Bicentennial Biographies Update

I've been busy the past few weeks with a project out in Delaware Co. NY but I thought I'd take a little bit of time this Sunday to offer an update on Chautauqua County's Bicentennial Biographies project.  Basically, we are going to feature a brief biography of 200 noted individuals from throughout the county's 200-year history. The biographies will first be broadcast as PSAs on local radio, then published online for anyone wishing to view and comment. All biographies are being assembled by myself, County Historian Michelle Henry, and various town historians from throughout the area. We are making good progress and are confident the first biography will air on January 10, 2011.



To help build interest in the project, here are the first five people to be featured during the first week.

1. Amos & Chloe Sottle - Irving - First permanent white settlers in county (1796)
2. McHenry Family - Westfield - First Settler of Westfield area (1802)
3. James & John McMahon - Westfield - Early Settler and Developer (1802)
4. Alexander McIntyre - Mayville - First Settler on Chaut. Lake (1804)
5. William Peacock - Mayville - Surveyor, local pioneer and first resident agent of Hol. Land Company

Some publicity will be forthcoming later this month for press, radio, and television so keep an eye out for that. However, we don't plan on announcing all 200 names at once. Rather, we'll roll them out when day at a time, to help maintain interest in the project (and other Bicentennial-related events) throughout 2011.

For anyone interested in learning more about local history, I recommend becoming a member of any number of local historical societies in the area.  The County Historical Society also recently started blogging, and you can find them all here.