YORK,

Volunteers in the War of 1812.

Between the years of 1804 and 1812, the south part of the town of Caledonia and what subsequently became the northwesterly portion of the town of York, in Livingston county, and which was familiarly known as Coille Mohr, or "Big Woods," was settled very generally by a hardy, frugal Scotch population coming directly from their native Scotland heath, from Albany, from Argyle in Washington county, and from Broadalbin and Johnstown in Montgomery county. Of such were Collin Gillis, Angus Cameron, Alexander Mann, Archibald Gillis, Donald McCall, William Fraser, Daniel Ferguson, John Rui McIntyre, James White, Duncan Grant, Duncan McIntyre, Alexander Stewart and Donald G. Fraser. The region was one of dense and magnificent forest, of superior soil, but of peculiar hardships, and fraught with many thrilling incidents and privations. During the year 1812 or 1813 when British cannon was booming all along the northern frontier, and both Rochester and Buffalo, and all contiguous country seemed in imminent danger, the three last named settlers, although aliens and not subject to the country's call, conceived it to be their moral duty to leave their chopping and their logging, and volunteer their services as soldiers at the recruiting station or rendezvous at Batavia. Hence one day in the early autumn after partaking of a hearty breakfast of fried pork and boiled potatoes, the patriotic young Scots with coats on arm and staffs in hand, set out on foot for Batavia via Caledonia or "Big Springs," some six miles distant, fully determined apparently to serve their adopted country; and taking in the route the cabin of their less zealous neighbor, Duncan Grant, they halted for a few moments before his door to belabor him for his want of enthusiasm in refusing to join them, after which their march was vigorously resumed. Mr. Grant however was possessed of an inkling that the zeal of his neighbors would hardly last them to Batavia, and as the evening shades began to prevail, he lay in ambush near what he supposed might be their returning path to listen for their retreating footsteps. He had not to wait long before approaching voices were heard, which proved to be those of McIntyre and Fraser earnestly endeavoring to persuade their compatriot Stewart (who was endowed with a strong sonorous voice which seemed not at all modulated by a day spent at the "Big Springs") to practice lower tones while passing Grant's, lest they should all become the subject of his sarcastic jokes. They were all however completely surprised in their hasty homeward march, chided severely, and to the last days of their lives ceased not to be reminded of their valiant services in the war of 1812.

Nevertheless the quartette of young Scottish pioneers all survived to subdue their respective farms, to hew out comfortable homes, to acquire a competency and to each rear and educate large families of children. That of Duncan McIntyre consisted of six sons and three daughters, among whom were the late Captain John D. McIntyre of Wilmot, Wis., and James McIntyre of York, both successful agriculturists and business men. They buried their paternal parent in June, 1838, in the fifty-ninth year of his age.

The family of Alexander Stewart comprised six stalwart children, all of whom grew to man and womanhood, among whom may be mentioned his son Niel, one of the most extensive and successful business men as well as largest landholders of York, and the late Hon. Charles Stewart of Rochester, Minnesota. The head of the family who evinced more than ordinary capacity for acquiring property, died in February, 1845, having reached the age of nearly seventy years.

The family of Duncan Grant consisted of seven children, five sons and two daughters, including the late Captain Gerrit V. S. Grant of York, and Dr. Alexander Grant of Bath, South Dakota. Their father, after a quiet and happy life, died in May, 1853, having attained the age of seventy-seven years.

But Deacon Donald G. Fraser, the "noblest Roman of them all," was blest with a family of eleven children of superior physical organization and talents, to whom reasonable advantages were conceded, and among whom may now be mentioned the late Professor Donald G. Fraser, Jr. of Illinois, Alexander C. Fraser of Chicago, attorneyat-law, and Mrs. Geo. D. Tallent, Superintendent of public instruction of Pennington county, South Dakota. The patriarch of this large family had, in comparative health and strength reached the age of eighty-two years, when, on the night of the ist of October, 1865, at the dead hour of midnight, while quietly reposing along with his second wife in the home which he had occupied for considerably more than half a century, he was attacked by James Sherwood of Piffard, Charles Heelan of Fowlerville, and Thomas Howard and Jeremiah Roberts of York, who conspired to secure what they could of the old gentleman's well earned wealth. Mr. Fraser died on the 15th day of the month following the attack and from its effects. The assailants were promptly arrested on the morning following the deed, lodged in the Livingston county jail, and indicted by the grand jury on the 27th of October for murder, to which they pleaded guilty in the second degree. On the following 4th of November, at the Oyer and Terminer term of court, Hon. Henry Wells presiding, they were severally sentenced as follows: Jeremiah Roberts, for the term of fifteen and a half years; Thomas Howard, Charles Heelan and James Sherwood during their natural life in the penitentiary at Auburn.

After serving some three or four years, Jeremiah Roberts was pardoned by the Executive, and about the same time Charles Heelan committed suicide in prison. Thomas Howard and James Sherwood, after having served some seventeen years of their sentence, were also pardoned, by the governor of the state for what has ever been considered the greatest outrage and the most heinous crime ever committed in the whole history of the town of York.

MEMORIALS.

Joel C. Bennett.

Died in the town of Portage, on the 23d of July, Joel C. Bennett, in his 79th year. He was the son of David and Mary Coe Bennett, descendants of the early settlers of New England, the posterity of sires whose forms fed the fires lighted by the Papists in the reign of bloody Mary. As the magnificent pine forests that adorned this region were the magnets that attracted the immigrants, their removal, manufacture and marketing became a leading industry. He was early inured to the labors of the lumberman as well as to the hardships and exposures of the raftsman, for he possessed largely the prompt decision and skillful action required in running rafts successfully down the turbulent freshets of the Genesee. His education was such as could be gained at the district schools, taught in rude houses, often built of logs as early as 1820. This was supplemented by attendance at the Wyoming Academy. Fortunately for him the intelligent labors of Nathaniel Coe, Hiram Olney, Stephen Fuller and their imitators had placed the public schools of Portage on a plane of advancement that gave them a notoriety which they maintained many years. He was a prominent member of the Institutes in which teachers began to assemble in 1844 for mutual instruction and improvement. He continued a popular teacher many winters, managing a farm the rest of the year. He became a book farmer with sufficient skill and energy to make a successful one. But money making was not his study or chief pursuit, for to him wealth was desirable only as a means of doing good. In his social, religious and political relations he strove to exert an active as well as a beneficent influence. In his early manhood a residence at the south had given him such a knowledge of southern ways and wants that his view of the moral and political questions ever under discussion was taken from a national rather than from a sectional standpoint. He was not a politician or a seeker for popular promotion, but for those minor offices which form the basis of society, which few are willing to accept and the duties of which fewer still are competent to perform, he was a constant candidate and a life long incumbent. For fifty years he was the efficient clerk of the Portage Baptist church and often the author of its annual letter to the churches. He was for the same time the faithful clerk of his school district, except when he was elected trustee. As supervisor in war times he labored successfully in filling the quota of his town and wrote a careful history of the fate or better fortune of the enlisted

men, together with all the various efforts made and means supplied to cheer the soldiers in camp or to comfort the unfortunate in hospitals. Few have followed the long course of life with more undeivating directness or more unbending rectitude and few have left a better life to illumine the pathway of his fellow travelers to eternity. C. D. B.

Died in Portage, on the 23d, July, 1893, Joel Coe Bennett, in his 79th year. His was a long decline, rather than a sickness, mainly free from acute pain, and he retained to the last full possession of his faculties.

He was a son of David Bennett, one of the seven brothers, who settled in the old town of Nunda in 1817, whose descendants may now be found in most of the states and in Canada. The region including their location was years later set off as the town of Portage. The deceased enjoyed the advantages, and suffered the hardships and privations of the pioneer.

The early residents of Portage devoted earnest attention to the improvement of their common schools. After attendance at the Wyoming Classical School, supplemented by use of the Nunda Farmers' Library located at Hunts Hollow, he became, for a dozen years, one of the most successful teachers of winter schools. Teaching one term in Louisiana satisfied him that he preferred a residence at the north.

He chose farming as his occupation, and demonstrated that the farmer's life is not necessarily one of ignorance, imbecility, and seclusion. In all efforts for the material, moral, social, and religious advancement of his fellow citizens he was helpfully prominent. Though qualified for the discharge of the duties of office, he shunned rather than sought political promotion. He was a volunteer candidate for the many and various offices in projects and organizations designed for the public good in which care and labor often gain scant praise or honor, and success is its own reward. As supervisor when volunteers were needed to fill our quota for the Union army, he gave active and efficient aid. His record of the doings of the town are remarkable for their fullness and accuracy.

After the war he was one of the few who insisted upon erecting, as a monument to the memory of those who fell in our defense, a commemorative hall instead of a stately column of marble or cold granite.

In youth he joined the Nunda Baptist church, and became a member of the Grove and Portage church soon after its removal to Hunts Hollow. He has made faithful attendance and efficient services there his pleasure as well as his duty. He believed that forgiveness of injuries was better than resentment of them, and he sought to attain all the elements of a consistent Christian character. It was said of him that his life was a constant exhortation to others in welldoing. In his departure he has left many a void that we fear cannot soon be worthily filled.-Nunda News.