honors. He was a lifelong resident of the town, a successful and honest farmer, one whose stalwart figure and hearty greetings will be missed for many days by his friends and neighbors in his native town.

"One by one we miss the hand clasp

That so warm a welcome gave,
One by one the voice is silenced
In the stillness of the grave."

SUMMER MEETING

The summer meeting of the Livingston County Historical Society was held at Maple Beach on Thursday, August 27th, 1914, with a good attendance.

A brief business meeting was held before noon at which fifty members attended. The following new members were elected: Julius C. Reed, Miss Annie L. McNair, F. H. Rose, Mrs. F. H. Rose, all of Livonia; John McNaughton, Mrs. J. McNaughton, of Caledonia; Mrs. A. B. Durrand, Leicester; O. W. Morris, Conesus; Mrs. L. W. Warner, Mrs. W. A. Brodie, Geneseo; Leonard C. Roberts, Geo. R. Miller, Nunda. The president, Lewis H. Beecher of Livonia, presided, and he is to be congratulated for the fine addition to the membership at a summer meeting.

At 12:30 a recess was taken, and Mr. Fenno served a fine dinner to the fifty-one who were in attendance at the meeting.

At two o'clock the members re-assembled in the pavilion, the number being increased by members from Geneseo and Groveland who had arrived during the recess.

Town reports were presented as follows: Avon-Florence VanAllen; Caledonia-David Leathersich; Conesus-O. W. Morris; Leicester-Mrs. Geo. F. Wheelock; Lima-Miss M. D. Harner; LivoniaLewis E. Coe; N. Dansville-H. W. DeLong; Nunda-Thomas Pratt; Ossian-Andrew McCurdy.

In addition to these reports H. W. DeLong read a poem on "Conesus Lake in History," which was exceedingly well received.

Regrets were expressed at the absence of reports from Geneseo and York owing to the illness of S. T. Jennings and Donald A. Frazer. The meeting was one of real interest and the sociable features very enjoyable.

CONESUS LAKE IN HISTORY

Read before the Livingston County, New York, Historical Society at the Summer Meeting, Maple Beach, Conesus Lake,

August 27th, 1914, by H. W. DeLong.

One hundred and thirty-five years ago next month had we been standing, on a certain morning where we are gathered here today, we could have distinctly heard that volley of rifles that sealed the fate of Sullivan's scouting party on Groveland hill but a short half mile away, and had we looked above that fringe of trees at the head of the lake, many of them still standing-we might have seen the smoke of the army's camp fires curling upward. The theme is an interesting one, and from an historical viewpoint marks an epoch in the building of this great commonwealth, second to none other. I regret that a better hand than mine is not here today to paint the glorious picture.

Conesus, fairest of that peerless string

Of lakes that gem the western Empire State

Of thy past history let the poet sing

Thy tragedy of war and savage hate.

To see thee dimpling in these latter days

Serene and smiling twixt the peaceful hills

With well tilled farmlands bordering thy bays

And summer homes, and groves where wildbird trills

"Tis hard to think that once this happy shore

Harked back the rifles' echo and the dreaded yell

Of painted savage, while the cannons roar

Turned back each wild thing to it's quiet dell.

Yet so it was, the Seneca laid claim

To all the region roundabout this lake
Here was his hunting ground, his council flame
His home, his heritage, that no foe could take.

For many years the western Longhouse door
Had been his place to guard, his trust to keep
He held it 'gainst all comers o'er and o'er

No wily foe e'er found the tribe asleep.

And thus it was until the white man came

With white men's vices, lust for land and pelf He bribed the savage, taught him war's fierce game Stirred him to rapine, took the gains himself.

Under the spur of British greed and gold
The Seneca, remorseless as the grave
Swooped on the frontier, sparing young nor old
Choosing the helpless, those with none to save.

On Susquehanna's shore the war cry pealed,
And burning cabins flared the evening skies,
The helpless settler working in his field,

Falls like the clod that in his furrow lies.

Driven from their homes and forced the land to flee These hapless people goaded to despair,

Appealed to Congress in humanity

For help their ruined region to repair.

The nation fighting for her very life,

Resourceless, weakened by a skillful foe, Keeping up as best she could unequal strife, Gave heed at last and planned a telling blow.

A force was raised at Washington's command
Five thousand strong, with Sullivan their head
With orders to invade the Seneca's home land
Ply fire and sword and devastation spread.

Up from Tioga marched this sturdy band

Of Pennsylvania and Yankee men

With veterans Clinton, Maxwell, Poor and Hand

To lead the way through forest glade and fen.

Ruthlessly each Indian town they sacked,

Burning the wigwams, trampling down the grain. Forcing the red men who were strongly backed

By Tory aid, to fight and flee again.

Relentless on they pressed, this gallant band, Through swamp and defile never trod before By white man's foot; then crossing higher land They came at length to Kan-an-dai-gua's shore.

An Indian village here was sacked and burned,
Orchards in fruitage leveled with the plain,
Great fields of corn the troopers' horses spurned,
A rest, a feast, and on they fared again.

Southwestward on they marched to Honeoye,
Where stores and invalids were left in care
Of guards whose mission was to burn, destroy,
And the rich acres of these flats lay bare.

Still further in the west the troops marched on,

Deploying scouts who scanned each rock and tree For savage foeman, for they knew anon, They'd near the Castle of the Genesee.

Rising a gentle ridge, a vista opened wide,
A verdant valley, rich with grass and brake,
And lying just beyond in sparkling pride
The calm, clear waters of Conesus lake.

A halt was called, and on a green plateau
The camp was pitched with military care,
Sentries were posted pacing to and fro,
And campfires scented the September air.

Calling his leaders to the council tent

The Chief, resolved upon a telling blow, Suggested that a group of scouts be sent To find the stronghold of the wary foe.

With Sullivan's idea they all concurred
And free discussion soon matured a plan,
And each one tendering his final word

It but remained to designate the man