History of Yates county, N. Y.

Introduction

IN attempting the production of a History of Yates County, the publishers have not underestimated the difficulties and the magnitude of their task. Although Yates County is not a very old one, counting from its separate organization, it has, nevertheless seen more than a century of civilized occupation; and in this new world, as it is called, the settlement and growth of towns and villages, and the occurrence of important events in their progress, have advanced with almost marvelous rapidity, while the materials for history have accumulated in a corresponding ratio. In making a history of this county the publishers entered upon the task with a determination to leave nothing undone^ to spare no labor or expense that could in any manner contribute to the successful and creditable accomplishment of the work. Whether or not they have succeeded is a question left to the judgment of the readers.

It is believed that the general history of the county will give entire satisfaction to all who may peruse it, but in some degree the subjects therein treated are in more condensed form than in works published earlier than this; still it is thought that nothing is omitted from the present volume that is necessary to be preserved as a part of the record of Yates County, whether of general or town history. It is not claimed by the editor or by the publishers that this work is free from error, for lo • INTRODUCTION.

it would be a thing unprecedented should there be found within its covers not a single inaccuracy ; nevertheless great care has been exercised to insure correctness in general and in detail.

The publishers are under many obligations of gratitude to the people of the county for tlieir generous support in making this work a success, but there are persons whose services in the preparation of chapters have been so specially valuable as to entitle them to more than passing notice. In this connection may be mentioned the names of Hon. George R. Cornwell, from whose pen the county has the benefit of an elaborate chapter on Education ; John N. Macomb, jr., who contributed the chapter on Free- Masonry ; Hon. William S. Briggs, for iiis recollections of the " old bar" of the county ; Steven B. Ayres, for the chapter on the Press; Walter VVolcott, for the Military chapter; George C. Snow, esq., for the chapter on the Vineyards and their Products ; James Miller, for the chapter on Agriculture; Charles H. Martin, esq., for the history of Starkej' ; D. B. Cornell, for the history of Harrington.

With the expression of these obligations the Memorial Historj- of Yates County is placed before the public by the editor and the publishers.

CONTENTS,

Chapter I

The Subject — Yates County Erected — The older Counties — The Terra Incognita — Formation of Alljany County —Of Tryon County — Of Montgomery County — Of Ontario County — Of Steuben County — Vates formed from Ontario and Steuben Counties — A general Topographical view of Yates Coiintv

— Its elevated Lands — The lakes of the County 17

Chapter II

Doubtful Claims to Prehistoric Occupancy — The Indian Occupation —Its Nature and Extent — Ancient Indian Traditions — The Iroquois Confederacy — Senecas occupy the region of Y'ates County — Sites of Indian villages in this Locality

— Their principal Trails — Remains of old Fortresses — The Seneca Tradition

— The League of the Iroijuois — Conquests by Confederates 23

Chapter III

Early Explorations and Discoveries — The French in Canada — The Puritans in New England — The English in Virginia — The Dutch in New York — Founding of New France — Champlain incurs the enmity of the Iroquois — Its after Effects — Adventures of De Nonville and La Salle — Neutrality of the Iroquois during the early French Wars — Tlie French make friends with the Senecas — Joncaire's Influence — French forts built in the Seneca County — Discomfiture of the English — The Final Wars — Extinction of French power in America 39

Chapter IV

The Enghsh Dominion — A brief rfsurri'' of Events — English conquest of the Dutch Settlements — Condition of the Indians — Still friendly to the French —

Contents

Pontiac's League — The Senecas involved with Poiitiac — Devil's Hole and Black Rock — Sir William Johnson makes friends with the Senecas — The Revolutionary War — Attitude of the Iroquois — Wyoming and Cherrj' Val • ley — Sullivan's Campaign — Destruction of Indian Villages - — Cashong, in Yates County, Devastated — 'The Indians retire to Fort Niagara — Their treatment by the British — Close of the Revolution — Overthrow of British Rule — The United Stales of America 48

Chapter V

Situation of the Indians at the close of the Revolution — They are recognized as rightful owners of the Territory — Treaties for the purchase of Indian Titles —

— The Grand Council at Fort Stanwix — Red Jacket opposes the Sale — A brief sketch of the famous Chief — The Medal — The subject Resumed — Conflicting claims by New York and Massachusetts — Their Settlement — Massachusetts o\ms the Genesee Country — Yates County a part of it — The New York Genesee Land Company '- — The Niagara Genesee Land Company — They Lease from the Six Nations — Looking to the formation of a new State — Imitating the action of Vermont — The attempt fails — Prompt action of Governor Clinton — The Compromise and its Reward Wi

Chapter VI

The land Titles — The Phelps and Gorliam Purchase — Its extent and Boundaries

— Troubles created by the Lessee Companies — How Settled — Consolidation of Interests — Extinguishment of Indian Titles — The old Pre-emption Line — Fraud Practiced — Town Surveys Sale to Robert Morris — The latter sells to English capitalists — Surveying the new Pre-emption Line — The fraud Discovered — New complications Arise — How Settled — Occupants of the " Gore"

— How Compensated — Settlement with Charles Williamson, agent of the Poultnev Association i;f;

CHAPTER Vn.

Jemima Wilidnsou, the Public Universal Friend — First Emissary of the Friends' Society sent to explore the Genesee Country — His unfavorable Report — A Committee of Investigation Chosen — The life of The Friend — Her sickness, recovery, an<l singular Transformation — Her Teachings — Friend's Society Formed — Her travels in New England and Pennsylvania — The Friends the pioneers in Yates County — Founding the New Jerusalem — Their Trials and Hardships — First wheat Sown — The first Mill — The coming of The Friend — Her home and Meeting-hoiise — A. dissension m the Society — Some prom-

CONTENTS. 13

inent members Withdraw — The purchase of Jerusalem Township — The Friend's Purchase — Her removal to Jerusalem — Death of Sarah Richards — Troubles following her Decease — A serious Litigation — Ultimate success of the Friend's Cause — Death of The Friend — Her last Will and Testamment — False prophets enter the Society — Its decline and Downfall — Memliere of the Society ... 71;

Chapter VIII

Early efforts at Colonization and settlement — Extent of Ontario County — Steuben County set Off — Towns of Ontario and Steuben which were erected into Yates County — How first organized and their Extent — The District of Jerusalem — Benton and Milo set oft' — Italy formerly part of Middletown — Middlesex originally part of Augusta — Barrington and Starkey come from Steuben Count}' — Torrey taken from Benton and Milo — A Urief allusiDn in tln' Wnr 1812-15 — Public sentiment in this Locality. . . 96

Chapter IX

Organization of Yates County — The Acts of the Legislature regarding it — Glimpses at the inside History — Naming the County — Governor Yates its Godfather

— The first Court- House pnd Jail destroyed by Fire — The new Court-House

— The second Jail Burned — The present Jail — The Clerk's and Surrogate's Offices — The County Farm and Property — The civil List — Federal Officers — State Officers — County Officers — County Societies and Organizations 105

FAMILY SKETCHES o2a

HISTORY

OF

YATES COUNTY, N. Y.

Chapter I

The Subject — Vates County Erecteil — I he nlder Couiuics — 1 ne Ten a Incognita — Foimation of Albany County — Of Tryon County — Of Montgomery County — Of Ontario County — Of Steuben County — Yates formed from Ontario and Steuben Counties — A general Topographical view of Yates County — Its elevated Lands — The lakes of the County.

rHE county of Vates, brought into existence by tlie legislative enactment passed by tlie two branches of the State legislature and approved by the governor on the 5th of February, 1823, was given the name of "Yates" in conipiinient to the then chief executive of the Conmionwealth. Under all ordinary circumstances a work which purports to be the separate history of a county would naturally commence with its separate organization, but should sucli a plan be deemed advisable much of the early history made by the presence and deeds of men and families, and the occurrence of events within its territorial limits, would of necessity be omitted. And it is a fact well known that the specially interesting events of early history in Yates County transpired prior to its erection and separate organization. Even as far back as ti)e time when this region formed a part of the old county of Albany, organized November i, 1683, during the possession and dominion of the famous Iroquois Confederacj', this locality was making history through 3 its aboriginal occupants. And stili earlier than that time, in 1638, during the Dutch dominion in the New Netherlands, there appears to have been an indefinite and immature knowledge and organization in the region of Western New York, as afterward known, and to it was applied the name of Terra Incognita, from the Latin, meaning "an unknown county." But the Dutcli were not adventurous explorers, and there is nothing of record to show that they ever made any extensive journeys into this then remote region ; and whatever of jurisdictional autiiority they exercised over the country at all was confined to the locality of the Netherlands and New Amsterdam.

Under recognized authority, with due formality, Albany County was the first organized jurisdiction that embraced the lands now included within Yates County. It so remained until the j'ear 1772, when all that part of the province of New York lying west of a north and south line drawn through the center of Schoharie County, as now established, was erected into a new county and named in honor of the then chief executive, William Tryon, his surname being the name of the new erection. But Governor Tryon, being an officer and an appointee of the Crown, for New York was then a royal province, was not highly popular with the successful American colonists who overthrew the power of Great Britain ; wherefore immediately upon the close of the Revolution the name of Tryon was changed to Montgomery. In 1788 all the region of the State west from Utica was included in the township of Whitestown. On the 27th of January, 1789, Ontario County was created out of a part of Montgomery, and was named from the lake which in part formed its northern boundary. At that time all that is now Yates County was a part of Ontario, but seven years later, March 18, 1796, Steuben was erected and within it was a portion of that which is now Yates, being the townships of Starkey and Barrington and a part at least of Jerusalem. However in 18 14 the part of land in the "fork" of Keuka or Crooked Lake was re-annexed to Ontario County. No further material change affecting this immediate localitj' was made until the year 1823, when Yates County was erected out of Ontario. The towns of Starkey and Barrington were added to the new formation in 1824. But before advancing thorough!)' into the history of the district prior to its distinct organization it is proper that there be given a

TOPOGRAPHICAL. 19

general topographical view of the county and of the towns which form the same ; and as the configuration of the surface has not nieteri.illy changed during the last hundred years this description may be given in the present tense.

The county of Yates is situate in the eastern part of the rich Genesee country, so called, and, while not central therein, is no less productive in all that the earth yields than can be said of any other portion of that extensive region. Generally the surface is level, but the succession of undulations frees the county from marsh lands and affords a most excellent natural drainage system. Being bounded on the east and west sides by the lakes — Seneca and Canandaigua respectively — the course of nature's dispensation has been entirely favorable, as the higher elevations are usually found about midway between these waters. But nature has made a still further favorable provision for this region, as the lake commonly called Keuka happens to occupy the middle portion of the county and is not so wide as to cover an\' considerable extent of land surface m that direction. Keuka Lake, too, is regarded as distinctively a part of Yates County, for the greater portion of its waters are within the limits of the county. To this body of water, from its peculiar shore outlines, there has been applied the name Crooked Lake, an entirely appropriate designation, for the like formation is not to be found in this State. In extreme length the lake measures twenty-two miles, while its average width is about three-quarters of a mile. The pecuiiaritj' of formation consists in what is commonly called the west branch of the lake, being an arm or offshoot of the principal body antl of about the same average width, and extending therefrom north by west a distance of about four miles. From this singular dispensation of nature the pioneers gave to this body of water the name Crooked Lake. To the Seneca Indians, and to the people of the Iroquois Confederacy in general, the lake was known as 0-go-yo-ga, but of the meaning of that name we have no definite interpretation. The same sheet of water is also known as Keuka Lake, which is also an Indian appellation, likewise of uncertain meaning. In this same connection it may also be stated that the Iroquois name of Seneca Lake was Ga nun-da-sa-ga Te-car-ue o-di. while the name applied to Canandaigua Lake by the Confederacy was Ga-itun-da-gwa Tc-car-itc o-di, the letter a in the first and third syllables being sounded as in "far." The present name of Canandaigua is the fair English pronunciation of the Indian apellation, but the pioneers of Western New York preferred to call Ganundasaga Lake after the occupants of the region on its west side — tiie Senecas.

According to a map and survey of the township of Milo and village of Penn Yan, said to be entirely reliable, made by J. H. French in 1857, we maj' note some comparative altitudes, using Keuka or Crooked Lake as a base. From the surveys and measurements made at that time it is learned that Keuka Lake is 50 feet higher in elevation than Canandaigua Lake; 153 feet higher than Lake Erie; 271 feet higher then Seneca Lake ; 331 feet higiier than Cayuga Lake; 343 feet higher than Oneida Lake ; 348 feet higher than Cross Lake; 398 feet higher than Onondaga Lake ; 487 feet higher than Lake Ontario ; 625 feet higher than Lake Champlain ; 718 feet higher than the ocean level; 52 feet lower than Owasco Lake; 122 feet lower than Skaneateies Lake; 182 feet lower than Cazenovia Lake; 475 feet lower than Otsego Lake ; 573 feet lower than Chautauqua Lake. As compared with land elevation in this immediate vicinity it is found that Crooked Lake is 236 feet lower than the village of Dundee ; 42 feet lower than the hamlet of Himrods ; 153 feet lower than Milo Center; 880 feet lower than Barrington Summit' ; 372 feet lower than Bath ; 707 feet lower than Blufif Point ; "j-jt feet lower than Prattsburgh ; 1,324 feet lower than Italy Summit; 572 feet lower than Rose Hill in Jerusalem.

.\gain, as showing comparative altitudes within the county, to point out to the reader the various heights of land, we quote from the published computations and estimates made by Israel H. Arnold in 1870 and referring ]iarticularly lo ])oints west of Jerusalem township, and for tiie purpose of determining the greatest elevations in Italy townshijj, which is generally conceded to be the most hilly and mountainous subdivision of Yates Count\'. For this investigation Mr. Arnold fixed his theodolite on tlie |jremises of Peter Pnlver in the township of Ital}'. ]~rom the conclusions thus made we learn the heigiits of tiic following points :

' Dr. Wright gives the Barrington elevation as 625 feet above the lake.

AL TI TUBES AND ELE I A T/ONS. 2 1

Italy Summit above Canandaigua Lake, sixteen miles clue north 1 ,525 feet

Bristol Hills, fourteen miles distant northwest, above Pulver Cpim-ieiy, . 43 "'

Bristol Hills below Italy Summit. ........ 7 ■•

Krisiol Hills above Canandaigua Lake, ..... . 1,518 '•

It.ilv Summit above Seneca Lake, si.\teen miles distant. .... 1.597 "

Italy Summit above Keuka Lake, distant six miles, 1,324 "

Italy Summit above Yates County poor-house, 690 "

County poor-house above Keuka Lake, . . . . f'34 ••

Keuka Lake above Seneca Lake, 273 "

Italy Summit above Ansley's Stone House, three miles distant, on lot 14 (Beddoe Tract), 1,918 teet or about 120 rods east of the White School- House Corners on Branchport and Italy Hill road, 507 "

Ansley's above William P. Hibbard's house, distant 660 feet, 30 "

Hibbard's above top of ridge, 100 rods east, ...... ": "

Top of ridge above Shull's northeast corner, seventy-six rods east. ' j •

Shull's above Keuka Lake, distant three miles, ...... 655 "

Shull's above Nathaniel G. Hibbard's carriage-house, distant 176 rods, . i6o " N. G. Hibbard's above base of Keuka Hotel, Branchport, distance 400

rods (one and one-quarter miles), . . . 4^^; •■

Keuka Hotel above Keuka Lake, distance forty rods ji, ■■

Keuka Lake above tide- water 740 "

From what has just been stated the fact clearly appears that the town of Italy can justh' lay claim to the highest lands in the count)-, while following it in this respect are the somewhat rough and hilly towns of Middlesex, Potter, and Jerusalem. But in Italy as well as in the other towns named there is an abundance of fertile and ])roductive land, susceptible of high cultivation, and j'ielding fair rewards for the husbandman's efforts.

The more level lands of the county are to be found in the towns of Benton, Milo, Torrey, Starkey, and Harrington, leading almost in the order of their naming. Milo is bounded on both its east and west sides by the lakes respectively Seneca and Keuka, and has a greater water front than any otiier town in the county except Jeriisalein. In Milo as in the other lake towns the slope from the shores back toward the interior is generally gradual, but in places the ascent is somewhat precipitous, making remunerative cultivation by ordinary farmers quite uncertain ; but when these conditions arise the husbandman has but to turn the farm into a vineyard and the results are substantial and profitable. In Jerusalem in the locality commonly known as Bluff Point, where a considerable elevation above the lake is noticeable and the ascent of land is

2 2 HIS TORY OF YA TES CO UN T ] '.

strong, agricultuial pursuits liave been largely abandoned, with the result that almost the entire water front of the Bluff is set with vines and produce much better returns to the vineyardist than could be expected by the farmer. Thus tiiere is but little waste or unproductive land in Yates County. And what has been said concerning the region of Keuka Lake front is also true of the eastern boundary of the county on Seneca Lake, in the towns of Benton, Torrey, Milo, and Starkey, although the latter region is not quite so productive in grape yield as on the Keuka shore. Now having located the county in the State, and having described its physical features in a general way, the chapters immediately following may properly be devoted to a record of its history prior to its civil organization ; to a narrative of the experiences of those who were its discoverers and first occupants, and who by their performances opened the way for subsequent pioneer settlement and substantial internal development and improvement. To sufficiently narrate these early events it will be necessary to refer at some length to the entire region of country of which Yates County forms a part, for,as stated in the early portion of this chapter, many of the more interesting occurrences of our earlj' history took place before its separate erection was made or even contemplated, and as far back even as the colonial period, when the French, the Dutch, and the English were planting their first settlements, each progressing from a different point on navigable waters and drawing toward a common center, wliich center when approached resulted in a contest for supremacy, ownership, and jurisdiction over the soil and finally ended in warfare, l^ctween these powers the strife was continued for many years, but the final culmination was the overthrow of British dominion in America and the establishment of the United States of America, a free and independent government.

CLAIMS TO PREHISTORIC OCCUPANCY. 23

Chapter II

Doubtful claims to Prehistoric Occupancy — The Indian Occupation — Its nature and Extent — Ancient Indian Traditions — The Iroquois Confederacy — Senecas occupy the region of Yates County — Sites of Indian villages in this Locality — Their principal Trails — Remains of old Fortresses — The Seneca Tradition — The League of the Iroquois — Conquests by the Confederates.

THE claim has been made on the part of some prestmiably well informed persons residing in Yates County that there have been found in some localities evidences of a prehistoric occupancy ; that there have been discovered certain relics and fossil remains and iinplements of peculiar manufacture, the like of which are now unknown ; and that they must have been left by a race of people different from the red sons of the forest, the period of whose occupation of the region must have long antedated the coming of the ancestors of the famed Iroquois. This claim is undoubtedl)' a mistaken one. To be sure there have been unearthed tools and untensils which were never in common use among the Indians, but the reader must remember that the French Jesuits and their followers traversed this country hundreds of years before anj' white civilized settlement was made by what we call our own people ; and it must be remembered, too, that the crude and to us unaccountable implements were then in the hands of comparative ancients, and were the product of a period in which was known but little of the mechanical arts as we see and understand and use them at the present time. Long years before the Indians of this locality and those of the afterward-called Canadian provinces were at deadh- enmity and v^■arfare there had been made European discoveries in the extreme northeast part of North America, and by a class of people who dwelt in a state of comparative barbarism ; and there are well authenticated records b\' which it is learned that this ancient people made visits to the Atlantic Coast and traveled or voyaged a considerable distance to the southward, even as far as the State we now call New Jersey.

And it may have been possible that this people brought and left some implements and relics which have been discovered by later gen-

24 HIS TOR V OF YA TES CO UN T 1 ■.

erations of investigators, and b}' such discovery may have been promulgated the theory of a prehistoric occupancy. The Indians, too, and especially the first of them that visited this region, are recorded as having been ready and apt in the construction of their weapons and tools, and discovering some ancient instrument imitated its construction for their own uses. That they had some immature and indefinite knowledge of metals and their value there is no possible doubt, but with the advent of civilized European settlement in the fifteenth century and following, and the distribution of various utensils and implements among the red men, the necessity of their crude manufactures was obviated, and their tools and appliances were discarded and replaced with those which were better and more substantial. But in the regions bordering on great lakes, and particularly in the locality of the present State of Ohio, there have been made discoveries that are unmistakable evidences of an ancient occupancy, far, back of the coming of the Iroquois ancestors or of their old antagonists, the Lenni Lenapes. Neither of these Indian people had any tradition that run to the time of the Mound Builders; hut the discoveries of such an occupation are constantly being made by the present generation of investigators. And there have been made discoveries in the region of Lakes Ontario and Erie in this Commonwealth that tend to show an ancient or prehistoric occupancy, but it can hardly be asserted that there have been found in the immediate region of Yates County any reliable evidences of such an occupation. There may be ill-defined outline possibilities from which we may readily theorize on this subject, but no substantial argument concerning their presence is to be advanced. Such an occupancy was possible, but quite improbable. It is extremely doubtful whether any ardent student of the iincient races will ever discover evidences of occupation in this region of eitlier Aztecs, Cliff Builders, Mound Builders, or even the lost tribes the House of Israel.

But before leaving this branch of the subject we fee! constrained to give place to the observations and discoveries of Dr. Samuel Hart Wright, which assuredly tend to show a prehistoric occupation of some character. Tiie results of Dr. Wright's investigations, as taken from a recent publication, are as follows :

" In Torrey and in Barrington are to be found relics of those earlier,

EVIDENCES OF ABORIGINAL OCCUPANCY. it,

mysterious races of whom but little but tiicir death is known. Arch;L-oiogists have called them Mound Builders, from the remains of their ancient life that lie scattered from New York to the Gulf of Mexico, and have attributed to them civilized customs and fabulous ancestry ; but later investigations show that they were races similar to the Indians. Whence they came will forever be unknown. Their arts and crafts partook of a modern civilization. Stone and copper implements, rough pottery, and coarse cloth evidence their progress in the mechanical arts. Their remains dot the southwestern part of New York. Around Lake Lamoka and on the boundaries of Harrington their mounds appear, while on the summit of Bluff Point they built an earthwork whose counterpart is unknown within the limits of the State. It is located in lots five and si.v, now cut by a public higiiway, and is seven acres in e.\'- tent. The elements have nearly obliterated all trace of it and the plow has completed the destructive work. What was the purpose of this singular construction is shrouded in mystery. It could neither have been a defensive work nor a place of burial. From the spot where it stands the western branch of Lake Keuka is seen, and but a few rods distant the eastern branch, with Penn Yan in the distance, looms in view. No more sightly position could have been selected.

"The construction of the parallel ridges is peculiar. They were raised but twelve or eighteen inches above the surface, were eight feet in width, level on the top, and faced along the sides with flat stones. The only conjecture with the likelihood of truth is that the strange erection was connected with the religion of that long gone race, the Mound Builders. How cannot be told. Who knows what god they worshiped or can tell the tenets of their faith ! Their history has long departed. Centuries ago it vanished from the earth. All things are fleeting, and gods, like men, soon pass away.

"This ancient earthwork, like others of its class, was as ine.xplicable to the Senecas as to us. Their traditions ran not back of their own history. In winter evenings, when gathered around the lodge fire, youths and warriors listened with bated breath to legends and myths that the ancients told, stories of wizards and fl>ing heads, — for the Indians were a superstitious race, — but they heard nought of any people that preceded them. In their opinion thev were the first that had li\-ed within 4

26 HISTOR y OF J 'A TES CO Ui\ T J '.

their territories; they were the autociithones ; at Hare Hill, in Middlesex, they came out of tlie ground and thence spread northward and eastward to the positions where the French first found them ; they were Oiigwe Honive, the real men. So far as they could remember no change had ever occurred in their social and political institutions, save only their adherence to the League. The same sachems governed them as in the earliest dawn of their history, and their language and religion saw no change."

So far as authentic history goes to show the first and original occupants of the region of this part of Western New York were the North American Indians. When the first Spanish adventurers set foot on the soil of this country they found its territory to be inhabited b)' a race of people who called themselves Lenni Lenapes, meaning " original people." They occupied the region of country that bordered on the coast and along the valleys.of the great rivers in the States now known as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, New Jersey, and others even to tlie extreme South. They styled themselves original people from the fact that they were then the most powerful Indian nation in this broad land; but they were not a warlike race of savages and were content to dwell at peace among themselves and with others, notwithstanding the claim that they had a grievance against the people who were originally called the Mengwe, but afterward the Five Nations of Indians — the all-powerful Iroquois Confederacy.