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.
Page 626.
HORNELLSVILLE 4-- was formed from Canisteo, April 1, 1820. Hartsville
was taken off in 1844, and a part of Fremont in 1854. It lies near the
center of the w. border of the co. The surface is mostly a rolling upland,
divided into two nearly equal parts by the Canisteo Valley. This valley is 1 to
2 mi. wide and is bordered by steep hills 400 to 500 feet high. Canacadea and
Crosby Creeks, flowing through deep valleys from the w., are tributaries of the
Cansiteo. The soil is generally a clayey and gravelly
loam. Hornellsville (p. v.,) situated at the
junction of Canisteo River and Canacadea Creek, is an important station on the
Erie R. R. and is the southern terminus of the B. & N. Y. C. R. R. It has 4
churches, 2 newspaper offices, a bank, and 2 flouring mills. Pop. 1,519.
Arkport,
(p. v.,) a station on the B. & N. Y. C. R. R., contains
1 church and about 50 houses. Almond is partly
in this town. 5 The first settlement was made by
Benj. Crosby, in 1792. 6 The census reports 6
churches. 7
4 Named from Hon. Geo. Hornell, one of the
early settlers. 5 See page
170. 6 Elias Stephens
and Geo. Hornell settled in the town in 1793; Elijah Stephens in 1794;
Christopher Hurlbut and Nathan Cary in 1795; John and Hugh Carney in 1796;
Reuben Crosby in 1797; and James Jones in 1800. The first birth was that of
William Stephens, in Dec. 1792; the first marriage, that of Reuben Crosby and
Jenny McQueen, in 1799; and the first death, that of a child of Judge Hornell.
Judge Hornell built the first saw and grist mills, and kept the first store and
inn. The first school was taught by Abigail Hurlbut, in
1796. 7 2 Prsb., Prot. E., Bap., M. E., and R.
C.
