13 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. (RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) CHAPTER I. THE SUBJECT.- BEGINNING OF ERIE COUNTY'S HISTORY. THE history of any county properly begins with its organization, and a narrative of the eventS occurring within its borders prior to that organization must necessarily be associated with the older counties of which it had previously formed a part. Erie county was not organized with its present name until the year 1838. The larger and the more interesting part of its history had at that time already taken place. It is necessary, therefore, to point out that the subject of this work is the territory comprised within the present bounds of Erie county, together with the inhabitants of that territory, no matter whether the events recorded occurred before or after the beginning of the independent existence of the county. Again, as has already been intimated, it will be necessary to frequently refer to matters outside this territory in order to elucidate the history of the county and Show a succession of events. Such extraneous references, however, will be confined chiefly to a few of the earlier chapters. There is Scarcely a Subject pertaining to the history of Erie county, or to this region, that has not in some manner been written, and it is hardly to be expected that at this late day any new and important historical material can be unearthed and brought forward from the long hidden recesses of the past. It will be necessary in view of the many publications that have been made, to discuss the subjects that have therein appeared and in much the same manner as they appear to be related; but in quoting from other works and other writers full credit will be given and preference exercised for those who have been in some manner identified with the past of this immediate locality. Further, when "Erie county" is Spoken of previous to the organization and naming thereof, it will be understood that the words are used chiefly to avoid circumlocution and mean the territory included within its present boundaries. So, too, for convenience the territory now comprised in a township will occa- 14 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. sionally be mentioned by its present name, before any such township was actually in existence. It is the aim and hope of the writer, by a proper arrangement and classification of the subjects treated in the several chapters, to present to the people of Erie county a work that shall be to them of much value for ready reference and to the succeeding generations a work of inestimable value as an instructor regarding the past of the county and region.