Settlement and Development
The first settlers arrived in the area in the 1810s. Many of them were of English, Dutch, and Canadian descent. Captain John Martin, a veteran of the War of 1812, was the first to build a log cabin there in 1816 near the tallest peak in Chemung County. In 1823, the first road was laid out to connect Martin’s Hill and Post Creek. By the 1830s, the town had developed to include businesses such as hotels along the stage routes, taverns, saw and gristmills, a charcoal retort, and an ashery that produced lye for soap. On April 16, 1823, the southern portion of the town of Catherine was incorporated as the towns of Catlin and Veteran. On April 17, 1835, the northern half of Catlin was taken to form the Town of Dix, leaving Catlin as it is today.
 1869 map of CatlinThe town got its name from Judge Phineas Catlin, an early settler to the area who served as the first supervisor of the Town of Catherine and on the county’s Board of Supervisors. He first came to the area when he was appointed along with Mathew Carpenter and John Hendy in 1797 to lay out a road from Catskill Landing on the Hudson River to Catherine's Town near Seneca Lake. (Image courtesy of the Catlin town historian) |
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 J.J. Cooper HomeThe J.J. Cooper Home, located in Catlin Center, was built in the early 1850s. It served as a post office for the town as well as a store and a hotel on the stage line that ran between Big Flats and Watkins. It is the oldest home in Catlin still standing today. (Image courtesy of the Catlin town historian) |
 George Edminster's highchair, c1885George Edminster was the son of Morris and Agnes Small Edminster of Catlin. The family lived on Judge Ely Personius’ summer farm in Johnson Hollow and cared for the property. |
 Watercolor of a house on Backer Road with a sign that reads “Catlin Town Clerk,” by Talitha Botsford |
 Canning jar used for votingFor years, citizens of Catlin placed their ballots in this mason jar at the voting booth on Backer Road near Kimble Road on election day. A photo of the voting booth is inside the jar. (courtesy of the Catlin town historian) |