It was the forests that first attracted white settlers.  Land to the south and east had already been cleared for farms. The demand for lumber was great and professional land lookers were sent out to find the best timber tracts which could be bought for $1.25 or less per acre. Much of the land was purchased by railroad companies, lumbermen, and land speculators.  In 1864 the railroad had an agent in the area, although the first train did not reach the area until the latter part of November 1871.  The location that later became LeRoy was called “end of twenty” by the railroad.