¦>•.¦:-?¦¦ > Siii-i-J/vMr-y .¦; ¦,;vv'"'^i;'"'E"-i' '¦ ¦ *¦¦• ¦:»S:.r'.'r'> '¦'•¦•. ¦•-¦¦.. ¦¦ 37Ti:':.:.v'iir;Mi.-'yL- ¦¦•«^v't"^ '¦¦¦ -SEi-' ¦ ••'¦ . ¦- ij.™s ¦»w; _ . .. .-*• ^Iw** *l«l*. ..WMW*. « 'TJ^JS YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY c^„ - ' K JsLines Wadswonh. HISTORY OF Livingston County NEW YORK FROM ITS EARLIEST TEADITIONS TO THE PRESENT TOGETHER WITH EARLY TOWN SKETCHES EDITED BY LOCKWOOD R. DOTY ILLUSTRATED 1905 W. J. Van Deusen, Publisher, Jackson, Michigan. F. A. Owen Pdbi,ishing Company, Dansvii,i,e, N. Y. PREFACE. WHEN I agreed to take a part in the preparation of this work it was only upon the stipulation that I should be at liberty to make use of so much of my father's history of Livingston County, published posthumously in 1876, as I thought desirable. The little leisure at my command put it entirely out of the question for me to contemplate the preparation of a history of the county, the substance of which, indeed the very text of which, should not be drawn in very large measure from that source. Accordingl}', I have in the main followed the arrangement and the text of that work through Chapter 19, making the changes and additions demanded by the result of historical research since my father laid down his pen. Mr. George C. Bragdon, of Rochester, has for the most part had charge of putting in form the town sketches from material furnished to him. The arrangement of the biographical section of the work has been in other hands. At the time of his death, Norman Seymour, of Mt. Morris, who had been from its beginning one of the most useful and interested members of the Livingston County Historical Society, had in course of preparation a history of Livingston County, and had collected a great amount of valuable material to that end; unfortunately for the people of the count)', Mr. Seymour's death interrupted his work before it had been put in narrative form. Such glimpses as he permitted the public to have of his work by an occasional published sketch from the manuscript showed, however, how instructive his contribution to local history would have been. Mr. Seymour's family, through his son, Mr. Henry H. Seymour, of Buffalo, placed in my hands unreservedly for use in this volume all the matter collected by their lamented father ; I wish in this place to express to them my deep sense of obligation. Likewise, my sincere gratitude is due to Mrs. Dr. Myron H. Mills and her daughters, of Mt. Morris, for their exceeding courtesy in per mitting me the fullest liberty in examining and using the books and papers relating to historical matters of the late Dr. Mills, one of the 2 PREFACE best informed Indianologists of the valley, who wrote learnedly and most interestingly of early local history over the sobriquet of "Corn- planter," and whose father. General Mills, figures conspicuously in the pages of this history. Mr. William H. Samson, of Rochester, an enthusiastic student of the history of Western New York, an untiring investigator, an infal libly just and discerning judge of men and events, and a brilliant writer, whose contributions to local history are unquestioningly ac cepted; Mr. Frank H. Severance, the learned and accomplished Secre tary of the Buffalo Historical Society, Hon. William P Letchworth, of Buffalo and Glen Iris ; A. O. Bunnell, of Dansville ; David Gray, Esq. , of Buffalo; Dr. William P. Spratling, and Mr. Frank Crofoot, of Son- yea, N. Y., have earned my special thanks in furnishing me very valuable material in aid of this work. I am indebted to the contributions to local history of the late Col. John Rorbach and to Samuel L. Rockfellow of Mount Morris: Duncan D. Cameron, of Caledonia; Rev. E. W. Sears, of Caledonia; Miss Wilhelmina Mann, of (iroveland ; W. P. Boyd, of Conesus; S. Edward Hitchcock of Conesus and others to whom credit is given in the pages of this book for matter appearing there. I desire also to express my obligations to the Council of the Livings ton County Historical Society for their permission to use matter col lected for the Society archives. In spite of the most careful proof reading errors will be found, for which I implore the reader to be indulgent. I must add in justice to myself, that I am not responsible for Chapter jJXXVII or for any errors that may be found there. The town sketches are necessarily brief and principally cover the earlier periods of town history. The work passes out of my hands to the publisher with the regret that I have been unable to give to it the undivided attention which the subject justly demanded. Geneseo, N. Y. Lockwood R. Doty. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Topography of the County — Genesee River — Canaseraga Creek — Conesus Lake — Western Door of the Long House — Pioneer Customs — Aboriginal Myths — Ancient Works and Remains — Jesuit Missionaries — Settlement by Sullivan's OfScers and Men 17 CHAPTER II. The Seneca Indians — The Kah-Kwas — Hiawatha — League of the Iroquois — Aboriginal Traditions — Cusick's Account — Monsters — Great Battle of Geneseo — Iroquois Domination — Iroquois Alliance -with the British 24 CHAPTER III. The Senecas of the Chenussio — Seneca Fortitude — Their Customs in War and Peace — Incidents illustrating Seneca Characteristics — A New Year's Festival at Squakie Hill — Handsome Lake, the Peace Prophet — Seneca Trails — Extinguish ment of Indian Titles' to Reservations 38 CHAPTER IV. Pouchot's Map — Early mention of the Genesee Country — Earth-works and Fortifi cations — Five Eras of Seneca Town history — Four Villages destroyed by DeNonville — Canawaugus — Dyu-ne-ga-nooli — O-ha-gi — Indian burial place — Big Tree — Beards- to-wn— Squakie Hill — O-non-da-oh — Ga-da-oh^ — Ga-nos-ga-go — Slio-nojo--waah-geh, Big Kettle's town — Kaii-agh-saws, Conesus — Dyu-hah-gaih — Chenussio — Gatht- segwarohare — Sga-his-ga-aah, Lima — Ga-non-da-seeh, near Moscow — Deo-wes-ta, Portage ville 57 CHAPTER V. Jesuit Missions — DeNonville's Expedition — Retirement of the Jesuits with the French 85 CHAPTER VI. Indian Notables — Red Jacket — Cornplanter — Henry O'Bail — Handsome Lake — Little Beard— Tall Chief— Straight Back— Big Tree— Black Chief— Jack Berry- Captain Pollard — Hot Bread— Half Town — Sharp Shins — Tommy Infant — John Mon tour puawwa — Mary Jemison— James Stevens — Seneca White — Thomas Jemison — Philip Kenjockety— Old Canuehoot 95 CHAPTER VII. The Western Expedition under General Sullivan, with a sketch of the Officers in his Command and an account of the Groveland Ambuscade and the torture of Boyd and Parker— Other incidents of the Campaign 138 CHAPTER VIII. After the Revolution — Phelps and Gorham Purchase — -Robert Morris — Holland Purchase Treaty of Big Tree — Charles Williamson — Celebration of the one hun dredth Anniversary of the Treaty of Big Tree at Geneseo 179 4 CONTENTS CHAPTER IX. Early settlements in the County — James and William Wadsworth — Other Pioneers — Sales of lands — Williamsburgh — Picture of the Genesee country — The Living ston Lease — ^Importance to the Genesee country of General Wayne's Expedi tion 226 CHAPTER X. Missionaries in the Genesee country — Religious Privileges — Visit of Louis Philippe — Duke DeLiancourt — James Wadsworth iu London negotiating for sale of Lands — Town settlements commenced 249 CHAPTER XI. Pioneer Election — Famine — Rapid growth of the settlements — Transportation facilities^The period prior to 1812 262 CHAPTER XII. The War of 1812 and the participation therein by men of the Genesee country — Result of the War advantageous to the settlements — The "Cold Plague" — Condi tion of Western New York in 1817 — First Newspaper in the County 283 CHAPTER XIII. Erection of Livingston County — Name of County — Location of County Seat — Public Buildings — Early Courts 306 CHAPTER XIV. Early Banking projects — Transportation problems — Post Rider — Stages— Genesee Valley Canal — Steamboats on the Genesee— High School at Gene.seo — Bible Society 321 CHAPTER XV. Abduction of Morgan — Anti-Masonry in politics — Alms-house established Purchase of County Farm — Close of third decade — Politics ^41 CHAPTER XVI. The decade from 1830 to 1840— Movement for a Railroad— Livingston County Anti-Slavery Society ,-4 CHAPTER XVII. The decade from 1840 to 1850— Removal of Remains of Boyd and Parker and other victims of Groveland ambuscade to Rochester, and Proceedings attending the removal— Later reinterment at Mount Hope- Livingston Colinty A on- cultural Society— The 94th Regiment of Infantry of the New York sfate Militia— The Campaign of 1844— Election of Governor Young— Railroad nro- 3^^='^ ^69 CHAPTER XVIII. The decade from 1850 to i860 -New Alms House— Last "Military Training" in the County— Genesee Valley Bank-Completion of Avon, Geneseo and Mount Morris Railroad — County Politics , _ 407 CONTENTS 5 CHAPTER XIX. The War of the Rebellion ; Livingston's part in it— History of the Wadsworth Guards, 104th Regiment— The 104th at Gettysburg— History of the 8th N.Y Cavalry— I3ath N. Y. Vol. Infantry— 136th N. Y. Vol. Infantry— 14th N. Y Heavy Artillery— 13th N. Y. Vol. Infantry— 33d N. Y. Vol. Infantry— 27th N. Y. Vol. Infantry 425 CHAPTER XX. Coveringthe war period in Livingston and the succeeding years to the present..496 CHAPTER XXI. The Newspaper History ofthe County 539 CHAPTER XXII. The Last Council on the Genesee— William P. Letchworth 555 CHAPTER XXIII. Craig Colony 582 CHAPTER XXIV. Some Indian Remains in the Genesee Valley 590 CHAPTER XXV. Livingston County Civil List 594 CHAPTER XXVI. The Genesee Valley Hunt 602 CHAPTER XXVII. The Medical Profession in Livingston County 607 Sketch of A von 622 " " Caledonia 645 " " Conesus 701 " " Lima 721 " " Lei cester 730 " " Livonia 761 " " Ossian 780 " " Mount Morris ¦¦••785 " " North Dansville 826 " " Portage 857 " " Springwater 867 " West Sparta 875 " Nunda 888 " " York 900, 958 " " Groveland 933 " " Geneseo 963 " " Sparta 1004 INDEX— PART I. Advertisements for Volunteers 429 Agriculture, Indian 38 Allen, Ebenezer or "Indian" 213, 786, 790 Allen, Tract 786 Alms House, fires 504, 505 " " Extension 520 " " Improved 513 American Party Convention 415 Amusements in 1824 332 Andrews, Dr. B. P 616 Angel, Benjamin F 412 Animals 655, 885 Anti-Masonic Party 344 " " Triumph 349 " " Meetings 375 Anti-Slavery Meeting 359 " " Resolutions 362 " " Society 361 Arthur, Chester A 904 " Rev. Wm. A 904 Artillery Company of Geneseo 29a Assemblymen 1822 to 1905 599 Avon 622 Base Ball Clubs 502 Battles m War of 1812 291, 296, 297 Batteaux 732 Beardsto wn 72 Bears common 885 Becker, Dr. Allen 613 Berry, Gilbert B 624, 627 Berry, Jack 112 Bettis, Dr. J. Ten Eyck 614 Big Elm 631 Big Springs , 654 Big Tree, Council 193 " " Chief 71, 109,176 " " Treaty 192, 208 " " Treaty Annuities 217 " " Treaty Celebrated 221 Black Chief in Blakeslee, Col. Samuel 629 Borden, Dr. G. T 613 Bonner, Frank J 783 Bowen, Dr. Frederick J 615 Boyd and Parker, Tragedy 172 " " " Burial 174 " " " Remains..372, 386, 740 Boyd, Thomas, his Reconnoissance 154 " " in Ambuscade 168 Bradner, Lester 835 Brooks, Gen. Micah 793 Broom Corn 798 Brown, Dr. John P 614 Brown's Log Tavern 903 Calder, James 902 Caledonia 645 ' ' Distinguished servants of 652 Cameron, John 655 Canal, Bstiinates and Cost 324 Engineering DifSculties 325 Extension 327 Tunnel 857 Troubles 863 Abandoned 329 Canaseraga Creek 18 Canawaugus 67, 646 Caneadea 555 " Council House 555 Can-ne-hoot 136 Carrick, Dr. Charles J 611 Carroll, Charles H 319.320,339,347 Carter, William 536 Cavalry Company 294 Census Statistics of 1825 340 Chenussio 80, 154 Council 156 Church Quarrels 649 Churches, Avon 636 Caledonia 657 Conesus 719 Groveland 951 Geneseo . 990 Livonia 769 Lima 728 Le i cester 754 Mt. Morris, 785, 819 North Dansville 846 Nunda 892 Ossian 783 Portage 865 Springwater 871 Sparta ion West Sparta 886 York 908 Clinton, Brigadier General, 159 INDEX Cold Summer of 1816 302 Cole, Dr. De Forest 612 Cole's Painting 862 Collar Brothers 702 Companies for the Civil War 427 Conditions in 1817 302 in 1830 353 " in 1840 366 " in 1850 422 Conesus 702 Lake 18 " " Salt and Mining Co. 770 " " Railroad 772 Conflicting State Claims 180 Conspiracy of Jail Inmates 500 Cornplanter or Ga-yant-hwah-gcli... 103 ' ' at Big Tree Council 206, 218 Coterie 844 County, Livingston 17 " Census in 1801 264 " Division Contests 309 " " Plans 312 County, Livingston, Agricultural Society 387 County Livingston, Alms House.... 407 Officers 599,600,601 New project 873 Seat, locating 314 Election of 1803 266 " of 1807 274 of 1808 276 " of 1809 277 " in the thirties 357, 358 m 1846 397 in 1854 414 in 1855 416 Covenant Chain 36 Craig Colony for Epileptics 582 Crisfield, Dr. James E 619 Dansville 77 Site of 256 Village 826 in 1812 830 in 1814 836 in 1830 835 Library 844 Deed to "Indian" Allen's daughters 214 DeNonville's Expedition 88 Denton, Dr. John 614 Deo-wes-ta 83 Destruction of Indian Property 150, 175 De-yu-it-ga-oh 73 Dickinson, Daniel S 651 Dike, Dr. L A. M 615 Distinguished Visitors 797 Distilleries 771, 777 Doctoring, Indian 48 Dodge, Dr. Frank B 617 Door of Long House 80 Driesbach, Dr. Fred R 616 Duncan, Mr. and Mrs. Robert, 876 Dutch Treaty with Iroquois 36 Dyu-doo-sot 66 Dyu-non-day-ga-eeh 72 Dyu-hah-gaih or Oneida Village... 80 Dyu-ne-ga-nooh 68 Early Bridges (Leicester) 740 Buildings (Mt. Morris) 789 " Citizens (York) 906 " Conditions (Conesus) 707, 708 " Co-jnty Boundaries 307 " Days 20 " Descriptions 234, 235 " Industries (Conesus) 704 ' ' Lumber Industry (Livonia) . . 786 " Postal Service 232, 233, 241 ' ' Preaching and Churches (North Dansville) 480 Early Presbyterians (Springwater) . . 872 Prices (Lima) 724 Religious Meetings (Leicester) 740 Statistics (Livonia) 786 Settlement and Settlers 226 Settlers Names (Avon) 626 " " (Conesus) 703 704 (Nunda) 889 Taverns (North Dansville) 828 East Avon 623 Ellicott's Survey 220 Emmett, Rev. Samuel 272 Epidemic of 1812 and 1813 287 Exploration and Researches 57 Famine of 1806 270 Famous Horses Imported 529 Farm Valuations in three decades... 538 Father Fremin 86 Faulkner, Daniel P. (North Dans ville) 827, 830 Faulkner, Judge, his death 520 Faulkner, Dr. James (North Dans ville) 831 Features (Conesus) 701 (Lima) 721 (Leicester) 730 (Livonia) 761 (Ossian) 780 (Mt. Morris) 785 (Portage) 857 (Springwater) 866 Fillmore, Millard, in West Sparta.. 877 " and Hungerford 878, 881 INDEX Fillmore, to William Scott 880 Financial Pauic of 1857 420 Fire and Water (North Dansville)... 845 First Bank 352 " County Buildings 317 " " Officers 314, 320 " Court of Common Pleas 319 " " " General Sessions.... 319 " Newspaper 303, 339 " River Steamboat 334 " Steamer on Conesus 509 Fitzhugh Purchase 262 Fortifications 59 Fowler, Wells (York) 903 Fort George, Capture of 289 Foster, Dr. Francis V 611 Ga-da-oh 76 Ga-on-do-wa-nuh 71 Ga-nos-ga-go 77 Ga-o-ya-de-o 555 Gathtsegwarohare 81 Ganson, Capt. John 627 Genesee Country, Settlement of 179 Genesee, Last Council on 555 Genesee Valley Telegraph 404 " " Bank 409 " Hunt 602 RiverBank 411 Geneseo 963 Geneseo Artillery Company 290 Geiger, Elias H. (Ossian) 783 Game and Fish (Springwater) 873 Geological Theories (North Dans ville) 827 Gorge and Falls (Portage) 857 Gordon, James F. (Caledonia) 652 Genesee Wesleyan Seminary (Lima) 725 Governor Clinton's Visit 339 Great Barbecue (Portage) 864 Gray, Dr. Arnold (Springwater) 870 Grover, Hosea 869 Great Flood of 1865 500 " 1902 536 Greeley Campaign ot 1872 507 Grist, Story of a 275 Green, Dr. R. W 612 Croveland 933 Half Town T15 Hale, Abram (Conesus) 704 Hammond, Amariah (North Dans ville) 830 Hand, Brigadier General 160 Handsome Lake 105 Hard Times 310 Harding, Chester (Caledonia) 651 Hastings, George (Mt. Morris) 789 Hemlock Lake 18, 768 Hendee, Ephraim (Avon) 629 Henderson, James (Conesus) 702 Hermitage Settlement 256 Hermit Melon (Conesus) 703 Hill, Dr. Hugh 816 Historic Ground (Leicester) 730 Hogmire Col. Jonas (Avon) 629 Holland Purchase 189 Hopkins, Daniel M. (Leicester) 736, 737 " Mark (Mt. Morris) 787 " Samuel (Mt. Morris) 793 Hornby Lodge (Portage) 861 Horse Wager 270 Horses, famous imported 529 Hortli, Francis (Conesus) 704 Hosmer, Dr. Timothy (Avon) 625, 627, 628, 647 Hosmer, James (Avon) 628 " George (Avon) 630 Col. W. H. C. (Avon) 628, 631, 640 Hosmer, W. H. C. Poems of 643 Hosmer, Stephen T. (Avon) 642 Horsford Jerediah 299 Hot Bread 115 Hunt Family (Portage) 860 " Washington (Portage) 860 " Sanford (Portage) 860 Hunting, Indian 43 " Ground (Springwater) 872 Huron Indians 32 Hyde, Corydon (Ossian) 783 Immersions in Winter (Livonia) 769 Improvements of Stock 412 " in 1810 281 Indian Council of iSoi 264 " Chiefs 737 " Depredations 266 " Habits (Conesus) 706 " Intercourse with 45, 46 " Remains 590 ' Sports 43 Insane Asylum 509 Iroquois League 19, 25 Jackson Health Resort (North Dans ville) 841 Jackson, Dr. James C. (North Dans ville) 843 Jemison, Mary 120, 125, 356, 789 Jemison, Mary at Big Tr^e Coun cil 206 Jemison, Mary, Reservation to 207 Jemison, Thomas 131 Letters from 132 Jesuit Missionaries 85 INDEX Johnson, Elisha (Portage) 86i Jones Brothers 230 " Horatio 732, 746 Jones, John H. (Leicester) 736 Jones, Dr. George C 612 " Dr. George H 613 Kah-kwas 24, 30, 32, 35 Kane and Moffatt (Caledonia) 646 Kashaqua Creek 785 Kan-agh-saws or Conesus 79 Kelsey, John (Avon) 626 Otto 536, 537 Kellogg, Charles (Avon) 628 Kenjockety, Philip 135 Kirkland, Rev. Samuel 163 Kline, Rev. Aaron 240 Kno-n-les, Family (Springwater) 869 " Paul (Avon) 634 LaMont, Dr. T. H 618 Land Divisions 230 " Prices in 1804 266 Land to Captain Jones and Smith (Leicester) 731 Last Council at Old Council House 561 " " Orlando Allen's Speech 561 " " Nicholson P a rk e r ' s Speeches 564, 573 Last Council, Thomas Jemison's Speech 567 Last Council, Col. Kerr's Speech.... 569 " " President Fillmore's presentation 573 Last Council, David Grey's poem... 574 Lauderdale, Dr. Walter E 621 Leach, Dr. Albert E 617 Letter of Seneca Chiefs 219 Leicester 730 Letchworth, William P 575 Lewis, Jabez (Conesus) 705 Lima 721 Little Beard or Si-gwa-ali-doh-gwih 106 " " at Big Tree Council.... 203 Littleville (Avon) 623, 634 Livingston County 306 " Towns 306 Set off 313 High School 330 " Bible Society 333 Enlarged 397 " Patriotism 496 ' ' Historical Soci ety 515 Livingston County Civil List 594 Livonia 761 Town Fair 77i Log Cabin, County Historical So ciety's 528 Log Cabin Tavern (Caledonia) 651 Long, Col. Holloway (York).. 902, 904 Lumbering (Portage) 864 Magee, William 255 Mackenzie, Dr. John A 611 Mammoth Ox for Sanitary Commis sion , 497 Markham, Col. William (Avon) 625, 627 Marl Deposits (Caledonia) 645 Mastodon Remains iu Geneseo 336 " " near Dansville... 508 Maxwell, Brigadier General 161 McCartney, VVilliam 232 McDonald, Alexander (Caledonia) 649, 650 McKay, Hector (Conesus) 702 McKenzie, Donald D. (York) 901 McMaster, Ebenezer (West Sparta).. 877 McNair, John (West Sparta) 876 David (West Sparta) 885 McNaughton, Daniel (Caledonia)... 650 ' ' John H. , poet and musician (Caledonia) 652 McNinch, Mrs. Jane (Conesus) 705, 706 McPherson, John R. York 904 " Dr. Thomas (Caledonia) 653 Medical Profession 607 " Society Members 1821 to 1843 609 " " Presidents 1821 to 1843 609 Menzie. Dr. Robert J 6x8 Merrick, Geo. W. (Nunda) 889, 890 Militia, 94th Reg. of 394 " Encampments 408 Mills, Rev. Samuel 257 Gen. William A. (Mt. Morris) 791 Dr. Myron H. (Mt. Morris) . . 792 (Livonia) 767 (North Dansville) 827, 828 (Portage) 861 (York) 902 Mineral Springs (Avon) 623 Missionary Movement 249 Montour's Indian Wife, (Leicester) 783 Montour, John 18 Monument to Sullivan's fallen sol diers 382 Morgan and Masonry 341 Morgan, Col. Abuer 622 Mormon Converts (Ossian) 783 Morris Reserve 169 Morris Robert 186,199 Morris, Thomas 192, 262 10 INDEX Morrissey, Dr. John A 620 Moscow Advertiser Announcements 304 Moscow Academy (Leicester) 739 " Advertiser (Leicester) 738 Moses, Dr. Elisha D. (Portage) 861 Mound Builders 25 Moyer, Dr. Frank E 620 Movements for Canal 323 Movement for New County 838, 350 Mt. Morris " 785 in 1804 and 1813 788 " Dams 798 " Raceway 349 Murphy's Fight -. 168 Narrative of Donald McKenzie (Caledonia) 660 New Religion 52 County Clerk's Office 525 " Jail Building 527 " Court House 529 Newspapers of County 539 Newtown, Battle of 146 North Dansville 826 Northampton (Caledonia) 646 Notable Land Purchases 262 Nunda 888 O'Bail, Henry 105 Odd Customs 47 Ogden, Samuel 188 O-ha-gi 69 O-non-da-oh 75 Ossian 780 Ossian Tract (Ossian) 781 Owen, F. A., Publishing Co., (North Dansville) 843 Page, Dr. Roy A 618 Patchin, Dr. Charles V 617 Patterson, Alexander (Conesus) 705 Patterson, George W. (Leicester) . . 735 Pearson Brothers (Avon) 629 Perine , Dr. Francis M 610 Perry, Dr. Edward C 612 Peterson and Fuller (Caledonia) . . . 646 Perkins, John (Leicester) 741 Perine, Capt. William (North Dansville) 828, 834 Phelps and Gorham's Purchase 184 Pierson, John (Avon) 629 Pickering Letter 215 Piffard, David (York) 903 Piffard Church 929 Politics in 1801 263 Pollard 113 Poor, Brigadier General 162 Poor House Farm 350 Population of the Senecas 55 Populations in 1790 229 Portage 857 ' ' 1830 to 1900 537 Portage Riot 410 Bridge, Old 510 " Bridge Burning 511 " Bridge, New 514 Post Rider 331 Portage, Division of town 864 Portland Cement Plant (Caledonia) 655 Pouchot's Map 57 Presidential Campaign of 1840 364 "of 1844 395 " "of i860 423 Preston, Dr. John C 611 Prices in 1817 303 " in 1820 312 Progress, 1802-3 265 Quarries (Caledonia) 645 Qua wwa 119 Railroad Agitation 354 " Projects in early fifties 402, 403 " Agitation of 1855 418 " Genesee Valley, Troubles 403 " Genesee Valley, Complet ed 419 Railroad, Dansville and Mt. Morris.. 505 R. N. and P 506 Railroad Bridges, (Portage) 866 Raisings and Whiskey (York) 902 Rae, Dr. Robert .". 614 Red Jacket 95,202,4,7,16,834 Red Cross Society ( North Dansville) 845 Religion, Seneca 48 Remains, Aboriginal 58 " Indian 82 Regimental Historj': 13th N. Y. Vols 427, 482 27 " " 427, 491 33 " " 428, 488 104 " " 428 130 " " 457 136 " " 472 8 " Cavalry 428,449 14 " H. A..' 478 Richmond, Dr. Charles H 613 River Boating 332, 334, 336 Rice, William (Avon) 625 Rice, Dr. James (Avon) 630 Riggs, Judge (Avon) 634 Royce, Samuel (Leicester) 737 Rochester, Col. Nathaniel (North Dansville) 280, 828, 831 Rorbach, Col. John 428 Salt Companies 521 " Industry (York) 905 INDEX 11 Salt Mines 523 " Production 524 Sanders, C. K. (Nunda) 891 Schools and Sports 42 Scotch Immigrants of 1797 260 " Pioneers (Caledonia) 646 Scott, James 271 Scott, William(West Sparta) 882 " His Reminiscences (West Sparta) 272,884 Scotch Presbyterians (Caledonia).... 646 " Immigrants (York) 901 Seditious Acts 241 Senecas, Antiquity of the 19, 24 " Defeat Kah-k-was 33 " Home Life of the 41 Flight of the 176 Settlement of Lots (Conesus) 710 Settlements growing 231 Seymour, Norman (Mount Morris) 794 Sga-his-ga-aah, or Lima 82 Sharp Shins 117 Sho-no-jo-waah-geh, or Mt. Morris 78 Sleeper, Col. Reuben (Mt. Morris) 794 Small Pox 240 Smith, Gerritt 360, 362 Smyth, General Smith, William M. (Caledonia) 652 " Joseph (Leicester) 737 " George (Livonia) 763 " " in War of 1812 (Li vonia) 764 South Avon (Avon) 624 Soldiers of War of 1812 (Conesus)... 704 South Lima (Lima) 721 Southworth, Alvah (Springwater)... 871 Sparta 1004 Sparta in 1798 258 Spencerport 958 Springwater 867 Squakie Hill 73 " " Festival 50 " " (Mount Morris) 788 Squaw Life 45 Squires, Dr. George W 619 Squires, Dr. Wm. P 611 State Fish Hatchery (Caledonia).... 653 Stump Pulling (Ossian) 782 Stanley, Jesse (Mount Morris) 793 Stage Lines 234, 241, 321, 331, 367 State Road Improvement 263 Stevenson, James 130 Straight Back 109 Strasenburgh, Dr. Frederick A 619 Sullivan Expedition 22, 138 General 156 Sullivan, His return 177 " His army congratulated... 177 Sullivan's Army (Conesus) 706 Superstitions, Indian 24, 90 Supervisors — See Various Town Sketches Sympathy for the Greeks 333 Taintor, Dr. Solomon 616 Tall Chief 107 Talleyrand's Visit 239 Taverns 723 , 724 Tea Party 259 Thompson, Maj . Isaiah (Avon) 625 Thatcher, Rev. Daniel 249 Tliaj'er murder 526 Thirtieth Congressional District 358 Tide of Immigration 299 Tommy Infant 117 Towns, Seneca 65 Trade with Indians.. 45 Trails, Indian 54 Transportation 273, 305, 322, 327 Treaties 738 Trimmer, Dr. WiU S 619 Tuscarora Tract (Nunda) 888 VanCampen, Major Moses (North Dansville) 832 Victor, Battle near, 1687 89 Wadsworth, Charles F note 534 Wadsworth, Craig W note 534 Wadsworth, Craig W., Jr 534 Wadsworth, James 226 Wadsworth, James S 428, 499 Wadsworth, James W 521, 525 Wadsworth, James W. , Jr 535 Wadsworth, Jeremiah 227 Wadsworth, William 226,283 Wadsworth, William A 534 Wadsworth Land Purchase 229 Wadsworth Land Sale 277 Wadsworth Guard 408, 428 War Methods, Indian 39 " Plots 243 " of 1812 283 War Refugees 293 " of the Rebellion 425 " Bounties from County 498 War of 1812 (Caledonia) 655 Water Works (Caledonia) 654 Water Lots (Conesus) 719 Warner Family (Lima) 722 Watkins, Adolphus (Lima) 723 Water Rights' Litigation (Livonia) 768 Walbridge, Orson (Springwater) 870 Washington to Sullivan 150 Wayne's Expedition 245 12 INDEX West Sparta 875 Western Door of Long House 80 Wheat Carried to Albany 266 Whalley, John P. (Avon) 628 White, William M. (Ossian) 783 Wicker, Dr. Frederick A 614 Williamsburgh 257, 938, 946 " Fair and Races 239 Williamson, Capt. Charles 181, 250, 254 Wilson hung for murder 501 Wiley, John (Springwater) 869 Wiard, Thomas (Avon) 627 Williamson, Capt. Charles (Caledo nia) 646 Williamson, Capt. Charles (North Dansville) 832 Williams, Col. George (Portage).... 858 Withington Family (Springwater).. 870 Wolves troublesome (Conesus) 708 Wolves (Ossian) 782 " and Thistles (Nunda) 891 Woodruff, Solomon (Livonia) 761 Woodruff, Philip (Livonia) 763 Ya-go-wa-ne-a 32 Young, John, Governor 398 " " U. S. Treasurer 405 ' " (Conesus) 705 York 900 York Landing 915 York, Streams of 922 York Volunteers, War of 1812 913 INDEX— PART II. Acker, Francis M Adams, George B. portrait facing Adams, John H. Adams, Sireno F. . Allen, M. P. . Alverson, Frank J. Anderson, James D. Annin, Jr., James . Armsted, Cynes H. Arnold, Norman C. Atherton, Charles O. Atwell, George W. . Austin, Charles Averill, Henry E. . Baker, Alonzo D. Baker, Monroe D. . . Barber, Aaron . . Baylor, William Beuerlein, Barney . . Beuerleiu, Jr. . Frederick Bigelow, Edward Everett Bingham, Charles L. Bishop, William W. Bonner, Frank C. . Bonner, Samuel . . Bradley, Michael C. Bradner, family Brinkerhoff, Fred T. Bunnell, A. O. . . . Cameron, DeLancey .•\. Chamoerlain, Harlem G Clark, Oliver D. . Clark, Thomas. Coffee, John D. . . Cogswell, William . Covert, Nathaniel P. Crane, Scott W. . . Crofoot, Fred H. Crosier, Otis L. Crouse, James H. . Cui ley, Fred A. Curtis, Henry B. . . Daley, Frederick E. . Delehanty, Timothy. Dick, William . . Donohue, Joseph D. Donovan, John F. Dover, George D. . 30 50 48 122 38 104 43 8539 60 8 117 91 7075 81 67 49 91 40 5 135 32 654298 113 87 132 68 96 124 108 97 114 4684 27 12 74 36 70 114 49 9076 Doty, Everett Eddy, Allen S Ewart, George .S. . Farnum, William H Faulkner, family . . . . Feley, Milton . Fenno, Willis W. Fielder, Frank . . . Fitch, John Foley, D. . ... Frazer, James B, . . . Gamble, Charles W. . Gamble, Murray L. ... Gooding, William S. Gore, Michael E. . Gregory, Walter E Griffin, James . . Grimes, Frank H. . Hagadorn, Dr. Levi Hill, Truman A. Hitchcock, Solomon . . . Holford, Fred D. . Hovey, Frank E. . Hubbard, Henry E. Hughes, John H Hunt, Frederick Bancroft 10 Hunt, William W 72 Jones, Benjamin E . . . . 88 Jones, Richard M Keisler, Mrs. Margaret Maloy . . . Kelly, Charles J. Kershner Peter W Killip, William W Killip, William W. portrait facing, King, A. J Kittredge, Rev. Josiah Edwards . . Knapp, Isaac B. Kramer, William ... Lewis, Joseph D. ... Light, Enime . . Linsley, Martin F 39 Lockington, James E 102 Lynde, Charles S 81 McGee, Frank Paret 115 Markham, William Guy 95 Martin, Amasa H 105 Martin, Aniasa H. portrait facing . 105 Marvin, Hyde D 77 100 45 21 47 15 46 50 103 92 114 83 106 7 25 42 116 5 45 7993 22 6369 118102 94 76 112112 37 37 47 58 71 107 8082 INDEX 14 Maxwell^ William J. . McCurdy, Andrew . . McKay, H. Ross . . . McLaughlin, Edward J McLeod, William . . McMahan, William W McNair, family . . . McVicar, John M. Meacham, Ciiarles Menzie, David .... Merry, Edgar . Miller, Garret S. . ¦ Mills, Dr. Charles J. . Mills, Myron H. . Mills, Myron H., portrait facin Morris, Charles F. . . . Morton, James H Moses, Grant E Moses, Lewis H. Moses, R. H Murray, John Rogers Nash, Enos A. . Newton. Aurora D Nickerson, John O. Noonan, Maurice . . Northrop, George C. . ... Northrop, George C.iportrait facing Norton, William Henry O' Conner, Lewis C. . Olmstead, Theodore F Olp, Albert C Osborne, Edwin B. Peck, Roy A. . . . Pickard, Jay C Piffard, David Halsey Pitt, William D. . . Prophet, John M. . Randolph, Willis J. . Redband, Frank . . Robinson, William Y Rockfellow, S. L. Rogers, A. H. . Root, Charles H. . . 25 Russell, Daniel F 38 119 Russell, Thomas 42 57 Schanck, Willard P 98 83 Schmitz, Herbert 104 33 Seymour, Norman 125 36 Seymour, Norman, portrait facing 125 3 Sherman, Walter H. . . 28 101 Short, S. Truman 44 64 Shultz, Warren D. . . . 72 32 Steele, Prof. L. N. . . io5 78 Steele, Timothy C 89 69 Stephenson, Thomas V. . . 73 83 Stewart, Neil 13 137 Stone, Truman Lewis 50 137 Stroble, Charles N. . . ... 40 118 Swan, William H 74 57 Swartz, Charles H 18 67 Thomson, Adelbert L 56 13 Vanderbelt, John 0 86 65 Van Valkenburg, Alfred L 105 13U Walker, Foster W. . 41 30 Ward, family 109 II Warlord, L. W. . . , 46 24 Wasson, Archibald 87 20 Weed, William J 33 29 Welch, Richard R 24 29 West, Lovette P 99 19 Wheelock, Austin W. . . . 54 108 White, John L 100 88 Whiteman, Mrs. Rebecca E 124 115 Whitmore, William 6 86 Wiard, Frederick H 78 71 Wilcox, Harvey W. . 8 9 Willard, Dr. Charles C 33 17 Willis, William N 15 77 Wilner, Fred M 35 95 Wiugate, Charles W 93 31 Witt, JohnC 89 74 Woodruff, Edward B 6 90 Woodruff Oscar, 26 136 Woodwortli, family 62 9 Woolever, Charles W 109 64 Worden, Charles A 123 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Upper Falls of Genesee showing Portage Bridge i8 Cusick's Monster 29 Middle Falls of Genesee 39 Pouchot's Map 57 Ancient Earth-works in Livonia.. . 60 Site of Fortified Town near Bosley's Mills , _. 62 Dansville Fortification 63 Site of Tuscarora Burial-place 70 Site ol Big Tree Village and Mon tour's Grave 71 Indian Apple Tree on Big Tree Reservation 72 Indian Apple Tree on Squakie Hill 74 Red Jacket's Hut and Residence of Captain Jones 95 Mary Jemison Apple Trees in Lei cester ; 123 Mary Jemison Monument at Glen Iris 128 Portrait of Thomas Jemison 131 Log House built by Thomas Jemison 132 Portrait of Kenjockety 135 Map showing Sullivan's Route and Groveland Ambuscade 164 Sullivan's Route traced on Soldier's powder horn 164 Scene on west shore of Conesus Lake, showing Route of Boyd Scouting Party 166 Tradition has made this Oak near the Boyd and Parker mound one of the instruments of Boyd's torture 172 Burial Mound of Boyd and Parker, showing where the creek has cut it away I75 Boyd aud Parker Mound, looking from the west I77 Map of Phelps and Gorham Pur chase 179 Augustus Porter Survey of Phelps and Gorham Purchase— 1792 185 Portrait of Robert Morris 186 Map of Holland Land Company's Preliminary Survey, 1797 189 Cobblestone House — Site of Wads worth dwelling occupied by Commissioners and others at Big Tree Treaty 197 The Pole marks probable site of the Council House at Big Tree Treaty 198 Sketch from part of Joseph Elli cott's map of 1800 220 Portrait of Gouverneur Morris 222 Portrait of Jeremiah Wadsworth. . . . 227 Map of Williamsburgh 246 Portrait of Major General Wads worth 284 Cobblestone District School House, Geneseo 316 Old Livingston County Court House, Clerk's Office and Jail 318 Programme of Canal Celebration at Nunda 324 Announcement of Celebration of Completion ot Canal 327 Genesee Valley Canal Time Table.. 328 Livingston County High School... 330 Genesee Lands for Sale 334 Portrait of Judge Charles H. Carroll 339 Scalping Knife, Axe and Bullet Moulds dug up at Scene of Groveland Ambuscade 370 Monument to Sullivan's Men killed in Groveland Ambuscade...... 382 Graves of Snllivau's Men at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Rochester. . . . 387 Williamsburgh Cemetery — Monu ments of James G. Birney and Judge Carroll 395 Portrait of Governor John Young. . 398 Portrait of Brig. Gen'l James S. Wadsworth 428 Camp Union Geneseo 429 Picture of old Portage Bridge, from Compton's litographic print 511 Picture of old Portage Bridge, from photograph by a London artist.. 514 Log Cabin and Group of Members of Hist'l Soci'y in attendance at dedication ceremonies 516 lf> LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Livingston County Jail and Sher iff's Residence 527 Henry Clay 529 Livingston County Court House 533 Old County News papers 539 Old County News papers 540 Old Caneadea Council House at Glen Iris 556 Group of Notables at Last Council of the Genesee 562 Portrait of William Pryor Letch worth 575 Indian Mound unearthed at Sq^ua- kie Hill 590 Pipe and Beads found in Indian Mound at Squakie Hill 592 Portrait of Lockwood R. Doty 596 The M. F. H . 602 A Meet at Ashant'ee 604 A Meet in the Early Days of the Hunt Club 606 The M. F. H. at the Homestead with the Pack 608 Major W. A. Wadsworth, M. F H., and Hounds 610 Finding the Scent 610 First U. P. Church, Caledonia 658 Moscow Academy 739 Old Mill Wheel at outlet of Cone sus Lake, Lakeville 779 Memorial Monument to Dr. M. H. Mills 793 Portrait of William A. Mills 805 Old View of Mt. Morris Village, Western part 817 Portrait of Nathaniel Rochester. . . . 828 Portrait of Moses VanCampen 832 Main Street, East Side, Dansville, 1830 835 Packet Boat Time Table 837 Scene on Canal at Comminsville. . . 837 Dansville High School 839 Original Water Cure at Dansville.. . 840 Portrait of Dr. James Caleb Jackson 840 Jackson Health Resort — Main Building 841 Dr. James H. Jackson and Jackson Health Resort 842 Owen Publishing Co. Plant 844 St. Patrick's Church, Dansville.... 847 First German Lutheran Church, Dansville 849 Methodist Church, Dansville 851 St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Dans ville 853 Baptist Church, Dansville 855 Bridge between Geneseo and York.. 900 William Doty's Inn 936 Hotel at Williamsburgh 938 Old Picture of Geneseo Village — Looking north on Main Street, Court House in distance ; Wads worth homestead in foreground 965 Portrait of L. L . Doty 975 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY 17 M' CHAPTER I. IDWAY between lake Ontario and the Pennsylvania border, and centrally between Seneca lake and the Niagara river, in the heart of the fertile region known as the Genesee country, lies the beautiful agricultural County of Livingston. Watered by the chief river of Western New York, whose broad deep basin forms the widely famed valley that bears the river's name, and furrowed by a tributary whose extent is mainly within the county, its surface — also indented by two picturesque lakes — presents a topography of diversified outline; the bold acclivities ofthe river high lands rising with grand effect in the southwestern border, and offering fine contrast to the less striking rural scenery. The boundaries of the county, defined by statute more than by nat ural limits, are, nevertheless, marked in their general contour, except at the north, by an elliptical rim, consisting of continuous ridges of hills, which, converging at the south, form a noble amphitheatre, in whose bosom nestles the most populous, though in geographical extent the smallest township of the shire; while from fruitful valleys, watered by a hundred rivulets that seam its sides, the central township rises like a vast mound to the height of full three hundred feet.^ While the configurations are quite varied, every part of the territory is, with rare exceptions, adapted to tillage; and not only are the leading physical features attractive to the eye, but the organic remains, and peculiar geological formation of the section, open to the student of nature's works a field of no ordinary interest. The Genesee river, which cuts the county into unequal parts, breaks through the mountain-like barrier at the southwest, and, flowing with its deep channel, for ten miles or more along the western border, at length enters Livingston county, foaming over a succession of catar acts. Sweeping northward between high and precipitous banks, for a dozen miles, amid scenery of great variety, its waters abruptly leave the narrow chasm worn by centuries of attrition, to glide through this I. The town of Groveland. Dansville lies within the amphitheatre of hills. 18 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY " Pleasant Valley," as, long ago, the red man named it. Embowered in groves, or studded with stately elms and oaks, that grow upon its grassy margins, the river loiters for mile on mile, drifting from side to side of the rich and smiling landscape, whose broad expanse of grain- field and meadow, dotted with country homes, spreads like a vast park over the wide alluvial fiat or plain known as the Genesee Valley, until reaching the northwesterly border, its channel crosses into Monroe county. In pioneer days this was the market highway for products of the lumber forest and the farm; but now that the woods which lined its terraced slopes for leagues on either side are cut down, a thousand little streams that fed it from the wilderness have disappeared; and to-day the "river runs with narrowed bounds," and with few or pre carious facilities for internal commerce, even if the railway did not afford more speedy and certain modes of transit. Canaseraga creek, the river's principal branch, and in former times, doubtless, its continuation from the point of confluence, is a sluggish, sinuous stream, having its source in Steuben county. Flowing in at the southwesterly quarter, it trends northwardly through a flat several hundred yards in width, its turbid waters entering the river near the center of the county. The summits of the two ranges of hills nearly uniform in height, that mark its course, stretch miles away from each other, and, with the river valley, form a Y shaped indentation; the creek giving the right arm, and the river the stem and left arm. Conesus lake is situated in the interior of the county; and Hemlock lake lies partly within and along its eastern border. The dark waters and precipitous shores of the latter, in whose solitary nooks more than one hermit is said to have found a retreat in early days, give it much of the character of the lakes of Scotland; while the less marked eleva tions that hem in the waters of the Conesus, fringed as they are and diversified with cultivated farms, constitute it one of the most agreeable of rural pictures. Romance, too, has lent her charms to the shores and waters of this lake ;i and near its head, in Revolutionary times, encamped the colonial army under Sullivan; while within rifle shot of its banks was enacted the bloody episode of that enterprise, the fatal ambuscade laid by the Senecas for Boyd's scouting party. 1. Its story of love and war has been woven into poetic numbers by Hosmer, who has fixed the scene of a portion of his Yonnondia on the western shore of the Conesus, iu verse as applicable to its native theme as that of Sir Walter Scott, in " Marmion," or the " Lady of the I.ake.!' The Upper Falls at Portage, from Mr. Letchworth's grounds. HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY 19 In extent of territory the county does not rank among the larger ones of the state, but stands scarcely second to any in productive wealth ; its wheat crop — unsurpassed in quality — once constituting a fifth of all that grown in the commonwealth. And if its annals do not cover so broad a page as older counties may boast, they yet embrace no little belonging to history, while its Indian traditions, especially, add value to our country's aboriginal lore. To certain localities, though by far too few, we shall find yet clinging the Indian names, often disguised, but not wholly lost, thus fixing the sites of ancient aboriginal villages. For it must be recol lected that during many ages this region, in the expressive language of the natives, formed the Upper or Western door of the typical Long House or Federation of the Five Nations of Indians, and, for genera tions unnumbered, comprised the favorite hunting grounds of the principal villages of the Senecas, the most powerful and warlike of the tribes forming the great Iroquois League. At just what period the solitude of the noble forest, which had covered this territory from the beginning of time, was invaded by these children of nature, cannot now be determined; but, the region once known, its rare natural advantages were fitted to attract and retain a people whose strength could preserve to them its permanent occupancy. Indeed, their traditions, often more extravagant than an oriental tale, declare that the Senecas estab lished their homes here at a date more remote than our own Christian era. What people preceded them is a question left wholly to conjec ture, since all authentic history of this region must begin with the arrival ofthe Dutch in New York, early in the seventeenth century. Prior to the settlement of Manhattan island, nothing was definitely known by Europeans of the Senecas as a separate nation ; and not until the period of the Jesuit missions among this aboriginal family, two hundred and fifty years ago, was there any precise information gath ered relative to their position in the League. Though reliable annals extend over two centuries and a half, it is with a period beginning near the close of the eighteenth century that this work will mainly deal. Step by step, after the Revolution, as settlements increased, will the fortunes of the pioneers and their descendants be followed. Nor can the history be complete without a brief portrayal of their customs and merry makings, as well as the hardships and enterprises of that early day, with some account of their 20 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY journeyings hitherward, along unbeaten roads, over extemporized bridges, and through shifting fords, while yet a great wilderness lay between their new homes and the eastern settlements. The habits of every day life will be introduced, and something of political reminis cences, of militia musters and general trainings, not omitting reference to educational, and to moral and religious movements of early days. It is not the province of the simple chronicler to enter the domain of sentiment, or invoke the imagery with which fanc)' vivifies the Past ; and yet a glimpse of matters of ordinary experience, even but a life's span ago, reveals something of the golden haze of perspective, investing them with more than every day interest. It is the change, measured by the march of steam and electricity, that already softens the last generation but one into comparative remoteness, awakening tender associations in our minds at the mention of the old fashioned fire place, heaped with glowing logs, that cheered long winter evenings with its warmth and welcome. Deep rooted were the friendships formed about its ample hearth-stone, and they grew dearer with each passing year to the county's wandering children. The log house has disappeared, but how often come back the happy memories of its homely comfort, and what household traditions cluster around it that must be quite unknown to more modern and far richer mansions. Every season of the old time counted its joys. How we cherish the recollection of rainy days spent in the pine scented family garret, among smoke brown letters and forgotten newspapers, and manifold odds and ends, in broken chest and homespun tow bag. The great masters of harmony never arranged music so grateful as the sound of autumn rain pattering upon the low browed cottage roof, lulling the senses to sleep with its monotonous melody. And the glory of the already ancient stage coach, so impos ing in its entry, as driver and four-m-hand, in full career, dashed up to the tavern door, is gone with the last echo of the shrill post horn. The spinning wheel forgets its hum, and the flail has disappeared with the log barn and straw thatched shed. Many are the changes of a single life time; but if we miss the picturesque, we find the loss replaced by gain, in broader privileges and wider opportunities. A step beyond the actual, and we enter the domain of popular cred ulity. A century ago the notions of our forefathers, in common with their generation, were tinged with that superstition which credits the existence of a race of supernatural beings peopling the recesses of for- HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY 21 ests; of witches who haunted those persons whom their capricious natures led them to annoy; or who, gipsy like, told fortunes, made and dissolved matches, interfered with household affairs, and discovered stolen property. Omens, too, were observed, dreams were not unheeded, and many a farmer plowed, planted and gathered, according to the aspects of the moon, while few domestic animals were held as free from direct planetary influences. A view of the Genesee country, prior to its occupancy by the whites, will be found interesting. Little enough is, indeed, known, and even that little, derived mainly from tradition, is obscured by the uncer tainties that characterize Indian legends, especially in dates; but wholly to reject the account would be to drive an inquirer to mere specula tion, whose conclusions must, at least, be equally wide of truth. Sketches of the more noted warriors, sachems and wise men who have resided here, and an outline of their relentless feuds, with some refer ence to the statecraft and sagacity of the Indians, will be presented. The aboriginal natives, in their myths, peopled many parts of the vast wilderness stretching westward far beyond the Mississippi, and east ward to the ocean, with strange monsters, and their stories of this region are replete with accounts of winged heads, the feats of prodi gious serpents, and the calamitous visits of giants, unearthly in size and formidable in power, who came eastward from the regions of the setting sun. Our account will not be wanting in the interest that attaches to aboriginal antiquities; for the remains of several ancient mounds of undoubted military origin, links in that chain of ancient defensive works which extended from the shores of Lake Erie to the lakes of central New York, have been found here. Natural history, too, has been illustrated by the discovery, in two or three places within the county, of the remains of that huge fossil animal known as the mastodon. We shall note how the French, in Canada, obtaining their earliest knowledge of this section from the Jesuit missionaries, endeavored to get possession of it; and how a formidable expedition, under the Mar quis De Nonville, dispatched hither with the design of conquest, mis carried, as did all similar efforts of the French. The Jesuit mission aries first among Europeans to seek these wilds, established missions in the neighborhood of the Genesee river, nurturing them in that spirit 22 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY of self sacrifice peculiar to their order, with the hope of planting here the standard of their faith, and enlarging the jurisdiction of the Rom ish See. But these efforts proved abortive, for here, as elsewhere in the New World, their creed found no permanent lodgment. From the letters of these religionists to the general of their order in Rome, we catch definite views, during the period embraced between the years 1636 and 1637, of the homes of the Senecas. Thenceforward, nearly a hundred years, this region affords little to arrest the historian; but afterwards something like a connected account will be possible. The expedition of General Sullivan to the country of the Senecas, in the fifth year of the Revolutionary war, was charged by Washington with the destruction of the Indian villages on the Genesee, as a penalty for a long series of bloody wrongs perpetrated by the savages upon the whites. As a measure of future security to the settlements, it fully accomplished its object; this attained, red men and white alike briefly quit the region; the former, save as a broken remriant, never to return. Reference will be made to the part taken by our citizens in the war of 1812; and to the reasons which, a few years later, controlled them in asking for the erection of the county ; an event that occurred at a period of great derangement in the public finances, when communities were suffering from the effects of the unwise monetary polic}' of our second war with Great Britain. Several of Sullivan's officers and soldiers, allured by the natural ad vantages of this region, led hither, soon after the Revolution, a tide of immigration to occupy the district then so recently wrested from the conquered tribes. The settlement grew with unexampled rapidity. The forests disappeared as though devoured, giving place to cultivated fields and incipient villages, and before the nineteenth century opened, the smoke of the pioneers' cabins might be seen drifting over widely separated valleys and hillsides. In order to show whence the early- settlers mainly came, the origin of families will be traced, where prac ticable, and the fact will everywhere appear that, to a marked degree, our pioneers were actors in the war for independence, and were mingled with families of refinement and culture from the south and east, who early stereotyped the features of society here, and lent elevation to the aims of enterprise. Wholesome influences, thus early imparted, still operate with augmenting force. The people of this county have alwavs been zealous patrons of education, foremost among the friendsof political and Lower Falls of the Genesee at Portage, from Mr, Letchworth's grounds. HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY 23 intellectual advancement, and staunch supporters of the moral and religious movements of the century, and of their patriotism, that rich fruit of all virtues, the record of the great rebellion affords a thousand evidences. Biographical sketches also claim their place in this work; since actors in historic events, and men who have enjoyed the highest honors of the state and nation, as well as those ot less note who impressed their individuality upon the times, have lived here, or, dying, have left their mortal frames to rest in our green and quiet churchyards. 24 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY CHAPTER II THE SENECA nation of Indians were found occupying the region between the Genesee river and Cayuga lake, when it first became known to the whites. ^ At what period their abode became fixed here is a question not easily solved, since it is to incidental facts and traditions we are to look for light upon this sub ject, and these afford but uncertain data. The country between the Genesee and the Niagara rivers, when first visited by Europeans, was nominally held by the Kah-kwas, or Neutral Nation of Indians, though their villages were situated mainly along the latter river and extended nearly to the eastern shores of lake Huron; their hunting grounds, however, included, as they claimed, the broad belt of debatable land that lay along the Genesee. In this doubtful frontier inroads were frequently made by the Senecas, and conflicts between those two hostile tribes often took place. Soon after our knowledge of them begins, the Kah-kwas, as we shall see, were conquered by the Senecas, and were either driven southward or exterminated. At the opening of the Revolutionary war, a small band of Oneidas and also a band of Tuscaroras, adhering to the British cause, — though these two tribes mainly espoused the Colonial side, — left their eastern villages and removed to the Genesee, where each established a town; and a few of the Kah-kwas, descendants of those who had been adopted into the Seneca nation when their tribal organization was broken up. were found residing with the latter by the pioneers. Of the races that preceded the Senecas and Kah-kwas we have little information, and even that little is derived mainly fi-om local antiqui ties. This evidence, fragmentary at best, shows that in the far off past nations unlike the red aborigines have arisen, flourished here, and I The Dutch anived at New York in 1609, aud soon acquired some knowledge of the Westeru Indians, among others of the Nuti-dn-icaho-iio, to whom they gave the name of Senecas; but so unsettled was the orthography of the latter word, that the Colonial documents of our State give it in no less thau 63 different ways. HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY 25 disappeared. The story is one of missing links and replete with mystery. Morgan says that the remains of Indian art here met with are of two kinds, and ascribable to widely different periods. The former belong to the ante-Columbian, or era of Mound Builders, whose defensive works, mounds or sacred enclosures are scattered so profusely throughout the west; the latter include the remains of fugitive races who, after the extermination of the Mound Builders, displaced each other in quick succession, until the period of the Iroquois commenced. ^ The Senecas, first known to the whites as a part of the Five Nations, have a history of their own, independent of their connection with their associate nations, and, consequently, earlier than the League of the Iroquois. This fact is found in certain special features of their system of consanguinity and affinity, wherein they differ from the Mohawks, Onondagas, Oneidas and Cayugas, and in which they agree with the Tuscaroras and Wyandots, or ancient Hurons, tending to show that they and the two latter formed one people later in time than the separation of the nations from the common stem.^ It is most likely, however, that the Senecas were then north of the chain of lakes. The Iroquois called themselves Ho-de-no-sau-nee, or People of the Long House. Their League, formed about the year 1450, ^ embraced at first the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas. Afterwards the Tuscaroras were admitted into the federation, con stituting the sixth nation.^ Their territory then extended from the Hudson to the Genesee river. I. It was the opinion of Governor DeWitt Clinton, that previous to the occupation of this region by the progenitors of the Iroquois, it was inhabited by a race of men much more populous and much further advanced in civilization than they. Marshall, however, whose judgment is en titled to great weight, is not satisfied with the evidence so far produced of the existence in this vicinity of a race preceding the Indian. He thinks tlie ancient fortifications, tumuli aud artifi cial structures that abound iu Western New York, can all be referred to a more modern race than the Mound-Builders. 2. The Seneca child belongs to the mother's tribe, not to the father's. If the mother is of the clan of the Heron, her children also are Herons, and they call not only their female parent, mother, but likewise call her sisters mother, either "great" or "little" mother, as the sisters chance to be older or younger than the real mother. 3. The Five Nations were called Maquas by the Dutch; Iroquois by the French; Miiigcs aud Con federates by the 'English. They were sometimes called /l^amisc/d'OMi, or People ofthe Long Cabin. 4. Of these, the Mohawks, Onondagas and Senecas are called Fathers; the Cayugas aud Oneidas are called Sons, and in great councils are always thus respectively addressed. 26 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY Their legends say that the League was advised by Hiawatha, the tutelar patron of the Iroquois, on the occasion of a threatened invasion of their country by a ferocious band ot warriors from north of the great lakes. Ruin seemed inevitable, and in their extremity they appealed to Hiawatha. He urged the people to waste their efforts no longer in a desultory war, but to call a general council of the tribes. The meeting accordingly took place on the northern bank of Onondaga lake. Here, referring to the pressing danger, Hiawatha said: "To oppose these northern hordes singly by tribes, often at variance with each other, is idle; but by uniting in a band of brotherhood, we may hope to succeed." Appealing to the tribes in turn, he said to the Senecas: "You, who live in the open country and possess much wisdom shall be the fifth nation, because you best understand the art of raising corn and beans and making cabins." Then addressing all, he con cluded: "L^nite the five nations in a common interest, -and no foe shall disturb or subdue us; the Great Spirit will then smile upon us, and we shall be free, prosperous and happy. But if we remain as now, we shall be subject to his frown; we shall be enslaved, perhaps annihi lated, our warriors will perish in the war storm, and our names be for gotten in the dance and song." His advice prevailed, and the plan of union was adopted. His great mission on earth accomplished, Hiawa tha went down to the water, seated himself in his mystic canoe, and, to the cadence of music from an unseen source, was wafted to the skies. 1 The Iroquois owe their origin as a separate people, if not indeed their martial glory, to the encroachments of a neighboring nation more powerful than they. Originally inclined to tillage more than to arms, they resided upon the northern bank of the St. Lawrence, in the vicinity of ^Montreal. Here, as one nation, they lived in subjection to the Adirondacks. But provoked by some infringement of rights, their latent spirit was aroused, and they struck for independent possession of the country. Failing in this, they were forced to quit Canada, and 1. Longfellow lays the scene of his beautiful Indian I$dda, The Song of Hiaiuaiha, among the Ojibways, on the southern shore of Lake Superior, in the region between the Pictured Rocks and the Grand Sable. In this poem the great bard has preserved the traditions prevalent amoug the North American Indians respecting this "child of wonder." street, iu his noble epic oiFronienac, has preserved, especially in the notes, no little of inter est connected with Hiawatha, whom he makes a mute communicating with the tribes by signs through a fellow-spirit. HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY 27 finally found their way into central and western New York, where, on the banks of its fair lakes and rivers, they at length laid the founda tions of a power compared with which that of every other Indian nation falls far short. It is said that the Iroquois had planned a mighty confederacy, and it is argued with reason, that had the arrival of the Europeans been delayed a century, the League would have absorbed all the tribes between the St. Lawrence and the Gulf of Mexico; indeed, the whole continent would have been at their mercy. In principle the League was not unlike the plan of our own federal government. It guaranteed the independence of each tribe, while recognizing the due powers of the. Confederation ; at the same time personal rights were held in especial esteem. The aboriginal congress consisted of fifty sachems, of whom the Senecas had eight. This body usually met at the council house of the Onondagas, the central nation, where all questions affecting the confederacy were deliberated upon and decided. The business of this rude parliament was conducted with becoming dignity. The reason and judgment of these grave sachems, rather thau their passions, were appealed to; and it is said to have been a breach of decorum for a sachem in the great council to reply to a speech on the day of its delivery. Unanimity was a requisite; indeed, no question could be decided without the concurrence of every member. The authority of these wise men consisted in the nation's good opinion of their courage, wisdom and integrity. They served without badge of office, and without pay, finding their reward alone in the veneration of their people, whose interests they unceasingly watched. Indeed, public opinion nowhere exercised a more powerful influence than among the Iroquois, whose ablest men shared with the humblest in the common dread of the people's frown. Subordinate to the sachems was an order of chiefs famous for cour age and eloquence, among whom may be named Red Jacket, ^ Corn- planter and Big Kettle, whose reasoning moved the councils, or whose burning words hurried the braves on to the war path. No trait of the Iroquois is more to be commended than the regard they paid to woman. The sex were often represented in councils by orators known as squaws' men. Red Jacket himself won no little reputation in that capacity. 1. See appendix No. i for a statement of Red Jacket's status in the tribe and au account by General Parker of political and social relations in the tribes or clans making up the League. 28 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY The Indian women could thus oppose a war, or aid in bringing about peace. In the sale of the soil they claimed a special right to interfere, for, they urged, "the land belongs to the warriors who defend, and to the women who till it." The Iroquois squaw labored in the field, but so did females, even the daughters of princes, in the primitive ages. Rebekah, the mother of Israel, first appears in biblical history as a drawer of water; and the sweet and pious Ruth won the love of the rich and powerful Boaz, as a gleaner of the harvest. Though broken in power in our Revolutionary war, the Iroquois confederacy remained a distinct people long after the eastern and southern tribes had lost their standing; yet the excellence of their system has served only to delay their complete subversion to the whites, and their gradual extinction as a separate people. From sixteen thousand souls, they are now reduced to a fourth of that number and yet, with a persistency that must gain them at least poetic honors, they still preserve their several national divisions and keep intact their tribal clans or organizations. ^ The end is sure, however, and, sooner or later, that marvel of pagan wisdom, the Confederacy of the Five Nations, must, even in name, disappear from living institutions.^ Our scanty information about the early occupants of this region, forces us to complete the page of aboriginal story from traditions. We turn, therefore, to the narrative of the Indian Cusick, and to similar sources.^ In an account thus derived, dates must be wholly wanting in accuracy. As an instance, Cusick says the final troubles between the Senecas and the Fries took place about the time of the arrival of Columbus, when in truth they did not occur until a hundred and sixty years later. We pass over Cusick's account of the origin of the Great Island which we call North America, the fabulous rise of the Indian Con federacy, six centuries before the Christian era, as he says, and other portions of the curious recital, and come down to the period of the I. These clans are, the M^olf, Bear, Beaver, Turtle, Deer, Snipe, Heron and Hawk— eight in all. An Indian aud squaw ofthe same clan might not marry, as in theory they were brother and sister, but must seek mates from another clan, though not necessarily of another tribe, than their own. Each clan possessed its /o/e»< or symbol, which is a rude picture of a hawk, turtle or other ap propriate emblem. 2. See appendix No. 2 for an account of present conditions among the Senecas. 3. The uarrative, to which we are indebted for data here, is by David Cusick, a Tuscarora Indian, whose ancestors came from North Carolina and settled near Lewistown, N. Y. See Schooler, Arch, of Abor. Know!., Vol. V HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY 29 allotment of homes to the tribes. The Senecas were directed to settle on a knoll south of Canandaigua lake, near the' present village of Naples. Indeed, some traditions hold that they sprang from this knoll, hence their name, Nun'-do-wah'-o, which, in their tongue, signifies the Great Hill People. An agent of the Superior Power was sent to instruct them in the duties of life; seeds were given, with directions for their use, and dogs to aid in taking game. Villages sprang up and prosperity abounded, but the Divine agent having returned to the heavens, monsters of singular forms invaded the country from time to time, and devoured many persons. The monsters of the Indian were no borrowed prodigies, but the creation of his own untutored imagination, or natural beings invested by his fancy with supernatural attributes. The Flying Head, a strange creature which, their legends say, invaded the homes of the Iroquois after night fall, to devour the inmates, until the villagers were com pelled to build huts so fashioned as to exclude it, has no prototype. This bodiless hobgoblin, whose features were those of a man with head, mane and two .hairy legs like the lion's, appears to have had a dread of fire, for its disappearance is ascribed to that cause. An old woman, parching acorns in her lodge one night, was visited by a Flying Head.^ But, on observing the burning fruit which the squaw appeared to be eating, the Head sunk into the earth, and with it vanished a legion of its fellows, to the great relief of the Indians, who held them in deadly fear. A great lake serpent traversed the trails from Genesee river to Can andaigua lake, stopping intercourse, and compelling the villages to fortify against it. Later came Stonish Giants, a cannibal race from beyond the Mississippi, who derived their name from the practice of rolling in the earth until their bodies became encrusted with sand and gravel, which rendered them impenetrable to arrows. Warriors gathered to drive them away, but they overran the country of the 1. The engraving presents Cusick's notion of the monster. The drawing is from a copy of the rare pamphlet edition of Cusick's Narrative. The Indian name of the flying head was Ko-ueau-ran-ueh-neh. 30 HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY Senecas and others, and destroyed the people ot several towns. The Holder of the Heavens now returned. By a stratagem he induced the giants to enter a deep hollow, and, as they there lay sleeping, he hurled down upon them a mass of rocks, which crushed to death all save one, who sought asylum in the regions of the north. A snake of great size, having a human head, soon after appeared in the principal pathway leading eastward from the sulphur springs at Avon. This too, was destroyed by a band of braves, selected for their prowess, after a conflict, in which was exhibited, if we credit tradition, some thing more than mortal valor. A thousand years before the arrival of Columbus, the Senecas were at war with the Kah-kwas. Battle succeeded battle, and the Senecas were at length repulsed with severe loss. Tidings of their disaster soon reached the great Atotarho,i a war chief highly venerated by the League, whose seat was at Onondaga, and he sent an army to their relief. Thus strengthened, they assumed the offensive and drove the enemy into their forts, which, at the end of a long siege, were sur rendered and the principal chief put to death. The remnant of the tribe became incorporated with that of the conquerors. The latter now established their dominion in the country of the Kah-kwas, and for a time, in that reinote age, the Senecas held the southern shores of lake Ontario westward to Oak Orchard creek. Grave discords appear to have occurred in the League about this period, incited by Atotarho, whose power is symbolized by a body covered'with black snakes, and whose dishes and spoons were the skulls of enemies. His claim to a first rank among native dignitaries, was in the end admitted by the several nations, and the title borne by him still remains hereditary in the Onondagas. Two centuries later, a certain youth living near the original seat of the Seneca council fire, while in the bushes one day, caught a two headed snake, which he carried to his mother's hut. It was quite small, very beautiful, and appeared to be harmless. He fed it on bird's flesh, but its growth was so rapid that the hunters had soon to unite in supplying its ever increasing appetite. Their supplies, how ever, were not enough to satisfy its voracious cravings, and it took to roaming through the forest and down into the lake in quest of food. At length it went to the hill top and there became inspired with ill i. Or, more correctly, perhaps, To-do-da-ho. HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY 31 will toward its early friend, now a warrior. In dismay the young man removed to a distant village, and thus escaped the fate that was soon to befall his tribesmen. Game grew scarce before the serpent, and not only dreading evil from its wicked disposition, but fearing lest its enormous appetite w