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ORIGINS OF LOCAL PLACE NAMES
Allegany County, formed
April 7, 1806, does not lack for interesting place names. Allegany itself
has historical meaning, and is perhaps derived from the Algonquin Indian
word “Al-li-ge-wi”. This name was applied to a trail that followed the
course of the Allegany River.
In studying the county
map, one could become quite curious about these origins. While the
background information of a few places most likely will never be known for
sure, stories abound for most. Let us “take a journey” around our County
and learn our local history.
ALFRED (1808):
Alfred was named after Alfred the Great who took over England in 1066. In
early years it was called Alfred Center. When the Erie Railroad came
through in 1851, the depot was not located in Alfred Center but 2 miles
away in Bakers Bridge. The Baker family built Bakers Bridge over
Whitney’s Creek so they could get to the gristmill at Almond. When the
railroad built the depot at Bakers Bridge the name was changed to Alfred
Station. Name confusion arose and by 1900 the word “Center” was dropped
from Alfred. Between Alfred Station and Andover is located an unusual
place called “Tip Top.” Today, Tip Top’s reference point is the mammoth
chicken next to the road marking Tomm’s Chicken Farm. This place is
famous in local railroad lore in that it marked the highest elevation
point on the entire Erie Railroad line running from New York City to
Chicago. Steam locomotives had to refill their water tanks here. The
elevation is exactly 1776 feet. Formed from Angelica March 11, 1808.
ALLEN (1823): Allen was
named by its early residents to honor Ethan Allen a Revolutionary War hero
from the Battle of Ticonderoga. A hamlet with a most interesting name lies
in the southern part of the township – Aristotle. Perhaps it is one of
the farthest west NYS place names with a classical origin similar to our
central NYS area where names of ancient Greece and Roman times abound. In
the town of Allen is located a cemetery with a superb name: “Where The
Pioneers Sleep.” Formed from Angelica January 31, 1823.
ALMA (1854): One
historical source credits the name origin to a named Charles Wyvell who
was intrigued with the Crimean War Battle of 1854, fought on the banks of
the Alma River in Crimea. Others say it was named after Dr. Stephen O.
Alma, the first manager of the Newbold Lumber Company of Shongo (which was
once known as Beanville. Also in the township is the hamlet of Allentown,
famous for its oil history. Formed from Willing November 23, 1854.
ALMOND (1821): Almond
was not named after the event of a young man selling a tray of various
nuts at the first town meeting. The almond nut was nowhere near pioneer
western New York in 1821. The truth is the first settlers here were
Scottish from the Almond River valley just a few miles west of Edinburgh
Scotland. The climate and vegetation here is similar to “the old country”
and like many other place names in the eastern U.S., their roots are
European. Many years ago “Scotty” MacCrea of Alfred visited this part of
Scotland. He confirmed that the Scottish pronunciation is “Ellmund” and
definitely not “Ahhmind”. This is why locals here today pronounce it “Ellmond.”
Also in the township, about 4 miles west on County Road # 2 is a hamlet of
Karrdale. Various KARR families were the first settlers in the valley.
In the northeast corner of the town is the hamlet of Bishopville named for
an early settler named Bishop. Part of the Pulteney Estate, Almond was
taken from Alfred by an act of Legislature March 16, 1821.
AMITY (1830): The
dictionary definition of the word “amity” is friendship so a logical
conclusion can be drawn according to early descriptions of its
inhabitants. The village of Belmont, our County Seat, takes its name from
2 French words: belle, meaning beautiful and mont meaning mountain. An
earlier name for the town was “Phillipsburgh” and an earlier name for the
village was “Phillipsville,” both named after Phillip Church, the “father
of the county.” In the northwest corner of the town is the hamlet of
Belvidere. Around 1900 at the height of the railroad days in the county,
3 separate lines crossed the valley floor in Belvidere – the Erie, the
Buffalo & Susquehanna and the Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern. Phillip
Church named his mansion and farm “Villa Belvidere” so the nearest hamlet
acquired this name. According to legend, Belva Lockwood was on an Erie
train passing through the area around 1884 when she was campaigning for
President. She was the first female to plead a case before the U.S.
Supreme Court and the first female candidate for President. When the
train stopped at the station, the conductor yelled out in his usual
mannerism “Belvidere!! Belvidere!!” Supposedly a small riot ensued.
Formed from Angelica and Scio February 22, 1830
ANDOVER (1824): First
called Bakers or Bakerstown in 1809. Then in 1815, named Strong’s Mills,
after Luther Strong. In 1823, a Mr. & Mrs. James Adams and family came to
the town, then un-named, from Mt. Holly, Vermont. It was he that
suggested the name of Andover after a town by that name in Vermont in
1824. On the western edge of the township is the hamlet of Elm Valley
previously called Shoemaker’s Corner. It is the town line between Andover
& Wellsville. The hamlet was presumably named after an abundance of elm
trees lining the streets in olden days. Elm Valley was the site of the
first permanent settler to build in Allegany County. Nathaniel Dyke built
here in 1795. Formed from Independence, January 28, 1824.
ANGELICA (1805):
Certainly one of the prettier sounding names in the nation is the town &
village of Angelica. Phillip Church, the benevolent founding father of
the County named his new County Seat after his mother – Angelica Schuyler
Church. Her husband was John Church a great friend of George Washington.
Angelica’s sister Elizabeth married Alexander Hamilton. The pistols used
in the famous Hamilton –Burr duel rested in Villa Belvidere for many, many
years. In the southwest corner of the town lies the hamlet of Transit
Bridge. In 1809 a bridge was built here and supposedly was the first
bridge across the Genesee River. It lies exactly on the transit meridian
survey line separating the Morris Reserve land purchase and the Holland
Land Compny purchase. The current bridge stands a few yards upstream
(South) from the original.
BELFAST (1824):
Possibly Belfast holds the distinction of being called the most names.
Various names used in the early years included Orrinsburg, Buttsville,
Huddle, Podunk, Poland and Portland. Finally, the Justice of the Peace, a
man named John McKean, a native of Belfast, Maine suggested Belfast and it
stuck. Rockville Lake is in the town of Belfast and named for the rock
quarry in the area. Boulders for the locks on the old Genesee Valley
Canal came from this quarry. Formed from Caneadea March 24, 1824, another
portion was annexed from Caneadea in 1831.
BIRDSALL (1829): Named
after the Eighth Judicial District Judge (1823-1829) John Birdsall.
Formed from Almond and Allen May 4, 1829.
BOLIVAR (1825): (Locally
pronounced "Bah--lih--ver") This
town was named for the great South American liberator Simon Bolivar. Just
west of the present village of Bolivar lies the hamlet of Kossuth named
for Louis (Lajos) Kossuth Governor of Hungry during its fight for
independence and democracy (1848-1849). Formed from Friendship, February
15, 1825.
BURNS (1826): This town
was named for the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Located in the town is the
village of Canaseraga, an Indian word meaning “among the milkweeds.” Also
here is the hamlet of Garwoods, named after an early settler name James
Garwood and the hamlet of Burns-near Arkport. Formed from Ossian, now
Livingston County, March 17, 1826.
CANEADEA (1808):
Caneadea is an Indian word meaning, “where the sun rests on the hills.”
The hamlet of Oramel is named after Oramel Griffin, an early settler.
Also in the Town of Caneadea is the hamlet of Houghton, home of Houghton
College. Named after Willard J. Houghton. Formed from Angelica March 11,
1808.
CENTERVILLE (1819): The
hamlet of Centerville supposedly was named for it location in the “center”
of the confluence of several valleys. The township name evolved from
there. Formed from Pike (now in Wyoming County) January 15, 1819.
CLARKSVILLE (1835):
Took its name from the Honorable Staley Nichols Clarke, an agent for the
Holland Land Company. Located in the southern part of the town is the
hamlet of Obi, no idea as to its origin.
CUBA (1822): Here is
one of the biggest mysteries in our name origins. There are many tails as
to how Cuba got it’s name but nothing is concrete. One of the most active
members of the Cuba Historical Society for many years was George Spanneut.
He spent years researching the origin and found nothing to lead him to
origin. He did find 9 other Cuba’s across the nation. Our best guess is
that it is named for the island nation. Formed from Friendship February
4, 1822.
FRIENDSHIP (1815):
First settlers arrived in 1805. Originally called “Bloody Corners” and /
or “Fightin’ Corners” by the early settlers die to alleged weekend
fights. The finer citizens took offense, went to the other extreme and
officially named it Friendship. In the southern end of the town is the
hamlet of Nile. It is believed the named derived from the wishes of early
settlers, many of who were Seventh Day Baptists. Formed from Caneadea
March 24, 1815.
GENESEE (1830): The
Seneca Indian word meaning “pleasant bank” is the origin of the name
Genesee. In the town is a small creek, a tributary stream of the Allegany
River, called Little Genesee, thus the name of the hamlet through which it
flows. Also in the town is the hamlet of Ceres, most likely another name
from the classical influence of NYS place name origins. Formed from Cuba
April 16, 1830.
GRANGER (1839): First
named West Grove when formed from Grove in April 13, 1838. Later it was
renamed Granger in the honor of Francis Granger of Canandaigua, Postmaster
General of the U.S. on March 6, 1839. Also in the township is the hamlet
of Short Tract, named after the early settler, William Short who purchased
a large tract of land in the area.
GROVE (1828): When
first settled it was called Brewer’s Corners in 1823. Then later called
Swainsville in honor of an early settler named Samuel Swain. The name
Swain remains today as a hamlet. Formed from Wyoming County from the town
of Nunda March 8, 1827. The name was changed to Grove April 16, 1838.
HUME (1822): At one
point in time it was called Cold Creek but the name was changed to Hume.
It is generally agreed upon the township took its name in honor of the
British historian and philosopher David Hume. The largest settlement in
the town is the now hamlet of Fillmore, formerly a village. This was
dissolved in 1894 by a vote of the residents. When the hamlet became
large enough for a post office to be established, they applied to the
federal government and were denied due to an adequate number of such
offices in the area. The fine citizens were not happy with this so they
appealed to the President stating they would name their new community
after him if he would intercede on their behalf. The President was
Buffalo native Millard Fillmore and the rest is history. Also here is the
hamlet of Mills, which is named after Roger Mills, a very prominent early
settler who built mills along the streams. Formed from Pike, which was in
Allegany County at the time but now in Wyoming County. February 19, 1822.
INDEPENDENCE (1821): At
one time called Green’s Corners after Luther Green who settled there in
1820. Speculation abounds regarding the name and origin of Independence,
but the hamlet of Whitesville was named in honor of Samuel Whites, an
early prominent citizen. The hamlet of Spring Mills most likely derives
its name from the many springs and subsequent mills located there. Formed
from Alfred March 16, 1821.
NEW HUDSON (1825):
Originally named Haight after an early settler named General Haight
donated 100 acres to the town with the stipulation his namesake remain as
such. After much resentment arose in 1837, the name was changed to New
Hudson, unknown why that name. The hamlet of Black Creek is the largest
settlement in the town and most likely named after the appearance of its
creek. Formed from Rushford April 10, 1825.
RUSHFORD (1816): Early
settlers wanted to name the town after Windsor, Vermont from where they
came but there was already a Windsor, N.Y.. A common held belief as to
the name of Rushford origin is that rushes abounded along the banks of the
creek where settlers could “ford” the stream. Another one is that is was
named after Dr. Rush of Philadelphia who resided there eventually. The
foundations of building in the former hamlets of East Rushford and
Kelloggsville can occasionally be seen when the water of Rushford Lake is
lowered in the winter-time. Formed from Caneadea March 8, 1816.
SCIO (1823):
(Locally Pronounced "Sigh--o").Before
getting its final name it was called Bloods Corner or Bloods and then
later Riddleville, unknown as to where these came from. Of all the place
name origins in our County, Scio has probably generated the greatest
amount of controversy and interest. The most commonly held belief is
based on the construction of the Erie Railroad through the county from
1849-1851. Construction of the line apparently was done by section with
the area in this part of the county called “section 10” on maps/blueprints
of the time. Some believe this area was abbreviated to Sc.10 and the
corruption of “Scio” resulted. However, common sense and historical
knowledge dictate otherwise. The town of Scio was formed-by that name in
1823, many years before the railroad was even planned. In 1820 there was
a massacre of Christians by the Turks on the Greek island of Scio in the
Aegean Sea. This act horrified many in the western world with the great
Daniel Webster giving a passionate speech that swept the country. The
founding fathers so honored the victims by naming their new town Scio.
Formed from Angelica January 31, 1823.
WARD (1856): This is
the last of our 29 townships to be formed. The town was named in honor of
Judge Hamilton Ward from Belmont who was a former state attorney general.
His portrait hangs in our County Court House. Formed from parts of Alfred
and Amity in November 21, 1856.
WELLSVILLE (1855): The
hamlet chose its name of Wellsville about 1832 in honor of Gardner Wells,
one of it’s largest landowners. The present village of Wellsville was
still very small when the Erie Railroad came through in 1851. Its
population increased rapidly and the name was unofficially changed to
Genesee Station, as this is where westbound trains first entered the
Genesee Valley. The U.S. Post Office refused to honor this name change
due to its close similarity to well established Geneseo in Livingston
County. The state legislature ended this confusion by passing a law in
1873 making the original name of Wellsville it permanent name. Town formed
from parts of towns of Scio, Andover, and Willing, on November 22, 1855.
WEST ALMOND (1833): In
naming their new town, the founders chose to honor their neighbors to the
east, Almond.
WILLING (1851): Charles
Willing was one of the original owners of the Willing & Francis Tracts of
land and was so honored by the founders. The hamlet of Hallsport was named
for an early settler named Calvin Hall while Stannard’s Corner’s was named
after John Stannards who kept the first hotel there. Very little remains
today of a hamlet called Stone Dam, which took its name from a dam on a
creek, built to provide water to operate a mill. Our Indian culture
influence is also evident here with the hamlet of Shongo, named in honor
of prominent Chief Shongo. Formed from Independence and Scio November 19,
1851.
WIRT (1838): The
township’s name suggested in honor of a famous writer named William Wirt
by Peleg Sherman, one of the town’s early settlers. Formed from Bolivar
and Friendship April 22, 1838.
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