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Taken from “The Wellsville Daily Reporter” And Dinsmore Documentation presents Classics American Colonial History

            Whence Cometh the Name INDIAN CREEK ROAD? 

           Submitted by William A. Greene (Map below) 

Over the years I have been asked many times how Indian Creek got its name, and have never had a clue as to the answer until the other day when I ran across a little article taken from the Wellsville Daily Reporter, unknown date. 

From the time when the first settlers started coming into this area of New York State, it was illegal for them to cross this “Indian Line”.  This line was located about 1 mile west of Andover headed towards Wellsville. 

To cross this line was forbidden, dangerous, and against the law of the United States, the State of New York, the State of Massachusetts and as well as being considered trespassing and encroachment by the sovereign nation of the Seneca’s, the Haudenosaunee and the Iroquois.

It wasn’t until after 1797 that this line was made legal for the settlers to cross, and come into the Genesee River Valley and points further west.  The “Indian Boundary Line” ran along the creek which ran between now Trapping Brook Rd. or County Rt. 30 and State Rt. 417.   

So when the settlers started moving into this area, the little creek became known as “Indian Creek” and when the path along the creek was made into a town road, it became known as “Indian Creek Road”.  

This is all that was known until a short while ago.  Thanks to Dinsmore Documentation and author: Max Farrand, we now have the full story of “The Indian Boundry Line”. 

This “Indian Boundary Line” ran from the center of New York State up “Indian Creek” and all the way to Florida.  No settler could go any further west in New York  State than Andover from 1763 until after 1799.  To cross this line was a $500 fine and six months is jail and if the Indians caught you, it was even worse.

 

CLICK HERE to read the story of  “The Indian Boundary Line” by Max Farrand.