RESOURCES

Steuben County New York

     Addison, the chief village of the township, was incorporated in 1854, and one of the most active business villages in the county. It is the center of
large trade, for the towns lying south and south-west of it. It is the largest of any of the villages on the Canisteo river, with the exception of Hornellsville. It is situated on the north and south banks of the Canisteo river, connections being had by two substantial iron bridges. It contains two banks, two newspaper offices, several fine churches, an academy or graded school, two railroad stations, those of the New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad, and the Addison and Northern Pennsylvania Railroad Co., a foundry and machine shop, a sash and blind manufactory, a large steam flouring mill, a chair manufactory, a boot and shoe manufactory, and a full

compliment of dry goods stores, furnishing stores, groceries, saloons and hotels.

     First settlers—It is believed by many that Samuel Rice was the first settler in the township, in 1791. Soon thereafter settlements were made by Reuben
Searles, Lemuel Searles, John Martin, George Goodhue, Oliver Miller, Abel White, James Benham, Asahel Stiles, Elisha Gilbert, William Wombaug, Samuel Colegrove, John Wyman, William B. Jones, Stephen Dolson, Jonathan Tracey. The Canisteo valley was one of the great haunts of the Six Nations, one of their war paths and trails led out of the valley near the village of Addison, up the Tuscarora creek, and over into the valley of the
Cowanesque, to where the present borough of Elkland is situated, a distance of only about twelve miles by this path, and twenty-four via the valley
of the Canisteo, Tioga and Cowanesque, and when the early white settles came into Addison, or upon the Canisteo, they found quite a number of
Indians still lingering in the valley.

     At an election, or town meeting, held at Middletown, (now Addison) the first Tuesday in April, 1797, the officers elected were Supervisor, Reuben
Searles; Town Clerk, Oliver Miller; Assessors, George Goodhue, John Wyman, John Martin; Constable, Lemuel Searles; Poor Masters, Jonathan
Tracey, Asahel Stiles; Commissioners, John Martin, George Goodhue, Stephen Dolson; Collector, Lemuel Searles; Commissioners of School, Abel White, Jonathan Tracey and Oliver Miller; Path Masters, Reuben Searles, Jr., James Benham; Fence Viewers, Elisha Gilbert, Silas Morey; Pound Master, Reuben Searles.

—Academy burned in October, 1856.
—Addison Academy established in 1847,
—Baptist Church organized May 6, 1869.
—Union Free school organized in March, 1868.
—Addison "burrying ground," laid out in 1808.
—William Wombaugh built a grist mill, in 1806.
—James Birdsall was the first lawyer in Addison.
—Methodist Episcopal Church organized, in 1835.
—George Goodhue built the first saw mill, in 1794.
—Addison Chap. R. A. M., chartered Feb. 9, 1854.
—St. Catharine's Catholic Church organized in 1854.
—A bridge across the Canisteo river, was built in 1798.
—The Erie railroad was completed to Addison, in 1849.
—Addison and Elkland plank road constructed in 1851.
—Addison Lodge No. 285, I. O. O. F., instituted in 1847.
—First services by the Episcopals held in Addison, in 1847.
—Ancient order United Workmen organized Sept. 14, 1876.
—In 1819, township voted a bounty of ten dollars on wolves.
—Canisteo Lodge I. O. O. F., No. 345, instituted Feb. 19, 1873.
—Addison Lodge No. 118 P. and A. M., chartered June 4, 1847.
—Presbyterian Church organized in Addison, in September, 1832.
—Boot and shoe manufactory established by George W. Farnham, in 188.
—Dr. Fredrick Wagner loaated in Addison, in 1830. He was the first physician. 

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—Post office established at Middletown, now Addison, in 1804.
—Iron bridge across the Canisteo river erected in 1870. It cost $10,000.
—Sash and blind manufactory established by Rufus Baldwin and others, in 1851.
—Foundry and Machine shop established in 1846, by E. J. Horn and Stephen Lewis.
—William Baskins Jones kept one of the first hotels on the north side of the Canisteo river.
—In 1831, William B. Jones carried the mail in a two horse coach from Addison to Painted Post.
—In the year 1814, four school districts were formed. June 26, 1818, one more district was formed.
—Capt. James H. Mills raised a company in 1862, which was attached to 107th regiment N. Y. S. Vol.
—The Addison and Northern Pennsylvania R. R., was completed from Addison to Gaines, Pa., in 1882.
—Addison Merchant and Custom Flouring Mills erected by David Curtis, of Painted Post and James S. McKay of Campbell, in 1852. They are now owned by the heirs of David Curtis and Thomas Paxton.
—May 4, 1803, Elisha Searles, Elisha Gilbert, Robert Martin, Lemuel Benham licensed to keep Public Inns. Board of excise, John Knox, Reuben Searles, Abel White. The price charged each Inn-keeper was $5. for the use of the town.

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