The Philadelphia Quakers established a mission on the Alle gany Reservation, in the present town of South Valley, as early as 1798. The first permanent settlement was made at Olean, by Major Adam Hoops and his brother Robert, from Albany, in 1804. For many years a large share of western emigration was made by the Allegany River and Pittsbur h, and being at the head of boat navigation upon the river, O can speedily became a place of importance. Upon the completion of the Erie Canal travel was diverted from this route and improvements advanced very slowly. The completion of the Erie and other railroads has done much toward developing the resources of the county.