History of Mount Morris
Located in the Town of Mount Morris in Livingston County, New York, the Village of Mount Morris sits proudly at the northeastern entrance to Letchworth State Park which encompasses a scenic gorge and triple waterfall thanks to the Genesee River.
The community was first called "Allen Hill" and "Richmond Hill" by early settler Ebenezer Allen. The Village of Mount Morris was incorporated in 1835. It was then named after Robert Morris, the financier of the American Revolution, and later owner of The Morris Reserve, from which the lands around Mount Morris were sold to settlers. It was suggested that these lands were sold at unfairly low prices to friends of the Morris estate, in an attempt to create something akin to an oligarchical rule by landowners in the area.
General William Mills Mansion is now home to the Mount Morris Historical Society.
History Walk on Main Street
Discover the rich history of Mount Morris and its most notable figures by exploring Main Street and nearby areas, where plaques commemorate key individuals in the town’s past. Maps and additional details on these historical figures are available at the LivCo Basecamp, offering a deeper dive into Mount Morris's storied heritage. Contact LivCo Basecamp or Carvings & More for more information.
Historical Figures
John Wesley Powel, 1834-1902
Powell was an American geologist, U.S. Army soldier, and explorer of the American West.
Robert Morris, 1734-1806
Known as the financier of the American Revolution, Morris cosigned The Declaration of Independence.
Ross Barnes, 1850-1915
Barnes was known as one of the greatest 19th century baseball players, playing for the Boston Red Stockings, and Chicago White Stockings.
George W. Phelps, 1845-1919
Phelps built the first railroad connecting Mount Morris and Rochester, NY.
Mary Seymour Howell, 1844-1913
Howell was a women’s rights lecturer and suffrage activist.
Mary Jemison, 1743-1833
Jemison was an American frontierswoman who was captured in what is now Adams County, Pennsylvania, from her home along Marsh Creek. Jemison eventually was adopted into a Seneca family, assimilating to their culture, and eventually residing in Letchworth State Park.
Jessie Belle Rittenhouse, 1869-1948
Rittenhouse was a journalist, educator, poet and critic, as well as a founding member of the Poetry Society of America.
Corporal Roger Dale Yencer, 1948-2020
A Vietnam veteran who was awarded many medals and distinctions, Yencer was instrumental in the creation of the Mount Morris Veterans Memorial Park.
Frances Bellamy, 1855-1931
Francis Julius Bellamy was born in Mount Morris. He is the Author of the Pledge of Allegiance, published in the September 8, 1892.
Annie Rockfellow, 1866-1954
Born in Mount Morris, Rockfellow was an influential and prolific architect during the early 20th century.
Admiral Joseph Strauss, 1861-1948
Strauss was an officer of the United States Navy, serving in World War I, and later commanding the Asiatic Fleet.
General William Mills, 1777-1844
A Major General in the War of 1812, Mills lived near the local Seneca people for 31 years.
