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Niagara County was created from a portion of Genesee County on the 8th of March, 1808. The word "Niagara" is of Indian origin, and signifies "across the neck" or "straight". In 1796, other than the occupants of Fort Niagara and Fort Schlosser, there was but one "white" (European) family in the territory which formed the county. The proposed line for a ship canal (which became the Erie Canal), from the Niagara river above the falls to Lewiston, lay wholly within the county, commencing near Gill Creek and the site of old Fort Schlosser. A railroad ran from Lockport and another from Buffalo to the Niagara Falls. A branch was built from Lewiston to intersect the Lockport and Niagara Falls railroad, a distance of about 2 miles. The completed Erie canal enters Tonawanta creek near its mouth. The creek wais used for 12 miles upstream, as a canal by a tow-path on its bank. At Pendleton village, the canal leaves the creek and turns in a northeasterly direction across the mountain ridge, with a deep cut of about three miles through rock averaging 20 feet; and then descending 60 feet, by five double combined locks of 12 feet each, it passes out of the county south of the Ridge road. The county is divided into 12 towns by 1851.

Pendleton was settled before the projection of the Erie Canal, by Sylvester Pendleton Clark (he built the first log-tavern there, in 1821). The town of Pendleton was set apart, from a portion of the Town of Niagara, in 1827.

The "King family" burying grounds is located directly behind the "Clark family" cemetery - somewhat overgrown, some gravestones are down, and/or are broken. The two family cemeteries have come to be known locally as the "Pendleton" cemetery. These are located between Monroe Street (the north extension of Washington Str.) and the southeast bank of the Erie canal. Both are in poor condition. The parcels are "land-locked" on three sides by private land, and by the canal on the west. An easment (narrow walkway, a few feet wide) exists to provide visitors legal access to the cemetery grounds (which are now owned and overseen by the Town of Pendleton). The burials were recorded as an inventory executed in 1984, by D. Jerge and D. Rolling. Earliest grave appears to be 1829. Map Book 12, pg. 1129, with lot owner's name. GAR list.

SOURCE (excerpts): "Niagara, NY, Pendleton Cemetery"
Source [link]: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/niagara/cems/pendleton.html
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A 1875 map of Pendleton, appears to place the "Clark Family Cemetery" on land which was once-owned by, Sylvester Pendleton Clark [see FAG #95131810]. He is buried in The "Clark family" cemetery, along with various other Clark family members...

Visit the "CLARK family" cemetery, click: [Clark family]

Created by F.A.G. contributor #46567652 (photos, courtesy of photo-volunteer #47600223).

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