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Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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Gazeteer of the State of New York
J. H. French, 1860

                             ERIE COUNTY

  [-283-]

        AURORA - was formed from Batavia, as "Willink," April 11, 1804.
     Its name was changed April 15, 1818.  Clarence and Cambria (Niagara
     co.) were taken off in 1808, Buffalo in 1810, Concord, Hamburgh, and
     Eden in 1812, Holland and Wales in 1818, and a part of Elma in 1857.
     It occupies nearly a central position in the co.  Its surface is roll-
     ing in the N. and hilly in the S.  The hills are gradual slopes, and
     their summits are 150 to 300 feet above the valleys.  The principal
     streams are Cazenova Creek and its branches.  The soil is gravelly
     loam in the valleys and clayey among the hills.  WILLINK, (p.v.,)
     incorp. Dec. 29, 1849, is situated on the E. branch of Cazenova Creek,
     in the N. part of the town.  It contains 2 churches, and a woolen
     factory and has a pop. of 365.  EAST AURORA, (p.v.,) about 1 mi. E. of
     Willink, contains 2 churches, an academy, (3) and several manufactur-
     ing establishments.  Pop. 360.  WEST FALLS, (p.v.,) on the W. bank of
     Cazenova Creek, in the S. part of the town, contains 1 church, 2 saw-
     mills, a gristmill, and about 30 houses; and GRIFFINS MILLS, (p.v.,)
     on the same stream, near the center of the town, contains 1 church, a
     sawmill, a gristmill, and 25 houses.  The first settlement was made in
     the fall of 1803, by Jabez Warren, Henry Godfrey, and Nath'l Emerson.
     (4)  The evidences of ancient Indian occupation were plainly visible
     upon the advent of the whites. (5)  The first church (Bap.) was
     organized with 16 members, in 1810, by Elder Irish.  There are 7
     churches in town. (6)  Ex-Pres. Millard Fillmore and Hon. N. K. Hall,
     Judge of Supreme Court and Ex-P.M. Gen., were for some years residents
     of East Aurora.

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        (3) The Aurora Manual Labor Seminary was chartered Oct. 18, 1833;
            and in 1838 its name was changed to the Aurora Academy.  The
            manual labor department was long since abandoned.

        (4) These were followed by Joel and John Adams, Tabor Earlie, and
            Humphrey Smith, in 1804, and Wm. Warren, Thos. Tracy,
            Christopher Stone, and Luther Hibbard, in 1805.  The first
            birth was that of Orra Warren, in Dec. 1805; and the first
            death, that of a daughter of Humphrey Smith, in 1806.  Phineas
            Stevens built the first sawmill, in 1806, and the first grist-
            mill, in 1807.  Gen. Wm. Warren kept the first inn, in 1806,
            and Adams & Hascall the first store, in 1808.  The first school
            was taught by Mary Eddy, in 1806

        (5) Two hills, in the N. part of the town, were fortified by cir-
            cular breastworks, in many places 6 to 8 ft. high.  Human
            bones, of almost giant size, have been dug up near the forti-
            fications; and pieces of pottery and iron axes have been found
            in the vicinity. - Letter of Rev. Asher Wrigt.   In 1809 an
            ancient copper plate, 12 by 16 inches, covered with letters or
            hieroglyphics, was plowed up upon the land of Ephraim Woodruff,
            in Aurora:  the finders, not knowing its value as a specimen of
            antiquity, converted it into a dipper and skimmer. - Turner's
            Hol. Pur., p. 688.

        (6) 2 Presb., Bap., Cong., M. E., Univ., and R. C.

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