History of Chautauqua County, New York, and Its People, Volume I [1]

475 pp. Volume 1 of 3 volume set. "Chautauqua County is the westernmost county in New York. Its name is believed to be the lone surviving remnant of the Erie language, a tongue lost in the Beaver Wars; its meaning is unknown and a subject of speculation. The county was created in 1808 and organized in 1811." CONTENTS: Geography, Topography, Geology, Climatology; The Mound Builders, Ancient Remains; Origin of the Name Chautauqua; The Destruction of the Eries; Brodhead's Expedition; Later Indian Wars, Occupation and Treaties; The Frontier Period, 1802-1805, Early Settlers, Foundation of Towns; The Pioneer Period, War with Great Britain, Customs of the People; The Early Farming Period, 1825-1835, Development of the County, Industries, Amusements; The Early Farming Period, 1835-1851, The Holland Company, Under the New Constitution, Progress of Education; The Agricultural Period, 1851-1861, Early Railroads, Spiritualism and Mormonism, Discover of Oil; The Agricultural Period, 1861-1875, Development of Grape Culture; Close of Century, 1875-1902, First Use of Natural Gas, Jamestown Incorporated as a City, Electricity Introduced as a Motive Power, The Prendergast Library, New County Buildings, Lakeside Assembly, Improvement of Dunkirk Harbor, Soldiers of the Revolution, Burning of Fredonia Normal School, Origin and Character of the People; Opening of the Twentieth Century, The County Redistricted, New Court House, Military Reunions; Opening of the Twentieth Century, Continued, The County Redistricted, Death of Obed Edson; Towns: Arkwright, Busti, Carroll, Charlotte, Chautauqua, Cherry Creek Clymer; The City of Dunkirk; Towns: Ellery, Ellicott; The City of Jamestown; Towns: Ellington, French Creek, Gerry, Hanover, Harmony; Towns: Kiantone, Mina, Poland, Pomfret, Portland; Towns: Ripley, Sheridan, Sherman, Stockton, Villenova, Westfield; Chautauqua County To-day, Statistics; Miscellaneous.