USA > New York > Gazetteer of the State of New York: embracing a comprehensive view of the geography, geology, and general history of the State, and a complete history and description of every county, city, town, village, and locality, Part 1 > Part 51
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CLEMER10-was formed from Chautauqua, Feb. 9, 1821. Mina was taken off in 1824, and French Creek in 1829. 1t lies upon the s. border of the co., w. of the center. The surface is a hilly upland, broken by the valleys of Broekeu Straw Creek and its tributaries. The soil is a gravelly loam. Considerable lumber is still manufactured. Clymer, (p. v.,) near the s. w. corner, con-
1 Named In honor of Charles Carroll. of Carrollton.
8 Jos. Kent settled on Lot 9, in 1915. and Willant Cheney on Lot 10. Wm. Weaver on Lot 16, Anson Hendrick on Lot 16. and Cogsdill Brown on Lot 15, in 1816. Reuben Cheney tanght the first school. in 1818: Goo. HI. Frost kept the first inn. in I>23, 3 The village derives its name from its first settler, Maj. Sanı'! Sinclear. who came in from Madison co. in 1810. and Seth Grover the first store, in 1831, at the village, Wm. Kilbourn built the first sawwill, in 1824. on Cherry Creek. near 4 John Picket, John Cleveland, Chas, Waterman, and Harvey the village. The first death was that of Lydia Page: she was O. Austin, from Eastern N. Y., settled in the w. part in 109. i buried in the woods near the village. Joshua Bentley lost &
The first school was taught at Sinclearville, in the winter of 1811-12. by Wm Gilmore. Maj. Sinclear kept the first inn. in 1811, and Plumb, Edson & Winsor the first store. in ISI7. at Sinclearville. Maj. Sinclar erected the first sawmill. in 1510. and the first gristinill, in 1811. on Mill Creek.
5 2 M. E., 2 Cutv., Cong, and Bap.
6 Jonathan Smith settled about the same time, near the w. shore of the lake. and Peter Barnhart, from Penn., on the [. shore; Martin Prendergast and Messrs. Griffith and Bemus. also
Laban Case settled on Lot 31, Win. Akins on Lot 21. in 1907 . Jas. Akins on Lot 13, in 1818; James Hall on Lot 11, in 1810; and Wm. Sears on Lot 11. in 1811. The first child boru was | on the E. shore. in 1806. Judge Peacock was also an early settler. Ilamilton Tyler, in 1810; the first marriage, that of Win. Bowles ; John Scott kept the first inn, at Mayville, in 1808. and J. & M. and JJernsha Walton. in 1811; and the first death, that of - Prendergast the first store, in 1811. Woolcock, killed by the fall of a tree in 1810. Stephen Rogers 7 The census reports 7 churches; 2 Bap., 2 M. E .. Cong . Prot. E., and F. W. Bap. t:myht the first school. in 1813. on Lot 51. The first sawmill was built by John Fren and Thos. Russell, ou Lot 61, in 1411, and the first gristmill by John Freut. on the same lot. in 1.17. William Sears kept the first inn, on Lot 11. in 1814, and Jaines Hlall the first store, on the same lot, in 1824.
danghter, 2 years oldl. in 1817,-supposed to have been carried off by the Indians.
9 'The census reports 3 churches; 2 Bap. And F. W. Bap.
10 Named in honor of Geo. Clymer, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
212
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
tains 2 churches and 110 inhabitants. Clymer Center is a p.o. John Cleveland settled on Lot 58 in 1820.1 The first religious meeting (Bap.) was held at the house of Mr. Cleveland, in 1820, by Elder Powers. The first church (Bap.) was formed in 1830.2
ELLERY-was formed from Chautauqua, Feb. 29, 1821. A part of Stoekton was taken off in 1850. It is the central town in the co. The surface is hilly, the highest summits being about 400 ft. above the valleys and 1,000 ft. above Lake Erie. Chautauqua Lake forms the s. w. boundary, and into it flow several small streams, which form the principal drainage. The soil is a clay loam upon the uplands, and a gravelly loam in the valleys. Ellery Center (p. v.) contains a church and 16 dwellings. Ellery is a p. o. near the shore of the lake. The first settlements were made on the lake by Wm. Bemus and Jeremiah Griffith, from Rensselaer co., in 1806; the former located at Bemus Point, and the latter farther s." The first ehureh (Bap.) was formed in 1809, by Elder Asa Turner, the first minister.5
ELLICOTT6-was formed from Pomfret, June 1, 1812. A part of Busti was taken off in 1823, Carroll in 1825, and Poland in 1832. A part of Busti was annexed in 1845. It is an in- terior town, lying s. E. of the center of the eo. Its surface is a hilly upland, with a gentle inclina- tion toward the s. w. The foot of Chautauqua Lake extends into the s. w. corner ; and the outlet flows E. through the s. part of the town, receiving Cassadaga Creek as a tributary The soil is a sandy and gravelly loam. Jamestown, (p.v., ) located on the outlet of Chautauqua Lake, in the s. part of the town, was incorp. March 6, 1827. It contains 7 churches, the Jamestown Academy, 2 newspaper offices, 2 banks, the office of the Farmers' Insurance Company, 2 woolen factories, 2 furnaces, 2 flouring mills, and various other manufacturing establishments, and an ample water-power. Pop. 1,625. Fluvanna, (p. v.,) at the foot of the lake, near the w. line, contains a church and 14 dwellings. Levant is a p. o., on the E. border, at the junction of Cas- sadaga Creek with the lake outlet. Dexterville is a hamlet. The first settlement was made on the outlet of Chautauqua Lake, in 1806, by Wm. Wilson." The first church (Cong.) was formed July 6, 1816, by Rev. John Spencer, a missionary preacher from Conn. There are 12 churches in town.8
ELLINGTON-was formed from Gerry, April 1, 1824. Cherry Creek was taken off in 1829. It lies upon the E. border of the co., a little s. of the eenter. Its surface is an undulating and hilly upland. Clear Creek flows through near the center, and, with its tributaries, forms the principal drainage. Connewango Creek flows through the N. E. corner. The soil is a sandy and gravelly loam. Ellington, (p. v., ) near the center, contains 4 churches, the Ellington Academy, and 2 gristmills. Pop. 487. Clear Creek is a p. o. Jos. Bentley made the first settlement, on Lot 7, in 1814.9 The first religious services were held at the house of James Bates, in 1817, by Rev. Daniel Hadley. The F. W. Bap. denomination organized the first church.10
FRENCHI CREEK-was formed from Clymer, April 23, 1829. It is the s. w. corner town of the eo. The surface is hilly and broken by the deep valley of French Creek. The soil is chiefly a heavy clay loam. French Creek is a p. o. in the N. part, and Marvin a p. o. in the s. Andy Nobles, from Oswego eo., made the first settlement, on Lot 44, in 1812.11 The first religious meeting was held on Lot 46, in 1818, by Elder Ashford; and the first church (Bap.) was formed in 1821. There is no church edifice in town.
1 Wm. Rice, from Washington co., settled on Lot 59, in 1821, Horace and Anson Starkweather. from Vt., on Lot 43, in 1822. The first birth was that of Patience Russell. in 1823; the first marriage. that of Walter Freeman and Rowencia Brown. iu 1823. Alvin Williams kept the first inn, in 1826, at the village, John Stow the first store, in 1823; and Peter Jacquins built the first juill. in 1825.
2 The census report: 5 churches ; 2 M. E., Bap., Germ. Evang. Ref., and Ref. Prot. D.
3 Named in honor of Wm. Ellery, a siguer of the Declaration of Independence.
4 Isaac Young. from Genesee co., settled on Lot 3, near the lake, in 1806. Abont the same time, or soon after, Dan'l Cheney, Alanson Werd. Alujah Bennett, John Putnam, and Nahum Al- drich setthat in town. Clark Parker, from Washington co., located near the center, in IS]0. The first school was taught by Dr. Cary. in the s. w. part. in 1905. Wm. Bonus kept the first in. in 1 -21. erected the first swinill. in 1808, and the first grist- mill, in 1811. oh Bemys Creek. David Bellamy kept the first store, at the center, in 1550.
5 The census reports S churches: Bap,, M. E., and Uviv.
6 Named from Joseph Ellicott, agent of the Holland Land Company.
1 Thomas R. Kennedy and Edward Works located upon the Outlet. in 1907, and Wilson Ellicott. das. Culbertson, and Goo.
W. Fenton, in INOS Edward Wirks Imlt the first sawmill. in
1808, and the first gristmill, in 1809,-this being the first im- provement of the water power of the Outlet. The first school was taught in the house of John Bloover, iu 1815, by Rev. Amasa West.
8 2 M. E., Cong., Presb., Prot. E., Bap., F. W. Bap., Christian, Wes. Meth., Luth., Univ., and R. C.
9 Among the other early settlers were Jas. Bates, from Mass., Sau'l McConnel, from Caynga co., and Joshua Bentley, jr., froui Rensselaer co., in 1816; Simon Lawrence, from Vt., Abner Batce and Ward King, from Mass., in 1817. The first child born was Simon Lawrence, jr., in 1817; the first marriage, that of Rufus Hitchcock and Ranah Hadley, in 1817; and the first death, that of Mr. Hitchcock, who fell from a building and was killed six weeks after his marriage. Jas. Bates kept the first inn, at Ellington Village, in 1814, and Lewis Holbrook the first store, in 1821. Ward King built the first gristmill, near the village, in 1821.
10 The census reports 5 churches; Bap., Christian, Presb., M. E .. and F. W. Bap.
Il John Cleveland settled on Lot 31, in 1812; Roswell Coe on Lot 39, and Nath'l Thompson on Lot 9. iu 1813; and Paul Col- bourn, from Oncida co .. on Lot 44, in 1814. The first death was that of a son of Nath'l Thompson, drowned in French Creek. The first school was tanght hy - Chitsey, in 1818. William Graves kept the first inn, and built the first gristmill, in 1522; and John Dodge opened the first store, in one end of the gristwill.
213
CIIAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
GERRY-was formed from Pomfret, June 1, 1812. Ellington was taken off in 1824, and Charlotte in 1829. It is an interior town, lying a little E. of the center of the co. The surface is a hilly upland, the highest summits, in the N. E. corner, being 900 ft. above Lake Erie. It is drained by Cassadaga Creek and its tributaries, Mill Creek, and several smaller streamns. The soil is a clay loam upon the uplands, and a sandy loam in the valleys. There are several sulphur springs in town. Upon Lot 44, s. w. of the center of the town, a gas spring lias been found; and the owner, James H. Mix, uses the gas for lighting his house. Bucklins Corners, (Vermont p. o.,) in the s. part, contains 23 dwellings. The first settlement was made in 1811, by John Love, jr. and Stephen Jones, in the N. w. part .? The first religious meeting was held in the spring of 1818, by Elder Jonathan Wilson. The first religious association (M. E.) was formed in 1819, and drew the lot appropriated by the Holland Land Company for religious purposes. They erected a church a little w. from the center, the only one now in town.
HANOVER-was formed from Pomfret, June 1, 1812. Villenova was taken off in 1823, and a part of Sheridan in 1827. It lies upon Lake Erie, in the N. E. corner of the co. A part of Catta- raugus Indian Reservation lies in the N. E. part of the town. The surface along the lake is level or undulating, and in the center and s. it is hilly, with an inclination toward the N. Cattaraugus Creek forms a portion of the N. boundary. Silver Creek flows in a N. w. direction through the town into Lake Erie, receiving Walnut Creek at its mouth,3 and several other tributaries. The soil is clay and gravelly loam. Silver Creek, (p. v.,) upon the lake shore, at the mouth of Silver Creek, was ineorp. June 8, 1848; it contains 2 churches, a bank, a weekly newspaper office, 2 mills, 2 tanneries, and various other manufacturing establishments. Pop. 652. Lake vessels were formerly built at this place, 4-the first by Ira Fairchild, in 1816. Irving, (p. v.,) on Cat- taraugus Creek, near its entrance into the lake, contains 2 churches, a gristmill, and 2 sawmills. Pop. 404. At the mouth of the creek is a harbor admitting of the entrance of vessels. Smith Mills, (p. v.,) a little s. from the eenter, contains a flouring mill, a distillery, and 22 dwellings. Forestville, (p. v., ) in the s. w. part, was incorp. April 4, 1849. It contains 2 churches, 2 grist- mills, and 2 sawmills. Pop. 540. It is a station on the N. Y. & Erie R. R. Nashville, (p. v., ) in the s. E. part, contains 2 churches and 26 dwellings. Hanover is a hamlet. Amos Cottle set- tled at the mouth of Cattaraugus Creek in 1797.5 The first religious meetings (Bap.) were held by Rev. Joy Handy, in 1811 : and the first church (M.E.) was organized in 1816, at Forestville."
HARMONY-was taken from Chautauqua, Feb. 14, 1816. A part of Busti was taken off in 1823. It lies upon the s. border of the co., a little w. of the center. The surface is a moderately hilly upland, the highest summits being about 900 ft. above Lake Erie. Chautauqua Lake forms the N. E. boundary. It is drained by Goose Creek and several smaller streams, flowing N. into the lake, and by Little Brocken Straw Creek, flowing s. to Penn. The soil is clay, yellow and gravelly loam. Quarries of a fine quality of sandstone for building purposes are found in several localities. Ashville, (Harmony p. o.,) on Goose Creek, near Chautauqua Lake, contains 3 churches, a grist- mill and sawmill. Pop. 247. Panama, (p. v .. ) upon Little Brocken Straw Creek, near the center, contains 4 churches and 500 inhabitants. Block ville (p. v.) contains 20 dwellings. Stedman is a p. o. in the N. part of the town. The first settlement was made on Lot 43, in 1806, by Reuben Slayton, from Otsego co.7 The first religious meeting (Bap. ) was held in a schoolhouse at Blockville, by Rev. Simon Bowers.8
1 Named from Elbridge Gerry, a signer of the Declaration of | Richard Smith and Sally Mack, in 1807; and the first death, Independence.
2 Jesse Dexter, David Cobb, and IIngh B. Patterson were among the early settlers. The town settled slowly until after the close of the war in 1815, when the settlements progressed rapidly. The first death was that of Alva Eaton, who was killed by the fall of a tree in the spring of 1818. Jas. Bucklin kept the first inn. in 1820, and Howard B. Blodget the first store. in 1826, at Bucklins Corners. John Hines and Win. Newton erected the first sawmill. on Cassadaga Creek. in the s. w. part, in 1819, and the first gristmill. in 1822.
that of Wm. Sidney, in Jan. 1807. John Mack kept the first inn, in 1807, at the mouth of Cattarangus Creek, and Parker Brownril the first store. in 1811. Abel Cleveland and David Dickerson built the first sawmill, in 1804. and the first gristmill. in 1806, at Silver Creek. In 1805 Mr. Dickerson erected a saw mill at Silver Creek, to which he attached a mortar and pestle. for the purpose of pounding corn for food. - Moore erected a gristmill at Forestville about the same period.
6 There are 8 churches in town : 4 M. E., 3 Bap., and Prosh. 7 Daniel B. Carpenter. from Washington co., settled on Lot 64
8 Named from a gigantic walnut tree that grew near its ; in 1806; Jonathan Cheney on Lot 52, in 1807; Theron By. from
mouth This tree was 9 ft. in diameter and 27 ft. in circinn- ference. It was ent into sections and sold as curiosities.
Otsego co., on Lot 44. and Win. Mattisim on Lot 52. in 1º11 ; and Jns. Carpenter on Lot 36, in 1816, The first child burn was 4 The steamboat. W. F. B. Taylor was loiilt here in 1856, Thus, Slayton, In Nov. 1807: the first marriage. that of Renben 5 Ain'mig the first settlers were Win. Sidney and Capt. Rose- : Slayton and Clarissa Slayton. in 1-08; aml the first death. that crantz. in 1801; Sylvanns Maybee. Broj Kinson, and Amos Avery. of Thomas Slayton. Nov. 26. 1507. Eben Pratt taught the first at the mouth of Cattarangos Creek. Nathan Cass. from Boston. Je- selmed, in 1817: Jan. MeCallen kept the first inn. in 1816, on Lot hial More and Jonas Green, at Forestville. in 1805 : Abel theve- ; 43: and Tablets & Kellogg the first store, on the same Iet. in land and David Dickerson. in IS02; John E. Howard. in 1906: and : 1818, Reulon Slayton lant the first sawmill. im Lot 43, in ]- Es Artemis R. Clothier. in 1809, -- all at Silver Creek. The first child ; 8 The census reports 9 churches ; & M. E., 3 Bap., and Fresh. born was Caroline Sidney, in 1504; the first marriage, that if
214
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
KIANTONE-was formed from Carroll, Nov. 16, 1853. It lies upon the s. border of the co., E. of the center. The surface is undulating in the E., and hilly in the w. The highest summits are about 100 ft. above Chautauqua Lake. Connewango Creek forms the greater part of the E. boundary. Kiantone and Stillwater Creeks are the other principal streams. The soil is a elay loam intermixed with gravel. Kiantone (p. v.) contains about 20 dwellings. The first settle- ment was made on Lot 1, in 1807, by Robt. Russel.1 The first religious meeting was held at the house of Joseph Akins, in 1814, by Rev. Mr. Smith; and the first church (Cong.) was formed in 1815. There are 3 churches in town ; Cong., M. E., and Univ.
MINA-was taken from Clymer, March 23, 1824. Sherman was taken off in 1832. It is the central town upon the w. border of the eo. Its surface is rolling and hilly. The principal streams are French and several smaller ereeks, flowing s. and w. Findleys Lake is a fine sheet of water in the s. w. part. The soil is a clay and gravelly loam. Mina Corners, (Mina p. o., ) a little E. of the center, contains 15 dwellings; and Findleys Lake, (p. v.,) near the outlet of the lake, 20 dwellings. Friends is a p.o. in the s. w. part. The first settlement was made on Lot 52, in 1816, by Alex. Finley, from Penn., originally from Ireland .? The first religious services (Ref. Prot. D.) were held in the barn of Benj. Hazen, by Rev. Mr. Bradley, in 1826. The first and only church (Ref. Prot. D.) was formed in 1853, and the church edifice was ereeted in 1857.
POLAND-was formed from Ellicott, April 9, 1832. It lies on the E. border of the co., s. of the eenter. Its surface is a hilly upland, divided into several distinet ridges. The principal streams are Connewango and Cassadaga Creeks, which form a junetion near the s. line. The soil is a clay and sandy loam. Considerable lumber is still manufactured. Falconer,3 (p. v.,) on Connewango Creek, contains a church, gristmill, sawmill, and 23 dwellings. Poland Cen- ter is a p. o. The first settlement was made at Faleoner, on the Connewango, in 1805, by Dr. Thos. R. Kennedy, from Meadville, Penn." A church (Union)-the only one in town-is located at Falconer.
POMFRET-was formed from Chautauqua, March 11, 1808. Ellicott, Gerry, and Hanover were taken off in 1812, a part of Sheridan in 1827, and parts of Arkwright in 1829 and '30. It lies upon Lake Erie, a little E. of the center of the co. A strip of comparatively level land extends along the lake, and the remaining part of the surface is a rolling upland, the higher summits being 700 to 800 ft. above the lake. It is principally drained by Canadaway Creek and several smaller streams flowing into the lake. Several small branches of Cassadaga Creek take their rise in the s. part. The soil is a elay and gravelly loam. Quarries of excellent building stone are found along the lake shore. Dunkirk,5 (p. v.,) on Lake Erie, was ineorp. May 15, 1837. It is a commercial port upon the lake, and the w. terminus of the N. Y. & Erie R. R. It has a fine harbor, and commodious wharves and warehouses for the accommodation of the large amount of commerce that centers here during the season of navigation.6 The R. R. company have also extensive warehouses, work and repair shops, and accommodations for an immense freighting business. The port is the most important one on the lake between Buffalo and Cleveland; and regular lines of steam propellers run in connection with the R. R. The village contains a bank, 4 churches, 2 newspaper offices, a union school, several machine shops aud furnaces, and a brewery and distillery. Pop. 4,754. Fredonia, (p.v.,) upon Canadaway Creek,7 3 mi. s. of Dunkirk, was ineorp. May 2, 1829. It contains 4 churches, the Fredonia Academy, 2 bauks, 2 weekly newspapers, 3 flouring mills, 2 furnaces, and various other manufacturing establishments. The celebrated "Fredonia Garden Seeds" are raised and put up at this place.8 Pop. 2,004.
1 James Hall settled on Lot 28. in 1810. The first school was ! taught by Stephen Rogers, in 1814. Jas. Hall kept the first store. on Lot 28, and Win. Sears the first inn, on Lot 11. Robert Russel built the first sawmill, on Kiantone Creek.
2 Aaron Whitney, from Dunnville, Canada, settled on Lot 59, Zina Kerkford on Lot 28, and Roger Haskill on Lot 50, in 1821; James Ottaway, from Keut co .. England, on Lot 14, in 1823. The first birth was that of a daughter of Nathaniel Throop. in 1523: the first marriage, that of Isaac Stedman and Nancy Wil- cox. in April. 1826; and the first death, that of the mother of Nathaniel Throop. in 1825. The first school was taught by Elisha More, near Finleys Mills, in 1826. Cullin Barnes kept the first inn, on Lot 20. iu 1:27. and Horace Brockway the first store. in 1824. on bot 52. Alex. Finley built the first mill, in 1824. on the outlet of Finleys Lake. 3 Formerly known as " Kennedyrille."
+ Edward Sbillitto settled about the same time at the mills on the Connewango ; Amasa Ives, Isaac Young, -- Owens, - Miles, Jos. and Daniel Wheeler, Nicholas Dolloff, aud Joshua
Woodard were also early settlers. Dr. T. R. Kennedy erected the first sawmill, in 1805. and the first gristtill, in 1806. on the Con- newango. The first lumber rafted down the Alleghany was made at Dr. Kennedy's mill.
5 Formerly called "Chadwicks Bay." from the first settler.
6 At this port were received. in 1857. 242.957 bbls. flour. 38.5.32 bbls. whiskey. 20.153 bbls. beef. pork, and bacon. 93, 145 bust wheat. 114,652 bosh. corn, 2.152.800 1bs. wool. 1.208.400 lbs. butter, 9,236 head of cattle, 10,782 sheep, and 10.865 hogs.
7 Upon the banks of the creek-just below the bridge, in the village -- is a spring of carburetted hydrogen gas, yielding about 10,000 cubic ft. of gas every 24 hours. This gas is collected in a gasometer and distributed in pipes, affording suffirut light for about onehalf of the village. About one mi. E. of the village the gas oozes from the shale rocks on the banks of the creek over the space of an acre. The amount of gas escaping here is sup- posed to be much greater than at the spring in the village, and a company has been formed to collect it for use.
8 Over 600 acres of land are devoted to this business.
215
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY.
Laona, (p. v.,) on Saw Creek, near the E. border, contains 2 churches, a paper mill, saw and grist mill, and 406 inhabitants. Brigham, in the s. part, is a p. o. Shumla is a hamlet, near the s. E. corner. David Eason and Thoulas Mcclintock, from Penn., settled at Fredouia, in 1804.1 The first church (Bap.) was organized Oct. 20, 1808, at the house of Judge Cushing.2
PORTLAND-was formed from Chautauqua, April 9, 1813. Ripley was taken off in 1817, and a part of Westfield in 1829. It lies upon Lake Erie, a little w. of the center of the co. Its surface is level along the lake shore, but broken and hilly in the center and w. Its streams are small creeks and brooks flowing into Lake Erie. The soil is a clay and gravelly loam. Centerville, (Portland p. o.,) near tho center, contains 2 churches and 233 inhabitants ; Salem, (Brockton p. o.,) in the N. E. part, contains 2 churches and 258 inhabitants. The first settlement was made a little w. of the center, by Capt. Jas. Dunn, in 1805.3 The first religious meeting was held at the house of Capt. Dunu, iu 1810, by Rev. Jolin Speucer, who afterward organized the first church (Cong.) iu 1817.4
RIPLEY5-was formed from Portland, March 1, 1817. A part of Westfield was taken off in 1829. It lies upon Lake Erie, in the N. w. corner of the co. Its surface is level along the lake shore, and broken and hilly in the s. E. The highest summits are 800 ft. above the lake. It is drained by Twenty Mile Creek and its tributaries and a large number of small streams flowing into the lake. The soil is a clay and gravelly loam. Along the lake shore are several valuable stone quarries. Quincy, (Ripley p. o., ) about 1 mi. E. of the lake, contains 2 churches and 289 inhabitants. State Line is a station on the B. & E. R. R. Josiah Farnsworth, from the E. part of the State, settled at Quincy in 1804. The first religious services (Bap.) were held at the house of Nathan Wisner, by Rev. Samuel Wisner, in 1806; the first church (Presb.) was formed in 1820.6
SHERIDAN-was formed from Pomfret and Hanover, April 16, 1827. It lies upon the shore of Lake Eric, E. of the center of the co. The surface is level in the N. w., and hilly in the 8. E., with a gradual inclination toward the lake. A nearly perpendicular bluff, 50 to 200 ft. high, extends along the lake shore. It is drained by Scotts Creck, and several smaller streams, flowing into Lake Erie. The soil is a clay loam, mixed in some parts with gravel. Sheridan Center (p. v.) contains 2 churches and 20 dwellings. The first settlements were made on Lot 17, at the center, by Francis Webber, from Mass., in 1804.7 The first religious mecting (Presb.) was held at the house of Orsamus Holmes, by Rev. John Spencer, in 1807; and the first church (Presb.) was organized by Mr. Spencer, in 1816.8
-SIFERMANO-was formed from Mina, April 17, 1832. It is an interior town, lying s. w. of the center of the co. The surface is rolling and hilly, broken by the deep ravines of the streams. It is drained by French Creek and its tributaries. The soil is clay and sandy loam. Considerable lumber is manufactured in the town. Sherman, (p. v.,) in the N., contains 4 churches, a grist- mill, sawmill, and several manufacturing establishments. Pop. 401. Center Sherman is a p.o. Pleasant Valley and Waits Corners arc hamlets. In 1824,10 Alanson Wced set-
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