KILL BUCK — In the year 1818, Kill Buck came into being and was named for Chief Dave Kill Buck, whose wigwam stood near the mouth of the Great Valley Creek.

This parcel of land was part of what was known as Olean prior to Great Valley’s establishment later in 1818.

James Green, the first white settler, made his home near where the creek opens into the river.

Later, the stores Henevernan’s and Quigley’s and the Buck Silver Company were built at Great Valley Station. Later, this was the Kill Buck railroad crossing.

There were plank corduroy/log roads to the station and the community hummed with lumber business and mill and cattle trading. Later, Great Valley Station was moved to where Great Valley now stands.

In 1836, the first post office was installed and, in 1852, the New York and Lake Erie railroad was built in the same area where the Erie Railroad ran later.

Since then, many stores and hotels have come and gone. The last — Hopkins Hotel — stood across the highway catty-corner from Wolford store, later known as the Kill Buck store.

The first store in Kill Buck was kept by Daniel and Horace Howe in 1834. In 1852, Jon Phelps built a large two-story store on the northwest corner of the street at Kill Buck. He remained there for 20 years and then sold to J. Witherall’s general store.

Nearly opposite the Phelps store were built one by Jeremiah Frank, who had a liquor store, and the other by Robert Patterson and Son, in which the post office was located until 1879. In 1856, Oscar Senear and Frances Green built a store on the riverbank opposite the Depot and on the same spot where the former wigwam of Chief Kill Buck allegedly stood.

About 1850-52, a Methodist Society was formed at Kill Buck by Henry Shorter, who was a leading member for several years. The Rev. J.R. Alexander was pastor for some time. The present church was built in 1871.