Portville

The Town of Portville was formed from the Town of Olean in 1837, and derives its
name due to the fact that in early days it was a prominent point for shipment of
lumber, shingles (i.e. Weston Bros., Luther Gordon, William F . Wheeler & Co . ) and
other goods down the Allegheny River to markets of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and
Louisville.

In 1806 contracts for land were made with the Holland Land Company.  converting
the howling wilderness into cultivated fields, the first settler of the Town
arrived in 1809.