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The early history of Orleans County, on the south shore of Lake Ontaio (about 40 miles east of Niagara Falls) in western New York State, reveals the Iroquois Indians of what is now western New York at war with the Algonquins and Hurons of what is now Canada. Into this scene came the French explorers, following the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes westward many years before the English settled western New York. The French formed an alliance with the Algonquins and Hurons against the Iroquois. The Iroquois fared so well in this contest that they prevented any French settlement in New York, apart from a trading post at the mouth the Niagara River and a few missionaries. The French continued to claim New York as French territory, and settlements near Lake Ontario would pass back and forth between French and English possession, depending who had the upper hand, until the territory was surrendered to the United States in 1796. The book explains early land divisions such as the Holland Purchase and how they related to what was to be Orleans County, then describes early pioneer conditions, hardships and ways of life. The Erie Canal was completed in 1825 and 'to no part of the State of New York as the Erie Canal proved of more benefit than to Orleans County. ' Prosperity came in on every hand, and with it, development and people. This is the phase which occupies most of the book, with Chapters 15 through 29 each dealing with a town or village. The fullname index lists about 2,000 names. Preceding the index area about a dozen appendices listing various types of county and town officials, along with lists of towns, villages and elevations of various localities above sea level.

GENEALOGY  UNITED  STATES  NEW  YORK  ORLEANS  COUNTY