Allegany, New York
The home of Warren and Margaret Onan from probably about 1840 to 1879. A personal visit by Jane and Dave Onan II in July of 1999. Observations of the past and present.
The countryside is rolling forested hills, hollows with streams at the bottom. It is pretty country. That makes it hard to find enough flat clear land to farm. |
I have previously stated that Warren grew up
on a farm but spent most of his adult life in the town of Allegany. He was at various
times a merchant, justice of the peace, coroner, and postmaster. The map below lists
Warren Onan as a Manufacturer, Carpenter. A reprint of The Allegany Citizen says,
"The first regular record on file is the annual meeting of district #3, held
September 1, 1856, in which Warren Onan was chosen moderator and W. B. Parker, clerk of
the meeting." His choices were clearly bureaucratic.
Inset of map at left
The arrow at the left of the small map points to the corner of what is now First and
Maple. On the large map you can see the second lot on Maple indicated with a house and
"W Onan". Today, standing on that corner and looking up Maple you see the Park
& Shop. My best guess is that his lot is now the parking lot of the Park & Shop.
At the east end of town is a house and lot owned by "C McKay" who is the Charles
McKay who won the Medal of Honor in the Civil War and Married Warren and Margaret’s
daughter, Clara.
Looking east on Maple street from First at the Park & Shop. Probable site of the home of Warren and Margaret Onan. |
The town of Allegany, NY lies just 5 miles west of Olean. While it is almost a suburb
of Olean now, in Warren’s day it would have been distinctly separated by forest. The
Erie Railway went through town, it had at least 2 hotels, a tannery, harness maker, wagon
maker, saw mill and an Eclectic Physician and Botanic Drug Dealer. The Allegany river is
just at the bottom of the map. NOTE: The map is skewed. Maple street runs east and west.
First and Maple are not identified on the original of the map. The identification is mine.
First street is Cattaraugus County #19, also called the Five Mile road. At the north
end of this road is the Fitch cemetery where Warrens mother, father and two sisters are
buried. The Onan farm was also along the Five Mile road.
Click here for a 1999 view and discussion of the Fitch Cemetery.
Allegany of 1999 is typified by the Park & Shop. A lot of 1900’s residences and one old hotel exist. It is a bedroom community for Olean. The St Elizabeth Convent of 1869 is now the St Elizabeth College occupying the east end of town. Up the hill at the east end of Maple street is the city cemetery and high school. The river runs on the southwest side of town and is largely ignored except for the sewage treatment plant. It is quite typical of the small old towns in the area. A nice place to live in a quiet way.
[allegany.doc]
20 July, 1999
David W. Onan II
Data in RESE0231