The Town of Ellicottville was formed from Ischua, now Franklinville, on April 13, 1820. Ashford was taken off in 1824. It is located in the interior part of Cattaraugus County. Its surface is a hilly upland, broken by the deep and narrow ravines of the streams. The principal stream is Great Valley Creek, running through the center of the town. Ellicottville was incorporated on April 1, 1837. It is the original county seat of Cattaraugus County, and in 1860, contained the county buildings, 4 churches, 3 newspapers, and an iron foundry. Its population was 695. It was named after Joseph Ellicott, an agent for the Holland Land Company.
Plato and Ash Park are post offices. The first settlements were made in 1815, by David Waldo, of Oneida County, and Orin Pitcher from Massachusetts. The first religious services was held at the house of William Vinton, by the Rev. John Spencer, in 1818.The first permanent settler was Grove Hurlburt, who built the first house in 1815, on Lot 57. Other early settlers included: Rickartson Burlingame and Ephraim Fitch, in 1816. The first child born was Orlando F Pitcher, in June 1816.
The first school was taught by Eunice Carpenter, at the house of Orin Pitcher in 1817. Also in 1817, the first inn and store was opened by Baker Leonard. A sawmill was built by Orin Pitcher, in 1821, on the Great Valley Creek.
Several newspapers have been published in Ellicottville.
1822 Property Tax Assessment Rolls
Old Photo's and Postcards
Monroe Street Ellicottville
Ellicottville Town Historian
Mary Elizabeth Dunbar
6 Donlen Dr., POB 617
Ellicottville, NY 14731
(716) 699-2162
Ellicottville Town Clerk
Antoinette Kerns Higgs (updated 6/10/2008)
699-2240 (B)
6891 Poverty Hill Rd., POB 658
Ellicottville, NY 14731
Surnames people are researching from this town
BAY by Kim Harris
DAHILL by Alice Henneberry
Drown by John Ladwig
PRIME/PRUYN by John Andrew Prime
Cemeteries
NAME LOCATION CONTACT Old Ross Farm Cemetery Co Rd 40 and Wickham Rd unknown Jefferson St Cemetery Rte. 219 Ellicottville Village of Ellicottville Niles Cemeter! 242, s. of Ellicottville Village of Ellicottville Holy Cross Cemetery N.E. jct of 219 & 242 Holy Cross Catholic Church Plato Lutheran Cemetery 219 @ Beaver Meadow Rd, n. of village Plato Lutheran Church Sunset Hill Cemetery W. Washington St Lena Reynolds or Ralph Chapman Bryant Hill Cemetery Bryant Hill Rd Stanley Richards, Rte 242, Ellicottville