Early Chautauqua County

The extreme western county, Chautauqua, Pennsylvania on the south and part of the western lines; Lake Erie to the west and north, while Cattaraugus borders the east. It is a large district, 1,099 square miles, larger than any of the States that are larger than some European countries, still less than half as large as New York State counties. Chautauqua has a terrain more varied than some states or countries, climate and productions as varied as its surface. Along the lake, or a belt at low altitude, have softened late autumn, and almost frost-free spring. And fruits, grains and vegetables raised in the section have earliness and belong to classes of a much more temperate region. There are relics of the lake shore, trees in the forest, which rightfully belongs to the southern species. From coastal belt to the inner lakes reins a different climate, and among the highlands to the southeast, where there are summits 2500 feet, the severe climate in the mountains rules and the residents feel satisfied with the short hard winter, and to grow crops, which have hardiness.

Chautauqua County is known throughout the world due to its Chautauqua Institution. Thousands have gathered annually at this meeting and disseminate knowledge about this part of New York. The long, narrow lake, home to the institution, is only eight miles from Lake Erie, and even 726 meters above it. One almost expects its waters to creep over the edge and crashing to the larger body, but flows of a devious, route into the Gulf of Mexico. Much has been written praising the Chautauqua land, sea, his collection; it has a potent charm for the visitors who come here for rest, study, love of the beautiful, or recreation.

The situation in the county on Lake Erie, rolling, changing the character of its area, the large selection of his land, caused by forces from the ice age, which all conspire to make Chautauqua a leader among the agricultural counties in the state. The least fertile of its land is planted with grapes; still the county is the largest grape-growing department in the United States. In 1920 there were 35, ooo acres in vineries from harvested 69,494,394 pounds of grapes. It is second in volume of produced currants fourth in poultry, the second in the total value of all crops ($ 14,983,216). With one exception, were more orchard fruit shipped from the county than any other, in strawberry, a lateral line, took only two more counties. And still the county's rural prosperity rests on its dairy and vegetable farms rather than on fruits.

Chautauqua standing in the industry can not be neglected, or the fact that two thirds of its population in cities. In 1920, the number of manufacturing firms in the county was 463, the number of employed 17,000, and the value of products $ 95,340,353. Jamestown was obviously the leader, with a second Dunkirk. But Falconer, with its woolen mills, with its production Fredonia, Silver Creek, with its specialized factories, and Westfield, known everywhere for its grape juice, all swelled the total production.

Historically, the county goes back as far as the white race is concerned that La Salle, who in 1679 sailed his little "Griffin" past the wooded coast of Chautauqua. Returning two years later, he stopped for a time on the shores of Lake Chautauqua. Prior to this time the Erie Indians had roamed the region but had been destroyed as a tribe of the Iroquois, in 1656. And back of Erie's is proof of many barrows uncovered in the county, indicating some unknown breed had its origin in this section.

The French gave the name Tchadakoin to the lake in the district as if it is pronounced according to the rules of French ortheopy, sounds very much like Chautauqua. Holland Company, a map of 1804, spelled the word Chautaughque; in 1859 the present spelling was first used.

Erie's, or their conquerors, the Seneca’s were the owners of the county prior to the coming of the whites. The French claimed the territory by right-clicking on the discovery of La Salle. These rights she ceded to England in 1763. Province of Massachusetts, incorporated in 1691, covered the greater part of the district, and even Connecticut owned a "two minutes" strip along the southern border. And New York and Pennsylvania also had their requirements. The claim was settled in Massachusetts in 1791, Pennsylvania lines were arranged in 1787, the Indian titles were sold in 1797 and the 1824th Holland Company became the ultimate owners and attempts to colonize the area.

Apart from the French, the first white stranger in the county was a pretty fickle wanderer named Sawtell, who built his cabin in the district in 1796. On the 4th July of that year, reached a party of surveyors, consisting of fifty-two persons, Ohio by Lake Erie. Among them were Augustus Porter, Seth Pease and Wareham Shepherd, all future settlers in Chautauqua. A man named Skinner opened a tavern in the county in 1800; between Sawtell and Skinner the honor of being the first settler of Chautauqua. A rude road was built in the section of I802, and the flow of immigrants, who soon flooded the region, began around this time.

Chautauqua as a city was built April 15, 1805, including all the present territory of the county, except the tenth series of Holland townships. On 11 March 1808, it was made a county.