Learn lots more about Franklinville by following these links !

Introduction
Early History
Death Records 1860-1894

Pioneers
Early Settlers
Joseph McClure
Pardon T Jewell
Marvin Older
Delos E Lyon
Curtis Brothers
Searl and Storrs
Doctors
William McNall

Park Square and Fairs
The Story
The Trial
The Wedding
Franklinville Fair
Bands

Postal History
Introduction
Post Office
Postmasters

Hotels and Inns
Globe Hotel
Hotel Lester
Bard Hotel
Brown Eagle Hotel

Businesses and Industry
Bartholomew's Pharmacy
West Park Square Drug Store
Quality Bakery
Cutlery Industry
Mercantile
Dairy Industry
Firehouse Liquors
Blount Plow

Churches and Buildings
Baptist
Other Churches
Presbyterian
Methodist Episcopal
Amusement Hall
The Miners Cabin

In the Public Trust
Newspapers
Chronicle-Journal
Fire Department
Mt Prospect Cemetery
Public Works
Railroads

Return to Franklinville page

Solomon Curtis

Shortly thereafter Solomon Curtis built his log cabin near Joseph
and Betsy's. Its location today would be considered to be right across
the street, for it was built on what we now designate as the northwest
corner of Elm and Church Streets.

The primary interest of Solomon Curtis was hunting and trapping;
farming came second. However, both were necessary occupations for
survival. Marauding animals, particularly wolves, struck terror into the
hearts of both people and dometic animals. A bounty was established
which paid $60 for the scalp of a wolf. This provided him with cash from
time to time, something that was rather hard to come by at the time.

Solomon Curtis only stayed until 1825. Then he sold out and moved
on to Erie County. However, he left four sons and eventually, three
grandsons behind. We will hear more about them later. In April of 1806
David McCluer, a cousin of Joseph's, came from Vermont with his wife,
choosing to settle here also.

At the end of that same month David's wife  gave birth to Hiram Warner McClure,
the first Caucasian child born in what would come to be known as Cattaraugus County.
He grew to be a mighty hunter; in fact, he would eventually celebrate his 70th birthday
by killing four wild deer within two minutes in the wilds of northern Pennsylvania.
But all that still lay in the future as he lay in his Mother's arms.

Also in 1806 Moses Warner, his wife, and his four sturdy sons arrived from Vermont.
He was a cooper, and his son Moses, Jr. also became a cooper.
His other sons, Parley, John and Roswell became farmers.
In 1811 John married Naomi Hollister, the first marriage to occur in the new settlement
which really had no name but was sometimes called McClure's Settlement.

The wife of Moses, Sr. became known to one and all throughout the area as Mother Warner.
She exhibited no fear as she walked resolutely through woods and up and down steep trails,
day or night, to tend the sick. The Warners were an altogether sturdy family!

By 1807 Thomas Morris had come from New Jersey to join the small band of settlers.
He erected a dwelling ... and he opened the first store.

About the same time Henry Conrad arrived from Tompkins County and over the course  of the next year he built the first mill. It was not, perhaps, the most efficient mill ever built,  but it served the purpose until others came and built other mills.