Early Settlers of Ontario Co., NY

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

Town of Phelps

A worthy pioneer, John Decker Robison, built and opened a tavern in 1793. His son, Harry H. Robison, was the first white child born in the town. In 1789 Mr. Robinson's family came to the town, and nine days later there also came Pierce and Elihu Granger, Nathaniel Sanborn and a Mr. Gould but all these returned to Connecticut in the fall, leaving Robison and his family alone in the town, eight miles from the nearest settlement in Geneva.

The next settlers were Jonathan Oaks, Seth Dean, Oliver Humphrey, Charles Humphrey and Elias Dickinson. In 1793 or '94 Mr. Oaks built a large frame house, which for many years was occupied as a hotel, and was located at Oaks' Corners, a small hamlet of the town. Philetus Swift was a pioneer of 1789, a man of much energy and influence, particularly in early political history; and also prominent in military affairs being commander of a company during the war of 1812. Seth Dean was a pioneer on the Phelps village site, and here in the company with Oliver Phelps he erected a saw mill on Flint Creek.

Another prominent early pioneer was Dr. Joel Prescott, who settled in the town at an early day and was one of the prominent physicians of the county. He came as early as May 1788, and probably for awhile settled at Kanadesaga as his name is found as a witness on several papers dated at that place. At the first town meeting in Phelps, 1796, Dr. Prescott was elected school commissioner and assessor, was appointed justice of the peace, January 1798; was supervisor of the town from 1797 to 1809 inclusive, except 1805, and for several years chairman of the board. He located on a farm one mile west of Oaks' Corners and was the first physician of Phelps, his practice being very extensive and laborious with the old time saddle bags strapped to his saddle. He was married in Phelps to Lucy Reed, September 8, 1793, and had seven children, two of whom died in infancy. He was born June 20, 1759, and died October 5, 1841. His funeral was attended by the largest number of people that had ever been gathered on such an occasion, from 1000 to 1200 being present.

Horatio Jones was one of the early pioneers at Kanadesaga and Geneva. In 1788, having been joined by his brother, John H., at that place, and having obtained a yoke of oxen in the spring of 1789, the two brothers went into the town of Phelps, found an open spot, ploughed and planted five or six acres of corn, which they sold on the ground, and finally removed to the west of the Genesee River.

Other early settlers were John Salisbury, who settled in 1791 a short distance west of Melvin Hill. Also in the same year came Walter Chase and Nicholas Pullen; in 1792, John Patten and David Boyd; in 1793, Jonathan Melvin; in 1794, John Sherman; in 1795, Osee Crittenden and Cornelius Westfall; in 1796, Jesse Warner and John Newhall; in 1797 or '98, Theodore and Lemuel Bannister, who located just north of Oaks' Corners.

Deacon John Warner was a pioneer at Orleans, while the first settler at Melvin Hill was Jonathan Melvin. Jesse Warner settled at Warner Hill, east of the Flint Creek. Joseph Vandemark, Lodowick Vandemark, John and Patrick Burnett, came about or during the year 1794. Lodowick was a skillful millwright, and put up an excellent saw mill in the town.

Other early settlers were Coll Roy; Joseph, Eleazer and Cephas Hawks; and Augustus Dickinson. About 1799 Cephas Hawks, Augustus Dickinson and Theo. Bannister built a grist-mill on the outlet, on the site in later years known successively as Dickinson's, Norton's, and the Exchange Mills.

In 1800 George Wilson and Harvey Stephenson came to the town, followed in 1802 by John Hildreth. John R. Green was the first merchant at Oaks' Corners. Wills Whitman came with the Oaks. The first marriage in the town was that of Joseph Annin with the daughter of pioneer Seth Reed. Magistrate Thomas Sisson performed the ceremony. Cephas Hawks erected the first plaster mill, and about the same time Luther and Francis Root, Ezekiel Webb, and Nathaniel Hall bought the Seth Dean grist-mill, and converted it into a plaster-mill.

In April 1796, the inhabitants were so many that it became advisable to organize the town and elect officers. Prior to this, the town was part of a district known as Sullivan; when organized in 1796 it was changed to Phelps. The officers elected at this first town meeting were:

Supervisor: Jonathan Oaks;   town clerk: Soloman Goodale;   assessors: Joel Prescott, Philetus Swift and Pierce Granger;
collector: Augustus Dickinson;   overseers of the poor: Oliver Humphrey and Patrick Burnett;   commissioners of highways:
Jesse Warner, Oliver Humphrey and Philetus Swift;   overseers of the highways: Cornelius Westfall, Abram D. Spurn, Charles Humphrey, Elijah Gates, John Patten Augustus Dickinson, and David Woodard;   pound-master: Jonathan Oaks.

Village of Phelps

John Decker Robison was a pioneer of the town and also of the village of Phelps. Seth Dean also located on the village site and became identified with Oliver Phelps in the erection of a saw-mill on Flint Creek, where the Nelson & Bowker mill of later days was built. When John Decker Robison erected his tavern in 1793, the locality became a trade center, and before long Orin Redfield started a mercantile business on land now occupied by the Phelps Hotel. Hotchkiss and O'Neil opened trade in 1810 in Root's bar-room; Wing & Nelson began business in 1813; Dwight and Partridge in 1816; and David D. Van Auken and the Thayers were later businessmen.

Seth Dean built the first grist-mill followed by the larger mill built by pioneers Hawks, Dickinson and Bannister. In the village about 1812, Luther and Francis Root and Erastus Butler built a rather large woolen-mill, and established an industry that prospered about three years and then was abandoned.

David McNiel was the first postmaster; weekly mails were at first carried by Francis Root and Lyman Williams.

Town of Richmond

The town of Richmond was organized in 1796, first called Pittstown after pioneer Captain Peter Pitts. The name was changed to Honeoye in 1808 and to Richmond in 1815. Captain Pitts became the owner of 3000 acres of land near the foot of Honeoye Lake and the first improvements were made in 1790 by his sons, Gideon and William Pitts. In December of 1790 Captain Pitts and John Codding and their families became permanent settlers.

Early settlers included: Elisha Pratt who lived with Captain Pitts; Eber Sibley, Edward Hazen, Edward Taylor, Silas Whitney, John Pennell, Ebenezer Farrer and Jonathan Rhodes. Other early residents were Noah Ashley; Joseph and Elias Gilbert; David, William, Sanford and Heman Crooks; Philip Reed and his sons: John F., Silas, Wheeler, William and Philip; Whiting Marsh; John and Eleazer Freney; Deacon Harmon; Isaac Bishop; Rhoderick Steele Cyrus Wells; Isaac and Alden Adams; Daniel H. Goodsell; and Orasmus Risden.

In the northeast part of the town the early settlers were Lemuel and Cyrus Chipman; Asa Dennison; Levi Blackmer; David Aiken; Thomas Wilson; Mr. Bentley; William Baker; Aaron and John Abbey; Seth Tubbs; David Crawford; Moses, Peter and Nathaniel Allen; James Garlinghouse; Joseph Garlinghouse; Cyrus Wells; Sylvester Curtis; Mr. Boyd; Mr. Jenkins; Hugh Gregg; George Fox; Abram Wiley; Gideon Gates; David Pierpont; and person named Caldwell.

Other settlers in the town were Joshua Phillips; Nathan Hicks; Elijah Wheeler; Pierce Chamberlain; Asa Dennison; Levi Blackmer; Roswell Turner; Calvin Ward; Philip Reed; Col. Lyman Hawes; George McClure; Amos and John Dixon; Oliver Lyon; William Warner; Parley Brown; Parley Drury; Luther Stanley; Mr. Frisbie; James McCrossen; Rufus Bullock; Caleb and Thomas Briggs; James Green; Stephen Frost; Gates Pemberton; Caleb Smith; Nelson Skinner; John Norton; James Parker; Abijah Wright; William Arnold; Amos Jones; Jesse Stephens; A.S. Bushnell; Philip Short; Walter Stephens; Caleb Arnold; Abel Short; Artemas Briggs; John Beecher and Gilbert Kinyon.

Others who came early were Hugh Hamilton; George Gordon, William Layne; David Knapp; John Parker; Edmund Downs; William Judevine; Job Wood; Jacob Flanders; Col. John Green; the Skinner family; the Vinals; James Moore; Daniel Smith; Aaron J. Hunt; Andrew Bray; and Jacob Bowers.

The following officers were elected in 1796:

Supervisor - Lemuel Chipman
Town clerk - Gideon Pitts
Assessors - Philip Reed, William Pitts, Solomon Woodruff
Constable and collector - Jonas Belknap
Commissioners of highways - Solomon Woodruff, Gideon Pitts, Elijah Parker
Fence viewers - Stiles Parker, Roswell Turner
Poundmaster - Edward Hazen
Pathmasters - Peter Pitts, Cyrus Chipman, Solomon Woodruff, Aaron Hunt, Roswell Turner
Overseers of the poor - Peter Pitts, Philip Reed
Commissioners of schools - Philip Reed, Cyrus Chipman, Jonas Belknap

Moses Risden operated a tannery; succeeded by Daniel Phillips. Gideon Pitts, Mr. Way and Abner Mather were the first blacksmiths. Gideon Pitts built a sawmill and a grist mill.

Town of Seneca

Early settlers in the Town of Seneca include Captain Joshua Whitney, one of the original purchasers; he came in 1789 to examine the area and became a permanent settler in 1790. Among other settlers were: Anson Dodge, Abraham Burkholder, Peter Van Gelder, Zora Densmore, John Berry, Geo. Ackley/ Eckley, Ammi Whitney, Robert Carson, Leonard Isenhour, Peter Wyncoop, William Esty and Thomas Tallman all before 1800 and many before 1795. The families of Clemons, Parker, Harris, Fiero, Charlton, Torrence, Rogers, McPherson, Culver, Latta, Darrow, McCauley, Halliday, Duttons, Onderdonks, and Ringer (John and Jacob).

Other early pioneers as early as 1800 were Thomas Ottley, Nathan Whitney, Eben Burt, Isaac Amsden, Peter Gray, Mathew Rippey, David McMaster, Abram Post, Israel Webster, Simeon Amsden, Joel Whitney, Hugh Fulton, and Gamelial Brockway. Also included in the early settlement were William Rippey, Joseph Fulton, Edward Rice, Philip Gregory, John Dixon, Seba Squier, Jacob Reed, Thomas Densmore, Soloman Gates, Col. Wilder, and David Barron. The family of Seth Stanley settled in 1796.

On the old Geneva and Rushville Turnpike at an early day settled: Peter Diedrich, George Simpson, William Fiero, and George Rippey. Elsewhere in the town came Salma Stanley, Thomas McCauley, Mathew Rippey, Peter Blackmore, Mr. Hartford, John McCullough, Captain William McPherson, Whitney Squier, Jonathan Reed, the Phillips family, Squire Parks, James Rice, James Means, Leonard and William Smith, Chauncey Barden, Alfred Squier, Aaron Black, the Careys, John Wood, John Rippey, Robert Parks. Timothy Miner, James Black, Aden Squier, Edward Burrall and Samuel Wheadon.

Others that should be named are: John Hooper, Foster Sinclair, the Dorman family, Adam Turnbull, Richard Bell, William Foster, William Brown, John Scoon, Aaron Black, Mr. Stockoe, Jonathan Phillips, George Conrad, Thomas Vartie, Edward Hall, Sherman Lee, William Wilson, the Cooleys, the Robinsons and Robsons, James Beattie, George Crozier, the Straughtons, the Wilsons, Rufus Smith, Robert Moody, Valentine Perkins, David Miller, Mr. Clark, The Barden family, Daniel Sutherland, Sylvester Smith, Levi Gland, and John Thompson.

The first town officers were elected in 1793 as follows: (understand that at that time this would include what is now the Town of Geneva and City of Geneva)

Supervisor - Ezra Patterson
Town clerk - Thomas Sisson
Assessors - Oliver Whitmore, James Rice, Phineas Pierce
Commissioners of highways - Patrick Burnett, Samuel Wheadon, Peter Bartle, Jr.
Collector - Sanford Williams
Overseers of the poor - Jonathan Oaks, David Smith
Constables - Charles Harris, Stephen Sisson, Whelds Whitmore
Overseers of the highways - Nathan Whitney, Oliver Humphrey, Jerome Loomis, Jeremiah Butler, Benjamin Tuttle, William Smith, David Benton, Benjamin Dixon
Fence viewers - Amos Jenks, John Reed, Joseph Kilbourn, Seba Squires, Caleb Culver
Poundmasters - Peter Bartle, Jr., David Smith
Sealer of weights and measures - Peter Bartle Sr.
Surveyor of lumber - Jeremiah Butler

Town of South Bristol

The town of South Bristol was formed from the Town of Bristol March 8, 1838 and the pioneer settlement began as early as 1789 when Gameliel Wilder and his sons Daniel, Jonas, Joseph and Asa came along with Theophilius Allen and wife; Jonathan, John, and Nathan Allen; Jeremiah Spicer; Aaron Rice; Jared Tuttle; and Elisha Parish. In 1791 Gameliel Wilder built a grist mill and distillery.

Other early settlers were Nathan Hatch and Pliny Hayes and his brother. Erastus Hill was an early schoolmaster. Others who came early were David Gilbert, James Wilder, the blacksmith, Warren Brown, Thomas Lee, Ephraim Brown, the wheelwright, the Kaufman family, Phineas Perkins, Deacon John Forbes, Richard Bishop, Abraham Roberts, Levi Austin and Mr. Fay.

Nathan Hatch came before 1800 with his sons: Nathan, George, John, Thomas, Charles, Lyman, and Luman. Other settlers were Aaron Spencer in 1790, Nicholas Burbee, Capt. Reuben Gilbert, Deacon Parmelee, "Lawyer" Butler, Mr. Reed, Gideon Beaman, James Corel, John Wood, Ezra Wood, Gains Randall, Deacon and Jonathan Forbes, Jeremiah Spicer, Luke Coye, Thomas Francisco, Ezra Parmele, Clark Worden, David Knickerbocker, Mr. Maloy, John Perry, Thomas Standish, the Loveridge family, Amos Miner Jr., Phineas Lee, Lucius Lincoln, Thomas Lee, Richard Ingraham, Jonathan Green, Dr. David Williams, Anson Parrish, William Gates, John Fox, Harrison Salisbury, Pitts Walker, Jeremiah Spicer, Eleazer Parker, David Parker, Jonathan and Jacob Frost, Hazard Wilcox, Caleb McNair, William Dunn, John Lee, Erastus and Cyrus Hill, Franklin Pierce and Benjamin Wilcox.

Eli Allen born in 1791, son of Theophilus Allen and Eliza Parrish, was the first white child born in the town. Ephraim Brown built a grist mill in 1805 and George Wilder kept the first store in the town. The first schoolhouse was built of logs and Joanna Forbes and Eliza Parrish are said to have been the first teachers.

Town of Victor

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.

Town of West Bloomfield

Settlement of the town of West Bloomfield began in the spring of 1789 when Peregrine Gardner came and made the first improvement followed in the same year by Ebenezer Curtis and family. Lucinda, daughter of Mr. Gardner, was the first white child born in the town in 1791. Amos Hall was a pioneer in this town, the father of six children; Amos died in West Bloomfield 28 Dec 1827.

Other early settlers were David Parsons, the carpenter, in 1796; Clark Peck in 1790, John Wendle; Reuben Lee; Deacon Daniel Handy in 1796; Nathaniel Shepard in 1805; Martin Minor; Nathaniel Eggleston; Mr. Stewart; Josiah Eggleston, a shoemaker; Bayes Baker; Ami Fowler; Phileman Hall; Daniel Curtis; and William Lee.

The pioneer in the northeast part of the town was Samuel Miller who settled in 1790; Miller's Corners was named for him. Others in this section were Josephus Fox, Thomas Larkins, Benjamin Burlingame in 1795, Charles Smith, Benjamin Crowell in 1802 and Robt. Simpson in 1796. Early settlers in the south and southeast of the town were Capt. Robert Taft, Royal Wheelock, John Lute, James Harvey, Lot Rew, Daniel Riley, Payne Leach, William Carringer, the Algur family consisting of Benjamin, John, Samuel and Josiah; George Nichols, Aaron Norton, John Miner, William Paul and David McMaster.

In the southwest quarter settled Capt. Otis Thompson, Jesse Taft, Mr. Bent, Job Williams, Jeremiah Simmons, Arnold and Whitley Mann, Mr. Chapman, Daniel Daniels, William Daniels and Watrous Peck. North of this locality the pioneers were Col. Jasper C. Sears, Ebenezer Curtis, Julius Curtis, Joseph Gilbert, Palmer Peck, Jasper Marvin, Loren Waits, Sylvanus Thayer, Uriah Webster, and Reynolds and Abner Peck.

Other pioneers in the north and northeast portion were families named Bull, Dixon, Hibard, and Baker. Also there were Daniel and Marvin Gates, Reuben and Beebe Parmelee, Isaac Hall, Daniel and Titus Canfield, Jared Everts, the Butlers, Hayeses, and Madisons.

In 1810 Erastus Hunt had a general store and later Augustus Hall had a store. John Dickson was the pioneer lawyer and Drs. Fairchild and Hickox sold drugs and attended the sick. Dr. Lewis Hodge succeeded them. John Cooper made axes and tools; Reuben Pierce was wagon maker, and pioneer Baker made chairs.

In the hamlet of North Bloomfield, an early settler was Daniel Gates who came in 1790 followed in 1794 by Marvin Gates, a pioneer in the lumbering business. About 1795 Samuel Miller and one Crites built a saw-mill. John Blake was an early distiller and Squire and Jacob Smith operated a grist mill. Francis Smith established a distillery and James Smith opened a store. Other early businessmen were Joseph Chambers; Horace Chambers; Robert Huntington, hotelkeeper; and Isaac Hall who ran a forge and furnace.

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