Elijah Risley Jr. arrived here with his family in the spring of 1807 from Madison County, N.Y., after he had urged his father, Elijah Risley Sr., to move west in search of new opportunities. He opened a small grocery store on West Main St., becoming the first merchant in Chautauqua County, and built a small house near the store as he developed his business. In 1833, he and his brothers William and Levi began the Risley Brothers Seed company on six acres of land, and as the business prospered, all three brothers built Greek revival homes on what is today Risley Street. Elijah Jr.'s house still stands at 89 Risley, William's still stands at 63 Risley, and Levi's home at 19-21 Risley burned down many years ago. Elijah Risley Jr. was also an early Master of the Fredonia Masonic Lodge, a founding member of Fredonia Grange #1, and a Congressman for the 31st Congressional District from 1849-51.