Town of Victor

Early Settlers of Ontario Co., NY

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

All authorities concede to Jared Boughton the honor of being the first pioneer settler in the town of Victor. Enos Boughton, brother to Jared, was a clerk for William Walker, the principal agent for the surveys and sales of the Phelps and Gorham Co. Enos purchased township No. 11, fourth range, from the proprietors, paying therefor twenty cents per acre for the land, the money being furnished by his father, Hezekiah Boughton, and other members of the family. In the spring of 1789 Enos and Jared Boughton came to Canandaigua, and soon afterward visited the recently purchased township, in their journey following the old Indian trail. In the extreme south part of No. 11, they built a small cabin and made other preparations for a permanent residence in the then wilderness region. In June following, Hezekiah Boughton, jr., and Jacob Lobdell arrived at the cabin, bringing with them cattle and implements for household and farm use. After making improvements and clearings, and harvesting the season's crop, all these pioneers, except Lobdell, returned to the east for the winter. In February, 1790, Jared Boughton and his family set out upon the journey to their future home, and after many noteworthy incidents and some hardships, they safely arrived on March 7.

Hezekiah Boughton, the father, with his son Seymour and daughter, Theodoria, came to the town in the fall of 1790, and settled in a locality afterward called "Turner's Hill." Hezekiah Boughton in 1792 built the first framed house in the town, which he put to use as a tavern. He died in 1798 and was succeeded as landlord by one Dickinson.

Jared Boughton left the town in 1799, but two years later returned and remained until his death. Frederick, son of Jared, was the first child born in the town on June 1, 1791.

Claudius Victor Boughton, child of Hezekiah, jr., became a prominent man in the town, after him the town was named.

Jacob Lobdell, who was about 18 years old when he first came, became the owner of a 100-acre farm by purchase from the Boughtons; he married the daughter of Levi Boughton, and sired a large family. He was the first supervisor elected for Victor, and was otherwise prominent in town affairs. He died in 1847.

Some other early names include: (this listing may include people who were not settlers but speculative landowners who have little or no record except as holders of title);

Elijah Ingersoll; David Lusk; Asahel Boughton; Jirah Rowley; James Upton; George Low; Dinah Brooks; Joseph Rowley; Lora Davis; Thomas Ingersoll; Joseph Thrall; Elisha Coon; Isaac Marsh; DeForest Boughton; Silas Pardee; Solomon Turner; Nicholas Smith; Timothy Williams; Samuel Gillis; Jeremiah Hull; Thomas Hawley; Jabez Felt; Harry Hart; Eleazer Willard; Erie Hawley; John Hughes; Nathaniel Turner; Isaac Root; Elisha Brace; Peter Berry, Elisha Williams; Jesse Scudder; Israel Simmons; Joseph Brace; Nathaniel Boughton; Solomon Griswold; Johanna Marsh; Claudius Victor Boughton; Isaac Hathaway; Reuben Parmele; Jonathan Smith; M. O. Dickinson; Alice Boughton; Abraham Boughton, Ezekiel Scudder; Ira Seymour, jr.; Ebenezer Bement; Ezra Wilmarth; Reuben Brace; Thos. Beach; Asahel Moore; Abraham Brunson; Abner Hawley; Wm. Jackson; Seymour Boughton; Andrew Colton; Henry Bement; Simeon Parks; Silas Thayer; Harry Boughton, sr.; John Brace; Gershom Wilmarth; Joseph Perkins; Peter Turner; Erastus Ingersoll; Enos Gillis; Asa Root; Samuel Perkins; Abijah Williams; Jabez Hart; Rufus Dryer; Seymour Boughton, jr.; Asahel Lusk; Edwin Bement, Samuel Rawson, Silas Barnes; Manley Hawley.

Asa Hecock settled in the town in 1790, and was the first postmaster and early tavern-keeper. Abijah Williams also settled in Victor in 1790, first in the north part but later moving to the southern part of the town. Nicholas Smith settled in 1790; Ezra Wilmarth in 1796; Reuben Parmele, a prominent Presbyterian minister; Elisha Brace in 1793.

Josiah and Jabez Morehouse, Dr. Thomas Beach; and Elisha, Herman, Joseph, Dr. Joel, and Reuben Brace were early settlers in the south part of the township, in the locality known as School District No. 2.

The hamlet of East Victor was originally called Scudderville after Ezekiel Scudder, who built the first permanent mill in the township. The locality has also been called Freedom. The pioneers of this district (No. 4) were Abraham Boughton, 1791; Thomas Hawley, a pioneer saw-mill builder; Otis Wilmarth, builder of an early grist-mill; Elijah Griswold, who had a carding-mill as early as 1800; Levi Boughton, settler in 1790; N. O. Dickinson, tavern-keeper; Samuel Boughton, shoemaker; James Felt, distiller; John M. Hughes, carding-miller. There were also settlers: Samuel Drowne; Eleazer Boughton; Nathan Jenks, merchant; James Barnhart; Cornelius Conover; and Asahel Moore.

In the southeast corner of the town Solomon Griswold made the first settlement, remaining only a short time, and giving way to Isaac Wheeler. In this neighborhood also were Ebenezer Stone, wheelwright; and William Barber, said to be a famous hunter.

The west and southwest portions of Victor were not settled until about twenty years after the eastern and southeastern sections, and a number of settlers were from the Mohawk valley country. Jonathan Culver came in 1801; Increase Carpenter in 1808; Roswell Murray in 1810; as also did Stephen Ellis and Elston Hunt. Murray's wife was sister to Brigham Young, the Mormon leader. Other early settlers in this locality were: John and William Ward; James M. Campbell; Abijah Covill; Ezra Wilmarth; Samuel Dryer; James Wilmarth; Deacon Sheldon, and James Potter.

In the northwest part of the town is located the railroad station and post-village called Fisher's, named in honor of Charles Fisher, who settled in 1817. Asahel Lusk was an early settler here; Elisha Coan was an early comer and built a saw-mill and distillery; Richard Hayes was proprietor of a grist-mill; Jonas Allen built a saw-mill in 1814 and a fulling and carding-mill in 1817. Other early settlers were: Gregory Hill; Joseph and Barzilla Woolston; Asa Gaskill; David Barrett; Joseph Rowley; Simeon Parks, Eleazer Boughton; Jonathan Smith and Isaac Simmons. In the extreme northwest of the town dwelt pioneer Abraham Mattison, who built the first saw-mill on Irondequoit Creek. A little later David Lyon built both saw and grist-mills (1820) and in 1825 Erastus Hughes operated a fulling-mill. John Earle and Samuel Moore were also early settlers. What became District No. 7 was settled by Capt. Jirah Rowley who served in the war of 1812. In this neighborhood also lived at an early day Ichabod Town, the cooper; Allen Bearmore or Barmour; Asa Root; DeForest Boughton; John Gould; and Squire Fox, a lawyer.

The northeast part of Victor was settled very early when the first improvement was made in 1797 by James Upton and Jabez Hart. In the next year came pioneers Isaac Marsh, the first tanner; Jirah Rowley, Abraham Bliss, John Cline, Joseph Trall, Timothy Wilson, John Rose; John and Timothy Lane; and Jeremiah Richardson.

The pioneers in District No. 1 and Victor village were few since they were extensive landowners. Among them are Peter Turner, Isaac Root, Israel Blood, Joel Hart, Samuel Burgman, Samuel Rawson, and Michael Brooks. The village site was owned and occupied by Capt. Abner Hawley and his son, James. James Hawley kept a tavern and was succeeded by Rufus Dryer in 1792. Enos Boughton was the pioneer merchant followed by William Bushnell. Other early businessmen were Bushnell & Jenks; Giles Arnold, Thomas Embry; Alfred Gray; T. M. Boughton; John Turner; William Turner; Stephen Collyer; David Stout; Wm. T. Roup; Enos, Samuel and James Gillis.

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