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 29
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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.
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XXV. CHENANGO COUNTY.
Square miles, 804. Organized, 1798.
Population, 39,900. Valuation, 1845, $4,133,956.
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1. Bainbridge, 1791.
2. Norwich, 1793.
3. Oxford, 1793.
4. Greene, 1798. 5. Columbus, 1805. 6. Coventry, 1806.
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7. German, 1806.
14. Smyrna, 1808.
8. Pharsalia, 1803.
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 wide and beautiful alluvial valleys, giving the county an apparently diversified surface. The 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 Chenango Canal passes through the county in the broad valley of the Chenango river, furnishing a conven- ient outlet for its abundant produce.
CLIMATE. Mild, 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
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10. Preston, 1806.
11. Sherburne, 1806.
12. Smithville, 1806.
13. New Berlin, 18J7.
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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 DENOMINATIONS. 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 thesame name, is a pleasant 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.
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XXVI. ROCKLAND COUNTY. .
Square miles, 179. Organised, 1798.
Population, 13,741. . Valuation, 1845, $2,484,553.
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1. Haverstraw, 1788.
2. Orangetown, 1788.
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 Crrr. 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-pine 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 of a 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 Forts Montgomery and Clinton, (the latter of which was in the limits of this county, ) by Sir Henry Clinton, in 1777, General Wash- ington directed a fortification to be built at Stoney Point, a com- manding promontory on the Hudson, and another 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 i 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 military stores to the value of nearly $160,000.
The subsequent attack upon Fort Fayette on Verplank's Point, was unsuccessful, and on this account a larger force than could be spared from the American army, being required to defend Stoney Po nt, it was abandoned, and soon after occupied by Sir Henry Clinton, who retained it during a considerable period.
In 1780, the trial and imprisonment of Andre took place in the village of Nyack, in this county. He was tried in the old Dutch church, since torn down, and confined in the ancient stone man- sion adjacent. His execut took place at a distance of about a quarter of a mile from the village, not far from the New Jersey line. He was buried near the place of his execution. In 1831, his remains were disinterred, by order of the Duke of York, un- der the superintendence of Mr. Buchanan, the English consul at New York, and transmitted to England.
Dobbs' Ferry, in this county, was also a place of considerable importance during the revolution. Washington's head quarters were for a time near this hamlet.
NEW CITY, in the town of Clarkstown, contains the court- house, jail, and county offices. It is a mere hamlet.
Piermont, on the Hudson, in the town of Orangetown, is a village of recent growth, and is principally distinguished is the eastern terminus of the New York and Erie railroad. This route of travel is connected with the city of New York by a regular line of steamboats. A larger amount of milk is probably sent to New York from this port than from any other on the river. The steamboat pier is about one mile in length. The Palisades terminate here in a steep and precipitous bluff. Population, 1400.
Haverstraw, in the town of the same name, is a thriving vil- lage on the river, engaged in the coasting trade with New York. The fortress of Stoney Point was in the limits of this town.
Nyack, a village in Orangetown, is handsomely situated on Tappan bay, skirted by the Nyack hills on the west. Its celeb- rity as the place where Major Andre was executed, has been before noticed. Population, about 1000.
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XXVII. ONEIDA COUNTY.
Square miles, 1101. Organized, 1798.
Population, 84,776. Valuation, $11,807,289.
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1. Whitestown, 1788.
2. Steuben, 1789. 3. Paris, 1792. .
4. Westmoreland, 1792.
5. Sangerfield, 1795. 13
6. Floyd, 1796.
7. Rome, 1796.
8. Bridgewater, 1797.
9. Western, 1797.
10. Trenton, 1797.
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11. Augusta, 1798.
12. Deerfield, 1798.
13. Remsen, 1798.
21. Utica, 1817.
14. Camden, 1799.
22. Marshall, 1819.
15. Vernon, 1802. 23. Annsville, 1823.
16. Verona, 1802.
24. Kirkland, 1827.
25. New Hartford, 1827.
26. Marcy, 1832.
27. Ava, 1846.
Mountains. P. Highlands of Black River. i. Hassencleaver moun- tains.
Rivers and Creeks. F. Mohawk river. a. Black. c. Saghdaquida, or Sauquoit creek. d. Lansing's. e. Wood. f. West Canada. j. Oneida. k. Oriskany. s. Fish. t. West branch of Fish. Falls. g. Trenton Falls.
Lakes. Z. Oneida.
Battle Fields. Fort Schuyler. Oriskany Creek.
Forts. Fort Stanwix. Fort Schuyler.
Colleges. Hamilton College, in Kirkland.
Cities and Villages. UTICA. ROME. WHITESBORO'. Clinton. 1
Trenton Falls. Oriskany. Waterville.
BOUNDARIES. North by Lewis and Oswego counties; East by Herkimer ; South by Madison and Otsego; and West by Madison and Oswego counties.
SURFACE. Oneida county has a diversified surface. The valley of Oneida Lake extends eastward nearly forty miles, through the centre of the county, and the streams which water the county so abundantly, flow for the most part, through broad and beautiful valleys. The Highlands of Black river rise to an elevation of about 800 feet, in the northeastern part of the coun- ty, and in the eastern section the Hassencleaver has an eleva- tion of 1200 feet. In the southern part, a ridge of no great height divides the waters of the Mohawk from those of the Susque- hanna.
RIVERS, &c. The Mohawk and Black rivers, Lansing's, Fish, Oriskany, Oneida, Saghdaquida, Wood and West Canada creeks, are the principal streams. Several of these furnish, by their rapid descent, valuable hydraulic power.
FALLS. Trenton Falls, on West Canada creek, are much celebrated for their picturesque beauty, and the wild and roman- tic scenery which surrounds them. The whole descent is 312 feet, and this is accomplished by six distinct falls, all within a distance of two miles.
LAKES. The Oneida Lake forms part of the western bounda- ry of the county. Its shores are low and swampy. Its waters abound with excellent fish.
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17. Boonville, 1805.
18. Florence, 1805.
19. Vienna, 1807.
20. Lee, 1911.
ONEIDA COUNTY. 279
CANALS AND RAILROADS. The Erie canal passes through the central portion of the county. In its whole course through this and the adjacent county of Madison, there are no locks. The Oneida Lake canal connects the Erie canal with Oneida Lake ; the Chenango canal extends from the Erie canal at Utica, to Binghamton, in Broome county ; the Black river canal is de- signed to connect the Erie canal with Black river.
The Utica and Schenectady, and Syracuse and Utica railroads pass through this county.
CLIMATE. The climate is generally mild and quite uniform. The temperature is about an average of that of the state.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. From its extent and situation this county embraces a greater variety of geological formations than almost any other in the state. The primary system occupies that portion of the county east of Black river. It consists prin- cipally of granite, and Black river and Trenton limestone. Bordering upon these we find the Utica slate and the Hudson river group of shales and sandstone. To these succeed the Oneida slate, which indeed is found in almost every part of the county ; the Clinton and Lockport groups of limestone, rich in fossils ; the Onondaga salt group, consisting here mainly of red and green shales; the Helderberg limestones; the Oriskany sandstone, forming the surface rock of the valleys of the Sagh- daquida, Oriskany, Skenandoa and Oneida creeks; the Marcel- lus shales appearing at a few points in the extreme southern part of the county ; and the Hamilton group of limestones.
Argillaceous iron ore, gypsum, water limestone, peat, marl, calcareous spar, coccolite, blende, or sulphuret of zinc, and tabular spar, are the principal miner- als. There are numerous mineral springs, mostly sulphurous, in the county.
SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The soil is every where productive, and in the valleys possesses extraordinary fertility. The crops, both of grass and grain, are abundant, and the county ranks among the first in the state, in its agricultural products. Hops are very successfully and extensively cultivated. The timber of the county is principally maple, beech, birch, elm, black walnut, and basswood, with some oak, hemlock, and pine. Large quantities of sugar are manufactured from the maple.
PURSUITS. Agriculture is the pursuit of a majority of the in- habitants. Nearly equal attention is paid to the culture of grain and to the rearing of cattle, horses and sheep. Wheat is not produced in so large quantities as in some of the more western counties, but oats, corn, barley, hops and potatoes are largely cultivated. In 1845, nearly four millions of pounds of butter, and more than three millions of pounds of cheese were made in the county. The clip of wool was also very large.
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Manufactures are also a prominent pursuit, being prosecuted to a greater extent than in any other county in the state, except. Kings and New York. Cotton and woollen goods are largely manufactured. Flour, lumber, distilled liquors, leather and iron ware, are also produced in very considerable quantities. In 1845, the manufactures of the county amounted to nearly $4,000,000.
Commerce. The commercial relations of Oneida county are quite extensive. The Erie canal affords the means of trans- portation for its abundant produce ; the Oneida lake canal opens a route to Lake Ontario ; the Chenango canal brings the agri- cultural productions of the southern counties hither, on their way to tide water ; and the completion of the Black river canal will also add largely to the commerce of the county.
STAPLE PRODUCTIONS. Butter, cheese, oats, barley, corn, hops, potatoes, wool and sugar.
SCHOOLS. There were in the county in 1846, 399 district school-houses, in which schools were taught an average period of eight months each. 23,735 children received instruction, at. an expense for tuition of $29,063. The district libraries con- tained 23,983 volumes. There were also eighty-seven unin- corporated select schools, with 912 scholars, ten academies and four female seminaries, with 624 pupils, and one college with nine professors and 126 students.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Methodists, Baptists, Congre- gationalists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, Friends, Universalists, Dutch Reformed and Unitarians. The total number of churches in 1845, was 160; of clergymen, 202.
HISTORY. This county was the home of the Oneida Indians, one of the bravest tribes of the Iroquois, and the only one which, during the revolution, maintained friendly relations with the United States.
During the French war (in 1758) forts were erected at Rome and at Utica ; the former was called Fort Stanwix, the latter Fort Schuyler. Fort Stanwix, on the present site of Rome, was, from its situation at the portage between Wood creek and the Mohawk river, a post of considerable importance, and was fortified at an expense of more than $250,000. At the com- mencement of the revolution, however, it was very much dilap- idated.
In 1766, Rev. Samuel Kirkland, a native of Connecticut, and a graduate of Princeton college, New Jersey, settled among the Oneidas, as a missionary. Through his influence they were restrained from engaging on the side of the British during the war of the revolution.
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Mr. Kirkland remained among the Indians during the war, was interpreter to the American officers who visited them, and officiated as chaplain to the army during Sullivan's campaign. After the revolution he settled again in Oneida county, and the legislature of the state granted him the township of Kirkland, as an acknowledgement of his valuable services to the state of his adoption.
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