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Buffaloed Story

Below, you will find a few paragraphs from the oldest of the known Buffalo origin stories. 

Sheldon Ball originally told this story in a pamphlet that he put out called Buffalo in 1825. It was reprinted in volume I of the Publications of the Buffalo Historical Society in 1879 and included on pages 140-141,

 

     From whence originated the name of Buffalo, as applied to this place, the Author has not been able to learn; notwithstanding there are many stories, and some traditional tales on the subject, all of which are said to be equally true. The following one may not be uninteresting: At a period long before its first settlement, a party of French, bound up the lake, in a batteau, sought shelter in the Creek; being short of provisions, despatched a hunting party, who, while in search of game, fell in with a horse, (belonging, probably, to a neighboring tribe of Indians,) that was soon made a sacrifice, by the hungry huntsmen, dressed, and taken to their companions, with the deceptive information, that it was the flesh of a Buffaloe, which they had killed. Hence came the name of Buffalo Creek, and consequently the Village. Whether true or not, the Author is unable to say,

 

Ball goes on to say,

  

     The name Te-u-shu-wa,, is that by which the Indians have always known and called this place, anterior to its first settlement by the whites. My informant supposes it to be a corrupt Mohawk word, which literally signifies split basswood-bark; of which description of timber, there has been a great abundance on the margin of Buffalo Creek; from which adventitious circumstance, the word may probably have been derived. Or perhaps there may have been some peculiar circumstance relating to the mode of splitting or peeling the bark of this tree, that has caused the Indian word Te-u-shu-wa to be applied for a name.
The Indian name for the animal, Buffaloe, is Te-ge-yoh-ga, which places it beyond even the possibility of a doubt, that the name, Buffalo, (as applied to this place) is not of Indian origin.

 

In this same volume Millard Fillmore gives an inaugural speech in which he tells the origin story that he believes, which is found separately as the Beaver Creek theory, and shares his opinion of Ball's story on pages 4 and 5; 

 

     I confess that this story, like those of the historians of France and England, appears too mythical to deserve any serious      attention at the hands of the historian, and I fear that I am destined to pass down to the grave, without seeing the mystery explained of the origin of the name of "Buffalo creek," or when, or where, or by whom it was first applied to this stream.

 

And Rev. Asher Wright of the Cattaraugus Reservation sent a letter with the version he heard which took up much of pages 37-38;

 

     My Dear Friend:
     Your letter has remained till now unanswered, because having just returned from Albany, it was necessary for me to devote a little time to bringing up the arrears of my business before I could devote myself to friends. I have but a few moments at command this afternoon, still I will reply briefly to your inquiries.
The Indian name of the creek has no connection with the English. It indicates that at some time it was remarkable for the basswood trees along its banks. Oo-sah is the Seneca name of the bass-wood, and they called the creek and the tract near its mouth " Ti-yoos-yo-wa," i. e., at the place which abounds with bass-woods. This, at length, became shortened to "Do-syo- wa," the present name for the Creek, City and Reservation.
As to the origin of "Buffalo," I have heard a story of which I will state the principal points, but without at all vouching for its correctness, except to say that some one has so far endorsed it as to insert it in a book; the title of the book, however, I have forgotten.
It is stated that, in an early day, while the present city was not yet entitled to rank as a village, some travelers from "down east" (probably from New York city), finding themselves so far away in the woods, naturally enough concluded that they must be in the vicinity of the buffalo, and began to feel a strong hankering of appetite for buffalo venison. They inquired of "mine host," or some of his retainers, if the buffalo were not often seen in this region, and were told that, though not as abundant as formerly, still they were seen not unfrequently. This intelligence sharpened their appetites, and they resolved on a buffalo hunt at once; but finally concluded to leave the fatiguing portion of the enterprise to be performed by men more competent for the business, who were despatched at once in pursuit of the so much coveted game. In due season they returned, with the report that they had failed to capture the old ones, but had succeeded in taking a nice suckling, which was joyful news to the party, and they immediately required it to be served up; and feasted upon it with great complacency, declaring that it had the finest relish of any meat they had ever tasted.
     In due time they returned home with high anticipations of being lionized by all their acquaintances in consequence of their good fortune; but unluckily it leaked out, somehow, that the hunters, failing to find a buffalo calf and determined not to disappoint them by returning empty handed, had shot a Buffalo colt, the progeny of an old mare, that they happened to fall in with at a sufficient distance in the forest, and they had actually been gratifying their palates a la Cossack, upon horse-flesh, while they supposed they were regaling themselves upon young buffalo. It was sufficient, ever afterward, to say '* Buffalo," to recall to every one of them a very vivid recollection of the locality; and the joke having got into the possession of two or three mischief- loving tattlers, caused the name to be perpetuated in commemoration of the happy verdancy of the Gothamites.
     This is substantially the story as I saw or heard it several years ago; but whether it hands down to us an actual occurrence, or was manufactured for the sport of it, I have no means of knowing. My paper is full, so I will close for the present by subscribing myself
Affectionately and respectfully yours,
A. Wright

 

It is interesting to note that Ball and Wright both confirm the name and the meaning that the native Americans were using in 1825 to describe Buffalo Creek.  Ball also notes that there are a variety of stories out there, even back in 1825.  Fillmore tells us he had heard this story in a newspaper from around 1845. Reverend Wright adds more details to the story, but no one vouches for its authenticity.

Ball also puts the French at the scene of this story, lending credence to the origin of "Buffalo" occurring before the English takeover of the area.

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