On November 6, 2025, at the Stone Church, Dr. Dale Freier delivered an engaging lecture on the early history of Bearytown (present hamlet of Fayette) which is at the center of Seneca County. He explained that Bearytown was named after Henry Beary, renowned for his charisma and remarkable ability to bring together the early settlers of the area. Under Beary’s influence, Bearytown grew into a central gathering place for the county. Dr. Freier highlighted how Bearytown became known for its community life, influenced by three prominent figures—Henry Beary, Charles Hoskins, and Rev. Diedrich Willers, its three taverns/hotels—the Upper, Lower, and Central Taverns, and its three churches—the Stone Church, the Methodist Church, and the Lutheran Church. In his talk, Dr. Freier spoke about Bearytown being at the heart of Seneca County and the place where differing factions could agree to meet and work towards a unified future for the county.
You can watch his lecture through this link here on Facebook at the: Fayette Historical Society page