The first house was built by John Smith (the original John Smith, at least of this locality), who came in from Massachusetts in 1818. Nathaniel Norton had previously erected a shanty, a very primitive affair, which he covered with basswood "troughs," and which was generally in excellent keeping with its owner. The first store was kept by Peter B. Beadle, agent or clerk for Stephen Johnson, who sent in a small and miscellaneous stock of goods and a few barrels of whiskey. Peter Martin was also an early merchant.The first mills were those erected by David and Nathaniel Holbrook. In 1824, Stephen Johnson built the stone mills which were destroyed y fire in 1851. The present mills were erected in 1852 by John W, Ingalls and William Huntington, each of whom had married a daughter of Stephen Johnson. The first tavern was kept by one Winthrop in 1820. It stood within a few rods of the present hotel. In this building the first school was taught in 18826. The first church edifice was that erected by the Episcopal Methodists as early as 1825. It stood in the read of the present stone school-house, and has long since gone to decay.

Among the early settlers of the village might be mentioned Schuyler Osborn, Erastus Wright, Dr. William and Mrs. Clarissa Frame, Luke E. Frame, M.D., John M. Mount (father of John and Hiram), Gaylord Enos,(father of Mrs. Wm. Baxter), Addison Manville, John Norton (son of Nathaniel Norton, Jr.) Amos Otis (father of Levi C. Otis), Leonard Vincent, Deacon Charles L. Linnell (father of George D. Linnell), Hezekiah and L. K. Patchen, Jonathan Hall (father of Foster V. Hall), Squire Spencer, John O. Spencer, and others.

The growth and progress of Depauville have been steady. The village now contains three general stores, of which Byron Fox, Ferry & Lowe, and Cady & William McDonald are the respective proprietors. It has one tailor- and two shoe-shops and three millinery-stores, one grist- and one saw-mill; three blacksmiths and wagon-shops, a cheese-factory, post-office, two churches (Methodist Episcopal and Baptist), and a well-managed public school. It has one resident physician and two ministers of the gospel, two justices (Alfred Fox and E. J. Seeber, Esquires), and a population estimated at 400.

This lodge was organized in march, 1868, with Archibald Sternburgh, W.M., J. A. Diefendorf, S. W., Wm. Baxter, J.W., John Howell, Secretary; Wm. J. Lowe, Treasurer; W. F. Johnson, S.D.; S. W. Frame, J.D.; H. Mount, Tyler. The present officers are S. W., Frame, W.M.; John J. Wilson, S.W.; Thomas Levis, J.W.; E. J. Seeber, Secretary; H. Heyl, S.D.; S. C. Otis, J.D.; Byron fox, Treasurer. The present number of members is 50. The society own the hall they meet in. Dr. Luke E. Frame has been one of the trustees ever since the organization of the lodge, and has done much towards securing the hall and paying for the same. Had it not been for his endeavors in this direction, it is doubtful whether the society would have a place of its own to meet in today. (Jefferson County History, by L. H. Everts, 1878)