Village of Port Byron.
T'his beautiful village was laid out in 1836, by Samuel Allen. Dr. P. Gregg, N. Belcher and Moses Bailey, on land owned by Samual Allen, but purchased and held in common by the four gentlemen mentioned. The original village was laid out on the northwest quarter of section 25, but now embraces in addition the southwest fraction and the east half of section 25, the northwest fraction of section 36, and 'a portion of section 24. It was incorporated under the general laws of the State in 1876.
At the time the village was laid out there was but one log house and a small log store on the land, the property of Samuel Allen. The store was started by Walter Phillips, and with the land was sold by him to Mr. Allen. Robert and Thomas Syms lived on the spot where the depot now stands, in a log house, and kept a wood yard for the passing boats.
Shortly after the village was laid out Nathaniel Belcher built a frame store and put in a stock of general merchandise. This was the first general stock. ,. Mr. Belcher continued in business for many years, & and was a most enterprising citizen. In his first ' mercantile effort Mr. Belcher was associated with Mr. Hambaugh, under the firm name of Belcher & Hambaugh.
As already stated, a postoffice had been established about one mile from the village, known as Canaan , with Archibald Allen as Postmaster. In March, 1837, the office was removed to the village, its name changed to Port Byron, and N. Belcher was appoint- ed Postmaster. For a period of thirty years, though not successively, Mr. Belcher retained the office. The office has been held by Geo. S. Moore, David Zeigler and John Zollinger, the incumbent,
George S. Moore started a grocery store in May. About this time N. Belcher erected a hotel known as the Port Byron House, opposite Devore's bank. As stated, the house burned some years after.
Dr. J. H. Lyford started the first drug store.
The panic of 1837 retarded the growth of .Port Byron, and it took many years to recover, but it was first settled by an enterprising people, who were de termined to make of it a neat and attractive if not a populous town. Their efforts were crowned with success.
1837, subsequently adding dry-goods, and for years was a leading merchant.
Henry Saddoris - First wagon maker
Moses Hobart - First hardware store and tin shop
Henry Merritt - First undertaker
Capt. George Dodge - Civil War Officer
J. W. Simpson - Established Port Byron Globe
Jeremiah Lyford - First Doctor
Mary Ann Weeks Haines Lyford - Established Oak Grove Cemetery
Nathaniel Dorrance and L.C. Temple - Established first steam saw mill
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