Joel Prescott and Miss Phila Reed, and the first school was taught by Samuel Wheaton, in 1792. A Presbyterian society was organized in Geneva in 1798, but no church was built till 1811. In 1806, "nineteen persons of full age, belonging to the Protestant Episcopal Church, assembled, and there being no Rector, John Nicholas presided," and Trinity Church was then and there organized. The Rev. Davenport Phelps was the first officiating clergyman. A church was erected in 1808. Wm. Tappan, John and Abraham B. Hall, John Sweeney, Jonathan Doane, Moses Hall, and Jacob and Joseph Backentose were among the earliest mechanics.Jonathan Doane was the father of Bishop Doane, and erected all the primitive churches. Jacob and Joseph Backentose were the pioneer tailors of the Genesee country, and the time was when to wear a coat from their shop marked the possessor as an aristocrat. Members, before going to Congress or the Legislature, generally got a coat of the "Geneva tailor," but never before election. Col. James Bogart, the early editor of The Geneva Gazette, says: "In 1805, Geneva contained but sixty-eight houses. There were thirty-five on Main street, seven on Seneca street, five on Castle street, two on Genesee street, and one on Pulteney street. Some of the more important streets of the village were not then laid out." * * * "It is worthy of remark that the north side of Seneca street, on which there is now (1833) a compact mass of beautiful and substantial buildings, was, long after we commenced the publication of our paper, improved as a mowing field."

*

The society of Geneva has, from the very first, been noted for high tone of manners and cultivated intellect, and has attracted thither many eminent men. Among the most distinguished residents at the present time are Commodore T. J. Craven, Judge Samuel A. Foote, Gen. Joseph G. Swift, Senator Charles J. Folger, Comptroller Thomas Hillhouse, Gen. M. R. Patrick, Mr. James O. Sheldon, Commodore J. W. Swift and Commodore James Glynn.

Castleton, (Seneca Castle P. O.,) on Flint Creek, in the northwest part, contains two churches and thirty-five houses. Flint Creek, (p. o.,) Hall's Corners, (p. o.,) and Stanley's Corners, (p. o.,) are hamlets.

About one and a half miles north-west of Geneva is a beautiful ground called the "Old Castle," where there was an Indian orchard, and where the ground has never been plowed, because of a stipulation to that effect with the Indians in the treaty of purchase. For many years the Indians came at plowing time and watched this ground, to see that the stipulation was not broken. It contains an Indian burial ground, and in one corner the trench of an ancient stockade fortification may be discovered. Many relics-as stone hatchets, arrow heads, pipes, etc., are found in this vicinity.

The amount of money expended for common school purposes in

the town in the year 1866-7, was $12,660.90, the amount apportioned being $3,010.73, the value of school property $15,378, and the average daily attendance 1,094.

SOUTH BRISTOL was formed from Bristol, March 8, 1838. It lies upon the west shore of Canandaigua Lake, southwest of the centre of the County. The surface consists of an elevated upland, divided into four ranges by the valleys of Grindstone and Mud Creeks and Egypt Brook. The summits of the ridges rise 1,000 feet above the lake, and the declivities are very steep. The bluffs along the lake shore are 300 to 400 feet high. The soil is a mixture of clay and disintegrated slate, and although it is rich and productive, the hilly nature of the town has tended to retard its cultivation. The value of school property is $4,825. The amount of school expenses for the year 1866-7 was $2,715.33; the amount of public money apportioned, $647.28, and the average daily attendance 176.

South Bristol (p. o.) is a hamlet, and contains a Congregational church, the only church building in town. Boswell's Corners contains a store and about a dozen houses. There is a saw mill and a grist mill near by. Cold Spring is a hamlet. Seneca Point, referred to in another connection, is a popular summer resort. It was originally known as "Wilder's Point," and settlement was commenced there by Gamaliel Wilder, in 1789. An Indian orchard, on the lake shore, at this place, induced him to settle here. This was the only Indian orchard left undestroyed in Sullivan's march, and a few of the old trees are yet standing. Mr. Wilder built the first saw mill, the first grist mill and distillery, at the Point, in 1795. He also put up the first tavern, in 1808. Dr. Hewitt and Geo. Wilder opened the first store, in 1828. Joanna Forbes taught the first school, and Rev. Mr. Rolph was the first settled minister. The first child born was Eli Allen, in 1793.

VICTOR was formed from Bloomfield, May 26, 1812, and is the north-west corner town of the County. The north part is occupied by the drift ridges, which rise 50 to 150 feet above the general surface. Extending across the south part, in a general east and west direction, is a ridge, 100 to 180 feet in height. The chief streams are Irondequoit, Mud, Hog Hollow and Fish Creeks, and Trout Brook. The soil in the central and northern parts is a light, sandy and gravelly loam, but in the south-east it is principally clay. It is particularly adapted to the raising of root crops. Hops are grown to some extent, and considerable attention is paid to improving the breeds of sheep. $3,931.18 was expended for

common school purposes during the year 1866-7. The amount of public money appropriated to the town for the same period was $904.63; the average daily attendance being 285. The school property is valued at $7,850.

Victor (p.v.) is a beautiful village near the centre of the town, half a mile from Victor Station, on the N. Y. C. R. R. It was called by the Indians, Ga-o-sa-ga-o, signifying "In the Basswood Country." It contains four churches, a graded district school, and has 510 inhabitants. The Indian village of Gannagaro, which was utterly destroyed by the Marquis de Nonville, was situated near Victor. Fishers (p. o.) is a station on the N. Y. C. R. R., in the west part, and East Victor is a hamlet on Mud Creek.

Settlement was commenced in 1789, by immigrants from Stockbridge, Mass., Enos and Jared Boughton and Jacob Lobdell being among the first. Levi Boughton and Rufus Dryer settled at Boughton Hill, in 1792. The first birth was that of Frederick Boughton, in June, 1791, and the first marriage that of Zebulon Norton and Miss Boughton. Hezekiah Boughton opened the first tavern, at Boughton Hill, in 1792. The first saw mill was built the same year, by Enos and Jared Boughton. Joel Brace was the first practicing physician, and William Bushnell the first permanent merchant. The first town meeting was held in 1813, at which Jacob Lobdell was elected Supervisor; Nathaniel Boughton, Ezra Wilmarth, Selleck Boughton, Assessors; Ezekial Scudder, Elisha Williams, Joseph Brace, Commissioners of Highways; Rufus Dryer, James Upton, Overseers of Poor; Solomon Griswold, Constable and Collector. Few localities in this historic region so abound in interest as Victor Flats, Boughton Hill, and the immediate vicinity. When the pioneers penetrated to this section of the wilderness, they found, among the hills and valleys, rude implements of war and of the chase, charred remains of wigwams, and burial places teeming with the moldering bones of by-gone generations, all evincing that this was a favorite place of the Senecas, who were the original occupants of this beautiful and romantic country. Here they worshipped the "Manitous" of their simple faith, and here they assembled in the "Peace Council," or prepared for battle. Standing on the street of the quiet village, one sees spread out before him an attractive landscape, whose interest is increased by the throng of historic associations connected with the hills and vales that make up the pleasant scene. Over it all swept the proud hosts of the French invader, combatted at every inch by the Indian braves whose Spartan valor could not make up for their deficiency in numbers. Here glared the flames of their rude huts, the watch-fires of the encamping conquerors; and here, too, long after civilization had placed her imprint on the face of Nature, they lingered around the ruins of their former pride and faded

glory, until they were thrust away on, on, over the wide desert and mountain barriers, to the shores of the Pacific!

WEST BLOOMFIELD was formed from Bloomfield, Feb. 11, 1833. It lies upon the west border of the County, north of the center. A ridge, 200 to 300 feet high, forming the declivity of a southern terrace, extends across the north part. The surface is gently undulating; the soil a deep, rich, gravelly loam, mixed with clay. In the south there is a spring of carburetted hydrogen gas. Tile and earthware are manufactured to some extent.

West Bloomfield (p. v.) is a village of about 350 inhabitants, situated one and a half miles south of West Bloomfield Station, on the N. Y. C. R. R. A handsome soldier's monument has been erected here since the war. The town contains two churches, and

a number of shops and stores. North Bloomfield (p. v.) on the Honeoye Outlet, and Miller's Corners, in the east part, are also railroad stations. At the former there is a church, a woolen factory, two grist mills and two saw mills; the latter is a hamlet, containing one church, and a few houses.

This town was purchased by Amos Hall, Robert Taft, Nathan Marvin and Ebenezer Curtis, and was settled by them in 1789. Mr. Hall was from Guilford, Conn., and took the first census of Ontario County, in 1790, represented the County in Assembly in 1798, and was Major General of militia in the war of 1812. John P. Sears, Peregrine Gardner, Clark Peck, Jasper Marvin, Samuel Miller, John Algur and S. Thayer, settled in 1789-90. Benjamin Gardner, with his sons John and Peregrine, are supposed by some to have been the first settlers. The first birth was that of Lucinda Gardner, in Sept. 1791. Jasper P. Sears kept the first inn, and Royal Hendee the first store. The first saw mill was built by Ebenezer Curtis; the first grist mill by Reuben Thayer. The first religious service was held in 1793. There are now four churches

in town.

The amount expended for school purposes in West Bloomfield for the year 1866-7, was $2,280.93; the amount of public money apportioned, $592.88; the average attendance 153, and the value of school property $2,835..

THE STATES,

THEIR SETTLEMENT, ADMITTANCE TO THE UNION, POPULATION, SUFFRAGE LAWS, ETC.

ALABAMA was settled near Mobile, in 1702, by the French; was formed into a Territory by act of Congress, approved March 3, 1817, from the eastern portion of the Territory of Mississippi; framed a Con"stitution August 2, 1819, and was admitted into the Union December 14 of the same year. Area 50,722 square miles, or 32,462,080 acres.Population in 1860, 964,201, of whom 435,080 were slaves. It is the chief cotton growing State of the Union. White male citizens who have resided one year in the State and three months in the county, are entitled to vote. An election for a Convention was held December 24, 1860, and a majority of over 50,000 votes cast for secession; the Convention met January 7, 1861, and on the 11th passed the ordinance of secession, by a vote of 61 to 39, which was followed on the 21st by the resignation of its members of Congress.

ARKANSAS was settled at Arkansas Post in 1685, by the French, and was part of the Louisiana purchase ceded by France to the United States, April 30, 1803. It was formed into a Territory by act of Congress, March 2, 1819, from the southern part of the Territory of Missouri; its western_boundary was settled May 26, 1824, and its southern, May 19, 1828. Having adopted a Constitution, a memorial was presented in Congress, March 1, 1836, and an act for its admission into the Union passed June 15 of the same year. Area 52,198 square miles, or 33,406,720 acres. In 1860 its population was 435,450, of whom 111,115 were slaves. It is an agricultural State, its staples being corn and cotton.Citizenship and residence in the State for six months, qualify voters in the county and district where they reside. January 16, 1861, its Legislature ordered a State Convention, which assembled, and on May 6, voted to secede, 69 to 1. January 4, 1864, a Convention assembled in Little Rock which adopted a new Constitution, the principle feature of which consisted in a clause abolishing slavery. The Convention adjourned January 22. This body also inaugurated a Provisional Government. The Constitution was submitted to the people, and 12,177 votes cast for it, to 226 against it. The State was re-organized under the plan contained in the Amnesty Proclamation of President LINCOLN, in pursuance of which an election was held March 14, 1864. The vote required under the Proclamation was 5,405. About 16,000 votes were cast.