by Arad Thomas (Author), Amanda Burris (Editor)
Follow the journeys of pioneer families as they leave the relative comfort of New England, joined by immigrants from diverse backgrounds, to carve out a new life in the untamed wilderness of Western New York. Their stories unfold in the wake of the Revolutionary War, through the trials of the War of 1812, and touch upon events that echo even into the Great Rebellion.
Their courage and determination shaped a rugged frontier into thriving communities, laying the foundation for generations to come. Marvel at their fortitude as they fight bears, withstand debilitating sickness, and struggle to survive starvation during the “year without a summer.”
Explore the founding of villages, the formation of towns, and the personal tales of the early settlers richly detailed in their own words, all meticulously detailed in this significant historical work by Arad Thomas (1871).
This annotated version includes updated language for modern readers, a comprehensive glossary, and an extended name and subject index.
DEDICATION
FORWARD
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
THE INDIANS OF WESTERN NEW YORK
PHELPS AND GORHAM’S PURCHASE
THE 100,000 ACRE TRACT
THE HOLLAND PURCHASE
The Bountiful Land, The Tonawanda Swamp
THE LOG HOUSE
LOG HOUSE FURNITURE
CLEARING LAND AND FIRST CROPS
HARDSHIPS AND PRIVATIONS
Early Merchants - Their Stores And Goods; Domestic Manufacturers; Post Office And Mail
THE ERIE CANAL
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS
RAILROADS IN ORLEANS COUNTY
STATE OF EDUCATION
STATE OF RELIGION
BURYING GROUNDS
THE TOWN OF BARRE
Lansing Bailey; Gideon Hard; Ebenezer Rogers; Asa Sanford; Andrew H. Green; Linus Jones Peck; Harvey Goodrich; Orson Nichoson; Timothy C. Strong; Nathan Whitney; Avery M. Starkweather; Amos Root; Ozias S. Church; William Bradner; A. Hyde Cole; Benjamin L. Bessac; Henry R. Curtis; Zenas F. Hibbard; William Tanner; Roswell S. Burrows; William Penniman; Jesse Mason; Stephen B. Thurston; Rufus Hallock; Jonathan Clark; Oliver Benton; Moses Smith; Anthony Tripp; Allen Porter; Elizur Hart; Jarvis M. Skinner; Nathaniel Braley; Lucius Street; Thomas W. Allis; Joseph Barker; Enos Rice; Luther Porter; Nehemiah Ingersoll; Justice Ingersoll; Lorenzo Burrows; George E. Mix; Things I Can Remember; Mrs. Lydia Mix; Joseph Hart; Aden Foster; Alex Ward; The Lee Family; Abraham Cantin; Caroline P. Achilles
THE VILLAGE OF ALBION
TOWN OF CARLTON
The Union Company; George Kuck; Daniel Gates; Elijah Hunt; Ray Marsh; Jobe Shipman; Lyman Fuller
TOWN OF CLARENDON
Horace Peck; Benjamin G. Pettingill; Bradstreet Spafford; Nicholas E. Darrow; Eldridge Farwell; William Lewis; Martin Evarts; Lemuel Cook; Isaac Cady
TOWN OF GAINES
Richard Treadwell; Walter Fairfield; John Proctor; Samuel Hill; Samuel Salsbury; Perry Davis; Levi Atwell; Samuel C. Lewis; Gideon S. Lewis; Nathan Shelley; The Bullard Family; The Billings Family; Arba Chubb; The Anderson Family; Moses Bacon; Samuel Bidelman; John Henry Beech; Oliver Booth; James Mather; Elihu Mather; Henry Drake; Simeon Dutcher; Honorable William J. Babbitt; Gideon Freeman; Chester Freeman; Daniel Pratt; Daniel Brown; William W. Ruggles; Eagle Harbor
TOWN OF KENDALL
Aidin Manley; Robert Clark; Samuel Bates; Amos Randall; David Jones
TOWN OF MURRAY
Harley N. Bushnell; Aretas Pierce; Hubbard Rice; Chauncey Robinson; Hiram Frisbie; Jacob Hinds; Austin Day; Elijah W. Wood; Recollections Of Mrs. Sally Smith; Alanson Mansfield; Abner Balcom; Reuben Bryant
VILLAGE OF HOLLEY
THE VILLAGE OF HULBERTON
VILLAGE OF HINDSBURGH
THE TOWN OF RIDGEWAY
Israel Douglass; William C. Tanner; Levi Davis; Jeremiah Brown; Joseph L. Perry; Charles D. Burlingham; Josias Tanner; Lucius Barrett; Seymour B. Murdock; Glyman Bates; David Hooker; Otis Turner; Thomas Weld; Samuel Church; William N. Preston; James Daniels; William Cochrane; William Cobb; Seymour Murdock; Grosvenor Daniels; Laura Baker; Nahum Barrett; Luther Barrett; Christopher Whaley; Andrew Weld; William Jackson; Elijah Hawley; James Jackson; John Le Valley; Amos Barrett; Sidney S. Barrett; William Knowles; Avery V. Andrews; Nancy G. Masten; Lysander C. Grover; Edwin P. Healy; Milo Coon; Peter Hoag; David Hood
VILLAGE OF MEDINA
THE VILLAGE OF KNOWLESVILLE
THE TOWN OF SHELBY
The Gregory Family; Amos Gregory; Matthew Gregory; David Demara; Abram Bidelman; Jotham Morse; David Burroughs; Darius Southworth; Newman Curtis; Horatio N. Hewes; Lathrop A. G. B. Grant; Andrew A. Ellicott; Alexander Coon; Jacob A. Zimmerman; John Grinnell
THE TOWN OF YATES
Yates Center; Village Of Lyndonville; Reuben Root; Samuel Tappan; John H. Tyler; Horace O. Goold; Josiah Perry; Alfred Bullard; Henry Mcneal; Amos Spencer; Elisha Sawyer; Baruch H. Gilbert; Elisha Bowen
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES
Joseph Ellicott; Ebenezer Mix
ORLEANS COUNTY PIONEER ASSOCIATION
ADDRESS by Arad Thomas
APPENDIX