PRICE, 15 CENTS. PRESERVE THE PAST FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. EARLY HISTOKT OF Wim 1810 to 1827, WITH COMPARISONS OF ITS GROWTH AN I) PROGRESS TO I860. NEW COURT HOUSE. PUBLISHED BY GEO. ~W - IT I S^ H E JEfc , ROCHESTER, N. Y. 1860. STEAM PRESS OK CUKTIS, BUTTS .i CO., I'NI'iN AKD ADVERTISER OFFICE. ^ The following extract from a letter to John Kelsey, Esq , author of the Lives of the Pioneers of Rochester, dated August 2d, 1854, explains itself: Dear Sir: " Agreeable to your request we have prepared a Profile or Map of Rochesterville, (the now city of Rochester,) as it was in March, 1814. More than 40 years having now elapsed since this vision was presented to our boyish eyes; and while we are tracing out the lines marked by our memory in years when we could hardly picture to ourselves a hope that we should this clay walk among the living in a populous city, the one-twen_ tieth of whose faces we hardly recognize ; all this passed before us now like a dream of a night or like a tale that is told. We believe we have placed upon the Map all the dwellings, business houses, mills, . Abram Stark's grocery and dwelling house, (brick maker.) 10. John Mastick's Law office. 11. Hervey and Elisha Ely's store. 12. Abelard Reynold's new house, (saddle and harness maker.) 13. Abelard Reynold's house and shop. 14. Jehial Barnard's tailor shop, used also on Sunday as a place of religious worship. 15. New house occupied by Hamlet Scrantom, Esq. Hi. House occupied by Wheelock, joiner. 17. House occupied by Aaron Skinner, school teacher. 18. House occupied by David K. Carttcr, Esq., carpeuter and millwright. 19. James B. Cartter's blacksmith shop. 2i). Saw mill raised March 11th, 1814, by Hervey and Elisha Ely. 21. Log house built by Horvey for himself and hands while constructing the first bridge across the Genesee River. 22. Ruins of the old Allen or King's mill. east side of the river. 1. First framed house occupied by Enos Stone, farmer. 2. Old plank house occupied first by Enos Stone, afterwards by Hamlet Scrantom, Esq. ;;. Saw mill owned by Enos Stone. !. First tavern in Rochester, owned and occupied by Col. Isaac W. Stone. .). (Hi. Isaac W. Stone's barn. 6. Enos Stone's new house. 7. Bridge across the Genesee River. EOCHESTEE FROM 1812 TO 1827. In looking back over the past of Rochester, and comparing it with the present, it is gratifying to every old settler to know that our goodly city has ever been on the advance, and that now, (18(j0,) she ranks as the fifth city in point of population, (numbering about 50,000,) in the Empire State. Situated in one of the most fertile regions, and surrounded by the best agricultural and horticul- tural country in the world, with moral and relig- ious advantages unsurpassed by any city in the Union, it is easy to see what will be her future. The first Directory of Rochester was published by Elisha Ely, and printed by Everard Peck, in 1827. Attached to this work, which was really a very perfect one of its kind, is a sketch of Roch- ester and Monroe county, covering about seventy pages, which is very interesting. That of the county was prepared by Jesse Hawley, Esq., and of the city by Mr. Ely, both gentlemen highly compe- tent to the task. The sketches contain so much that is really interesting of the early history of this place, it was thought best to re-print them entire, in book form. The book is now out of print, and only here snd there can an old copy be found in possession of our citizens. The statistics are woi- thy of preservation, and after a lapse of over 30 years, are reproduced and put into pamphlet form at so low a price as to enable every person to pos- sess a copy for preservation, or presentation to an absentfriemi. We have followed the copy closely, and the sketch relating to the county comes first. DESCRIPTIONS AND MEMORANDUMS OP THE COUNTY OF MONROE AND ITS ENVIRONS. The tract of country now forming the county «sf Monroe, extends along the southern shore of Lake Ontario, about 21 miles west and 14 miles east of the Geuesee river ; its breadth southward from the lake beiog about 22 miles. Its geo- graphical position is, as nearly as it has been yet observed, between lat. 42° 51' and 43° 16' N. and between 3° 22'aud 4° 03 ! west longitude from New York. The face of the country, like that of the neigh- bouring counties on the lake, presents the gener- al aspect of a level yet somewhat elevated table, sometimes dropping abruptly, and sometimes more gradually subsiding to the level of the lake. To a distant and general view, this level aspect is interrupted by only one narrow ridge, of gravelly consistence, rising in the town of Brighton and running in a northerly and easterly direction, in appearance like an irregular and broken wave, with several pointed summits; yet, on a closer in- spection, the surface is considerably diversified. The shore of the lake is indented with numer- ous bays and inlets, of which the Irondequoit bay east, and Braddock's bay west of the river, are the most considerable. On the borders of the Irondequoit, and the creek of the same name, which discharges itself there, the surface presents a most extraordinary and picturesque appearance. It consists of a multitude of conical or irregular mounds of sand and light earth, sometimes in- sulated and sometimes united, rising to an aver- age height of 200 feet from a perfectly level mead- ow of the richest alluvial loom. The rest of the country is diversified with gen- tle undulations retaining the remnants of their dense forests of beech, maple, and oak, on a deep yellow loam, covered with six or ten inches of black vegetable earth — some light and sandy plains, supporting alternately the oak and pine — a portion of the land called Oak Openings, or sparse and scattering oak wood, on a solid calcarious gravel, and sometimes a lighter sand, mixed with clay — occasional patches of black-ash swale and pine swamp — and along the river and creeks, winding fiats of the richest vegetable composition. The subterraneous structure of this region can hardly be considered as yet sufficiently explored, although the deep ravine cut by the Genesee riv- er, from its falls at Rochester to the dropping of the surface near the lake, exposes to view a thea- tre of regular and beautifulstratification but rare- ly witnessed, and the late excavation of the Erie canal has afforded an additional key to the un- locking of its mineral treasures. Beginning at the lowest observable stratum, the arrangement seems to be : 1st, Saliferous or salt rock ; this has been employed in building the aqueduct at Rochester — 2d, Grey band — 3d, Ferriferous slate — 4th, Ferriferous sand rock ; — -5th, Calciferous iron ore — 6th, Calciferous slate, nearly 100 feet thick ; this is the stratum cut into and exposed by the great falls in the village of Rochester — 7th, Geodiferous lime rock ; or swinestone, about 30 feet thick. The outcropping of this stratum forms what is called the Mountain Ridge; in the viciuity of Rochester, and bed ot the river above the falls, it presents a dark, approaching to the slate colour, and has a peculiar fetid odour. The 8th, or Corniferous lime rock, overlays the former, and appears in the south part of the county, which, still surther south, is overlaid by bitumin- ous shale and coal. It is probable that the fetid odour of the lime rocks is derived from their affinity to and cotem- poraneous formation with the superincumbent bituminous strata. In the two last mentioned lime formations, sulphates of zinc, barytes and strontian, with sulphate of lime in the variety of snowy gypsum, as also fluate of lime, have been found. There are inexhaustible quarries of plas- ter of Paris in the town of Wheatland. The only metallick ore which hasyet been found in quantity, is that of iron, of which a very productive variety, the bog ore, occurs in Penfield. Those presenting themselves in the bank of the river have not been well examined. The agricultural character of the soil of this district of country is that of the utmost fertility — the alluvion of the fetid lime stone which forms its base, being peculiarly adapted to the contin- ued production of superior wheat. Perhaps, also, the moistness of the climate, from its vicinity to the great lakes, contributes to this effect. It is said that a chemical analysis of Genesee wheat, shows it to contain more saccharine matter than that of the southern states, while the latter com- bines with a larger portion of water in the com- position of bread. This may serve to explain why southern Hour is more agreeable to the baker, but Genesee to the eater, when they come into com- petition in our cities. The Genesee River, the principal natural feature in this district, belongs to the eleventh class in Woodbridge's arrangement of comparative mag- nitudes. It rises on the Grand Plateau, or great Table-land of Western Pennsylvania, interlocking with the head waters of the Allegany and Sus- quehannah rivers, arbund which a tract of six miles square might be so located as to embrace their several waters which flow into the Atlantick ocean, through the bays of St. Lawrence, Mexico and Chesapeake, and probably elevated 1600 or 1700 feet above the tide waters of the Atlantick. [This is a region of bituminous coal, of good quality, supposed to be abundant in quantity.] It runs from its source, about north 10 ° east, to Lake Ontario, about 150 miles — and about 125 in the state of New York — through the coun- ties of Allegany, Livingston and Monroe, touch- ing the southeast corner of Genesee. After cross- ing the Pennsylvania line into this state, it runs N. N. VV. about 40 miles, to the Caneadea Reserva- tion, where it turns and runs N. N. E. or N. 25° E. in nearly a uniform line as to its general course, but with numerous small curves and windings, em- bracing large tracts of rich alluvial soil. It re- ceives the Canascraga creek, and Conesus and Hemlock outlets, on the east, and the outlet of Silver Lake and Allen's and Black creeks, on the west, beside many smaller streams. A few miles above the Gardeau Reservation, it has two falls, near together — one of 60, the other of 90 feet. From the Reservation, it is navigable for boats to the head of the rapids, near Rochester — 90 miles by water and 50 by land— and from thence by the feeder two miles into the Erie canal at Rochester. The third fall of twelve feet, is immediately above the canal aqueduct : the fourth is the great fall of 97 feet, about 80 rods below the aqueduct. From thence are considerable rapids, to Carthage, lj^ miles, where the tilth fall, of 20 feet, occurs ; and twenty rods below, is the lower fall, of 105 feet. Half a mile below this fall, the river comes to the level of the lake, and affords sloop navigation, from Carthage to Hanford's Landing, four miles, to its mouth. This forms the Port of Genesee, which has a safe and convenient harbor of 20 feet water with- in, and from seven to eight feet on the bar, which lies half a mile in the lake. The whole fall of the river, from the head of the rapids, passing through the village of Rochester, to the lower falls, is es- timated at 226 feet in the distance of 3% miles ; in which the waters of the river can be used four or five times over, for hydraulick purposes. The word Genesee is formed from the Indian name for Pleasant Valley, which is very descrip- tive of the river ; its banks, the alluvial flats, and the surrounding uplands, from ten to twenty miles on either side of it, being equal to the lands of any other country of the same latitude. The Genesee flats in particular, to which probably the Indian appellation referred, must strike every eye as peculiarly worthy of the name. These are either natural prairies or Indian clearings, (of which, however, the Indians have no traditions,) and lying to an extent of many thousand acres, between the villages of Geneseo, Moscow and Mount Morris, which now crown the opposite declivities of their surrounding uplands, and contrasting their smooth verdure with the shaggy hills that bound the horizon, and their occasional clumps of spreading trees, with the tall and naked relicks of the forest, nothing can strike with a more agreeable sensation the eye long accustomed to the interrupted prospects of a level and wooded country. Had the Indians, who first gave this name to the valley, witnessed the flocks and herds that now enliven its landscape, and the busy towns, with spires overlooking it from the neigh- bouring hills, the boats transporting its supera- bundant wealth down its winding stream, and the scenes of intellectual and moral felicity to which it contributes in the homes of its present enlight- ened occupants ; and had they been able to appre- ciate this, they would have contrived the longest superlative which their language could furnish, to give it a name. About forty years ago, the tract of country of which the county of Monroe forms a part, was only known as the hunting ground of such rem- nants af the .SVa; Nations as survived the chastise- ment of Sullivan, and the still more destructive influence of frontier civilization. And many a veteran warriour is still alive, on the neighbour- ing reservations of Caneadea, Squakey-Hill, Cana- wagus, Seneca, Tonewanda, and Tuscarora, to entertain his degenerate sons with the exploits of his meridian vigour, when not a white man's axe had been lifted in all these forests. The pre-emptive title, however, to this territory was claimed by the state ol Massachusetts, under its colonial charter, which contemplated the whole region between its north and south boundaries, from the Atlantick to the Paciflck ocean. The charter of the state of New-York interfered with this claim, and after various unsuccessful attempts to adjust their ditt'erences, under the Congress of the old confederation, they were at last happily settled by mutual commissioners, who met at Hartford, on the 16th day of December, 1786. According to this ■ settlement, Massachusetts ceded to New York the sovereignty and jurisdic- tion of all the territory claimed by the former within the limits of the latter, and New-York ceded to Massachusetts the property of the soil ; or, in the words of the settlement, " the right of pre-emption of the soil from the native Indians," — " to all the lands now in the state lying west of a line running due north from the 82d mile stone, on the north boundary of Pennsylvania, to the British possessions in Canada, excepting a tract of one mile in width along the Niagara river " : This line commences in the 42d degree of north latitude, 82 miles west of the northeast corner of the state of Pennsylvania, and is called the Pre- em/jtion line. It runs through the middle of the Seneca lake, at its north end, and about one mile east of Geneva, and also through Sodus bay. Dr. Spafl'ord, in his Gazatteer, says, it proves to be the meridian of the city of Washington. [It is also the west boundary line of the New- York Military Lands, which contain twenty-eight townships, each ten miles square — that prowl and splendid monument of the gratitude of New- York to her Revolutionary heroes — she gave 550 acres of good land to every soldier! ! !] In 1787, Massachusetts sold this tract, contain- ing six millions of acres, to Messrs. Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham, for one million of dollars; or, for three notes of £100,000 each, New-England currency, payable in consolidated securities at par. In the following spring, Oliver Phelps, living at Granville, Massachusetts, prepared himself wth men and means to explore the country, and with great resolution and intrepidity took leave of his family, his neighbours, and the minister of the parish, who had assembled on the occasion, all in, tears, and started on his expedition ; they bidding him a tinal adieu, scarcely hoping ever to see him return again from an Indian country, hardly yet pacified! He persevered, and penetrated the 'wilderness, from the German flats, in Herkimer, to Canandai- gua, [meaning a chosen pkice, in the Indian lan- guage,] a distance of 128 miles by the present improved road — sent out runners, and collected the sachems, chiefs and warriours of the Six Na- tions, and in July, 1788, with the aid of the Rev. Samuel Kirklaud, as State Commissioner, and In- dian Missionary, concluded a treaty and purchase of a tract containing about 2 }£ million of acres ; bounded east by the pre-emption line, west by a meridional line, running from a point in the north line of Pennsylvania, 42 miles west of the S2d mile stone, to an elm tree, in the forks of the Genesee and Canascraga ; thence down the Genesee, as its meanders, to a point two miles north of the Canawagus village, [now near Avon bridge,] thence due west twelve miles, [1)4 miles south of the village of Le Roy,] thence northerly, parallel to the general course of the Genesee river, [N. 24° E.J to Lake Ontario — which course forms the east line of the Triangle Tract, so called, and is about 24 miles long. The reason of this remarkable offset of twelve miles to the westward, may not be unworthy of notice, as illustrative of the change in the value of landed property which has taken place since that time. Mr. Phelps proposed the erection of mills at the falls of the river, now at Rochester, and wished for a competent space around them for a mill-yard. To this the Indians assented, and gave him the aforesaid offset, being a space of 12 miles by 24, for that purpose. After a mill had been erected by a Mr. Allen, and the Indians came to see it, and the quantity of ground requisite for a mill-yard, they uttered their interjection of surprise, quoah! and added, kauskonchicos ! (signifying, in the Seneca lan- guage, waterfall,) and this ever after became the Indian name for Mr. Phelps. The kindness, however, and good faith with which Mr. Phelps, like the celebrated" William Penn, always conducted his intercourse with the Indians, did not fail to secure their confidence and affection ; in token of which, they adopted both him and his son, Oliver L. Phelps, as honorary members of their national councils. The leading chiefs and warriour concerned in these negotiations, were Farmer's Brother, the grand sachem, and who, for his political wisdom, might be called the George Clinton of the Six Nations — and Red Jacket, the celebrated orator, who is still alive. After the treaty, Mr. Phelps surveyed the land into tracts, denominated Ranges, running north and south, and subdivided the ranges into tracts of six miles square, dedominated Townships, and designated each by numbers, beginning to number both ranges and townships at the 82d mile stone, in the southeast corner of the tract, [now the south- east corner of Steuben county,] numbering the townships northwardly to the lake, from 1 to 14 — and the ranges westwardly, from 1 to 7. Thus, Bath is designated as township No. 4, in the 3d range ; Cauandaigua as township No. 10, in the 3d range; Pittsford as No. 12, in the 5th range; and Brighton as No. 13, in the 7th range of town- ships, in Gorham & Phelps' purchase. As the Genesee river runs about 24° east of north, below Avon, and Mr. Phelps continued his 7th range of townships to the lake, the 5th range was left to contain but twelve, and the fith range but ten townships — and in order to square the tract lying west of Genesee river, he set off two townships near the lake, which he called t\\e Short Mange, now comprising the towns of Gates and Greece; and the present towns of Caledonia, Wheatland, I hili, Riga, Ogden, and Parma, being then four townships, he called the first range of townships west of Genesee river, in Gorham & Phelps' purchase. This tract formed the counties of Ontario and Steuben for many years, until 1821, when Monroe and Livingston counties were formed, except that part of it lying west of the river, which was an- nexed to the county of Genesee at its organiza- tion in 1802, and the south part of the 7th range set off from Steuben to Allegany. In 1789, Oliver Phelps opened a land office in Canandaigua — this was the first land office in America for the sale of her forest lands to set- tlers. And the system which he adopted for the survey of his lands by townships and ranges, be- came a model for the manner of surveying all the new lands in the United States ; and the method of making his retail sales to settlers by Articles, has also been adopted by all the other land offices of individual proprietorships that have followed after him. The Article was a new device, of American ori- gin, unknown in the English system of convey- ancing; granting the possession, but not the fee of the land; facilitating the frequent changes among new settlers, enabling them to sell out their improvements and transfer their possession by assignment, and securing the reversion of the possession to the proprietor, where they aban- doned the premises. His land sales were allodial ; and the other land offices following his example, have rendered the Genesee farmers all fee simple land holders, which has increased the value of the soil and the enterprize of the people. Oliver Phelps may be considered the Gecrops of the Genesee country. Its inhabitants owe a mau- soleum to his memory, in gratitude for his having pioneered for them, the wilderness of this Canaan of the west. Gorham and Phelps sold about one-third of this tract by townships and parts of townships, to companies and individuals, to settlers and specu- lators, who invited an emigration into the coun- try that soon formed the new county of Ontario, (taken from Montgomery,) which, by the U. S. census of 1790, contained a population of 1075. On the 8th of November, 1790, they sold nearly all the residue to Robert Morris, containing 1,264,000 acres, for eight pence lawful money per acre — who sold the same to Sir William Pulteney, for the sale of which the latter opened a land of" fice at Geneva, and also at Bath, under the agency of Charles Williamson. Gorham and Phelps, not being able to pay the whole purchase money, compromised, and surren- dered to Massachusetts that part of the land to which the Indian title remained unextinguished, being about two-thirds of the western part of it ; in consideration of which, the state cancelled two of their notes. In 1796, Robert Morris purchased the aforesaid land of Massachusetts— extinguished the Indian title — sold out several tracts of fifty and one hun- dred thousand acres off the east side of the tract, and along the Genesee river; and mortgaged the residue to Wilhelm Willink and others, of Ams- terdam, called the Holland Land Company, under \ \ which the company afterward acquired the title; surveyed it, and in 1801, opened a land office at Batavia, under the agency of Joseph Ellicott, for the sale thereof. [It would be a good measure of publick econo- my, to get the early and leading titles to the lands in the Genesee country, collated and authenti- cated by an act of the legislature, to be used in our courts of record, in evidence on litigated titles; and save the expense of special exemplifi- cations of them for every cause.] The early settlements of the country were mostly made in the vicinity of the Buffalo road, as the leading avenue through it. The earliest settlements in the territory, now the county of Monroe, were those made in 1790, by Israel and Simon Stone, in Pittsford, Glover Perrin, in Per- inton ; by Peter Shaeffer, on the flats of the Gen- esee, near Scottsville ; by Orange Stone, in Bright- on ; and in 1791, by William Hincher, at the mouth of the river; and four out of these six pa- triarchs of the forest are still living. The two last lived twelve miles apart, and for several years without an intervening neighbour; and such was the ecceutnck turn of the last named, that, as fame reports, he was jealous of all new comers, fearing ihey would disturb the tranquility of this conveniently distant neighbourhood. In 1796, Zadock Granger and Gideon King settled at the upper landing, four miles from the mouth of the river. In 1805, the harbour of Genesee was made a port of entry, and Samuel Latta appointed the collector. In 1822, the United States govern- ment erected a light-house for the harbour. Monroe County was erected by a law passed Feb. 20, 1821, and named in honour of James Monroe, then President of the United States; and organ- ized by holding the first term of the County Court, on the 8th of May, 1821. It was taken from Ontario and Genesee coun- ties, viz : the towns of Brighton, Pittsford, Pen- field, Perintou, Henrietta, Mendon, and a part of Hush [that part of T. No. 11, in the 7th range, north of the Honeoye outlet,] lying east of the Genesee river, from the county of Ontario; and the towns of Gates, Parma, Clarksou, Sweden, Ogdeu, Riga aud Wheatland, lying on the west side of Genesee river, from the county of Gene- see. Since then, the town of Greece has been erect- ed from the north end of Gates; the town of Chili from the east end of Riga; and the south putt of T. No. 11, in the 7th range, taken from Avon, in the county of Livingston, and added to Rush. The county now contains sixteen sizeable towns, aud comprehends a territory of about 675 square miles, or 420,000 acres ; bounded on the E. bo Wayne ; on the S. E. by Ontario ; and on the S. by Livingston ; on the S. W. by Genesee ; on the W. by Orleans county; and on the north by the national and state territorial liue in the middle of lake Ontario. When erected, it con- tained a population of 20,526, by the United States census of 1820. The first county officers were, Elisha B. Strong, fflrst Judge ; Timothy Barnard, sen. Levi fl. Clarke, and John Bowman, Associate Judges. Na- thaniel Rochester, Clerk; James Seymour, Sheriff; Timothy Childs, District Attorney ; and Elisha Ely, Surrogate. The present officers are, Moses Chapin, First t/uilije ; Brooks Mason, Timothy Barnard, Jr. Wil- liam B. Brown, and Timothy Childs, Associate Judges. James Seymour, (Sheriff ; Simon Stone, 2d Clerk; Daniel 1). Barnard, District Attorney : aad Orrin E. Gibbs, Surrogate. THE VILLAGE OF ROCHESTER. The village of Rochester is situated on both the eastern and western banks of the Genesee river, seven miles from its mouth, at lake' Ontario, and includes the third and fourth of the six several falls on the river: the third, or upper one, is a small fall of twelve feet, situated at the foot of the rapids, aud immediately above where the canal aqueduct is erected ; and the other is the great fall of 97 feet, situated 80 rods below. It is 2i miles south of where the alluvial way or celebrated Ridge Road intersects the river, aud at the first bridging place south of the lake, with accessible and convenient banks for crossing it; and also for passing around the head of the Iroudequoit, (or Teoronto bay, as Dr. Spafford calls it,) giving a continuation to the Ridge Road from east to west. It is also three miles south from Hanford's landing on the west side of the river and 2 miles from Carthage land- ing, the head ; of sloop navigation from the lake, on the east side; and about 35 miles by laud, and 70 by water, from Mount Morris, to which place the river is navigable at all times ; and 50 miles by land, and 90 by water, from Gardeau, or the second of the upper falls, which is the head of navigation during freshets. The two lower falls are at Carthage, l}-£ miles below the village. The grand Erie Canal, after curving along the declivity of the mountain ridge from the N. W. passes through the middle of the village, crosses the river in a splendid aqueduct, and thence runs along the eastern bank up the stream about eighty rods to a small ravine, through which it resumes its course eastwardly. This situation, together with the vast water power, conspire to give the village its command- ing position for trade, by the lake, the river, and the canal, as well for manufactures. The canal, at this place, is 501 feet above the tide waters of the Hudson, 270 feet above Lake Ontario, and 64 feet below Lake Erie. The village corporation contains about 720 acres on the west, and 430 on the east side of the river. It is 218 miles west of Albany — 28 northwest of Canaudaigua — and 35 nearly northeast of Batavia. It is situated in latitude 43° N. and about 40' W. longitude from the meridian of the city of Washington. The MM Lot, so called, lying in the centre of the village, on the west side of the river, and con- taining 100 acres, was a gift from Oliver Phelps to Ebenezer Allen, in 1789, in consideration of his building a grist-mill on it, for the accommodation of. the ne v settlers then moving into the country. But the settlement being mostly made along the main road leading through Canaudaigua to Buffa- lo, left this section of the country to remain a wilderness for several years. Mr. Allen moved away, left his mill to go to decay, and sold his lot, which passed through several hands to the Pulte- ney estate. In 1602, Nathaniel Rochester, William Fitzhugh, and Charles Carroll, of Maryland, purchased the lot, aud left it remaining uuoccupied until 1812, when they surveyed it into village lots, opened it for sale, and gave it the name of Rochester, the family name of the senior proprietor. The other lands now occupied as the village of Rochester, were farm-lots Nos. 47 to 54, in town- ships No. 1, short range, west of the Genesee riv- er, and now the towu of Gates : and Nos. 3 and 10, with 36, and a lot called the Hatchet Piece, of the third division of township No. 13, of the 7th range, east of Uenesee river, aud now the town of Brighton. The lots on the west side, were a part of a tract of 20,000 acres, bought of Phelps and Gorhain by a company of seven purchasers, in the year 1791, and partitioned between them by lot. Charles Harford, one of these, made the first improve- ment in the N. W. part of the village, about the year 1807, by building a small mill, with one run of stones, 2& feet in diameter : but it was not till 1812, when lots Nos. 48 and 49 were purchased by Matthew Brown, Jr. Francis Brown, and Thomas Mumford, that this portion of the village was sur- veyed as building lots, and denominated Frankfort, after the christian name of Francis Brown. The centre of the village east of the river, was a part of the farm of Enos Stone, a part also of a larger joint purchase from the Phelps and Gor- hain estate, in the year 1879, for Is $d New-Eng- land currency, per acre. A little clearing was made on this land — a log house built on the bank of the river, and a saw-mill erected near the ford- ing place, about 1808 ; but it was not till 1817, that this part of the village was much improved. At that time, Ellsha Johnson, having purchased SO acres from the west side of Enos Stone's farm, surveyed and laid it out into building lots. James, son of Enos Stone, is believed to to have been the first child born in Rochester, May 4, 1810. The N. E. part of the village, or lots Nos. 4, 5, 6 and 7, were owned by Moses Atwater, and Sam- uel I. Andrews. Their first improvements began in 1813. The first bridge at this place, (where the middle bridge now stands,) was commenced in the year 1810, and finished in 1812, at the joint expense of the counties of Ontario and Genesee, amounting to $12,000. Previous to this, the river was cross- ed by fording on the level rocky bottom, about twenty rods above where the canal aqueduct is now erected ; the only bridge then on the river was where it is intersected by the Buffalo road at Avon, twenty miles distant from this place. Hitherto, there was nothing in the appearance or prospects of the place where Rochester now stands, to indicate the unexampled growth which it has experienced since 1812. Its water-falls, in- deed, afforded the prospect of advantages for hj - - drauliek machinery ; but the small productions of the surrounding country, and the superior pros- pects, as it then seemed, of other points in the vicinity for commercial purposes, were but little calculated to excite sanguine expectations. In the month of January, 1810, Frederick Han- ford opened a store of goods, at what was then called the upper landing, or Fall-Town, (being the first merchant's store on the river below Avon,) and opened the way to the trade of the river and lake. Hence, that place has since been called Handfoid's landing. The village, also, at the mouth of the river, attracted some attention, and promised to become a place of trade. It may tend to give an idea of the commercial and civil importance of all those points at that time, to state that the mail was then carried from Canandaigua once a week, on horseback, and part of that time by a woman ! From the year 1812, which might be regarded as the birth year of Rochester, as a village, we shall note, in the form of annals, whatever events contributed to its growth and increase up to the present time; and whatever else may seem wor- thy of being remembered, as connected with 'its history. 1812. — The bridge across the Genesee river was finished. The proprietors of the Allen mill lot surveyed it into village lots, and opened it for sale and settlement. . Isaac W. Stone built a house and opened a tav- ern, opposite the place where the Methodist brick chapel now stands, on the east side of the river ; which was the only tavern in the place for two or three years. He also built a saw-mill near Enos Stone's log house. Matthew Brown, Jr. Francis Brown, and Thom- as Mumford, purchased lots Nos. 48 and 49, laid them out in village lots, and called it Frankfort. The only improvements then were Mr. Harford's grist and saw mills and two log houses. Moses Atwater and Samuel I. Andrews purchas- ed lots Nos. 4, 5, 6, and 7, in the third division of lots, in township No. 13, in the 7th range, about the great falls, on the east side of the river, (which now forms the northeast section of the village,) and commenced their improvements. A Post-Office was established in the village. Its first quarterly income was $ 3,42 cts. In July, of this year, the first merchant's store was opened, by Ira West. 1813.— The Legislature granted $5,000, for cut- ting out the path and bridging the streams on the Ridge Road, between this place and Lewiston, which was then almost impassible. There were three houses built and occupied on the west side of the river. The land where the publick buildings now stand, was cleared, sown with wheat, and afterwards used as a pasture. The mill race, south of Buffalo-street, was opened by Rochester & Co. [There is now in the same place a large and commodious canal, which sup- plies water for three flouring mills, five saw-mills, a trip hammer arid nail factory, and considerable other machinery ] 1814.— On the 14th of May, Sir James L. Yeo, admiral of the British fleet on Lake Ontario, an- chored off the harbour at the mouth of the river, with five large and eight smaller vessels of war; when all the male inhabitants of the village, ca- pable of bearing arms, (being 33,) turned out with the militia of the neighboring towns, to prevent his landing, leaving ouly two men to take the wo- men and children into the woods, in case he sho'd land and send a detachment of troops, as had been threatened, to burn the bridge across the river. The first mercantile operations of any impor- tance in the village commenced this year. 1815 — Elisha Ely, Hervey Ely, and Josiah Bis- sell, Jr. finished the red mill, with four run of stones, now owned by Ebenezer S. Beach. Samuel Hildreth, of Pittsford, commenced run- ning a stage and carrying the mail, twice a week, between this place and Canandaigua. A private weekly mail route was established be- tween this place and Lewiston — dependent on the . income of the post-offices on the route for its sup- port. M. Brown, Jr. F. Brown, and T. Mumford, com- menced their mill canal, at the head ot the great falls, and fiuished it in 1816. The building of the cotton factory, in Frankfort, was commenced by an incorporated company. Abelard Reynolds opened the first tavern on the west side of the river, on Buffalo-street. In December, the first census of the village was taken — population, 331. Aug. 22— The first religious society in the place was organized, consisting of 16 members, 14 of whom are still alive. The purchase of produce in any considerable quantity, from* the surrounding country, com- menced this year. 1816. — Caleb Lyon commenced the settlement of Carthage. G January 17 — Rev. Comfort Williams was in- stalled pastor of the Presbyterian congregation, beiug the tirst clergyman settled in the village. Dauby & Sheldon established a weekly newspa- per, entitied the Rochester GitZftte; — [now pub- lished by Edwin Scrantom, and called the Monroe Republican.] Matthew and Francis Brown finished a mill ca- nal on the west side of the river, at the head of the great falls, 84 rods in length, 30 feet wide, and S feet in depth, through a rock — which forms the mill race for their mills, the cotton factory, and many other establishments, and from which the water falls down the bank ninety-six feet. Buffalo road was surveyed and laid out to Ba- tavia. 1817. — By an act of the Legislature, passed in April, the village was incorporated by the name of Rochester vilte, and on the tirst of May the first village election was held, for five trustees — when Francis Brown, Daniel Mack, William Cobb, Eve- rard Peck, and Jehiel Barnard, were elected. Francis Brown was chosen president of the board, and Hastings R. Bender clerk. The first house for publi Carroll-street. Rev. Wm. James Third Presbyt'n.. 1827 Clinton-street. Rev. Geo. Parker III.— BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. THE FEMALE CHARITABLE SOCIETY. Was organized 26th February, 1S22. — The fol- lowing is an extract from the Constitution : " Art. 1. The primary objects of this society shall be, the relief of indigent persons and fam- ilies, in cases of sickness and distress, and the establishment of a Charity School. " Art. 3. It shall be the duty of the directors, to direct the application of all the means of the society— to solicit contributions in money, goods, provisions, clothing, bedding, &c, and to obtain subscribers. Art. 5. — All articles of clothing, bedding, &c. belonging to the society shall be loaned, (not given,) and it shall be the duty of the committee to see that they are returned." This society has been in successful operation for five years, during most of which period, a school has been kept, in which forty children are educated gratuitously. The school, which is now flourishing, is under the charge of Mrs. Saddler, whose fidelity has met the unqualified spproba- tion of the society. In many cases, relief and assistance have been afforded to sick and distressed families, by the loan of clothing, bedding, oor, let this not be overlooked. At all events, et the education of our youth be understood, as it is, an indispensable object, without which, our other labours are comparatively useless. Let it be understood that much time has already been lost, and cannot be redeemed; and that immediate exertion is demanded, to sustain the interest, rep- utation and well-being of our community. The Paving and Lighting op the Village, Is also an object which, though not wholly over- looked, demands more prompt and efficient meas- ures than have yet been taken. These seem heavy burdens to the citizens at present, but a little re- flection on the past, will clearly demonstrate that the necessary means are not unprofitably ex- pended. As to unoccupied resources for enterprising citizens, even a superficial observer can be at no loss to discover many. The river yet affords a multitude of mill sites, where labour-saving ma- chinery of every description may be erected ; the surrounding country presents a large and rapidly increasing demand for all the productions of art and industry ; and the canal affords the means of cheap transportation to all the Atlantick cities, and, westward, through the lakes, to a distance of 3000 miles! An extensive establishment for work- ing the iron ores of the neighbourhood, would be an advantage both to the publick aDd the proprie- tor. A glass manufactor}' could hardly fail to do well; and the fluate of lime in the vicinity, might be employed to good purpose in ornamenting the glass ware now imported. The encouragements for the woollen manu- facture, (especially if the pending tariff law should be carried in its favour,) may be considered as al- most unlimited. There is yet no brass-founding establishment in the place, though the demand is already considera- ble, and fast increasing. There are also connected with the agricultural industry of the neighbourhood, many profitable objects presenting themselves. The supply of the village with the productions of the garden and dairy, is not yet equal to the demand , and we will still import from abroad, at a,high price, many articles for which our climate and soil is equal to any other under the sun. It is a singular circumstance, (for instance,) that we should here give two pounds of pepper, the growth of the Indian isles, for one of mustard, a plant as easily cultivated and floured here as wheat, of which we export so many thousand barrels. There is perhaps no region in which the hop flourishes more luxuriantly, or with so little care, as here. A multitude of other articles might be mentioned, but these are sufficient to excite in- quiry in our intelligent farmers. To conclude : — We have seen our village, from a log hut or two, in the deep and lonely forest, rise like the work of magick, in a few years, to the form of a busy and populous city. We have seen the forest yielding to the fruitful field, and the fruitful field to streets crowded with commerce, and wharves covered with the merchandise of every nation. From a few adventurous settlers, braving the hardships and dangers of an untried wilderness, we now see a multitude of people en- joying all the necessaries and luxuries of life. The past is instructive, the future deeply interesting. Industry and enterprize, crowned by the blessing of a bountiful Providence, have effected what we see. What future achievements may not be ac- 18 complisbed by the same means ? But a new element here enters into our calculations. It was the yielding forest and the passive earth that have been hitherto regulated and subdued; our future prosperity depends on the tractability of a mass of mind, a host of mingling opinions, passions, vir- tues and vices, thrown together from every quar- ter of the globe. Shall it rise through years to come in moral and social order and beauty? Let each citizen answer for himself; each will have his share of agency in the event; but let it be re- membered, that a new instrumentality must be at work. The means that have transformed the for- est, will not act upon the mind. Education must be cherished; religion must be revered; luxury and vice must be adjured; our magistracy must feel the true interests of the citizens, and must be supported in their efforts to promote every virtu- ous, and to suppress every corrupting influence. So doing, we are permitted to anticipate prosper- ity. The Providence that has blessed the early, will equally smile upon the latter exertions. We may be wise and honourable, good and great, if we labour for it by the appropriate means, and with a corresponding ardour. And the time has come, when, if we put forth no other energies than those which merely tend to property and wealth, they will only tend to demolish the fabrick they have reared, and render our successors a monument of the vanity and folly of human expectations. But we look for better things. We reckon on a com- munity enlightened enough to know the value of i*s blessings, and the way by which tbey must be secured. We look forward to this place at some distant day, as a flourishing city ; flourishing not merely in wealth and power, but in knowledge and virtue, an honour and blessing to sister cities around, and the home of a great people, enlight- ened and happy. The following remarks by George G. Cooper, local editor of the Daily Union and Advertiser, to whom is indebted the credit of having sought out and republished the above sketches are so appropriate, and contain so much that pertains to the pres- ent day, we publish them entire as part and parcel of this book : Mocliester in 1827 and 1 860. The Sketches of Monroe County and Rochester up to 1827, taken from the first Directory, were con- cluded in our paper yesterday, having occupied eleven columns of solid matter. When the publi- cation was commenced, we confess that we were hardly aware how interesting these incidents would be to very many of our people. Though they are no more than brief memoranda of events in the progress of Rochester, from a savage wil- derness to a garden — an important centre of civi- lization and trade — yet as such they have been eagerly read, we are assured, by thousands. Old citizens, who have witnessed the progress of events here noticed, almost from the outset, as well as those who know nothing of Rochester till since it became a city, are alike interested in these memoranda and they will preserve them for future reference. No one can peruse them with other than feelings of pride as he now looks upon our county and city, and contemplates how much has been accomplished by the industry of our people in half a century. The industry of the people of Monroe.,County has been bestowed upon a tract of country highly favored by Providence for devel- opment, and this is a fact not to be overlooked. The wealth of our locality lies chiefly in its soil. The water power of the city has done much to in- crease her trade and attract hither men of indus- try and capital, but that water power would have been of comparatively little value but for the soil which furnished the staple products to sus- tain life and employ capital in commerce and trade. The soil, the water power, the canal and the lake have combined to attract labor and capi- tal to this city and to make both productive. The Railroads have been incidentally beneficial, but Rochester has endowed these corporations with a liberal trade, and they cannot materially injure her without great prejudice to their own interests. These are facts which every Rochester man should keep in view in contemplating the past and pre- dicting for the future. The growth of our place has been quite uniform — always healthy, and it has been as little affected by financial revulsions and the fluctuations of trade as any city in the Union. But we are diverging from our purpose, which was to briefly note some of the changes which have taken place since the first Directory ot Rochester was published, in 1827, and the notes are only such as are suggested by reading these sketches. They, perhaps, should have been made from day to day as the matter was published. The location of the city — the population we mean — has gradually spread from the points re- ferred to in these statistics to nearly the extreme limits of the corporation. The city was chartered in 1834 with a population of 12,252, and since that time its territorial timits have been somewhat in- creased — chiefly at the north along the River so as to include the head of Lake navigation on the Genesee. From east to west the city is pretty compactly built up to the lines for a mile or more from the River each way. From north to south, which is between four and five miles, the popula- tion has not extended so thickly, and at the ex- tremes it has not the density of a village. — Property in the Mill Lot of 100 acres, given by 19 Phelps to Indian Allen to induce him to erect a grist mill in 17S9 — which he deserted, and which Rochester, Fitzhugh and Carroll purchased for a small sum and laid it out into lots in 1812, is now the most valuable in Rochester, and lots 100 by 20 feet, have sold at §20,000. The assess- ed valuation of the hundred acres is now several millions of dollars, and the real valuation treble that at which it is assessed. The eighty acres purchased by Elisha Johnson from the farm of Enos Stone in 1817 is now the most valuable property on the east side of the River, and its value can only be estimated by millions. James Stone, referred to as the first child born in Roch- ester, was born in the only house on the East Side of the River — and that built of logs. He is now fifty years old— a worthy and industrious farmer in the neighboring town of Greece. The Frankfort tract has been well settled for many vears, and it may be said to be entirely built over. It lies north of the Central Railroad, and between the River and Erie Canal. The Messrs. Brown and Mr. Mumford, who laid out that travt, have passed aivay, but they have sons yet living among us, in the prime of life and use- fulness. The Andrews and Atwater Tract, in the north- eastern section of the city, was slower in develop- ment, but within a few years past, it has increased in population as rapidly as any other. The sous of Mr. Andrews still reside in that tract aud are well known citizens. The bridges of Rochester need a passing notice. What was called the Middle Bridge in 1827 stood where Main Street Bridge now stands. It has been rebuilt two or three times, and the last time in 1856-7 of cut stone at a cost of over $60,000. The first bridge at that place was completed in 1812 at a cost of $12,000, paid by the counties of Outario and Genesee, which then covered the ter- ritory. In 1819 the second bridge was constructed by Andrews, Atwater & Mumford, about midway between the Fulls and where Andrews Street Bridge now stands. It was a toll bridge and stood but a few years. In 1826, a bridge was built by subscription at Court street. In 1819, the high bridge at Carthage, the wonder of the times, was built, and fell in just one year. It stood on the site of the Suspension Bridge constructed by the city in 1856, at a cost of $25,000, which shared the fate of its predecessor in less than one year from the time it was commenced. Two bridges were subsequently built across the River, near the Lower Falls, and one stood as late as 1835, since which time there has been no bridge in the north part of the city, other than as we have stated. Andrews Street Bridge was first erected, we be- lieve, about 1836, and was rebuilt of iron, at a cost of $12,000 in 1857. Clarissa Street Bridge, in the south part of the city, was erected in 1841-2, and is now an inferior structure. Court Street Bridge (of iron) was completed in 1858, and cost about $12,000, we believe. The first post office was opened in 1812, and the quarter's revenue was $3,42. The current quar- terly receipts are now about $5,000. The mill races are now as they were first laid out, except that they have been enlarged and im- proved, and upon them are situated many large and beautiful mills, capable of making more flour in a day than the mills of any other single town in the world. The Red Mill, built by the Ely's and Josiah Bissell in 1S15, is still standing on Aqueduct street. The Stroug Mill, built at Car- thage in 1818, was burned five or six years since. The mill built by Mr. Cleveland in 1819 is now standing, and is known as the " Genesee Falls Mill." In 1S22, Hervey Ely built a part of his mill, still standing near the Aqueduct. The Whit- ney Mill, built in 1826, is still standing at the foot of Brown's Race. In 1815 Abelard Reynolds, who still lives, open- ed the first tavern in Rochester on the west side of the river. As the original bonil'ace he may be proud to know that nearly two hundred landlords have taken license to keep tavern in 1860. In 1815 the first census was taken, and the pop- ulation was 331. The last census is now being taken and will show a population of about 47,000. In 1815 the first religious society was organized of 16 members. 14 were alive in 1827, but how mauy are still living we cannot say. It was a Presbyterian Society, and Rev. Comfort Williams was the pastor. His son Chas. H. Williams still resides here an active business man. The first bouse for public worship was a wooden building on State street, (then called Carroll street) in 1817. It was built by the Presbyterians, was sold to the 1st Baptist Society about 1824, and occupied by the latter until 1837, when it was removed to the rear of the lot it occupied opposite Mumford street, and subsequently was destroyed by fire while used as a carriage factory. The second re- ligious edifice was built in 1820 by St. Luke's So- ciety on the lot where the stone church now stands. The la'ter was erected in 1824. The Quakers built the third house for worship in 1822, on Fitzhugh street, where they have a meeting house now. The same year the Methodists built the Brick Chapel on St. Paul street, which they sold to the Catholics and which is now used as a livery stable. The Methodist Society own St. John's Church and the Catholics St. Mary's, both good buildings. The latter will be a splendid edi- fice when completed. In 1823 the fifth house of worship was erected by the Roman Catholics, on Piatt street — St. Patrick's Church— and it now stands. 20 In 1824 the present First Church edifice was erected, and there it stands, improved from time to time to keep it from going to decay. In 1826 the Methodists began to build their chapel on the corner of Buffalo and Fitzhugh streets, which was burned once, rebuilt, and has recently given place to a block of stores. These were all the churches of Kochester prior to 1827. The Second and Third Presbyterian Societies were organized about that time, and worshipped in halls. The praise bestowed upon the church edifices of Rochester by the author of the sketches of 1827 has been read, and it was all deserved at the time it was written. He says it was in contemplation to build, the ensuing season, two large and beauti- ful stone edifices for the Second and Third Pres- byterian Societies. They were built, have been worn out, and given place to something more costly, and more in keeping with the spirit of the age which controls religious as well as civil bodies. The Second Presbyterian Society erected their church in 1829, and in 1860 tore it down, and are now building a temple to cost forty or fifty thou- sand dollars. The Third Society also constructed their church at the corner of Main and Clinton streets, became embarrassed and were compelled to sell out to the Second Baptist Society, who oc- cupied the building until last fall, when it was de- stroyed by fire. The lot has been sold for stores, and the Baptists are building a beautiful stone edifice on North street. The Third Church hung lor a while between life and death, then rallied and erected a church edifice on Main street, which was burned in the summer of 1858, and they have now just completed a fine stone church on Temple St., and a chapel beside, and both are paid for. There are now about forty churches in the city, some of which are very costly and elegant. The writer of 1827 could now see, if living, that far more has been done in this department of public improvement than he called for to make Roches- ter what he expected her to become. In educational facilities the city has made as much progress as any other. In 1827, we are told, there were no institutions of learning en- joying a public and organized patronage. We have now an excellent Unniversity, half a dozen or more excellent acadamies, a number of semin- aries and private schools, and a system of public schools which cost the people over $60,000 per year to sustain, to say nothing of the interest in capital invested in school property, worth perhaps $150,000. There are 18 public schools, and most of them are in large and beautiful edifices, some of which cost above §10,000. Our benevolent associations exhibit as great progress and increase as do any other in thirty years. They are " too numerous to mention," and they cost many thousands annually to sustain them efficiently. Our Hospitals, Asylums, Charity Schools, and organizations for dispensing relief to the suffering, are in keeping with the progress of our city. The Press of Rochester has kept pace with other departments of business. In 1827 there was ODe monthly, one semi-weekly, four weekly, one semi-weekly, and one daily newspaper. — Of all these but one survives under the ori- ginal name, and that is the Daily Advertiser, the other half of our Union. The Monroe Republi- can and Rochester Mercury, weeklies, were merg- ed, and called the Rochester Republican, the weekly now issued from this office. There are now published in Rochester two or three month- lys, five weeklies, one tri-weekly, one semi-weekly and three daily papers. The aggregate circula- tion of these papers is greater than the papers of any city in the State, excepting of course, New York. One weekly, Moore's Rural New Yorker, has a circulation of about' fifty thousand copies. The Daily Union and Advertiser issue is between four and five thousand copies per day. Assuming that what cotemporaries claim is correct, and the Daily issues of Rochester are above ten thousand copies per A day. There was but one Bank here in 1827, with a capital of $250,000. There are now 11 Banks with an aggregate capital of nearly three millions. As to the occupation of the inhabitants — the trades and professions we can give no comparative statistics, to show the increase. The physicians must number about 100, the lawyers nearly double that number, and the clergymen about sixty. The Old Acqueduct, to which a chapter is de- voted, and which was regarded as a wonderful piece of work in 1827, passed away years ago, and only a single arch is left as a monument to the granduer of the enterprise. It cost $83,000. The new Aqueduct, built about fifteen years ago, cost upwards of $600,000. It is safe to predict for it a continuance for many generations. The Court House, erected in 1S22, was spoken of in 1827 as something of which the county could boast. Alas, this, too, has passed away, and on its site some ten years since was erected the edifice which now stands there, and which cost over $70,000. The County Jail, so briefly referred to as " situ- ated on Hughes street, in the rear of a handsome and commodious brick house occupied by the Jailer's family," has gone with other public build- ings, and this so long ago, that many now resid- ing here do not remember the building. North Fitzhugh was called Hughes street, in 1827, and the Jail stood on the site of the Unitarian Chapel. The new Jail was erected since 18S0, and the old 21 Jail was occupied as a recruiting station by the U. S. officers for a number of years. The Market Building— estimated to cost $3,000 — " built upon the plan of the new Market in Bos- ton," was going up in 1827, and no doubt the vil- lagers looked upon the growing structure with pride. It stood on the corner of Mam and Front sts.,where Mr. Erickson's elegant brick block now stands. The Market tumbled into the river more than 25 years ago, and the building that succeed- ed it has recently passed away to give place to one that is as good as can be desired. Traveling in those days was not as easily, quickly and cheaply performed as now. Stages, boats, and a weekly steamboat on Lake Ontario, were the only dependence of the public to get in and out of Rochester, unless they resorted to private conveyances. Stages have nearly all passed away, boats convey freight alone; instead of one steamer a week on the lake, we have three per day. And now no less than sixty trains of cars arrive and depart from the city daily, and some of these not unfrequently carry five hundred passengers. « The Monroe County Poor House still remains as one of the old landmarks of 1827, but it has been enlarged, and its thirty-five occupants of that day have been succeeded by four hundred pau- pers. It is a lamentable fact that pauperism has increased in the ratio of business and general prosperity. The only consolation that we can find in this emergency is, that we are told by one inspired of Heaven, that the poor we are to al- ways have with us. We might go on at great length in noting the changes in Rochester since 1827, but we have not space to do so to-day. The statistics of manufac- tures and trade would show largely in favor of the enterprise of our people, but these we must omit. In conclusion, we appeal to our readers to peruse the concluding remarks of the writer for the Directory of 1827, and see if our people have not accomplished all that he called upon them to per- form to make Rochester " at some distant day a flourishing city — flourishing not merely in wealth and power.but in knowledge and virtue, an honor and a blessing to sister cities around, and the home of a great people, enlightened and happy.' As an appendix to the first Directory, a few brief notices of local events connected with the rise and progress of our city, collected from various sources have been added, which are worthy of perusal. PIONEER ASSOCIATION. Organized* in 184*7. The first preliminary meeting was held to organize a Pioneer Society, when it was sugges- ted that the hardships and privations endured by them, should be commemorated in an ap- propriate manner by the survivors. In accordance with this suggestion several preliminary meetings were held, which resulted in the adoption of a series of resolutions designed to control their future proceedings. It was determined in the first place, to con- vene a social meeting, to be composed of Pioneers who had settled at, or were born in Rochester prior to the first of January, 1816, and who were then residents of our city or its vicinity. Article first of their Constitution admits per- sons who at any time previously to the first day of January, 1820, were residents of Western New York. After the adoption of resolutions expressive of their gratitude to God for having preserved the lives and health of so many of them, a com- mittee of arrangements composed of the follow- ing gentlemen was appointed, viz : Enos Stone, Harvey Montgomery, Samuel G. Andrews. Silas 0. Smith, Aaron Newton, Moses Chapin, Jonathan Packard, Harvey Ely, Chas. J. Hill. FIRST PIONEERS' FESTIVAL. The first meeting of the Pioneers, called for the purpose of commemorating the early settle- ment of Rochester, was held at Blossom Hote^ on Thursday the 31st clay of September, 1847] The following gentlemen were chosen officers .* President— Enos Stone.* Vice Presidents — Hon. Ashley Sampson,* Ralph Lester,* Oliver Culver. Prayer by Rev. A. G. Llall. A sumptuous dinner was prepared by the Messrs. Blossom — themselves Pioneers and pro- prietors of one of the oldest hotels in the city. There were sixty-two present at this festival. The society now (1860) consists of about ninety gentlemen and forty-two ladies. They hold annual meetings at the Court House in Rochester, on the second Tuesday in June in each year. The portraits of about sixty members of the Association have been painted by Mr. Colby Kimball, an artist of Rochester, and are now hanging in the Court Room. •Deceased. 22 JUNIOR PIONEER ASSOCIATION Organized in 1855. Annual Meeting October. 26^, each year. Not wishing to be outdone by the old gentle- men, the Juniors organized a society composed of persons who have resided in this County previous to 1825. At their first organization the following officers were elected: — President— -Ezra M. Parsons, of Gates. Vice Presidents — Wm. A. Reynolds, N. Os- burn, H. L. Achilles, L. D. Ely, John C. Nash. Recording Secy — L. Starr Hoyt. Corresponding Sec'y — L. Ward Smith. Treasurer — George W. Fisher. Executive Committee — Jarvis M. Hatch, T. A. Newton, D. H. Griffith, Jacob Howe, N. A. Stone, T. Chapman, C. H. Bicknell, George W. Fisher 4 , John B. Dewey, James S. Stone. Committee on Historical Collections— W. A. Reynolds, L. Ward Smith, J. C. Nash, George W. Fisher, L. D. Ely. Being younger and more active men, their meetings partake largely of Young America, and as they annually come together at their social gatherings, the boys of 1812, '14, and '16, are found to be a full match for their sires in tough yarns of their boyhood — and their yearly gatherings are looked forward to with as much zest as though they were still under the train- ing of their old schoolmaster— Doctor Burch. Mr. O'Reiley says of "The Village of Roch- esterville, in 1817, from which period the com- mencement of Rochester may be fairly dated, the difficulties interposed by the war having- prevented any considerable improvement before the year 1816. The improvement of the place in various ways, between that period and the year 1837 — forming the first score of years since the place was lawfully organized under a village charter. We preface the account by some notices of the proceedings of the corpor- ation, under the village and city charters, be- tween the years 1817 and 1837 — the first twenty years." CORPORATION OF ROCHESTER. 1817, June 10.— The first Board of Trustees elected under the village charter. 11817, October 9.— The first Fire Company formed. 1819, the name of the village corporation was changed from " Rochesterville" to "Rochester," the original name, by an act of the Legislature. 1825. The powers granted to the village cor- poration were found to be inadequate to a good police regulation. The question was agitated during the fall, whether application should be made for a city charter. After considerable dis- cussion, the project of a city charter was de- clined by the people, and the Legislature amend- ed the village charter by vesting ample powers in the Board of Trustees. 1826, First election under a new village char- ter. The village was divided into five wards. CITY CHARTER. 1834. After several applications made to the Legislature, the city of Rochester was chartered in the spring of 1834. On the incorporation of the village in 1817, about 750 acres were in- cluded within its limits. The city charter in 1834, extended its bounds so as to embrace up- ward of 4,000 acres. THE MAYORS OF ROCHESTER. The organization of Rochester under the city charter occurred June 9, 1834. Jonathan Child, First Mayor. 1834-5. At the inauguration the next day, Mayor Child made the following remarks : "The rapid progress which our p'ace ha3 made from a wilderness to an incorporated city, authorizes each of our citizens proudly to re- flect upon the agency he has had in bringing about this great and interesting change. Roclw ester, we all know, has had little aid in its per- manent improvement from foreign capital. It has been settled and built for the most part, by- mechanics and merchants, whose capital was Economy, Industry and Perseverance. It is their labor and skill which has converted a wil- derness into a city; and to. them, surely, this must be a day of pride and joy. They have founded and reared a city before they have passed the meridian of life. In other countries and times the city of Rochester would have been the result of the l&bor and accumulations of successive generations; but the men who felled the forest that grew on the spot where we are assembled, are sittiny at the Council Board of our city. Well then may we indulge an honest pride as we look back upon our hist- ory, and let the review elevate our hopes and animate our exertions. Together we have struggled through the hardships of an infant set- tlement, and the embarrassment of straightened circumstances ; and together let us rejoice and be happy in the glorious reward that has crowned our labors." On the 23d of June, in the following year, Mr. Child presented his resignation, and on the 2nd of July, 1835-6, Jacob Gould was chosen. 1837. A. M. Schemerhorn.* Mr. S. held the office about two months, when he resigned. Tofill the vacancy thus occasioned, Thomas Kempshall was chosen on the 7th of March, 1837. On the retirement of Mr. Kempshall, 1838. Elisha Johnson, 1839. Thomas H. Rochester. 23 1840. Samuel G. Andrews. Mr. Andrews held the office hut a short time, yhen he was elected Clerk of the Senate, and ■esigned, and E. F. Smith was elected for the •emainder of the year. 1841. E. F. Smith vas the first mayor elected by the people, 1841. 1842. Charles J. Hill. 1843. Isaac Hills. 1844. *John Allen. 1845-6. William Pitkin. 1847. John B. Elwood. • 1848. Joseph Field. 1849. Levi A. Ward. 1850. Samuel Richardson. 1851. Hamlin Stilwell. 1852. Nicholas E. Paine. 1853. John Williams. 1854. Maltby Strong. 1855. Charles J. Hayden. 1856. Samuel G t Andrews. 1857. Rums Keeler. 1858. Charles H. Clark. 1859. S. W. D. Moore. 1860. Hamlet D. Scrantom. The only ones not now living— 1860. Population of the City at Different Dates. First Census 1815 331 1818..., 1049 1820....' 1502 1822 2700 February, 1825 4274 State cen. Aug. 1 825 5273 1826 7669 1830 9269 1840 20,191 1845 25,261 1850 36,403 1855 43,877 1860 about 50,000, returns not in. The Public Squares of the City at the Pres- ent Time, are, 2d Ward. Brown's Square is bounded by Brown, Jay, Kent and Jones Streets. 2d Ward. Centre Square is bounded by Ann, John, Centre and Sophia Streets. 3d Ward. Caledonia Square is bounded North by Edinburgh and South by Glascow st. 4th Ward. Washington Square is bounded by Court, South Clinton, Wood and South sts. 6th Ward. Franklin Square is bounded South by Andrews and North by Bowery. 7th Ward. Wadsworth Square is bounded North by Howell, South by Marshall and East by William Street. 8th Ward. Mechanics' Square is bounded East by King and West by Madison Street. 9th Ward. Jones' Square is bounded East by Schuyler and West by Graham Street. IRONDEQI OIT BAY. Scene in 1K50, near the Newport House. This Bay is about five miles long ami one wide, inrt communicates with Lake Ontario by a very narrow opening, about four miles Eastward from Charlotte. It is LOue a popular resort and one of the pleasante^t places for fishing and pic-nic parties in the vicinity, being about i naif hour s rule from the city. Here many a bungling angler has caught a bite 24 Finally, we offer you a book worthy of perusal, and full of interesting local matter — a narrative of events that have transpired within the memory of a large portion of our citizens ; — a history worth preserving ; — a description of a city teeming with indus- try and wealth, and possessing within her corporate limits the elements of a large' city. The traveller passing along the flying rail car, as he reaches the'borders of the Genesee! Country, asks, — What of Rochester ? — Yes, What of Rochester ? — She is looked upon with pride by every citizen, and astonishment by all travellers. Known far and near for her large nurseries and horticultural gardens, her numerous flouring mills, and manufacturing interests, her firemen, her military, her mercantile establishments, her banking credit, (being the last city in the State to surrender and stop specie payment during the commercial crisis of 1857) — her lake, her river, her bay, her falls, where Sam Patch made his final leap, showing that " some things could be done as well as others," — her Genesee country with its fine scenery and natural advantages, — her Mount Hote, — the indomitable perseverance of her citizens, — the never surrender element she inherited from one of her early defenders — Captain Francis Brown, wher ordered by Sir x\diniral Yeo in 1814, with his fleet of thirteen vessels moored at our landing, and about to storm the town, he sent a British officer with a flag of truce on shore, saying that if they would deliver up the stores in and around Rochester and Charlotte, Sir James Yeo would spare the settlement from destruction — he was asked "Will you comply with this offer?" With all the true courage of a great general, and ready wit ; surrounded by his brave company of about thirty men, hastily col- lected together in their grotesque military dress, equipped with their old rifles, muskets- and shot guns, being the only army he had to protect and defend the place, the cool reply of Capt. Brown was, " Blood knee deep first." Thus ended the parley. The return of the flag to the fleet was followed by a vigorous attack of bombs and balls, while the compliment was spiritedly returned by a rusty old six-pounder, which had been furnished and mounted on a log for the important occasion. After a few hours spent in this unavailing manner, Admiral Yeo with prudent caution, withdrew his fleet to a safer harbour. And last, though not least, her public schools, her university, her many churches and religious societies. Thus has Rochester gone on with all her improvements, not forgetful of the past, ever mindful of the future, until her fifty thousand inhabitants are proud of the place of their residence, conscious in the belief that all have contributed some thing towards keeping alive and making green the place they call — Home. THE PUBLISHER. NOTE. A more full and complete work of statistics and local events, with illustrations of scenery, buildings, Ac, in and around Rochester, will be issued from materials now being collected, as soon as enough has been gathered to make a book worthy of notice. Persons possessed of any information, views of buildings, scenery, &c, will do well to confer with me on the subject.