Senate Resolution No. 693

BY: Senator BORRELLO

COMMEMORATING the 200th Anniversary of the Town of
Busti to be celebrated on April 16, 2023

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor and
commemorate the distinguished histories of the communities which
comprise the noble body of this great Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Busti in Chautauqua
County, New York; and

WHEREAS, This auspicious occasion will be celebrated at a community
event on Sunday, April 16, 2023; and

WHEREAS, The southwestern section of New York State is part of a
vast section of land claimed by Massachusetts following the
Revolutionary War; Robert Morris acquired it in 1791 and, after
settlement with the Native Americans in 1797, sold it to the Holland
Land Company, which was led by Paul Busti, for whom the Town was named;
and

WHEREAS, Born on October 17, 1749, in Milan, Italy, Paul Busti died
in July of 1824, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, It is known that tribes of both the Erie and Seneca Indians
were very early inhabitants of the area, and John L. Frank is reported
to be the first white settler in 1808 on lot 61, although records
indicate that he didn't purchase land until 1812; and

WHEREAS, The first road opened in the southern part of the county
was cut through the forest by Robert Miles between 1802 and 1804 and
started by the Conewango at Pine Grove to Shadyside (Lakewood) and ended
at a place on Chautauqua Lake known as Miles Landing; and

WHEREAS, One of the first industries in Busti was a tannery built by
John Frank around 1812 at what was called the Frank settlement, and the
first blacksmith was Patrick Cambell, who operated his shop there; and

WHEREAS, A short time later, Giles Chipman and Lyman Fargo opened a
shop nearby where they installed a trip hammer and manufactured edge
tools; other early industries were established by Deacon Samuel
Garfield, Herman Bush, Uriah Haws, Samuel Chappel, James Startwell, and
Francis Soule; and

WHEREAS, Perhaps the most well-known inhabitants of Busti were the
Stonemans; George Stoneman came to Busti in 1810, married Katherine
Cheney, and had eight children; his oldest son George became one of the
great cavalry leaders of the Civil War, and in 1871, he moved to
California and became governor of the state years later; and

WHEREAS, Kate Stoneman, another one of George's children, was the
first woman to pass the New York State bar exams and to be admitted to
law practice in New York State; and

WHEREAS, The Underground Railroad had one of its most active routes
through this region and it crossed the state line at or near Sugar
Grove, passed through Busti and Jamestown and then across Lake Erie to
Buffalo and on to the "railroad's" terminal in Canada; there was also a
station where Sunset Hill Cemetery is now located; and

WHEREAS, The first school, a one-room log cabin, was built in 1813,
and was located at Fairmount and Winch Roads; the present Southwestern
Central School was built and ready for use in 1954; and

WHEREAS, The Baptist Church of Busti was organized on August 30,
1819, and the first Baptist house of worship was built in 1836, and
another one was erected in 1853; the first Methodist Episcopal Church
was organized under the direction of Reverend Alvin Burgess in about
1819, with approximately 60 members; and

WHEREAS, Busti was also an early leader in agriculture; the first
official test conducted on cows in Chautauqua County and one of the
first in New York State, was made on the farm of Herbert Ayres, who also
raised the first field of alfalfa in the county; and

WHEREAS, Incorporated on May 9, 1893, Lakewood, which is in the
northern end of the town of Busti, began with the consolidation of
several farms all originally from the Holland Land Company; the village
extends along the shores of Chautauqua Lake about three miles; and

WHEREAS, The development of Lakewood, however, began with the
building of the Cowing House by John T. Cowing in 1870; it was later
enlarged and called the Lake View House; over time, it became the
Sterlingworth Inn and later still, the Waldemere; and

WHEREAS, Remaining fruitful over the ebb and flow of decades of
growth and change, the Town of Busti, under the able leadership of
Supervisor Jesse M. Robbins, continues its commitment to enhancing the
quality of life of its citizens, ensuring a positive business,
institutional and educational climate, and providing all essential
services; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Busti, recognizing the
significance of the role it continues to play in the life of the
community of the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Jesse M. Robbins, Supervisor, Town of Busti.