Batavia, New York, USA
1899 - Batavia

Batavia is the largest town in Genesee county, both in point of territory and population. It is located in about the centre of the county, and is bounded on the north by Oakfield and Elba, on the east by Stafford, on the south by Bethany and Alexander, and on the west by Pembroke and Alabama. The surface of the town is undulating, being nearly level in some portions. Tonawanda creek enters the town on the southern border, flows in a northerly direction to the village of Batavia, where it turns and takes a westerly course, passing out of the town at the centre of the western boundary. Its course through the town is exceedingly sluggish for most of the way. Bowen's creek, which has its source in Alexander, flows northwesterly through Batavia until it reaches Tonawanda creek, near the western limits of the town. The soil of this town is a deep, fertile, sandy loam, adapted to many kinds of agricultural pursuits, but especially to fruit raising. Batavia village, the county seat of Genesee county, is situated in the east half of the town.

Several railroads pass through Batavia. The main line of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad extends in a general southwesterly and northeasterly direction through the central part of the town. The Tonawanda branch of the same road extends from east to west through the centre; the Canandaigua branch extends in a southeasterly direction from the village of Batavia; the Batavia and Attica branch extends in a southwesterly direction from Batavia. The Erie Railroad enters the town near the centre of the southern boundary, runs parallel with the Attica branch of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad to Batavia, and there turns and runs eastward.

The first settlements in the town were made by Isaac Sutherland, Colonel William Rumsey and General Worthy L. Churchill. Mr. Sutherland erected a substantial log house on his farm about two miles west of the village. The pioneer homes of Colonel Rumsey and General Churchill stood about three miles east of the village. Others who came into the town, either to reside or to take up land, prior to the founding of the village, were Joseph Ellicott, Benjamin Ellicott, James Brisbane, in 1798; James W. Stevens, John Branan, in 1800; Thomas Ashley, Gideon Dunham, Garrett Davis, Samuel F. Geer, Dr. David McCracken, R. Noble, Stephen Russell, Abel Rowe, Aaron White, in 1801; John Lamberton, Benjamin Morgan. Batavia village was founded by Joseph Ellicott, agent of the Holland Land Company, in 1802. The first building in the village was erected in March, 1801, by Abel Rowe.

The original town of Batavia included practically the entire Holland Purchase. The town was formed by act of the Legislature, March 30, 1802. Alexander, Bergen, Bethany and Pembroke were set off in 1812, and Elba and a part of Stafford in 1820. The first town meeting was held at the tavern of Peter Vandeventer (now Newstead, Erie county) March 1, 1803...

Our County and Its People..., Safford E. North, The Boston History Company, 1899

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