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 628.
WAYLAND 10-- was formed from Cohocton and Dansville, April 12,
1848. A part of Fremont was taken off in 1854. It is the most western town upon
the N. border of the co. Its surface is an upland, rolling in the N. and
moderately hilly in the S. It forms a portion of the watershed between
Susquehanna River and Lake Ontario; and its highest summits are 1,600 to
1,800 feet above tide. The streams are small creeks and brooks. Loon and Mud
Lakes are situated in a valley in the S. part of the town, and their waters flow
in opposite directions. The outlet of the former is subterranean for half a mi.;
and where it comes to the surface it is in sufficient volume to form a valuable
mill stream. The soil in the N. is gravel and muck, and in the S. a shaly
loam. Wayland, (Wayland Depot p.o.,) in the N.E.
part of town, contains 40 dwellings. It is a station on the B., N.Y. &
E.R.R. Perkinsville, 2 mi. S.W. of Wayland, contains 2 churches and 30
dwellings. Patchins Mills is a hamlet. Loon Lake is a p. o. The first settlement
was made in 1806-07, by Thos. Bowles and John H. Miller 11 The census reports 3 churches. 12
10 Named from Rev. Dr. Francis Wayland,
of R.I. 11 Among the early settlers were
Adam Zimmerman, David Brown, - Kaizier, Stephen Hicks, Thos. Regole,
Solomon James, and Elisha Brownson, Isaac Willie, Walter and Dr. Warren Patchin,
Dennis Hess, Benj. Perkins, and Samuel Draper. The first sawmill was built by
Benj. Perkins; and the first gristmill, by Dugald Cameron and Abijah Fowler, in
1816. Saml. Taggart kept the first inn, in 1827; and James L. Monier, the first
store, in 1830. The first school was taught by Thos. Wilbur, in
1811. 12 Evang. Luth., Union, and
R.C.
