Who Drilled the First Wells in Allegany County? 

·        Petroleum in the United States, by Arnold and Kemnitzer, page 115, 1931.   “The first well in Allegany County was drilled in 1865 in the town of Independence, but did not go deep enough to obtain more than a showing of oil and gas.”

 ·        Sketches in Crude Oil by John J. McLaurin, page 225, 1898.  “The first well drilled for oil in Allegany County…in Independence Township,…September, 1877. 

·        Volume II, Historic Annals of Southwestern NY, pages 993-4, 1940.  “The first real oil well was probably drilled in New York State where the village of Whitesville now stands.  This well was completed in 1866, but had only a small showing of oil.  Unverified reports claim that a test well was also drilled at Limestone,NY in either 1865 or 1866.  These reports, if true, would locate the first two test wells in the state, but for an historical factual record, the verified Whitesville test may take first place.” 

·        Empire Oil by John P. Herrick, Dodd, Mead & Company, 1949.  “The first of a series of historically important oil wells that were milestones in the major oil developments in Allegany County, was the Cryder Creek Well in Whitesville village in Independence Township.  This well, which was drilled on the Alvia Wood farm in the summer of 1865 by the Whitesville Petroleum Company, has been accepted by some oil historians as the first well drilled for oil in Allegany County, and by one particular historian as the first well drilled for oil in New York State.

            "Subsequent research by the author has provided factual evidence (already referenced in book) that the Cryder Creek Well was the sixth well drilled for oil in Allegany County, having been preceded by the Moore farm well at Rushford in 1860, and the four Jonathan Watson & Company wells on the Sececa Oil Spring Reservation in 1861-62.  Also, instead of being the first well drilled for oil in New York State, it was actually the eleventh, being preceded by the wells already mentioned, plus the first wells in Cattaraugus County. 

•         “Contrary to many oil historians, the first recorded test well drilled for oil in New York State was on the John T. Moore farm, Lot 59, three miles southwest of Rushford village in Allegany County, and eleven miles due north of the Seneca oil spring, and at the same elevation above sea level as the Indian spring.  The well was completed in July, 1860.

           "The cucumber plank conductor placed in the well in 1860 is still there (1949), preserved by a stream of cold sulphur water that continues to flow the year around through a cattail swamp on its way to nearby Wolf Creek….Dr. Earl D. Kilmer of Olean,NY, was born on a farm near the site of the well, and practiced medicine at Rushford for some years.  When a lad of ten, his father warned him never go near the Moore well, as he believed it was dangerous to do so, but the temptation was too great to resist.  The boy found a strong odor of escaping gas rising from the bubbling water, and a scum of oil on the surface of the brook that flowed from the well.  A neighbor of Kilmers, Sullivan B. Morrison, to satisfy his curiosity, lighted a match to peer into the old well.  There was a loud explosion and flash.  Away went Mr. Morrison’s long whiskers, his eyebrows and hat!!” 

•     “The Whitesville Petroleum Company was incorporated for $2500 on March 6, 1865, to bore for oil or minerals in Allegany and Steuben counties, and six trustees were named to direct drilling operations.  The stock was sold to residents of the village and vicinity farm owners.  One of the leases, dated March 25, 1865, was for a term of 50 years reserving a one-twentieth royalty for the land owner, who agreed to store his share of the oil. 

    "Five years later, a second well was completed on the Wood farm by William W. Tadder (see obituary)and his associates, which was located 1500 feet east of the Cryder Creek well.  The hole was bottomed at 600 feet and sand pumpings, bubbling with oil, ran thirty rods down what is now Putnam Avenue to the center of the village.  However, an inrush of fresh water quickly ruined the well, and just one tank of oil was saved.  Oil trickled from the hole for 40 years.” ---John P. Herrick