From Geneva Gazette 5 June 1846

The Genesee Country in 1792

EDITOR OF THE GENEVA GAZETTE:

Dear Sir -- I send you a few extracts from a pamphlet entitled "A Description of the Genesee Country, in a Series of Letters from a Gentleman to his Friend," printed towards the close of the last century.

Very respectfully,

J. Tremper

"In the year 1790, the Legislature of the State of New York formed into a county by the name of Ontario, all that part of the State lying west of a meridian line drawn from the 82d mile stone, on the Pennsylvania line, to Lake Ontario. Within this is included the tract known by the name of the Genesee Country -- bounded on the north by Lake Ontario, on the west by Niagara river and Lake Erie, on the south by the State of Pennsylvania, and on the east by the counties of Tioga and Onondaga.

The settlement of the country was begun in the year 1788; but, separated as it was at that time at such a distance from all other settlements -- on the south hemmed in by the Allegany mountains, on the east by a wilderness of one hundred miles, on the north by Lake Ontario, and on the west by a wilderness extending to the South Sea -- at the same time having no communication with the settlements on the eastern coast, but by an Indian path from the outlet of the Seneca Lake to Fort Schuyler -- it is not to be wondered at if it made but little progress in population and improvements for many years.

We find by the census taken two years afterwards, that there were only nine hundred and sixty souls, including all travellers, and surveyors and their attendants, who happened at that time to be within the bounds of the county.

On the 15th February 1792, I left Albany on my route to the Genesee river; but the country was thought so remote, and so very little known, that I could not prevail on the owner of the stage to engage farther than Whitestown, a new settlement at the head of the Mohawk, 100 miles from Albany. The road as far as Whitestown had been made passable for wagons, but from that to the Genesee river, was but little better than an Indian path, sufficiently opened to allow a sledge to pass, and some impassable streams bridged. At Whitestown, I was obliged to change my carriage, the Albany driver getting alarmed for himself and horses, when he found that for the next hundred miles we were not only obliged to take provisions for ourselves, but for our horses, and blankets for our beds. On leaving Whitestown, we found only a few struggling huts, scattered along the path from 19 to 20 miles from each other; and they affording nothing but the conveniences of fire, and a kind of shelter from the snow. On the evening of the third day's journey from Whitestown, we were very agreeably surprised to find ourselves on the east side of Seneca Lake, which we found perfectly open, free of ice as in the month of June; the evening was pleasant and agreeable, and what added to our surprise and admiration, was to see a boat and canoe plying upon the lake. After having passed from New York over 360 miles of country completely frozen, the village of Geneva, though then consisting of a few log houses, after the dreary wilderness we had passed through, added not a little to the beauty of the prospect. We forded the outlet of the lake, and arrived safely at Geneva.

The situation of this infant settlement on the banks of a sheet of water 44 miles long by 4 to 6 wide, daily navigated by small craft and canoes, in the month of February, was a sight as gratifying as it was unexpected. It appeared that the inhabitants of this delightful country would by the slight covering of snow on the ground, have all the conveniences of a northern winter; and by the waters of the Lake being free from ice, have all the advantages of this inland navigation -- a combination of advantages, perhaps, not to be experienced by any other country in the world.

From Geneva to Canandaigua, the road is only the Indian path, a little improved; the first five miles over gentle swellings of land, interspersed with bottoms seemingly very rich; the remainder of the road to Canandaigua, the county town, 16 miles, was, the greatest part of the distance, through a heavy timbered, rich land; on this road there were only two families settled. Canandaigua, the county town, consisted of two small frame houses and a few huts, surrounded with thick woods; the few inhabitants received me with much hospitality, and I found abundance of excellent venison.

From Canandaigua to the Genesee river, 26 miles, it is almost totally uninhabited, only four families residing on the road; the country is beautiful and very open, in many places the openings are free of all timber, appearing to contain at least 2 or 300 acres, beautifully variegated with hill and dale. It seemed that by only enclosing any of them with a proportionable quantity of timbered land, an enclosure might be made not inferior to the parks in England. At the Genesee river I found a small Indian store and tavern; the river was not then frozen over, and so low as to be fordable. Upon the whole, at this time there were not any settlements of any consequence in the whole of the Genesee country; that established by the Friends on the west side of Seneca Lake, was the most considerable, consisting of about 40 families. At this period the number of Indians in the adjoining country was so great, when compared with the few white inhabitants who ventured to winter in the country, that I found them under serious apprehension for their safety. Even in this state of nature, the county of Ontario shows every sign of future respectability; no man has put the plough in the ground without being amply repaid; and through the mildness of winter, the cattle brought into the country the year before, on very slender provision for their subsistence, were thriving well. The clearing of land for spring crops is going on with spirit; I also found the settlers abundantly supplied with venison."

From Geneva Gazette 24 July 1847

The county of Ontario was organized by act of January 27, 1789, and was taken from Montgomery. It included all the State of New-York west of this lake, so far as a meridian line drawn from the 82d mile stone on the Pennsylvania line, and stretching to Lake Ontario, corresponded with it. About the same time the State and the Indians sold out their right to the land lying between this meridian line and the Genesee river, forming a tract of country forty-five miles from east to west and eighty-four from north to south. The settlement of this country was commenced in the year 1788, but its progress, for the reasons before mentioned, was slow, and at this time the communication with the Seneca lake from the Mohawk was nothing but an Indian path. Two years afterwards there were only 960 persons, including travellers and surveyors with their attendants, within the district west of the lake; and even the village of Geneva, situate at the foot of the lake, consisted of only a few log houses.

Westward from Geneva the Indian path continued to the Genesee river, only four families residing in that distance. In 1792, the time spoken of above, there was only a small Indian store and tavern at Geneva. The Friends, however, had a settlement on the west side of the lake, near the Miniseta or Long Point. But the inhabitants, owing to their fewness compared with the number of Indians, were under serious apprehensions for their safety. This year a road was opened from the county of Ontario southwardly to Williamsport, on the west branch of the Susquehanna, in the midst of the rich agricultural districts of Pennsylvania. From this time the improvement of the country became singularly rapid.

Upon the defeat of St. Clair in the New Miami country, Gen. Wayne was appointed commander-in-chief. A treaty was held the previous year at the Painted Post, upon the Chemung, with the Six Nations, at which it was arranged that their principal men should visit Philadelphia during the ensuing session of Congress, in order, among other things, to render them more friendly disposed towards the Americans. The delegations who met there not only agreed to a peaceable course of conduct themselves, but also agreed to throw their influence into the scale in order to bring about a peace between the Americans and hostile Indians, who had become even more inveterate since their victory. In accordance with this agreement, a council was held at the Miama Rapids in the autumn of 1792, but the hostile Indians did not receive the overtures of pacification with any pleasure from their red brethren of the Six Nations. The Chief Red Jacket, of the Senecas, spoke in favor of the Indians friendly to peace. The only result, however, was an agreement upon the part of those who were in favor of war, to suspend offensive operations during the ensuing winter, and meet again in council the following spring. The cause of the difficulties, was an impressions that government wished to deprive them of their lands, and the difficulty of adjusting a boundary between the whites and Indians, the former claiming land which the latter asserted was sold by those who were not authorized to do so.

In the spring of 1793, a great scarcity of provisions was experienced, much increased by the emigration into the county of Ontario. Large quantities were brought by the newly opened road from the south to keep the settlement together. In August of that year, another council was held at the former place of meeting, in which the hostile Indians insisted upon the Ohio as the boundary between them and the whites, which the American commissioners rejected. The delegates of the Six Nations endeavored to conciliate, but upon these terms the negotiation was at an end. Government, during the same year, proposed another council, but would not, in the mean time, interrupt the operations of the army. Conciliatory measures were used with the Six Nations, and various presents made them in order to secure their friendship.

In the year 1794, the settlers of Ontario began to find a market for their produce, and made great exertions, and various new settlements were commenced, and mills and roads were being built. The friendly temper of the Six Nations, however, was considerably cooled on account of the boundary line ostensibly not meeting their views, but measurably incited by the hostile feelings of the English and Americans, growing out of events transpiring during the course of the French Revolution. The council on the 25th of April broke up in a warlike spirit, and raised a presumption that the Six Nations would take up arms with their brethren of the west.

On the 20th of August, the Indians of the west, amounting to 2500 in number, suffered a severe defeat from the American troops under General Wayne. In this action some of the Senecas were engaged against the Americans in the vicinity of the Miami Rapids. The victory of Wayne had a pacifying influence upon the Six Nations within the United States; yet there was still a prospect of the continuance of war with their coadjutors of the west.

In the year 1795 the course of civilization and improvement was onward in the county of Ontario. Many settlements were this year began on the Indian line; roads were also cut in many directions, and many mills erected on the different streams in the neighborhood of the settlements. In March the existing difficulties between Great Britain and the United States were adjusted, which deprived the Indians of all encouragement in that quarter; and by a treaty made with the Indians by General Wayne, on the third of August, an end was put to the scenes of cruelty that had afflicted the border population for so many years.

By act of March 18, 1796, the Legislature divided the county of Ontario into two parts; the north half retained the name of Ontario, and the south assuming that of Steuben; both extending from the Lake Canadesaga to Lake Erie. The number of emigrants were now estimated at 3000 a year. Framed houses also began to arise among the clearings, and the comforts of life were rapidly increasing. This year, a sloop of forty tons was launched upon the bosom of the Canadesaga. Several people collected upon the occasion. to witness the novel spectacle. We may imagine the shouts that greeted her as she glided upon the blue waters, then lying within their primeval borders of dark forests. The sloop was intended to ply as a packet between Geneva and Catharine's Town, at the head of the lake. A village this season was also commenced on the outlet of the Crooked Lake, near where it empties into the Canadesaga, which was named Hopetown. Large quantities of surplus wheat and other produce were now raised for sale, which was sent through various channels. In 1797 the emigration very much increased. The Legislature took the road from Geneva to Whitestown under their patronage, and in connection with a subscription among the owners of lands through which the road passed, it was opened sixty-four feet wide and one hundred miles in length. The number of sail boats upon the lake this year very much increased, and the sloop found constant employment.

1798 -- This year the number of families coming into this country was very much upon the increase. It was not till after the western posts were delivered up to the United States that settlers approached the Genesee river. Their fear of exposure to Indian depredations, was sufficient to deter the industrious from settling upon the frontier; they however now began to settle there in great numbers.
In 1806, when villages were few and very far between, and taverns were the great landmarks upon the roads, we find the following given as the route and distance to Geneva, and so onward through the county of Ontario to Niagara:

From Albany to Humphrey's Tavern
McKown's
Douw's
Truax's
Schenectady
Groat's
John Fonda's
Conolly's
Roseboom's Ferry (Canajoharie)
Hudson's (Indian Castle)
Adridge's (German Flats)
Brayton's
Utica (old Fort Schuyler)
Whitestown
Laud's Tavern
Rome (Fort Stanwix)
Oneida Castle
Wemp's
John Denna's
Foster's
Morehouse's
Keeler's or Danforth's
Carpenter's
Buck's
Goodrich's
Huggins'
Cayuga Bridge
Seneca
Geneva
Amsden's
Well's
Sanburn's (Canandaigua)
Sears & Peck's
Genesee River
Indian Town of Towanda
Niagara

Miles
2
3
2
5
4-16
12
12
7
3-50
13
11-74
13
3
4-94
9
3
8
5
7
5
6
5
15
3
8
4
7-176
3
11-190
6
8
4-208
13
14-235
40
35-310

From Geneva Gazette 5 June 1846

The Genesee Country in 1792

EDITOR OF THE GENEVA GAZETTE:

Very respectfully,

J. Tremper

From Geneva Gazette 10 August 1877

Country Jottings

During a ride through Seneca, part of Phelps and Hopewell in the early part of this week, the country hardly presented its finest aspects. The roads were dry and dusty, and the weather extremely warm. The grain crops are all harvested excepting here and there a field of oats; in many instances the wheat has been threshed, and all report an abundant yield - ranging from 25 to 47 bushels to the acre. The Clanson wheat has been mostly grown in this section, and the old favorite Wicks prevailing with a few. It is claimed by growers of the latter that it will produce more flour to the bushel, and that its quality cannot be excelled. The barley crop is very fine, prices will rule fair, and most of it will undoubtedly pass into the hands of BETZ & NESTER, the Geneva malsters. In fact all the cereals give promise of "panning out" largely, and however blue our merchants and tradesmen may have felt during the past few months, there is none of this in the country.

The improved machinery for harvesting gives more opportunity for repairs about the farm in favorable weather. Fence repairs, the erection of barns, and general cleaning up are progressing now. Vincent L. Runyan, is putting the homestead farm, about a mile south of Seneca Castle, in prime order. The barns have been moved off their old foundations, enlarged, newly sided and shingled, and will conveniently house his crops, horses and live stock. As newly constructed, they enclose a large square within the rows of buildings with ample room beneath the barns for wintering. The work is being done by a skillful carpenter, Mr. J. M. Wilson of Stanley, who is kept busy by the demands of his neighbors. Ed. McCombs, the victor in the late slander suit, of which we have before spoken, also draws on the purses of his neighbors for skilled labor.

Passing the broad acres of Gould B. Sears, and the pleasant home of P. A. Hall, his farmer, among others, we drew rein beneath the shade of the trees at Seneca Castle.

Mr. Schoonmaker, like the farmers in his region, has been compelled to "tear down and build larger." The foundation for an imposing structure just east of his present store is laid, and the first joist in position. He may not occupy it this season, but next year he hopes to have the model country store of this region. In trade, and enjoying the confidence of that community, his hopes have been fully realized.

In manufactures, Seneca Castle has no less to boast of than similar rural hamlets. The carriage shop of G. M. Child, the blacksmithing of Lew. Travis, are growing institutions, the products of their skill giving universal satisfaction. In one respect Geneva has to "cave in." Ours, with a population of nearly 7,000, depends upon little Seneca Castle for the flour from its mills.

The elevated drive from the latter place to Orleans is full of pleasing memories. We have floundered time and again in the deep snow drifts that lined its roadway, and years agone have hunted its forests -- now all cut off -- for game and trolled its stream for fish. On the hillside directly east of Orleans, the elder John Warner erected his home nearly a century ago. After living to ripe old age, having voted in that district at seventy-one fall elections, and gathered about him a vast body of descendants, near relatives and warm friends, about four years ago was gathered to a home of complete rest. Not a child did he leave behind him but to come up to a ripe old age in the same upright manner in which the father had lived; and so of the grandchildren. There is "much of them" when together, as we have seen on more than one occasion. The Warners own and occupy about one thousand acres of fine farming land in that region.

Orleans is a thriving little place. It has its churches, stores, hotel, grist and flouring mills, and all the requirements for home maintenance. The Sodus Point & Southern railway affords ample shipping facilities, and it has the reputation of being now a better grain market than either Geneva, Phelps or Canandaigua. Last season its shipments of apples and potatoes were enormous, at one time 2,000 barrels of potatoes being in store. Messrs. E. D. Aldrich and J. C. Warner are intending to buy grain this season, if the markets will warrant any investments. J. A. Blythe at the flouring mill takes in his share of grain, running the very finest grades of flour and meal.

The principal store at Orleans is owned by our friend, Lewis R. Lombard, who established in business there eleven years ago. The store is not large, but the placard in plain letters, "If you don't see what you want, ask for it," indicates that he has an ample reserve somewhere. Justice is meted out by Esquire Spear, in a manner that makes friends. He only issues a warrant when all methods of reconciliation fail. Would that all justices were so.

After climbing the hills west of Orleans, the most beautiful farm lands are presented to view - a broad panorama of rich fields, gently and evenly rolling as the waves of the great Pacific. From one hundred to three hundred acres are embraced in each farm, and the crops have been most abundant. We pass in succession the lands of Jas. W. Moore, Tompkins and Milton Warner, Horace Baker and his brother, the Skekels, and others. Not a rod of poor land is to be seen for miles on this road in either direction. But we fear to weary the reader. Such thrift we love to dwell on rather than return to the close atmosphere of office life.

Our drive was continued to the well-kept and broad acres of John H. Benham, and the yet more snug farm of G. Granger Benham in Hopewell. The former has made many exhibits at the State and County Fairs, invariably carrying off the premiums on fine livestock. Mr. Benham regretted the departure from among us of James O. Sheldon, to whom the country is indebted for all that is good in blooded stock, and hopes that the White Springs farm may again, under the ownership of W. & T. Smith, assume its old place as the model stock farm of the country.

And another time we may journey off in the northern and western part of old Phelps and in returning by Gorham, Stanley and Manchester, and we hope our friends will be ready to "show up their hands."

From Geneva Courier 4 April 1883

A TRIP ON THE SOUTHWESTERN RAILWAY FROM GENEVA TO NAPLES

We'll suppose it is November and the new railroad is completed. A train of cars is drawn up at the central depot, a start is made; the train keeps the New York Central track for a short distance and then leaves it, going a little to the north east. Describing part of a circle we recross the central tracks and are riding over the Torrey farm just north of of Geneva. The curve spreads out and the train approaches the Experiment Station. We push under a bridge built upon the Seneca Castle highway and just west of Dr. Sturtevant's house. The train then rolls along through a comparatively flat country to STANLEY.

Here our first stop is made and we see the mail train of the Ontario Southern road, just ready to start for Lake Ontario. One or two coal trains loaded with coal for Canada, will follow the passenger. The Philadelphia express is ready to start. A huge grain elevator has just been erected near the junction of the two roads, and through the window we can Ed. Dixon, with pen behind his ear, who has come over from Halls to see about his new elevator. Stanley is now a railroad centre. The Northern Central passes through it. It is the southern terminus of the Ontario Southern, and the new line from Geneva to Pittsburgh, passing through it suddenly makes it suddenly a reputation.

The train has started during our reverie and after a few minutes' ride we read GORHAM VILLAGE and the business centre of a town of over 3000 population, with indications of a still larger increase. We are again on our way and soon find a third stop. This time it is another thriving centre, RUSHVILLE. Buildings are going up. Mr. S. K. Nester of Geneva, has built a huge malt house, rivaling the one at Geneva. Side tracks have been laid and indications point, as in Gorham, to a steady business traffic. Conductor Smith, of Geneva, stops this reverie by crying "all aboard," and we are soon in Yates county, passing through its north west corner, Italy Hollow. A short stop is made at Middlesex Centre, in the town of the same name, with a population of 1,600 people. A little longer trip this time and we view some of the finest scenery in New York State.

NAPLES is soon reached, where we make several minutes stop. This village is the largest we have yet seen. It lies on the inlet of Canandaigua Lake, and is about four miles from the lake. It is eighteen miles south of Canandaigua, and is striving to make its population 1,000, which it will soon do. It has a bank, several large stores and two newspapers. it is also the terminus of two stage routes. Until this road was built, it had no railroad communication.

The bell rings, and we start again. The country we have passed through is one of the best for grain raising that there is in the State, and the amount shipped is large. Our train is now running into Steuben county. We are in the town of Cohocton, but are too far north for the village. We soon see the smoke of another train.

The train men call out BLOOD'S STATION. The cars stop and as we go on the platform we see the Erie train just starting out. It is a train on the Rochester Branch of the Erie, starting from Corning. Blood's is about 25 miles northwest of Bath on the same road. After passing the Cohocton River, we go into the town of Wayland. The country is hilly and rather mountainous. We soon see another train. This time it is on the Delaware, Lackawana and Western Rail road and we are at PERKINSVILLE, a few miles from Dansville -- where the sick people go and where plenty of healthy ones go so that they can read Editor Bunnell's Advertiser, the home organ of the Republican party, and of no man in it.

"All aboard," is sounded and we are again going through a hilly country. Our next stopping place is OSSIAN, LIVINGSTON COUNTY, a small but lively place. The town proper has a population of about 1,500 inhabitants. A moment's delay and again we are off. And for a fourth time we see a train of cars. This time we reach the end of our journey, having to change cars for Buffalo. The town is SWAINSVILLE, Alleghany county, and is on the northwestern division of the Erie railroad.

The train we have left starts up and in a hour or so will be in Olean, where the passengers will alight. Those going south will take the cars on the line to Pittsburgh, the southern terminus of a great road to connect the coal fields with New York State. {A Courier reporter on the Southwestern in the sweet by and by.}

From Geneva Gazette 22 October 1886

ALL ABOARD FOR NEW YORK

To see the Grand Pageant

UNVEILING THE BARTHOLDI STATUE !

Round Trip $6.50 Round Trip

BY THE

LEHIGH VALLEY ROUTE

Incomparably the grandest and most attractive route to the Metropolis. Excursion train leaves GENEVA Tuesday, Oct. 26th at 10:55 a.m. Tickets good for ten days, and the holder can return on any regular train
within that time, with the privilege of stopping over at Mauch Chunk, the "Switzerland of America" in its grand
and sublime mountain scenery.
The unveiling of the great Bartholdi statue will take place with most imposing ceremonies, including a grand procession of several hundred steam vessels, barges and other vessels gaily decorated with bunting, on the 28th inst. President Cleveland and his Cabinet and the Governors of several states will be present, and it is intended to make the day a grand holiday occasion.

For excursion tickets or other information address H. D. Dox, No. 12 Castle st., Geneva.

From Geneva Gazette 29 October 1886

Eight cars were needed to hold the New York excursionists last Tuesday, and every car was full. The train left here at 10:55 a.m., and no doubt a hundred more people joined the party between here and Ithaca. The projectors must have made a handsome thing out of the project, a couple of hundred dollars apiece anyway, which will pay them royally for their work. Mauch Chunk and the Bartholdi statue festivities caught the people.

From Geneva Gazette 5 November 1886

It is said that Bartholdi got his first idea of his big girl by seeing a Clyde girl's foot. He made the foot and was a little discouraged at first at the prospect of making the rest of her to correspond, but he did it. He says it was the biggest job he ever undertook. -- Wayne Dem. Press.

Note: Clyde is located in Wayne County, north of Ontario County.

From Ontario County Times 23 January 1889

The Naples Record, in urging that something be done by way of observing the centennial of the settlement of the town this year, gives this item of history: The deed of the town of Naples from Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham to James Harris, Nathan Watkins, William Watkins, Elizur Burnham, Nathan Hibbard, Edward Kibbe, William Cady, Ephraim Cleveland, Dennison Robinson, William Clark, and Thomas Robinson, Jr., is dated March 20, 1789, and conveys township No. 7, in th 4th range, six miles north and south, and five and one-half miles east and west, containing 21,120 acres. The consideration is one thousand and fifty-six pounds, current.

From Geneva Gazette 12 January 1894

Old Time Funerals - In my last published communication to you, I promised to give your readers a description of the manner of conducting funerals as I remember them sixty five years ago. I now fulfill that promise. It must be understood that I am writing of funerals in the country. In cities the manner was somewhat different, still there were some things similar.

There were no tinselled hearses, no prancing steeds with gaudy trappings, no ceremony attending the singing, no music on organ or melodeon. Vocal music to me on such occasions gave impressions as lasting as life. The ministers officiating would give out a hymn, when some one present would start one of those never-to-be-forgotten tunes, others would start in on the first two lines, then the minister would read the next two lines, it being necessary as hymn books were but few in those days. The book generally used was called the Village Hymns; sometimes Watts' was used. As I look back, everything connected with the solemn occasions is stamped indelibly on my mind. First, the dead clothed in a winding sheet; generally the eyes were closed with a penny on each; the coffin made of cherry stained, costing from six to ten dollars. No undertakers; some neighbor would officiate to assist when necessary; no ceremony attending in order to take a last view of the dead. Everything was conducted in a way that would lift a pecuniary trouble from many sad bereaved ones at the present day. Of course, we wish to do for our departed loved ones, but is our love the less if their remains are enclosed in pine instead of rosewood? Do we cherish their memory any more though their monument reaches to the skies?

To proceed with my subject I would say, as there were no hearses, some neighbor having a one horse wagon, (no springs), would take the remains to the grave, preceded by the minister and doctor on horses, each having a common gift of three or six yards of fine bleached muslin, sufficient for one or two shirt patterns, so folded that it was fastened on the right shoulder by a bow of black ribbon and tied under the left arm. As soon as the procession came in sight of the church, the sexton would toll the age of the departed. H.

From Geneva Advertiser 30 October 1894

Old Times Recalled -- With a great deal of pleasure we print the communication below, sent to us by one who knows what she is writing about. The lady is not accustomed to writing for the press, but she need not fear in future efforts:

Editor Advertiser:

I was lately reading the Geneva items in the Elmira Telegram, and noted the mention of the death of David Hill which occurred at the foot of Seneca Lake. That tavern has a history that is well worth recounting, but let me say that no murder was ever committed there nor in the tavern beyond -- none that was ever heard of.

The famous Chapman murder was committed at the Sportsman's Hall, the large brick building still standing on the lake road, just within the Seneca County line. I could tell you all about that murder, but will not encroach upon your time and space.

Now as to that history: At my elbow sits a friend who is able to go back over seventy years, and remembers well when Captain Nathan Teall built the then fine tavern stand at the foot of Seneca Lake. It was much larger then than it is now, nearly twice its size, with barns and sheds to accommodate travelers journeying over the road. That was a farmers' stand in those days, to catch the weary horsemen and other people going to the Genesee country, then called "the far west," many with packs on their backs and many with families in covered wagons. My informant tells me that he has often seen twenty, and sometimes fifty teams sheltered in those barns and sheds over night, and horses tied to the back ends of wagons. It was a busy place in those days -- nearly every night all the rooms would be filled with beds thrown on the floors, beds brought in from the wagons, and big enough to accommodate the whole family.

Captain Teall was a jovial landlord, with a hearty welcome to greet the coming, and just as cheery a good-bye to speed the departing guest. In his wife, Mrs. Polly Teall, he had most able help. She was a model landlady. The lake road then was a lovely drive, no canal at the north of it. The road was nearly a quarter-mile out in what is now the lake, shaded all the way by fine trees. It was the favorite drive from Geneva around the beach of the beautiful Seneca. Gay ladies and gentlemen who rode so much on horseback at that time, would canter over the hard beach roadway, and rein up at the Teall tavern for a glass of their favorite wine or one of those slings so fashionable at that early day.

Mr. Editor, my informant closes his eyes, searches away back in Memory's garden and calls up parties who have long been laid to rest, who used to make merry and crack jokes in that old house by the lakeside ! Among the foremost who comes so fresh to memory is Mr. Charles Williamson, one of the gayest of the gay; then the quiet gentleman Mr. David Saxton Hall, with the Misses Scott, great belles in society. They would rein up at the hotel for a pleasant chat and cheese. Next come Mr. Robert Rose, Senior, who would canter up on his favorite pony, always wearing a white necktie, and that friendly snuff box was always ready for use of his friends. Snuff was greatly in favor with some at the time; even ladies would carry a silver box for their own use. Then comes up the genial, pleasant face of Doctor Rose.

How the Doctor did like to fish ! The lake was full of fish then. Mr. Giles Parker, Sen., used to fish with a seine down near there, would draw in enough in one night to load a wagon. Even the fish have left the old grounds -- nothing but a memory of what once was so pleasant remaining.

Few now living remember the gay balls that used to be held in Teall's Tavern. It had a fine, large ball room, and many pleasant entertainments were given there, too. Sickle's show, so popular in its day; and "Babes in the Woods!" Who ever tired of that, when the Robins came and covered the babes over with leaves ? -- once seen, never to be forgotten. Mr. Giles Parker, Sen., with his laughing gas made plenty of fun, because it was all new and thought so wonderful in 1822.

Mr. Ansel Teall, eldest son of Captain Nathan Teall, built a fine flouring mill at the foot of Seneca Lake on what was then the natural outlet. Where the present outlet is was then a canal to let boats into the river from the lake. It had a lock and lock-tender. When the new canal was constructed it ruined the water-power and the mill and changed the outlet.

But above all, to wake up the people we had the stage coaches with their jolly drivers, four-in-hand, blowing their horns and dashing up to the door with their loads of travelers, and perhaps all to dine. The stage driver was no lowly personage. He was treated to the best, for he could bestow his patronage wherever he pleased. He had a wide field to choose from, about a dozen taverns on the road between Geneva and Canandaigua, and about the same between Geneva and Waterloo, and every few miles a modest cake and gingerbeer house with its sign swinging in the breeze, so welcome to the dusty traveler on foot with his heavy pack on his back and generally a pair of boots hanging over his shoulders. Today he would be called a "tramp," but then he was known as a foot traveler.

My informant can remember the names of nearly all who kept houses of entertainment in these towns during the times of which I write, but I will not tire you by giving them here, but I will mention one, the last before entering the village of Waterloo, kept by a Mrs. Smith, generally known as "Aunt Spudy." She was famous for brewing hot slings, would always stir it up, then taste it, remarking, "That is good enough for the money."

But the crowning glory was General Training Day, often held near Teall's Tavern. How the young boys wished to be men, and train, and carry guns as these soldiers did ! What lots of pies, and ginger bread had to be baked for general training ! But I will not dwell longer on this happy theme. Will say good-bye to those good old days past and gone, never, never to return.

E. A. T.

As far back as the days when only Native Americans lived in the area, Seneca Lake, the longest of the Finger Lakes, has been a source of mystery, legend and superstition for local residents of all ages. One old, but unfounded, rumor is that deep Seneca Lake has no bottom in some places. Another tale is that a creature similar in description to the Loch Ness Monster will make itself apparent if you watch the lake long enough. Here's another account to add to the lore, an encounter a small group of credible adults had with the sleek monster back in 1899:

The Sea Serpent

Alleged to have Eyes like a Fish.
And when life departed from his bulky hulk he sank with never a wink.

From last week's Saturday Review.

Fish with legs and black snakes that milk the Jersey cows have inhabited the waters of Seneca Lake and infested the meadows of Ontario's pastures for three years and a half past, or from the time their darksome homes were probed by the inky blackness of the reportorial pen of a denizen of the roving commission department of the New York Sun, until now. All that so far have been drawn from their watery obscurity into the sunlight of newspaper exposure have been decapitated by axe or barbed wire until the latest and biggest of the reptilian mammiferous and pachydermatous creatures made its appearance on Saturday last. This one died of a paddlewheelerian blow and its demise is accounted for by the following "truthful" tale telegraphed broadcast over the United States by that prince of newspaper veracity, the New York Sun, which shines for almost everybody and whose escutcheon is emblazoned with the redoubtable inscription, "When you see it in the Sun, it's so." This is only so-so:

Geneva, N.Y. July 15, 1899

The Otetiani, a side wheel steamboat belonging to the Seneca Lake Steam Navigation company, officered by Captain Carleton C. Herendeen and Pilot Frederick Rose, was between Dresden and Willard a few minutes before 7 o'clock last evening, when Pilot Rose saw about 400 yards ahead, what appeared to him to be an overturned boat. He called Captain Herendeen who examined the object with his glass. It appeared to be about 25 feet long, with a very sharp bow and long, narrow stern. Amidships it was much broader and higher than at either end.

A number of passengers gathered around the pilot house and discussed the supposed boat. Among them were President of the Board of Public Works, Commissioners of Public Works Albert L. Fowle and D.W. Hallenbeck, Police Commissioner George C. Schell, Fred S. Bronson, manager of the Geneva Telephone company, and Charles E. Coon, a commercial traveler for a Philadelphia house, all resident of this city, and Professor George R. Elwood of Guelph, Ont., a geologist who has been studying the country around the lake.

When Captain Herendeen completed his examination of the object, the pilot signalled the engineer to slow down. The steamboat approached to within 100 yards and preparations were made to lower a boat. As the davits were swung outward, the supposed upturned boat turned and began to move away.

"Full speed ahead," shouted the captain. The object was moving slowly and the steamboat gained on it rapidly. The object again turned, this time toward the boat, raising its head, looked in the direction of the boat and opened its mouth, displaying two rows of sharp, white teeth.

The captain said that he would ram the creature with the boat and take it alive, if possible. Otherwise he would kill it, and either take it aboard or tow it to Geneva.

The boat was turned so that the creature would be approached from the side. The deck was crowded with passengers. These the captain ordered amidships in order to avoid any accident should the creature attempt to come aboard after the attack was begun. The captain cautioned everybody to get a life preserver and keep cool, because he said he did not know what would happen when the boat struck the monster. Some of the women, who were in tears, retired to the cabin, the others showed as much interest and excitement in the case as the men. The boat fell away some distance and turned to make the attempt to ram the creature. The captain signalled full speed ahead, and in a moment the Otetiani was under way.

Every eye on deck was fixed on the monster and hardly a person was breathing normally. While the boat was yet some distance from it, the monster again looked at the boat, sank out of sight and the boat passed over the spot where it had been. Some of the passengers decided that they could see a dark outline of the creature's body.

The steamer prepared to continue her course to this city.

"There it is," suddenly exclaimed one of the women passengers, who was standing on the after deck.

The "thing" had come up. The passengers, with the captain in advance, ran to the stern of the vessel and within fifty yards the long, lithe body of the monster was lying on the surface in practically the same position as when discovered. The captain ordered the boat put about and the attack was renewed. Instead of trying to strike the creature full in the side the boat was maneuvered, so that the starboard paddle wheel would strike it about midway between its head and tail.

The boat went ahead under full steam, the monster paid no attention to it, and with a thud which all heard and felt, the steamboat struck the spot.

The force of impact threw every one off his feet, and the vessel careened violently to port, but quickly righted. For an instant everybody wondered what would happen next. There was not a sound on board except the engine. Then the men on board cheered and some of the more timid of the women recovered from their fright and screamed.

Lying close beside the steamer, with a gaping wound in its side, was the monster. It raised its head, gave what sounded like a gasp, and lay quiet. Its spinal column had been broken and it was dead.

The life boats were quickly lowered and rowed to its side and with the aid of boat hook ropes were placed around the carcass. Other ropes which were fastened on board the steamer were then passed up and attached to the improvised swings. All helped to haul the monster in. The carcass was clear of the water when the rope near the tail slipped off and the tail dropped into the water.

The weight on the other rope then became so great that it began to slip through the bands of those holding it. They were compelled to let go or go overboard. As soon as the body struck the water it began to sink and disappeared. At the point where the carcass was lost the lake is over six hundred feet deep and as is well known bodies of persons who have been drowned in that part of the lake never again rise or are recovered.

When the steamer arrived in this city shortly before midnight the stories of the monster were about the same, although in some the imagination was given free play and the length of the monster was estimated at from 25 to ninety feet. The most careful and perhaps most trustworthy account was given by Professor George R. Elwood, a geologist who lives in Guelph, Ont., who was in one of the life boats that made a rope fast around the carcass.

"Do you know what a Clidiastes is?" the Professor asked the Herald correspondent.

"Well, that is exactly what the creature we saw last night seemed to be. It was about twenty-five feet long, with a tail which tapered until within about five feet of the end, when it broadened out and looked much like a whale. The creature weighed about one thousand pounds.

"It's head was perhaps four feet long and triangular in shape. Its mouth was very long and was armed with two rows of triangular white teeth as sharp as those of a shark, but in shape more like those of a sperm whale. Its body was covered with a horny substance which was as much like the carapace of a terrapin as anything else of which I know. This horny substance was brown in color and of a greenish tinge. The belly of the creature, which I saw after the rope slipped and the carcass was going down, was cream white. Its eyes were round like those of a fish, and it did not wink."

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