Town of Naples

Early Settlers of Ontario Co., NY

excerpted from the HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY; compiled by Lewis Cass Aldrich; edited by George S. Conover; 1893;

The pioneers, Samuel, Reuben and Levi Parrish, came to settle in the Town of Naples in Jan 1790. In April and May of that year came the following: Capt. Ephraim Cleveland, Col. William Clark, Nathan and William Watkins, John Johnson, Jonathan Lee and their families.

They were soon followed by: Capt. Edward Kibbe in 1793; Dr. Thos. Maxwell in 1796; and Otis Fuller in 1813.

In Dist. #1 the pioneers were James Lee and Richard Hooker - 1811; John Sibhart - 1812;
In Dist. #2 William James, Asa Perry, Paul Grimes, Guy Hinckley and E. Stiles.
In Dist #3 Rev. Thomas Peek, John Powers and Seymour Gillett.
In Dist. #4 Peter Whitney, Wm. Oakley, Amaziah Cornell, Nathan Tyler, Abijah Shaw and Israel Meads.
In Dist #5 Zacheus Barber, Oliver Tenney, Lemuel and John Barber, the latter in 1798.
In Dist. #6 Abraham Sutton - 1811; John Sutton - 1812; Samuel Shaw, Jacob Dagget, Nathan Clark and Russell Parrish in 1812.
In Dist. #7 Aaron Hunt who built the first grist-mill; Jacob Holdren, Jonas Belknap, Gail Washburn, and Wm. Sullivan.
In Dist. #8 Stephen Garlinghouse, Jesse Peck, Mr. Tallman, Wm. West Sr., and Joseph Grant.
In Dist. #9 Isaac Whitney, Benj. Clark, Simon Lyon, Stephen Storey, and Dr. Newcomb.
In Dist. #10 Isaac Sutton, Thomas Blodget, John Blodget, Thos. Bentley, Wm. Bush, David Fletcher.
In Dist. #11 Alanson Lyon, Elisha Sutton, Chas. Wilcox, Bushnell Cleveland and Uriah Davids.
In Dist. # 13 Deacon David Carrier, Pitts Parker, Ichabod Green, Samuel Stancliff, John Cronk, Ithamer Carrier, and Michael Keith.
In Dist #15 Reuben Parrish, Peabody Kinne, Robert Wiley, Nathan and Wm. Watkins.
In Dist. #17 John Hinckley, Nathan Goodell, Ami Baker, Joshua Lyon, Joseph Battles, Hiram and Stephen Sayles.

At the first town meeting the following officers were elected: town clerk: Joel Watkins; assessors: Jabez Metcalf, Edward Kibbe, and Edward Low; highway commissioners: Nathan Watkins, Wm. Dunton and Elijah Clark; poor masters: Wm. Watkins, Ephraim Cleveland, Robert Wiley; constable: Elisha Parrish; pathmasters: Levi and Reuben Parrish, John Mower and Isaiah Post; fence-viewers: John Johnson, Benjamin Hardin and Isaac Whitney; poundmaster: Jabez Metcalf.

War of 1812 militia company included: Capt. Elijah Clark - Lt. Joseph Clark - privates: Fisher Metcalf, Elias B. Kinne, Levi Watkins, Otis Pierce, Jonathan Pierce, Wm. Danton, _____ Kimball, _____ Matoon, _____ Dodge, _____ Wheeler, John Cronk, Pitts Parker, Daniel Parker, Ichabod Lyon, Benj. Johnson, Edward Low, Jacob B. Sutton, Zelotus Sackett, Capt. Wm. Watkins, Henry Porter, Robt. Vickery, Epraim W. Cleveland, John W. Hinckley, Amos Johnson, Amasa S. Tift, Loring Pottle and Sergeant Lyman Hawes.

Benjamin Clark and Jabez Metcalf built the first saw-mill in the town. Reuben Parrish also built a saw-mill in 1796. Jason Goodrich built a cloth and carding mill; Paul Grimes built a woolen mill and Perry Holcomb a fulling mill.

The pioneer tradesman of the settlement was a Holland Dutchman named Hesselgesser who was noted for his large price and not the extent of his wares. Later merchants were Warren Clark, Pardon T. Brownell, Robert Fleming and Calvin Luther. Paul Grimes was the proprietor of the first public house; and another early owner of the same business was Joseph Clark. Joshua Abbey was the village blacksmith; and Jabez Metcalf, Jason Goodrich, Olivey Tenney, Amaziah Cornish and Charles Wilcox were the first carpenters and joiners. The first distillers were: Reuben Parrish, Warren Clark and Zacheus Barber.

Phineas P. Lee, son of Col. James Lee, is said to be the first white child born in the town. The first death is said to be that of a Seneca Indian, Kanesque, at the age of 100 years. Benjamin Clark married Thankful Watkins in 1795; and Susanna Parrish taught the first school in 1792.

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