Gazetteer of the State
of New York: Embracing a Comprehensive View of the Geography, Geology, And
General History of the State, and a Complete History and Description of Every
County, City, Town, Village, and Locality. With Full Tables Of Statistics.
By J. H. French. Syracuse, N.Y.: Published By R. Pearsall Smith
1860.
Pages
621-622.
ADDISON 4 -- was formed,
as "Middletown," in March, 1796. Its name was changed April 6,
1808. A part of Troupsburgh was taken off in 1808, Cameron in 1822, a part of
Woodhull in 1828, and a part of Rathbone in 1856. It lies upon the s. border of
the co., just E. of the center. The surface is mostly a hilly upland,
broken by the valley of the Canisteo and its branches. The principal valley is
about 1 1/2 mi. wide and is bordered by steep hillsides 300 to 400 feet high.
The principal streams are Canisteo River, and the Tuscarora, Elks Lick, and
Goodhue Creeks. Goodhue Lake, covering an area of about 500 acres, lies in the
N.W. corner of the town. The soil is principally a clay loam, with strips of
gravel and alluvium upon the streams. Addison, (p.v.,) situated
on Canisteo River, contains 3 churches, a bank, several mills and manufacturing
establishments. Pop. about 1,300. South Addison (p.v.)
contains 18 dwellings. Addison Hill is a p.o. The first
settlement was made by Samuel Rice, in 1791. 1 The first church (M.E.) was organized
in 1827, at East Hill. 2
4 Named in honor of Joseph Addison, the
English author. Called "Tuscarora" by the early
settlers. 1 Among the first settlers were
Elisha Gilbert, Saml. and Reuben Searls, John and Isaac Martin, Wm. Wombaugh,
Wm. B. Jones, Israel Chauncey, Jesse Rowley, Amos Carr, and Amos Towsley. The
first birth was that of Stephen Rice; the first marriage, that of Brown
Gillespie and Miss Gilbert; and the first death, that of James Martin. Wm.
Wombaugh built the first sawmill, in 1805, and the first gristmill, in 1806. The
first store was kept by Samuel Smith, and the first inn by Reuben
Searls. 2 The census reports 8 churches in
town; 3 M.E., Bap., F. W. Bap., Prot. E., Presb., and
R.C.
