USA > New York > Erie County > Centennial history of Erie County, New York : being its annals from the earliest recorded events to the hundredth year of American independence > Part 1
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CENTENNIAL
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY,
NEW YORK;
BEING ITS ANNALS FROM THE EARLIEST RECORDED EVENTS TO THE HUNDREDTH YEAR OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.
BY CRISFIELD JOHNSON. 11
4655
BUFFALO, N. Y. PRINTING HOUSE OF MATTHEWS & WARREN, Office of the "Bufalo Commercial Advertiser." 1876. Copy. 4
F127 E6 J6 Copy 4
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by CRISFIELD JOHNSON, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
552150 028 38
1
INDEX.
A.
Abbott's Corners,
337, 355
Adams, Erasmus,
124
Adams, Joel,
123
Aigin, James,
232,
238
Akron,
376, 386, 426
Alden, . . . . 184, 296, 311, 356, 363, 389
Aldrich's Mills, ..
374
Algonquins (see Hurons).
Allen, Ethan,
174
Allen, L. F.,
.397, 402
Allen, Wm., ..
144
American Navy,
240
Amherst (see Williamsville), IIS,
125, 146, 171, 183, 389, 423 Ancient earthworks, etc., 20, 121, 124, 173
Anecdotes, 82, 89, 92, 117, 119, 144, 148, 151, 153, 164, 166, 168,
184, 188, 189, 191, 208, 209, 215, 230, 251, 261, 268, 275, 292, 303, 305, 309, 310, 319, 320, 326, 338,
342, 343, 362, 393, 398, 405, 407, 451 Amsdell, Abner,. 130
Angus and King's exploit,. 217
Anti-masonry,
. 378, 385, 388, 410
Ararat,
366 to 370
Assembly, members of, 170, 205, 267, 300, 379- 385, 388, 394, 397, 401, 410, 412, 422, 426, 430, 447, 448, 449, 450, 452, 453, 458, 466, 479, 490, 505, 506, 507
Aurora, 123, 132, 173, 184, 297,
314, 387, 389, 411
185
Austin, Wm.
B.
Babcock, G. R., 406, 408, 440, 443, 447
Bar of the county,
. 342, 432
Barker, Zenas,
130, 172, 265
Barker, G. P.,
401, 410, 433
Barton, J. L.,
.308, 405
Bass, L. K.,
504, 505, 506
Battles, skirmishes, etc., 27, 54, 55, 62, 213, 217, 230, 234, 238, 245 to 250, 281, 286, 469, 471, 474, 481, 482, 486, 491, 493, 495, 499, 500
Beaver, the ship,
58, 186
Bemis, J.,.
112, 130, 152, 208, 229
Bemis, Mrs.,
255
Bennett, D. S.,
505
Big Sky, ..
86
Big Tree road,
113
Bird, W. A.,
324, 430
Black Joe, .
84
Black Rock, 55, 103, 178, 182,
213 to 220, 234 to 238, 246 to
250, 308, 316, 331, 341, 351, 424, 446
Boies, Wm. .
299
Boston, 119, 121, 131, 142, 175, 190, 229, 306, 316, 359 to 362, 389
Boundaries of the county, .
9
Brant, Joseph,
61, 75,
76
Brant, town of,
376
424
Breboeuf and Chaumonot,
25
Brown, Gen. J.,
268 to 278, 289
Bull, Capt. J.,
235, 236, 247
Burnt Ship bay,
53
Buffalo (see Black Rock), 83, 98 to 100, 114, 125, 147, 152, 162, 170, 18I, 193, 250 to 264, 268, 279, 292 to 296, 300, 306, 314, 322, 333, 341, 346, 350, 357, 363, to 375, 388, 434, 447
Buffalo Convention,
. . 437 to 439
Buffalo creek,.
15, 63, 69, 75
Buffalo Creek reservation, 93, 100,
370, 422, 428
Buffaloes,
17, 25,
69
Buffum, Richard, .
. 186, 332
C.
Canal, Erie, 301, 311, 322, 353,
357, 370 to 372, 375, 400, 434
Captain David,
72
Catholics, .
24, 25, 49, 386
Cary, Richard,
. . 131, 174
Cary, Truman,
174, 306, 345, 422
Cary, Calvin,
259
14,
Cat, nation of the (see Erie nation).
Cattaraugus creek,
64
Cattaraugus reservation,.
.93, 376
Cayuga creek,
15, 193
Cayuga Creek settlement,
173, 357
Cazenove creek, .
15
Cheektowaga,
172, 423
Chippewa, battle of, .
270 to 276
Champlin, Commodore, .
. .
240
Chapin, Dr. C., 116, 160, 200, 213, 216, 227, 239, 241 to 243, 245 to 254, 257, 332, 419
Cholera,
398
Churches and church buildings, 142, 145, 177, 180, 184, 299, 317, 333,
380, 394, 399, 400, 401, 403
Clarke, A. S., 132, 145, 161, 170,
205, 293, 300, 315
Clark, James,.
.173, 192, 337, 361
Clans of the Iroquois,
. 30 to 33
4
INDEX.
Clarence, 98, 101, 106, 111, 1IS,
125, 133, 146, 154, 181, 183, 292, 350, 400
Cochran, Samuel,. 174
Colden,. .. .
186, 383,
389
C'olegrove, B. IL.,
. 332,
430
Collins (see Lodi and Gowanda),
142, 175, ISS, 334, 389, 446
Colvin, Mrs ,
122
Concord (see Springville), 143, 187, 189, 299, 334, 389
Congressmen, 179, 182, 224, 207,
293, 300, 315, 330, 354, 358. 377, 384, 388, 397, 401, 410, 422, 430, 439, 441, 447, 449, 450, 453. 458, 478, 503, 505, 506
Colby, John
.311 10 313
Conjockety, Philip,
117
Cornplanter, .
SI, $5,
SS
Council on Buffalo creek,
70 10
S2
County and City Hall,
512
Court-houses,
.170, 300, 512
Cronk, James,
D).
315, 327, 332
D'Aubrey's expedition,
. 51 to
53
Devil's Ifole, .
54
Devil's Ramrod,
100
Dudley, Maj. W. C.,.
IS2, 246,
249
Dutch, the,
E.
.23,
38
East Hamburg,
ILS, 122, 131,
142, 153, 173, 185, 191, 298, 441
Eaton, Rufus,
187, 189, 307, 319
Ebenezer Society,
.442, 454
Eddy, David, . . . 122, 201, 204, 207, 332
Eden, 175, 190, 201, 202, 299, 305,
333, 354
Ellicott, Joseph, 97 to 109, 115, 108, 349
Ellicott, Benjamin,
.102, 300
Elma, ..
. 376. 429, 454
Emmons, Dr. C.,
350, 420, 430
Emmons, Wales,
319
English dominion,
.54 to 59
Episodes (other than battles), 440 to
44, 71 to 73, 70 to $2, 85 to SS,
145 to 150, 221 to 223, 250 to 205, 311 10 313, 327 to 329, 346 to 349, 359 10 303, 365 to 370, 370 10 373, 381, 395, 397 to 399. 405 to
409, 413 10 420, 427 to 439. 442 10 4444 Erie, old town of, 120, 129, 154 Erie, new town of, .350, 394 Erie, Fort, 50, 228, 209, 279, 281 to 289 Erie nation, 19, 26 to 28
Evans, 123, 141, 170, 209, 318,
332, 333, 350, 354
F.
Fair, first, 332 Farmer's Brother, 54, 79, 84, S9,
165, 232 to 236, 239, 279 to 251
Fences,
139
Fenno, Moses,
IS3
Fiddler's Green, .
299
Fillmore, Glezen, 177, 294, 317, 327, 303 Fillmore, Millard, 355, 384, 385,
387, 394, 397, 401, 410, 422, 420, 430, 430, 439 10 441, 447, 450, 460 Fitzgerald, Lord Edward,. . .. . . . 71, 73
Forty-ninth N. Y. Vols., 464, 472, 4So, 491 to 494
Forward, Oliver, .. . . 180, 207, 323, 345 G.
Gazette, Buffalo, 194 to 206, 223,
265, 314
Ganson, John,
466, 475, 506
Genesee county,
109, 152 to 154
Geology,.
12
Germans, 385, 394, 412, 427, 442 to 444, 454, 405, 511
Germans, (Pennsylvania, ) ..
..
125
German Young Men's Association,
427. 510
Gilbert Family,
.04 to
66
Gowanda (see Lodi), .
441
Grand Island, 14, 211, 324, 327 to
329, 360, 402, 447
Granger, E., 117, 127, 170, 175, 200, 210, 233, 245
Gillett, J.
.147, 149
Greenbacks, origin of,
467 to 409
Griffin, the, .
40 10 42, 155
Griffin's Mills,
311, 339
11. Hall, N. K., 387, 421, 431, 432,
440, 511
Hamburg, 119, 141, 185, 201, 209, 201, 298, 389, 441, 478
llarris' llill, .
140, 205
Hard Times, the,
411
llastings, Chauncey,
350
Hatchets, Norman,.
22,
28
llatch, 1. T.,
397, 450
Haven, S. G., .. 431, 432, 441, 447, 449
Heacock, R. B.,
. . . 193, 310, 332, 374
Hennepin, Father,
40 to 42
Hitchcock, Alex.,.
.172, 332, 424
Hodge, Wm.,
130, 194, 253, 203
Holland, 145, 175, 189, 229, 298,
311 10 313. 389
Holland Company, $4, 95, 107, 152, 170, 358, 378, 411
Holland Purchase,. ...
.97 to IOS,
152
Holmes' Hill,
144
Holt's execution,. 393
Hopkins, Gen. T. S., 102, 125, 170,
182, 245, 294, 323
Horse bedstead,
135
Horn breeze, .
179,
317
Hoysington, J.
352
Hull, Capt. Wm.
.149, 150, 235, 251
Humphrey, A.
145, 229, 323
Humphrey, Fort,
229
Humphrey, J. M.,.
. 450, 490, 503, 505
5
INDEX.
Husking bee,
1.
163
Indians (see Iroquois, Senecas, Kahquahs, Eries, etc. ) Indian land-sales, 74 to 82, 95, 377, 422, 428
Iroquois, 19, 26, 30 to 40, 42, 60
to 94, 163 to 169, 210, 231 to
239, 245, 262
J.
Jesuits,
24,
49
Johnson, Dr. E., 180, 205, 293, 357, 385, 390, 398
Johnson, Mrs.,
256
Johnson, G. W.
387
Johnson, Sir William,
.49 to 59
Johnson, C. and ().,.
.119, 121
Johnston, Capt. Win.
.. 64, 78, 90, 150
K.
Kahquahs,.
18, 20, 25 lo
28
Kinney, D. C.,
118
Kirkland, Rev. S.,
78,
83
L.
Lancaster, 98, 118, 125, 172, 317, 357, 399, 401
Lafayette,
364
La Salle,
.39 to
44
Landon, J.,
147, 149, 171
Le Couteulx, L. S.,
125, 170
Limestone ledge,
12,
426
Lodi,
374, 380, 441
Logging bee,.
138
Love, John, ..
359 to 362
Love, T. C.,
. 383, 385, 401, 431
Lovejoy, Mrs.
. . 255 to 257
Lundy's Lane,
276 to 278
M.
Marilla, 376, 386, 429, 448 Marine affairs, 40, 57, 290, 301,
307, 317, 351, 400
Marriages,
198, 209
Marshall, Dr. J. E.,
.293, 384, 398
Mather, David,.
147
Maybee, Sylvanus,.
.100, 134, 151
Mayors of Buffalo, 396, 421, 425,
442, 446, 507
McClure, Gen. G.,
.241 10 244, 259
Medical College,
435
Mechanical Society,
201
Medical Society,
200
Mobbing a hotel,
222
Monroe, President, ..
308
Moral Society, the,
295
Morgan's abduction,
377
Moseley, W. A.,
.412, 430, 511
Murders,
.294, 326, 359, 393
N.
Natural characteristics,.
.12 to 17
Neuter Nation (see Kahquahs).
New Amsterdam (see Buffalo).
Newark, burning of, ..
242
Newspapers, etc., 194, 224, 293, 314, 323, 346, 358, 380, 385, 402, 430, 444, 511
Niagara county,
.153, 335
Niagara river,
14
Niagara, F't. , 46, 48, 51, 53, 63, 91, 243 Noah, M. M., . . 365 to 370, 402 North Collins, 175, 188, 320, 338, 446 O.
Officers, county, 170, 182, 204, 227, 293, 300, 315, 333, 354, 357, 574, 383, 385, 397, 401, 410, 412, 426, 431, 435, 436, 439, 440, 447, 448, 449, 450, 452, 453, 458, 466, 478, 490, 504, 505, 500, 507
Ok King,
.. 64,
81
One Hundredth N. Y. Vols., 465,
473 10 476, 481 to 485, 494 to 497
One Hundred and Sixteenth N. Y.
Vols., . . . 477, 485 to 489, 498 to 502
Ontario county,
83, 109
Osborn, Mrs.
145
P.
Palmer, John,
. 100, 109
Patriot War,
. 413 to 420
Peacock, Wm ..
114
Perry, Commodore, ..
.226, 239, 242
Peter Gimlet, .
164
Phelps, Oliver,
.74, 78,
Pioneering,
. . . 134 to 140, 156 10 162
l'lumb, Ralph,
374
Plumping-mills,
136
Pomeroy, R. M.
264
Porter, Gen. P. B., 179, 182, 217, 219, 221, 227, 233 to 239, 241, 267, 283, 285 to 289, 292, 324, 341, 379, 383
Potter, H. B., 193, 323, 332, 361,
363, 367, 384, 385
Pratt, Samuel,
. 127, 147, 103, 213
Powell, Capt.,.
64, 65, 84,
85
Proctor, Col.,
.85 to
88
Q.
Queen Charlotte, the,
209
R.
Ransom, Asa, 91, 101, 106, 133,
146, 151, 170, 204, 227, 315
Ransom, Harry
102, 410
Rathbun, Benj.,
407 lo 409
Rebellion, beginning of,
459
Red Jacket, So, 85 to 89, 167, 210, 231, 239, 269, 271, 275, 276, 292, 303, 324, 347 to 349, 362, 364, 376, 382, 390 392
Recorder's Court,
426, 450
Reed, Israel,
258
Reese, David,
116, 169, 295
Relics,
28, 124, 185
Revolution, the,
60 to
67
Rice, Elihu,.
..
189, 205, 268, 316
Richmond, Gen. F., 175, 267, 299,
301, 316, 346
82
6
INDEX.
Root, John,. 170, 265, 342
Russell, W. C., S.
Sagoyewatha (see Red Jacket).
Salisbury, Aaron, .. . 176, 209, 426
Sardinia, 175, 189, 265, 290, 332, 334, 350, 389
Scajaquada creek, 15, 83, 100, 247, 281
Schools, etc., 142, 143, 148, 173, 389, 399, 421, 435
Scott, Gen. Winfield, . .. 267 to 278, 416 Settlement, . .. . 104 to 194
Senators, State, 205, 330, 374, 385, 401, 412, 430, 436, 440, 447, 448,
450, 452, 453, 466, 490, 505, 506, 507 Senecas, The, 19, 45, 47, 49, 52,
54 to 94, 110, 163 to 169, 210,
231 to 239, 245, 260, 262, 269 to
276, 279, 303, 309, 324, 376, 422, 428 Shooting Niagara, 388
Silver Greys,. . 208 Six Nations (see Iroquois).
Slaves in Erie county,
Smith, Daniel, ..
330
Smith, Richard,
185, 300
Smith's Mills, (Aurora),
176, 299
Smith's Mills, ( Hamburg), 185, 298,
Smyth, Gen. A.,
331, 337
216 to 221, 225
Southwick, Geo.,
IS7
Speculation,
400, 403, 405 to 408
Spencer, " Father,"
290, 299, 310
Springs, stoned up,
29
Springville, 143, 187, 299, 319, 331, 389 Spy, Indian, . 279 State reservation, . 285, 294, 298, 315 Warren, Asa, ... 268, 305, 316, 354, 412
73, 99, 377
Staunton, Adjutant,
. 235 to 238
Stephens, Phineas
143, 208, 224
Stephens' Mills,
Storrs, Juba,
243
I 82
Sugar-making,
1 70,
159
Superior Court and judges, . . . .450, 507
Supervisors, 111, 129, 146, 172,
175, 177,193, 201, 226, 267,293,
300, 306, 314, 323, 330, 345, 354, 358, 374, 375, 378, 383, 386, 388,
394, 402, 410, 412, 421, 424, 431,
441, 442, 456, 467, 479, 490, 504, 507
Supreme Court justices, 435, 436,
T. 448, 507
Taylor, Jacob,
142, 175
Tenth New York Cavalry, 466
Thayers, the three, 359 to 363
Timber, original,
16
Tomahawk, anecdote of,. 144 Tommy Jimmy,. .... · 303, 346 to 349 Tonawanda, 171, 183, 211, 246,
Tonawanda creek,
308, 357, 380, 410
14
Tonawanda reservation, 93, 376, 422, 428
Topography, .
13
Town meeting, first, ..
III
Tracy, A. H., 293, 315, 330, 354, 358, 377, 385, 401, 412
Trails, Indian,
Transit, West,
IOI
Treat, Oren, .
99
176
Trowbridge, Dr. J.,
. 201, 227, 412
Tucker, Samuel,
IS7, 340
Tupper, Samuel,
130, 170, 204, 307
Turkey, John,
320
Twenty-first New York Vols.
462, 469 to 472, 480
V.
Vandeventer, P., .... III, 129, 146, 171 Volunteers, 221, 228, 285 to 289,
459 to 503
Walden, E., 147, 170, 203, 250,
257, 258, 357, 361
Wales, 144, 174,
184, 297, 314,
330, 363, 389, 393
Walk-in-the- Water,
. . 316, 351
War for the Union,
459 to 503
Warner, D. S.,
War of 1812,
.297, 389
Warren, Jabez,
207 to 290
. 113, 123
Warren, Gen. Wm., 132, 143, 151,
170, 182, 205 to 249, 261, 267,
Well and sweep,.
I57
White Woman, the,
60, 395
White's Corners, ..
337
Wiedrich's Battery,. . 465, 478, 485, 497
Wilber, Stephen,
ISS
Wilkeson, Samuel, 250, 264, 293,
307, 322, 331, 333, 350 to 353, 357 Williams, Jonas, ... . 133, 204, 227, 267 Williamsville, 102, 107, 125, 133, 146, 171, 183, 266, 292, 296, 386, 426 Willink, 120, 129, 146, 154, 181, 297, 313 Winney, Cornelius, 83, SS, 9
Wood, James, ... .
184, 192, 363, 431
Worth, Gen. W. J.,
.279, 418
Wright's Corners,.
142, 298, 337
Wright's Mills,
318
Y.
Young King, ..
$5, 167, 237, 295
Young Men's Association,
403
Errata. On page 50, read 175S, instead of 1858. On same page, read 1759, instead of 1859. On page 54, read 1763, instead of 1863. On page 130, read Ams- dell, instead of Amsden. On page 184, read 1801, instead of 1810.
. . 297
131, 173, 185
Spaulding, E. G., 467 to 469
INTRODUCTION.
The "Centennial History of Erie County" is now presented to the pub- lic, after fifteen months of continuous labor, three more than I expected to occupy. That there are defects in it is a matter of course-especially as this is my first historical effort. It is idle, however, to apologize- people never pay any attention to apologies-the book will probably go for what it is worth, and must take its chances among critics and readers.
Had I known, however, the amount of labor involved, and the very poor pay to be obtained, it is doubtful whether I should have attempted the task. If any one thinks it easy to harmonize and arrange the im- mense number of facts and dates here treated of, let him try to learn the precise circumstances regarding a single event, occurring twenty years ago, and he will soon find how widely authorities differ.
Doubtless, the most fault will be found by those who think that their grandfathers have not received due attention-but there was such a host of grandfathers. If I had even mentioned the tenth part of them, it would have turned the book into a mere list of names. There are two or three towns of which I have not made as frequent mention as I had intended, but this is partly because those towns have furnished no re- markable crimes, nor astonishing follies, to shock or amuse the reader.
The principal object of this introduction is to give credit where credit is due. Nearly all the first hundred pages of my history, and much of the next hundred, are drawn from Turner's "Holland Purchase," Ketchum's " Buffalo and the Senecas," and Stone's "Life of Red Jacket." The still later matter relating to Red Jacket is, also, mostly from Mr. Stone's work. The story of the "White Woman " is abstracted from Seaver's biography, while W. P. Letchworth's memoir of the Pratt family furnishes many incidents of early times.
The sketches of the Twenty-first, One Hundredth and One Hun- dred and Sixteenth New York Volunteers are condensed from the his- tories of Mr. J. H. Mills, Major Stowits and Captain Clark. The record of the Forty-ninth is principally derived from Mr. G. D. Emer- son's published account. Mr. F. F. Fargo's " Memorial " has likewise been of much service, and I am indebted to Judge Sheldon, and Messrs. L. F. Allen and O. G. Steele, for valuable pamphlets ; and to Messrs. H. W. Rogers, of Michigan, and G. W. Johnson, of Niagara county, for interesting reminiscences. I am also under especial obliga- tions to my father, Mr. Wm. C. Johnson, for important assistance.
To the Young Men's Association of Buffalo, I have to return thanks for the use of its files of early newspapers, and to the Historical Soci- ety, for similar privileges, not only as to its newspapers, but as to its vast number of pamphlets and manuscripts. I would also acknowledge the personal assistance, as well as aid from the libraries, of Messrs. G. R. Babcock and O. H. Marshall.
INTRODUCTION.
. But a great part of this history is derived from living lips. I would tender especial thanks for such aid to General William Warren, now of Orleans county, but for nearly seventy years a resident of Erie, whom I visited to consult, and whose memory of the stirring scenes in which he took an active part, is hardly dimmed by his ninety-one years of age. I would also cordially acknowledge the information received from the following ladies and gentlemen of the county-old settlers, their de- scendants, soldiers, and others-information embodied in some of the most interesting portions of the work before the reader :
Mrs. A. S. Bemis, Mrs. A. C. Fox, Mrs. Dr. Lord, Col. Bird, Gen. Rogers, Gen. Scroggs, Col. Wiedrich, Rt. Rev. S. V. Ryan, Rev. Drs. Lord and Heacock, Win. Hodge. F. W. Tracy, H. Wells, Dr. Dellen- baugh, E. C. Grey. J. Rieffenstahl and E. Besser, of Buffalo ; John Simpson and Urial Driggs, of Tonawanda ; T. A. Hopkins, J. F. Youngs, Christian Long and John Frick, of Amherst ; Mrs. Lavina Fillmore, David Vantine, Lindsay Hamlin, Abraham Shope and Col. Beaman, of Clarence ; Mrs. Lemuel Osborn, L. D. Covey, Mr. Wainwright and Wm. Denio, of Newstead ; T. and J. Farnsworth and Mr. Hendee, of Alden ; James Clark, of Lancaster ; Major Briggs, of Elma; G. W. Car- penter, of Marilla ; Seth Holmes, P. M. Hall, W. C. Russell and D. S. Warner, of Wales ; Mrs. Judge Paine, Oren Treat, Wm. Boies, John Darbee, Erasmus Adams and Horace Prentice of Aurora ; Mrs. Sarah Colvin, James Johnson, Wm. Austin, Thos. Thurber, Allen Potter and S. V. R. Graves of East Hamburg : Israel Taylor, Abner Amsdell, A. C. Calkins, Dr. Geo. Abbott and Dr. S. H. Nott, of Hamburg ; Mrs. Judge Salisbury, Mrs. Root, Col. Ira Ayer, Dr. George Sweetland, Joseph Bennett, John Hutchinson and Lyman Oatman, of Evans ; Mrs. Ryther, Miss Warren, Russell, Roswell and John Hill, and Morris March, of Eden ; Truman Cary, Edward Hatch, Ambrose Tor- rey and V. R. Cary, of Boston : Mrs. Sweet, Thomas Buffum and Asa Gould, of Colden ; Alvin Orr, B. F. Morey, Leander Cook, Peter Colby and M. L. Dickerman, of Holland ; Mrs. Gen. Nott, Mrs. Hastings, Clinton Colegrove, Mr. Rice, Hiram Crosby and Jonathan Matthewson, of Sardinia ; Eaton Bensley, R. C. Eaton, C. C. Smith, C. C. Sever- ance, Geo. Mayo, Byron Cochran, Jeremiah Richardson and Rev. Mr. Wells, of Concord ; Mrs. Welch, Robert Arnold, Humphrey Smith, Isaac Hale, John Sherman and Geo. Wheeler, of North Collins: Ansel Smith, of Brant ; J. H. McMillan, Geo. Southwick, Augustus Smith, Caleb Taylor and Col. Cook, of Collins ; Mrs. Wright, B. F. Hall and N. H. Parker, of the Cattaraugus reservation. Three of the oldest and most prominent of those whom I consulted last year have since passed away from life-Dr. Emmons of Concord, James Wood of Wales, and Alex. Hitchcock of Cheektowaga.
In many cases the information has been presented substantially as received ; in others, it has been so condensed and worked in with other matter as hardly to be recognized by those who gave it, but it is none the less necessary to the completion of a thorough history.
C. J.
EAST AURORA, N. Y., August 23d, IS76.
CENTENNIAL
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
THE SUBJECT.
Beginning of Erie County's History .- When it was named .- Its Boundaries .- Its- Area .- The System pursued.
The history of the county of Erie begins about the year 1620, when the first Europeans visited its vicinity. Before that time all is either tradition or inference. Afterwards, although the his- toric trace is often extremely faint, yet it is still to be seen, grow- ing gradually plainer for a hundred and eighty years, until in the beginning of the present century it swells into a broad and beaten pathway, trodden by the feet of scores of surveyors, of hundreds of pioncers, of thousands of farmers, of tens of thou- sands of all classes, conditions and nationalities.
But Eric county was not organized with its present name and boundaries until 1821. The larger and the more interesting part of its history had at that time already taken place. It is neces- sary, therefore, to point out that the subject of this work is the territory comprised within the present bounds of the county of Erie, together with the inhabitants of that territory, no matter whether the events recorded occurred before or after the begin- ning of the independent existence of the county.
The county of Erie, in the State of New York, is situated be- tween 42° 25' and 43° 6' of north latitude, and between 1º 30' and.
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IO
BOUNDARIES OF THE COUNTY.
2º 20' of longitude west from Washington. It is bounded north- erly by the center of Tonawanda creek and by the center of the east branch of Niagara river (between Grand Island and the mainland) from the mouth of the Tonawanda to the junction with the west branch; westerly by the line between the United States and Canada, from the junction up along the center of the west branch and of the whole river to Lake Erie, and thence southwesterly along the middle of the lake to a point where the international boundary makes a right angle with a line to the mouth of Cattaraugus creek ; southerly by a line from the point of intersection just mentioned to the mouth of the Cattaraugus, and thence up along the center of that creek to the crossing of the line between the fourth and fifth ranges of the Holland Company's survey ; and easterly by the line between those ranges, from the Cattaraugus to the Tonawanda, except that for six miles opposite the town of Marilla the county line is a mile and a quarter west of the range line.
The range line is twenty-three miles east of the center of Ni- agara river at the foot of Lake Erie, and thirty-four and a half miles east of the mouth of Cattaraugus creek. The extreme length of the county north and south is forty-three and a half miles, and its greatest width, including the lake portion, is about thirty-nine miles. The land surface contains one thousand and seventy-one square miles. Besides this it embraces, as we have seen, a considerable portion of Lake Erie, amounting as near as I can compute it to about a hundred and sixty square miles. This is not generally included in the county, but legally is as much a part of it as Tonawanda or Sardinia. The whole amounts to about twelve hundred and thirty square miles.
I have been thus particular in designating the limits of the county in the beginning, in order to place the subject of this his- tory clearly before the reader. Whatever has existed or occur- red within those limits, or has been done by the residents of that territory, comes within the purview of this work, and if of suffi- cient consequence will be duly noticed. It will be necessary, also, to refer occasionally to outside matters, in order to eluci- date the history of the county and show the succession of events. Such extraneous references, however, will be very brief, and will be confined chiefly to a few of the earlier chapters.
II
THE SYSTEM PURSUED.
When " Erie county " is spoken of previous to the organiza- tion and naming of that county, it will be understood that the words are used to avoid circumlocution, and mean the territory now included within the boundaries of the county. So, too, for convenience, the territory now comprised in a town will some- times be mentioned by its present name, before any such town was in existence.
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GEOLOGY.
CHAPTER II. NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS.
Geology .- The Limestone Ledge .- The " Portage Group."-Topography .- Level Land in the North .- Rolling Land in the Center .- Hills South of Center. - Fertile Lands in extreme South .- River and Lake .- Creeks, -Character of Forests .- Old Prairies. - The Animal Kingdom. - The Buffalo.
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