Phelps Settlement Founder

Lived: (Dec. 1766- Mar. 1817)

History

Zerah Phelps moved from Connecticut to the Attica area after purchasing 723 acres of land along the Tonawanda Creek from the Holland Land Company in Batavia for $1.50 an acre. and was the first to settle in the region in 1802. He built a double log house on what is now the 26 Market Street. Zerah built the first grist mill in Wyoming County in 1803. By 1806 around 200 residents had joined in the area dubbed "Phelps Settlement".

1807 Zerah sold his land and returned to Batavia, where he was also an early pioneer, but the settlement still kept his name. 

Family

Spouse:

Deborah Crow (?-?)

Children:

Harriet Phelps (1803-?)

John C. Phelps (1800-?)

Elkanah Phelps (1795-1884)