The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 495
Town of Genoa / Early Settlements

Hatch. His sons Asa and Joseph, who lived and died here, were noble men, and are kindly remembered. Isaac Mitchell settled the same year on the north-east corner of lot 3. In 1819 he sold his farm to Jesse Underhill. Captain Henry Chase came from Little Compton, R. I., in 1805; and Samuel and Philander Lawrence, from Stamford, Connecticut, about that year. John Seymour came from the latter place three or four years afterwards. His sons, John, Philander, Lewis and Theron, were once well known in this town. John Tilton came from New Jersey in 1808. He was honest industrious and very fond of fishing. The Howells and Tiltons came from the same place about the same time. Peter Latourette, who was ninety-four years old in 1876, and Col. Daniel Thorp, a Welshman, came about 1808. The latter settled on the Indian Fields, about a mile south-west of Genoa, where Hiram Hand lives, and died there March 15th, 1837, aged nearly sixty. Harriet, widow of Orson Welsh, residing in Cortland county, is the only one of his children living. Seth Nye came from Connecticut about 1810, and settled two and one-half miles north-east of Genoa, where Delos Niles now lives. He afterwards removed to East Venice and died there January 19th, 1840, aged 84 years. His children were Caleb, Joshua, Freeman, Jared, and four daughters, all of whom are dead. William Green, a native of Galway, Saratoga county, came from Delaware in March, 1812, and settled on lot 40, which he bought of the State, in the south-east corner of the town, on the farm now owned by his son-in-law, David Cogswell, where he died in 1874. His children who are living are James, in Moravia, and Margaret, wife of David Cogswell, and Burr, in Groton. David Price came from Elizabeth, N. J., in 1812, and bought of Edmund Wright the place where Matthias Hutchinson lives. He subsequently lived south of Bells Corners. A man named Heaton settled at an early day a mile north-east of Genoa, and died there. His son James, who resides in Venice, is the only one of his children living. Jacob Hagaman was an early settler on lot 30, of which he was probably the first owner.

EARLY MILLS.--The first conveniences for grinding were the mortar and pestle until 1798, when a mill was built at Ludlowville, Tompkins county, by Henry Ludlow. Another was built at Black Rock by a Mr. Anway, about 1800; and in 1808, Abel White erected one near the falls, near N. B. Atwater's. David King built one on his farm about the same time. The last two were called "thunder shower" mills, because in summer they depended on showers for their supply of water. Mr. Durell built a mill near the site of Mr. Townsend's in 1810.

EARLY TAVERNS.--Taverns were numerous at an early day, and many of the present quiet dwellings were once used for public houses. Among the early tavern keepers were Peter Latourette, where Alanson Brown resides, David Ogden, one mile west of Northville, Elihu Tillotson, at the landing, John King, where Glen W. King lives, Timothy Goodyear, at Goodyears Corners, Caleb Atwater, in the Deacon Mead house, John Atwater, where Joseph Fenner resides, Reuben Pomeroy, where the present hotel stands, Jabez Bradley, in the S. C. Fessenden house, W. Hamlin, at Little Hollow, Ebenezer Hewitt, on the Indian Fields, Thaddeus Spencer, at Genoa village, Wm. Hewitt, where Phineas B. Young lives, Ebenezer Howe, at Pine Hollow, and John Carver, at East Genoa.

TOWN OFFICERS.--The first town meeting was held at the house of Jonathan Woodworth, at Lansingville, April 1st, 1794, and John Chelsey was chosen moderator. The following named officers were elected: Willis Bishop, Supervisor; Thomas Ludlow, Clerk; John Chelsey, Abraham Minear, who was a surveyor, and Philip Breen, Assessors; Daniel Bacon and Wm. Coltrine, Constables and Collectors; Benajah Strong, Sr., and John Clark, Overseers of the Poor; Abraham Bloom, "Anslem" Chelsey and Jabez Bradley, Commissioners of Highways; John Clark, Chas. Nantine or Vantine, Henry Ludlow, Wm. Clark, David Armstrong, Henry "Tetor" and Amos Strong, Overseers of Highways; Ebenezer Hoskins, Job Halsted and Henry Bloom, Fence Viewers; Nathaniel Walker and John Bowker, Pound Keepers. At this meeting a bounty of twenty shillings was voted for the scalp of every wolf actually killed in the town.

The present officers (1879) are:

Supervisor--Darius W. Adams.
Town Clerk--Frank H. Avery.
Justices of the Peace--Samuel C. Bradley, Daniel M. Bacon and Squire Howe.
Assessors--Levi Starner, Edwin A. Avery and Francis Hollister.

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