Cattaraugus Cutlery Company Cattaraugus Cutlery Company The Cattaraugus Cutlery Company began as the New York distribution company J.B.F. Champlin and Son, founded by John Champlin and his son Tint in 1882. The Champlins expanded into knife production, and along with William R. Case and his brothers, they formed Cattaraugus Cutlery in 1886, based in Little Valley. The company hired expert cutlers from Germany, England, and other U.S. manufacturers, to produce high quality cutlery. Admiral Byrd selected Cattaraugus knives to take on his expedition to the South Pole. Over time, the Case family separated from Cattaraugus to form W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery
Asa Messer resigned as president on September 23, 1826. Though ordained a Baptist minister in 1801, Messer did not serve as a church pastor. He patented two flumes in the 1820s and owned a farm in Fishersfield, New Hampshire, and part of a cotton mill in Wrentham, Massachusetts. Messer was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Rhode Island in 1830. Asa Messer Elementary School in Providence, Rhode Island is named in his honor. Asa Messer Asa Messer (May 31, 1769 – October 11, 1836) was an American Baptist clergyman and educator. He was President of Brown University from 1804 to 1826. Messer