Ransomville History

The Town of Porter was formed from the Town of Cambria in 1812. It was covered with deciduous trees and a few swamps. Gideon Curtiss was the first white man to come and stay in 1817. In 1819 he was joined by his brother Gilbert who was a soldier at Fort Niagara. Gilbert returned to Connecticut to marry Lydia. He traveled in a one horse wagon and bought apple seeds back and began a new crop in our area.

Gilbert along with his 3rd wife had five sons which established the Curtiss family in the Hamlet of Ransomville.

W.H.H. Ransom joined his uncle Jehial Clark Ransom in 1826 in the hamlet. He walked everyday to Youngstown to build the Davies docks. In 1843 he married Eliza Estes and they had thirteen children to populate the town. At a meeting of the townspeople the hamlet was named Ransomville maybe because more Ransoms attended.

The Ransomville Historical Room is open on Saturday from 2-4 P.M. Special times and programs can be arranged by calling (716) 421-3061.