Town of Tonawanda history

1805: Alexander Logan, John King and John Hershey settled in the northeast part of the town along Ellicott Creek.

Among other early settlers were: Robert Simpson. on Ellicott Creek, in 1811; John P. Martin and a Mr.

Methodism in Tonawanda dates from 1816, when John Foster preached the first sermon at the house of Robert Simson.

The canal was opened in September, 1825.

One of the old gravestones in good condition is that of Frank Mang who was born in 1826.

Roswell Driggs was an early tavern-keeper, and in 1827 Urial Driggs, his son, opened the first store, which he conducted for nearly sixty years.

Joseph Bush soon established himself in the grocery business and continued about forty years; he was also the first postmaster, the office having been established about 1828.

In 1830 A. H. Tracy donated a lot on South Canal street on which a union church was built.

April 16, 1836: New York State legislature organizes the Town of Tonawanda out of the former Town of Buffalo.

The first town meeting was not held until the spring of 1837, when the following officers were elected: William Williams, supervisor; T. W. Williams, town clerk; John T. Bush, Daniel Smith and a Mr.

The first resident physician was Doctor Jesse F. Locke, who came about 1838; following him were: Drs.

Notable GravesOne particularly notable pioneer buried in the Faling Cemetery was Adam W. Zimmerman who died on August 30, 1839 at the age of 53.

About 1840 a saw mill and planing mill were established by John Simson, who, with others, was instrumental in causing the Cleveland Commercial Company to make an earnest effort to develop and improve the harbor.

One of the oldest graves is that of Martin Zimmerman who was born April 20, 1785 and died in 1847.

Besides the stores of Urial Driggs and Joseph Bush there was one opened by Selden G. Johnson in 1848; other merchants in Tonawanda were the following: William Kibler, James A. Pinner, Joseph Powell, Christopher Schwinger, Louis F. Green, Simon J. Locke, Sherman & Campbell, 0.

Built in 1849The former St Peter’s Church was erected in 1849 from bricks made of clay from the Ives Pond area.

St Francis Roman Catholic church was founded in 1850 by Rev.

The First Presbyterian church was organized May 29, 1852, and erected a brick edifice adjoining the park.

On January 7, 1854, the village was incorporated with the name Tonawanda and with four wards, one of which was on the north side of the creek.

Hayward, who in November, 1860, started the Niagara Frontier.

Miller, on the old “Guideboard” road; John Foster, the first Methodist exhorter; James and John Berlin, James Robinson, Richard Rogers and Henry Simondon, on the Military road, and William Best, the first surveyor and father of R. Hamilton Best, sheriff in 1862—64.

Charles G. Martin started a blacksmith and wagon shop in 1864; other mechanics in this line were Elijah Day, Hubert Schmitz, George P. Gillie, C. 0.

In 1865 A. B. Williams and A. G. Kent purchased the mill of Merritt Crandall and later those of Frederick Smith and Robert Koch; Mr.

The Niagara Falls branch of the Erie Railroad was built in 1870.

The following table shows the amount of lumber, lath and shingles received by lake at the Tonawandas, and the lumber shipped by canal, since 1873:

By 1875 the lumber business had become the most important industry in the place, and during the past twenty years has grown to enormous proportions.

A parochial school house was built in 1883.

The Tonawanda Gas Light Company, incorporated September 29, 1884, with a capital of $60,000, supplies both places.

Another Zimmerman, Emeline, wife of pioneer Jeremiah Faling, died on September 4, 1886.

In 1888 a project for the improvement of Tonawanda harbor was adopted, and since then about $300,000 have been expended in dredging, etc.

1889 - The Buffalo and Niagara Falls Drainage Company has been incorporated with $5,000,000 capital.The object is to construct a ditch by way of Tonawanda to the bottom of the Niagara gorge, which will be used as a tail race for water motors.St Joseph HeraldSaint Joseph, MichiganApril 13, 1889

Martin Riesterer & Son started one in August, 1891.

The First National Bank was organized March 27, 1893, with a capital of $100,000, and with George F. Rand, president; Alexander C. Campbell, vice-president, and Henry P. Smith, cashier.

When that house burned down in 1894, he moved to one of the two imposing sandstone mansions across the street, one built for himself and one built for his brother.

A new armory was erected in Ton awanda for the 25th Separate Company, N. G. N. Y., and formally opened February 22, 1897.

September 18, 1899: Village of Kenmore, comprising 1.5 square miles, incorporates as a Village under the General Village Law of the State of New York.

After Elmlawn Cemetery opened in 1901, many families had graves removed there.

How Western New York Gave Wings to the WorldPalmer's ViewsPresented here are 59 (of a total collection of about 150) photographs, drawings and maps published in 1910.

An additional tract extending west to Elmwood Avenue and Military Road was purchased later which more than doubles the acreage. It was established in 1912 and originally contained twenty-eight acres.

Coleman, was removed to the west side of Delaware Avenue near the corner of Knoche Road, (1932) where, after being inhabited for more than a hundred years as an ancient landmark, it is still doing duty.

The bell for the steeple was presented to St Peter’s by the Salem Church in 1934 in anticipation of the congregation’s 105th anniversary.

When the first black couple moved in, 1964: the neighbors told them to move.

The Town of Tonawanda acquired the church and surrounding property in 1970.

John Percy has been the town historian since 1973 and has provided a vital link to the Historical Society.

The old burial ground was re-dedicated on August 1, 1976 by the Tonawanda-Kenmore Historical Society as one of a series of observances of our nation's Bicentennial throughout the Town of Tonawanda.

About the Cemetery (The following is from John Percy's book, Tonawanda, The Way It Was, Partner's Press, 1979.)

Four of them were thoroughly researched and documented for the Town of Tonawanda-Kenmore Historical Society in 1982, by a local eagle scout.

1999 is the centennial year for the Village of Kenmore.

On January 2, 2015, the town appointed Ed Adamczyk as the new Town Historian.The Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization and owns and manages the artifacts of the museum.