Genesee County, New York, NYGenWeb

GENESEE COUNTY, NEW YORK

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HISTORICAL TIMELINE FOR STATE OF NEW YORK AND GENESEE COUNTY

1524	Explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, commissioned by the King of France, sailed to the New World, and into what is now New York Harbor; probably accompanied by Jacques Cartier
1609	After sailing to the New World on the Halve Maen, Henry Hudson explored the mighty river that would later be named for him. Samuel de Champlain explored the northeastern region of the area now called New York and discovered his namesake, Lake Champlain.
1624	The first Dutch settlement was established; for 40 years the Dutch ruled over the colony of New Netherland.
1664	The British army conquered the colony of New Netherland, which was then re-named New York, in honor of the Duke of York.
1754-1763	The French and Indian War, a fierce contest to gain control of the New World, changed the course of history. The British and American colonists fought against the French and Canadians, with Native American allies on both sides. By uniting the colonies and building their military strength and confidence, this war set the stage for the American Revolution.
1765	New York City hosted the first Colonial Congress, a conference called to discuss the King of England's Stamp Act.
1775-1783	The Revolutionary War. On May 10, 1775, Ethan Allen, Benedict Arnold and 83 “Green Mountain Boys” surprised the sleeping British garrison at Fort Ticonderoga and took the fort called the Key to a Continent without firing a shot. This was the first American victory of the Revolutionary War.
1776	After serving as a colony of Great Britain for over a century, New York declared its independence on July 9, becoming one of the original 13 states of the Federal Union.
1777	New York's first constitution was adopted on April 20. George Clinton was elected as New York’s first Governor in June. On October 17, the Americans defeated the British at the Battle of Saratoga, one of the decisive battles of the world. This victory marked the turning point of the Revolution, leading to the Americans’ alliance with the French and eventual victory.
1779	Big Tree Treaty with the Senecas provided clear title for the developmentof land and settlements in Western New York LeRoy's first settler, Charles Wilbur from Rhode Island arrived
1783	On November 25, the last British troops evacuated New York City, which had been occupied by the British since September 1776. This was the last British military position in the US. After they departed, US General George Washington entered the city in triumph to the cheers of New Yorkers.
1785-1790	New York City became the first capital of the United States. In 1789, it was the site of George Washington's inauguration as the first US President; it remained the nation's capital until 1790.
1792	The New York Stock Exchange was founded in New York City.
1797	In January, Albany became the capital of New York State.
1798	Stafford's first place of business was the Transit Storehouse which was built of logs by James Brisbane
1801	First school within Genesee County was built (LeRoy) First saw mill in Batavia was constructed First settlement in what is now Oakfield was made on the site of an ancient Indian Village
1802	The US Military Academy opened at West Point. (March 30) Genesee County and Town of Batavia were established First church service held west of the Genesee River was conducted by the Episcopal Church in LeRoy
1803	First Courthouse built west of the Genesee River was constructed
1807	Robert Fulton's North River Steamboat traveled from New York to Albany. This first voyage of significant distance made by a steamboat began a new era in transportation. First of seven public executions by hanging was conducted for murder in Genesee County, with James McLean being the first for the murder of William Orr and a Mr. McLaughlin.
1810	Holland Land Company sold it's Pre-Emption rights to the Seneca Reservation to the Ogden Land Company
1811	First library in Genesee County was formed (Alexander)
1812	Genesee's Towns of Alexander, Bethany, LeRoy and Pembroke were formed
1813	Genesee's Town of Bergen was formed
1815	Genesee's Holland Land Office was built Genesee's Town of Pavilion's first tavern opened
1816	Arsenal was built after the War of 1812 to protect the Genesee region Eight springs were discovered in Town of Alabama having healing properties and a health spa operated during the 19th century.The water was bottled and shipped worldwide
1820	Genesee Towns of Byron, Elba and Stafford were formed Federal Censes list 19 males and 14 female salves in Genesee County
1823	Village of Batavia was incorporated
1824	Byron Library Society was organized Elba's first shoe and boot making business opened at Daws Corners
1825	The Erie Canal opened in 1825, linking the Hudson River to the Great Lakes and leading to greater development in the western part of the state. Gypsum was discovered in Genesee Town of Oakfield
1826	Genesee Town of Alabama was formed Genesee County Home and Infirmary came into existence and was ready for use in 1827 William Morgan's disappearance fueled the anti-Masonic sentiments throughout the Northeast
1827	New York outlawed slavery. At the forefront of the Underground Railroad movement, New York had more anti-slavery organizations than any other state and strong abolitionist leaders such as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and John Brown. From the early 1800s until the end of the Civil War in 1865, thousands of people passed through New York as they traveled to freedom in Canada.
1828	Ely Samuel Parker, Seneca sachem, engineer and soldier was born near Indian Falls (Pembroke). During the Civil War Parker was General Grant's military secretary at Appomattox. The surrender documents are in Parker's writing.
1829	First bank west of the Genesee River was the Bank of Genesee, later known as the Genesee Trust which still functions in Batavia as part of the M&T Bank
1830	A public hanging in Genesee County was held on Nov 30. James Gray was hung in front of a crowd in Batavia estimated to be 5000 strong. James had been convicted of murder a local tavernkeeper, Samuel Davis, in a dispute over the apprenticeship of Gray's son to Davis.
1832	Genesee Town of Darien was formed
1834	Genesee Villages of Alexander and LeRoy were incorporated
1836	Train service began when the Tonawanda Railroad reached Bergen in Genesee County. It was the farthest west the railroad had been built in New York State.
1837	Martin Van Buren, born in Kinderhook, became the eighth President of the US. LeRoy Female Seminary was founded and was chartered as Ingham University in 1857, the first university for women in the United States
1840	Genesee County Agricultural Society was formed and the first Genesee County Fair was held in Alexander
1841	Construction for the second Courthouse for Genesee County began and was placed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks in 1973
1842	Genesee Towns of Oakfield and Pavilion were formed Second ("Compromise") Treaty of Buffalo Creek was signed; Tonawanda Senecas split from the rest of the Seneca Nation
1843	Cary Collegiate Seminary opened in Genesee Town of Oakfield
1844	Manufacturing of carriages began in Genesee Town of Darien
1848	Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and more than 300 women and men gathered in Seneca Falls, for the nation's first women's rights convention.
1850	Millard Fillmore, born in Cayuga County, became the 13th President of the US.
1852	Dean Richmond moved to Batavia and is credited for consolidating several small railroads that stretched from Albany to Buffalo to form the New York Central Railroad
1854	Morganville Pottery produced mostly drain tile and flower pots also made glazed wares which are valuable collectibles and on display in museums - site was excavated in 1973 by Rochester Museum of Science. (Stafford)
1857	Treaty at Tonawanda Reservation was signed
1860s	The State of New York supplied almost one-sixth of all Union forces during the Civil War, which began in 1861.
1866	Oakfield's Town Clerk's Office was destroyed by a fire which swept away all of the records of the town from it's organization to that time
1868	Genesee Village of Corfu was incorporated Construction for the New York State School for the Blind which was established in part as a response to the needs of soldiers blinded during the Civil War
1873	Mineral Spring water was discovered in Genesee Town of Darien
1876	Wiard Plow industry arrived in Batavia and by 1954, when it closed, it claimed to be the oldest plow manufacturer in the United States
1877	Genesee Village of Bergen was incorporated Cheese factory in Town of Alexander was built and 272,000 pounds of cheese was made the first year of operation. Genesee County Pomona Grange began
1878	The Daily News was first printed
1880	Bergen Roller Mills were constructed and operated by steam power in the Town of Bergen
1881	On August 19 the last execution occurred in Genesee County. Charles Stockley was hung for the murder of Batavia farmer John Welker.
1882	Genesse Village of Oakfield was incorporated
1883	The Brooklyn Bridge, a wonder of design and engineering, opened. P.T. Barnum led a parade of 21 elephants back and forth across the bridge, to demonstrate its sturdiness to skeptics. Between 1883 to 1900 there were 26 green- houses built in Genesee Town of Corfu
1884	Genesee Village of Elba was incorporated
1886	The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France to the United States in honor of the Centennial of the American Declaration of Independence, was dedicated on October 28 in New York Harbor. Genesee Village of Bergen was incorporated
1889	Branton family started a dairy business (Batavia) Richmond Memorial Library was presented to the people of Batavia by Mrs. Dean Richmond in memory of her son
1890	Oakfield elected the first Prohibition Village President in Western New York
1890-1954	Between 1892 and 1954, more than 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island, an immigration facility that is now part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument.
1891	Pavilion Salt Co. was incorporated in Genesee County
1893	New York Central engine "999" broke the world's speed record on it's run between Batavia and Buffalo
1896	First free Rural Mail Delivery in New York State started in Town of Elba
1897	Telephone communication began in Town of Darien
1899	Pearle B. Wait sold his Jell-O formula to Orator T. Woodward for $450 in Town of LeRoy. The State Capitol at Albany was completed.
1900	First automobile operator's license was issued in Genesee county
1901	When President William McKinley was assassinated in Buffalo, Theodore Roosevelt (born in New York City), was hurriedly sworn in as the 26th president of the US. Not quite 43 years old, TR became the youngest president in the nation's history.
1902	New York City’s first skyscraper was built: the 21-story Flatiron building at 23rd Street and Fifth Avenue.
1904	New York City’s first subway line, called the IRT, opened.
1920	On August 26, the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution extended the right to vote to women. After a long struggle, women could vote in the fall elections, including the Presidential election.
1931	The Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building were completed, and the George Washington Bridge opened, all adding to the New York City's burgeoning skyline.
1932	Lake Placid hosted the Olympic Winter Games. The Whiteface Lake Placid Olympic Center at the site features an Olympic Museum and Sports Complex.
1933	Franklin D. Roosevelt, born near Hyde Park, became the 32nd President of the US.
1939	The World's Fair opened in New York City, corresponding to the 150th anniversary of George Washington’s inauguration as first President of the US. Many countries around the world participated; over 44 million people attended over two seasons.
1941-1945	World War II. Three WWII ships on display at the Buffalo/Erie County Naval and Military Park include the Destroyer USS The Sullivans, named for five brothers who lost their lives on November 13, 1942 following the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal; the guided missile cruiser USS Little Rock; and the submarine USS Croaker.
1952	New York City became the permanent headquarters of the United Nations.

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