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from the Pioneer History of Orleans County

p.402

"The first deed of land given by the Holland Land Company, in this town, was to Preserved Greenman, June 18th, 1810...."

(this fact is supported in O Turner's Pioneer History of the Holland Purchase p 527)

p.403

"Mr. Preserved Greenman took up about six hundred acres of land lying east from Lyndonville, before the war of 1812. Mr. Greenman did not occupy his land himself, but settled his sons Daniel and Enos there, giving the neighborhood the name of the Greenman Settlement."

"Some years after, Mr. P Greenman removed from Montgomery county to Yates, to reside. After a few years he removed to Genesee County, and died there."

"Mr. P Greenman was noted for being 'set in his way,' and having made up his mind, it was hard to turn him. Having sold his farm in Montgomery Co, while preparing to move to Yates, he had a valuable ox-cart to dispose of. He named a price for his cart. A man offered him a less price and would give not more. Greenman declared he would not abate a cent, and would burn his cart before he would sell for less. No better offer was made, and when he came away he piled his cart in a heap and burnt it."

"A rule he made was, that a pail of water must be left standing in his house every night, and the last person who retired must see that it was done, under the penalty of being horse-whipped by Mr. Greenman next morning, in case of neglect. It happened once his daughter had a beau who made her a rather long evening visit, and she was the last in the family to return for the night, and forgot the pail of water. Her father rose first, as usual, in the morning, and finding the waterpail empty, called up his daughter and gave her a sound thrashing to maintain the rule he had established."

(this daughter very well could have been our Chloe!)

The following is part of the story of the "Greenman Family" written by Martha Thomas and found in History of the Town of Yates in Orleans County, New York, by Carol Gardepe and Janice Regester, 1976

p 230 -232

"Preserved Greenman came to the Town of Yates from Johnstown, Montgomery County, N.Y. He rode a white horse, the same on e he rode in the army during the Revolutionary War. The horse was a proud animal and when he had on his army saddle and Mr. Greenman wore his soldier's regimentals, the horse would see to know the difference between that and an ordinary saddle."

"The money he brought with him was in gold and silver. He bought 600 acres of land in the Town of Yates and took the first deed in 1810 given in the township. He then returned to his home in Montgomery County. In a short time his two sons and a daughter came her and located: Daniel Greenman and wife, Enos Greenman and wife, and Chloe and her husband, William G. Greenman. (Chloe and William were cousins, but married). They came with oxen and led their cows. They stopped with Jacob Houseman for a short time until they could chop and hew logs and build William a log house. It was the first hewn log house in the town. Then all three families moved into it, until another log house could be built and Daniel and Enos and their wives moved into it. After clearing up their land and enduring hardships and privations of pioneer life they built new houses. Daniel built the barn and the brickhouse on the south side of the Platten Road east of the stone school. Enos built the house and barn near his brother and it was later known as the Robert Gray farm. Enos and his family later moved to Michigan and Daniel to Indiana."

"William E. (must be G.) Greenman owned 396 acres on the north side of the Platten Road. At times Mrs. Greenman (Chloe) would take the little ones and watch the oxen, cows, pigs while feeding in the woods in the day time. At night they were driven into a pen built very high and covered with brush to protect them from the wild animals. It was the custom to pile brush near the house and set fire to it at night to protect themselves and stock from the wild animals. Both died on their farm."

"After located his children here, Preserved visited them yearly and brought them some substantial present, and if misfortune overtook them he gave them help. He was a very stern man, but was loved and respected by his family. Preserved and his wife moved to LeRoy, N.Y. and later to Darien, N.Y. both in Genesee County."