My husband Craig and I live in a wonderful old home. Owned originally by Stephen and Naomi Bates in 1790. These people fascinate me. I feel Naomi everywhere in my home. I know she died in Wisconsin but she is the matriarch of this House.
She was from what I have learned a wonderful strong pioneer woman. She had 8 surviving children to adult hood, she as her son James said bore 13 children. Many that I think are here sometimes too. We have named our animals after them. and they have very different personalities as I'm sure the Bates children had.
Having lost two of our own beautiful granddaughters makes me appreciate how it must have felt for her to lose her own. I am forever mourning my little Izzy and Sadie Mae.
The other family I know is Harvey and Elizbeth Pratt. but they don't seem to have left as much of a mark here in Canadaigua. Its a lovely place to live. The chosen spot. I'm glad we're here.