Settlement & Incorporation | towns-and-villages

Settlement and Incorporation

The Village of Wellsburg was officially incorporated on August 28, 1872, but people had been living in the area for much longer. Abner Wells and his sons built a log cabin there in 1787. They opened a store near the river five years later to trade with other early settlers. Bentley Creek, which flows through Wellsburg and connects to the Chemung River just north of the village, provided water power to early mills. In the 1830s, David Brewer and Salomon L. Smith both established sawmills along the creek. By 1848, the settlement’s streets and building lots had been systematically laid out to make a well-organized and ordered village.

Wellsburg

Map of Wellsburgh, 1869 The community was designated “Wellsburgh” when Horace Wells opened the first post office there in 1824. The “h” was dropped when the village was incorporated in 1872.
Wellsburg, c. 1890s By the mid-1800s, Wellsburg had become the commercial center of the town of Ashland with stores and taverns that were frequented by farmers and businessmen alike.
Exchange Hotel, c. 1906 In 1855, Horace Wells built the Exchange Hotel at the corner of Front and Main Streets. The first meeting of the Village of Wellsburg took place there in 1872.
Inn keeper’s license issued to Horace Kelsey of the Exchange Hotel, May 24, 1870 The Exchange Hotel, built in 1855, was located on the corner of Front and Main Streets in Wellsburg. It was destroyed in the fire of 1912.
Invitation to a 4th of July party at the Wellsburg Exchange, 1867
Watercolor of the well at Hillman Farm, Wellsburg by Talitha Botsford

Settlement and Incorporation

Map of Wellsburgh, 1869

The community was designated “Wellsburgh” when Horace Wells opened the first post office there in 1824. The “h” was dropped when the village was incorporated in 1872.

Wellsburg, c. 1890s

By the mid-1800s, Wellsburg had become the commercial center of the town of Ashland with stores and taverns that were frequented by farmers and businessmen alike.

Exchange Hotel, c. 1906

In 1855, Horace Wells built the Exchange Hotel at the corner of Front and Main Streets. The first meeting of the Village of Wellsburg took place there in 1872.

Inn keeper’s license issued to Horace Kelsey of the Exchange Hotel, May 24, 1870

The Exchange Hotel, built in 1855, was located on the corner of Front and Main Streets in Wellsburg. It was destroyed in the fire of 1912.

Invitation to a 4th of July party at the Wellsburg Exchange, 1867

Watercolor of the well at Hillman Farm, Wellsburg by Talitha Botsford