Early History of Ulysses
Lewisville or Ulysses was chartered on
September 23, 1869, on land cleared by John Hackett, the first permanent settler. Mr.
Hackett brought his family to a newly constructed cabin enclosed only on three sides in
February of 1828. During the next few years, more settlers moved in and Lewisville began
to assume the position of chief town in the region.
The village was named for Orange A. Lewis who had been a hired hand of
Mr. Hackett. Mr. Lewis arrived in June of 1830 and began to clear a farm next to his
former employer. That winter he brought his family. Lewis became a justice of the peace
and was the first Treasurer of Potter County. At the age of 55, he enlisted the Union Army
and died in Virginia in August of 1862.
At the time of incorporation, the post office which had been located at
Ulysses Center was moved into the borough. The Government would not allow a name change
because of similar names across the state. Ulysses Post Office served Lewisville Borough
until 1968, when the name of the borough was officially changed to Ulysses.
Late in 1893, two railroads entered Lewisville; the Fall Brook line from
Harrison Valley and the Coudersport- Port Allegany line from Coudersport. The C. & P.
A. crossed the highest point then attained by a standard gauge railroad in the east at an
altitude of 2,414 feet.
A few small foundries and several industries related to lumbering were
established, but the economy was based upon agriculture. The Ulysses Butter Express took
three tons of butter to Wellsville, N.Y. each week for shipment to New York. A number of
cheese factories were also shipping cheese to outside markets. Agriculture remains the
chief source of income. The Ulysses Lumber Company still maintains the lumbering
tradition.