Ontario Count's 503 



daigua was established the first land office in America. Joseph 

 Smith, the founder of Mormonism, was the first actual settler at 

 \his place. 



The most substantial early development took place under the 

 leadership of Charles Williamson. Settlers came from New 

 England, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and eastern New 

 York ; he also induced immigration from England and Scotland, as 

 well as a few of Irish origin. In the town of Farmington the 

 pioneer settlers were Friends, or Quakers. 



After roads were opened, connecting this section with the 

 eastern part of the state, settlement and development increased 

 with great rapidity. 



DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY 



Wheat was for many years the staple crop of Ontario County, 

 but later attention was gradually turned to the production of 

 the coarser grains, to stock growing, and to the cultivation of 

 fruits. Corn was one of the principal crops. At the present time 

 corn, as well as barley, is extensively raised, the county stand- 

 ing second in the state in 1918 in the production of these two 

 grains. 



Most of the early settlers brought sheep and cattle with them. 

 There were more cows kept during the first half century of the 

 development of the county than at any later period. Since 1840 

 the number has gradually diminished. The fine Merino sheep 

 were introduced at an early period, and in the number of sheep 

 kept Ontario has been one of the leading counties, ranking 

 second at the present time. Although since 1840 the number of 

 sheep has gradually decreased, the amount of wool produced has 

 become greater, showing that sheep of the better wool-growing 

 strains have been selected. Large portions of the townships of 

 Bristol, South Bristol, Richmond, Canadice, and Naples are 

 especially suited to this form of animal husbandry. 



The importance of Ontario County as a fruit-producing county 

 is shown by the fact that for the year 1899 the total value of 

 all fruits produced, together with nursery stock, amounted to 

 $960,396, or approximately one-fifth of the income from all 

 products of the soil. The steep hillsides bordering Canandaigua 



