The Erie Canal (Chapter 31 History of Erie County pp 306-313, c1883).pdf

The first work done on the canal in Erie county was at Tonawanda, or rather at the point where Tonawanda now stands, for that village is entirely an outgrowth of the canal. The commissioners, having deter­ mined to use a portion of Tonawanda creek as a part of the canal, con­ tracted in the winter of 1822-’23 with Judge Samuel Wilkeson and Dr. Ebenezer Johnson to build a dam across that stream, near its mouth. Work was soon begun and was continued through the summer of 1823.