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PIONEER HISTORY
OF
ORLEANS COUNTY,
IST JE W YORK.
CONTAINING
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE CIVIL DIVISIONS
" OF WESTERN NEW YORK,
WITH BRIEF BIOGKAPHICAL NOTICES OP EARLY SETTLERS, AND OF
THE HARDSHIPS AND PRIVATIONS THEY ENDURED, THE
ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNS IN TIIE
COUNTY, TOGETHER WITH
LISTS OF TOWN AND COUNTY OFFICERS,
SINCE THE COUNTY WAS ORGANIZED,
WITH ANECDOTES AND REMINISCENCES, ILLUSTRATING THE
CHARACTER AND CUSTOMS OF TUB PEOPLE,
BY
ARAD THOMAS.

ALBION, K. Y.:
H. A. BKUUEB, ORLEANS AMERICAN STEAM TRESS FBINT.
1871.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in -the year 1871, by
AEAD THOMAS,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the
Northern District of New York.

©cbkation.

TO THE
ORLEANS COUNTY PIONEER ASSOCIATION,
BY BEQUEST OF MANY OF WHOSE MEMBERS TniS WORK
WAS UNDERTAKEN, BY WHOM THE AUTHOR HAS BEEN GREATLY AIDED
IN PREPARING IT, AND TO WHOM HE FEELS UNDER
OBLIGATIONS FOR MANY PERSONAL FAVORS,
THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY
DEDICATED 3Y THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE.
The origin of this book is briefly this : The. Orleans
County Pioneer Association had collected a volume in
manuscript of local history of many of its members,
written by themselves, which they desired to have
published. Some difficulty existed in getting out the work by
the Association, and the author was requested by
many of his friends to get up a book on his own ac
count, which should contain the substance of the his
tories referred to, and such other matter connected
with the Pioneer History of Orleans County, as might
be of general interest to readers.
The author has used the records of the Association,
taking some histories of Pioneers in full, as written
by themselves ; and extracting and condensing from
others such parts as he thought of more general inter
est, and as his space would allow.
Many of his facts he has collected from his own
knowledge, and from the testimony of early settlers,
and others acquainted with the matter.
To those who have so kindly aided him by such in
formation as they possessed, he returns his sincerest
thanks, particularly to Messrs. Asa Sanford, Matthew
Gregory and Hon. Robert Anderson, for their gener
ous contributions of material for this book.
The character of this book being local, many names
of persons, and events of private history have been in
troduced, of little interest perhaps out of the families
and neighborhood of the parties.; but with these the
author has endeavored to collect and preserve the-

I'KEFAOi:. V
memory of such events of a more public character,
sis marked the progress of settlement of this portion
of the Holland Purchase, and as may bo worthy of
remembrance. For this purpose O'Reiley's Sketches of Rochester,
Turner's History of Phelps and Gorham's Purchase,
and of the Holland Purchase, and French' s Gazetteer
of New York, have been consulted, and such extracts
and compilations made as could be found there.
It has been an object, kept in view, to collect as
much personal reminiscence as possible, for the grat
ification of the older inhabitants of Orleans County,
foT whom the book was more particularly designed.
Errors in dates, events, names and narratives, no
<loubt may be found in the work. Such errors are
unavoidable in giving details of statements of aged
people, often conflicting in their character, and the in
telligent reader may sometimes regret that he finds no
notice here of facts and incidents in the Pioneer His
tory of this region of country, which he may deem of
more importance "than much of the matter the book
contains. Some such facts and incidents may not have come
to the notice of the author, and he has been compell
ed to omit much matter of interest, lest his work
should be too large, beyond the plan proposed.
Much as apology may seem to> be needed, the au
thor has little to make, more than to say he is not a
professional book maker, and has no hope of found
ing a literary reputation on this work. He has little
fear therefore of critics, and will be happy, if by this
labor he has pleased the old settlers of Orleans County
and done his part to save from oblivion, good matter
for history, fast passing away ; for in the beautiful
language of Whittier—
" Still from the hurrying train of life, fly backward far and fast,
The mile stones of the fathers— the landmarks of the pas t."

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
The Indians of Western New- York — Their Traditionary History — An
cient Fortifications in Shelby— Their Friendship for the White Man
in the War of 1812 — Fishing and Hunting.
CHAPTER II.
Phelps and Gorham's Purchase — When made — Territory Included in
— Consolidated Securities — Their Sale to Robert Morris — Divisions
of their Purchase — The Triangle. CHAPTER III.
The 100,000 Acre Tract-^Boundaries— Dr. Levi Ward— Levi A. Ward
— Joseph Fellows — Transit Line.
CHAPTER IV.
The Holland Purchase — Names of Company — Location of Tract — Sur
veys—Ceded by Indians— Counties in New- York One Hundred Years
Ago — Genesee Country — Genesee County and its Subdivisions — Jo
seph Ellicolt and brother Benj., Surveyors — Agent of the Company
— Land Office — Where Located— Practice in Locating Land — Arti
cles — Clemency of the "Land Company— Deeding Lots for School
Houses — Land Given to Religious Societies — Anecdote of Mr. Busti
Rev. Andrew Rawson— Route ot Travel to Orleans County— Oak
Orchard Creek and Johnson's Creek— Why so Named— Kinds of
Forest Trees— Wild Animals— Salmon and other Fish— Rattlesnakes
—Raccoons and Hedgehogs— Beaver Dams— Fruits— Effect of Clear
ing Land on Climate — The Tonawanda Swamps,
CHAPTER V.
The Log House— Description— How Built— Windows and Door— Walls
Raised at a Bee— Chimneys— Ovens— Cellars— Double Log House —
Copied after Indian Wigwam — Fires — Great Back Log — Lights.
CHAPTER VI.
Log House Furniture— Beds and Beddhig— Fire Place— Hooks and
Trammel— Bake Pan— Table— Chairs— Pewter Spoons— Blue Edged
Plates— Black Earthen Tea Pots.
CHAPTER YII.
Clearing Land and First Crops— Cutting down the Trees— Black Salts
—Slashing— Clearing— Fallow— Planting and Sowing— Harvesting;
and Cleaning Up — How Done.

CONTENTS. Vii
i
CHAPTER VIII.
Hardships and Privations— Want of Breadstuff— Scarcity of Mills-
Difficulty of getting Grain Ground— Mill on a Stump— Fever and
Ague— Quinine and Blue Pill— No Post Office— Keeping Cattle-
Difficulty Keeping Fire— Instance of Fire Out— Want of Good Water
— No Highways— Discouragement from Sickness— Social Amuse
ments—Hospitality—Early Merchants— Their Stores and Goods-
Domestic Manufactures — Post Offices and Mails.
CHAPTER IX.
The Erie Canal— When Begun— Effect— Rise in Price of Everything—
Progress of Improvement — Carriages on Springs.
CHAPTER X.
Public Highways— The Ridge Road— When Laid Out— Appropriation
— Oak Orchard Road— Opened by Holland Company— Road from
Shelby to Oak Orchard in Barre— Salt Works Roads— State Road
along Canal — Judge Porter's Account of first Tracing the Ridge
Road. CHAPTER XI.
Railroads — Medina and Darien — Medina and Lake Ontario— Roches
ter, Lockport and Niagara Falls.
CHAPTER XII.
State of Education — School Houses — Description — Gaines Academy —
Other Academies and Schools. CHAPTER XIII.
State of Religion — Religious Feeling among the People — Ministers and
Missionaries — Meeting House in Gaines — First in County — Building.
CHAPTER XIV.
Burying Grounds — Mount Albion Cemetery — Boxwood Cemetery.
CHAPTER XV.
Town of Bane — First settled along Oak Orchard Road — Land Given
by the Holland Company to Congregational Society — Congregational
Church — Presbyterian Church in Albion — First Tavern — First Store
— First Lawyer — First Doctor — First Deed of Land to Settler— Deeds
of Land in Albion — First House in Albion — Death of Mrs. McCallis-
ter— First Warehouse— First Saw Mill— First Grist Mill— Trade in
Lumber— First Ball— First Town Meeting— Fourth of July, 1821—
First Wedding in Albion — Story — Biographies of Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XVI.
Village of Albion — First Inhabitants— First Business Men — Strife with
Gaines for Court House — Strategy used by Albion men to get Court
House — First Court House — Second Court House— County Jail-
First Hotel— First Warehouse— Stone Flouring Mill— Lawyers— Drs.
Nichoson and White — First Tanyard— First Blacksmiths— Name of
the Village.

Vlll CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVII.
Town of Carlton— Name— Lumber Trade— First Settlement of White
Men in County— James WalsworUv- Village of Manilla— Names of
Persons who took Articles of Land in Carlton in 1803, 1804 and 1805
—Matthew Dunham— Curious Mill to Pound Corn— Dunham's Saw
Mill and Grist Mill— First in County— First Frame Barn— The Union
Company— Death oi Elijah Brown— First Children Born in Town-
First Store — Biographies of Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Town of Clarendon— Difficulty in getting Titles from Pultney Estate—
Eldredge Farwell— Farwell's Mills— First School— First Merchants
—J. and D. Sturgess — First Postmaster— First Physician— Presbyte
rian Church — First Town Meeting— Biographies of Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XIX.
Town of Gaines— First Settlers— Case of Getting Fire — Noah Burgess
— Mrs. Burgess — Cutting Logs'for a House — First Orchard — First
School House — Drake's Mill Dam and Saw Mill — Organization of
McCarty's Militia Company — Their Scout after British and Indians
— Dr. Jesse Beach — Orange Butler — First Marriage — First Birth —
First Newspaper in Orleans County; — First Tavern — Store — Grist
Mill — First Merchants — James Mather Dealing in Black Salts, &c. —
Business at Gaines Basin— Village of Gaines — Gaines Academy — Ef
forts to Locate Court House Here — Trade in Other Localities — Biog
raphies of Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XX.
Town of Kendall — Partitioned between State of Connecticut and Pult
ney Estate— First Settler— First Marriage— First Birth— First Tav
ern— First Death— First Store— First School— First Saw Mill— First
Public Religious Service — First Physician — First Highway from
. • Kendall Corners to Ridge — Biographies of Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XXI.
Town of Murray — Towns Set Off— First Tavern — First Marriage — First
1 Birth— First Death— First Store— First Grist Mill— First School-
First Church— Sandy Creek— McCall & Perry's Mill— Sickness at
Sandy Creek — Biographies of Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XXII.
Village of Holley — Arcovcster Hamlin — First Store — Post Office —
Frisbie & Seymour — Early Merchants — First Sawmill — Lawyer —
Tavern — Justice of the Peace— Salt Brine — Mammoth Tooth — Salt
Port — Presbyterian Church — Salt Spring.
CHAPTER XXIII.
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.

CONTENTS. IX
CHAPTER XXIV.
Village of Iliudsburgh — Jacob Luttenton — Jacob Hinds and Brothers
— First Warehouse — Jabez Allison — First Hotel.
CHAPTER XXV.
The Town of Ridgeway -—Formed from Batavia — First Town Meeting
—Turner & White's Grist Mill— First Saw Mill— Dr. White— Salt
Works — First School — Biographies of Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Village of Medina — Saw Mill by Land Company — Evan's Grist Mill —
Canal Feeder — Nixon's Brewery — Coan's Store — First Tavern — First
Merchants — Physician— Attorney — Quarries— Justus Ingersoll — Bap
tist Meeting House. CHAPTER XXVII.
Village of Knowlesv.ille— Wm. Knowles, Founder and First Settler-
First Clearing— First Framed House— First Tavern— First Ware
house—First Boat Load of Wheat— First Ashery— First School
House — Post Office — First Religious Society.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Town of Shelby— Jo. Ellicott Locating Land— Ellicott's Mills— Road
ironi Oak Orchard Road to Shelby— Salt Works Road— Anecdote
of Luther Porter— Col. A. A. Ellicott— Ball in Ellicott's Mill— Abner
Hunt— Fiddler Hackett— First Physician— Post Office— Iron Foun
dry — Tannery — Biographies of Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Town of Yates— Formerly Northton— George Houseman— Discourage
ment to Early Settlement— First Deed— Tappan's Tavern— Liquor
Sold— First Marriage— First Death— First Store— First School— Bi
ographies of Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XXX.
Biographical Notices of Joseph Ellicott and Ebenezer Mix

APPENDIX.
Towns in Orleans County— Their Organization— Villages in Orleans
County— Table of Elevations— Members of Assembly Elected from
Orleans County since its Organization-County Clerks of Orleans
County— County Treasurers— County Superintendents of Common
Schools— First Judges of Orleans County Courts— District Attorneys
of Orleans Countv-Sheriffs of Orleans County-Surrogates of Or
leans County— First Courts of Record-Supervisors of the Different
Towns in Orleans County since their Organization— The Orleans
County Pioneer Association-First Annual Address, Delivered be
fore the Orleans County Pioneer Association, Sept. 10, 1859, by Arad
Thomas.

INTRODUCTION.
After the discovery of America by Columbus, the
first settlement on the Atlantic coast by Europeans
was made by English and Hutch, on the south, and
by French on the extreme north. Ascending the great
river St. Lawrence, the French founded the cities ol
Quebec and Montreal; and following the river and
the lakes westward, they established the settlements
at Pittsburgh and Detroit, many years before the En
glish settled Western New- York.
The Algonquins and Hurons inhabited Canada East
at the coming of the French. With these, from mo
tives of policy, they formed an alliance. These Cana
dian Indians, and]the Iroquois of Western New York,
were at war with each other. The French joined their
Indian allies in this war, and thus incurred the invet
erate hostility of the Iroquois.
Many desperate battles were fought between the
French and these Indians with various success. The
Algonquins and Hurons were driven out of their coun
try, or destroyed, and the Iroquois came near exter
minating the French settlements in Canada. They
effectually prevented their locating themselves in New
York, although they claimed this whole territory. A
few French missionaries only of their people were tol
erated by the Iroquois within their country, except
at the mouth of the Niagara River, where the French
established a trading post in 1678. This was taken
by the English under Sir William Johnson, in 1759,
and retained by them until it was surrendered to the
United States in 1796.

INTRODUCTION. XI
In 1722, a trading house was built at Oswego, under
the direction of the Colonial government of New- York ;
and in 1727, this was strengthened by a fort.
The French protested against this encroachment up
on the territory they claimed, by the English, and sev
eral times sent military expeditions to drive them out.
These English establishments at Oswego were taken
by the French in 1756, and destroyed. They were
ebuilt by the English in 1758, and continued in their
possession until 1796 ; they were surrendered to the
United States under Jay' s treaty.
The French kept up communication through Lake
Ontario, between their western settlements and Que
bec, but made no other location within the bounds of
New- York, being kept back by the power of the In
dians. In 1760, a powerful army of British, Indians, and
Provincial Americans, was sent into Canada, under
Gen. Amherst. To these forces the French surrender
ed Canada and all their western possessions, which
included their claim to Western New -York.
The Iroquois, or Six Nations, having early entered
into relations of amity and friendship with the English,
remained true to their engagements after the overthrow
of the French in America, and so down to the time of
the Revolution. #
At the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, Gen.
Philip Schuyler, in a council with the chiefs of the
Six Nations, at German Flats, in June, 1776, had ob
tained their promise to remain neutral in that war. —
After the war had been some time in progress, howev
er, Sir John Johnson, Brant, Col. John Butler and
other tories of that day, prevailed on the Indians to
violate their pledge, and take up arms against the
Americans ; and with the exception of the Tuscaroras
and Oneidas, they remained the firm friends of the
British through that war.

Xii INTRODUCTION.
Under the influence of the Johnsons, a large pro
portion of the white inhabitants in the Valley of the
Mohawk were tories ; these uniting with the hostile
Indians, led by Butler, Brant and others made incur
sions, carrying murder and devastation along the fron
tier settlements of the Colonies, and retreating with
their prisoners and plunder to the British strongholds
at Niagara and Oswego, where they were safe.
This predatory warfare continued at intervals, from
1775 to 1779, along the Mohawk and Susquehanna
rivers more especially.
In 1779, Gen. Sullivan, with an army of five thou
sand men, was sent by Gen. Washington to punish
the Indians and tories of New- York, for their conduct
in the war. He encountered them in 'force in a forti
fied camp near Elmira, where they were defeated with
great loss. The army of Gen. Sullivan pursued the
enemy to Canandaigua, thence through their villages
in Livingston County, destroying everything belong
ing to the Indians on their route. But few of the In
dians were killed after the battle at Elmira ; but they
were thoroughly frightened, wasted and vanquished,
and never afterwards resumed the occupancy of their
settlements east of the Genesee river, but on their re
turn from flight before Sullivan, they located near
Geneseo, Gardeau, Mount Morris and other places in
the western part of the State. The Oneidas not hav
ing engaged in the war, were not disturbed in their
homes. The Indians were terribly beaten and humbled by
this expedition of Gen. Sullivan, and from that time
forward remained peaceful toward the whites.

PIONEER HISTORY OF ORLEANS COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.

THE INDIANS OF WESTERN NEW-YORK.
Their Traditionary History— Ancient Fortification in Shelby— Their
Friendship for the White Men in the War of 1812— Fishing and
Hunting.

HISTORY of the Indians, who inhabited
Western New- York at the coming of the
white men to reside among them, is compar
atively unknown. Their own traditionary accounts
go back but little more than a century, but the nu
merous relics and " ruins" and the marks of ancient1
fortifications, upon which no doubt human labor and
skill have been employed, which are found scattered
over all this region of country, seem to prove conclu
sively that here men have lived for many centuries
past. All these traces of former habitations of men are
found within the bounds of Orleans County. When
they were made, and by whom; seems to be as inex
plicable to the Indian of the present day as to his
white brother. The commonly entertained opinion, of
those who have investigated the subject most, is that
this country has been inhabited by a people of higher
civilization and more skilled in the arts than those
found here and known as the Six Nations, who have
become long since extinct.
The most considerable of these " ancient fortifica
tions" to be found in Orleans County is thus described
in Turner's History :

14 PIONEER HISTORY
"About one and one-half miles west of Shelby Cen
ter, in Orleans County, is an ancient work. A broad
ditch encloses in a form nearly circular, about three
acres of land. The ditch is at this day well defined
several feet deep. Adjoining the spot on the south is
a swamp, about a mile in width, by two in length.—
This swamp was once doubtless, if not a lake, an im
passable morass. From the interior of the enclosure
made by the ditch, there is what appears to have been
a passage way on the side next to the swamp. No
other breach occurs in the entire circuit of the em
bankment. There are accumulated, within and near
this fort, large piles of small stones of a size conveni
ent to be thrown by the hand or with a sling. Arrow
heads of flint are found in or near the enclosure, in
great abundance, stones, axes, &c. Trees of four
hundred years growth stand upon the embankment,
and underneath them have been found earthen wares,
pieces of plates or dishes wrought with skill, present
ing ornaments in relief of various patterns. Some
skeletons almost entire have been exhumed ; many of
giant size, not less than seven or eight feet in length.
The skulls are large and well developed in the anteri
or lobe, broad between the ears, and flattened in the
coronal region.
Half a mile west of the fort is a sand hill. Here a
large number of human skeletons have been exhumed,
in a perfect state. Great numbers appear to have
been buried in the same grave. Many of the skulls
appear to have been broken in with clubs or stones."
The Indians found actually occupying this part of
the country when white men began to settle here were
the Senecas, a tribe of the Six Nations. They had no
village or permanent settlement within Orleans Coun
ty ; but they counted this as part of their territory,
and occupied it as their hunting and fishing grounds,
and were accustomed to follow these pursuits here.—

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 15
Their places of residence were their villages in Genesee
and Niagara Counties. These Indians were friendly
to the whites, and the pioneer settlers of Orleans
County never feared their hostility. In the war of
1812, with Great Britain, they took up arms on the
side of the United States, and made themselves use
ful to us in checking the invasions of the hostile In
dians from Canada, who acted with the British.
These Indians had formerly been favorably dispos
ed to the British Government, and it was a source of
alarm at the breaking out of the war lest they' should
be found with their ancient allies. Their great chief,
Red Jacket, counseled them to maintain neutrality.
This neutral state was construed unfavorably by the
pioneers, and rumors of contemplated Indian atroci
ties were circulated from time to time, until the Sene
cas had resolved to take up the hatchet with us.
The rapid settlement of the county by white men
had the effect to diminish the number of wild game
animals, which the Indians had been accustomed to
hunt ; and fishing in the Oak Orchard and Johnson' s
Creeks, witli seines and nets, soon exterminated the
salmon and drove away other kinds of fish that had
formerly come up these streams from Lake Ontario in
abundance, until the Indians found their occupation
worthless and ceased to come here.
In an early day parties of Indians came over from
Canada and wintered in Carlton, for the purpose of
hunting. In the spring they would return to Canada.
As game became scarce they discontinued their visits.
Indians in families, or singly, frequently traveled
about among the dwellings of the pioneers to beg or
sell their small wares, or get whisky. They were gen
erally harmless, and made no trouble. Their claim
to the land was long since settled by treaty transfer-
ing it to white men, excepting the reservations to
which they retired.

CHAPTER II.

PHELPS AND GORHAM'S PURCHASE.
When Made — Territory Included in — Consolidated Securities — Their
Sale to Robert Morris — Divisions of their Purchase — The Triangle.
HE original charter, granted by the King of
England to the colony of Massachusetts, in
cluded all the country between the north and
south boundaries of the colony, extending from the
Atlantic Ocean on the east, to the Pacific Ocean on
the west. The western boundary had not then been
explored, and the extent of the continent was un
known. New York was afterwards chartered by the same
authority, covering a portion of territory previously
granted to Massachusetts. After the close of the
Revolutionary war, Massachusetts urged her claim.
The difficulty was finally compromised between Mass
achusetts and New York, by commissioners mutual
ly agreed upon, Dec. 16, 1786, by giving to New York
the sovreignty of all the disputed territory lying with
in her chartered limits ; and giving the property in
the soil to Massachusetts, or the right to buy the soil
from the Indians, who were then in possession.
All of the State of New York lying west of a line
running from Sodus Bay through Seneca Lake, to
the north line of Pennsylvania, estimated to contain
6,000,000 of acres, was sold subject to the title the
Indians then had to it, by Massachusetts, to Phelps.
and Gorham, in the year 1786, for $1,000,000, to be
paid for in a kind of scrip, or stock, which had been

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 17
issued by Massachusetts, called " Consolidated Secu
rities," which at the time of the sale was worth about
50 per cent.
In July, 1788, Phelps and Gorham made a treaty
with the Six Nations of Indians, by which they pur
chased from them a tract estimated at 2,250,000 acres ;
bounded east by the Pre-emption Line ; which was
the eastern boundary of their purchase from Massa
chusetts, and west by a line from Lake Ontario to
Pennsylvania, twelve miles west from Genesee River.
From this sale to Phelps and Gorham, and other
causes, the market price of these " Consolidated Se
curities" rose so high that Phelps and Gorham were
unable to buy them to fulfill their contract with the
State ; and so were compelled to surrender to the State
of Massachusetts, all the lands lying west of the west
boundary of the tract they had purchased of the In
dians, as above stated. To these lands so surrender
ed, the Indian title had not then been extinguished. —
This tract was sold in the year 1791, by the State of
Massachusetts to Robert Morris. About the year
1793, Robert Morris sold this tract to an association
of capitalists residing in Holland, excepting and re
serving a parcel of land twelve miles wide, to be ta
ken off from the east side. This strip was afterwards
called "the Morris Reserve," a part of it was sold
by Morris to Bayard, Leroy and McEvers, known as
The Triangle, containing 87,000 acres, and another
portion lying west of The Triangle, and containing
100,000 acres was sold by Morris to Cragieand others
and by them to Sir William Pultney and the State of
Connecticut, ever since known as "The 100,000 Acre
Tract," or " Connecticut Tract."
The tract so purchased by the Holland Company
contains about three million six hundred thousand

18 PIONEER HISTORY
acres, and is distinguished as "The Holland Pur
chase." THE TRIANGLE TRACT.
One of the large divisions of the Phelps and Gorham
Purchase, lying west of the Genesee River, is known
as "The Triangle." By treaty between Phelps and
Gorham, and the Indians, after they had granted to
Ebenezer Allen, a piece of land of 100 acres, on which
to erect a saw mill, at what is now Rochester, an
other tract was granted to Phelps and Gorham, for
a "Mill Yard." This was called "The Mill Yard
Tract," and was twelve miles wide east and west, by
twenty -four miles north and south, from Lake Ontario.
The agreement was, this "Mill Yard" should be
bounded east by the Genesee River ; south by a line
running west from about where Avon now stands ;
and west twelve miles ; thence north to Lake Ontario.
It was then supposed that the course of the Genesee
River was about due north, and the west line was at
first run by Hugh Maxwell, due north from said south
west corner, accordingly.
It was afterwards ascertained, that the mouth of
the river was more than twelve miles east from the
termination of this line, on the lake shore.
The matter was afterwards arranged by a new line
being run by Mr. Augustus Porter, nearly parallel
with Genesee River, and twelve miles west of it, for
the west bounds of the Mill Yard Tract. This left a
triangular shaped piece of land lying between the
lines so run by Maxwell and Porter, containing about
87,000 acres, forming the towns of Clarkson, Hamlin,
Sweden, Bergen and Leroy. This tract has ever
since been described and known as " The Triangle."

CHAPTER III.

THE 100,000 ACRE TRACT.
Boundaries— Dr. Levi Ward— Levi A. Ward— Joseph Fellows— Tran
sit Line. Is
EFORE the west line of the Mill Yard Tract
had been rectified by the new line run by Por
ter, Mr. Robert Morris sold a tract lying next
west of "the Mill Yard," to contain 100,000 acres, to
Cragie and others. This parcel was afterwards sold
by the proprietors to Sir William Pultney, and the
State of Connecticut, to each, an undivided half. Af
terwards, and about the year 1811, this tract was di
vided between the estate of Sir William Pultney, and
the State of Connecticut.
The 100,000 Acre Tract includes the towns of Ken
dall, Murray and Clarendon, in Orleans County; and
Byron, and a portion of Bergen, Stafford and Leroy,
in Genesee County ; and is bounded on the north by
Lake Ontario, and on the south by a part of the Mor
ris Reserve, known as the "Cragie Tract;" on the
east by "The Triangle;" and on the west by "The
Holland Purchase." In July, 1810, the State of Con
necticut appointed Dr. Levi Ward agent to sell farm
lots for them, and about 1816, Dr. Ward and Levi H.
Clark purchased of Connecticut all the unsold lands ;
but by agreement sales were continued in the name of
the State. Dr. Ward and his son Levi A. Ward,
have ever since continued to act as agents for the

20 PIONEER HISTORY
State of Connecticut, while Mr. Joseph Fellows has
been a like agent for the Pultney estate.
THE TRANSIT LINE.
This line which forms the eastern boundary of the
Holland Purchase, and the western boundary of
Morris Reserve, begins on the north bounds of Penn
sylvania, 12 miles west of the west bounds of Phelps
and Gorham's Purchase ; thence runs due north, to*
near the center of the town of Stafford, in Genesee
County ; thencejwest a fraction over two miles ; thence
due north, to Lake Ontario. It forms the eastern
boundary of the towns of Carlton, Gaines, and Barre.
It is called the Transit Line, because it was run out
first by the aid of a Transit instrument The offset
of two miles is said to have been made to prevent
overlapping the Connecticut Tract by the lands of
the Holland Purchase. The trees were cut through
on the Transit Line, to the width of about four rods,
at an early day, by the Land Company ; thus afford
ing a convenient land mark to the early settlers in
locating their lands, and serving as a guide in finding
their way through the woods. The Transit Line was-
Tun by Joseph Ellicott, in 1798.

CHAPTER IV.

THE HOLLAND PURCHASE.
INanies of Company — Location of Tract — Surveys — Ceded by Indians —
Counties in New-York One Hundred Years Ago — Genesee Country—
Genesee County and its Subdivisions — Joseph Ellicott and brother
Benj., Surveyors — Agent of the Company — Land Office — Where Lo
cated — Practice in Locating Land — Articles— Clemency of the Land
Company — Deeding Lots for School Houses — Land Given to Relig
ious Societies — Anecdote of Mr. Busti — Rev. Andrew Rawson—
Route of Travel to Orleans County — Oak Orchard Creek and John
son's Creek — Why so Named — Kinds of Forest Trees — Wild Ani
mals — Salmon and other Fish — Rattlesnakes — Raccoons and Hedge
hogs — Beaver Dams— Fruits — Effect of Clearing Land on Climate —
The Tonawanda Swamp.
HIS tract included all the land lying in the
State of New York, and west of the Transit
Line, excepting the Indian Reservations, and
contains about 3,600,000 acres. It was purchased of
Robert Morris by an association of Hollanders, in
1792-'93. The names of the original members of this
association were Wilhelm Willink, Jan Willink,
Nicholas Van Stophorst, Jacob Van Stophorst, Nich
olas Hubbard, Pieter Van Eeghen, Christian Van
Eeghen, Isaac Ten Cate, Hendrick Vollenhoven,
Christina Coster, widow, Jan Stadnetski, and Rutger
Jan Schimmelpennick.
The surveys of the Holland Purchase were begun
on the east, at the Transit Line, and continued west
dividing the whole territory into ranges and town
ships ; the range lines running from north to south,
the townships from east to west. The ranges number
from the east, and the townships from the south.—

22 PIONEER HISTORY
Townships are all subdivided into lots,- and the towns
of Carlton and part of Yates, into sections and lots. —
The county of Orleans contains the north parts of
ranges 1, 2, 3 and 4, and the east parts of townships
14, 15 and 16. It is about 20 miles square, not inclu
ding so much as is covered by Lake Ontario, and con
tains about 405 square miles.
About the year 1797, the Indians ceded most of
their lands on the Holland Purchase, to the white
men ; reserving to themselves tracts of the best land
for their occupation. Most of these reservations have
been since conveyed by the Indians to white men. —
No reservation was made of any land now in Orleans
county. One hundred years ago, the then province of New
York, contained ten counties, viz : New York, West
chester, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Albany, Richmond,
Kings, Queens and Suffolk.
The county of Albany embraced all the territory
now included in the State of New York, lying north
of Ulster, and west of Hudson River. So much of
said territory, as lies west of Schoharie, was taken off
from Albany, and named Tryon, in the year 1772. —
Tryon was changed to Montgomery, in 1784.
All of said territory lying west of " the Preemption
Line," including all land sold by Massachusetts to
Phelps and Gorham, in their first purchase, was ta
ken from Montgomery in the year 1789, and named
Ontario county. Ontario county, at that time, was
an unbroken wilderness, only as it had been occupied
by the Indians, west of Genesee River. Some settle
ments by white men had been made in the eastern
part. It was then generally known as "the Genesee
country," named from the Genesee River, the most
considerable stream of water in the country.
Canandaigua was then the chief town in the county

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 23
and it has ever remained the county seat ot Ontario
county. From Ontario has since been formed the counties of
Steuben, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Monroe, Livingston,
Wayne, Yates, Genesee, Niagara, Erie, Chautauqua
and Orleans.
Genesee county was taken from Ontario in 1802. —
The Genesee River was then its eastern boundary,
and it included so much of the State of New York, as
lies west of that river.
The original county of Genesee has been subdivided
into Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Livingston,
Wyoming, Erie, Niagara and Orleans, leaving a small
portion around Batavia, which was the original coun
ty seat, still known as Genesee county.
Orleans county was set off from Genesee, Nov. 11,
1824. The town of Shelby was annexed to Orleans
from Genesee county, April 5, 1825.
The county of Genesee included, in its original lim
its, all of the State of New York, which Robert Mor
ris purchased.
The general land office of the Holland Land Com
pany was first located at Philadelphia.
Mr. Joseph Ellicott was engaged as principal sur
veyor for the Holland Land Company, in July, 1797.
Assisted by his brother, Benjamin, and others, he
commenced surveying the lands embraced in the Hol
land Purchase, in 1798, by running and establishing
the Transit Line, as the eastern boundary. These
surveys were continued ten or twelve years, until the
whole tract was divided into townships, ranges,, sec
tions and lots.
In 1800, Joseph Ellicott was appointed local agent
of the Holland Land Company, and for more than
twenty years thereafter, he had almost exclusive con
trol of all the local business of the Company.
The Land Office was first established on the Pur-

24 PIONEER HISTORY
chase at Pine Grove, Clarence Hollow, in Erie coun
ty ; but upon the organization of Genesee county, in
1802, the office was transferred to Batavia, where it
lemained until the affairs of the Company were final
ly closed up in the year 1835.
The principal Land Office was kept at Batavia, but
several other offices were established in different parts
Of the Purchase, for the convenience of parties having
business with the Company.
It was usual for persons, who desired to locate on
land of the Holland Land Company, to select the par
cel they desired to take, go to the Land Office at Ba
tavia, and make a contract with the Company's agent
there, for the purchase. Very seldom indeed was
payment in full made, and a deed taken, in the first
place. The common practice was for the purchaser
to make a small payment down, and'receive from the
Company a contract in writing, known as an "Arti
cle," by which the Company agreed to sell the parcel
of land described, the purchaser to pay the price in
instalments,, within from five to ten years, with inter
est ; when he was to receive a deed. On receiving his
"Article," the settler went into full possession of his
land, cleared it up, and made improvements, making
such payments to apply on the purchase money as he
was able.
These land " Articles "' were transferred by assign
ment, and were conveyed from hand to hand, often
many times before they were returned to the Com
pany. A settler who wished to sell out his interest in
land did so by assigning his "Article." Or, if he de
sired *to give security tor a debt, or obtain a credit in
his business, he would pledge his ' ' Article." Trades
men and speculators of every class were accustomed
to deal largely in these "Articles," and men who had
means to lend, often held numbers of these contracts,
transferred to them 'by absolute sale, or in security

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 25
for some obligations, to be afterwards redeemed by
the ownei\ The Holland Land Company sold their
wild lands in Orleans county for from $2 to $5 per
acre, according to the quality and location of the
land. In the later years of the existence of the Land
Company, frequently the Company would give a
deed to the settler, and take his bond, and a mortgage
on the land deeded, for the balance of "purchase
money." The Company generally dealt very leniently with
its debtors, frequently renewing their "Articles"
when they had run out without payment ; and some
times abating interest accrued and unpaid, or throw
ing off a part of the sum originally agreed to be paid,
when the bargain had proved a hard one for any rea
son to the debtor.
Another measure of relief to the settlers, from their
obligations to pay for their land, was the Company
agreeing to receive cattle, and apply their value on
"Articles" for land, on which payment was in ar
rears. For some years before the Company ceased to
exist, they would send their agents to different points
on the Purchase, to receive these cattle, and indorse
their value on the "Articles" of the settlers. The
cattle were driven to a distant market. Although
this arrangement was beneficial to the people, it was
attended with considerable loss to the Company.
It was provided in an early School Act of the State
that sites for school houses should be secured to the
school districts by deeds in fee, or by leases from the
party owning the fee of the land.
It often occurred, before the year 1828, that there
was no deeded land in the district, or none where a
school house was desired to be located. In such, ca
ses, the Company provided by a general order, that
they would grant half an acre to such district gratis,
if the Company owned the land where the school

26 PIONEER HISTORY
house should stand, then not under "Article," provi
ded, if such site should fall on land held by some per
son under contract, the district was then required to
procure a relinquishment of the right of such person
in the half acre, to be indorsed on his " Article." -
Another instance of the generosity of the Holland
Company, as shown in the conduct of their general
agents, is recorded of Mr. Busti, who for many years
was their head agent, residing in Philadelphia. Mr.
Turner, in his History of the Holland Purchase, in a
note says—" In the fall of 1820, Mr. Busti was visit
ing the Land Office, in Batavia ; the Rev. Mr. R., of
the Presbyterian sect, called on Mr. Busti, and insist
ed on a donation of land for each society of his per
suasion, then formed on the, Holland Purchase. Mr.
Busti treated the Rev. gentleman with due courtesy,
but showed no disposition to grant his request. Mr.
R., encouraged by Mr. Busti' s politeness, persevered
in his solicitations day after day, until Mr. Busti' s
patience was almost exhausted, and what finally
brought that subject to a crisis was Mr. R' s. follow
ing Mr. Busti out of the office, when he was going to
take his tea at Mr. Ellicott' s, and making a fresh at
tack on him in the piazza. Mr. Busti was evidently
vexed, and in reply said : — " Yes, Mr. R., I will give
a tract of one hundred acres to a religious society in
every town on the Purchase, and this is finis." —
"But," said Mr. R., "You will give it all to the
Presbyterians, will you not ; if you do not expressly
so decide, the sectarians will be claiming it, and we
shall receive very little benefit from it. " ' 'Sectarians,
no!" — was Mr. Busti' s hasty reply, " I abhor secta
rians, they ought not to have any of it ; and to
save contention, I will give it to the first religious so
ciety in every town." On which Mr. Busti hastened
to his tea, and Mr. R. to his home, (about sixteen
miles distant) to start runners during the night, or

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 27
next morning, to rally the Presbyterians in the sever
al towns in his vicinity to apply first, and thereby
save the land to themselves.
The Land Office was soon flooded with petitions for
land from Societies organized according to law, and
empowered to hold real estate, and those who were
not ; one of which was presented to Mr. Busti before
he left, directed to " General Poll Busti," on which
he insisted it could, not be from a religious society,
for all religious societies read their bibles, and know
that P-o-1-1 does not spell Paul. Amidst this chaos
of applications, it was thought to be unadvisable to
be precipitant in granting these donations, the whole
responsibility now resting on Mr. Ellicott, to comply
with this vague promise of Mr. Busti ; therefore con
veyances of the " Gospel Land," were not executed
for some space of time, notwithstanding the clamor of
petitioners for " deeds of our land," during which
time, the matter was taken into consideration and
systematised, so far as such an operation could be. —
Pains were taken to ascertain the merits of each appli
cation, and finally a tract, or tracts of land, not ex
ceeding one hundred acres in all, was granted, free of
expense, to one or more religious societies, regularly
organized according to law, in each town on the Pur
chase, where the Company had land undisposed of ;
which embraced every town then organized on the
Purchase, except Bethany, Genesee county, and
Shelden, Wyoming county ; the donees always being
allowed to select out of the unsold farming lands in
each town. In some towns, it was all given to one
society ; in others to two or three societies, separate
ly ; and in a few towns to four different societies, of
different sects, twenty-five acres to each.
In performing this thankless duty, for the land' was
claimed as an absolute right by most of the appli
cants, the whole proceedings were so managed, un-

28 PIONEER HISTORY
der Mr. Ellicott's judicious directions, that amidst all
the clamor and contention, which from its nature such
proceedings must elicit, no complaint of partiality to
any particular sect, nor of undue weight of influence
in any individual, was ever charged against the agent
of the Company, or his associates acting under him."
It is' understood the Rev. Mr. R. referred to was
Rev. Andrew Rawson, of Barre. Mr. Busti was by
profession a Roman Catholic.
The county of Genesee was formed from Ontario
County in 1802, and the town of Batavia was organi
zed at the same time, and then included the entire
county of Genesee. The town of Ridgeway was form
ed from Batavia June 8, 1812, and then embraced all
the territory now included in the towns of Shelby,
Ridgeway, Yates, Carlton, Gaines and Barre.
Some of the first settlers of this territory north of
Tonawanda Swamp came from Canada, in boats
across Lake Ontario ; others from New England and
the east, came by boats along the south shore of the
lake. Those who came in on foot, or with teams, usu
ally crossed the Genesee River at Rochester, and then
took the Ridge Road west.
The Ridge in this locality had been used as' a high
way, ever since the county had been traversed by
white men ; and it was a favorite trail of the Indians,
Bridges had not been made over the streams, by
which it was intersected, and it was difficult crossing
these with teams. Sir William Johnson, going with
a large body of soldiers to Fort Niagara, went along
the Lake shore from Genesee River, and encamping
for the night on the Creek in Carlton, west of Oak
Orchard, he gave it the name of Johnson's Creek,
which it has since retained.
The Oak Orchard Creek was so named from the
beautiful oak trees, which grew along its banks, as
seen by the first discoverers.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 29
In its natural state Orleans county was thickly
covered with trees. On the dry, hard land, the pre
vailing varieties of timber were beech, maple, white
red and black oak, white wood or tulip tree, bass-
wood, elm, hickory and hemlock. Swamps- and low
wet lands were covered with black ash, tamarack,
white and yellow cedar, and soft maple ; large syca
more, or cotton ball trees, were common on low lands
and some pine grew along the Oak Orchard Creek,
and in the swamps in Barre; and a few chestnut
trees grew along the Ridge in Ridgeway, and in other
places north of the Ridge. It has been estimated by
the first settlers, that from seventy-five to one hun
dred cords of wood of 128 feet each, stood on each
acre of land on an average over the county.
The principal wild animals found here were the
bear, deer, wolf, raccoon, hedgehog, wood-chuck,
skunk, fox, black, red, striped and flying squirrel,
Tnink and muskrat. Bear and deer were plenty, and
hunting them furnished food and sport for the pion
eers. For some years the wolves were so destructive
to the sheep and young cattle, it was difficult to keep
them. The bears would kill the pigs, if they strayed
into the woods. As the forests were cut down, and
settlers came in, these large animals were hunted out,
till not a bear, deer or wolf has been seen wild in Or
leans county for several years.
Fish were plenty in the streams, coming up from
Lake Ontario in great numbers.
At the first settlement of the country, white men
and Indians caught an abundance of salmon here.—
These fish, in high water would run up the Oak Orch
ard and Johnson's Creek, and out into their tributa
ries, where they were often taken. Salmon were once
caught in a small stream in the west part of the town
of Gaines. It is related that at an early day, after a
high freshet, Mr. John Hood caught a number of sal-

30 PIONEER HISTORY
mon on the bank of this stream, south of West Gaines,
where a tree had overturned, leaving a hole through
which the water had flowed ; and where they were
left when the water subsided.
A kind of sucker fish, called red sides, used to run
up from tM lake in plenty. They were taken in
April and May, in seines, by wagon loads. The sal
mon disappeared years ago, a*hd very few red sides
run now.
Rattlesnakes were numerous along the banks of
Oak Orchard Creek and Niagara and Genesee Rivers,
when the country was new. They had several dens,
to which they retired in winter, and near which they
were frequently seen in spring time. Lemuel Blan-
don relates that in 1820, he went with a party to fish
near the mouth of Oak Orchard. They intended to.
stay all night, and built a shelter of . boughs on the
lake shore, on the east side, near where the hotel now
stands ; and set fire to an old log that lay there. Af
ter the fire began to burn, two or three rattlesnakes
came out from the log, and induced the fishermen to
fix their camp in another place.
Enos Stone, an early settler in Rochester, said " The
principal colony of the rattlesnakes was in the bank
of the river, below the lower falls, at a place we used
to call Rattlesnake Point ; and there was also a
large colony at Allan's Creek, near the end of the
Brighton Plank Road. I think they grew blind about
the time of returning to their dens, in August and
September. I have killed them on their return, with
films on their eyes. Their oil was held in great esti
mation by the early settlers. Zebulon Norton, of
Norton's Mills, was a kind of backwoods doctor, and
he often came to this region for the oil and the gall of
rattlesnakes. The oil was used for stiff joints and
bruises ; and the gall for fevers, in the form of a pill

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 31
made up with chalk."* A rattlesnakes den where
they used to winter, and out of which they would
crawl in early spring to sun themselves, was situated
on the west bank of Oak Orchard Creek, on the Ship-
man farm, in Carlton. No snakes hare been seen
there for many years.
Raccoons were plenty. Their fat was used to fry
cakes, and their flesh was much esteemed for food by
the inhabitants.
Hedge hogs were also common. They frequently
came around the log cabins in the night in search of
food. Dogs, who were unacquainted with the animal
sometimes charged upon him so rashly as to get their
heads filled with the quills, which it was very difficult
to extract, on account of their barbed points.
There were no natural openings in the woods, or
prairie grounds in this county, before the settlement
of the country, adapted to the habits of the quail ;
and they are supposed to have come in with the emi
grants. They soon became plenty, the large wheat
fields affording them sustenance.
Quails, raccoons and hedge hogs are nearly exter
minated in Orleans County. A rattlesnake is very
seldom seen.
The beavers were all destroyed by the first hunters
who came here.
Those who asume to know say skunks and foxes
are more numerous now than ever before, which if
true, may be owing to the abundance of field mice
which they feed on.
Before the settlement of this county, streams of wa
ter on an average were twice as large as they are now;
and they were more durable, flowing the year round,
where now they are low, or dry, a part of the year. <
Large tracts of low land, now cultivated to grass
and grain, originally was marsh, too wet even to
* Phelps & Gorham's Purchase, p. 425.

32 PIONEER HISTORY
grow trees ; sometimes occasioned by the dams of the
beaver, which by flooding the land destroyed the
timber once growing there. As the beavers were
hunted and destroyed, their dams were opened, or
wore away, and their ponds in time have become cul
tivated fields. Quite a number of these beaver dams
existed in Orleans county. The largest in Barre per
haps was at the head of Otter Creek, on lot 15, from
which a stream flowed north, and near which some
years ago, E. P. Sill had a saw mill, that did a large
business. This beaver pond covered a hundred acres
or more, which after the beaver were gone; but be
fore the pond had been effectually drained, became a
cranberry marsh ; and old people still recollect going
there to get cranberries. Near the outlet of this pond
or marsh, was a favorite camping place of the In
dians, who made this" a kind of head-quarters in their
visits here to hunt and fish. As the water subsided
in these marshes, different kinds of forest trees gradu
ally came in. Another beaver dam was erected on
the head waters of Sandy Creek, on the farm of Wil
liam Cole. And another on the farm of Amos Root,
at the head of a small stream which flows into Tona-
wanda Swamp. Remains of beaver dams are seen in
Ridgeway and other towns.
When white men began the settlement of this coun
ty, the winters were much milder than now. Old set
tlers tell us the ground seldom froze in the woods so
hard- a stake could not easily be driven into it at any
time. Snow did not fall to as great a depth as is
sometimes seen now. The thick tops of the tall trees
brqke the force of the winds, and the softening influ
ence of the great iakes— Erie and Ontario— served to
prevent the extremes of heat and cold, which have
been more prevalent since the timber has been cut
down, and the wet lands dried up.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 33
Soon after clearings began to be made in the forest,
peach trees were planted, and grew luxuriantly, and
ripened the choicest fruit, in great abundance. The
peach crop was never a failure, and apricots and nec
tarines were grown successfully.
The cultivation of apples received early attention,
and some orchards, now in full health and bearing,
are almost as old as the first settlement.
In the woods, the first pioneers found occasionally
a wild plum tree, bearing a tough, acrid plum, of a
red and yellow color ; and a small purple fox grape
of no value.
For many years before and after the opening of the
Erie Canal, wheat was the great object of cultivation
among the farmers. The quantity of wheat raised
and exported from Orleans County yearly, between
1830 and 1840, was immense. Barley did not come
into cultivation till much later than wheat, and no iye
was sown for many years.
It was not until after the ravages of the weevil, or
wheat midge, had begun to interfere seriously with
wheat growing, that the culture of beans attracted
any considerable attention.
THE TONAWANDA SWAMP.
This swamp lies in the counties of Genesee and Or
leans, covering parts of Byron, Elba, Oakfield, and
Alabama, in Genesee County ; and parts of Shelby,
Barre, and Clarendon, in Orleans County. Originally
it contained about twenty-five thousand acres, most
of which was too wet to plow, and was covered with
swamp timber, or was open marsh, covered with flags,
or swamp grass. Oak Orchard Creek drains this
swamp. About 1820, the State constructed a feeder Irom the
Tonawanda Creek in Genesee County, to convey the

34 PIONEER HISTORY
water of Tonawanda Creek into Oak Orchard Creek,
to supply the Erie Canal with water.
The outlet for water from the swamp was through a
ledge of rock, too small naturally to drain it suffi
ciently, and when the Tonawanda Qreek was thus
brought into it, the level of water in the swamp was
thereby raised, and nothing was then done by the
State to facilitate the discharge, thus increasing the
stagnant water.
In 1828, the Holland Company sold a considerable
portion of these wet lands to an association, who ex
pended about twelve thousand dollars, in enlarging
the capacity of the outlet, to drain the swamp through
Oak Orchard Creek.
The Canal Commissioners then appropriated the
whole of the Creek for the canal, and further at
tempts at drainage were abandoned.
In April, 1852, an Act was passed appointing Amos
Root, John Dunning, Henry Monell, and David E. E.
Mix, Commissioners, to lay out and construct a high
way across the Tonawanda Swamp, on the line be
tween ranges one and two, of the Holland Purchase.
A road was made and opened to travel under this Act,
at a cost of about $2,750.
As the surrounding country became settled, this
swamp became an obstacle in passing through it,
from the great expense required to make and main
tain highways. This large tract yielded but little re
turn to the owners, and paid but tittle tax to the pub
lic. No further attempts to drain were made. The
association sold their lands to different individuals,
and nothing was done to reclaim this tract, until
April 16, 1855, an Act of the Legislature appointed
Amos Root, S.M. Burroughs, Ambrose Bowen, Robert
Hill, John B. King, and Henry Monell, Commission
ers to drain the swamp.
It was provided in this Act, that the Commissioners

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 35
should assess the expenses of their work upon the
owners of the lands immediately affected by the
drainage, in proportion to the benefits each would be
adjudged to receive ; the whole amount of such as
sessment not to exceed $20,000.
The Commissioners entered upon their work, and
made an estimate and assessment of the expense. —
This gave offense to the parties assessed, who united
almost unanimously, the next year, in a petition to
the Legislature to repeal the law, and it was'repealed.
In 1863, an Act was passed appropriating $16,306 ;
to be expended in improving Oak Orchard Creek, and
the Canal feeder, on condition that all persons, who
claimed damages of the State on account of the
making the feeder from Tonawanda Creek, to Oak
Orchard should release all such claims, before the ex -
penditure of the money.

CHAPTER V.

THE LOG HOUSE.

Description — How Built— Windows and Door — Walls Raised at a Bee-
— Chimneys— Ovens — Cellars — Double Log House — Copied after In
dian Wigwam — Fires— Great Back Log — Lights.

HE log house, as it wag constructed and used
by the first settlers of Western New York, as
"an institution," belongs to a generation now
by. No new log houses are now, being built,.
and the few old ones now standing, will soon be de
stroyed by the relentless ' ; tooth of time," and of those
who were their builders and occupants,' soon not one
will be left to tell their story.
The most primitive log house, to which we refer,
was rather a rough looking edifice, usually 12 or 15
by 15 or 20 feet square. It was made of logs, of al
most any kind of timber, nearest at hand, of uniform
size. These were used with the bark on, by rolling
one log upon another horizontally, notching the cor
ners to make them lie close together, to the height-
wanted for the outer walls of the house.
An opening in one side was left for a door, and
commonly another for a window. Poles were laid
across the walls for a chamber floor to rest on, to be
reached by a moveable ladder. A ridge pole and
rafters supported a roof, which was made of oak or
hemlock splints, or elm bark.
Bark for roofs was peeled in June, in strips about
four feet long, and laid upon the rafters in courses,

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 37
held to the rafter by heavy poles laid transversly,
and bound on by strips of bark. An opening in the
roof at one end was left for the escape of smoke from
the fire, which was built upon the ground under the
opening. The remainder of the ground enclosed was
covered with a floor of basswood logs, split, or hewed
to a flat surface. The crevices between the logs were
filled or "chinked" as they called it, by putting in
splints in large openings, and plastering with clay in
side and out.
When a sash, lighted with glass, could be procured
that was used for the window. Instead of glass, oil
ed paper was sometimes substituted. In an extreme
case, the door was made of splints hewed flat and
thin ; but ordinarily of sawed boards, hung upon
wooden hinges, and fastened with a wooden latch,
which was raised by a string tied to the latch, and
put through a hole, to lift the latch from the outside.
Hence, to say of a householder, "his latch string was
always out," was equivalent to declaring his generous
spirit in opening his house to whoever applied for
hospitality. The carpenter and joiner work on the house was
now complete. Masons, painters, glaziers, and all
other house builders, had nothing to do here. The
owner was his own architect, and commonly the house
was put up" at a " bee," or gathering of all the settlers
in the neighborhood, gratis.
We read that Solomon's Temple rose without the
sound of a hammer. The temple in that respect has
no advantage above these early homes of the settlers
of Orleans County. There was no hammering here,
for there were no nails to be driven. Sturdy blows
with the ax did the business, and every thing was
fastened with wooden pins, or withes.
If time and means permitted, and the wish of the
owner was to indulge in the luxury of a chimney, he

38 PIONEER HISTORY
was gratified by building one end wall of his house
with stone, laid in clay mortar, from the ground sev
eral feet in height, carrying up the remainder of the
end with logs in the usual way. A high cross beam,
or mantel, was put in, on this a superstructure of
sticks laid up in ¦ a square, as the walls of the house
were, filled in with clay, was carried up above the
roof and called "a stick chimney." This chimney,
and all the wood work exposed to the fire, being well
plastered with the clay mud, rendered the whole tol
erably safe from danger of burning, giving little en
couragement to insurance companies, whose agents.
never ventured to take risks on such property.
As wealth increased, and a higher state of civiliza
tion and architectural development was introduced in.
the structure of log houses, stone chimneys were built
from the ground up. About the time when stone
chimneys were first made, cellars under the log houses.
began to be constructed ; and were found to be ex
ceedingly convenient, as a depository safe from frost,
adding much to the storage capacity of the house.
The introduction of brick ovens marks an era that
may be called modern compared with the primitive
log house. These ovens were sometimes made at a
distance from the house, standing on a frame of the
kind called Scotch ovens.
When the family had become sufficiently affluent
to afford it, sometimes a chamber floor of boards
would be laid upon the cross beams over head ; leav
ing a hole in the flooring, by which a person from be
low could mount into the chamber on a moveable lad
der. And sometimes a wealthy settler, who felt cribbed,,
and confined too closely in a single room, would build
an addition to his log house, like the first, and adjoin
ing it, with a door between. The owner of such a
double log house, was looked upon with envy and.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 39
admiration by all the neighboring housekeepers, who
wondered what he could do with so much room ; and
it would be a remarkable and exceptional case if the
owner and his family did not put on some airs and
go to keeping tavern.
It would be several years before the general class
of log householders got a barn. Straw "and fodder
would be stacked out for the cattle. And, if a shelter
for cattle or horses was desired, some crotches of trees
would be set in the ground for posts, poles laid across
on these, and a pile of straw heaped on, and a shed
warm and dry was the result.
The log house was copied from the wigwam of the
Six Nations of Indians, as to its general form and
structure. The bark roof was similar in both cases,
but the Indians commonly built the walls of their
wigwams of bark fastened to upright poles, without
a floor, their fire on the ground in the center, the
smoke rising without any chimney, found its way
through a hole left open in the center of the roof.
Fires were sometimes made in these log houses of
the white men, by cutting a log eight or ten feet long,
from the largest trees that would go through the door
of the house without splitting. This was run upon
rollers endwise through the door, and rolled to the
back of the fire place. A fire was then built in the
middle of the log in front, and fuel would be applied
to that place, until the fire would consume the center
of the log ; when the ends would be crowded together
until the whole was burned. Sometimes such a back
log would last a week or ten days, even in cold weath
er. The light from such a fire was commonly suffi
cient to illuminate the single apartment of the house
at night. If more light was wanted, a dipped tallow
candle, made by the mistress of the household ; or a
taper made of a dish of fat, or grease, with a rag stuck
in it for a wick, would answer the purpose. t

CHAPTER VI.

LOG HOUSE, FURNITURE.

Beds and Bedding — Fire Place— Hooks and Trammel — Bake Pan —
Table — Chairs — Pewter Spoons — Blue Edged Plates — Black Earthen
Tea Pots, LL household furniture used at first in the
log houses of the farmers, at their first begin
ning in the woods on the Holland Purchase,
was about as primitive in its character, as their
new dwellings. It was such as was adapted to
the wants and circumstances of its owner, and such
as he could readily procure.
For temporary use, a few hemlock boughs on the
floor, covered with blankets, made a comfortable bed.
If a better bed and bedstead was wanted, it was made
by boring holes in the logs at proper height ; putting
in rods fastened to upright posts ; and upon this bed
stead, laying such a bed and bedding, as the taste
and ability of the party could furnish. To a cross
pole over the fire place, kettles were suspended by
wooden or iron hooks ; often by an instrument called
a trammel, which was a flat iron bar filled with holes,
hanging from the pole, on which a kettle suspended
on a hook, might be raised or lowered at pleasure, by
moving the hook from one hole to another.
Their nearest approach to an oven was a cast iron
bake pan, covered with a moveable lid, standing on
eg s, and lifted by a bail. Dough was placed in this
vessel, and coals put on and under it, when in use. —

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 41
Another cooking utensil was a frying pan, with a
handle long enough to be held in the hand of the
cook, while the meat was frying in the pan over the
fire. The table was at first a board, or box cover
laid on a barrel ; and many of the first families have
taken their meals with the keenest relish, for some
time after moving into a new log house, off a barrel
head, or a chest cover. Their chairs were often blocks
of logs, or benches and stools, of home manufacture.
It was many years after the first settlement of Orleans
County, before a stove of any kind was seen here.
The pewter mugs and platters, and the wooden
trenchers that graced the shelves and tables of our
grand-mothers, among the early settlers of New Eng
land, were not commonly seen in the outfit furnished
the young couple commencing housekeeping among
the first, on this part of the Holland Purchase. —
Spoons of tinned iron, or pewter — home made ; and a
slender stock of necessary crockery, including the
veritable "blue edged plates," comprised the table
furniture ; not however forgetting the black earthen
tea pot, in which the tea beverage for the family was
duly prepared, whether the ingredient to be steeped
was bougMen tea, or sage, or pennyroyal, or any
other herb of the fields. These little black steepers,
holding about a quart, were claimed by their owners
to make a better article of tea, than any other materi
al ; and were used for every day, some time after
block tin had become the fashionable article for a tea
pot, which increasing wealth and pride had introduced.
To this day, one of these interesting relics of antiquity
is occasionally seen, with its spout probably broken
off, adorning the upper back shelf of some kitchen
pantry, in the great new house, which has succeeded
the log one, carefully preserved, and annually dusted
by the loving hands of the venerable dame, who used

42 PIONEER HISTORY
it once ; or, of her grand-daughters who, inheriting the
time-honored frugatity of the family, in turning every
thing to profitable account, make even the old teapot
useful in storing a few garden seeds.

CHAPTER VII.

CLEARING LAND AND FIRST CROPS.
Cutting down the Trees— Black Salts— Slashing— Clearing— Fallow-
Planting and Sowing— Harvesting— and Cleaning Up— How Done.
RLEANS County was originally covered with
a heavy growth of trees. These had to be re
moved to open the soil to cultivation. This
was commonly done by cutting the trees so as to leave
a stump, two or three feet high. The felled timber
lay upon the ground until it was dry, when fire was
put in, and the whole field was burned over at once.
The logs were then cut off at proper length, to be
hauled together in heaps by oxen, and burned ; and
the ashes of the heaps collected and leached to make
black salts and potash. The land being thus cleared
of wood, the first crop was wheat, sown broadcast,
and covered with earth by harrowing the ground with
a triangular harrow, or drag.
A field with the trees lying as they fell was called
a "slashing," and sometimes a "clearing," or a "fal
low," as the work progressed.
The wheat was sown in the fall, to be harvested the
next season ; no spring wheat being raised. Some
times corn and potatoes were planted among the logs,
the first season, by digging in the seed with a hoe.
It was several years before the land could be plow
ed to much advantage, after the trees were felled, on
account of the stumps, but as these were chiefly hard
wood, they soon rotted out.
For some years, the first settlers cut their wheat

44 PIONEEE HISTORY
crop with a sickle ; threshed out the grain with flails,
or trod it out with horses and cattle, and freed it
from chaff by shoveling in the wind, or fanning with
a hand fan. The want of barn floors, and other con
veniences, made all these operations exceedingly la
borious and slow, compared with such work now-a-
days. Before barns, with threshing floors in them, were
made, some farmers made floors, or platforms of split
logs, and laid them on the ground, without any roof
over them. Beside these, they stacked their grain
and threshed it on these floors in fair weather, or trod
it out with oxen or horses.

CHAPTER VIII.

HARDSHIPS AND PRIVATIONS.
Want of Breadstuff— Scarcity of Mills— Difficulty of getting Grain
Ground — Mill on a Stumrj — Fever and Ague — Quinine and Blue
Pill — No Post Office — Keeping Cattle — Difficulty Keeping Fire-
Instance ot Fire Out — Want of Good Water — No Highways — Dis
couragement from Sickness — Social Amusements — Hospitality —
Early Merchants — Their Stores and Goods— Domestic Manufac
tures — Post Offices and Mails.

CARCITY of bread and breadstuff's before the
war, and even down to 1818, is to be number
ed among the hardships and privations which
beset the settlers ; and even when they could get a
bushel of wheat, or corn, the difficulty in reducing
the grain to flour, or meal, was truly formidable.—
The nearest mill was 15 to 30 miles away ; there was
no road leading to it ; and probably no horse to draw,
or carry the grist, if a road had been opened. But
meal must be had, the undaunted emigrant would
hitch his oxen to his sled, or wagon, pile on a bag for
himself, and take as many bags for his neighbors, as
the occasion required, and start for some mill. We
will leave imagination to describe his journey. After
three or four days absence, it is announced in the set
tlement that Mr. A. has got back from the mill, and
marvelously soon would each family be eating pud
ding, or have a cake. But, what if the family had no
neighbors ; and no horse or ox, to carry their grist. —
Still the grist must go at once. Its owner shoulders a
half a bushel, or a bushel, according to his strength,
and carries it to the mill, be the distance what it may,

46 PIONEER HISTORY
threading his way by marked trees, through the
woods. Such journeys were not lightly to be thought
of, and they were honestly performed.
A sort of domestic mill, in which corn could be re
duced to meal, was made, and used, by some of the
settlers, by making a hollow in the top of a hardwood
stump for a mortar ; rigging a heavy pestle on a spring
pole over the mortar ; and thus pounding the corn
fine enough to be cooked.
But, if the new comers had bread enough and to
spare, they all had to pay a penalty to Nature, in the
acclimating process, which all went through almost
without exception. Fever and ague attacked the pi
oneer, or his wife, or children, or all of them together,
whenever an opening was made in the forest ; or the
earth was turned up for the first time to the hot rays of
the summer sun.
Oh, the amount of quinine and blue pill, consumed
in those days, by those who could get a doctor to pre
scribe in their case ; while those sick ones, who had
no doctor, because there was none to be had, wore
their ague out, and let it work itself off the natural
way; generally coming out about as well as those
who doctored, and tried to "break" it, excepting that
they took more time to do it.
The first professional doctors who came in were
most intensely allopathic in their practice ; and dealt
out quinine and blue pill in most heroic doses to their
patients ; infinitessimal prescriptions, and homeopath
ic practice, had not then been thought of.
Another privation, if not a hardship, consisted in a
lack of post offices, and mail facilities. Coming as
most of the pioneers did from New England, which
they, and their fathers regarded as a civilized country;
and where they had always had post office accommo
dations all they wanted, it was rather hard to be shut
out completely from the outer world.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 47
The first settlers in Orleans County got their letters
from Batavia, or Clarkson. They did not take news
papers by mail.
The first winter was a hard time for the pioneer to
keep his cattle, on account of the scarcity of fodder.
It took several years to clear the trees, and get a crop
of hay grown in their places ; and a year or two was
required before cornstalks, or straw could be pro
duced. If nobody in the neighborhood had fodder to
sell, the new settler must cut down trees for his cattle
to browse, ' or feed upon the boughs, a work of im
mense labor, especially in severe cold weather, and
deep snows ; and a sad time the poor cattlehad, com
pelled to lie out exposed to all storms, and feeding on
such diet.
Especial care had to be taken to keep fire from go
ing out in their dwellings, it was so difficult to recov
er it again. An instance is given of such a loss in the
house of widow Gilbert, in Gaines, who returning
from the funeral of her husband, found the fire was
out, and no means at hand to kindle it. Fire had to
be procured from the nearest neighbors, then several
miles off. The tinder box and powder horn, were the
usual resort in such cases, but these might be out as
well as the fire. Friction matches had not then been
invented. And it was an inconvenience at least, to be
deprived of soft water, the bark roof of a log cabin be
ing a poor contrivance for collecting it, when there
was no snow to melt. The hard water from the
ground was prepared for washing clothes by " cleans
ing,1 ' as they called it, by putting in wood ashes
enough to form a weak lye.
The Holland Company commonly sold their lands
for a small payment down ; and gave a contract, ex
tending payments for the balance, from five to ten
years ; with interest annually after about two years.
This seemed to be a good, bargain to the settler at

48 PIONEER HISTORY
first ; for, although he was poor, he felt hopeful and
strong, and went into the woods to begin his clearing,
sanguine in the belief that he could meet his payments
as they fell due, from the produce of his land ; be
sides paying the necessary expenses of his living, and
his improvements. But, after a year or two, a parf
of his family, are taken sick ; doctors and nurses
must be paid ; stock, team, tools, furniture, and pro
visions, must be bought. He may have cleared a few
acres, built a log cabin, and raised some crops, more
than was needed for home consumption ; but the sur
plus he could not sell. The road to a market was im
passible for teams ; and, if the roads had been opened,
it was hard work at best to pay for land by raising
wheat among the stumps, at the price of thirty cents
a bushel. Is it surprising that under circumstances
like these, some of the earlier settlers of this county,
after toiling several years, and finding themselves
constantly running behind hand, got discouraged, and
wanted to sell out, and go away. And many would
have sold their claims, and left the country, or gone
any way, whether they sold or not, if the Land Com
pany had enforced their legal rights on their Articles
as they fell due. But the Company were lenient. —
They gave off interest due them, and sometimes prin
cipal, in cases of great hardship to the settler. Many
times, when he went to the Land Office to say he
could not make his payments, and must give it up ;
the agents of the Company finding him industrious and
frugal, trying to do the best he could, would meet him
with such words of kindness, generous encouragement
and cheer, that he would go back to his home with
fresh courage, to renew his battle with the musketos,
the ague, and the bears ; and wait a little longer for
the good time coming. But few were able to take
deeds of their lands, and pay for them, until after the
Erie Canal was navigable. They kept on clearing

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 49
land, and enlarging their fields ; and between the
years 1830 and 1836, good crops of wheat were raised,
and sold at the canal, for about a dollar a bushel. —
Then the clouds of gloom began to lift from the face
of the country. Prosperity had verily come ; no more
"hardships, privations and sufferings" after that ; and
more deeds of land were taken from the Holland Com
pany, in this county, in those years, than were given
in all others together.
Notwithstanding so many and so great discourage
ments, surrounded the pioneers, they never yielded to
the gloom of the present, or suffered their great hope
in the future to die. They had their joys as well as
griefs, running along their pathway together. Social
amusements, conviviality, fun and good feeling, were
intermingled with their sadder experiences.
They visited together, labored for and with each oth
er. They exchanged work in chopping, logging, and
in heavy toil on their lands, where several together
could work at better advantage than alone.
They were " given to hospitality." They aided, as
sisted, and helped one another ; with a liberality and
kindness, that seems remarkable in contrast with the
selfishness of older society.
If a family came in, who had not in advance built
themselves a cabin for their residence, they had no
difficulty in finding a stopping place with almost any
settler, who had got a house, until a log house could
be built. And the best of it was, all the men in the
neighborhood assembled at a "bee," and built a log
house gratis, for their new friends, if it was necessaiy.
If a man fell sick in seed time, or harvest, and could
not do his work, his neighbors would turn in and sow
his seed, or gather his crop for him. H a family was
out of provisions, everybody, who had a stock, shared
with the needy ones.
A happy feature of this primitive society was the

50 PIONEER HISTORY
entire absence of caste, dividing the people into class
es, and making social distinctions. Everybody was
considered just as good, and no better, than every
body else. All met and mingled on terms of social
equality. At the dancing parties, quilting frolics, weddings
and other gatherings of the people for social enjoy
ment, everybody in the neighborhood was invited,
whether they wore " store clothes," or common home
spun ; and they commonly all attended.
People generally were acquainted with everbody
near them. Old people are living, who say for sever
al years they knew every family in town ; and used
to visit with them, going often on foot miles through
the woods, by marked trees, to meet together.
As clearing away the forest, and doing the heavy
work of beginning settlements in the woods, constitu
ted the main business of the pioneers; they thus
learned to value ability to excel in whatever was use
ful in their calling.
Hence, at their loggings, raisings, and other assem-
Txtings for work, or play, friendly trials of strength or
•skill, found favor. Contests in chopping, lifting, cut
ting wheat and other tests of muscle, were common ;
and seldom did a number of young men meet on a
festive occasion without forming a ring for wrestling.
The pioneers, at their first coming here, were gener
ally young. They were resolute, intelligent, deter
mined and persistent ; for no others would quit the
comparative ease, safety and comfort of older socie
ty, to encounter the certain hardships, perils and dis
couragements of frontier settlement in the woods, in
such a country as this was. The true grit of the emi
grant was proved by the fact that he came here ; and
such men were not to be driven back by hardships,
want, sickness or misfortune.
While the hope and resolution of the settler could

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 51
not protect him from sickness and calamity, they fill
ed him with fortitude to endure them, gave him a
keen relish to enjoy whatever in his way might afford
a pleasure. Looking at these pioneers from the standpoint of
the present day, an observer might well conclude they
were as happy then, as their descendents are now, on
the same ground. Many who began here in poverty
and want and worked their way through every diffi
culty to wealth and abundance, have often said in
their old age, their happiest days in life were spent in
their old log houses, away back among the stumps.
EARLY MERCHANTS — THEIR STORES AND GOODS.
Soon after the settlement of this county, asheries
were built; the large quantities of wood ashes, produced
in burning the log heaps in clearing land, were a
source from which money could be made easier than
from crops of grain raised.
These ashes were leached in rude leaches ; the lye
obtained was boiled down to a semi-solid state, call
ed black salts ; and then sold to Mr. James Mather,
or some owner of an ashery, who put the salts
through the processes of making potash, or pearlash,
a refined kind, of potash, the use of which is now super
ceded by saleratus.
These products of ashes brought some money and
were taken by the merchants in exchange for their
goods. i
Before the canal was made, merchants' goods were
brought in by water, by way of Lake Ontario, or on
wagons, from Albany.
Robert Hunter and brothers, of Eagle Harbor, were
teamsters who traveled to and from Albany with
large teams of horses to wagons and brought in most
of the goods used here for several years, before they
came by the canal.

52 PIONEER HISTORY
A wagon load would go a great way in stocking a
store then. The important and heavy article of whisky
was made sufficient for home consumption here.
Merchants did not then as now confine their trade
to a single line of goods, as hardware, drugs, grocer
ies, &c, but tneir stock, in the common language of
their advertisements, comprised "all the articles "usu
ally called for at a country store ;" and that meant
everything the people wanted to buy at a store. The
wants of the settlers were few and simple in the line
of such goods. They confined their purchases to ar
ticles of prime necessity, which they could not well
do without, such as tools to work with, building ma- ,
terials, &c, which did not grow upon their land ; an oc
casional calico dress, and a few kinds of utensils,
such as they could not make at home.
These goods were generally bought on credit, the
pay being promised to meet the wants of the merchant
when he went to New York, a journey he undertook
about twice a year. These debts were not all paid
when due, and many of them were collected by legal
process, and many of them were lost to their owners.
The credit system was a bad one for both parties in
many cases. People found it very difficult to pay
their store debts before the canal was made ; for
though they had a large and good farm, plenty of the
finest wheat, and possibly a stock of cattle, hogs and
horses ; they had no money, and could not sell their
stuff for money, as they could not get it to a market.
Timber was plenty, and sawmills had been built
about the time the canal became navigable ; and saw
ed lumber then paid store debts ; and wheat, pork,
flour and produce of all kinds, that could go to mar
ket on the canal, found a ready sale, at fail- prices ;
and thus means to pay debts sould be obtained.
DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES.
Most of the early settlers were New England Yan-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 53
kees, of that class, who. if they wanted a thing they
had not got, they made it. AVith very few tools, and
those of the simplest kinds, the}' made almost every
thing required, that could be produced from the ma
terials on hand.
They brought in a few clothes when they came ;
when these were worn out, they supplied their wants
with cloth made at home. The women made up the
common articles of clothing for their families. If the
man had a new coat, or other garment his wife did
not feel competent to make, the cloth was taken to
some one properly skilled, to be cut out, and a tailor-
ess would come to his house, and make it up. These
itinerant seamstresses, did most of the needlework re
quired by the family, and which they could not do
themselves ; the modern classification of needle wo
men into milliners, mantau makers, dress makers, &c,
did not then prevail.
The people got their leather made by neighboring
tanners, and from such stock, a traveling shoemaker
visited the houses of his customers, and made and
mended their shoes and boots. The boys and girls,
and some of the older folks, commonly went barefoot
in the summer, and often in the winter likewise.
POST OFFICES AND MAILS.
Mr. Merwin S. Hawley of Buffalo, son of Judge
Elijah Hawley, who resided in Ridgeway in his boy
hood, and speaks from his recollection says :
"In 1815, the only mail to and through Ridgeway,
was carried on horseback twice a week, between Can-
andaigua and Lewiston. Oct. 22, 1816, a post office
was established at Ridgeway Corners, named " Oak
Orchard," Elijah Hawley, postmaster.
The mail was now carried in two horse carriages,
three times a week each way ; stopping over night at
Huff's tavern in East Gaines.

54 PIONEER HISTORY
Aug. 24, 1817, a post office was established at Oak
Orchard Creek, on the Ridge, which place was then
growing to be a smart village, and James Brown was
appointed postmaster there.
To make the names of the offices conform to the
name of the places where they were located, the new
post office was called " Oak Orchard," and the name
of the other was changed to ' ' Ridgeway, ' ' Mr. Haw
ley holding the office of postmaster there until his
death. During this year, (1817,) a daily line of mail
stages, each way, between Rochester and Lewiston,
on the Ridge Road, was commenced.
A post office was established at Gaines, July 1,
1816, Wm. J. Babbitt postmaster.
The next post office in Orleans County was located
at Shelby Center, and got its mail from Ridgeway.
Post offices were located in other parts of the coun
ty from time to time, as the wants of increasing popu
lation required.

CHAPTER IX.

W4

THE EREE CANAL.
When Begun — Effect — Rise in Price ot Everything— Progress of Im
provement — Carriages on Springs.
HE work in digging the Erie Canal was begun
on the middle section near Utica, on the 4th of
July, 1817. In 1823, the eastern part of the
canal was so far completed, that in November boats
from Rochester reached Albany, at the same time-
with boats. from Lake Champlain, on the Champlain
Canal. And in Nov., 1825, a fleet of boats from Buf
falo passed the entire length of the Erie Canal, carry
ing passengers to the Grand Canal Celebration at New
York. To no part of the State of New York has the Erie
Canal proved of more benefit than to Orleans County.
Although the soil was fertile and productive, and
yielded abundant crops to reward the toil of the
farmer, yet its inland location and great difficulty of
transporting produce to market, rendered it of little
value at home. Settlers who had located here, in
many instances, had become discouraged. Others,
who desired to emigrate to the Genesee.country, were
kept back by the gloomy accounts they got of life in
the wilderness, with little prospect of easy communi
cation with the old Eastern States to cheer the hope.
As soon as the Canal became navigable, Holley,
Albion, Knowlesville and Medina, villages on its
banks, were built up. Actual settlers took up all
the unoccupied lands, and cleared them up. No

56 PIONEER HISTORY'
speculators came here and bought up large tracts,
and left them wild, to rise on the market. The lum
ber of the country found a ready market and floated
away. Wheat was worth four times as much as the
price for which it had been previously selling. Pros
perity came in on every hand ; the mud dried up, and
the musketoes, and the ague, and the fever, and the
bears, left the country. Farmers paid for their
lands, surrendered their articles, and took deeds from
the Company. Good barns and framed houses, and
houses of brick, and stone began to be built, as the
common dwellings of the inhabitants. "The good
time coming," which the first settlers could not see,
but waited for, with a faint and dreamy but persistent
hope, had come indeed. The price of lands rose rap
idly, making many wealthy, who happened to locate
farms in desirable places, from the rise in value of
their lands. From this time forward, rich men, from
the Eastern States, and older settlements, began to
come in and buy out the farms and improvements of
those who had begun in the woods and now found
themselves, like Cooper' s Leather Stocking, l ' lost in
the clearings," and wished to move on to the borders
of civilization, where the hunting and fishing was bet
ter and where the ruder institutions, manners and
customs of frontier life, to which they had become at-
attached, would be better enjoyed among congenial
spirits. The clearing away of shade trees, thus drying up
the mud and the substantial bridges over streams
and leveled and graveled highways, which the num
bers and abundant means of the people, now enabled
them to establish, occasioned a demand for other car
riages for the conveyance of these now independent
farmers and their families.
Time was when they went to mill and to meeting,
to the social visit, or the quilting frolic, happy on an

OK OULEANK COUNTY. 57
ox sled. A little progress, and pride and ambition
substituted horses and lumber wagons as the common
vehicles of travel, in place of the oxen and sleds.
A buggy Avas no more known or used than a balloon
in those wagon days, and when the canal was first
made navigable, tliere was not probably a one-horse
buggy in Orleans County. Indeed several years .after
boats began trips on the canal, Messrs. R. S. & L.
Burrows, then merchants in Albion, brought on six
or eight one-horse wagons, with wooden springs under
the seats, manufactured in Connecticut, and put them
on sale ; and great was the wonder of the people, and
the comment they made upon the amazing luxury
and comfort and ease in riding in these little rattling,
jolting machines.

CHAPTER X.

PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
The Ridge Road — When Laid Out — Appropriation — Oak Orchard
Road— Opened by Holland Company — Road from Shelby to Oak
Orchard in Barre — Salt Works Roads — State Road along Canal-
Judge Porter's Account of first Tracing the Ridge Road.
LTHOUGH the Ridge Road had been travel
ed by the Indians from time immemorial, and
after the settlement of the country by white
men, improvements had been made by cutting out
trees, and making the crossings at the streams of
water more passable, yet many large trees still ob
structed the carriage way, and bridges were wanted
in many places. In April, 1814, the Legislature of
the State appropriated $5,000, and appointed com
missioners to apply said sum to the improvements of
such parts of said road between Rochester and Lewis-
ton, as said commissioners should think proper, for
the public benefit. This appropriation, together with
some labor by the few inhabitants then living on this
route, made the Ridge road a tolerably fair wagon
road. The Ridge road, so called, was regularly laid out
and established by Philetus Swift and Caleb Hopkins,
under an Act of the Legislature passed Feb. 10, 1815.
An act providing for a re-survey of the Ridge Road,
from Rochester to Lewiston, was passed March 24,
1852, John LeValley, Grosvenor Daniels and William
J. Babbitt were appointed commissioners to superin
tend the work through Orleans County. Darius W.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 59
Cole, of Medina, was the Surveyor, and the road was
re-surveyed and established six rods wide. Although
the Ridge road had been opened and traveled many
yeacs, no survey and record of it had been made be
fore Swift & Hopkins' survey.
Mr. Lewis W. Gates, formerly of Gaines, relates
that about the year 1843, Judge Augustus Porter,
then of Niagara Falls, gave him the following account
of the Ridge Road.
He, Judge Porter, and others, were interested in
surveying and locating a large tract of land west of
Genesee River, since known as The Triangle. The
Indians told them there was a gravelly ridge extend
ing from the Genesee to Niagara River. Porter and
his company employed a surveyor named Eli Gran
ger, to go with a few men and trace a road through
on this Ridge, from river to river, and they traced the
Ridge Road through near its present location, in 1798.
The Oak Orchard Road was the first highway cross
ing Orleans County north and south, that was open
ed and worked. Supposing, as everybody then did,
that the trade from this part of the country must go
by the lake, and that Oak Orchard Harbor would be
its place of embarkation, the Holland Company and
the settlers, at an early day opened this road for
teams, made log causeways through wet places and
bridged the streams. It was a rough road, but teams
could get through with light loads, as early as before
the war.
Andrew A. Ellicott built a mill on the Oak Orchard
Creek, at Shelby Center, about the year 1813. To ac
commodate travel to this mill and promote the sale
of land, the Holland Company cut out a highway
leading from the Oak Orchard road near the County
Poor House, to Shelby Center. This highway follow
ed the ridge of highest land, crooking about on places
where it could be easiest constructed. It is still used

60 PIONEER HISTORY
as a public highway, and is traveled on or near the
line originally followed. This was the first road cut
out for teams, east and Avest, south of the ridge. As
the timber which grew in this County was generally
hard wood and decayed soon, few fallen trees, or logs
lay in the woods to obstruct teams passing anywhere
in the forest, where standing timber or swamps did
not prevent ; and the course of travel Avas directed by
marked trees, until enough inhabitants had come in
to lay out and work roads.
Before the forest was cleared from this county,
much of the land Avas wet, and in fitting a highway
for travel, a large amount of log causeway had to be
laid, in places now dry hard land. Where the Oak
Orchard Road crosses the canal in Albion, and for
many rods north and south of the canal, such a cause
way was laid. Indeed, many farms, which in a wild
state, were not taken by settlers at first, because they
were so low and wet, noAv, on draining the water off,
and cutting away the trees, are the best farming land
in the neighborhood.
The Ridge Road was laid out six rods wide, and
the Oak Orchard Road four rods wide. In selling:
lands bordering on the Ridge Road, or the OakOrch
ard Road, the Holland Company bounded the tract
they sold by the outer lines of the road ; thus giving
the lands the roads covered to the public. In selling
lands on all other roads, they deeded to the center of
the highway. When no natural obstruction prevent- •
ed, highways were laid out on the line of lots accord
ing to the Company's survey, and then the owners on
each side gave each the half of the road.
Works were put up by the Holland Company for
the manufacture of salt, at the salt springs north of
Medina, as early as 1805, and opened for use by the
settlers. To facilitate access to these works, the Com-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 61
pany cut out two roads, about the same time, one
leading south from the works, to the "Old Buffalo
Road ;" the other south-easterly, to the Oak Orchard
Road. These highways were known as the Salt
Works Road. When the manufacture of salt there
was discontinued, the Salt Works Road was dicontin-
ued. Frequently, when a neAv road became a necessity,
all the settlers would turn out with their teams, and
cut out the trees, and clear them from the roadway,
and build such sluiceways a s were necessary and so
make a highway passable, to be worked up when the
roots had rotted out and the people of the district
had got able to do so.
About the year 1824, the people along the Ridge
Road turned out on the 4th day of July and celebra
ted the day, by cutting out a highway from the Ridge
north to Waterport which is now the road leading
from Eagle Harbor to Waterport.
An Act of the Legislature was passed April 2, 1827,
appointing John P. Patterson, Almon H. Millerd and
Otis Turner, commissioners to locate and lay out a
public highway, four rods Avide, leading from Roch
ester to Lockport, " on, or near the banks of the Erie
Canal." A highway was located and laid by said
commissioners, Jesse P. Haines, of Lockport, being
the surveyor, pursuant to said Act. For most of the
way said highway was laid on the south side of the
Canal. The records of said survey and highway
were filed in the County Clerk's offices, and in the
several towns through which it passed, and the road
established Oct. 1, 1827. The law required the com
missioners of highways in the several towns, to open
the road to travel ; and it was done by them along
the most of the line where the public convenience re
quired it Considerable of this road was never open-

62 PIONEER HISTORY
ed, and the franchise was suffered to be lost to the
public by non-user.
This was known as the State Road. Through the
village of Albion, it is called State Street.

CHAPTER XL

RAILROADS IN ORLEANS COUNTY.
Medina and Darien — Medina and Lake Ontario— Rochester, Lockport
and Niagara Falls.

AY 5, 1834, an Act of the Legislature was
passed, incorporating the Medina and Darien
Railroad Company, to construct a Railroad ;
and the road was built from Medina to Akron, in Erie
County, twelve or fourteen miles, and fitted for cars,
to be drawn by horses. It went into operation about
1836. After a short trial, it was found to be an un
profitable investment, the track was taken up, and
the road discontinued.
This was the first Railroad incorporated to be made
in this county.
In 1836, the Medina and Ontario Railroad Company
was incorporated by the Legislature, to construct a
Railroad between Medina and Lake Ontario, at the
mouth of Oak Orchard Creek. Nothing further was
ever done towards opening this road.
The Rochester, Lockport and Niagara Falls Rail
road Co. was organized December 10, 1850. It passes
through the county near the Erie Canal on the south
side. This road has since been consolidated in the
New York Central Railroad, by which name it is
now known, its original corporate name being drop
ped. The construction of this Railroad has proved of im
mense benefit to Orleans County.

CHAPTER XII.

STATE OF EDUCATION.
School Houses — Description — Gaines Academy — Other Academies and
Schools. •

ETTLERS on the Holland Purchase re\'erenced
the institutions existing in New England, from
which the majority of them came, and endeav
ored to engraft them upon their social organization in
their new homes in the woods. They believed the
safety and permanence of the free government of their
country Avas found in the intelligence of the people ;
and among their first labors, after providing shelter
and food for their children, was the building of school
houses and furnishing instruction there. Before
enough families had located in a neighborhood to
erect even a log school house and supply it with
scholars, it was not uncommon for a school to be
opened in some log cabin, where a family resided. —
All the children in the neighborhood came in, or were
brought upon the backs of their fathers through the
pathless forest, when the weather was bad, and at
tended these schools. School houses Avere built, and
well patronized, before school districts were organized,
and parents did the best they could to give their
children the elements of a common education, at least,
Orleans County was not behind any part of the
country in its zeal for schools. The earlier school
houses were made of logs, much after the same pat
tern as the dwelling places of the people, such struc-

<>F ORLEANS COUNTY. 65
tures as would noAv be considered extremely uncom
fortable, inconvenient and ill adapted to the purpose
for which the}' were made.
They were badly lighted, badly ventilated, small,
cold, cheerless and dismal places. Every internal ar
rangement was uncomfortable compared with school
houses now. But nobody complained.
After a few years this state of things improved. An
population increased, and Avealth began to accumu
late, better accommodations were procured.
The people of the town of Gaines, living along their
beautiful natural Ridge Road, believed trade and
business for the county must center there ; and before
the county buildings were located at Albion, they be
gan to devise projects for building up a village there,
Avhich should insure to them the full benefit of the lo
cation. They had several stores, and mechanic shops.
They established a printing press, and published the
first newspaper in the county, and proposed to found
an Academy. The location of the Court House at Al
bion was to them a sad disappointment, they did not
despair, however, but established their Academy,
which was incorporated in the year 1827. This was
the first incorporated literary institution in Orleans
County. A brick building, three stories high, was
erected, by the joint efforts of the school district, and
the friends of the Academy and for some years it was
occupied by both schools. The Academy was well
patronized, while it was without a rival, but when*
Academies were erected in other towns in the neigh
borhood, Gaines Academy began to languish, and fi
nally ceased to exist as a school. The building was ;
fitted up as a dwelling house, and as such still re
mains. Academies were established at Albion in-,
1837, at Millville in 1840, at Yates in 1842, at Medina .
in 1849, at Holley in 1850. The Phipps Union Semi
nary was established at Albion about 1833, and in -

66 PIONEER HISTORY
corporated by the Regents of the University in 1840.
This Seminary is a boarding and day school for the
instruction of girls only. Its course of study includes
all the solid and ornamental branches of education
usually taught in the best schools for females in this
country. It is one of the oldest institutions of the
kind in this part of the State, and has sustained a
high reputation.

CHAPTER XIII.

STATE. OP RELIGION.
Religious Feeling among the People— Ministers and Missionaries-
Meeting House in Gaines— First in County— Building.
ELIGION Avas not forgotten by the first set
tlers of Orleans County, and amid all their
hardships and difficulties, they never omitted
attending to the public worship of God. For some
years they had no church organizations, or settled
ministers of the gospel, or houses built expressly for
places of public worship. They had religious meet
ings however in their log cabins, sometimes conduct
ed by a preacher, sometimes Avith none. As soon as
school houses were built, they held their meetings in
them. Though many of the settlers were members of
Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, or other denomina
tions, in the old States, from which they came, here
they kept up no denominational distinction. If it
was announced that a religious meeting was to be held
in some place, everybody for miles around attended
it, never stopping to inquire to what denomination
the preacher belonged. Many old people remember
with deep emotion some of those solemn seasons of
prayer and praise, enjoyed by them in company with
all those who loved God and his worship, in their
neighborhood, in some little log shanty in the woods.
As the first settlement of the county began on the
lake shore in Carlton, and gradually extended along
the Ridge Road, so religious meetings were held first
in Carlton.

68 PIONEER HISTORY
' About the year 1809, Rev. Mr. Steele, a Methodist
preacher, came over from Canada and visited as a
missionary those settlers, who had come into Carlton,
and preached to them whenever he could get a con
gregation together. He is said to have been the first
preacher of any denomination. He was soon follow
ed by Elders Irons, Dutcher, and Carpenter, Baptists;
and Puffer, Hall, Gregory, and others, Methodists.
Before 1820, a Baptist church was formed in Gaines,
a Congregational church in Barre, another in Ridge
way, and from that time forward, the people united
in such church organizations as were agreeable to
their views of religious truth and duty, instead of
those common meetings of all, which prevailed at an
earlier day.
In the year 1824, a company of citizens of Gaines,
viz: Oliver Booth, 2d, Elisha Nichols, Elijah D.
Nichols, James Mather, VanRensselaer Hawkins,
Elijah Blount, Jonathan Blount, Jr., Zelotes Sheldon,
John J. Walbridge, Romeyn Ostrander and Asahel
Lee, united together and built the meeting house now
standing in the west part of the village, " for the ben
efit of the Congregational and Baptist Societies in the
town of Gaines, each society to use the same for one-
half of the time alternately. When not occupied by
said societies, to be free for public worship for any
other religious society." The proprietors sold the
slips in the house, and. gave the purchase money, af
ter paying for building the house, to aid in building
Gaines Academy.
This was the first church edifice erected in Orleans
County. For several years it was occupied according
to the intent of the founders. It has now been trans
ferred to a Methodist society.

CHAPTER XIV.

BURYING GROUNDS.
Mount Albion Cemetery — Boxwood Cemetery — Hillside Cemetery.

UR YING places for the dead were established
in com'enient localities, in the early settlement
of Orleans County. One of the oldest of these
is at the village of Gaines, on the Ridge Road. Mr.
Oliver Booth, who owned the land, gave half an acre,
on condition that the neighboring inhabitants Avould
clear off the trees with which it was covered, which
they did.
Under the statute in such case made, many of these
rural old burying places haAre been put under the care
of Cemetery Associations, duly incorporated under
the general law. Others have been vested in the
towns in which they are situated, under an old law,
which provided that burying grounds, which before
then had been used a certain length of time by the
public, should be so A'ested.
In the A-icinity of the large villages however, more
extensive grounds have been devoted as burial places.
The most considerable of these is "Mount Albion
Cemetery," situate two miles south-east from the vil
lage of Albion. This burying place, including about
twenty-five acres, was purchased by the village of Al
bion, in May, 1843, for §1,000. It was then an un
broken forest. The natural advantages of this Ceme
tery, for the purpose designed, can scarcely be equal-

70 PIONEER HISTORY
ed by any similar grounds in the country. It Avas
dedicated Sept. 7, 1843.
Before Mount Albion was purchased, a burying
g round was used on the south side of the canal, east
of the creek, in Albion. The bodies have all been re
moved from that ground, and burying there discon
tinued. From the first, and until 1862, Mount Albion Cem
etery was under the care of the Trustees of the village.
By an Act passed March 26, 1862, the control of the
Cemetery was vested in three commissioners, to be ap
pointed by the village Trustees. Dr. Lemuel C. Paine,
Lorenzo Burrows and Henry J. Sickels, were appoint
ed such commissioners, and they have been ever since
continued in office. Lots in this Cemetery are sold to
whoever will buy, the purchasers not being confined
to inhabitants, of the village of Albion, and owners of
lots reside in every town in the county.
The first persons dying in Medina , Avere buried
Avherever their friends could find a place ; but in the
fall of 1830, Mr. DaA'id E. Evans, .by his agent Mr.
GAvynn, gave an acre of land for a burying ground, on
the east side of Gwynn Street, south from the railroad
depot, on which the first corpse buried was the wife of
Edmund Fuller, in 1830.
These grounds have been used for burials ever since.
In 1860, Mr. John Parsons interested himself in get
ting the fences around these grounds repaired, with
contributions furnished him for the purpose ; and in
order suitably to mark the spot, by some fitting mem
orial, which at small expense would be likely to stand
many years; he procured and planted, as near as
might be, in the center of the grounds, a fir tree, un
der the center of which, in a glass jar, inclosed in lead,
he deposited various articles, as mementos of the times
and people of Medina at present. This tree is now
growing vigorously.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. . 71
"Boxwood Cemetery" lies a little north of Medi
na, on the east side of the gravel road leading to the
Ridge, and contains about six acres, and is owned by
the village of Medina. Messrs. S. M. Burroughs,
Geo. Northrop, Caleb Hill and others, bought this
ground while a forest, of Mr. GAvynn, for a Cemetery,
in 1848. They sold it to the village for $600, and
it Avas laid out in lots, and formally opened for
burial purposes, in 1850. David Card was the first
person buried here, in 1S40.
Many bodies of the dead buried in the old ground
in Medina, have been removed to Boxwood Cemetery,
and this is now the principal burying place for the
village and A-icinity.
"Hillside Cemetery" is the name of a burying
place belonging to "The Holloy Cemetery Associa
tion," which was organized Dec. 11, 1866. In Jan.,
1867, the association purchased about seven and three-
fourths acres of land, lying about half a mile south o"
the business part of Holley village, and south of the
corporation limits, at a cost of 81 ,100. A large
sum has since then been expended by the Association
in improving these 'grounds, grading the street, and
ornamenting and fitting up the premises.
A large part of this burying place has been laid out
in lots, carefully numbered, mapped and the map filed
in the County Clerk's office. These lots are sold by
the Trustees and deeded to purchasers.
August 17, 1867, this Cemetery was formally dedi
cated by appropriate religious ceremonies.
The affairs of the Association are managed by nine
Trustees, who serve in classes, three years. Trustees
now in office, (1871,) are John Berry, Sargent Ensign,
Nelson Hatch, James Gibson, Samuel Spear, Humph
rey Ruggles, Simon Harwood, Ely H. Cook and Or
ange A. Eddy. John Berry, President, Orange A.
Eddy, Secretary.

72 PIONEER HISTORY'
Shade trees have been set abound the grounds and
many trees and ornamental shrubs planted.
The soil is well adapted to the purpose designed. —
The location is pleasant and commodious to the vil
lage of HoUey and surrounding country and the
good taste and liberality displayed by the people of
Holley and vicinity in founding and fostering this
Cemetery is creditable to their public spirit, refined
feelings and proper regard for their best interests.

CHAPTER XV.

THE TOWN OF 15ARRE.
First settled along Oak Orchard Road— Land Given by the Holland
Company to Congregational Society — Congregational Church — Pres
byterian Church in Albion — First Tavern — First Store — First Law
yer — First Doctor — First Deed of Land to Settler— Deeds of Land in
Albion — First House in Albion— Death of Mrs. McCallister— First
Warehouse— First Saw Mill— First Grist Mill— Trade in Lumber-
First Ball— First Town Meeting— Fourth of July, 1821— First Wed
ding in Albion — Story — Biographies of Early Settlers.

HIS town, so named by Judge John Lee, in
honor of Barre, Mass., his native town, was
set off from Gaines, by Act of the Legislature, ,
March 6, 1818. At the time of the first settlement of
this town, the main road, by which people traveled to
and from the old States, was the Ridge road. The
Ridge was always dry and comfortable for travel
when the streams, which cross it, could be forded, be
fore the bridges were made ; but on leaving the Ridge
north or south, when the ground was not frozen, the
roads were terribly muddy, long tracts of low land
requiring to be covered with logs laid transversely
side by side for a carriage track, called " corduroy."
As this Avas a work of considerable labor, the settlers
had to Avallow through the mud as best they could,
until they were able to build their highways.
There were no sawmills, and even if there had been
mills, upon such roads lumber could not be moved to
market, and there was no market for lumber south of
the Ridge, before the canal was dug.
The Indians had a trail, or Indian road, from their

74 PIONEER HISTORY
settlements in Livingston county, on the Genesee riv
er, to an Indian village in Niagara county ; and an
other trail from the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek, to
intersect the first mentioned trail, which was used by
white men and known as the Oak Orchard Road,
passing through Barre, from north to south. On this
trail or road, the travel to Batavia was conducted. —
It was not passable for carriages^ as the Indians had
none, and the settlers had to clear the brush and re
move the fallen trees, which obstructed, before they
could get their teams through. This was done by the
Holland Company at an early day.
Several families came into Barre before the war of
1812, but that event nearly suspended emigration
while it lasted.
Salt was made on the Oak Orchard Creek north of
Medina, before the canal was made ; and to accom
modate the people and benefit themselves, the Holland
Company opened a road from the Salt Works, in a
south-easterly direction, to intersect the Oak Orchard
Road, about two miles south of Albion. This was
known as the " Salt Works Road" and was discon
tinued many years ago.
Among the inducements offered by the Land Com
pany to settlers on their lands, was an offer of a tract
of land, to the first religious society that should be
organized in each town on their Purchase. In pursu
ance of this custom, the Holland Company deeded,
March 8, 1822, to the Trustees of "The First Congre
gational Society in the town of Barre," one hundred
acres of land, lying on the north part of lot nineteen,
town fifteen, range two ; being part of the farm after
wards cleared and OAvned by Azariah Loveland.—
The deed conveys this land to said "Trustees and
their successors in office, for the benefit of the said
Congregational order, and those who preach the doc
trines contained in the Assembly' s Catechism, and no

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 75
other." So careful were our fathers in Barre, to pro
vide for keeping their religious faith pure, and free
from heresy, as they regarded it. That religious so
ciety Avas the first organized in Barre, and still exists,
noAv located at Barre Center. Its first board of Trus
tees Avas Orange Starr, Cyril Wilson, Ithamar Hib-
bard, John Bradner, Caleb C.Thurston and Oliver Ben
ton. The church connected with this society, was or
ganized Dec. 5, 1817.
"The First Presbyterian Society of Albion" Avas
incorporated March 20, 1826, and was the second re
ligious society incorporated in the town of Barre, and
the first in the village of Albion. Its first Trustees
were Harvey Goodrich, Joseph Hart, Ebenezer Rogers,
William White, Hiram Sickels, and Milton W. Hop
kins. Their first house of worship, the same iioav oc
cupied by the Episcopalians, Avas erected in 1830. —
The whole number of communicants, in this church
at its organization, was sixteen. Rev. Wm. Johnson,
their first pastor, commenced his labors here in 1824.
The first tavern in Barre was kept by Abram Mat-
tison, in 1815, on the west side of the Oak Orchard
Road, about two miles south of Albion. The first
tavern in Albion was kept by  Churchill, on the
south corner of Main and Canal Streets. The first
school was taught by Mrs. Silas Benton, in the south
part of what is noAv the village of Albion.
The first store, for the sale of dry goods and grocer
ies, is believed to have been kept by E. & A. Mix, at
Porter's Corners. Mr. Abiathar Mix removed to that
place, and took an Article for a tract of land, in 1817.
Being a mason by trade, and having no mason Avork
to do, he Avent into the business of making potash,
and selling goods, his brother, Ebenezer Mix, of Ba
tavia, furnishing a part of the capital.
About the year 1819, a store was opened by Orris

76 PIONEER HISTORY
H. Gardner, near Benton's Corners, on the Oak Orch
ard Road.
The Oak Orchard Road was the first public high
way laid out in this town. About 1803, the Holland
Company caused a survey to be made of this road
from "The Five Corners," in Gaines, about a mile
north of Albion, to the forks of the road south of Bar
re Center. This survey was due north and south, to
straighten the old trail. The highway was not open
ed and worked precisely as laid.
Many of the earliest locations of land by settlers
were made along this road, and it was these locations,
this highway and the Erie Canal, Avhich established
the village of Albion.
The first regular lawyer in this town was Theophi-
lus Capen, who came here about the time work on
the Canal was begun, and kept an office for a while
in Albion. William J. Moody came to Albion to
practice law, a short time before the county of Orleans
was organized, he was followed by Alexis Ward,
Henry R. Curtis, A. Hyde Cole, Geo. W. Fleming
and several others.
Dr. Orson Nichoson Avas the first physician. He
settled in Barre in 1819.
The first deed of land lying in the town of Barre,
from the Holland Land Company, was given to Jacob
Young, dated June 7, 1813, and conveyed one hun
dred acres of lot thirty -three, town fifteen, range one.
This land is now owned by Stephen N. Whitney, and
lies about a mile and a half south from Albion, on
the east side of the Oak Orchard Road.
William Bradner took a deed from the Company,
of the land in Albion, on the east side of Main Street,
from Bailey Street, to the north bounds of Barre,
December 3, 1819, containing two hundred and sixty-
six acres. Rosav«11 Burrows took a like deed of one
hundred and sixty-one acres, lying on the west side

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 77
of Main Street, bounded north by the. town line of
Gaines, October 11, 1825. This tract, so deeded to
Burrows, Avas taken up by Article from the Company
by Jesse Bumpus, in August, 1815, and afterwards
sold by him to Mr. Buit-oavs. The land so deeded to
William Bradner, AA-as taken by Article from the Land
Company, by William McCollister, about the year
1811. Mr. McCollister made the first clearing in the
village of Albion, where the Court House iioav stands,
The first dwelling house erected in Albion was a log
cabin, built by McCollister, near where Phipps Union
Seminary noAv stands: In that he lived, and there his
wife died, about the year 1812 ; being the first white
woman who died in the town of Barre. No clergy
man was then in town to conduct religious services
on the occasion and no boards could be obtained to
make her coffin. Her sorrowing husband, assisted by
two or three men, split and hewed some rough planks
from trees, pinned them together Avith wooden pins,
to make a box, in which the corpse was placed, and
buried, this little company, present at this first funer
al, comprised almost the entire population of the
town. The first warehouse in town was built by Nehemiah
Ingersoll, on the canal, about fifteen rods east of Main
Street, in Albion.
The first saw-mill in town Avas built by Dr. Wm.
White, on the creek south-east of Albion, about eighty
rods south of the railroad, in the year 1816. William
Bradner built a small grist-mill on this creek, farther
down, in 1819.
For several years after the Erie Canal was first
opened, a brisk trade in white-wood lumber was car
ried on, from timber cut convenient to draw to the, ca
nal. Good whitewood boards sold on the bank of the
canal for $5 per thousand feet, and other lumber at
corresponding prices. Whitewood Avas a common

78 PIONEER HISTORY
tree in this town. The lumber was carried to Albany.
After buildings began to be constructed by carpenters
and joiners, the floors and finishing were principally
done with whiteAvood.
The first regular ball in Barre was at Mattison' s
tavern, July 4, 1819. To fit the house for the party,
they took up the split basswood floor and laid doAArn
boards in the bar-room to dance on.
The first town meetings, after this town Avas organ
ized, were held at Mattison' s tavern, the next . after
wards at Benton's tavern.
The 4th of July, 1821, was celebrated by the peo
ple of Barre in a grove near where " the round school
house" was afterwards built, on Lee Street. A com
mittee was appointed, who procured the necessary
gunpowder, liquor and sugar, at Batavia. Provisions
for the tables Avere furnished by voluntary contribu
tion, and a dinner gotten up which was partaken of
by everybody in pic-nic style. Dr. Orson Nichoson
delivered an oration and the* customary patriotic
toasts were drank, to the sound of discharges of mus
ketry, as they had no cannon. In the evening, the
remains from the tables and the bottles, were taken
to a neighboring log cabin, and there disposed of by
all who chose to take part ; and music and dancing,
and festivity, were kept up till next morning, by a
company of old and young-. This was the first public
celebration of our National Independence in Barre.
Among the first settlers in Barre were William Mc
Collister, Lansing Bailey, Joseph Hart, Joseph Stod
dard, Elijah Darrow, Reuben Clark and Silas Benton.
The first marriage, in what is now the village of Al
bion, took place under the following circumstances.
An action was tried before Robert Anderson, a Justice
of the Peace, at the village of Gaines, to recover dam
ages for a hog that had been killed by the defendant
wrongfully. The plaintiff recovered a judgment. As

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 79
soon as the result Avas declared, the defendant took
the Justice aside, and asked him to go at once to a
house mentioned and marry him ; giving as his reason
for haste, that execution Avould soon be issued against
him on the judgment. Avhich he Avas unable to pay ;
that he Avould be taken to Batavia to jail, and, if he
Avas a single man, he did not know when he should
get out, but if he Avas married he could swear out in
thirty days. The Justice objected, that it was then
midnight, the house named was three miles off, the
night A\as dark, and the road was through the woods
most of the way. He finally agreed to go after get
ting supper. In the mean time the would-be bride
groom hurried to the house to wake up the family,
and the bride, and put a light in the window to guide
the Esquire. The marriage took place according to
programme. The house stood on the Avest side of
Main Street, about a quarter of a mile north of the
canal.

BIOGRAPHIES OF EARLY SETTLERS.
LANSING BAILEY".
The folloAving is Lansing Bailey' s history, written
by himself, for the Pioneer Association :
' ' I was born in the town of Stephentown, Rensse
laer County, New York, Nov. 11, 1787.
When I was seven years old, my father removed to
Whitest own, Oneida County, New York.
In 1809, being then in my twenty-second year, I was
married to Miss Loda Parmelee, and in Nov. 1811, I
started, in company with two others, for the Genesee
country, on foot, with knapsacks and provisions on
our backs.
On the evening of the fifth day, we arrived at Dan
iel Pratt's, an old acquaintance and relative, then re-

80 PIONEER HISTORY
siding on the Ridge Road, in the town of Gaines, a
little west of Gaines Corners.
The best locations on the Ridge Road had been ta
ken, and also the best lots on the Oak Orchard Road,
for several miles south of the Ridge Road, but they
were not settled south of the 'Five Corners,' in what
is noAv Gaines.
Myselt and brother, took an Article from the Hol
land Land Company, of two hundred and sixty acres;
lying one mile west of where Albion now stands. — •
Five days after making our location, we started for
home by the way of Batavia. We had but little mon
ey, consequently we bought but one meal on our out
ward and homeward trip, $3.50 being the entire
amount of our expenses, which consisted in lodging
and a little of ' the creature' to wash down our dry
meals. In February, 1812, putting all on board an ox sled
covered Avith cloth, with two yoke of oxen attached,
after bidding farewell to friends, with wife and child
aboard, whip in hand, we set out for our wilderness
home, my brother driving two cows, and three young
cattle. After a journey of nine days, we arrived at Daniel
Pratt's, where we unloaded our goods, and I soon
started to find some wheat, which I found in Riga,
and got it ground in Churchville.
Soon after my return, myself and brother set out
for our future home.
There was a track as far as the Five Corners. Thus
far we took a grind stone, and six pail kettle, with
some other articles, were then about a mile and a half
from our place, and no track. The snow was about
three feet deep, with a hard crust about two feet from
the ground, sufficient to bear a man, but not a beast.
We commenced breaking the crust in the direction
of our place, and drove the cattle as far as we could

OF ORLEANS COTNTY. 81
break that day, fell some trees for them to browse1,
and one across the path to keep them from returning,
and Ave went back to the Five Corners for our lodging.
In the morning, we took a straAv bed and some oth
er articles on our backs, and went and found the cat
tle all safe. That day Ave got through just before
night, foddered our cattle on browse ; fell a dry stub
and made a good fire from it ; shoveled away the
snow, made us a bush shanty with some boughs to
lay our bed on, took supper and went to bed.
Next morning the snow on our feet and limbs,
which were a little too long for our shanty, was two
or three inches deep. However, we had a good nights
rest. We staid there until some time in April, going
to the Ridge every Saturday night, and returning ev
ery Monday morning, with a weeks' provisions.
On one occasion we found one of our cows cast. —
We divided the loaf with her, put a bell on her, and
if we could not hear the tinkle of the bell in the night
we got up and looked after her. ¦ Thus we carried our
cattle all safe through the winter.
When we went to the Five Corners to fetch our ket
tle, AA-hile the snow crust was hard, on our return, our
dog barked earnestly at a large hollow. tree, that had
fallen down. On looking into the hollow, we saw
two eyes, but could not tell what animal it was with
in. My brother went after an ax and gun, while I
watched the hole. After filling the hollow with sticks,
we cut several holes in the log, to ascertain the char- '
acter of the animal. Soon however she passed one of
the holes, and we knew it was a bear. We then re
moved the sticks, and put in the dog. The bear
seized the dog,. and my brother reached in his hand
and pulled the dog out badly hurt. The bear pre
sented her head at the hole, and I killed her with the
ax. On searching the log, we found a cub, which we

82 PIONEER HISTORY
took home with us. It could not bite, but would try.
A Mrs. Adams, Avho had recently lost a babe', took
it and nursed it, until it got to be quite a bear, and
rather harsh in its manners.
As soon as the snow settled, Ave made us a hovel
house, such as Ave could lay up ourselves of logs,
twelve by fourteen feet square, with split logs for floor
and roof, the roof projecting over, to afford a shelter
to put things under, outside the house.
When the snow Avas mostly gone, three of us with
ax in hand went through on a line as near as we could,
cutting out the under-brush for a road, coming out a
little west of where Gaines A'illage now is, on the Ridge
road, which is noAv called ' the Gaines Basin road.'
This Ave accomplished in less than half a day.
In a few days we had the satisfaction of introducing
Mrs. Bailey, my wife, into our new house and were
happy to get home.
Our next work was to clear a small patch and sow
some apple seeds, carrying dirt in a tray to cover
them ; from those seeds originated many of the orch
ards in Orleans County.
In June folloAving Ave peeled basswood bark for
our chamber floor and elm bark for a roof to our
house. Harvesting came and we Avent to Mr. James Math
er's in Gaines, to reap wheat. He would not give us
one bushel of wheat per day for our work, as he gave
his other hands, but would give us seven bushels for
cutting a certain piece, which we did in two days. —
On my return home at night I found Mrs. Bailey had
left home, where she had gone I knew not till next
morning I learned she had been sent for to attend
Mrs. Daniel Pratt, avIio was sick and died soon after.
We cleared fifteen acres the first season. It was a
task in time of logging to get up our oxen in the

OF ORLEANS COUNTY'. 83
morning, especially on Mondays, as they Avould have
Sundays to stray aAvay into the woods.
On one occasion I started after them and found
their tracks near where Jonathan Whitney now lives,
on the Oak Orchard road, a mile and" a half south of
Albion. I folloAved the tracks eastward all day,
crossing the Transit Line several times. I could tell
that line by the timber having been cut on it by the
Holland Company.
After a hard day' s toil and travel, making a good
fire I camped by it for the night and had a good
night's rest. In the morning I heard a dog bark and
a bell tinkle, I followed in the direction of these
sounds, carefully noting Avhere I left the cattle tracks
and came out on the Ridge road, at Huff's tavern, in
East Gaines and Avas right glad to get something to
eat. Mr. Rosier Avas there returning from the dangers of
the Avar, driving some cattle and mine had got in
Avith them. I reneAved my pursuit and found my ox
en about two miles south of the marsh, which lies
south of the Ridge, in East Gaines and glad AA-as I to
get them home again.
When it avus time to sow our wheat, Ave went Avith-
out bread three days rather than leave our work to
go to mill. I have been to Churchville, Johnson's
Creek, Rochester and Salmon Creek, for milling, be
fore there AA'ere mills built nearer.
In the fall, I built me a good, comfortable log
house, without a board, nail, or pane of glass in it,
using bark for roof and chamber floor, split stuff for
gable ends, loA\-er floor and doors and. oiled paper
for windows, being compelled to exercise strict econ
omy and also to be quite independent in building my
house. I found it however a good shelter and a com
fortable home for several years.
Soon after I moved into my house, my brother left

84 PIONEER HISTORY
for the east, leaving me in care of seven head of cattle
to carry through the winter, with no fodder except a
few cornstalks. Winter set in early and by the time
I had killed nty winter's supply of venison, the corn
stalks were all gone and I found all I could do to
keep fires and fodder my cattle, Sundays not except
ed. Thus I labored, cutting trees for the cattle as best
I could, until my brother' s return, the latter part of
winter. We should not have attempted to winter our
cattle, had not persons here assured us our cattle
would winter with little or no care.
In June, 1812, the town of Ridgeway was set off
from Batavia, which before then comprised the Avhole
present county of Orleans. In April, 1813, the first
toAvn meeting was held on the Ridge road, west of
Oak Orchard Creek. At that time, the flats along
the creek were covered with water from bank to bank.
In going to the town meeting, we, who lived east,
crossed the creek as best we could, on rafts of felled
trees. At that election I was chosen one of the assessors
for the east part of the town. On the day appointed
for holding the general election, I started for Mr.
Brown' s, on Johnson' s Creek, where we were to open
the polls. When I came to the Oak Orchard Creek,
I put off my clothes and went through. On opening
the polls, the board were challenged by Paul Brown,
as not being free-holders ; true we were not, but we
did not regard it. We adjourned at noon to Mr. El
licott's, at Barnegat, in what is now the town of
Shelby and next day to Ridgeway Corners and from
thence to Gaines Corners, where we closed.
The above journey was performed by the Board of
Inspectors of the Election on foot. I do not think
there was a horse in town at that time.
Thus far all had passed off pleasantly, soon alter,

OF ORLEANS COUNTY'. 85
however, I was taken sick with the fever and ague,
Avhich Avas so severe as to confine me to the house. —
Dr. Wm. White Avas called to attend me. He came,
said he could give me something that would stop it,
but would not advise me to take it. I replied I would
take it on my own responsibility. He gave me arse
nic. I took it. It stopped the ague, but I did not
get well for a long time.
On the 3d of May, 1813, my wife was confined. My
brother went to Five Corners for assistance, and when
he returned with one of the neighboring women, they
found me on one bed, my wife and one babe on an
other bed, and another babe on a pillow, on a chair,
all right and doing well. I thought the woods was a
fruitful place.
I made a cradle from a hollow log, long enough to
hold one baby in each end, and being round, it need
ed no rockers, and served our purpose nicely.
In July after, I called upon my neighbors, some of
whom lived several miles from me, to help me put up
a log barn. Some fifteen came. We found we could
not get through in season for them to get home that
day and rather than come again, they finished it, •
though it got to be late before it was dorie and they
all staid over night, on beds spread on the floor, pio ¦
neer fashion.
About this time, in 1813, one morning while we
were at breakfast, a man came in from the Ridge and
said the British had landed from the lake at the mouth
of Oak Orchard Creek and would probably come up
to the Ridge, if not repulsed. We were well armed.
My brother took the rifle and started on quick time.
I could not go as fast as they, but followed on as fast
as my strength would admit. I soon reached the
Ridge road and was glad to learn there was no dan
ger. The enemy only wanted to steal some of Mr.
Brown' Seattle, from near the Two Bridges, in Carlton.

86 PIONEER HISTORY
After I left home on this military expedition Mr.
Farr and Mr. Holsenburgh came to chop for me. —
They left their homes before the news came. We re
turned about 4 o'clock afternoon the same day. Mr.
DarroAv came Avith us to get a pig. With some diffi
culty the men chopping could see my cabin from
where they Avere at work. My brother, as we came
near, gave a loud whoop, like an Indian. I stopped
him. He then blew a blast on a tin horn he had. I
stopped him again, saying supper was not ready. I
then threw my frock over my shoulders and went to
the pen to catch the pig. Farr and Holsenburgh
heard the whoop and the horn and saw me going to
the pen and mistook my frock for the blanket of an
Indian ; and hearing the pig squeal soon after, they
concluded the Indians had come and killed my fam
ily and were going to finish with a feast from the
pigs ; and they started for their homes to get their
guns to fight the Indians. Mr. Farr then lived at the
Five Corners in Gaines and Mr. Holsenburgh, on the
place afterwards owned by Ebenezer Rogers, a mile
south of Albion.
Mr. Farr hurried home, 'got his gun and was ready
for a fight. Mr. Chaffee, on hearing the story, told
Mr. Farr it could not be true, as there Avere no Indians
landed and he saw us when we started for home.
Holsenburgh went directly to Mr. Darrow' s, before
any of the party had got back, told what had happen
ed ati my house, said Mrs. Darrow and Mrs. Hart and
their families must hide in the Avoods, as the Indians
Avould soon be there and actually got them started.
The men returned however in time to stop them.
While the above was being performed, we could
hear no sound from the axes, and knew not the reason
until near sunset, when Mr. Farr came and explained
the whole transaction.
About the first of August, my brother Avas taken

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 87
Avith fever and ague. Some one told him of a remedy.
He tried it, a violent fever ensued, which lasted but a
few days, and he died, August 8th. Before my broth
er was buried, my Avife avus taken sick with the same
fever and died on the 13th of the same month. They
were both in succession carried by friends to the
burying ground in Gaines, and interred there. Some
friends living on the Ridge took my children home
with them, while I returned to my desolate house to
spend one of the loneliest nights I ever knew, as there
was no one to accompany me home.
I informed my father of what had transpired. He
soon came and took two of my children home with
him. I hired a Mrs. Adams, a cousin of mine, to take
care of the other.
I was noAv so lonely that as soon as I could secure
my crops, I left home and Avent to my father's.
In the fall before leaving, Mr. Parmelee, a brother-
in-laAv came with a wagon to help secure my corn,
which we had planted among the logs. I did but lit
tle work that season, not logging vone acre.
On going into my cornfield we found it badly torn
down. We got a dog, and lantern in hand Avent at
night to the field. The dog started off furiously and
soon treed some animal up a large hemlqck. On
looking up I could at times see eyes shine. We con
cluded it AATas a bear, and each one selecting a small
tree to climb, in case the bear should come down and
attack us, I Avent to try my skill in shooting in the
darkness. Soon as I fired there was a screeching up
the tree. The creature must have gone nearly to the
top of the tree. Directly there Avas a cracking heard
among the limbs, I scrambled up my tree, and the
bear came down from hers.
No sooner had she struck the ground than the dog
grappled in with her, but soon cried out piteously. —
We thought the dog was being killed. I hastened

88 PIONEER HISTORY
down from my tree, called for the tight to see to load
my gun. We walked up to the combatants and found
the dog biting instead of being bitten. Parmelee said
he did not climb his tree. He had some sport after
wards telling how he had saved my life by holding
the lantern so that I could see and not climb off at
the top of the tree.
Before my return to the east, Mr. Caleb C, Thurs
ton came to view the country, said he would move in
to my house, if I would drive my oxen down and help
him up, as he did not Avish to buy another yoke, and
would hire me to clear five acres when he bought a
lot ; to this I consented.
In the winter of 1814, Mr. Thurston moved on with
oxen and wagon. While gone to my father's, Lewis-
ton and Buffalo were burned and Capt. McCarty,
with a part of the Company to which I belonged,
went as far as Molyneaux tavern, where they sur
rounded the house, shooting one Indian through the
window. Finding another helpless on the floor drunk,
a Mr. Cass pinned him to the floor with his bayonet.
The British soldiers ran up stairs and were taken
prisoners. Mr. Molyneaux said he would find rails
as long as they would find Indians, and they burned
the bodies of the killed.
In the .summer following, I took my oxen and wag
on and seventeen bushels of wheat, with Mrs. Thurs
ton on the load, for a visit to Mr. Pratt's and went to
mill beyond Clarkson. I returned as far as Mr.
Pratt's the next night about dark. I asked Mrs.
Thurston if she would venture through the woods with
me. She said she would and if we had to lay out,
we would do the best we could.
When we left the Ridge and turned into the woods,
it was so dark I could not see my oxen, although I
was sitting on the foreboard. We arrived safe home,
without accident.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 89
I think it would be difficult in these days to find
women of sufficient fortitude to endure such hard
ships and privations, as did these early pioneer
women. At this time there Avas no clearing between my
place and the Ridge road.
The war Avith Great Britain was iioav raging along
our frontiers, in all its horrors. More settlers were
then leaving the country than Avere coming in. There
were then but five families in what was then called
Freeman's settlement, west of Eagle Harbor. No
road had been opened. We had to follow marked
trees as our guide.
Mr. Thurston's eldest daughter, then about ten
years old, went to stay with our friends there a few
days. She was taken sick and not able to walk
home. Her father and myself went after her and car
ried her back to her father' s house, the most of the
distance on our backs. It was a hard lift for us to get
her up the bank of Otter Creek.
The first of September, our militia company was or
dered to Buffalo. On the fifth we reached Batavia. —
Mr. Thurston being infirm, was allowed to return to
his family in their solitude. I was kept with the
Company, until the first of October, when I was dis
charged and returned home, having received seven
dollars and fifty cents pay for services and two dol
lars for extra labor.
I lodged the first night on my return with the Ton
awanda Indians. I have never since turned an Indian
away, who desired to stay with me over night.
Before I left home to go to Buffalo, as a soldier, I
had baited some pigeons. After we were gone, Mrs.
Thurston took the net and caught them and in this
way herself and children were provided with a rich
repast, although so far off in the wilderness alone.
In the winter of 1815, with my pack on my back, I

90 PIONEER HISTORY
returned to Whitestown, and on the 8th day of Feb
ruary, was married to Miss Sylvia Pratt, who return
ed with me to share alike the toils and blessings of
life, where, by the blessing of God, we still remain.
I have had twelve children ; three died young, I
had the pleasure of sitting down with all the others at
my own table, the present summer, (1861) although
some of them reside eight hundred miles away from
me. At the close of the war, settlers came in rapidly
and soon I was out of the woods, having it cleared
and settled all around me.
In the early settlement of the country, it was diffi-
•cult to raise pigs, as the bears would catch them in
the summer. Consequently, pork was high priced,
and scarce. With my rifle, I could take what veni
son I needed, and therefore fared well for meat. ' The
oil of the raccoon was first rate for frying cakes. —
Thus we fared sumptuously.
At one time, I had a sow and pigs in the woods. —
One day I heard the sow squeal. Being nearer to
them than to the house, I ran, supposing I could save
her. As I came near and hallooed, bruin dropped his
prey and feared up on his hind legs, when he saw
me he ran off, but he had killed the hog. I got my
rifle and pursued, but saw no more of him.
In the summer of 1816, I heard a man's voice hal
looing in the woods south of my house. I went to see
Avhat Avas going on. Saw several men there and in
quired Avhat they were about. One of them said
they were going to make us a canal. I laughed at
them, and told them they would hardly make water
run up hill between here and Albany. I added, it
would be as long as I would ask to live, to be able to
see sueh a canal as they talked of in operation. How
little did I then know of what men could perform,
aided by intellectual culture and public wealth, hav-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY'. 91
ing up to that time spent most of my life in the woods.
Before this Ave had to go to Batavia for our merchants
goods and to the Post-office.
The foregoing comprises what I think of noAv of my
pioneer life.
I cannot look back upon the past of my life and
contemplate what the good Lord has in his loving
kindness done for me, Avithout acknowledging his
preserving care, and that too when the most of my
days have been spent in rebellion against him, in not
obeying his commands and in neglecting to acknowl
edge him under the sore afflictions he has seen fit to
bring upon me and to sustain me under them ; and
above all, that in after life, He by his good spirit
should call after me, until I was brought to see and
feel his goodness, in the forgiveness of my sins and
to thank and praise him for .all his mercies and to
ask that I may be accepted by him through the
merits of Ms Son, and have the pleasure of meeting
in his kingdom above, Avith all the old pioneers, not
of the woods only, but all those that are seeking a
better and a heavenly country. LANSING BAILEY."
Dated— Barre, August 1, 1861.
Mr. Lansing Bailey, the author of the foregoing
sketch, died at his residence in Barre, December 1866,
aged 79 years. Many years before his death he sold
out the land he took up from the Holland Company
and bought the north-east part of lot 10, town 15,
range 2, of the Holland Purchase, on Avhich he ever
after resided, and which is noAv occupied and OAvned
by his son, Timothy C. Bailey.
Lansing Bailey was a man of strong, native good
sense, who always stood high in the estimation of all
who knew him, highest with those who kneAv him best.
He used to say Avhen he left his father's house, his
father gave him a hoe and three sheep, and he thought

92 PIONEER HISTORY
his father did as well by him as he was able, as he
not only gave him a hoe, but taught him to dig, for
which he always felt grateful.
Mr. Bailey was always industrious and frugal and
by a life of economy and prudence, acquired a
handsome property. He was liberal and public
spirited in his character, almost always holding^, some
public office or trust. He was for many years Super
visor of the town of Barre and was relieved from that
office only after he had peremtorily declined being
a candidate, against the wishes of a large majority in
his town. GIDEON HARD.
Hon. Gideon Hard was born in Arlington, Vermont,
April 29, 1797. His grand-mother Avas sister of Col.
Seth Warner, celebrated in the history of the Revo
lutionary war for his services in taking Ticonderoga,
and in the battle of Bennington. In his youth he
labored first upon a farm, afterwards with an older
brother at the trade of house joiner for two years.
About this time he resolved to obtain a college
education. Being poor and dependent mainly on his
own exertions, like many other New England boys,
he taught school in the winter seasons and studied the
remainder of the time, until he succeeded in passing
through Union College at Schenectady, where he re
ceived his first degree in July, 1822. In the autumn
of that year he commenced studying law with Hon.
John L. Wendell, then of Cambridge, Washington
county, since law reporter of the Supreme Court of
the State of New York.
The rules of the Supreme Court at that time re
quired three years of law study previous to admission
to practice. By the aid of his friend and teacher, J.L.
Wendell, he was allowed to take his examination at
the May Term of the Court 1825, and was then ad
mitted attorney in the Supreme Court.

Ccolc^H. Wfrhct

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 93
In March, 1826, he settled to practice his profession
in NeAA'port, hoav Albion, but did not move his Avife to
his neAv home until July of the same year.
He opened his office and began his practice.
In 1827 he Avas elected Commissioner of Schools for
Barre and in the autumn of that year he Avas ap
pointed County Treasurer, an office he held six years.
In 1832 he Avas elected a Representative in Congress
from the district comprising Orleans and Niagara
counties, and took his seat in Congress in Dec. 1833,
during the first year of President Jackson's adminis
tration, in political classification being ranked as a
Whig. In 1834 he was re-elected to Congress, and dur
ing the long session of 1836 he served on the committee
on elections. The case ot James Graham, a member
from North Carolina, AA-hose seat was contested, came
before that committee, where after a lengthy examin
ation a majority of the committee reported in favor of
the contestant, General Newland.
Mr. Hard drafted a counter report of the minority
in favor of Graham, which he presented and advo
cated in a personal effort before the House. He was
sustained by the vote of the House. This result, in a
body where he was largely in the minority, on a
question which was decided mainly on party grounds
and by his political opponents, was highly gratifying
to his political friends and party and flattering to his
ambition. On the 4th of March 1837, he left Congress and re
turned to Albion to practice his profession.
In 1841 he was elected Senator in the State Senate
to represent the eighth district of New York, and was
the only Whig Senator elected in the State that year.
The Senate of the State at that time constituted the
Court for the Correction of Errors, of which Court he
thus became a member.
The business of the Court consisted in reviewing

94 PIONEER HISTORY
the decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of
Chancery, which might be brought before them on
appeal. The Court held three terms of four weeks
each annually.
As the Senate was composed largely of civilians,
who in the decision of cases which came before them
while sitting as a court of laAv, did little more then
vote upon the final questions, the main labor of the
Court fell upon the members Avho were laAvyers, in
investigating the questions of law presented, and
writing out the opinions that Avere given.
Mr. Hard took his share of this labor, thoroughly
examining the causes in the Court and writing out
his opinions in support of the conclusions to which
he arrived, many of which are published in the Law
Reports of the State.
In 1845 he Avas re-elected to the State Senate and
appointed Chairman of the Committee on Railroads.
In 1848 his office as Senator having terminated by
the adoption of the new constitution of the State,
which abolished the old Senate and Court for Correc
tion of Errors, Mr. Hard was appointed a Canal Ap
praiser, which office he held two years, and in 1850
1 returned to the practice of his profession until the fall
of 1856, when he was elected County Judge and Sur
rogate of Orleans county, which office he held four
years. The year 1860 he was in ill health and did little
business. The next three years he spent mainly in
attendance upon his sick wife. She died, an event
which broke up his family, and since then he has re
sided most of the time with his children engaged in
no business.
Mr. Hard married Adeline Burrell, of Hoosic Falls
New York, in August, 1824.
They had two children, Samuel B. Hard, a lawyer
and business man residing in the city of New York,

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 95
and Helen B. avIio married Geo. II. Potts, and resides
in Ncav York also.
Mrs. Hard died at Albion Sept. 15, 1864.
EBENEZER ROGERS.
Dea. Ebenezer Rogers Avas born in Norwich Conn.,
October 3, 1769. He married Betsey Lyman of Leba
non, Connecticut, aa'Iio died August 28, 1849. Mr.
Rogers reniOA'ed from New England to Onondaga Co.,
N. Y., in 1812, and in March, 1816, settled on the
farm on which he afterwards resided in the south part
of the village of Albion. When he came, not more
than twenty families had settled in Barre and his
house Avas a home for many of the young men, who
came here to select a farm for themselves, or, who,
having a lot, were clearing it and building a cabin,
preparatory to occupying with their families.
Being a professor of religion and deeply impressed
Avith the importance of that subject, he was among
the most earnest of the settlers in introducing the
stated observance of the forms of public worship
among them ; and with his near neighbor, Joseph
Hart and others, he assisted to form the first Congre
gational Church and Society in Barre, which finally
was established at Barre Center, and after Albion
became a village, he was conspicuous in organizing
the First Presbyterian Church and Society in Albion,
which was an oftshoot from the organization first de
scribed. Of the latter church, Mr. Rogers was a long
time deacon, and a ruling elder.
He was by trade a tanner and shoemaker, but nev
er followed that business.
Of a strong physical constitution, Mr. Rogers lived
to see his children settled around him in competence,
enjoying the abundance of the good things of this
good land, which he and his worthy compeers
had done so much to reclaim from the Avilderness of

96 PIONEER HISTORY
nature. Mr. Rogers died January 28, 1865, aged
ninety-six years, three months and twenty-five days.
ASA SANFORD.
"I was born in the town of Farmington, Hartford
Co., Conn., June 2, 1797. My parents were members
of the Presbyterian Church and gave their children a
strictly religious, as well as a common school educa
tion, as was the custom in New England. In Febru
ary, 1806, my father removed with his family, then
consisting of wife, four sons and two daughters, to
Candor, Tioga Co., N. Y., a journey of about three
hundred miles.
My father, oldest brother and myself, performed
this journey, with a pair of oxen and one horse, at
tached to a sled, being twelve days on the road.
A hired man brought my mother and her other
children in a sleigh.
That country was then wild, with but few settlers
scattered along the Susquehanna and Chemung riv
ers, with dense forests stretching back thirty miles
without a human being, inhabited by bears, wolves,
panthers, deer and smaller animals.
A road had been opened between Owego and Ithaca,
on which a few settlers had located.
In the fall of 1806, 1 went to Ithaca with my father,
with oxen and wagon, after a load of salt.
I think Ithaca was then the most loathsome and
desolate place I had ever seen. It stood on Ioav,
black soil, surrounded north and west by a quagmire
swamp. It rained hard, and the black mud was so
deep, it was with difficulty our oxen could draw two
barrels of salt home.
My father and another man, built the first school
house in the town of Candor, and opened the first
school there. The school house stood three miles
from my father's dwelling and I went there to school

OF ORI.KANS COCNTY. 97
through the woods, with no other shoes than such us
my mother made from woolen cloth from day to day.
In June. 1806, my father, his hired man, my broth
ers and myself, were hoeing corn, betAveen ten and
eleven o' clock in the forenoon, A\*hen Ave noticed a sin
gular appearance in the atmosphere ; the sky looked
sombre, the birds retired to the woods, the hens to
their roosts, and Ave went to the house. The sun was
all darkened, but a rim around the edge ; the
gloom and chill of evening settled on all the earth?
around. This lasted but a short time, when the sun
came out from its dark pall, everything assumed its-.
wonted activity and light and the 'great eclipse'
passed off*.
I continued most of the time working Avith and for
my father, occasionally working for others, till one
day as I was chopping in the woods, a young man
came along and said to me, he was not going to live
longer in that hilly, sterile place ; that he had been
to the ' Genesee' and found a country far preferable
to that for beauty and farming purposes.
I heard his story and determined that at some time
I would see that famous •' Genesee country.1
In the spring of 1816. I bought my time of my
father, for £100. I was nineteen years old. I hired;
• out to work for £14 per month and in less than a
year earned enough to pay my father for my tiirwv
and had money left. I continued working where I
could make it most profitable, got plenty of work and
good pay, until in the summer of 1810, feeling as if I
had worked for others long, enough, haA-ing then ten
acres of land and seA'eral head of cattle, I felt a desire
to get a good wheat farm for myself.
I started with two young men, on foot, knapsacks
on our backs, Aug. 27, 1819, to go to the Genesee
country. We went through Ithaca, and took the
road to Geneva, traveling as far as Ovid the first day,

98 PIONEER HISTORY
forty miles. Next day through Geneva and Canan-
daigua, we reached West Bloomfield. Next day
through Lima and Avon, we arrived at Batavia and
went to the office of the Holland Company to see
about land.
In the office the agent appeared rather sour, little
disposed to be sociable. We asked him if he had
land to sell. He said he had. He was asked where
it lay and replied ' everywhere, all over, you cannot
go amiss.' I asked him if it was wild, or improved
farms i He answered ' go and look, when you run
your head into a great improvement you will know
it, won't you Y I turned indignantly and Avalked out
of the office, saying ' I had a mind to boot that fellow.'
The agent followed us out to close the blinds and
hearing our conversation, said rather pleasantly,
' boys keep a stiff upper lip.'
We stayed that night at the old 'Pioneer tavern."
The landlord tried hard to convince me that the agent
was a New England gentleman, one that I would be
pleased to do business with.
We were informed of the rapid growth of a new
town north from Batavia, called Barre, lying between
the Tonawanda Swamp and the Ridge road. Towards
this new town we set out next morning.
After examining various parts of Barre and Gaines.
we selected our locations in Barre, and returned to
the Land office to secure our Articles for our land ;
but finding we lacked a few dollars required to pay
the first payment, the agent kindly offered to ' book'
the lots to us, until we got the money.
We made no farther complaint against the agent,
who 'booked' the land to us and we returned to
make preparations for felling the timber on our new
farms. Never before did we complain of the rapid
flight of time, but. here, while laboring for ourselves,
we thought these the shortest days we had ever seen.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 99
On the 12th of October, 1819, having obtained the
money, Ave Avent to the office and took out our Articles
for our land, AA-ent back to our Avork and after chop
ping five or six acres apiece, Ave returned to our
friends in Tioga county.
During the next winter, Ave fitted out with teams,
tools, clothing and a quantity of pork, and in March,
1820, set out for our ne\v homes and after a tedious
journey of tAvelve days, through snow, water and
mud, Ave arrived home April 1st.
HaA'ing no hay for our cattle, we cut browse to feed
them, giving a few ears of corn procured from our
neighbors, till vegetation grew so that they could live
in the A\-oods.
We hired our board cooked at a neighbors and
cleared off what Ave had chopped the previous season
and planted the land with corn. The season being
propitious, we had good crops of corn, Avith oats, po
tatoes, beans and other vegetables and melons in
^abundance. We also cleared off and sowed several
acres with Avheat.
In the autumn the bears were A'ery troublesome in
our cornfields, committing their nightly depredations,
till it became necessary to put our veto upon them ;
this we did in various ways — by trapping, shooting,
night watching, &c, until Ave had captured four of
them and thus saved our corn.
After securing our crops and preparing for winter,
we sold our teams and returned to our parental
homes. During the next season Ave experienced much incon
venience in getting our board dressed for us. The
woman who did it became quite tired of doing the
work for the ' old bachelors,' and I began to realize
the truth of the Divine declaration that ' it is not good
ibr man to be alone.'
After yisiting among friends in Tioga County a few

100 PIONEER HISTORY
days, I hired out for three months. Maroh 1, 1821, I
was married. About the middle of the month, putting"
all on board a covered wagon, A\dth two yoke of oxen-
attached, and in company with the two young men
previously referred to, we set out again for our new
wilderness home, in the Genesee country.
After two weeks hard labor, we arrived at our home
to the great joy of our neighbors, especially the
women. We moved into a small house with one of
our neighbors, until we could build us a house,
which we built in a few weeks after.
While the early pioneers of a new country are
necessarily subject to many hardships and privations,
unknown to settlers of older countries, still there are-
many enjoyments and pleasing reminiscences for
these pioneers, which they never forget. Aristocracy
is unknown in a new countiy. The people are all'
friendly and kindly disposed towards each other. If
any are sick, they are at once cared for. If a farmer
Avas attacked with ague, that dread disease, so com
mon among the pioneers of this county, before he
could get his spring crops into the ground, his neigh
bors would tarn out and put them in for him and if"
necessary, they would keep his work along until he
was able to do it himself. If there is any state of so
ciety where men fulfil the Divine injunction ' love thy
neighbor as thyself,' it is found among the pioneers
of a neAv country.
If an}- one got lost in the woods, and did not return*-
at night, search was at once made by everybody and
no sleep was had until the lost one was found.
After we moved into our new house, I started out
to buy me a cow, bought one and we now commenced
housekeeping under circumstances quite favorable, at
least our neighbors thought so. My wife had a few
necessary articles of furniture, so that w« were aboivS
as Avell off as any of our neighbors.

OF ORLEANS COINTY. 101
There Avere no pianos i »r melodeons in those days.
The little Avheel for spinning flax and the great wheel
for spinning Ioav, furnished the music. A tew years
later and Ave had other house music.
I plodded on for eight years, adding field to field of
my cleared, improved land and then found myself un
able to pa}- even the interest due on my Article to the
Land Company.
I raised about £70. and Avith this went to Batavia
to see the agent. I determined this time to walk into
the office AA'ith head up and meet any insult I might
receive with manly independence.
I found the agent alone in the office, went up to
him and laid down my Article aild all the money I
had, saying my Article has expired and here is all
the money I have. I want to renew my contract,
.as I haA'e no idea of giving up my premises yet.
The agent walked up. took my Article, unfolded it
.and said 'you have not assigned it I see.' Then
taking up the money he said pleasantly, ' walk into
the other room.' I did so and in less time than 1
have been writing this, my new Article was made out,
my payment indorsed and I was ready to start for
home. But on returning to the contractor's room,
the agent said to me he had relinquished all the back
interest and £1 per acre of the principal, making an
entire neAv sale, with eight years' pay day, as at first,
and asked me if I was satisfied. My gratitude had
by this time become almost unbounded and I left
the office, thanking the old agent for his kindness and
thinking after all, beneath a rough exterior he had a
generous heart.
I mention this incident to show the kind and gener
ous treatment extended towards the poor industrious
settlers upon the lands of the Holland Company. —
Many incidents of a like character might be recorded
•to the credit of the Company.

102 PIONEER HISTORY
I came home inspired with new energy and determi
nation to struggle on and overcome every hardship
and difficulty in my way.
We had but little sickness compared with our
neighbors, as yet. In the spring of 1823, 1 had severe
inflamation of the lungs, and in the spring of 1828,
I was taken with fever and ague, which held me
through' the season.
The next spring my wife was sick with fever and
ague and thrush, which kept her ill till the October-
following. Our children, then four in number, had their full
shares of fever and ague. It was painful to see the
little ones draw * up to the fire while suffering their
chill, then see them retire to their beds, tormented
with the raging thirst and fever following the chills,
while their mother could do little for them, except to
supply their frequent calls for water.
In the fall of 1824 or 1825 two men living near Barre
Center, named Selah Belden, and Nathan Angel,
started on Saturday morning to hunt deer west front
the Center. They parted in the afternoon, each after
separate game. At night Mr. Belden returned — Mr.
Angel did not. Next morning Belden, Avith some of
his neighbors, went out and spent the day looking for
Angel, but not finding him, the next morning a gene
ral rally of all the men in town was made and the-
woods thoroughly searched and the dead body of Mr.
Angel found, having apparently fallen and died from
exhaustion. The body was carried to Benton's Corn
ers, — then the centre of the settlement, — a jury called
by Ithamar Hibbard, Esq., one of the first coro
ners and it is believed this w*s the first coroner' s in
quest in Orleans county. As the county was cleared
up and the low lands drained of their surface water
the people suffered less from ague.
The canal being now opened, farmers found a ready

OF ORLEANS COl'N'TY. ]()3
market and better prices for their produce. Home
manufactures were protected from foreign compe
tition and the price of domestic goods greatly
reduced. It Avas then the farmers began to thrive
and soon to pay up for their lands. The price of real
estate [advanced and some even predicted the time
would come when the best farms would be worth one
hundred dollars per acre, hardly expecting to live to
see their predictions fulfilled as they have done.
The attention of the early pioneers was called to
the subject of common schools for their children and
the next building to go up after a log cabin for a
dwelling Avas a log school house.
One of our own statesmen while a member of the
Legislature being asked where he graduated, replied :
' In a log school house up in Orleans county.' I have
often carried my eldest son to and from school on my
back through the deep snows of winter.
More than forty years ago I united with the Meth
odist Episcopal Church at West Barre and in 1843
Avithdrew from that church and united with the Wes
ley an Methodists.
Many years ago, convinced of the sin of intemper
ance, I resolved to use no more intoxicating liquor as
a beverage, a resolution to which I have strictly ad -
hered ever since. ASA SANFORD."
January 28th, 1862. •
ANDREW7 H. OREEN.
Andrew H. Green, of Byron, Genesee county, N.
Y., writes for the Orleans county Pioneer Association
records, his local history as follows :
"I was born in Johnstown, Montgomery Co., N.
Y., Oct. 16th, 1797, and in June, 1809, came to Gene
see county from Rome, Oneida county, N. Y.
In 1792, my father and Judge Tryon, of New Leb
anon, came to Irondequoit. near Rochester and built

104 PIONEER HISTORY
a storehouse ; and in 1808, my father came to what is
now Bergen and Sweden and purchased something of
a farm and commenced on the north bounds of AA'liat
is now the Methodist camp ground, in Bergen, run
ning north to the road running east to Sweden Centre,
twenty-five lots containing three thousand acres at
twenty-two shillings per acre.
It was a hard country to settle. There were but
few inhabitants and the roads were A-ery bad. As
soon as they began to erect mill-dams there was a
¦great deal of sickness.
We went to Hanford's Landing, at the mouth of
Genesee River, to trade and sell potash. I found but
two houses between our house and Clarkson Corners,
and but tAvo from there to Genesee river. For several
years I was as familiar in every family from my
father's to Genesee river as I am now with my near
neighbors. The first time I passed through Rochester was in
the summer of 1809. The next I remember about it
was the bad roads and that I was very much fright
ened crossing the Genesee river. The water was deep
and ran very swift. 1 expected to go down stream
and over the falls.
I think there was one mill and two or three shanties
to be seen there then. There was a small clearing
where the Eagle tavern formerly stood, but I had as
much as I could do to get my load through the mud.
I little thought then that black ash swamp was ever
to be the place it now is. Late in the fall of 1809 my
father sent me to Sangersfield Huddle after a load of
merchandise. East of Canandaigua was a new turn
pike where I got stuck in the mud and had to wait
until the next teamster came along to help me out.
T was then fourteen years old. My father had fifteen
workmen and the first summer cleared one hundred
acres.

Of ORLEANS COUNTY. * J05
In October Judge Findley from Genesee came on
AA'ith a company of men to survey township number
two of the one hundred thousand acre tract. They
also stopped with us. making a family of twenty -six
men, besides having two families in the house.
The 'latch-string' was ahvays out and none ever
AA'ent away hungry as Ave had pleut}' of pork and wild
game to season it. Deer, bears and avoIacs were
plenty. I never heard of but one panther. The sur
veyors had their tent near where the steam saw mill
now stands in Clarendon. Their cook came in on
Wednesday night for bread. One evening he had
got to where Col. Shubael LeAvis afterwards lived
Avhen he heard some i >ne halloo. He soon found it
was a panther on his track. It followed him to the
clearing. The man was much exhausted when he
came in. He was an old hunter and said he knew it
was a panther. The men all came in Saturday after
noon. The Sabbath was as well kept in 1809 as in
1863. We were seldom without evangelical preach
ing. We had one close communion Baptist Elder,
some Methodists and some Presbyterians. AH could
sing the good old tunes and sing them with a will . The
year 1809 was productive and healthy. In 1810,
about July 20th. Ave had a frost that killed most of the
wheat and com. The fall of 1811 was very sickly.
There Avere smeral families settled at Sand}- Creek
village. The}- were all sick. We made up a load of
some six or seven and went down to help them. I
never saAv so ll&R&x a company. We carried two
loads of necessaries and staid two rights and when
some of them got so they could take care of the
others we left for home.
I used to have many hard and lonesome rides
through the woods on horseback. One very dark
night I had been to Dr. Ward's after medicine. Com
ing home I lost my road and also my hat. Before 1

106 • PIONEER HISTORY
found my hat the Avolves began to howl. I took off
my shoes so that I might find the road, and by the
time I had mounted my horse to go on, the wolves
were within "speaking distance" and before I had
gone far they struck my barefoot tracks ; then they
made a terrific roaring. I thought I was a 'goner'
sure enough, but I presume if the wolves had seen
me then on the old white horse they would have been
as frightened as I was.
Our men had all kinds of musical instruments and
any time when the drum was beat the wolves were
almost sure to respond. •
About the beginning of winter my father started
me off with an ox team and load of grain to find
Judge Farwell's grist mill. After a tedious day's
travel I came in sight of water pouring over rocks.
It was no small stream. I thought it must be Niag
ara Falls. I was glad to find I could get my grist
ground, so I chained my oxen to a tree and found a
comfortable night's lodging among the bags in the
mill. I got • home the the next day with my grist.
Our folks thought I had done well and I thought so
too. The first winter I walked seven miles to school every
day and back again. A. H. GREEN."
Byron, Genesee Co. N. Y., June 16, 1863.
In a letter written by the above named A. H. Green
to the Secretary of the Orleans County Pioneer Asso
ciation, dated June 14th, 1866, he says: "I was
quite interested the other day, while hunting up the
old road records of our town, Byron, in 1809. It was
then the town of Murray, but now contains eight or
nine towns entire. LINUS JONES PECK.
Mr. Peck furnished his local history for' the Orleans

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 107
County Pioneer Association Records as follows:
" I was born October 27th, 1816, in a very cheap
log house on Onondaga Hill, in Onondaga Co., N. Y.,
about a mile and a half from the old Court House.
Up to eleven years of age I Avas engaged principally
in endeavoring to get something to eat, not always
hoAA'ever with much success, and in going to school
barefoot both summer and winter.
I never had anything made of leather t< > wear on
my feet until the spring of 1828.
My amusements consisted in listening to the howl-
ings of the Avolves and in gymnastic exercises with
the musketoes.
In May, 1828, I had a pair of shoes and was sent
to Pike, Allegany count}', to live with my brother
Luther. I stayed there until May 1833, when I re
turned to my parents with Avhom I lived until 1836,
when I went to Wyoming to attend the Middlebury
Academy. In the spring of 1838 I returned to Pike to read
law in my brothers office. In 1841 he removed to
Nunda, now in Livingston county and I stayed with
him in his office till 1848. In July of that year I
commenced jobbing on the canals and continued in
that business until the summer of 1861, since which
time I have done little business of any kind. I was
never married.
I left the town where I was born in 1817 and ar
rived in Clarendon, or what is now Clarendon, Orleans
county, just forty years ago to-day (March 20, 1864.)
I came to Holley first in the spring of 1856 and stayed
until December. I then returned to Pendleton in
Niagara county and completed a large job I had on
the Erie Canal through the Mountain Ridge and
went back to Holley in the spring of 1857, since which
time Holley has been my residence.
My mother died March 4, 1848, aged 71 years. My

108 PIONEER HISTORY
father died June 2, 1852, aged 82 years. I am the
youngest of my brothers, all of whom are liA'ing.
There are, or were, no incidents in my early history
or that of my brothers, not common to all the early
settlers in this A'icinity, except I thought we managed
to be a little poorer than any body else. My father
had the misfortune of haA'ing two trades, that of a
farmer and carpenter and joiner. He worked his
hands altogether too much and his brains altogether
too little, and dividing the time between the two, nec
essarily resulted in doing neither well. Consequently
neither prospered. This his sons turned all about in
1825, AA'hen my brothers became old enough to take
charge of affairs. Since which time there has been
an improvement. LINUS JONES PECK."
Dated— Holley, March 20, 1864.
HARVEY GOODRICH.
Harvey Goodrich was born in Herkimer county, N.
Y., in Nov. 1791. His father, Zenas Goodrich, re
moved to that place from Berkshire. Mass. When a
young man Harvey Goodrich removed to Auburn, N.
Y., and worked for some time at the business of mak
ing hats, and for several years he officiated as a
constable. Having been successful in accumulating
property, he with his brother-in-law, George W.
Standart, took a job of work in making the Erie
canal, and leaving Auburn after his canal work was
completed, he located permanently at Albion in the
year 1824, and engaged in selling dry goods and
groceries in company with George W. Standart.
After the death of Mr. Standart Mr. Goodrich soon
quit selling dry goods and for many years carried on
the business of manufacturing hats and dealing in
hats and furs- He was also engaged in buying pro
duce. For a number of years he held the office of
postmaster in Albion.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 109
Being of an active, energetic temperment and by
education, and inclination fitted to take a leading part
in public affairs, he was one of the prominent men in
the community Avhere he lived, always conspicuous.
and bus}- on public occasions, generally holding some
official position.
In politics he was a democrat of the straitest sect.
faithful and true to his party.
But perhaps the ardent and earnest character of"
the man appeared clearest in his zeal in the cause of
religion. While a resident in Auburn and about the year
1817, he made a public profession of religion and
united with the First Presbyterian Church in that
place, then under the pastoral care of Rev. Dr.
Lansing. One of the first enterprises in which he became in
terested after he came to Albion was in establishing
a Presbyterian church there. That denomination
had no church organization in Barre.
Through the agency of Mr. Goodrich, more especi
ally, aided by several other Presbyterians who had
settled in Albion and it's vicinity, the services of a
young preacher from Auburn Theological Seminary,
Rev. William Johnson, were obtained and the Pres
byterian Church in Albion was organized about Feb.
22, 1824 by Rev. Andrew Rawson, then laboring as a
missionary here, who was distinguished as a veteran
pioneer minister in Orleans county, the new church
consisting at the first of Harvey Goodrich, Jedediah
Phelps, Joseph Hart, Ebenezer Rogers, James Smith
and Franklin CoAvdiy and their wives, and Artemas
Thayer, Fay Clark, Lavinia Bassett and Betsey
Phelps, sixteen members in all.
July 29, 1824, together with Messrs. Hart and
Phelps, Mr. Goodrich was elected a ruling elder in
the Presbyterian Church, an office, he continued to

110 PIONEER HISTORY
hold until his death. Although never formally chosen
as a Deacon in the church to which he belonged, he
was always known and called "Deacon Goodrich''
by every body who spoke to him or of him.
It was a remarkable trait in Mr. Goodrich's charac
ter, that seldom a case of sickness and death of any
person in his neighborhood occured but what he
attended, administering what he could to aid the suf
ferers according to their needs and usually taking
charge of the funeral ceremonies over the dead.
Thus for over forty years, he was a leading and
useful man in the church and society at large, largely
identified with, the business and growth of the vil
lage of Albion, a friend of the poor and needy,
and well known and respected by the people of the
county. About two years before his death he suffered
a stroke of paralysis, completely disabling him in
the midst of his most active industry, from which he
lingered and languished until he died August 4, 1863,
aged 71 years. ORSON NICHOSON.
Dr. Orson Nichoson was born in Galway, Saratoga
county, New York, March 2, 1795. He was educated
as a physician. In the year 1822 he removed to the
village of Albion which was then beginning to be
settled. He entered ardently into every undertaking
of a public character connected with the organization
of the county of Orleans and the civil and social in
stitutions which such an organization occasioned.
He was elected the first County Clerk of Orleans
county and by a re-election to a second term, held
that office six years.
In August 1819, he settled about two miles south
of Albion. In 1822 he moved to Albion and there,
for many, years had a large practice as a physician!

Qx,Xbs^

>^

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. Ill
His health failing, he Avent into business Avith Dr. L.
C. Paine and dealt in drugs, medicines and books
until a feAv years before his death.
He was the first regular physician avIio settled in
Barre, he Avas also the first physician avIio settled in
Albion. Dr. Nichoson married Lucy Morris in the year 1820.
They had three children, Adeline E., Caroline A.
and Helen J. Adeline E. married Jonathan S. Stew
art, and Helen J. married Charles A. Stanton. She
died May 12, 1862. Mrs. Lucy Nichoson died Oc
tober 8, 1864. Dr. Orson Nichoson died May 7, 1870.
TIMOTHY C. STRONG.
Timothy C. Strong Avas born in Southampton,
Mass., March 15, 1790. At the age of sixteen years
he entered as an apprentice to learn the art of print
ing with J. D. Huntington, at Middlebury, Vermont.
He married Aurelia Goodsell, daughter of Dr. Pen-
field Goodsell, of Litchfield, Ct,, April 14, 1811. He
commenced business for himself at Middlebury, by
publishing a newspaper called the "Vermont Mir
ror," also a magazine edited by Samuel Swift, and a
literary AA-ork called the " Philosophical Repository,"
edited by Prof. Hall, of Middlebury College.
In Sept. 1817, he remoA-ed to Palmyra, N. Y.,
where he published a newspaper. In the fall of 1823
he removed to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and in February
1825, he removed to Newport, now Albion, Orleans
county, N. Y., and purchased of Franklin Cowdry
a newspaper establishment called " The Newport Pat
riot," which was started by Mr. Cowdry, Feb. 9th,
1824. Mr. Strong changed the name of this paper to
' The Orleans Advocate.' In Febuary, 1828, ' in the
midst of the excitement following the abduction of
Morgan, Mr. Strong changed it to the ' The Orleans

112 PIONEER HISTORY
Advocate, and Anti-Masonic Telegraph,' and soon
after to ' The American Standard.' Under this name
it was published two years by Mr. J. Kempshall,
when it passed back into the hands of Mr. Strong
who changed it to the ' Orleans American,' and pub
lished it till in April 1844, when he sold his paper
and printing establishment to J. & J. H. Denio, who
continued the paper till 1853, when they sold out ;
and after passing through several hands it was bought
in January, 1861. by H. A. Brunei-, its present pro
prietor. In November, 1834, Mr. Strong was elected County
Clerk of Orleans county, an office he continued to hold
by re-election for nine years.
Mr. Strong made a profession of religion in early
life and united Avith the Presbyterian Church. He,
died at Albion of a cancer August 6th, 1844, in the
fifty-fifth year of his age, leaving a wife and tweh'e
children surviving. NATHAN W D 1 TN E A .
Nathan Whitney Avas born in Conway, Massachu
setts, January 22d, 1791. He removed to Orleans
county, in February, 1814, and settled in what is now
Barre. He was at the taking of Fort Erie in Septem
ber, 1814. When the town of Barre was organized
he was elected Justice of the Peace, an office he held
several years and when Orleans county was set off
he was elected Supervisor of Barre and served in the
year 1826. Being fond of military exercises, he held
various military offices from Lieutenant to Lieutenant-
Colonel. Being regarded as a capable, honest and
efficient man by his fellow citizens, he was often put
forward by them to official positions and discharged
the duties of almost every town office. He removed
from Barre to Elba, Genesee county, in 1827, and af-

OF OKLKANS Cdl'MV, 113
terwards removed to Lee county, Illinois, where he
was living in the fall of 1869.
AVERY M. STARK WKATIIKR.
Avery M. Starkweather was born in Preston, Con
necticut. October 3d, 1790. He resided a time in Pal
myra, N. Y., and came to the town of Barre and took
an article for his farm in April, 1816. After the Erie
Canal was opened, for thirteen years he had charge
of the first State repairing scow boat on this section.
He was Superintendent of Canal Repairs one year.
His beat extended from Holley to Lockport and at a
salary of 8500, without a clerk or any perquisites,
His instructions required him to travel over and per
sonally inspect his section at least once each week in
the season of navigation, which he did.
For thirteen years he Avas an assessor of the town of
Barre, and was Supervisor of the town for the years
1842 and 1843. He was an active, thorough business
man, honest and conscientious, much respected as far
as he was known. He died Oct. 3, 1865.
AMOS ROOT.
Amos Root Avas- born at Sand Lake, Rensselaer
county, N. Y., July 12th, 1803. He Avas apprenticed
to learn the trade of blacksmith and removed to Alle
gany count}-, N. Y., in 1818. After serving his ap
prenticeship he carried on business as a blacksmith
nearly thirty years, since which time he has been a
farmer. About 183(3, he moved from Allegany county to
Michigan, and returned to the town of Barre in 1838,
AA'here he has since resided.
He married Rhoda Ann Bennett July 11th, 18M.
Being a large and strong man in his youth he was
noted, as a great wood chopper. While residing in
Allegany county he was engaged with a large compa
ny cutting out a new road. A bet of fifty dollars was

114 PIONEER HISTORY
made by the company as to his power as a chopper.
A large white oak tree Avas felled and Mr. Root and
his antagonist stood on it to try A\-hich could first
chop off a log, Root taking the butt. Mr. Root won
the bet. It Avas a hot day in July. The man op
posed to him overworked himself and died in a week
afterwards from the effects.
Mr. Israel Root, father of Amos, avIio Avas a soldier
of the Revolution, removed from Allegany to Orleans
county in 1825, and settled on the farm now owned
by his son Amos, in Barre. He came across the
country in a wagon Avith his family, and Amos
brought the goods on two canoes made of large pine
logs and lashed together. These he launched on the
Genesee river at Gardeau and paddled down to Roch
ester and then put them in the canal and came to
Gaines' Basin, then a favorite landing place for emi
grants avIio come by canal to settle in this vicinity.
ozias s. CHURCH.
Ozias S. Church was born in Windham, Connecti
cut, January 3]st, 178r>. By occupation he was a
farmer, though he labored with his father at the
blacksmi thing business during his minority. Octo
ber 13th, 1809, he married Parmelia Palmer. avIio
Avas born in AVindhatn. Oct. 3d, 1786. They removed
to Otsego count}-. N. Y., in 1812, where he worked at
farming until 1 817, when he removed to Henrietta,
Monroe Co., N. Y.. and from thence to the town of
Barre in 1834.
Mr. Church was a democrat in politics and took a
deep and active interest in his party. As United
States Marshal he took the census of Monroe county
hi 1830, and of Orleans county in 1840. He was
Post Master at South Barre for twenty years.
Mrs. Church died Dec. 7, 1861, and Mr. Church
Dec. 10th, 1863. They were parents of John P.
Church, who died while County Clerk of Orleans

cMyi^^

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 115
-county, in December, 1858, and of Hon. Sanford E.
Church, present Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals
of the State of New York.
WILLIAM I5RADNER.
William Bradner removed to the town of Gaines
from Palmyra, N. Y. Soon after he bought of Mr.
McCollister the article for lot thirty -five, on the East
side of Main street in Albion, and took a deed from
the Holland Company for 266 1-2 acres, December 3,
1819. His brother, Joel Bradner, took a deed from
the Company for ninety -two acres lying on the south
west corner of said lot thirty-five. AVilliam Bradner
sold one hundred acres of the north-west part of his
tract April 22nd, 1822, to Ingersoll, Smith & Buck
ley. A. HYDE COLE.
Hon. Almeron Hyde Cole Avas born at Lavanna,
*€ayuga county, N. Y., April 20th, 1798. His pa
rents removed to Auburn in 1807, and there he pre
pared for college and entered the Sophomore class in
Union College in 1815. Among his classmates Avere
¦George W. Doane, late Bishop of New Jersey, Alonzo
Potter, late Bishop of Pennsylvania, Dr. Hickok,
late President of Union College, and AVilliam H.
Seward, late Governor of New York, Senator, <£c.
He remained in college two years and then left with
out completing his college course, in consequence of
the death of his mother, and other changes in his
father' s family.
In the fall of 1817, he entered the law office of
Judge Joseph L. Richardson, then first Judge of
-Cayuga county, as a student. He Avas admitted At
torney in the Supreme Court in his twenty -first year
and formed a partnership with Judge Richardson in
practice. A feAv months afterwards he dissolved with
Jjxidge Richardson and entered into partnership to

116 PIONEER HISTORY'
practice law with Mr. George W. Fleming. After
being at Seneca Falls 'for a time, they removed to-
Albion in the spring of 1825, where they practiced
law together till 1832. After dissolving with Mr.
Fleming, Mr. Cole was for some years in practice of
law with his brother, Hon. Dan H. Cole.
Mr. Cole served seA'enteen years as a Justice of the
Peace of the town of Barre, and transacted an im
mense amount of official business.
In November, 1847, he was elected member of the
Senate of the State of New York, where he served one
term of two years and declined a re-election. After
leaving the Senate he resumed his law practice in
Albion, but a large amount of business coming into-
his hands as executor in the settlement of an estate
in Cayuga county, he closed his law practice in Al
bion and devoted his time exclusively to the duties of
his executorship, and to the management of a large
farm he owned in the town of Gaines.
Although a good advocate and a strong and logical
reasoner at the bar, Mr. Cole was not so fluent and
polished a speaker as his' partner Mr. Fleming. In
their earlier years of practice together, Mr. Cole fur
nished his quota of brains to the firm, while Mr. Flem
ing furnished the tongue.
Mr. Cole was esteemed to be a well read and sound
lawyer whose opinions on legal questions were much
sought and relied on. His counsel and advice were
so much valued among the people that he early be
came distinguished by way of eminence as the ' coun
selor' or "counselor Cole,' by which title or name
he was always spoken of and well knoAvn.
In temperament he was ardent, impulsive and sen
sitive, feeling quick and sharply the iritations of the
moment. But nothing like hatred ever had a place in
his bosom.
From the peculiarity of his character he sometimes-

OF ORLEANS C»UNTY. 117
appeared brusque and rough to those who approached
him, but no man had a kinder heart. The sternness or
apparent harshness of manner which he possessed,
was more than balanced in his case by the
keen regret he felt when he knew he had caused
pain to any and the hearty sympathy and generosity
he ever manifested to those in distress.
Mr. Cole was never married. Coming to Orleans
county when it was first organized, among the first
lawyers who settled here, he was a prominent man in
public affairs and well known to the people of the
county. He died Oct. 14, 1859.
BENJAMIN L. JBESSAC.
" I was bom in the town of New Baltimore, Greene
county, N. Y., March 12th, 1807. The death of my
mother which occurred when I was twelve years of
-age, threw me upon the family of my grand parents
where I remained until I was fourteen years old. My
father, who was a blacksmith by trade, and who re
sided in the county of Chenango, having married a
second time and closed up his business in Chenango,
started for the State of Ohio with a view of commen
cing business there as a farmer. This was in the fall
of 1821 . AA'hen he arrived in the town of Clarence,
Erie county, a snow storm set in and prevented his
further progress that fall, and having with him some
tools and a small stock of iron he rented a shop and
began work as a blacksmith at Ransom' s Grove, as it
is now called, at Clarence Hollow. He soon after
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land
at the Great Rapids on the the Tonawanda Creek,
six miles south of Lockport.
In the summer of 1822, having obtained a scanty
-common school education, and being large enough to
help my father in his shop and on his farm, he Avrote
to me giving a glowing account of the country, of his

118 PIONEER HISTORY
farm, of the fine fish in the creek and the fine sporfe
in taking them, and desiring me to come and help-
him. I accordingly went to Albany and put my baggage-
on board a seven horse wagon, then about to sail for
Buffalo, loaded with specie for the United States'
Bank at Erie, Pennsylvania. Thus equipped I-
started for the Holland Purchase in July, 1822, in*
care of Mr. Hockins, the OAvner of the establishment.
We traveled slowly, not making over fifteen miles a
day, sleeping in our wagon nights and watching our
treasure. Getting tired of this slow mode of travel
ing, when we arrived at Canandaigua I took the stage-
and came on to Clarence, and arrived at my father' s-
July 22d, 1822. In a few days I Avent with my father-
to explore his new farm, he carying a bag of provis
ions and I a compass and chain with other articles-
for our journey. My half-brother William, then:
thirteen years old, accompanied us.
It was here, in July, 1822, in what was then called
' the north woods ' that I commenced my pioneer life,
and for the next three years, and until October, 1825,
I shared in the hardships, labors and privations of
the early settlers. During that time I assisted in
chopping and partly clearing forty acres of heavily
timbered land and erecting a comfortable log build
ing. Being possessed of a strong, athletic frame, and
a good robust constitution, and never having been
sick a day in my life, I endured the hardships and
labors of the wilderness with cheerfulness and.
pleasure, and I often look back to those days and
reckon them among the happiest of my life. And I
would not omit to record here with grateful heart
the kind care of my Heavenly Father in preserving:
my life amid the dangers and accidents through
which I passed in my youthful days.
Not possessing at my fathers the advantages for

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 119
mental improvement which T desired,! concluded in the
fall of 1825 to abandon my pioneer life, return to the
east, obtain an education and study a profession.
Accordingly October 2d. 1825. I left my ax and hand
spike and AA'ent to Lockport, got on board the canal
boat "DeAA'itt Clinton' and sailed- tor the east.
Stopping in Albion for the boat to take on loading I
took an excursion through that low, muddy, and as
I thought unsightly young village. I little thought
theu that ¦NeAAport.' as it Avas called was destined
to be my future home. 1 then pronounced Newport
a queer place on which to build a Ioavh.
1 returned to the boat and passed on through Hoi -
ley, Brockport, Adams' and Spencer's Basins, all
little straggling hamlets, as I thought them, ar
riving in Rochester in the night. Here I expected to
meet a gentleman from Tompkins county by appoint
ment, with whom I was intending to travel to visit my
relatives in this vicinity and then go by boat with
some relatives to Albany. But the gentleman did
not come as I expected. My little stock of money
was exhausted on Tuesday night in paying for my
supper. I Avas now a strange]- in a strange land. I
knew not what to do or how I should be provided
for. I wandered about Rochester until Saturday
morning, eating nothing except a few apples Avhich I
picked up in an orchard in the town of Brighton. 1
slept nights on the piazza of the Exchange Hotel, on
the corner at the intersection of the canal with the
basin, where the packet boats used to la}- up. Every
morning when a fire Avas made up in the old bakery
at the west end of the aqueduct, 1 went into the front
room and warmed myself, tantalized by the smell ot
the bread which was piled up on the counter, steam,
ing hot, and for which I was starving. I was too
proud to beg, and I thank God for it. too honest to
steal.

120 PIONEER HISTORY
Thus the Aveek passed until Saturday morning when
I had a pressing invitation to join a circus company
then performing there. I was then young, active and
strong, but my good quaker training, and aboATe all
the hand of Providence shaping my ways, kept my
youthful feet from that path.
On Saturday morning I met a man who asked me
if I would work, and I gladly hired to him for a part
of the day. He led the way to the barn back of
the canal, between Fitzhugh and Sophia streets,
where the ground was literally strewn with heavy
cannon, and I worked until the middle of the after
noon assisting to put them on a scow boat for
distribution along the canal, to be used in firing a
grand salute at the meeting of the waters of Lake
Erie with the Hudson river, November 2d, 1825, a
day never to be forgotten in AVestern New York. I
received half a dollar for my work and went to a
humble tavern for supper and. had lodging in a bed.
A better meal or sweeter sleep I never enjoyed. The
next morning I Avent out on the street and almost the
first man I met was the friend for whom I was wait
ing. After writing to my relatives in Tompkins county I
left for Albany and entered the city with the fleet of
canal boats in the canal celebration November 2d,
1825, amid the roar of artillery and the sound of mar
tial music.
The Erie and Champlain canals were now finished.
Navigation between the ocean and lake was now
opened, and a neAv era of unparalleled prosperity had
commenced, and the exultant people were duly cele
brating the auspicious event. ' Peace hath her victo
ries.' After mingling with the throng that crowded the
streets a few hours, I started on foot for the home of
my childhood, where loved ones I had not seen for

OK ORLEANS COIN'I'Y. 121
more than three years Ave re daily expecting me. It
was night-fall when I ascended the last hill and the
well-known trees were standing like sentinels around
the old. homestead in the fading twilight. My truant
feet once more passed the threshold. The old watch
dog knew my step. With a fluttering heart I looked
in at the Avindow, and for a moment surveyed the
group as they sat around the cheerful fireside. God
in his goodness had kept them all and the wandering
child had got home.
I was past eighteen years of age whim I returned
from Western Ncav York. I had seen something of
the world and had some experience in pioneer life.
My education was not such as the district schools of
this day afford. My mind had been somewhat im
proved by reading in a desultory and aimless man
ner. I taught a winter school in my native toA\n, and
in the spring of 1826 hired out as farm laborer at nine
dollars per month in the county of Albany.
I taught school in the same county the winter of
1826-7, and in the spring entered the Greenville Acad
emy, in Greene county, where I remained until the
coming fall, and by this time I had succeded in pre
paring myself to enter the sophomore class at Union
College ; my friends however prefered that I should
follow a mercantile life, and procured me a situation
in a wholesale dry goods house in the city of
New York, where I remained until the termination
of fall business. I then returned to my native town
intending to go back to New York the following
spring. I taught school at Marbletown, Ulster count}', N.
Y., the winter of 1827-8, with great success, forming-
many pleasant acquaintances that have been cher
ished through subsequent life.
Early in the spring I was attacked with Pleurisy,
and lay at the point of death for a number of days.

122 PIONEER H1STORY
On recovering the spring had so far advanced I did
not go to New York as I intended, but continued my
sehool until the spring of 1829, when laying down
the ferule I commenced business on my own account
in the village of AVest Troy, Albany county, being
nearly twenty-two years old.
April 11, 1830, I was married to Deborah, daughter
of Rev. Simeon Dickinson, of East Haddam, Conn.
She was at that time a teacher in Mrs. Willard's Fe
male Seminary at Troy.
I continued my business at AVest Troy, until the
fall of that year, when I sold out and removed with
my wife to the city of Mobile, Alabama, where she
opened the Mobile Female Seminary, under the most
favorable auspices.
I was clerk in the United States Bank in that city.
In the month of Dec. 1831 my wife died suddenly,
and I was left alone in a strange city without a rela
tive nearer than. the State of New York.
I transferred the Seminary to other hands, resigned
my clerkship in the Bank, closed up my business
matters, and in March 1832 returned to my old home.
I spent that summer and the following winter in
traveling for recreation, and in the spring of 1833,
being twenty -six years old, I entered upon the study
of the law with Amasa Mattison Esq., then a promis
ing lawyer of Cairo, in the county of Greene, where I
remained until fall, when I entered the'office of Judge
Hiram Gardner of Lockport and remained with him
until April 1835, when I came to Albion where I have
ever since resided.
June 18, 1835, I was married to Caroline G., daugh
ter of Samuel Baker of Coeymans, in the county of
Albany and in August following purchased the prop
erty on which I have since resided.
I am now (1862) nearly fifty -four years of age, and
must soon, in all human probability, lay aside the

OK ORLEANS COUNTY. 123
active duties of my profession, and yield my place to
those younger and better fitted for the responsibilities
of the station.
In reA'ieAA'ing the pathway of my life I behold it
plentifully strewn Avith incidents, always overshadow
ed by the Avatchful (.-are of my Heavenly Father,
whose unnumbered mercies I am called upon t< > record.
AA'hen fourteen years of age I united with the Re
formed Dutch Church in Greene county, upon a con
fession of my faith, and in 1842 I united with the
Presbyterian church in Albion, my Avife coming with
me to the same altar. B. L. BESSAC."
Albion, January 8, 1S(>2. E1KNRY K. CURTIS.
Hon. Henry R. Curtis Avas born in Hoosic, Rensse
laer county New York, in the year 1800. After pass
ing his youth at labor on a farm, and in acquiring
such elementary education as his own exertions and
the limited means of his widoAved mother could sup
ply, he commenced the study of lav>' with Daniel
Kellogg of Skaneateles, and pursued it afterwards
with Hon. Hiram Mather in Elbridge, New York.
In the fall of 1824 he settled in Albion, Orleans
county before he was admitted to the Bar, going into
partnership with Alexis Ward, who was here before
him, and who had been admitted to the Supreme
Court. In 1831 he Avas appointed District Attorney for
Orleans county, in which office he was continued by
subsequent appointments, (excepting the year 1832, )
until June 1847, when he was elected County Judge
and Surrogate, being the first County Judge chosen
under the constitution of 1846. He Avas re-elected to
the same office in Nov. 1850, and died before the ex
piration of his second term.
Before he was a judge he had held the offices of

124 PTONEER HISTORY'
Examiner and Master in Chancery, and many civil
offices in town and village.
He was a hard student devoting himself to the
labors of his profession with untiring assiduity, never
engaging in other business speculations.
For twenty-fiA'e years he was a ruling Elder in the
Presbyterian Church and much of that time a faith
ful teacher in the Sunday School in his church.
As an advocate he was cool, clear and persuasive,
and the known honesty of his character and the sin
cerity of his manner and language, commonly carried
conviction in his favor to the courts and juries he
addressed. As a counselor he was a peacemaker, judicious,
cautious and sound. Never encouraging litigation
when it could be avoided. He was a man with few
enemies and many friends, an honest lawyer and good
man. He died September 20, 1855.
ZEN AS F. HUBBARD.
" I was born in Scroon, Essex county, New York,
April 4, 1804. My ancestors were of Scotch descent,
and were among those who tied to this country from
the oppressions of the old world, to enjoy civil and
religious liberty in the new world.
My father afterwards removed from Scroon to Bran
don, 'Vermont, and from Brandon he moved in the
summer of 1816, to what is now Barre, New York.
July 12, 1816, on lot 10, township 15, range 2, of the
Holland Purchase, one mile west of Albion where he
lived sixteen years. He then removed to Barre Center
where he resided until his death, which occurred
February 5, 1853.
I attended the first school taught in Barre, in a log
school house, Avhich stood on the west side of Oak
Orchard road, in what is now the village of Albion.
al so attended the first town meeting in Barre after

OK ORLEANS COI NTY. 125
the town Avas organized, at the house of Abraham
Mattison, about two miles south of Albion. I also
attended the great celebration of the opening of the
Erie Canal, when the waters of Lake Erie mingled
with those of the Hudson River. 1 was also present
when the site for the county buildings was located at
Albion, which Avas the most exciting time, perhaps,
ever known in this county.
I was present when the first Congregational church
in the town of Barre was formed, at the house of
Joseph Hart. This church then consisted of the fol
lowing named persons, viz : Joseph Hart and wife,
Ebenezer Rogers and wife, Ithamar Hibbard and wife,
Artemas Thayer and wife. Artemas Houghton and
Thankful Thurston.
I was married to Amanda AVrisley, in Barre, June
19. 1828. She was bom in Gill, Mass.. Nov. 18, 1809.
Z. F. HIBBARD."
Dated— Barre Center, April 4th, 1863.
Letter from AYilliam Tanner, formerly of Orleans
county, N. Y., written to the Pioneer Association :
''To the officers and members of the Orleans County
Pioneer Association :
Gentlenien : As fond memory often sharpens old
ears to catch some word of the old home of our youth,
so now at three score years and one I have heard of
your society. AVhat you do or Avhat you say, I do
not know, but I do know if you are the real pioneers
I should be glad indeed to meet Avith you at your
annual gathering.
Tell me, dear sirs, are you together to speak of the
days when Albion was a mud hole, and Jesse Bum-
pus and Dea. Hart and a few others owned the whole
of it '. And when the old log school house half a
mile north of Albion was built, where Francis Tanner
first declared martial law among the little folks ; and
when Mr. Jakeway so well adapted to the business by

126 PIONEER HISTORY
his six feet four inches of body and legs, used to break
the road through four feet of suoav, Avith three yoke of
oxen, from the Ridge Road to father Crandall's near
one Angel's, not Gabriel, but -'Cabin Angel,' as he
was called by way of distinction.
And there was Dea. Daniels, and Esq. Babbitt a
little east, the workings of Avhose face denoted Avis-
dom as he sat in judgment to decide Aveighty matters
betAveen neighbors.
Never shall I forget envying that man his high
office as justice of the peace when I Avas a small
boy. Then there Avas John Proctor and his tall and ami
able wife and large farm.
Then again at Gaines Corners, the corpulent land
lord Booth, together with Dr. Anderson, with his
mild and pleasant Avay of telling people it wouldn't
hurt much to pull teeth, and then almost taking their
heads off with his strong arm.
Later, there was good Jeptha Wood, Avho first
taught me that hot and cold iron would not weld
together. But I must not name others lest I have not room to
say a word to the old Pioneers.
How simple was I in my boyhood days to envy
the honored Esq. Babbitt, or the rich farmer Proctor
of those early times. I haA-e since been 'Esq.' my
self. I have been rich also ; but neither the honor of
the one nor the gold of the other, brings happiness
while here on this mundane sphere. AA7hen
I turn my thoughts to the spot of all others most
dear to me, Samuel N. Tanners old farm, and the ' city
of the dead,' Mount Albion, opposite to his once
earthly habitation, where I once chased the deer, and
see the monumental slabs erected over heads many of
whom were my friends in youth, I am ready to ex
claim — ' AVhere are the pioneers I once knew '.'

OK ORLEANS COCNTY. 127
But sirs, some of you still live, and allow me to
speak of AA'liat you haAe done. You are among the
greatest men of the nation. You have leveled the
sturdy forest, planted fruitful fields, orchards and
gardens, built railroads and canals, set up talking
wires by which Ave carry our freight and travel
cheaply over three hundred miles a day and converse
with lightning speed with far distant friends.
I imagine I see De AVitt Clinton standing in his
beautiful garden in the city of NeAv York, listening,
as it were, to hear the sound of the axes of Dea.
Hart, Bunipus. Proctor, Babbitt, and a long list of
names I have no room to refer to. And I see him
turn to give the Commissions to the Chief Engineer
and Surveyor ; and what do I hear him say '{ ' The
pioneers are there at Avork ; you can accomplish y out
work now."
Teach it to your children and grand-children, that
they are indebted to you for all the vast improve
ments made in the great Avest, as the result of hard
toil and labor. Labor. Avhich ahvays precedes the
development of everything great and good ; labor,
that God ordained, sanctioned and approved ; labor
that is so conduciA-e to health and comfort and that
brings its sure reward. I love labor, even in deepest
old age. I would obey God and benefit myself by
laboring when able, seeing it is the only sure road
leading to individual and national wealth and great
ness, as AA-ell as to personal happiness and com
fort. Had our statesmen spent money without stint and
built your railroads and canals, unless preceded and
accompanied by the pioneers, it Avould have availed
but little.
Education is a priceless acquisition ; give it to the
young by all means, but do not forget to teach them

128 PIONEER HISTORY
the great value and benefit of intelligent and well di-'
rected labor.
And now, gentlemen, I ask your patience in deci
phering my trembling writing, and excuse bad spell
ing, for I see much of it. I have labored too long
and hard to be able now to write elegantly.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM TANNER."
East Liberty, Allen Co., Ind., March 13, 1865.
ROSWELL S. BURROWS.
Roswell S. Burrows was born in Groton, Conn.,
Feb. 22, 1798. He was fitted for college at Bacon
Academy, Conn., entered the Sophomore Class in
Yale College in 1819, and took a dismission in the
fall of 1820, in consequence of protracted ill health.
He never returned to college, but in the year 1867, the
honorary degree of A. M. was conferred on him by
Yale College.
He received some capital by devise from his grand
father with which he purchased a cotton factory in
Rhode Island, and there carried on business for some
time for himself. His factory not proving as profita
ble an inA'estment as he expected, he sold out, receiv
ing a small payment down and a mortgage for the
balance, which, through the fraud of another party,
proved a total loss.
In July, 1824, he came to Orleans county and lo
cated at Albion, and in Sept. next after, he borrowed
two thousand dollars of his father, and a like sum of
his father-in-law, laid it out in a stock of goods, and
AA'ith thi s capital, increased by a small sum saved
from the ruin of his factory speculation, commenced
business as a merchant, in a little wooden building,
standing very near the site of the First National Bank
of Albion.
In November 1824, his younger brother, Lorenzo
Burrows, came to Albion to assist him as his clerk.

/M4ATW1

n

OK ORI.KANS COCNTY. 1 '_•<)
This arrangement continued until in 182(5 the firm <!
K. S. A: L. Burrows Avas formed. Avhich existed in
business as dry goods merchants, produce dealers,
and in warehousing and forwarding on the Erie Canal
for ten or ehwen years, Avhen the}' sold out their entire
stock of goods.
When Mr. Burrows settled in Albion the canal was
made navigable as far Avest as Lockport, and one in
ducement he had to stop here avus the promise of
Canal Commissioner, AVni. C. Bouck, that he should
receive the appointment of Collector of Canal revenue
an office then about to be established at Albion.
This office of Collector Avas given to him in 1825,
and was continued by re-appointment until 1832,
Avhen he Avas succeeded by C. S. McOonnell.
Mr. Buitoavs built the warehouse now standing next
east from Main street on the canal, in 1827. After flu-
sale of their goods in store, as above stated, Messrs.
R. S. &• L. Burrows continued their warehouse busi
ness and dealt in produce until the general banking
law Avent into operation, under Avhich they estab
lished the Bank of Albion', Avhich commenced busi
ness under that law July 15th, 1839. This bank con
tinued in operation about twenty-seven years, and
AA-as finally closed under the new policy which* sub
stituted National Banks. Its first officers were Ros-
AA-ell S. Burrows, President ; Lorenzo Burrows, Cash
ier; and Andrew J. Chester, Teller.
Mr. Burrows organized a new bank in Albion, De
cember 23. 1863, called "The First National Bank of
Albion. ' Th i s A\a s th e first N ational Bank which went
into operation in the State of Ncav York west of Sy
racuse. Roswell S. Burrows, President ; Alexandei
Stewart, Cashier; and .Albert S. AVarner, Teller.
Mr. R. S. Burrows owned a majority of the capital
stock of both these banks, was always their President
and a Director and the principal manager.

130 PIONEER HISTORY
Within the last forty years Mr. Burrows has been
Director and Trustee of many corporations and com
panies, such as railroad companies, telegraph com
panies, the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge compa
ny, and one mining company. He has been Trustee
of several religious, benevolent and literary institu
tions. He has frequently been proposed by his
friends as a candidate for various civil offices but al
ways declined a nomination.
Several years since the extensive and very valuable
library of Professor Neander, of Germany, was of
fered for sale by reason of the death of its owner.
Mr. Burrows purchased this library and presented it
to the Rochester Theological Seminary, connected with
the Baptist denomination. This library, consisting of
several thousand volumes of rare and valuable books
collected through many years by one of the best
scholars of his time in Europe, is valued at from fif
teen to twenty thousand dollars.
In addition to this library, a few years ago Mr. Bur
rows offered to give this Theological Seminary the mu
nificent gift of one hundred thousand dollars to add
to its endowments, with the promise of more if pros
pered in business as he hoped to be. The Trustees
of the Seminary proposed to Mr. Burrows if he
would increase his proposed endowment of that insti
tution to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars they
would give it the name of ' The Burrows Theological
Seminary of Rochester, N. Y."
These proposals it is understood have never been
formally withdrawn or acted on.
As a business man Mr. Burrows is cool, shrewd,
clear-headed and sagacious ; never disturbed by
panics, or deceived by false appearances. He has
accumulated a great fortune by indefatigable indus
try, and prudently and safely investing his accumu
lations. Although _ advanced in years, he was

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 131
never perhaps more busy than now, and never found
his great experience and capital yielding him a larger
profit. "WILLIAM PENNIMAN.
Judge Penniman was born in Peterborough, Hills
borough County, N. H., August 5, 1793. After ob
taining a good common school and academic educa
tion in his native State, he emigrated to Ontario Co.,
New York, in Sept., 1816, and from thence to Shelby,
Orleans County, in October, 1820. He took up land
in that town on which he resided about eight years ;
be then removed to Albion, remaining there more
than two years, finally settling on a farm in Barre,
near Eagle Harbor, where he has ever since resided.
In 1825, Mr. Penniman was appointed a Judge of
the Court of Common Pleas, for Orleans County, then
lately, organized, and was one of the first bench of
Judges, which composed that Court, which office he
held five years. In 1831, he was elected Justice of
the Peace of Barre and served in that office until he
removed to Eagle Harbor, when he resigned.
In 1846, he represented Orleans County, as a mem
ber of the Convention to revise the Constitution of the
State of New York.
Judge Penniman was a celebrated school teacher
for many years after he came to Orleans County,
having taught school fourteen winters and seven sum
mers. He always took a lively interest in the subject of
common schools, was Commissioner of schools and
town inspector each of the eight years he resided in
Shelby, and served as town superintendent of schools
in Barre three years, while that system was the law.
He was a popular Justice of the Peace, while act
ing in that capacity. He used to say, he once issued
108 summons in one day, in all of which Dr. William
White was plaintiff. As a Judge he was firm, up-

132 PIONEER HISTORY'
right and impartial, aiming to sustain the right in his-
decisions, and in all his official and social relations he
has sustained a character marked for sound views of"
men and things, honest, faithful, sagacious and true •;
and noAv in his old age and retirement enjoys the re
spect of all who know him.
JESSE MASON.
Jesse Mason was born in Cheshire, Mass., July 24,.
1779. By occupation he was a farmer. He removed'
to Phelps. Ontario County N. Y., about the year
1.810, where he resided six years, then removed to^
Barre, Orleans County, and settled on lot 17, in town
ship 15, range 2, now owned by Wm. H. Pendry.
Tu the year 1837, he sold his property in Barre and*
removed to Ohio, where he resided until his death, im
Nov., 18o4.
Mr. Mason served one campaign in the war of 1812r
was one of the last American soldiers to leave Buffa
lo when it was burned by the British.
Mr. Mason AA'as a man of positive convictions in all'
matters of his belief, political, moral or religious^
Energetic, enterprising and liberal in all that pertain
ed to public affairs in his neighborhood, he bore even.)
more than his share in all the labors, expense andi
trouble in opening roads, founding schools andi
churches and organizing society in the new country. .
All such, duties and burthens were performed- and
borne by him as labors of love, in which, he seemed'
to delight.
Mrs. Hannah Mason, wife of Jesse Mason, daugh
ter of Rev. John Leland, a Baptist minister, residing"
in Orange county, Va. was born Dec. 18,1778. Mr...
Leland Avas originally from Mass. While living in.
'Virginia he became the intimate friend of President
Jefferson, and it is said Mr. Jefferson derived his first
clear idea of genuine democracy from what he saw of"

OK ORLEANS COVNTY. 133
the working of that principle in a church, of which Mr.
Leland Avas pastor. Miss Leland married Mr. Mason,
in Cheshire, about the year 1800,moved with him to the
AA'est, and as long as he lived, proved herself a hel] >-
meet indeed, fully sharing and sympathizing with
him in all the toils, hardships and auxieties through
•which he passed in a long and active life. She died
January 21. 1867. STEPHEN IS. THFRSTON.
" I AAas born in AA'estmoreland, Oneida Co., N. Y.,
January 3, 1808, and removed with my father, Caleb
-C. Thurston, to Barre to reside, in the spring of 1814.
My father being a farmer, brought me up to labor in
that honorable calling. I resided with my father, at
tending school occasionally winters, until I was twen
ty-two years old, when I bought seventy-six acres of
land, part of lot 19, township 15, range 2, in Barre.
on which I resided until April, 1865, when I removed
into the A'illage of Albion, where I now reside.
I was married to Miss Julianna AVilliams, daughter
of Samuel AVilliams, of Barre, January 11, 1832. —
She was born in Burlington, Otsego Co., N. Y., April
5, 1812. S. B. THURSTON."
Albion, July, 1867. RCFCS HALLOC'K.
Rufus Hallock was born in Richmond, Chittenden
¦Co., Vt., Nov. 7, 1802. His father was a farmer, and
young Rufus labored on his father's farm summers
and attended school winters.
In February, 1815, with his father's family, here-
moved to Murray, Orleans Co., N. Y. In 1823, he
removed with his father's family to Louisville, St.
Lawrence Co., where he resided two years, and then
¦came to Barre, Orleans Co., and settled on lot 43,
iownship 14, range 2, of the Holland Purchase, where

134 PIONEER HISTORY
he resided till his death in 1870. He was married July
3, 1826, to Susan Tucker, of Shelby, who was born in
New Hampshire, May 9, 1804.
Mrs. Hallock died at her home in Barre, May 18th,
1868, aged 64 years.
Mr. Hallock by his industry and economy ac
cumulated a competence of property.
In religious belief a Baptist, Mr. Hallock was regard
ed as an exemplary christian man, respected by all
who knew him. Resolute and prompt in his charac
ter and conduct, he generally met and overcome
or removed every obstacle and adversity which he
has encountered in his path in life.
He told a story of his father which illustrates what
sort of a man his father was, and exhibits a dash
and courage which has been transmitted to his de
scendants. Traveling alone through the \voods one day after he
came to this county, he saAv a bear and two cubs
asleep under the roots of a fallen tree. Resolving to
capture a cub, Mr. Hallock stealthily crept up to the
spot where they lay and seized a cub by its hind legs
and backed away dragging his prize and keeping his
eyes fixed on the mother bear who followed after him
growling and gnashing her teeth. He kept on in this
way several rods until he backed and fell over a fal
len tree, when the old bear attracted by the cries of
the cub left behind returned to that and came after
him no more. Mr. Hallock carried the cub home
tamed and raised it. He died Jan. 16, 1871.

JONATHAN CLARK.

I was born in Londonderry, Rockingham county,
New Hampshire, July 3d, 1790. My father died
when I was quite young. I lived with my grandfath
er, John Clark, until I was fifteen years of age ; I
then went to live with my Uncle, John Clark, Jr., in

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 135
Salem, Massachusetts, where I remained until I was
twenty-one years of age.
March, 1812, 1 AA'ent aboard the schooner Talbot, Capt.
George Burchmore, headed for the East Indies, with
a miscellaneous cargo in the capacity of a common
seaman. Nothing Avorthy of note happened to us until we
reached the equinoctial line, when the Captain said
•' Old Neptune must come aboard that afternoon and
the green ones must be shaved and sworn." The
oath which we were required to take in connection
with the other raw hands, was as follows :
"I promise to never eat brown bread when I can
get Avhite ; never to leave the pump until I call for a
spell ; and never to kiss the maid when I can kiss
the mistress."
The shaving process consisted, in brief, in placing
the subject on the windlass, brushing his face with
filth and scraping it off with an iron hoop, as a sub
stitute for a razor, the subject in the meantime being
in great danger of having the unsavory lather thrust
into his mouth while taking the oath. Luckily for
me I passed the ordeal more happily than my com
rades having, in advance, circulated a bottle of sailors
' O be joyful.'
Crossing the line is a great occasion for jokes and
fun in general among sailors.
In due time, and without harm, we reached the
A'icinity of the capes, when we encountered heavy
weather. We ran twenty-three days under close reefed top
sails, shipped a heavy sea on our starboard quarter
which washed the whole length of the deck and car
ried away our bulwarks. We doubled the Cape of
Good Hope and reached the Isle of France one hun
dred and thirteen days out from Salem . We 1 ay th ere
two months, discharged cargo, took in ballast and

136 PIONEKR HISTOKY
sailed for the Island of Sumatra. AVe were running
into Lemonarger Avhen v/e Avere met by an armed boat
commanded by a man claiming to be king of Ar-
cheen, who demanded of us a duty on the pepper
we might purchase. AVe regarded him and his crew
as savages and pirates, and declining to trade with
them put to sea again. AAre ran to Soo-Soo and saw
a sail approaching. That excited our apprehensions
of danger.
The Captain inquired if we would fight should the
occasion demand it. Our unanimous response was
" Ave will."
We were then stationed where we could do the best
execution in self defence.
My station was on the side of the ship Avith an ax
to cut off their hands should the}- attempt to board
us. All the men were armed with deadly weapons,
and Ave had a six-pounder ready for an}- emer
gency. The strange vessel sent a boat to us with a letter
written in English, requesting u< to trade with the king
of Archeen, or in case of our refusal he would seize
us and our vessel.
The night following being very dark we weighed
anchor and put to sea, bidding his suspicious majes
ty good-bye.
We then sailed to an English port, Topanooley,
where, we took in a cargo of pepper and sailed for
home. AVe were to touch the Brazils to receive the orders
of the OAvners. Here we Avere hailed by what Ave re
garded as a hostile vessel and chased and fired at
astern ; and Avhen forced to yield, to our great joy
we found the strange vessel to be a man-of-war from
our own Salem, named 'The Grand Turk,' a priva
teer sent out to re-take our ship, Avhich the owners
supposed to be in the hands of the British.

OF ORLEANS COrN'TY. 137
The mutual congratulations between the crews of
the ' Talbot ' and 'The Grand Turk' were very
pleasant to us all. Here we first learned of the war
between the United States and Great Britain, which
had then been doing its work of destruction ten
months. AVe entered the port of Pernambuco, March 18th.
1813, having been absent just one year. The cargo
was put in Portuguese bottoms and sent to Europe.
The second mate and myself remained to take care
of the ship until November, 1815, when I left for Gib
raltar on board the Rebecca, with a cargo of hides
and sugar. AA'e stopped at Gibraltar a few days,
then ran down to Naples and discharged cargo and
took in a miscellaneous loading and returned home
wards, landing in Ncav York Avhere I was discharged,
and started for Salem where I arrived January 1st,
1816. I give the names of the places in the East Indies as
I heard them pronounced. I may have spelled them
wrong. Thus ends my seafaring life.
July 5th, 1816, I left Boston for AVestern N'cav
York. I traveled through Albany, taking the Great
Western Turnpike, walking on foot all the way, until
near Auburn when a traveler kindly permitted me to
ride with him, saying he would take me to Avhere I
could find good land.
AA'e passed through Rochester, and taking the
Ridge Road came to Sheldon's Corners, now AArest
Gaines. We then turned south, and traveling about
a mile reached a school house just as the school was
out for noon. A little sunny -faced girl ran up to us
and said to the man who had so kindly assisted me :
" Well dad, we are glad you have come for we are
about half starved out.'
That man was Gideon Freeman and the little girl
Avas- Sally Freeman.

138 PIONEER HISTORY
I looked around a little and finally bought the
farm on which I have ever since resided, part of lot
fifty, in township fifteen, range two, of the Holland
Purchase, lying in the north-western part of Barre,
then Gaines, near the south end of what is now
known as ' The Long Bridge/ over the Erie canal.
My land cost me five dollars per acre. I took an ar
ticle for it and was able to pay in full in about eight
years. I underbrushed five acres, built a log house and
went back to Salem.
I was married November 25th, 1816, to Abigail
Simonds, who was born in Salem, Massachusetts,
July 6th, 1790.
While I was preparing to start on our journey
west I was accosted by an old sailor friend
who inquired where I was going % I said ' to the
Holland Purchase.' Said he, 'where can that be?
I never heard of that place before.' I told him 'it
was a fine country in Western New York ;' that ' I
had bought a farm there, built a log house and was
going to live there.' Said he, ' I would not give the
gold I could scrape from a card of gingerbread for
the entire Holland Purchase.' But he did not know
everything. My wife and I left Salem for our new western home
with a span of horses and a wagon. We were twen
ty one days on the road. We arrived at my place
and began house-keeping January 1st, 1817, without
a table, a chair or a bedstead, all of which articles I
soon made in true Genesee pioneer style.
For many years in the settlement I was called
' Sailor Clark ' to distinguish me from another Clark
who was, I am happy to say, a very decent man.
Money being very hard to be got, we made black
salts, which became practically a legal tender or sub
stitute for money.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 139
I and my neighbor, Mr. Benjamin Foot, worked
together in the manufacture, but after a time he sold
to a Mr. Elijah Shaw, who conducted the business
with me until that necessary calling was 'played
out.' Mr. Shaw and myself are the only persons living in
this school district Avho came in as early as 1816.
My wife having been reared in the city knew noth
ing of spinning wheels, though she was a good house
keeper ; but under the influence of her neighbor' s
example, she urged me to raise flax and purchase
her a Pioneer Piano, which I did, bringing home
one of the largest size on my shoulder from a dis
tance of several miles ; and before long she could
discourse as melodious music as any in the settle
ment. In the early part of my pioneer life, like others, I
had to cut browse for my cow. One evening I went
out and felled a tree, thinking it would certainly fall
west, but alas for my sagacity, it fell east striking
our house, breaking down about half the roof and
alarming me greatly for the safety of my family.
However no one was hurt except by being badly
frightened. The roof was easily repaired, but a fine
mirror, a very elegant one for a. new country, which
my wife' s father, who was a seaman, had brought
from Hamburgh, in Europe, was broken into frag
ments, and could not be repaired.
During the cold seasons many of the settlers .suf
fered for the necessaries of life, but happily for me
and mine we did not suffer. I went east with my
team far enough to find all the provisions we needed
and brought home a full supply for all our necessi
ties. The fall of 1824 was a sad period to me. My wife
died October 20th of this year.
I desire here to record my grateful sense of the kind-

140 PIONEER HISTORY
ness of our neighbors during her sickness. Their at
tentions were timely, cordial and continued. All
those kind women then living in the district are dead
except Mrs. Benj. Foot.
I married my present wife, Elizabeth Stephens, in
Gaines, March 20th, 1825. She was born in Middle-
town, Rutland county, Vt., June 20th, 1806.
We left our pioneer log house and moved into our
present dwelling in 1.825. About this time the boats
were seen passing along in 'Gov. Clinton's big
ditch,' the Erie canal, on the north border of my
farm, connecting the great commercial and agricultu
ral interests of our country. And I trust that our nat
ural and artificial channels of trade may remain
open, and the love of freedom among our people con
tinue to aid. with the blessing of God, to preserve and
perpetuate our nationality, restore the Union of these
States and the free institutions of our country.
In 1825 I experienced religion, and about 1829 ray
ivife and myself connected ourselves with the Metho
dist Episcopal Church, in whose communion we still
remain. JONATHAN CLARK."
Barre, April 7th, 1864. OLIVER BENTON.
Oliver Benton Avas born in Ashfield, Mass., April
10th, 1791 . He came to Barre to reside in 1812. He
married Elvira Starr, Ma}- 15th, 1817. Mr. Benton
took up a large tract of land. two miles south of Al
bion, on which he resided.
After the town of Barre Avas organized, and about
1818 or '19 the first postoffice in the town was estab
lished and called Barre, and Mr. Benton Avas ap
pointed postmaster, an office he held many years.
For many years he was a noted tavern keeper on
the Oak Orchard Road, and as he had a large and

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 141
commodious house for the times, town meetings, balls
and gatherings of the people Avere held at his house.
On the death of William Lewis, who Avas the first
Sheriff, Mr. Benton Avas elected Sheriff of Orleans co.
Nov. 1825, and held the office three years. He died
Feb. 12th. 1848. AIOSKS SMITH.
Moses Smith was born in Newburg, Ncav York.
February 6th, 1785. He married Chloe Dickinson, of
Phelps. Ncav York, April 11th. 1811, and moved to
Barre. Orleans county, Nov. 16th, 1824, and took ji
deed from the Holland Company of a part of lot two,
township fifteen, range one. on which he continued to
reside until his death May 16th, 1869. He had four
teen children, eight of whom survived him. He Avas
a carpenter and joiner by trade, but the main occu
pation of his life Avas farming.
He was of Scotch descent, llis grandmother emi
grated from Scotland and settled on Avhat is known
in history as the Hasbrouck place, in the South part
of the city of Newburgh. on tAVo hundred and fifty
acres. On this farm Mr. Moses Smith Avas born, and
on this farm stands the celebrated building known as
¦• AVashington's Headquarters." ANTHONY TRIPP.
Anthony Tripp was born in Providence, Rhode Is
land. In his childhood he removed with his father's
family to Columbia county. N. Y., A\here he grew
up to manhood, was married and settled. He after-
terwards removed to Delaware county, where he re
sided until he moved to Barre.
In 1811 he came to Barre and took up one hundred
acres of land about two miles South of Albion. It
is claimed this was the first article for land issued bA*

142 PIONEER HISTORY
the Holland Company in Barre. The war breaking
out next year he did not settle on his land.
In 1817 his eldest son, Samuel, commenced clear
ing this land and built a log house there, into
which Mr. Tripp moved with his family in 1824, and
where he continued to reside until his death.
He married Mary Brown. Their children were
Samuel; Talitha, who married Sylvester Patterson ;
Stephen R., who married Ruth Mott ; Anthony ; Al-
vah, who married Jane H. Blakely. She was killed
January, 1866, by a chimney and battlement from an
adjoining building falling through the roof of a store
in Albion, in which she was trading, crushing her to
death. Mary, who married Psalter S. Mason. Al-
meron, who married Sylvia Burns.
ALLEN PORTER.
Allen Porter was born in Franklin county, Mass.,
Aug. 24th, 1795. He married Electa Scott, Dec. 22d,
1819. In the fall of 1815 he located for himself a
farm in the town of Barre, upon which he removed
in March, 1816, and' commenced felling the trees, and
on which he has ever since resided.
At the time Mr. Porter came in, not more than fif
teen families had settled in the present limits of
Barre. Previous to this time the Holland Company had
cut out the road from the Oak Orchard Road to Shel
by Center, which now passes the County Poor House.
A few lots had been taken but no dwelling had been
erected on the road so cut out in Barre and no set
tlement had been made in this town south of the Poor
House Road and west of the Oak Orchard Road.
Mr. Porter remembers hauling wheat raised on his
farm, to Rochester, and selling it there for thirty-one
cents a bushel, and paying five dollars per barrel for

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 143
salt, seventeen cents per pound for nails, and other
goods in like proportion.
A\Thile Mr. Porter .was a boy his father removed to
Seneca county, N. Y. Allen being yet in his minori
ty was drafted in the Avar of 1812 and sent to the
frontier. He volunteered at Buffalo to go over into
Canada to reinforce our troops in Fort Erie, and was
present in the sortie from that Fort in Sept. 1814. Mr.
Porter has held various offices, civil and military, and
is a well knoAvn and much respected citizen.
ELIZUR HART.
Elizur Hart was born in Durham, Greene county,
N. Y., May 23d, 1803. His father, Dea. Joseph Hart,
remo\Ted to Seneca county, N. Y., in 1806, and to
Barre, Orleans county, in October, 1812. It was sev
eral years after he came to Barre, before any school
was opened in his father's neighborhood, and he
never had the benefit of much instruction in school.
While residing with his father he was employed
mainly in clearing up land and in labor on the farm,
and grew up to manhood as other boys did in that
new country, without much knowledge of books or
business, or of the world beyond the community
where he lived.
About the year 1827 he was elected constable, an
office he held two years. His business now called
him to spend much of his time in Albion. He had
about five hundred dollars in money. His brother
William had a like sum which he put into Elizur' s
hands to use for their joint benefit. Elizur began to
buy small promissory notes and to lend small sums
to such customers as applied, and sometimes to re
lieve debtors in executions which were put in his
hands to collect as eonstable.
About this time his father deeded to his sons Wil
liam and Elizur one hundred acres of his farm for

144 PIONEER HISTORY
which they paid him five hundred dollars. They con
tinued joint owners several years when AArilliam gave
Elizur the five hundred dollars he had put . into his
hands and all the profit he had made on it for a deed
of the whole one hundred acres to himself. This
land lies in the village of Albion : is still owned and
occupied by A\rm. Hart, and the rise in its value has
made him a wealthy man.
As Mr. Hart found his means increase he began to-
invest in bonds and mortgages, and in articles for;
land issued by the Holland Company. He seldom
lost but generally made money in all his trades, and
continued this business for many years.
In 1852 he was made an assignee, and in a year or'
two after receiver of the property of the Orleans
Insurance Company. And on the failure of the old
Bank of Orleans he was appointed receiver of that
institution. On February 10th, 1860, in company with Mr. Jos.
M. Cornell he established 'The Orleans County
Bank" at Albion, with a capital of $100,000. Of this-
Bank he was President as long as it existed. When
all State Banks were superseded by National Banks,
he changed his institution and organized ' The Or
leans County National Bank ' in its stead Aug. 9th,
1865, of which he Avas President the remainper of
of his life.
Mr. Hart was not a speculator in business, advan
cing money in uncertain ventures and taking the
chances on their success. His investments were the
results of careful calculations, and usually returned
the profit he had computed before hand.
Always attentive to his business, but never dilatory
or impulsiA-e, correct and exemplary in all his habits,
beginning with comparatively nothing, without the
aid or influence of wealthy connections, he became
one of the opulent country bankers in the State, and

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 145
at his death AA-as master of a fortune amounting
to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In his will he gave the Presbyterian Church in Al
bion, of Avhich he Avas a member, fifty thousand dol
lars to build a house of Avorship, and an endoAvment
of five thousand dollars to the Sunday School con
nected Avith his church.
Mr. Hart married Miss Loraine Field in May, 1835.
She died Feb. 11th, 1847. He married Miss Cornelia
King, Oct. 16th, 1849.
His surviving children are Frances E., avIio married
Oliver C. Day, and resides in Adrian, Michigan.
Jennie K. and E. Kirk ; the last named married Lou
isa Sanderson and resides in Albion, is Cashier and
principal owner of the Orleans County National Bank.
Elizur Hart died August 13th, 1870.
.TARVIS AL SKINNER.
"I was born in Providence, Saratoga Co., N. Y.,
June 3, 1799. I married Mary Delano, Feb. 14, 1822.
She Avas born in Providence, Dec. 25, 1800.
I labored on a farm, of which my father had a lease,
in the summer season, and with my father in the Avin-
ter, a part of the time, in his shop, making saddles
and harness, he being a saddler by trade.
AVhen I became of age, I hired out to work on a
farm for Earl Stimson, then a large farmer in Galway,
first eight months, at §11 a month, then a year for
8110. My wages for this work, deducting my cloth
ing bills, constituted all my capital.
On the 18th day of March, 1822, I started for the
Holland Purchase, and came alone to Durfee Delano' s,
a little Avest of Eagle Harbor, in Gaines.
I bought fifty-five acres of land of Winsor Paine,
for which I agreed to give him $250 — $100 down, my
horse, saddle and bridle, for $80, and $70 worth of
saddles, to be delivered in a year.

146 PIONEER HISTORY
I worked on my place until the next fall ; Mrs.
Paine did my washing and cooking and I furnished a
portion of the provisions. I chopped and cleared and
soAved with wheat, six acres ; raised one acre of spring
wheat, one hundred bushels of corn. I returned to
Saratoga in the fall, made the saddles in the winter,
to pay for my farm, and in January 1823, moved my
wife to our new home in Barre, where we have since
resided, on lot 33, township 15, range 2.
Dated, Dec. 1, 1863. JARVIS M. SKINNER."
NATHANIEL BEALEY'.
Was born in Savoy, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts,
Dec. 14, 1796. He has always followed farming. He
came to Palmyra in 1801, settled in Gaines, Orleans
Co., N. Y., in 1819, married Sarah Wickham in 1821.
She was born in Chatham, Columbia Co., July 15,
1799, and removed to Gaines in 1816.
Mr. Braley removed to Barre, where he hoav re
sides, in 1838. LUCIUS STREET.
"I was born in AATest Springfield, Massachusetts,
Dec. 19, 1795. My father gave me a good common
school education for those times and brought me up
in his occupation, as a farmer.
I followed the business of teaching school for sever
al winters, when I was a young man.
May 5, 1818, my brother Chapin and myself started
from my father's house in Hinsdale, Mass., on foot,
with knapsacks on our backs, for the 'Genesee'
country. After going to Batavia and looking over the towns
of Ordngeville and China, Ave came to Barre and set
tled on lot 3, township 14, range 2, of the Holland
Purchase, about two miles south of Barre Center
Avhere we still reside, (1864.)

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 1 47
AA"e took our article for our land, May 18, 1818, and
immediately began chopping, boarding with a family
named Cuthbret.
I taught a district school, in all, seven Avinters, and
singing school tAvo terms.
One of our neighbors, Henry Edgerton, a strong,
athletic man, carried a bushel and a half of wheat on
his back, to Farwell' s mill, in Clarendon, eight miles,
got it ground and brought it home.
In the fall of 1820, my brother and myself, having
partially recoA'ered from fever and ague, from Avhich
we had suffered, and getting somewhat homesick,
went on foot back to Mass., being quite discouraged
at the prospect of ever paying for our land, as the
price of produce Avas so low. AAre wanted to sell out.
Finding no opportunity to sell our articles, Ave
worked otti for farmers in Massachusetts the next
season, at 88 a month, then the common wages, and
returned to Barre, in the fall of 1821, to sell our im
provements, but found no buyers.
' AVe had agreed to give six dollars an acre for our
land, on ten years' time — the first two years Avithout
interest. At this time, wheat was worth in Rochester
from thirty-one to thirty-seven cents a bushel.
While I AA-as teaching school in Springfield, Mass.,
in 1821, I saw Esq. Brewster of Riga, Monroe Co., N.
Y., who, AA'ith one of his neighbors, had come there
from Riga, with tAvo large loads of flour, drawn by
four yoke of oxen. The flour sold for $5 a barrel. —
They sold their oxen and Genesee sleds, bought a
span of horses and an old sleigh and returned to Riga.
In the summer of 1822, I boarded with Mr. Edger
ton, and worked two days of every nine for him, to
pay my board. That season I cleared, , fenced and
sowed ten acres with wheat, from which next season
I harvested 255 bushels of good wheat. The canal

148 PIONEER HISTORY
being then navigable west 'as far as Brockport, I
could sell my wheat there for $1 a bushel.
My brother and myself divided our land, giving me-
109 acres. I then abandoned the intention of selling,
and Nov. 16, 1823, was married to Miss Martha M..
Buckland, daughter of John A. Buckland, of South'.
Barre. In those days we Avere required by law to ' train'
as soldiers, two days in each year, viz : on the first
Monday in June and September, company training,
and one day for a general muster, which was often-
held at Oak Orchard Creek. We were often called
to meet at Oak Orchard and made the journey, 16-
miles, on foot, carrying our gun and equipments and
paying our oavii expenses. We would drill until
near night, then on being dismissed, return home the
same day, if indeed Ave were able to reach home be
fore the next morning.
In the early times in this country, inspectors of
Common - Schools were allowed no compensation for •
their services, the honor of the office being deemed
sufficient remuneration. After serving the town in
that office several years gratis, Dr. J. K. Brown and
I agreed and declared to the electors, that if ap
pointed to that office again we would pay our fines of
$10 and thus relie\-e ourselves of the service, where
upon the town voted to give us seventy-five cents each
per day, for the time we might be on duty.
Under circumstances like these, not as many were -
seeking the small town offices then as now.
Bears, wolves, wild cats, deer, raccoons, hedge
hogs and other wild animals, Avere plenty here then.
In the summer of 1818, my brother and I be
ing at work chopping on our farm, heard a hog
squeal, and saw a bear walking off very deliberately
carrying the hog in his paws. We gave chase and as
we came near, the Dear dropped his prey and ran off;-,

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 149
he had killed the hog. AATe then made 'a dead fall,'
as it Avas called, in Avhich to entrap the bear, which
Avas a pen made by driving stakes into the ground,
.and interweaATiig them with brush horizontally, in
which the hog was placed. Into this pen Ave expect
ed the bear Avould come and spring a trap, which
would let a Aveight fall upon him. It proved a suc-
-cess, for in the morning we found the bear in the pen ;
he had sprung the trap, and a spike of the dead fall
through his leg held him fast.
Religious meetings Avere early established and
maintained at South Barre and Barre Center. Dea
con Orange Starr AAras among the foremost in these
meetings. Many pleasant reminiscences of pioneer life might
be mentioned, for though we endured many hard
ships and privations, Ave had plenty of sport mingled
with them, giving us a pleasant variety of mirthful
enjoyment. Major Daniel BigeloAV, being a good
horseman, and having no horse, broke one of his ox
en to the saddle, and was accustomed to ride him
through the settlement.
Riding out one day, his ox being very thirsty and
¦ coming near a large puddle of water, started forward
to the drink on double-quick time, and plunging into
the water, stopped so suddenly as to throAv his good-
natured rider over his head, sprawling into the mud,
much to the amusement of those looking on.
I am a descendant, on my mother's side, of the
seventh generation, from Samuel Chapin, an early pi-
•oneer of Springfield, Mass., who settled there when
only three families were in the place. At a gathering
of his descendants at Springfield, on Sept. 17, 1862,
fifteen hundred such descendants were present. Dr.
J. G. Holland, known as 'Timothy Titcomb,' deliver
•ed a poem on the occasion, which he said he was re-

150 PIONEER HISTORY
quested to do because he had married into the Chapim
family. I am also descended in the sixth generation on my
father's side, from Rev. Nicholas Street, who came
from England and was ordained pastor over the first.
church in New Haven, in 1659. LUCIUS STREET."
Dated, Barre, Feb. 25, 1864.
THOMAS AV. ALLIS.
Extracts from the local history of Thomas W. Allis,,
written by himself for the Pioneer Association.
"I Avas born in Gorham, Ontario Co., N. Y., Nov.
1, 1798. My father died in the year 1805, and I was.
brought up from that time until I attained my major
ity, in the family of an uncle, in Hampshire, Mass.
In March, 1820, in company with a younger broth
er, I moved to Murray, in Orleans County, to what is
noAv the town of Kendall.
AVe brought with us four barrels of flour, one bar
rel of pork, one barrel of whisky and a bed.
AAre located three and one-fourth miles north of the
Ridge road, and one mile east of the Transit Line.
In going from the Ridge to our place, we passed.
but one family and they lived in a log house, in the
woods, Avith no plastering between the logs, with only
part of the ground covered by a floor, a bark roof, no>
chimney. AVe hired our provisions cooked, and lived with a.
family near by, in a log cabin similar to the one
above described.
We bought a contract for one hundred acres of
land, by the terms of which Ave agreed to pay $300'
for the improvements, and $600 for the soil.
AVe kept bachelor' s hall there most of the time for
four years.
I soon bought fifty acres more of land, with six:
acres improvement on it, for Avhich I agreed to pay

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 151
8450. But feAv families were then north of the Ridge,
in that section of country.
I worked at clearing land and raising crops.
AA7heat Avas worth only three shillings per bushel, de
livered in Rochester.
The first plow in our settlement, I bought in com
pany Avith tAvo neighbors. AAre walked to Gaines
village, bought one of AA'ood' s patent plows and car
ried it on our backs from the Ridge road three and
one-fourth miles to our home.
I Avas married Nov. 18, 1824, to Miss Elizabeth
Clements, of Queensbury, AYarren Co. N. Y.
On the 9th of January, 1826, my house was burned
AA'ith all my furniture and clothing and one years'
provision. Our neighbors turned out and drew logs
and rolled up part of a house, but a snow storm came
on and stopped the work before it was finished. My
brother and myself afterwards built a log house, com
mencing on Thursday at noon, built a stone chimney,
finished and moved into it the next Saturday. Size
of the house was sixteen by thirteen feet. AVe lived
in this small house about tAvo years and then I finish
ed the house Avhich had been begun by my neighbors
soon after the fire.
I resided in the house last built about fourteen
years. I paid interest on the purchase money, for the first
hundred acres I bought, to about the amount of the
principal before I took a deed.
I afterwards bought fifty-three acres for $450, for
which I paid with the avails of one crop of Avheat."
In 1837 I bought a timber lot of 48 acres.
In 1840 I built a frame house, thirty by seventy
feet, which cost me $2,000.
In March, 1860, I sold my farm in Kendall, part of
which I had held for forty years, and bought a house

152 PIONEER HISTORY"
and fifteen acres of land in Albion, on Avhich I now
rosiclc THOMAS W. ALLIS."
Albion, Januar}', 1863.
Mr. T. AAr. Allis, above referred to, was for many
years one of the solid men of the town of Kendall,
Honored and respected by all avIio knew him. He
was a Justice of the Peace and held various other
town offices. Having acquired a competency, by
many years' steady toil and economy, he retired from
hard labor on a farm, to a village residence, where he
is now (1871) spending a quiet old age, in the enjoy
ment of, the fruits of his labors.
JOSEPH BARKER.
Extracts from the local history of Col. Joseph Bar
ker, written by himself.
" I was born in Tadmorden, Lancashire, England,
September 21st, 1802, and emigrated with my father's
family to America in the spring of 1816. I arrived in
the toAvn of Seneca, Ontario county, in July of that
year, and resided there until I bought the farm in
Barre, in November, 1825, on which I now reside. I
was married in October, 1822, to Miss Submit CoAvles,
who AA-as born in Heath, Franklin county, Massachu
setts, by whom I had nine children. My wife died
February 15th, 1851. I lived a widower tAvo and a
half years, and then married widoAv Elizabeth Guern
sey, who was born in Middleburgh, Schoharrie Co,.
N. Y., March 19th, 1810.
In the fall of 1819, I started with another man from
Seneca, N. Y., to go to Lundy's Lane, in Canada.
We traveled on foot AA-ith knapsacks on our backs.
Passing through Rochester, then a small town and
very muddy, we took the Ridge Road, then thinly
settled. Before Ave arrived at Hartland Corners our
provisions gave out ; we tried to buy some bread ;
could get none ; then tried begging, with no better

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 153
success. AAre went on to Buck's tavern in the Eleven
Mile AA'oods. It was very dark when Ave got there
and rained very hard. AVe had not a dry thread in
our clothes, and our shoes and stockings were full of
mud and AA'ater. Buck's faA'.ern Avas a log house with
a Dutch fire place, and had a good rousing fire. Af
ter taking some rum and supper, we hung our outer
garments up to dry and went to bed. The next morn
ing Ave started early, and after getting through the
woods, I went into a house and bought six pence
worth of bread which lasted us through to Lundy's
Lane. AAre stayed there three weeks and returned
home. In September, 1823, 1 set out to look me up a farm;
came by Avay of Batavia, and through the Indian
Reservation to a place noAv called Alabama Center,
and took up sixty acres of land lying about three-
fourths of a mile north of that place. I chopped the
trees on about one acre, when finding half of my lot
was SAvamp I felt sick of it and left for home, Avhere I
stayed, working out until the fall of 1825, then start
ed again and bought the place on which I have ever
since resided in Barre, lot fifty -four, township fourteen,
range tAvo.
I moved to my place in January, 1826. There Avas
a shanty on my land Avith a shingled roof. I got
ready to begin work about February 1st, and meas
ured off ten acres of woods, for my next year's work
to chop, clear, fence and sow with wheat ; all of
which I did, sowing the last of my Avheat in October.
The reason of my being so late sowing Avheat was,
my wife was taken sick soon after harvest. I could
get no girl to work and I was obliged to take care of
my sick wife and do all my Avork in doors, and out of
doors. I had to milk, churn, work butter, wash and
iron clothes, mix and bake bread, and in fact do all
there was to be done. I Avorked on my fallow days

154. PIONEER HISTORY
and nights Avhenever I could leave my sick wife. At
last I hired a girl, but she stayed with us only four or
five days, and I then had to do housework again.
My wife recovered so as to be about, the forepart of
October. I worked out some the next winter to get potatoes to
eat and to plant and to pay my doctor' s bill. I bought
four small pigs in the summer, and beachnuts being
plenty they grew finely and when killed weighed
about one hundred and twenty pounds apiece. The
pork was rather soft but tasted good.
The second Avinter I chopped about seven acres.
The weather was fine, but on the night of April 13th,
the wind blowing a fearful gale while we were snugly
in bed, took the roof off our shanty leaving us in bed,
but with neither roof or chamber floor in our house.
I got up and put out the fire; we put on our clothes
and taking our little girl Avent to Mr. Russells, our
nearest neighbor, about forty rods, where Ave stayed
until, with the help of our kind neighbors, Ave got up
the body of another log house. In two or three
weeks we had our house so- far made that Ave moved
into it and lived in it all summer without a chimney.
In the fall I built a Dutch fire place and a stick chim
ney.. It was about two years after I moved on my lot be
fore the highway Avas chopped out either way, north
or south from me. The logs and underbrush were
cut so that we could drive a team through. I
Avas poor when I came here and I lived according to
my means. One-fourth pound of tea lasted us over
seven months. I bought a barrel of pork and half a
barrel of beef, when I got the tea, and they were all
gone in about the same time together.
We had plenty of flour and some potatoes. My
cow was not used to the woods, and sometimes I could
find her and again I could not, so sometimes we were

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 155
obliged to eat our bread and potatoes for a meal. I
thought it rather dry living to Avork hard on, but we
lived through it, always hoping for "the better time
coming." The next year I fatted three fine hogs and put them
all down for home use. The third summer I had over
20 acres cleared and had got to living pretty comforta
bly. In July of this year I was elected Second Ser
geant in Capt. Gates Infantry Company rather against
my wishes. I however accepted.
In August following I Avas taken sick with fever
and ague which lasted me three months. I could hire
no men to -work for me for love or money. Almost
everybody Avas sick this year. The neighbors turned
out however, late in the fall and sowed about six
acres Avith Avheat for me, and I hired a boy a month
to husk corn and dig potatoes. About the time the
boy got through work the ague left me and I was
pretty Avell all the next winter. The next spring I
had three fits of ague, then sores came all over my
face. I had no more ague shakes for the next three
or four years.
About this time my wife Avas taken sick with in
flammation in the bowels just at the commencement
of the wheat harvest. I had fourteen acres to
harvest and no one to help me. I got a
physician to attend my wife, and my little girl and
myself nursed her as well as Ave could ; and when I
could be spared I Avent to my harvest field and
worked, whether by day or night. Thus I harvested
my fourteen acres and took care of my Avife. Just
before I finished cutting my Avheat hoAvever, I was
again taken with "chills" and began to shake, and
kept on shaking about an hour, did not stop cradling
but Avhen the fever came on I had to quit and steer
for the house and had a hard time to gej; there. I
had two more fits, Avhen my face broke out in sores

156 PIONEER HISTORY
as formerly and I had no more fever and ague. My
wife getting no better, I went to find a girl to take
care of her, feeling I Avas not able to take proper care
of myself much less of her. I traveled all day,
found plenty of girls that wanted to go out to spin,
but would not do houseAvork. I went a second and
third day with like results, and came home sick
both in body and mind, and found my Avife some bet
ter. I finally succeeded in getting a woman to help
until my Avife got able to be about.
I kept chopping and clearing my land as fast as I
could alone, for I was not able to hire. I changed
work occasionally Avith my neighbors, and sometimes
hired a day's Avork. My crops were sometimes good,
sometimes poor ; but I got along and made
money. In July, 1S33, I was elected Captain over the Com
pany in which I had served as Sergeant over four
years, and I was afterwards elected Colonel. This
military office, as every body knows, Avas not a money
making business in those days ; but I had got into it
and determined to carry it through to the best of my
ability. It cost me much time and money, for which
I received nothing back. I had the honor of com
manding as good a regiment as there was in the coun
ty, and felt proiid of it. I did military duty nineteen
years ; eleven years as an officer, serving as a Cap
tain before I was naturalized, or a voter in town
or State. I resigned all military office April 20th,
1839. I have labored steadily as a farmer, enjoying good
health, except having the ague, as I have stated, and
had a good degree of prosperity attend my labors.
JOSEPH BARKER."
March 9tli, 1863. ENOS RICE.
Eiios Rice AAras born in Conway, Hampshire county,

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 157
Massachusetts, in 1790, and came with his father's
family in 1804, to Madison county, N. Y.
In June, 1816, Avith a pack on his back, he came to
Barre, Orleans county, and located on lot eighteen, in
township fifteen, range tAvo, Avhere he cleared about
twenty acres. He next lived a feAv years in Shelby,
and in 1831 bought a farm near Porter's Corners,
where he has ever since resided.
Mr. Rice began in the world poor, but by persever
ing industry and frugality he has acquired a fair
amount of property to make his old age comfort
able. LUTHER PORTER.
" My father, Stephen Porter, Avas born in Lebanon,
Connecticut. About the year 1812 or '13 he started
with his wife and five children on an ox sled, with one
yoke of small oxen to come to 'York State.' He
had but feAv articles of furniture and but $65 in
money. After a journey of twenty-two days, Avith
extraordinary good luck, he landed in Smyrna, Che
nango county, N. Y., with cash reduced to $18.
Here he hired an old log house in which he resided
one year. Then he hitched his oxen to the old sled,
and with his traps and family aboard, started for
Ontario county. After traveling seven days, he ar
rived at his place of destination and hired a house
and twenty -five acres of land.
In the fall of 1815, he took an article from the Hol
land Land Company, of the west hundred acres of
lot 40, township 14, range 2, in Barre, the same on
which I now reside, about three-fourths of a mile
AA^est of Porter's Corners. In March following, in
company with Allen Porter, Samuel Porter and Jo
seph Rockwood, he started with provisions for five
weeks, to make a beginning on their lands. They es
tablished their depot of provisions at the house of

158 PIONEER HISTORY
Dea. Ebenezer Rogers, in the south part of what is
now the village of Albion.
They took what provisions they wanted for a week
on their backs, with their axes and started through
the Avoods to their lands, about five miles away, the
snoAv being about knee deep.
The first thing in order was to select a place to
build their cabin. The site was fixed on the farm
now owned by J. AV. Stocking, about twenty rods
east of where Stocking' s house stands. They cut such
poles as they could carry and built their first cabin
ten by twelve feet square, covered it Avith split bass-
wood troughs, got it tenable, and the colony moved
in and took possession the same day. They cut hem
lock boughs and spread them on the ground, covering
them Avith blankets, which made a good bed. The
room not occupied by the bed served for culinary and
dining purposes. After thus preparing their house
they commenced chopping in earnest, working through
the week until Saturday afternoon, when they all re
turned to Mr. Rogers' to spend the Sabbath and get
another weeks' provisions. In this way they worked
until they had chopped about five acres each, when
they all returned to Ontario Co., to spend the sum
mer. In January, 1820, my father moved his family to
his neAv home in Barre, where he made a comfortable
residence the remainder of his life, and died in the
fall of 1831, aged 53 years.
My father paid little more than the interest on the
purchase money for his land, while he lived. It was
paid for by his sons and has been a home for the
family ever since.
In the spring of 1816 there was no house occupied
by a family in Barre, west of the Oak Orchard Road,
on the line on which my father located, although sev
eral Avere in process of erection. My mother died on

'\ oo-^t-^-i

f^^/£^6^C

OF ORLEANS COUNTY". 159
the homestead, August 1857, aged 77 years. I Avas
my father's second son, and hoav own and reside on
the old premises, to Avhich I have made additions by
purchase. I AA-as born in Ashfield, Mass., in 1805, and came to
this county Avith my father, in 1820, being then about
fifteen years old.
I have had abundant experience in pioneer life. I
have chopped and logged and cleared land. I boiled
black salts three or four years, a part of the time
barefoot, because my father Avas too poor to furnish
me shoes, Avith little other damage than the occasion
al loss of a toe nail, or a small wound in the foot from
sharp stubs.
I have lived through it all, and by dint of economy
and industry have advanced from poverty to compe
tence. I have held various offices in the gift of my fellow-
citizens. I Avas Supervisor of the town of Barre from
1857 to 1862, five successive years.
There was no school in my neighborhood for sever
al years after 1820. The first district school house
built there was erected at Sheldon's Corners. The
district was afterwards divided and a log school
lions j built about a mile north of Ferguson' s Cor
ners. Again the district AA-as divided and now stands
as district No. 12, with a good school house.
I married for my first wife, Lyctia Scoot, daughter
of Capt. Justin Scoot, of Ontario County, Oct. 20,
1830. She died Dec. 3, 1842. I married for my sec
ond Avife, Caroline Culver, daughter of Orange Culver
of South Barre, June 27, 1844, with whom I am still
living. LUTHER PORTER."
Barre, May 27, 1863. NEJIEMIAH INOERSOLL.
Nehemiah Ingersoll Avas born in Stanford, Dutchess

160 PIONEER HISTORY
Co., N. Y., in 1786. In 1816, he removed to Batavia,
where he remained a year or two, then bought a farm
in Elba, five miles north of Batavia, to which he re
moved and where he kept a public house several
years. In April, 1822, in company with James P.
Smith and Chillian F. Buckley, he bought of William
Bradner one hundred acres of land in Albion, bound
ed north by the town of Gaines ; west by the Oak
Orchard road ; south by Joel Bradner' s farm, and ex
tending east one hundred rods from the Oak Orchard
Road. For this tract they paid $4,000. Mr. Inger-
soil soon bought of Smith and Buckley, all their in
terest in this land.
Soon after purchasing this tract Mr. Ingersoll had
a large part of it surveyed and laid out into village
lots, believing a town Avould soon grow up. He
did not immediately remove to Albion but did com
mence improving his property there.
He and his associates built the large warehouse
standing on the canal at the foot of Piatt street and
a framed, building for a store on the corner of Main
and Canal streets, where the Empire block now
stands. Ingersoll & AVells (Dudley Wells) traded some
years in this store, and business was carried on in
the warehouse by Ingersoll and LeAvis P. Buckley.
In the struggle for the location of the County build'
ings, Mr. Ingersoll engaged with spirit. In competing
with the village of Gaines, he offered the commission
ers appointed to locate the Court House, the grounds
on which the Court House now stands as a free gift,
Avhich offer was finally accepted and the location thus
secured here.
Early in 1826 he removed to Ablion to reside. He
was prominent among those engaged in effecting the
organization of the county of Orleans from the county
of Genesee, and in establishing all those institutions

OF ORLEANS COUNTY'. 161
required and consequent upon beginning a new
county. In 1835, having sold or contracted for the sale of most
of his land in Albion, he removed to Detroit and en
gaged in large business there, in Avhich he sustained
severe loss ; and in 1845 he went to Lee, Oneida county,
N. Y., at which place he resided until his death.
Mr. Ingersoll married in his youth Miss Polly Hal-
sey, daughter of Col. Nathan Halsey, of Columbia
county. She died in 1831.
For a second Avife he married Miss Elizabeth C.
BroAvn, of Lee avIio survived him.
Mr. Ingersoll died February 21, 1868, aged eighty-
two years. He was naturally of a strong constitu
tion and of an active temperament and ap
peared twenty years younger than he Avas. Although
the later years of his life were spent away from Albion,
he was often here and always manifested the deepest
interest in the prosperity of the village and county of
Orleans. At his request his remains were brought to
Albion after Ms decease and deposited beside his first
wife in Mount Albion Cemetery.
His second wife, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Ingersoll, died;'
August 17th, 1869. After her marriage, she resided'
several years in Albion and shared Avith her hus
band in a feeling of attachment to the place and peo
ple, which proved itself in a generous gift of tern
thousand dollars, which she made in her will to the
Prostestant Episcopal Church in Albion. Both Mr.
Ingersoll and his Avife Avere members of that com
munion. JUSTUS INOEESOLL.
Hon. Justus Ingersoll was born in Stanford, Dutch
ess county, N. Y., in 1794. He learned the trade of
tanner. On the breaking out of war Avith Great Britain, in

162 PIONEER HISTORY
1812, he entered the United States anny as ensign in
the twenty-third regiment of infantry. He served on
the northern frontier in several engagements, and was
in the celebrated charge onQueenstown Heights. He
was promoted to the rank of Captain for meritorious
service. In one of the battles in Canada, in which he served
as Captain of Infantry, he was wounded in the foot.
Refusing to leave his Company, and being unable to
walk, he mounted a horse and continued with his
men. In another engagement he was shot through
the body, the ball lodging in a rib. He refused to
have it removed, as he was informed a portion of
rib would have to be cut away, which would proba
bly cause him to stoop ever after in his gait.
He was a favorite with his company and much es
teemed by Gen. Scott under whom he served.
In 1818 he came to Elba, Genesee county, N. Y.,
and soon after settled at Shelby Center, in Orleans
county, where he carried on tanning and shoe-mak
ing, and held the office of Justice of the Peace.
After the canal was made navigable, and Medina
began to be settled as a A-illage, he removed there,
built a large tannery and transfered his business
to that place.
He was appointed Indian Agent and postmaster at
Medina, by President Jackson ; he was also Judge
of Orleans County Courts.
His tannery being accidentally burned and sus
taining other misfortunes in business, he removed to
Detroit . with his brother Nehemiah, in 1835, where
they went into the leather business on a large scale,
in which they were not finally successful.
Mr. Ingersoll was a man of firm and persistent
character, active and enterprising — esteemed among
his acquaintances for the uprightness of his conduct

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 163
rand the courtesy of his manners. He died in 1845.
LORENZO BURROAVS.
Lorenzo Burrows was born in Groton, Conn.,
3Iarch 15th, 1805. In his boyhood he attended the
Academy at Plainfield, Conn., and Westerly, Rhode
Island. In Nov., 1824, he came to Albion, N. Y., to
.assist his brother, Roswell S. Burrows, as his clerk.
He continued to act in that capacity until in 1826,
;after he attained his majority, he went in company
with his brother in business under the firm name of
R. S. & L. Burrows.
He assisted his brother in establishing the Bank of
Albion in 1839, and after it went into operation he
was appointed Cashier and devoted himself mainly
to the business of the bank and to the duties of Re
ceiver of the Farmer's Bank of Orleans,' until in No
vember, 1848, he was elected a Member of the House
of Representatives in Congress, for the District which
comprised Niagara and Orleans counties. He was
re-elected to Congress in Nov., 1850, and served in
that office, in all, four years.
Since his election to Congress he has done no busi
ness as an officer of this bank.
He was elected Comptroller of the State of New
York in Nov. 1855, which office he held one term of
two years.
In Feb., 1858, he was chosen a Regent of the Uni
versity of the State of New York, an office he has
.held ever since.
He was County Treasurer of Orleans county in the
year 1840, and Supervisor of the town of Barre for
the year 1845. He was Assignee in Bankruptcy for
the county of Orleans, under the law of 1841. In
the year 1862 he was appointed one of , the Commis
sioners of Mount Albion Cemetery — an office to
-avhich no salary or pecuniary compensation is

164 PIONEER HISTORY
attached, but Avhich is attended with considerable-
labor. To this labor he has devoted all the time neces
sary, discharging the principal part of the duties
of the Commission, with what success let the beauti
ful terraces, trees, paths, walks, avenues, roads, and.
improA-ements which adorn this "city of the dead,"
and which remain the creations of his taste and skill,
bear witness.
Since leaving Congress Mr. Burrows has employed
himsejf principally in discharging the duties of the
offices above mentioned in taking care of consider
able real estate he owns in connection with Ms broth
er, and in his own right, in, or near Albion, and else
where ; and in the enjoyment of such leisure as an
ample fortune which he has secured in eatiier"
life affords, in social intercourse with Ms family
and friends. GEORGE E. MIX.
" I Avas born in Greenfield, Saratoga county, N. Y.
My father's name was Abiathar Mix. In May, 1817,
when I was less than one year old, my father re
moved Avith his family to what is now Barre, Orleans
county. N. Y. There I had my bringing up and have
ever since resided. My Genesee cradle was a sap-
trough. Genesee school rooms were log houses, log
barns, and other like accommodations.
I stayed at home and worked on the farm summers,
and went to schools winters when I could, until I was
eighteen years of age. My father then gave me my
time, saying he had nothing else he could give me
then, but that I could make his house my home.
After that I worked by the day and month summers,
and attended school winters — went several terms to
an Academy.
At the age of twenty -three I commenced teaching;-
district school and taught five winters in succession,.-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 165
During those five years I traA-eled considerably in the
western and southern States, and became quite a rad
ical reformer in sentiment.
I Avas nominated County Clerk by the Liberty Par
ty but Avas not elected.
I married Miss Ellen De Boav, of Batavia, N. Y.,
in 1852.
I have always made a living, and got it honestly I
think, and have laid by a little every year for myself
and others I have to care for. I never sued a person
and never Avas sued. I never lost a debt of any great
amount, for if a person who owed me could not pay
it, I forgave the debt.
I made a public profession of religion when I was
eleven years old, and se\'eral years afterwards united
Avith the Free Congregational Church in Gaines and re
mained a member of that Church as long as it was in
being. I never held any ciyil office of profit. My political
principles were not formerly. popular Avith the major
ity of the people.
I held military office in the 214th regiment N. Y.
State militia, from 1837 to 1844, and served as ensign,
lieutenant and captain.
I have lived to see slavery abolished in this coun
try. The landless can now have land if they will .
Now let us drive liquor and tobacco from the coun-
try-. GEORGE E. MIX."
Barre, February 1869.
"THINGS I CAN liEMEAIBER."
BY GEOKGE E. MIX.
"I can remember the dark and heavy forest that
-once coA'ered this land, with only now and then a lit
tle ' clearing ' that made a little hole to let in the
^sunshine ; the large creeks that seemed to flow and

166 PIONEER HISTORY
flood the whole country during a freshet ; the large-
swamps and marshes, in almost every valley ; the
wild deer that roamed the woods almost undisturbed
by men ; the bear that plodded his way through the-
Swamps and the wolf that made night hideous with
his howling.
I remember when the roads ran crooking around?
on the high grounds, and when roads on the low
lands were mostly causeways of logs. When almost
all the houses were made of logs, and almost all the
chimneys were made of sticks and mud, and the fire
places Avere of Dutch pattern.
But the sound of the axman was heard at his toil
through the forest, hurling the old trees headlong.
The woods and the heavens were lit up with, the lurid
glare of fire by night, and the heavy forest soon-
melted away. Those little holes in the old woods,
soon became enlarged to broad fields of waving;
grain, that glistened in' the sun light.
The foaming creeks soon became rivulets, or dried!
up. The swamps disappeared and nothing remains
to show where many of the great marshes of the old
time were. The deer, bear and wolf have departed.
The crooked roads have been straightened, and the
log causeways have been buried out of sight. The
log houses, stick chimneys, and Dutch fireplaces,
are reckoned among the things that were and are not
now. I can remember when my mother spun flax on a
little wheel and carded wool and- tow by hand and-
spun them on a great wheel ; when she colored her
yarn with the bark and leaves of trees and had a
loom, and wove cloth and made it up into clothing-
for her family.
I can remember when my father plowed with a
wood-en plow with an iron share and reaped his grain
with a sickle and threshed it Avith a flail ; Avhen he-

.OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 167
mowed his grass with a scythe and raked it with a
hand rake. I remember when no fruit grew here but
wild fruit, but we soon had peaches in profusion,
bushels of them rotting under the trees.
At the first settlement of this county, fruits, such
as grapes, straAvberries, cranberries, blackberries,
gooseberries, raspberries and mandrakes, were to be
found growing wild. We had nuts from the trees,
such as butternuts, chestnuts, beachnuts and wal
nuts. Pumpkins, squashes and melons, were largely
raised and of great value to the people. Pumpkins
were cut in strips and dried on poles in the log
cabins and kept for use the year round. Maple trees
furnished us nearly all our sugar. At our fall par
ties and our husking and logging bees we had pump
kin pies. At our winter parties we had nuts and
popped corn and in the summer, berries and
cream. I can remember when the, common vehicle for trav
eling about was an ox sled with wooden shoes . and
the only wheel carriages were lumber Avagons and
they were few, when the Ridge Road Avas the main
thoroughfare by which to reach the old settlements
and stage coaches were the fastest means of convey
ance. -
It was considered an impossibility to make the
Erie Canal. People said possibly water might be
made to run up hill, but canal boats, never.
Some said they would be willing to die, having
lived long enough when boats in a canal should float
through their farms ; but afterwards Avhen they saAv
the boats passing by, they wanted to live more than
ever to see what would be done next.
Next after the canal came the railroad. I heard
the cars were running at Batavia and I went out there
to see the great wonder of the age, and saw them.

168 PIONEER HISTORY
We were next told of the telegraph. Knowing ones
said that? was a humbug, sure. I remember even
some members of Congress ridiculed Professor Morse
and his telegraph as a delusion. But in spite of rid
icule, and doubt, and incredulity, the telegraph be
came a success, and by it the ends of the earth have
been brought together. These things I have seen and
remembered Avhile liA-ing here in Orleans county.
GEORGE E. MIX."
MRS. LYDIA MIX.
' ' I was born in Brantf ord, Connecticut, in 1783. At
the age of eighteen I married Abiathar Mix, and re
moved to Dutchess county, N. Y., where my hus
band owned a farm, on Avhich we lived, working it
chiefly by hired men, my husband being a mason by
trade, labored at that business in the summer and
winters he made nails and buttons.
AVe resided there until May, 1817, when we sold
our farm and removed to Barre, Orleans Co., and lo
cated on lot 32, tovrnship 14, range 2. Very little
land Avas then cleared in that neighborhood, and eAren
that was covered with stumps of trees. Mr. Mix had
been here the year before and engaged a man to build
a log house for him. AYhen we came on we found our
house with Avails up and roof on. My husband split
some basswood logs and hewed them to plank, with
which he laid a floor, and Ave began housekeeping in
our new house.
My husband had ten or fifteen hundred dollars in
money, when he moved here. He took an article for
a large tract of land and went to making potash and
selling goods and merchandise, in company with his
brother, Ebenezer Mix, avIio was then a clerk in the
land office of the Holland Company, at BataA'ia.
The settlers, building their houses of logs and their
chimneys of sticks and mud, my husband found noth-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 169
ing to do at his trade, until they began making brick
and making their chimneys of stone, with brick ovens.
He then closed out his mercantile business and
went to work at his trade and being something of a
lawyer, he used to do that kind of business consider
ably for the settlers.
AVe had pretty hard times occasionally but managed
to get along with Avhat Ave had and raised our seven
¦children to be men and women.
My husband died in 1856. Three of my children
have died. I shall be 86 years old in a feAv days, if I
live. LYDIA MIX."
Barre, February, 1869. JOSEPH HART.
Joseph Hart was born in Berlin, Hartford Co.,
Conn., in Nov., 1775, and died in Barre, Orleans Co.,
N. Y., July, 1855.
Mr. Hart moAred to Seneca, Ontario County, N. Y.,
in the year 1806. In the fall of 1811, he came to Bar
re and took an article from the Holland Land Co., of
lot 34, townsliip 15, range 1, containing 360 acres, the
principal part of which is still owned by Ms sons,
AA^illiam and Joseph.
In April, 1812, in company with Elijah Darrow,
Frederick Holsenburgh and Silas Benton, then young
unmarried men, he returned and built a log house on
Ms lot and moved his family into it in October follow
ing. Elijah Darrow took an article of part of lot 1, town-
sMp 15, range 2, held the land and worked on it about
two years, then sold it to Mr. Hart, Avho sold it to Eb
enezer Rogers, about the year 1816.
Silas Benton took an article of part of a lot lying-
next north of Darrow' s land, Avhich Avas for many
years afterwards owned by Samuel Fitch. Benton
made a clearing on his land, built a log house on it,

170 PIONEER HISTORY
in which he lived several years and in which his wife,
Mrs. Silas Benton, taught a school, probably the first
school in the town of Barre, boarded several men and
did her house work at the same time, all in one room.
A log school house was afterwards built on Benton's
land, to which Mrs. Benton moved her school, which
was said to have been the first school house built in
town. Frederick Holsenburgh took an article of part of
the lot lying next north of Benton' s, in the village of
Albion, on the west side of the Oak Orchard Road. —
The Depot of the N. Y. Central Railroad stands on
the Holsenburgh tract.
Joseph Hart married Lucy Kirtland, who was born
in Say brook, Conn., and who died at Adrian, Mich.,
January, 1868, aged 89 years.
He was here during the war of 1812, and was sever
al times called out to do military service in that war.
He was a prominent and active man in all matters
pertaining to the organization of society in the new
country. He assisted in forming the Presbyterian
Church, in Albion, in which he was a ruling elder
while he lived, and from Ms office in that church he
was always known as Dea. Hart.
He almost always, held some town office, and for
many of his later years he was overseer of the poor of
the town of Barre, a position the kindness of his na
ture well qualified him to fill. His fortunate location
near the thriving village of Albion, which has been
extended over a part of his farm, made him a wealthy
man. Through a long 'life, he maintained a high
character for probity and good judgment, and died
respected by all who knew him.
ADEN FOSTER
Was 'born in Sudbury, Vermont, July 20, 1791 ;
married Sarah Hall, of Brandon, Vt., Jan. 23, 1817 ;

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 171
came to Barre in the winter of 1817 and settled on lot
36, township 14, range 1, half a mile south of Barre
Center. He cleared up his farm and resided on it un
til his d^ath, Feb. 18, 1838. Mr. Foster was an active
business man, a leading man among the early settlers.
He Avas for several years Capt. of a militia company,
and for some years a Justice of the Peace.
ALEXIS WARD.
Alexis AA'ard was born in the town of Addi
son, Vermont. May 18, 1802. His parents removed
to Cayuga county, NeAv York, when he was quite a
lad. He studied law Avith Judge Wilson of Auburn,
and Avas admitted to the bar in 1823. In 1824 he re
moved to Albion, where he was soon appointed a Jus
tice of the Peace.
On the retirement of Judge Foot, who Was the first
Judge of Orleans county, Mr. AVard was appointed
First Judge in his place Feb. 10, 1830, an office he
held by re-appointment until January 27, 1840.
In 1834-5 he was mainly instrumental in procuring
the charter incorporating the Bank of Orleans, which
was the first bank incorporated in Orleans county,
and in 1836 was elected its President and held that
office until his death.
He was one of the movers in founding the Phipps
Union Seminary and the Albion Academy, and was
always liberal in sustaining our public schools, i
It was mainly owing to Ms exertions that the Roch
ester, Lockport and Niagara Falls Railroad was built,
and if it has proved a benefit the thanks for its con
struction are chiefly due to Judge Ward.
The Suspension Bridge across Niagara River made
a part of his original plan in connexion with this rail
road, and his arguments and exertions were mainly
effectual in inducing American capitalists to take
stock in this Bridge.

172 PIONEER HISTORY
He projected the plank roads from the Ridge through
Albion to Barre Center and took a large pecuniary
interest in them.
He, with Roswell and Freeman Clarke, Ifuilt the
large stone flouring mill in Albion. He also built
several dwelling houses.
He was a large hearted, public spirited man, always
ready to do anything he thought might benefit Albion.
In all his business relations he was just, honorable
and upright, every man received his due ; his purse
was always open to the calls of charity. A man of
untiring energy and perseverance, — to start a project
was Avith him a certainty of its completion.
In his intercourse with those about him he was
kind, affable and generous. His reserve might be
construed by those who did not know him well, as
haughtiness, but'few men were freer from this than
he. As a Christian, he was an exemplary member of
the Presbyterian Church of Albion, with which he
connected himself in 183l. He always gave greater
pecuniary contributions to sustain that church and
its ministers than any other man. He did much by
his prayers, counsel, charities and example to sustain
the cause of religion generally.
In November, 1854, he was elected Member of As
sembly for Orleans county, but his death prevented
his taking his seat in the Legislature.
He married Miss Laura Goodrich of Auburn in
1826. He died November 28th, 1854.
THE LEE FAMILY.
Judge John Lee, the ancestor of this family and the
man after Avhom the Lee Settlement in Barre was
named, Avas born in Barre, Massachusetts, June 25th,
1763. In an early day he emigrated to Madison
county, New York, Avhere he resided fourteen years,

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 1.73
and came to Barre, Orleans county in 1816, and took
up a tract of land. He returned home, but his sons,
Charles and Ora, then young men, came on and
cleared up several acres of their fathers purchase,
and built a log house into which Mr. John Lee and
his family moved in February, 1817.
Mr. Lee was an intelligent, energetic man, benevo
lent and patriotic in his character, always among the
first to engage in any Avork tending to premote the
good of his neighbors or the prosperity of the country.
With the hospitality common to all the pioneers, he
kept open house to all coiners and frequently half a
dozen men looking after land or waiting till their log
houses could be put up, would be quartered with him
though his oaati family Avas large.
He Avas always conspicuous in aiding to lay out
and open roads, build school houses and induce set
tlers to come iu and stay. He Avas appointed a
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Genesee
county and his opinions and counsel in all matters
of local interest Avere much sought by his neighbors.
He died in October 1823.
His children Avere Dencey, Avife of Benj. Godard,
who died in Barre in 1831. Submit, Avife of Judge
Eldridge Farwell, avIio is still living. Charles, Ora
and Asa. Sally Avife of AndreAv Stevens. She taught
the first school kept in the settlement in a log school
house in which the family of a Mi-. Pierce then re
sided, in 1818-19. She died at KnoAvlesville in 1828.
Esther wife of Gen. Wm. C. Tanner, died in 1835.
John B. who died in September 1860. Clarissa Avife
of John Proctor, avIio died in 1832. Cynthia married
AVilliam Mudgett of Yates, in 1837, she is iioav living
the widow of John Proctor. Charles has always
resided on a part of the land originally taken up by
Ms father. He has ahvays been a prominent man iu

174 PIONEER HISTORY
public affairs in town and county, and was for a
number of years a Justice of the Peace.
Ora Lee also has resided on a part of the land so
taken up by his father. It is said he cut the first tree
that was felled between the village of Millville in
Shelby and the Oak Orchard Road in Barre. Gen.
John B. Lee removed to Albion about the year 1832,
and engaged in warehousing and forwarding on the
canal. Shortly after this he purchased of the Hol
land Company a large number of outstanding con
tracts made by the Company with settlers on the sale
of their lands in the north part' of this county. He
conveyed these lands to the purchasers as they were
paid for.
A few years afterwards he engaged in selling dry
goods in Albion. In a short time he left this and
devoted himself mainly to buying and selling flour
and grain, and in manufacturing flour during the re
mainder of Ms life. He took delight in military
affairs, held various offices in the State militia, rising
gradually to the rank of Brigadier-General.
ABRAHAM CANTINE.
Abraham Cantine was born in Marbletown,
Ulster county. He volunteered as a soldier in the
United States Army in the war with Great Britain, in
1812, and served as a Captain in the stirring scenes
of that war on the Canadian frontier. He was
wounded in the sortie at the battle of Fort Erie.
After the war he was discharged from the army
and returned to Ulster county, of which he was ap
pointed Sheriff by the old Council of Appointment,
in Feb. 1819. Soon after the expiration of his office
as Sheriff, he removed to the town of Murray, in Or
leans county. He was employed about the year 1829,
to re-survey that portion of the 100,000 acre tract ly
ing mainly in the town of Murray, which belonged to

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 175
the Pultney estate, part of township number three, a
labor he carefully and faithfully performed.
He represented the county of Orleans in the State
Legislature in 1827. He served five years as an, As
sociate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Or
leans county. He was Collector of Tolls on the Erie
Canal at Albion in 1835.
Several years befor his death he removed to Albion
to reside, and died there about Aug. 1, 1840, aged
fifty years.
Judge Cantine was a clear headed man, of sound
judgment, well informed and always sustained
a high reputation for ability wherever he was known.
He Avas a warm personal and political friend of Pres
ident A'anBuren. CAROLINE P. ACHILLES,
Daughter of Mr. Joseph Phipps, was born in Rome,
NeAv York. She was one in a numerous family of
daughters, whose early education was superintended
by her father with more than ordinary care at home,
though she had the advantages of the best private
schools and of the district schools in the vicinity. —
AA^Mle she was quite young her father settled in Bar
re, and at an early age she was permitted to gratify
the ambition she then manifested and which has been
a ruling passion of her life, to become a teacher, by
taking a small district school, at a salary of one dol
lar per week 'and board around,' as was then cus
tomary in such schools. The salary, however, was
no object to her, she wished to teach a school, not to
make money. After teaching this school two or three
terms, she attended the Gaines Academy then in the
zenith of its prosperity. Having spent some time
here she was sent to a ' finishing' Ladies School kept
by Mrs. and Miss Nicholas, in Whitesboro, N. Y.
On leaving AVhitesboro she determined to engage in

176 PIONEER HISTORY
teaching permanently and accepted a situation to in
struct as assistant, in a classical school which had
been opened by two ladies in Albion.
Finally an arrangement Avas made between the two-
principals and their assistant, under which they trans
ferred their lease of premises, and all their interests
in the school to Miss Phipps.
She now associated with an elder sister and the
two commenced their labors as teachers on their own
account, in a building then standing on the site of the
present Phipps Union Seminary, in April, 1833.
Acting on a favorite theory with her, that it is bet
ter to teach boys and girls in separate schools, she di
vided her scholars accordingly, and after a time she
declined to receive boys as pupils and devoted all
her energies to her school for young ladies.
This proved a success. So many pupils had come
in that in August of her first year, she had been join
ed by another and younger sister as teacher, besides
a teacher in music and all found themselves fully
employed. She thus became convinced a Female Seminary
could be supported in Albion and that she was ca
pable of superintending it, and encouraged by the
counsel and influence of some of the best citizens of
the village, she issued a circular to the public, an
nouncing the founding of such an institution of learn
ing here.
After near a year's trial the new Seminary was
proved to require additional buildings, to accommo
date the large school. Miss Phipps invited some of
the most wealthy and influential men of Albion, to
meet and hear her proposition to erect a new Semi
nary Building, which Avas in substance, that they
should loan to her four thousand dollars, with which,
and funds she could otherwise procure, she would
erect a building and repay the loan to the subscribers

PHIPPS UNION SEMINARY, ALBION, ORLEANS CO., N. Y.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 177
in installments, and thus establish permanently the
Seminary she proposed.
Such proceedings were had upon this proposal that
a paper was circulated, and the required sum sub
scribed, with a condition added that the avails of this
loan to be repaid by Miss Phipps, should be used to
found an Academy for boys in Albion. This plan
Avas eventually carried into effect, and the brick edi
fice still used as a Seminary, built in the year 1836,
and Phipps Union Seminary duly incorporated in
1840. Miss Phipps AA-as thus instrumental in founding two
incorporated schools in Albion, which have proved of
great public benefit.
Miss Phipps Avas married to Col. H. L. Achilles, of
Rochester, N. Y., in February, 1839, and soon after
resigning the care of the Seminary to her younger sis
ter, she removed to Boston, Mass., where she resided
the succeeding ten years. During this time thist
younger sister married, Avhen the Seminary Avas trans
ferred to others, less competent to manage its affairs,
in Avhose hands it lost the large patronage it had re-
ceiA-ed, and was well nigh ruined.
This compelled Mr. and Mrs. Achilles to return to
Albion, in 1849, and resume charge of the Seminary,
or lose a large pecuniary interest the}- had invested
there. The tact and energy of Mrs. Achilles, well sustain
ed by her husband, gave new vigor to the institution,
and • soon brought the Seminary back to the high
standing it had under her former administration.
Tired and worn down by the harrassing cares, anx
ieties and labor of superintending so large an estab
lishment and school, so many years, in 1866 Mrs.
Achilles reluctantly consented to transfer her dearly
cherished Seminary again to strangers.
After three years' trial by these parties however, it
12

178 PIONEER HISTORY
was thought best that Mrs. Achilles should again
take charge of Phipps Union Seminary, which she
did, bringing Avith her to her duties the skill, experience
and practical ability which have given her. such emi
nent success as a teacher.
Mrs. Achilles has devoted the best years of her life
to the cause of female education. She has labored in
her chosen vocation, Avith the zeal and enthusiasm of
genius, and may enjoy her reward in the good she
knows she has done, and in the success Avith which
she sees her Avork has been crowned.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE AILLAGE OP ALBION.
rFirst Inhabitants — First Business Men — Strife with Gaines for Court
House — Strategy used by Albion men to get Court House — First
Court House — Second Court House— County Jail — First Hotel-
First Warehouse — Stone Flouring Mill — Lawyers— Drs. Nichoson
and White— First Tanyard— First Blacksmiths— Name of the Vil
lage.

AK Orchard Road intersects this A'illage and
now forms Main Street, north and south, in
the center of the place. It was this road and
the Erie Canal that fixed a village here.
When the canal was commenced Albion was used
for farms, but by the time the canal became naviga
ble considerable of a town had sprung up.
AVilliam McCollister cleared the first land on what
is noAv in the corporation, where the Court House and
Female Seminary stand, and built his log house on
the Seminary lot in 1812. He took up lot thirty-five,
township fifteen, range one, on the east side of Main
street, under article from the Holland Company,
which he sold to AVilliam Bradner, who took the deed
from the company of two hundred and sixty -six and
one-half acres of the north part, his brother Joel
taking a deed of ninety-two acres on the south part,
-,on the west side of Main street.
Jesse Bumpus took up by article from the compa
ny, the land from the town line of Gaines on the north,
to near State street on the south. John Holtzbarger,
«or Holsenburgh, as he was sometimes called, took up

- 180 PIONEER HISTORY
the next land south of Bumpus, and Elijah Darrow
took the next.
Before the canal was made Mr. William Bradner"
sold one hundred acres of the north-west part of his ¦
tract to Nehemiah Ingersoll and others. Mr. Inger
soll employed Orange Risden to lay out his land bor
dering on the Oak Orchard Road and canal, into vil
lage lots, and to make a plat of the same. From this •
Mr. Ingersoll sold lots and opened the streets, he hav
ing bought out his partners.
The Bumpus tract, on the west side of Main street,
at this time was owned by Mr. Roswell Burrows, the
father of Messrs. R. S. & L. Burrows. He did not
lay out Ms land into village lots by any general sur
vey and plan, but laid off lots and opened streets •
from time to time as the wants of the public required.
The land fronting on Main street, through the village,
was taken up and mostly occupied by purchasers -
from the original proprietors, about the time the canal
was made navigable.
The location of the County Seat in Albion, about
this time, and the bustle and business of erecting"
county buildings, establishing the courts and public of
fices and organizing the affairs of a new county, toAvn
and village, brought in an influx of inhabitants at
once, representing the different callings and employ
ments pursued by those who settled in villages along
the canal.
The south side of the canal — the north being the
towing path — was soon occupied by buildings put
up for the canal trade, such as warehouses and gro
cery stores. The large number of passengers who
filled the canal boats, made the grocery stores, from
which they and the boatmen procured their supplies,
places of lively trade, by night and day. Variety
stores, each filled with goods of every name, class and-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 181
¦ description demanded by the customers, were numer
ous, though small.
Among the first merchants were Goodrich & Stan
dart, John Tucker, O. H. Gardner, R. S. & L. Bur
rows, Alderman Butts, and Freeman Clarke, of late
years a prominent banker in Rochester, N. Y.
AAThen the Commissioners appointed to select the
site for the Court House came on to fix the spot, their
choice lay between Gaines and Albion. Gaines had
the advantage of being the largest village, being on
the Ridge Road, and being well supplied with me
chanics and merchants, and of having many of the
institutions of old and well organized communities es
tablished there. Albion was nearest the geographical
center of the county, and was intersected by the Erie
Canal and Oak Orchard Road. The west branch of
Sandy Creek runs through the east part of the vil
lage. Rising in some swamps in the south pari of
the town, it afforded sufficient water after the melting
of the snow in spring, and after rains to turn ma-
-cMnery a part of the year, but in summer was nearly
dry. On this stream two saw mills had been built,
one in the village, the other south of it.
The Commissioners came to consider the claims of
the rival villages about the middle of the dry season.
Mr. Nehemiah Ingersoll, Philetus Bumpus, Henry
.Henderson, and a few other Albion men, determined
to use a little strategy to help Albion. Knowing
Avhen the Commissioners would be here the creek
would be too low to move the sawmills, and foresee
ing the advantage a good mill stream would give
them, they patched the two dams and flumes and
closed the gates to hold all the water some days be
fore the Commissioners would arrive ; sent some
teams to haul logs and lumber about the saw mill
.and mill yard, in the village to mark the ground and
.give the appearance of business there.

182 PIONEER HISTORY
When the Commissioners came to see Albion,.
having been generously dined and wined by its hospi
table people, they were taken in a carriage to see the •
place, and in the course of the ride driven along the
creek and by the sawmill, then in full operation, with
men and teams at work among the lumber, Avith a
good supply of water from the ponds thus made for
the occasion. The Commissioners were impressed
with the importance of this fine water power and
gave the county buildings to Albion before the ponds -
ran out.
Mr. Ingersoll donated to the county the grounds-
noAv occupied by the court house and jail and public
park. The first court house was built in 1827, of brick,,
with the County Clerk's office in the lower story.
Gilbert Howell, Calvin Smith and Elihu Mather were
building committee.
This Court House was pulled down and a neAV one
erected in its place in 1857-8, at a cost of $20,000...
W. V. N. BarloAv was the architect, and Lyman Bates,
Henry A. King and Charles Baker, building com
mittee. The present jail was built in 1838, and the clerk's -
office in 1836.
The first hotel was kept on the south-west corner
of Main and Canal streets, by  Churchill. The
next hotel, called Albion Hotel, was built by Philetus -
Bumpus about twenty rods south of the canal on the -
west side of Main street, and kept several years by
Bumpus & Howland, succeeded by Hiram Sickles. -
Mr. Bumpus then built the Mansion House, a hotel ,.
standing on the north side of the canal, on Main St., .
which he kept several years.
Mr. Philetus Bumpus, and Ms father, Jesse Bum
pus, built the first framed dwelling house in Albion,,
on the lot on Avhich Mr. L. BurroAvs noAv resides.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY'. 183
The first warehouse was built by Neheiniah Inger
soll, on the canal about twenty rods east of Main St.
The next by Cary & Tilden, on the west side of Main
street, on the canal.
The first sawmill in the corporation of Albion was
built in 1819, by AVilliam Bradner.
Mr. AA'illiam Bradner built the first grist mill, the
mill stones for Avhich he cut in person from a rock in
Palmyra. One of these stones is now used for a
corner guard stone on the corner of State and Claren
don streets. These mills Avere cheap structures and
Avere taken away after a few years.
The stone flouring mill on the canal was built by
AA^ard & Clarks in 1833.
The first lawyer in Albion was Theophilus Capen.
He remained here but a short time. The next law
yers were AAtilliam J. Moody, Alexis AVard, Henry R.
Curtis, Gideon Hard, AAtilliam AAT. Ruggles, and
others came about the time the county Avas or
ganized. Dr. Orson Nichoson was the first physician. He
located two miles south of the village in 1819, and
removed to Albion about 1822. Dr. AVilliam White,
who had been in practice at Oak Orchard in Ridge-
Avay, came here about the time the county was organ
ized, and opened a drug store and went into partner
ship with Dr. Nichoson in the practice of medicine.
Dr. Stephen M. Potter was one of the early physi
cians who settled in Albion. He was born in AArest-
port, Mass., removed to Cazenovia, N. Y., and from
thence to Albion. About the year 1837 he removed
to Cazenovia again. He represented Madison county
in the State Legislature in 1846.
The first tanyard was located on the south side
of the canal on the lot now occupied by the gasAvorks,
by Jacob Ingersoll, about the year 1825. Tanning

184 PIONEER HISTORY'
was continued here until the gas works were built in
1858. The first blacksmiths were John M6e, Rodney A.
Torrey, and Phineas. Phillips.
Albion was at first for some years called Newport,
but on account of trouble with the mails, there being
another post office in this state by the name of New
port, at a meeting of the inhabitants to take meas
ures to get the village incorporated, on motion of
Gideon Hard, the name was changed to Albion in the
first Act of incorporation passed April 21st, 1828.
The first company of fireman Avas organized in 1831.
John Henderson settled in Albion in Sept. 1825 and
established the first shop for making carriages. He
kept the first livery stable in 1834, and started the
first horse and cart for public accommodation in 1837.
He has been an active man, an ingenious mechanic,
and has built ten or twelve dwelling houses and nu
merous shops, barns and other buildings here.

CHAPTER XVII.

TOWN OF CARLTON.
Name — Lumber Trade — First Settlement of White Men in County —
James Walsworth — Village of Manilla — Names of Persons who took
Articles of Land in Carlton in 1803, 1804 and 1805— Matthew Dun
ham — Carious Mill to Pound Corn — Dunham's Saw Mill and Grist
Mill — First in County — First Frame Barn — The Union Company —
Death of Elijah Brown — First Children Born in Town — First Store
— Biographies of Early Settlers.

ARLTON Avas set off from Gaines and Ridge
way April 13, 1822, by the name of Oak
Orchard. The name Avas changed to Carlton
in 1825.
The region of land lying north of the Ridge Road
in this vicinity was called the "north woods" in early
times. It was heavily timbered land, containing large
numbers of immense whitewood trees and white and
red oaks of the largest kind. Some pine grew near
the Oak Orchard Creek. Hemlock was abundant in
some localities, and bassAvood, elm, beech and some
maple comprised the principal kinds of trees.
The settlers in their haste to clear their lands, gen
erally burned up all of this fine timber that they did
not want for fencing, in the first feAv years of their
settlement. After sawmills Avere built, Avhite Avood
was sawed and the boards hauled to the canal for sale,
and large quantities of oak trees were squared to the
top and sent down the Lake to Europe for ship timber.
The prices obtained were barely sufficient to pay the
expense of the labor required to move the lumber,

186 PIONEER HISTORY
but the destructive work -was kept up till most of
the timber trees of every kind have been cut doAvn
through this town.
The first settlement of white men in Orleans county
mas made in this town in the year 1803 by William
and James Walsworth, who came from Canada.
James settled near the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek,
and William near the mouth of Johnson's Creek.
James WalsAvorth was the pioneer settler of this
county. He came across from Canada in May 1803,
in an open boat with his family, and built a log cabin
for his residence, which at that time was the only
house near the shore of Lake Ontario, betAveen Fort
Niagara and Braddock' s Bay. His nearest neighbor
at first, resided near Lockport, Niagara county. Mr.
Walsworth was very poor then. The only provisions
they had when they landed were a few potatoes ; these
and fish from Oak Orchard Creek, in which there was
then an abundance, supplied their sustenance, ex
cept an occasional barter with boatmen, who, coast
ing along the south shore of the lake, would put into
the mouth of the Oak Orchard for shelter. Wals
worth hunted and fished mainly for a living, and
when he collected any store of peltries he took them
east along the shore of the lake to a market. After
two or three years he removed to what used to be
called "The Lewiston Road," between Lockport and
Batavia, where he Avas afterwards well known as a
tavern keeper.
The Walsworths and the few other settlers who came
in and stopped along the Lake Shore in Carlton, com
prised all the settlers in Orleans county before the
year 1809, with one or tAvo exceptions.
About the year 1803, Joseph Ellicott concluded
that eventually a village must grow up at the mouth
of Oak Orchard Creek. In anticipation of that event
he made a plat for a toAvn there and called it Manilla,

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 187
a name which is iioav found on some maps for the
place more commonly known as Oak Orchard. Harbor.
It was supposed in those days that most of the trade
to and from the Holland Purchase, would take the
lake route, and Manilla would be the depot. At that
time the sand bar, at the mouth of Oak Orchard
Creek Avas less then in later years, and the small
schooners then on the lake could come over it with
out difficulty. It AA^as in furtherance of this thought
that the Holland Company didAvhat they did towards
opening the Oak Orchard road to travel. The Erie
Canal, however, effectually stifled this project, and
turned trade and commerce in another direction.
John G. Brown took up two and one-half acres of
land from the Company, on the west side of Oak
Orchard Creek near the mouth and hekl it on specu
lation for a time, but nothing was done in the way of
founding a village. This land Avas deeded to him by
the Holland Company Dec. 2, 1806, and was described
in the deed as lot No. 15, on a plan of the village of
Manilla. This was the first deed of land in the town
of Carlton given by the Company. Brown conveyed
the land to Silas Joy, Nov. 28, 1815. The following
named persons took Articles of the Holland Company
for land lying in the present town of Carlton, in the
years folloAving, viz : in 1803.
John Farrin, James DeGraw, Cornelius DeGraw,
James AValsworth, Elijah Brown, John G. Brown,
James McKinney, Elijah Hunt, James Dunham,
David Musleman, Samuel Utter, Ray Marsh, Henry
Lovewell, John Parmeter, AVilliam Carter, Martin
Griffin, Eli Griffith, AVilliam Griffith and Stephen
Hoyt. in 1804.
Samuel McKinney, John Jason, Henry Lovewell,

183 PIONEER HISTORY
AVilliam Carter, Job Shipman and Ephraim Waldo.
in 1805.
Paul Brown, Job Johnson, Ephraim AValdo, David
Miller, and Thaddeus Moore.
Matthew Dunham and his sons Matthew, James
and Charles, came from Berkshire county, Mass., to
AVayne county, New York, about 1795. They re
moved to Carlton in 1804. They were chair makers,
and began working at their trade soon as they could
get settled after they came in.
Henry Lovewell from New Hampshire, and Moses
Root and his family from. Cooperstown, N. Y., came
to Carlton with Mr. Dunham and his family.
Matthew Dunham, Jr. married Rachel Lovewell,
daughter of , Henry Lovewell, in the year 1814. Mr.
Dunham died in 1854, but Mrs. Rachel Dunham is
yet living, 1871, aged about eighty-six years.
In the summer of 1804, Matthew Dunham and his
sons built a dam across Johnson' s Creek where the
dam now stands at Kuckville, and erected a small
building on it, with machinery for turning wood.
The Dunham family carried on the business of turn
ing in a small way in this building several years.
They did not find much sale for their goods near
home, but sold some chairs and wooden bowls to the
new settlers. The most of their work they took across
the lake and disposed of in Canada. They continued
this commerce until the embargo was declared in
1808, and after that they smuggled their chair stuff
over to considerable extent on a sail boat which they
owned. It is related by some of the first settlers that in this
turning shop the Dunhams fixed an apparatus for
pounding corn, by making a tub or box in which the
corn Avas placed, and a heaA-y pestle was made to fall
at each turn of the water wheel. Into this box they

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 189
would put about a bushel of corn, occasionally stir
ring it up to bring it under the pestle, and thus pound
it until it was reduced to meal. It took considerable
time to turn a bushel of corn into meal by this pro
cess, and aid could be afforded to but feAv families
in this way.
Several families coming in to settle in the neighbor
hood, the want of a sawmill and a gristmill Avas great
ly felt. Three or four years after the Dunhams built
their turning shop, the Holland Land Company of
fered to furnish the irons for a sawmill, and the irons
and a pair of mill stones for a grist mill if they
would erect such mills on their dam. A saAv mill
and a grist mill were built accordingly.
These were the first saw and grist mills built in
Carlton. They were small, coarse affairs, tint
they were very useful to those living near them.
They remained the property of the Dunhams until
about 1816, they were purchased by George Kuck,
and rebuilt on a much larger pattern than the old
mills. Mr. Reuben Root owned a small sail boat of a feAv
tons burthen which he used to run across the lake.
On this, pine lumber was brought from Canada before
sawmills were built here, and it was the principal
conveyance by which passengers and property were
carried across the lake either way for a number of
years. Mr. Moses Root built a framed barn before Dun
ham's sawmill was erected, bringing the boards from
Canada. This is supposed to have been the first
frame barn built in Orleans county.
Reuben Fuller and John Fuller came from Brad
ford county, in Pennsylvania, and settled near Kuck-
ville in 1811. THE UNION COMPANY.
In December, 1810, eight young men in Stock-

190 PIONERE HISTORY
bridge, Massachusetts, formed a company, which
they named "The Onion Company," and agreed
each to contribute an equal share of stock, and go
together and form a settlement on the Holland Pur
chase, where each partner should bay for himself a
farm Avith his OAvn means, and the company Avould
help him clear a certain portion of land and build a
house and barn. The buildings to be alike on each
man's farm.
They limited the company to two years, during
Avhich they Avould all live and work together and.
share the avails of their labor equally.
Before leaving Stockbridge they dreAv up and
signed their agreement in writing.
Thus organized they came to Carlton and took up
land west of Oak Orchard Creek, each a farm, which
was worked according to contract.
Fitch Chamberlain was married but left Ms Avife at
home until he could get a home for her made ready.
They brought no women with them and kept bache
lor' s hall the first year Avhen Giles Slater, Jr. , went back
to Stockbridge and married a Avife and brought her
to his new home, and soon after his example Avas
followed by the remainder of the company.
The company made judicious selections of land ;
its affairs were well managed and successful. All of
the partners were fortunate in accumulating proper
ty, the sure reward of honest, persevering industry.
Their families have ever been among the most respec
ted and influential in town.
Fitch Chamberlain was a physician and practiced
medicine in the later years bf his life. The members
of the company are all dead except Anthony Miles,
now aged 84 years, in 1871.
The Union Company consisted of Minoris Day,
Fitch Chamberlain, Charles AArebster, Anthony Miles,

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 191
Selah Bardslee, Moses Barnum, Jr., Russell Smith,
and Giles Slater, Jr.
The first death among the settlers Avas that of
Elijah Brown. The first birth Avas a pair of twins,
children of James AA"alsworth, in 1806. At their
birth no physician or person of her own sex
AA-as present with the mother. The first marriage Avas
that of AVilliam Carter and Amy Hunt, in 1804. Pe-
leg Helms taught the first school in 1810-11. And
George Kuck kept the first store in 1816.
The first public religious services in Carlton Avere
held about the year 1810, and were conducted by
Rev. Mr. Steele, a Methodist preacher who came
from Canada.
Elder Simeon Dutcher, of the Baptist denomina
tion, settled in Carlton in 1817. He was the only
preacher residing in town for several years.
Among the first settlers were Elijah Hunt, Moses
Root, Henry Lovewell, Paul Brown, Elijah Brown,
Job Shipman, Matthew Dunham.
Dr. Richard AV. Gates was the first regular phy
sician Avho settled in the practice of his profession in
Carlton. After a few years he moved to Barre, and
thence to Yates. He represented Orleans county in
the State Legislature in 1841, and Avas Supervisor of
Carlton in 1826.

BIOGRAPHIES OF EARLY SETTLERS.
GEORGE KUCK.
Rev. George Kuck was born in the city of London,
England, December 23, 1791, and educated at King's
College, London. He came to New York city in
1806, and removed to Toronto, Canada West, in 1807.
In the war between England and the United States in
1812, he served as Lieutenant in the Canada militia.

192 PIONEER HISTORY
After the war, and until 1815, he Avas clerk in the
employ of the Canadian Government, at Toronto,
until October, when he removed to Carlton and pur
chased the farm on Avhich he resided ever afterAvards,
now known as Kuckville.
He erected a frame gristmill on the site of the log
mill built by M. Dunham on Johnson's Creek.
In 1816 he opened a store near Ms residence, at that
time the only store north of the Ridge in this part of
the country, where he kept a large store of goods
aud carried on a great trade.
He soon after built a Avarehouse at the mouth of
Johnson's Creek. At one time he had a store,
gristmill, sawmill, ashery, warehouse and farm, all
under his personal supervision and in successful ope
ration. His investments were judicious and safe, his
affairs all managed with economy and skill, which
resulted in making him a wealthy man.
He married Miss Electa Fuller March 25th, 1819.
In March 1821, he joined the Methodist Episcopal
Church, in AA'hich he was ever after a prominent mem
ber. He helped to form the first religious class in his
church in the town of Carlton, and was its leader.
In 1825 he organized and taught the first Sunday
School in the county north of the Ridge. In April,
1829, he Avas licensed to exhort, in 1833 he was
licensed to preach, and in 1837 he was ordained
Deacon by Bishop Hedding, and in 1849 he Avas or
dained Elder by Bishop Morris, at Albion.
He was appointed Postmaster at West Carlton,
since Kuckville, an office he held, in all, about 30
years. He was a man of good education and fine natural
ability and his life was filled with usefulness. He
was among the first and foremost in all matters of re
form and advancement, active in the cause of temper
ance, morality and religion, always a leading man in

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 19c
the counsels of the church. He died March 10,
1868, aged 76 years.

DANIEL GATES.
Daniel Gates Avas born in Rutland county, Vermont,
March 11th, 1786. He married Ann Anderson, March
12th, 1808.
About November, 1811, he removed to Orleans
county, and bought an article of part of lot twenty-
nine, township fifteen, range two, on the south side of
the Ridge. A former owner had cleared a small spot
and built a log house there. On this farm Mr. Gates
resided several years. He afterwards bought a farm
in Carlton, where he resided at the time of his death,
January 31st, 1858.
Mrs. Ann Gates died January 1st, 1866. They were
parents of John and Nehemiah F. Gates, of Carlton,
Lewis AV. Gates, residing in Michigan, and Matthew
A. Gates, of Yates.
Mr. Gates moved his family in with a yoke of oxen
and wagon. No bridge had been built across Gene
see River, and he forded the stream at Rochester, a
man riding a horse hitched before the oxen, to guide
them through the river.
Few settlers along the Ridge Road came in advance
of Mr. Gates, or braved the hardships and difficulties
of pioneer life with better courage. They had very
few of the conveniences and comforts of civilized life,
and sometimes were in want of food. Once about
the last year of the war a scarcity prevailed among
the four families then comprising all the inhabitants
in the vicinity of Mr. Gates. But one pan full of
flour remained among them all, and that they kept
to feed the children, the older folks expecting to sub
stitute boiled green wheat in place of bread. Mr.
Gates cut a few bundles of his wheat then in the

194 PIONEER HISTORY
milk, and dried it in the sun. They rubbed the soft
grain out of the straw and boiled it. This was eaten
with milk and relished very much by the family, and
it supplied them until wheat ripened and dried fit to
grind. For several years no settler located between Mr.
Gates' place on the Ridge, and Shelby. Along the
line of the canal was then a solid forest. Mr. Gates'
cattle were suffered to range the woods to browse in
summer. They usually returned to the clearing at
night. Once his oxen, one of which wore a bell, with
his cow failed to come in at night. Mr. Gates armed
Mmself with a bayonet on the end of a staff to repel
a bear or wolf if he chanced to be attacked, and went
out to hunt for them, his old English musket being
too heavy to carry. After several days hunting he
found his cattle where KnowlesAdlle now stands — at
tracted there by some wild grass growing along the
brook. ELIJAH HUNT.
Elijah Hunt Avas born in Pennsylvania. He Avas a
soldier in the Revolutionary AVar. While in the ser
vice, being in a scouting party in Pennsylvania, he,
with his party, was taken prisoner by the Indians.
He with the other prisoners was made to run the
gauntlet from one point to another, fixed for the pur
pose. The Indians — men, women and children —
posted themselves on each side of the track to be
run over by their prisoners, and assaulted them as
they passed with clubs, hatchets, knives, stones, &c.
If the prisoners were fortunate enough they might
get through and live, and they might be severely
wounded, or even killed by the way. Mr. Hunt got
through without serious damage. After reaching
their village on the Genesee River, the Indians con-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 195
.eluded to sacrifice Mr. Hunt after their terrible
fashion. He was stripped and painted black prepar
atory to Ms suffering ; but before they began to tor-
.ture him, an old squaAv, whose son had been killed
in the fight Avhen Hunt Avas taken, came forAvard and
claimed her right by Indian custom to adopt him as
her son, in place of the one that was killed. He was
released to her and adopted as she proposed, and re
mained AA'ith the Indians near the Genesee river, in
Livingston county, about three years, Avhen the war
having ended, he was permitted to return to his
.friends in Pennsylvania.
He was always treated kindly after his adoption by
..the Indians, especially by his new mother. Many
years after Ms settlement in Carlton, the Indians
found him out and visited Mm with many demonstra
tions of their friendship.
In the depth of winter, after the cold summer of
1816, fearing he might be in want with his family, on
.account of the loss of crops that year, two Indians,
one of whom claimed to be his brother, being a son
of the squaw who adopted Mr. Hunt, came to Carlton
¦to visit him and afford relief if he needed it.
He came to Carlton in the summer of . 1804 and
¦took up a farm about a mile west of the mouth
of Johnson' s Creek, on the Lake shore. After a year
or tAvo he went back to Pennsylvania with his family
.and remained until October, 1806, when he returned
.and settled permanently on his farm, where he ever
afterwards resided, and died in 1830, aged seventy -
,mne years.
The long residence of Mr. Hunt among the Indians
tqualified him to become a pioneer. in this new settle
ment, and fitted him to endure the privations and
difficulties he had to encounter.
The daughter of Mr. Hunt, Amy Hunt, married
William Carter in 1804, which was the first marriage

196 PIONEER HISTORY
in that town, and probably the first marriage in Or
leans county. RAY MARSH.
Ray Marsh was born in Connecticut. About the
year 1800 he went to Canada West and was employed
in teaching school. In 1803 he married Martha Shaw,
who was born in Nova Scotia. In that year, he left
Canada at Queenstown, in a small boat, and coasted
along the south shore of Lake Ontario to Oak Or
chard Creek, in Carlton, and took an article for land
lying near the lake in Carlton.
In 1805, on account of sickness in the neighborhood
of his home in Carlton, he removed to Cambria, in
Niagara county, and located on the Ridge, about five
miles from Lewiston. He was driven away from here
by the British and Indians when Lewiston was burned
by them in the war with England, losing almost ev
ery thing he had in the world, except the lives of him
self and family. They fled to Ontario county, but
returned the next year to near Ridgeway Corners and.
stopped there. He had now a large family of cMl-
dren ; to maintain them he had to sell his interest in
Ms farm in Cambria ; and in the cold seasons of
1816-17 they suffered for necessary food ; and few
families suffered more from the prevailing sickness of
the country, aggravated as it was by their poverty
and want of means to afford relief.
Mr. Marsh died about 1852.. His widow, now
(1870) eighty-six years old, is living. She had seven
grand-sons soldiers in the Union army in the war of '
the great rebellion. During the war she spent a
large portion of her time knitting stockings for the
soldiers. Such women are worthy the name of
" Revolutionary Mothers," and are an honor to the
American name. JOB SHIPMAN.
Job Shipman was born in Saybrook, Connecticut,,.,

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 197
June 2d, 1772. After he arrived at manhood he re
sided for a time in Greene county, N. Y., and at
length came to AArayne county, where he joined the
family of Mr. Elijah BroAvn, and removed by way of
Lake Ontario, to the town of Carlton, in the summer
of 1804.
AA'Mle coming up the lake Mr. Elijah Brown died,
and his body was brought to Carlton and buried
there. His sons were James, John Gardner, Paul,
Elijah, Jr., and Robert M.
Mr. Shipman took an article of part of lot twelve,
seetion two, range two, of which his son Israel after
wards took a deed from the land company, and on
which he resides.
He married Avidow Ann Tomblin in May, 1815.
Israel SMpman was Ms only child.
Job SMpman died January 12th, 1833. His wife
-died February 8th, 1858.
The first town meetings in Carlton for two or three
years were held at Ms" dwelling, because it was one
of the best log houses in town ; had a shingled roof,
board floor, and stood near the middle of the town ;
but it was so small that few of the voters assembled
could get in the house at once. They compromised
the matter by allowing the Inspectors to sit in the
house while the voters handed in their ballots to them
through the A\-indow from without.
As it was in cold weather, even the liberal potations
of wMsky in which they indulged would not warm
the crowd, sufficiently, so they made a large log heap
near the house which being set on fire answered the
purpose. LYMAN FULLER.
Lyman Fuller was born in Pennsylvania, August
16th, 1808. In February 1811, his father, Reuben

198 Pioneer history
Fuller, moved with his family to near the lake shore'
in West Carlton.
In the fall of 1811, Capt. John Fuller, a brother of
Reuben, settled in Carlton. Mr. Reuben Fuller died
July 4th, 1837. Mr. Lyman Fuller succeeded to the-
possession of his father' s homestead, on which he re.
sided and where he died March 22d, 1866. He was a
much respected man among all who knew him.

CHAPTER XVIII.

TOAVN OF CLARENDON.
Difficulty in getting Titles from Pultney Estate — Eldredge Farwell —
Farwell's Mills — First School — First Merchants — J. and D. Sturges
— First Postmaster — First Physician — Presbyterian Church — First
Town Meeting — Biographies of Early Settlers.

LARENDON comprises a portion of the one
hundred thousand acre tract, and was formed
from SAveden February 23d, 1821.
OAving in part to the difficulty of getting a good
title to the land, which up to about 1811, was owned
for several years by the State of Connecticut and the
Pultney Estate jointly, settlers came in slowly at
first. The land was divided between the State of Connec
ticut and the Pultney Estate, in 1811 ; but the lots
which fell to the Pultney Estate, were not surveyed
and put in the market for sale until about the year
1821. Settlers were alloAved to take posses
sion of land and make improvements with the expec
tation that when the lands came in market they
would' retain what they had so taken and then get a
title. Some settlers located on these lands under
these circumstances and cleared them up and built
houses. AVhen they finally came in market the set
tlers Avas charged $8 or $10 per acre, — a much higher
price than he expected when he came in, and a higher
price than the Holland Company charged for their
lands of like quality ; but he Avas compelled to
pay it or leave and lose his labor.

200 PIONEER HISTORY
Among the first settlers in Clarendon were Eldridge
Farwell, John Cone, Bradstreet Spafford, Elisha
Huntley, David Church, and Chauncey Robinson.
Eldridge Farwell erected the first sawmill on Sandy
Creek in 1811, and the first gristmill at the same place
in 1813. A village greAv up in the vicinity of these
mills which, in honor of Mr. Farwell, was called and
knoAvn as Farwell' s Mills. Situated a little north
west df the center of the town, it has been the princi
pal place of trade and business.
Judge Eldridge FarAvell was the pioneer settler.
The next settler Avas Alanson Dudley, in 1812.
The first store was kept at Farwell' s Mills by Fris-
bie & Pierpont, in 1821.
The first school was taiaght by Mrs. Amanda Bills.
The first school house built in Clarendon stood a
little south of Farwell' s Mills, or Clarendon, as the
place is now being called, was built in 1813 of logs,
and was fourteen by eighteen feet square.
Frisbie & Pierpont traded in the little red store
building in Avhich after they left, David Sturges sold
'goods for many years.
In addition to his business as a merchant witli Mr.
Frisbie, AVilliam Pierpont kept a tavern. After two
or three years he moved aAvay and Mr. Hiram Frisbie,
his partner, succeeded to the store and tavern to
which had been added an ashery, all three of which
Mr. Frisbie carried on tAvo or three years, and until
he removed to Holley about the year 1828.
In 1815, Joseph Sturges built a distillery at Far-
well's Mills, which he carried on with his brother
David, eight or ten years, when Mr. Frisbie having
moved away, and Joseph Sturges having died in
March, 1828, David Sturges began to sell dry goods
and groceries here. He was a sharp business man
and drove a large trade. He Avas the next merchant

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 201
in town after Pierpont & Frisbie. He died in Septem
ber, 1848.
Judge Eldridge Farwell was the first postmaster in
town, and Dr. Bussy the first physician.
On the 4th of February, 1823, a Presbyterian
Church Avas organized in Clarendon. For several
years it maintained a feeble existence, until in 1831, it
united with the Presbyterian Church in Holley, and
became extinct as an organization in Clarendon.
The first toAvn meeting held in and for the town of
Clarendon AA-as at the school house at Farwell' s Mills,
April 4th, 1821.
Eldridge Farwell Avas a candidate for Supervisor
on the Clinton ticket, and AVilliam Lewis on the
Tompkins ticket. The Meeting was opened with
prayer by Elder Stedman. The election of Supervi
sor was concluded to be first in order. No chairman
had been formally appointed, but on suggestion of
somebody the entire meeting went out of doors in
front of the school house. Some one held his hat and
half a dozen voters stood by to see that nobody voted
. twice, or cast more than one ballot, and ballots for
Supervisor were thrown into the hat by all the voters
present. Eldridge Farwell AA^as elected the first Su
pervisor, and Joseph M. Hamilton, ToAvn Clerk.
Jonas Davis made spinning wheels, and Alanson
Dudley carried on tanning and shoemaking at Far-
well's Mills, at an early day.

BIOGRAPHIES OF EARLY SETTLERS.
HORACE PECK.
" I Avas born in Farmington, Hartford Co., Conn.,
April 15, 1802. In the spring of 1817, I hired out to
drive cattle, sheep and hogs to Buffalo, and went on
with a drove. The mud was deep and I had a hard

202 PIONEER HISTORY
time wading through it after my drove. I went through
however, and come back to Farwell' s Mills in Clar
endon, expecting to meet my father and his family
there, as they had made arrangements to move when
I left them.
On my journey back from Buffalo, all I had to eat
was six crackers, and I drank one glass of cider.
I found my father had not come on. I was alone,
but fourteen years of age, had but four dollars in
money, my pay for driving the drove, and had no
acquaintances there. This was the next spring after
the cold season. It was difficult for me to find a
place to stay for the reason no one had anything to
eat or to spare. I found friends, however, in Mr. and
Mrs. "Leonard Foster. They said I might stay with
them till my folks came on. After that I fared well.
They divided their best fare with me, which consisted
of hoe cake and maple molasses, and Ave had to be
sparing of that.
I stayed with my benefactors three weeks, when
my parents and their family arrived. My father had
prepared a small log cabin shingled with bark the
summer before. We moved into it. All the provis
ion we had on hand to eat was half a barrel of very
lean pork.
My father had no money left, owned no living crea
ture except his family. We had no table and oMy
two chairs. We had an acre of cleared land on our
lot sown with Avheat. These Avere gloomy times to me.
The first thing was to procure something to eat. I
paid my four dollars to David Church for two bushels
of wheat. The next thing Avas to get some straw to
sleep on. This we got of our neighbor, Chauncey
Robinson, for two cents a bundle.
AVe had hard fare until the next harvest. We ate
bran bread and had not enough of that. After har
vest we had enough to eat, and I thought at this time,

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 203
could I be sure of enough to eat hereafter I should be
content. The next year my father bought a two-year old
cow, which helped us very much,
In the winter of 1818-19, my eldest brother, Luther
C. Peck, taught a district school near where Holley
now stands, for three months, for which he Avas to
have thirty bushels of wheat after the next harvest.
AVhen father received the wheat the price had fal
len. Father drew the wheat to Rochester, and re
ceived after deducting expenses, thirty-one cents per
bushel. In 1820 we bought a yoke of oxen. We then con
sidered ourselves well off. Previous to this I went to
school Avinters. I went one winter to Farwell' s Mills,
tirree miles from my fathers. I worked summers
chopping and logging Avith my father, working out
for others when I could get an opportunity.
In the winter of 1819-20, I taught school on the
fourth section road for ten dollars per month. I fol
lowed that business for ten winters — had higher Avages
as I advanced in experience.
During this time and up to my majority I began to
consider myself a man, used to attend parties, would
yoke the oxen and hitch them to a sled, go after the
young ladies and wait on them very politely. And I
enjoyed it as well and even better than in after times
riding in a fashionable carriage.
I once thought it quite smart to visit a young lady
who resided in Le Roy. On one occasion I had been
to see her, had a very pleasant visit, time passed very
agreeably, and before I was aware it Avas getting
rather late. Sometime before daylight, however, I
started for home on foot through the woods near three
miles. When I came to about the middle of the
woods, a wolf appeared in the road before me. I
halloed right lustily, the Avolf left the road rather

204 PIONEER HISTORY
leisurely, and I passed on rapidly. Soon a howling
commenced, which was answered by other wolves at
a distance, and before I got through the woods, a
pack of these animals was on my track, and near to
mejudging by their cries. They made all sorts of
noises but pleasant ones to me. I saved myself from
them by the energetic use of my locomotive p'owers.
I came readily to the conclusion that this business
of being out so late nights 'would not pay.'
I married Miss Anna White January 22, 1829. She
was born June 19, 1802, and died January 15, 1834.
I married Miss Adaline Nichols January 31, 1836.
She Avas born February 6, 1809. HORACE PECK."
Clarendon, 1871. BENJAMIN G. PETTINGILL.
"I was born in Lewiston, Lincoln county, in the
State of Maine. In 1817, I started for the Genesee
country with my pack oh my back and walked to
Portland, thirty- five miles, where I went on board a
vessel and sailed to Boston. I left Boston on foot
with my pack on my back for the place of my des
tination. My j)ack Avas not yery heavy, but I had
in it, among other things, forty silver dollars. After
a hard journey I arrived at Ogden, Monroe county,
on the first day of Apnl. I stopped there a while
with an uncle of mine, Avas very homesick, wished
myself back in Maine many times.
I Avorked out that summer by the month, and in
the fall bought some land in what is now Clarendon,
Orleans county, then a part of Sweden.
I settled on my land, cleared it up, and in due time
raised excellent crops, and in a feAv years found my
self out of debt and considered myself rather ' fore
handed.' I labored hard in the commencement, had consider-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 205
able sickness in my family, but a good Providence
has been mindful of me and mine, and in all my law
ful undertakings I have been blest, for which I feel
truly grateful. BENJAMIN G. PETTINGILL."
Clarendon, 1864. I5RADSTREET SPAFFORD.
Mrs. Harriet S. Merrill, a daughter of Mr. Spafford,
gives the following account of him :
" My father came from Connecticut about the year
1811, and purchased a farm about a mile south of
Holley, on wMch he resided until his death in 1828.
He was twice married — my mother, Mrs. Eunice Dar
row, being his second wife. My father had but one
cMld by Ms first wife, a daughter named Hester, who
in after years became Mrs. Daniels, and is now Mrs.
Blonden. AVhen tliis sister was four years old her mother
died of consumption. At that time my father' s house
was the only one between Holley and Farwell' s Mills.
In other directions it was a mile to the nearest neigh
bors. During her last illness my father was her prin
cipal physician and nurse. He used frequently to
say to his friends he feared she would die suddenly
while alone Avith Mm.
It was arranged between my father and his nearest
neighbors, that if anything more alarming occurred
in her case, he should Moav the horn as a signal for
them to come.
Not long after, at midnight of a dark winter night,
death knocked at his door ; he took the tin horn and
blew the warning notes ; but the winds were adverse,
and nobody heard. Again and again he blew, lon
ger and louder, but no one heard or came. His wife
soon expired. My father closed her eyes, placed a
napkin about her head and covered her lifeless form

206 PIONEER HISTORY
more closely, fearing it Avould become rigid before he
could obtain assistance to habit it in the winding sheet
preparatory for the tomb, for such were the habili
ments used in those days.
He dressed his little daughter, placed her in her lit
tle chair by the fire, gave her her kitten to play with,
and told her to sit there until he came back. He then
went a mile to his nearest neighbors and roused
them to come to Ms aid, and returned finding his
little daughter as he had left her, alone with her dead
mother. I was one of the first children born in the town of
Clarendon, being now 46 years of age.
HARRIET S. MERRILL."
Clarendon, June 1863. NICHOLAS E. DARROW.
"I was born in the town of Chatham, Columbia
county, N. Y., April 1st, 1808 ; have been a farmer
by occupation. My father, John Darrow, came to
AVheatland, Monroe county, N. Y., in 1811, and
worked there two seasons, then returned to Columbia
county, sold his farm and Avas nearly ready to move
his family to the Genesee country when he was taken
sick and died March 22d. 1813.
In June, 1815, my father's family removed to the
farm he had bought two years previous. My mother,
then a widow, married Mr. Bradstreet Spafford, who
had settled in Clarendon, about the year 1811 or '12.
I grew' up among the hardships of the neAV country,
and December 30th, 1830, was married to Sarah A.
Sweet, daughter of Noah Sweet, who came to Claren
don from Saratoga county, in 1815. , My wife was
born in Saratoga county in 1812.
My father Avas a blacksmith by trade, but owned
and worked a farm. He Avas one of the leading me
chanics who made the great chain which was put

OF ORLEANS COUNT*. 207
across the Hudson River to prevent the British fleet
from coming up in the Revolutionary AArar, links of
AvMch are now in the State Library at Albany.
I haA'e resided most of the time since 1815, in Clar
endon ; and for the last tAventy-four years on the same
farm. I lived a short time in Murray and a short
time in Ohio.
I attended school in the first school house built in
Clarendon. It stood a little south of Clarendon vil
lage, and Avas built in 1813, of logs, and in size was
about fourteen by eighteen feet square, Avith slab floor
and benches. The writing desks were made by bor
ing holes in the logs, in the Avail, driving in pins and
putting boards on these.
AA"e have ten children, nine of whom are living.
My second son is now serving in the army of the Po
tomac in the war of the great rebellion.
I should have said in connection with my father's
Mstory, that himself and three of his brothers served
in the Revolutionary AVar. NICHOLAS E. DARROW."
Clarendon, April 1864. ELDRIDGE FAEAVELL.
Eldridge Farwell was born in Vermont in 1770.
Sometime preA-ious to 1811, Mr. Farwell located
near Clarkson A'illage on the Ridge road, but removed
in that year to the town of Clarendon, then an un
broken wilderness, Avhere he built the first saw mill
in that town on Sandy Creek. This sawmill made
the first boards had in all this region. In 1813, he
built a grist mill on the same stream, which was the
pioneer gristmill in that town.
On the organization of Orleans county, Mr. Farwell
was appointed in 1825 one of the Judges of the Court
of Common Pleas, which office he held five years.
The village sometimes called Farwell' s Mills in the

208 PIONEER HISTORY
town of Clarendon, was so named in his honor he
being the first to settle there.
He married a daughter of Judge John Lee, of Barre.
Judge Farwell died October 15, 1843.
AVILLIAM LEAVIS.
William Lewis was a Deputy Sheriff of Genesee
county. He was the first Sheriff of Orleans county.
He had held the office of Supervisor and Justice of
the Peace in Clarendon. He was a prompt and effi
cient officer, and a worthy man. He died July 23d,
1824, aged about 43 years. t
MARTIN EVARTS.
Martin Evarts was born in Riga, Monroe county,
N. Y., July 21st, 1812. He removed with his father's
family to Clarendon in 1817. Until within a feAv years
he resided on the farm originally taken up by his
father. Mr. Evarts was Supervisor of Clarendon in
1863. He married Charlotte Burnham, August 19th,
1835. She died June 20th, 1862.
LEMUEL COOK.
Lemuel Cook Avas born in New Haven county, Ct.,
September 10th, 1763. His father died while Lemuel
was a child, leaving his widoAv and children in desti
tute circumstances.
In the revolutionary war he with his two brothers
entered the army, Lemuel enlisting November 1st,
1779, being then in his 17th year. He was honorably
discharged June 11th, 1783. After leaving the army
his poll tax was remitted to him by the Select Men of
his town, on account of wounds he had received in
battle while serving in the armies of his country. In
1792, he settled in Pompey, Onondaga county. In
1838, he removed to Bergen, Genesee county, and from

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 209
thence to Clarendon, Avhere he died Ma}- 20th, 1866,
of old age, being 102 years, 8 months and 1 0 days old.
He was probably the oldest man that has lived in
Orleans countA". He was a revolutionary pensioner.
ISAAC CAllY.
Isaac Cady Avas born in Alstead, Ncav Hampshire,
July 26, 1793. He married Betsey Pierce, October
26th, 1816. He came to Clarendon in 1815, on foot,
from Kingston, Yt., and located the land on which.
he afterwards settled and has since resided.

CHAPTER XIX.

TOAVN OF GAINES.
First Settlers — Case of Getting Fire — Noah Burgess — Mrs. Burgess —
Cutting Logs for a House — First Orchard — First School House —
Drake's Mill Dam and Saw Mill— Organization of McCarty's Mil
itia Company — Their Scout after British and Indians — Dr. Jesse
Beach — Orange Butler — First Marriage — First Birth — First News
paper in Orleans County — First Tavern — Store — Grist Mill — First
Merchants — James Mather Dealing in Black Salts, &c. — Business at
Gaines Basin — Village of Gaines — Gaines Academy — Efforts to Lo
cate Court House Here — Trade in Other Localities — Biographies of
Early Settlers.

AINES was formed from Ridgeway, Februa
ry 14th, 1816, and included the town of Barre,
and the principal part of Carlton, within its
original limits. William J. Babbitt was prominently
active in getting this town organized, and on his sug
gestion it was named Gaines, in honor of Gen. E. P.
Gaines, of the U. S. Army.
A number of families had located along the Ridge
Road before the war with England in 1812. One of
the first settlers, if not the first, within the present
bounds of the town of Gaines, was a Mr. Gilbert,
who was living about two miles east of Gaines vil
lage, in 1809. He died in or about that year and was
buried in Murray. A man who accompanied the
widow and her niece home from the funeral, they being
all the family, found their fire had gone out, and they
had no means to kindle it, until this man, on his way
home called and notified Mr. Elijah DoAvner, and he

OF ORLEANS COUNTY'. 211
sent his son several miles to carry them fire, they
being the nearest neighbors.
The records of the Holland Land Company show
that articles for land in the town of Gaines, parts of
township fifteen, range two, were taken in the year
1809, by the following named persons : Andrew Ja-
cox, A\TMtfield Rathbun, AArilliam Sibley, Cotton M.
Leach, Noah Burgess, James Mather, and Henry
Luce. Turner's History of the Holland Purchase says:
"Whitfield Rathbun was the pioneer upon all that
part of the Ridge Road, in Orleans county, embraced
in the Holland Purchase."
Noah Burgess came from Canada in a boat with
his family and effects and landed at the head of Still
water, in Carlton. He located on the south side of
the Ridge, on the farm now occupied by Hon. Robert
Anderson and his son Nahum.
Mr. Burgess was sick and unable to work when he-
first arrived, and the vtidow Gilbert, above referred to,
took her oxen and moved the family and effects of
Mr. Burgess from Stillwater to his place on the Ridge,
a distance of about four miles. Mrs. Burgess, who
was a strong, athletic Avoman, then chopped down
trees and cut logs for a log house, and Mrs. Gilbert
drew them to the spot with her oxen, and the Avails
of the house Avere rolled up from these logs by men
who came along to look for land. The house so built
was occupied for a time by Mr. Burgess, and stood
where the Ridge Road is now laid in front of the
dwelling house of Nahum Anderson. Mrs. Burgess
set out a small orchard of apple trees near her house,
which is supposed to be the first orchard set in
Gaines. Mr. Burgess sold his land to William Bradner, and
located a mile farther east, where he died some twen-

212 PIONEER HISTORY
ty years ago, and Mrs. Burgess, referred to, died in -
the summer of 1869.
The widow Gilbert Avas a hardy pioneer. The
next winter after the death of her husband, aided by
her niece, Amy Scott, she cut down trees to furnish
browse for a yoke of oxen and some other cattle
through the Avinter. She removed to Canandaigua in
1811. Rowley, AVilcox, Leach, Adams, Rosier, Sprague,
and Daniel Pratt were some of the settlers along the
Ridge in 1810.
Daniel Gates came in 1811 and bought an article
of a farm, about tAvo miles west of the village of
Gaines, on the south side of the Ridge, since known as
the Palmer farm.
A former proprietor had chopped down the trees on
a small spot and built a cabin of logs, twelve feet
square, with a single roof.
The Holland Company agreed with their settlers if '
they would make a clearing and build a log house,
they might have the land two years without paying
interest on the purchase money.
' This cabin was built to save such interest, and ac
quired additional notoriety from the fact that in tMs ¦
building Orrin Gleason taught the first school in
Gaines, in the winter of 1813.
Henry Drake came to Gaines in 1811. In 1812 ¦
he built a dam and sawmill on Otter Creek, a few
rods north of the Ridge — the first sawmill in, this-
town. When war with Great Britain was declared in 1812,.
the settlers in this vicinity apprehending danger from
their proximity to the frontier, assembled together--
and elected Eleazer McCarty, one of their number,..
Captain, to lead them in their defence if the settle
ment was attacked by the enemy.
In December 1813, the British burned Lewiston -

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 213
.-and news was brought to Capt. McCarty by the fleeing
inhabitants, that British and Indians Avere coming-
east on the Ridge. He sent a messenger in the night
to John Proctor, the only man Avho had a horse in
the settlement, to carry the news to Murray, and call
the men together to resist them. The next morning
the company Avas en route towards the foe. The next
night they came in sight of Molyneaux tavern, ten or
12 miles east of LeAviston, and saAv a light in the house.
• Captain McCarty halted his men and advanced him-
; self to reconnoiter. Approaching the place he saw
British and Indians in the house, their guns standing
in a corner. He returned to his men and brought them
cautiously forward ; selected a few to folloAv him into
the house, and ordered the remainder to surround it
. and prevent the enemy from escaping. McCarty and
his party rushed in at the door and sprang between
the men and their guns and ordered them to surren
der. The British soldiers and the Indians had been help
ing themselves to liquor in the tavern, and some Avere
. drunk and asleep on the floor. The surprise Avas
complete. Most of the party surrendered ; a feAv In
dians showed fight with their knives and hatchets and
tried to recoA'er their guns, and several of them were
killed in the melee. One soldier made a dash to get
his gun and Avas killed by McCarty at a blow. The
remainder surrendered and were put upon their march
towards Lewiston, near which our army had then ar
rived. One prisoner would not Avalk. The soldiers
dragged him forward on the ground awhile, and get
ting tired of that, Henry Luce, one of McCarty' s men,
declared with an oath, he would kill him, and was
preparing for the act, when McCarty interfered and
; saved his life.
McCarty encamped a feAv miles east of Lewiston.
While there he went out Avith a number of his men

214 PIONEER HISTORY
and captured a scouting party of British soldiers re
turning to Fort Niagara laden with plunder they
had taken from the neighboring inhabitants. Mc
Carty compelled them to carry the plunder back to
its owners, and then sent them prisoners of war to
Batavia. After fifteen or twenty days service, McCarty' s-
company was discharged and returned home. Most
of his men resided in Gaines, and comprised nearly
all the men in toAvn.
The first regular practicing physician in Gaines was
Dr. Jesse Beach.
The first licensed attorney was Orange Butler, who'
settled here before it was determined whether the
county seat would be Gaines or Albion. Judge Eli
jah Foot and W. W. Ruggles followed soon after.
The first marriage in Gaines was that of Andrew
Jacobs to Sally Wing, in the fall of 1810 or '11.
The first child born in Gaines was Samuel Crippen,,
Jr., in 1809.
The first printing press in Orleans county was lo
cated in Gaines, by Seymour Tracy, who published.
the first newspaper there. Tracy was succeeded by
John Fisk.
The publication of this paper commenced about
1824, and continued about four years.
The first gristmill was built on Otter Creek, about
the year 1822, by Jonathan Gates.
The first tavern was kept by William Sibley in
1811. The first store was kept by William Perry in
1815. Among the early merchants were E. &. E. D. Nich
ols, V. R. Hawkins, and J. J. Walbridge.
James Mather, though he never kept a store of"
goods, was an active trader in "black salts," potash,
and staves, which he purchased from the settlers and,
took to the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek, or Gene-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY". 215
see River, and shipped to Montreal, for which he paid
in iron, salt fish, leather, and some kinds of coarse
goods most needed, and some money.
Money to pay taxes, and to meet the pressing Avants
of the pioneers in this vicinity, was for some time
mainly derived from this source.
The merchants of Gaines built a warehouse at
Gaines' Basin, on the canal, soon after the canal was
navigable, Avhere the goods for Gaines and other
toAvns north Avere mainly landed from the boats and
where the produce from the same region was princi
pally shipped.
A brisk business was done here for some years,
and until the improvement in the highways, and the
growth and competition of neighboring villages had
draAvn the trade elsewhere, when this warehouse was
removed. About the time the canal was completed, the vil
lage of Gaines was a place of more trade and busi
ness than any other in the county.
E. &. E. D. Nichols, V. R. Hawkins, Bushnell &
Guernsey, and John J. Walbridge were thriving mer
chants, doing a lively business in the dry goods
trade. A full line of mechanics shops was established.
The only academy, meeting house and printing press
in Orleans county were located here.
Two hotels were well patronized ; stage coaches
were plenty on the famous Ridge Road, and every
thing considered the good people of Gaines, and most
of the county in fact, excepting Newport, since
named Albion, thought the court house would be
built in Gaines surely, and they put up the price of
village lots accordingly, while the people of New
port, or Mudport, as Gaines men called it, when con
trasting places as sites for a Court House, offered to

216 PIONEER HISTORY
give away lots, and do many other generous acts if
the Court House was located there.
But the court house went to Albion, and the stream
of travel which once Avent on the Ridge, took to
the boats on the canal, and the post coaches hauled
off ; villages grew up along the canal and trade
went there.
The resolute business men of Gaines tried hard to
retain their high position, they got their academy and
their village and a bank (The Farmer's Bank of Or
leans) incorporated by the Legislature, and loAvered
the price of building lots. But their glory had de
parted ; their academy stopped, village franchises
were lost by non-user ; their bank went to the bad ;
but their fine farms, choice garden spots, and un
rivaled Ridge Road remain good as ever.

BIOGRAPHIES OF EARLY SETTLERS.
RICHARD TREADAVELL.
^ "I was born in AA'eston, Fairfield county, Connect
icut, May 15th, 1783. In the winter of 1796, my
father, in company with a neighbor set out to move
his family to the Genesee country. He had a covered
sled drawn by a yoke of oxen and a span of horses.
I Avell recollect as we were about to start, our friends
around us thought my parents very cruel to take their
children away to the Genesee to be murdered by the
Indians. My father and all his children had the measles while
on the journey. My father never fully recovered and
died the next August. My mother was then left a
Avidow Avith seven children, of Avhom I was the eldest,
being then thirteen years old.
AArhen I was about fifteen years old I revisited my
native town and took along some bear skins and

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 217
other skins, to exhibit as trophies of my skill as a
hunter. I attended school some and Avorked out the remain
der of the time till fall, then returned to my mother
on foot, and then Avent to Avork to help her support
her family.
After my father' s death, my mother sold her oxen
for one hundred dollars and took a note in payment.
The maker of the note failed and mother never re
ceived five dollars on the debt. One of her horses
died, and the other Avas so ugly she gave him away,
and thus lost her team, and the bears killed all her
hogs. AA'hen I was eighteen or twenty years old I resolved
to build a log house for mother on the land my father
took up. It was usual then to raise such buildings
at a 'bee,' and that could not be done without
whisky. I went to a distillery in Bloomfield on horseback,
with tAvo wooden bottles in a bag to get the liquor.
FolloAving the Indian trail through the Avoods on my
way back, I saAA' a cub climbing a tree and the
mother bear coming towards me with hair erect and
about two rods off. I put whip and spur to my
horse and did not stop to look back until I Avas out
of her reach. I had a small flock of sheep about
that time. Neglecting to yard them one night, the
wolves killed nearly all of them.
A year or tAvo after I first came into the country, a
man hired me to take a horse to the Genesee River,
where Rochester now stands. There Avas but one
house on that road then. I forded the river with my
horse. I was married January 17th, 1809, to Miss Temper
ance Smith, of Palmyra. She died in May follow
ing- For several years after I came into the county, the

218 PIONEER HISTORY'
Indians were numerous here, hundreds of Indians to
one white man. They were very friendly. I used to
go to their wigwams and have sport with them wrest
ling and pulling stick, at which I was an expert, fre-
qently throwing their smartest young men at ' back
hold,' or Avhat we called 'Indian hug.'
Bears, wolves and raccoons Avere plenty, and I
caught them frequently.
In March, 1810, I married Frances Bennett, and
commenced house-keeping again, and went to work
clearing my land. I think I have chopped and log
ged off as much as one hundred and fifty acres in my
day. I have had the fever and ague several times, but
generally let it Avork itself off. I used to work hard all
day in my fallow, and frequently Avorked evenings
there when it was good weather.
My wife would often come out when I Avas at work
and sometimes help me pile brush.
During the war with England I was several times
called out to do military duty.
I moved into the town of Shelby in 1827, and after
a few years sold out and moved to Gaines, on the
farm on which I now reside. RICHARD TREADWELL."
Gaines, 1863.
Mr. TreadAvell died June 9th, 1866 aged 83 years.
WALTER FAIRFIELD.
"I was born in Pittsford, Vermont, September 10,
1788. I married Polly Harwood, in Pittsford, in 1809,
In August, 1810, I bought the farm I now own, in the
town of Gaines, of the Land Company, for $2,50
cents per acre, part of lot five, town fifteen, range
two, on the Oak Orchard Road, about a mile south
of the Ridge.
In February, 1811, 1 moved my wife from Vermont

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 219
to Gaines, and in April of that year we moved into a
log cabin, in which James Mather was then keeping
bachelor's hall, and lived with him. In June after
wards I put up a log house 18 by 20 feet square and
covered it with bark, Avith split basswood logs for a
floor sufficient to set a bed on, and then we moved in.
Our nearest neighbors south following the Oak Or
chard Road, were south of the Tonawanda Swamp.
In August following my wife Avas taken sick. I
could get no one to help about house, for such help
was not in the country, and I was compelled to leave
my Avork and attend to my wife for six weeks, during
wMch time I did not take off my clothes except to
change them.
I was poor and had to work out for all I had. I
came very near being homesick then, but I stood it
through. The next winter I chopped two or three
acres on my land, and in the spring burnedthe brush
and planted it with corn among the logs, but squir
rels and birds got the greater part of it, so we got but
little corn that year.
In the spring of 1812, some families located south of
where Albion now is. Of those families I had stop
ping at my house at one time, while they were building
their cabins, William McCollister, Joseph Hart, Silas
Benton, Elijah Darrow, Frederick Holsenburgh,
and John Holsenburgh, and the families of some of
them. The war of 1812 put a stop to the settlement for
a while. AAre were troubled some with British desert
ers. Up to 1813, our provisions were mainly fish, pota
toes, and turnips, — that is among the poorer class of
settlers like myself. Sometimes we would have hulled
wheat and hulled corn. Sometimes I went to Parma
or Rochester to mill, and Avhen I got back my grist
would not pay my expenses.

220 PIONEER HISTORY
After the Avar and the cold seasons, the county
filled up with settlers very fast. Roads and improve
ments were made, and the land cleared up and culti
vated, and the conveniences and comforts of life pro
cured, thus relieving the wants of the people and
supplying their needs. WALTER FAIRFIELD."
Gaines, 1863.
Mr. Walter Fairfield died January 9th, 1865.
JOHN PROCTOR.
' ' I Avas was born in the town of Dunstable, Mid
dlesex county, Massachusetts, January 22d, 1787.
In March, 1810, I arrived in Batavia, since changed
to Gaines, on the Holland Purchase, and purchased
a lot of land near the Transit Line. I chopped over
five acres of land and built a log cabin in what was
then called the 'Nine Mile Woods.' My cabin was
situated seven miles from any cabin going east, and
two miles west. Tliere were no inhabitants going
south nearer than Batavia village. Here I kept bache
lor' s hall, sleeping in the open air on hemlock boughs
until I had completed the roof of my cabin, which I
covered with bark. I had to travel seven miles to
get bread baked.
I went to Massachusetts in the summer and re
turned to my cabin in January. In the spring of
1811, I cleared off and planted three acres to corn,
and in the -fall soAved five acres to Avheat.
In December I went back to Massachusetts on foot.
February 11th, 1812, I was married to Miss Polly
Cummings, of Dunstable, and started on the 12th
with my wife for my home in the woods, in a sleigh
drawn by two horses.
When we arrived at our new home, at what has since
been called Fair Haven, in the. town of Gaines, there
Avere but three families in Gaines, viz. : Elijah Doav-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 221
ner, Amy Gibert, and  Elliott. The nearest
grist mill Avas at Black Creek, twenty miles distant,
and on account of bad roads it was as easy for us to
go to Rochester to mill, a distance of thirty miles.
In the fall of 1812, 1 harvested a good crop of wheat
and corn.
In the Avinter of 1813-14, the British and Indians
came over from Canada and massacred several of
the inhabitants on the frontier, and many of the set
tlers fled out of the country for safety. The people
throughout this region were in great consternation.
The neAvs of the approach of the savages spread rap
idly. AA'illiam Burlingame, who resided about four miles
Avest of my place on the Ridge, called me out of bed
and requested me to go immediately and arouse the
people east. I immediately mounted my horse, the
oMy horse then owned in the vicinity, and before next
day light visited all the inhabitants as far east as
Clarkson. The effect of the notice was almost electric, for
qMte a regiment of men in number were on the move
early the next morning, to check the advance of the
enemy. AATe marched west to a place called Hard-
scrabble, near Lewiston, and there performed a sort
of garrison duty for two weeks, when I with some
others returned, for, having been elected collector of
of taxes, it became necessary for me to attend to the
duties of my office.
Again in September, while the war was in progress
at and near Fort Erie, in Canada, neAvs came to us
that the British were about to attack the Fort and
our troops there must be reinforced. In company
with several others I volunteered to go to their relief.
On arriving at the Fort, via. Buffalo, we made several
attacks on the enemy near the Fort, and in the Avoods
opposite Black Rock.

222 PIONEER HISTORY
A sortie was made from the Fort September 17th,
in which we routed the enemy. In these actions sev-
1 eral bullets passed through my clothes, and one
grazed my finger.
A man of our company named Howard was killed,
another named Sheldon was wounded in the shoul
der, and Moses Bacon was taken prisoner and carried
to Halifax.
In that sortie General Davis, of Le Roy, was
MUed, and Gen. Peter B. Porter was taken prisoner,
and rescued again the same day. AVe came home
after an absence of twenty -four days.
About February 1st, 1815, I was notified to attend
the sitting of the court in Batavia as constable. Ow
ing to the situation of my family I could not be long
absent from home ; and in order to get released from
court, it was necessary for me to appear before the
judge; so taking a rather early start I reached Batavia
before the court had opened in the morning. After
the court had organized for business I presented my
excuse and was discharged.
After that I collected over one hundred dollars
taxes, made my returns as town collector, on half a
a sheet of paper, took a deed of one hundred acres of
land of the Holland Company, and an article for
another hundred acres and started for home, where I
arrived in" the evening of the same day, having
traveled a distance of not less than forty-four miles.
In December, 1818, I made arrangements to visit
my friends in Massachusetts, on horseback. Several
of my neighbors were in to see me off. As I was
about to mount my horse a deer came down the creek
from the south. I ran into the house and got my
gun1 and some cartridges I brought from the war,
loaded my gun as I ran out, and as the deer was
passing leveled my gun and snapped it, but it missed
fire. I took up a stone and struck the flint, and snap-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 223
ped the gun again before the deer got out of range.
This time it discharged killing the deer instantly. I
remained now and helped dress the deer and divided
itAvith our neighbors, and then went on my journey.
I rode to Vermont, there exchanged my horse and
saddle for a cutter and another horse, and drove
to my destination, near Boston. After an ab
sence of about sixty days I returned home in time to
dine off a piece of the venison I killed just before
starting, wliich had been kept by my Avife.
Our associations in our Avilderness home undergo
ing fatigue and hardships together, sharing alike in
gratitude for every success, and in sympathy for
every adversity, bound the early settlers together as
a band of brothers.
For many years our religious Avorship was held in
common together, AA'ith no denominational distinc
tions. JOHN PROCTOR."
Gaines, June 1863.
Mr. John Proctor died in 1868.
SAMUEL HILL.
"I was born in Barrington, Rockingham county,
N. H., November 18th, 1793. I was married Febru
ary 28th, 1815, to Miss Olive Knight,
In the winter of 1823 we moved to Gaines, with
means little more than enough to defray the expense of
the journey, and settled on part of the farm on which
I now reside. AAre began by building a log house, the
crevices between the logs serving for windows. The
children would sit on the fire sill in front of where
was to be a chimney. Thus we lived from May 10th,
to fall, when we made our house comfortable for
Avinter. My father was a practical farmer, and my first rec-

224 PIONEER HISTORY
ollections of work were of helping clear land. He
with the help of his boys, of whom t was eldest but
one, cleared one hundred and fifty acres.
Begining with little, we have by hard labor, strict
economy and the blessing of God, succeeded in se
curing a comfortable home and a competence of this
Avorld's goods. SAMUEL HILL."
Gaines, March 1864. SAMUEL SALSBURY.
" I Avas born in Newport, Herkimer county, N. Y.,
July 24, 1804. In January, 1817, 1 removed with my
brother Stephen to the Holland Purchase and settled
in Ridgeway. The country with few exceptions was
a w-ilderness. Provisions were scarce and dear,
Avheat worth three dollars a bushel, corn two dollars,
potatoes one dollar, and other things in proportion.
Before harvest nearly every family was destitute of
bread. Their resort for a substitute was to the grow
ing wheat, which wrs boiled and eaten with milk ; or
by adding a little cream and maple sugar together, to
make a kind of dessert after a meal of potatoes and
butter, and possibly a little deer, squirrel and raccoon
meat. Our milk was strongly flavored with leeks occas
ionally, Avith which our native ' pastures ' abounded,
but we used to correct this by eating a fresh leak
before eating the milk. AVe had plenty of maple
sugar. School houses. were scarce, and of churches there
were none. I attended school in a log house two miles
from home, south of what is now Lyndonville, and
this school house was for many years used as a place
for worship. Here I used to hear Elder Irons and
Elder Dutcher, Baptists, and Elders Paddock,
Boardman, Hall, and Puffer, Methodists.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY'. 225
Among my early school teachers were Gen. W. C.
Tanner and Mrs. Mastin.
Chopping, clearing and fencing land was the prin
cipal business in those days.
My last feat in chopping Avas in 1832, when I walked
three miles morning and evening, and chopped over
three acres, leaving it fitted for logging in ten and a
half days.
In February, 1825, I crossed Niagara river on the
ice which had wedged in near the mouth of the river..
It was a warm day, the water was on the ice and
large openings were frequent. In one place a seam
of open water three feet across was passed on-a board
Avhich served as a bridge. I crossed in safety.
In the Avinter of 1826-7, I united with the Methodist,
Episcopal Church. I had never, to this time, heard a
temperance lecture or known anything of temperance
societies, but from that time I believed it wicked to
use intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and I have
never used them since.
I was married to Miss Electa Beal, February 23d,
1829. I was licensed to preached the gospel in July, 1832,
by the Conference sitting in Penn Yan. Till then
I had been a fanner and school teacher. From?
that time till 1844, I labored in that vicinity in th*
Methodist Episcopal Church. In May, 1843, 1
Avithdrew from that church and joined in organizing
the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion of America, and
from then since, I have labored as a minister in that
Connexion. SAMUEL SALISBURY."
Eagle Harbor, March 1864. PERRY DAVIS.
Perry Davis was born in Westport. Massachusetts,
January 1st, 1773. 15

226 PIONEER HISTOEY
Iu 1793, he married Rebecca Potter. She died May
12th, 1825.
After his marriage, he resided about thirteen years
in Galway, Saratoga county. He then resided about
eighteen years in Palmyra, N. Y.; and in 1823, re
moved to Gaines, and took up land near the mouth
of Otter Creek ; and in 1825, removed to the village of
Gaines and bought the farm next north of the Ridge,
and Avest of the Oak Orchard Road. He Avas an ac
tive business man, being engaged at different times
as a merchant, farmer, school teacher, and manufac
turer ; and while residing in Gaines, superintending
at the same time three farms, a saAvmill, a gristmill,
and a small iron foundry, all in operation. He Avas
deacon, and a prominent member of the Baptist
Church in Gaines.
He had eight daughters, A'iz.: Barbara, who died in
childhood ; Rowena married AVilliam Hayden ; Cyn
thia married Daniel Ball ; Cinderilla married Samuel
Parker ; Mary married Richard AA'orkman ; Ann
married William AA'.Ruggles; Eliza married El ouzo G.
Hewitt ; and Laura married Dr. Alfred Babcock. In
1827, he married Sarah Toby, of Stockton, N. Y.
She died November 4th, 1856. Mr. Davis died April
3d, 1841. LEVI AT WELL.
Levi At/well Avas born in Canaan, Columbia county.
N. Y.
He married Mabel Stoddard, and moved from Cay
uga county to Gaines in February, 1812, and took an
article of part of lot forty -four, township fifteen,
range two, and resided on the same land until be
died, February, 1847.
He took up Ms land in April, 1811, and in June
after he came on, chopped down the trees on a feAv

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 227
;-acres, and that season put up a log house, into which
he moved his family AA'hen they came.
His brothers-in-law, Gideon Freeman and Joseph
Stoddard, came on and took up land at the same
time. He remained on his land during the war with
England. The house into Avhich he moved had no door, or
window or floor except the earth, and not a board
about it. The logs had been merely rolled up for the
walls, without stopping the crevices between them.
'The roof AA-as covered with "shakes" split from oak
trees like stave bolts, about three feet long, laid on
in courses tike shingles, AAuthout nails, and held on
by poles laid on transversely, with no chimney, but a
large hole in the roof left for the smoke, and Avhich
admitted the tight.
The snow AA-as about three feet deep. A huge fire
was kept up in one end of the cabin ; this heated the
roof and melted the snow, which dripped most un
comfortably upon everything in the house. A blan
ket hung at the doorway closed that, and chips
driven into the crevices between the logs stopped
them in part till spring, when stones were laid for a
hearth, and a stick chimney put in.
Mr. Atwell had- a yoke of oxen and several other
.-cattle that arrived a few days after he brought his
family. He brought several bushels of ears of corn
when he moA-ed in, which he dealt out sparingly to
his stock. They had no other food except the trees
he cut down for them to browse, until they could get
their living in the woods in the spring.
His family consisted of himself, wife and four chil
dren, the youngest about two years old. His chil
dren's names Avere Ira, Abbey, Roxy, Joseph and
^Martin. In the fall of 1812, a man by the name of Crofoot
died in the neighborhood. No boards to make his

228 PIONEER HISTORY
coffin could be found, not in use in the settlement...
AVhen Mr. Atyvell moved in his family, he brought
a board for a side-board, on his sled. This he had put
up for a shelf in his house for dishes, &c, and thi&=
shelf, and a board from some other house were takeus.*
for the coffin, in which the corpse was buried.
SAMUEL C. LEWIS.
Samuel C. LeAvis was born in Poultney, Vermont,.
June 8th, 1796. At the age of seventeen, he enlisted!
in the United States Army as a soldier in the war of
1812, and served in a company commanded by Captains
Miller, who was founder of the sect since known as-
Millerites, or Second Adventists. He was in the bat
tle of Plattsburgh, and at French Mills. He served.
in the army about two years.
In February, 1816, in company with his brother
Gideon, Roswell and Amos Clift, Elias Clift, and*.
their sister Esther Clift, Avho afterwards married Guy
C. Merrill, he came in a lumber wagon drawn by two-
yoke of Oxen, from Poultney, Vermont, to Gaines,
being twenty -five days on the road, arriving in Gaines-
March 19th, 1816.
Arba Chubb, a brother-in-law of the Lewises, with
his wife and child, arrived in Gaines the day before-
Mr. Lewis and company, and moved into the log
house built by Mrs. Burgess, near Avhere Judge An
derson now resides. The house had not been occu
pied for some time previous, and was not in good con
dition to inhabit ; but it was the best they could get,.
and the three Lewis brothers went there to stay with
Mr. Chubb. They had cleared away the snoAv and-
got a good supply of fuel for their fire heaped up-
against the stoned up end of the house, which served
as a chimney the night after their arrival, as the-
weather was stormy and cold, and the house had*
large crevices open between the logs.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 229
Mr. Chubb and his family had a bed in a corner of
vthe room, while the three young men lay on the floor
- with their feet to the fire. In the night the great fire
thawed out the old chimney, and the whole pile fell
forward into the room, luckily, however, without
^crusMng any of the persons sleeping there. Next
mormng they piled the stones back in their places,
-and made a chimney that answered their purpose.
Mr. Lewis and his brother bought of Lansing-
Bailey, an article for one hundred and twenty-five
.-acres of land, lying at Gaines Basin, on which Mr.
Bailey had built a log house, which had not a shingle
-or nail in it, all pieces being fastened with wooden
-pins. On this lot they labored clearing land the next
summer, occupying their house, and getting their
cooking and washing done in Mr. Bailey' s family, on an
^adjoining lot, for which they worked for Mr. Bailey
- every seventh day that season to pay him.
Samuel C. Lewis married Anna Frisbie, in March
1819. She died the next year.
January 30th, 1824, he married Anna AYarner, of
-Cornwall, Vt. She died April 10th, 1841.
Mr. Lewis retains and resides on the lot of land on
which he first settled.
He has walked and carried his knapsack on his
back, twelve times the whole distance between Gaines
.-and Poultney, Yt. Once he performed the journey
in October, in six days, walking on an average nearly
tfifty miles a day.
In the year 1819, he had a tax to pay and wanted
a dollar to make the sum required. To raise the
money, he cut four cords of body maple wood and
.-drew it a mile and sold it to Oliver Booth for twenty -
.five cents a cord, and so paid his tax.
GIDEON S. LEWIS.
Gideon S. Lewis was born in Poultney, Vermont,'

230 PIONEER HISTORY
September, 1792. He mairried Betsey Mason, daugh
ter of the late Jesse Mason, of Barre, N. Y., in the
fall of 1820. She died in September, 1842. He then
married Betsey Shelley, of Gaines. He had four chil
dren, Lestina, who married Henry Cox ; Homer, who-
studied medicine, and died some years ago ; Augus
tus and Augusta, twins. Augustus is dead. Au
gusta married Alonzo Morgan. Gideon S. LeAvis died.
October 6th, 1865.
Roswell Lewis, brother of Samuel and Gideon,
resided in Gaines about three years, then returned to-
Vermont. NATHAN SHELLEY.
Nathan Shelley was born in Hartford, Washington"
county, N. Y., March 17th, 1798. In May, 1812,
with his father's family he removed to Gaines. His
father settled on the Ridge Road, two miles west or
the village of Gaines.
War with Great Britain was declared soon after he-
arrived. After the defeat of the Americans at
Queenstown, in October, 1812, many of the inhabi
tants on the frontier retired eastward, and Mr. Shelley
took his family and went with them, but returned in»
December after.
Nathan Shelley married Dorcas Tallman, May 21st,
1820. She Avas born in Washington county, N. Y.r
August 4th, 1795.
In 1821, he took up and settled part of lot forty-
five, township fifteen, range two, on which he has ever
since resided.
His first log house had but one room, only four
lights of glass, and a bedquilt for an outside door,
Avhen he moved into it to reside in the the winter
of 1821-2.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 231
Beginning poor, by a life of steady industry and
prudence he became a wealthy farmer.
THE BULLA RD FAMILY'.
This somewhat numerous family in Gaines, are de
scendants of David' Bullard, avIio Avas born in Ded-
ham, Massachusetts, in 1761. He removed to Ver
mont, AA-here he resided until September, 1814, when-
he 'removed to Gaines, N. Y., bringing with Mm as
many of his children as had not gone there before.
He first settled upon lot twenty-three, a little west of
the village of Gaines, north of the Ridge, on a farm
Avhich had been taken up by his son William.
After a year or two he removed south of the Ridge,
upon lot twenty-one — a farm now owned by his son
Brigadier, where he resided until his death in June,
1831. He married Elizabeth Hadley. His children were
AVilliam, aa-1io married Nellie Lo\-eland. Polly mar
ried AVilliam AAToolman. They settled in 1811, in
Gaines, on the farm afterwards owned by Phineas
Rowley. Judith married John AVitherell. They set
tled north of the Ridge, next east of Oliver Booth.
Olive married James Bartlett. Betsey married Fred
erick Holsenburgh. Nancy married Samuel Scovill.
Sally married Arba Chubb. David married Elvira
Murwin. Brigadier married Lovina Parker. Ran
som married Lydia Buck.
AVilliam, Judith and Brigadier settled in Gaines in
February, 1812. AAtilliam Bullard died in September,
1861. THE BILLINGS FAMILY.
Joseph Billings, Sr., the ancestor of this family,
Avas born in Somers, Connecticut, and settled in Che
nango county. New York, where he resided until
his death.

232 PIONEER HISTORY
• He purchased of Isaac Bennett a large quantity of
land in Gaines, which Mr. Bennett had taken by
article from the Land Company, which he afterwards
divided among his sons, Joseph, Timothy, and Lau
ren. Joseph and Timothy settled on this land in
1817, and Lauren in 1822.
Joseph Billings married Charlotte Drake. His chil
dren, are J. Drake Billings, who married Melinda
Shaw. Myron married Phebe Bement. Clinton
married Esther Murdock. Harlow married Adeline
King. William H. married Sarah Everett. Clarissa
married Elijah B. Lattin. Helen married John
Lattin. Timothy Billings married "Betsey Bidwell. His
children were NeAvtonand Sanford, who died in early
manhood, and Pomeroy, who died in childhood.
Lauren Billings married Roxana C. Rexford. His
children are, Karthalo R., who married Catharine
Murdock. Pomeroy O., who married Harriet Thomp
son. Loverna C. married Norman A. Beecher. L.
Dwight. Simeon R. married Carrie E. Gray. Joseph
F. married Josephine Eldridge.
Joseph, Timothy, and Lauren Billings, occupied
adjoining farms, which they cleared and improved.
Joseph and Lauren were each Justices of the Peace
in Gaines for a number of years.
Lauren was a Colonel in the State Militia. Joseph
was Supervisor of Gaines from 1837, to 1841, inclu
sive. Joseph Billings died December 10, 1866. Timothy
Billing-9 died May 10th, 1837.
ARBA CHUBB.
Arba Chubb Avas born in Poultney, A't.. Septem
ber 18th, 1791.
He married Emily Frisbie, October 17, 1813. Feb
ruary 20th, 1816, they started to move to Gaines, N.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 233
Y.,. on a Avagon, and arrived there after being twenty
days on the road.
He bought a farm lying between the Ridge and
Gaines Basin, and resided there until 1832, when he
moved to Gaines Basin and bought a warehouse there
and carried on business as a dealer in produce, and
sold goods until 1840, when he moved to Gaines vil
lage, and from thence to Michigan, in 1856.
His first wife died in 1829. For a second wife he
married Sally, daughter of David Bullard, of
Gaines. In 1821, Mr. Chubb was appointed by the Council
Justice of the Peace. He was after that elected Jus
tice by the people of Gaines, and held the office
thirty-three years, a vacation of one year only occur
ring during that time.
After moving to Michigan he was elected Justice of
the Peace from time to time, until in the whole he
served in that office 47 years. No man has held the
office of Justice of the Peace in Orleans county as
long as Esquire Chubb. He also held every other
town office but constable, and every office in the
militia, from Corporal to Major, inclusive. He was
for some time postmaster in Gaines, and Member of
Assembly from Orleans county, for the year 1848.
Esquire Chubb describes a lawsuit tried before
him soon after he was elected Justice, winch occa
sioned him great trouble at the time. He gave the
following account of it :
"Orange Butler Avas on one side, and a young
laAvyer named Capen, from Albion, on the other. I
tMnk they planned to give me a sweat. The plaintiff
put in Ms declaration. The defendant demurred.
Plaintiff put in a rejoinder. The defendant a surre
joinder. The plaintiff a rebutter. The defendant a
surrebutter. About all this special pleading I knew nothing. I

234 PIONEER HISTORY
supposed, however, they would ask me to make a
special- decision ; but what the decision should be, I
knew no more than the biggest fool alive. There I
sat, the sweat rolling down my face, inwardly cursing
the day I was appointed Justice, and my folly in
accepting an office I knew nothing about.
I think the lawyers saw my trouble, had pity on
me and helped me out as well as they could, and went
on and tried the case."
Esquire Chubb resides at Ionia, Michigan, and ia
now (1871) seiwing in his old office of Justice of the
Peace. THE ANDERSON FAMILY'.
The ancestors of this family originally emigrated
from Scotland to Ireland, and thence to Londonderry,
New Hampshire, at an early day.
John Anderson, the ancestor of most of the families
of his name in Gaines, was born in Londonderry, Aug.
31, 1757. He was a soldier in the Revolution, fought
at Bunker Hill, and was at the taking of Ticonderoga
under Ethan Allen. He married Jane Archibald in
Londonderry, Feb. 7, 1782, and settled in Ira, Rut
land county Vermont, in the same year. He repre
sented this town in the State Legislature eight or ten
years in succession. His children were : Ann, Jane,
John, Robert, Matthew, Betsey, Thomas A., Marga
ret, Nancy, Eli B. and Samuel F., all of whom were
early settlers in Gaines, except Betsey, who died in
Malone, N. Y. January 11, 1813.
John Anderson, senior, moved with his family to
Gaines in 1821, and located on lot tAventy-nine, town
ship fifteen, range two, on the north side of the Ridge
road, where he died October 22, 1827. He was a man
of very great physical strength, of good intellect,
energetic and persistent in his character. One of his
rules of action was : Do what duty requires and.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 235
Conscience approves as right, Avifhout fear. Indeed
he never showed fear of anything. Many instances
are recollected of his cool and determined courage in
cases of danger. In several conflicts he had with
bears, he performed exploits as hazardous and full of
daring, as Gen. Putnam' s battle with the wolf.
One evening Avhile he lived in Ira, dogs treed a bear
not far from his residence. A number of men were
present, but they had no gun. Mr. Anderson told
them to build a fire around the tree and keep the bear
up it until morning, and then he would go up and
drive Mm doAvn. The fire Avas made. Next morning
Anderson armed with a club, climbed the tree to the
bear thirty feet from the ground, and crept out on the
limb on which he had retreated.
Disregarding the growls and bristling of the feroci
ous creature, Mr. Anderson went within reach and
aimed a bloAv at its head with his club which the bear
warded off and knocked the club to the ground.
Nothing daunted, Mr. Anderson descended, got twe
clubs, and again went up the tree to the bear. Taking
a club in each hand, he made motions to strike with
his left hand, and when the bears attention Avas at
tracted to these, he struck him a terrible blow on the
head Avith the other club, which knocked the body of
the beast off the limb, leaving him hanging by his
fore paws. A blow or two on his claws loosened
their hold, and the bear was killed by the men be
low when he struck the ground.
Another time Avhile he lived in Vermont, being in
the woods, he saw a bear coming towards him. Con
cealing himself in bushes on a steep place, he lay in
ambush, and the bear passed him so near that with
a spring he rushed upon him, and armed only with a
stone, pounded Ms head until he killed him.
Ann Anderson married Daniel Gates of Rutland,
Vermont, moved to Gaines in 1811, and settled.

236 PIONEER HISTORY
on lot twe.nty-nine, township fifteen, range two. After
a few years he sold this farm and removed to a farm
in Carlton, where he died January 31, 1858. Mrs.
Ann Gates died January 1, 1866. Two of her sons,
John and N. F. Gates, now reside in Carlton, and
another Matthew A. Gates, resides in Yates.
Jane Anderson married Phirieas Rowley, of Rut
land, Vermont, moved to Gaines in 1817, and settled
s>n lot thirty, township fifteen, range one. They both
died several years since. Two of their sons, John
and Andrew J. Rowley, are yet living ia. Gaines.
Margaret Anderson married John Farnham Jan. 22,
1818. They removed to Gaines, Oct., 1824, and settled
on lot forty, township fifteen, range tAvo. John Farn
ham was born in Poultney, Vt., February 26, 1795,
and died November 3, 1841. Margaret Farnham died
in May, 1868.
Nancy Anderson married Solomon Kingsley in Arer-
aiont and moved to Orleans county about 1819. They
removed to Michigan in 1835 and died there.
John Anderson, Jr., was born in Ira, Vermont,
Sept. 12, 1785. He settled in Gaines on lot twenty-
two, township fifteen, range two, in 1810.
At the first toAvn meeting held in Ridgeway, April
6, 1813, he was elected Overseer of the Poor. He
was a man of positive character, a great lover of truth,
withdraAA-jng his confidence from the man who failed
to keep his promises.
A neighbor owed him twelve shillings, which he
promised to pay in a few days. Mr. Anderson re
plied he hoped he would, that it was worth a shilling
to dun a man any time. In a few days the neighbor
met him, spoke of his debt and reneAved his promise
to pay.
As they met occasionally afterwards, the debtor
would dun himself, but paid nothing, till one day
having repeated his acknowledgement and promise,

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 237
Mr. Anderson took out a shilling and handed him,
saying, " Here is a shilling for you, we are now even.
I have given you credit on account one shilling each
time you have dunned yourself for me and broken
your promise. Your credits balance your debt ana-
one shilling over, Avhich I have paid you. It is settled,
don't speak to me about it again."
Eli B. Anderson was married in Poultney, Vermont,
removed to Gaines with his father, and resided with
Mm until his death, and occupied the same place six
or eight years after his death, when he removed to
' Michigan. Samuel F. Anderson moved to Gaines with his fath
er, being then about eighteen years old. In 1836 he
married Miss Mahala Phipps of Albion, and removed
to Cassopolis, MicMgan where he still resides. He
has represented his county several years in the State
Legislature and been Judge of County Courts.
Matthew Anderson moved to Gaines in 1816 and
took an article of part of lot twenty-seven, township
fifteen, range two, sinceknown as the ' ' Hunter Farm' '
a little north of Eagle Harbor, now Owned by C. A.
Danolds and S. W. Kneeland. He cleared some land
and built a log house on his farm. He died Septem
ber 30, 1816. In 1814 or 1815, he represented the
town of Ira in the ATermont Legislature. He was
Captain of a company of militia, which under his
command volunteered and went to meet the British
at Plattsburgh in the war of 1812.
Hon. Robert Anderson was born in thetoAvn of
Ira, Vermont, April 21, 1787.
In June, 1807, he was elected Lieutenant in the
militia. In October 1812 he was appointed Justice
of the Peace in Rutland. He went with a company
of volunteers to fight the British at Plattsburgh in
the war of 1812.
In November 1812, he came to Gaines and bought

238 PIONEER HISTORY
an article for 150 acres, part of lot 22, township fifteen,
range two, to which he moved his family in 1816, and
where he has ever since resided. Two younger broth
ers, Matthew and Dr. Thomas A. Anderson and their
families came on at the same time from Vermont.
The Dr. drove a two horse lumber wagon, which
carried the women and children of the party, the
other two men drove each a team of two yoke of oxen
drawing a Avagon laden Avith their goods, with a cow
led behind each team.
They arrived in Gaines March 25th, having been
tAventy-five days on the road.
On arriving in Gaines, Robert Anderson moved
into the log house the logs for which were cut by
Mrs. Noah Burgess in 1809. It was roofed with elm
bark and had a floor of split basswood in most ap
proved pioneer style. The next year he built a small
framed house and lived in that.
In the summer of 1821, DaA'id Whipple and wife,
parents of Mrs. Robert Anderson, came to Gaines
from Vermont to visit their children. They rode in a
one horse wagon with bolsters and box lumber style,
covered with cloth over hoops. The seat was a chair
Avide as the box, splint bottomed, the posts standing
on the steel springs of a wolf trap. This was prob
ably the first wheel carriage rigged with steel springs
that run in Orleans county, and was much admired
for its novelty ond convenience.
Mr. Anderson and his wife started with her parents
on their return to Arermout, to visit friends on the way.
They went as far as Brighton, where she was taken
sick and died. The death of his wife and the sick
ness prevailing in the country, with which he Avas
attacked, so disheartened him he offered his farm for
sale, and would have sold at almost any price, but
no purchaser appearing and his health having im
proved, he concluded to stay. In August 1822, he

OF OKI. FANS COUNTY. 239
married his second wife. Miss Roxana Lamb, of
BridgeAvater, Vermont, who died March 27, 1837.
In 1840, he rented his farm to his eldest son and
only surviving child, Nahum Anderson, to whom in a
few years after he sold it, reserving the right to live
in his family during life.
In 1817, he Avas elected Lieutenant of a militia
company in Gaines, and resigned at the end of a year.
The same year he Avas appointed a Justice of the
Peace, which office he held until the winter of 1822.
In that Avinter. he was appointed Judge of the Court
of Common Pleas of Genesee county, an office he
held over two years and resigned. In the spring of
1818, he AA-as elected Supervisor of the town of Gaines,
an office to which he Avas annually elected as long as
the town of Gaines belonged to Genesee county.
After Orleans county Avas organized, he was elected
the first Supervisor from that town, to serve in the
first Board sitting in the new county, in 1826, by
whom he was appointed Chairman, in consequence
of his experience as a Supervisor.
In the session of 1822, he served as a member of
the State Legislature, being one of three representa
tives sent from the county of Genesee.
Judge Anderson was never ambitious to hold public
offices, generally taking office only when it was of
fered him without his asking, and resigning the first
proper opportunity. He was regarded as a man of
sound judgment, honest and faithful, and shared
largely in the confidence of all who knew Mm.
For some years past he has lived quietly, retired
from the cares of business, possessing a competence
of property acquired by his own exertions, happy in
the society of his many friends, enjoying a pleasant
home. Dr. Thomas A. Anderson, son of John Anderson,
senior, was born in Ira, Vt., May 14th, 1792. He

240 PIONEER HISTORY
married Sarah Whipple of Malone, N., Y., and moved
to Gaines, as above stated, in 1816, and located at
Fair Haven, or Proctor's Corners, in the town of
Gaines, where he practiced his profession for some
time in company with Dr. Truman S. Shaw, who af
terwards practiced in Knowlesville, and Yates, and
died a few years since in Medina, Orleans county,
N. Y.
Dr. Anderson had practiced medicine several years
in Rutland, Vermont, before coming to Gaines. He
Avas esteemed a skillful physician, and had as much
business as he could do. He was constitutionally
feeble, never had good health, and died September
2d, 1829, leaving one child only, a daughter, now
Avife of S. Dewey Walbridge, of Rochester, N. Y.
His wife died April 22d, 1829.
MOSES BACON.
Moses Bacon was born April 5, 1787, in Burlington,
Hartford county, Conn. He was a farmer.
About the year 1809, he came to Gaines and took
an article from the Holland Land Company of two
hundred acres of land on the south part of lot thirty-
seven, township fifteen, range one. He worked for
the Land Company opening the Oak Orchard road
the summer of that year, to apply towards paying
for his land, and returned to Connecticut in the fall.
The next spring he came back and commenced work
upon his land as a permanent settler.
In December, 1813, he went in Captain McCarty' s
company to the defence of the frontier, and in his
charge upon the British and Indians at Molyneaux
tavern, in Cambria, on that occasion Mr. Bacon was
present and did good execution.
In January, 1814, he married Miss Sarah Downer.
In September of that year he was called out with the

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 241
men on this frontier generally, to aid in repelling the
British and Indians in the Avar Avith Great Britain.
He Avas in the battle of Fort Erie, in aa-McIi he Avas
shot through the neck and taken prisoner by the
British, AA-ho carried him to Halifax, Avhere he suffered
greatly under the cruel treatment of the officers avIio
had the American prisoners under their charge. The
next year he Avas discharged, the Avar having closed,
and returned home broken in constitution from the
hardships of his Avound and imprisonment, and with
a cough contracted in Halifax from which he never
recovered, and for which he dreAv a pension from the
Umted States ever afterwards.
Mr. Bacon sold the east part of his farm to his
brother Hosea, and the north part to his brother
Elias, reserving one hundred acres for himself. Upon
this place lie lived until his death, Avhich occurred
June 28th, 1848. SAMUEL BIDEL.MAN. *
Samuel Bidelman Avas born in Manheiin, Herkimer
county, N. Y., June 29th, 1806. His grandparents
both came to America from Germany, before the
revolutionary Avar, and settled on the MohaAvk river.
In that Avar his grandfather' s buildings were burned
by the Indians, and his family narrowly escaped
massacre by flying to the block house fort for pro
tection. His father, Henry Bidelman, came to Shelby in
1816, and bought an article for one hundred acres of
land of John Timmerman. In January, 1817, he
came to Shelby AA'ith a part of his children, leaving
Ms wife and other children in Herkimer county until
he could prepare a place for them. He Avas eleven
days on the journey.
In July, 1817, John Garlock, brother-in-law of
10

242 PIONEER HISTORY
Henry Bidelman, brought on Mrs. Bidelman and the
remainder of her children, and with their other load
ing he brought three bags of flour. This was the
next year after the cold season, and the neighborhood
was destitute of flour ; some of the inhabitants had
not even seen wheat bread for weeks, having lived in
that time, as far as bread was concerned, on bran
bread and some sea biscuit — "hard tack," which
they procured from the Arsenal at Batavia, wMch
had been stored there to feed the soldiers in the war
of 1812.
It was a custom then when a new family arrived,
for all the settlers for miles around to come together
and give them a greeting. Such a surprise party
Avaited on the Bidelmans, and after they had broken
up and gone home, Mr. Bidelman found he had
only a part of one bag of his flour left out of the
three brought on by Garlock, as each family of the
visitors must of course take home a little. Part of
one bag of flour only for a family of twelve hungry
persons to live on under the circumstances, looked as
if the end was near.
These sea biscuit furnished material for much talk,
as well as some food for the people. Mr. Joseph
Snell, Avho was something of a wag, reported that a
Mr. Simons, who resided a little south from Mr. Bid
elman, got some of the biscuit and ate too freely of
them ; that they had swelled in his stomach and had
burst him. He said his attendants tied hankerchiefs
and straps around Mm, and did the best they could
to make him contain himself, but without success ;
he burst and died, and was to be buried at a time
specified. Several persons went to attend the funeral
before they understood the hoax.
The first year after he came to Shelby, Mr. H. Bid
elman took some land of D. Timmerman wMch lay
about a mile from his house, to plant with corn on

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 243
shares. In hoeing time, in the long days in June, he
would get his boys together, Samuel being then about
twelve years old, get them a breakfast of bran
bread and milk and say to them, " now boys you can
go and hoe corn, and AA-hen you get so tired and hun
gry you can't stand it any longer, come home and we
will try and get you something to eat again. This
was the way they fared before uncle Garlock came
with flour.
The cold season of 1816 cut off the crops, and tliere
was but little to be had to eat. Flour was worth
fifteen dollars a barrel in Rochester, wheat three dol
lars a bushel here, and no money to buy it with.
But crops were good in 1817, and as soon as the
farmers began to raise wheat, and about 1820 and
1821, as there was no way to get Avheat to market, the
price fell to twenty-five cents a bushel. Articles of
wearing apparel were enormously dear. Cotton cloth
was worth fifty cents a yard.
In 1818, Mr. H. Bidelman chopped and cleared off
six acres of land for A. A. Ellicott, for which he ob
tained flour for Ms family for that season. He cleared
five acres for Elijah Bent, a little South of Medina
village, for wMch he received in payment one-third of
the pork of a hog that weighed three hundred pounds
in all ; that is, about one hundred pounds of pork cost
twenty dollars, paid for in such hard work. So they
managed to live along until they could raise something
of their own to live on.
About this time young Samuel, being then tAvelve
or thirteen years old, and his brother William two
years older, got disgusted with Western New York
and agreed to run away back to the Mohawk country,
fearing they would starve , to death if they remained
here. They did not go however.
In the year 1820, May 20th, barefoot, with an old
straw hat, a pair of tow cloth pantaloons and a

244 PIONEER HISTORY
second hand coat on, Samuel Bidelman started on foot
and alone for Ridgeway Corners, to learn the trade of
tanniug and currying leather, and shoemaking, of
Isaac A. Bullard, who carried on that business
there. Before that time he had lived in Dutch settlements,
and could but imperfectly speak, or understand the
English language.
Mr. Bullard' s tanning then amounted to about fifty
hides a year, but gradually increased to about one
hundred hides a year while Samuel lived with him.
AYhen he had been about three and a half years with
Mr. Bullard, they had some difficulty and Samuel left
him and went to his father. The difficulty was set
tled and Samuel was bound as apprentice to stay
with Mr. Bullard until he Avas of age, and he went
back and remained.
Bullard Avas addicted to strong drink, Avhich made
him rather a hard master to his apprentice. He died
April 9th, 1827.
After Mr. Bullard' s death Ms wife carried on the
business he had left, and Mr. Bidelman worked for her
by the month six months, and then bought out the
tanyard and dwelling house and carried on the busi
ness on his own account.
May 17th, 1829, he married Eliza Prussia. She was
born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, of German
parentage. <
At Ridgeway Mr. Bidelman tanned about seventy-
five hides a year. He kept two journeymen, made
leather and carried on shoemaking. Stoga boots
Avere worth four dollars a pair, coarse shoes two dol
lars. Boots were not so generally worn as now.
Tanner's bark, hemlock, Avas worth one dollar and
fifty cents a cord.
In the spring of 1835, Mr. Bidelman sold his place
in Ridgeway, retaining possession until the next Oc-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 245
ber, intending to move to Michigan. He was iioav
worth about fifteen hundred dollars and was twenty -
nine years old.
He finally bought a tanyard at Gaines village of
James Mather, and moved there Oct. second, eighteen
hundred and thirty-five. Gaines was then quite a place
of business. It had in active operation one academy,
five dry goods stores, three groceries, one steam grist
mill and furnace, tMee taverns, two churches, two
tannerys, one cabinet shop, one large wagon factory,
three law offices, three blacksmith shops, one milline
ry shop, one ashery, besides harness, shoe, and tailor
shops, &c.
At Gaines Mr. Bidelman employed four or five
men m Ms tannery, and five or six men in his shoe-
shop generally.
In 1838, the Patriot AA'ar, as it was called, in Cana
da, closed. TMs part of the country had been in a
Mgh state of excitment for two years, the people de
siring to furnish aid to the Canadian rebels. Hunter' s
lodges, as they were called, were formed along the
frontier for this purpose. Such a lodge used to meet
in the upper room in Mr. Bidelman' s Tannery, which
was formerly occupied by the Free Mason's. Mr.
Bidelman took great interest in this movement and
gave an old cast iron bark mill to be cast into can
non balls. He gave the last gun he ever owned and
a pair of boots, to fit out a soldier avIio went to Can
ada to join the insurgents.
A cannon, which had belonged to an artillery com
pany in Yates, in which Mr. Bidelman had held a
commission as Lieutenant, was sent to the Patriots.
General Winfield Scott passed through on the Ridge
Road with some United States troops to maintain
peace on our borders, and in a short time order was
again restored.

246 PIONEER HISTORY
The Ridge Road was then a great traveled thor
oughfare ; six to eight stage coaches passed through
Gaines each Avay daily.
In eighteen hundred and forty-one Mr. Robert Ran-
ney went in company with Mr. Bidelman in business
as tanners, in Gaines, for a term of five years. They
put in a large stock and worked it, but the business
was not profitable for the partners. They had
difficulty in settling their partnership matters,
and on the whole, these five years were the most un
pleasant and unprosperous in business to Mr. Bidel
man of any like time in his life. Since closing with
Mr. Ranney, he has been connected with his sons in
business. He was Supervisor of Gaines in the years
1842, 1845, 1846, 1853, 1854, and 1857.
DR. JESSE BEEOII AND DR. JOHN HENRY BEECH.
The following extracts are taken from a memoir by
Dr. John H. Beech, of ColdAvater, Michigan, of him
self and his father, Dr. Jesse Beech, who was the pi
oneer physician of the town of Gaines :
"Dr. Jesse Beech was born March 20th, 1787, at
Ames, Montgomery county, New York. He studied
medicine with Dr. Lathrop, of Charleston, and with-
Dr. Sheldon, of Florida, N. Y. In those days medi
cal colleges were not accessible to students of ordi
nary means. There Avas a public prejudice against
dissections, and the students of the two doctors named
occupied a room in a steeple on a church in Charles
ton, where they dissected bodies. One of the class
would stay in the steeple all day Sundays with their
cadavers to keep the hatch fastened down to exclude
intruding boys.
Dr. Jesse Beech commenced practice at Esperance,
N. Y., in the year 1813, and in February of that
year married Susannah, a daughter of John Brown,
of that place.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 247
In the fall of 1815 he came to Gaines, Avhere he met
James Mather, Avith Avhom he Avas acquainted, and
Avas persuaded to stop there, accepting a theory then
believed in by settlers in that region, Avhich Avas this :
' Batavia must be the Got7t am of the Holland Purchase
Oak Orchard Harbor must be the commercial port.
The great commercial highway of the country would
be from the head of navigation on Oak Orchard Creek
to Batavia. The country north of the Ridge Avas too
flat and poor to be of any account, and the town
second to Batavia must be on the Ridge where the
road from Batavia to the lake crossed it. A kind of
half shire town for Genesee county was then at Oak
Orchard Creek on the Ridge. Genesee county would
be divided at TonaAvanda Swamp, and the new coun
ty seat would be Gaines.' Philetus Bumpus Avas then
hunting bears AA-here Albion uoav is, and the future
greatness of Gaines Avas not dimmed by prospects of
Clinton's Erie Canal.
Such A\as the theory. The canal made dough of
the whole of that cake, and caused the whole country
about here to change front.
James Mather, and Oliver Booth, the tavern keep
er, were active men in Gaines, when my father came
in, both being very attentive to new comers, and Esq.
Arba Chubb came in soon after. He was the best
AA-it and story teller of the times, full of talk and re
partee, a most social and agreeable man.
My father bought some land near the ' Corners,'
and brought my mother there the next spring. She
found the ' house ' only half floored and not all
' cMnked.' The fire was built against the logs on the
side which had no floor, over which the roof Avas
open for the escape of smoke.
She was told that the rule of the settlement was
that new comers must burn out three logs in the
house walls before they could be allowed to build a

248 PIONEER HISTORY
stone back for a cMmney ; and they must have had
at least three ' shakes ' of ague before they could be
admitted to citizenship.
The records are silent as to when she burned out her
three logs ; but it is said that she soon attained to the
rank of full citizenship, having her first shake of
ague on the fourth day after arriving in toAvn. My
father must have found the people much in need of a
doctor, for I find on page seventy-one of Ms day book,
previous pages being lost, a large amount of busi
ness charged for so small a population. The prices
charged would now be deemed quite moderate, to
wit. : Leonard Frisbie is charged ' To visit and setting
leg for self $2.50.' Subsequent visits and dressings
from thirty- seven and a half to seventy -five cents
each, and so in other cases.
In 1817, 1818, and 1819, it took him three or four
days to make a circular visit to his patients. They
resided in Murray, east of Sandy Creek, at Farwell' s
Mills, in Clarendon, in different parts of Ridgeway,
Barre, &c.
On these circuits the kind people treated Mm to
their best, which was often com cake and whisky, or
Evans' root coffee, with sorrel pie for dessert, for the
doctor and basswood browse for his horse.
I find a bill rendered in pounds, shillings and pence
to my father by George Kuck, for general merchan
dise had at his store in AArest Carlton, in 1818. Ira '
Webb Avas at the same time in trade at Oak Orchard
Creek, on the Ridge, but the principal merchants were
located at Gaines.
In the spring of 1816, my father had about half
an acre of com 'dug in ; among the logs near his
house. AVhen it was a few inches high a frost blight
ed the tops so that every leaf was held in a tight
dead envelope. My mother cut off the tops with her
scissors and a fair crop Avas harvested.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 249
In order to save the pig from the bears, its pen Avas
made close to the house, and a piece of chinking
left out to halloo ' shoo ' through.
One day mother's attention was attracted by an
unusual hackling of the pig. Looking through the
crevice she saAv a large rattlesnake coiled up in the
hog-trough, Avith head erect, buzzing like a nest of
bees. Fearing to attack the old fellow, she ran to
the neighbors for help and when she returned the
snake had gone.
In 1S16 they had a patch of oats near the house
from wMch the deer had to be driven frequently.
Their first child, and only daughter, Elizabeth, was
born June 22d, 1817. She married Ezbon G. Fuller,
and settled at Coldwater, Michigan, where she died in
1853. Their only son, your humble servant, was born
September 24th, 1819. I think I must have been one
of the first draymen in the county, as I remember
when a very small boy seizing the reins and backing
my father' s horse and cart loaded with merchandise,
part of wMch was a demijohn of aquafortis, doAvn a
cellar gangway. Some smoke and some hurrying
were among the consequences.
A few years later a young clerk and myself sent a
hogshead of molasses from a wagon down the same
gangway at one 'pop.' The 'pop' carried away
the heads of the cask and poured the sweet out to
the rats.
At the age of fourteen I tried clerking in a dry
goods store for Fanning & Orton, in Albion. After
six nionths probation I felt no further inspiration or
aspiration in that line and resigned, I presume with
the hearty consent of my employers, though they flat
tered me by expressing their regret, which I thought
was proof of their politeness rather than my ability.
I then attended Gaines Academy until I was eighteen
years old, when I commenced studying medicine with

250 ' PIONEER HISTORY
Drs. Nichoson & Paine, in Albion ; afterwards with
Dr. Pinkney, at Esperance, and graduating at the
Albany Medical College in 1841.
I practiced my profession from the old homestead
until 1850, then removed to Coldwater, Michigan,
where I have been engaged in the same business
since, except during the rebellion, in the greater part
of which I served in the army as surgeon, first of
Battery D. First Michigan Artillery; afterwards of
Twenty -Fourth Michigan Volunteers, in the Army of
the Potomac. The greater part of the time, besides
performing my regimental duties, acting as Surgeon-
in-Chief of the First Brigade, First Division, First
Army Corps.
In January, 1842, I married Mary Jane Perry, of
Clarkson, N. Y. * * * *
We have mentioned the anticipations of the people
of securing the location of the county buildings at
Gaines. The brick building standing on the hill south
of the village, was built by contributions started with
the intent to donate it to the county for a court house.
It was originally three stories high, about forty by
seventy feet on the ground. These anticipations of
the contributors being blasted, they converted their
building into an academy.
At the organization of Orleans county, the village
of Gaines contained three stores, three asheries, three
tanneries, two taArerns, one chair factory, one carriage
factory, one cabinet shop, three blacksmith shops,
one distillery, one cloth-dressing and wool-carding
establishment, two brick yards, one printing office
where a newspaper Avas published, one hat factory,
and one saddle and harness shop. Works requiring
motive power were driven by horses. * * *
The first chapter of royal arch masons in the county
No. 82, was [organized at Gaines. Dr. Jesse Beech
Avas H. P. in 1826.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 251
Previous to 1825, Col. Boardman's Cavalry Avas a
marvel in the eyes of us youngsters. Dr. Jesse Beech
was its surgeon.
I find by an old receipt among my father' s papers,
that Gaines Basin, in the canal, Avas excavated by a
subscription fund, subscribed mainly by Guernsey,
Bushnell & Co., E. & E. D. Nichols, and James
Mather. Dr. Jes'se Beech Avas a temperance man even to total
abstinence, enforcing his principles by banishing de
canters and wine glasses from his sideboard — a pro
ceeding rather unusual in those times.
He AA-as a fine horseman and occasionally officiated
as marshal on public occasions. He was always ex
ceedingly particular in his dress and personal appear
ance, and always wore an elaborate ruffle shirt. His
dress neA-er was allowed to interfere Avith business re
quiring his attention, and sometimes, when off pro
fessional duty, he Avould go into his field Avhere his
men were clearing land, and though he Avas small in
stature, he Avould show by his agility and energy in
working with Ms men that he was a match for their
stoutest. A few of the last years of my father' s life, he kept
a store of drugs and medicines on sale in connexion
with Ms practice as a physician and surgeon.
In February or March, 1826, he Avas hurt by a
vicious horse from AA-hich he suffered greatly as long
as he lived. He died March 4th, 1829. His widow
afterwards married Captain Elihu Mather, and re
moved to Coldwater, Michigan, where she died March
16th, 1869. J. II. BEECH."
OLIVER BOOTH.
Oliver Booth was a well-known' tavern keeper on
the Ridge Road in Gaines. He came here from

252 PIONEER HISTORY
AVayne county in the spring of 1811, and settled on
the farm north of the Ridge and east of the Oak Or
chard Road in the village of Gaines. He cleared his
farm and built a double log house, with a huge chim
ney in the middle. Here he kept tavern a number
of years.
His house was always full of company. Travelers
on the Ridge Road stopped here because % it was a
tavern and there was no other. Here he dispensed a
vast amount of whisky,— for everybody was thirsty in
those days, — and some victuals to such strangers as
Avere not acquainted with the proverbial filthiness of
the kitchen.
After Gaines had become a village, and laid claims
to the county seat, and people had come in who
wanted more style, and whose stomachs could not
stand such fare as Booth' s tavern supplied, another
tavern was opened and Booth sold out and moved
away. He finally settled in Michigan where he
died. No description of Booth or his tavern would be
complete without including Sam. AVooster. Sam's
father lived in the neighborhood, and he (Sam.) then a
great lazy boy, strayed up to Booth' s tavern, where
by hanging about he occasionally got a taste of
Booth' s whisky in consideration of bringing in wood
for the fire and doing a few other chores. For these
services and the pleasure of his company, Booth gave
him what he ate and drank, with a place to sleep on
the bar-room floor. His clothes did not cost much.
He never wore a hat of any sort, seldom had on
, stockings or shoes. Nobody can remember that he
wore a shirt, and his coats and pants were such as
came to him, nobody could tell Iioav or from whence.
Sam. never washed his face and hands, or combed his
head, and his general appearance, shirtless and shoe
less, with his great black, frowsy head bare, his pants

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 253
ragged and torn, and his coat, if he had any, minus
one sleeve, or half the skirt, to one avIio did knoAv him
might befit a crazy prisoner just escaped from Bed
lam. Yet Sam. AA-as not a fool or crazy. His AvitAvas
keen and ready, and his jokes timely and sharp. He
would not Avork, or do anything which required much
effort any Avay. He Avas a good fisher however, and
with his old friend Booth, he Avould sit patiently by
the hour and angle in the Oak Orchard, or any other
stream that had fish, perfectly content, if he had an
occasional nibble at his hook.
One year AA'hile he lived in Gaines, some Avag for
the fun of the thing nominated Mm for overseer of
highways in the Gaines village district, and he was
elected. He told the people they had elected him
thinking he was too lazy to attend to the business,
and Avould let them satisfy their assessments by mere
nominal labor on the road; but they would find them
selves much mistaken, and they did. Sam. Avarned
them to work as the law directed. He superintended
everything vigorously, and every man and team and
tool on the highway AA-ithin his beat had to do its
Avhole duty promptly that year at least.
Although Sam. loved whisky and drank it whenever
it was given to Mm, for he never had money to buy
anytlting, he never got drunk. He never quarreled
or stole or did any other mischief. Bad as he looked,
and lazy and dirty as he Avas, he Avas harmless.
When Mr. Booth sold out and moved to Michigan,
Sam. went with Mm and lived in his family after-
Avards. A few months after landlord Booth got his double
log tavern going, a man rode up to the west front
door , each half of the house had a front door, and
asked Mrs. Booth if he could get dinner and feed
his horse there. She sent her daughter, then ten years
old, to show the man where he could get feed for his

254 PIONEER HISTORY
horse in the stable, and she went to work getting
his dinner.
Having taken care of his horse, the stranger came
and took a seat by the front door of the room where
Mrs. Booth was getting dinner and commenced talk
by saying :
"Well, Mrs. Booth, how do you like the Holland
Purchase?" " O, pretty well," she replied, " I think it will be
a good country when it is cleared up."
" What place did you come from Mrs. Booth ?"
" We came from down in the Jarseys."
" Is the country settling about here very fast V\
" Yes, quite a good many settlers have come in."
"How is it about the mouth of Oak Orchard, are
they settling there much ?"
" No they are not, that cussed old Joe Ellicott has
reserved all the land there and wont sell it."
Just then Mr. James Mather passed by, and seeing
the stranger sitting in the door, whom he recognized
as Mr. Joseph Ellicott, the agent of the Holland Land
Company, he turned to speak to him. As he came
up, Ellicott motioned him to be silent, fearing he would
pronounce his name in hearing of Mrs. Booth and end
the fun. After a salutation to Mr. Mather, Mr. El
licott said to Mrs. Booth :
' ' Has old Joe Ellicott then really reserved the land
round the mouth of the Creek."
"Yes, the devilish old scamp has reserved one or
two thousand acres there as a harbor for bears and
Avolves to kill the sheep and hogs of the settlers."
Ellicott asked " What can induce uncle Joe to re
serve that land ?' '
She replied, ' 'Oh, the old scamp thinks he -will make
his Jack out of it. He thinks some day there will be
a city there, and he will survey the land into city

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 255

lots and sell them. Ah, he is a ' long-headed old
chap." Ellicott Avalked into the road and talked with Mr.
Mather a feAv minutes till being called to his dinner
he said to Mather : "Don't tell Mrs. Booth avIio I
am until I am out of sight."
After Ellicott was gone, Mr. Mather Avent over and
Mrs. Booth asked him who that old felloAv was who
got dinner there '.
He replied, -'it Avas Mr. Joseph Ellicott, from Ba
tavia." "Good," says she, " didn't I give it to Mm % Glad
of it! Glad of it!"
Mr. Booth Avas unable to read or write, and he was
accustomed to keep his tavern accounts in chalk
marks on the walls. Thus, for an account of six
pence, he made a mark of a certain length ; for a
shilling, a mark longer ; two shillings, longer still,
and so on. He distinguished drinks, dinners, horse
feed, &c, by peculiar hieroglyphics of his own inven
tion. Booth, the tavern keeper, must not be confounded
with Oliver Booth, 2d, better known to the old pio
neers as "Esq. Booth," who owned and resided on the
next farm west, which lay on the west side of Oak
Orchard Road, and north side of the Ridge. Esquire
Booth was among the very first settlers of Gaines vil
lage. He was not related to the tavern keeper. He
was born in Granby, Connecticut, in 1779, and set
tled in Gaines, in 1810. He removed to Michigan in
1833 and died there.
Esq. Booth was the first Supervisor elected north of
Tonawanda swamp to represent the town of Ridge
way, then the whole of Orleans county, in 1813. He
served several years as a Justice of the Peace. He

256 PIONEER HISTORY
was an odd man in appearance and manners, but
upright and honest. JAMES MATHER.
James Mather Avas born in Marlborough, Vt., July
23d, 1784. His family are said to be descendants
from Rev. Increase Mather, President of Harvard
University, who received the first degree of Doctor of
Divinity, that Avas conferred by that college. Mr.
Mather came to Gaines in the summer or fall of 1810,
to look out a place for Ms settlement. There was
then some travel on the Ridge Road, with a prospect
of more when the country was settled. The Holland
Company had establised their land office at Batavia,
and it seemed to Mm sure that in time a village or
city would grow up at the mouth of Oak Orchard
Creek. The Oak Orchard trail was then marked from
Batavia to the lake, and Mr. Mather shrewdly pre
dicting a village would be founded where that trail
crossed the Ridge, took up some four hundred acres
of land lying on each side of the Oak Orchard Road
and south of the Ridge, on which he afterwards set
tled and resided while he lived.
Before removing to Gaines, Mr. Mather had resided
for some time in the town of Russia, Herkimer coun
ty, where he manufactured potash which he sent to
the Canada market by way of Ogdensburg. He was
in this business when the embargo declaring non-
intercourse AAdth Great Britain was proclaimed. He
continued his trade however, and by the skillful dis
tribution of a few dollars among the gOA^ernment offi
cials, his ashes were allowed to pass the lines and his
profits were large.
In the winter of 1811, he broke up his establish
ment in Herkimer county and removed to his land in
Gaines. A younger brother, Rufus Mather, assisted
by driving a team of two yoke of oxen before a sled

fe^z

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 257
Avhich AYas loaded, among other things, with three
potash kettles. There Avas no bridge over Genesee
River, at Rochester, and Rufus attempted to cross on
the ice near where the canal noAv is. In the middle
of the river the ice broke and let the loaded sled into
the water. Rufus succeeded Avith great difficulty in
getting out without loss, and folloAved the Ridge to
his destination, and stopped at the house of Cotton
Leach, Avest of the present village of Gaines. Rufus
remained and labored for James the next summer.
James Mather had cut down the trees on a small spot
south of the Ridge, on the Oak Orchard Road, near
AA-here his son George Mather now resides ; but no
clearing Avithin the bounds of the village on the Ridge
had then been made.
Rufus Mather says he felled the first tree in the vil
lage of Gaines, on the Ridge Road. That tree stood
on the west side of Oak Orchard Road. A piece of
land was soon cleared there and James Mather built
his log house on that corner in the spring of 1811.
He married Fanny Bryant February 15th, 1813.
She wasvborn in Marlborough, Arermont, October 28th,,
1788. In the Avinter of 1813, they commenced house keep
ing in the log house Mr. Mather had built on his lot,
and remained there during the Avar, when so many
Avent away.
Mr. Mather always kept open house, according to
the custom of the country there, though he never
professed to keep tavern; entertaining every one who
applied to him for accommodation as well as he could,
and his house was generally full of newly arriving
emigrants who were waiting till their own cabins could
be built, or of such casual strangers as came
along. Oliver Booth, afterwards the tavern keeper, stop-
17

258 PIONEER HISTORY
ped with Mr. Mather when he first came in, until he
got his own house built and fitted up.
Soon after Mr. Mather settled in Gaines, he set the
potash kettles he brought with him and commenced
buying salts of lye, or "black salts," of the settlers
as soon as settlers came in and made them. These
salts he boiled down into potash and took them to
the mouth of Genesee River, or the mouth of Oak
Orchard Creek, and sent them to Montreal to a mar
ket. He paid for these salts in salt fish, iron, leather,
coarse hardware, and a few axes, chains, and such
tools as farmers must have, which he obtained in ex
change for Ms potash, and took care to sell at a fail-
profit, and with these things he paid some money.
He Avas in fact almost the only source from which
those who did not bring money with them got any to
supply their wants.
Early in the spring of 1811, Mr. Mather finding his
provisions getting low, went to the Oak Orchard
Creek, at the head of Stillwater, from the lake, with
two men and a seine and caught three barrels of fish
in a few hours. These he drew to the Ridge with his
oxen and took them to Black Creek Mill, a few miles
south of Rochester, and with these fish and money, he
bought wheat and pork, got his Avheat ground and
took it home, and so he was well supplied the first
year with these proyisions. About, the time Orleans
county was organized, he built a large brick build
ing for a tannery, in which with his brothers and
others he carried on tanning a number of years,
though he never worked at that business himself. He
dealt considerably in land, at one time owning a
large farm where Eagle Harbor village and flouring
mills are now built, and several large farms in other
places. From the rise of value in these lands, and
the profits of his speculations, he became wealthy.
He died August 29th, 1854.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 259
Mr. Mather had seven children.
Louisa, Avho married AArheeler M. - Dewey. She
died many years since.
Dwight, who died in youth.
Adeline married Paul H. Stewart.
Eunice married Daniel F. AValbridge.
George married Mary Ann Crane. He resides on
Ms paternal homestead.
Ellen married Hon. Noah Davis, of Albion, late a
Justice of the Supreme Court.
Mary married HoAvard Abeel, a merchant of
Albion. ELIHU MATHER.
Elihu Mather was born in Marlborough, Vt., July
26th, 1782. He was a tanner by trade. He came to
Gaines to reside in 1825, and went into business
with his brother James in Ms tannery and working-
Ms farm.
In the great antimasonic excitement arising from
the abduction of William Morgan, Mr. Elihu Mather
was indicted as an accessory to the crime, and tried
at Albion and acquitted. The trial occupied ten
days. Mr. Mather continued to reside in Gaines
until 1851, when he removed to Coldwater, in Michi
gan, where he died January 29th, 1866.
HENRY DRAKE.
Henry Drake was born in New Jersey, April 6th,
1770. He settled in Gaines in March, 1811. In 1812,
he built a dam on Otter Creek, a few rods north of
the Ridge, in Gaines, on which he erected a sawmill,
which was the first sawmill built within the present
town of Gaines.
Mr. Drake learned the clothier' s trade in his youth,
but followed farming as his business in life. He
married Betsey Parks, in New Jersey. She died

260 PIONEER HISTORY
April 16th, 1843. Mr. Drake died December 25th,.
1863, at the age of almost 94 years.
SIMEON DUTCHER.
Simeon Dutcher was born in Dover, Dutchess Co.,
N. Y., April 21st, 1772. For fifteen years after ar-.
riving at manhood he labored as a millwright, a trade
he assumed without serving any regular apprentice
ship. He then commenced preaching and was or
dained an Elder in the Baptist denomination. In the
year 1817, Elder Dutcher removed with Ms family to
Carlton, New York, and in 1820 he removed to the
town of Gaines, where he resided until he died. The
primary object he had in coming to the Holland Pur
chase was to preach and serve as a missionary among
the people, the Baptists having no church organiza
tion in Orleans county.
The people were few, poor and scattered, and Elder
Dutcher never received much pay for his ministerial
labors, but supported his family mostly by working
a farm. He used to preach in several neighboring
towns in the log cabins of settlers, or in the school
houses after such were erected: And for several
years he officiated at nearly all the marriages and fu
nerals in this part of the country.
The first framed meeting house erected in Orleans
county was built in the village of Gaines by a stock
company, who sold the slips to Avhom they could,
on the condition that the house should be used by
different denominations, and it was so used.
A Baptist church was organized at Gaines in 1816,
under the pastoral care of Elder Dutcher, to whom
he preached until 1827, when the anti-masonic excite
ment prevailed in "his church. Elder Dutcher, who
was a Free Mason, was required to renounce Freema
sonry. He declined to do so and was excommunica
ted, and dismissed from his church.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 261
In the later years of his life Elder Dutcher professed
to be a universalist in religious sentiment. He was
always regarded as a good man and Avas much be
loved by the early settlers. He died January 22d,
1860. HON. AVILLIAM J. BABBITT.
AVilliam J. Babbitt Avas bom in Providence, Rhode
Island, September 1786. He learned the blacksmiths
trade of his father and worked at that business main
ly until he came to reside in Gaines, Avhere he had a
small shop and occasionally worked at his trade for
several years. In the year 1812, he took up the farm
on Avhich he ever afterwards resided, part of lot thirty,
tOAvnship fifteen, range one, and moved his family
there in 1813.
For many years after Mr. Babbitt settled in
Gaines no professional lawyer had come into Avhat is
now Orleans county. The people however would in
dulge occasionally in a lawsuit, and Mr. Babbitt be
ing a good talker, and a man of more than common
sMewdness, they frequently employed him to try
their cases in their justices' courts. He improved
under Ms practice until he became the most noted
"pettifogger" north of the Tonawanda Swamp,
and wMchever of the litigants secured the services of
Esq. Babbitt, AA-as quite sure to Avin his case. He
was active in getting the town of Gaines set off from
Ridgeway in the winter of 1816, and July 1st of the
same year, on his application a postoffice was estab
lished in Gaines and he wa3 appointed postmaster,
which office he held five years. This was the first
postoffice and he was the first postmaster in Gaines.
In 1831-2 he represented Orleans county i"n the As
sembly of the State. He was appointed a Justice of
the Peace by the council of appointment in 1815, and
reappointed from time to time until the elections to

262 PIONEER HISTORY
that office were given to the people under the consti
tution, when he was elected by the people holding
the office of Justice of the Peace in Gaines, in all 23
years. He was several times Supervisor of his town, and
held various other town offices from time to time.
He took pleasure in serving in official and fiduciary
positions, and was largely gratified in this particular
by his fellow citizens.
He was remarkable for promptness in keeping en
gagements. Late in life he was heard to say he was
never behind set time in being present in any legal
proceeding to be had before him. He acquired a
character for uncompromising fidelity in business
matters, and by a life of industry and economy laid
up a large property.
He died July 20th, 1863.
He married Eunice Losey, June 27th 1810. She
died April 4th, 1867. GIDEON FREEMAN.
Gideon Freeman was born in Stillwater, Saratoga
county, January 11th, 1787. About 1799, he moved
with his father to Ledyard, Cayuga county, and in
March 1812, he settled northwest of what is called
Long Bridge, and took up the southwest section of
land now in the town of Gaines. He was the first
settler in this locality south of the Ridge, and founder
of what was for many years known as "Freeman
Settlement." He cleared up a large farm and carried on a large
business as a farmer. His son, Chester Freeman,
now of Barre, relates that in the cold season of 1816,
his father planted forty acres to corn, which Avas a
total failure. He had a large stock of hogs that year
Avhich he expected to fatten on his corn, from the loss
of which, having nothing to feed them, many of them

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 263
starved to death in the next fall and winter. He had
a large stock of cattle at that time and but little food
for them.
Mr. Freeman chopped over nearly fifty acres of
Avoods to browse his cattle in the winter of 1816-17,
cutting down all trees suitable for that purpose, and
losing only about six of his cattle from starvation.
Mr. Freeman owned a part of the section lying next
east of Ms home farm. On that land one year he
sowed forty acres to wheat, which grew A'ery large.
At harvest time he measured off one acre of his field
and cut and cleaned the Avheat on it, getting fifty-five
bushels of AA'heat on that acre.
Mr. Freeman was a liberal, generous man, and la
bored hard to induce settlers to come in and to open
the country to mhabitants. He sustained some large
losses in his business and became insolvent, finally
losing all his land. He removed to Ypsilanti, Mich-
gan, where he died in 1832.
Mr. Levi Atwell, Joseph Stoddard and Reuben
Clark Avere among those who moved into the Freeman
settlemen soon after it was commenced. „
CHESTER FREEMAN.
Chester Freeman, son of Gideon Freeman, was
bom in Scipio, Cayuga county, August 18th, 1807.
He married Eliza Chidester in 1835. She died in
March. 1848, and October 30th, 1849, he married
Amanda Morris. He has resided on lot thirty-one,
in township fourteen range two, in Barre, since
1842. He came into Orleans county .with his father
in 1812. DANIEL PRATT.
Daniel Pratt was born in Westmoreland, Oneida
county, N. Y., March 25th, 1788. He married Polly
Bailey, August, 1809, and moved to Gaines and set-

264 PIONEER HISTORY
tied on the Ridge in the spring of 1810. His wife,
Polly, died August 30th, 1812. He married Caroline
Smith, January 8th, 1815.
He Avent east during the war of 1812 and remained
two years, then returned to his farm, on Avhich he
labored until his death, October 7th, 1845. Mr£.
Caroline Pratt, died September 18th, 1831.
The first wheat sold by Mr. Pratt was taken qh
an ox sled by him to Rochester, and sold for twenty-
five cents a bushel.
Mr. Pratt was a man of quiet habits, trusty and
faithful. He was much respected by his acquaintan
ces. He was Town Clerk of Gaines for many years and
held the office of Overseer of the Poor a long time.
DANIEL BROWN.
Daniel BroAvn Avas born in Columbia county, N. Y.,
June 15th, 1787. He removed Avith his father's fami
ly to Upper Canada, in the year 1800. He resided in
Canada during the war 1812. He experienced much
trouble in consequence of his refusal to bear arms
in that war against his native country. He was in
dicted and tried for treason and acquitted. In Janu
ary, 1816, he removed to the town of Gaines and set
tled one mile north-east from Albion.
Mr. Brown has established an enviable character
for integrity among Ms acquaintances, and has been
honored and respected.
He was Supervisor of the town of Gaines in 1844,
and has held various other town offices.
He married Mary AAlllsea, in Canada, in the year
1807. Mr. Brown is still living.
AVILLIAM W. RUGGLES.
AVm. W. Ruggles was born in Hardwick, Massa-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 265
chusetts, January 1st, 1800. His father, Seth llug-
gles, removed Avith his family in 1804 to Poultney,
Vermont, where Wm. AY. labored on a farm until he
was eighteen years old. He then entered the oflice of
Judge AArilliams, at Salem, N. Y., as a student at
law. Here he studied law eight months in the year,
teaching school winters. He closed his preparatory
law study with Chief Justice Savage, at Albany.
Having been admitted to the bar, he came to Albion
and formed a partnership Avith Judge Moody, Avhich
Avas soon dissolved.
He removed to Gaines in 1824, and began the prac
tice of his profession there.
In the contest between Gaines and Albion for the
county buildings, he took an active part for his vil
lage. He aided in founding Gaines Academy and the
Farmers Bank of Orleans, at Gaines.
He exerted himself to have the New York Central
Railroad located along the Ridge, and used his influ
ence in favor of the building of Niagara Suspension
Bridge, and was a stockholder in that company.
In Ms profession as a lawyer he was diligent and
successful. He held the offices of Master in Chancey,
Supreme Court Commissioner, Judge of the Court of
Common Pleas, and Justice of the Peace and various
other toAvn offices. He Avas several times the candi
date of the Democratic party for the State Legisla
ture, but failed of an election as his party was large
ly m the minority.
Judge Ruggles had a cultivated mind, enriched by
studious habits of life. He was particularly fond of
Astronomy, on which he left some lectures in manu
script, written by him.
In the autumn of 1849 he went to Chicago, intend
ing to reside and practice law there, but having taken
cold while on his voyage around the lake, he Avas

266 PIONEER HISTORY'
compelled to return to Gaines sick, and never re
covered, dying at Gaines, April 22d, 1850.
He spent a year surveying government land in
Michigan, Avhen General Cass was Governor, where
he contracted fever and ague, from which he suffered
ever afterwards.
He married Miss Ann Davis, daughter of Dea: Perry
Davis, of Gaines, in 1827. She died Aug. 20th, 1846,
He left three children, AVilliam Oakley, now a broker
in New York ; Henry C, a Civil Engineer in Cincin-
natti, Ohio ; and Helen, who married Mr. Fred
Boott, and resides in Gaines.
EAGLE HARBOR. i
Eagle Harbor, a thriving village on the Erie Canal,
in the town of Gaines, is said to have been so named
because a large bird's nest Avas found in a tree grow
ing there about the time the canal was surveyed, sup
posed to have been built by an eagle.
The land on which the village is built was for a
number of years at first held under articles from the
Holland Company.
Harvey Smith took a deed of eighty acres on the
south-east corner of lot thirty-six, November 1, 1819.
Stephen N. Chubb took a deed of fifty-three acres
next north, September 6th, 1834, and Macy Pratt, of
one hundred and thirty-eight acres north of Chubb,
November 29th, 1819.
On the East side, Asahel Fitch took a deed of
one hundred twenty-five acres, part of lot twenty-
six, February 20th, 1821. James Mather took "a
deed of two hundred acres next north of Fitch, No
vember 27th, 1829 ; and Robert Hunter, one hun
dred and seventy-six acres next north of Mather
January 31st, 1828.
South side of Canal, fifty acres of lot thirty-five

OF ORLEANS COUNTY'. 267
were deeded to Amos S. Samson, December 22d,
1836. Stephen Abbott took up the land afterwards deeded
to Harvey Smith, and commenced cutting down tim
ber on it in the winter of 1812. This Avas probably
the first clearing done in Eagle Harbor.
Little improvement was made until work was
begun on the canal. The high embankment over Otter
Creek was constructed by a man named Richardson.
He opened a store here to accommodate Ms workmen,
wMch was the first store.
Hicks and Sherman bought Richardson' s store and
continued it after him.
A Mr. Hicks built the old red Avarehouse, the first
m the village, south side of the canal, where Collins'
warehouse now stands. This was owned and occu
pied by A. S. Samson afterwards.
In 1832, this Avarehouse was sold to Willis P. Col-
tins who opened a dry goods store in it and continued
it about six years, then built a store and warehouse
on the east side of the street and moved there.
David Smith built the first sawmill about forty
rods north of the canal, on Otter Creek.
James Mather built a sawmill on the south side of
the canal in 1826.
N. Pratt, J. Delano and L. Northrop, built the
lower dam and sawmill in 1825.
James Leaton bought the Hunter farm, and he in
company with W. P. Collins, built the north flouring
miU in 1837. This mill was burned in the fall of 1839,
and re-built immediately.
A large flouring mill on the south side of the canal
was built by General E. S. Beach, in 1847. This mill
has since been burned.
The brick church was built in 1827 by the united
means of Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists,

268 PIONEER HISTORY
and owned half by Methodists, and one-fourth each
by the other denominations.
The first meeting house was taken down and rebuilt
in 1845, the same parties building and owning the
new house, as they did the old one.
The AAresleyan Methodists erected their church ed
ifice in 1845-6.
Eagle Harbor postoffice was established about the
year 1837, with AV. P. Collins first postmaster.
The first school house was built in 1822, on the
west side of the street.
The second school house was built on the lot now
owned by the district, in 1841 ; and the third school
house in 1846.
Col. Jonathan Delano Avas the first carpenter and
joiner. Samuel Robinson Avas the first shoemaker, and Da
vid Smith the first tavern keeper.
Col. Delano and Sam. Robinson the first grocers.
Mr. Hurd the first blacksmith, and Dr. James BroAvn
the first physician.
The groAvth of Eagle Harbor has been greatly pro
moted by the large capital employed there by Gen.
Beach in erecting mills and manufacturing flour, and
by the active business energy of Mr. "Willis P. Col
lins, for many years a resident in the village, and the
foremost man.in every enterprise tending to add Avealth
and importance to the place.

CHAPTER XX.

TOAVN OF KENDALL.
Partitioned between State of Connecticut and Pultney Estate — First
Settler— First Marriage— First Birth— First Tavern— First Death-
First Store— First School— First Saw Mill— First Public Religious
Service; — First Physician — First Highway from Kendall Corners to
Ridge — Biographies of Early Settlers.

ENDALL AA-as named in honor of Amos Ken
dall, Postmaster General at the time it was
formed from Murray, April 7th, 1837. From
its location, being off the line of travel, and because
the land was not surveyed into lots, and formally put
in market to sell to settlers as soon as lands on the
Holland Purchase, settlements were not made as early
or as numerous as in towns on the Purchase. The
State of Connecticut and the Pultney Estate had
owned these lands under a joint title, and for consid
erable time they remained undivided.
In July, 1810, Dr. Levi AVard became agent for the
State of Connecticut to sell their lands oh the 100,000
acre tract, of which Kendall forms a part. And in
1811 a formal partition of land between the State of
Connecticut and the Pultney Estate was made, and
Mr. Joseph Fellows was appointed agent of the Pult
ney Estate.
Land offices were opened by these agents, and set
tlers were invited to come in and take lands. But few
came into Kendall until after the cold season of 1816,
and for some time after that they had difficulty in ac-

270 PIONEER HISTORY
quiring a good title to farms bought of the Pultney
Estate. Samuel Bates, from Vermont, is said to have been
the first white man who settled in this town, locating
on lot 111, in East Kendall, in 1812. He cleared some
land and sowed wheat, but did not move his family
in until 1814.
David Jones, Adin Manley, Amos Randall, John
Farnsworth, Zebulon Rice, Benjamin Morse, and
Nathaniel Brown, settled in 1815.
Felix Augur, Rev. Stephen Randall, Ansel Bal-
com, George Balcom, Stephen Bliss, James Weed,
in 1816.
Ethan Graham, AVilliam Clark and his son Robert
Clark, came in 1817.
The first marriage in town was that of James Aiken
to Esther A. Bates, March 2d, 1817.
The first birth was that of Bartlett B. Morse, in
November, 1815.
The first death was that of a son of Geo. Balcom,
in 1816.
Hiram Thompson kept the first store in 1823. The
first inn was kept by Lyman Spicer in 1823.
The first sawmill was built- by Augur and Boyden,
in 1819, and Gurdon Balcom taught the first school
in 1819.
The first gristmill was built by Ose Webster, on the
site on Sandy Creek, now occupied by the mills of
his son Ebenezer K. Webster, forming a nucleus for
the settlement now known as Webster's Mills. Pre
vious to the erection of this gristmill, the people of
Kendall took their grain to Rochester, or to Farwell' s
mill in Clarendon, to be ground.
Farwell' s millVas much nearest, but the road to it
was almost impassable with a load, and the little mill
had not capacity to do all the work in that part of the
country.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 271
The first religious service in Kendall was conducted
by Elder Stephen Randall, a Methodist preacher.
The first physician who practiced in town was Dr.
Theophilus Randall, though Dr. RoavcII, of Clarkson,
AA-as frequently called.
AYken Mr. Bates settled in Kendall there Avas no
public highway in town. Settlers and others coming-
there usually left the Ridge a little east of Kendall
and traveled a road wMch had been opened into what
is now Hamlin ; thence west to Kendall. The first high-
Avay leading south from Kendall to the Ridge, was
located and cut out by the early inhabitants without
any public authority, from Kendall Mills following
up the west side of Sandy Creek to the Ridge road.
This road is yet traveled a part of the way.
The first settlers of Kendall were chiefly from Ver
mont, bred among the Green Mountains, and the
change of climate, air, water, food and occupation
they experienced in this new and comparatively level
country, was attended with the usual consequences.
They were almost all sick at times, and although the
utmost kindness preArailed, and every one did all they
could to help themselves and others to alleviate suf
fering, yet so few were Avell, and in their little rude
huts furnished only with a most scanty stock of con
veniences, short of provisions, and no place near
where the common necessaries for the sick could be
obtained, some of these people suffered great misery.
If they sometimes felt discouraged and wished them
selves away, when they were sick they could not go,
and when they got better they would not go, for they
came here to make them homes, and with the stub
born resolution of their race , they persisted in the
work they had begun, till their fondest hopes were
more than realized in the beautiful country their toils
and sacrifices made out of the wilderness.
The principal settlement in town for several years

272 PIONEER HISTORY
at' first, was in the east part, near the center. The
Randalls,. Bates, Clarks, Manley, and other lead
ing men there were intelligent, and wanted the lights
of civilization to shine into their settlement, if it was
away in the woods. Accordingly they met together
about the year 1820, and formed a Public Library
Association. Among the names or prominent actors
in this movement were H. W. Bates, Adin Manley,
Dr. Theophilus Randall, Amos Randall, David Jones,
Calvin Freeman, Orrin Doty, James M. Clark, Benj.
Morse, Nathaniel Brown, Caleb Clark and Noah
Priest. They raised by contribution among themselves in
various ways, about seventy-five volumes of books,
organized themselves into a society, elected their offi
cers, and kept up their organization about ten years.
Mr. Amos Randall was librarian, and these books
were well read in that neighborhood, and the habit of
thought and study thus implanted has borne its
proper fruit in after years, in the numbers of intelli
gent and influential men who have grown up there.
They were too poor to each take a newspaper, and
the nearest post office Avas at Clarkson. Several men
united in taking a paper. When it came to the post
office whoever of the company ' happened there first
took out the paper, and the neighbors would come
together to hear it read — those who did not contribute
to pay the expense as well as those who did — and the
paper was then passed to some other family and read
over and over until it was worn out.
Salt water was early discovered in Kendall, and
salt made there to supply the people.
In 1821, Mr. H. W. Bates and Caleb Clark dug a
well and planked it up to obtain brine on Mr. Bates'
farm and there they made about one thousand bush
els of salt. They sold their kettles to a Mr. Owen,
who made salt in them in the southwest part of the

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 273
town. Salt making in Kendall was discontinued
when the Erie canal opened.
About the year 1825, a company of Norwegians,
about fifty- two in number, settled on the lake shore,
in the north-east part of the toAvn. They came from
Norway together and took up land in a body. They
were an industrious, prudent and worthy peoplw held
in good repute by people in that vicinty. After a few
years they began to move aAvay to join their country
men avIio had settled in Illinois, and but few of that
colony are still in Kendall.
They thought it very important that every family
should haA-e land and a home of their own. A neigh
bor once asked a little Norwegian boy whose father
happened to be too poor to own land, where his
father lived ? and Avas ansAvered, " O, Ave don't live
nowhere, aa-c hain't got no land."

BIOGRAPHIES OF EARLY SETTLERS.
AKIN MANLEY.
"I was born in Taunton, Mass., March 19, 1793.
I was brought up among the boys of New England,
never having belonged to the • upper ten.' I roughed
with the hardy sporting ones, always ready for ath
letic games, and could commonly act well my part.
AVhen about twenty-four years old I was taken with
the western fever, and having laid up two or three
hundred dollars, in time saved while soAving my ' wild
oats,' I bought a horse and wagon and started with
three others for the Genesee country. Not knowing
or thinking of any trouble ahead, we dashed away.
One of my traveling companions was Stephen Ran
dall, Jr., son of Rev. Stephen Randall, who had
previously gone west, and then resided at Avon.
18

274 PIONEER HISTORY
The son now resides in the town of Union, Monroe
county, and has got to be an old man and wealthy.
We arrived in Avon in September, 1815. From thence
we made our way into Murray, and to what is now
Kendall, by way of Rochester. At Rochester we
were glad to get into the barn with the horses for a
night' s lodging, tliere being about thirty men, and
how many horses I cannot tell. Which made most
noise would be difficult to tell ; one thing I do know,
the men swore most and drank the most whisky.
That Avas an awful company. It seemed as if they
were the filth and offscouring of the whole country.
In the morning I proposed to sell my horse for I was
short of funds and had no farther use for him. A
gentlemanly appearing man by the name of Gilvreed
offered to buy him. He said he had good notes
against a responsible man, but the notes amounted
to more than the price of the horse, and I might give
my note for the balance, and as to the value of the
notes, I might enquire of gentlemen who knew, at the
same time referring to some standing by, who said
the}- were good and no mistake. So the exchange
was made in due form and both parties were highly
gratified. But the result was that the maker of the notes was
not worth a straw, and the man, Gilvreed, was worse.
This was my first financial operation in the west.
AVhat added to my humiliation Avas, I thought I had
such a vast knowledge of men and things as to be
proof against being outwitted by anybody; and that
I knew more than 'old folks." I wonder if boys
think so of themselves now-a-days ?
I then made my way west along the Ridge Road to
Murray Corners, now Clarkson, where Dr. Baldwin
had located and kept a tavern, which at that time was
a very lucrative business, as people were flocking
from the east rapidly.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 275
From Murray Corners Ave struck off north-west
what was then called ' Black North,' a region where
the probability Avas, Avhat the musketoes did not eat
up, the fever and ague would kill. On we went,
notliing fearing, until Ave came to what was called
' Yanty Creek,' Avhere we found three families loca
ted, who I believe were the only white inhabitants
in what is now the town of Kendall. They were H.
AV. Bates, Amos Randall, and Benjamin Morse and
their families. I concluded to make a ' pitch ' here.
I now had to learn the customs and employments of
the people among whom I was going to reside, Avhich
consisted mainly of chopping, rolling logs, raising-
log houses, drinking whisky to keep off the fever
and ague, hunting deer, bear, raccoons, bees and
catching fish.
After working hard at a log raising, and taking-
cold after it, I was awakened in the night by an aw
ful ; shaking ' and could not tell what it meant, but-
found out sure enough afterward.
In the spring of 1816, I went to work in good
earnest to clear a patch of land on which to raise a
little of the needful, and behold in June tliere came a
frost and spoiled all our labor and made our corn
fields in the wilderness, instead of ' blossoming like
the rose,' look as though the fire had run through
them. The next fall I was taken down with the ague
'proper,' and in attempting to break it up I made it
worse, until it became awful. I then made up my
mind to make my way back to Massachusetts. But
how was I to do it \ I AA-as so weak I could not walk
a mile. Finally I found some men going to Vermont,
and agreed with them to take me along with them
and let me ride part of the time. If I could remem
ber their names I would record them with gratitude
for their kindness.

'276 PIONEER HISTORY
I found my unconquerable will had a wonderful effect
upon my body. I had no more ague on my journey,
though I had it every day before I set out. I went
to Massachusetts, and remained till I got well re
cruited, and nothing daunted by what I had suffered,
I determined to return again to the west, and Janua
ry 17th, 1817, I was married to Miss Miriam Deming,
and in February following, with my wife, my brother
and his wife and one child, Eri Twitchell and wife,.
and Nathaniel Brown, we started with three yoke of
oxen hitched to a huge covered wagon. The perils of
that journey were neither few nor * small in pass
ing over mountains covered with snow and ice,
sidling roads with yawning gulfs below, and crossing-
streams on ice, and floundering through snow drifts,
Avith a constant headwind blowing in our faces for
twenty -two days together.
When we arrived in the neighborhood of our new
home, our neighbors hailed our coming with joy, and
wanted a little flour just to make a cake. I suppose
they bad gathered some sticks and had baked their
last meal.
AVe moved into a small log hut with only one room
the fireplace against 'the logs at one end, with a stick
chimney, bark roof and floor. Taking it altogether
we thought it a terrible place to live in.
We had three yoke of oxen and nothing for them-
to eat, this was. the worst of all. We turned them
into the woods and cut browse for them, but the poor
cattle suffered much.
In the next spring Ave had to pay one dollar a
bushel for potatoes, and a like price for oats, and no
money to buy Avith at that. We got some potatoes to-
plant and they came up twice, once by natural growth
and once rooted up by the hogs. We set them out
again, my wife helping me, for she was a true ' yoke
fellow.'

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 277
So Ave plodded on through the summer, with wheat
costing $2.50 a bushel, pork twenty-five cents a pound.
Our first child was born Sept. 24th of this year. It
was very feeble, and remained so for a long time, its
mother having the fever and ague every day for nearly
seven months, and taking care of her child the most of
the time.- At six months old the child weighed only
four pounds ! Thus we toiled on for three years.
The third year Ave raised wheat and other crops
enough for our comfort, and had built a framed ad
dition to our house. Our prospects now seemed fav
orable for gomg ahead, but in March following, our
house took fire and was consumed, together with all
our provisions, and nearly all our household furniture.
Under the circumstances, this was a sore trial to us.
AVe then had three children, and uo where to lay our
heads. AVe had nothing to eat except what came from
.charity. Our neighbors Avere poor but exceedingly
good. After a while we got another house and toiled on,
getting together some of this world' s goods. We had
ten children, all of whom lived to grow up to be men
and women. AAre haA-e sent nine of them to school at
once. My Avife died July 30, 1857, aged 64 years. I have
never experienced any calamity in my life that afflicted
me like her death, with such severity.
For several years after I came into this country, I
¦spent considerable time going far and near to assist
in raising log buildings. Sometimes going several
miles and carrying my dinner in my hand.
Mr. H. W. Bates and myself were accustomed to
labor much together, changing works. In the winter
of 1816, we went a mile into the woods to chop ; there
by accident a tree fell on him crushing him badly.
Had he been alone he Avould have perished. On.an-
kother occasion Mr. Bates and another man Avith my-

278 PIONEER HISTORY
self, went two miles into the woods one day in June,
and felled the timber on two acres. I think the like
was never done in that neighborhood before or since.
In the early settlement of the Genesee country, in
temperance prevailed to an alarming extent. Almost
everybody drank Avhisky free as water when they
could get it, and I am surprised so many escaped
total and eternal ruin. Many years ago I saw the
evil and totally abandoned the use of every thing that
intoxicates as a beverage and labored faithfully as I
could to save others. For my zeal and persistence in
opposing the traffic in liquor, I have suffered much
from rumsellers. At an early day I have seen Justi
ces Courts in session with a bottle of whisky on the
table before them, thus polluting the fountains of
justice with the vile abomination, and if the
Honorable Court happened to become too much ab
sorbed with the creature, they Avould adjourn over to
cool off.
I have had a large experience in hunting bears,
deer, raccoons and Avolves, and camping out in the
woods in cold and storm, without fire or food, working
out in the dead of winter, eating frozen dinners in the
Avoods, sharing fully my part in all sorts of hardships
which fell to the lot of the first settlers here. I have
endured it all, and lived to a good old age, thankful
to that good ProA'idence which has carried me through
so far and so safely. ADIN MANLEY."
Albion, February 26th, 1861.
Mr. Manley died in Albion, July 29th, 1867, aged
74 years. ROBERT CLARK.
" I was born in Lisbon, Connecticut, October 25th,
180*1. My ancestors came to America from England
some time in the sixteenth century. My father re-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 279
moved to Columbus, Chenango county, N. Y. in 1805.
In 1810 he removed to Utica, and in 1817 he settled
Avith Ms family on what was then called the Triangle
Tract, near the county line, and between the towns of
Kendall and Hamlin, a*bont three miles from Lake
Ontario. The place was then called Clark's settle
ment, because three brothers of the name of Clark
settled tliere. My uncles, Caleb and James settled
there one year before my father, whose name was
AArilliam Clark, came on, which was quite a help to
us, for they had a little Avheat sown, and some corn
and potatoes planted.
AA^hen my father arrived there was not a pound of
pork or flour in the settlement, except what he brought
A\-ith Mm ; and the next day the pork, flour and whis
ky were divided among the neighbors.
One reason for the entire destitution among the set
tlers Avas the anticipation of my father' s arrival, for
they all kneAv he would bring a supply for a time,
and so neglected to provide for themselves otherwise.
The names of the families then in the settlement
Ave re Bates, Priest, Randall, Balcom, Ross, Clark
and tAvo by name of Manley.
The settlers, in anticipation of our coming had
peeled elm bark in the month of June previous,
enough to form a roof to a house, and on our arrival
they commenced cutting logs for a house, and to clear
a spot of ground large enough to set it on, and in a
feAv days it was raised and covered with bark, in true
pioneer style. They also split basswood and hewed
slabs for a floor, which covered about tAvo-thirds ot
the surface of the room, the remainder being left for
the fire place and hearth.
AA7e now moved into our new house and commenced
our pioneer labors.
The door of our house was a bed blanket, and Avin-
dows Avere hardly necessary, for our house was not

280 PIONEER HISTORY
1 chinked ' and sufficient light came in through crevi
ces betAveen the logs, and a large space was left open
in the roof for the smoke to pass through. Our fire
place was the entire end of the house, and our hearth
the solid earth.
My father soon obtained some boards and made a
door and temporary windows. The next thing to be
done was to chink the cracks betAveen the logs. This
being done, Ave dug up the soil and Avet it and made
mud with Avhich we plastered the outside over the
chinks, which made our house quite warm and com
fortable. About this time our stock of provisions began to
get short, and the entire settlement was getting hard
up for something to eat ; but as potatoes were about
ripe we had plenty of them, and as we had a cow we
lived quite well until we could get wheat ground,
which at that time was very difficult. Before our
wheat AA-as hard enough to grind, our mother-hulled
and boiled it and we ate it with milk, and we thought
it very good eating.
This state of things did not last long, for my broth
er James had a great propensity for hunting, my
father having bought him a gun ; he very soon sup
plied us with venison Avhich proved a luxury in the
way of meat.
At length our wheat crop having matured, a grist
for each neighbor Avas prepared, and I started Avith an
ox team and about twelve bushels of wheat, which
with fodder for the oxen by the way, was about as
much as the team could draw. I staid at Murray
Corners, now Clarkson, the first night, and the next
day, a little before night, I got to the mill at Roches
ter, chained the oxen to the wagon and fed them for
the night. I slept that night on the bags in the mill
until my grist was ground, which was completed
about daylight. After feeding my team and eatinc

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 281
my venison, I started for home and got there about
sundown the third day out. The next .morning, 1
guess, all the neighbors had short cake for breakfast.
I will iioav give a description of AA'liat was called an
Indian Mill Avhich Ava's used to some extent by tin.'
early settlers. AVe selected a solid stump of a tree
in a suitable place near the house, cut a hole in the
top AA'ith an axe, deep as Ave could, and then built a
fire in the hole burning it, and putting in hot stones
until it w-as sufficiently deep for a mortar. We then
made a pestle of hard Avood, took a strip of elm bark
tied one end to the pestle and the other to the top of
a limber sapling tree that would bend directly over
the mortar, making a spring pole, which completed
the machine. Put a quart of corn into this mortar,
and a man could soon convert it into samp — coarse
meal — which when well boiled, made very good eat
ing in milk. The Indians used it almost exclusively
for bread.
I had never chopped down a tree or cut off a log
when I first came into the forest. The next morning-
after arriving in the woods, I took an ax and Avent
to where my father Avas preparing to build his house,
and commenced chopping down a tree perhaps six
inches through. I chopped all around the tree till it
fell. AYhen the tree started to fall, I started to run,
and if the tree had not lodged on another, I know not
but I should have been killed, for I ran in the same
direction the tree was falling. I was so scared at this
my first attempt at falling timber, that I picked up
my ax which I had thrown away in my fright, and
made tracks for the house, concluding to chop no
more until I had learned how to do it.
The first school in the settlement was taught by
Gurdon Balcom, the next by Wesley Randall. The
<first minister of the gospel who preached in this set
tlement was Elder Randall, a Methodist and a very

282 PIONEER HISTORY

o

good man. Dr. Theophilus Randall was the first
physician. In the fall of 1818 I went to Oneida county, and
learned the art of distilling whisky, which' at tMs
time was a very popular business. My mother died
while I was there, which nearly broke up our home
circle, and which was to me particularly, a cause of
great sorrow.
I returned home in June following and found my
father's family, as I expected, in a very lonely con
dition. I went to work with my father and brothers,
clearing land and securing our crops. When that
Avas done, I went back to Arerona and worked in a
distillery another winter. Next spring I returned
and worked in Whitney' s distillery in Rochester, and
the fall after I went to Toronto, in Canada, and erect
ed the first steam distillery ever erected in Canada,
Avhich at that time was one of the curiosities of the
age. I worked thousands of bushels of the finest wheat
I ever saw into whisky. The wheat Avas bought for
two and six pence per bushel.
The next June I returned home, my father in
the meantime had married again and moved to
Le Roy, having let out Ms farm in Murray. I worked
in Le Roy and Clarendon. I became 21 years old
October 25th, 1822. I took a job clearing land in
Le Roy, for which I received $600. My father's fam
ily and myself then moved back to Murray, and I
paid up the balance for his farm.
I married Anna Augur, daughter of Felix Augur,
of Murray, now Kendall, Feb. 18, 1824. Mr. Augur
had come in from Vermont the year previous, and
bought his land of the State of Connecticut for $3.00
an acre, Dr. Levi Ward was the land agent. Mr.
Augur Avas a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 283
Gen. C. C. Augur, now of the United States army, is
his grandson.
The next spring after I was married, I bought a
piece of land in Clark' s settlement, which had some
Avork done on it, and went to keeping house there.
I chopped over twenty acres with my own hands,
all but four days help of a man. I then sold out my
chance on this lot, and bought fifty acres in another
place ; which is a part of my present farm. It was
then entirely wild, so that I commenced again in the
woods. I bought it second-handed, and agreed to pay eight
dollars per acre. I worked some on my land, work
ed out some by the day and by the job ; but as grain
brought 'but a small price, I concluded that was a
pretty hard Avay to get a living, and built a distillery
near my farm. At this time settlers had come in in
numbers. Grain was raised in plenty, with no cash
market for it. Money was scarce, and the little we
had Avas Avhat Ave received for ashes. We cut and
burned our timber and made blai-k salts from the
ashes, which brought cash. I have carried ashes on
my back to market, until my shoulders were blister
ed, to get a little money to buy necessaries for my
family. I built my distillery because grain was
plenty and cheap. I could distill it, take it to mar
ket at Rochester and sell it for cash, at a good profit
to me and to the settler, who sold me his grain, which
he could not take to another market and make as
much from it ; and he could raise grain easier than
he could make and market black salts.
I sold my distillery in 1830, and determined to
make fanning the business of my life after that.
The year 1828 is well remembered and distinguish
ed, as being ' the sickly season,' through this country.
The sickness began in July, and in August there were
not well persons enough in town to take care of the

284 PIONEER HISTORY
sick. And in this neighborhood tliere was but one
well man, Ammon Augur, and not one well woman,
that could get out of the house. Many families suf
fered much for lack of help. My family was all sick.
One day Dr. Robert Nichoson Avas the only person
who entered my house. He called, prepared our
medicine and left it at the head of our beds, and went
on to other scenes of suffering. That was the most
gloomy day I ever saw. My wife crept from her bed
to mine, holding up by' the door post, to see if I was
alive, and then got back to her bed, where lay our
little daughter, equally helpless. AVe all spent a
dreary night. My hired man Avas down sick at the
same time. The next day we got help. The years
1826 and 1827 Avere also sickly years. I could give
many cases of suffering in those times, but amid it all
Ave had our pleasures, for we were all brethren and
loved one another. ROBERT CLARK."
Kendall, March, 1S64. SAMUEL BATES
A\ras the first white man who settled in what is uoav
Kendall. He Avas born in Haddam, Conn., Aug. 9,
1760. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary AYar,
during the last three and a hall* years of its continu
ance, serving in a New Hampshire regiment. He win
tered with Gen. AYashington at Valley Forge, and
participated in several important battles. He served
under Gen. Sullivan in his memorable expedition
against the Indians in Western New York. He had
a fondness for military life and service ; a trait of
character transmitted to his descendants, and honor
ably exemplified in his grandson, Lieut. Col. AVillard
W. Bates, avIio was MUed while leading his regiment,
the 8th Heavy Artillery, N. Y. Vols., in a bloody
battle before Petersburg, Va., in the Avar of the Re
bellion.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 285
From what Mr. Bates saAv while with Gen. Sullivan
he early formed a desire to settle in the Genesee coun
try, a wish he Avas aftei-Avards enabled to gratify.
After leaving the army, Mr. Samuel Bates resided
several years in Randolph, Yt., removing from thence
to Burlington, Yt. Leaving Ms family in Burlington,
he came to Kendall, and took up lot 111, town 4, of
the 100,000 acre tract, having the land 'booked' to
him, as they called it, that is, having the agent of the
State of Conn, note on his books that he had gone in
to possession, with a A'iew of securing his right to the
land when it should come in market for sale. Of this
land, in due time he got a title and it is now OAvned
by his son, Capt. H. W. Bates.
The first year he was in Kendall, he cleared sever
al acres of land in the summer of 1813, he sowed two
acres to Avheat, built a log cabin, and returned to
Burlington after his family, and brought them to
Kendall in June 1814. His eldest son, Capt. H. W.
Bates, then about twenty-one years old, accompanied
him. On arriving at his new log house he found his wheat
field in full head, looking fine. The crop so raised
furnisMng bread for the family the next year.
Mr. Bates and Ms family, coming as they did from
the Green Mountains of Vermont, suffered severly
from fever and ague, some of the first years after they
came to Kendall. They were all sick, Mr. Bates himself
never fully recovering from his acclimating fever. He
died August 21, 182^. AMOS RANDALL.
Amos Randall was born in Ashburnham, Mass.
January 3, 1788. He married Fanny Tabor in 1814.
She was born in Shelburne, Vt., Feb. 11, 1793.
In 1814, they removed to Avon, and in the spring of

286 PIONEER HISTORY
1815, settled in Kendall, on the farm now occupied.
by his son, Hon. Gideon Randall, where he after
wards resided, and died Aug. 28, 1830. Mr. Randall
was a public spirited man, and entered zealously
into every undertaking for the benefit of Ms neighbor
hood. He acted frequently as counselor and arbitra
tor among the settlers, to aid in arranging business
matters, in which his neighbors' needed such help.
The first school house was erected on his land where
the stone school house now stands.
The first cemetery in town was located on his farm
and the first burials of the dead were there.
He was a Supervisor of the toAvn of Murray before
the county of Orleans was organized, or Murray had
been diA-ided into the several towns which now include
its original territory. He left six children, viz:
Charles T., Gideon, who resides on his paternal home
stead, Dr. James W. now a practicing physician in
Albion, Fanny E. wife of O. M. Green, George W.
and Amos S. DAVID JONES.
David Jones was born in Pembrokeshire in Wales,
July 17, 1792. He removed to America with his
father's family in the year 1801. His father settled
in New Jersey and his son David remained with him
until he was eighteen years old, then came to Ontario
county, New York, where he resided four years, and
then settled in Kendall in 1815.
He married Miss Catharine Whitney February 24,
1824. Their children are Claudius, who married
Harriet AVeed and resides in Illinois ; Thomas, un
married ; Almiretta S. J. married C. G. Root ; Seth
married Sylvia Shelly ; Cynthia Ann married James
R. Whitney, and David who married Lucy A. Chase
all of whom reside in Kendall.
Mr. Jones was poor when he settled in Kendall and

o ...

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 287
Dought Ms land on credit. He Avas a large strong
man able and willing to labor. He cleared and im
proved a large farm and became a wealthy man.
Sickness in Ms family and the Avant of a market
for farm produce made it very difficult for him to ob
tain means to pay for his land improvements for some
years at first. He said he agreed to pay four hundred
dollars for his first hundred acres, and it was fifteen
years before it Avas all paid.
He was a man of strong native intellect and of
sound judgment in matters that come within Ms ob
servation or experience, but he never had the benefit
of much instruction in school.
He died January 26, 1869.

CHAPTER XXL

TOWN OF MURRAY.
Towns Set Oflf— First Tavern— First Marriage — First Birth — Firlt
Death— First Store— First Grist Mill— First School— First Church
— Sandy Creek — McCall & Perry's Mill — Sickness at Sandy Creek
— Biographies of Early Settlers.

LARGE part of the western portion of Monroe
county was at first incorporated by the Leg
islature in March 1802, as Northampton.
The town of Murray was formed from Northampton in
June, 1812. It received its name in honor of John
Murray, a merchant of the city of New York, who
Avas a large proprietor.
Murray, at its formation, included what now com
prises the town of Murray, Kendall, Clarendon, Union
or Hamlin, Clarkson and Sweden.
Sweden, which included Clarendon, was formed
from Murray in 1813, and Clarkson, which included
Hamlin, in 1819.
Kendall was set off in 1837, leaving the town of
Murray of its present dimensions.
The first inn was kept in 1809, by Epaphras Mafc
tison. Messrs. Wait, Wright, Sisson, Farnsworth, and
Rockwood, were among the earliest settlers.
The first marriage was that of Solomon C. Wright
and Tryphena Farnsworth.
The first birth was that of Betsey Mattison.
The first store was at Sandy Creek, by Isaac
Leach, in 1815.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY'. 289
The first gristmill was built by Perry and Luce
in 1817.
The first school was kept by Fanny Ferguson, in
1814. The first town meeting in the old town of Murray,
before it Avas divided, was held in the bain of John
son Bedell, about four miles south of Brockport.
The first church formed in this town was the Con
gregational by Rev. John E. Bliss, January 5th,
1819. The first settlements in what is now included in the
town of Murray were made on the Ridge at and near
Sandy Creek.
Epaphras Mattison first settled here in 1809. In the
year 1817, some fifteen or twenty families had located
at Sandy Creek, and in that year Henry McCall and
Robert Perry built mills on the creek, their dam
raising the water so as to overflow eighteen or twenty
acres then covered with heavy trees, which were left
standing. The water killed the timber, and a terrible
sickness followed among the inhabitants, about one-
quarter of Avhom died in one season. 'The well per
sons were not numerous enough to take care of the
sick and bury the dead, and settlers from other neigh
borhoods came there and helped the needy ones.
The mill dam was taken down and the sickness dis
appeared. Mr. Andrew II. Green, of Byron, Genesee county,
relates that several families were settled at Sandy
Creek, in 1811. In the fall of that year settlers in
Byron heard that these people at Sandy Creek were
nearly all sick and in great suffering, and they made
up a company of six or eight and went over to help
them, carrying a load of necessaries. Mr. Green
says : '' I never saw so helpless a company." Sandy
Creek was regarded as an unhealthy location for
19

290 PIONEER HISTORY
some years after its first settlement, occasioned in
great part by building mills tliere in the woods.
The first settlements in what is now Murray were
made along the Ridge Road. Mills having been built
in early times on Sandy Creek, near where that stream
crosses the Ridge, mechanics and business men loca
ted there, and at the time the Erie Canal Avas first
navigable here was a lively village known as Sandy
Creek, a name by Avhich it has ever since been dis
tinguished. The first post office .in town was established here,
called Murray.
Though the people suffered terribly from sickness
about the time mill dams were first built in the
Creek here, and while neighboring lands were being
opened to cultivation, yet Sandy Creek was the prin
cipal place of business in the town until Holley and
Hulberton, on the canal, were settled and gradually
drew aAvay most of the trade and business to these
ucav villages.

BIOGRAPHIES OF EARLY SETTLERS.
HARLEY N. BUSHNELL.
Harley N. Bushnell was born in Starksborough, Vt.,
the youngest of thirteen children in his father's fami
ly, Feb. 18th, 1796. When he Avas fifteen years old
he went to Connecticut to learn the trade of a clothier
of his brother. He served as an apprentice in that
business five years, and received thirty days school
ing in the time. -In February, 1817, he came to Ba
tavia, Genesee county, and went to work at his trade.
In August afterwards his employer ran away, owing
Mr. Bushnell one hundred dollars, and the Sheriff
came and seized all his employer's property, turning

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 291
Bushnell out of business. He finally bought the es
tablishment and run it on his own account, and with
a partner ; but in the end found it a losing business.
After a time he gave up his trade and was elected
constable. In this business he was not successful in
laying up money, and in the end found himself about
even with the world.
t
He did some business as a justice, and labored
some at his trade until February, 1823, he removed
to Holley, north of Avhere the canal now is, Avhich was
then covered with felled timber, not cleared off;
bought two acres of ground and leased two acres
more for a mill pond. He commenced getting out
timber for a house eighteen by twenty-four feet
square, hewing and framing it at the stump. There
was considerable snow on the ground,- and on the
snow crust mornings, he dreAv all the timber for his
house to the spot with a rope over his shoulder. Af
ter getting his family settled in his neAv house, he
cleared off part of his land, and with the help of his
neighbors at one or two "bees," he built a log dam,
got out timber and built, a sawmill, and began sawing
about May 1st, 1824. In 1825, in company with
Samuel Clark he built works for avoo! carding and
cloth dressing at Holley.
In October, 1826, his house burned with all its con
tents: In two weeks he had another house up. In
June, 1828, he bought the interest of his partner in
the wool carding and cloth dressing works, which he
carried on alone until 1833, Avhen he sold out and
bought a farm. After a few years he sold his farm,
moved to Holley, and ever after did business as an
insurance agent.
For many years he was Superintendent of the Pres
byterian Sunday School in Holley.
He was one of the founders of the Orleans County
Pioneer Association, and many years its President.

292 PIONEER HISTORY
He was a kind hearted, genial man, benevolent and
pMlanthropic, earnest and zealous in support of
every good cause, and died lamented by all who
knew him, October 28th, 1868.
AEETAS PIERCE.
Aretas Pierce Avas born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont
March 27th, 1799. He came with his father's family
to settle in Clarendon, where he arrived April 7th,
1815. The family moved into a house built for a
school house, until they could build a house for
themselves. They built a house and moved into it April 24th,
1815. The first year they lived on provisions they
brought in with them. The next year being the cold
season, they bought rye at one dollar and twenty-five
cents a bushel, and pork at twenty-five dollars a bar
rel, in Palmyra. The next year they were out of
bread stuff before harvest, and ate green wheat boiled
in milk as a substitute, and what is strange none of
the family had dyspepsia !
He married Matilda Stedman, May 8th, 1823, and
has always resided on the lot originally taken by his
father. When his father came in it was an unbroken wil
derness on the west, from his place to the Oak Or
chard Road, eight miles ; north to Sandy Creek, four
miles ; east two miles ; south to Farwell' s Mills.
Eldridge Farwell, A. Dudley, John Cone, AVm. Aus
tin and Mr. AVest, had settled in Clarendon, and
other settlers towards Sandy Creek came in the same
year with Mr, Pierce. A few came before them.
In the years 1817-18, the inhabitants in this settle
ment suffered for want of food.
Samuel Miller worked for Artemas Daggett chop
ping wood for one dollar a day and board himself.
All he had to eat, most of the time, was corn meal

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 293
and water: but he did not complain or tell of it
then. Ebenezer Fox settled a mile and a half east of
Murray depot, and all they had to eat for a number
of weeks Avas Avhat they could pick up in the woods.
The best they could find Avas the inner bark of the
beech tree.
Mrs. Fox had a young babe, and her next oldest
cMld was in feeble health, and she had to nurse them
both to keep them from starving.
Almost all the money the settlers had Avas obtained
by leaching ashes and boiling the lye to black salts,
and taking these to Gaines or Clarkson and selling
them for about three dollars a hundred pounds.
After 1818 the country filled up rapidly with set
tlers and more produce began to be raised than was
wanted for home consumption. The price of Avheat
fell to twenty-five cents a bushel, and only thirty-one
cents after hauling to Rochester, and so remained un
til the Erie Canal was opened.
Mr. Pierce settled on lands owned by the Pultney
estate, and these did not come into market for sale
until 1821, though settlers were allowed to locate
themselves with the expectation of buying their land
when it came into market. The price of his lot was
fixed at eight dollars per acre, but having expended
so much in building and clearing, he was compelled
to pay the price or suffer loss by abandoning all he
had done.
The reason given by the company for not bringing
their lands into market was, they had " so much bus
iness on hand they could not attend to it," but the
settlers thought they were waiting to have the canal
located before establishing their price.
HUBBARD RICE.
Hubbard Rice was born in Pompey , Onondaga coun-

294 PIONEER HISTORY
ty, July 28th, 1795. He removed with his father to
the town of Murray, and settled on a lot adjoining
the village of Holley, in May 1812. His father, Mr.
AVilliam Rice, continued to reside on this place until
about the year 1830, he went to Ohio to reside with
his children, and died there.
Hubbard Rice lived with his father until 1825, then
he moved to the south part of Clarendon, where he
remained until he removed to Holley in 1864, where
he still resides, 1871.
After Lewiston was burned in the late war with
England, Mr. Hubbard Rice, then a boy of eighteen
years, volunteered as a soldier and served a campaign
on the Niagara Frontier.
Coming to Holley when a boy, he grew up to man
hood there, seeing and sharing in all the toils, dan
gers, hardships and privations which the settlers en
dured. He has been spared to a ripe old age to witness the
founding, growth and development of a beautiful vil
lage on a spot he has seen when it Avas a native forest
covered with mighty hemlocks, through which now
by canal, railroad and telegraph, the commerce and
intelligence of the world are flowing.
CHAUNCEY ROBINSON.
Chauncey Robinson Avas born in Durham, Connect
icut, January 5th, 1792. When he was two years
old he was carried with his father' s family to Sauquoit,
Oneida county, N. Y., where, to use his own words,
" I was educated in a district school, and graduated,
at twelve years of age, between the plow han
dles." He removed to Clarendon, Orleans county, and set
tled about two miles south of Fanveir s Mills, July
1813; cleared a farm and carried it on until May, 1851,

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 295
he removed to Holley, Avhere he resided until his
death, which took place May 8th, 1866.
In the war with England in 1814, he was called out
Avith the other inhabitants of the frontier generally to
aid in repelling the British who were then besieging
Fort Erie.
He Avas several months in this service ; was in the
battle and sortie at Fort Erie, September 17th, 1814,
Avhich was the last battle of the war fought on this
frontier. A'ery feAA- families had located in Clarendon Avhen
Mr. Robinson Avent there. He began in the woods,
built a log house, and all its fixtures, furniture and
surroundings, were in the primitive style of those
times. He Avas a man of ardent temperament, a fluent and
earnest talker in private conversation or public de
bate, noted for Ms intense hatred of slavery and op
pression, and his love of freedom and free govern
ment, and for his zeal in the cause of temperance.
Upon this and kindred topics he frequently wrote ar
ticles for the newspapers.
He Avas an active man in organizing the town of
Clarendon, laying out and opening highways, and loca
ting school districts, frequently holding public office
as the gift of his fellow townsmen. He was Supervisor
of Clarendon four years in succession. He was an
original and free thinker on those subjects of public
policy which excited his attention, enforcing his doc
trines with a zeal Avhich some of his opponents thought
fanatical. In Ms personal habits he was industrious, frugal
and temperate. AVhen he was an old man he said :
' ' I have never used one pound of tea, coffee, or to
bacco, and comparatively little liquor ; none for the
last thirty years; not even cider. My constant drink
at home and abroad is cold water."

296 PIONEER HISTORY
HIRAM FRISBIE.
Hiram Frisbie was born in Granville, N. Y., Aug.,
1791. He first came to Orleans county with a view of
taking the job of building the embankment for the
Erie Canal, at Holley. Failing in this he went with
his brother-in-law, AVilliam Pierpont, to FarAvell's
Mills in the town of Clarendon, and opened a store
there in 1821. They sold goods and made pot and
pearl ashes tliere, Pierpont also keeping tavern seve
ral years, when Pierpont sold out the whole business
to Mr. Frisbie, Avho managed it ail alone several
years, until the insolvency qf some leading merchants
in Holley made an opening for his business there,
he then closed out in Clarendon and moved to Holley
to reside about the year 1828 or 1829.
In connexion with Mr. James Seymour of Clarkson,
he bought all the unsold land in Holley, of a one
hundred acre tract, Avhich had been taken up origi
nally by Mr. Areovester Hamlin.
At Holley he sold goods as a merchant, built hous
es, sold village lots, bought produce, opened streets,
and became wealthy from the rise in price of his
lands and the profits of his trade.
He was appointed postmaster soon after he came
to Holley, an office he held fifteen years.
Some years ago he was thrown from his carriage
while driving some high spirited horses, several of his
bones broken, and was so badly injured as to render
him incapable of active bodily labor, as before. He
still resides in Holley, one of the few old men yet re
maining who settled here before the canal was made,
enjoying in quiet the avails of a long life of busy in
dustry and sagacious iiiA'estment.
JACOB HINDS.
Jacob Hinds was born in the town of Arlington,

OF ORLEANS COUNTY'. 297
Bennington county, Yt. He settled in the toAvn of
Murray in 1829, and bought a farm Avhich had been
taken up by article from the State of Connecticut by
Jared Luttenton.
The Erie Canal passes through this farm. Boating
on the canal Avas then brisk, and no station between
Albion and Hulberton Avas established at which boat
men could get their supplies.
Mr. Hinds built a grocery store and began that
business. It Avas a good location from aa-McIi to ship wheat,
which began to be produced in considerable quanti
ties, and Mr. Hinds built a warehouse in 1830.
About tliis time his brothers Joel, Darius, and Frank
lin, came on and joined him in business, and being-
active, energetic business men, a little settlement
sprang up around them, Avhich AA-as named Hinds-
burgh. Jacob Hinds had been engaged in boating on the
canal and became acquainted with the canal and its
boatmen and men engaged in trafic through it; in 1839
he Avas appointed Superintendent of Repairs ou the
western section, an office he held three years.
After an interval of ten years, in 1849 lie was elec
ted one of the State Canal Commissioners and served
three years in that capacity.
Since retiring from these offices, Mr. Hinds has
followed farming as his principal occupation.
AUSTIN DAY.
Austin Day was born in Wnhall, Vermont, April
10th, 1789.
He married Polly Chapman, July 23d, 1810. He
moved to the town of Murray in the Avinter of
1815. For some years after he came to Murray he served
as a constable, and being a good talker he practiced

298 PIONEER HISTORY
pettifogging, or acted as counsel in Justice' s courts,
and for a number of years, and until professional
lawyers came in, he did a large business.
After the Erie Canal was made navigable he en
gaged in buying wheat, Avhich he followed some
years, shipping large quantities chiefly from Holley.
He Avas appointed Judge in the Old Court of Com
mon Pleas, of Orleans county, an office he held five
years. He was elected Sheriff of Orleans county in No
vember, 1847, and held the office three years. In
January, 1848, he removed to Albion, where until
Avithin a few years he has resided. He was Supervi
sor of Barre in 1852.
Bis wife died October 15th, 1858, which broke up
his family, and since then he has resided in the fami
ly of his son, F. A. Day, in Albion, and lately with
his daughter, Mrs. Buell, in Holley, relieved from the
cares and anxieties of business.
ELIJAH AV. AVOOO.
Elijah AV. AVood was born in Pelham, Mass.,
April 22d, 1782. He removed to the toAvn of Murray
at an early day, where for many years he served as
Constable and Justice of the Peace, and during one
term of five years he was Judge in the Old Court of
Common Pleas of Orleans county.
He was a shrewd and successful pettifogger in jus
tices' courts, where he made up in wit and natural
sagacity any lack he may have suffered in legal at
tainments. He died in Murray at the age of eighty
years. RECOLLECTIONS OF .AIRS. SALLY SMITH.
"I was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, in 1795.
My father removed Avith his family, including myself.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 299
to Leroy, New York, in 1816. AVe were twenty-one
days on the journey.
I came to Murray in 1817, and taught school in
district No. 8, in a log house in Avhich a family re
sided at the time. My Avages Avas nine shillings a
week and boarded among my patrons. I taught
eight months during which time I was happy and
fared Avell.
AYkile I was boarding at the house of David Gould,
in the winter time, Ms stock of fodder for his cattle
gave out and he was obliged to feed them with
'browse,' and to save them from starving on such
fare he went to Victor, Ontario County, and bought a
load of corn for his cattle. His brother-in-law brought
the corn to Murray on a sleigh with two horses,
and arrived at Mr. Gould's house late in the evening
of a cold and stormy night.
There was no stable nearer than Sandy Creek, three
miles, Avhere the horses could be sheltered. Mr.
Gould's house had but one room, but it was conclud
ed to keep the horses there over night. Mr. Gould
and wife occupied a bed in a corner of the room, two
girls and myself had our bed with its foot at the side
of Mr. Gould' s bed, and the horses stood in the other
corner and ate their corn, and thus we all slept that
night as we could.
I married Artemas Daggett, February 14th, 1819,
and commenced house-keeping on the farm where I
now reside, September, 1870.
Mr. Daggett died in 1831 and left me with three
small children and one hundred acres of land, OAving
about nine hundred dollars. In two years I raised
the money and paid our debts and took a deed of the
land. About this time I married Isaac Smith, with whom
I lived in peace and plenty until his death in Au
gust, 1866.

300 PIONEER HISTORY"
During a great sickness at Sandy Creek, Mr. Brace,
his wife, and six children resided tliere. One of his
daughters fell sick and went to the house of a doc-
tress in town to be treated. Others of the children
were .taken ill. Mr. Brace was notified that his
daughter under the doctress' care was much worse
and he went to see her. She died and he was taken
down sick and could not go home. In the mean
time a son at home died. Mrs. Brace had taken sole
care of him in Ms sickness, and while watching his
corpse the dead body of Mr. Brace was brought
home and father and son buried at the same time.
The other sick ones recovered.
At this time Mr. Aretas Pierce, Sr., who lived four
miles away, came and found the Brace family misera
bly poor, and destitute of all the comforts and most
of the necessaries of life. He Avent about and got a
contribution, and next day the pressing wants of the
family were supplied by the benevolent settlers
around. SALLY SMITH."
Murray, September, 1S70.
ALANSON MANSFIELD.
Alanson Mansfield Avas born in Vermont, March
Oth, 1793.
With an ax which constituted his whole personal es
tate, he came into the town of Murray in the year
1814, and hired out to work, chopping until he earned
enough to take an article of lot number two hundred
and nineteen, a little north of Hindsburgh. He then
returned to Atermont to bring his father's family to
settle on his land. They started from Vermont, his
father and mother and six children, — Alanson be
ing oldest of the children,— with a pair of horses
and a sleigh, in which was a barrel of pork
and some meal, a few household goods and the fami-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 301
ly. A milch cow was led behind. The pork and
meal and milk of the coav supplied most of their pro
visions on the road, and helped sustain them after
arriving in Murray, until they could otherwise be
supplied. They arrived in the Avinter of 1815, put up a log
house for a dAvelling, and began clearing the timber
from a piece of land, and the first season planted
the corn from four ears among the logs, from Avhich
they raised a good crop.
He married Polly Hart, in Murray, October 14th,
1817. Her father settled near Avhere Murray depot
now stands, in 1816.
He united with the Baptist church in Holley, in
1831. The next year the Gaines and Murray Baptist
church on the Transit was formed, and Mr. Mansfield
united with them and was chosen deacon. He was a
worthy, honored and good man, and died respected
by all avIio kneAv him, September 30th, 1850.
ABNER BALCOM.
Abner Balcom Avas bom in Richfield, Otsego Co.,
N. Y., September 15, 1796, and brought up in Hope
well, Ontario county.
He married Ruth Williams, of Hopewell, March,
1816. She died in March, 1822.
In the fall of 1822, he married Philotheta Baker.
She died February 7th. 1865, and for his third wife
he married Mrs. Philena Waring.
In the fall of 1812, in company with his older
brother, Horace, and two other men, he chopped over
twenty-two acres on lot one hundred and ninety -two,
which Horace had purchased, and on which he set
tled in the spring of J.816, and where he died. This-
was the first clearing in Murray, on this line between
the Ridge and Clarendon.
Mr. Abner Balcom first settled in the town of

302 PIONEER HISTORY
Ridgeway, on the farm now or lately owned by Gros-
venor Daniels, to whom he sold it and removed to
Murray before the canal was made.
In company with Mr. Hiel Brockway he built the
dam and mills on the west branch of Sandy Creek,
on lot one hundred and ninety-five, near which he
has ever since resided.
These mills, a sawmill and gristmill, are known
as " Balcom' s Mills," and in them Mr. Balcom has
always retained an interest.
Mr. Balcom has always been much respected
among his fellow townsmen. He has held all the
town offices except clerk. He served as Supervisor
of Murray in 1847-8. He is an influential and consis
tent member of the Transit Baptist church, in which
he has been deacon.
His son, Francis Balcom, was among the volunteers
who went into the Union Army in the first years of
the great rebellion, and was killed in battle while
gallantly fighting to save the country which the in
structions of his father and the instincts of his own
nature had taught him to love.
REUBEN BRYANT. ,
Reuben Bryant was born at Templeton, Worces
ter county, Massachusetts, July 13th, 1792. He
graduated at Brown University, Rhode Island, about
the year 1815.
After some time spent in teaching, he removed to
Livingston county, N. Y., and studied law in the of
fice of the late Judge Smith, in Caledonia. Having
been admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court, he
settled to practice his profession in Holley about
the year 1823, in which village he was the pioneer
lawyer. In the fall of 1849 he removed to Albion, and in
1855 he removed to Buffalo to aid his only son, Wil-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 303

»

liam C. Bryant, a rising young hiAvyer just getting
into practice in that city.
He Avas appointed Master in Chancery by Governor
Silas AAYight, an office he held Avhen the Court of
Chancery Avas abolished under the Constitution of
1846. He AA-as a thorough classical scholar, and had his
mind Avell stored with Greek and Latin lore, which he
delighted to quote in social moments with his friends
AA-hen circumstances made it proper.
As a laAvyer he had a clear perception of the how
and the facts, and of their bearing in Ms cases ; but
he was too exact, cautious, and diffident of himself
to be an advocate. All his life he suffered from a
malady Avhich was a perpetual burden and cross to
Mm, and annoyed him in his business. He died in
Buffalo in January, 1863.

CHAPTER XXII.

VILLAGE OF HOLLEY.
Areovester Hamlin— First Store— Post Office— Frisbie & Seymour-
Early Merchants — First Sawmill — Lawyer — Tavern — Justice ot
the Peace— Salt Brine — Mammoth Tooth — Salt Port — Presbyterian
Church — Salt Spring.
OLLEY, situate in the town of Murray, is
a village which owes its existence to the Erie
Canal. The site of this village was originally
covered with a heavy growth of hemlock trees. These
were mostly standing when ,the canal was surveyed
through, but it being apparent a town must grow up
here, a vigorous settlement had been begun when
work on the great embankment was commenced.
Areovester Hamlin took up one hundred acres of
land of the State of Connecticut, which included most
of the present village of Holley, about the the year
1820, and immediately commenced clearing off the
timber and laid out a village.
Col. Ezra Brainard was the contractor who built
the embankment for the canal over Sandy Creek, and
while that work was progressing settlers came in and
began to build up the place.
Mr. Hamlin erected a store in which he traded. He
built an ashery and carried on that business ; he also
built the first warehouse on the canal.
To help Ms village, and accommodate the settlers
who were coming in, he got a post office established
here of wMch he was first postmaster. He was an

OF ORLF.ANS COUNTY. 30.1
enterprising, active business man, but attempted to
do more business than his means Avould permit, and
failed. All his property Avas sold out by the Sheriff
about the year 1828 or 1829.
, Mr. John AA". Strong opened a store here a little af
ter Mr. Hamlin, and he also failed about the time Mr.
Hamlin did, Avhen Hiram Frisbie and James Seymour
purchased all the real estate that Hamlin had not
sold to other settlers.
Mr. Frisbie came here in 182S and opened a store
and commenced selling goods, a business in Avhich he
has more or less been engaged eA-er since.
Mr. Frisbie bought out the interest of Mr. Seymour
many years ago, and he has sold out the greater pail
of Ms tract of land into village lots.
Among the early merchants, after those named,
Avere Mower and WardAvell, and Selby & Newell.
Alva Hamlin, Geo. A. Porter, S. Stedman, and E.
Taylor were carpenters and joiners, who settled here
in an early day. John Avery and brother were the
first blacksmiths. Samuel Cone Avas the first shoe-.
maker. Dr. McClough first physician.
Hark-y N. Bushnell built a saAvmill on the creek
north of the canal, in 1824.
Reuben Bryant settled as a laAvyer in Holley about
the time the canal was made andAvas the first lawyer.
John Onderdonk was the first tailor.
A man by the name of Samuel Cone built and kept
a tavern where the Mansion House now stands ; and
a Mr. Ban- built and kept another tavern house, a
little Avest of the. Mansion House. Both of these
taverns were before the Canal was navigable.
 Turner was the first Justice of the Peace.
The Presbyterian and Baptist meeting houses were
built in 1831.
Major William Allis came here as a clerk in the
store of John AY. Strong. After the closing out of
20

306 PIONEER HISTORY
Mr. Strong's business Maj. Allis carried on business
as a produce dealer and served a term as Sheriff of
Orleans County.
Salt was found in the ravine on the bank of the
creek south of the canal. A brine spring was located
near where the railroad crosses the creek. In its nat
ural state this Avas known as a ' deer lick.' When
the State of Connecticut sold the land on which this
spring was found, in the deed given they reserved all
mines, minerals and salt springs. The State after
wards agreed Avith Mr. John Reed that he should
open the spring and test the Avater and share half -the
avails Avith the State. Mr. Reed dug out the spring,
set two kettles near the creek in the ravine and com
menced boiling the Avater for salt. When the water
was pumped from the Avell it appeared limpid and
clear, after boiling it became red colored, and if then
boiled down to salt it remained red colored salt. To
remedy this he boiled the water, then drew it off in
vats to settle, the coloring matter fell to the bottom,
the clear brine AA-as then returned to the kettles, and
made white salt.
Reed commenced, boiling in 1814. After a time six
teen kettles were set here to make salt and used un
til navigation was opened in the canal, when Onon
daga salt could be furnished here so cheap these
Avorks were abandoned. Indeed, they never afforded
a profit to those working them.
The wood for the fires was cut on the Avest side of
the creek mainly, and drawn upon the top of the
bank, of proper length to put under the kettles, and
thrown down the bank through a spout made of tim
ber. A load of Avood was sold at the works for a
bushel of salt, or one dollar. Although the brine so
obtained was comparatively weak, they made hun
dreds of bushels of salt, which was sold to settlers in
tMs vicinity, and carried away in bags.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 307
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 Ms making salt tliere 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 tMs school Avas 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, Avas dug up. The tooth Avas a
grinder, and weighed two pounds and two ounces.
No other bones of such a creature have been found,
and it has been conjectured tMs tooth must have been
shed there by the animal to which it belonged, Avhen
it came after salt. It is now in the State collection in
Albany. Holley AA-as 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 OP HULBERTON.
Joseph Budd — Canal Basin — First Warehouse — First Grocery — First
Tavern — I. H. S. Hulbert — First Named Scio — Methodist Society —
Abijah Reed and Sons.

HE 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
house standing a little south of the Methodist Meeting
house. He afterwards erected a substantial stone
dwelling in which he resided, now occupied by Mr-
Marcus 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.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 309
Orsamus Squire built and occupied a store on the
lot noAv used for a hotel, in 1828. This AA-as the first
store. TMs 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 Ms land next to the high
way and canal to be laid out into village lots by A.
Cantine, surveyor, and the village has been built on
tMs plan.
I. H. S. Hulburt was an active business man, who
sold goods, bought 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 A'illage was named Scio at an early day by Mr.
George Squire.
On examining for a name for the new post office, it
Avas found there Avas 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. II. 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
AArooster and Heniemvay 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. H. S. Hulburt, , Samuel Cope-

310 PIOJfEER HISTORY
land, Hiram Hibbard, Joseph Budd, and George
Squire. Among the prominent business men whose wealth
and industry aided largely to build up Hulberton,
Avere 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
Avere 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 OK HINDSBUBOH.
Jacob Luttenton — .Tacob Hinds and Brothers—First Warehouse — Jabc/.
Allison— First Hotel.
^INDSBURGH, a little village in the town of
Murray, is situated on land which was first
settled by Jacob Luttenton, avIio 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 AA-arehouse 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
Avould be here located.
The trade in produce proving good at Hindsburgh,
Mr. AV. AAThitney, of Rochester, built another ware
house here in 1836.
Hindsburgh has always been a good place from
Avhich to ship the abundant crops of grain, apples,
and farm produce raised in this neighborhood. As
long as travel by passengers went by the canal, boats
stopping here, Avith the help of local trade, made busi
ness lively.

312 PIONEER HISTORY*
Several grocery stores have been kept here, a num
ber of mechanics 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 Avas 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.

CHAPTER XXY.

THE TOWN OF 1UDGEWAY.
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 — First.
Stage — Isaac Bennett — Biographies of Early Settlers.

IDGEAATAY Avas formed from the town of Ba
tavia, June 8th, 1812, and included in its
original limits Avhat now comprises Ridgeway,
Gaines, Barre, Shelby, Yates and Carlton.
In 1830 the west tier of lots in the town of Gaines,
and tMee lots lying next south of them in Barre, be
ing part of the most western tier of lots in the 15th town-
sMp, second range of the Holland Purchase, were
added to the east side of Ridgeway, in order to in
clude the whole village of KnoAvlesville in one
town. This towii Avas 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 Avolf killed in
town was voted yearly at several town meetings. '
Judge Otis Turner removed with his family from

314 PIONEER HISTORY
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 Avas 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. AVhite 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 Avas 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 homeopathic 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 onetime 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

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 315
were superseded by Onondaga salt, and discontinued.
Mr. James H. Perry, of Ridgeway, has furnished
the following additional Mstory 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 Avent 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 Avent to Buffalo, followed down
the river to Lewiston, then went east along the Ridge
Road, and Avhen 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 cut 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 Avould 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. AAllliam 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

316 PIONEER HISTORY
of Oak Orchard Creek, in a log house erected by the
Land Company.
Erza D. Barnes came the same summer and boarded
atMurdocks while he Avas,- building his house two and
a half miles east, and working two days in each
Aveek 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 Avhich he opened as a
tavern the same season, and AA'hich 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. Wm. AVhite the first physician, Israel
Douglass the first justice of the peace, Cyrus Har-
wood the first lawyer, and Elijah Hawley the first
postmaster. In 1814, the town Avas divided into school districts,
by AVilliam AVhite, Micah Harrington and Gideon
Freeman, three Commissioners of Common Schools.
District No. 2 extended on the Ridge from the
County Line on the Avest 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, iu 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.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY'. 317
A daughter of AVilliam Davis was the first person
AA-ho died in toAvn. She Avas buried about a mile west
of the Corners, in, Avhat is probably the oldest bury
ing ground in toAvn, and by some said to be the old
est in the County.
The first birth in toAvn Avas 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
AA-as 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, beirjg a covered wagon
draAvn by tAvo horses.
AATien 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.
ISRAICL DOUGLASS.
Mr. Douglass Avas born in New Milford, Connecti
cut, November 20, 1777. He moved to Scottsville,
Monroe Comity, 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.

318 PIONEER HISTORY
having been appointed previous to 1812, for the town
of Batavia.
At the first toAvn 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 Avas 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 Avas 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.
AVAL C. 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 Avith 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

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 319
younger brother Josias, not then twenty-one years of
age, to accompany me.
AAre began our journey February 14, 1816, with a
good yoke of oxen and wagon, and in company Avith
another team we went on our weary Avay.
We bought two barrels of pork at Skaneatelas,
Avhich completed our outfit. AVe arrived at our new
home March 6, 1816, being twenty-one days on the
road. I cut the first tree that Avas 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 Avent to Vermont,
leaving me in the Avoods alone, out of sight and hear
ing of my neighbors. I suffered many hardships that
Avinter, principally for want of proper food. I cut 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 tMough that winter by fire light.
My brother returned in February. The next win
ter I left Mm to 'keep house,' but in comparative
comfort, 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 ill good circumstances.
My sister and myself left my father's the last day
of February, in a cutter, and arrived in Ridgeway,
March 12, 1818. Her bed, bedding and clothing we
brought packed in a box, AA-hich contained all her
Avorldly effects, with wMch she commenced life as an
independent housekeeper.
She was a tall, slim girl, active and cheerful, car-

320 PIONEER HISTORY
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
Avoods, for the benefit of her brothers. She found a
respectable circle of young people here, although
rather widely scattered.
AVe brought with us at that time a favorite dog,
concluding our sister would feel greater security in
her Avilderness home, when Ave 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 Ave Avere away from home.
If , she went for an afternoon' s A'isit through the
Avoods 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
ence. '
As cold weather approached, our season for eve- .
ning parties commenced. Most of the houses in toAvn
Avere 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

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 321
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
Avould be in Avaiting to take the horse and go after
their girls, and so on until the company had assem
bled. The same course Avas pursued on their return
home. At the time of which I write, Ave met in the upper
room of a neAv building made for a store. The floor
was good, but the ceiling over head was low at the
sides where the seats Avere placed, and it caused 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 Avas well supplied with substantial fare.
AVe 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 tAventy
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 Ms outcries, were so uncharitable as to
report that the bear treed him. He was never very
21

322 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 AVilliam 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
therein 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
elected 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-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 323
son Nichoson, Surgeon ; Alexis AVard, 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. AVm. 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 tMrty-five days to perform, during which snoAV
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.
On our way we exchanged our wagons for sleds,
and how any of us lived through the last perilous day
of fourteen miles travel through the woods, God only
knows.

324 PIONEER HISTORY
We started as early as possible in the morning,.
overturned one load of goods, and fearing we should all
perish in the woods, we unhitched our teams from the
sleds some time in the night, putting our oxen before
us, the women being supported by holding fast to
the tails of the oxen, and thus pursuing our way
through the trackless forest four miles, we arrived at
a log house about four o'clock in the morning. The
house had been partially chinked but not plastered..
Here we tarried the next day and night, during which
time we went back, shod our sleds and got them out
of the forest.
We had to pay one dollar each for a yoke of oxen
one night at hay, and one dollar a bushel for oats.
So in about forty days, like the Israelites of old, we
reached the promised land.
In October, before this time, I had been to Chautau
qua county and contracted for a piece of land there,
to do wMch 1 traveled out there from Massachusetts,
and back again with my knapsack on my back, on.
foot, averaging fifty miles travel -per day on the
journey. The third day after arriving on my land, I pro
cured some boards and built a shanty twelve feet.
square, nailing two of the corners to two standing
trees, making a board roof, with not a tree cut
down near it.
The year 1816 was the 'cold season;" corn was
cut off by frost and it was almost impossible to get
bread. For three weeks before harvest we had
nothing to eat but some very small new potatoes, but
ter and milk. By changing the order of having these
dishes, we made quite a variety, lived high, with
hopes buoyant, and worked hard. Here we cleared
up a new farm, raised an orchard from apple seeds
brought out from Massachusetts, and also raised.
eight children.

/yZ^-&+^ouxdL. PJrv^x.^

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 325
I went into lumbering business in 1832 ; took my
lumber to Cincinnati to sell, but the stagnation in
trade, and scarcity of money, OAving to the course
taken by the Old United States Bank, after its re
newed charter Avas vetoed by President Jackson,
made it impossible for me to . dispose of my lumber
without great loss, which obliged me to sell my prop
erty in Chautauqua county to pay my debts, and I
found even then I had not enough by $500 to pay up.
That deficiency I afterwards earned by Avork at mason
business and paid up in full.
I removed to Orleans county in 1833, and Avorkec!
as a mason several years.
Previous to the opening of the Erie canal, I have
paid seventy-five cents per yard for sheeting, and
seventy -five cents per yard for calico for my wife a
dress. I have also paid fifteen dollars a barrel for
salt. I have laid the corners of over fifty log buildings,
and have helped raise as many frames. I have spent
more than six months of my labor gratuitously, in
opening new public highways, and building cause
ways. LEVI DAVIS."
RidgewajyFebrnary, 1862.
JEREMIAH BROAVN.
' ' I Avas born in Cheshire, Massachusetts, July 7,
1780. My father, who was an officer in the revolu
tionary war, died when I was seven years old. I
lived with my eldest brother until I was sixteen years
old, and then ran away from him and worked, out
by the month the next seven years.
AVhen I Avas nineteen years old I traveled with my
knapsack on my back, on foot from Massachusetts to
Farmington, Ontario county, N. Y., spent a short
time there, then returned as I came, most of the
way alone.

326 PIONEER HISTORY
Again in 1807, I traveled the same ground over in
the same way.
In 1809 I was married to Abigail Davis, daughter
of the Rev. Paul Davis, of NeAV Salem, Massachu
setts. The winter after I Avas married I came on horse
back to Farmington, to seek a home in the wilder
ness of AAtestern New York, and located a piece of
land for that purpose. I went back to Massachu
setts and worked by the month to earn the means
to move my family to my new farm.
I arrived in Farmington in February, 1811, and
built me a log house in the woods one mile from
any inhabitant. I was then tBe happy possessor of
a wife and one child, six dollars in money, a dog
and a gun. I exchanged my gun for a cow, which
was the best trade I ever made except when I got
my wife. The next spring I cleared my land, and
raised over one hundred bushels of corn the same-
season. In 1812 the war broke out. I was called to the-
lines to defend my country. I received notice on
Friday night, about nine o'clock, to be in Can-
andaigua on the next Monday morning at ten
o'clock, to - march to Buffalo. I hired a man and
Avoman to take care of my sick wife and child du
ring my absence, while 1 responded to the call. I
was then an officer in the militia, and I marched.
on foot with the rest of the officers and men to Buffalo,
where we arrived the second day after the battle.
Our company was the first that arrived and assisted
in collecting the dead. On receiving an honorable
discharge I returned home.
The two summers next following, myself and wife
were sick with the ague and fever, almost con
stantly. In the winter of 1815, the ague having left me, and

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 327
having regained my health enough to move, I sold
my land and returned to Massachusetts. The next
spring I came to Ridgeway, in Orleans county, and
bought me some land, and in May brought on my
family. About the first of the next September, myself and.
wife and one child were taken sick, and until Decem
ber folloAving, we suffered every thing but death.
Often during ithat time while myself, and Avife were
confined to our beds, our children were crying for
food, and neither of us had strength sufficient to ena
ble us to get to the cupboard to help them.
In the month of June next, Israel Murdock in
formed me of several families who were destitute of
bread, and asked if I thought it could be had for
them at Farmington. I told him I thought it could,
and taking his horse and wagon, I went there and got
a load of corn for which I paid one dollar a bushel.
TMs, together with some rye, which Israel Murdock
had then growing, and which the neighbors com
menced cutting as soon as it was out of the milk,
sufficed for all of us to live on until after the har
vest. The favorite, because the only way to replenish our
meat barrels, was to hunt raccoons, using their flesh
in place of pork, and their fat to fry doughnuts in.
The next winter (1816) I went to Farmington, and
bought two tons of pork, paying ten dollars per hun
dred for it, and one dollar and fifty cents each for
barrels, and three dollars per barrel for salt. I*
brought my pork to Ridgeway with my oxen, and
sold it to the inhabitants for from twenty-six to thirty
dollars per barrel, trusting it out to such as could not
then pay, and some of those old pork accounts re
maining unsettled, I am beginning to consider them
rather doubtful demands.
In the .spring of 1816, Ave held our first town meet-

328 PIONEER HISTORY
ing, and elected our first toAvn officers. There not be
ing freeholders enough in town to fill the offices to
which we had chosen our candidates, Mr. Joseph El
licott sent Andrew Ellicott to our town to notify the
town officers elect, to go to Batavia and take deeds of
their lands and give their mortgages, in order to
become legal toAvn officers, and they went and did so.
I having been chosen commissioner of highways went
with the others.
In my official capacity I assisted in laying out five
highways from the Ridge to the lake. AAre would lay
a road, following the lines between lots to the lake,
keeping us busy all day. At night Ave would make
a fire, cut some hemlock boughs for a bed, and sleep
on them before our fire soundly till morning. Then
making our breakfast, Ave would take another line
back to the Ridge, and by the time we could get back
to the settlement it would be afternoon, and Avhen we
could get something to eat Ave generally had excellent
appetites. We were, however, amply compensated, our pay be
ing two dollars for every tAventy-four hours we spent
in this kind of labor, to apply on our taxes. AVho
would not desire to be a commissioner of highways
under such circumstances !
Since then I have held all the town offices in the
gift of the people except clerk, collector, and consta
ble. I Avas once a candidate for the last named office,
•but to my great grief and mortification I was de
feated. Our county was very unhealthy until 1828. That
I think Avas the last sickly season, and during that
season my health Avas good, and for eight weeks in
that summer I never undressed myself to go to bed
at night, being constantly watching with, and taking
care of the sick, either in my own family or among

OF ORLEANS COUNTY-. 329
my neighbors. Since that time this county has been
as healthy as any other section I ever knew.
In 1822 I built the first furnace and cast the first
plough ever made in this State west of Rochester.
AA'hen I first settled in Ridgeway, the town of
Ridgeway extended from Niagara county eastward to
the Transit Line, haA'ing originally been the north
part of Batavia, from which it Avas taken
Such is some of my experience as a pioneer of
AAtestern NeAv York. I have lived to see 'the
wilderness blossom like the rose,' and to see many
of my early companions in the hardships of this new
county, depart before me to 'that bourne from whence
no traveler returns.' JEREMIAH BROWN."
Ridgeway, July, 1862.
Mr. Jeremiah Brown died Nov. 17, 1 863. He was
a man of large frame, strong and vigorous constitu
tion, a farmer by occupation, but sometimes varied
Ms employment by buying cattle, and driving them
to PMladelphia to market, and in other speculations
in trade.
Albert F. Brown, late Mayor of Lockport, and Col.
Edwin F. Brown, late of the Union Army, are his
sons. JOSEPH L. PERRY.
Joseph L. Perry was born in Huntington, Connnect-
icut, November 30th, 1794. In 1804, his father re
moved his family to Aurelius, Cayuga county, N. Y.,
to a farm near Auburn.
Joseph L. Perry married Julia Ann Reed, daugh
ter of Jesse Reed, of Aurelius, July 15th, 1819, and
in March, 1820, removed to Ridgeway, Orleans coun
ty, and located half a mile west of Ridgeway Cor
ners, on the Ridge Road, on lot twenty -four.
He was town collector and clerk of Ridgeway,

330 PIONEER HISTORY
and deputy sheriff while this county was part of Gen
esee county, also deputy sheriff of Orleans county
afterwards* In 1825 he purchased the store and hotel at Ridge
way Corners, and carried on the mercantile business
for a number of years, then moved into the hotel and
kept tavern there many years. He also carried on
the ashery business, and at one time run ten miles of
the old pioneer line of stages, on the Ridge Road, in
company with Champion, Bissell and AAralbridge.
He was postmaster a number of years, and mail con
tractor between Ridgeway and Shelby, several years.
He was extensively engaged in buying and shipping
grain on the Erie canal, running two boats of Ms
own, which he sometimes commanded in person. He
was a shrewd, sharp, quick witted man, a good judge
of human nature, always jovial and abounding in
fun. He never lacked for expedients to extricate himself
from any perplexity, and his sagacity and energy al
ways carried him safely through, or over, every imped*
iment which interfered with his purposes. He died
September 17th, 1845, at his residence in the town of
Ridgeway. CHARLES I). BURLINGHAM.
"I was born in Greenfield, Saratoga Co., N. Y.,
February 8th, 1810, being the fifth of my father's
eleven children.
In 1818 my father removed with his family to Per
ry, now in Wyoming county, on Avhat is known as
kThe Cotringer Tract.' The western line of our
farm was the eastern bounds of the Holland Purchase.
The farm contained one hundred acres, fifteen of
Avhich had been cleared and a log house and barn
erected when we came on.
In clearing our land Ave were accustomed to make

OF ORLEANS COUNTY'. 331
' black salts ' for sale, as these, Avith pot and pearlash
Avere the principal articles of export that brought
money into the settlement.
In common with our neighbors, Ave sometimes suf
fered some hardships for lack of the necessaries of
life. My father at one time went to the Genesee Flats,
twelve or fifteen miles distant, and bought corn that
Avas nearly spoiled by the flood of the previous sea
son, paying one dollar and twenty -five cents a bushel,
to help us along in the spring.
I remember one pleasant incident of our pioneer
history. After getting along as best we could at one
time, without any bread for several weeks, Ave sat
down to a meal of boiled new unground wheat, and
maple molasses, all the product of our own farm, the
most delicious dinner, it seemed to me, I ever ate.
Ah, that was a dinner a little boy could not easily
forget, and that was the crisis, the turning point in
the pinch.
Not long after this Ave had grain to sell, Avheat at
the nominal price of thirty-one cents, and corn at
eighteen cents per bushel, \Adth very limited sales at
those prices.
Our house stood, as I then thought, in about the
center of the Avorld, and having joined to it an addi
tion of another house of about the like size, Ave were
frequently favored with social gatherings of people
there of all classes during the winter evenings. Those
Avere occasions never to be forgotten by me. The
children and young people Avould amuse themselves
in harmless play and gossip, and the parents enjoy
themsehes in planning and story telling, while a few
of the venerable mothers were intent on preparing
the invariable accompaniment of every gatliering, a
good supper.
Starch, prim, and upper ten, were unknown there.
Liberty, equality and fraternity reigned supreme in

332 PIONEER HISTORY
those halcyon days. Ah me, but those were days of
'Auld Lang Syne,' the memory of which is exceeding
pleasant. In those times our religious meetings were held in
a private house about half a mile from ours. Elder
Luther, a man of more than ordinary ability, was the
preacher who visited the place occasionally. He was
a little eccentric in his manners and language, but
quite well adapted to the times, and character of his
congregations. As a specimen of pioneer preaching, it is remem
bered of Elder Luther, as he was in the midst of a
sermon, urging some topic, and wishing to adduce
authority to sustain some point, he stopped a mo
ment, then said, ' John, what do you say*" Then
changing his tone of voice to imitate a fancied reply,
he repeated what the apostle says on that subject.
And then he called out, ' Paul, what are your Adews "C
Giving a reply as before, in like manner thus interro
gating other apostles and our Savior, and giving their
answers, closing up with — "And now, old Ben. Luther,
Avhat have you to say to all this V and then he gave
his oavii conclusions, makiug the point deeply impres
sive upon his hearers.
Our chorister Avas the blacksmith of the settlement,
'Uncle Seava,' as he Avas called by everybody ; a
white haired, tall, slim, straight and solemn old gen
tleman. He would rise and give the pitch for New
Durham, Exhortation, Northfield or Majesty, or
some such tune in which the whole congregation who
could sing would join, taking their style from the
chorister, giving to the words and the music that pe
culiar ' nasal twang ' common in those days, which
AA-as designed to be especially impressiA-e upon the
hearers, and it had its intended effect, at least upon
me, for I have not forgotten those auspicious occa
sions I Avitnesfed when I was a little boy. Although

OF ORLEANS COUNTY'. 333
some of the young people seemed to be amused by
the queer preaching and nasal singing, and some who
attended failed to be profited, apparently, by the ser
vices, yet those religious meetings Avere really the
' green spots ' in our early pioneer life, and Avere
doubtless of great moral value to the settlement.
Though district schools were established at an early
day around us, my early advantages for attending
school were quite limited. However, at the the age
of eighteen years, I went before the board of inspec
tors for examination, and being found by them of
sufficient capacity, I was installed into office as a
school master in a district school, which calling I al
ternated with mercantile business, until I was thirty
years old.
I embraced religion while teaching school in Por-
tageville, AATyoming county, in April 1831, and soon
after became a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. I married Adeline C. Miller, in New Berlin, N. Y.,
in September, 1834.
In 1840 I was received as a member of the Genesee
Conference of the M. E. Church, and began preach
ing, in which service I have ever since been engaged,
removing to Knowlesville in 1862.
CHARLES D. BURLINGHAM."
Knowlesville, April, 1864. JOSIAS TANNER.
" I was born in Clarendon, Vermont, August 17th,
1795. I received a fair common school education like
other farmers' sons in that neighborhood.
I came to the town of Ridgeway, N. Y., with my
brother, William C. Tanner, in March, 1816, where I
have resided ever since.
I was married November 28th, 1825, to Miss Lucy
Baldwin.

334 PIONEER HISTORY
I have lived on my farm forty-eight years. I have
had four children. My youngest son, Benj . B. Tanner,
was a Lieutenant in the 151st Regiment N. Y. Volun
teers, and died in the service of Ms country in the
war of the rebellion. JOSIAS TANNER."
Ridgeway, April, 1864. LUCIUS BARRETT.
"I was born in Fabius, N. Y, April 13th, 1807.
I was son of Amos Barrett. My father removed with
his family to Ridgeway, N. Y., in March, 1812, and
settled on the Ridge Road, one mile west of Ridge
way Corners. We moved into the house of Jona
than Cobb, and resided with Ms family until my
father got his house ready for his family. Mr. Cobb
was an old neighbor of my father, and had moved
to Ridgeway the year before we came.
I well remember the house my father first built
with the help of the settlers in that vicinity. The
walls were logs, the floor basswood logs split, and
hewed, the roof covered with long shingles split from
black ash, not a door about the premises, nor a board.
A blanket hung at the entrance served as a door, and
kept out the cold and wild beasts. The fireplace was
some stones against the logs at one end of the house,
and the chimney was a hole through the roof. TMs
sheltered us from the rain, but the snow sifted in
plentifully. Farming has been my business. I bought the
farm on wMch I have since resided, in 1831.
I was married to Electa B. Chase, of Clarkson, N,
Y., April 23d, 1833.
I have lived to see the various changes through
which this section of country has passed. I have
known by experience the pinching pains of poverty,
and I have enjoyed the comforts of competence. I

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 335
have seen broad fields, smiling with harvests of plen
ty, emerge from the Avild forests. I have not only
seen this but I have realized it. I have lived it, and
I trust my claim will not be disallowed when I assert
that, in a humble manner perhaps, I have contribu
ted my part to bring about these happy results.
LUCIUS BARRETT."
Ridgeway, 1864. SEYMOUR B. MURDOCK.
" I Avas born in Dutchess county, N. Y., April 8th,
1796. My father, Seymour Murdock, emigrated to Or
leans county in 1810, when I was fourteen years of
age, and located on a part of the farm now owned
and occupied by me on the Ridge, in Ridgeway.
In the transit from Dutchess county, we had a hard
time, traveling with an ox team, with a family of twelve
persons. AVe were a little over a month on the way,
and reached our place of destination June 1st, 1810,
and dwelt in our wagons nearly six weeks, and until
we had time to erect a house jin which we could
reside. From the Genesee River to Clarkson Corners was
one dense wilderness, with only an occasional com
mencement of clearing made by a few settlers. At
Clarkson was a log tavern at which we stopped.
From Clarkson to our first stopping place there was
then, I tMnk, but three houses, and they Avere cheap
ly erected log cabins.
We were two days in journeying from Clarkson to
Ridgeway. The roads, if roads they could properly
be called, Avere almost impassable.
At the crossing of Otter Creek, in Gaines, fire had
consumed the logs, Avhich had been thrown into the
bank to form a sort of dugway up the ascent from
the stream, AA-hich left an almost perpendicular ascent

336 PIONEER HISTORY
for us to rise. To accomplish this, we took off our
oxen and drove them up the old road, and then with
teams on the hill, and chains extending from them to
the tongues of the wagon below, we drew our wagon
up. In doing this, at one time the draft appeared too
much for the team, the oxen fell and were drawn back
by the load, and the horn of one of the oxen catching
under a root, was torn entirely off.
The next difficulty we encountered wa,s at a slash
ing about two miles east of Oak Orchard Creek,
where a man by the name of Sibley had cut down
timber along the track, and just then had set it on
fire, which rendered our path both difficult and dan
gerous, as we were obliged to go through the midst
of the fire.
The next difficulty was at Oak Orchard Creek. A
dugway had been made down the bank only to ac
commodate the Yankee wagons, and ours being a
Pennsylvania wagon, with longer axle, it was serious
ly endangered by its liability to be throAvn down the
bank. On ascending the bank out of the creek on the west
side, one of my brothers, then a little fellow, fell off
the wagon and might have been left if he had not
screamed lustily for help.
On arriving at our journey's end, our first business
was to eat from the stock of prepared provisions we
brought with us. The food was laid out in order
around a large stump which stood conveniently by,
and I well remember the relish with which we all
partook of this our first meal, at our new home in the
woods. The scenery here, as I now remember it, was truly
magnificent, one dense forest, composed of large, stur
dy oaks, extended as far as the eye could see, east and
west, and on the south side of the Ridge Road. On
the north side the forest was more dense, and com-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 337
posed of a gi eater variety of timber. The nearest
opening east of us, AA-as the one alluded to above,
where we encountered the fire, two miles east of Oak
Orchard Creek. The nearest one Avest was at John
son's Creek, although Mr. Dunn had erected the body
of a log house, but had made no clearing at the place
on which he has since resided, two miles east from
Johnson's Creek.
At Johnson's Creek, which was about five miles
Avest from our then home, there was one log house
built, and a small clearing. This was our nearest
neighbor, as north of us Avas an unbroken forest ex
tending to Lake Ontario, Avith no mark of human
habitation west of Oak Orchard Creek.
At the head of Stillwater, in Carlton, lived a widow
Brown, and I have heard of residents at the mouth of
Johnson' s Creek, but of this we knew nothing then.
South of us were no families, so far as we knew, ex
cept two families by the name of Coon, who I think
came in the same season we did, and one family by
the name of AYalsworth, residing near Tonawanda
Swamp> which was our only stopping place between
our place and Batavia, on this side the swamp. We
had no necessity then for the law we now have called
the 'cattle law.'
The store nearest to us then was at Batavia, thirty
miles distant.
Our nearest post office was also at Batavia, and
there also was the nearest church, and so far as I
know, that AA-as the nearest place to us where religious
meetings were held.
There was also the nearest school house known to
me, unless there was one at what is called Slater' s
Settlement, near Lockport.
The nearest gristmill was at Niagara Falls, forty
miles distant.
The health of our family continued good during the
22

338 PIONEER HISTORY
first year, and yet the season was so far advanced be
fore we could be prepared to put in seed, that we
raised nothing the first year except some potatoes
and a few turnips.
I remember a man called at our house that sum
mer, and knowing the family he kindly offered to
make my mother a garden gate, there being then no
fence around the garden, or within five miles of it.
The general health of our family, and of those who
became our neighbors, continued good, with trifling
exceptions in the form of ague and fevers, &c, until
after the war of 1812.
During this war much suffering prevailed, as no
provisions had been laid by, and the war necessarily
took the time of many who would have otherwise
been raising all necessary food, thus ceasing to be
producers, and yet remaining consumers. TMs pro
duced a great dearth of provisions, and much suffer
ing, consequently in some instances whole families
left the county, some on foot ; in some instances wo
men went away carrying their children in their arms,
in hopes of reaching a land of plenty and safety.
At the taking of Fort Niagara, I and most of our
family, and our neighbors of sufficient age and size to
bear arms, went to the defence of our country. Du
ring our absence a band of Tuscarora Indians on a
retreat passed through our neighborhood and greatly
frightened our women and children before they could
be made to understand that these Indians were our
friends. Up to tMs time the settlers were sparse and illy
prepared to encounter the horrors of war in our
midst, and were in constant preparation for immedate
flight. The hardships and privations and sufferings of our
people consequent upon the war, were speedily fol
lowed by fearful sickness.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 339
About this time emigrants coming to this region
-were many and frequent, and as the population in
creased so the sickness increased. Great and almost
universal suffering among the inhabitants followed. If
any were so fortunate as to escape sickness themselves,
rtheir physical abilities were overtaxed with care of
those who were sick, and still the improvement of the
county continued ; perfect harmony abounded among
the people, and contentment, founded on hope, was
•universal. On June 1st, 1825, just fifteen years after dining
off that stump above referred to, I was married to
Miss Eliza Reed, of Cayuga county, N. Y., and we
'took up our residence within a stones throw of the
log hut first erected by my father. I have resided on
the place ever since, and am happy and contented in
the realization of the hopes entertained when a boy
fighting musketoes and felling trees in the then wih
.-derness, where is now a good flourishing neighbor
hood of inhabitants. SEYMOUR B. MURDOCK."
Bidgeway, June, 1864. LYMAN BATES.
Lyman Bates was born in Palmyra, N. Y., Janu
ary 16th, 1798.
In November, 1819, he came to Ridgeway and
commenced clearing a new farm.
In January, 1821, he married Miss Abinerva
Xingman, who was born in Palmyra in June, 1796.
When not employed in discharging the duties of
public office, in which much of his life has been spent,
ne has labored on his farm. He has served nine
years as Supervisor of the town of Ridgeway, been
¦several terms justice of the peace, and held other
town offices. He served one term of five years as a
Judge of the Old Court of Common Pleas of Orleans

340 PIONEER HISTORY
county. He was a member of Assembly for Orleans
county in 1828. He was President of the Farmer's
Bank of Orleans, and has always been deeply en
gaged in business.
Coming here when everything was new and unset
tled, he identified himself with every movement
made to deArelop the resources ot the country, and
to establish and maintain good order and prosperity.
Of a plausible address and sound mind, honorable,
fair, impartial and honest in all he did, his party,' his
friends and all who knew him, have ever made Mm
the prominent man in his town and neighborhood,
Avhose opinions have been sought, whose counsel has
been followed, and whose influence for good has been
seen and felt. DAVID HOOKER.
David Hooker was born in Connecticut, July 9th,
1771. He married Betsey Saunders in 1795.
Mr. Hooker settled in Ridgeway, on lot tMrty-
seven, township fifteen, range three, in February,
1812. Soon afterwards in company with Dr. William
AVhite and Otis Turner, he was engaged in bmlding
the mills on Oak Orchard Creek, since known as
Morris Mills, which are now destroyed. He served
in the war against Great Britain, and was at the
taking of Fort Erie.
His wife died in March, 1813. He married his sec
ond wife, Polly Pixley, February, 1814.
He built the framed house now occupied by Ms
son, Periey H. Hooker, in 1816.
Besides his son Periey, he left one daughter, who
still survives him as widow of the late Harvey Fran-
cis, of Middleport, N. Y. David Hooker died Au
gust 6th, 1847.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 341
OTIS TURNER.
Otis Turner removed from Wayne county, and
-settled on the Ridge, east of Ridgeway Corners, in the
year 1811. He was a farmer by occupation, but pos-
sessmg intelligence and aptitude for business, he was
frequently employed in pubhc, official stations. With
Ms brother-in-law, Dr. White, and David Hooker, he
built a sawmill on the Oak Orchard Creek, between
Medina and the Ridge, the second in town.
He was a Judge of the Old Court of Common
Pleas of Genesee county, before Orleans was set off,
and he represented Genesee county as one of her
Members of Assembly in 1823.
He was for many years a prominent member of the
Baptist Church at Medina, being one of the few who
took part in its organization. He died in Rochester,
-N. Y, August 14th, 1865.
THOMAS WELD.
Thomas Weld, father of a large family who bear
Ms name, was born in Connecticut in 1771. He mar
ried Lorana Levms.
They first settled in Vermont, and moved to .North
Ridgeway in 1817.
Mrs. Weld died in 1820, and Mr. Weld, November,
18th, 1852.
They had five sons and two daughters. The sons
were Elisha, Jacob, Andrew, Elias, and Marston.
'They all settled near their father. Elias now lives
where Ms father did. They were industrious and
thrifty farmers. SAMUEL CHURCH.
Samuel Church was born in Brookfield, Massachu
setts, in 1781. He married Ann Daniels. They set
tled in North Ridgeway, in 1816. Mrs. Church died
in 1855. They had four sons.

342 PIONEER HISTORY'
WILLIAM N. PRESTON.
William N. Preston was born in Lyme, N. H., in;
1781. His wife, Sarah Daniels, was born in Pem
broke, N. H., in 1785.
They settled in North Ridgeway, a mile and a half
north of the Ridge, in 1819.
His wife died October 3d, 1831. He died Decem
ber 29th, 1841. He had three sons, Isaac Samuel,.
and AVilliston. JAMES DANIELS.
James Daniels was born in Pembroke, N. H., in
1783. He settled in North Ridgeway, on the town
line. A few years since he moved to Michigan. He-
was brother of Grosvenor Daniels. He had four
sons. AVILLIAM COCHRANE.
William Cochrane was born in Pembroke, N. H.r
in 1781. He married Rhoda Mudgett, of Pembroke.
They settled in Ridgeway in 1819. They had four
sons and three daughters. William Cochrane, of
AVaterport, is eldest of the sons.
AVILLIAM COBB.
William Cobb was born in Massachusetts. He
married Hannah Hemenway. They settled in Ridge
way in 1817. They had four sons and one daugh
ter. He died on the farm where he settled, April 1st,
1855, aged sixty-six years.
SEYMOUR MURDOCK.
Seymour Murdock was born in Dutchess county,
N. Y., in 1764.
He married Catharine Buck of Amenia. She w as-
born in 1768.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 343
They moved from Greene county to Ridgeway in
1810, and located on the Ridge Road, about five
miles east of Johnson's Creek. At that time there
was no settler between Mr. Murdock' s settlement and
lake Ontario on the north ; none south to the swamp
but Coon and AYalsworth in Shelby, and east and
west on the Ridge it Avas several miles to any neigh
bors. The nearest postoffice, store or church, was at Ba
tavia, thirty miles distant.
The nearest gristmill was at Niagara Falls, forty
miles distant.
Mr. Murdock was one of the first settlers on the
Ridge, in Ridgeway.
He had eight sons and four daughters. His sons
names were Israel, John, Seymour B., Henry, Zimri,
Jasper, Hiram, and AVilliam.
Israel kept public house some fifteen years on the
Ridge Road. He was one of the best business men,
in town. He died in 1831.
John died in Gaines, September 19th^l866. Mr.
Seymour Murdock died April 14th, 1833. His wife
died September 7th, 1823.
GEOSVENOR DANIELS.
Grosvenor Daniels was born in Pembroke, Rocking
ham county, N. H., May 3d, 1793.
He married Sally Palmer, of Vermont, in April,
1813. She died in July, 1854, and he married Florinda
Hicks, in 1855.
Leaving his family in Vermont, Mr. Daniels came
to Ridgeway in the spring of 1815 and took an article
of part of lot forty- seven, township fifteen, range
three. Robert Simpson came with Mr. Daniels and took
one hundred acres adjoining his land. At that time

344 PIONEER HISTORY
there was no settlement between Ridgeway Corners
and Lyndonville, in Yates.
Simpson and Daniels built for themselves a camp
and began cutting the trees on their lands, getting
their washing done and bread baked at Eli Moore' s,
on the Ridge. After cutting the trees on five or six
acres, Mr. Daniels went over to Canada to work a
few weeks to get money, as he could get none in
Ridgeway. After a few days he was taken sick with
fever and ague, of which he did not get cured until
the next spring. Being unable to work, he returned
to Vermont, where he arrived in December, 1815.
The next winter he started to move his family to
his western home, on an ox sled. He had sixty dol
lars in money and thirty dollars worth of leather.
On arriving at Rome, N.Y., the snow went off and he
bought a wagon, on Avhich he made the remainder of
Ms journey, and on arriving at his log cabin home
he had spent all his leather and money but six cents,
and owed six dollars for money he borrowed of a
friend on the journey.
The next summer, 1816, was the cold season. He
had not got his land fitted for crops ; produce through
the country was cut off by the frost, and Mr. Daniels
found great difficulty in -getting food for his family,
but having recovered from his long sickness of the
former year, and being strong and resolute, he worked
with a will and got through until he had raised some
thing on his land.
Being among the first settlers in his neighborhood,
he had raised produce and had it to sell to settlers,
who came in abundantly for several years next after,
and soon found himself in affluence, a condition in
which he has ever since remained.
After a few years on the lot he first took up, he
bought of Abner Balcom the farm he now lives on.
Having taste and ability for military service, he was

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 345
commissioned Ensign not many years after he came
here, and rose by regular promotions to Brigadier
General in the militia.
He has been a prominent man in public affairs,
and though he has never sought official distinction in
civil life, he has been honored with various town
and local offices. LAURA BAKER.
Mrs. Laura Baker was born in Bristol, Vermont,
March 16th, 1799, and married Samuel Bostwick,
December 4th, 1816.
In January, 1817, they emigrated from Fairfield,
Arermont, in a wagon drawn by a yoke of three year
old steers, to Shelby, N. Y.
AVhile at AVhitesboro, on their journey, their
trunks were broken by thieves and robbed of every
thing valuable. This obliged them to sell part of their
clothing to pay expenses by the way. They traveled
in company with another ox team with another family
of emigrants, averaging from eight to nineteen miles
a day. They remained the last night on the road, at Gaines.
The snow fell that night a foot deep. The road was
so bad and the steers so exhausted by travel and
hard work, that Mrs. Bostwick was obliged to walk
the last six miles of the way on foot, as she had done
half the way from Vermont.
The house into which they, with the other wagon
load of emigrants, moved, was a nice log building
with one door, no window or light except what came
down chimney or between the logs. It was then
occupied by another family from Vermont, former
acquaintances. A few weeks later another family of acquaintances
came on from Vermont and moved into the same
house, where they all resided until other houses could
be built.

346 PIONEER HISTORY
The inmates of this cabin now numbered twenty-
five persons. Their furniture was two chairs, a spin
ning wheel and a few pieces of iron ware. Their
table was a chest, their bedsteads were round poles
bottomed with bark, one en each side of the room,
the other beds were made on the floor. Holes bored
in the logs, in which pins were driven, supported
shelves against the walls.
The next spring, while making sap-troughs, Mr.
Bostwick cut his foot and was disabled from work
four weeks. Mrs. Bostwick hired a few trees tapped,
gathered the sap herself, boiled it in the hoifse in a
twelve quart kettle, a six quart pot, and a small tea
kettle, and made one hundred and sixty pounds of
sugar. When the snow went off she made a garden in
which she set gooseberry, raspberry and blackberry
roots which she found in the woods. She never
feared wild animals that roamed in the forest, but she
used tp admit her fear of the Indians who frequently
came along and remained all night, and she would
Avatch and tremble with fear while they slept like
logs on the floor, with their feet to the fire. •
Having worn out the clotMng they brought from
the east, Mrs. B. bought a loom and made cloth for
her family and others. She took in weaving of her
neighbors, and received pay in wheat at six shillings
a bushel, though the best she could do with it was to
take it to Ridgeway Corners and sell it for four shil
lings a bushel, paid for in goods at a high price.
Mr. Samuel Bostwick died many years ago, and in
the year 1833 his widow married Mr. Otis Baker, a
thriving farmer of Shelby.
In 1853 he disposed of his farm and moved to Me
dina, where they yet reside.
Married at the age of seventeen years, Mrs. .Baker
has passed a stirring and eventful life in things which

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 347
belong to the settlement of a new country. She has
passed through it all in triumph. From pinching
poverty 'to the possession of abundance, she has
traveled every step, and surrounded by kind friends
and present plenty, she yet remains one of the best
specimens of the noble women who did their part in
bringing this county out of the woods.
NAHUM BARRETT.
Nahum Barrett was born in Hinsdale, N. H. He
married Sally Bennett of AArestmoreland, N. H., in
1805. In March, 1815, he removed with his family to Ti
oga county. His wife died there in 1820. In Janua
ry, 1828, he removed to Ridgeway, and died there
April 13th, following, aged fifty-one years. He had
nine children, of whom the eldest is
LUTHER BARRETT.
Luther Barrett was born in Windham county, Vt.,
m 1806. AA'hile liA'ing in Ms father's family in Tioga
Co., for three years of the time it was five miles from
his father' s to any school, and when a school was
opened nearer, young Luther never had much op-
portumty to attend it.
In May, 1825, he left his father' s family and came
to Ridgeway and labored for his uncle, Amos Bar
rett, on his farm. He continued to work out by the
month, until the year 1831 he purchased the farm
three-fourths of a mile west from Ridgeway Corners,
on which he has since resided.
He married Miss Almira Flood, February 18th,
1835. She was born in Londonderry, Arermont, Jan
uary 2d, 1807.
They have four children, Sylvester F., Elsie A.,
married Henry Tanner ; Med ora P., and Lodema A.

348 PIONEER HISTORY
Lodema married Andrew Weld, and resides in Pax-
ton, Illinois.
Mr. Barrett is a farmer, who by a life of persistent
industry and prudence, has accumulated a fair prop
erty, and by a life of honesty and integrity has se
cured a fair character. He enjoys the confidence of
Ms townsmen and represented them as Supervisor of
Ridgeway in the years 1857-S.
CHRISTOPHER WHALEY.
Christopher AVhaley was born in Montville, Con
necticut, June 16th, 1798. AVith his parents he re
moved to Verona, N. Y., in 1803.
He was educated as a physician at the medical in
stitution at Fairfield, Herkimer county, and gradua
ted as Doctor of Medicine, June 18th, 1819. In Sep
tember, 1819, he settled in the practice of his profes
sion at Shelby Center.
In February, 1832, he removed to Medina, where
he resided until his death, October 26th, 1867.
Dr. Whaley married Mary Ann S. Coffin, March
20th 1824. After her death he married Soph-
ronia Martin in 1841. After her death he married
Carrie E. Perry, July 16th, 1863. His widow and
three children survived him.
Dr. AVhaley devoted his life zealously to the prac
tice of his profession, in which he had a large ride
and eminent success. It is truly said of him "he
never refused his services to any one in need of them,
whether they were rich or poor, and without taking
into consideration the possibility of losing his fee."
ANDREW WELD.
Andrew Weld was born in Reading, Vermont, Au
gust 6th, 1804. He came to Ridgeway in the fall of
1817, in the family of his father, Thomas Weld.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 349
They came in a wagon drawn by three yoke of
oxen, being twenty- seven days on their journey. Mr.
AVeld settled on lot nine, township fifteen, range
four. Andrew resided with his father until he was twen
ty years old, then labored one year for his brother,
Elisha, on a farm for one hundred dollars.
In February, 1828, he married Roxy Stockwell.
She died May 9th, 1839. He married Clarissa Root
for his second wife. She died December 22d, 1866,
and for his third Avife he married Mrs. Susan
Downs. Mr. AVeld is a farmer, industrious and frugal who,
in the' honest pursuit of his chosen calling, has laid
up a competence for his support and comfort while
he lives. AVILLIAM JACKSON.
AVilliam Jackson Avas born in Duanesburg, N. Y. ,
October 21st, 1799.
He bought an article for one hundred acres of
land in Ridgeway, part of lot twenty-one, township
fifteen, range four, in September, 1826. After build
ing a log house on his lot, he returned to Onondaga
county after his family and brought them to
their new home the next February. His
house was without a door or window or floor when
he moved into it, but blankets for a few days were
good substitutes for doors and windows, when he
made a floor, and dqors and lived comfortably.
Prosperity attended his labor. In a short time he
bought more land, which he has fitted and cultivated
into one of the finest farms in the county.
Mr. Jackson married Martha Comstock, January
20th 1822. They have had eleven children, seven of
whom are living.

850 PIONEER HISTORY
His father, James Jackson, was born in London,
England, and emigrated to America in early life.
ELIJAH HAWLEY.
Elijah Hawley was born in Bridgeport, Connecti
cut, June 2d, 1792.
He married Rhoda Spencer in May, 1805. In May,
1815, he settled near Ridgeway Corners.
Mr. Hawley was a practical surveyor, and many lines
of lands in Ridgeway and Shelby were traced and
settled by his surveys.
From memoranda found among Mr. Hawley' s pa
pers after his death, made by Mmself, in 1814 the
town of Ridgeway, which then comprised the present
county of Orleans, contained six hundred and eighty-
one inhabitants, one hundred and thirty electors, and
but five freeholders worth two hundred and fifty
dollars each.
He was appointed justice of the peace by the coun
cil in March, 1816, and Judge of Genesee County
Common Pleas, May 23d, 1818, which office he held
until his death.
He was Supervisor of Ridgeway in 1818. He was
appointed postmaster at Ridgeway Corners in
1816. He died April 29th, 1820, leaving his widow and
six children surviving. Merwin S. Hawley of Buffa
lo is his son. JAMES JACKSON.
James Jackson, eldest son of James Jackson, was
born in Duanesburg, N. Y., March 29th, 1798. He
married Maria Marlatte, February 21st, 1819. He
settled on part of lot twenty, township fifteen, range
four, in Ridgeway, in February, 1823, where he has
since resided.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 351
He has been a successful farmer, overcoming by
sturdy industry the obstacles of sickness, hardships
and the privations of a neAv country, by which he
has been beset.
He has had ten children, nine of Avhom survive.
His wife died December 13th, 1870.
JOHN LE VALLEY .
John LeA^alley Avas born at Paris Hill, N. Y., May
31st, 1810.
His parents removed to Holland, Niagara county,
Avhen he was nine years old. His father died poor,
leaving a Avidow and five minor children, of whom
John was eldest.
At the age of eighteen he commenced the battle of
life on Ms own account, with a resolute will his only
capital, and his father's family on his hands to
provide for.
He first bought seventy rods of land adjoining the
place on which his father had resided, and paid for
it in work at seventy-five cents a day and boarded
Mmself. On tMs he built a small house, into which
he moved Ms mother and her cMldren. He then
bought on credit one hundred acres of land. On this
he cleared and fenced seventy acres, built a house
and barn, dug wells and made other improvements,
and at the end of tMee years sold his farm for three
thousand six hundred dollars. This he accomplished
though to begin with he had not a dollar in money,
no team, or stock or seed ; but he did have good
health, a strong will, and a noble mother's wise
counsel and encouragement, to which he was ready
to listen and follow, in whose welfare he has always
felt thamost tender solicitude, who has always shared
his house and home, and still survives at the age of
eighty years, enjoying in the family of her son all

352 PIONEER HISTORY
that filial affection and abundant means can supply
to make her old age happy.
In 1835 he purchased the farm he now occupies,
parts of lots twenty-nine and thirty, township fifteen,
range four, in Ridgeway, containing one hundred and
ninety -two acres.
He has built mills, worked a stone quarry, and
cultivated his large farm with eminent success and
become wealthy. .
In 1852 he was appointed one of the Commissioners
by the Legislature to re-survey the Ridge Road.
He has held various civil offices in the gift of his
fellow citizens.
He has been three times married, and is now living
with his third wife, SerapMne M., daughter of the
late Joseph Davis, of Ridgeway, to whom he was
married January 13th, 1856.
AMOS BARRETT.
Amos Barrett was born in Chesterfield, N. H., May
10th, 1778.
In 1802 he married Lucy Thayer, and soon after
settled in Fabius, Onondaga county, N. Y. His wife
having died, he married Huldah AVinegar, December
20th, 1807.
In 1811 he bought fifty acres of land, part of lot
fifteen, lying one mile west of Ridgeway Corners, on
the Ridge Road.
He started to move his family to their new home
with a sleigh and horses and an ox team. One of
Ms oxen broke his leg while being shod. He made a
single yoke for his remaining ox, hitched Mm in the
team beside a horse, and thus performed his journey,
his team attracting much notice in passing. The
yoke is preserved as a valued relic by his chil
dren. He crossed Genesee river on the ice, and arrived at

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 353
Ms lot in Ridgeway, March 14th, 1812, and stopped
Avith his neighbor, Jonathan Cobb, in his log house,
eighteen by tAventy-four feet square, ' Avhich on this
occasion contained tAventy-six inmates.
Mr. Barrett soon built a log house on his lot and
moved into that. Suoav Avas deep that spring. He
had no hay ; as a substitute he dug up a few brakes
on Ioav land near and felled trees, on which his ani
mals browsed, the poor horses hardly surviving on
such diet.
In June, 1813, war Avith Great Britain was declaredj
and Mr. Barrett- went with his neighbors under Capt.
McCarty. to the defense of the frontier.
During- this Avar, Mr. Barrett' s family remained,
while many others fled from the country.
Beginning in the woods, with fields to be cleared of
timber before they could be made productive, with
fever and ague to contend with, and privations of so
many of the necessaries and comforts of civilized life
to be born, it was sometimes hard for Mr. Barrett . to
meet the wants of his somewhat numerous family
with the needed supplies. Food sometimes ran short,
and but for the fish in the streams, and game from
the forest, they might have had more suffering.
Mr. Barrett had a fowling piece with which, he was
a dead shot. He never had a rifle ; and a trusty steel
trap, which did good service on occasion, once de
tained a wolf who happened "to put his foot in it."
Numerous deer, and occasionally a bear yielded to
his prowess as a hunter, and furnished meat for the
family. Mr. Barrett paid three dollars per acre for the first
fifty acres of land he bought He had the sagacity to
foresee that the price of lands would rise as settle
ments increased, and he secured to himself titles to a
number of other parcels of land, and realized ,the
rise in value as he had expected.
23 

354 PIONEER HISTORY
Mr. Barrett had seven sons and one' daughter, all
of whom he lived to see married and settled around
him, with twenty-two grand children to perpetuate
the family.
He took pleasure in the last years of his life visi
ting the homes of his children. His social qualities
made him a welcome guest always among all his ac
quaintances, by whom he was familiarly known and
addressed as ' ' Uncle Amos. ' '
He was generous and kind to worthy objects of his
bounty, but the profligate, dishonest and idle, found
no favor at his hands.
He was a pioneer in introducing improved modes
and implements in agriculture. He was the first in
his vicinity to use cast iron plows in place of the old
Dutch plow. A threshing machine took the place of
the flail in his barn at an early day, a rude im
perfect machine, but it was an advance in the right
direction, and his neighbors were induced to draw
their grain to his machine, and thus taught its labor
saving power.
Mr. Barrett died in 1860, in the eighty-second year
of his age. SIDNEY S. BARRETT'.
Sidney S. Barrett, eldest son of Amos Barrett, was
born in Fabius, N. Y., May 8th, 1804. He came to
Ridgeway with Ms father' s family in March, 1812,
and resided in that family until he was twenty-four
years old, then with two younger brothers he bought
part of lot twenty -four, township fifteen, range four,
in Ridgeway. He worked his land in company with
these brothers for five or six years, when it was di
vided and he took a part to himself, on which he has
ever since resided.
He married Lydia H. Fox, February 23d, 1832, by

':vj£

|#:;

'%,. ¦ Si

J**"

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 355
-whom he had tAvo sons and two daughters, all of
whom lived to adult age.
AVILLIAM KNOWLES.
Mr. Knowles was born in Sandersfield, Berkshire
-county, Massachusetts, July 19, 1790. His ancestors.
for several generations, had been residents of Cape
Cod, and were of the true New England, Puritan
stock. They were God-fearing people, of deep religious sen
timent, and strict in their habits. His parents brought
up their family of nine children according to the no
tions prevalent in those days among the descendants
of the old Puritans.
The school house and the church Avere prominent
institutions in New England civilization, and Mr.
Knowles had the advantages of both, as they were
enjoyed seventy years ago. His schooling was re
stricted to the district school of that time.
In December, 1813, Mr. Knowles collected Ms ef
fects together, purchased a span of horses and wagon,
and a quantity of iron and steel for loading, and
started to go to the Genesee country, where three of
Ms brothers had already located.
On Ms way west he stopped at Schenectady and
bought eight kegs of oysters to add to his load. He
arrived safely at the house of his brother in Riga,
January 5th, 1814.
In January, 1815, he came to Ridgeway and stop
ped at the house of an old friend, Eleazer Slater.
He took an article of lot three, township fifteen, range
three, on which the village of Knowlesville, so named
in his honor, now stands, on the Erie canal, contain
ing 341 acres.
In March, 1815, he began to cut down the trees
upon his land so purchased, to build a house, then

356 PIONEER HISTORY
more than a mile from any house, or highway or foot
path. The spot on which he cut the first tree is. where the
residence of Mr. R. P. Wood now stands. In due
time his cabin was raised, with sides of logs, roof of
staves, or shakes, as they were called, fastened to
their places by poles bound crosswise, with a floor
of basswood logs roughly hewed on one side.
Mr. John Canifee, having a wife and one child and
no house, moved into the new house of Mr. Knowles
before it was completed, while the floor was only half
laid down and a blanket was used for a door, and
lived in it in that condition for two weeks.
Mr. Knowles hired two men to work for him, one of '
whom had a wife, who was their housekeeper. Du
ring the first summer this woman, Mrs. Hill, was
taken sick and died.
At that time there were no roads, no barns, no pas
tures, and none of the modern conveniences for living
in the settlement. Mr. Knowles had obtained some
cows which he hired kept two miles from his house.
He would work hard in his clearing all day, then go
tAvo miles to milk his cows and bring the milk home
in pails through the woods. ,
The death of Mrs. Hill was a sad event in the
wilderness. It rendered the log cabin desolate.
The men Mr. Knowles had hired soon left him.
In November, 1815, he went back to Massachu
setts, and in January, 1816, was married to Miss ¦
Mary Baldwin. They came on to the house Mr.
Knowles had built. Mrs. Knowles soon accustomed
herself to the inconveniences and difficulties of her
new situation, went cheerfully to work and became a
model housekeeper. The inconveniences of house
keeping were not a few.
Mr. Knowles, on his way home with Ms wife, had
purchased a set of chairs with splint seats. These-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 357
were regarded at first by the neighbors as a great luxu
ry, and frequent comments Avere made by them upon
the extravagance, as they regarded it of the Knowles
family. But if they did indulge a little in the matter
of chairs, their other furniture of the house at first was
sufficiently primitive to satisfy the most fastidious
of their friends, for they had at first no table but a
board put on the top of a barrel. Their first bed
stead was made by boring holes in the logs in the
side of the house, and putting in rods fastened, to
pole bedposts, with side pieces of like material.
In the cold summer of 1816, frost in June killed
the corn, rendering the prospect gloomy and sad for
the new settlers, but the wheat crop proved good in
quality, though less than an average yield in quan
tity. In the summer of 1816, the engineers surveying for
the Erie Canal, came along and pitched their tent on
Mr. Knowles farm, on the spot where Abell & Brace
now have a store, stopping there a week, and finally
established the line for the canal through the center
of Ms farm.
The canal was completed to Lockport from the
east in 1824.
Mr. Knowles built one section of the canal a little
east of Holley.
In 1825 he built the first framed house in Knowles
ville, on the south side of the canal, in which he kept
a hotel for several years. Afterwards he built the
brick house near the canal on the west side of the
Main street, in which he kept a temperance hotel for
several years, until he finally closed the house as a
tavern. Mr. Knowles built the first warehouse in Knowles
ville, in 1825.
He bought and shipped the first boat load of wheat
ever shipped from Orleans county.

358 PIONEER HISTORY
Mr. Knowles was always among the first engaged'
in all public enterprises for the benefit of the commu
nity in which he lived.
He helped build the first school house in his dis
trict, which was made of logs. This served also as a
place of public worship. Here ministers of f arious
denominations preached the gospel, and the people
flocked to hear them without regard to sectarian pre
judice or partiality.
In 1838 Mr. Knowles built his late place of res
idence on the beautiful eminence in the west part of
the village, and north of the canal.
In 1830 the brick church in Knowlesville was erec
ted, Mr. K. furnishing one-half or more of the funds-
for that purpose.
Mr. and Mrs. Knowles united with the Presbyte
rian church in 1820, which was the first religious so
ciety organized in Ridgeway. For nearly forty years -
he has been a ruling elder in that church.
He never had children Qf his own, yet he has taken"
into his family and brought up and educated seven
or eight children of others. To one of these Rev. I.
O. Fillmore, he gave a liberal education, sending him
to college and theological schools to fit for the gospel
ministry, besides granting Mm a generous allowance
of means to establish himself with comfort in lifey
in grateful remembrance of which favors, so bounti
fully and disinterestedly bestowed by Mr. Knowles -
and his family, Mr. Fillmore acknowledges his obli
gation, and devotes himself with filial duty to*
make the last days of his kind benefactor as happy
as possible.
Mr. Knowles has been twice married. His first-
wife died April 2d, 1861. He married Mrs. Mary
Crippen for his second wife.
He has sold his large farm and other real estate, re
serving only a house and lot in Knowlesville, where

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 359
he resides, relieved from the cares and perplexities of
busmess, calmly awaiting the approach of death, en
joying the full assurance of the good man's hope.
The foregoing is the substance of a sketch of Mr.
Knowles, furnished for the Orleans County Pioneer
Association by his adopted son, Rev. I. O. Fill
more. AVERY V. ANDREAVS.
" I Avas born hi Claremont, New Hampshire, July
25th, 1798.
In 1802 my father removed to AAraterbury, Ver
mont. In October, 1 817, he started with two yoke of oxen
and a wagon to move his family to western New York,
and after traveling thirty days arrived at Gaines,
then Genesee county, N. Y. I Avas then eighteen
years of age.
In the fall of 1819, 1 bought an article for fifty acres
of land in Ridgeway, and in 1821, I bought an arti
cle for sixty-two acres with a small log house on it:
All my personal estate then consisted of one yoke of
steers and a cow.
I lived in my log house seventeen years, then built
a dwelling house of stone in which I now reside.
AVERY V. ANDREWS."
Ridgeway, June, 1866. XANCY' G. MASTEN.
' ' I Avas bom in AVanvick, Massachusetts, Septem
ber 20th, 1796.
I was married to Ephraim G. Masten, at Albany,
N. Y., November 15th, 1815.
AVe settled in Bethlehem, Albany county, N. Y.
In 1819 my husband came to Ridgeway, Orleans Co. ,
and bought an article for one hundred and thirty
acres of land on lot seventeen, township fifteen,

360' PIONEER HISTORY
range three, then in a wild state, cleared three acres
and sowed it with wheat, and in November, 1819,
moved upon his land Avith his family.
AAre lived in a log house until in 1831 we built a
dwelling of stone on the site of the old log house.
Mr. Masten died March 20th, 1840. NANCY G. MASTEN."
Ridgeway, September, 1866.
LYSANDER C. GROVER.
"I was born in Deerfield, Massachusetts, Jan
uary, 22d, 1802.
¦. In the fall of 1807, my father moved to Phelps, On
tario county, I being then in my sixth year. Here
I spent my boyhood working on a farm summers
and attending district school winters. When I was
t welve years old my father sent me with his hired
man a mile and a half into the woods to chop cord
wood, and on my twelfth birth day I chopped and
piled one cord of wood, and well do I remember of
bragging of my exploit when I returned home. But
strategy-, of which we hear occasionally, had some
thing to do with it, for I got the hired man to fall an
old basswood tree with a dead top for me, and this
helped materially to make out my pile.
My father being of Green Mountain origin, where
men were born with iron constitutions, required more
Avork of me than my constitution could endure, con
sequently Avhen I was about nineteen years old, I be
came physically unable to labor.
In 1823 1 went to school at an academy in Geneva,
and in the fall of that year I obtained a teacher's cer
tificate. Thus accoutered, and with little knowledge
of the world, and still less of its lucre, I emerged as
a pedagogue which occupation I followed with an in
crease both of success and wages.
Finding this business irksome and by no means de-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 361
sirable for life, I resolved upon a profession. When
consulting with friends for a choice it was thought
my piety did not come up to the ministerial standard,
and I had neither the confidence nor impudence to
warrant success as a laAvyer, therefore the only al
ternative AA-as I must be a physician, which I resolved
to be.
I studied medicine AA-ith Dr. James Carter, of Gene
va, and attended medical lectures in the city of New
York in the winter of 1827-8, and returned in the
spring to Geneva, with just six cents capital in my
pocket with which to start in business.
In January, 1829, I located for practice in the vil
lage of Alloway, in the town of Lyons. There, with
a capital all borrowed, except the aforesaid six cents
which I had not encroached upon, did I start out
with saddle bags well filled, full of confidence of
success. I stuck ,up my tin and was ready for
business. It was in the healthy season of the year, and no
body would get sick to accommodate me, or test the
efficiency of my drugs, or my ability in prescribing
them. And it was even more than hinted that the
blues were lurking about me.
But at length by patient industry I eventually ac
quired a good and lucrative practice as a physician,
and hoAv well I have acquitted myself in my profes
sion, and in such other business as I have been en
gaged in, I leave for others to decide.
I had not physical stamina sufficient to enable me
to enter the wilderness and lay low its primeval for
ests, supplant the ferocious bears, and prowling and
howling wolves, — or to build log houses, and occupy
them, — therefore I am scarcely entitled to have my
name enrolled among the real settlers and early pio
neers of Orleans county fifty years ago, my only
claim being that I swung the ax in my boyhood days

362 PIONEER HISTORY
in Ontario cbunty, and also that I have cleared some
land by proxy in Orleans county.
October 3d, 1831, I married a daughter Of Henry
Howard, of Alloway, Wayne county, N. Y. I car
ried on my professional business in connexion Avith
merchandising, until in 1844, 1 removed to Alexander,
Genesee county, and in February, 1845, I moved to
Knowlesville, on the farm on which I now reside.
Here I have practiced medicine but little, keeping a
drug and book store, and superintending my farm.
My wife died April 8th, 1847, and I married for a
second Avife, Mrs. Eliza Ann Brown, August 12th,
1858. I have failed to get rich, being too timid to make
any bold and great business strikes, having too great
a development of the organ of cautiousness to
secure the avails of any great far-reaching enter
prise. To sum up the events of my history in short, in my
boyhood I was a farmer, then a teacher, then a clerk,
next a student of medicine, after that a doctor, then
a merchant. I have run an ashery and a distillery, for which lat
ter business I trust I am now sufficiently pemtent. I
have kept a drug and book store, and am now living
quietly on my farm in Knowlesville. LYSANDER C. GROVER."
Knowlesville, January 21, 1867.
EDWIN P. HEALY'.
" My father moved from Massachusetts to Marcel -
lus, N. Y. in 1805.
I was born in Marcellus, Onondaga county, N. Y.,
April 14th, 1812, and Avas brought up at labor on my
father's farm until I became a man.
I taught school four years, then studied med
icine, and graduated in my profession in 1837.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 363
and settled to practice in Cortlandville, N. Y. In
1838 I was married to Miss Maria Thomas, of Skane-
atelas, and began housekeeping immediately.
I practiced my profession eighteen years, then from
failing health was compelled to abandon the practice
of medicine and removed to Medina, N. Y., in 1856,
and engaged in the business of selling drugs and
medicines, which I still folloAv. EDWIN P. HEALY."
Medina, April, 1867. MILO COON.
Milo Coon was born in DeRuyter, N. Y., Novem
ber 4th, 1799.
His father, Hezekiah Coon, was a native of Rhode
Island. He came to Ridgeway in 1809, and took an
article for one hundred acres of land one mile east of
RidgeAvay Comers, upon which he moved with his
family September 29th, 1811.
AVhen he settled here his neighbors were Ezra D.
Barnes, Israel Douglass and Seymour Murdock.
Milo Coon married Edith L. Willets, August 31st,
1823. PETER HOAG.
Peter Hoag was born at Independence, New Jer
sey, December 3d, 1794.
In 1804 he came with his family to Farmington,
Ontario county, N. Y. From that time until Octo
ber, 1815, he labored on a farm, or went to school, or
kept school. In October, 1815, he took up a lot of
land in Ridgeway and built a log house on it, into
which he moved his family in March, 1816.
About the year 1838 he disposed of his lot, bought
part of lot nineteen, township fifteen, range three, on
which he resides with his son Lewis.
Mr. Hoag married Hannah Vanduser, March 15th,
1815. She died August 18th, 1831.

364 PIONEER HISTORY
He married Maria Douglass, January 5th, 1832.
She died March 20th, 1866.
His children are Mary, who died in infancy. Zach-
ariah married Maria Temple, and resides in Michi
gan. James, who married Elizabeth Slade, resides
in Kendall. Ransom, who married Melvina Porter,
resides in Medina. Mary, who married Sylvester
Gillett, resides in Bergen. Lyman died in infancy.
William L., who married Clara Bigford, resides in
Wisconsin. Charles Henry, who married Minerva
Powers, resides in Wayne county, N. Y., and Lewis
H., who married Sarah Hoag, and resides on his pa
ternal homestead. DAVID HOOD.
"I was born in the toAvn of Tarbot, Pennsylvania,
August 2d, 1794.
In 1797 my parents removed to Seneca, N. Y., town
of Romulus. We had many hardships and priva
tions to endure, the country being new and we so far
from school and religious meetings. Our land was
heavily timbered and required a great deal of hard
work to get it in a condition to till. We had to go
ten miles to mill.
I went to school after I was nine or ten years
old, what I could, and worked on the farm summers
until in September, 1813, I was drafted for a soldier,
being then nineteen years old, and went to Fort
George, in Canada, which had been taken by our for
ces in the spring before.
I was three months in the army, and was then dis
charged. I continued with my parents until 1816, when I came
to the town of Ridgeway and worked one summer for
a brother of mine who had located one mile south of
Knowlesville. The next spring I bought an article

OF ORLEANS COUNTY'. 365
for one hundred and nineteen acres of land, upon
which I Avent to Avork clearing.
The title to the farm on which my father had re
sided and labored for tAventy years in Seneca county
proved bad and he was compelled to abandon it,
leaA-ing him almost penniless, and he came to the town
of Shelby and began again anew.
I built a house on my land in Ridgeway, in Octo
ber, 1818.
In May, 1819, I was married to Miss Elizabeth
Burroughs, daughter of David Burroughs, of Shelby,
and in June after, we moved into my house upon my
farm, on which farm I have resided now forty-seven
years. •
I worked my farm and my wife took good care of
things about the house, and so we prospered as well
as any of our neighbors. I built my first barn in \
1820. Presbyterian churches were organized at Oak Or
chard Creek, and at Millville at an early day. In
the year 1831 a Church edifice was erected by the
Presbyterians at Knowlesville.
During these years so long ago, although our labor
was hard and fatiguing, yet we performed it with
cheerfulness and in hope. Our neighbors knew no
broils, families were all peaceful and friendly with
each other, kind and attentive in sickness, even unto
death. Thus we toiled on from year to year, the forest gradu
ally retiring before us, and giving place to fruitful
fields, and gardens, and orchards, yielding a gene
rous reward for our labors.
I built a new house which I finished in 1835, but
our old log house was like a sacred spot, cherished
in our memories.
Since occupying my present residence I have seen
the present wilderness exchanged for cultivated

366 PIONEER HISTORY
land, filled with the habitations of industry. I have
witnessed the introduction into our county of those
great works of improvement, the Erie Canal, the
Railroad, and the Electric Telegraph, and now, in
the evening of my days, I am enjoying a competence
of tMs world' s goods for my comfort, expecting soon
to pass over the 'river,' where I hope to meet not
only the pioneers of the woods here, but all who are
here 'seeking a better country,' DAVID HOOD."
Ridgeway, January, 1865.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE VILLAGE OF MEDINA.
Saw Mill by Land Company— Evan's Grist Mill— Canal Feeder— Nix
on's Erewery— Coan's Store— First Tavern— First Merchants— Phy
sician — Attorney — Quarries — Justus Ingersoll — Baptist Meeting
House.

HE territory included in the village of Medi
na was mainly covered Avith forest trees when
work was begun here on the Erie canal.
Mr. Joseph Ellicott had, at an early day, located a
large tract of land here of the Holland Land Compa
ny, including the rapids in the Oak Orchard Creek,
but settlement was commenced at Shelby Center, no
body at that time expecting a village would groAv up
here. Mr. Samuel F. Gear built a sawmill for the Hol
land Company or Mr. Ellicott, on the falls in the Oak
Orchard Creek, in Medina, about the year 1805, and
about the same time the Salt Works were established
at the brine springs, north of the A-illage. This mill
was a cheaply constructed affair. No roads leading
to it were made, and before the war of 1812, few set
tlers located here. They could not get their logs
to the mill for the distance and bad roads. The mill
was not kept in repair and soon tumbled into
ruins. Mr. Ellicott rented out the salt works, but working
them was impracticable, and not much salt was made
there until the springs came into possession of Isaac
Bennett in 1818.

368 PIONEER HISTORY
Mr. Sylvanus Coan opened the first store in 1824,
before the canal was finished, and some small estab
lishments for selling goods to those working on the
canal soon followed, but the opening of navigation
was the signal for commencing the improvement of
the water power on the Creek and building up the
town. In May, 1825, David E. Evans laid the foundations
of his large flouring mill, afterwards owned by Wil
liam R. Gwynn, standing on the race near the rail
road. This mill was built of stone, John Ryan master
mason, and finished in 1826. It was finally burned
in December, 1859.
The State of New York built a dam in the creek
at the time the canal was dug, and made a raceway
to carry the creek water into the canal, as a feeder.
This race proved too low for the purpose and was
abandoned. In 1825 Mr. Evans made an arrangement with the
State, under which he raised a dam higher up the
stream, and connected this by a raceway to the
canal. Evans drew water from this raceway to turn
his mill, and sold water power to others to be drawn
from his race.
Joseph Nixon built a brewery here about the year
1827. After a few years it was turned into a distille
ry, and malt liquors or whisky were made there for
several years.
This brewery was burned three times, and the site
is now occupied by Bignall & Co. as a foundry.
Uri D. Moore kept the first hotel, on Shelby St.,
in 1824.
Ashael Wooodruff and brother were merchants
here in 1826.
John Ryan, mason, settled here in 1827 ; Simeon
Downs, blacksmith, in 1825 ; Dr.  Rumsey,

OK ORLEANS COUNTY. 369
the first regular physician, in 1827. Dr. Lathrop fol
lowed soon after.
The first attorney Avas Nathan SaAvyer. The first
carpenter, Samuel F. Gear. The first iron founder
was Simeon Bathgate.
The postoffice was established in Medina in 1829,
and Justus Ingersoll Avas the first postmaster.
David Ford and John Parsons Avere tinsmiths.
Otis Turner, and Chase and Britt were grocers. Clark
and Fairman were early merchants.
The first fire company Avas organized August 16th,
1832. The first bell in a steeple was raised on the Presby
terian Church in 1836.
This was the first bell in the village, and the only
church bell between Albion and Lockport for several
years. It was rung a number of times every day to
regulate the hours of labor and rest of the inhabi
tants. A town clock was afterwards procured and placed
in the steeple of the Methodist Church, to serve in the
place of so much bell •ringing. The clock proving a
poor macMne was soon given up.
Justus Ingersoll, who had been a tanner in Shelby,
moved to Medina in 1826, and built a large brick.
building for a tannery west of the creek, near the
the canal.
This was afterwards converted into a flouring mill,
and burned December, 1858.
Mr. Ingersoll was justice of the peace, postmaster,
Indian agent and Judge of the Court of Common
Pleas of the county, and an active man in village
affairs. The first religious society organized in Medina was
the Episcopalian.
"St. John's Church in Medina," filed a certificate
24

370 PIONEER HISTORY
of incorporation in the county clerk's office under
that name November 12th, 1827.
Rev. Richard Salmon, missionary, was then in
charge. Bishop Hobart held the first Episcopal service by a
Bishop in Orleans county, in this church Septem
ber 7th, 1828.
The corporate officers of the church for its first
year were Justus Ingersoll and Richard A7an Dyke,
Wardens. Christopher Whaley, Elijah Beech, John B. Elli
cott, Joseph Nixon, Henry Yerrington, Benjamin W.
Van Dyke, Jonas S. Billings and Hezekiah R. AVar-
ner, Vestrymen.
Mr. David E. Evans gave the church a piece of
land on which to erect their church , edifice, the foun
dations of which were laid in 1831.
The first religious services were held in this build
ing, in the basement, on Christmas Eve, 1832.
Joshua M. Rogers was the minister.
The house was finished, and consecrated by Bishop
Onderdonk, September 30th, 1836, Avhere it now
stands, on Center street.
The Methodists filed a certificate to incorporate a
society by name of "The first Methodist Episcopal
Society in Medina," October 1st, 1830.
They filed another certificate altering their name,
among other things, April 7th, 1834.
They commenced building their house of worship
of stone, in 1833. In raising the roof the timbers
•gave way and eleven men fell in the ruins. No one
was killed, some bones were broken.
The basement of this house was finished and used
in 1834, but it was several years before the whole
house was completed.
This house was taken down and rebuilt in 1850,
and thoroughly repaired in 1869.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 371
The Baptists filed a certificate to incorporate ' ' The
First Baptist Church and Society in Medina," March
14th, 1831.
Their first house of worship was a building put up
for a barn in the rear of the brick hotel, on the south
west corner of Center and Shelby streets. This was
lathed and plastered and seated, and used for reli
gious meetings until their first meeting house was
dedicated in the winter of 1832.
Their new church on the corner of West and Cen
ter streets was commenced in the fall of 1870.
The Presbyterians built the first building designed
for rehgious worship in Medina, on the north side of
Cross, near the corner of West street.
Deacon Theophilus Cook commenced, alone and
unaided, getting out the timber for this house. See
ing his zeal showing itself in faith and works, Mr.
EpMaim Scovill joined him in the work. Others fol
lowed Avith their labor and contributions, till
a building about thirty by forty-five feet was
erected, in which the Presbyterians worshipped from
about 1830, to February 17th, 1836, when their new
church edifice was dedicated.
The first house was then used for school purposes
several years, when it was sold to the Roman Catho
lics, who moved it upon the same lot with their
church, built an addition to it, and it is now their
school house.
The Presbyterian Church was organized with sev
enteen members, March 19th, 1829.
The Presbyterian Society was incorporated August
27th, 1831, by name of "The Trustees of the first
Society of the Congregational Church at Medina."
The first printing press in Medina was set up in
the fall of 1832, and the first newspaper called "Me
dina Herald," published by D. P. Adams.
After the Erie canal was located and surveyed

372 PIONEER HISTORY
through Medina, attention was called to this place as-
the probable site of a village, and about the year
1823, Mr. Ebenezer Mix surveyed and laid out the
village for the proprietors and named it Medina.
Mr. John B. Ellicott, a relative of Joseph Ellicott,
Avas sent here by the proprietors to superintend their
interests, as local agent.
Mr. Artemas Allen came to Medina in 1822, and
Avas the first mason who settled in the village. He
had charge as master mason in building the aqueduct
for the Erie canal on Oak Orchard Creek.
The stone for this work Avere mainly obtained from
the bank of the creek north of the canal. The re
maining stone were from Shelby Center,, or Claren
don, and a few from Lockport.
Mr. Allen built a large brick tannery and dwelling
house for Justus Ingersoll, and a large stone build
ing called the Eagle Hotel, which was burned some
years ago.
Mr. Allen claims he first discovered the quarry of
flaging stone at Medina, got out the first flags, and
laid a number of rods of sidewalk in front of the
residence of David E. Evans in Batavia.
The stone from which the water lime used-
on the aqueduct was made were obtained be
tween Medina and Shelby Center, burned on log
heaps, and ground with an upright revolving:
stone. Mr. Artemas Allen removed to Coldwater, MicM-
gan, where he is now living.
The village of Medina was incorporated March 3d„
1832.

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE VILLAGE OP KNOAVLESVILLE.
Wm. Knowles, Founder and First Settler — First Clearing — First
Framed House — First Tavern — First Warehouse — First Boat Load
of Wheat— First Ashery — First School House — PoBt Office— First
Religious Society.
NOWLESVILLE, situate on the eastern
bounds of the toAvn of Ridgeway, as at pres
ent bounded, owes its existence to the Erie
canal. AA^hen work was begun on the canal, but
two or three families had located on the ground now
covered by the village.
Mr. AA7illiam Knowles, the pioneer and founder of
the village, was the first settler. He took up from
the Land Company and settled upon lot three, town
ship fifteen, range tMee, in the winter of 1815.
Shortly after John Caniff took up one hundred
acres of the north part of lot fifty-nine, in town
ship fifteen, range three, adjoining Mr. KnoAvles' land
and east of it.
The first tree cut on the site of Knowlesville stood
where the residence of R. P. AA'ood now stands, and
was felled in March, 1815. There Mr. KnoAA-les built
the first log cabin, in which he resided. He hired a
Mr. Hill to work for him in clearing land, and his
Avife was their house-keeper. In course of that sea
son, 1815, Mrs. Hill died, being the first person avIio
died in what is now Knowlesville.
The Erie canal was finished from Lockport to Roch
ester a year or two before it Avas completed from

374 PIONEER HISTORY
Lockport to Buffalo ; but as this long level had to be
fed mainly by water let into it from Genesee River,
it was impossible to raise the water in the western
part more than two or three feet deep ; but even then
some little flat-bottomed boats were run through to
Rochester regularly to carry passengers and light
parcels, before the water was let in from lake Erie to
fill the canal.
In 1825 Mr. Knowles built the first framed house,
on the south side of the canal, and west side of Main
street, yet standing, in which he kept the first tavern
for several years. Afterwards he built the first brick
house erected, near the canal, and north from his old
tavern house, and kept a tavern some time there.
Mr. Knowles built the first warehouse in 1825, and
Mr. AVm. Van Dorn kept the first store in Knowles'
warehouse. Nathan S. Wood opened the second store in
1825-6. In 1827 Mr. Knowles bought twenty thousand
bushels of wheat at Knowlesville. The first boat he
loaded with this wheat is said to have been the first
boat load of grain shipped from Orleans county by
canal. Moses Huxley kept the first grocery store on the
canal in 1.825. Philo Dewey kept a grocery here in
1830. The first tanner and shoemaker was Andrew
Betts. The first blacksmith was Daniel Batty. The first
carpenter and joiner was Andrew Ryan.
Mr. Knowles built an ashery in 1816. He manu
factured a little potash; afterwards, for about four
years, he .used his works solely for making black
salts, which he sold to James Mather and others at
Gaines. The first school house was built of logs in 1817,

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 375
and stood a little north of where a brick school house
was afterwards built, on the west side of the street,
north of the canal.
The post office was established here in 1826. It
became necessary to give the village and postoffice a
name. The inhabitants met together and requested
Mr. Knowles to give the name, and he called it Port-
A-ille. It was afterwards ascertained that there was
already a postoffice in New York named Portville,
and the name was then changed to Knowlesville.
The Presbyterian Church was first organized after
the Congregational form, by Rev. Eleazer Fairbanks,
with eleven members, Aug. 27, 1817. In June, 1820,
it umted with the Presbytery of Rochester, and
since then has been Presbyterian in its form of Gov
ernment. TMs was the first religious society organized in the
present town of Ridgeway, and as such received the
deed of the " Gospel Lot," so called, of one hundred
acres given by the Holland Land Company. The
first fourteen years of its existence its meetings for
worship were held in the school houses, and some
times in the dwellings of its members in this part of
the town.
Their first public house of worship, now standing
in Knowlesville, was built of brick, and dedicated
in 1832.
The first Baptist meeting house, and the first Meth
odist meeting house, which was afterwards burned,
were erected in 1833.
The village of Oak Orchard, on the Ridge Road,
in Ridgeway, was the principal village in town be
fore the Erie Canal was made. After the canal was
completed Oak Orchard began to decline, and
Knowlesville took the trade, population and busi
ness.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE TOWN OF SHELBY.

Jo. Ellicott Locating Land— Ellicott's Mills— Road from Oak Orchard
Road to Shelby— Salt Works Road—Anecdote of Luther Porter-
Col. A. A. EllicottH-Ball in Ellicott's Mill— Abner Huntn-Fiddler
Hackett— First Physician— Post Office— Iron Foundry— Tannery-
Biographies of Early Settlers.

HELBY was set off from Ridgeway, March
6th, 1818, and was named in honor of Gover
nor Shelby, of Kentucky.
In surveying the Holland Purchase for the propri
etors, Mr. Joseph Ellicott noticed those tracts of land
that seemed to possess peculiar advantages, and lo
cated some of the best for himself. The falls on the
Oak Orchard Creek attracted his attention as afford
ing a good site for mills, and he laid off for Mmself
and purchased seven hundred acres of land here in
a body, including this Avater power. At an early
day he located some of his relations here and fur
nished means to begin a settlement and improve the
Avater power, and in the year 1812 he built a sawmill,
and in 1813 a gristmill, under the supervision of Ms
nephew, Col. Andrew A. Ellicott.
To facilitate the growth of this settlement, the Elli-
cotts, with the aid of the Holland Company, opened
the first highway from Shelby Center east to intersect
the Oak Orchard Road in Barre, and the Holland
Company built the Salt Works Road from the Brine

OF OELEANS COUNTY. 377
Springs, North of Medina, one branch of which led
south-west through Shelby, to the Lewiston Road.
The mills first built at Shelby Center were small,
coarse and clumsy affairs, aa'McIi, Avhen driven to
their utmost capacity for Avork, could not supply all
, the wants of the settlers.
The little grist mill Avas generally crowded with
customers at all seasons of the year, some coming-
many miles. And at seasons Avhen the Avater was
low it could not do half the grinding required, and
grists sometimes lay weeks at the mill before they
Avere ground.
Late in the summer one year Avhen the water was
loAvest in the creek, Luther Porter, of Barre, then a
boy fifteen years of age, Avas sent there, some ten
miles, to mill with two bags of grain, on horseback,
and told by his father to stay till he got his grist.
Arri.vmg at the mill, Luther hitched his horse and
Avent in. He saAv the mill full of bags, unground,
and a number of men waiting their turns, and con
cluding at the rate things moved it was likely to be
several days before his turn would come, he resolved
to try a little strategy to get his meal sooner. Say
ing nothmg to anybody he unloaded his bags on
some lumber, and watching his oportunity when the
miller had put in a fresh grist and gone out to wait
upon his customers at a little grocery he carried on
near by in connexion with his mill, he carried his
bags into the mill, nobody seeing him, and set them
back in a retired place among the most dusty bags in
the mill, collected some mill dust and sifted it care
fully over and about his bags and the place where
he set them. This done, he waited the return of the
miller, and going to him asked very innocently if his
grist was ground 'i "When did you bring ft here ?"
said the miller. "Oh, a great while ago," says Lu
ther.

378 PIONEER HISTORY
The miller had forgotten, said he would look. Lu
ther went and helped find the bags. The miller see
ing the dust, said they had accidentally been over
looked, but if he would put out his horse and stop
at his house he would try and put them through be
fore the next morning.
Luther staid of course, the work was done, and by
daylight next morning he started for home with his
meal. " Col. Andrew A. Ellicott was the patroon of Shelby
village. He is remembered for his many acts of
kindness to the new settlers, and especially for the in
terest he took in the welfare of the Indians at Tona
wanda. He was adopted into their nation, under the
Indian name of "Kiawana," which means "a good
man." He often helped them to bread in seasons of
scarcity. Col. Ellicott removed from Batavia with his fam
ily to reside in Shelby, in 1817. He had been em
ployed with his uncle, Joseph Ellicott, in surveying
the Holland Purchase.
He built a second grist mill at Shelby Center, or
Barnegat, as it was then called, about the year 1819.
It was afterwards burned. When this mill was fin
ished it contained the largest and best floor for dan
cing then in town, and the young people of Shelby
and vicinity used it for the first ball in town. It was
several times afterwards used by dancing parties, a
man by name of Hackett, who resided in Shelby,
furnishing the music on a violin.
The young people were very fond of dancing, and
got up parties to enjoy that amusement frequently
whenever they could find a floor, and whenever they
could secure the services of Hackett with his violin.
If he was not to be had they managed with such
other music as they could get, and some of the old

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 379
people yet remember attending parties at an early
day in this neighborhood, and dancing right merrily
to the music of a Jewsharp.
Col. Ellicott died in September, 1839.
The first birth in Shelby was that of Asa Coon,
son of Alexander Coon, senior, February 14th,
1811. The first death was that of William Bennett, Oc
tober 4th, 1812.
The first tavern was kept by Daniel Timmerman,
in 1816, and the first store by Christian Groff in
1818. The first school was taught by Cornelius Ashton in
the winter of 1815-16.
Lr the winter of 1819, in order to get money to pay
Ms taxes, Abner Hunt threshed wheat for John Burt,
for every tenth bushel.
The work was done on the floor of a log barn ten by
eighteen feet and the chaff was separated
from the wheat with a hand fan made of boards.
Mr. Hunt carried his share of the wheat on his back
two miles, and sold it to Micah Harrington for twen
ty-five cents a bushel.
The first regular physician who settled in Shelby
was Dr. Christopher Whaley, who came in 1819. Dr.
George Norton came soon after.
The first postoffice in town was at Shelby Center,
and the first postmaster was Colonel Andrew A. El
licott. John Van Brocklin built and carried on a small
iron foundry at Shelby Center, about 1821-2 which is
said to be the first iron foundry established in the
county of Orleans.
Justus Ingersoll built and carried on a tannery in
Shelby about 1821.

380 PIONEER HISTORY
BIOGRAPHIES OF EARLY SETTLERS.
THE GREGORY FAMILY.
Among the old families in Orleans county, none are
better known or more favorably considered than the
Gregory family, of Shelby. Of Scotch descent,
Ralph Gregory removed from Fairfield, Vermont, to
Shelby, in 1816, where he followed the occupation of
a farmer and brought up his six sons to the same
calling. Mr. Gregory, the father, died in 1837. His six sons
still survive and live in or near Shelby, except Philo,
Avho moved to Michigan ten years ago.
Brought up in habits of industry and strict econo
my, they have each acquired a competence of prop
erty, and arc enjoying a serene and quiet old age,
honored and respected by all Who know them. It is
rare that so large a family of brothers live together
so long, and the Gregory Brothers may be referred
to for proof that in this good land of ours, perseve
rance and energy will achieve success, and health
and long life made happy will very surely be attained
by those who live worthy of such rewards. Ex
tracts from the local history of two of the brothers
are as follows : /
AMOS GREGORY.
' ' I am fourth son of Ralph Gregory . I was born
in Fairfield, Franklin county, Arermont, April 18th,
1796. In the Avinter of 1817, my father with his family re
moved to what is now Shelby, Orleans county, N. Y.
On that journey it fell to my lot to drive the team of
two yoke of Oxen attached to a wooden shod sled.
AVe Avere on the road from February 5th to April 3d,
making some stops, waiting for snow and to recruit.
The greatest distance traveled in any one day was

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 381
twenty miles, and that Avas on the ice on Lake Cham
plain. But in the closing up of our journey Ave Avere three
days getting from four or five miles north of Batavia
to our stopping place. I married Betsey AVyman.
April 5th, 1818. AMOS GREGORY."
31 ATTI I LAV G REG 0 RY .
"I AA-as born in Fairfield, Arermont, April 10, 1802,
being the youngest of seven sons. I was a cripple
in my feet and ankles from birth. I did not walk
until I was four years old. My crippled condition
and my extraordinary birth, being a ' seventh son,''
occasioned my being called while a boy, ' doctor.'
TMs title was peculiarly annoying to me. This and
the drunkenness, profanity and infidelity which char
acterized some of the faculty with whom I was early
acquainted, prejudiced my mind strongly against the
medical profession. I have lived to find honorable ex
ceptions to this character among some of the profes
sion I have since known.
My only sister died before she was quite five years
old. In the early part of September, 1815, there were
severe frosts destroying the crops before they had
matured. This so discouraged my two oldest broth
ers, who then had families living a few miles distant
from each other, that they told my father they were
done with Arermont, and had determined to seek their
fortunes in the west.
At their suggestion, and in order to keep his family
together, my father, then fifty years old, consented
to go with them, patriarch like, to seek for himself
and family 'a better country.' He accordingly took a
saddle horse and visited the Genesee country, and
spent some six weeks in vewing the entire region,

382 PIONEER HISTORY
when he returned home bringing in a favorable report
of the land.
This was hailed with joy by us all except my
mother, who was much attached to her old home.
Houses and lands, and everything else too cumber
some to carry were disposed of, so that by the
first of February, 1816, we were on our way to the
far famed Genessee.
Our caravan consisted of two four ox teams, each
attached to heavy wooden shod sleds, starting on the
5th, and a two horse team starting on the 6th. We
had good teams, but we had a tedious journey. The
most of the way the sleighing was bad. From White
hall to near Auburn, our sleds had to be newly shod
every other morning, and from Auburn west we had
to mount our sleds on wheels.
After refresMng ourselves awhile Avith friends in
Gorham, Ontario county, we came on to Batavia and
there made another stop. It was now about the mid
dle of March, and the younger boys went to work,
while my father and the two eldest of his sons went
out to look for land. The place where we stopped
was about four miles north from Batavia, and is now
called Dawes Corners.
My father located a farm for himself on Maple
Ridge, in Shelby, paying one hundred dollars for
his ' chance ' on one hundred acres, and buying ar
ticles of land in the vicinity for his sons.
On the third of April we again started on our jour
ney, and arrived at our new home near the close of
the third day, a short journey this last, but a very
wearisome one. I was then about thirteen years
old. When we arrived at our future residence, we had
no shelter for men or beast. Orange Wells and Sam
uel Wyman had located in that neighborhood in the

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 383
spring previous and made small improvements, and
built log houses.
Through the hospitality of Mr. AVells, we were
kindly sheltered for a week, by Avhich time Ave had
built a cabin for ourselves.
Our oxen could very Avell live on browse, but our
horses after standing one night tied to a brush
heap, looked so sorry that my father took them back
to Batavia.
AAre were all happy when we got into our new
house, not a costly edifice like those dwellings of
some of our rich neighbors of the present day, but
made of rough unhewn logs, notched down together
at the corners, shingled with rough hemlock boards,
with joints broken and battened with slabs round
side up, the floor made of split basswood logs spotted
upon the sleepers, and flattened on the top, leaving
an open space at one end for the fire place on the
ground, the end of the floor planks affording a con
venient seat for the children around the fire, in the
absence of chairs and sofas.
Our first work was to fell trees around our dwell
ing, bum off the brush and logs, and enclose a patch
of land for a garden and a fruit nursery, my father
having brought a small bag of apple seeds from Ver
mont. AVe procured peach stones in Ontario county.
This was in the spring of 1816. Four families had
wintered near our location, but on the opening of
spring neighbors came in frequently, and the forest
resounded with the sound of the woodman's ax and
the crash of falling trees.
Among the names of settlers who had located in
our neighborhood about the time of which I have
spoken, I remember Elijah Bent, Alexander Coon,
Oliver R. Bennett, James Mason, Leonard Dresser,
Andrew Stevens, William Knowles, William C. Tan-

384 PIONEER HISTORY
ner, Josias Tanner, Elijah Foot, Peter Hoag, Stephen
Hill, Franklin Bennett, Micah Harrington, Daniel
Fuller, Daniel Timmerman, William Dunlap and
Elizur Frary.
There was a aatII and indomitable courage enter
tained on the part of the settlers, but it was exceed
ingly difficult for them to obtain money for the com
mon necessaries of life.
Mr. Hiel Brockway bought a lot in this vicinity,
and sent on Mr. Calvin C. Phelps (noAv of Barre) to
chop, clear, and sow with wheat ten acres of land.
He boarded with Mr. Wells. To him Mr. Brockway
would send barrels of pork, flour, and whisky, the
last of which was considered in those days about as
much of a necessary as pork or flour, for him to sell
to the. inhabitants.
This was a relief to many, and saved the buyers
much time in looking up their supplies and trans
porting them home.
At one time my father paid Mr. Phelps eleven dol
lars for as much pork as he could carry away in a
peck measure. I don't recollect the number of
pounds. At another time he paid Elijah Bent twenty-five
cents a pound for pork.
By the first of June in the year we came, we had driv
en the woods back from the house in one direction
thirty or forty rods. The brush was burned off and
the ground planted with corn among" the logs. This
was in 1816, known as ' the cold season,' when snow
fell in every month in the year but two, with frost
every month. Consequently we raised but little
corn, and even that was saved in an unmatured
condition. We were, however, with much care, able
to make passable meal from some of it.
The little wheat sown the fall before yielded boun-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 385
tifully, but the supply not being equal to the demand,
owing to tin1 large emigration of people into the
country, scarcity and high prices prevailed before
the next harvest.
With so small a supply lo be obtained, roads so
neAv and rough, prices high, settlers poor, and their
best and almost only means of conveyance an ox
team, it is no wonder much suffering and Avant pre
vailed. My father had one horse, and he assumed the office
of commissary of subsistence in part, for the whole
settlement, and acted as mill boy for the family.
He would ride about the country to find grain, some
times getting a grist near Batavia, the next on the
Ridge Road, between home and Rochester. Not
withstanding my lather's faithful efforts, we Avould
sometimes come short for food, then our good mother
Avould put us on 'half rations.'
At one time our supplies Avere completely exhaus
ted. AVe had been expecting our father home all day,
Avith his bushel grist perhaps, but he did not come
and we went nearly supperless to bed, expecting he-
would arrive before morning.
Morning came but father did not. AVe hoped .lie
would come soon, and took our axes and Avent to
Avork, but our axes were unusually heavy. Faint
and slow were the blows we struck that morning.
While Ave boys were trying to chop, mother sifted a
bag of bran we had and made a cake of the finest,
wMch she brought out to us during the forenoon.
We ate this which stayed us up till noon, when father
came and brought us plenty to eat, such as it was.
Variety was not to be had in those times.
In course of this season most of the lands near, my
fathers were located by a hardy and energetic popu
lation, mostly from New England.
By the fall most of the occupied farms had their
35

386 PIONEER HISTORY
fallows, of from three to twenty acres in extent, ready
for sowing. This crop, though sowed among roots
and stumps of trees, produced a yield of from thirty
to fifty bushels per acre.
This bountiful return, together with a fair corn
crop, placed us above want and fully satisfied us
Avith the country we had adopted as our home. Pen
ding this harvest there was great scarcity of provi
sions, but neighbor lent to neighbor ; the half layer
of meat and loaf of bread was divided, while for
weeks many families subsisted on boiled potatoes
and milk, and such vegetables as the forest af
forded. When the earliest patches of wheat were cut and
threshed, there was no mill to grind nearer than
Rochester. There were mills on the Oak Orchard
Creek, but they were of such construction there was
not water at that season sufficient to turn them.
Neighbors would join together and send a team to
Rochester to carry grists to mill for them all at
once. In many instances green wheat was boiled whole
and eaten with milk. I ate of it and thought it good.
The products of this harvest exceeded the wants of
the producers for their bread, and as we had no high
ways on which we could send our grain to market,
we were restricted in our sales mainly to new comers
who had not time to raise a crop. A bushel of wheat
was the price of a day' s work ot a man, and he was
considered lucky who had an opportunity to sell
wheat for money, at even a low price.
On the first day of July, 1817, wheat was worth
two dollars and fifty cents a bushel in Orleans coun
ty, and in the winter next after farmers drew their
wheat to Rochester with ox teams, a journey round
taking three days or more, and sold it for from twen-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY'. 387
ty-five to thirty-one cents a bushel in money, and avo
felt that AA-as better than to go home hungry.
In consequence of my lameness my parents did
not design that I should be a farmer, but Providence
seemed to order othei'Avise. My privileges and means
for obtaining an education Avere limited, and to the
business of felling the forest, clearing land, and reap
ing the harvest I became much attached, so that even
to the present day, the ax and the sickle are my fa
vorite tools.
At one time I came near entering as clerk in a drug
store, but the proprietor proved to be a worthless
character, broke down and ran away. No other
business appearing to offer for me, I accepted the
occupation of a farmer, which I have followed ever
since, now residing on the homestead of my father.
The first school taught in our neighborhood AA-as
by Miss Caroline Fuller, of Batavia, in the summer
of 1817. The next winter Ave had a full school taught
by Mr. J. N. Frost, of Riga. I taught school myself
two terms before I was twenty- one years old. When
I was twenty-one years old I was elected constable,
wMch office I held three years in succession. Since
then I have held a feAv offices both in toAvn and
county, but never depended upon the fees of office
for my support.
I was married April 20th, 1828, to Mary A Potter,
daughter of AVm. C. Potter, of Shelby.
My mother died April 4th, 1832, aged 65 years,
and my father died April 20th, 1837, aged seventy-
two years.
My father Was a local preacher of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and in connexion with Rev. Jas.
Carpenter, of the Baptist denomination, he labored
faithfully to plant and. foster the principles of evan
gelical truth in the minds of a people otherwise most
ly destitute of religious instruction.

388 PIONEER HISTORY
I have been connected with the temperance organi
zations of all sorts that have been established here in
the last thirty years.
At the age of eighteen years I was led to embrace
the Savior of the world as my Savior, and from that
time through much unworthiness, I have been en
deavoring to hold on my way, trusting that the merits-
of Christ will avail for my short comings.
MATTHEW GREGORY."
Millville, January, 1863.
DAVID DEMARA.
David Demara was born in Albany county, Octo
ber 26th, 1808, and removed with his father's family
to Shelby, in 1811. His father first located in the
woods two miles from any house, built a log house
fourteen by sixteen feet, covered it Avith bark and
moved into it, Avithout floors, doors, or windows.
He left the county in 1813, on account of the war,
and returned in 1815.
David Demara married Maria Upham, April 12th,
1837. She was born in Ward, Massachusetts, March
29th, 1814. ABRAJI BIDELMAN.
" I was born March 10th, 1800, in Manheim, Mont
gomery county, N. Y.
In January, 1817, I removed with my father's fam
ily to Ridgeway, Orleans county. AVe built a log
house and moved into it in the month of March.
While building our house, and just previous to put
ting on the roof, a large tree fell upon the building,
and cost us much labor to remove it and repair
damages. Cornelius Ashton and John Timmerman had set
tled within half a mile of my father's location when
we came in.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 389
My father's family consisted of my father and
mother and ten children. AVlien he moved here, he
was to all intents and purposes, poor. I do not
think, besides a pair of old ordinary horses and a
cow, my father could boast he Avas worth other prop
erty worth fifty dollars. I worked out to help sup
port the family until I Avas twenty-one years of
age. I married Miss Lucinda Michael in 1824. My
father, Henry Bidelman, died in 1860, aged eighty -
two years.
In March, 1818, snow fell about two feet deep; next
day it thawed, and a frost following made a hard
crust on the snow. On this James AVoodward and
myself resolved to have a day hunting deer. We made
snow shoes from a seasoned board, which enabled us
to walk on the crust with ease. AVe were attended by
a small dog, and armed each with a common pocket
knife. AVe soon started a fine buck from Ms browse
in a fallen tree top, the dog gave chase, and after a
few bounds, in which the deer broke through the crust
to the ground, he stood at bay. We rushed upon
the deer with our knives and cut his throat. AVe
soon started another deer, which Ave killed in the
same manner. So we brought in tAvo deer in about
an hour. Our success so animated George Holsen
burgh, a neighbor, that he joined us in another hunt.
In our second hunt we had not gone far into the Avoods
before we started as large a buck as I ever saw. The
dog soon brought him to a bay. Holsenburgh, who
was a quick, athletic man, rushed up to the head of
the deer with intent to seize his horns, when he re
ceived a bloAv from the fore foot of the animal which
laid open his clothing from his chin doAvn, as if cut
by a knife. The hoof took the skin off upon his
breast, and left a visible mark down his body. Hol
senburgh was terribly alarmed at this change in af-

390 PIONEER HISTORY
fairs. He turned pale, and retired from the contest
he was so prompt to commence. Woodward and
myself went to the rescue, and quickly despatched
the deer as we had done the others. Our friend Hol
senburgh had had sufficient experience of that kind
of deer hunting to satisfy him, and we went in with
our game. Woodward and myself went out again
the third time and brought in two more deer, making
five in all killed by us in one day.
In March, 1822, I helped the contractor Avho had
taken a section of canal to dig Avhere Medina now
stands, build a log cabin. AVe cut our trees for the
building on the ground now the site of -the village.
We finished our cabin in five and a half days. I
then engaged to work for the contractor half a month
for six dollars and fifty cents and be boarded. Our
work was digging for the canal. The first two days
we had fifteen hands, and the third day about
fifty. We were alloAved a liquor ration. Mr. Eggles-
ton, the contractor, brought in on an ox cart from
Rochester, three barrels of whisky among other
stores to use on his job. Of this each man was al
lowed one gill a day.
At this time I was unacquainted with the nature of
whisky, and I with the others, drank my first al
lowance. I will not here attempt to de
scribe its effects. Suffice it to say, it was the first
and last liquor ration I ever drank. I sold the re
mainder of my whisky rations to those who were fa
miliar with their use, at three cents each.
In the year 1828 I built for myself a log house
twenty feet square, into which I moved my family,
having but one room which we used for kitchen and
parlor, dining room, bedroom, &c. Our furniture
Avas such as pioneer farmers in this country usually
posssessed, viz.: a loom, quill wheel and swifts,,
great wheel and little wheel for spinning, necessary

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 391
bedding, seven Chairs, a table and a cradle, with a
few exceedingly plain culinary utensils, which Avere
indispensible to our comfort.
For man}- years my Avife manufactured our cloth
ing, both Avoolen and linen, wove our own cover
lets and blankets, and hundreds of yards for our
neighbors. ABRAM BIDELMAN."
Shelby, October, 1866.
Mr. Abram Bidelman died June 8th, 1868.
JOTHAM MORSE.
" I was born in Providence, Saratoga county, N.
Y., June 14th, 1793.
I was married to Dorcas Ferris, August 15th, 1814.
I hired a man to move me to Ridgeway, agreeing to
pay him forty dollars for it. Our outfit consisted of a
good team of horses and wagon, as there was no
snow then. My family consisted of my mother, my
wife and tAvo children.
After we had been two or three days on the. road,
a ' thaw ' came that compelled us to stop a week.
The earth then became frozen and we went to Palmy
ra, when one horse gave out. I bought another horse
for forty-five dollars, paid my watch, a fur hat, and
a pair of boots, for thirty -two dollars, and gave my
note for the thirteen dollars, and Avith my three horse
team went on to Rochester, which then consisted only
of a few log buildings, one of which was a tavern
where Ave stopped. On examining here I found our
only bed had been stolen. I afterwards found it
pawned at Palmyra by the thief and had to pay two
dollars and a half to get it again. We came by the
Ridge Road to AATest Gaines, where we found an
empty shanty and moved into it. I went to Batavia
through Shelby and procured an article of a piece of
land west of Eagle Harbor, and returned in one day

392 PIONEER HISTORY
as far as Millville. It snoAved hard all that day, and
I think I did a good day's work, traveling so far
through the Avoods on foot. I acknowledge my steps
were some hurried by seeing tracks of wolves in the
snow, and seeing some eA'idences of a bloody encoun
ter they had had.
I bought a three year old heifer and paid for her
chopping three acres of timber, and fitting it for log
ging, going three miles to the place where I did my
work. In time of haying and harvest I walked to Palmyra
and worked there three Aveeks to buy pork and
wheat for my family. The next fall I moved into a
log house I had built, and felt at home. The next
year I had a little trial such as was common to pio
neer settlers in those days. It Avas before harvest.
My cow had lost her bell, and had been gone in the
woods eight days. AAre were destitute of provisions,
except a small piece of bread, some sugar, and some
vinegar. I went to the nearest place where flour was
sold and could get none. On my return we gave the
last morsel of bread to our children. I picked some
potato tops Avhich my Avife boiled and Ave ate, dress
ing them with vinegar. Our empty stomachs would
not retain this diet. AA'e speedily vomited them up
and retired supperless to bed. Early next morning
I arose and went to my neighbors a mile away, and
they divided their small store of flour with me. I
carried it home and my Avife speedily salted some
water and made some pudding, which Ave ate with
maple sugar, and this seemed to me to be truly the
best meal of victuals I ever ate. I felt, even in this
straight, the words of Solomon to be true: "Better
is a. dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox
and contention therewith."
Another incident. Myself and immediate neigh
bors were destitute of flour. I had money which I had

OF ORLEANS COUNTY'. 393
taken in exchange of land, so a neighbor took me
with Ms team and wagon to Hanford.' s Landing, at
the mouth of Genesee river, to purchase flour. I bought
six barrels of flour and one barrel of salt and took
out my money to pay for it. Mr. Hanford, the man
of whom I had made my purchase, divided the money
I handed him into piles of about thirty-six dollars
m each pile, after doing aa-McIi I Avas astonished to
hear him accuse me, in an angry tone, of being a
dealer in counterfeit money, and to learn that he had
condemned about one-half of what I had paid him.
He ordered a man in his employ to go immediately
to Rochester and procure a precept for my arrest. I
felt alarmed, and that I was in trouble. I kneAv not
Avhat to do, but God, who is ever watcliful over those
who put their trust in Him, was with me. While
tMngs Avere glowing more threatening, a gentleman
whom I had never seen but once before came up, and
after learmng the facts, strongly condemned Mr. Han
ford' s course. The money was again examined, and
only about nineteen dollars found bad. This was re
placed by current funds, and we were then allowed
to return to our homes in peace.
This supply carried the settlement through until
harvest, and by the blessing of Heaven and our oAvn
industry and economy, we have been saved from
such destitution until the present time.
I have seen the Avilderness disappear, and beauty
and civilization spring up in its place around me. I
have, in common with mankind, drank of the cup of
affliction, perhaps more deeply than many others.
I have been called to mourn over the graves of tAvo
loved companions and four children, from a family of
fourteen. I now reside AA-ith my third wife, in A\rest Shelby,
and preach ever}- Sunday at the Christian Church in

394 PIONEER HISTORY
Barre, N. Y., Avhere I have labored in the ministry,
more or less, for fifty years. JOTHAM MORSE."
West Shelby, May. 1868.
DAVID BURROUGHS.
David Burroughs was born near Trenton, New Jer
sey, and died in the town of Shelby, Orleans Co.,
N. Y., in 1822, aged 46 years.
Mr. Burroughs removed to Ovid, Seneca county,
about the year 1798, where he resided, working a
farm and keeping hotel until the year 1818, Avhen he
removed to Shelby, and settled on a farm about tAvo
miles south-west from Shelby Center.
Mr. Burroughs took first rank among his toA\-ns-
men for his capacity and intelligence. He was the
first Supervisor of Shelby, Avhile it belonged to Gen
esee county, and was appointed justice of the peace
about the year 1820, an office he held till his death.
He was a member of the Convention that framed the
Constitution for the State in the year 1821. He took
an article of his farm from the Holland Company a
year or tAvo before he moved his family to Shelby v
He had a few acres cleared and a log house built,
ready for his family when they came in. He left
two sons, I. K. Burroughs, formerly a merchant and
business man in Medina, where he now resides,
and Hon. Silas M. Burroughs, Avho began life for
himself as a merchant. He aftenvards abandoned
merchandise for the practice of law. He represented
the county of Orleans four years in the lower House,
in the legislature of the State, and was twice elected
member of Congress, and died before the end of his
second term. He also resided in Medina.
DARIUS SOUTHAYORTH.
Darhis South worth Avas born in Palmyra, N. Y.,

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 395
March 18th, 1800. He worked some1 at the trade of a
carpenter while a minor, but since the year 1825, he
has made that his principal business.
He married Mercy Mason, daughter of James
Mason, of Millville, in Shelby, Avhere he has ever
since resided. They have four children, Elvira A.,
Albert, Dexter L., and George J. H., all noAv liv
ing. NEAVMAN CURTIS.
NeAvman Curtis was born in Dalton, Massachu
setts, September 9th, 1797.
He married Maria A7an Bergen, ofKattskill, N. Y.,
June 9th, 1818. In September, 1824, he settled on a
farm in Shelby, one mile south of Millville. Mr.
Curtis had fourteen children, eight sons and six
daughters, all of whom lived to become men and wo
men, and all of Avhom received their education at
Millville Academy.
In 1854 Mr. Curtis sold his farm in Shelby and re
moved to the town of Independence, in Iowa, where
he purchased two hundred and fifty acres for his oavh
farm, and located a large quantity of wild land of
the Government, for his children. Mr. Curtis became
wealthy from the rise in the value of these lands,
and the practice of industry and economy. He died
in the year 1858. His widow and twelve children
survived him. HORATIO N. HEAVES.
Horatio N. Hewes settled in Shelby in the year
1825, as a partner in business with L. .A. G. B.
Grant. He was engaged in selling goods, running
mills, and dealing in produce with Mr. Grant for
some years, and after that became a large contractor
to do public work, and had large jobs of work on
the Erie canal. He removed to Medina to reside

396 PIONEER HISTORY
about the year 1854, where he died June 17th,
1862. He was an energetic business man, and was exten
sively knoAvn in this part of the State. He married
a daughter of Col. A. A. Ellicott.
LATIIROP A. G. B. GRANT.
Lathrop A. G. B. Grant settled in Shelby about
the year 1824, as a merchant. He married a daugh
ter of Col. A. A. Ellicott.
Mr. Grant gradually extended his business opera
tions, and at length became a large dealer in farmer's
produce. About the year 1851 he built the large stone mills
at Shelby Center, and run them for a time. He was
an active and influential man in public affairs of his
town and county, and was the representative of Or
leans county in the State legislature in 1826, being
the first member elected after the county was organ
ized. Twelve or fifteen years ago he sold out his property
in Shelby, and removed to Oswego, N. Y., where he
has since resided engaged in extensive business.
ANDREW A. ELLICOTT.
Andrew A. Ellicott Avas born in Lancaster, Penn
sylvania. He married Sarah A. AVilliams, of Elizabethtown,
NeAv Jersey. He came to Batavia in May, 1803.
In July, 1817, he removed to Shelby, Orleans coun
ty, where his uncle, Joseph Ellicott, had given him
eight hundred acres of land, which included the
water power at Shelby Center. He settled at Shelby
Center, where he built mills, officiated as justice of
the peace, and postmaster. He was the first post
master in that toAvn.
His influence Avith his Avealthy and numerous fam-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 397
ly connexions, his own benevolence and disposition
to aid such as needed help, Avhich he ahvays be
stowed liberally when he had opportunity, en
deared him to the pioneers in Shelby, and contribu
ted much toAvards inducing settlements to be made
there. He died September 7th. 1839. His Avife died Au
gust 26th, 1850. His daughter Sarah, AvidoAv of the
late Horatio N. Howes, resides in Medina.
ALEXAXDKK COON.
Alexander Coon Avas the first, or among the first
settlers in Shelby. He came from Rensselaer county,
N. Y., and located about tAvo miles west of Shelby
Center, in 1810.
In a statement furnished by Mr. Alexander Coon,
Jr.. for Turner's History of the Holland Purchase,
he says :
"My fathers family left the LeAviston Road at
AA'alsworths, and arriving upon our land, four crotch
es were set in the ground, sticks laid across, the Avhole
covered with elm bark, making a sleeping place.
The cooking was done in the open air. A very com
fortable log house was then built in five days, with
out boards, nails, or shingles. Our cattle were fed
the first winter on browse, the next winter on browse
and cornstalks.
Our nearest neighbor south, was Walsworth ; west,
the nearest was in Hartland ; north, one family on
the Ridge Road."
Mr. Alexander Coon, senior, left several sons, and
the family became among the most respectable in the
community. Alexander Coon, Jr. , was afterward a prominent
public man, well and favorably known in the affairs
of Ms town and county. For eleven years he rep
resented the town of Shelby in the Board of Super-

398 PIONEER HISTORY
visors of Orleans county, — a longer time than any
other man ever served as a member of that Board.
He also held many other town offices. He said when
he was collector of taxes in Shelby, he had a tax of
less ; than a dollar against a man who, to pay it,
made black salts, drew them to Gaines oh a hand-
sled, and sold them for the money.
JACOB A. ZIMMERMAN.
Jacob A. Zimmerman was born inManheim, N. Y.,
August 23d, 1795.
In 1817 he came to Shelby with John B. Snell, who
moved from the same town.
In the summer of 1817, he married Nancy Snell.
In the spring of 1819, they commenced keeping
house in Shelby, on the farm they -ever afterwards
occupied. Mr. Zimmerman says :
' ' I made a table. We had no chairs. I made
three stools, two for ourselves and one for company.
Our window lights were white paper ; no window
glass could be had here then. Our cooMng utensils
were a four quart kettle, and a black earthen teapot.
I gave a dollar for six cast iron knives and forks and
six cups and saucers, which completed our eating
tools. Times were very hard. I was eleven months with
out a sixpence in money ; two months without any
shoes. When we saw shoes tied up with bark we
called them half worn out. I gave live bushels of
wheat for a pair of poor, coarse shoes, made of flank
leather. In 1821 my log house was burned. The neighbors
help3l ma btild an:>t;ti3r hou33, and in two
weeks after the fire we moved to the new house. In
November, 1826, I had bought and paid for eighty-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 399
seven acres of land. I afterwards increased my farm
to one hundred sixteen acres."
Mr. Zimmerman's children are Morris, married
Phebe Bent ; Eleanor, unmarried ; Gilbert, married
Janette Sanderson ; John A., married, Mary PoAvers;
Arvilla, married Egbert B. Simonds ; and AndreAv L.,
married Jennie Bartsom. Jacob A. Zimmerman, died
December 6th, 1864. JOHN GRINNELL.
John Grinnell Avas born in Edinburgh, Saratoga
Count}', December 4th, 1796.
His father, Josiah Grinnell, was a native of Rhode
Island. He settled in Saratoga county and remoA^ed
from there to Oneida county, Avhere he died.
John Grinnell purchased a farm in Barre, in 1820,
on which in the fall of that year he built a log
house into Avhich he moved in April, 1821. He cleared
his farm and resided there till 1854, when he moved
to Shelby.
He was three times married. First, to Roxana
Kirkham; second, to Lucy Babcock ; she died Janu
ary 25th, 1846 ; third, to Mrs. Julia Ann Abbott, Oc
tober 27th, 1847.
His children, Cyrene and Daniel, are dead. Paul,
married Sarah Butler ; Peter, married Eliza Berry ;
Lyman, married Leonora Rooker ; Andrew J., mar
ried Mary Rodman ; J. Wesley, married Alice
Haines ; Mahala, married William J. Caldwell ;
Harley, married Maria Kelsey ; John Jr., married
Margaret Root ; Ella J., married Frederick Hop
kins. His brothers, Ezra, Major and Amos, and his sis
ters, Betsey, wife of Alanson Tinkham ; Eliza, wife
of William Tyler ; Chloe, wife of Relly Tinkham,
and Anna, wife of Weston Wetherby, all settled

400 PIONEER niSTORY
in Orleans county soon after Mr. John Grinnell
came in.
These families so early settled here, have been
prosperous in business. Being upright in purpose,
and honorable in character, they have become
among the most respected families in the county.

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE TOAVN OF YATES.
Formerly called Northtou — George Houseman — Discouragement to
Early Settlement — First Deed — Tappan's Tavern — Liquor Solel —
First Marriage — First Death — First Store — First Sawmill— Bear
Story — Preserved Greenman — Anecdotes of first Justice — Yates
Center — First Post Office— I*etcr Saxc— Names of First Settlers
along Range Line Road — Village of Lyndonville — Biographies ol
Early Settlers.

ATES was formed from Ridgeway, April 17,
1822, hy the name of Northton. The next
year the name was changed to Yates, in
honor of Governor Yates.
George Houseman, from Adams, Jefferson county,
came into this town and settled in 1809. John Eaton
came in 1810.
Very few settlers came in before or during the war
of 1812. The extreme difficulty of getting farm pro
duce to a market, and the prospect that such a diffi
culty would long exist, from the locality, discouraged
emigrants from stopping here, and little land was
taken before 1817.
Persons coming to this county to look for a place
for their home, generally sought a locality in the vi
cinity of neighbors, where roads were opened, and
where the social enjoyments of human life could in
some degree be realized. It required considerable
heroism for a man to go back five or eight miles from
any settlement into the thick, heavy forest, and begin
with the intention there to clear for himself a.
farm.

402 PIONEER HISTORY
A few hardy resolute men located in Yates, re
gardless of every discouragement, but no considera
ble settlement AA-as effected until after the cold season
of 1816-17, when the country rapidly filled up with
settlers. The first deed of land given by the Holland Land
Company, in this town, was to Preserved Greenman,
June 18th, 1810. Almost the whole of this town was
deeded by the Holland Company between the years
1831 and 1835.
The first tavern was kept by Samuel Tap pan, at
Yates Center, in the year 1825. The population of
the toAvn at that time was less than eight hundred,
yet Judge Tappan, in a biographical sketch of him
self, says :
" In the thirteen months in which I kept this
tavern, I retailed fifty-three barrels of spiritous li
quors." The first marriage in town was that of George
Houseman, Jr., and Sally Covert, in 1817. The first
death that of Mrs. George Houseman, senior, De
cember, 1813.
The first store Avas kept by Moore & Hughes, at
Yates Center, in 1824.
The first school was taught by Josiah Perry, in
the year 1819, in the district including Yates Cen
ter. A sawmill Avas built on Johnson's Creek, below
Lyndonville, by Gardner and Irons, about the year
1819, and a gristmill on the same dam in 1821.
These mills, at a later day, have been known as Bul
lock' s Mills, named from a subsequent owner. The
mills and dam are now gone.
Chamberlain & Simpson built the warehouse on
the Lake shore, north from Yates Center.
A family by the name of Wilkeson lived in the east
part of the town in 1811 or '12. In the summer sea-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 403
«on of that year, Miss Eliza Wilkeson saAv a young
cub bear near the house, among some vines they had
planted. She was alone in the house, but seizing the
old-fashioned fire shovel, she AArentand killed the bear
with it.
Mr. Preserved Greenman took up about six hun
dred acres of land lying east from Lyndonville, be
fore the war of 1812. Mr. Greenman did not occupy
his land himself, but settled his sons Daniel and
Enos there, giving the neighborhood the name of the
" Greenman Settlement."
Some years after, Mr. P. Greenman removed from
Montgomery county to Yates, to reside. After a
few years he removed to Genesee county, and died
there. Mr. P. Greenman Avas noted for being "set in his
way," and having made up his mind, it was hard to
turn Mm. Having sold his farm in Montgomery Co,,
wMle preparing to move to Yates, he had a valuable
ox-cart to dispose of. He named a price for his cart.
A man offered him a less price and would give no
more. Greenman declared he would not abate a
cent, and would burn his cart before he Avould sell
for less. No better offer was made, and when he
came away he piled his cart in a heap and burnt
it. A rule he made was, that a pail of water must be
left standing in his house every night, and the last
¦person who retired must see that it Avas done, under
the penalty of being horse- whipped by Mr. Green
man next morning, in case of neglect. It happened
once his daughter had a beau who made her a rather
long evening visit, and she Avas the last in the family
to retire for the night, and forgot the pail of water.
Her father rose first, as usual, in the morning, and
finding the waterpail empty, called up his daughter

404 PIONEER HISTORY
and gave her a sound thrashing to maintain the rule
he had established.
Amos Spencer was the first justice of the peace
within the territory now called Yates. He was ap
pointed by the Council in 1819.
The first school house in town stood three-fourths
of a mile north of Yates Center, and was built in
1818. Mr. Josiah Perry kept the first school there
in 1819. YATES CENTER.
Yates Center at first seemed to be the point where
the village would be built. A hotel was opened here
by Samuel Tappan, and a store by Moore &
Hughes, the first in town, and several dwelling
houses were built.
Here the first postoffice Avas located, Wm. Hughes
first postmaster.
When population and trade began to settle, at
Lyndonville, Yates Center ceased to enlarge, but its
inhabitants were not discouraged. About this time
Peter Saxe, from Vermont, a brother of John G.
Saxe, the poet, located here as a merchant. He may
be considered the founder of Yates Academy, for
through his influence and energy it was planned, the
stock subscribed, and the institution incorporated.
Mr. Saxe traded here a few years, then removed
to Troy, N. Y.
After the canal was made navigable, much of the
produce of the town of Yates found a market that
way ; this trade, and the mills at Lyndonville, opera
ted in favor of that place, and against the Center.
The Methodist Chapel at Lyndonville, which was
the first house of worship built in town, was soon
followed by the building of the Baptist and Presby
terian churches at that place.
Considerable oak timber grew in Yates. This was

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 405
eut down long since, squared for ship building, or
riven into staves, and sent down the lake to
market. The folloAving is a list of names of persons who, if*
not first the first, were among the first who settled on
the road in the center of the town from the lake to
Ridgeway, beginning on the lake :
On the west side of the highway. — Amps Spencer
settled here on the lake shore in 1818. Next south,
Simeon Gilbert, in 1818. Next, Baruch H. Gilbert,
in 181.7. Next, Luther St. John. Next, Isaiah Lew
is, in 1818. Next a man by the name of Wing sold
to Dr. Elisha Bowen, who resided there many years.
Next, Zenas Conger. Next,  Nellis. Next,
Thomas Stafford. Next, Moses Wheeler. Next,
 Nichols. Next,  Rowley, Next,
Samuel and O. WMpple. Next,  Peck.
Next,  Collins. Next, Josiah Campbell.
Next, Elisha Sawyer.
On the east side of the highway, beginning at the
lake. First, Robert Simpson. Next, Elisha Gilbert.
Next Nathan Skellinger. Next Zacheus Swift.
Next, Comfort Joy, in 1817. Next Lemuel L. Downs.
Next, Isaac Hurd took two hundred acres. Next,
Stephen Austin. Next, Benjamin Drake. Next,
Truman Austin. Next, Jacob Winegar. Next,
Stephen B. Johnson, in 1817.
The next two hundred acres Avere owned by several
different parties under article, but the deed from the
Land Company was taken by Samuel Clark, Esq.
Next, was  Peck. Next, Abner Balcom.
Next, Harvey Clark. Next, Elisha Sawyer. These-
settlements were chiefly made betAveen the years
1816 and 1819. VILLAGE OF LYNDONVILLE.
Mr. Stephen W. Mudgett, who had carried on tan-

406 PIONEER HISTORY
ning and shoemaking in Ridgeway, purchased fifty
acres of land, part of lot two, section seven, on the
east side of the north and south road in Lyndonville,
and removed there and set up tanning and shoe-
making. Samuel Clark took a deed of two hundred acres-
next north of S. W. Mudgett, on the east side of the
road. About the year 1817, a man by the name of Peck
took up one hundred acres on the west side where
William Mudgett afterwards resided. Samuel and
Oliver Whipple took up land next north of
Peck. Soon after the county of Orleans was organized,
settlers began to gather here. Mechanics and trades
men came in and a village began to be formed. Sam
uel Tappan, who was postmaster, and kept Ms oflice
at Yates Center, removed it here, much to the dis
gust of those living at the Center.
L. & N. Martin, from Peacham, Vermont, kept the
first store in 1830. Smith & Babcock soon followed,.
and Royal Chamberlain was an early merchant. C.
Peabody was first blacksmith.
Blanchard and Chamberlain built the tavern
which stands there yet, wMch was kept by Miner
Sherwin, in 1830.
To settle the postoffice satisfactorily to the peopler
Yates postoffice was transfered to the Center, and
application was made to the department for a new
postoffice, to be called Lyndon, that being the name
that had been agreed on at a public meeting of the
inhabitants, several of whom came from Lyndon,
Vermont. The postoffice department established the
postoffice by name of Lyndonville, to distinguish it
from Linden, in Genesee county.
S. W. Mudgett, Samuel Tappan, Richard Barry
and others, built the first flouring Mills at Lyndon-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 407
ville, iu 1836. The Union School house was built in
1843. Royal Chamberlain, from Vermont, settled here as
a merchant about the time the village began to be
established. As tliere was no lawyer by profession in town, Mr.
Chamberlain being a ready talker and possessed cf
some education'and sufficient self assurance, engaged
in trying suits"; in justice's courts, and continued the
practice several years, until he became a noted
"pettifogger" through several towns around. He
was a judge of the Court of Common Pleas one term.
He removed from Yates several years ago, and now
resides in Lockport, where he has edited a news
paper. He did considerable to build up a village at
Lyndonville. Dr. Horace Phippany was the first regular physi
cian who settled in Lyndonville.
Rev. Jeremiah Irons was the first Baptist minister
who resided in Yates.

BIOGRAPHIES OF EARLY SETTLERS.
REUBEN ROOT.

u

I was born in Cooperstown, Otsego county, N.
Y., December 28th, 1792. My father removed Avith
his family, then consisting of his wife and five sons,
to Big Sodus Bay, in 1801 or '2. In April, 1804, we
moved by way of Irondequoit Bay and lake Ontario,
to the mouth of Johnson's Creek, in Carlton, near
wMch place my father took an article of land from
the Holland Land Company, and located on it to
make Mm a farm.
The party that came consisted of my father's fami
ly and the Dunham family, of six or seven persons,

408 PIONEER niSTORY
and these constituted the AA'hole white population
north of the Ridge, between the Niagara and Gene
see rivers, except a family by the name of Wals
worth, who had settled at the mouth of Oak Or
chard Creek.
My father built a house of such poles as Ave could
carry, as Ave had no team to draAv logs, and covered
it v/ith el m bark, in Avhich Ave lived without a floor
for one or two years, then a floor Avas made of split
bassAvood logs.
After building a shelter for the family, the next
thing in order was to get supplied Avith food and
clothing, the stock Ave brought with us getting low.
We cleared a small piece of land and planted it with
corn ; from this Ave made our bread. Our meat con
sisted of fish, venison, bear, raccoon and hedgehog.
We pounded our corn for meal tAvo or three years,
by which time we began to raise wheat, which Ave
took to Norton's mill, in Lima, to be ground. It
was about seventy miles by way of Irondequoit Bay
and the lake. The country was so infested Avith
bears and wolves at that time we could not keep do
mestic animals.
In the summer of 1806 or '7, my father got a cow
from Canada, but the following fall she was killed
by wolves.
Our clothing was made from hemp of our own rais
ing. We could not raise flax on account of the rust
that destroyed the fibre.
For several years Ave had no boots or shoes for
want of material to make them.
My father built the first frame barn in what is now
Orleans county. The lumber and nails he brought
from Canada.
Turner, in his history of the Holland Purchase, is
in-crror when he says that " James Mather built the
first frame barn, and got part of his lumber from

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 409
Dunham's mill." Our barn was built before Dun
ham's sawmill AA-as built. The barn avus torn doAvn
by Daniel Gates tAventy-two or twenty-three years
since, who then OAvned the place, and some of the
flooring can iioav be seen on the premises. They
were split and heAvn from Avhitewood logs. The nails
used were all wrought nails.
In September, 1814, my father and myself being
the only ones in our family liable to do military
duty, were ordered to meet at Batavia, and go
from there to Buffalo to serve in the United States
army, in the Avar then being carried on against Great
Britain. On our arrival at Buffalo, there was a call made
for volunteers to go to Fort Erie, under General Por
ter, to take the British batteries that were then be-
seiging Fort Erie. My father and myself volunteered
and went over and assisted in taking the batteries
and capturing some five hundred prisoners. This
was on the 17th of September, 1814. After this avc
Avere discharged, receiving at the rate of $8 per month
for our services.
In 1814, I took an article from the Holland Land
Company of the land on AA'hich I hoav reside, on lot
one, section three, township sixteen, range three.
In April, 1815, I AA'ent to Canada and worked on a
farm there during the summer. The winter following
I returned and chopped over twenty-five acres on my
farm, and in March, 1816, I went to Toronto and
took command of a vessel and sailed on lake
Ontario during the season of navigation until the
year 1820.
In January 28th, 1819, I was married to Miss Eliz
abeth Hastings, of Toronto. We moved upon my
farm in Yates, in December, 1820, where we still re
side. AVe have raised a family of ten children, five
sons and five daughters. My eldest and yeungest

410 PIONEER HISTORY
sons are now serving in the armies of their country
in the war of the great rebellion. REUBEN ROOT."
Yates, June, 1864.
SAMUEL TAPPAN.
Samuel Tappan was born in Saco, Maine, Novem
ber 19, 1781. When nine years old he went to reside
with an uncle in Massachusetts. His father was a
Quaker in religious opinion, a zealous advocate of
their peculiar principles until Ms death. On the death
of his father Samuel was placed with a fnan in Saco, to
learn the tailor' s trade. Disliking this business he was
soon after bound as an apprentice to a sho'emaker,
and commenced his " servitude," as he called it,
August, 1793. His master belonged to the sect of
Quakers, hard and exacting, he made no allow
ance for the faults . and failings, or the weakness or
feelings of others. He obliged his apprentice to as
sume the dress, and conform to the mode of worship
of the Quakers, both of which were repugnant to the
feelings of the young man. His master had no
books but the Bible, and a few religious works on
subjects connected with the Quakers. Samuel was
inclined to read whatever came in his way. His incli
nations, however, were strictly restrained by his mas
ter, by whom all books of poetry and romance were
absolutely forbidden, and the range of other books
to which he was admitted, was exceedingly limited.
After several years spent in this manner, a friendly
Congregational minister kindly supplied him with
books, and gave Mm discreet counsel, which
rendered his servitude more tolerable and happy.
He had no benefit of schooling, never having
attended school as a scholar but three days in his
life. In 1801, with the help of friends he purchased his

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 411
freedom from his apprenticeship, and returned to
Saco and worked at his trade about two years,
studying what he could in the mean time to fit him
self for a school teacher.
In 1803 he taught his first school, in which occupa
tion he was mainly employed for a number of years,
occasionally working at his trade, and studying when
he could without a teacher.
For several years he supplied the poets corner in a
\'illage newspaper, and became considerably inter
ested in politics, on the Republican side, under the
lead of Mr. Jefferson.
In 1809 he was appointed deputy sheriff for York
and Oxford counties, which office he held for two
years. In 1811 he removed to Pittstown, Rensselaer coun
ty, N. Y. The troubles between the United States
and Great Britain thickening at this time, on Ms ap
plication he was appointed an Ensign in the Infantry in
the Umted States Army, and assigned to duty in the
18th Regiment, and stationed in the recruiting service
at Hoosic, N. Y.
After war Avas declared in 1812, he Avas transferred
to the 23d regiment.
In May, 1813, he was ordered Avith his company to
the Niagara frontier. Fort George, at the mouth of
Niagara river, on the Canada side, was taken by our
forces, and Ensign Tappan was sent with forty men
to plant the American flag on the fort, which was the
first time that flag was raised over conquered British
territory in that war. Ensign Tappan was now ap
pointed adjutant. In September he was sent with a
convoy of prisoners to Greenbush, being twenty-one
days on the road. He remained in Greenbush the
next autumn and winter, teaching school in the mean
time.

412 PIONEER HISTORY
In June, 1814, he was again ordered to the fron
tier and assigned to the command of a company, and
served at the capture of Fort Erie. He was engaged
in the battles of Chippewa and Lundy' s Lane. In
this last battle his company lost seventeen out of
forty-five in killed and Avounded. In this battle
Lieutenant Tappan, at the head of his company, cap
tured Capt. Frazier, of the Royal Scotts, with twenty
of his men. The American army afterwards retired
to Fort Erie, and was besieged tliere by the British,
but they Avere finally compelled to raise the siege.
Afterwards, by the bursting of a shell in our camp
which had been thrown there by the British, his knee
was broken, which confined him in hospital a long
time, and on account of Avhich he received a pension
the remainder of his life. After he became suffi
ciently recovered to return to duty, he was retained
on the peace establishment, Avar with England being
ended, but resigned his commission in February,
1816. He then returned to Pittstown, and tliere
taught school the next seven years, serving in the
mean time as inspector and commissioner of schools,
commissioner of deeds, auctioneer and coroner. In
1823 he moved to Ridgeway, moving in October, his
family consisting of a wife and five children, AA'ith all
his effects on two Dutch Wagons, reaching Ridge-
Avay, November 10th. After fitting a log cabin for
his family he took a school for the winter. In the
spring he Avent to work clearing land, but as he said
his farming was not a success. "My fruit trees
would fall doAvn and my forest trees would stand up;
my crops were light but my bills were heavy, and
one year's experience taught me 1 was not born to
be a farmer."
In the spring of 1825 he moved to Yates and opened
a tavern at Yates Center, keeping the first tavern
opened in that town. After keeping tavern one

OK ORLEANS COUNTY. 41M
year and retailing fifty-three barrels of liquor in that
time, he sold out his tavern, Avas elected constable
and inspector of schools and commissioner of deeds,
which last named office he held tAventy years. He
was elected justice of the peace in 1828. In the Avin
ter of 1827 he taught school for the last time, conclu
ding his nineteen years service in that capacity. In
1829 he was appointed postmaster, AA'hich office he
held thirteen vears. In 1832 he Avas appointed one of
the Judges of the Orleans County Court of Common
Pleas, which office he held five years. In 1846 he
was elected toAvn superintendent of common schools.
The later years of his life were spent in quiet at home
AA'ith his books, aud enjoying the society of family
and friends. He was constitutionally frail in body,
but energetic and active in his habits of life. Being
ready Avith Ms pen, and having considerable expe
rience in business, he was frequently employed to
draft deeds, Avills and contracts for his neighbors,
and had some practice in trying suits in justices'
courts, as counsel for parties. Of a cheerful and
lively turn of mind and easy flow of language, and
having an inexhaustible fund of anecdotes and sto
ries at his command, he would make himself exceed-
Mgly interesting in conversation, and give zest and
enjoyment to society wherever he was. His charac
ter as a man is aptly described by Ms daughter in a
memoir of him prepared by her, from which we ex
tract as folloAvs :
" Judge Tappan maybe described as a man of
more than ordinary intellect, Avell acquainted with
the leading events of the day. Of the strictest integ
rity in his business relations, noted for punctuality,
a public spirited citizen, ready to bear his full share
of responsibility. In his social' relations, his keen
perceptions and ready wit made him an instructive
companion. Although many excentricities mingled

414 PIONEER HISTORY
in Ms character, yet those who knew him best over
looked these, knowing his heart was right, though
his words might sometimes wound."
He was married four times and had nineteen chil
dren. Many anecdotes might be told of Mm illustrative
of his different traits of character. He posssessed
no mechanical ability and often related one of his
experiments in this department. After he moved to
Ridgeway and became a farmer he found a well curb
needed and concluded to make one without assis
tance. He ascertained the size required, collected
the materials together and made it in the house du
ring the evenings, being engaged in teaching in the
day time, but after its completion, when he at
tempted to' take it through the doorway he found it
several inches wider than the door. He was a great
pedestrian, often making excursions on foot, showing
greater powers of endurance than many younger and
stronger men.
In the spring of 1844, when starting on one of his
eastern journeys, he tells us in his journal that ar
riving in Albion and not finding the water let into the
canal as he expected, he managed to get as far as
Rochester, and Avalked most of the distance to Ge
neva. After he was seventy years old he walked
from Medina to Daw's Corners, near Batavia, at one
time. While postmaster, he often left two horses in his
stable and walked from Yates to Ridgeway with the
mail bag on his arm.
He died February 8th, 1868, aged eighty-six
years. JOHN II. TYLER.
John H. Tyler was born in Randolph, Orange Co.,
Vermont, November 30th, 1793. He attended the

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 415
academy in Randolph a short time and removed to
Massena, N. Y., in 1810. On Avar AA'ith Great Britain
being declared in 1812, he volunteered as a soldier
and served near Ogdensburgh six months. In 1817
he removed to the Holland Purchase, and March 22d
took an article for one hundred seventy-six acres of
land in Yates, part of lot tAvo, section two, range
three, on Johnson's Creek, on avMcIi he afterwards
resided and labored as a farmer. He was Supervisor
of the town of Yates nine years, justice of the peace
a number of years, and represented the county of
Orleans in the Assembly of the State in 1830 and '31.
He was a man of vigorous intellect and good judg
ment, and enjoyed the confidence of all who kneAv
him. He married Selina Gilbert, daughter of Simeon Gil
bert, of Yates, in 1819. She died October 7th, 1842.
He married Saloma Gates, daughter of Daniel Gates,
of Carlton, in 1843.
He died in August, 1856.
HORACE O. GOOLD.
Horace O. Goold was born in Lyme, New Lon
don county, Connecticut, August 12th, 1800. In
March, 1818, in company with two other men in a
one horse Avagon, he came to Bloomfield, N. Y., after
a journey of fifteen days. He labored on a farm the
next summer, taught school the next winter, and in
the spring of 1819, remoA-ed to Carlton, N. Y., and
located about two miles west of the head of Still
water. The first year of his settlement here he raised
thirty bushels of corn and as many bushels of pota
toes. Mr. Goold said: "During the first season we
were sometimes rather short of food, especially meat,
but some of the boys would often kill some wild an-

416 PIONEER HISTORY
imal, and we were not very particular what name it
bore, as hunger had driven us ' to esteem nothing un
clean, but to receive it with thanksgiving.'"
Mr. Goold married Laurenda Fuller, of Carlton,
November 15th, 1820.
Several years 'before Ms death, Mr. Goold removed
to Lyndonville, in Yates, where he died October 5th,
1865. His Avife died October 24th, 1865.
JOSIAH PERRY.
Josiah Perry was born in Shaftsbury, Vermont,
September 6th, 1787. He, removed to Yates in April,
1817, and commenced clearing a farm, and planted
and raised corn and potatoes among the logs and
sowed some wheat, all the first year.
The people in Yates, in those days, generally went
to Dunham's gristmill, at Kuckville, in Carlton, to
get grain ground, and Mr. Perry relates of his carry
ing a bushel of wheat on his back a half dozen miles
to that mill to be ground, going through the woods
by marked trees, no road being cut out.
Mr. Perry taught the first school that was kept in
town. He held office as justice of the peace a short
time. He is yet living in Yates.
ALFRED BULLARD.
Alfred Bullard was born in Barre, Massachusetts,
February 19th, 1793.
He removed with his parents to Shrewsbury, Ver
mont, and there received a fair common school edu
cation, with the addition of a knowledge of field sur
veying. In 1817 he came to Batavia, Genesee county, and
in 1818 he removed to Barre, Orleans county, and he
finally settled in Yates in 1824, where he has ever
since resided.
For many years after coming into this county, his

OK ORLEANS COUNTY. 417
principal employment consisted in surveying land,
and he Avas knoAvn to almost everybody in Orleans
county as " Surveyor Bullard." When he Avas not
surveying he Avorked on a farm. He married Cynthia
Peck in 1821. She died and he married Sally Smith,
who is dead also.
Mr. Bullard has not engaged in surveying for a
number of years on account of lameness, which com
pelled him to use one, and sometimes two canes in
walking. He may be considered the pioneer surveyor
located in Orleans county.
HENRY MC NEAL.
Henry McNeal AA'as born in PittstoAvn, Rensselaer
county, N. Y., in 1792.
He married Lucy Sternberg in 1814. They moved
to Yates in 1817.
Mr. McNeal Avas the first Captain of a militia com
pany in Yates. AMOS SPENCER.
Amos Spencer was born in Connecticut in 1787.
He married Jerusha Murdock, September 10th,
1811. They moved to Yates and settled on the lake
shore in 1818.
After a feAv years they removed to Hartland, Ni
agara county, Avhere he was living in 1870. The first
year he resided in Yates, he cleared the land and sowed
ten acres with winter wheat. On this the next year
he harvested three hundred and thirty bushels of
wheat. He dreAV forty bushels to Ridgeway Corners,
hired Amos Barrett to carry it to Rochester with his
team, gave him five dollars for drawing and paid his
expenses on the road. He sold his wheat for fifty-
four cents per bushel. They were gone four days,
and on getting home foui>d thay had only five dollars
27

418 PIONEER HISTORY
of the money received for their wheat left, all the re
mainder having been spent in paying necessary ex
penses. ELISHA SAWYER.

Elisha Sawyer was born in Reading, Vermont,'
September 30th, 1785. He settled in Yates in 1816.
He took up four hundred acres of land on the south
line of the toAvn. After some years he removed to
Lyndonville on a small place. He removed to Pax-
ton, Illinois, and died there December 8th, 1868.
BARUCH II. GILBERT.
Baruch H. Gilbert was born in the town of North
east, Dutchess county, New York, August 24th,
1795. His father, Simeon Gilbert, came to Yates in the
fall of 1816, and took an article of land on the west
side of the line between ranges three and fonr, about
a mile and a half south from lake Ontario, and re
turned to his eastern home without making any im
provement on Ms lands, to which he did not return
until the spring of 1818.
Baruch H. Gilbert settled on the south part of the
land so taken by his father in the spring of 1817, and
cleared a farm there on which he resided about fifty
years. Mr. Gilbert was of fair education, of considerable
spirit and energy of character, and settling in this
town among the very first, he interested himself in
every movement made to improve the country, intro
duce and maintain the institutions of civilized society
and induce people to settle in Yates. He soon took a
prominent position in the business of his town and
neighborhood, and as long as he resided here he
was one of the leading men in all public affairs. He
officiated as justice of the peace for thirty years.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 419
He married Miss Fanny Skellenger in 1821. His
children are Simeon, avIio married Olive Skellinger,
and resides in Illinois ; Stephen B., married Ann
AVatkins, resides in California ; Nathan S., married
Mary E. Lane, resides in Lockport ; and Cordelia,
Avho is unmarried. ELISHA BOWEN.
Dr. Elisha BoAven Avas born in Reading, AVindsor
county, Vermont, in the year 1791.
He received a diploma from Dartmouth College.
He was first married and removed to Palmyra, N. Y,
in 1817, where his wife died.
In the year 1820 he removed to the town of Yates,
and settled on a farm betAveen Yates Center and the
lake. He was the first, and for several years the only
regular physician residing and practicing in the town
of Yates.
He married for his second wife Miss Adeline Raw-
son. After her death he married for his third wife
Miss Mary Ann Clark. -She died in 1861.
Dr. Bowen had twelve children, of whom nine are
living, viz.: Francis W., married a daughter of Dr.
AVhaley, resides in Sacramento, California ; Samuel
C, married Kate, daughter of James Jackson, of
Ridgeway, resides in Medina ; Adeline, unmarried,
resides in Wisconson; Charles C, married Julia Hard,
resides in Detroit; Edgar J., married Mary AVinn,
resides in Chicago ; Susan, married H. L. Achilles,
Jr., resides in Rochester; Cornelia, married Samuel
Boyd, resides in Appleton, Wisconsin ; Mary, un
married resides at Appleton, Wisconsin ; Theodore
E., married Mary Loomis, resides in Chicago.
Dr. Bowen was one of thirteen persons who united
to form the Baptist Church in Yates, in 1822, of
which church he1 continued an active member until

420 PIONEER niSTORY
his death. He was a strong advocate of temperance,.
and among the first avIio united in the town of Yates-
to form a society to promote that cause.
Dr. Bowen was conscientious and correct in all the
habits of Ms life, and had the confidence and respect
of all who knew him. In the later years of his life
he did not practice his profession. He died April 6,
1863, aged 72 years.

CHAPTER XXX.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF JOSEPH ELLICOTT AND
EBENEZER MIX.
JOSEPH ELLICOTT.
Although Mr. Ellicott Avas never a resident of Or
leans county, and consequently not strictly included
among its pioneers, Avhose history it is the main ob
ject of tMs work to record, yet, as the agent of the
Holland Land Company for so many years- no man
had more to do in organizing and settling this county,
and in planning and bringing into action the means by
wMch the varied resources of Western New York
have been developed.
The ancestors of Mr. Ellicott came from Wales to
America at an early day, and Avere among the early
pioneers of Buck's county, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Joseph Ellicott was thoroughly educated as a
surveyor, by lessons given him by his elder brother
Andrew. His first practical lessons were taken while
assisting his brother in surveying the city of Wash
ington, after that place had been selected for the Na
tional Capitol.
In 1791 he was appointed to run the line between
Georgia and the Creek Indians. He was then en
gaged in surveying the lands of the Holland Company
lying in the State of Pennsylvania. AVhen this was
completed he was sent to survey the Company's lands
in Western New York.
He spent many years in the woods, in the arduous
labors of a surveyor, and when he left the woods to

422 PIONEER HISTORY
engage in the business of local agent of the Company,
his toil was scarcely lessened. During this time he
carried on an immense correspondence with the gene
ral office, at Philadelphia, in reference to the business
entrusted to him, and also with the prominent men
of his time and country in relation to public affairs
generally, in which he manifested great interest. He
is especially remembered aside from his connexion
with the Holland Land Company, for the part he
took in promoting that great work of internal im
provement, the Erie Canal. With the schemes for
the origin and prosecution of that work, and its pro
gress to success, he was conspicuously identified;
and among the great men whose comprehensive
minds devised that canal, and urged it forward to
completion, his name will ever rank among the
first. By a life of activity and enterprise, he was enabled
to accumulate a large property without being
charged with peculation in office, or mal-admin-
istration of the vast business entrusted to Ms-
care. A spirit of discontent had begun to be manifested
among the settlers on the Holland Purchase, growing
out of their enormous indebtedness to the Company
for their lands which they had been permitted to
buy on credit, and Avhile the leniency of the agents
had not enforced payment on their contracts, accu-
mlating interest had largely swelled the original
debts. Worried and Avorn by the load of labor he had
sustained, and aware of the discontent which pre
vailed, and Avhich he hoped might be allayed if direc
ted by other counsels, Mr. E. resigned his agency, and
thus closed a busy life. From that time he was afflic
ted with a monomania upon real or imaginary diseases
with which he believed himself to suffer. He was-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 423
taken by his friends to NeAv York and placed in the
hospital at Bellevue, AA-here about August, 1826, he
committed suicide.
Joseph Ellicott was never married, but for his nu
merous family of relatives he made most ample pro
vision, some of the choicest lands on the Holland Pur
chase being selected and secured by title to the Elli-
cotts. His remains were brought to Batavia and interred.
in the village cemetery, a beautiful monument being
erected under the superintence of David E. Evans,
Ms nepheAv, and successor as local agent of the Hol
land Company, marks the spot.
From his intimate acquaintance as surveyor with
the Holland Purchase lands in Western Ncav York,
he was enabled to make some judicious selections of
lands for himself.
In the original survey of Buffalo, he laid
off for Mmself one hundred acres, now included in
the best part of that city.
In the county of Orleans he bought seven hundred
acres, including the water poAver at Shelby Center,
and afterwards fourteen hundred acres farther down
the Oak Orchard Creek, which included the vil
lage of Medina, and the best water power on that
creek. About the year 1824 he made his will, in Avhich he
devised a large part of his great landed estate in
special gifts to his favorite relatives. The residue
was devised to others of his kindred, nearly one hun
dred in number, share and share alike, with a few
exceptions. His property at the time of his death, even at the
low price lands then bore, was estimated at six
hundred thousand dollars. From the great advance
in value at this time, this property is worth many
millions of dollars.

424 PIONEER HISTORY
He Avas the first Judge appointed in and for Gene
see county courts. EBENEZER MIX.
Ebenezer Mix is a name familiar as household
Avords to the old settlers on the Holland Purchase,
and no history of the pioneers, or of the early settle
ment, could be made complete without a reference to
him. Mr. Mix was born at New Haven, Connecticut. He
died at Cleveland, Ohio, January 12th, 1869, aged
81 years.
In his native NeAv England he learned and worked
at the trade of a mason.
He came to Batavia, Genesee county, to seek Ms
fortune, in the year 1809. There he worked first at
his trade as a mason. He afterwards taught school ;
was for a time a student in a law office, and finally
went into the service of the Holland Land Company
as a clerk in their office at Batavia, in 1811, AA'here he
remained twenty-seven years.
Being a good theoretical and practical surveyor,
and a clear headed and competent business man, in
a short time he was made contracting clerk in the
Batavia office, in which capacity it AA-as his duty
to make, reneAv and modify contracts for the sale of
land, calculate quantities of land, make sub-divisions
of tracts of land, and act as salesman generally. In
this way he became intimately connected with every
transaction of the Company relating to gifts of land
to churches and school districts, and took part in all
business matters between the company and the people
who settled on their lands. And few men could be
found who would have done the business as well.
He excelled as a mathematician, was a practical sur
veyor and possessed a remarkable memory of boun
daries, localities, dates and distances. Indeed the

OK ORLEANS COUNTY. 425
whole transactions of the Laud Company, and the
map of their territory seemed to be pictured on his
mind Avith singular fidelity, making it a treasury of
facts, exceedingly convenient for reference in settling
conflicting questions concerning highways, bounda
ries and original surveys, Avhich arise among the
people. Naturally of a somewhat irritable temperament,
when aroused by the perplexities of business, he
was sometimes rather sour and rough in manner to
wards persons by whom he was annoyed, but his
wish and aim Avas to do right and justice, and how
ever austere and crabbed his manner, his conclusions
and final settlement of matters he had in' hand was
kind and benevolent to those with Avhom he had to
do. Full many a time has the unfortunate settler avIio
had been unable to make the payments on his article,
and whom sickness and calamity had driven almost
to despair of ever paying for his land, had reason to
be grateful for the humanity and generous treatment
he received from Mr. Mix in extending his payments,
renewing his article, and abating his interest
money. In the war of 1812 he served for a time as volun
teer aid to Gen. P. B. Porter, and was at the sortie
at Fort Erie.
For twenty years in succession he w.as the Surro
gate of Genesee county.

ORLEANS COUNTY PIONEER ASSOCIATION.

This Association Avas organized June, 1859. Its
members are persons who at any time previous to
January, 1826, were residents of Western New York,
Avhp sign its Constitution. The objects of the Asso
ciation, as contained in its constitution, are to pro-
mote social intercourse by meeting together statedly,
in order to preserve and perpetuate the remembrance
of interesting facts connected Avith the early history
of the settlement of Orleans county and its vicini
ty. The annual meetings are held at the Court
House, in Albion, on the third Saturday in June.
It has been an object of the Association to collect
and preserve as much of the history of the early set
tlement of Orleans county as possible. The local
history of many of the early pioneers has been ob
tained and written out in books kept for that pur
pose, and several photograph albums have been
filled with the pictures of the men and women who
came here at an early day.
At these yearly gatherings, and at occasional spe
cial meetings held from time to time in various places
in the. county, the old people are accustomed to meet
together and recount their adventures while subduing
the Avilderness, and have a good time generally.
It is intended to obtain as much of such history of
"'ye olden time" as possible, and when the actors
in these old scenes are no more, and the last of the
log houses shall exist only in the memory and rec^-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 427
ords of the'times gone by, then these old manuscripts
and relics, laid up in some public depository, shall
remain for the information of posterity of the things
that Avere here, memories of the hardships, labors,
and privations of the pioneers of Orleans county.

ADDRESS

DELIVERED BEFORE THE ORLEANS COUNTY PIONEER ASSOCIA
TION, SEPT. 10th, 1859,
IS J- A IE AS THOMAS.

Mr. President, and Members of tlie Orleans County Pioneer Association : —
In discharging the pleasant duty of addressing you
on the present occasion, I am desirous to devote my
thoughts to the consideration of topics kindred to the
sentiments which led to the formation of this associ
ation. This seems no fit time to indulge in abstruse spec
ulations, or idle rhetoric. I address a practical com
pany, — men who have been trained to meet the stern
realities of life, and accomplish their destiny with un
flinching labor ; and having achieved a good work,
well may they enjoy the triumph it affords. Let us
then contemplate the past, and learn wisdom for the
future. A stranger, who noAv for the first time should come
into our county, judging from appearances, would
be apt to think this an old settlement, where genera
tion after generation of men had lived and died, and
where their accumulated labor had been expended
upon those works of enlightened civilization which
cover the land. But we know scarce fifty years
since the first acre of this territory was cleared of its
native forest, and the men are now living who recol
lect when here was nothing but a dark, unbroken
wilderness. Many of the first settlers of this county have
passed away from among the living. Others follow-

OK ORLEANS COUNTY. 42.9
ing in the tide of emigration are iioav inhabitants of
some AVestern States. A few survivors and represen
tatives of a generation rapidly passing aAvay, remain
quiet possessors of the soil their hands first subjected to
cultivation, and today they have assembled to talk over
the trials and privations, the hardships and the suf
ferings, the varied events of fortune, prosperous and
adverse, which have fallen to their lot since first they
came into this county.
The occasion is replete Avith interest to us all. To
the aged veterans, it brings up memories of eA-ents,
which in passing thrilled their hearts with intensest
emotion. To the more youthful spectator it affords encour
agement to labor, in vieAv of these examples of suc
cess over ever}- opposition, obtained by resolute and
continued exertion. And to us all, it shows convin
cing proofs that honest and laudable industry will
reap its rewards in due time.
Our theme embraces the consideration of subjects
connected Avith the early settlement of Orleans county.
In tracing the history of mankind in their migrations
since their memorable dispersion on the plains of
SMnar, we find a variety of causes which have impelled
men to remove from the places of their nativity. The
venerable founder of the Jewish nation went down to
Egypt to save his family from death by famine, and
Ms descendents came out of Egypt to save themselves
from a terrible bondage.
The builders of ancient Rome were the scattered
fragments of various nations who assembled there as
to a common asylum of outcasts from everywhere,
and raised their walls for mutual protection and sup
port; and by encouraging immigration from broad, and
the gradual accretion of power by treaty, and con
quest of foreign nations, in time they became the
mightiest empire on earth, in their turn to be overrun

430 PIONEER HISTORY
by swarms from the northern hive, who, deserting their
inhospitable homes, came down with all their move
able possessions, by fire and sword, to drive out the
inhabitants of the fair provinces of Italy, and give
themselves a better land.
The Spaniards who first settled in America, were
attracted there by their cupidity for gold. And
the ranks of the settlers in most neAV countries have
been SAvelled by adventurers who had been obliged
to leave their native land to escape the consequences
of their crimes.
A nobler impulse prompted our ancestors in their
migrations from Europe.
The discovery of America, the invention of print
ing, and the Protestant Reformation had roused the
minds of the most intelligent nations of the world to a
more exalted sense of the value of liberty, and a keen
perception of those natural and inalienable rights of
conscience which form the richest possession of a free
people. Persecuted for conscience sake in their na
tive country, England, they had borne for years the
cruel oppression which religious intolerance and po
litical tyranny forced upon them there, with christian
endurance, till overcome by suffering too grievous to
be borne, and hopeless of relief, they solemnly with
drew from their national church and from the land
of their birth, to Holland, where, some years after
they formed and carried out the resolution to emi
grate to America, there, under the protection of the
King of England, they thought to worship God in
peace, as they believed to be right.
Piety and love of liberty furnished them sufficient
motives for removal, and armed them .with fortitude
required to meet the perils and hardships of their
new home.
With alf proper admiration which'.we ought to feel
for the early New England Puritans, the^ancestors

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 431
of so many of those avIio hear me, avo may admit
they had their failings. In the austerity of their
faith they often forgot the mild spirit of charity
which pervades the gospel they revered, and in the
ardor of their zeal they made and sought to en
force laws of great severity against those professing
religious belief at variance with the dogmas of their
stern creed, and punished and persecuted with a
strange infatuation, those charged with the crime of
witchcraft. But in reviewing this portion of the history of our
forefathers, AA-e should remember not to judge them
by the lights of the present age. Toleration to faith
and worship, contrary to the forms declared by the
civil government for a thousand years, had then not
been known in Europe, and the opinion of good men
had before then always been, that such religious free
dom would destroy the best institutions of society.
A belief in witchcraft was as old as history itself,
and was a common superstition of the times. The
excellent and pious Baxter held the existence of
witches as certain as the punishment of the Avicked,
and the great and good Sir Matthew Hale, that able
judge, and profound luminary of the law, believed in
witchcraft as sincerely as did Cotton Mather.
The superstitions of the dark ages were then enter
tained by the most enlightened and liberal minded men
everywhere, and it would be requiring too much, to
expect our forefathers to have freed themselves from
opinions we may deem absurd, but which up to that
time, and by all other men then, were held worthy of
acceptation. I know we are sometimes charged with using ex
travagant eulogium in speaking of the New England
Puritans of the olden time. But making due allow
ance for their eccentricities of character and conduct,
resulting from circumstances with which they stood

432 PIONEER HISTORY
connected, Ave may look in vain to find in the early
history of any other people, such noble patriotism,
fervent piety, sound wisdom, and incorruptible lion*
esty as in the case before us.
They had all been trained in the same school of
adversity, and possessed in a wonderful degree iden
tity of sentiment, sympathy and character in all their
conduct and opinions which impressed itself upon all
their laws, their individual and social arrangements,
and upon every institution and action which found
place among them.
Inflexible and steadfast in their cherished princi
ples, they trained their children in the faith and prac
tices of their fathers, and the combined influence of
such faith and works, Ave may see in their effects
upon the energy and enterprise, the love of liberty,
the respect for law and order, good morals, religion,
learning and true patriotism, which, inspired by such
examples, has ever distingushed their descendants
down through the period of more than tAvo hundred
years. We need not sounding eulogy or words of windy
panegyric to prove the value of New England intelli
gence, integrity and power, in moulding and guiding
the rising destinies of our country. The wisdom of
her statesmen, the heroism of her soldiers, and the
spirit and conduct of her people, secured our nation
al independence, and established our national federa
tion of independent States upon the broad basis of
constitutional liberty. And even up to now this ele
ment has always been prominent, I had almost said
controlling, in the legislation of most of the States,
and at Washington.
A few years since some curious individual ascer
tained on enquiry, that thirty-six of the members of
the two Houses of Congress, then in session, were
bom in the single State of Connecticut.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 493
In the language of Mr. Malthus, man coming up
to take upon himself his place, and the responsibili
ties of life, finds no cover laid for him on nature's
table, and he goes out to spread a table for himself
where he deems the prospect most inviting. The rich
treasures of experince and wisdom, and the abundant
stores of material good things the past has garnered
up, afford him capital Avith which to Avork out the
fulfilment of- his own and his country's hopes.
These magnificent results of the skill and enter
prise of the present day, are only other phases and
demonstrations of the same spirit which led to the
first settlement in America, and which has attended
every step of our progress since, as well exemplified in
the resolution of the solitary emigrant who sets .his
stake in the wilderness and determines there to. dig
up for himself a farm, as in that mightier work of a
statesman, or a nation, Avhich makes a canal or a
railroad across a continent, lays a telegraph Avire
across an ocean, or solves the deepest problem of
state policy for the Avorld.
Soon after the revolutionary war had ended, the
settlements in NeAv England were extended over the
the principal part of those States suitable for tillage,
and multitudes of their active and adventurous young
men went out to seek their fortunes among the bor
derers who were pushing the bounds of civilization
and improvement back into the neAv territories, skirt
ing the old Atlantic States upon the AVest.
A large majority of the first settlers of Orleans
county were either emigrants from New England,
or descended from the Puritan stock, who traced their
origin back to those who, in December, 1620, landed
from the May FloAver upon Plymouth Rock. It is
admitted that as a class they were poor but honest,
possessing strong moral convictions, of effective force
of intellect and will, they determined to plant and
28

434 PIONEER HISTORY
gro\v up the institutions of religion, order and
civilization in tMs wilderness, such as prevailed in
their New England homes. Such views, habits and
purposes, characterized the emigrants who first set
tled Western NeAv York. Here was not the hiding
place of a population of whom it might justly be
said they had left the homes of their youth as a
measure of prudent care for their personal safety,
or from a kind regard for the good of the place they
had left. Neither did they come here to buy choice
lots and leave them till the toil of others on adjoin
ing farms should add value to their purchases. Here
were few non-resident land holders at an early
day. The Holland Land Company had purchased the
Western part of the State of New York, bounded on
the east by a line extending north from Penn
sylvania to Lake Ontario, known as the Transit
Line. Before the last war with Great Britain, a portion of
this tract which has been distinguished as the Hol
land Purchase, had been surveyed by the Company
and offered for sale to settlers. The wonderful fertib
ity of the Genesee country had been reported abroad,
and before the war a few emigrants had begun to
make their homes among the heavy forests which
covered this country, some of Avhom had located
themselves in what is now Orleans county.
The possibility of such a work as the Erie Canal
had not then entered the great mind of Dewitt Clin
ton, or been dreamed of even by the great men of
that day.
The most favorable means in prospect, then far in
the future, for communicating with the old settle
ments at the east, was by wagons on the highways,
or boats down the MohaAvk or Si. Lawrence. But
;he pioneer settlers of the Holland Purchase belonged

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 435
to a bold and fearless race, who did not stop to en
quire whether the trail of civilization had extended
to the neAv country, by which they could retreat with
ease and safety to the homes of their fathers, if life
in the woods should happen to prove uncongenial to
their tastes. They expected to overcome the formi
dable obstacles before them by their own strong
arms and stout hearts. They knew that wealth was
in their farms, not perhaps in the shape of golden
nuggets, such as fire the imagination of emigrants
to Pike's Peak, or the other El Dorados of the West,
¦but in the golden produce of well tilled fields, which
honest hard work was sure to raise in abundance
in time to come, and they meant to have it.
It is really not as great an undertaking for the em
igrant, who at this day goes from the Atlantic States
to settle in Kansas or California, as it was fifty years
ago to make a settlement in Western New - York.
Railroads and telegraphs have made communication
easy and rapid between places most distant, and
modern improvements in the economy and arts of do
mestic life are such, that most of the necessaries and
comforts enjoyed by residents in older towns can
readily be procured everywhere.
The farmer who locates on a prairie at the AVest, be
gins his work by plowing the primitive sod, and the
next year he reaps his crop and finds his field as
clean and mellow as plow land along the Connecticut
river, and he can sell his products for almost New
York prices. But beginning a farm on the Holland
Purchase, fi;ty years ago, was quite a different busi
ness. Indeed, we who have not learned by experience,
•can hardly imagine the obstacles and difficulties to
be surmounted by the first settlers of Orleans county.
Roads from Albany, westward, were bad ; merchants
and mechanics had not yet arrived. A dense and

436 PIONEER HISTORY
heavy forest of hard, huge trees covered the land, to
be felled and cleared away before the plow of the
farmer could turn up the genial soil. Pestilential fe
vers racked the nerves and prostrated the vigor of
the stoutest, as well as the weakest among them.
The ague, that pest indigenous to all new countries,
came up from every clearing, usually in the best
days of summer, to seize upon the settler, his wife
and children, some or all of them, and shake out all
their strength and energy.
Though the noblest timber trees for their buildings
existed in troublesome abundance, sawmills had not
then been erected. '
Though their lands produced the finest of wheat
whenever it could be sown, it cost more than its mar
ket price to take it to the distant grist mills to be
ground. Sales of farm produce were limited to
home consumption.
Before the AVar of 1812 but few settlers had loca
ted in Orleans county.
From Canandaigua to Lewiston, along the Ridge
Road, and from the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek,
along an Indian Trail to Batavia, the trees had prin
cipally been cut wide enough for a highway. A few
log cabins had been erected, and the sturdy emigrants
had begun by felling the trees to open little patches
of cleared land around their dwellings to form the
nucleus of their farms.
War was declared. The regular pursuits of peace
ful industry were broken up. The settler was sum
moned to become a soldier, and at the call of his
country, at times almost every able-bodied man in
the settlement was away in the ranks of the army,
leaving their scattered, unprotected families, to risk
the chances of hostile forays of the enemy, often
threatened from the west along the lake. The cour
age and spirit of the women of those days was equal

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 437
to the best examples to be found in American border
warfare. Neither the frightful rumors of the massa
cre of their husbands and brothers in the fight, or the
terrible announcements that the Indians, Avith mur
der and pillage, Avere sweeping down the Ridge Road
or coming up the Creek, could drive them to abandon
the homes they had chosen in the woods, or make
them turn a point from the performance of what their
duty required.
Perhaps the gloomiest time in the experience of the
pioneers was during and after the war, before the com
mencement of Avork on the Erie canal. Considerable
Avheat was annually groAvn, but beyond what the
farmer wanted for his own consumption it was of lit
tle value, bearing a nominal price of about twenty-
five cents a bushel.
A kind of crude potash, made by leaching wood
ashes, and known as " black salts," was almost the
only product Avhich brought money, and became, in
fact, almost a lawful tender for value in trade, and
this had to be taken to market for miles upon ox
sleds or hand sleds, or on the backs of the makers,
through woods and swamps, following a line of marked
trees. After the war, came the memorable cold seasons
of 1816-17. About these years, a cotemporary says,
" from half to two-thirds of all the people Avere down
sick in the summer time."
AVithout a supply of physicians or nurses, or med
icines, or even bread, hoAv AA-ere such sick men to se
cure their crops or clear their land, endure storm,
and want, and trouble and distress, which beset
them at every turn ? Surely nothing but an iron will
which no impediment could break or bend, an abid
ing faith and hope which no disasters or discourage
ments could overcome or crush out, sustained them
through these dark days. Like heroes of another time,
""through the thick gloom of the present, they beheld

438 PIONEER HISTORY
the brightness of the future," and they struggled"
on. It has been playfully-said that you may place a
Yankee in the woods with an ax, an augur and a knife,
his only tools, and with the trees his only material
for use, and he will build a palace, if need be, want
ing perhaps in the finish which other tools, and the
aid of iron trimmings, nails and glass would afford,
but possessing the substantial requisites of con\-e-
nience, and fitness and strength.
The first log houses built in this county, proved al
most literally the truth of this remark. They were
the dAvelling places of the best families in the landr
made by their owners, where the latch string was al
ways out at the call of the stranger, and the best of
their plain and scanty store was always generously
shared with the weary and destitute, whoever he
might be.
The builders and occupants of those rude tene
ments were then probably poor, as can well be im
agined, sick and suffering, with none of the luxuries,
and few even of the necessaries of their former expe
rience, but withal contented and happy.
How often do Ave hear these persons, now occupy
ing their noble mansions, fitted and furnished and
adorned with all the elegance and profusion which
the abundant means of their owners, and the taste and
fashion of the times command, refer to the little, old
log cabin first built upon their farm, and count their
residence there the happiest in their lives. These
buildings belong to the time gone by, and the last of
the log houses will soon have gone down with their
builders to that destruction which awaits all things
earthly. For some years none new have been erected in this
county, and but rarely now can the traveler see one
left standing in dilapidated humility behind the great

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 439
new house, maintaining to the last its character for
usefulness, as a shelter for the grind stone, the salt
barrel, the SAvill tub, the work bench, and all the
hand tools tliere carefully treasured up for use on
the extensive domain of their wealthy owner.
Among these primitive settlers, the advent of a new
family to locate among them, was an " occasion of
joy through the town. The acquaintance of the stran
gers was promptly sought, a cordial welcome ex
tended, and the more material aid of all the force in
the neighborhood, kindly volunteered to help the neAv
comer roll the logs to begin his clearing, or pile them
into the walls of his cabin home. Such friendly
feeling prevailed in all their social affairs. Belations
of acquaintance and friendship Avere sustained be
tween all the families for miles around, and no dis
tinctions of wealth or party, sect or condition Avere
known. It is true no such visionary scheme of community
of goods, as was attempted by the old Plymouth
Colony, or by the Fourierites of a later day, with all
its attendant idleness and discontent obtained among
them, but a most generous spirit to lend to and help
the needy was a prominent trait in their character.
They were not speculators who entered upon the
lands to secure a title, trusting by a fortunate sale,
or by the rise in the market price to derive large prof
its on their investment. The fever for land specula
tion had not then set in.
The policy of the Holland Company was to get
their lands taken up and occupied as fast as possible.
With this in view they gave contracts for deeds of
conveyance on payment of a small portion of the
purchase money, giving the purchaser some years of
credit in which to pay the residue. This policy bro't
in settlers, and the liberality of the company in ex-

440 PIONEER HISTORY
tending contracts where prompt payment could not
be made, kept them on their lots.
A portion, however, of the first inhabitants of this
county, like a portion of the first inhabitants in every
new settlement, became charmed with their life of
vicissitude and hardship, and the varied advantages
of pioneer settlement, and soon as the farms were
mostly taken up and occupied, and the progress of
cultivation had driven away the game and introduced
in some degree the order of civilized society, they be
came uneasy and discontented, and longed for the
freedom and excitments of wilder life on the border.
Like Cooper's hero, "Leather Stocking," they Avould
"get lost among the clearings," and moved to the
West to begin again in the forests of Michigan or
Ohio. To those who remained and labored on through
every affliction and discouragement, using such means
as their own sagacity and industry afforded them to
assist their efforts, we are indebted for such success
ful results as Ave now see.
And I may repeat, what but an intelligent
and confiding hope in " the good time coming" could
have sustained these men under all discouragements
they endured X AVhat but that indomitable spirit of
the race, which never falters at perils or hindrances
in the way when a desirable object is to be gained,
under the wise ordering of a mysterious good Provi
dence, nerved them for their work, and cheered them
on to its succesful accomplishment X
In ardent imagination the young emigrant, who
had selected and contracted for his farm, looked over
his future abode and traced the boundaries of orchard
and meadow, and pasture, and plain, and saw the
shadowy outlines of his houses and his barns, his
fences and his fields, looming into being where
then the gray old trees stood in solemn grandeur,

OF ORLEANS COUNTY.' 441

o

the sturdy sentinels of nature for centuries keeping
watch over the primitive Avilderness. He saAv in
vision of the future Ms crops of waving corn and his
granaries bursting out with plenty, and himself the
happy possessor of a home blessed with comforts and
luxuries of life in abundance, and seizing his ax,
then perhaps his only chattel, he Avent to work
with a will, to prove the scenes his fancy had por
trayed. It is a remarkable fact that the English settlements
in America Avere in the main first made at points the
most inhospitable and uninviting, thus bringing every
part of our country to be settled and improved. The
Puritans, who came over in the May Flower, intended
to have gone to Atirginia, but through the treachery
of the captain of their ship, as some assert, they
were landed at Plymouth.
The first emigrants westward from NeAv England,
located in the forests of NeAv York, Michigan and
Ohio, because they came from a forest country and
were not afraid of the Avoods, and because they could
not get to the fertile prairies of the AArest. There
were no roads by land, and no comm unication by water
to these beautiful territories. They were compelled
by necessity to clear up and settle the country as
they Avent through it.
Had the Puritans reached their intended destina
tion in the sunny South, and located along those
noble rivers and fertile plains, they would never have
removed to the hard, cold, ironbound hills of NeAv
England. When then would Ncav England have
been settled '. Never by emigrants from the West.
And had the southern and middle States been first
settled, and the application of steam to motive ma
chinery been made, and the railroad and the telegraph
and the knoAvledge of the useful arts Ave iioav possess
been known 200 years ago, Maine, New Hampshire

442 PIONEER HISTORY
and Vermont, would be to-day like parts of Lower
Canada, a vast and dreary wilderness, and as such to
remain until the more inviting regions of the West
had all been settled. And had railroads and tele
graphs, and steam power, as now used, been known
even fifty years ago, I fancy some of these venerable
pioneers would be now rejoicing in homes made happy
upon the banks of the Missouri, or perhaps west of
the Rocky Mountains.
The interesting details of border settlement in this
country have so often been the theme of remark that
they have become trite matters of history. The
solemn and deepening shade of antiquity is begin
ning to clothe them with its mysterious interest, and
as the immediate actors leave us, shnvly and silently
fading away from among the living, their memory is
cherished as the pride of their kindred, and they come
to be regarded as the benefactors of their country.
The Pioneers of Orleans county are not all dead,
but the times of their trouble have gone by. The Hol
land Purchase is settled, subdued, and made the
cheerful home of an industrious and thriving popu
lation, iioav in their turn sending out their caravans of
emigrants, with the fervent spirit of their fathers,
carrying the arts and institutions of our favored
country to those new States so rapidly groAving up in
the regions of the AVest. All the improvements in
science and the arts are brought to aid the swift pro
gress of our people in spreading themselves over our
entire national territory.
If the earlier march of emigration and settlement,
from the Atlantic Avestward has been toilsome and
slow, and two hundred years scarce brought settlers
to the great lakes and the slopes of the Alleghanies,
what shall we say of the advances of the last fifty
years, and which are now going forward !
Since the first tree fell here under the ax of the Avhite

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 443
man, the triumphs of steam f)ower have appeared. —
By the help of this tremendous agent, a voyage across
the Atlantic, which took the May Flower months to ac
complish, is noAv made in a week. A trip to Boston,
wMch once cost these pioneers a month to perform, is
now the business of a day. Steam drives our mills,
carries our burdens, plows our fields, warms our
houses, digs our canals, and furnishes a motive pow
er, to effect the mightiest and minutest work attempt
ed by the ingenuity of man.
But steam, though admitted to be strong is voted
slow, in this fast age, and electricity is sent out to run
the errands of our ordinary business.
Excelsior ! Higher ! is the motto of our noble Em
pire State, and Forward is the cry of encouragement
with wMch Young America stimulates its ardor in the
race for victory.
My friends, we who are the juniors of these noble
men, whose praise we have thus faintly endeavored
to celebrate, should never forget that we are building
upon foundations they have laid for us. That we in
herit the lands their hands have cleared ; that we en
joy the liberties they have achieved.
We shall ever admire their enterprise, patience and
fortitude. AATe shall justly feel proud to claim ac
quaintance, perhaps relationship Avith such worthy
predecessors. We shall teach our children the story of their la
bors and success, as examples to be imitated ; and
from every memorial they have left us of strenuous
effort in a good cause, take courage and gain strength
to help our resolution in the performance of all the
duties, which have fallen to our lot. And when we
look about us upon the broad patrimony we have de
rived from them, and take an inventory of the abun
dant good things they have bequeathed to us, as the
fruits of their labors, let us not forget our duty of

444 PIONEER HISTORY
gratitude to the memory of these our benefactors, to
whom we owe so much, nor fail to improve as we
ought, the rich inheritance we enjoy.
Venerable Pioneers — You have not met on the
present occasion to gratify your vanity by publishing
to the Avorld the exploits you have performed, or
boasting for the wonder of others of the marvelous
adventures you may have achieved ; but, like a com
pany of Aveary travelers, life's toilsome journey al
most done, — you are here to spend an evening hour
in social converse,. on scenes you haA-e witnessed by
the way, to bring to mind again the stirring events in
which you haA'e been called to mingle ; and to soothe
your spirits by a grateful recollection.of that kind
Providence which has sustained you in all your toils
and brought you in old age to the abundant enjoy
ment and realization of the most ardent hopes of your
youth. You have seen the country of your choice a gloomy
wilderness. You now .behold it, by your exertions
changed to cultivated fields, and dotted over with
noble houses, interspersed with thriving villages and
connected by public highways.
Where a feAv years ago you hunted the savage
bear, your splendid herds and numerous flocks now
roam and feed in safety. Where but lately you was
compelled to grope your way from town to town
through pathless Avoods, by marked trees, or Indian
trails, the railroad or telegraph afford you means of
communication, in which time and distance are
scarcely items in the account of delay.
The rich produce of your fields, instead of rot
ting on your hands, A'alueftss because no buyer
could be found, commands at all times the highest
price in the markets of the world.
The howl of the wolf is exchanged for the scream
of the steam whistle, and though you live so far in-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 445
land, the gallant steam vessel is made to float by
your very doors.
Hoav astonishing, Iioav stupendous the change !
We have read of the AVonderful Lamp of Aladdin,
and stories of Oriental Necromancy, where by the
superhuman power of magic, and the agency of
demons, the loftiest works of art, and the noblest
productions of industry and skill were made to
appear or vanish at a Avord, — but the magic which
wrought the Avorks we celebrate, was the power of in
domitable energy, applied with strong hands and
stubborn perseverence. The mighty improvements
which excite our admiration are only the happy re
sults of your steady, well directed industry overcom
ing its early discouragements and trials, — the honor
able testimonials of the sternest conflict and most
complete success.
Fortunate men and Avomen ! Long, long may you
live, enjoying the rich fruits of your early toils.
And may you be permitted to witness the return of
many anniversaries of your present association, hap
py in the consciousness that you have accomplished
the objects of your youthful ambition, and leaving,
when at last you shall be called to your rest, a noble
history, and a worthy example embalmed in the
memory of your grateful posterity.

APPENDIX.

Towns in Orleans County — Their Organization — Villages in Orleans
County — Table of Elevations — Members of Assembly Elected from
Orleans County since its Organization — County Clerks of Orleans
County — County Treasurers — County Superintendents of Common
Schools — First Judges of Orleans County Courts — District Attorneys
of Orleans County — Sheriffs of Orleans County — Surrogates ot Or
leans County — First Courts of Record — Supervisors of the Different
Towns in Orleans County since their Organization.

TOWNS IN ORLEANS COUNTY.

TOWNS.

WHEN FORMED. FROM WHAT TAKEN.

Batavia,

March 30th, 1802. Batavia is now divided into other

towns, and not known by that

name in Orleans county.

Barre,

March 6th, 1818, from Gaines.

Carlton*

April 13th, 1822, from Gaines and Ridgeway.

Clarendon,

Feb'y 23rd, 1821, from Sweden.

Gaines,

Feb'y 14th, 1816, from Ridgeway.

Kendall,

April 7th, 1837, from Murray.

Murray,

April 8th, 1803, from Northampton.

Ridgeway,

June 8th, 1812, from Batavia.

Shelby,

March 6th, 1818, from Ridgeway.

Yates.f

April 17th, 1822, from Ridgeway.

* The town of Carlton was originally named " Oak Orchard," and was
changed to "Carlton" in 1825.
t The town of Yates was originally named " Northton," and was changed
to Yates, January 21st, 1823.

NAMES.
Albion* Gaines.-)-
Holley.Medina.

A'lLLAGES IN ORLEANS COUNTY.
WHEN INCORPORATED.
April 21st, 1828. Incorporated by special act.
April 26th, 1832. " " " "
July 1st, 18E0. " " general "
March 2d, 1832. ¦'• " special "

* Albion was originally named "Newport," and the name changed to Al
bion when it was incorporated as a village.
t The village of Gaines has cea9ed to use its corporate franchises.

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 447
THE FOLLOWING LIST OF ElEA'ATIONS IS TAKEN FROM O'REILY's
History of Rochester and Western New York: FEET.
Lake Erie above level of tide water is.  570
Top of Niagara Falls is below Lake Erie. _ _    66
Bottom of Niagara Falls below Lake Erie  _ _   226
Lake Ontario below Lake Erie,     330
Canal at Albion below Lake Erie  ___  __  64
Erie Canal at Albion above Lake Ontario is   266
Middle Falls, Genesee River at Rochester, perpendicular pitch,  96
Canal in Orleans county, level above tide water    509
MILES.
Distance from Albion by canal to Albany.  _ _  293
From Albion to Buffalo,.  _   59
From Albion to Rochester  _   34
The descent given to cause a flow of water between locks in the Erie
Canal does not vary much from one inch in a mile. MILES.
Distance from Albion by railroad to Suspension Bridge  --44-J
From Albion to Rochester   __  _  30J

Members of Assembly elected from Orleans County since
its Organization :
Lafhrop A. G. B. Grant, from Shelby    1326
Abraham Cantine, from Murray     1827
Lyman Bates, from Ridgeway    1828
George W. Flemming. from Barre    1829
John H. Tyler, from Yates,     18S0
John H. Tyler, from Yates.   1831
William J. Babbitt, from Gaines    1832
Asahel Byington, from Carlton   1833
Asa Clark, Jr., from Murray    1834
Asa Clark, Jr., from Murray    1835
John Chamberlain, from Barre   1836
Silas M. Burroughs, from Ridgeway   1837
Horatio Reed, from Clarendon.  1838
Horatio Reed, from Clarendon.  1839
John J. Walbridge, from Gaines  1840
Richard W. Gates, from Yates    1841
3anfordE. Church, from Barre    1842
El isha Wright, from Barre  1 843
Sands Cole, from Ridgeway    1844
Gardner Goold, from Carlton     1845
Dexter Kingman, from Ridgeway,  1846
Abner Hubbard, from Murray   1847
Arba Chubb, from Gaines  .848

448 PIONEER HISTORY
Reuben Roblee, from Kendall    1849
Silas M. Burroughs, from Ridgeway   1850
Silas M. Burroughs, from Ridgeway   1851
George M. Copeland, from Clarendon   1852
Silas M. Burroughs, from Ridgeway   1853
Jeremiah Freeman, from Shelby.    1854
Elisha S. Whalen, from Ridgeway.   1855
Dan. H. Cole, from Barre    1856
Almanzor Hutchinson, from Gaines    1857
Almanzor Hutchinson, from Gaines  1858
Almanzor Hutchinson, from Gaines     1859
Abel Stilson, from Barre     1860
Gideon Randall, from Kendall    1861
Nicholas E. Darrow, from Clarendon   1862
John Parks, from Ridgeway.    _   1863
Edmund L. Pitts, from Ridgeway   1864
Edmund L. Pitts, from Ridgeway     1865
Edmund L. Pitts, from Ridgeway     1866
Edmund L. Pitts; from Ridgeway     1867
Edmund L. Pitts, from Ridgeway    1868
Marvin Harris, from Kendall    1869
John Berry, from Murray    1870
John Berry, from Murray      1871
Note. — Alexis Ward was elected in November, 1854, and died be
fore the session began, and E. S. Whalen was elected in his place.

County Clerks of Orleans County fhom its Organization:
names. whbi< elected or appointed.
Orson Nichoson,      November, 1825
Abraham B. Mills  __   November, 1831
Timothy C. Strong    November, 1834
Elijah Dana  _  ..November, 1843
Harmon Goodrich*. . _    March, 1848
Dan. H. Cole  _.  _  _  November, 1848
WillardF. Warren   November, 1854
John P. Church   November, 1857
Gaorge A. Porterf    _  Dec'r 30th, 1858
James M. Palmer  _    November, 1859
Edwin F.Brown   ..November, 1862
George A. Porter  November, 1865
George D. Church  November, 1868
* Appointed in place of E. Dana, deceased, under Act passed March 20th,
18i8. t Appointed in place of J. P. Church, deceased.

OK ORLKANW COUNTY.

44'.'

COUNTY Tlil'.AIl -REUS OF ORLEANS COUNTY KlldSI IT* OlJiiAMZ',-
TION :
1st Appointed by the Board- of Supervisors U> hold (luring tin-
pleasure of the Board —
William Perry  1825 Lorenzo Burrows.-- -  1840
James Malher  1826 Codington AY. Swan  184!
Gideon Hard   1827 Joseph M. Cornell   1840
Truxton Burrell  1835 Lemuel C. Paine  1845
Hugh McCurdy  1837 John H. Denio  1847
2d. Elected under the Constitution of 1840, for a term of three
years —
John H. Denio   November, 184h
Ambrose Wood  . " 1851
Joseph M.Cornell  " 1857
Ezra T. Coann  ¦¦ 1863
Samuel C. Bowen  •¦ 1860
Albert S. Warner  " 1869

county superintendents of common sc'iiool> for oklea.nh
County.- Ed-win K. Reynolds, Jonathan O. AVilsea, John G. Smith, Olive.'
Morehouse, Marcus II. Phillips, Abel Stilson, and James Tl. MnlK
son.

First Judges of Orleans County
tion of tite County:
names. when appointed.

Elijah Foot,
Alexis AYard,
Henry Angevine,
Benj. L. Bessac,
James Gilson,

April 22d, 1825.
Feb. 10th, 1830.
Jan. 27th, 1840.
Feb'y 7th, 1844.
Jan. 10th, 1846.

Courts slve the Orgakiza-
elected under constitution
of 1846, county judge
and surrogate.
Henry R, Curtis, June, 1847
Dan H. Cole, app. in place o!
lI.K.Curtis,deceased,Sept.24,'55 Gideon Hard, November, 1855
Arad Thomas, November, 1850
Edwin R. Reynolds, Nov., 1863
John G. Sawver, Nbv'r, 1867

District Attorn
ganization:

vs of Orleans County from its First Oh

NAMES. WHEN APPOINTED.
Orange Butler, 1825.
George AY. Fleming 1828.
Henry R. Curtis, 1831.
George W. Fleming, 1832.
Henry R. Curtis, 1833.

29

WHEN ELECTED UNDER Co.NS'J I-
OF 1840.
Sanford E. Church, June 1847
AVrn. K. McAllister, Nov. 1850
Benjamin L. Bessac, Nov. 1853
Henry D. Tucker, Nov. 1850
John AY. Graves, Nov. 185!)
John G. Sawyer, Nov. 186.3
Irving M. Thompson, Nov. 1865
Henry A. Childs, Nov. 1808

450 FIONEER HISTORY
Sheriffs op Orleans County since its Organization.
names. when appointed or elected.
William Lewis   :  On organizing County.
Oliver Benton  .  November, 1826
Wm. Allis  '.  , " 1829
Harmon Goodrich  '  " 1832
Asahel Woodruft  " 1835
John Boardman  " 1838
Horace B. Perry  " 1841
Aram Beebe  " 1844
AustinDay.  " 1847
Rufus E. Hill  " 1850
Ferdinand A. Day  " 1853
George AY. Bedell..  " 1856
Danly D. Sprague  ' " 1859
Robert P. Bordwell  " 1862
Erastus M. Spaulding  " 1865
Robert P. Bordwell   " 1868

Surrogates op Orleans County since its Organization.
NAMES. WHEN APPOINTED OR ELECTED.
William White  April 19,1825
Alexis AYard  April 3,1829
John Chamberlain  March 8,1833
Thomas S. Clark  January 21, 1836
DanH. Cole  January 21,1840
Thomas S. Clark,  January 21, 1844
- Since 1847 the duties of Surrogate have been performed by the
County Judge.

Supervisors of Towns, as Elected prom the Organization op
Orleans County. SUPERVISORS OF BARRE.
Nathan AVhitney  1826 Lansing Bailey  1839
Lansing Bailey.  '. .1827 Alvah Mattison  1840
Lansing Bailey  1828 Alvah Mattison  1841
Lansing Bailey  1829 Avery M. Starkweather  1842
Lansing Bailey  1830 Avery M. Starkweather  1843
Lansing Bailey  1831 Elisha Wright. _  .1844
Lansing Bailey  1832 Lorenzo Burrows  1845
A. Hyde Cole  1833 Warren Parker.   1846
Alvah Mattison  1834 William Love  1847
Alvah Mattison  1835 William Love  1848
Lansing Bailey  1836 Anthony Brown  1849 '
Lansing Bailey  1837 Anthony Brown. ..'...  .1850
Lansing Bailey  1838 Anthony Brown. . _   1851

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 451
Austin Day  1852 Luther Porter  1862
'Henry M. Gibson  1853 John D. Buckland  1803
Henry M. Gibson  1854 John 1). Buckland  1864
Henry M. Gibson   1855 Norman S. Field- - -  1865
John D. Buckland.  .1856 Orpheus A. Root  1860
'John D. Buckland.   185T Orpheus A.Rool  1867
Luther Porter  1858 Orpheus A.Root  - . .1868
Luther Porter   1859 Charles H. Mattison  1869
Luther Porter  1860 Charles H. Mattison  1870
Luther Porter  1861 Charles H. Mattison  1871
SUPERVISORS OF CARLTON.
Richard AV. Gates  1826 Jasper M. Grow  -  1849
Minoris Day  1827 AVillard F.Warren  1850
Minor-is Day  1828 Gardner Goold  1851
John M.Randall..   1829 John Dunham  1852
John M. Randal]  1830 Nelson Shattuck  1 853
Minoris Day  1831 Reuben N. AA'arren   1854
Isaac Mason  1832 Marvin C. Lacey  1855
Isaac Mason  1833 Gardner Goold   1856
Chester Bidwell  1834 Joseph D. Billings  1857
Joshua E. Hall  1835 Joseph D. Billings  1858
Horace O. Goold  1836 Joseph D. Billings  185!)
Hiram Merrick  1837 Daniel Howe  1860
¦Hiram Merrick.   1838 Daniel Howe  1861
Alfred Bidwell   ..1839 Joseph D. Billings   1862
Gardner Goold..   1840 John H. Harris  1863
¦Gardner Goold  1841 John H. Harris  1864
Alfred Bidwell  1842 George L. Baker  1865
Gardner Goold  1843 George L. Baker  1866
Asahel Byington, 2d  1844 Dennis Bi'ckford  1867
Epenetus A. Reed  1845 Dennis Bickford  1868
Asahel Byington, 2d  1846 Benjamin F. Aran Camp  1869
Alfred Bidwell  1847 Benjamin F. Van Camp  1870
Dalphon V. Simpson  1848 John Gates  1871
SUPERVISORS OF CLARENDON.
Eldridge Farwell  1821 Elizur Warren  1832
Eldridge Farwell  1822 Elizur Warren  1833
Jeremiah Glidden  1823 Zardius Tousley  1834
Jeremiah Glidden   1824 Horatio Reed  1 835
Henry Hill  1825 Horatio Reed  1836
Hiram Frisbie  1826 Horatio Reed   1837
Chauncey Robicson  1827 Horatio Reed  1838
Chauncey Robinson  1828 Benjamin G. Pettingill  1839
Chauncey Robinson  1829 John Millard  1840
Chauncey Robinson  1830 Jason A. Sheldon  1841
John Millard  1831 Jason A. Sheldon  1842

452 PIONEER HISTORY
Jason A. Sheldon  1843 Thomas Turner  .1858
Benjamin G. Pettengill  1844 George M. Copeland  .1859
Benjamin G.Pettengill  1845 Dan Martin..   1860-
Ira B. Keeler  1846 Mortimer D. Milliken  1861
Ira B. Keeler  1847 Mortimer D. Millken  1862
Orson Tousley  1848 Martin Evarts  1863
George M. Copeland  1849 Nicholas E. Darrow  1864
George M. Copeland  1850 Nicholas E. Darrow  1865
Nicholas E. Darrow   1851 Henry C. Martin  1866
Nicholas E. Darrow  1852 Henry C.Martin  1867
Daniel F. St. John.  ..1853 Henry C. Martin  1868
Nicholas E. Darrow  1854 David N. Pettengill  1869
Dan Martin    1855 David N. Pettengill  1870
Lucius B.Coy...  ._ .1856 Darwin M. Inman   1871
Amasa Patterson   1857
SUPERVISORS OF GAINES.
Samuel Clark  1816 Daniel Brown  1844
Samuel Clark  1817 Samuel Bidelman   1845
Robert Anderson  181 8 Samuel Bidelman  1846
Robert Anderson  1819 Arba Chubb   1847
Robert Anderson  1820 Henry Miller   1848
Robert Anderson  1821 Benj . Chester. . _   1849
Robert Anderson  1822 Aram Beebe   1850
Robert Anderson   1823 Aram Beebc   1851
Robert Anderson   1824 Aram Beebe    1852
Robert Anderson  1825 Samuel Bidelman  1853
Robert Anderson.  1826 Samuel Bidelman  1854
Daniel Pratt  1827 Gershom R. Cady   1855
Arba Chubb  1828 Jonas Sawens   1856
Arba Chubb   1829 Samuel Bidelmau   1857
Arba Chubb  1830 Nahum Anderson  1858
Wm. J. Babbitt  1831 Nahum Anderson   1859
John J. Walbridge  1832 Nahum Anderson  I860
Russel Gillett  .  1833 Almanzor Hutchinson  1861
Wm. J. Babbitt. _   1834 Nahum Anderson.  .1862
Arba Chubb   1835 Charles T. Richards.  1863
William W. Ruggles  1836 Charles T. Richards  _ .1864
Joseph Billings  1837 Nahum Anderson   1865
Joseph Billings   1838 Matthew T. Anderson  1866
Joseph Billings    1839 Matthew T. Anderson  1867
Joseph Billings   1840 Samuel W. Smith  1868
PalmerCady   1841 Samuel W. Smith  ...1869
Samuel Bidelman   1842 Elijah B. Lattin  .1870
Wm. W. Ruggles  1843 Elijah B. Lattin... 1871
SUPERVISORS OF KENDALL.
Ryan Barber  1840 Ryan Barber  184$

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 45:>
Henry Higgins   1842 Philo F. Prosser . . ,jL  1857
JosephMann   1843 Philo F. Prosser  1858
Joseph Mann    1844 Philo F. Prosser  1859
Levi Hard  _   1845 Maryin Harris  1860
Levi Hard    1846 Marvin Harris   1861
Abram Odell  1847 Pierre A. Simkins  .1862
Abram Odell   1848 William K. Townsend  1863
Wm. R. Bassett   1849 Nathaniel S. Bennett  1864
Wm. R. Bassett  1850 Nathaniel S. Bennett  1865
Alanson Whitney  1851 Gideon Randall   ..I860
Reuben Roblee  ... 1852 Gideon Randall   1867
William R. Bassett  1853 Oscar Munn  1868
William R. Bassett  1854 Oscar Munn  1869
Pierre A. Simkins  1855 Oscar Munn  1870
Philo F. Prosser  1856 Wm. 0. Hardenbrook  187 1
SUPERVISORS OF MURRAY'.
Asahel Balcom  1826 Harrison Hatch.  ..1849
AVilliam Allis  1827 Benj. F. Van Dake  1850
Amos Randall  1828 Jabez Allison   1851
Hiram Frisbie  1829 Jabez Allison  1852
Hiram Frisbie  _,  1830 Ezra N.Hill  1853
William James  1831 Danly D. Sprague  1854
Asa Clark, Jr  1832 Danly D. Sprague  1855
Asa Clark, Jr  1833 Benj. F. Van Dake   1856
Asa Clark, Jr  1834 Jabez Allison   1857
Robert Nichoson  1835 Jabez Allison  1858
Robert Nichoson  1836 Jabez Allison  1859
George Scmires...  ...1837 Ezra N. Hill   1860
George Squires  1838 Jabez Allison  1861
Joshua Garrison  1839 Linus Jones Peck  1802
Joshua Garrison  1840 Roland Farnsworth  1863
Cornelius Thomas  1841 Roland Farnsworth   1864
Cornelius Thomas.  1842 Roland Farnsworth  1865
John Berry  1843 Roland Farnsworth  1866
George Squires  1844 Roland Farnsworth  1867
Abijah Reed  1845 Roland Farnsworth  .  1868
Hercules Reed.   1846 Roland Farnsworth  1869
Abner Balcom  1847 Roland Farnsworth  1870
Abner Balcom   1848 Roland Farnsworth  1871
SUPERArISORS OF RIDGEWAY FROM ORGANIZATION OF
THE TOWN.
Oliver Booth  :.1813 Elijah Hawley   1818
Samuel Clark  1814 Jeremiah Brown.  ...1819
Samuel Clark  1815 Israel Douglass  '..'.1820
Israel Douglass  1810 Israel Douglass  1821
Israel Douglass   1817 Jeremiah Brown  1822

454 PIONEER HISTORY
Jeremiah Brown  1823 William C. Tanner  ,.1848'
Jeremiah Brown  1824 John F. Sawyer  1849
Lyman Bates  1825 John F. Sawyer.   1850
Lyman Bates   1826 Christopher Whaley  1851
Lyman Bates  1827 Allen Bacon   1852
Lyman Bates  1828 Marson Weld  1853
Lyman Bates   1829 Borden H. Mills   1854
Lyman Bates  1830 John R. Weld  1855
Lyman Bates  1831 Lyman Bates  1856
William C. Tanner  1832 Alexander H. Jameson  1857
AVilliam C. Tanner  ..1833 Luther Barrett  1858
William C. Tanner  1834 Luther Barrett  1859
Seymour B. Murdock  1835 Dyer B. Abell  I860-
Lyman Bates  1836 Dyer B. Abell  1861
William V.Wilson  1837 Hezekiah Bowen, Jr  1862-
Nathan S.Wood   1838 Henry A. Glidden  1863
Nathan S. AVood  1839 Henry A. Glidden  1864-
Josias Tanner   1840 Samuel C. Bowen  1865
Josias Tanner  1841 AVilliam W. Potter  1866"
Job Fish  1842 William W. Potter..  1867
William V. Wilson   1843 Allea P. Scott  186S
Dexter Kingman  1844 Allen P. Scott  1869
Dexter Kinsman..   1845 Henry A. Glidden  1870*
Roswell Starr   1846 Elisha S. AVhalen  1871
Allen Bacon....  1847
SUPERVISORS OF SHELBY.
Lathrop A. G. B. Grant  1826 Lathrop A. G. B. Grant  1840
Christopher Whaley  1827 Alexander Coon  1847
Christopher Whaley  1828 Alexander Coon  1848
Andrew Ellicott  1829 Lathrop A. G. B. Grant  1849
Joseph Rickey  1830 Lathrop A. G. B. Grant  1850'
Joseph Ricksy  1831 Jeremiah Freeman  1851
William Cunningham  1832 Elisha Whalen  1852
AVilliam Cunningham  1833 John M. Culver  1853-
Adam Garter  1834 John M. Culver  1854
Horatio N. Hewes  1835 Alexander Coon  1855'
Adam Garter  1836 Philip Winegar  1856>
John M. Culver  1837 Philip Winegar.'  1857
Alexander Coen  1838 Philip Winegar  1858
Alexander Coon  1839 Philip Winegar  1859
Alexander Coon  1840 Alexander Coon  I860*
Alexander Coon  1841 John T. Gillett  .1861
Alexander Coon  1842 John T. Gillett  1862
Alexander Coon  1843 John T. Gillett  1863
Alexander Coon  1844 John T. Gillett  1864
Lathrop A. G. B. Grant  1845 John T. Gillett  1865-

OF ORLEANS COUNTY. 455
Joseph W. Ross  1866 John]1. Gales  1810
Joseph AY. Ross  1807 David G. Deuel  1870
David G. Deuel  1868 Ela C. Bardwcll  1871
SUPERA'ISORS OF YATES.
Samuel AYarner  1826 Reuben Hungerford  18-'. )
Grindal Davis  1827 Asahel Johnson  1850
John II. Tyler  1828 Asahel Johnson  1851
John H. Tyler  1829 John J. Sawyer  1852
John H. Tyler  1830 John Gates.  1853
John II. Tyler  1831 Charles hum  1854
Luther St. John  1832 Charles Lum-  18C5
John H Tyler  1833 David I. Henion  I860
John H. Tyler  1834 David I. Henion  1 857'
John H. Tyler  1835 Daniel Clark  1858
John H. Tyler  1836 Chauncey 11. Lum  185!)
John H. Tyler  1837 Chauncey II. Lum  1860
John L.Lewis  1838 Daniel Clark  1801
Asahel Johnson  1839 Tunis II. Coe  18(2
John L. Lewis  1840 Tunis H. Coe  1803
John L. Lewis  1841 Tunis II. Coe  186-*
Samuel Taylor  1842 George Clark  1865
John L. Lewis  1843 Jonathan A. Johnson  1860
Daniel Starr  1844 Jonathan A. Johnson  1867
John L. Lewis  1845 Jonathan A. Johnson  1868
Daniel Starr*  1846 Henry Spalding  1869
Horace Phippany  1847 Henry Spalding  1870
Horace Phippany  1848 C. Jackson Blood  1871

COURTS OF KECOIU).
The Courts for Orleans County before the County Seat was located
at Albion, were held at Bronson's Hotel, in the town of Gaines. The
record of the opening of the first Circuit Court is as follows :
" At a Circuit Court held at the House of Selah Bronson, in the
town of Gaines, in and for the County of Orleans, on Thursday, the
13th clay of October, 1825, present, His Honor William B. Rochester,
Judge 8th Circuit. DAVID STRICKLAND,
AVILLIAM GATES,
ABEL TRACY,
MONTGOMERY PERCIYAL,
E. PERRIGO,
ZARDIUS TOUSLEY, Constables.
The following persons appeared and were sworn as traversejurors,
tri wit:
Martin Hobart, Oliver Brown, Samuel Norton, Joshua Raymond,
Nathan Whitney, Curtis Tomlinson, Zebulon Packard, Thomas Annis,
Zardius Tousley, Dudley Watson, Seymour B. Murdoch, Ephraim Mas-
ten, Oliver Booth, 2nd., Daniel Gates, Archibald L. Daniels, Richard
M'Omber, Timothy Ruggles, Daniel Reed, Ethan -Graham, John Hall,
Philo Elmer, Joseph Davis, John Sherwood.
Four causes were tried by jury, viz.: Moses Bacon vs. Ger-
shom Proctor. Samuel Finch vs. Charles Sayres. Berjamin Bab-
cock vs. Curtis Tomlinson and Sophia Kingsbury. Irene Leach vs.
Henry Drake.
The first Court ol Common Pleas and General Sessions, held in and
for Orleans county' , was at the House of Selah Bronson, in Gaines,
June 22d, 1825. Present, Hon. Elijah Foot, First Judge, Eldridge Far-
well, AVm. J. Moody. Wm. Penniman and Cyrus Harwood, Judges.
The members of the Grand Jury at this Court were Ralph H. Brown,
William Love, Harvey Goodrich, Hiram Sickels, Henry Carter, Hiram
Frisbie, David Sturges, Joseph Hamilton, Levi Preston, John Proctor,
Robert Anderson, Zelotes Sheldon, Silas Benton, Ebenezer M. Pease,
L. A. G. B. Grant, Benjamin Howe, Elijah Bent, Abraham Cantine
Eri AYood and Oliver Bennett.
AVilliam Lewis, Sheriff. Orange Butler, District Attorney. Orson
Nichoson, Clerk.

INDEX OF SUBJECTS.

Articles of Land, given by Holland Co., 24.
Animals, wild, 29.
Anecdote of John Anderson, 236.
Academy, First in County, at Gaines, 215, 250, 65.
Albion, Village of, 179.
Anecdote of locating Court House, 181.
Address before Pioneer Association, by Arad Thomas, 428
Appendix, 446.
Assembly, Members of. from Orleans County, 447.
Attorneys, District of Orleans County, 449.
Busti, Mr., Anecdote of, 26.
Beaver and beaver dams, 32.
Black Salts, 51.
Burying Grounds. Mount Albion Cemetery, 69. Boxwood'Ccmetery,
71. Hillside Cemetery, 71.
Barre, Town of, 73. Land to Religious Society, 74. Condition in deed
to Congregational Society, 74. First Presbyterian Society, 75.
Store, Tavern, 75. Survey of Oak Orchard Road, 76. First
Lawyer, Doctor, Deed of Land, 76. Death of Mrs. McCollister,
77. Warehouse, Sawmill, 77. Price of Lumber, 77. First Ball,
78. Fourth of July, 1821, 77. First Marriage in Albion, 78.
First Deed of Land in, 76.
Bear Stories, 81, 87, 235, 134, 402.
Burgess, Mrs. N. Cut logs for House, 211.
Ball at Millville, 320.
Barn, first in Orleans County, 408.
British at mouth of Oak Orchard Creek, alarm from, 84.
Counties in New York 100 years ago, 22.
Clemency of Holland Co., 25.
Clearing land, manner of, 43. First crops raised, 44.
Credit system, 52.
Canal, Erie, when begun, ~i~>, effect of, 50.
Court House, locating of, 181.
Clarendon, town of, 199. First town meeting in, 201.
Carlton, town of, 185. First town meeting in, 197. First settlement in
the County by Walsworth, 186. Manilla, 186: Mill for pound
ing corn, 188. Union Company, 189.

458 INDEX.
Carriage seat on springs of wolf trap, 238.
Cemeterys, 69. Mount Albion, 69. Boxwood, 71. Hillside, 71,
Congregational Society in Barre, deed of land to, 74,
Cradle, Pioneer, description of, 85.
County Clerk's list of 448.
Courts of Record in Orleans County, first, 450.
County Treasurers, list of, 449.
Common Schools, County Superintendents of, 449.
Domestic manufactures, 52. Clothing, how made, 53.
Doctor's bill, specimen of, 248.
Deer hunting, 389.
District Attorneys, list of, 449.
Ellicott, Jo., agent, 23. Anecdote of, 253.
Eagle Harbor, village of, 266.
Erie Canal, when and where first work on, 55. J is benefits, 50.
Education, state of, 64. Gaines Academy, 65. '
Fortifications, ancient, 14.
Fish, 29.
Friendship among settlers, 49.
Fire, loss of, anecdote, 210.
Gospel Lots, 26.
Genesee County, 28.
Gospel Lot in Barre, 74.
Gauntlet run by E. Hunt, 104.
Gaines, business in, when County organized, 250.
Gaines, town of, 210. Mrs. Burgess' log house, 211. Capt. McCarty's
Company in war of 1812, 213. First printing press there, 214.
Booth's tavern, 252. Sam Wooster, 253. Mrs. Booth and Jo,
Ellicott, 254.
Greenman, Preserved, anecdotes of, 403.
Hundred Thousand Acre Tract, 19.
Holland Purchase, 21.
Hackett, violin player, 378.
Hedgehogs, 31.
Hardships of settlers. Domestic mill, 40. Fever and Ague, 40. Brows
ing cattle, 47. Keeping Are, 47.
Highways, public, 58. Ridge road, 58. Osk Orchard road, 59. State
road, 61. Salt Works roads, 60.
Holland Land Company, names of, 21. Generosity of agent, 101. Do
nations to School Districts, 25. Donations of
land to religious societies, 26. Anecdote of
Rev. Mr. Rawson and Mr. Busti, 26.
Holley, village of, 305. Salt found there, 306. Mammoth tooth, 307,
First school house in, 307.
Hunters lodges, 245.
Hulberton, village of, 308.

INDEX. 459
Hindsburgh, village of, 311.
Indian mill, description of, 278.
Indians, false alarm, 86, 338.
Judges of County Courts, 449.
July 4, 1821, celebration, Barre, 78.
Knowlesville, village of, 373.
Kendall, town of, 269. Public library, 272. Salt making, 272. Nor
wegians in, 273. /
Land office of Holland Company, 24.
Log house, description of, 30.
Furniture of, 40.
Lawsuit before Esq. Chubb, 233.
Library in Kendall, 272.
Luther, Eld. Ben., style of preaching, 332.
Lyndonville, village of, 405.
Lumber, price of, 77.
Millyard tract, 18.
Manufactures, domestic, 52.
Merchants, early, and their stores, 51.
Mails and post offices, 53.
Manilla, 186.
Mill to pound corn, 186, 278.
McCarty, Capt., Company in war of 1812, 212, 88.
Meeting house, first^framed in County, 260.
Mammoth tooth found at Holley, 307.
Medina, village of, 367. Stone quarry, 372.
Murray, town of, 288.
Orleans County, first white man settled in, 186.
Phelps and Gorham's Purchase, 16.
Pre-emption line, 17.
Pultney. Sir Wm., 19.
Peaches and apples, 33.
Patriot war, 248.
Post office, first, 261.
Porter, Luther, strategy to get his grist, 377.
Pioneer Association of Orleans County, 420.
Quails, 31.
Rawson, Rev. A., anecdote of, 28.
Rattlesnakes, 30.
Ridge Road, when traced out, 59. Surveyed, 5S, 60.
Railroads in Orleans County, 63.
Religion, state of, 67. First meetings in Carlton, 07. Rev. Mr. Steele,
68. Baptist Church in Gaines, 68. Building Meeting House
in Gaines, 68. Specimen preaching, 332.
Ridge road, 58. When laid out, 58. Judge Porter's account of, 59.
Ridgeway, town of, 313. First town election in, 84.

460 INDEX.
Railroads, 63.
Sullivan's Expedition, 12.
School House sites, 25.
Salmon and other fish, 30.
Schools and school houses, 64. Description of, 65. Gaines Academy,
65. Academies at Albion, Yates, Millville,
Holley and Medina, 65.
Salt Works roads, 60, 74.
State Road, 61.
Sandy Creek, sickness at, 103, 289.
Salt at Holley, 306, at Medina, 314.
Sawmill at Medina- first, 367.
Shelby, town of, 376. Deer hunting, 389. Dancing in a gristmill, 378.
How Luther Porter got his grist ,377.
Supervisors of towns in Orleans county, 450.
Sheriffs of Orleans county, 450.
Surrogates of Orleans county, 450.
Triangle Tract, 18
Transit Line, 20, 83.
Trees, kinds of in Orleans county, 29,
Tonawanda Svi amp, 33.
Threshing grain, manner of, 44.
Taxes, raising money to pay, by S. C. Lewis, 220.
Town meeting, first in county, 314.
" Things I can remember,'' by G. E. Mix, 165.
Towns in the county, when organized, 446.
Treasurers of Orleans County ,449.
Union company in Carlton, 190.
Villages in county, 446.
Ward Levi & Levi A., agents, 19.
Wood, per acre, 29.
Wrestling, ring for, 50.
Wagons, one horse, 57.
Wedding in Albion, story of, 78.
Yates, town of, 401.
Yates Center, 404. Academy, 404.

INDEX OF NAMES.

NAMES OF PERSONS AND NUMBERS OF THE PAGES ON AVHICH
THEY OCCUR.

Achilles, Caroline, P., 175.
Allis, Thomas W., 150.
Allison, Jabez, 312.
Anderson Family, 234.
Angel, Nathan, 102.
Allis, Maj. William, 305.
Allen, Artemas, 372. •
Anderson, Robert, 78.
Andrews, Avery A'. 359.
Atwell, Levi, 226.
Busti, Paul, 26.
Bailey, Lansing, 79.
Bacon, 3Ioses, 240.
Balcom, Abner, 301, 405.
Barrett, Amos, 334, 352.
Barrett, Nahum, 347.
Barrett, Sidney S., 354.
Baker, Mrs. Laura 345.
Benton, Oliver 140.
^Beech, Dr. J. H., 246.
Bessac, Benjamin L., 117.
Bidelman, Samuel, 24J.
Booth, Oliver, 69, 251.
Bowen, Dr. Elisha, 255, 419.
Brown, James, 54.
Brown, Jeremiah, 325.
Bryant, Reuben, 302, 305.
Burrows, Roswell S., 76. /2*
Bumpus, Philetus, 182.
Bullard Family, 231.
Bumpus, Jesse, 76, 178.
Budd, Jaseph, 308.
Burroughs, David, 394.
Bullard, Alfred, 416.
Babbitt, William J., 54, 58, 261.

Barker, Joseph. 152.
Bates, Samuel, 284.
Barnes, Ezra D., 316.
Barrett, Lucius 334.
Barrett, Luther, 347.
Bates, Lyman, 339.
Benton, Mrs. Silas, 75, 170.
Beech, Dr. Jesse, 246.
Bennett, Isaac, 314.
Billings Family, 231.
Bidelman, Abram, 388.
Booth, Oliver, 2nd., 255.
Bradner, Wm., 76, 115, 183.
Brown, John G., 187.
Brown, Daniel, 264.
Bradley, Nathaniel, 146.
Burrows, Lorenzo, ftjf . / 6S-
Burgess, Noah, 211.
Butler, Orange, 233.
Bushnell, Harley N., 290.
Burlingham, Charles D., 330.
Burroughs, Silas M. 394.
Clark, Jonathan, 134.
Clark, Robert, 278.
Cantine, Abram, 174.
Cole, Darius W., 59
Cook, Lemuel, 208.
Cobb, William 342.
Coon, Alexander, 397.
Capen, Theophilus, 70.
Cady, Isaac, 209.
Cole, A. Hyde, 76, 115.
Cochrane, William, 842.
Coon, Milo, 373.
Coan Sylvanus, 368.

462

INDEX.

Curtis, Henry R., 123, 76.
Chubb, Arba, 232.
Curtis, Newman, 395.
Chamberlain, Fitch, 190.
Church, Ozias S. 114.
Church, Samuel, 341.
Chamberlain, Royal, 407.
Daniels, Grosvenor, 58, 348.
Davis, Levi, 323.
Day, Austin, 297.
Demara, David, 388.
Dutcher, Elder Simeon, 260.
Drake, Henry, 259.
Daniels, James, 342.
Davis, Perry, 225.
Darrow, Nicholas E., 208.
Douglass, Israel, 317.
Dunham, Matthew, 188.
Ellicott, Andrew A., 59. 376, 396.
Evans, David E., 70, 378.
Ellicott, Joseph, 23, 253, 376.
Evarts, Martin, 208.
Farwell, Eldridge, 200, 207.
Fellows, Joseph, 20.
Freeman, Chester. 263.
Foster, Aden, 170.
Fuller, Lyman, 197.
Farnham, John, 236.
Fairfield, Walter, 218.
Freeman, Gideon, 262.
Frisbie, Hiram, 296.
Fuller, Edmund, 70.
Gates, Daniel, 193, 212.
Green, Andrew H, 103.
Gregory Family, 380.
Gregory Matthew, 381.
Grinnell, John, 399.
Goold, Horace O., 415.
Goodrich, Harvey, 108.
Grant, L. A. G. B., 396.
Gates, Dr. Richard W., 191.
Greenman, Preserved, 403.
Gregory, Amos, 380.
Gilbert, Baruch II., 418.
Gilbert, Widow, 212, 47.
Grover, Dr. L. C, 360.

Gwynn, AVilliam R., 70, 71.
Hawley, Hon. Elijah 350, 53.
Haines, Jesse P., 61.
Hallock, Rufus, 133.
Hart, Elizur, 143.
Henderson, John, 184.
Hewes, Horatio N, 395.
Hill, Samuel, 223.
Hopkins, Caleb, 58.
Hoag, Peter, 363.
Hunter, Robert, 51.
Hulbert, Isaac H. S., 309.
Hawley, Merwin S., 53.
Hard, Hon. Gideon, 92.
Hart, Joseph, 169.
Hamlin, Areovester, 304.
Healey,Dr. E. P., 362.
Hibbard, Zenas F. 124.
Hinds, Jacob, 296, 311.
Hooker, David, 340.
Hood, David, 364.
Hunt, Elijah, 194.
Houseman, George, 501.
Ingersoll, Nehemiah, 77, 159.
Ingersoll, Justus, 161.
Jackson, William, 349.
Johnson, Rev. Wm., 75.
Jackson, James, 350.
Jones, David, 286.
Knowles, William, 355, 372.
Kuck, Rev. George, 191.
Lee, Hon. John, 73.
Lewis, William, 208.
Lewis, Gideon, 229.
Lee Family, 172.
Lewis, Samuel C, 228.
LeValley, John, 351.
Mattison, Abram 75, 78.
Marsh, Ray, 196.
Mather, Elihu, 259.
Manley, Adin, 273.
Masten, Mrs. Nancy, 359.
Mason, Jesse, 132.
Mather, James, 256, 266, 214.
Mather, Rufus, 256.
Mansfield, Alanson, 300.

INDEX.

463

McCarty, Captain E., 212.
Mix, Abiathar, 75.
Mix, Ebenezer, 75; Memoir of 424.
Monell, Henry 34.
Moore, Eli, 310.
Murdock, Seymour, 8-12, 315.
Mudgett, Stephen AV. 405.
McCollister AVilliam, 77.
Mix, Mrs. Lydia, 108.
Mix, George C, 164, 165.
Moody, AVilliam J., 76.
Morse, Jotham, 391.
Murdock, Seymour B., 385.
Morris, Robert, 17.
Nichoson, Dr.Orson, 76, 78, 110, 183
Paine, Dr. L. C, 70.
Peck, Linus Jones, 100.
Perry, Joseph L., 329.
Preston, William N. 342.
Pettengill, Benjamin G., 204.
Pierce, Aretas, 292.
Porter, Allen, 142.
Potter, Dr. Stephen M., 188.
Phelps ifc Gorham, 10.
Rawson, Rev. Andrew, 20, 109.
Parsons, John, 70.
Peck, Horace, 201.
Perry, Josiah, 410.
Pratt, Daniel, 208.
Penniman, William, 131.
Porter, Augustus, 59.
Porter, Luther, 157.
Proctor, John, 220.
Randall, Amos, 2«5.
Reed Family, 310.
Rice, Hubbard, 298.
Rogers, Ebenezer, 95.
Root, Reuben 407.
Rice, Enos, 156.
Roo;, Amos, 32, 84, 113.
Robinson, Chauncey, 294.
Ruggles, AVilliam AY., 264.
Salsbury, Samuel, 224.

Sawm-, Elisha, 418.
Starkweather, A. M., 118.
Street, Lucius, 140.
Spencer, Amos, 417.
Swift, Philetus, 58.
Smith, Mrs. Sally, 298.
Stone, Enos 30.
Strong, John AV., 805.
Sanford, Asa, 96.
Saxe, Peter, 404.
Spafford, Bradstreot, 205.
Steele, Rev. Mr. 68.
Shelly, Nathan, 230.
Smith, Moses, 141.
Shipman, Job, 196.
Skinner, Jarvis M. 145.
Strong, Timothy C. 111.
Southworth, Darius, 394.
Tanner, Gen. William C, 318.
Tappan, Hon. Samuel, 410.
Tripp, Anthony, 141.
Thurston, Stephen B. 133.
Tyler, John H, memoir of, 414.
Tanner, Josias, 383.
Treadwell, Richard, 216.
Thurston, Caleb C, 88.
Tanner, William, 125.
Turner, Otis, 314, 341.
Van Brocklin, John, 379.
Ward, Dr. Levi, 19.
AYard, Hon. Alexis, 171.
Walsworth, James 186.
Weld, Andrew, 348.
AYhitney, Nathan, 112.
AVhaley, Dr. Christopher, 348, 379
Ward, Levi A. 19.
Walsworth, AVilliam, 186.
AVeld, Thomas, 841.
White, Dr. AVilliam, 77, 314, 75.
Wood, Elijah AY., 298.
Yates, town of, 401.
Zimmerman, Jacob A., 398.

YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

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