The Postal Service of the United States in Connection with the Local History of Buffalo | Page 2

side of Main Street about the middle of the
block next south of Erie Street; and afterwards on the northwest corner
of Ellicott Square. It was kept in the same place for a short period at the
commencement of Judge Russel's term of office, but was soon removed
to the northwest corner of the next block above, where it remained until
after the appointment of Mr. Dibble. It was removed by Mr. Dibble
about 1836, to the old Baptist Church then standing on the corner
where the post-office is now kept, and it was kept in that building until
after Mr. Haddock took the office. He removed the office to the
northwest corner of Main and Seneca Streets, where it remained until it
was removed, in August, 1858, into the Government building in which
it is now.
The gross receipts of the post-office at Buffalo, for the years given in
the following table, have been as follows:
1805 $ 90.83 1825 $ 2,840.60 1806 120.13 1830 6,695.34 1807 122.82
1835 19,219.34 1808 173.63 1840 25,501.49 1809 217.49 1845
22,681.26 1810 291.46 1850 39,644.01 1812 963.61 1855 47,458.67
1813 Imperfect returns. 1860 44,800.94 1814 488.37[E] 1862
55,265.57[F] 1815 1,932.98 1863 48,238.53 1820 1,463.21
The gross receipts at the offices of Black Rock, Black Rock Dam and
North Buffalo, for the years named have been as follows:
At Black Rock:
1817 $ 56.88 1845 $ 467.32 1818 134.34 1850 776.62 1819 237.96
1855 420.24 1820 239.38 1860 317.74 1825 737.41 1862 389.50 1830
493.08 1863 461.52 1835 617.49 1864} 234.52 1840 712.77 to July 1.}
At Black Rock Dam (North Buffalo):

1854 $ 108.47 1862 $ 463.27 1855 419.82 1863 650.73 1860 303.15
1864} 319.75 1861 307.20 to July 1.}
The aggregate amount of the postage received at the different
post-offices must always depend, in a greater or less degree, upon the
extent and frequency of the mail transportation by which such offices
are supplied, and the rates of postage charged, as well as upon the
number, education, character and occupation of the population within
the delivery of such offices. Other causes, some of them local or
temporary, may at times affect the revenue of an office, but only the
population of the neighborhood, the frequency and extent of the
transportation service, and the general rates of letter postage, will be
here considered.
The first census under the authority of the United States was taken in
1790; probably in July and August of that year. In that portion of New
York lying west of the old Massachusetts preëmption line it was taken
by General Amos Hall, as Deputy Marshal, and an abstract of his list or
census-roll is given in Turner's "History of Phelps and Gorham's
Purchase." The number of heads of families then residing west of
Genesee River, and named in that list, was 24; but it is probable that the
deputy marshal did not visit this locality, as neither Winney the Indian
trader, nor Johnston the Indian agent and interpreter, is named;
although it is probable that both of them resided here. Winney, it is
quite certain, was here in 1791, and it is supposed came about 1784.
The whole population west of the Massachusetts preëmption line,
which was a line drawn due north and south across the State, passing
through Seneca Lake and about two miles east of Geneva, as given by
Turner from General Hall's census-roll, was 1,084, as follows: males,
728; females, 340; free blacks, 7; slaves, 9. In the State census report of
1853, the population of Ontario County in 1790 (which county then
embraced all that territory) is stated at 1,075. The difference between
the two statements is caused by the omission of the slaves from the
latter statement. In 1800 the population of the same territory (then the
Counties of Ontario and Steuben) was 15,359 free persons and 79
slaves.

In 1808 the County of Niagara (embracing the present counties of
Niagara and Erie) was organized, and its population in 1810 was 6,132.
Of these 1,465 were inhabitants of the present County of Niagara, and
4,667 of the present County of Erie. There were then in the county 8
slaves, which number should probably be added to the aggregate above
stated.
In 1820 the population of Niagara County was 18,156, of which 10,834
were inhabitants of the present County of Erie. There were then 15
slaves in the whole County of Niagara.
In 1821, the County of Erie was organized with its present boundaries.
Its population at each census since has been as follows, viz: 1825,
24,316; 1830, 35,719; 1835, 57,594; 1840, 62,465; 1845, 78,635; 1850,
100,993; 1855, 132,331; and 1860, 141,791.
It is probable that in 1790, Winney and Johnston were the only white
residents upon the territory now embraced within our city limits. In