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 28
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RIVERS. The principal stream of the county is the Chemung, formed by the union of the Tioga, the Canisteo, and the Con- hocton. The name of the river means " a horn in the water," and is said to be derived from an immense horn or tusk which protruded from the bank of the river many years since. These streams are navigable during the freshet season. Their prin- cipal tributaries are Bennett's and Tuscarora creeks, of the Canisteo ; and Mud, Five Mile and Twelve Mile creeks, of the Conhocton. The only other streams of any size are the Canascraga and Cowanesqua.
LAKES. Seneca lake forms the eastern boundary of the county for about eight miles. Crooked lake extends into it from Yates for about the same distance. Little, Mud and Loon are the names of the other lakes. The latter has a subterranean outlet half a mile long.
RAILROADS. The Corning and Blossburg railroad entering the county from the south, terminates at Corning, which is sit- uated at the head of the navigable feeder of the Chemung ca- nal. The New York and Erie railroad will pass through this county.
CLIMATE. The surface is so much elevated that the winters are generally cold and severe, and the seasons backward. The county, however, is generally healthy.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. The surface rock of this county, to the depth of nearly 1000 feet, is the Chemung group of sand-
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stones and shales. It has some beds of bog iron ore, and several sulphur springs.
SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. Most of the soil is pro- ductive. The uplands are well adapted to grazing. The allu- vial flats of the Chemung river ( mprise the richest lands in the county, and are said to exceed those of the Mohawk in fer- tility.
The county north of the Conhocton river, and east of Five Mile creek, is covered chiefly with oak, chesnut, hickory, black walnut, yellow and white pine timber ; between the Canisteo and Conhocton, beech, maple, white pine, and hemlock, are the prevailing forest trees, except a narrow tract on the Canisteo, where oak prevails. South of the Canisteo, beech, maple, white pine, and hemlock, are predominant. The oak and yel- low pine lands produce excellent wheat; the other lands are. better adapted to grass.
PURSUITS. Agriculture is the chief pursuit. Grain is largely produced on the alluvial lands. Great numbers of cattle and sheep are raised on the table lands. The lumber business is an important branch of industry.
Manufactures are increasing in importance. Lumber is largely manufactured in the southern part of the county. Flour, leather, and fulled cloths, are also produced in considerable quantities.
The Commerce of the county, by means of the spring naviga- tion of the rivers, the navigable feeder of the Chemung canal, and the facilities afforded by the Corning and Blossburg railroad, is quite large and increasing.
STAPLE PRODUCTIONS. Wheat, oats, corn, potatoes, butter, wool, and lumber.
SCHOOLS. In this county there were, in 1846, 326 district schoolhouses, in which schools were maintained an average period of seven months. The number of scholars in attendance was 19,771, and the sum expended for their tuition $20,918. The district libraries contained 30,125 volumes.
There were also twenty-four private schools, with 626 pupils, and one acade- my and one female seminary, with 148 students.
RELIGIOUS DENOMIN ATIONS. Methodists, Presbyterians, Bap- tists, Episcopalians, Universalists, Unitarians, and Roman Catholics. There are seventy-five churches, and 114 clergymen of all denominations, in the county.
HISTORY. This county is indebted to the enterprsie and en- ergy of Mr. Charles Williamson, the agent of the Pulteney estate, for its early settlement and rapid growth. Finding emi- grants unwilling to settle upon the elevated lands of this county, while the more alluring flats of the Genesee remained in mar-
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ket, he resolved himself to set the example of emigration to this section. Accordingly, in 1792, with two companions, he cut his way through the forests, and located at Bath. In 1795, the population in the vicinity had increased so rapidly, that Mr. Williamson established a theatre at his new settlement. The succeeding year, the county was organized, and named after Baron Steuben, the Prussian General. The same year a news- paper was established at Bath, and called the Bath Gazette. The population of the county at this time was about 800. The whole county, except the town of Reading, belonged to the Pul- teney estate. The emigrants were mostly from Pennsylvania, except in the town of Prattsburgh, which was settled by New Englanders.
In the present town of Erwin, formerly stood the Painted Post, so famous in our early Indian annals, erected by an In- dian chief, (probably during the first French war,) to com- memorate his victory over the whites, and the number of scalps and prisoners, he had taken.
VILLAGES. BATH, the county seat, was laid out by Mr. Wil- liamson in 1792. It is on the north bank of the Conhocton, has regular and parallel streets and two public squares, and is re- garded as one of the most pleasant villages of western New York. Here is a flourishing female seminary. Population 1500.
Corning, situated on the south side of the Chemung river in the town of Painted Post, is admirably located for trade, being at the junction of the Corning and Blossburg railroad, with the navigable feeder of the Chemung canal, and also on the pro- posed route of the New York and Erie railroad. Its coal trade is already very great, and its growth has been rapid. Popula- tion 1200.
Hammondsport, situated at the southern termination of Crooked lake in the town of Urbana, is a thriving village. A steamboat plies between this place and Penn Yan. It has also a communication with New York, by means of the Crooked and Seneca lakes, Cayuga, Seneca, and Erie canals. Popu- lation 1000.
Painted Post, in the town of Erwin, is a flourishing village at the junction of the Conhocton and Tioga rivers. It has a large amount of hydraulic power, which is in part applied to manufacturing purposes. The painted post above described, is in this village. Population 600.
Hornellsville is a village of considerable importance, situated on the Canisteo in the town of the same name.
XXIV. DELAWARE COUNTY.
Square miles, 1362. Organized, 1797.
Population, 36,990. Valuation, 1845, $3,478,012.
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1. Harpersfield, 1788.
10. Meredith, 1800.
2. Middletown, 1789.
11. Sidney, 1801.
3· Colchester, 1792.
12. Tompkins, 1806.
4. Stamford, 1792.
13. Hancock, 1806.
6. Walton, 1797.
15. Davenport, 1817.
7. Delhi, 1798.
16. Andes, 1819.
8. Roxbury, 1799.
17. Bovina, 1820.
9. Kortright, 1793.
18. Hampden, 1825.
Mountains. h. Blue. m. Kaatsberg. u. Pine. Rivers. G. Susquehanna. H. Delaware. a. Mohawks or West Branch Delaware. i. Little Delaware river. j. Papachton Branch. k. Big Beaver kill. q. Oleout creek. r. Charlotte river.
Villages. DELHI. Franklin. Hobart. Deposit. Walton.
5. Franklin, 1792.
14. Masonville, 1811,
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BOUNDARIES. North by Otsego and Schoharie; East by Schoharie and Greene ; South by Ulster and Sullivan, and the state of Pennsylvania ; and West by Pennsylvania, Broome and Chenango counties.
SURFACE. Delaware county has three distinct ranges of mountains passing through it from southwest to northeast, ren- dering its surface very rough and broken. The southeast ridge is a continuation of a range of the Kaatsbergs. The second ridge runs between the Papachton and the Mohawk branch of the Delaware river ; while the third, from twelve to eighteen miles in width, is bounded by the Charlotte river and the Sus- quehanna. The two latter are collectively known as the Blue mountains. A part of the eastern ridge has received the name of the Pine mountains. The surface of the summits and sides of the hills are extremely irregular, and broken by numerous streams.
RIVERS. The Mohawks, or main branch of the Delaware, has its source in Schoharie county, running thence in a southwest- erly direction nearly 70 miles, through the center of the coun- ty, to Port Deposit, where it takes a southeasterly course, and · forms the boundary line between New York and Pennsylvania. Its principal tributaries are the Little Delaware and the Papach- ton branch; ti e latter is sixty-five miles long and receives the Bi Beaver kill. The Charlotte and Susquehanna form portions of the northern boundary.
RRILROADS. The New York and Erie railroad is in process of construction, through the southeast corner of the county.
CLIMATE. The climate of this county is subject to sudden and extreme changes of temperature, yet it is not unfriendly to health. The cold is severe in winter.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY. The surface rock of this county is the o d red sandstone of the Catskill group underlaid by the shales and sandstone of the Portage and Chemung group.
Its minerals are few. Bog iron ore has been discovered in considerable beds ; copper extensively diffused, but in small quantities. There are several mineral springs, and a brine spring near Delhi.
VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The soil is as varied as the sur- face, but generally of a good quality. On the hills it is a sandy loam, and in some places,stoney. In the valleys is a rich deep mould, and of lasting fertility. It is better adapted to grass than the raising of grain. The county is densely timbered with beech, birch, maple, ash, elm, basswood, pine, wild cherry, butternut, hemlock, and small quantities of oak.
PURSUITS. Agriculture chiefly ( ngages the attention of the people of this county; considerable quantities of grain are produced, and it is exceeded by few counties in the number of cattle reared. It is second only to Oneida in the manufacture of butter.
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Manufactures. The water-power of this county is abun- dant, but little improved. Its principal manufactured articles are leather, flour, lumber, and fulled cloths. The lumber is floited to market on the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers.
The Commerce of the county is not large, its rivers being only navigable in the spring.
STAPLE. PRODUCTIONS. Butter and cheese, oats, potatoes, rye, wool, and lumber. Increased facilities for conveying them to market will be afforded by the railroad now constructing.
SCHOOLS. In 1846, there were 288 public schools in session, on an average, seven months each, expending for tuition $14,013, and numbering 12,501 pupils. The district libraries contained 24,027 volumes.
There are twenty-three unincorporated private schools, attended by 342 schol- ars, and two incorporated academies with 124 students.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Methodists, Presbyterians, Con- gregationalists, Baptists, Episcopalians, Dutch Reformed, and Unitarians. The whole number of churches, is fifty-eight, of clergymen seventy-seven.
HISTORY. The county, west of the Mohawks branch, was ori- ginally held by several proprietors, but east of that river was comprised in the Hardenburgh patent. In 1768, William, John, Alexander, and Joseph Harper, with eighteen others, obtained a patent for 22,000 acres of land within its limits. The Har- pers soon after moved from Cherry Valley, and founded the set- tlement of Harpersfield.
In the spring of 1780, a party of Indians and tories under the command of Brant, destroyed this settlement. Most of the in- habitants had previously fled, a few only remained to make su- gar. Several of these were killed, and nineteen made prison- ers and carried to Niagara. After the war the place was re- built, and Colonel John Harper, who had distinguished himself by his bravery and humanity during the war, spent the remain- der of his days there.
VILLAGES. DELHI Village is the county seat, and contains, be- sides the county buildings, two churches, an academy, and a number of manufactories. Population 800.
Franklin is the seat of the Delaware Institute, incorporated April 25, 1835. Population 700.
Hobart, in the town of Stamford, is a village of some impor- tance. It has some manufactories.
Deposit, in the town of Tompkins, is a great lumber mart. Much of the lumber which is floated down the Delaware dur- ing the spring freshets is deposited here. It is on the proposed route of the New York and Erie railroad. Population 600.
Walton, in the town of the same name, is a small but thriv- ing village on the Delaware.
XXV. CHENANGO COUNTY.
Square miles, 804. Organized, 1798.
Population, 39,900. Valuation, 1845, $4,133,256.
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1. Bainbridge, 1791.
2. Norwich, 1793.
3. Oxford, 1793.
4. Greene, 1798. 5. Columbus, 1805.
6. Coventry, 1500.
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7. German, 1806.
14. Smyrna, 1808.
8. Pharsalia, 1806.
15. Guilford, 1813.
9. Plymouth, 1806.
16. McDonough, 1816.
17. Otselic, 1817.
18. Linklaem, 1823.
19. Pitcher, 1827.
Rivers. II. Unadilla river. CC. Chenango. G. Susquehanna. h. Otselic. a. Geneganslette creek. e. Canasawacta.
Villages. NORWICH. Oxford. Sherburne.
BOUNDARIES. North by Madison county ; East by Otsego and Delaware; South by Broome; and West by Broome and Cort- land counties.
SURFACE. This county is comprised in the extensive table land, which occupies so large a portion of southern and western New York. The force and velocity of its principal streams, however, have cut deep and broad channels through the rocks, and thus formed ide and beautiful alluvial valleys, giving the county an apparently diversified surface. ' he table land be- tween the Unadilla and Chenango rivers is 1630 feet above tide water.
RIVERS. The Chenango, a beautiful stream, and its tributa- ries, the principal of which are the Geneganslette and Canasa- wacta, drain the central portion of the county. The Unadilla washes its eastern border, while the Susquehanna crosses its southeastern, and the Otselic its northwestern corner.
CANALS. The Chenang > Ca al passes through the county in the broad valley of the Chenango river, furnishing a conven- ient outlet for its abundant produce.
CLIMATE. Mill, healthful, and pleasant.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. The western part of this county belongs to the Chemung sandstone group; the eastern part to the old red sandstone of the Catskill group, and a small tract at the north to the limestone of the Helderberg series.
There are few minerals in the county, the geological formations not being favorable to their production. There are two or three sulphur springs which have some reputation in the treatment of cutaneous diseases.
SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The soil on the table lands is admirably adapted to grazing ; in the alluvial valleys it is a rich, gravelly loam, yielding abundant crops of grain. The principal forest trees are beech, maple, basswood, elm, butter- nut, black cherry, and in the south, hemlock and pine.
PURSUITS. Agriculture is the leading pursuit. Great atten- tion is paid to the rearing of cattle, horses and sheep. Butter
10. Preston, 1806.
11. Sherburne, 1806.
12. Smithville, 1806.
13. New Berlin, 18 7.
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and cheese are largely produced, particularly in the southern towns. The county ranks among the first in the state in the production of butter, cheese, wool and flax.
Manufactures are receiving increasing attention. At pres- ent, however, the most important are those of flour, lumber, leather, fulled cloths, and cotton and woollen goods.
The commerce of the county, through the medium of the Chenango canal, and the Susquehanna river, is large and con- stantly increasing.
STAPLE PRODUCTIONS. Butter, cheese, wool, flax and oats.
SCHOOLS. In 1846, there were in the county 287 district school-houses, in which schools were maintained an average period of seven months, at an expense for tuition of $16,283; 14,750 scholars attended these schools. The district libraries contained 26,598 volumes.
There were also thirty-five select schools, attended by 658 pupils, and four incorporated academies, with 416 students.
RELIGIOUS DENOM NATIONS. Baptists, Methodists, Congre- gationalists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Universalists, and Friends. The entire number of churches, is eighty-three; of clergymen, ninety-four.
HISTORY. Chenango was formed from the counties of Tioga and Herkimer, in 1798. The first settlement was made in Ox- ford, in 1790; another was made at Bainbridge, in 1791. The latter township was granted by the state of New York, to Ver- mont, as a compensation for losses of individuals who had suffer- ed on account of grants made by the state of Vermont, before the settlement of her difficulties with New York. Most of the early settlers of the county were from New England, and a majority of them from Connecticut.
The first settlers in the village of Greene, were a party of French emigrants, some of whom were men of distinction in their own country. After some years, however, owing to pecu- niary difficulties, they became discouraged, and removed to Pennsylvania. An academy was established and incorporated at Oxford, in 1794. The town of Sherburne was settled by a party of twenty families, from Connecticut, who organized themselves into a church before emigrating. They arrived at their location on Thursday, and by the succeeding Sabbath had erected a log meeting-house, in which they met for worship, and it is said that not a Sabbath has since passed without divine service.
ANTIQUITIES. In the town of Greene is a remarkable mound, which, before it was disturbed by the plough or spade, was about seven feet high, and nearly forty feet in diameter. It
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contained human bones, flint arrow-heads, and utensils of the natives ; and was probably the place where the slain of some sanguinary battle had been entombed. In Oxford, are the re- mains of a fort, about three-fourths of an acre in extent. Trees of more than 200 years' growth were standing on this fort when it was first discovered. Its position was admirably calculated for defence. When or by whom it was erected is unknown. The Indian traditions on this subject are by no means definite.
VILLAGES. NORWICH, in the town of the same name, is the seat of justice for the county. It is pleasantly situated on a neck of land formed by the Canasawacta creek and the river. It is surrounded by a rich agricultural district, whose produce finds here a ready market. The Chenango canal connects it with Utica and Binghamton. It has a considerable number of manufactories. Here is a flourishing academy, and a female seminary. Population, 1600.
Oxford, in the town of the same name, is situated on both sides of the Chenango. It is in the midst of a fine agricultural country, and has considerable trade. The academy here is an old and flourishing one, founded in 1794. Population, 1300.
Sherburne, in the town of the same name, is a plea sent incor- porated village, on the line of the canal. It has a chartered academy, and considerable trade. Population, 700.
Greene, in the town of the same name is a flourishing village, situated on the Chenango river and Canal. It has considerable manufactures. Population, 800.
New Berlin and Bainbridge, in the towns of the same names, are thriving and important villages.
Smithville and Smyrna, are also villages of some importance.
XXVI. ROCKLAND COUNTY.
Square miles, 172.
Organized, 1798,
Population, 13,741. Valuation, 1845, $2,424,553.
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1. Haverstraw, 1788.
2. Orangetown, 17SS.
3. Clarkstown, 1791. 4. Ramapo, 1791.
Mountains. T. Matteawan. d. Closter. e. Nyack Hills. f. Dun- derberg.
Rivers. C. Hudson. c. Hackensack. a. Ramapo. Saddle. Forts. Stony Point.
Villages. NEW CITY. Haverstraw. Piermont,
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BOUNDARIES. North by Orange county; East by Hudson river ; South by New Jersey; and West by New Jersey and Orange county.
SURFACE. The surface of this county is very much broken, rising in the west and north-west into the Highlands, or Mat- teawan ridge. The Closter mountain, or Palisade range, enters from Bergen, New Jersey, and receding on the west, forms the Nyack Hills. The summits of some of these rise to the height of 1000 feet. Between these hills and the Highlands, is a valley formed by the Saddle river. Dunderberg and Caldwell moun- tains, are in the north part, opposite Peekskill.
RIVERS. Rockland county sends forth the Hackensack river and its branches, draining the Nyack valley, and Saddle river, a tributary of the Passaic. The Ramapo, also a tributary of the Passaic, crosses the county in the town of Ramapo.
CLIMATE. The climate of this county is healthy ; agreeable in summer, but cold in winter.
MINERALS AND GEOLOGY. The Nyack Hills belong to the Catskill group, being based on red sandstone and capped with greenstone. The Palisades are composed entirely of trap rock. The Matteawan range is primitive ; granite, gneiss, mica, feldspar, hornblende, &c. are its principal constituents. South of the Highlands, the whole country is underlaid with red sand- stone, supposed by some of the Geologists to be the new red sandstone.
Limestone is abundant in the valleys, and magnetic iron ore in the hills. The other principal minerals are calcareous spar, serpentine, actinolite, zinc ore, green and red copper ores, datholite, stilbite, asbestus, Prehnite, Thompsonite, &c.
VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. Notwithstanding the roughness of the surface, the soil is rich and highly cultivated, amply re- warding the labor of the husbandman. This county is well adapted to the culture of both grass and grains.
PURSUITS. Agriculture is the leading pursuit, particularly in the more fertile valleys.
Manufactures are also carried on to some extent. Iron wire, nails, sheet iron, and lead, cotton and woollen fabrics are the principal articles.
COMMERCE. Some shipping is owned on the Hudson, by the inhabitants of the county, of whom a considerable number are engaged in commercial pursuits. Ice is extensively exported to New York from this county.
STAPLE PRODUCTIONS. These are corn, potatoes, oats, buck- wheat, rye, and ice.
SCHOOLS. In this county, there were in 1846, thirty-nine com- mon schools, averaging nine months' instruction each, at an ex-
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pense of about $7271, and having 2501 pupils. The district libraries numbered 6418 volumes.
There are eight private schools, numbering 149 scholars.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Methodists, Dutch Reformed, Presbyterians, Baptists and Friends. The number of churches, of all denominations, is thirty-two ; of ministers, twenty.
HISTORY. This county originally belonged to Orange, and many of the early settlements were made within its limits. Orangetown was originally the county seat, before its division, and remained so till 1737, when Goshen, now in Orange county, was made a half shire town. In 1774, the court-house and jail in Orangetown being burned, the county seat was removed to New City. During the revolution, this little county was the scene of many thrilling events.
On the 27th of September, 1778, Colonel Baylor, the com- mander ofa troop of cavalry, had crossed the Hackensack with his regiment, and taken post at Tappan; on the night of the 28th, they were surprised by a British force, under General Gray, who attacked them in a barn, where they had their quar- ters, and sixty-seven out of one hundred and four privates were butchered. The orders of the British guard were to give no quarter ; about forty were made prisoners through the human- ity of one of the British captains. After the capture of i orts Montgomery and Clinton, (the latter of which was in the limits of this county, ) by Sir enry Clinton, in 1777, General Wash- ington directed w fortificati n to be built at Stoney Point, a com- manding promontory on the Hudson, and ar ot er at Verplank's Point, opposite the former, on the east bank of the Hudson ;- the latter was first completed, and both were garrisoned by the Americans.
In May, 1779, Sir Henry Clinton ascended the river ; the for- tress at Stoney Point being unfinished, the garrison abandoned it at his approach, and the garrison at Verplank's Point, or Fort Fayette, as it was called, being surrounded by a superior force, were compelled to surrender. Sir Henry immediately caused both forts to be strongly fortified, and manned them with efficient garrisons. General Washington determined to recover them, and accordingly despatched General Wayne, with a sufficient corps of light infantry, on the fifteenth of July, to storm the fortress at Stoney Point. The hill on which the fortress was erected, extends into the Hudson, and is surrounded by it on three sides. The other side was a deep morass, passable only at one point, and this enfiladed by the batteries of the fort. A passage to the fortress was also practicable at low water, along the beach, but this too was commanded by the guns of the fort.
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Notwithstanding these obstacles, Wayne and his brave asso- ciates commenced the attack a little after nightfall of the six- teenth of July, with unloade muskets and fixed bayonets, and notwithstanding the terrible fire of the enemy, the two columns which had taken the two routes above described, met in the centre of the fort. The British garrison was captured with a loss to the Americans of fifteen killed and eighty-three wound- ed, and to the British of sixty-three killed, and 543 taken pris- oners, beside milita 'v : tores to the value of nearly $160,000.
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