USA > New York > Geography of the state of New York. Embracing its physical features, climate, geology, mineralogy, botany, zoology, history, pursuits of the people, government, education, internal improvements &c. With statistical tables, and a separate description and map of each county > Part 23
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Walden, in Montgomery, is a manufacturing village. Ches- ter, in the town of the same name, is a noted mart for the sale of live stock. Here, too, is an academy of some reputation.
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XI. MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
Square Miles, 356. Organized, 1772.
Popuation, 29,643.
Valulation, 1845; $3,696,270.
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TOWNS.
1. Canajoharie, 1788.
6. Minden, 1793.
2. Charleston, 1788.
7. Glen, 1823.
3. Palatine, 1788.
8. Root, 1823.
9. Mohawk, 1837.
10. St. Johnsville, 1837.
Mountains. JJ. Au Sable Range. e. Anthony's Nose. f. Flint Hill. j. Otsquaga Hills.
Rivers and Creeks. F. Mohawk River. AA. Schoharie Creek. b. Cayaduta. c. Bowman's or Canajoharie. d. Otsquaga. h. East Canada. i. Garoga.
Battle Field. Stone Arabia.
Villages. FONDA. Amsterdam. Canajoharie. Fort Plain.
BOUNDARIES. North by Fulton ; East by Saratoga and Sche- nectady ; South by Schenectady, Schoharie and Otsego; and West by Herkimer, counties.
SURFACE. Hilly and somewhat mountainous. The valley of the Mohawk forms the central portion of the county, while on the north and south, the hills attain a considerable elevation. The Au Sable range enters the county from the north, and forms, on the banks of the Mohawk, the peak known as Antho- ny's Nose. Crossing the river, this range terminates in the town of Root.
Flint hill occupies the southeastern part, bordering on Sche-
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4. Amsterdam, 1793.
5. Florida, 1793.
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nectady county. In the southwest are the Otsquaga hills. The valleys of the Mohawk, and some of its tributaries, spread out in fertile alluvial plains or flats.
RIVERS. The county is well watered. The Mohawk river, East Canada, Schoharie, Bowman's, Otsquaga, Garoga and Caya uta creeks, are the principal streams.
CANALS AND RAILROADS. The Erie canal runs along the south side of the Mohawk, and the Utica and Schenectady rail- road upon the north.
The CLIMATE resembles that of the valley of the Mohawk generally. It is mild and healthful.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. The surface rocks of ti is county all belong to the transition formation. In the southern part, the Lorraine shales, and Hudson river group, (the Taconic sys- tem of Prof. Emmons,) are predominant. Along the Mohawk, the Utica slate prevails, and is accompanied by a narrow tract of the renton limestone. North of this, the Onondaga salt rocks are seen on the surface.
Pearl spar, caic spar, sulphate of barytes, calcareous tufa, brown spar, quartz crystals, agate, chalcedony, garnet, sulphurets of zinc and lead, and oxide of tita- nium, are the principal minerals. As yet, none of these have been obtained in sufficient quantities to be of any practical value. In the town of Root, is a large cavern, called Mitchell's cave, containing fourteen apartments, some of them 500 feet below the surface, and profusely adorned with stalactites and stalagmites.
SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The soil is generally productive, consisting of a gravelly or clayey loam, frequently mingled with disintegrated lime or slate. Grass and grains of all descriptions flourish. The forests are composed chiefly of oak, beech, ash, maple, and hemlock.
PURSUITS. Agriculture is the leading pursuit of the inhabi- tants. Considerable grain is raised, and much attention paid to the products of the d :iry.
The manufactures of the county are limited, consisting mainly of flour, distilled liquors, leather, and woollen goods.
The commerce of the county is confined to the transportation of its produce upon the Erie canal, and the Utica and Schenec- tady railroad.
STAPLE PRODUCTIONS. Oats, corn, barley, potatoes, butter, cheese and wool.
SCHOOLS. In 1846, there were in the county 118 public schools, with 8604 scholars. The annual term of instruction in these schools averaged nine months, and the amount expended for tuition was $15,369. The district libraries contained 18,043 volumes.
There were also in the county, eleven select schools, with 135 pupils ; three academies, and one female qeminary, with 214 studenta
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RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Dutch Reformed, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Universalists, Episcopalians, Unitari- ans, and Friends. There are in the county forty-three churches, . and forty-six elergymen of all denominations.
HISTORY. The English Episcopaliana commenced missions among the Mohawks in this county as early as 1702. The first settlements were made in 1713, or about that time, by German emigrants, a portion of the same band who settled Sehoharie county, and by other persons from Albany and Schenectady counties. .
It had been the home of the Mohawks, whose three castles were all, it is believed, within the limits of this county. In Jan- uary, 1693, the French, whose hatred to the Iroquois was invet- erate, made a descent upon these castles, and captured them all.
The Indians at Schenectady sent to Albany for assistance to pursue the enemy. Colonel Peter Schuyler, the friend of the Indians, with a body of militia, started for the pursuit, overtook the French, and had a severe skirmish with them. The French lost fifty-nine in killed and wounded. It is related that the In- dians ate the bodies of the Frenchmen whom they killed.
Fort Hunter, a somewhat important military post in early times, was erected in 1710, at the junction of the Mohawk and Schoharie rivers, in the town of Florida, by Capt. John Scott. A chapel was erected near the fort which was endowed by Queen Anne, and hence called Queen Anne's chapel. A stone parsonage was also erected near it, to which was attached a glebe of 300 acres, the gift of the Indians.
The fort having become dilapidated at the time of the Revo- lution, the chapel was fortified, and called Fort Hunter. It was taken down about the year 1820, to make room for the Erie canal.
The first settlement in the town of Amsterdam was made in 1716, by the widow and children of Philip Groat of Rotterdam, who was drowned in the Mohawk, near Schenectady, on his way thither.
In 1722, colonies had been extended along the Mohawk as far as the German Flats, in the county of Herkimer ; but few of the settlers, however, had located far from the river.
The subsequent growth and prosperity of the present county of Montgomery, are due, in a great measure, to the enterprise of Sir William Johnson .*
* This extraordinary man was born in Ireland, in 1714, of highly respectable pa- rentage. His uncle, Admiral Warren, had acquired a title to a tract of some 15,000 acres, in the present town of Florida, and sent young Johnson over to act as his agent for the disposal of it, about the year 1736.
Soon after arriving in the colony, he was appointed by the British Government,
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During the Revolution, this county, (then called Tryon coun- ty, and embracing all that part of the state, lying east of a meri- dian, drawn through the centre of Schoharie county, ) suffered severely from the repeated incursions of the tories and Indians, led by Sir John Johnson, the bloodthirsty Walter Butler, and the Mohawk chieftain Brant.
Scarcely a settlement, on either side of the Mohawk, escaped partial or entire destruction; and few families, who had es- poused the cause of their country, but were called to mourn over friends and relatives, inhumanly butchered by these sav- age warriors. Neither age nor sex were spared; neither beauty, wealth, accomplishments, nor amiability of character, served to shield the unfortunate settlers from the tomahawk and the scalping knife.
The towns of Fort Plain, Canajoharie, Palatine, Glen, and Root suffered most severely ; many of those who escaped death, being carried into a long and distressing captivity.
At Stone Arabia, a severe and bloody conflict took place in October, 1780, between Sir John Johnson, and the garrison of Fort Paris, (a stockade fort in Stone Arabia. ) General Robert Van Rensselaer, of Claverack, (Columbia county,) was in the rear of the enemy, with a force of nearly 1000 men, and ordered Colonel Brown, the commander of the fort, to attack them in front, while he pressed upon their rear.
agent for the Iroquois, or Six Nations. Having acquired their language, and adopt- ed to a considerable extent their dress and babits, he soon obtained great inda- ence over them, and was chosen one of their head sachems. This power be used in such a way as to secure their attachment to the British Government, and at the same time to advance his own personal interests.
During the French wars, he was active as an officer, and in 1757, the troops under his command, at Lake George, having repulsed and defeated the French force un- der Baron Dieskau, he was knighted by the King, and received a donation of £5000 sterling.
In 1759, General Prideaux being killed at the siege of Fort Niagara, Sir William, who was second in command, assumed the direction of the forces, and carried the fortress. In 1760, he led a body of 1000 Indians against Montreal, and was active in an eminent station at the surrender of Canada.
He was twice married. By his first wife, (a German woman,) he had one son and two daughters. His son succeeded to his title as Sir John Johnson. His daughters were married to Colonel Guy Johnson, (a distant relative of the bar- onet,) and to Colonel Daniel Claus. His second wife was Molly Brant, sister of the celebrated Mohawk chieftain, ty whom he had several children.
His first residence was in the town of Amsterdam, about three miles west of the village. It is a massive stone edifice, and is to this day called Fort Johnson. About ten years before his death, he erected a building, which he named Johnson Hall, within the limits of Fulton county, where he resided the remainder of his life.
Fort Johnson, after this period, was occupied by his son, sir John Johnson, He also erected houses for his sons-in-law, Colonel Guy Johnson and Colonel Claus, in the town of Amsterdam.
Sir William Johnson died very suddenly, in July, 1774, not without suspicion of micide .-
His son and successor, as well as his sons-in-law, and indeed his whole family, embraced the side of the British, in the Revolution. Sir John was the scourge of the Mohawk and Schoharie valleys, during that contest. After the Revolution, their estates were confiscated. .
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
Sir John's force did not amount to more than 500 men, while. that of Colonel Brown was about 200, and had General Van Rensselaer fulfilled his part of the duty, the whole British force might have been captured ; but through his negligence and cow- ardice, if not treachery, the brave troops of Colonel Brown were suffered to contend, single handed, with the enemy, till they were nearly all slaughtered, while General Van Rensse- laer's troops were within hearing of the action, but were not suffered by him, to afford aid to their suffering brethren, or to pursue the enemy, on their retreat, when, as was afterwards acknowledged by them, they would have surrendered, had they had the opportunity.
A relationship by marriage, which existed between General Van Rensselaer and Sir John Johnson, is supposed to have been the cause of this disgraceful conduct on the part of the former.
Montgomery county received its present name, (in honor of the brave hero of Quebec,) in 1784, soon after which, a large portion of its territory was formed into other counties, and this process of curtailment has continued, till from being the largest, it has become one of the smallest counties in the state.
VILLAGES. FONDA, the county seat, is a small but pleasant village, in the town of Mohawk. It has some manufactures. Population 400.
Amsterdam was incorporated in 1830. It is situated in the town of the same name, on the north bank of the Mohawk, and connected with the little village of Port Jackson, on the Erie canal, by a fine and substantial bridge. It has a flourishing academy, and female seminary, and several manufacturing es- tablishments. Population 1700.
Canajoharie is a thriving village, in the town of the same name, located on the south bank of the Mohawk. It was incor- porated in 1829, and has a well conducted academy. Here is an extensive quarry, from whence is obtained an excellent qual- ity of limestone, much used in the construction of locks on the Erie Canal. The village is the proposed terminus of the Cate- kill and Canajoharie railroad, which is partly finished. Popu- lation 1300.
Fort Plain, in the town of Minden, was incorporated in 1834, and is a place of considerable business. Here too, are extensive limestone quarries. Population 1400.
Caughnawaga, in the town of Mohawk, is principally worthy of notice for its stone church, now converted into an academy. This venerable building was erected in 1763, by voluntary con- tribution.
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XII. WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Square miles, 807. Organized, 1772. Population, 40,554. Valuation, 1845, $5,991,847.
TOWNS.
1. Argyle, 1788.
2. Cambridge, 1788.
3. Easton, 1789.
4. Fort Ann, 1788.
5. Granville, 1788.
6. Hampton, 1788.
7. Hebron, 1788.
8. Kingsbury, 1788.
9. Salem, 1788.
10. Whitehall, 1788.
11. Hartford, 1788.
12. Greenwich, 1803.
13. Putnam, 1S06.
14. White Creek, 1815.
15. Jackson, 1815.
16. Fort Edward, 1818.
17. Dresden, 1822.
Mountains. U. Taghkanic range. Y. Peterborough range, 1. French, or Luzerne mountains.
Rivers, &c. C. Hudson river. a. Wood creek. b. Pawlet river. e. Poultney, or Fair Haven riv- er. d. Batten kill. f. Black creek. g. White creek, k. Hoosick river. i. Moses kill. Falls. Baker's falls. Great falls. Lakes. W. Lake Champlain. X. Lake George. j. Big Pond. Forts. Fort Edward. Fort Ann. Battle Fields. Kingsbury. Fort Ann. Whitehall.
Villages. SALEM, SANDY HILL, Fort Edward, Whitehall, Union village, White Creek.
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BOUNDARIES. North by Essex county and the state of Ver- mont ; East by Vermont ; South by Rensselaer county ; West by Saratoga and Warren counties, and Lake George .. SURFACE. Three distinct ranges of mountains are found in
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WASHINGTON COUNTY.
this county; viz. the Taghkanic, extending along its eastern boundary, with an average width of about five miles; the Peter- borough, with a variable height, running from north to south, through the centre of the county, broken through by the Hoo- sick, Pawlet, and Poultney rivers, and the Batten kill, and maintaining a breadth of from six to eight miles; spurs of this ridge extend toward the river in Greenwich and Easton; and lastly, the Palmertown range, here taking the name of French, or Luzerne mountains, and occupying the narrow peninsula which separates Lake George from Lake Champlain.
These ranges, interspersed with occasional valleys, render the face of the county diversified and picturesque.
RIVERS, &c. The county is abundantly watered. Beside the Hudson, the principal streams are, the Hoosick, Pawlet, and Poultney, or Fair Haven rivers, Batten kill, Wood creek, Moses kill, White and Owl creeks.
FALLS. Baker's falla, on the Hudson, have an almost per- pendicular descent of fifty feet, at the village of Sandy Hill. Great falls, on the Batten kill, have a total descent of sixty feet, in the towns of Easton and Greenwich.
LAKES. Lakes George and Champlain form portions of the boundary of this county. Long Lake, in Argyle, is three or four miles in length.
CANALS. The Champlain canal crosses the Hudson at Green- wich, and connects with Lake Champlain at Whitehall, fur- nishing 32 miles of navigation in this county.
CLIMATE. Cold, but healthful. The spring opens some two weeks later than in Orange, Dutchess, and the lower counties on the Hudson.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. The northern part of the county is primitive, and the underlying rock chiefly granite. On the shores of the lakes there is an admixture, and apparent confu- sion of all the formations, probably the result of some convul- sion of nature. In the southern part of the county, the rocks are principally transition, intermixed with occasional patches of primitive. Limestone, graywacke, and slate, alternate upon the surface in this section.
Magnetic and hematitic iron ore, mari, lime, marble, water lime, graphite, lam- ellar pyroxene, massive feldspar, and epidote, are the principal minerals of the county.
SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The soil is generally good, and produces fine crops of wheat, but is better adapted to grazing than the culture of grain. The principal timber is oak, hickory, chestnut, maple, butternut, pine, and hemlock.
PURSUITS. The people are, for the most part, engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits. Oats, cor flax, and potatoes are largely 10
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raised, and considerable quantities of wheat, rye, and barley. Butter, cheese, wool, and pork are produced in great abundance. In the quantity of wool grown, it was, in 1845, the second county in the state.
Munufactures are increasing in importance. Flour, lumber, cotton and woollen goods, leather, and iron, are the principal articles manufactured.
Commerce. The Champlain and Hudson canal affords a con- venient mode of transportation to the produce of the county, which is well improved. The tolls received on produce pass- ing through this county in 1845, were about $70,000.
STAPLE PRODUCTIONS. The staples of the county are pota- toes, oats, corn, flax, butter, cheese, wool, and pork.
SCHOOLS. The county contained, in 1846, 246 district school- houses, in which were taught 13,414 children, at an expense of $16,950 for tuition. The schools were maintained, on an aver- age, eight months each. Number of volumes in the district libraries, 27,656.
It had also twenty-two select schools, with 327 scholars, and five academies, with 345 pupils.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Presbyterians, Methodists, Bap- tists, Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, and Universalists. Churches, eighty-eight. Clergymen, seventy- two.
HISTORY. The first settlement in the county was made at Argyle, in 1742, by eighty-three families of Highlanders, who emigrated from Scotland, under the direction of Capt. Laughlin Campbell, who had obtained a grant of 30,000 acres from Gov- ernor Clarke. These emigrants were intended to serve as defenders of the frontier, from incursions of the French and Indians.
As they were scantily provided with food and clothing, appli- cation was made to the colonial legislature for aid, till they should be able to sustain themselves. This the house of assem- bly refused to grant, on the ground, it is said, that they had discovered that the Governor and Surveyor General insisted upon their fees and a share of the lands.
Captain Campbell sought redress, but in vain, and with the remnant of his fortune, purchased a small farm in the province. His unfortunate followers were rescued from starvation, by en- listing in an expedition against Carthagena.
In 1755, Fort Edward was erected, by Generals Lyman and Johnson, and in 1756, Fort Ann.
Salem was settled the same year, by two companies of emi- grants, one from Scotland and Ireland, the other from New
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England. In 1764, Alexander Turner and others, who had re- ceived a grant in 1761, settled in the town of Salem. Not far from the same period, settlements were made in Kingsbury.
In 1758, an obstinate and bloody battle occurred, between a body of 500 American troops, under the command of Major (afterwards General,) Putnam and Major Rogers, and a party of French and Indians, under the command of a French officer, by the name of Molaire. The battle ground was two miles north of the village of Kingsbury.
The French commander had stationed a part of his troops in ambuscade for the Americans, and hoped to surprise them ; but Putnam, with the coolness which always characterized him, maintained his position, and a fearful conflict ensued. Putnam was taken captive by the Indians, but the bravery of the Ameri- can troops prevailed, and they finally routed the enemy, who left ninety dead behind them. The Indians bore off Putnam as a prisoner, to Canada, inflicting on him the most cruel tortures ; and but for the interposition of the French commander, would have burned him at the stake.
In May, 1775, Whitehall, then called Skenesborough, from its first settler, Major Skene, was seized by a detachment of volunteers from Connecticut. In 1777, the Amer can force sta- tioned there, not being sufficient to protect it against Burgoyne, the fort, stores, and a large number of batteaux loaded with provisions, were burned by the Americans, to prevent their fall- ing into his hands.
In July, 1777, a severe skirmish took place at Fort Ann, be- tween the 8th British regiment and a body of 400 or 500 invalid American troops, under the command of Colonel Long. The British suffered severely, and would have been taken or de- stroyed but for the want of ammunition on the part of the Americans.
On the 27th of July, 1777, Miss Jane Mc Crea was murdered by the Indians near Fort Edward .*
* The following version of this tragical affair is compiled from Neilson's " Bur. goyne's Campaign," and is professedly derived from the most authentic sources. It will be seen that it differs materially from the accounts heretofore published.
Miss McCrea was the daughter of a New Jersey clergyman, and had come, some years before, to reside with her brother on the west bank of the Hudson, five or six miles below Fort Edward. David Jones, her suitor, resided about five miles above, on the same side of the river. He had embraced the royal cause, and was in the army of Burgoyne. On the 26th of July, 1777, Miss McCrea came from her brother's to the house of Peter Freel, who lived close under the walls of Fort Ed- ward, on a visit. She remained there over night, and the next morning went to the house of Mrs. McNeil, afterwards Mrs. Campbell, a cousin of General Frazer, who was at that time in Burgoyne's army. This house was at a distance of about eighty rods from the fort. While at the house of Mrs. McNeil, the commander of the fort sent out a party of fifty men, to reconnoitre the position of the enemy. When about a mile fiom the fort, this party fell into an ambuscade of Indians, about
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STATE OF NEW YORK.
VILLAGES. SANDY HILL, in the town of Kingsbury, is a half shire village of this county. It was incorporated in 1810. The village is well laid out, the streets enclosing a triangular area in the centre of the village, which was once the scene of Indian barbarities. The Hudson furnishes an immense water power which is but partially improved. Population 1200.
SALEM, the other half shire village, was incorporated in 1803. It is situated in the midst of a fertile agricultural region, and is celebrated as a mart for wool. The Washington Academy is an old institution, and has sent out a considerable number of eminent scholars. Population 800.
Whitehall, in the town of the same name, is eligibly situated at the foot of Lake Champlain, of which it is one of the princi- pal ports. It is connected with the Hudson river by means of the Champlain canal, as well as by several lines of stages run- · ning to Troy, Albany, and Saratoga; and with Montreal by ' steamers which ply daily upon the lake. Thus favorably situ- ated for commerce, its growth has been rapid and healthful. Population about 2500.
Union Village, situated in the towns of Greenwich and Eas- ton, is a thriving and pleasant manufacturing village, with a flourishing academy, and a number of large manufactories. Population 1400.
North White Creek is a pleasant village, in the town of White Creek, in the midst of an agricultural region. It is a great mart for wool. Population 750.
Cambridge, in the town of the same name, is the seat of Washington Academy, a flourishing and highly popular insti- tution.
Fort Edward and Fort Ann are small villages, worthy of no- tice principally on account of their historic interest.
200 in number, and fled towards the fort. The Indians pursued and killed eight- een of their number. As they passed the house of Mrs. McNeil, six of the In- dians rushed in and seized Mrs. McNeil and Miss McCrea, and burried with them to the main body of the Indians. Both of the ladies were placed upon horses, which they had probably stolen from the vicinity.
As they ascended a hill about a mile from the fort, Miss McCrea was shot by one of the Indians, and fell from her horse. The savage who shot her, scalped her, and having secured the most valuable articles of her clothing, rolled her body down the declivity of the hill. On the ensuing day her body, and that of a young American officer who had also been killed by the Indians, were found and buried near a small creek about three miles from Fort Edward, by the Americans from the fort. Mrs. McNeil was not killed, but plundered of most of her clothing, and brought to the British camp. Jones, Miss McCrea's suitor, had never sent for her, nor is it certain that he knew that she was in the vicinity of the fort. He is re- ported to have been killed at the battle of Bemis' Heights, on the 19th of Septem- ber following.
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