Clymer - Est. 1829

The Town of Clymer was established in 1829 from a division of the Town of Chautauqua. The town is named after George Clymer, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. As of the census of 2000, there were 1,501 people, 502 households, and 400 families residing in the town. The median income for a household in the town was $34,583, and the median income for a family was $38,654. Clymer was formed from the mother town of Chautauqua and was organized on February 9, 1821. At that time it included the territory that now composes the townships of Mina, French Creek, Sherman and Clymer. The whole town of Clymer then had only 12 families. The township of Mina was taken from this original territory in 1821, French Creek in 1829 and Sherman in 1832. The present township now comprises township one, range fourteen, and contains 21,985 acres. Clymer is a predominantly Dutch village in the western part of New York State. Because it was relatively close to New York City, it became a popular destination for Dutch emigrants in the 19th century. Most of the early settlers came from the eastern part of Gelderland. The land in Chautauqua Ccounty was purchased by the Holland Land Company, which sold the land to immigrants. Many immigrants arrived in New York City and then traveled on to Albany with the intent to cross the Great Lakes. In Albany, they were approached by people from the Holland Land Company and interested in buying land in Chautauqua. Over the next several decades, many more Dutch immigrants settled in Clymer or neighboring villages such as French Creek, Mina and Harmony. Most of them came from Winterswijk and Aalten in Gelderland, although some came from Overijssel, Groningen, Friesland and Zeeland. The land is hilly upland, well adapted to grazing and dairying. The soil has historically responded well to cultivation - which partially accounts for Clymer's lengthy history of farming. Historically, tanning leather was also important to Clymer. One of the early and industrious pioneers of Clymer was Peter Jaquins, a soldier in the War of 1812. He moved from Guilford, Chenango County, to Cattaraugus County in 1820, in 1824 bought a lot in Clymer, and in 1825 made his home there and erected the first saw and grist mills in the town. According to 'A History of Chautauqua County, New York and Its People', published by the American Historical Society Inc. in 1921, he was an excellent hunter, and it is said 'that he captured nearly 100 wolves previous to 1812, for which he received an average bounty of $12 per head.' TOWN OF CLYMER www.clymerny.com Cynthia L. Willink, Clerk 355-2230 PO Box 58, Clymer, NY Travis B. Heiser, Council 355-6473 7958 Raspas Hill Rd., Panama John M. Holthouse, Council 355-8803 PO Box 95, Clymer Russell A. Hunink, Council 355-2513 1891 Clymer-Sherman Rd., Clymer Norman H. Upperman, Council 355-4497 7761 Ten Haken Rd., Panama Clifton Nyweide, Highway Super. 355-4386 630 Clymer-Sherman Road, Clymer Loye D. Albright, Justice 355-6331 PO Box 15, Clymer Ralph Holthouse, Supervisor 355-2294 7923 Nazareth Rd., Clymer Martha Keys, Tax Collector 355-4490 368 Mohawk St., PO Box 145, Clymer Town Assessor 355-6641 8163 Brownell Rd. Clymer-French Creek Public Library 355-8823 North Center Community Center 355-9954 W. Main Fire Department 355-9954 or 911