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 71

Author: French, J. H. (John Homer), 1824-1888, ed. cn; Place, Frank, 1880-1959, comp
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : R. Pearsall Smith
Number of Pages: 772


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 71


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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I Established as the Clarence Classical School in 1841, by J. The first school was taught by Mary Eddy, in the wiuter of ITadley and R. Blennerhassett.


? Asa Ransom was a man of considerable influence with the Indians. They gave him the name of "O-wis-ta-no-af-squo-nich," signifying "maker of silver," or "maker of silver money." Gen. Timothy Hopkins settled in the town in 1797; Asa Chap- man, Timothy James, Win. Updegraff, Christopher Saddler, Levi Felton, Abraham Shope, John Ilaines, and John Gardner, in 1801; Andrew Durnet, Geo. Slmrman, Bera Ensign, and Jacob Shope. in 1803; and Daniel Bailey in 1804. The first birth was that of Harry B. Ransom, in 1801; and the first death, that of - Keyes, in 1804. Asa Ransom opened the first public house, in 1801. built the first sawmill, in 1805, and the first gristmill, iu 1806: Otis R. Hopkins kept the first store. in 1811. The first school was tanght by Rebecca Hamlin, in 1805.


1 3 Mennonites, Bap., Seventh Day Bap., Presb., and Union.


$ Named from Cadwallader D. Colden, then in the State Senate. 6 Thos. Pope, Josiah Brown, and L. Owen settled in the town in 1810. and Jesse South wick, Richard Sweet. Nath'l Bowen, and Silas Lewis in 1811. The first birth was that of a child of Thos. Pope, in 1811: the first marriage, that of Jas. Sweet and Char- lotte Buffum, in 1810; and the first death, that of Nathaniel Bowen, in 1812. Richard Buffum built the first mill, in 1810. 1


1814. 6 See page 194.


7 Joshua Palmerton, Stephen Peters, Turner Aldrich, and Stephen Lapham settled in the town in 1810, and Stephen Wil- hur and Sylvanus Bates in 1811. The first birth was that of & son of Aaron Lindsley, in 1810; the first marriage, that of Stephen Peterson and Sarah Palmerton, in 1811; and the first death, that of - Straight, in 1812 Jacob Taylor built the first mill, in 1812; John Hanford kept the first store, in 1813, and Nathan King the first inn, in 1816. The first scholl was taught by John King, in 1815.


8 Christians, Friends, F. W. Bap., Presb., and Union.


" A wooleu factory, 2 planing mills, a turning shop, a saw mill. 2 gristimills, a tannery, a stone sawing mill, and a furnace and machine shop.


10 John Albro and John Russell settled in the town the same year, Sam'l Cochrane in 1809, and Rufus Eaton, Joseph Adams, Alva Plnib, and David Shultiez in 1810. The first birth was that of Lucius Stone, iu 1809; the first marriage, that of Jas. Runnell and Anna Richmond, in 1813; and the first death, that of Mrs. John Albro, iu 1808. Anna Richmond taught tho first school, in 1811.


11 Bap., F. W. Bap., M. E., Presb., R. C., Union, and Univ.


19


290


ERIE COUNTY.


contains 2 churches, 2 sawmills, and 40 houses. Ellicott (p. o.) is a hamlet. The first settle- ment was made in 1803, by David Eddy, from Rutland, Vt.1 There are 3 churches in town ; Friends, M. E., and Union.


EDEN-was formed from "Willink," (now Aurora,) March 20, 1812. Boston was taken off in 1817, and Evans in 1821. It is an interior town, lying s. w. of the center of the co. Its surface is hilly and broken in the E. and level in the w. A ridge about 500 ft. above the lake extends along the E. border. The principal streams are Eighteen Mile Creek aud its branches. The soil is a gravelly loam intermixed with clay. Eden, (p. v., ) situated near the center of the town, contains 3 churches, a sawmill, a stave and shingle mill, a tannery, and 63 houses; Eden Val- ley, (p. v.,) on Eighteen Mile Creek, contains a gristmill, a sawmill, and 20 houses. Clarks- burgh (p. o.) and East Eden (p. o.) are hamlets. The first settlement was made in 1808, by Benj., Joseph, and Samuel Tubbs.2 The first religious serviees were conducted by Rev. Wm. Hill, in 1812. There are 8 churches in town.'


ELMA-was formed from Lancaster and Aurora, Dee. 4, 1857. It is an interior town, lying N. E. of the center of the eo. Its surface is gently rolling, the summits of the ridges being 50 to 100 ft. above the valleys. Big Buffalo and Cazenove Creeks flow through the town. The soil is a clayey loam in the N. and a gravelly loam in the s. Spring Brook, (p. v.,) on Cazenove Creek, contains 2 churches and several manufactorics." Pop. 300. Elma5 (p. v.) has several manufacturing establishments6 and 34 houses ; and Upper Ebenezer 27 houses. The first settlement was made in 1827, by Taber Earlle." There are 2 churches in town; Prcsb. and R. C.


EVANS8-was formed from Eden, March 23, 1821. A part of Hamburgh was annexed in 1826, and a part of Brandt was taken off in 1839. It lies upon the lake shore, in the s. part of the co. The land rises from the lake in a bluff 20 to 40 ft. high; and the highest part of the town, near the E. border, is 160 ft. above the lake. The streams are Big and Little Sister Creeks. The soil is a sandy and gravelly loam intermixed with elay. Evans, (p. v., ) situated on Big Sister Creek, contains 3 churches, a gristmill, a sawmill, a tannery, and about 45 houses; Angola, (p. v.,) on the same stream, is a station on the Erie R. R., and contains a gristmill, a sawmill, and about 45 houses ; North Evans, (p. v., ) on Eighteen Mile Creck, in the N. E. part of the town, contains 3 churches, a gristmill, a sawmill, a tannery, and about 40 houses; East Evans, (p. v.,) in the N. part of the town, and Pontiac, (p. v., ) on Big Sister Creek, in the s. E. part, contain about 20 houses each. The first settlement was made in 1804, by Joel Harvey.9 There are 7 churches in town.1º


GRAND ISLAND-was formed from Tonawanda as a town, Oct. 19, 1852. It is the N. W. corner town in the co., and comprises Grand, Buckhorn, and Beaver Islands, in Niagara River. Its surface is nearly level, and a considerable portion of it is still covered with forests. The soil of the upper part is clayey, and of the lower part sandy. The people are principally engaged in grain raising and lumbering. Grand Island is a p. o. on the E. shore. There is no village on the island, although it is thickly settled along the shores. The first settlers were squatters, who located soon after the War of 1812 and before it was decided to which Government the island belonged.11 In 1820, Mordecai M. Noah, of New York, coneeived the projeet of forming a


1 Ezekiel Cook and Zenas Smith settled in the town in 1803, | first inn was kept by Taber Earile, in 1829. Emily Paine taught and Amos Colvin and Ezekiel and Daniel Smith in 1804. The the first school, in 1831. 8 Named from David E. Evans, agent of the Holland Land Company. first marriage was that of Almon C. Laire and Lydia Sprague, in 1808; the first hirth, that of a son of Daniel Smith, in 1805; and the first death, that of the same child, in 1806. Dan'l Smith built the first mill, in 1807; John Green kept the first inn, in 1807, and David Eddy the first store, in 1809. The first school was taught hy Anna Eddy, in 1807.


2 Among the first settlers were John Marsh, Silas Este, and Calvin Thompson, who came in 1809, and Daniel and Edward Webster, in 1810. The first hirth was that of llannah Tubhs, in 1809; the first marriage, that of David Doan and Anna Ilill, in 1815; and the first death, that of Jas. Welch, In 1812. Elisha Welch built the first sawmill, in 1811, and the first gristmill, in 1812. Wm. Ilill kept the first inn, in 1814, and Fillmore & Johnson the first store, in 1820. The first school was taught by Rowena Plack, in 1812.


3 3 Ref. Prot. D., Bap., Evang. Lnth., M. E., Presh., and R. C. 4 2 sawmills, a shingle and turning mill, 2 gristmills, and a tannery.


$ Named from a very large elm tree near Elma Village.


6 1 gristmill, 2 planing mills, and a chair factory.


9 - Fisk and - Worder settled in the town in 1808, Aaron Salisbury and Aaron Cash in 1809, and Andrew Tyler and Elijah Gates in 1810. The first hirth was that of a daughter of David Cash, in Jan. 1811; the first marriage, that of Whiting Cash and Persis Taylor, June 28, 1815 ; and the first death, that of Jona- than Cash, in 1811. Ilenry Tuttle built the first mill, in 1817; Joel Harvey kept the first inn, in 1806; and John Harris the first store, in 1815. The first school was taught hy - Hib- bard, in 1811.


During the War of 1812 a party of British sailors and mariners landed near Sturgeon Point, in the night, and cominenced plun- dering the inhabitants. Judge Aaron Salisbury, then a young man, seized his musket and started off alone to get a shot at them. When he arrived they were retreating to their boats, and an exchange of slots produced no damage on either side. They started for the mouth of Eighteen Mile Creek, and he on foot endeavored to get there before themn; but they had landed when he arrived. He immediately commenced firing; and they, not knowing how large a force was opposing then, re- treated to their boats and speedily left. Here one man fright- ened away 100 and saved the inhabitants from plunder.


7 Timothy Treat, Isaac Williams, Willard and Jas. Fairbanke. and Amasa Adams settled in the town in 1830, and Zima A. Hemstreet, Abraham Taber, and Jacob Petteugill in 1831. The first birth: was that of II. Scott Fairbanks, in 1831; the first 10 3 Bap., 3 Cong., 3 M. E., and R. C. marriage, that of Gould Hinman and Louisa Adams, in 1835; 11 The treaty of peace fixed the boundary between the two countries along the principal branch of Niagara River. A dis and the first death, that of the wife of Isaac Williams, in 1830. The first mill was built by - Eastabrook, in 1824; and the | pute in regard to which was the principal branch was settled in


-


291


ERIE COUNTY.


colony of Jews upon Grand Island, as an Ararat, or resting place, for that scattered and broken people.1


HAMBURGHI2-was formed from " Willink," (now Aurora,) March 20, 1812. A part of Evans was taken off in 1826, East Hamburgh in 1850, and a part of West Sencca, as " Seneca," in 1851. It lies on the shore of Lake Erie, near the center of the w. border of the co. Its surface in the E. is rolling; but in the w. it is nearly level, with a gentle inclination toward the lake. A bluff averaging 50 to 100 feet high borders the lake. The principal stream is Eighteen Mile Creek. The soil is mostly a clayey loam ; in the s. E. corner it is gravelly. Whites Corners, (p. v.,) on the N. branch of Eighteen Mile Creek, in the s. E. part of the town, contains 5 churches, a gristmill, a sawmill, a tannery, and has a pop. of 609; Water Valley, (p. v.,) on the same stream, w. of Whites Corners, contains a woolen factory, a furnace, and 20 houses; Abbotts Corners, (Ilamburgh p. o.,) on the line of East Hamburgh, contains 2 churches, a sawmill, a shingle mill, and 145 inhabitants. Big Tree Corners and Hamburgh-on-the-Lake are p. offices. The first settlement was made in 1804, by Nathaniel Titus and Dr. Rufus Belden.3 There are 7 churches in town.4


HOLLAND-was formed from "Willink," (now Aurora,) April 15, 1818; and Colden was taken off in 1827. It lies upon the E. border of the co., s. E. of the center. The surface is a high, broken upland, divided by the valley of Cazenove Crcek. The summit of the highland is about 900 ft. above Lake Erie. The soil is a gravelly loam, intermixed in some places with slate and clay. The valley of Cazcnove Creek is very fertilc. Holland, (p. v.,) on Cazcnove Creck, contains 1 church, several manufacturing cstablishments,5 and 28 houses. The first settlement was made in 1807, by Jared Scott, Abner Currier, and Arthur Humphrey, from Vt.6 There is but 1 church (Bap.) in town.


LANCASTER-was formed from Clarence, March 20, 1833. A part of West Seneca was taken off in 1851, and a part of Elma in 1857. It is an interior town, N. E. of the center of the co. The surface is level. Cayuga and Eleven Mile Creeks are the principal streams; upon them are several mill sites. The soil is a claycy and gravelly loam. Lancaster, (p. v.,) incorp. March 13, 1849, is a station on the N. Y.C. R. R., in the w. part of the town. It contains 6 churches, a bank, and several manufactorics.7 Pop. 1,259. Bowmansville, (p. v., ) in the N. w. corner of the town,


1818, hy commissioners appointed respectively hy the United States and British Governments. While the matter was still undecided, a large number of lawless persons-mostly refugees from justice from both sides of the river-squatted upou the island, locating principally along the shores. Remaining for some time unmolested, they began to commit extensive depre- dations upon the timber; and finally they set up an independent government and elected a full quota of municipal officers. In April, 1819, the legislature passed an act authorizing the re- moval of these intruders. During the succeeding summer the governor issued a proclamation commanding them to desist from depredations upon the property of the State, and at once to remove. A few obeyed the command; but, seeing no active demonstrations on the part of Government, they returned. In the fall of 1819, Gov. Clinton directed Col. Jas. Cronk, the sheriff of Niagara co., to call out a sufficient military force for the pur- pose and forcibly expel them. On the 9th of Dec. 1819, the sheriff, accompanied by Lieuts. Benj. Ilodge and --- Osborne, 2 serjeants, 4 corporals, and 24 privates, went to the island in boats, inanned by 20 boatmen, to carry into execution the orders of the governor. Every facility was given the people to remove with their effects; and the hoatmen took them to either shore, as they might elect. The military were divided into 3 parties: a vanguard, to read the governor's orders and assist in cleariug the houses; a second party, to forcibly remove all property left in the buildings; and a rear guard, to burn the buildings and complete the removal and destruction. Seventy houses were burned, and 150 people, consisting of inen, women, and children, were turned out shelterless upon the U. S. and Canada shores. Two buildings, filled with grain, alone were saved. The removal and destruction occupied 5 days and cost the State ¿568.99. A few families returned immediately, but did not re- main.


1 In a memorial to the legislature in 1820 for the purchase of the island, Maj. Noab explained his object; recouuted the persecution which his co-religionists in the Old World had suf- fered through many centuries ; pointed out the benefits that had resulted to Spain, Portugal, France, and Germany from the com- mercial enterprise and the capital of the Jews when allowed the exercise of their rights; and painted in brilliant colors the benefits that would accrue to the U. S. if his people could ex. change " the wbips and scorns of Europe, Asia, and Africa for the light of liberty and civilization" which this country afforded. He estimated that there were 7,000,000 of Jews in the world, and predicted that, if the existence of an asylum of freedom were | and a sawmill.


made known, large numbers would be induced to emigrate. The sanction of law was asked to give confidence to those who might not otherwise be induced to remove. His attempt to gather the Jews, like those before it, ended in day dreams. The European rabbii refused to sanction the effort; and Maj. Noah soon gave up the attempt, leaving no trace of his "city" upon the island hut a monument of brick and wood. It hore, on a muarble tablet, the following iuscriptions from Deuteronomy vi. 4 :--


שמע שראלרר אלהרנר דדאהר


ARARAT,


A CITY OF REFUGE FOR THE JEWS,


Founded by MORDECAI M. NOAH, in the month of TIZRI 5,586, (September, 1825,) and in the 50th y ar of American Inde- pendence.


The monument has since tumbled down; and the schemes of Maj. Noah have now scarcely a place in memory or a trace in history.


A Boston company was formerly extensively engaged in the manufacture of ship timber upon the island.


2 Named from Hamburgh, iu Germany.


8 Benj., Enos, and Joseph Sheldon settled in the town in 1805, and Jolin Fox and Elisba and David Clark in 1806. The first marriage was that of Ezekiel Cook and Anna Smith, in 1807. Nath'l Titus kept the first inn, in 1804; and Johu Cummings built the first mill, in 1805.


4 Bap., F. W. Bap., Evang. Luth., M. E., and R. C. at Whites Corners, and M. E. and Presh. at Abbotts Corners.


5 2 sawmills, a gristinill, and a tannery; the last named is a large establishment, employing ahout 20 men, and turning out about 30,000 sides of leather per annum.


6 They were followed by Dan'l Mckean and Ezekiel and Har- vey Colby the same year, and by Increase Richardson, Samuel Miller, Theophilus Baldwin, and Sandford Porter in 1608. The first birth was that of Dan'l Mckean, in 1808. Joshua Parsons kept the first inn, in 1817, and Leonard Cook the first store, the same year. The first school was taught by Abuer Currier, in 1608.


7 A glass factory, a bedstead factory, a tannery, a gristmill,


292


ERIE COUNTY.


contains 1 church and has a pop. of 196. Town Line, Winspear, and Looneyville are p. offices. The first settlement was made in 1803, by Jas. and Asa Woodward.1 The first religious services were conducted by Rev. John Spencer, at the house of Benj. Clark, in 1809. There are 8 churches in town.2


MARILLAS-was formed from Alden and Wales, Dec. 2, 1853. It is situated near the center of the E. border of the co. The surface is rolling. Big Buffalo Creek crosses the s. w. corner; but the principal part of the town is drained by the head waters of Little Buffalo Creck. The soil in the N. E. and s. w. is a sandy and gravelly loam; but elsewhere it consists of clay and muck. Marilla, (p. v.,) situated near the center of the town, contains 3 churches, 2 sawmills, a shingle niill, and 235 inhabitants. The first settlement was made by Jerry and Joseph Carpenter, in 1829.4 There are 3 churches in town; Disciples, M. E., and R. C.


NEWSTEAD-was formed from Batavia, (Genesee co.,) as "Erie," April 11, 1804; its name was changed April 18, 1831. It is the N. E. corner town of the eo. A limestone terrace extends through near the center of the town. North of this the surface is level, in many places marshy; and the soil is a clayey loam intermixed with marl and sand. To the s. the surface is level, or gently undulating, and the soil a sandy and clayey loam underlaid by limestone. The town is watercd by several small streams, the principal of which is Murder Creek.5 A layer of hydraulic limestone crops out along the terrace, and waterlime is extensively manufactured from it. Akron,6 (p. v.,) incorp. Oct. 1850, is a station on the Canandaigua & N. F. branch of the N. Y. C. R. R., near the center of the town. It contains 4 churches and several manufacturing estab- lishments.7 Pop. 462. Falkirk, 1 mi. E. of Akron, is a hamlet. The first settlement was made in the early part of the present century.8 The first religious society (M. E.) was organized in 1807, with 12 members, at the house of Charles Knight, by Rev. Peter Van Nest and Amos Jenks. There are 4 churchics in town.9


NORTH COLLINS-was formed from Collins, Nov. 24, 1852, as "Shirley;" its name was changed June 24, 1853. It is an interior town, lying in the s. w. part of the co. Its surface is rolling, the summits of the ridges being 200 to 300 ft. above the valleys. The town is watered by the head branches of Eighteen Mile, Clear, and Big Sister Creeks. The streams generally flow through deep ravines bordered by stcep declivities. The soil is a gravelly loam. North Col- lins, (Collins p. o., ) in the N. w. part of the town, contains 2 churches and 34 houses. Shirley. (p. v.) and Langford, (p. o.,) in the N. E. part, New Oregon, (p. o.,) in the E. part, and Marshfield, (p. o.,) in the s., are hamlets. The first settlers were Stephen Sisson, Abram Tucker, and Enos Southwick, from Warren co., who moved into the town in 1810.10 There are 8 churches in town.11


SARDINIA -- was formed from Concord, March 16, 1821. A part of Concord was taken off in 1822. It is the s. E. corner town of the co. The surface in the E. part is gently rolling, and in the w. hilly. Shepherd Hill, s. w. of the center, is 1,040 ft. above Lake Erie. Cattaraugus Creek forms the s. boundary. In the E. part the soil is a gravelly loam, and in the w. it is clay under- laid by hardpan. Sardinia, (p. v., ) in the s. E. part, contains 2 churches, a woolen factory, a gristmill, a tannery, and 40 houses. Protection is a p.o. The first settlement was made by George Richmond, from Vt.12 The first religious services were conducted by the Rev. John Spen- cer, in Feb. 1815. There are 2 churches in town ; Bap. and M. E.


1 Among the early settlers were Alanson Eggleston and David Hamlin, who came in 1804, Jool Parmalee, ju 1505, Warren Hamlin, in 1806, Wm. Blackman, Peter Pratt, -- Kerney, and Elisha Cox, in 1807, and Elias Bissell, Pardon Peckbam, and Benj. Clark, iu 1808. The first birth was that of a pair of twins, abildren of Zophar Beach, and the first death, that of a child


% 2 Evang. Luth .. 2 M. E., Disciples, Ger. Meth., Presh., and R. C. I school was taught by - Keith, in 1807.


3 Named from Mrs. Marilla Rogers, of Alden.


4 Kice Wilder, Cyrus Finney, and Rodman Day settled in 10 The first birth was that of Geo. Tucker, in Ang. 1810; the the town in 1831. The first. birth was that of Sarah Finney, in ! first marriage, that of Levi Woodward and Hannah Southwick, Oct. 1831. Jesse Barton built the first sawmill, in 1828, and the first gristmill, in I>32. Miles Carpenter kept the first store, in 1848, and the first inn, in 1850. The first school was taught by Sophia Day, in 1833.


5 Called by the Indians "Sce-un-gut," noise or roar of distant water. The creek was named from the fact that about the time of the first settlement a white man was murdered upon It, within the present village limits of Akron, by an Indian wbo was conducting bim to Canada.


6 Named from Akron, Ohio, and the latter from a Greek word signifying " summit."


7 2 gristmills, 2 sawmills, 1 waterlime mill, 1 furnace und machine shop, 1 planing will, 1 stave and shingle mill, aud a tannery.


8 Among the early settlers were Otis Ingalls, David Cully, of Wm. Blackman, both in 1808. - Robinson built the first | Peter Van de Venter, Sam'l Miles, John Felton, Charles Barney. sawmill. in 1808; Ahaz Luce opened the first store, in 1810, and Aaron Beard, Robt. Durham, Tobias Cole, and Sam'l, Silas, John, Jos. Carpenter the first inn. in I$12. The first school was taught ; and Thomas Hill. Peter Van de Venter kept the first inn, in by Freelove JJolinson, in 1810.


1502, and Archibald Clark the first store, in 1809. The first º Bap., Presb., M. E., and R. C.


in 1812: and the first deaths, those of two girls, twin daughters of Stephen Sisson. Stephen Stancliff built the first mill, in 1818; Stephen Tucker kept the first inn, and Chester Rose the first. store, both ju 1813. The first school was taught by Phebe Southwick, in the summer of 1813.


11 2 Friends, 2 M. E., 2 R. C., Bap., and Cong.


12 Among the early settlers were Ezra Nott, Henry Godfrey, and Josiah Sumner Elisha Rice and Giles Briggs settled in the town in 1510. The first birth was that of Ray Briggs, in


293


ERIE COUNTY.


TONAWANDA-was formed from Buffalo, April 16, 1836; and Grand Island was taken off in 1852. It lics in the N. w. part of the co., at the angle formed by the junction of Tona- wanda Creek and Niagara River. Its surface is generally level. Eleven Mile Creek crosses the N. part of the town. The soil along Niagara River is clayey; in the interior it is sandy. Tona- wanda, (p. v.,) incorp. Dec. 3, 1853, is situated on the Erie Canal, at the confluence of Niagara River and Tonawanda Creek. It has a good harbor,1 and is an important station on the B. & N. F. R. R. It is the western terminus of the C. & N. F. branch of the N. Y. C. R. R. It contains 5 churches, a newspaper office, a bank, an elevator,2 and several manufacturing establish- ments.3 Pop. 1,257." The first settlement was made in 1805.5 There are 8 churches in town.6


WALES-was formed from Aurora, April 15, 1818; and a part of Marilla was taken off in 1853. It is situated near the center of the E. border of the co. Its surface is broken and hilly and inclined toward the N. The principal stream is Big Buffalo Creek. The soil in the N. is a gravelly loam, and in the s. clay underlaid by hardpan. Wales Center, (p. v.,) on Big Buffalo Creek, in the N. part of the town, contains 2 churches, a gristmill, a sawmill, and 40 dwellings; Wales, (p. v.,) on the same stream, contains 1 church, a gristmill, a sawmill, and 30 dwellings; and South Wales (p. v.) contains a gristmill, a sawmill, and 25 dwellings. The first settlement was made in 1805, by Oliver Pettengill.7 There are 3 churches in town; 2 M. E. and a Free Will Bap.


WEST SENECA-was formed, as " Seneca," from Chicktowaga, Hamburgh and East Ham- burgh, and Lancaster, Oct. 16, 1851; its name was changed March 25, 1852. It is situated on the shore of Lake Erie, near the center of the w. border of the co. Its surface is gently undu- lating in the E. and level in the w. The streams are Big Buffalo, Cazenove, and Smokes8 Crecks. The soil is generally a sandy loam. The town is mainly settled by a society of German religion- ists, generally known as Ebenezers, but who style themselves the "Community of True Inspira- tion."9 Middle Ebenezer, on Buffalo Creek, contains a church, calico printing factory, wooler factory, sawmill, oil mill, and 67 houses; Lower Ebenezer, on Cazenove Creek, contains a church, sawmill, gristmill, tannery, and 50 houses; and New Ebenezer contains a large manufactory of cotton and woolen goods, an extensive dyeing works, and 9 dwellings. Reserve, West Seneca Center, and West Seneca are p. offices. The first settlement was made by Reuben Sackett, in 1826.10 There are 4 churches in town.11




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