History of Penn Yan, New York, USA

Penn Yan, founded by Mr. Abraham Waggener, incorporated 29th April, 1833; the shire town about half a mile below the foot of the east arm of Crooked Lake upon a pleasant plain, and on the outlet, partly in the town of Benton, contains a new court house of brick, a prison of stone, a fire-proof office for the county clerk, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Baptist and 1 Episcopal church,; an academy, incorporated and highly flourishing; 18 general stores, 2 book stores, 2 printing offices, each issuing a weekly paper; 5 taverns, a bank, incorporated April 2nd, 1831, with a capital of $100,000; 2 grist and 2 saw mills, and 450 dwellings. This is a thriving village, growing rapidly,and has many good buildings. It is finely exhibited to the passenger descending the hill on the road from Geneva. Its singular name was derived from the circumstance that its inhabitants were Pennsylvanians and Yankees, in equal numbers.

Penn Yan, a thriving post-village of Milo township, capital of Yates county, New York, on the outlet of Crooked lake, and on the Canandaigua and Elmira railroad, 192 miles W. from Albany, and 43 miles N. by W. from Elmira. The Crooked Lake canal, connecting the Crooked with Seneca lake, passes through the village, and furnishes abundant water- power, having 27 locks in the distance of 7 miles. Penn Yan contains, besides the county buildings, 7 churches, 2 banks, several academies and union schools, 2 newspaper offices, 70 stores. 1 iron furnace, 1 plough factory, and several flouring and saw mills. Population in 1&53, about 3000.

n the northern portion of township No. 7, of the first range, better and more commonly known as the town of Milo, at a point near and about the foot of Ogoyago, or Crooked Lake, where the waters find an outlet through a narrow channel, and eventually discharge into Seneca Lake, nature provided a splendid site upon which civilized man might build up a thriving, prosperous village. That consummation has been reached, in fact was attained nearly three quarters of a century ago, but each succeeding year has witnessed some material improvement, some development of new resources, until by slow stages it has grown to contain a population of more than 4,000 souls, and is provided with all the enterprises, the industries and commercial advantages that can be found in any interior village in the Empire State.

Little did that worthy old pioneer, that steady going, honest plodder, follower of the " Friend," David Wagener, think or dream that on the tract of land bought by him in 1796, would...

Penn Yan, a post-village, capital of Yates co., N.Y., is situated at the outlet and northern end of Keuka Lake, on the Northern Central Railroad, 45 miles N. by W. of Elmira, and 53 miles S.E. of Rochester. It is £ in Benton township and mostly in Milo. Steamboats ply daily between this place and Hammondsport, at the head of the lake. Penn Yan contains a court-house, 5 churches, an academy, 2 banks, 2 flouring-mills, 2 foundries, manufactures of carriages, threshing-machines, lumber, sash, blinds, &c., and 3 newspaper offices. Pop. (1890) 4254.

Penn Yan, N.Y., July 10. - On Lake Kenka yesterday PERRY TUFFT, his wife and three children lost their lives by the capsizing of a sailboat. When MR. TUFFT and his family started they were advised not to go as the lake was rough. Not heeding the advice they started in a small boat with a "mutton leg" sail.

Their boat was found drifting with a string dragging behind, to which was a toy boat that one of the children had attached to it. The string was tangled up around the bodies of two of the children. The bodies of the father and mother were recovered shortly after, the mother having one of her children clasped in her arms. The children were all under 12 years of age.