In 1816 a larger group relocated to the area, which would be known as Erin Township. Like Sperry, they relocated from Onondaga County from the area that would be Tompkins County. John Banfield, James Elya, Abraham Elston, Daniel and Gabriel Curtis, brothers, and Philip Thomas, and brother’s James and Thomas Van Houter settled in the western part of the township, located near each other in the “Red Chalk Section. *
Others came from Delaware County, settling in Erin Center. Among these were Isaac Shoemaker, Alexander McKey and son, John McKey, Thomas Beker, James McMillan and several sons, William Stewart, Robert Stewert, Jermiah Barns and Levi Decker.
Settlers from New Jersey settled North of the Center part of town. These included Robert and Alexander Park. Robert and Vernan McDowell settled with them from Vermont.
Those settling in the North West of Erin Township were Arden Austin, Samuel Vaugn and his brothers Daniel and James Vaugn and Jessie White, all settling in the Austin Hill area.
In 1817 Richard Walker, Isaac Boyer- a soldier in the Revolutionary War from Pennsylvania along with his sons; Isreal and James. David Herrington relocated from Rutland County, Vermont settling at Herrington’s corners.
In 1817 a large tract of land in the southern part of the township was taken up by colonial John Tuthill and his son, John Tuthill.
In 1819, Anthony Hollenbeck, a soldier in the war of 1812, and his brothers, Henry and John arrived from Schoharie County. Also settling in 1819 was the infamous Irishman, Michael Robinson, who settled in the Red Chalk District. His energy and talent soon led to his position of leadership. In 1822, the northern part of the town of Chemung was designated a separate town and Michael Robinson was given the honor of naming it. His selection was "Erin Go Braugh" (Ireland forever) in honor of his homeland. The name was quickly shortened to the Erin we know today.
In 1828, David Caywood, a revolutionary soldier, and his son, William, a soldier from the war of 1812, settled in Erin by way of Orange County and Ithaca.
These are the founding fathers and founding families of Erin NY. On March 29, 1822, the township was legally incorporated, separating from the larger Chemung Township. On the third Tuesday of May 1822, at the house of John Banfield an election was held to choose the town elected officials. The first elected politicians in the tow were; Alexander McKey-Supervisor, Arden Austin-Town Clerk, Daniel Vaughan, Thomas Baker, Ebenezer Brown- assessors, John A. McKey, Jared Patchen, David Swartwood, Commissioners of highways, John Tuthill, Robert McDowell, William D. Steward- commissioner of common schools, Alexander McKey, Arden Austin, Francis Banfield- inspectors of common schools, John Tuthill, Robert McDowell- overseers of the poor, Varnu McDowell= constable and collector, Thomas Baker, John Banfield- fence viewers, John Banfield-ground keeper.
The first tax-payers were Alexander McKey, John McKey, John Tuthill, John Tuthill, Jr., Green M. Tuthill, Allen Hurlburt, David Harrington, Ransom L. Wade, Eli Sommers, Ira Simmons, Julius Simmons, Abraham Shoemaker, Daniel Swartwood, Isaac Shoemaker, Abraham Swartwood, David Swartwood, Jonah Osborn, Joseph McIntyre, William McIntyre, Brewster Goldsmith, Thomas Lewis, Christopher Hedges, Christopher Hedges, Jr., Farrel Hedges, Robert McDowell, William Hoyt, Daniel Decker, Varnum McDowell, Thomas McDowell, Francis Banfield, Michael Robinson, Joshua Clark, Thos. Baldwin, John Boyer, James Relyea, Oliver Relyea, John Hollenback, Anthony Hollenback, Henry Hollenback, James Hollenback, Abram Elston, Phillip Thomas, James VanHouter, Thomas S. VanHouter, John Banfield, Daniel Curtis, Gabriel Curtis, David Jackson, William Groom, John W. Watkins, Lewis Catlin, John Elston, Nathaniel Campbell, Mathew N. Norris, Richard Walker, Jared Patchen, Ephraim Bennitt, Daniel Bennitt, Jeddiah Bennitt, Caleb Curtis, Daniel Howell, Elias Billington, James Bishop, Henry Clear, Morris Dean, John Walker, Charles Chapman, Herman Sawyer, Horace Sawyer, Smith Paril, Nicholas Paril, Robert Park, Alexander Park, Jacob C. Swartwood, David Park, Jeremiah Jared, James Vaughan, John B. Andrews, Arden Austin, Cornelius Westbrook, Andrew H. Everett, Samuel Vaughan, James Boyer, Joseph Bennett, Silas Valentine, Zackariah Valentine, John McMillan, Isaac Van Tyle, Joseph Mills, John Hartgrove, Levi Decker, James Decker, Isaac Brown, William Brown, Silas Brown, Joseph Frost, Daniel Vaughan, Henry Decker, Benjamin Smith, William Smith, Elijah Shoemaker, Isaac Shoemaker, Jeremiah Barnes, John Cooper, John Burrows, W. D. Stewart. Robert Stewart, James McMillan, James McMillan, Jr., George R. McMillan, Elihu Everett. https://chemung.nygenweb.net/books/erinout.htm)
THE FIRSTS IN ERIN
John Mitchell kept the first tavern in the south part of the town, on Wynkoop Creek.
--Arden Austin was the first surveyor.
--The first schoolhouse was built in 1818.
--Basil Sperry built the first house, in 1815.
--Basil Sperry harvested the first crop, in 1816.
--Mrs. Basil Sperry was the first who died in Erin.
--Joseph Rodburn built the first grist mill, in 1855, on Newtown Creed, near Erin Centre.
-The first teacher in Erin was Robert Stewart, 1818. The first school-house was built in District No. 1, 1818,
--Thomas Baker built the first framed house, in 1825.
- John Banfield built the first framed barn n 1825
--Dr. James McMillan was the first resident physican.
--James H. Rodburn established the first store, in 1867.
--The first church erected was by the Presbyterians, in 1836, it was located about two miles southwest of Erin Village. Rev. Mr. Bevridge and John Graham were influential in its construction.
Mrs. Sperry and Mrs. Baker, the wife of Thomas Baker, were the first who died in the new settlement.
Dr. James McMillan was the first resident physician
--James and Joseph McMillan built the first saw mill, in 1824 .
--Green M. Tuthill was county clerk in 1847-9, deputy sheriff 1838-40.
--Erin was bonded for $30,000 to help construct the U. I. & E., R. R. in 1874.
--In 1844, Hon. S. Hazen, of Erin, represented Chemung county in the assembly.
--Isaac Boyer, John Hollenback, David Caywood, John Thomas were soldiers in the revolutionary war.
--Robert Stewart done distinguished service during the war of the rebellion, and was elected county clerk in 1868.
--Baptist Church of Erin was organized in 1864, Rev. Mr. Whitney was the first minister, church erected in 1871.
--John A. McKey was superintendent of the poor, justice of the sessions two terms, county coroner, supervisor, justice of the peace.
--Jason P. Woolever represented the township several time as supervisor, commissioner of loan, in 1854, justice of sessions and justice of peace.
--The M. E. Church was organized in 1827. Rev. James Taylor was the first local preacher. The original members were Jeremiah Barnes and wife, C. C. Humphreys and wife, Joshua Baker and wife, Cornelius Becker and wife, James Baker and wife. (https://chemung.nygenweb.net/books/erinout.htm)
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