2o82 Farm Bureau Circular No. 5 



made in the drier portion of the county; these were on the lake shore, 

 the Ridge Road, and the Mountain Ridge, and along the Niagara River. 

 Some settlements were also made near Tonawanda Creek. Much of the 

 county was said to be open ponds in the early days, and the excessively 

 marshy condition of the lowlands defied subjection. 



A well-traveled trail of the Iroquois from the Hudson to the Niagara, 

 leading through Canandaigua and Batavia, emerged from the Tonawanda 

 Swamp nearly southeast of the present Royalton Center, followed Chest- 

 nut Ridge to Cold Springs, ran thence to Warren's Comers, and from 

 there along the Ridge past Hopkins' Marsh through the Tuscarora village 

 to the Niagara River. About 1800 this trail was improved so that sleighs 

 could traverse it in winter. This was the first road laid out north of the 

 main road from Canandaigua to Buffalo. 



The completion of the Erie Canal, in 1825, gave a great impetus to 

 settlement in the county (Fig. i). It provided a ready means of trans- 

 portation, and it stimulated industry. This influence is well shown by 

 the growth of the village of Lockport, which in 1820 had a population of 

 100, in 1830 had increased to 2ido, and in 1840 had increased to 6088. 

 The population of the townships along the canal developed proportion- 

 ately. The crops grown were those that could be easily shipped by 

 canal. 



Farmers' organizations. — Three agricultural organizations have done 

 much toward developing the agriculture of the county: the Niagara 

 County Farmers' Club, the County Agricultural Society, and the local 

 granges. A large number of the most progressive farmers are members of 

 one or all of these organizations. 



For the past sixty years there has at various times existed in this 

 county what has been called the Niagara County Farmers' Club, though 

 the present organization dates back only to 1880. By its monthly meetings 

 at different points in the county, this organization has exerted a strong 

 influence in both an agricultural and a political way. At these meetings 

 an address is given by a person of authority on some phase of agrictdture, 

 and the discussion always includes timely subjects of importance to the 

 farmers of the county. The club has a dual purpose: it endeavors to 

 better agricultural conditions in the county, and to develop the social 

 side of fai-m life by furnishing a means whereby the farmers may meet 

 and become acquainted. 



A county agricultural society was informally organized in 1841. The 

 first fair was held that year at Lockport, subsequent ones being held in 

 most of the towns of the county. The present agricultural society was 

 formed by the reorganization of the old one in 1858. 



The grange in Niagara County is of comparatively recent origin, 

 many of the local organizations having charters but a few years old. 

 By the bringing together of farmers of the same section, the grange has 

 been a strong factor in developing local pride and initiative. Many 

 movements for agricultural betterment have originated with or have 

 received encouragement by the grange, among which may be mentioned 

 the purchase of fertilizers and farm supplies and the formation of cooper- 

 ative associations for marketing fruit. While the grange is mindful of 

 the farmers' financial welfare, it has also been a strong influence toward 



