Beecher were his journeymen, and Wm. Weeks an apprentice.
Hotchkiss, Nelson Gould, and Caleb Allen were early shoe- makers; Martin Goodrich and Henry W. Read were later in the trade. Two of the latters sons, George W. and Jehial Read, became noted business men in New York City.
The early carpenters were John Botsford, Samuel Welch, Moses Doane and David K. Nettleton.
Edward Collins was the first bricklayer, and Daniel P. Ham- mond at a later period.
The coopers were Wm. Welch, George Ensign, Sears Galusha, William Gould and Harvey W. Hyde.
Mr. Howe, Enos White, John Hammond and Samuel O. Severance were harness makers.
John Farquerson, Henry Tarbox, John Wilber and Patrick Raf- ferty, wagon makers; Isaac Mc Donald and Francis X. Beckwith cabinet makers.
James Savage took the first daguerrotypes.
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Alvin Savage was a millwright, a surveyor, an engineer and an inventor. In 1824 he constructed two portable threshing machines, one for John Mc Naughton and the other for the Mc Vean brothers, on the North road, the first that were used in town. He also in the latter part of the 30's built a grain reaper, the cutting gear consisting of a series of round steel plates with teeth upon the outer edge, similar to a circular saw. This machine was tested upon the Miller flats, south of the creek, in the presence of a large crowd. Its trial was not a success. It proved too cumbrous and weighty for a single team; and the motion of its cutting gear was not rapid enough to prevent the teeth from clogging.
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