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 82
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2 For a great number of years this school was one of the most noted in Eastern New York. Among the distinguished persona who have received a portion of their education here were Hon. Samuel Nelson, of the U. S. Supreme Court, Hon. John Savage, formerly Chief Justice of N. Y., and Rev. Dr. Bethune, of Brooklyn. 8 The creek from which the town was named received its name from the white quartz pebbles that form its hed.
" Said to be a corruption of the Indian Pom-pa-nuek, tho name of a tribe of Indians who removed hither from Conn.
6 Embury preached the first Meth. sermon in N. Y., 3 or 4 years before. The census reports 8 churches in town ; 2 Bap., 2 M. E., Friends, Presh., R. C., and Aseo. Ref. Presh.
6 Among the other early settlers were Buel Beebe, Maj. Jolın Porter, Ephraim, James, and Robt. Cowan, David Slarrow, Sam'l Clark, John McClung, Geo. Duncan. Robt. and George Gilmore, Win. Eager, Win. Selfrage, Sam'l Ball, and John Scott. The early settlers in the F. part of the town were Thomas Ashton, Edmund Wells, John and Ebenezer Allen, David Sprague, Seth Chase, Jobn Harroun, Thos. McCool, John Woods, Simeon Fowler. John Young, Josiab Dewey, and John Corey. John Rhodes built the first elothing works, at Pumpkin Hook.
7 Called by the Indians " Kah-cho-quah-na," the place where dip fish.
8 Named from Maj. Philip Skene, a British half-pay officer, its founder and patentce.
9 The mannfactures consist of lumber, machinery, vessels, boats, carpets, and sash aud blinds. An extensive lumber trade is carried on with Canada and with ports on the Hudson, through Lake Champlain and the Champlain Canal.
10 Maj. Israel Putnam was stationed here in the summer of 1758, with 35 rangers, to watch the motions of the enemy and prevent the passage of small parties. A point-now known As Puts Rock-three-fourths of a mi. N. of the village, overlooking South Bay, and completely commanding the passage of Wood Creek, was chosen, aud a stone breastwork was built and eou- eealed by bushes. Soon after the work was finished, a party of 500 French, led by the partisan Molang, upon a secret expedi- tion, attempted to pass up the ereek in the night. They were received hy a most destruetive fire, and before they could re- eover froin their surprise, one-half of their number were killed. Finding that the enemy had lauded below and that he was in danger of being surrounded, Putuam quietly withdrew, with uo loss, and but two men wounded.
11 Maj. Skene became acquainted with this place while accom- panying the expedition under Gen. Amherst, in 1755. Soon after he planted his first settlement, of 30 families, he was obliged to go to the West Indies; and upon his return in 1763 he found but 15 families remaining. Ile brought a number of slaves from tho West Indies, and employed them and a large number of discharged soldiers upon his works. Ilis house was 30 by 40 ft. on the ground, and 24 stories high ; and his barn was 130 ft. long, with massive stone walls pierced with portholes. Tho other buildings in his settlemeut were a few frail houses belonging to his tenants.
12 He was very popular with the settlers, and hence he was an objeet of both frar and dislike to the patriots. His place was captured by a party of volunteers under Capt. Herriek, and
687
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
out in the harbor and put under the command of Benedict Arnold. Upon the approach of Bur- goyne's army, in 1777, the fort was blown up and the houses, mills, &c. were all burned.1 During the War of 1812 this place became an important depot of military stores. The first steamboat on the lake was launched here, in 1809. The Champlain Canal was constructed to this point from Fort Edward in 1819, and finished to Troy in 1824.2 In 1806 Gen. Williams made arrangements for building a church, but died before he could carry them into effect. His son (Col. John Wil- liams) and his widow carried out the design, and presented the building to the Asso. Presb. Soc. It was rebuilt in 1826.8
Acres of Land, Valuation, Population, Dwellings, Families, Freeholders, Schools, Live Stock, Agricultural Products, and Domestic Manufactures, of Washington County.
ACRES OF LAND.
VALUATION OF 1858.
POPULATION.
SCHOOLS.
NAMES OF TOWNS.
Improved.
Unimproved.
Real Estate.
Personal
Property.
Total.
Males.
Females.
No. of Dwellings.
No. of Families.
Freeholders.
Districts.
Children
taught.
Argyle.
27,186
8,350₮ 4,206
$1,002,507
$209,232 151,804
$1,211,739
1,613
1,631
566
608
484
16
1,078
Cambridge
18,0134
5,500}
21,943}
92,810
4,000 223,330
96,810
387
348
146
150
100
11
318
Easton
30,9944 22,619₴
6,936₺ 27,966}
657,072
56,137
713,209
1,845
1,699
613
695
327
21
1,310
Fort Edward
12,791₺
2,006
500,950
492,150
993,100
1,530
1,434
460
528
350
9
1,112
27,5114
6,632
873,565
145,250
1,018,815
1,710
1,653
595
660
469
18
1,235
20,864₺
5,349
1,204,115
489,625
1,693,740
1,959
1,929
745
790
473
15
1.442
8,725
3,939
231,751
30,845
262,596
429
417
161
161
106
6
282
21,978
4,852₴
735,967
82,484
818,451
1,132
1,064
396
416
345
15
807
25,515
7,138
779,302
93,390
872,692
1,283
1,266
505
530
379
16
831
Hebron ..
17,981
4,880
768,170
66,550
834,720
864
323
335
242
10
587
18,410
4,324₺
785,406
105,755
891,161
1,628
552
626
464
16
1,329
Put nam.
7,882
12,423
144,580
19,854
164,434
378
346
122
129
101
302
Salein
25,104}
7,976
830,385
308.314
1,138,699
1,461
1,464
506
561
410
19
1,016
White Creek
22,6832
5,616
868,265
333,762
1,202,027
1,257
1,182
462
586
325
13
908
Whitehall
19,240
9,015
1,022,650
396,740
1,419,390
2,299
2.239
749
893
472
15
1.769
Total.
333,0304 143,5542 | 12,766,947
3,209,222 15,976,169 22,539 21,866
7,575 |
8,741
5,730 240
16.292
Domestic Clotha in yards.
Argyle ..
1,196
2,090
1,838
1,515
4,058
18,138
164,446
4,790%
72,925
29,861
163,321
2,875;
215
Cambridgo ...
737
1,085
1,071
982
2,897
14,767
98,2831
4,251
35,211
11,126
109,204
7.420
1,238₺
Dresden
150
5,192
300
117
212
802}
13,876}
1,528
5,096
2,872
23,323
3.105
403
Easton ...
1,030
1,668
1,577
1,050
3,02S
26,848
183,367
5,813}
46,905
14,501
137.864
42.176 1.535
Fort Ann
797
1,652
955
580
1,127
1,625₺
63,907}
5,626
27,451
6,812
91.843
44.824
531
Fort Edward.
443
947
667
384
933
2,287₺
71,573
2.700
11,262
1,525
55,014
2.358
40
Granville.
855
1,604
2,023
654
1,581
6,958
80,021
5,428}
107,972
24,697
106,160 334.707
416
Greenwich
913
1,478
1,345
862
2,690
18,928}
140,079
3,539
46,914
14,508
129,495
17,100
212
Hampton
168
602
516
162
330
1,602
22,950
2,169
10,955
5,844
36.210
35.632
Hartford
697
1,229
1,067
607
1,479
4,284
79,686
4,326}
87,857
21.422
104,554
18,109
269
Jackson.
634
1,052
1,049
966
2,816 1,184
1,230
63,337
4,717₺
38,619
7,075
94,385 47,490
440
651
Salem
888
1,606
1,322
1,027
2,963
6,208
134,890}
4,842₺
61,934
10,578
143,020
4.635
45
White Creek
559
951
800
628
1,638
3,5654
68,403
4,591
25.994
6.656
67.351
36.150
55
Whitehall
882
1,552
1,153
397
804
2,739₺
47,380}
5,409
14,009
5,476
79,846
27.713
92
Total
11,707 21,721 18,689 11,325 30,305 130,354 1,484.7424 69,881
767,285
189,103 1,625,138 634,491 6,2983
Maj. Skene the younger, 50 tenants, and 12 negroes were taken prisoners. The sloop was sent down the lake to Col. Ethan Allen at Shoreham, Vt. In the cellar of tho house was found the body of the wife of the elder Skene, which had been pre- served many years to secure to the busband an annuity devised to her " while she remained above ground." The Americans buried the body in the rear of the house.
I When Ticonderoga was abandoned to Burgoyne, the public stores were embarked in 200 bateaux and sent up to this point under tho convoy of 5 galleys. They were pursucd and over- taken, 3 of the galleys were burned, and nearly all of the stores were destroyed. All the works at "Skenesborough" wcro blown
np or burned, and the Americans retreated in disorder to Fort Ann. Burgoyne stayed in this place 8 weeks, while opening a road to Fort Ann. The remains of a battery and blockhouse built about this period, overlooking the lake, are still visible.
? A company, under the name of tho " Northern Inland Navr gation Company," had previously heen formed for the purpose of uniting the waters of Lake Champlain with those of the llud- son. After expending large sums of money, tbe project was aban- doned.
8 Tho census reports 7 churches ; 2 M. E., Bap., Cong., Presb., Prot. E., and R. C.
NAMES OF TOWNS.
Horses.
Working
Oren and
Calves.
Cotes.
Sherp.
Steine.
Winter.
Spring.
Tons of Hay.
Bushels of
Potatoes.
Bushels of
Apples.
Pounds
Pounds
Checer.
Hebrou
884
1,612
1,567
808
2,351
4,976
121,047
4,796
109,647
12,877
129,987
26,115
72
Putnam
240
944
468
123
214
1,113
18,507
2,037
4,964
4,652
106.071
530
278
Kingsbury
634
1,057
971
463
14,281
112.9874
3.316
59.570
8,621
30,542
246
LIVE STOCK.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
BUSH. OF GRAIN.
DAIRY PRODUCTS.
990
Dresden
1,366,962
1,590,292
1,482
1,530
559
614
397
19
976
Fort Ann
415
459
286
14
902,490
1,054,294
1,132
1,172
Granville
Greenwich
Hampton
llartford
Jackson ...
906 1,736
Kingsbury
Butter.
No. of
WAYNE COUNTY.
THIS county1 was formed from Ontario and Sencea, April 11, 1823. It lies upon Lake Ontario, w. of the center of the State; is eentrally distant 171 mi. from Albany, and contains 624 sq. mi. A series of A bluffs 25 to. 75 ft. high extends along the lake shore; and from their summits the surface rises in gradual slopes to the lake ridge, SEAL® a distance of 4 to 5 mi. This ridge is 50 to 200 ft. wide on the top, and about 200 ft. above the lake. It deelines toward the E., and upon the E. border of the eo. it can scareely be traced. The deelivity of the ridge upon the s. is 8 to 20 ft. ; and from its foot the surface gradually slopes upward to the surface of the limestone ridge, which extends E. and w. through the co. a little N. of the center and forms the watershed between Lake Ontario and Clyde River. The summit of this ridge is 140 feet above the lake ridge, 340 feet above the lake, and is about 3 mi. wide. It is highest upon the w. border of the eo., and gradually declines toward the E.2 From its southern edge the surface gradually deelines to Clyde River and slopes upward from the river to the s. line of the co. South of the limestone ridge are numerous drift ridges extending N. and s. and from one-fourth to one and a half miles in length. The deelivities are usually very steep, and the summits 40 to 100 ft. above the surrounding surface. They usually end in an abrupt deelivity toward the N., but gradually decline toward the s. They are composed of clay, sand, and gravel, and seem to be deposits from great currents of water. Considerable marshy land extends along Clyde and Seneca Rivers, and also through the co. N. of the lake ridge.
Ganargwa, or Mud Creek, enters the s. w. corner of the eo. from Ontario, flows in an irregular but generally easterly course to Lyons, where it unites with the Canandaigua Outlet and forms Clyde River, which continues eastward to the E. bounds of the eo., where it discharges its waters into Seneea River. These streams receive from the N. West Red Creek, East Red Creek, and Blaek Creek, and from the s. numerous small brooks. The streams flowing into Lake Ontario are Bear, Deer, Davis, Salmon, Thomas, Woleott, and Big and Little Red Creeks; First, Second, and Third Creeks flow into Great Sodus Bay. The principal indentations upon Lake Ontario are Great Sodus, East, Port, and Blind Sodus Bays. Great Sodus Bay forms an excellent harbor. Crusoe Lake, in the s. E. corner, is the only considerable body of water. The streams, in their course through the drift deposits and lake ridge, have usually worn deep ravines.
The lowest roek in the co. is the Medina sandstone,4 appearing upon the lake and in the ravines near it. It occupies a strip with an average width of 2 mi., widest at the w. Next above this is the Clinton group of limestone and shales, extending to the foot of the limestone ridge. Next above is the Niagara limestoue, forming the summit ridge and occupying a strip about 3 mi. in width. South of this is the Onondaga salt group of red and green shales and gypsum, extending to the s. border and occupying nearly one-half of the eo. The rocks are mostly covered by thiek deposits of drift, and are only exposed in the ravines of the streams. Shells, marl, and muek are found in large quantities in the marshy regions. Weak briue and sulphur springs are found in various localities in the Medina sandstone and the red shales of the Onondaga salt group.
The soil derived from the drift deposits is generally a sandy or gravelly loam, with an occasional intermixture of elay. The soil along the lake shore, principally derived from the disintegration of Medina sandstone, is a reddish, sandy loam. At the foot of the mountain ridge, both N. and s., is a strip of very productive elay loam. In the valley of Clyde River the soil is principally a gravelly loam and alluvium. The marsh lands, when drained, are covered deep with a rich vegetable mold, which develops into the most fertile soil in the eo.
Agriculture forms the leading pursuit. The branches, in the order of importance, are grain raising, stock growing, dairying, and wool growing. Fruit is extensively cultivated, and is rapidly
1 Named in honor of Gen. Anthony Wayne.
2 This peculiar formation is accounted for by the theory that the low regions through the N. and central parts of the co. were once covered by the waters of the lake, and that the limestone Didge was a long bar or point extending into the lake from the w.
& Named by Win. McNab, a Scotchinan. At an early day it
way navigable as far as Lyona, and was a link in the great chain of Western travel.
4 This stone is extensively quarried for building stono. It 18 soft when firet taken from the quarry, but bardens upon ex- posure to the atmosphere.
688
689
WAYNE COUNTY.
becoming one of the most important agricultural products. Few counties in the State surpass this in the quality or quantity of apples and peaches annually produced. A strip of land bordering upon Lake Ontario, and extending from Niagara River to the Oswego, secms peculiarly adapted to the cultivation of apples and peaches, and is rapidly becoming one of the most important fruit- growing regions in the State. In Wayne co. $25,000 worth of dried fruit is annually prepared. Peppermint and tobacco are raised along the valley of Mud Creek.
The county seat is located at the village of Lyons, near the center of the co. The courthouse is a fine cut stone building, fronting Church St. It has an Ionic portico, and is surmounted by a large dome.1 The jail is a commodious stone building, in the w. part of the village. It contains rooms for the jailer's residence, and is one of the best arranged and conducted establishments of the kind in the State. The county clerk's office is a fireproof building, fronting Pearl St., a little s. of the courthouse. The poorhouse is situated upon a farm of 130 acres 1} mi. w. of the court- house. The average number of inmates is 67, supported at a weekly cost of $1.55 each. A school is taught throughout the year. The farm yields a revenue of $1,400. The buildings are insuffi- cient for the accommodation of the inmates; but the institution seems to be well arranged and well kept.
Six weekly newspapers are now published in the co.2
The Erie Canal extends through the s. ticr of towns; and along its course are the most populous and thriving villages of the co.3 The direct branch of the N. Y. Central R. R. between Syra- cuse and Rochester extends, along the course of the canal, through Savannah, Galen, Lyons,
1 The first courthouse was a brick edifice, erected soon after the organization of the co. It was superseded, in 1854-55, by the present structure, built of Lockport limestone. The building committee of the present courthouse were John Adams, Stepben Marshall, and F. B. Cornwell. The first officers of the co. were John S. Talmadge, First Judge; IIugh Jameson, Sheriff; Wm. H. Adams, District Attorney; Isaiah J. Richardson, Co. Clerk ; and John S. Talinadge, Surrogate.
2 The Palmyra Register, the first paper published in the co., was commenced Nov. 26, 1817, by Timothy C. Strong. It was continued under various titles uutil 1823, when it was published as
The Western Farmer and Canal Advocate, and passed into the hands of Pomeroy Tucker, who changed its name to The Wayne Sentinel, under which title it is now pub- lished by Wm. N. Cole.
The Lyons Republican was commenced Ang. 3, 1821, by Geo. Lewis. It was discoutinued in Feb. 1822.
The Lyons Advertiser was commenced May 31, 1822, by Hiram T. Day. It underwent various changes iu naine and publishers. It was published #8
The Wayne County Gazette, by Epbraim J. Whitney; as
The Lyons Argus, by E. J. & W. W. Whitney;
The Lyons Gazette, by Barker & Chapman;
The Wayne Co. Patriot, and as
The Western Argus, by Chapman & Chapin and Ashley & Co .; and as
The Western Argus, by Charles Poucher. In 1841 it was changed to
The Lyons Gazette, and was published by - Russell from 1849 to 1853, when it was sold to Win. Van Camp, and in 1855 or '56 it was merged in The Wayne Democratic Press.
The Palmyra Freeman was commenced March 11, 1828, by D. D. Stephenson. It soon after passed into the hands of J. A. Hadley, who removed the press to Lyons and changed the name to
The Countryman. Myrou Holley became connected with it as associate editor. In 1831 it was suspended for a time, and afterward resumed as
The Lyons American, by Myron Holley. In 1835 it was pub- lisbed by Wm. HI. Cbilds. In 1836 it was removed to Clyde and publisbed as
The Clyde Gazette, by Dennis Cord, until 1838.
The Reflector, mo., was commenced at Palmyra in 1828 by O. Dogberry, jr. It was discontinued in 1830.
The Newark Republican was commenced at Newark in Nov. 1829, by Jeremiah O. Balch. It was discontinued in 1831. The Clyde Standard was published about 6 mio. in 1830 by E. P. Moon.
The Western Spectator and Wayne Advertiser was commenced at P'alınyra Jan. 9, 1830, by Luther Howard and Erastus Shepard. In 1831 its name was changed to
The Spectator and Anti-Masonic Star. It was removed to Rochester the same year and merged in The Anti- Masonic Enquirer.
The Palmyra Whig was commenced in Feb. 1838, by Wm. N. atd Sam'I Cole. It was removed to Lyons by Wm. N. Cole. and its name changed to
The Wayne County Whig. In the fall of 1850 it passed into the hands of Williams & Gavitt. In the spring of 1852 they sold it to Silas A. Andrews, who continued it a few months and sold it to Wm. Van Marter; and iu ( myra, upon an aqueduct of 3 arches.
Nov. of the same year it passed into the hands of Rodney L. Adams. In Sept. 1856, its name was changed to
The Lyons Republican ; and April 30, 1859, Mr. Adams sold it to W. T. Tinsley & Co., its present publishers.
The Wayne Standard was commenced at Newark in June, 1838, by David M. Keeler. In Aug. 1839, it was sold to Gen. Barney T. Partridge, J. P. Bartle, and S. Culver, who changed its name to
The New Ægis, Stephen Culver, editor. In Jan. 1840. it was sold to - Norton, and discontinued in May following. In July following it was revived as
The Wayne Standard, by D. M. Keeler. and published until 1843, when it passed into the hands of H. L. Winants, and in about 1 year was discontinued It was revived soon after, as
The Newark Courier, by David Fairfield. It was successively published by Win. K. Creagne and B. F. Jones as
The Newark Journal; and in 1854 by G. D. A. Bridgman, who changed its name to
The Newark Whig. In Sept. 1856, it passed into the hands of C. F. White. who changed its name to
The Newark Weekly Courler, and still continues its publication.
The Palmyra Courier was commenced May 28, 1843, by Frederic Morley. It passed into the hands of J. C. Bennett, who changed its name to
The Palmyra Democrat. It was published again as
The Pulmyra Courir, by - Benedict, from about 1851 to '54. Mr. Benedict sold it to - Beebe, and, in a short time afterward it passed into the hands of A. E. Averill, wbo changed its name to
The Palmyra American, and subsequently again to
The Palmyra Courler, under which name Mr. Averill still continues its publication.
The Clyde Eagle was commenced in 1844 by B. Frazee. It was successively published by - Dryer, Stephen Salis- bury, and in 1847 by Rev. Chias. G. Acly and William Tompkins, who changed its name to
The Clyde Telegraph. It afterward passed into the hands of Rev. W. W. Storiker, and soon after to Win. R. Fowle, and in a short time it was discontinued.
The Clyde Industrial Times was commenced iu Feb. 1850, by Payn & Smith. It soon passed into the hands of Jos. A. Payn. Its name was changed in 1851 to
The Clyde Weekly Times, under which title it is now published, by Joseph A. Puyn.
The Northern Methodist Protestant was published by an asso- ciation at Clyde in 1849; Rev. W. W. Storiker, editor.
The Wayne Banner was published at Wolcott in 1850 by John McIntyre, and was removed to Clyde, and merged in The Industrial Times on the first issue of the latter paper.
The Farming Mirror was commenced at Lyons in July, 1853, by R. L. Adams & Co., and was published 1 year.
The Wayne Democratic Press was commenced at Palmyra in 1855. It was removed to Lyons the same year, and is now published by Win. Van Camp.
8 The enlarged canal crosses Seneca River on the E. border of the co., on an aqueduct built upon 31 arches of 22 feet span each. It crosses Mud Creek, a little w. of Lyons, upon an aque- duct of 5 arches, and again crosses the same stream, N. of Pal-
44
690
WAYNE COUNTY.
Arcadia, Palmyra, and Macedon. A ship canal1 route and a R. R. route2 have been surveyed, connecting the Erie Canal and Central R. R. with Lake Ontario.
The western 9 towns in this co. belonged to the Pulteney Estate; the E. part, including Savan .. nah, Galen, and portions of Wolcott and Butler, constituted a portion of the Military Tract. The intermediate portion, except the s. 3 tiers of lots in Rose, were compensation lands granted to the Pulteney Estate for the gore between the old and new pre-emption lines. The earliest white inhabitants were hunters and trappers. The first permanent settlements were made in 1780, at Palmyra, under the auspices of General John Swift, agent of a company of settlers from Conn. ; and at Lyons, under Charles Williamson, agent for the Pulteney Estate.3 From 1790 to 1794, colonies came in from R. I., Long Island, and Maryland." The settlements did not progress with great rapidity for several years, owing to the diseases which prevailed. The fear of Indian hos- tilities and of British invasion during the War of 1812 greatly retarded settlement. On the return of peace, settlers began to arrive in considerable numbers, principally from New England and Eastern N. Y. The completion of the Erie Canal gave a new impulse to immigration; and in a few years the flourishing villages of Lyons, Clyde, Palmyra, and Newark were built up along its course. The N. Y. Central R. R., built through the co. in 1852-53, greatly benefitted the co. and enhanced the value of the lands.
The most notable of the later incidents in the co. have been the rise of Mormonism in Palmyra,6 and the commencement of spiritual rappings in Arcadia.6
ARCADIA-was formed from Lyons, Feb. 15, 1825. It lies on the s. border of the co., a little w. of the center. Its surface is a rolling region, broken by drift ridges. Mud Creek flows R. through the town, N. of the center, and receives several small streams as tributaries. The soil is a sandy, gravelly loam, mixed with clay on the hills. Gypsum is found in the s. w., and marl in the center. Newark, (p. v., ) including Arcadia, (p. v.,) in the s. part, on the canal, was incorp. July 21, 1853, as Newark. It contains 7 churches, a bank, flouring mill, tannery, 3 furnaces, and several manufactories. It is a flourishing canal village and a station upon the N. Y. C. R. R. Pop. 2,042. Fairville, (p. v.,) about 5 mi. N., contains 1 church, a tannery, a limited amount of manufactures, and 159 inhabitants. Marbletown, near the s. E. corner, contains a church and 10 houses. Jessups Corners and Hydeville are hamlets. Settlement was com- - menced in 1791, by Joseph Winters and B. Franklin.7 The first church (M. E.) was organized in 1805. J. Wesley Benton was the first settled minister, in 1806.8 A family named Fox, residing at Hydesville, in Arcadia, first heard the mysterious sounds known as the "rappings" on the night of March 31, 1849. Investigations were made in regard to the origin of the raps, but nothing definite was settled upon. The family soon after removed to Rochester, the "raps" accom- panying them; and hence the name "Rochester Rappings." A series of investigations was insti- tuted, and the matter became public, some claiming for it a spiritual origin, but the great majority pronouncing it a humbug or delusion. From this source modern spiritualism originated.
BUTLER-was formed from Wolcott, Feb. 26, 1826. It is the center town on the E. border of the co. Its surface is diversificd, level in the s. E. and rising into ridges in the N. w. The highest point is Armstrong Hill. The principal stream is Wolcott Creek, which rises in the N. E. and, flowing in a circuitous course, leaves the town near the x. w. corner. The soil in the valleys is a gravelly loam, and on the hills it is generally clay, with a tenacious subsoil. Lime is manu- factured in the N. part to a limited extent. South Butler, (p. v.,) on the s. line, contains 5 churches, a classical school, several manufactories, and about 400 inhabitants. West Butler (p. o.) contains 10 houses; Westbury, (p. v., ) in the N. E. corner, partly in the town of Victory,
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