The town of Leon was formed from Connewango on April 24, 1832. It lies on the west border of Cattaraugus County. Its surface is level and marshy in the west and northwest, and the remainder of the county is moderately hilly. It is drained by the Connewango Creek and its tributaries.
Leon is a postal village near the center of town, nd in 1860 contained 2 churches and 18 dwellings. East Leon is a post office.
Thompsonville is a hamlet, in the southeast part. Settlements began in 1819, on Mud Creek, by Jason Franklin and his James from Riga, Monroe County , Abner Wise and his son Abner W. Wise, Thomas Cheney, and Edward Cheney, all from Otsego County . Other early settlers included Robert Durfee, from Rhode Island , who settled on Lots 50 & 57, in 1819; and John Fairbanks and John Battles, in 1819-1820.
The first birth was that of Edward Dudley on July 26, 1820. The first marriage was between Abner W. Wise and Laura Davison, in 1823. Laura, the daughter of Captain John Fairbanks, was the first person to die, in 1821.
The first school was taught by Richard Outhout, in the winter of 1822-1823. Asa Franklin kept the first inn, in 1823. Johnson Noyes started the first store in 1828, at Olds Corners. The first sawmill was erected by Ebenezer Collar, on Mud Creek, in 1823. Jabez Thompson set up the first gristmill, on Mud Creek in 1832. The first religious meeting was held at the house of Abner Wise, in 1820, by Elder Hadley; and the first (Reformed Methodist) Church, was formed by Rev. Ezra Amadon in 1822.
Town Historian | Town Clerk |
Patricia L. Bromley 12091 Ruckh Hill Rd. South Dayton, NY 14138 (716) 296-5709 |
Diane M. Ellis 12204 Leon-New Albion Rd., POB 97 Leon, NY 14751 (716) 296-8132 (B) 296-5776 (H) |
Information from 2008 Cattaraugus County Directory |
Surnames
- BRAND by LizBurdick
- EASTON / INGERSOLL byRick and Jacki Chase
- MILLS by Kelly Mcmahan /li>
- STICKNEY by Howard Hickman
- WARREN by Karen Mohr
- WHITCOMB by Carolyn Conner
- Davis/Farnham by Susanne Farnham Hieber
- Edick, Franklin, Hall, Sherman, Wells by Terry Dean Olson (Updated 1/13/2004)
- Davison & Tobey by Marylyn & Gene Tobey
- Dye & Cooper by Jay Dye updated 10/31/02
cemeteries
- Casten Farm Cemetery - has disappeared
- East Leon Cemetery - poor almost abandoned condition
- Eldredge Road Cemetery also known as Town Hill Cemetery and
- Fancher Hill Cemetery - aka Barton Cemetery - poor almost disappeared condition
- Fairview Cemetery also known as Cemetery of Leon - poor almost abandoned condition
- Kendall Flats Cemetery - good condition
- Leon Hollow Cemetery aka Franklin Cemetery or Riga Road Cemetery- fair condition
- Treat Memorial Cemetery also known as Leon Union Cemetery or Leon Centre Cemetery - (View on Find A Grave)
- Wells Hill Cemetery - disappeared
A number of years ago, volunteers walked the cemeteries and copied
the information on the headstones. This information is not 100%
complete. Information for Franklin Cemetery (Old Leon Cemetery),
Kendall Flats Cemetery, Leon Center Cemetery, Treat Memorial Cemetery,
the cemetery at Kendall Corners, cemetery on Mosher Farm (East Leon
Road). All information on file
at the Cattaraugus County Museum is available to the public for research
purposes.
Contact Sharon Fellows, Cattaraugus County Historian 716-353-8200 ext. 4720 or 4721