The Cattaraugus Republican
Found on Ebay,
Comes Home to Cattaraugus County

(10/31/2008) By Lois Ann Zendarski

Need some acoustical oil for deafness? How about some of Dr. Newton’s Jaundice Bitters? These are two of the products that were found advertised for sale in The Cattaraugus Republican back in 1835. The newspaper was published on Thursday mornings by Robert H. Shankland in Ellicottville, NY.

The newspaper advertised that A. French sold school books, but wanted butter. Oats were taken in exchange for debts of the newspaper office and you could purchase dress cloth from A. Seaward in Great Valley. Folks would pay for ‘good clean ashes’ delivered to Ellicottville after the first day January, 1836. (presumably to make lye for soap) The paper included submissions from newspapers such as the Louisiana Advertiser, the Portland Magazine and the Saturday Courier.

Knowing these facts is not only fun trivia, but a link to our past and how life was for our ancestors here in Cattaraugus County.

One of the newest additions to the Cattaraugus County Museum in Machias, NY are copies of a very old, and very valuable newspaper from 1835 through 1844. Although the museum has newspapers from the 1880s that are on microfilm, as well as a few from the 1840s, this new addition was indeed a rare find.

The Cattaraugus Republican was first published in 1835 in Ellicottville, New York and had news that covered much of the county. It has recently been found by local historians on E-bay and brought back home to Cattaraugus County, during this, our Bicentennial Anniversary.

Its importance goes far beyond mere facts and ads for products and services. The years between the 1830s and 1840s are very difficult to research and records from then were poorly kept, or not kept at all.

Unlike today where records are vital statistics, census records then barely told the whole story. Records from 1790-1840 listed only the head of the household, usually a man unless the head of household were a widow. Then she may or may not have been listed. Wives and children were just numbers in columns and names were lost to history.

Sometimes women’s names were listed only if she ‘ran away from home’, or if the post office listed letters not picked up.

Historians use family Bibles, letters, diaries, church records and newspapers for their research. Unfortunately, newspapers degrade and disintegrate and many may have burned in the numerous fires that were so rampant during the 19th Century.

The collection now being housed at the Cattaraugus County Museum includes information about the Genessee Valley Canal, Martin Van Buren’s election as president, marriages, local advertising of the time, businesses, cost of products and first names of some women who lived here at the time.
Maggie Fredrickson, historian for the Village of Franklinville searched E-bay for items from Cattaraugus County and tells that she got very excited when she found several bound volumes of The Cattaraugus Republican. Unfortunately, someone outbid her and she was devastated. However, the bidder called her and asked if she would be interested in other volumes. Funds were raised and the volumes were purchased and brought back to Cattaraugus County. Very few newspapers were put in ledger form and bound as were these. Although the County museum has newspapers from the 1880s that are on microfilm, as well as a few from the 1840s, this addition is an exciting look even further back.

The volumes from 1840-1842 were purchased by someone locally and it is hoped that they will share the information found in those missing papers with the historical society in the near future.

Maggie tells that Jack Searles, who was instrumental in forming the Cattaraugus County Bicentennial Committee, encouraged a group of historians to bring this incredible find home to Cattaraugus County during this Bicentennial Anniversary.” The group of historians included Bruce and Maggie Fredrickson , Franklinville Historians, Mary Elizabeth Dunbar, Ellicottville Historian and Sharon Fellows, Cattaraugus County Historian.

The Cattaraugus County Museum & Research Library is located at 9824 Route 16, Machias, NY. The museum hours are: Tuesday through Friday—9 A.M. to 4 P.M. They are also open the 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month between the hours of 1-4 P.M.

Stop in and revisit the past!