This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: km96 Surnames: Akin, Aken, Akins, Akens, Bratt, Alexander Classification: lookup Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.chautauqua/21577/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Larry, I did not find Laura, but I located Ranson in Kiantone... I found Ranson Akin in the Chautauqua County Directory (1873-4) in Kiantone with Jamestown as a post office. He was a farmer with 68 acres on road 6. He also leased 74 acres of his farm land to a Edwin Akins, Jr. on road 4. There is an Erastus Akin & Alfred Aken near by. I have a copy of the maps here: http://kindredroots.com/Where/NY/chautauqua/chautco_maps.htm Joseph Akin (& family) was the original settler of Kiantone (Akinsville), on Stillwater Creek in 1807. He was from Rensselaer County. Ranson sold land to Nathan A. Alexander from Vermont. (History of Chautauqua Co & Its People, Andrew Young, 1875) "Mr. Akin built a bridge about 1814 on the Stillwater creek, and the first town meeting in Ellicott in 1813 was appointed at 'Joseph Akin's house at Stillwater.' He was an energetic, ambitious man. Several of his relatives located here and the name of Akin is borne by many of Kiantone's worthy citizens." (History of Chautauqua Co, Downs & Hedley, 1921) Joseph Akin from Rensselaer county came with his family in 1807 and located on lands on the Stillwater (now owned by the Russell heirs) near the west line of the town. He was the pioneer settler and was imbued with the plan of building up a town ('Akinsville') but the survey of the township into lots was not completed, and as he could not then obtain a clear title to the land, he could not sell property he did not possess. In 1814 the plan was abandoned. Laban Case however had rolled up a log tavern and a blacksmith shop. Mr. Akin built a bridge about 1814 on the Stillwater creek and the first town meeting in Ellicott in 1813 was appointed at "Joseph Akin's house at Stillwater." He was an energetic, ambitious man and possessed the characteristics of the true pioneer. Several of Mr. Akin's relatives located here, and the name Akin is borne by many of Kiantone's worthy citizens, one of whom is Ransom Akin. (History of Chautauqua Co, Obed Edson, 1894) Joseph Akin, a native of Pawling, N. Y.. came from Pittstown, N. Y.. in 1807, when the surveys on the Stillwater had just been made, and purchased by deed and settled on lot 29, where his son-in-law, Charles Russell, and grandson, John Howard Russell, now reside. James and Elijah Akin and other sons settled near their father on the Stillwater, lower down stream (Conquest of Chautauqua, A Anderson, 1932) Kelly Miller Kindred Roots Genealogical Society http://kindredroots.com Robert Akin wrote: > I am looking for the parentage of Laura Bratt who was born in Chautauqua abt 1825. My information is that she married Ransom Akin and lived much of her life with him in Busti. The confusion arises because of a second person named Laura or Lura Akin who was born about the same time who married Freeland Morey and lived in Kiantone. There has been confusion in many family trees, including my own, documenting these families because of these two women both named Laura Akin. > > Robert Larry Akin - I go by Larry Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.