ISCHUA was formed from Hinsdale as Rice, Feb. 7, 1846, and the first town meeting was held at the residence of E. Densmore, Feb.24, 1846.The first town officers were Frederick Carpenter, Supervisor; Isaac N. Fuller, Town Clerk; Philo Burlingame, Superintendent of Common Schools; Wm. S. Pitcher, Simon C. Mallory and A. L. Barnard, Assessors; Morgan I. Titus, F. Carpenter, C.C. Hatch and Hiram L. Seavy, Justices of the Peace. Its name was changed March 27, 1855.It lies upon the east border of the county, a little south of the center, and contains 20,540 acres.The surface is a broken and hilly upland, the highest summits being 600 feet above the valleys.Ischua Creek, which flows south through the center, is the principal stream.The head waters of Five Mile Run are in the south-west part.The soil is chiefly clay, with a thin surface of mold and some gravelly loam. Quarries of good building stone exist in the town.  The Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia R.R. traverses the town in the valley of Ischua Creek.

The population in 1870 was 872, all of whom were white, 836, native and 36, foreign.

ISCHUA (p.o.) (formerly called Rice,) is situated on Ischua Creek and the B., N.Y. & P.R.R., in the north part of the town, and contains a church, (M.E.) hotel, boarding house, two stores, a grist mill, carding machine, wagon shop, two blacksmith shops, a shoe shop and about 150 inhabitants.
           
Cuba Creamery, situated in the south-east corner of the town, about two miles from Cuba, was established in 1869, by Gardner & I.N. Sheldon, and is making about 175,000 pounds of cheese and 18,000 to 20,000 pounds of butter per annum.It is conducted by I.N. Sheldon.
           
Settlement was commenced on lot 45, on Ischua Creek, in 1812, by Abram M. Farwell , who came from Fitchburg, Worcester Co., Mass., with his family, consisting of wife and seven children.The country was a wilderness, covered with a dense forest, which was infested by deer, bears, wolves and panthers. Mr. Farwell died in 1867.His wife is yet living and is in her ninety-fourth year. Seymour Bouton, from Westchester Co., settled about two miles south of the site of Ischua village, with his family, in 1812, having previously visited the town himself as early as 1809.In1814 he (Bouton) removed to the town of Farmersville, locating about one mile north-east of Franklinville.In 1816 he removed to the site of Ischua village, where he built a log house in the forest.In 1821 he removed to Olean, where he died the same year at the age of thirty-nine years.William Kimball and Amos Pitcher , settled about 1815.George H. Miner, Joel Godfrey, Horace Guild and David Hibner, from Ontario Co., made the first settlement in the north-east part of the town, in 1823.They had to cut a road two miles through the wilderness to their place of settlement. Miner and Guild are still living on the places they then located. Anthony Caswell, from Rhode Island, settled in the town about 1824, toward the north-east part. He erected a cabin in the wilderness and lived alone for two or three years.One day while he was burning brush his cabin caught fire, and it and its effects, among the latter his rifle, which he prized more than all the rest, were consumed.He remained in the locality till his death in 1871.Jonathan Davis, a native of Massachusetts, settled in the south part, about the same time.He intended settling in Ohio, but while stopping at Hinsdale he was induced to take an interest in a tract of land, sawmill, &c.He is still living in the locality where he settled. A. Linderman, from Ithaca, Tompkins Co., settled in the western part in 1831, there being but one other settler in that locality at that time. The first birth was that of C. Adalin e, daughter of A.M. Farwell , in 1816; and the first death, that of Henry Boughton who was killed by the fall of a tree in 1811.The first school was taught on the premises of Mr. Farwell, by Caroline Putnam , in the summer of 1821. Mr. Farwell erected the first saw mill, on lot 45, in 1814, and Cook & Tyler, the first grist mill, in 1826, both on Ischua creek.The first inn was kept by Seymour Bouton , in 1816, and the first store, by Albert Lawrence and Henry Stephens , in 1832.

The first religious services were held at the house of Mr. Farwell, by Rev. John Spencer, in 1815.

The M.E. Church, at Ischua, was organized Dec. 28, 1827, and was the first Church organized in the town. W.S. Pitcher, Abner Smith and Daniel A. Ferris were the first trustees.The church edifice, which was erected in 1861, at a cost of$1,300, will seat 200 persons.There are twenty members.The pastor is Rev. J.C. Whiteside; and the Church property is valued at $1,600. (Information furnished by Mr. Sidney J. Smith.)   The Free Methodist Church, in the south-west corner of the town, was organized with four members, in 1867, by Elder Bacon, the first pastor, and the church edifice, which will seat 200 persons, was erected in 1869, at a cost of $800.The present pastor is Elder Robinson, and the number of members, thirty-two.The Church property is valued at $1,000. (Information furnished by Mr. Martiin L. Gile.)

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EXPLANATION. ---   The letter r, following the P.O. address, signifies road, and the figures following it refer to the number of the road as designated on the map, in the fore part of the book. Usually when no road number is given, the party resides in the Village.

ABBOTT, STEPHEN W., (Seymour, Allegany Co., ) r 12, dairyman, 25 cows, and farmer 643.
Babcock, Albert, (Ischua,) r 11, mechanic and farmer 100.
Bacon, Benjamin, (Ischua,) r 7, farmer 170.
Barber, E.G., (Ischua,) r 29, farmer 20.
Barber, Henry L., (Ischua,) r 5, farmer 225.
Bargy, Peter J., (Hinsdale,) r 27, farmer 100.
Beckwith, Luther, (Ischua,) r 30, farmer 111.
Beebe, Lyman H., (Seymour, Allegany Co., ) r 13, farmer 50.
Besecker, George, (Hinsdale,) r 34
Blackman, H.S., (Ischua,) blacksmith.
Blossom, Allen, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 22, farmer 112.
Boone, Barnett S., (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 23, farmer 124.
Brown, James, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 14, farmer 60.
Brown, J.C., (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 16, farmer 60.
Burlingame,Clement, (Ischua,) r 24, overseer of the poor, dairyman, 14 cows, and farmer 131½
Burt, Arlo W., (Cuba, Allegany Co., ) r 21, farmer 65.
Burt Charles, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 15, farmer 50.
Capron, George, (Hinsdale,) r 41, farmer leases of G.W. Ballard, 384.
Carmer, Charles, (Hinsdale,) r 39,farmer 100.
Carmer, Eli, (Hinsdale,) r 39, farmer.
Carn, Enos, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 14,farmer 59.
CARPENTER, FREDERICK, (Ischua,) r 7, notary public and farmer 185.
Caswell, C.J., (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 11 ½, farmer 100.
Caswell, Decimal, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 12, mechanic.
Caswell, R.J., (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 11 ½, farmer.
Chamberlin, Cornelius G., (Hinsdale,) r 25, farmer 500.
Chamberlin, E., (Ischua,) groceries.
Chamberlin, Frank, (Hinsdale,) r 25, (with Cornelius G.)
CHAMBERLIN, HAZEN, (Hinsdale,) r 25, dairy, 13 cows, and farmer 200.
CHAMBERLIN,IRA, A., (Hinsdale,) r 42, dairyman, 22 cows, and farmer 300.
Chamberlin, Wm., (Hinsdale,) r 26, farmer, 100.
Chase, Walter, (Ischua,) r 2, farmer 80.
CLINE, FREDERICK, (Ischua,) r 6, town assessor and farmer.
Cole, A.V., (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 21, farmer 138.
COLE, MILO J., (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 20, farmer 130.
Conklin, Clement, (Cuba, Allegany Co., ) r 23, farmer 9.
Corthell, D.C., (Ischua,) agent for Bartholonans marble works and farmer 50.
Cory, Frank, (Hinsdale,) r 27, farmer leases 100.
DAVIS, EDWIN F., (Hinsdale,) r 39, (with Jonathan,) farmer 400.
Davis, Jonathan, (Hinsdale,) r 39, farmer 217 ½ and (with Edwin F., ) 400.
DENSMORE, LANSON, (Ischua,) r 6, farmer 170.
Devaroux,Patrick, (Ischua,) r 13, farmer 50.
Duncan, Wm., (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 12, farmer.
Ellithorp, Lyman, (Hinsdale,) r 39, farmer 100.
Farwell, Abram, (Hinsdale,) r 38, farmer.
Farwell, Abram M., (Hinsdale,) r 38, (with John,) farmer.
MORRIS, A.J., (Ischua,) general merchant.
Morris, James, (Ischua,) r 2, farmer 217.
Morris, Mrs., (Ischua,) r 2, farmer 66.
Morris, Thomas, (Ischua,) r 30, farmer 290.
Morris, Wm., (Hinsdale,) r 30, farmer 83 and leases 300.
Myrick, Orsums, (Ischua,) r28, farmer 70.
Nichols, Richmond, (Ischua,) r 27, farmer 100.
Odell, Daniel, (Ischua,) r 2, farmer leases 60.
ONAN, M.H., (Ischua,) r 31, farmer 125.
Osgood, Benjamin H., (Ischua,) r 29, farmer 46.
OSGOOD, STEPHEN, (Ischua,) r 7, teamster and farmer 2 ¼.
Osgood, Wm., (Ischua,) r 29, farmer 40.
Pettingill, Edward, (Hinsdale,) r 26, farmer 100.
Phalan, James, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 15, farmer 50.
PIERCE,NATHANIEL, (Ischua,) r 2, farmer 65.
Pierce, Wellingford, (Ischua,) r 1, mason and farmer leases 120.
PRESHO, JAMES, (Cuba, Allegany Co.) r 19, farmer 125.
Raub, Jasper S., (Hinsdale,) r 37, farmer 60.
Raub, J.M., (Hinsdale,) r 37, farmer 100.
Raub, Joseph, (Hinsdale,) r 37, farmer 40.
Farwell, Henry C., (Ischua,)r 6, town supervisor and farmer 285.
Farwell, John, (Hinsdale,) r 38, dairy, 20 cows, and farmer 245.
Farwell, Jonathan D., (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 22, dairyman, 19 cows, and farmer 170.
Farwell, Levi, (Hinsdale,) r 41, farmer 300.
FARWELL, SAMUEL P., (Hinsdale,) r 37, town assessor, dairy, 18 cows, and farmer 181.
FARWELL, T.J., (Ischua,) r 6, farmer 150.
Fish, Daniel Jr., (Ischua,) r 30, farmer 170.
Frantz, Edward, (Hinsdale,) r 35, dairyman, 22 cows, and farmer 215.
Geer, Aaron, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 21, farmer 76.
Gray, James B., (Ischua,) r 28, farmer 70.
Guild, Horace, (Ischua,) r 10, merchant and farmer 100.
GUILD, WM. P., (Ischua,) r 10, justice of the peace and farmer 100.
Hacket, Alfred, (Ischua,) r 11, farmer leases 100.
Hamilton, Amos G., (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 14, dairyman, 19 cows, and farmer 210.
Hatch, Charles, (Ischua,) r 41, farmer 230 and leases 100.
Hatch, Hiram, (Ischua,) r 24, farmer 200.
Hatch, M. Mrs., (Ischua,) r 24, farmer 100.
Haynes, Daniel B., (Ischua,) mechanic and farmer 200.
HAYNES, JAMES A., (Ischua,) postmaster, dry goods and groceries.
Hehvi, Cornelius, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 14, farmer 50.
HIBNER, JOSEPH, (Ischua,) r 7, dairyman, 10 cows, and farmer 150.
HIBNER, WM., (Ischua,) r 10, farmer 115 ½ .
HINMAN, BENJAMIN B., (Hinsdale,) r 38, dairy, 35 cows, and farmer 300.
Hoag, Israel, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 10, farmer 109.
Holliday, Elijah, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 14, farmer 180.
Hollinshed, Daniel, (Hinsdale,) r 39, carpenter.
Hollister, Isaac T., (Ischua,) r 30, farmer 100.
Jewell, Charles P., (Ischua,) r 2, farmer 60.
Johnson, Harry, (Hinsdale,) r 26, mason and farmer 240.
Karn, George, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 15, farmer 17.
KENFIELD, FELTON T., (Ischua,) r 1, farmer 108.
Kenfield, Melvin A., (Ischua,) r 1, farmer 108.
LAFEVER, F.D., (Ischua,) prop. Of Railroad House.
Learn, A.L., (Hinsdale,) r 37, farmer.
Learn, Evan, (Hinsdale,) r 57, farmer 57.
Learn, John C., (Hinsdale,) r 28, farmer 50.
LEARN, L.J., (Ischua,) r 2, farmer 110.
Learn, Morris, (Hinsdale,) r 28, farmer 57.
Learn, Nathan, (Hinsdale,) r 37, dairy, 9 cows and farmer 163 ½.
Learn, Nelson P., (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 24, farmer leases 100.
Learn, Peter, (Ischua,) r 1, farmer leases 100.
Lelan, Patrick, (Cuba, Allegany, Co.,) r 15, farmer 50.
LEWIS, C.W., (Ischua,) wagon maker and town clerk.
LINDERMAN, ALONZO, (Hinsdale,) r 32, farmer 150.
LINDERMAN, NICHOLAS, (Ischua,) r 5, farmer 325.
Lockwood, Jacob, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 11, farmer 150.
Lockwood, John, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 12, farmer 57.
Lockwood, Major, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 13, mechanic and farmer 8.
Mallery, Ferris, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 19, mechanic and farmer 33.
MALLORY, SIMON C., (Ischua,) r 9, farmer 93.
MATHEWSON, D.D., (Ischua,) r 29, farmer 40.
McGregor, John, (Franklinville,) r 1, farmer 100.
McPhall, Alexander, (Ischua,) r 11, farmer 100.
Miller, Abraham, (Hinsdale,) 4 34, farmer 100.
Miller, David, (Hinsdale,) r 33 farmer 240.
MINER, GEORGE H., (Ischua,) r 7, farmer 85.
MINER, G.R., (Ischua,) r 10, butcher and farmer 130.
MORRIS, A.J., (Ischua,) general merchant.
Morris, James, (Ischua,) r 2, farmer 217.
Morris, Mrs., (Ischua,) r 2, farmer 66.
Morris, Thomas, (Ischua,) r 30, farmer 290.
Morris, Wm., (Hinsdale,) r 30, farmer 83 and leases 300.
Myrick, Orsamus, (Ischua,) r 28, farmer 70.
Nichols, Richmond, (Ischua,) r 27, farmer 100.
Odell, Daniel, (Ischua,) r 2, farmer leases 60.
ONAN, M.H., (Ischua,) r 31, farmer 125.
Osgood, Benjamin H., (Ischua,) r 29, farmer 46.
OSGOOD, STEPHEN, (Ischua,) r 7, teamster and farmer 2 ¼.
Osgood, Wm., (Ischua,) r 29, farmer 40.
Pettingill, Edward, (Hinsdale,) r 26, farmer 100.
Phalan, James, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 15, farmer 50.
PIERCE, NATHANIEL, (Ischua,) r 2, farmer 65.
Pierce, Wellingford, (Ischua,) r 1, mason and farmer leases 120.
PRESHO, JAMES, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 19, farmer 125.
Raub, Jasper S., (Hinsdale,) r 37, farmer 60.
Raub, J.M., (Hinsdale,) r 37, farmer 100.
Raub, Joseph, (Hinsdale,) r 37, farmer 40.
Raub, M.M., (Hinsdale,) r 37, farmer 124.
Robinson, W.H., (Hinsdale,) r 35, farmer leases 120.
Sands, Thomas, (Ischua,) r 2, farmer 75.
Scott, Jefferson, (Ischua,) r 29, farmer 50.
Shafer, Adam, (Hinsdale,) r 27, dairy 9 cows, farmer 100.
Sheldon, Gardner, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 17, farmer 400.
SHELDON, I..N., (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 17, manuf. Of butter and cheese, and general produce dealer.
Sherlock, John T., (Seymour, Allegany Co.,) r 18, farmer 90.
SHERLOCK, S.R., (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 13, justice of the peace and farmer 91.
Sherlock, Wm. N., (Seymour, Allegany Co.,) r 13, (with John T.,) farmer.
Shipman, Henry J., (Hinsdale,) r 26, farmer 100.
Shipman, Hosea, (Hinsdale,) r 26, farmer 100.
Shipman, J.A., (Hinsdale,) r 26, farmer 76.
Shipman, Joseph, (Hinsdale,) r 26, sawyer and farmer.
Shipman, Joseph, (Ischua,) r 2, farmer 50.
SIBLEY, W., (Ischua,) physician and surgeon.
SIMONS, A.A., (Ischua,) physician and surgeon.
SMITH, SIDNEY J., (Ischua,) prop. Of grist mill and carding machine, and farmer 407.
Southwick, lFrederick M., (Ischua,) station agent, B.N.Y.& P. Depot.
Swan, Isaac A., (Ischua,) r 3, farmer 160.
Swift, C., (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 16, farmer 50.
Terry, Ransom, (Ischua,) r 6, farmer 506.
Thompson, D.C., (Ischua,) farmer 98 ½.
Thornton, A.R., (Ischua,) shoemaker and harness maker.
THRALL, B.N., (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 22, dairyman and farmer 159.
Townsend, B.C., (Ischua,) prop. of boarding house, manuf. of brick, justice of the peace and farmer 160.
Trowbridge, A. M., (Ischua,) r 29, mason and farmer 50.
Upton, Erastus, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 23, farmer 20.
Utter, George, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 19, farmer 65.
Vanhorn, John, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 44, farmer 130.
Vincent, H. Mrs., (Seymour, Allegany Co.,) r 12, farmer 106.
WAGNER, CHARLES H., (Ischua,) r 26, farmer 150.
Wagner, Henry, (Ischua,) r 11, farmer 100.
White, M. Mrs., (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 20, farmer 29.
Wilbur, Harvey, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 11, (with Thomas,) farmer 70.
Wilbur, Leroy, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 11, farmer 30.
WILBUR,THOMAS C., (Seymour, Allegany Co.,) r 12, blacksmith and (with W.H.,) farmer 70.
Willey, G., (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 16, farmer 50.
WILLIAMS, ALLEN, (Ischua,) r 1, dairyman, 17 cows, and farmer 159.
Williams, Almon, (Ischua,) r 1, farmer 80.
Willover, Halsey, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 22, farmer 100.
Wilson, Adelbert, (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 23, farmer 150.
Wood, Samuel D., (Cuba, Allegany Co.,) r 12, farmer 89.
Yates, Avery, (Ischua,) r 6, farmer 50.
Young, Armenus, (Hinsdale,) r 38, (with Mrs. C.,) farmer 115.
Young, C. Mrs., (Hinsdale,) r 37, farmer 100.