The Pioneer History of
 Orleans County, NY
Village of Hulberton

By Arad Thomas

Joseph Budd -- Canal Basin -- First Warehouse -- First Grocery -- First Tavern -- I. H. S. Hulbert -- First Named Scio -- Methodist Society -- Abijah Reed and Sons.

The village of Hulberton is a canal village in the town of Murray. Joseph Budd, from the county of Rensselaer, New York, settled here in May, 1826, and purchased of a former settler about one hundred acres of land lying on both sides of the canal. At first Mr. Budd resided in a log house standing a little south of the Methodist Meeting house. He afterwards erected a substantial stone dwelling in which he resided, now occupied by Mr. Marcus H. Phillips.

Mr. Budd was a large hearted, generous and public spirited man, with sagacity enough to see here must be a village if the advantages were properly improved, and he set to work accordingly.

In 1828 he dug a basin in the south bank of the canal west of the bridge, large enough for canal boats to turn about in, and commenced to sell village lots to such as he could induce to purchase of him. Settlers soon located here.

In 1830, Dr. Frisbie built a warehouse on the basin Budd had dug out. This was the first warehouse.

Isaac H. S. Hulburt opened a grocery on the tow path east of the bridge in 1830, being the first grocery.

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Orsamus Squire built and occupied a store on the lot now used for a hotel, in 1828. This was the first store.

This store was altered over and fitted up for a tavern, and the first tavern kept here by Timothy Tuttle, in 1832.

In 1833 Mr. Budd caused his land next to the highway and canal to be laid out into village lots by A. Cantine, surveyor, and the village has been built on this plan.

I. H. S. Hulburt was an active business man, who sold goods, bought farm produce, staves and lumber, and drove a brisk trade with the boatmen, and served as justice of the peace.

Finding it inconvenient to go over to Sandy Creek, on the Ridge road for all their mail business, he applied for a post office here.

The village was named Scio at an early day by Mr. George Squire.

On examining for a name for the new post office, it was found there was one post office named Scio in New York already, and the village name of Scio was changed to Hulberton, on honor of Mr. Hulburt, by which name the village and the post office have ever since been called.

The post office was established in 1835, U. H. S. Hulbert, the first post master.

Mr. Joseph Budd was a religious man, and desiring to promote the cause of religion and good morals among the people in his settlement, he invited Elders Wooster and Hemenway of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to make this one of their preaching stations, and through these instrumentalities, a society and church of Methodists was organized. Its trustees at that time were I. H. S. Hulbert, Samuel Copeland, Hiram Hibbard, Joseph Budd, and George Squire.

Among the prominent business men whose wealth and industry aided largely to build up Hulberton, were the Reed family, consisting of Abijah Reed and his sons Epenetus, Hercules, and Jacob, and his son-in-law, Edward Mulford.

They were merchants, upright, honorable, and fair, who came here from Greene County, N. Y. They enjoyed the confidence of the community, and carried on a large business while they lived.

Gilbert Turner was the first blacksmith, and Wm. Perrigo was the first shoemaker.

Among the first settlers in and near Hulberton were Remember S. Wheeler, George Squire, and Hanford Phillips, who bought the farm on which Mr. Budd formerly resided and on which he set out the apple orchard, which has since become justly celebrated, now owned by Mr. Phillips.

Mr. Joseph Budd, who is worthy to be called the Pioneer of Hulberton, died in May, 1856.