USA > New York > A geographical history of the state of New York: embracing its history, government, physical features, climate, geology, mineralogy, botany, zoology, education, internal improvements, &c., with a separate map of each county > Part 24
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Manufactures are increasing in importance, but are, at pres- ent, chiefly limited to the manufacture of pig and bar iron, nails, glass, flour, lumber, and woollen goods.
Commerce. The shipping of the Champlain district amount- ed, in 1845, to 3192 tons, the greater part of which is owned in this county. Several steamers ply on the lake, as well as sloops, schooners, &c.
Mines. There are extensive iron mines in the county. The marble quarries, near Plattsburgh, are in high repute.
STAPLES. Butter, cheese, beef, pork, corn and potatoes.
SCHOOLS. 138 district schools were maintained in the county an average period of six months, in 1846. $8958 was expend- ed for the instruction of 8056 children. The school libraries numbered 14,460 volumes.
There were also in the county, nineteen private schools, with 527 pupils, and three incorporated academies with 191 students.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Methodists, Presbyterians, Con- gregationalists, Baptists, Roman Catholics, Friends, and Epis- copalians. There are thirty-three churches and forty-five cler- gymen of all denominations.
HISTORY. At the close of the French war, this county was visited by numerous speculators, in quest of pine and oak tim- ber ; but no permanent settlements were established till 1765, or 1766, when a grant having been made to two officers of the British Navy, Messrs. Stewart and Freswell, of 2000 acres of land, in two tracts, one situated in Plattsburgh, and the other in Peru, a few families removed here, but were soon driven off by the revolutionary war. The descendants of one of them, however, (Mr. Hay,) still occupy his property.
Grants were also made previous to the revolution, to two gentlemen named Beekman and Deane, with each of whom several partners were associated. A settlement was made in Deane's patent, in 1768, (though not by purchase from him, ) by Mr. James Framboise. Being driven out by the enemy in 1776, he served in the American army through the war, and, in 1784, returned to his farm, which is still held by his family.
A German nobleman, Count Vredenburg, who had married a lady of the Queen's household, in England, obtained a grant of 30,000 acres of land, which he located on Cumberland bay, in the present town of Plattsburgh. He resided here, in great
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splendor, for several years, previous to the revolution, at the commencement of which he sent his family to Montreal, but re- mained himself, for some time, on his estate, and at length ys- teriously disappeared. It was supposed, that he was robbed and murdered. His house, and a saw mill which he had erected, some three miles from his residence, were burned, at ine time of his disappearance.
In July, 1783, Lieutenant (afterwards Major General) Ben- jamin Mooers, with two other officers, and eight men, ascended the Hudson in a boat, from Fishkill landing, and, taking the route by way of Lake George, and Lake Champlain, reached Point au Roche, nine miles above Plattsburgh, on the 10th of August, and commenced a settlement.
In 1784, Judge Zephaniah Platt, and several others, who had formed a company, for the purchase of military warrants, loca- ted their lands on Cumberland bay, and laid out the town of Plattsburgh, reserving ten lots, of 100 acres each, as gifts to the first ten settlers, who should remove thither, with their families, and another hundred acre lot for the first male child, born in the settlement.
These gifts were soon claimed, and the settlement prospered steadily from this period. During the late war with Great Britain, one of its severest battles occurred wi hin the limits of this county-we allude to the battle of Plattsburgh, and the simultaneous naval conflict, between the squadrons of Commo- dore Downie and Commodore McDonough, on the 11th of Sep- tember, 1814.
· In this battle, a force of 1500 regulars, and about 2500 militia, under General Macomb, defeated and routed a force of 14,000 well appointed, and veteran troops, the victors of a hundred battle fields ; and the squadron, under the command of Commo- dore McDonough, destroyed a force. considerably its superior, on the lake. The loss of the British land forces, was more than 2000, in killed, wounded, prisoners, and deserters; that of the Americans, not more than 150.
On the lake, the English loss was about 1000, in killed, wound- ed, and prisoners ; that of the Americans, 110. The British commander, Commodore Downie, was killed, in the naval action.
'The mineral wealth of this county, and its vast forests of val- uable timber, will undoubtedly continue to attract emigrants hither, and no where will industry receive a more ample reward.
VILLAGES. PLATTSBURGH, in the town of the same name, is the county seat, and is situated at the head of Cumberland bay. It has numerous manufactories, and is the proposed terminus of
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the Ogdensburgh and Lake Champlain railroad; several rail- roads are now in the course of construction, which will probably connect this road with Boston, and other ports on the Atlantic.
Plattsburgh is a United States military post, and the govern- ment have erected extensive stone barracks here, and a perma- nent breakwater for the protection of the harbor.
The Saranac here furnishes a fine water power, descending by a succession of falls, about forty feet. The manufactures of the village are principally cotton and woollen goods. Popula- tion, 2500.
Near the village are the ruins of the temporary barracks and breast works, occupied by the troops of General Macomb, during the late war with Great Brit- ain. One mile north of these is the house occupied by the British commander, General Prevost, as his head quarters, during the siege. Between this and the village, the marks of cannon shot can still be seen on the trees and other objects. At a distance of about five miles from the village, on a hill overlooking the village of Beekmantown, is the spot where the British troops met the first repulse in their approach to Plattsburgh, on the 6th of September. In this skir- mish, several of the British officers and about 100 men were killed. The British camp was north of the Saranac river.
Clintonville, on the Au Sable river, situated partly in this and partly in Essex county, is a thriving village, largely enga- ged in the various manufactures of bar and rolled iron, nails, chain cables, &c. which are produced here, in large quantities. The Arnold Hill mine, near the village, furnishes magnetic iron ore of very superior quality. Population, 1000.
Peru is a flourishing village, in the town of the same name. Population, 900.
Redford, in the town of Saranac, is famous for its manufac- ture of crown glass, which is of superior quality. Population, 700.
Chazy is a small, but thriving village, in the town of the same name. It has some manufactures. The Chazy black marble, quarried near this village, bears a high reputation.
Champlain, in the town of the same name, is a village of some importance. The village of Keeseville, on both sides of the Au Sable, is partly located in this town, and, in point of importance, is only second to Plattsburgh. It is more particularly described in Essex county.
XV. ONTARIO COUNTY.
Square Miles, 617.
Organized, 1789.
Population, 42,592. Valuation, 1845, $12,624,438.
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TOWNS.
1. Bristol, 1789
2. Canandaigua, 1789.
3. East Bloomfield, 1789.
4. Farmington, 1789.
5. Gorham, 1789.
6. Naples, 1789.
7. Phelps, 1789.
8. Richmond, 1789.
9. Seneca, 1789.
10. Victor, 1812.
11. Manchester, 1821.
12. Hopewell, 1822.
13. Canadice, 1829.
14. West Bloomfield, 1833.
15. South Bloomfield, 1836.
Rivers. a. Mud Creek. b. Canandaigua Outlet. c. Flint Creek. d. Honeoye.
Lakes. BB. Seneca. h. Canandaigua. e. Honeoye. f. Caneadea or Canadice. g. Hemlock.
Colleges. Geneva.
Villages. CANANDAIGUA. Geneva. Vienna. Port Gibson.
BOUNDARIES. North by Monroe and Wayne counties; East by Seneca county and Seneca lake ; South by Yates and Steu- ben counties ; and West by Livingston and Monroe counties.
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SURFACE. The surface of Ontario county is diversified, being naturally divided by a north and south line, taking the Canan- daigua lake in its course. The whole eastern portion is spread out in beautiful plains and gentle undulations. The western portion comprises numerous swells of rich rolling land, inter- spersed with fertile vales. In the southwestern portion of the county, these swells form some bold elevations, towering into highlands, having an altitude of twelve or fourteen hundred feet.
RIVERS. Mud creek, Canandaigua outlet, Flint creek and Honeoye, are the principal streams.
LAKES. Canandaigua lake is fourteen miles long, from one to two broad, and surrounded by diversified and beautiful scenery. The other lakes are Seneca, Honeoye, Caneadea and Hemlock.
CANALS. The Erie canal just touches the county at Port Gibson, and the Seneca and Cayuga canal commences at Geneva.
RAILROADS. The Auburn and Rochester railroad has a cir- cuitous course, from east to west, through the county.
CLIMATE. The climate is mild and equable.
In some sections remittent and intermittent fevers prevail in autumn, but the county, as a whole, is decidedly healthy. It is well adapted to the growth and perfection of the peach, apple and other fruits.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. Slate is the underlying rock of the county, but it is generally covered with limestone, and, on the higher hills, with graywacke. In the southern part, the clay slate sometimes appears on the surface. In the west it alter- nates with the limestone, forming an excellent soil. The county lies mostly within the limits of the Ontario group.
Water lime, gypsum and marl are abundant. Iron ore is also found in large quantities. Sulphur springs exist in Manchester. One of the most interesting features in the mineralogical history of this county, is the carburetted hydrogen or inflammable gas, in Bristol and Canandaigua.
The gas forces its way through fissures in the rocks, and in Bristol through the waters of a stream, where it is most abundant; when lighted it burns with a steady, brilliant flame, till extinguished by storms, or by design. The gas has the odor of pit coal, and burns without smoke, but deposits a small quantity of bitu- minous lampblack. The hillocks where it appears are destitute of verdure, and no plant will live within its influence. There are similar springs in East Bloom- field and Richmond.
SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The constituents of the soil render it quite fertile, and the northern and central towns are peculiarly adapted to the raising of wheat and other grains. It also yields grass and fruits abundantly.
The timber is principally oak, chestnut, hickory, with beech, maple, and some pine in the southern part.
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PURSUITS. The people generally are engaged in tilling the earth, and find a rich return for their toil, in the abundance it produces. More wheat is raised in this county, than in any other in the state. It also produces more wool. All kinds of fruit congenial to the climate, are produced in large quantities.
The manufactures of the county are limited, as it has com- paratively little water power. They are chiefly flour, the va- rious woollen fabrics, leather, malt and distilled liquors.
Its commerce is confined to the transportation of its produce, and that principally on the Seneca lake.
STAPLES. These are, wheat, wool, oats, barley and butter.
SCHOOLS. In 1846, there were 220 district schools, which were taught an average period of eight months, and contained 14,617 pupils. The amount paid for tuition was $21,519. There were 27,106 volumes in the school libraries.
There were in addition, thirty-five select schools, with 706 scholars, two acad- emies, and one female seminary, with 246 pupils, and one college with eight pro- fessors, and, including both departments, 260 students.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Methodists, Baptists, Presbyte- rians, Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Friends, Universal- ists, Dutch Reformed, Unitarians and Roman Catholics. To- tal churches seventy-six-clergymen ninety-five.
HISTORY. The whole of this county, as well as the counties of Steuben, Genesee, Allegany, Niagara, Chautauque, Monroe, Livingston, Erie, Yates, and the western half of Wayne and Orleans, was included in the lands ceded by New York to Mas- sachusetts, and by that state to Messrs. Gorham and Phelps, in 1787.
In 1788 Oliver Phelps, one of the proprietors, left Granville, Massachusetts, to explore this far distant and unknown coun- try, amid the tearful adieus of his family and friends, who parted with him, not expecting his return.
On his arrival at Canandaigua, he assembled the chief's of the Six Nations, and purchased from them their title to two and a half millions of acres of land. In 1789, he opened, at Canandaigua, the first land office in America, for the sale of forest lands to settlers.
His system of surveys by townships was subsequently adopt- ed by the United States government, in their surveys of new lands. Almost the whole of the lands of this county were thus sold to actual settlers, a large proportion of whom were from New England.
With a soil of extraordinary fertility, and a thrifty and indus- trious population ; possessing scenery of unrivaled beauty, and removed from the danger of hostile incursions, the growth of
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this county has been rapid and prosperous, since its first set- tlement.
VILLAGES. CANANDAIGUA VILLAGE in the town of Canandaigua, was laid out by Messrs. Gorham and Phelps, in 1788, and is the county seat. It is delightfully situated, on an ascent, at the northern extremity of the lake of the same name, commanding a fine view of that beautiful sheet of water. Its buildings, many of them handsome, are principally situated on a single broad street, running north and south, and are surrounded by highly cultivated gardens.
The Canandaigua academy, located here, was founded by the munificence of Messrs. Gorham and Phelps, and is amply sus- tained by the liberality of the inhabitants. It is also the seat of the Ontario female seminary, an ancient and respectable insti- tution. Population about 3000.
Genera, in the town of Seneca, was founded by Messrs. An- nin and Barton, in 1794. In the beauty of its situation, it is unrivaled among the many beautiful villages of western New York. Situated at the northwest extremity of Seneca lake, its principal street runs parallel with the shore of the lake, at an elevation of about 100 feet, and from many of its residences ter- raced gardens extend to the banks of the lake.
It has some manufactures, but is chiefly distinguished for its refined society, and for the advantages it affords as a retreat for the scholar, the retired merchant, or the gentleman of fortune. The college, here, has an able corps of instructors, and is rising in reputation and usefulness. In beauty of location it is not surpassed by any institution in the United States. It has a flourishing medical department. There is also in this village a female seminary. Population about 4000.
East and West Vienna, in the town of Phelps, are thriving villages, situated one mile distant from each other, on the out- let of Canandaigua lake. They are in the midst of a fine agri- cultural region and have some manufactories. East Vienna has a female seminary. The Auburn and Rochester railroad passes through the village. Population 1500. .
Rushville, partly in this county and partly in Yates, is a vil- lage of some importance. Population about 800.
Port Gibson, in the town of Manchester, is the only place where the Erie canal touches the county,
XVI. HERKIMER COUNTY.
Square Miles, 1370.
Population, 37,424. Organized, 1791. Valuation, 1845, $6,572,473.
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TOWNS.
1. German Flats, 1788.
2. Herkimer, 1788.
3. Schuyler, 1792.
4. Norway, 1792.
5. Fairfield, 1796.
6. Frankfort, 1796.
7. Litchfield, 1796.
8. Warren, 1796.
9. Manheim, 1797.
10. Newport, 1806.
11. Russia, 1806.
12. Columbia, 181.
13. Winfield, 1816.
14, Danube, 1517.
15. Salisbury, 1817.
16. Ohio, 1823.
17. Stark, 1929.
18. Little Falls, 1829.
19. Wilmurt, 1837.
Mountains. GG. Chateaugay. j. Otsquaga. i. Hassencleaver.
Rivers. F. Mohawk. a. Black. h. East Canada Creek. f. West Canada Creek. b. Beaver. c. Moosc.
Falls. g. Trenton. t. Little.
Lares. d. Moose.
Villages. HERKIMER. Little Falls. Fairfield.
BOUNDARIES, North by St. Lawrence county; East by Hamilton, Fulton and Mont- gomery ; South by Otsego ; and West by Oneida and Lewis counties.
SURFACE. The surface is di- versified, and crossed by moun- tains in every direction, The Chateaugay range enters the
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county from the northeast, and runs southwest and unites with the Otsquaga Hills, which form the dividing ridge between the Mohawk and Susquehanna.
This ridge is broken through, by the Mohawk river, at Little Falls. It varies in height from 700 to 1200 feet, The Otsquaga Hills run from east to west, extending across the whole south- ern portion of the county. They are about 1000 feet high.
Between the Chateaugay mountains and the western line of the county, are the Highlands of Black river, which are broken through by West Canada creek. The Hassencleaver moun- tain, an isolated summit, having a base of eight or nine miles, and a height of 800 or 1000 feet, also occupies its central portion.
The northern portion is elevated and rugged, but has not been thoroughly explored. The dividing ridge, between the waters of the St. Lawrence and the Mohawk, crosses it.
RIVERS. The Mohawk passes through the county from east to west. Its principal tributaries are the East Canada and West Canada creeks. The latter, in a course of sixty miles, falls 1220 feet, or on an average twenty-three feet to the mile. The Black, Moose, Beaver, and the head waters of the Oswe- gatchie river, all aid in draining the northern portion of the county.
FALLS. The Little Falls, at the village of that name, on the Mohawk, deserve notice. They received their name in contra- distinction to the Great Falls of the Mohawk, at Cohoes. They extend, upon the ver, three-fourths of a mile, the fall in that distance being forty-two feet, divided into two rapids, each of nearly a fourth of a mile in length, and separated by a stretch of deep water.
The beauty of the fall is very much increased by the depth of the river bed, below the adjacent banks of the defile, through which it passes. This defile is about 100 rods wide, two miles in length, and rises from 360 to 400 feet above the river, which has worn for itself this deep channel through the crumbling rocks, which compose the mountain. The scenery is highly picturesque and beautiful.
Trenton Falls, on the West Canada creek, are described un- der Oneida county.
AKES. There are numerous small lakes scattered over the northern part of the county, among which Moose lake is the largest.
CANALS AND RAILROADS. The Erie canal, and the Utica and Schenectady railroad, pass through the county, on either side of the Mohawk.
CLIMATE. The climate, owing to the numerous mountains, is cold, but healthy.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. The northern part of the county is
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primitive, the rocks being either granite or gneiss. On the bor- ders of the East and West Canada creeks, as well as in some other sections, this is overlaid with limestone and slate. South of the Mohawk, the prevailing rock is slate, covered with sand- stone, or limestone, except at Fort hill, where the granite again. makes its appearance.
Its minerals are quartz, crystals of rare size and beauty, heavy spar, calcare- ous spar, pearl and brown spar, sulphuret of zinc, galena, iron and copper pyrites, bog iron ore, fibrous celestine, tourmaline, and anthracite, though not in sufficient quantities to be of any practical value. Fossils, of great beauty and perfection, are found in the vicinity of Trenton falls, and petrifactions on the Otsquaga creek, in the town of Stark.
SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The soil is generally arable, and some portions of it highly productive. It is better adapted to grass than to grain. The northern portion is said to be barren and unproductive.
The timber is principally oak, hemlock, pine, beech, chestnut, black birch, hick- ory, butternut, elm and maple. Pine and hemlock are abundant in the northern section.
PURSUITS. Agriculture is the pursuit of a majority of the in- habitants. From the hilly character of the surface, more atten- tion is necessarily paid to grazing, than to the culture of grain, and Herkimer stands in the front rank of grazing counties. Its cheese is particularly celebrated, and almost one fourth of the whole amount produced in the state, is made in this county. More than eight millions of pounds mere made in 1845. It also ranks high in the production of butter, wool and pork.
Some attention is paid to manufactures, for which the water falls of the principal streams afford fine facilities. The principal articles are leather, cotton and woollen goods, flour, lumber and paper.
The transportation of its produce upon the Erie canal, consti- tutes the only commerce of the county.
STAPLES. Cheese, butter and wool.
SCHOOLS. There are 200 public school-houses, in which schools were taught, in 1846, an average period of eight months, and 11,800 children received instruction, at a cost, for tuition, of $15,459. The district libraries numbered 22,750 volumes.
The county has also thirty-three select schools, with 442 pupils, three academies, and one female seminary, attended by 321 pupils.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Methodists, Baptists, Dutch Re- formed, Universalists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Epis- copalians, Roman Catholics, Unitarians and Jews.
HISTORY. A tract of land, twelve miles square, lying between the East and West Canada creeks, in this county, constituted the royal grant, which Sir William Johnson obtained of old King Hendrick, and which was afterwards confirmed by the
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king of England .* Another of .... , lying in the north- ern part of the county, was granted in 1770, and called the Jer- seyfield patent.
The fertile tract now known as the German Flats, was patented by a company of German Lutherans, in 1725. It con- sisted of a little more than 9000 acres of excellent land. Their residence was called Burnet's field, after Governor Burnet. A church was erected here, previous to the revolution, and a par- sonage of stone, which having been fortified, received the name of Fort Herkimer.
In common with the adjacent counties of Montgomery, Ful- ton, Otsego, Oneida and Schoharie, Herkimer suffered from the incursions of the savages and tories, during the revolution- ary contest. The brave old general whose name it perpetuates, died at his residence, in Danube, in this county, in August, 1777, of wounds received at the battle of Oriskany.
In 1778, the village of Herkimer was burned by the Indians and tories, under the direction of the Mohawk chieftain, Brant. Fortunately their approach had been discovered by the inhabit- ants, who fled to Forts Dayton and Herkimer, for protection. Two individuals, however, were killed, every house and barn destroyed, and the cattle, horses and sheep driven away by the Indians.
In 1780, a party of Indians and tories visited Little Falls, for the purpose of destroying the mills there, which were of great importance to the inhabitants. They accomplished their object, killed one man, and took five or six prisoners. Two of the oc- cupants of one of the mills, concealed themselves in the race- way, beneath the water wheel, and after the conflagration of the mill, and the departure of the Indians, made their escape.
VILLAGES. HERKIMER, the county seat, is handsomely situa- ted in the valley of the Mohawk, in the town of the same name. It has a fine hydraulic power, sufficient to drive a large amount of machinery. The academy here is in a flourishing condition. The county buildings are on the most improved models, com- bining security and comfort. Population about 1000.
Little Falls, situated on both sides the Mohawk, in the town of that name, is celebrated for the beauty of its scenery. It is
· The way in which this land was obtained, was said to be the following. Sir William having received, from England, several rich suits of uniform, the old Sachem, Hendrick, visited him soon after, and spent the night. In the morning he came to Sir William and said, " Me dream last night." "And what did you dream ?" inquired the baronet. "Me dream you give ine one fine suit of clothes," was the reply. The baronet, of course, complied with his request.
Not long after, he returned the visit, and in the morning, said to his Indian host, "I dreamed last night." "Ah," said the Indian, " What did you dream ?" " I dreamed," replied Sir William, "that you gave me such a piece of land," (describing it). ""Well," said the old Sachem, "Me give it you, but me no dream with you again ; you dream too hard for me."
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