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 25
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HERKIMER COUNTY.
largely engaged in manufactures, and has an academy for the education of both sexes, for which the citizens have erected a noble granite edifice. Its houses, mostly of stone, are remark- able for their neat and substantial appearance.
Here is a deep cut on the canal, of two miles, through solid rock, which presented an obstacle to the Erie canal, only sur- passed by that at Lockport. The canal constructed by the Western Inland Lock Navigation Company, in 1802, is con- nected with the Erie canal at this place, by a magnificent aque- duct of white marble. The finest quartz crystals in the United States are found here. Population about 3000.
Fairfield is a pleasant rural village, the seat of an academy of considerable distinction. The college of physicians and sur- geons, of the western district, was formerly located here, and occupied a fine building. This medical school, though formerly highly popular, has recently been discontinued.
Mohawk, in the town of German Flats, is situated on the line of the canal. It is a flourishing village, and furnishes a good market for the produce of this section of the county. Pop- ulation 800.
Newport, in the town of the same name, is a thriving village, with considerable manufactures. Population about 600.
Frankfort, in the town of the same name, has some manufac- tures. Population 600.
Middleville, in the town of Fairfield, Winton, in the town of Salisbury, and Russia, in the town of the same name, are vil- lages of some importance.
XVII. RENSSELAER COUNTY
Square Miles, 626. Organized, 1791.
Population, 62,338. Valuation, 1845, $12,624,258.
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TOWNS.
1. Hoosick, 1788.
2. Pittstown, 1788.
3. Scaghticoke, 1788.
4. Stephentown, 1788.
5. Petersburgh, 1791.
6. Greenbush, 1792.
7. Schodac, 1795.
8. Troy City, 1796.
9. Nassau, 1806.
10. Berlin, 1806.
11. Brunswick, 1807.
12. Grafton, 1807.
13. Lansinburgh, 1807.
14. Sand Lake.
Mountains. Y. Peterborough. g. Williamstown.
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Rivers and Creeks. C. Hudson River. k. Hoosick. b. Tomhenick Creek. i. Kinderhook. h. Vallitje. c. Wynantskill. f. Poes- tenkill.
Falls. Hoosick.
Villages. TROY CITY. Greenbush. Lansingburgh. Scaghticoke Hoosick Falls.
BOUNDARIES. North by Washington county; East by the states of Massachusetts and Vermont; South by Columbia county ; and West by the Hudson river.
SURFACE. The surface of the county is diversified. From the valley of the Hudson it rises, somewhat precipitously, more than 200 feet. Thence the county is rolling, to the base of the Peterborough mountains. These mountains attain their high- est elevation near the centre of the county, subsiding into mod- erate hills, at the northern and southern extremities. This ridge is separated from the Taghkanic range, here called the Williamstown mountains, by a valley from one to three miles in width.
RIVERS. This county is abundantly watered. Beside the Hudson, its principal streams are, the Hoosick river, Tom- henick, Kinderhook and Vallitje creeks, Wynantskill, and Po- estenkill.
RAILROADS. The Western Railroad, which connects Boston and Albany, terminates at East Albany. The Troy and Green- bush Railroad connects this with Troy. The Troy and Sara- toga, and the 'Troy and Schenectady Railroads, both terminate in this county. They cross the Hudson at Troy, on a noble bridge, 1650 feet in length.
CLIMATE. The climate of the county is mild, but exposed to great extremes of temperature. It is considered healthful.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. The county is wholly of the trans- ition formation. The basis rock is clay slate, upon which is imposed limestone, graywacke, and some red sandstone.
Roofing slate is extensively quarried in Hoosick, Stephentown, and Troy. Iron is found in several places, but is little wrought. Marl, of superior quality, is abundant in Sand Lake, and Scaghticoke. Epsom salts are found in Lansingburgh ; in the same vicinity are quartz crystals of great beauty. There are several sul- phur springs in the county.
SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. There is considerable variety in the soil, but a loam, composed of sand and clay, and quite fertile, extends over the greater part of the county. Con- siderable tracts are well adapted to wheat, but grass and sum- mer crops succeed better in the uplands, in the northern and eastern sections. The principal timber is oak, hemlock, spruce, chestnut, and hickory.
PURSUITS. Agriculture is extensively and profitably pursued. The productions of the dairy are large. The rearing of cattle,
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horses, and sheep, receives much attention. It is the largest flax growing county in the state.
The Manufactures of the county are numerous and varied. The principal articles are flour, cotton and woollen goods, various kinds of iron ware, leather, carriages and sleighs, railroad cars, malt and distilled liquors, oil, &c.
Commerce. The commerce of the county is quite extensive, and is carried on principally through the ports of Troy, Lan- singburgh, and Greenbush.
STAPLES. Flax, oats, potatoes, corn, butter and wool.
SCHOOLS. In 1846, there were in the county, 192 district school-houses, in which schools were maintained an average pe- riod of nine months, and 13,040 children received instruction. The wages of teachers amounted to $21,83 . The number of volumes in the district libraries was 26,921.
There were also seventy-five private schools, with 1923 pupils, six academies and two female seminaries, with 556 students, and the Rensselaer Institute.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Methodists, Presbyterians, Bap- tists, Dutch Reformed, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, Uni- versalists, Unitarians, Friends, and Congregationalists. There are ninety-five churches, and eighty clergymen.
HISTORY. All the towns of this county, except Scaghticoke, Pittstown, Hoosick, the orth part of Lansingburgh, and part of Troy, belong to the Manor of Rensselaerwyck. The farms are generally rented at the rate of ten bushels of wheat for the hun- dred acres.
Pittstown was probably settled at an earlier period than any other portion of the county, emigrants having located there in 1650.
Scaghticoke was also settled by Dutch and German families at an early period, probably about 1700. The first settlement on the present site of Troy, was made in 1720, by Derick Van- derheyden. He obtained a lease of 490 acres, now constituting the most densely populated portion of the city, for three and three-quarters bushels of wheat and four fat fowls annually.
His descendants continued to occupy the land, and from them it assumed the name of Vanderheyden's ferry, which it con- tinued to bear till 1789, when the more classic appellation of " Troy" was substituted for it.
On the 16th August, 1777, a portion of the battle of Benning- ton was fought within the limits of Hoosick, in this county.
A cantonment was erected at Greenbush, for the United States troops, during the late war with Great Britain.
CITIES AND VILLAGES. TROY CITY, the seat of justice for the county, is pleasantly situated on the Hudson, six miles north of Albany. It was laid out in 1789, and made the county seat in
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1791. It is well built, with wide and well shaded streets. The court house, and several of the other public buildings, exhibit great architectural merit.
It is largely engaged in manufactures of almost every descrip- tion ; cast and bar iron, nails, cotton and woollen goods, coaches, sleighs, wagons, railroad cars, flour, distilled and malt liquors, leather, cordage, steam engines, machinery, &c., are the principal. The entire value of its manufactures exceeds $4,000,000 per annum.
The schools of Troy have long maintained a high rank. The Rensselaer Institute, founded by, and named after, the late Pa- troon, is an excellent practical school, designed to furnish young men with a thorough mathematical education, and to fit them for the practice of civil engineering.
The Troy Female Seminary, begun in Middlebury, Vermont, in 1814, and removed to Troy in 1821, has long ranked among the first institutions of its kind in the country. Nearly 6000 pu- pils have been educated in it, many of whom have afterwards become teachers in various parts of the Union.
Its former and present principals, have won for themselves the highest reputation a - instructors. It has twenty-four teach- ers and other officers, and more than 200 pupils.
The Troy Academy is also an excellent institution.
The Lyceum of Natural History has a fine library and cabi- net, and is well conducted. The Young Men's Association pos- sess a large and well selected library, a cabinet and reading room, and sustain a course of lectures annually.
The city is connected with Schenectady, Saratoga, and East Albany, by railroads, and by means of the last with the great Western Railroad to Boston. Excellent McAdamized roads have also been constructed to Albany and to Bennington; the Erie and Champlain canals, here forming the Junction canal, bring immense quantities of lumber and produce to the city, and receive in return manufactured goods.
The commerce of the city is quite large. Three large and seven or eight smaller steamboats, about sixty sloops and schooners, and twenty-five or thirty barges, are owned here, and employed in transporting produce and manufactured arti- cles to New York. There are also several lines of packets ply- ing to other ports, together with a large number of packet and freight boats, on the Erie and Champlain canals. Population 25,000.
The village of West Troy, on the west bank of the Hudson, though in another county, may almost be considered a suburb
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of Troy, with which it is connected by a fine bridge and two ferries.
Lansingburgh, in the town of the same name, is three miles north of Troy. It was settled before that city, and was for a considerable period the more important village. It has exten- sive manufactories. By means of a lock, in the state dam across the Hudson, sloops ascend the river to the village. The Lan- singburgh Academy was one of the first institutions of the kind established in the state. The village is one of the oldest in the state, having been organized in 1771, and incorporated in 1787. Population 3500.
Scaghticoke Point, in the town of Scaghticoke, is a thriving manufacturing village; cotton, linen, and hemp goods, powder, and powder kegs, are largely manufactured here. Popula- tion 1400.
Greenbush is a thriving village in the town of the same name, opposite the city of Albany. The great Western railroad, and the Troy and Greenbush railroad terminate here. The United States barracks, erected in 1814, were on an eminence about a mile southeast of the village. They were very extensive, having been intended for the accommodation of 5000 troops, but are now in ruins. Population 1200.
Hoosick Falls, in the town of Hoosick, is a thriving manufac- turing village. Population 500.
Nassau and Berlin, in the towns of the same names, are vil- lages of some importance.
Schodac Landing, in the town of Schodac, is a thriving village.
XVIII. OTSEGO COUNTY.
Square miles, 892. Organized, 1791.
Population, 50,509. Valuation, 1845, $5,408,040.
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TOWNS.
1. Otsego, 17SS.
2. Cherry Valley, 1731.
3. Richfield, 1792.
4. Unadilla, 1792.
5. Burlington, 1792.
6. Butternuts, 1796.
7. Milford, 1796.
8. Oneonta, 1796.
9. Pittsfield, 1797.
10. Springfield, 1797.
11. Worcester, 1797.
12. Middlefield, 1797.
13. Exeter, 1799. .
14. Plainfield, 1799
15. Hartwick, 1802.
16. New Lisbon, 1806.
17. Decatur, 1808.
18. Edmeston, 1808.
19. Maryland, 1808.
20. Westford, 180S.
21. Laurens, 1810.
22. Otego, 1822.
Mountains. m. Kaatsbergs. n. Mount Independence.
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Rivers. II. Unadilla. G. Susquehanna. b. Butternut creek. c. Otsdewa. d. Otego. e. Otsego. f. Cherry Valley. g. Schene- vas. h. Elk.
Lakes. i. Summit. j. Cunaderaga or Schuyler. k. Otsego.
Battle Fields. Cherry Valley.
Villages. COOPERSTOWN. Cherry Valley.
BOUNDARIES. North by Oneida, Herkimer and Montgomery counties ; East by Schoharie and Delaware; South by Dela- ware; and West by Madison and Chenango unties.
SURFACE. The surface is greatly diversified by mountains, hills, valleys and plains. The Kaatsbergs extend along its eastern border, connecting, a little above Cherry Valley vil- lage, with Mount Independence, whose summit, more than 2000 feet above tide water, affords a noble pro pect, o. ening, in some directions, nearly 100 miles in ex tent.
At this elevation, a narrow table land ru s along the northern confines of the county, forming the western continuation of the Kaatsbergs, and decliens gradually toward the south, divided, however, by the streams, into numerous high r dges and deep valleys.
There are six principal valleys thus formed, viz. Cherry Val- ley, the valley of the Elk creek, that of Schenevas creek, the valleys of the Otego and Butternut creeks, and of the Unadilla river. The direction of these valleys is generally south-south- westerly.
RIVERS. This county is well watered. The Susquehanna, which forms nearly half its southern boundary, is the principal stream. It takes its rise in Summit lake, whose waters also discharge, in seasons of flood, into the Mohawk. Its course through the county is placid, the descent, in the distance of forty-five miles, probably not exceeding five feet to the mile.
The Unadilla, a branch of the Susquehannah, washes the eastern border of the county. The Cherry Valley creek, on whose banks such deeds of blood were committed, in the early settlement of the county, is also a tributary of the Susquehanna, as are the Schenevas, Otego, Otsdewa, and Butternut creeks.
LAKES. Otsego lake is nine miles long, and from one to three wide. The hills which encircle it are elevated from 400 to 500 feet above its surface. This lake is 1188 feet above tide water. The purity of its waters, and the rich and varied scenery which surrounds it render it an attractive summer resort.
Canaderaga, or Schuyler's lake, is a beautiful sheet of water, five miles long, and from one to two wide.
Summit lake is the source of the Susquehanna. It is a
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small body of water, but has an altitude, above tide water, of' 1346 feet.
Cromhorn pond, on the Cromhorn mountain, in Maryland, is three miles circumference, and is one of the highest ponds in the state.
CLIMATE. Owing to the elevation of is county the climate is cooler than in some other portions of the state. The diver- sity of its surface insures .. perf ct drainage, and renders it highly salubrious.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. This county belongs to the transi- tion system. It is underlaid with clay slate, over which is graywacke slate, sandstone, and in the north limestone.
In Cherry Valley and Springfield, gray marble of good quality is found. It is susceptible of a high polish, and abounds with animal fossils. Magnesia is one of its constituents. The graywacke also furnishes an excellent building material. There are some sulphur springs in the county ; that at Richfield is highly impreg - nated, and often visited for its medicinal qualities.
SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The soil is very fertile. The timber of this section is principally oak, white pine, hem- lock, beech and maple. Oats, corn, barley, wheat, hops and potatoes are the principal crops.
PURSUITS. Agriculture, particularly the rearing of cattle, horses and sheep, and manufactures are the principal pursuits. There are no mines, but some extensive marble quarries near Cherry Valley.
The Susquehanna is the only navigable stream in the county, and is mainly used for the transportation of lumber, of which considerable quantities are sent to market annuall .
The manufactures of the county are numerous, and increas- ing in quantity and value with great rapidity. The most impor- tant are flour, lumber, cotton and woollen goods, (including prints, ) leather, iron, &c. In 1845, they exceeded $1,100,000 in value.
STAPLE PRODUCTIONS. Wool, beef, pork, butter, cheese, and lumber, are the principal productions.
SCHOOLS. There were in the county, in 1846, 316 district school-houses, in which schools were taught an average period of eight months; 16,859 scholars were instructed during the year, at an expense for tuition of about $19,385. The district libraries contained 31,366 volumes.
There were the same year, in the county, thrity-nine private schools, with 652 pupils, and three academies with 223 students.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Baptists, Methodists, Presbyte- rians, Episcopalians, Congregationalists, Friends, Universal- ists, and Unitarians. There were, in 1845, eighty-eight churches of all denominations, and ninety-eight clergymen.
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HISTORY. The early history of this county contains many events of thrilling interest. The first settlement in the county, was made in 1739, by Mr. John Lindesay, a Scotch gentleman of some fortune and distinction, who, in conjunction with three other gentlemen, had obtained a patent for a tract of S000 acres, in the present town of Cherry Valley. The place for several years was called Lindesay's Bush.
Mr. Lindesay sedulously cultivated the friendship of the Mo- hawks, with whom this section was a favorite hunting ground, and soon had reason to rejoice that he had done so, for in the winter of 1740, his stock of provisions was exhausted, and on account of the depth of the snow, he was unable to procure sup- plies from the distant settlements, but the friendly Indians brought food on their backs, and thus administered to his wants.
In 1741, by the persuasion of Mr. Lindesay, Rev. Samuel Dunlap, an Irish clergyman of education and talent, was in- duced to emigrate, with several of his friends, to the number in all of about thirty persons, to this county. Soon after their ar- rival, provision was made for the erection of a church, a school- house, and a grist and saw-mill.
Mr. Dunlap opened, in 1743, a classical school for boys, the first in the state west of Albany.
The settlement progressed but slowly for the next ten years. Mr. Lindesay was not well adapted to the management of an infant settlement, and after expending his fortune in the enter- prise, necessity compelled him to abandon it. He entered the army, and died in New York, after serving a few years as lieutenant.
A few years later, small settlements were made at Spring- field, Middlefield, Laurens and Otego.
In 1772, when the county of Tryon was formed, the whole population of Cherry Valley was somewhat less than three hun - dred; and of the entire western portion of the state, (Tryon county comprising all that portion of the state lying west of a line drawn through the centre of Schoharie,) but a few thou- sands.
A number of the inhabitants had served in the French war, and had suffered from the hostile incursions of the Indians.
During the Revolution, the inhabitants of this county, as well as those of the frontier settlements generally, were agitated with fear of the tories and Indians, but though often alarmed, they did not suffer from the devastating effects of the border wars, in their own settlements, till the autumn of 1778.
Rumors of an intended attack of the Indians and tories hav- ing reached the inhabitants in the spring, they fortified the church, and Colonel Alden, with a portion of an eastern regi-
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ment, was stationed to defend the settlement. The summer, and two of the autumn months passed, without the appearance of the enemy, and believing themselves secure, the farmers left the fort, and returned to their homes.
On the 6th of November, Colonel Alden received intelligence from Fort Schuyler, of the approach of a large force of Indians and tories toward Cherry Valley ; on the dissemination of this intelligence, the settlers requested permission to remove into the fort, or at least to deposit their most valuable property there.
Colonel Alden denied both requests, and with the most crim- inal apathy, considering the report unfounded, took no efficient measures to ascertain its truth. He stationed scouts in differ- ent districts, but they, actuated by the same feelings with their commander, kindled a fire, lay down to sleep, and were all cap- tured by the enemy.
On the night of the 10th of November, 1778, the enemy, un- der command of the brutal Walter Butler, and Brant, the Mo- hawk chieftain, encamped within one mile of the fort, and on the morning of the 11th, approached it.
Colonel Alden, in addition to his other imprudences, had lodged the officers of his garrison in different houses in the neighborhood. By means of their prisoners, the enemy discov- ered in which houses they were lodged, and took them all captives.
Colonel Alden himself' was not in the fort, and on receiving intelligence of the commencement of the attack, was still incred- ulous, but ordered the guard to be called in, and went toward the fort. Dearly did he pay for his apathy and incredulity ; he was among the first victims of the cruel massacre which now took place.
The family of Mr. Robert Wells, consisting of twelve per- sons, were all murdered in cold blood, and one of the tories boasted that he had killed Mr. Wells while at prayer.
The wife and one daughter of the Rev. Mr. Dunlap, the har- dy pioneer of the settlement, already mentioned, were also sa- crificed, and himself only spared through the importunity of an Indian. The wife and four children of Mr. Mitchell, were also inhumanly butchered by the wretches. Thirty-two of the inhabitants, mostly women and children, and sixteen continental soldiers were killed, and a large number made prisoners; all the houses and other buildings of the settlement were burned; and the sun, which that morning looked on a quiet and happy vil- lage, in that beautiful valley, shed its last rays that evening upon smouldering ruins, and lifeless corses weltering in their blood.
A conference was held at Unadilla in this county, between General Herkimer and Brant, the year previous to this massa-
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tre, in which the General attempted, though unsuccessfully, to dissuade the Indians from taking part in the contest.
Since the close of the Revolution, the progress of this county has been rapid, and its quiet undisturbed by the warwhoop of the Indian, or the battle-cry of the white warrior.
VILLAGES, &C. COOPERSTOWN, the county seat, is a village in the town of Otsego. It is situated at the southern extremity of Otsego Lake, and in the beauty of its scenery, and the salubrity of its climate, has few equals among the lovely villages of cen- tral New York.
The town is largely engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods and paper. Population 1400.
Cherry Valley, whose thrilling story has already been nar- rated, received its name from its situation, and the great abun- dance of the wild cherry in its vicinity. It is a pleasant village, situated in a delightful valley.
The Cherry Valley Academy, a flourishing chartered insti- tution, is located here. Population 1100.
Hartwick is principally distinguished for its Lutheran Theo- logical and Classical Seminary, a flourishing and well conducted institution.
Springfield, so called from a large, deep spring in the town, has an agreeably diversified surface, and comprises several vil- lages. It has some quarries of very good marble.
Salt-spring-ville has its name from a small brine spring near it, from which salt was manufactured during the Revolution, It is worthy of notice for its distance from the great salt springs of the state, and its elevation above tide water.
The Chyle is a noted limestone sink, in this town, eighty yards in circuit and about twelve feet deep; it is oval in form. After rains or thaws, it is filled with water, which gradually discharges itself by small orifices below, giving the water a whirling motion.
Unadilla is pleasantly situated on the Susquehanna. It has two fine covered bridges, each 250 feet in length, resting on three arches. It has also conserable lumber trade. A species of sandstone is quarried here for grindstones. Population about 800.
Gilbertsville, on the Butternut creek, is a thriving manufac- turing village, and has a flourishing academy.
XIX. SARATOGA COUNTY.
Square miles, 800. Organized, 1791.
Population, 41,477. Valuation, 1845, $6,643,513.
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TOWNS.
1. Ballstown, 1788.
11. Edinburgh, 1801.
2. Halfmoon, 1788.
12. Hadley, 1801.
3. Saratoga, 17SS.
13. Malta, 1802.
4. Stillwater, 178S.
14. Moreau, 1805.
5. Charlton, 1792.
15. Waterford, 1816.
16. Corinth, 1818.
6. Galway, 1792.
17. Wilton, 1818.
7. Milton, 1792.
8. Greenfield, 1793.
18. Day, 1819.
9. Providence, 1796.
19. Saratoga Springs, 1819.
10. Northumberland, 1798. 20. Clifton-park, 1828.
Mountains. m. Palmertown Mountains. EE. Kayaderosseras.
Rivers. C. Hudson River. F. Mohawk. a. Sacandaga. c. Kaya- derosseras or Fish Creek.
Falls. b. Cohoes. k. Hadley. n. Glens. o. Bakers.
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