History of Wyoming County, N.Y.

With Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents

By Frederick W. Beers & Co.
Introduction by Cindy Amrhein

Subjects: New York/regional, General Interest
Series: Excelsior Editions, New York Classics
Imprint: Excelsior Editions
Hardcover : 9781438487830, 906 pages, July 2022
Paperback : 9781438487823, 906 pages, January 2023

Alternative formats available from:

Table of contents

New Introduction

Part I: State History

1. The American Aborigines—Characteristics and Customs of the Five Nations of New York

2. Exploration and Settlement of the Atlantic Coast and the Hudson River

3. The Dutch Regime in New York—Rival Claims of the English—The Latter Prevail

4. French and Indian Wars—Dissensions in the Colonial Government—Execution of Leisler

5. Count Frontenac's Campaign—Piracy—Misgovernment of New York—French Frontier Posts

6. The Alleged Plot to Burn New York City—French and Indian Hostilities—The Contest for the Ohio Valley

7. The Result of Four English Expeditions against the French—Montcalm's Successful Campaign

8. The Extinction of French Power in America—The New York Judiciary—The New Hampshire Grants

9. Approach of the Revolution—New York's Patriotic Attitude—The First Battle Fought in 1770

10. Landing Tea Prevented—Congressional Action—The Battle of Lexington—Canada Invaded

11. Hostilities transferred to New York—The Battle of Long Island—Burgoyne's Campaign

12. The Battle of Bennington—Failure of St. Leger's Movement—Burgoyne's Defeat and Surrender

13. Clinton's Hudson River Campaign—France Recognizes the United States—Wars with the Indians

14. Arnold's Treason—Close of the Revolution—Adoption of the Constitution—Internal Improvements

15. Causes of the Last War with Great Britain—Expeditions against Canada—Border Hostilities

16. The Erie Canal and Railroad—The State Administration—New York in the Civil War

Part II: General County History

1. Relics and Theories of the Earliest Inhabitants of Western New York

2. Numbers and Location of the Senecas—Their Religious Beliefs

3. The "White Woman," Dehewannis or Mary Jemison—Her Family and Possessions

4. The Notorious "lndian Allen"—Prominent Characters among the Senecas

5. The Title to the Soil of Western New York—Phelps & Gorham's Purchase—Morris's Reserve

6. The Holland Purchase and Purchasers—Policy of the Holland Land Company

7. Relations between the Holland Company and the Settlers—Land Office Wars

8. Pioneers from New England—How they Came, Settled and Thrived

9. The Condition of the Pioneers—Their Ways and Means of Living

10. Early Schools—The Origin of Teachers' Institutes—Character of the Pioneers

11. Organization and Subdivison of Wyoming County—Construction of County Buildings

12. Lists of the County Officers and Legislative Representatives of Wyoming County

13. The Construction and Opening of Railroads in Wyoming County

14. Wyoming County Bible Society, Agricultural Society and Insurance Company

15. Origin and Early Incidents of the Civil War—Patriotic Spirit in Wyoming County

16. Histories of the 21st and 27th New York Infantry

17. The Noble Record of the 17th New York Infantry—The Death of Charles E. Bills

18. 5th New York Cavalry or "First Ira Harris Guard"—Ellsworth's Avengers

19. History of the 104th New York Infantry

20. The 24th Independent Battery—A Glimpse at the Horrors of Andersonville

21. History of the 9th New York Cavalry and 4th Artillery

22. A Hard Year's Fighting by the 8th New York Heavy Artillery

23. History of the 130th volunteers or 1st New York Dragoons

24. History of the 136th New York Infantry

25. History of the "Governor's Guard," or 2nd Mounted Rifles

26. The History of Political Opinion and Party Fortunes in Wyoming County

27. Wyoming County Congregational Conferences, Sunday-School Teachers' Association and Bible Society—Temperance Reform—Medical Society—Harmonic Association

28. The Letchworth Rifles—Action During the Railroad Riots—Victories in Shooting Matches

29. The Wyoming Historical Pioneer Association and its Log Cabin Museum

30. A Geological Sketch of Wyoming County

Part III: Town and Village Histories

Part IV: Biographies

Part V: Portraits

A county history book that includes town histories, biographical sketches, and lithographs of pioneers and homesteads, as well as their Civil War military service.

Description

Originally published by F. W. Beers & Company in 1880, History of Wyoming County, N. Y. is still one of the most referenced histories of the county. Exploring Wyoming County pre-formation, the book also delves into the history of sixteen towns and their prominent residents and records residents’ Civil War service.

Officially named a county in 1841, this southwestern farming county of New York State is the home of several New York landmarks, including Letchworth State Park, Middlebury Academy (listed on the National Register of Historic Places), and Attica Prison. Notable Wyoming County residents have included Josiah Andrews (an abolitionist newspaper owner), Mary Jemison (the "White Woman of the Genesee" who lived among the Seneca), Barber Conable (former President of the World Bank Group and US Congressman from New York), Chester A. Arthur (the twenty-first President of the United States), Ella Hawley Crossett (former President of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association), Lemuel M. Wiles (American landscape painter), and Charlotte Smallwood-Cook (the first woman elected district attorney in New York State). Newly released by SUNY Press with an introduction by Cindy Amrhein, Wyoming County Historian, History of Wyoming County, N. Y. offers a fascinating and comprehensive reference work that is useful to family and local historians, genealogists, and those interested in the development and history of New York State.

Cindy Amrhein is the County Historian of Wyoming County in New York State. Her previous books include A History of Native American Land Rights in Upstate New York.