The Wisconsin Cartters - Chapter Two
THE DAVID KELLOGG CARTTERS IN ROCHESTER, N.Y.
James Bruce was born January 13, 1815 just ten months after his father David Kellogg Cartter (1), his mother Elizabeth, and his three older brothers had made that difficult cross-country journey from Lowville in the Black River Valley of New York state to a little unnamed settlement later known as Rochester, N.Y., a settlement located near the mouth of the Genesee river on the south shore of Lake Ontario. Little has been recorded concerning this trip which traversed wilderness country and was made largely by horseback following Indian trails.
We can imagine how James Bruce later envied his brothers as they told their tales of hardships, danger, sight of wild animals, views of natural beauty, forests, waterfalls and rapidly moving streams. They would tell of those times when trails were uncertain, when fatigue at the end of the day was to be endured and when unpredictable March weather was upon them. These were all things which must have spelled adventure in capital letters to James’ brothers 7, 3, and 2 years of age at the time of the trip. The family did arrive safely March 28, 1814.
This family move followed a quick trip to the same destination made by David alone in 1813. The first trip had probably been prompted by the suggestion of his brother James Bruce (1) that this new country held many promises for a young family and for its breadwinner David, whose trade was classified back in Lewis County as “carpenter and mill-wright” with experience in both fields.
On the date of the Cartter arrival there were only fourteen buildings in the settlement, which was later to be known as Rochester. One of these buildings was a small one and a half-story house built by Uncle James next to his blacksmith shop. This house he turned over to the new arrivals. James Bruce (1) (the first bearer of the name recorded in the Cartter family) had come to Rochester in 1812, the same year that Colonel Rochester had surveyed an area of some 655 acres for settlement. Uncle James had the distinction of being Rochester’s “first blacksmith and tool maker.” He is credited with “ironing the first wagon built in the settlement.” His shop was located on the grounds now part of Front Street on the bank of the Genessee River.
For a glimpse of what the settlement provided, here is a quotation recorded by Jenny M. Parker in her Rochester a Story Historical. She is quoting Mrs. David Kellogg Cartter.
“I remember my first Sunday in Rochester” said Mrs. Cartter. “It was in 1814. There was Enos Stone’s family, Colonel Issac Watson’s, Abelard Reynold’s, Hamlet Scrantom’s and Elisha Ely’s. There may have been others that I have forgotten. The only pleasant rooms in the place was the cellar-kitchen of Mrs. Reynold’s house, and that stood where the Arcade did afterwards - - - I went to meeting that Sunday in Barnards tailor shop. Silas O. Smith had a few prayer books and read the Episcopal service. Mrs. Barnard, Delia Scrantom, and her father and mother did the singing.”
During the summer of 1814 Rev. Chauncey Cook, brother-in-law of Mrs. Cartter, visited the settlement and preached a few times. All of the early services were union in nature. The first move to establish a church came from these meetings and resulted in the establishment of “The First Presbyterian Society of the Town of Gates” August 15, 1815. The first church, Presbyterian, was built, and services were begun May 1, 1817. Rev. Cook preached the first sermon and later was a member of the Genessee Presbytery for nineteen years.
Jenny Parker further quotes from Mrs. Cartter with respect to Rochester’s first school. “At the organization of the first school too few scholars were reported to justify the employment of a teacher. There were in this exigency eight bachelors here who generously proposed each to pay for a pupil, whether one came or not to receive their bounty. Soon after, a school was opened in the rear room of Barnard’s tailor shop, and Miss Huldah Stong, a sister of Mrs. A. Reynolds, was engaged as teacher. The first school room and the shop it was located in was on Buffalo St. a little East of the present entrance to the Arcade.”
At this time mail was carried from Canandaigua to Hanford’s Landing and Rochester once a week on horseback and part of the time by a woman. The year 1817 seems to have been a significant one for the new settlement. On March 21 the request for a village charter was granted. The New York Legislature approved the completion of the Erie Canal to be routed through Rochester, crossing the Genessee River by way of an aqueduct. This structure when completed was hailed as one of the nine wonders of the world.
The first flour mill with four runs of stones was erected in 1815 plus several smaller mills all of which helped to build Rochester into what was later to be known as “the Flour City.” Buildings flourished and trade grew. Population increased from a 331 census count in 1815 to 1,049 in 1818 and gave promise of even more rapid future expansion.
At this point let us pause a bit and turn back the Cartter pages of time another generation, to the fifth, in order better to understand the western movement of migration out of the mother state, Massachusetts. This migration climaxed in the 18th and 19th centuries. David Kellogg Cartter (1) and James Bruce Cartter (1), whom you have just met, were two of six brothers caught up in this movement. You will be introduced later to the others. The spirit of extended migration had arisen and they with others were to pass this spirit on to succeeding generations.
James Bruce was born January 13, 1815 just ten months after his father David Kellogg Cartter (1), his mother Elizabeth, and his three older brothers had made that difficult cross-country journey from Lowville in the Black River Valley of New York state to a little unnamed settlement later known as Rochester, N.Y., a settlement located near the mouth of the Genesee river on the south shore of Lake Ontario. Little has been recorded concerning this trip which traversed wilderness country and was made largely by horseback following Indian trails.
We can imagine how James Bruce later envied his brothers as they told their tales of hardships, danger, sight of wild animals, views of natural beauty, forests, waterfalls and rapidly moving streams. They would tell of those times when trails were uncertain, when fatigue at the end of the day was to be endured and when unpredictable March weather was upon them. These were all things which must have spelled adventure in capital letters to James’ brothers 7, 3, and 2 years of age at the time of the trip. The family did arrive safely March 28, 1814.
This family move followed a quick trip to the same destination made by David alone in 1813. The first trip had probably been prompted by the suggestion of his brother James Bruce (1) that this new country held many promises for a young family and for its breadwinner David, whose trade was classified back in Lewis County as “carpenter and mill-wright” with experience in both fields.
On the date of the Cartter arrival there were only fourteen buildings in the settlement, which was later to be known as Rochester. One of these buildings was a small one and a half-story house built by Uncle James next to his blacksmith shop. This house he turned over to the new arrivals. James Bruce (1) (the first bearer of the name recorded in the Cartter family) had come to Rochester in 1812, the same year that Colonel Rochester had surveyed an area of some 655 acres for settlement. Uncle James had the distinction of being Rochester’s “first blacksmith and tool maker.” He is credited with “ironing the first wagon built in the settlement.” His shop was located on the grounds now part of Front Street on the bank of the Genessee River.
For a glimpse of what the settlement provided, here is a quotation recorded by Jenny M. Parker in her Rochester a Story Historical. She is quoting Mrs. David Kellogg Cartter.
“I remember my first Sunday in Rochester” said Mrs. Cartter. “It was in 1814. There was Enos Stone’s family, Colonel Issac Watson’s, Abelard Reynold’s, Hamlet Scrantom’s and Elisha Ely’s. There may have been others that I have forgotten. The only pleasant rooms in the place was the cellar-kitchen of Mrs. Reynold’s house, and that stood where the Arcade did afterwards - - - I went to meeting that Sunday in Barnards tailor shop. Silas O. Smith had a few prayer books and read the Episcopal service. Mrs. Barnard, Delia Scrantom, and her father and mother did the singing.”
During the summer of 1814 Rev. Chauncey Cook, brother-in-law of Mrs. Cartter, visited the settlement and preached a few times. All of the early services were union in nature. The first move to establish a church came from these meetings and resulted in the establishment of “The First Presbyterian Society of the Town of Gates” August 15, 1815. The first church, Presbyterian, was built, and services were begun May 1, 1817. Rev. Cook preached the first sermon and later was a member of the Genessee Presbytery for nineteen years.
Jenny Parker further quotes from Mrs. Cartter with respect to Rochester’s first school. “At the organization of the first school too few scholars were reported to justify the employment of a teacher. There were in this exigency eight bachelors here who generously proposed each to pay for a pupil, whether one came or not to receive their bounty. Soon after, a school was opened in the rear room of Barnard’s tailor shop, and Miss Huldah Stong, a sister of Mrs. A. Reynolds, was engaged as teacher. The first school room and the shop it was located in was on Buffalo St. a little East of the present entrance to the Arcade.”
At this time mail was carried from Canandaigua to Hanford’s Landing and Rochester once a week on horseback and part of the time by a woman. The year 1817 seems to have been a significant one for the new settlement. On March 21 the request for a village charter was granted. The New York Legislature approved the completion of the Erie Canal to be routed through Rochester, crossing the Genessee River by way of an aqueduct. This structure when completed was hailed as one of the nine wonders of the world.
The first flour mill with four runs of stones was erected in 1815 plus several smaller mills all of which helped to build Rochester into what was later to be known as “the Flour City.” Buildings flourished and trade grew. Population increased from a 331 census count in 1815 to 1,049 in 1818 and gave promise of even more rapid future expansion.
At this point let us pause a bit and turn back the Cartter pages of time another generation, to the fifth, in order better to understand the western movement of migration out of the mother state, Massachusetts. This migration climaxed in the 18th and 19th centuries. David Kellogg Cartter (1) and James Bruce Cartter (1), whom you have just met, were two of six brothers caught up in this movement. You will be introduced later to the others. The spirit of extended migration had arisen and they with others were to pass this spirit on to succeeding generations.
posted by cary | 10:55
2 Comments:
Lois Church Johnston of Warren, Mich. dau. of Harold Cartter Church, grandson of Harlighie Cartter , later from Ariz. Our son, David Cartter Johnston, now of Calistoga, CA. follows the tradition of the pioneer by having his ;own backy;ard factory making the indiginous mountain dulcimer.
Well met, cousin!
I look forward to adding you to the tree as well...
Post a Comment
<< Home