Descendants of MICHAEL BAUER

Generation No. 1

1. MICHAEL1 BAUER was born ABT 1765 in Alsase, Germany (Source: Letter of administration.(Source: Daily Evening Item, Lynn, Mass., Nov 4, 1925)). He married CATHERINE DOROTHEA ASTOR.

Notes

Michael Bauer and Katherine Astor came to this country from Elsass Germany and after a 6 week voyage landed in Philadelphia in 1791. Their son Michael Bauer who was born 19 October 1788 was only 3 years old at the time of the voyage. They settled at the west branch of the Susquehanna River below Williamsport, near Montoursville, in Lycoming Cty., PA.

Ref: Records of the ship

Michael Bauer came to the US on the Ship Diana in 1790. He was accompanied with his wife Katherine Astor and 5 children. Actually Katherine's name was spelled Catharine Derothea Astor.

The children are listed in the book Pennsylvania German Pioneers, pgs. 42 & 43 and arrived in Philadelphia on August 10, 1791 aboard the Ship Diana, Ozias Goodwin, Commander.

Note: Germans called their children by their middle name and frequently their children all had the same first name.

The children's names were listed Philip Jerry, Philip Jacob, Hans Michael, Catharine Deborah, and Hans Peter.

Ref: Newspaper article dated Nov 4, 1925, headlines were the election of Rudolph Sherman Bauer as he became mayor of Lynn, MA. Info. came from him and his mother, Hannah Sherman Bauer.

This article says they raised a family of eight children, five boys and three girls but it does not mention their names.]

Notes

On August 10, 1791., Michael Bower and his wife, Catharine Dorothea, and their five children (Philip Jury, Philip Jacob, Hans Michael, Catherine Debora and Hans Peter) arrived in Philadelphia on the ship Diana from the port of Rotterdam after a voyage of six weeks, having come from Elsass (Alsace), France. However, a reference in a family bible gives their place of origin ad Hesse Darmstadt.

Michael and his family were Redemptioners,... "a class of white servants that played a significant part in the early settlement of this country. They (the Redemptioners) indentured themselves to be sold into bondage, and were in fact 'term slaves.' Their term, of service was virtually a state of slavery, worse in some cases than the bondage of the Negro, for the latter now and then had a kind master. Most of the Redemptioners were merely poor, uncultured or unfortunate people who wanted to improve their lot in life. There were thousands of these voluntary servants and they came from nearly all the countries of Europe. No country furnished Pennsylvania with. so many Redemptioners as Germany. The English Quaker traveler, Robert Sutcliff remarked 'I noticed many families, particularly in Pennsylvania, of great respectability, both in our Society and amongst others, 'who had themselves conic over to this country as Redemptioners, or were the children of such. And it is remarkable that the German residents in this country have a character for greater industry and stability than those of any other nation.

"Settlement of Lycoming County and the Muncy area by people of European origin began before the American Revolution.. Samuel Wallis began his farm estate here sometime in the 1760s and over about thirty years brought in bonded immigrants to work on it. Samuel Wallis perhaps brought a greater number of Redemptioners to the West Branch Valley of the Susquehanna than did any oilier individual. It worked somewhat like the modern employment agency; when Wallis needed white farm hands, artisans of house servants, he went to the shipping agents in Philadelphia and contracted for the type that he wanted. He then brought or sent them up to his 6,000-acre estate at Muncy in Lycoming County. The terms of the indenture depended in some degree on the shrewdness of the more or less helpless immigrants, but probably still more on their age, physique and prospect of usefulness, as well as on the demand for servants at the time of the landing of the ship, and on the liberality, or want of liberality of the individual to whom the bond is given. From such information as we have, it seems probable that those who bound themselves to Samuel Wallis bad the best terms that could be expected under the circumstances." (The quoted paragraphs are from The Now and Then, Muncy, Pa., 1891 and later.)

On September 17, 1791, Approximately one month after the Diana docked in Philadelphial, Michael Bower signed an indenture with Samuel Wallis, who agreed to pay 47 pounds 12 shillings and 8 pence for ship's passage in exchange for his labor for five years. After five years from September 17,1791, Michael Bower was to receive "two suits of clothes, or wearing apparel, 50 acres of land and a house to live in for at least two years." Catharine Debora was to labor thirteen years from Sept. 17, 1791, for her passage and at end of term, "two suits of wearing apparel." This was a still a frontier area when the Bowers arrived. Struggles between the Native Americans of the area and the new settlers lasted until shortly before the arrival of the Bowers in 1791. Lycoming County was formed from Northumberland County in 1795, and the town of Muncy was not incorporated until 1826.

Although we know the terms of Michael Bower's indenture, we know little more about him. According to an article in The daily Item of Lynn, Mass., Michael and Katherine settled on the West branch of the Susquehanna River, below Williamsport, near Montoursville, where they raised a family of eight children (five boys and three girls). In 1796, the year his indenture was completed, there was a Michael Bowers on the tax role of Muncy.

A Michael Bower who is probably our Michael became a naturalized citizen of this country in September 1804, as did a Jacob Bower, who was probably his son (see copies of naturalization petitions).

A Michael Bower is listed in the 1800 census of Northumberland County, and in 1810 there is a Michael Bower listed in the Town of Muncy in. Lycoming County. In 1814 there is a legal accounting of his estate in which Catharine, Michael and Peter are executors.

Children of MICHAEL BAUER and CATHERINE ASTOR are:

2. i. HANS MICHAEL2 BAUER , (BOWER), b. October 19, 1788, Elsass, France; d. May 1, 1853, West Almond, Alleghany Co, NY, bur Phillips Creek W. Almond, NY.

ii. PHILIP JURRY BAUER.

iii. PHILIP JACOB BAUER.

iv. CATHARINE DEBORA BAUER.

v. HANS PETER BAUER.

Generation No. 2

2. HANS MICHAEL2 BAUER , (BOWER) (MICHAEL1) was born October 19, 1788 in Elsass, France (Source: Daily Evening Item, Lynn, Mass., Nov. 4, 1925), and died May 1, 1853 in West Almond, Alleghany Co, NY, bur Phillips Creek W. Almond, NY. He married MARY HALL December 19, 1810 in PA (Source: Daily Evening Item, Lynn, Mass., Nov. 4, 1925), daughter of RICHARD HALL and MARGARET ROGERS.

Notes

After the marriage of Michael and Mary they lived in Muncey, Lycoming Cty., PA until 1817 when they moved to Bradford. In 1837 they moved to West Almond, Alleghany Cty., NY. Michael died 1 May 1853 and Mary moved to Oramel, Alleghany Cty., NY. She died 6 June 1854. Both Michael and Mary are buried in Phillips Creek, tow miles from the old Bauer homestead in West Almond, NY. They had 9 children.

Ref: Newspaper article dated Nov 4, 1925, headlines were the election of Rudolph Sherman Bauer as he became mayor of Lynn, MA. Info. came from him and his mother, Hannah Sherman Bauer.

Same Ref as above:

At a very early age, as was the custom in those days he was bound out to a man living at Milton, PA, until he was 12 years old. he was married on the 19th day of December, 1810, to Mary, oldest daughter of Richard and Margaret (Rogers) Hall, who was born in Lyconing county, PA, on the 26th day of march, 1793.

After their marriage, Michael and Mary (Hall)Bauer lived in the town of Muncey, Lyconing county, PA, until the year 1817, when they removed to the town of Bath, Steuben county, NY, and lived on a farm situated between Savona and Bradford. In 1837, they removed to a farm in West Almond, Allegany county, NY, where they dwelt when Grandfather Bauer died on the 1st day of May, 1853. The following spring. Brandmother Bauer moved to Oramel, Allehany county, NY, where she lived but a short time, as she died June 6, 1854. Both Michael and Mary Bauer were buried in the cemetery at Phillips Creek, two miles from the old Bauer homestead in West Almond, NY.

They were survived by nine children , of whom, eight grew up to manhood and raised families of their own.

Hans Michael Bower (Michael) was born October 19, 1788 in Elsass (Alsace), France (Source; Daily Evening Item, Lynn, Mass., Nov. 4, 1925), and died May 01, 1853 in Phillips Creek, Allegany Co., N.Y, (Source: Letter of Administration). He married Mary Hall December 19, 1810 in Pennsylvania (Source: Daily Evening Item, Lynn, Mass., Nov. 4, 1925), daughter of Richard Hall and Margaret Rogers.

Notes

We know little more about Hans Michael, our forebear, than we did of his parents. Nothing is known of his brothers and sisters. Hans Michael dropped "Hans" from his name, and is referred to always as Michael on census reports and in the letter of administration of his estate.

Michael was three years old when he came to this country. "At a very early age, as was the custom in those days, he was bound out to a man living at Milton, Pa. (Samuel Wallis?), until he was 12 years old." (Daily Item) In 1810 Michael appears in the census as Living with his father's family. In December of that year he married Mary Hall. After their marriage, Michael and Mary lived in the town of Muncy.

Michael Bower was probably a member of the Muncy Light Volunteers Infantry for 1812. The Volunteers enlisted for the defense of the City of Washington against at the invasion of the British. Many marched over the Genesee Road to fight at Niagara. The Genesee Country had excited the admiration of Revolutionary soldiers. Its early reputation and lavish advertisement attracted many settlers to the area, particularly after the War of 1812. Bath, established by Charles Williamson, chief land agent for the Pulteney Purchase, was for ten years his headquarters. Named after the English home of Williamson's employer was a handsome town with elegant buildings. Williamson first entered the Genesee Country from Pennsylvania. He opened a road from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, northward via the Tioga and Cohocton rivers to WiIliamsburg, New York, and made strenuous efforts to attract settlers through this portal.

In 1817, Michael moved his family to Bath, Steuben Co., N.Y., and lived on a farm situated between Savona and Bradford. In 1820 Michael was 31, the head of a household in Bath. N.Y. In addition to his wife, the household included; Susannah, Richard, Michael J., and. Mary. Next door is Richard Hall, and nearby there is a Samuel Hall. In 1830 Michael was 41 and he was still in Bath. He now had three sons Richard, Michael J. and. Joshua, and four daughters -- Susannah, Mary, Hannah and Catherine. In 1835 Michael appears in the census of Bath with 4 sons (?) and 4 daughters. (The extra child may be the one referred to in the Daily Item, which died young.)

In On July 20, 1837, for $650, Michael Bower bought 87 acres In Lot #131 and also part of Lot 132 for a total of 100 acres from Joseph Goodrich in the Town of West Almond in Allegany County. The land on which he settled was a part of the Morris Reserve, a 500,000-acre tract in the Genesee country. The southern part of the Genesee River basin consisted of more hilly land than the flatter, more desirable land to the north. It was later to yield oil in addition to its rich harvest of timber and farm produce. Settlement began in the first decade of the nineteenth century. Philip Church built an elegant estate at Belvidere at that time. Seventh Day Baptists established congregations at Alfred and a number of other Allegany County villages beginning in 1807, coming there from Berlin in Rensselaer County.

Michael Bower has not been found in Allegany or Steuben counties in the 1840 census. Michael J. Bower was still in Bath.

In 1850 Michael Senior was now 61, living in West Almond. His youngest son, Thomas D., still lived at home with his parents. Michael died intestate on May 1, 1853. In 1853 Michael Senior died intestate. Mary and Joshua were executors of the estate. richard and Michael James apparently bought out their sisters' shares of the estate. Michael and Mary probably were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Phillips Creek along with Silas Cartwright. The obituraries of two of his sons, Richard and Michael J., say that he came from Muncy, PA, and that he had eight children. According to his grandson, Ralph S. Bauer, both Michael and mary were buried in the Phillips Creek cemetery. A census of the cemetery lists a Michael Bower, a Catherine (illegible) and Mary G. Bower (daughter of Michael James Bower), but no Mary. Other stones may have been destroyed or illegible.

Children of HANS BAUER and MARY HALL are:

i. SUSANNAH3 BAUER , (BOWER), b. ABT 1813, Muncy, Lycoming Co., PA (Source: 1850 U.S. Census); d. August 14, 1865, Town of Ward, Allegany Co., NY (Source: 1865 Census of NY); m. CHARLES BOSENBARK.

ii. RICHARD M BAUER , (BOWER), b. June 7, 1814, Muncy, Lycoming Co., PA (Source: Cemetery record, obituary); d. March 26, 1901, Phillips Creek NY (Source: cemetery record, obituary); m. (1) CLARA ANN WHITCOMB; m. (2) HELEN L COOPER, ABT 1871.

3. iii. MICHAEL JAMES BAUER , (BOWER), b. June 8, 1816, Montoursville, Lycoming Co, NY; d. February 2, 1911, Phillips Creek NY.

iv. MARY BAUER , (BOWER), b. ABT 1819, Steuben Co., NY (Source: US Census); d. Aft 1890 (Source: deed); m. PELEG WEST.

v. HANNAH BAUER , (BOWER), b. ABT 1822, Bath, Steuben Co., NY (Source: US Census); d. Aft 1870; m. FOSTER R CRANDALL.

vi. CATHARINE BAUER , (BOWER), b. ABT 1824, Steuben Co., NY (Source: US Census of 1850); d. Bef August 18, 1874, Scio, Allegany co., NY (Source: deed of sale of land by Emerson); m. EMERSON DARWIN CARTWRIGHT, September 21, 1842, Scio, Allegany Co., NY (Source: SDB church notes, Frank L Green).

vii. JOSHUA BAUER , (BOWER), b. May 7, 1827, Bath, Steuben Co., NY (Source: Cemetery record); d. May 13, 1906, Belmont, allegany Co., NY (Source: Cemetery record); m. SARAH LOUISA (MNU) BOWER.

4. viii. THOMAS DODSON BAUER , (BOWER), b. July 23, 1836, Bath, Steuben Co, NY; d. June 26, 1874, Philadelphia, PA.

Generation No. 3

3. MICHAEL JAMES3 BAUER , (BOWER) (HANS MICHAEL2, MICHAEL1) was born June 8, 1816 in Montoursville, Lycoming Co, NY (Source: Gravestone), and died February 2, 1911 in Phillips Creek NY (Source: Gravestone, Obituary). He married (1) SUSAN WHITCOMB ABT 1840, daughter of KATHERINE WHITCOMB. He married (2) MARSHA A (MNU) BOWER Aft 1870.

Notes

Michael James Bower lived in Steuben Co. for about twenty years. He did not move to allegany Co., until after 1840, since he is listed in the 1840 Census of Steuben Co.

In 1850 Michael was living in the Town of Alfred with Susan and four children. By 1855 Michael had moved to the town ow ward and had five children at home. In 1860 six children were living with him in the Town of Ward. In 1870 three daughters were still living at home.

Michael James Bower is listed in the Allegany Co. Business Directory of 1875 as a carpenter and farmer. He also served as Town Clerk for a number of years. In 1900 he was living with his daughter Susan Arvilla Jennings and her family in Naples. His obituary states that he was living with his grandson, Harry Prior, in Philips Creek at the time of his death in 1911.

Cemetery records give dates and places of his birth and death. His obituary gives corroborating information, including the fact that his father, Michael Bower had eight children.

Children of MICHAEL BAUER and SUSAN WHITCOMB are:

i. WILLIAM BRADFORD4 BOWER, b. August 21, 1844 (Source: cemetery record); d. March 30, 1871 (Source: cemetery record); m. ORENDA R DAVIS.

ii. JAMES M BOWER, b. 1847 (Source: US Census ); m. ESTHER FULLER.

iii. MARY G BOWER, b. June 23, 1848 (Source: Gravestone, Phillips Creek); d. November 6, 1850, Phillips Creek NY (Source: Gravestone, Phillips Creek).

iv. ELIZABETH A BOWER, b. October 19, 1848, NY (Source: US Census, Betsey Weir of Katopsh, NY).

v. JOHN W BOWER, b. October 1851 (Source: US Census ); m. ALICE (MNU) BOWER.

vi. LAURA J BOWER, b. 1854 (Source: US Census); m. (FNU) ICCHESS.

5. vii. SUSAN ARVILLA BOWER, b. May 14, 1857, Ward, Allegany Co. NY; d. September 20, 1924, Hemlock NY buried Rose Ridge Cem Naples NY.

viii. MARY ADELAIDE BOWER, b. May 1864 (Source: US Census); d. Bef 1910, buried Hunts Hollow Cem.; m. FRED L SAUNDERS.

4. THOMAS DODSON3 BAUER , (BOWER) (HANS MICHAEL2, MICHAEL1) was born July 23, 1836 in Bath, Steuben Co, NY (Source: Daily Evening Item, Lynn, Mass., Nov. 4, 1925), and died June 26, 1874 in Philadelphia, PA (Source: Newspaper article dated Nov 4, 1925, headlines were the election of Rudolph Sherman Bauer as he became mayor of Lynn, MA. Info. came from him and his mother, Hannah Sherman Bauer.). He married HANNAH SHERMAN December 25, 1860 in New Albany, Floyd Co., IN (Source: marriage license), daughter of SAMUEL SHERMAN and MELINDA STANTON.

Notes

Graduate of Alfred University, Alfred Center, NY in June 1860

Was the youngest of nine children

In the family Bible it has that Thomas Dodson Bauer died in 1900 in Palo Alto, CA and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery. If the above information is true, than the T.D. Bauer who is buried in California might possibly be a nephew of the one who died in 1874.

Ref: Newspaper article dated Nov 4, 1925, headlines were the election of Rudolph Sherman Bauer as he became mayor of Lynn, MA. Info. came from him and his mother, Hannah Sherman Bauer.

Was a teacher in the public schools at Provincetown, that year, moving in July of 1867 to East Lexington, MA, where he taught in the public schools.

Children of THOMAS BAUER and HANNAH SHERMAN are:

i. RALPH SHERMAN4 BOWER, b. January 31, 1867, Provincetown, Cape Cod, MA.

ii. MAUDE BOWER, b. September 15, 1863, Alfred Center NY; d. June 11, 1942, Oakland CA; m. LEBBEUS DUNN MILLER, March 23, 1882.

iii. HULDAH BOWER.

iv. MARIA BOWER, m. (FNU) NEFF.

v. MAILIE BAWER.

Generation No. 4

5. SUSAN ARVILLA4 BOWER (MICHAEL JAMES3 BAUER , (BOWER), HANS MICHAEL2, MICHAEL1) was born May 14, 1857 in Ward, Allegany Co. NY (Source: 1900 US Census, World Family Tree CD), and died September 20, 1924 in Hemlock NY buried Rose Ridge Cem Naples NY. She married NELSON THOMAS JENNINGS April 5, 1881, son of THOMAS JENNINGS and ANNA WHEAT.

Notes

In Arvilla's obituary, it lists Mrs. Laura Icchess of Hastings Michigan, and a second surviving sister as Mrs. Wm Prior of East Rochester.

Marriage Notes

Bertha Jennings was a witness of the marriage.

Children of SUSAN BOWER and NELSON JENNINGS are:

6. i. MAY AGNES5 JENNINGS, b. February 12, 1882, Canadice NY; d. March 6, 1968.

ii. ANNA ELIZABETH JENNINGS, b. October 16, 1883, Hunts Hollow, Naples NY; d. April 30, 1964, St Petersburg FL buried Union Cemetary Livonia NY; m. CLARENCE ELMER WEMETT, October 16, 1935, Geneseo NY Methodist Parsonage by WJ Brown.

7. iii. JAMES THOMAS JENNINGS, b. September 9, 1884, Canadice NY; d. May 30, 1943, buried Rose Ridge Cemetary Naples NY.

8. iv. ADA HELEN JENNINGS, b. July 4, 1887, Hunts Hollow, Naples NY; d. December 16, 1934, Hemlock NY buried Unoin Cemetary Livonia NY.

Generation No. 5

6. MAY AGNES5 JENNINGS (SUSAN ARVILLA4 BOWER, MICHAEL JAMES3 BAUER , (BOWER), HANS MICHAEL2, MICHAEL1) was born February 12, 1882 in Canadice NY, and died March 6, 1968. She married WILLIAM JAMES BROWN October 21, 1903, son of JOHN BROWN and ELIZABETH CARNIGHAN.

Child of MAY JENNINGS and WILLIAM BROWN is:

i. RALPH NELSON JENNINGS6 BROWN, b. May 22, 1909, Naples NY; d. September 21, 1982, Rochester NY; m. MARION FRANCES BLACK, April 12, 1933.

7. JAMES THOMAS5 JENNINGS (SUSAN ARVILLA4 BOWER, MICHAEL JAMES3 BAUER , (BOWER), HANS MICHAEL2, MICHAEL1) was born September 9, 1884 in Canadice NY, and died May 30, 1943 in buried Rose Ridge Cemetary Naples NY. He married VIOLA PRICE March 11, 1908.

Notes

Was a dairy farmer in Naples NY. Farm was located on west lake road just out of town to the North. He was a mason.

OBITUARY

Naples-James T. Jennings, 58, died yesterday (May 30, 1943) at his home off the Lake Road. He had been in ill health for several months.

Mr. Jennings was a past master of John Hodge Lodge, F. & A. M. He had conducted a retail milk business for several years and before that owned gasoline stations.

Besides his wife, he leaves a daughter, Helen, of Rochester; his father, Nelson Jennings of Hemlock; two sisters, Mrs. William Brown of Livonia and Mrs. Clarence Wemett, Hemlock.

Child of JAMES JENNINGS and VIOLA PRICE is:

i. HELEN MARGARET6 JENNINGS, b. September 10, 1911; d. June 28, 1961, buried Rose Ridge Cemetary Naples NY.

8. ADA HELEN5 JENNINGS (SUSAN ARVILLA4 BOWER, MICHAEL JAMES3 BAUER , (BOWER), HANS MICHAEL2, MICHAEL1) was born July 4, 1887 in Hunts Hollow, Naples NY, and died December 16, 1934 in Hemlock NY buried Unoin Cemetary Livonia NY. She married CLARENCE ELMER WEMETT April 5, 1910 in Hunts Hollow NY, son of GEORGE WEMETT and FRANCES CLEMONS.

Notes

HISTORY OF HEMLOCK, NY

1779-1989

1779 - Sunday, May 12 the Sullivan-Clinton army crossed the flats at the foot of Hemlock Lake, destroying the crops as they proceeded up over the west hill toward Conesus Lake. This action opened up the area for the early settlers.

1796 - Phillip Short built a cabin about 1/4 mile in the valley north of Hemlock Lake. He was the forerunner of the Short family whose members were numerous in the area for many decades. (Arch Merrill' book "The lakes Country") states that Roswell Bliss came about 1795 and built a cabin and a saw mill).

1797 - At about this same time Mr. Higby, from Livonia, established a saw mill on the outlet. Logs were coming in large quantities down the lake from Springwater and logging was taking place on the lake shore.

1798 - Mr. Seth Simons, from Bristol, came and located a Grist Mill somewhere on the outlet.

1800 - A hermit, named Maloy, came and built a cabin on the west shore. He was a hunter and trapper. The story is told that he had a bad encounter with a black bear. Maloy must have survived because he lived to tell about the fight.

1801 - From this time on there was rapid change all the way from Hemlock Lake to Big Tree Rd. Many new settlers came. The saw mills were producing lumber, slab cabins were built and later on, frame buildings and businesses.

1803 - Isaac Bishop opened a store in the area near the foot of the lake which came to be known as Gullburg. The area around the Canadice outlet, where it crosses the main road, became knwon as Glennville. Sometime later, just east of the road a dam across the outlet was built to back up the water and provide water power for a Gristmill which was built.

1808 - The township of Livonia was formed; the Hemlock area being a part of it.

1829 - This was a banner year. A Post Office was established in Hemlock, called the Post Office of Hemlock Lake. Mail came in from Gullburg, Glennville and Holden (later called Jacksonville). The first postmaster was John Van Fossen - 1/17/1829 - 10/18/36. The P.O. became Hemlock, New York on December 12, 1895.

1832 - The Archer family, early settlers, were operating a saw mill on the outlet.

1838 - The Baptist of the area organized as the 1st Baptist Church of Hemlock Lake, N.Y. The building was erected in 1844 at a cost of $1,400.00. It was located near the south end of Hemlock Village and still stands.

1843 - A Methodist building was put up, which was destroyed by fire in 1948 and the present church was erected.

1845 - Jacksonville was probably in its heyday. According to an Historical Maker, which was erected at the site by the Hemlock outlet 1 1/4 miles north-east of Hemlock, there were 130 houses, a brick yard, 10 mills and two distilleries. Almost all of the village was gone by 1850. The marker was installed in 1939 by the efforts of E. Short, Frank Connor and others.

1850 - The Plank Road - A Company was organized in Rochester, N.Y. Much lumber was available at the time, so they decided to try planks. It is reported that 25 miles were completed and a Toll-Gate erected at the south end (where the Country Store is located now, corner of Big Tree and Rt. 15A). The road worked very well for a few years until the lumber began to warp and twist. It finally got so bad it was abandoned.

1850 - The Metropolitan Hotel on South Main Street opened its doors for business after being under construction for about two years. There were three floors. The top floor was used for a ball-room and with a stage, it provided a great place for entertainment. An addition was built on a few years later on the south end.

1851 - It was reported that Russell Jacque built a large farm house near the lake on the north end. The house was later (in 1873) made in to the three story famous "Jacque-House", one of the five hotels that existed on the lake during the steamboat days when excusions were offered on the lake.

1853 - Due to the Old Bald Hill Road getting so much traffic, there aroase a need for the East Lake Road. Mr. John Hill caused the road to be built at a cost of $5,000.00. Soon after its completion, a Tollgate was set up at the Hemlock end. The story is told that one day while he was downtown, he became involved in an argument over the toll prices and fell dead with a heart attack. He never collected much toll. The road served the public for many years. Just the north end of the road is traveled now.

1860 - Mr. George Watson built one of the first steamboats to ply the waters of the lake. This became one of the five boats that carried passengers on the lake from the dock at the foot of the lake to the hotels.

1860 - The Baptist church, which had been established on the Curtis Corners about half way between Hemlock and Honeoye, disbanded and joined with the Hemlock church. The Rev. Ira Justin was pastor at that time.

1866 - Frank Connor's history tells us that one day in '66 a large crowd assembled in front of the Metropolitan Hotel to discuss a Fair. That was the beginning of what later became known as "The Slab City Fair" "The Little World's Fair" and the just plain Hemlock Fair. In 1877 a two-day Fair was held and the Ladies Hall was erected. From then on it grew into what largely became contests of horse racing until the early 1900's.

1876 - The gates were opened at Hemlock Lake and Hemlock Lake water rushed down the pipe line toward the city. This was the beginning of a gravity flow water system which has supplied the city of Rochester with millions and millions of gallons up to this very day. The system always needed inprovements and later on Canadice Lake water was tunneled into the lake. On file are several accounts of the growth of this famous water system.

1879 - The three story St. James Hotel was opened on the east side of the lake. In the following years it was to accommodate many passengers from the steamships that were plying the lake.

1882 - The Beam family built their first mill on the Canadice outlet. The dam and mill were just east of the main road. Powered by water power, the mill served the public for many years. Later the Beam family went on to build a mill on the Hemlock outlet in the village of Hemlock, just west of the main road. The family also operated a small store near the Canadice outlet.

1888 - At this time, there were 112 buildings along the shores of Hemlock lake, 96 cottages, 5 hotels, 5 permanent residents and 6 cabins.

1890 - A while back in our notes, we mentioned the "hermit" Maloy who came early to the foot of the lake. Around 1890, there came another man named Prinny Chesbro. He had been a sailor and it is said that he was the only man around who could safely splice a rope. He located a cabin somewhere near the half-way house. It is said that he lived to be 100 years old and came to be known as "The Hermit of Hemlock Lake."

1895 - The Lehigh Valley R.R. Co. railroad line was extended to Hemlock village and Hemlock Lake. Much could be written here about the Lehigh. With the coming of the railroad, Hemlock became alive. Quickly passenger service and the freight service grew until the middle of the 20th century many trains were in and out every week. Later on changing times caused the company to quit the runs to Hemlock and the rails were torn up in 1968. Eugene Spencer was one of the last station agents. The last passenger train pulled out of Hemlock in 1937. The "section gang" with their hand-car provided work for local men all those years.

1898 - It is known that about this time there was a band in Hemlock. It was known as "The Hemlock Cornet Band". We do know of 3 or 4 of the members; Will Hoppough, Parker Hoppough, Chas. Briggs and possibly Will Mallaber. No doubt they played band music at the "Slab City Fair".

1900 - Great days ahead for Hemlock, the village of Jacksonville had ceased to exist, Glennville and Gullburg had grown together and joined Hemlock, and activity at the lake was lively with new businesses.

1904 - The Rebekah Lodge was organized. The I.O.O.F Order of Odd-Fellows had been established earlier (1898). The I. O.O.F. later went on to build a three-story lodge building south of the outlet on the east side of Main Street. In later years, the building was torn down.

1906 - The Wemett Company incorporated. The hardware store, which had been owned and operated by Bacon & Wemett, changed hands due to the death of Mr. Bacon. C.E. Wemett started in the oil business selling Eldred Oil and later became distributor for the Shell Oil Co. 45 stations and about 4,500 customers were served as the oil business prospered.

1911 - The old Gullburg school district, which was located just up the Old Bald Hill Road and on the east side of the road, voted to join the Hemlock district. The building was later used as a home and is still standing.

1912 - At this time, Mr. V.P. Owen operated a Ford automobile agency from a building on the west side of South Main Street. It was the Ford agency and was selling Chevrolets.

1915 - A little after this date some local people were busy. A few of the older people remember that the Nelson Cary family made baskets in their home on Clay Street. The Bates family lived near the entrance to the fair grounds. Thomas and Harry had a blacksmith and woodworking shop. Also, they made fine quality cutlery. Some of their knives are in the museum at the Livonia Library.

1919 - This year the first hand-drawn chemical fire truck was purchased for the local firemen and a cider mill was established on Clay St. by Mr. Olin Mather. The building that housed the mill was torn down in Dixon Hollow and hauled to Hemlock. At the present time, it is an apartment house. It is believed that Olin Mather was the first man in the area to own and operate a self-propelled grain combine.

1920 - There were three grocery and dry goods stores operating on the South Main Street. They were Beckers, Knapps, and LaMonts. Later Beckers was torn down to make room for a house, Knapps is now an apartment house and Earl Collins bought the LaMont property. There were two blacksmith shops on South Main; B. Naracong and Lewis Schneck, owners. By 1920, the Livingston County Canning Co. was in full operation on Railroad Avenue north side of the Lehigh Valley depot. Many local people were employed canning sweet corn, peas, and string beans. Many cases of canned vegetables were shipped out on the Lehigh R.R. The plant was destroyed by fire the fall of 1931. The Osborne brothers were owners.

1925 - Niagara Power brought electricity to Hemlock. This brought an end to the use of water power which had been used to power the mills along the outlet. Soon the water was released from the old Hoppough mill pond west of Main Street. The pond, over the years, had been great for winter skating and fishing in summer.

1925 - The Sullivan-Clinton Memorial maker was dedicated at the entrance of Hemlock Lake Park. It was made partly of Mill stones and inlaid with Indian arrowheads. It was a beautiful reminder of the past. The Hon. James W. Wadsworth was the guest speaker. Vandals have caused destruction to the monument in past years.

1929 - The newly built present High School was completed and made ready for use.

1930 - This year marked the end of an era. For 75 years, the Scott family had been coming every summer to their cottage and property on the west side of Hemlock Lake. They were, at last, forced to sell their property to the City of Rochester, which consisted of 175 acres of side hill land. Some of the land had been converted to grape vineyards several years earlier. There was also 1 1/2 acres and 175 feet of lake frontage. According to the records they were paid $55,000.00 for the property they had enjoyed for so long. They were just about the last people to sell out. NOTE: Grapes from their vineyard were at one time picked, packed and sold from a small building by the side of the road near the foot of the lake.

1935 - At this time, there was a drug store in Hemlock. The druggist name was H. W. Thurston.

1937 - 1941 - A weekly paper was published here in Hemlock. It was called the "Hemlock Courier". It was published by Mr. William Fletcher at his home on Clay Street.

1941 - 1946 - There was no Hemlock Fair due to scarcity of gas and tires and the war effort of World War II.

1942 - The Hemlock Church Club was organized. The first meeting was held at the home of Lee and Mabel Coykendall on Main Street. The Club meets once a month and they have planned and promoted religious services as well as helping the two local churches financially. The club is still active.

1943 - This year the Hemlock High School boy's basketball team won the Class C Sectional championship.

1943 - A Service Man's plaque was dedicated. There were 34 names listed of men of the area. The stone plaque is located on the lawn of the High School and it is dated 1941-1945.

1944 - The Hemlock Baptist Church celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the erection of the church building. It was a two day affair held on August 5th and 6th.

1947 - At this time we mention "The Roadside Craftsmen". In a new building across the main road from the 1812 Country Store, the Iron Works were operating. Clarence Curtis of Lakeville, New York and his workmen were turning out useful and ornamental iron articles. Roadside Craftsmen, Inc. went on the establish unit in Avon and East Bloomfield.

1949 - Kidnapped and murdered, the 11 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Reggie Lynn was walking to school from their home in Gullburg to Hemlock. She was picked up somewhere between there and town. Two days later, her body was found in a ravine south of Lima. She had been shot to death. Her killer has never been found.

1950 - "ECHO ROCK" - It was about this time that Arch Merrill tried to locate the ROCK on the west shore of Hemlock Lake. Echo Rock once was a noted landmark on Hemlock's shores. The ancient boulder, a child of the glacial age, was venerated by the superstitious Indians who knew nothing of the principle of sound waves, and believed the answering voices at Echo Rock were those of kindred in the Spirit Land, when in reality they were only echoes across the lake. When the City of Rochester raised the level of Hemlock Lake by building dikes to increase their water supply the rock disappeared under water.

1950 - At this time Frank Connor, Historian, was writing 24 installments of history for "The Livonia Gazette". Much of our material has come from these writings.

1958 - June 16th, Hemlock voted to centralize with Livonia school. Ted Henry, of Hemlock, was elected to the School Board.

1961 - Mark Wemett purchased the Hemlock hardware store from Hugh Drain. The store was destroyed by fire in 1977.

1965 - "Livingston Leasing" was established by Mark Wemett for making and selling ice cubes.

1972 - The new fire house was completed on Al Sharpe Avenue (Old Railroad Street). It replaced the old one on N. Main St. which had, for a long time, been too small.

1976 - The Bicentennial of '76 was celebrated along with the Village of Livonia, where there was a parade and other activities. Hemlock had a special program at the firehouse on May 8, 1976.

1977 - The Metropolitan Hotel burned to the ground. It had first opened for business in 1850. The hardware store, to the north burned at the same time.

1982 - Dick and Donna Jopson bought the old Shell Station at the intersection of 15A and 20A and remodeled it into a grocery store, service station and an upstairs apartment. In 1985, Doug and Bonnie Rumfelt bought the business from the Jopson's and continue to run it as a convenient store and gas station for the hamlet.

1984 - Mr. Jack Evans, former resident and student of Hemlock, now owner of Velmex, Inc., East Bloomfield, N.Y. purchased the school building. Jim Sutton uses some rooms for his youth work. There has been some manufacturing there in recent years.

1984 - The Hemlock Methodist Church celebrated their bicentennial with a special program at the church April 29th.

1985 - A few acres of the old canning factory property were purchased by the Hemlock Firemen and leveled off for a park. A pavilion has been built and a nice playground. It is a good place for family picnics.

1985 - The 1812 Country Store (a landmark on the corner of Big Tree and Rt. 15A) was sold to the Rapelje family. The store had been operated by Ruth Woodruff since 1951.

1989 - This year celebrates the 160th Anniversary of the Hemlock Post Office and the 25th year of service by our present Postmaster, Shirley Marshall.

OLD TIME BUSINESSES - LONG GONE

Burch & Powell - Coal

Caskey & Hoppough - Hay, Straw & Produce

Hoppough & Affolter - Hay, Straw & Produce

John Dooley - Farm Machinery

Beam Milling Co. - Beans & Grain

Carl Scutt - Garage

Frank Miller - Gas Station

Hemlock Filter Plant - Water Purifier

Earl Collins - Red & White Store

DOCTORS OF HIMLOCK FROM ABOUT 1920

Dr. Mills Dr. Grigham

Dr. Fred Kenzie Dr. Hamilton

Dr. Wilson Dr. H.W. Trott

Dr. Mildred Jackson, still living

Dr. Trott, while he was practicing here either owned or leased several acres of land north of the village where he established an airport. "Honky" Reese was a pilot for a time. Records show there were flying lessons taught and that at one time there was an airplane race from Hemlock to Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr. Hamilton occupied a house that was made over from the old school building at the top of North Main Street and it is still a private home.

FOOT NOTES

Mrs. Mae Short Woodworth tells us that her first husband, the late Nathan Short, who had built their home on East Avenue in Livonia, N.Y. had passed away December 2, 1966. Nathan was the last living male member of the Short family who had come to Hemlock as the first settler (Philip Short). "Nate" was a first class carpenter and he worked around the Hemlock and Livonia areas for most of his life. He always had the interest of the community at heart. He was 70 years of age when he passed away.

"Death of Mrs. Clarence Wemett", (newspaper article)

Ada Jennings Wemett, wife of Clarence Wemett of Hemlock, died at her home there at 6 o'clock Sunday morning, of pneumonia. She was taken sick the preceding Monday, and failed to respond to the medical treatment which was unsparingly given her. Funeral services were held at the Hemlock Methodist church Tuesday afternoon. Burial was in Union cemetery, Livonia.

Mrs. Wemett was born forty-seven years ago in Naples, the daughter of Nelson and Arvilla Bower Jennings. There she lived with her family until 1910, when she married Clarence E. Wemett and moved to Hemlock, where her husband was in business. Five children were born, all of whom survive; Mrs. Fred Kenzie of Prattsburg; Norris, a medical student at the University of Western Ontario, London, Canada; Bruce a senior in hemlock high school; and the 8 year old twins, Mark and Mary.

Surviving also are Mrs. Wemett's husband; her father; two sisters, Mrs. W. J. Brown of Geneseo and Miss Anna Jennings of hemlock; one brother, James of Naples, and two grandchildren.

Mrs Wemett was a member of the Hemlock Methodist church, of the Rebekahs, of the W.C.T.U., and very active in these organizations as well as in every movement or enterprise whose meritt commended itself to her. She gave freely of her interest, counsel and ability in every good work, in addition to devoting herself unsparingly to the welfare and happiness of her family.

The suddeness of Mrs. Wemett's illness and death, the season of the year and many other factors combine to make her passing one of extreme sadness.

Children of ADA JENNINGS and CLARENCE WEMETT are:

i. RUTH ARVILLA6 WEMETT, b. January 22, 1911, Hemlock NY; d. April 4, 1990, St. Petersburg FL. buried Livonia NY; m. (1) JOSEPH FREDERICK KENZIE, May 3, 1930, Hemlock NY at Wemett Home; m. (2) CHAMBERLAIN HOYT WOODRUFF, April 2, 1949.

ii. NORRIS GEORGE WEMETT, b. August 10, 1912, Hemlock NY; m. DORIS ELAINE MARLEY, October 1, 1935, Hornell NY.

iii. BRUCE CLAYTON WEMETT, b. August 29, 1917, Hemlock NY; m. JEAN CARMAN BAKER, July 12, 1941, Rochester NY.
iv. MARY FRANCES WEMETT, b. October 31, 1926, Hemlock NY - twin of Mark.
v. MARK JENNINGS WEMETT, b. October 31, 1926, Hemlock NY - twin of Mary; m. PEGGY PEELER, April 19, 1952, Nashville TN.