The Origins of Plattsburgh - According to "A History of Winston County"

​According to Uncle Tom KELLY, a former slave, the first store in Plattsburgh was built around 1840 or 1842 by a man from Plattsburgh, New York who named the community for his old home. The name of this man has not been obtained, but he is said to have worn his hair long and to have been a great fighter. This village grew to considerable importance in the county drawing trade from an area of about 20 miles. Two roads crossed there at one time eight stores, a newspaper, blacksmith shop, tin- type artist and barber shop flourished. There were also three churches, a Masonic Lodge, and an outstanding school, which could boast of having "Corn Club" SMITH and G.F BOYD as instructors. Whiskey was sold in practically all stores until 1885 and the quarrelsomeness produced in the customers by this stimulant lead to the town receiving the nickname of “Fort Growl.” Many bloody fights occurred on its streets.  Sebron MILLER erected the first dwelling in the place (See Chapter VI Antebellum Days.) Prominent early citizens were the QUARLES’, LEEs, CATERs, MILLERs, HAWTHORNs, COOPERs, GENTRYs, KELLYs and other families. 
 
After the railroad passed through the county, business at Plattsburgh began to decline and at the December term, 1914, of the board of Supervisors all qualified voters of Plattsburgh precinct were transferred to Noxapater, a town which received its Indian name meaning ‘Little Bullet,” from a creek. It once boasted of only one store established before 1860 by Seaton KING and sold to Dr. GUNN from who received the nickname “Trigger” still heard at times. - A History of Winston County