Gazetteer of the State of New York: embracing a comprehensive view of the geography, geology, and general history of the State, and a complete history and description of every county, city, town, village, and locality, Part 2, Part 65

Author: French, J. H. (John Homer), 1824-1888, ed. cn; Place, Frank, 1880-1959, comp
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : R. Pearsall Smith
Number of Pages: 782


USA > New York > Gazetteer of the State of New York: embracing a comprehensive view of the geography, geology, and general history of the State, and a complete history and description of every county, city, town, village, and locality, Part 2 > Part 65


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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VARICK-was formed from Romulus, Feb. 6, 1830. It extends from Seneca to Cayuga Lake, across the center of the co. Its surface is slightly inclined toward the N. The slopes of the ridges are


years. The work was evidently of great antiquity,-the timber | in the battles of White Plains, with Washington at Valley Forge on the inside being of the same size and apparent age of that in the surrounding forest. Upon the bank and in the ditch large oak trees-the growth of centuries-were standing. In the embankinent were several openings a few feet in width, which were once probably used for gates or entrances. In making an excavation for a cellar, on the E. side, 6 skeletons were found at the depth of about 2 feet. This was in 1857. Several had been found previously ; and, though all the softer parts of the bones had long since disappeared, the teeth and a few of the larger bones still remained. Inside of the embankment may still be found pieces of a coarse kind of pottery, ornamental pipes, &c. De Witt Clintou visited this place in 1810; and his theory is that this was one of a number of similar works of defense found occupying the nost commanding positions in Western New York, and in the valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi, erected by a race more civilized than the Indians, and that they preceded the latter in the occupation of this country: their origin and end are alike a mystery; their annals defy the ken of Imman re- search. and their history will remain a sealed book perhaps for- ever. The Indians were never able to give any account of this fortification, as it was obter than their traditions.


1 Namted from the falls in the river, the Indian name, "Sha- se-ounse," signifying rolling water.


2 Downs & Co.'s manufacturing establishment, commenced in 1840, has a capital, including real estate and machinery, of about $200,000. They are largely engaged in the manufacture of pumps and a great variety of other articles, use anunally 3,800 tons of iron, 1,500 tons of coal. and employ 230 hands. Their yearly Bales amount to about $400.000. They also manufacture Goffe's Patent Knitting Machine, and are largely engaged in the manu- facture of hose, turning ont 800 pairs per day ; 70 persons are employed in this department. The Island Works of Silsby, Mynderse & Co., conninenced in 1848, is engaged in the manu- facture of steam fire engines, portable steam engines. and a variety of other machinery. It employs 150 persons, and turns out work to the amount of $200.000 per year. Cowing & Co.'s works commenced about 1840, They are engaged In the manu- facture of fire engines, pumps, and various other articles,- employ 140 men, and tern ont work yearly to the amount of $125.000. The Phoenix Woolen Mills gives employment to 90 persons, and manufactures goods to the amount of $150,000 per anmin. Besides these, there are in the plare several thonring mills, having in the aggregate 32 runs of stone, 2 distilleries, a brewery, 2 planing mills, 5 founderies and machine shops, a scythe and fork factory, a wooden factory. and several minor manufactories. About 50 tons of iron are used daily in the several manufactories,-American Reveille, Seneca Falls. 1:59.


3 Mr. Smith was the Arst white settler upon the Military Tract. Mr. Van Chief was a Revolutionary soldier, having been


and with Sullivan in his campaign against the Indians. Ho settled on the river. and engaged in piloting boats over the rapide until the locks were built in 1815. Among the other carly settlers were James Bennett, Col. John Harris, and - Parker. The first child born was a daughter of Lawrence Van Clief. Nov. 29, 1790; the first marriage, that of - - Ely and Pamela Parkhurst, in 1706; and the first death, that of Mrs. Job Smitb, in 1792. The first school was taught hy - Leonard, in 1797. Lawrence Van Chief kept the first inu, in 1704; and Col. Wilhelmus Mynderse kept the first store, in 1795, and built the first saw and grist mill, about the same time. In 1794, Robert Trout, Nicholas Gouverneur, Stephen N. Bayard, and Elkanah Watson, under the title of the Bayard Company, bought of the State 100 acres of land on the N. side of the river. embracing the greater part of the water-power upon that side. In 179S they purchased 250 acres on the s. side, and in 1809, 650 acres more on the same side, the two purebases embracing all the water-power upon that side of the river. In 1816 they bought 450 acres more on the x. side. completing the purchase of the water-power. In 1795 the company sold a one- fifth interest in their purchase to Col. Myuderse, and constituted him their agent. In 1795 the " Upper Red Mills" were erected under his direction ; and iu 1807 the "Lower Red Mills" were erected. The Co. refused to sell their land, neglected to improve the immense water-power that they owned, and in 1825 broke down, and the property was sold for about one-fifth of its cost. In 1829-30 the manufacturing interests of the place began to increase. About that time a paper mill was erected by Chauncey Marshall, G. V. Sackett, and Ausel Bascom; a cotton factory, by Judge Sackett; a machine shop, by McClary & Halliday; and a clock factory, by Marshall & Adams. Until the locks were built, in 1815, the most important business of the place was that of transporting goods and boats around the rapids. The " dress reform" movement was commenced in this town by Mrs. Amelia Bloomer, who adopted the dress known as the Bloomer Dress in 1849.


4 The census reports 7 churches in town; Bap., M. E., Wes. Meth .. Prot. E., Presb., Hef. Prot. D., and R. C.


5 Asher Halsey, from N. J., came in 1798. Among the offer early settlers were Stephen Crane. Peter and Ezra Degarmo, Robert Gould, Thos. Coxson, Lewis Winans, and Thes. W. Rose velt. The first chill born was Danl. Crane; the first marriage, that of James Cook and Betsey Woodworth: and the first death, that of Ezekiel Crane. Nancy Orman taught the first school, in 1804. Stephen Crane kept the first inn, in 1809; Nicholas Traver built the first sawmill, iu 1807, aud Noah Davis the first gristmill, in 1817.


" There are 4 churches in town; Disciples, Bap., M. E., and Ref. Prot. D.


618


SENECA COUNTY.


80 gradual that nearly every part is arable. The streams are all small. Near the center of the town is a cranberry swamp, occupying about 800 acres. The soil is a gravelly loam intermixed with clay. Bearytown, (Fayette p. o.,) upon the line of Fayette, in the N. E. part, contains 3 churches, a steam sawmill, stave factory, and 128 inhabitants, of whom 51 are in this town. Romulus (p. v.) lies on the s. border. East Varick (p. o.) is a landing upon Cayuga Lake. McDuffce Town is a hamlet in the s. E. corner. Varick is a p. o. The first settlement was made by James McKnight, in 1789.1 There are 3 churches in town; Bap., Presb., and M. E. .


WATERLOO-was formed from Junius, March 26, 1829. It lics on the N. bank of Sencca River, N. w. of the center of the co. The surface is almost one unbroken flat. A marsh extends E. and w. through the town s. of the center, and another occupies the N. E. corner.2 The bed of Seneca River, on the s. boundary, is almost level with the general surface. The soil is muck and clay in the N. and E., gravel along the N. border, and a sandy loam in the center and w. Waterloo, (p. v.,) on Seneca River, near the E. border of the town, was incorp. April 9, 1824. It is a station upon the N. Y. C. R. R. and upon the Seneca Canal. A fall of 24} feet in Seneca River furnishes an excellent water-power, which is mostly improved. It is a half-shire of the co., and contains the courthouse, 6 churches, the Waterloo Union School, a bank, a large shawl factory,$ 3 distilleries, 2 malt houses, 3 flouring mills, 5 sawmills, 2 founderies and machine shops, 2 oil mills, and nume- rous other manufactories." Seneca River above the falls, being seldom frozen, is navigable through- out the year. This village is an important depot of lumber from the s. w. cos., and of coal from the Susquehanna and Blossburg Mines. Pop. 3,050. South Waterloo, formerly called "Schoyes," is on the opposite side of Seneca River, in Fayette. Settlement was commenced by John Greene, from R. I., in 1789.5 The first religious services were held about 1816.6


Acres of Land, Valuation, Population, Dwellings, Families, Freeholders, Schools, Live Stock, Agricultural Products, and Domestic Manufactures, of Seneca County.


ACRES OF LAND.


VALUATION OF 1858.


POPULATION.


o. of Dwellings.


No. of Families.


Freeholders.


co Districts.


Children


taught.


Covert.


15,646₴


3.274}


816,199


160,015


976,214


1,146


1,084


418


432


894


Fayette.


27.105}


6.425


1.437,514


100,615


1.538.129


1,708


1,662


613


653


491


16


1.165


Junius.


13.172}


3.304


706,478


34.250


740,728


713


702


269


295


228


8


590


Lodi


17,112


4.4$3


696,511


67.770


764,281


1,016


1.002


401


402


29S


9


424


Ovid


14,251


3.812}


916,147


201.393


1.117,540


1,098


1,176


424


439


374


9


1,022


Romulus.


17,977¿


5.600


793,589


145,000


941,589


979


900


342


360


251


12


855


Seneca Falls ...


11,781}


2,316


1,479,550


481,315


1,960,865


2.511


2.473


836


956


619


10


1,905


Tyre.


10,602}


8.4381


402.243


18,100


420.343


717


702


279


283


212


7


648


Varick


15,6064


4,468


761,251


52,375


813,626


858


865


340


343


271


11


725


Waterloo.


8,693}


3,815


1.029,875


359,750


1.389.625


1.964


2,082


747


781


526


7


1,574


Total


151,949₴


45.9362 9.039,357


1.623,583 10.662,940


12,710 12,649


4.669


4.944


3,621 |102


9,802


LIVE STOCK.


AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.


NAMES OF TOWNS.


Horses.


Working,


Osen und


Calves.


Coics.


Sherp.


Swine.


Winter.


Spring.


Tons of Hay.


Bushels of


Potatoes.


Bushels of


Apples.


Pounds


Butter.


Pounds


Cheese.


Covert.


679


1.207


732


3.576


1.117


16,990


115.334


1,551


3.197


20,648


70,239


1.550


150


Fayette ..


1,390


1,589


1.311


8.290


3.272


36,082


194.820


4,145


5,205


21.622|140.312


400


685


Junius


731


8.99


727


5.623


1.410!


17,870


97.287


2.049


13.718


11,2951


83,500


5,290


471


Lodi.


763


1,183


732


3.450


1,611


13.611


101,248


1,988


4.512|


17,734


68.295


414


101


Ovid


68×


983


803


3.968


1.167


16,129


101.851


1.711}


3.549


26.718


50,068


700


282


Romulus.


862


9.33


758


6,134


1,261


10,6822


143.745}


2,160}


1.989


20,024


69.136


700


462}


Seneca Falls.


560


631


598


4,042


4,245


12.753₺


67,435៛


2,029₺


4,759


12.966


63,095


1.575


99


Tyre.


577


854


629


4,616


1,019


13,533


80.956₴


2,043}


10.023


20,696


72.346


1,793


7471


Varick.


755


717


381


4,276


1.350;


14,553


112,246


1,570}


1,706


12.809


.2,457


70


217


Waterloo.


492


$74


465


3.559


1.080


7,379


68,097 ₺


1,631


23.886


10,766


36,126


1.320:


Total .


7,497


9 860


7,136 47.534 17,532 159,583


1,083,121} 20,879%


72.544 175.278 705.574


13.812 |13.215


3 The first child born was a son of James McKnight. in 1790. 4 The waters of Black Brook which flow through the central swanipy region are impregnated with carthy and vegetable matter, which gives to them the peculiar quality of clearing the inside of steam boilers of the incrustations of sulphate and car- bonate of lime resulting from the use of hard water.


5 The Waterloo Woolen Manufacturing Co. was organized in 1836. with a capital of $150.000; 200 to 250 hands are employed; 300.000 Iby. of wool are used, and 40.000 long shawls are anno- ally manufactured. This is, next to the Bay State Mills, the largest shawl factory in America.


" Among these establishments is a plaster mill, boatyard, and drydock, 4 copper, tin. And sheet iron factories, a fanning will, and washboard factory, and 2 cabinet and furniture shops.


7 Among the other carly settlers were Jabez Gorham, from Ballston, (Saratoga co .. ) who located upon the present site of the village. Salmon Dishrow, from Saratoga co., came in about the same time. The first child born was John Smith, in 1508; the first marriage, that of Job Smith and Miriam Gorham. in 1799; and the first deaths, those of John Gregory and Jaines Hull. two Revolutionary soldiers, who drew lots in this town, settled npon them. and both died about 1508. Isaac Gorham tunght the first school, in 1810: Jabez Gorham kept the first inn, about 1795; Charles Switt. the first store, in 1815; and James Bear built the first mill. in 1794.


8 The census reports 6 churches in town; Presb., Prot. E., Ref. Prot. D., M. E., Disciples, and Friends.


Domestic cloths, in Yards.


BUSH. OP GRAIN.


SCHOOLS.


NAMES OF TOWNS.


Improved.


Unimproved.


Real Estate.


Personal


Property.


Total.


Males.


Females.


No. of


DAIRY PRODUCTS.


STEUBEN COUNTY.


THIS county was formed from Ontario, March 18, 1796, and named in honor of Baron Steuben. The 7th Range of Townships was annexed to Allegany eo. March 11, 1808, the part in the fork of Crooked Lake to Ontario eo. Feb. 25, 1814, a part of Dansville to Livingston eo. Feb. 15, 1822, and a part to Schuyler co. April 7 TIMES 31854. It lies upon the s. border of the State, considerably w. of the eenter, is centrally distant 188 mi. from Albany, and contains 1425 sq. mi. Its surface mostly consists of ridges and high, rolling uplands, forming the northern continuation of the Alleghany Mts. The watershed between Lake Ontario and Susquehanna River ex- tends from Allegany co. eastward across the N. part of the co. The deep valley of Crooked Lake breaks the continuity of the highlands and extends 17 mi. s. w. from the head of the lake, connecting with the Conhoeton Valley at Bath, and forming one of the numerous natural passes between the southern valleys and the basin of Lake Ontario. The highlands occupying the s. w. corner of the eo. also form a portion of the watershed, being drained by branches of Canisteo River on the E. and of Genesee River on the w. The highest summits in the eo. are about 2,500 feet above tide.1


The upland region has nearly a uniform elevation, with a slight inclination toward the N. It is interseeted by numerous deep valleys, which have evidently been excavated by the action of water.2 The formation of the steep hillsides which border upon these valleys is such as to prove conclusively that they were onee united, and that a wide, rolling plateau spread over the region now so irre- gular and broken. The principal of these valleys are those of Canisteo and Conhoeton Rivers, ex- tending nearly N. w. and s. E. through the co. From these valleys numerous others diverge at nearly right angles and braneh off into countless deep, erooked ravines, intersecting the plateau in every direction. The hills that border upon these valleys are usually steep and 300 to 600 feet high.


Conhocton River flows s. E. through near the center of the eo. In high water it was onee navigable for arks 14 mi. above Bath. It receives from the s. w. Neils, Bennetts, Campbells, Stockton, Michigan, and Stephens Creeks, and from the N. E. Twelve Mile, Ten Mile, Five Mile, (or Kanona, ) Mud,8 and Meads Creeks. Canisteo River flows through a valleys. w. of the Conhoeton and nearly parallel to it. In freshets it rises 6 to 8 feet, and is then navigable for boats and arks about 40 mi. Its chief tributaries are Canaeadea, Crosby, Purdy, Beunetts, Col. Bills, and Tuscarora Creeks, all from the s. w. Tioga River rises in Penn., flows N. through a deep, wild mountain val- ley, and unites with the Canisteo at Erwin, and with. the Conhocton at Painted Post, from the latter place the combined stream taking the name of Chemung River.+ Canaseraga Creek, flowing N., drains the N. w. corner of the eo .; and several small streams rising in the s. w. corner forin branches of Genesee River. Crooked Lake lies along the N. E. border, in a deep valley nearly surrounded by steep hills 500 to 800 feet high. Little Lake lies in a shallow valley along the E border of the town of Wayne. It discharges its waters s. into Mud Lake, and through Mud Creek into Conhoeton River. Loon Lake, in Wayland, lies in a valley which is the southern continuation of the valley of Ilemlock Lake in Livingston eo. Still further s., in the same valley, is Mud Lake, a small sheet of water, the outlet of which flows s. and empties into the Conhoeton.


The shales and sandstones of the Portage group outerop in all the deep ravines in the N. part of the co. and in the w. bank of Crooked Lake. Elsewhere, the Chemung group composes most of the surface roeks. Near the State Line the highest hills are capped with a coarse, silicious conglome- rate, which forms the floor of the coal measures.5 A feeble brine spring is found at La Grange,


1 The following elevations have been determined, principally | for purposes of navigation, and now, in summer, it is almost by actual surveys: Crooked Lake, 718 feet; Corning. 925; Vil- dry. lage of Bath, 1.090; Hornelleville. 1.150; Arkport. 1.194; sum- 4 These streams were all much larger before the destruction of the forests. In time of high water the early settlers describe them as being "full from hill to hill." mit between Mud Lake and Bath. 1.579; summit between Bath and Arkport. 1,840; summit between Arkport and Angelica, 2.062; Trompeburgh Hills, 2,500.


2 These valleys must have been excavated by more powerful currents of water than now flow through them ; and their for- mation belongs to the drift period of geology.


3 Mud Creek is the ontlet of Mud Lake, in Schuyler co. At the first settlement of the co. this streain was navigable, and arks were floated from Mnd Lake down the creek and the Con- hocton to the Enaquehanna, and thence to the Baltimore market. Since the clearing of the forests, this stream has entirely failed


5 The rocks of this co. are generally of a shaly nature and not fit for nse. There are a few exceptions. however. One mi. N. of Bath is a stratum. 3 feet thick. of a tough. argillo-calca- reous rock, forming an excellent building stone. In Woodhull, Canisteo. and Jasper the sandstone ledges furnish an excellent quality of grindstones. At Arkport, in Dansville, and Troups burgh are marl beds, from which lime is manufactured .- Geol. 4th Dist., pp. 483, 484.


619


620


STEUBEN COUNTY.


and sulphur springs in Campbell, Jasper, and Urbana. The soil in general is composed of detritus of the adjacent rocks, and is better adapted to grazing than tillage. Upon the intervales along the larger streams the soil is a fertile alluvium. The extensive flats upon the Chemung arc among the finest agricultural lands in the State. Agriculture forms the chief occupation of the people. Grain is largely produced on the alluvial lands, and stock is extensively raised on the uplands. Stock and wool growing and dairying are the principal branches of agriculture pursucd. Lumber- ing is still extensively carried on,-though it is gradually decrcasing. The manufactures are prin- cipally confined to lumber, articles of wood, and the heavier and coarser products necessary to an agricultural region.


The co. is divided into the northern and southern Jury Districts, the co. buildings being respect- ively situated at Bath and Corning.1 The courthouse at Bath is a commodious brick building, erected in 1828.2 The jail is built of wood and closely surrounded by other buildings. The cells for prisoners are in the basement, and are not provided with any means of ventilation. Its arrange- ments show a culpable neglect and an entire disregard of the general sentiments of the co. and of the age. The co. clerk's office is permanently located at Bath. The courthouse at Corning is a fine brick edifice, erected in 1853-54 at a cost of $14,000. The jail at Corning was erccted at the same time. The courts are held alternately at Bath and Corning. The co. poorhouse is located upon a farm of 214 acres about 2 mi. N. E. of Bath Village.3 The average number of inmates is 75; and they are supported at an average weekly cost of $1.00 each. The farm yields a revenue of about $2,000. No instruction is afforded; but the children of proper age are bound out.


The New York & Erie R. R. enters the co. from Chemung and extends along the valleys of the Chemung, Tioga, and Canisteo Rivers to Hornellsville, and the Canacadea to the w. border of the co. It passes through Corning, Erwin, Addison, Rathbone, Cameron, Canisteo, and Hornellsville." The Buffalo, N. Y. & E. R. R. extends N. w. from Corning up the Conhocton Valley, through Erwin, Campbell, Bath, Avoca, Cohocton, and Wayland, to the N. border of the co. This road in. tersects the Genesce Valley R. R. at Avon, the N. Y. Central at Batavia, the Buffalo & New York City at Attica, and the N. Y. & Erie at Corning. The Hornellsville Division of the Buffalo, New York & Erie R. R. extends N. w. up the valley of the Canisteo from Hornellsville, passing through that town and the s. w. corner of Dansville. The Blossburg & Corning R. R. extends from Corn- ing, through Erwin and Lindley, s. along the Tioga Valley to the Blossburg coal region. Crooked Lake is navigated by steam and canal boats, and forms a link in the chain of the internal water communication of the State. It is united with the Erie Canal at Montezuma by Crooked Lake Canal, Sencca Lake, and the Cayuga and Seneca Canals. The Chemung Canal navigable fecder extends from Corning E. to Horseheads, in Chemung co. Considerable lumber is floated down the rivers and finds a market at Philadelphia and Baltimore. These various works of internal im- provement afford ample facilities for the transportation of goods and passengers, and bring the farm products of the co. into close proximity to the Eastern markets.


Six newspapers are published in the co.5


1 Upon the organization of the co., in 1796. the co. buildings | The Farmers' Gazette was commenced at Bath iu 1816 by David were located at Bath. A wood courthouse, one and a half Rumsey. stories high, with two wings, was erected the same year. It The Steuben Messenger was started at Bath, April 17, 1828, by David Rumsey, and was published by him. Sami. M. Eddie, Win. P. Agnel, and Chas. Adains successively until 1834, when its name was changed to was removed in 1828 and the present brick courthouse erected. About the time of the erection of the first courthouse, a jail was built of hewn loga, which was superseded by the erection of the present jail in 1845. By an act of the Legislature, passed July 19, 1853. the co. was divided into two jury districts. and the co. buildings for the southern district were located at Corning.


2 The first co. officers were William Kersey. First Judge; Abraham Bradley and Eleazur Lindley, Associate Judges ; Geo. D. Cooper, Co. Clerk ; William Duun, Sheriff; and Stephen Ross, Surrogate.


3 This establishment consisted of 3 buildings,-one of brick and two of wood .- containing altogether 31 rooms. In Sept. 1×59, the two frame buildings were burned, and 6 persons, in- inates of the establishment, perished in the flames.


+ This road was opened to Corning, Jan. 1, 1850, and to Ilor- nell-ville. Sept. 3 of the same year.


6 The Bath Gazette and Genesee Advertiser, the first paper published in Western New York, was established at Bath by Win. Kersey and James Eddie in 1796, and was continued several years. In 6 months from its first issue its circulation had reached 1000 copies.


The Steuben and Allegany Patriot was started at Bath in 1815 by Benj. Smead, and was continued until 1822. It was then changed to


The Farmers' Advocate and Steuben Advertiser. In 1849 it passed into the hands of William C. Rhoades, and in 1857 into those of P. S. Donahe, by whom it is uow published 28


The Steuben Farmers' Advocate.


The Constitutionalist, and its publication was continued success- ively by R. L. Underhill, Whitmore & Van Valken- burgh, and Dowe & Richards, and by the last nawied firm as


The Steuben Democrat. until 1844. The paper was then sus- pended. In 1848 it was renewed by L. J. Beach, and in 1849 it was transferred to Geo. II. Bidewell, by whom the publication was continued until 1852.


The Steuben Whig was published at Bath during the political campaign of 1828, by William M. Swain.


The Stenben Courler was established at Bath in 1843 by Hull & Whittemore. It is now published by II. II. Hull.


The Temperance Gem was published at Bath in 1854. by Jenny and Caroline Ruinsey.


The Addison Record was published in Addison by Isaac D. Booth froin 1840 to 1842, and in 1849 by Dryden & Peck.


The Addison Advocate was published by H. D. Dyer in 1848-49. The Voice of the Nation was commenced at Addison by R. Den- ton in 1852. In 1855 the paper passed to Anthony L. Underhill, by whom it was published until 1856, when it was removed to Bath and its name changed to


The Steuben American, aud its publication continued until May, 1857.


The Canisteo Express was published at Addison in 1850 by T. Messenger.


621


STEUBEN COUNTY.


Steuben eo. was all ineluded in the Phelps and Gorham Purchase. It was sold by Phelps and Gorham to Robert Morris, who conveyed it to Sir Win. Pulteney and others, in London. The terri- tory was surveyed into townships aud lots by Wm. Bull, for the Pulteney estate, in 1792-93. Sales were made by townships, at 18 and 20 ets. per aere. The first settlements were made in 1787-90, by immigrants from Wyoming, Penn., who located upon Chemung River, in the s. E. part of the co. These early settlers were originally from Conn. About 1790, settlements commenced in the w. part, adjoining Yates eo. In 1792-93, Capt. Chas. Williamson,1 agent of the Pulteney estate, commeneed a settlement at Bath. He was accompanied by a large number of Seoteh and German immigrants; and under his energetie and liberal policy the settlement progressed with great rapidity. The greater part of the early settlers came from Penn. by way of Susquehanna and Chemung Rivers. Subsequently large numbers eame from Eastern New York, New England, and New Jersey .? The eo. was divided by the Court of General Sessions, in 1796, into 6 towns, viz. : Bath, Canisteo, Dansville, Frederieton, Middletown, and Painted Post, comprising the territory now forming 31 towns of this co. and parts of Allegany, Yates, Livingston, and Sehuyler eos. In 1790 the population was 168; in 1800 it was 1,788; and in 1855, 62,965. In extent of territory and in agricultural wealth it now ranks among the first eos. in the State.8




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