¦^ ¦I- ','¦ I It'.-/ ;; %*./fJ\- CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND ' OF 'THlpl YATES CO. HISTORICAL SOCIETY. TOGETHER WITH AS IBS flHif flBI BY ^' ¦*' rHN L» LEWIS, JR., AND BEPOET Ok the JPLAN Qj- ACTIOST OP , Tail SOpIETT.' 'at ^SFotifiei see fd^jftk page' of «over. ';^;,_ ^ PENN'YAN: James R. Secor, D. W. Adams, B. L. Hoyt, Adam Clark, Walter Wolcott, Daniel Hedges. John A. McLaan, Elisha Doubleday, Jonathan Taylor. EAELY SETTLEES' NOTICE. A meeting of those who were settlers of the territory em braced in Yates County, prior to its establishment February 5, 1823, and their descendants, will be held at the office of John L. Ltiwis, Jr., in Penn Yan, on Saturday, January 21st, 1860, at one o*clock in the afternoon, for the purpose of adopting measures to form a County Historical Society, for the collection of the memorials of the early settlement of the towns m the sorted hearthstone the pillar of remembrance, and: to assist each other in collecting the facts and materials from which some future historian may write the history of our fathers. For the remembrance of their lives and deeds is wor thy of being perpetuated. It may not fill any high arch in the Temple of Fame, but it will bear the test of scru tiny. The world has been filled with the history of human conquests ; be it our duty to preserve the record of the equally courageous conquerors of the wilderness. In point of moral courage, in the stern discharge of every duty, and in open-hearted hospitality, it will bear comparison with any portion of the Saxon race. If the first colonists of Virginia and Massachusetts bore hunger and cold, and perils and calamities, with unshrinking firmness, so did the settlers of Western New York. To them the world was almost as much shut out as though an ocean rolled be tween. Some, nay many, for long weary months did not enjoy the luxury of tasting bread, but subsisted upon the wild game and fish which they had killed and then eaten without salt or seasoning. Others, less bountifully pro vided, subsisted for many weeks upon such roots as could be dug in the boundless forests, seasoned only, in the sum mer time, by the berries which grew spontaneously in; the wilds. Others still, parted with the little tokens of affection which reminded them of distant friends and kindred, a father's home in New England or New Jersey, and a mothr er's fond sympathy, to purchase from their Indian neighr 17 bors the venison and other game, which their superior skiH had taken. And when at length a small spot of ground had been cleared with infinite toil (and with implements which if broken or rendered unfit for use there was no ar- tizan at hand skilfully to repair :) and a little crop of grain raised, the only resource in the early years, was for the father of the family to shoulder his grist and plod his weary •way on foot through the wilderness to Newtown Point (;now Elmira) a distance of fifty miles, to have it ground into flour. An impressive incident is related of one of these pioneers while prosecuting one of those toilsome jour neys, and which was repeated at our first meeting by his lineal descendant,. present with us to-day. He had been to Newtown and was on his return, when he became so pressed and faint with hunger, that he was compelled to stop by the side of a brook, and taking out of his bag a handful of the precious flour, he wetted it with the water from the brook upon a clean barji, and having made a cake of the dough, kindled a fire of sticks, and baked and ate the precious morsel ; when having thereby acquired suffi cient strength he arose and pursued his way homewards. What a blessing then to the infant settlements was the erection of the Friends' Mill upon the outlet in 1790 ! (or as some say 1789.) Another not less striking incident was related by the chairman at our first meeting, as characteristic of the wants of that early][day. When the first blacksmith land ed upon the western shore of the Seneca Lake, his anvil was immediately seized, mounted upon a stump, a wood fire kindled, and he entered upon the duties of his calling in the first hour of his sojourn by sharpening the plowpoint of the elder Mr. Hunt. The most costly and elaborate piece of machinery now turned out by any of our excellent and enterprising founderies could not compare in value at he moment ¦with that sharpened plow-point ! It was the very privations of which we have spoken which taught the early inhabitants the noble virtue of hos- vitality. The humblest wayfarer was welcome to a corner at the fireside, to a seat at the table, to repose upon the best bed — ^perhaps we should say literally the best bear skin. They had been cold and hungered, and could sym pathise •ffith those in like condition. And there were warm hearts as well as •?Tarm hearths in those old log-cabins, and 18 as the night fell and the logs blazed in the huge fireplaces, dispensing warmth and light, many a thought was sent out for the unsheltered wanderers of the wilds, and they thanked God for the comforts which they enjoyedi And , it is not improbable that another feeling pervaded their hearts, when the stranger was welcomed. They, yearned for far away early homes and associations, and it might be that the chance visiter in his wanderings had been to the scenes of their childhood, and knew those from whom they were separated perhaps forever ; or had trodden the old homestead ; or rested in the country tavern they had early known; or may be worshipped in the same village church ; or oh, joy of joys, had known those they once knew. Or it might be that he could bring some news of what was do ing at the State Capitol, or could furnish some information as to the events beyond the curtain then rising upon the national theatre, or at a later period could tell them who, months before, had been chosen Speaker ! It is not surprising that we should love to linger around these scenes of the dim and shadowy past, rather than the events of subsequent years. Then, nearly our entire i ter ritory was the town of Jerusalem, from the Seneca on the east aind stretching beyond the western fork ;of Crooked Lake on the west, and all western New York was "the Gen esee country." Then, in addition to the Friend's Settle ment clustered around the beautiful region of City Hill, was the contemplated city or village of Mr. Williamson, named in honor of the Scotch earl, for whom his father had been secretary — Hopeton ; whose public square, though with greatly shrunken dimensions, still reminds us of that early project. Then, Geneva, known as Cana- desaga, a little Indian trading post, was the great Tadmor of the wilderness, which the youthful settler hoped to see in manhood, — if he behaved himself — or his wandering feet might, perchance, in far off years, tread the street of the distant Canadarqua, and of which the wondrous tale was related that it had more than one frame-house, and of a size larger than that of the Friend ! Then, the first white settler known to us, David Fish, earned his subse quent title of Commodore by navigating the waters of the Seneca in a boat which was neither made of a hollow log or of bark ! But the duties of the Society will not wandef in the re- 19 gions of romance. A field of labor and usefulness is be fore them, which they must explore by industry and sys tem. Their province will be to deal with facts, and the plan in contemplation will bring them out in suchform as connot fail to make them useful and valuable.' , It will not be the business of a few months, but it may be of years of close attention, and none should shrink from the task be cause of its apparent magnitude. Willing hands and hearts can lighten the labpr, and render the meetings of the soci ety agreeable and instructive. The project of such a society has its precedents, but it is not known to what extent in our State. That old and valuable institution, the New York Historical Society, has enlisted the warmest sympathy and liveliest zeal of its members, enrolling amongst them some of the most dis tinguished citizens of our State, whose constant attend ance upon its monthly meetings lends to them -An ever in creasing interest. The Society of PioneerS at Rochester whose membership extends through a wide territory, and includes our own county, has stimulated the exertions, if it has not prompted the labors of the veteran Turner. The project now presented to the citizens of Yates Coun ty aims at the zealous co-operation of all its members. Few of the early pioneers or of their descendants but what can relate some fact or incident of value to such a, society. In illustration, a single anecdote will suffice. A descend ant of one of the earliest settlers was remarking to a friend that he could be of little service in the society, as he was cognizant but of few facts not generally known. Present ly the conversation turned upon the prices of produce, when his friend remarked that he could remember the time when a bushel of wheat could just buy a gallon Of whiskey, both being at three shillings. "And /can remember,'' said the other, " when it took four bushels of wheat to buy one gallon of whiskey," thus unconsciously furnishing a fact which might have escaped notice, and yet too remark able and valuable not to have a place in our local annals. Forty years later, a barrel of flour manufactured in one of our county flouring mills from wheat grown in the county, with the magic brand of " Grenesee " upon it, won the pre mium at the World's Fair in London, and found its way to the table of the Queen of England. But it is not alone upon fallible memory that ¦we should 20 rely for our facts, nor that they should abound in thrilling narratives. Facts are what the society seeks, whether they enlighten the mind, or allure the fancy. We believe it to be a fact, for example, that during the last war with Great Britain, the territory now embraced in our county, furnished a larger portion of officers and soldiers, who were in actual service, than any other portion of the state, except those immediately upon the frontiers. And many an animating narrative is given by the surviving veterans of their experience in the tented field. And there were droll incidents too, which have never found a record. In my boyhood I have listened delighted to the accounts of the assault upon Fort Erie by a single militia man armed with brick-bats ; and in maturer years have equally en joyed the narrative of an officer who told how he conquered a widow lady by force of arms, and won a peace. He was returning from the frontier, laboring under severe illness, and reached Batavia, to find every eligible place occupied, and quarters assigned to hiin, and his comrades in the Court House, and that in mid-winter. Learning at length that no one had been quartered with a Certain widow lady, he repaired to her house, and besought admission on the ground of sickness. The lieutenant coaxed, but the lady was obdurate. At length he tried other tactics, and draw ing his sword advanced with assumed fierceness to the at tack. But the good lady, like a true Yankee heroine, was not daunted by the gleaming of cold iron. Hastily arming herself with a convenient broomstick (that potent weapon in feminine hands) she rushed to meet the enemy, and drawing back her broomstick to the greatest reach to give force to an exterminating sweep, the officer took advan tage of the want of guard, and ducking his head, bounded into the house under her arms, followed by his companions. A parley ensued, a truce followed; and he gratefully ac knowledges that to her kind care and attention, for which she subsequently refused any compensation, he owed the preservation of his life from what had else been a mortal sickness. Looking away from deeds of arms to another direction, we find simple habits, fervid devotion and unbounded char ity amongst the Friends. Nor was their humble and quiet life devoid of incident. Many of us well remember with feelings of mingled kindness and sadness that pleasant and 21 graceful old lady, wto last dispensed hospitality at the Friend's Mansion, and also with what a lingering feeling of earthly pride she related the incident of the visit of the French Duke (De Liancourt) to the old mansion. A prouder emotion might have swelled her bosom had she known that amongst those who partook of her courteous attentions there was, as is now believed, a King of France, then in banishment, and in disguise, earning his livelihood by teaching, but who afterwards ascended the throne as Louis Phillippe. There is one feature of the contemplated enterprise which ¦will be of permanent and yearly increasing value, if carried out with proper care and attention ; and that is the statis tical facts which it will embrace. The fixing with certain ty the date of one certain event, frequently determines that of many others, a,nd the collection and preservation of them in a body, where they may be found accessible, will give to the Historical Society a position of usefulness, which no similar institution in our midst possesses. Births, mar riages and deaths, those daily events in the history of hu man life, are yet of great moment to every citizen. Gen- eological tables, though of apparently slight consequence, yet if preserved in time afterwards save years of weary re search. Maps, plots, deeds, journals, diaries, account books and like memoranda are frequently found to be of great value. In connection with these a history of the or igin of land titles will be found to be of paramount impor tance. But in no other department will greater interest be felt than in the department of church history, containing a de tail of the organization and progress of the various reli gious and church associations, with appropriate memorials of the good men who laid their foundations, and under Providence, guided and guarded them onwards. They la bored not for fame, nor would we make them famous, but "the memory of tke righteous" should not "perish," and another generation will look upon us with gratitude for gathering such reminiscences. They dwell now mainly in the fleeting memory, and those who have thus stored them are fast passing away. Let us gather these precious me mentoes while we may. Nor should the Indian race be forgotten.^ The feelings of terror and hatred which they once excited have long 22 since vanished with the objects which gave them rise. A few yearly decreasing mounds ; some traces of nearly ob literated trails ; an occasionally found implement of hunting or warfare, or for domestic use ; and a few half remembered names of hill and lake and river are all that is tangibly left us of the primeval lords of the forest and the plain. Even these are vanishing before the onward march of cultivation, and the echoes of his speech are lost in the tramp of the coming generations. The iged, and even the middle-aged amongst us remember when they were the multitude, and the white man was the stranger even in our own county. It is to be hoped that earnest endeavors will be made to save the traces of this extinct people from oblivion.* Other topics, which will engage the attention of the so ciety, have been omitted purposely from this hasty sketch, because the record of them is mainly preserved, and our town records are yet in existence. But little more than a generation has passed since our county had a legal exist ence (it being thirty-seven years to-morrow since the pas sage of the act creating it), and yet how many can tell the precise origin of its name ? Who can tell the precise origin of the names of all the to'wns or of the villages ? " But little more than a generation has passed," and how great the change ! Then the Erie Canal was unfin ished, and the products of the county had an indifferent home market, with a difficult and costly outlet ; then a tri- weekly stage carried mails and passengers, and bringing us news from Washington a week old, and from New York and Albany in about four days ; then the Penn Yan Dem ocrat and Geneva Gazette were the staples of periodical literature ; then Ohio was yet the far west, and Michigan was deemed an inaccessible refuge ; then Rochester was as * NOTB. — The mention of this remarkable race and the traces of their existence nutu* rally suggests the thought of a cjibi net or museum connected with the objects of the So ciety, into vhich not only all that appertain to the Indian Apbes, bnt to our earlier his tory might be collected or deposited. For example, during me last fall, in ploughing up on the farm of Mr. Jacob Thayer, an Indian burial place was discovered, containing & skeleton in perfect preservation, on the breast of which was an iron Ifettte, and accom panied with various other articles to supply the personal wants of the departed on its journey to the happy hunting grounds. I have here a pistol presented by Gen'l Lafayette at the close of the Revolutionary war, to bis comrade. Gen. Vorburgh, the father of the late Ab'm P. Vorburgh, and father- in-law of the late Judge Mastin, of this village, in the possession of whose son it is. A» will be perceived, it was, eighty years since, a beautiful piece of workmanship. Xhere is also in my possession a cane presented by an aged and honored friend now gone to rest, cut from a tree which grew on the corner near the horae of Mr. Jacobus, at the corner of Elm and Liberty streets, and the horn cap of which was taken from a bUQit sbot on the «ia cemetery hill, when both were in their almost native wlldernessi 23- yet better known as Genesee Falls ; then the only rival villages to Penn Yan, within sixteen miles, were Hopeton and Eddytown ; and then the total vote of the County, allowing for both Starkey and Barrington, was about 1200. Few of the actors in the scenes of those days are left upon the stage, and they are now with whitened locks. So great a change has even the third of a century pro duced ! Let it not be forgotten that since our County adopted the family name of the upright and single-minded old Dutch Judge, who then filled the chair of Chief Magis trate of the state, some of that early race, who knew and loved the forest shades, have been left amongst us — the hunters of the olden time. Nimrods were they, who loved not and coveted not empire, nor were hunters of men, but whose trophies were of the chase, the brook and the thick et. Victors were they, not only* over the proud buck and the sluggish bear, but the wild panther and the terrible rattlesnake. And occasionally there was an adventure without a triumph ; as that of him who, in a morning tvalk, encountered a huge bear, and not relishing the affectionate hug which he knew was in store for him, ran back the way he came, his speed increased by a loud crackling of dry limbs, and rustling leaves and bushes behind him. Glancing at length over his shoulder, to judge the distance between them, he discovered that the bear made even "better time" than himself, but in the opposite direc tion ! — and sixty years have not yet solved the problem as to which was the most frightened that morning, the man or the bear ! Such are the motives, such the men, such the scenes, and such the subjects to which we invite attention. Cold natures and selfish utilitarians may not see profit in it, as it neither adds to basket or store ; but whatever awakens the slumbering feelings of patriotism, or fires the zeal or emulation, or produces greater contentment, cannot be deemed an unworthy object of pursuit. The schoolmas ter, it is said, is abroad, but it is not alone him who wields the sceptre of the school-room. Like the early black smith shop in this county, which the customer unwittingly entered, although told thatthe anvil was five miles distant,* * [NoTi.]— A fact. The blacksmith lived in Benton, and bis customers came from Ibe veetern part of Ontario. 24 the field of operations and the practical workings are vastly disproportionate, yet our local history teaches les sons which are not taught in school or academy. : Those who have gone before us have left their impress upon our institutions, the cultivated fields, the durable and skilful fabrics, and the character of our inhabitants. In the literal sense, they have made " the wilderness to bud and blossom as the rose." To name any would be invidi ous, when so many deserve honor. The sculptured stOne may remind the passing wayfarer that they existed, «ind the public records may disclose their names, but that which characterizes the man is left unwritten. Shall this be so ? or shall we erect a monument more durable than the granite or the bronze, and while we thus show our respect for their memories, add to the stock of useful knowledge ? In view of what they have achieved, every heart will re-iccho the sentiments of Hosmer, the Avon Bard, a son of one of the Pioneers of old Ontario : f " Look now abroad ! the scene how changed, Where, fifty fleeting years ago, Clad in their savage costume ranged The belted lords of shaft and bow. "In praise of pomp let faWning Art Carve rocks to triumph over years ; The grateful incense of the heart Give to our honored Pioneers ! "Almighty ! may Thine outstretched hand Guard through long ages yet to be. From tread of slave, and kingly harm, Our Eden of the Genesee !" REPORT ON PLAN. The undersigned, a Committee to whom was referred the sub ject of presenting a plan to carry into effect the gbjects of the proposed County Historical Society, respectfully report : That having considered the subject, their conclusion is, that to makethe labors of the Society effective, its members must act with system and with such division of duties as will ensure suc cess and permanent results to the enterprise. Two plans were suggested to the Committee; one of which was a subdivision of territory as a field of action ; and the other an arrangement of specific subjects of inquiry. They ' have concluded to recom mend a combination of both. As,-however, there is an evident propriety in commencing some branches of the subject before others, they have selected such from the general classification, and enumerate them first. We recommend therefore, that the following classification of subjects -be adopted by the Sooietyi as a basis of action. 1 . A correct list of ihe settlers of the several towns of ihe County, prior to the commencement of the present century. To carry this into effect, we propose the appointment of a Committee of one from each of the present election districts in the County, with another as alternate in case of the first neg lecting to act, who shall prepare this list for their respective dis- tqcts, and report as .early as practicable, denoting who, if any are now living. In doing this the Committees will find it very convenient to inquire whence these settlers came, and when, and their person al and family history and connections. This will form the ground work for our historical collections. 2. The preservation of personal narativec of surviving settlers, or of those deceased, derived from their descendants. ^ Tbis is but an amplification of the idea last presented and might be- submitted to the same general Committee, but as it is desirable that the list of settlers be first prepared, and as soon as possible, we leave it to the further action of the Society and present at for the individual action of members. 3. A general history of land titles and their origin. These comprehend Phelps' and Gorham's purchase ; the Hornby estate ; the various locations, such as Byckmsn's, Walk er's, Vredenburgh's, and others. Not a mere abstract of con-, veyances, but a history of their origin in fact, interesting to all as well as the land owners. Turner's History and similrr works will be found valuable ^aids to the Society on this point. This subjsct we propose to refer to a committee of three for the present, to be afterVrards subdivided into three or more com mittees. 26 4. Indian history, antiquities, language, manners and customs. This subject we propose to refer to a committee of three, and will embrace narratives of Indian fortifications, mounds, encamp ments, burial places, and traits, and the aboriginal names of places, lakes and streams, and kindred topics. 5. A history of the Universal Friends' Society. The Friends were the first permanent settlers of the County, and their history is one of the marked features in the general history of the County. Wo therefore recommend this to be a separate department of research, to be referred to a committee of five. These five subjects should, we think, engage our first atten tion, for the reasons stated. All other topics of investigatioa will naturally be arranged under the following heads : I. Civil History. II. History of Churches and Religious Associations. III. History of Benevolent Societies and Institutions. IV. History of Educational, Literary and other Asso ciations. V. History of Furlic Works, Buildings and Places. VI. Hlstory of Manners and Customs and Social Insti tutions. VII. Natural History and Topography. Indian history, and the Origin of Zand Titles, the only topics which do not necessarily come within these general divisions, have already been made matters of special inquiry. Under the _/Srsi general division will beincluded all public af fairs of general interest, names and history of towns, and of county and town officers ; sketches of courts of justice and their officers ; accounts of military organizations andofficers ; and the class of topics known as history proper. Under the second general division will be arranged : 1. History of Methodist churches and societies and their clergy. 2. History of Presbyterian and Congregational societies and their clergy. 3. History of Baptist and Freewill Baptist societies and their clergy. 4. History of Episcopal churches and societies and their clergy. 6; History of Wesleyan churches and societies and their clergy. 6. History of Universalist and Christian churches and socie ties and their clergy. 1, History of Friends' and Quakers' churches and societies and their leaders. 8. History of other religious societies not above classified. Under the third general division may be placed : 1. History of Bible, Tract, Missionary, Sabbath School, Tem perance, and similar Societies. 27 2. History of Institutions for the Poor, and for the Insane, the Blind, and so on. Under ihe fourth general division will be found : 1. History of the Agricultural Societies and agricultural affairs. 2. History of the Medical Society, and of physicians. 3. History of Schools, Academies and Seminaries. (This will embrace notices of the first schools taught in the county, and their teachers.) 4. History of Literary Societies, such as the Washington Asso ciation, and Library Companies. 5. History of Newspapers and their editors. T}ae fifth general division will embrace notices of the Canal, Rail road, Highways, Public Buildings, Mills, Factories, Founderies, and similar subjects. The sixth Aix^ seventh general divisions need no explanation. The Committee do not design however that the action of the Society be limited to the reports of special committees. They would propose that individuals be from time to time appointed to deliver addresses, read sketches, papers and essays upon spe cial subjects connected with our object, and especially to correct ¦errors of former historians ; and would also suggest that whenever any member has a communication to make, either oral or writ ten, upon any 6i the above topics^that provision be made for hearing it. With a view to definite action, the Committee submit for ¦consideration, the following resolutions : ' Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to consist of one member in each -election district in the County, and one alter nate (in case of the inability of the former to act) to prepare •an accurate list of the settlers in the several towns in the Coun ty previous to the commencement of the present century, with «uch additional matter as will constitute materials for a history •of the early settlement. Resolved, That a Committee of three be appointed to prepare :a history of the origin of land-titles in the County, to be here after extended and their labors apportioned as the Society may direct. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to report upon the sub ject of Indian history, antiquities, language, manners and customs. Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to collect ma terials for a history of the Universal Friend's Society. Resolved, That the plan and arrangement of subjects proposed in this report be adopted by the Society. All of which is respectfully submitted. SAMUEL G. GAGE, CHAS. WAGENER, A. F. WHITAKER, JOHN D. WOLCOTT, February 4, I860. D. H. BUELL, Committee. NOTICE To CITIZENS or YATES CO. WHO RECEIVE THIS PAMPHLET : The Historical Society respectfully and earnestly re quest that you would lend your assistance in advancing its objects : ' 1. By circulating this pamphlet amongst your neighbors. 2. By becoming members of the Society. 3. By contributing any facts of interest known to you respecting any of the topics referred to in the plan; and any manuscripts, publications, or relics, in your possession bearing upon them. Such favors in the way of communications, or of Jour nals, old Account books, Memoranda, Plans, Family rec ords, &c., will be thankfully received, and gratefully ac knowledged. The society became incorporated for just such purposes. JOHN L. LEWIS, Jr., Sec'y. N. B. — Stated meetings ov, the first Wednesday in each month.