A settlement called "Erie", later referred to as "Old Erie" and "Beantown USA", was platted northwest of the present townsite. Another community, known as Crawfordsville, was started two miles northeast of the current place. In 1866, the creators of these two towns decided to leave the towns and combine with the settlement at the current Erie site. Four men gave 40 acres each, that butted together, out of their 160-acre shares, to create the city plat of Erie. These men were: David W. Bray, Luther Puckett, John F. Himmelwright and Peter Walter. In November 1866, the Erie Town Company was created. Each member of this company gave forty acres of land in the center of Section 32, Township 28, Range 20 east. Each member was to buy city plots and improve them.