I have been also interested in this conversation on why all of the sudden many people migrated to the Western NY area of Ontario and other surrounding counties. My Gr Gr Gr Grandfather John Salisbury first came to the area of today's town of Phelps, NY Ontario County with Jonathan Oakes, they were on an expeditionary surveying mission into the newly opened Phelps-Gorham Purchase around 1796. Apparently John Salisbury was so taken with this area, he later came to the Phelps, NY area to settle around early 1800. John and many others, including his mentor, Jonathan Oakes were from Conway, Mass. Many of the former residents of Conway came to settle and live in Phelps, NY Ontario County at that time. When we all stand back and think about this.............isn't it amazing to think that it was only a relatively short time ago,,,,,,,,,,200 years, that this all happened in NY State......prior to then, this part of our State was Indian land, and literally un-inhabited by the white man. It shows you how young this Country really is in so many ways. Dick Dryer Endicott, NY