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 38
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9. Amherst, 1818.
17. Lancaster, 1833.
18. Black Rock, 1837.
19. Brandt, 1838.
20. Chictawaga, 1838.
21. Tonawanda, 1838.
Rivers, &c. M. Niagara river. b. Ellicott's creek. d. Seneca. f. Cattaraugus. g. Cauquaga. h. Two Sisters. e. Cazenove. 1. Buffalo. n. Cayuga. p. Murder Creek. r. Tonawanda Creek. Lakes. L. Erie.
Islands. W. Grand Island.
Battle Fields. Lake Erie. Buffalo.
Cities and Villages. BUTTALO. Black Rock. Williamsville. Springville. Auroraville.
BOUNDARIES. North by Niagara county ; East by Genesee and Wyoming ; South by Cattaraugus and Chautauque coun- ties; and West by Lake Erie and Niagara river.
SURFACE. This county lies upon the great western plain. Its northern half is level or gently undulating ; the southern is hilly, particularly along the streams; the dividing ridge which sepa- rates the waters flowing northward, from the tributaries of Cat- taraugus creek, passes through the southern tier of towns.
RIVERS. The county is well watered; Tonawanda creek forms its northern boundary. Its principal tributaries are Mur- der and Ellicott's, or Eleven mile, creeks. Buffalo creek, formed by the union of Seneca, Cayuga, and Cazenove creeks, waters the central portion of the county. The other streams are smaller : the principal are Cauquaga, or Eighteen mile, Two Sisters, Delaware, and Little Buffalo creeks.
Lake Erie forms a portion of its western boundary.
Grand Island, in the Niagara river belongs to this county.
CLIMATE. From its proximity to the lake, the climate is moist, warmer in winter and cooler in summer, than some other portions of the state. The vegetation is from eight to ten days earlier than in the same parallels in the eastern part of the state.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. The Onondaga salt group, (lime- stone,) is the basis rock of this county. It appears on the sur- face in the northern tier of towns. The Helderberg series suc- ceed this in the towns of Buffalo, Chictawaga, Lancaster and Alden, and these in their turn give place to the Hamilton group of limestones. In the southern half of the county, the Casha- qua, or Ludlowville shales, and the Chemung sandstones form the surface rocks.
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10. Holland, 1818.
11. Wales, 1818.
12. Collins, 1821.
13. Evans, 1821.
14. Sardinia, 1821.
15. Alden, 1823.
16. Colden, 1827.
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ERIE COUNTY.
The limestone is extensively quarried in the neighborhood of Niagara river and the Lake. It is not, however, generally susceptible of a high polish, but makes a fine building material, when hammer-dressed. Water limestone is found on Grand Island. Petroleum springs rise a few miles southeast of Cayuga creek. Iron pyrites, copper ores in small quantities, and water limestone are the principal minerale. There is a sulphur spring about four miles from Buffalo, and one on Grand Island, containing free sulphuric acid in a very diluted state. The bitumin- ous shale, in which the petroleum springs rise, is so thoroughly impregnated with bitumen that it burns freely when ignited. Geodes, or masses of impure lime- stone, exhibiting fantastic and singular forms, occur in this as well as in some of the other counties.
SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The soil is generally good, consisting of warm, sandy, gravelly loam, occasionally mingled with clay, and well adapted to wheat ; in the southern part it is more clayey, and is very productive of grass.
The timber is large and abundant in the southern part, con- sisting of oak, beech, maple, linden, elm, ash, poplar, hemlock, white pine, butternut, black walnut, wild cherry, &c. In the north it is principally diminutive oaks and underwood. The peach and other fruits attain extraordinary size and per- fection.
PURSUITS. Agriculture is the pursuit of a majority of the in- habitants. The culture of grain and of grass occupy nearly equal attention.
Manufactures also form the occupation of a large number of the inhabitants. Flour, lumber, cloths, iron, leather, malt liquors, distilled liquors and potash, are the principal articles manufactured. The flour mills produced, in 1845, flour to the value of more than a million of dollars. The entire value of the manufactures of the county, during the same year, was over $2,300,000.
The commerce of Erie county is very extensive. Buffalo and Black Rock, the principal lake ports, carry on a large trade with all the states situated upon the upper lakes, and with Canada. The shipping of these ports amounted, in 1845, to 25,000 tons. In addition to this, the immense quantities of produce, manufac- tures and furniture transported on the Erie canal and its branch- es, are here transhipped.
STAPLE PRODUCTIONS. Butter, cheese, oats, wheat, corn, wool, beef and pork.
SCHOOLS. There are in the county 291 school districts. In 1846, the schools were taught on an average eight months. The same year, 24,523 children received instruction at an ex- pense of $30,539. The district school libraries contained 31,032 volumes.
There were fifty-seven private schools, with 1304 pupils; and three acade- mies, with 244 students. The school system of Buffalo has been already descri- bed, (see page 125.)
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STATE OF NEW YORK.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Baptists, Methodists, Presbyte- rians, Congregationalists, Roman Catholics, Friends, Episco- palians, Universalists, Dutch Reformed, Unitarians and Lu- therans. There are in the county ninety-four churches, and one hundred and twenty-five clergymen, of all denominations.
HISTORY. The whole county, except a strip a mile wide, on the Niagara river, is within the limits of the Holland Land Company's purchase.
Its settlement dates since the commencement of the present century. Buffalo, the first town in the present limits of the county, was laid out in 1801, but its increase was very slow until 1812, when it became a military post. In December, 1813, the British made a descent upon this county, and burned Buffalo and Black Rock. These villages were soon rebuilt.
In 1816-17, a number of persons from Canada and the United States took possession of Grand Island, in Niagara river, now forming a portion of the town of Tonawanda, and dividing the land between themselves, gave out that they were an independ- ent community, and amenable to neither government. After the question of the boundary was settled, they were expelled by force, under the authority of a law of the state ;; their houses being destroyed by the sheriff and posse of Erie county.
In 1825, Major Noah, of New York, a learned Jew, and editor of a newspaper in that city, formed the design of building a city of refuge, upon that island, colonizing it with Jews, and making it a resting place for that dispersed people. He erected a mon- ument, which is still in existence, upon the island. But the Eu- ropean Rabbins did not sanction the scheme, and it failed of completion.
Red Jacket, Sagoyouwatha, or Keeper Awake, as his name signifies, the most eloquent and intelligent of his nation, was one of the chiefs of the Senecas, and resided on the Buffalo reserva- tion. He was warmly attached to his tribe, and opposed the whites with the utmostdaring, until he saw that resistance was vain. He died in 1832.
Mary Jemison, the Seneca white woman, was buried in this reservation.
The completion of the Erie canal, in 1825, brought a vast tide of emigration into this county, and it has now become the fourth county in the state in population.
CITIES AND VILLAGES. BUFFALO city, the county seat of Erie county, as has been already stated, is a city of modern growth, laid out at the commencement of the present century, and con- tained in 1817, but one hundred houses. It owes its growth to its advantageous commercial position on the lake, rendering it the depot of the immense quantities of produce, which find their
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ERIE COUNTY.
way through that channel, from the boundless prairies of the west, to tide water, and to the great western railroad which connects with Boston.
In 1845, the amount of produce coming from other states by way of Buffalo, was 233,135 tons, of which 118,614 tons were flour. Probably about one half this amount of goods, furniture, &c. was shipped at Buffalo, for other states. The tolls receiv- ed at Buffalo, in 1845, amounted to $482,000.
The harbor of Buffalo is spacious and convenient for vessels of light draught : it is obstructed by the ice in the spring, till a later period than the ports on the Canada side. It has been proposed to construct a ship canal across the isthmus, from the lake to Buffalo creek, which would in a measure obviate this difficulty.
The United States government have expended nearly 8100,000 in the improvement of this harbor, the construction of a mole, pier, &c. and the erection of a light house. Considera- ble sums have also been expended, for the same purpose, by the citizens. Buffalo is largely engaged in manufactures of various descriptions. The present population of the city is somewhat over 30,000. It was chartered as a city in 1832.
Black Rock, a village in the town of the same name, is about three miles north of Buffalo, on the Niagara river. The harbor is formed by an immense stone pier, or mole, more than a mile in length. By means of this the Erie canal is supplied with wa- ter for nearly half its length. This work was erected by the state of New York, at an expense of $300,000. It also furnishes. a fine water power, which is employed for flouring mills, saw- mills, &c. Black Rock is extensively engaged in manufactures. The lower or northern terminus of the Erie canal is here : the town increases rapidly in population, and now numbers about 5000 inhabitants. It was burned 'by the British in December, 1813.
Auroraville, in the town of Aurora, possesses fine water power on the Cazenove creek, as yet, however, not fully im- proved. The Aurora seminary is a flourishing. institution. Population, 1000.
Williamsville, in the town of Amherst, is a thriving village. Large quantities of water lime, (hydraulic cement,) are manu- factured here. Population, about 1000.
Springville is a flourishing manufacturing village, in the town of Concord. It has a number of factories, and an incorpo- rated academy. Population, 1200.
Tonawanda is a new town, comprising Grand Island and a portion of the main land, as well as some other small 'islands. The island was purchased some years since by a company called
17*
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STATE OF NEW YORK.
the East Boston Company, who erected here extensive saw- milla, for the purpose of preparing ship timber, but in the gen- eral depression of business in 1836-7, they were forced to sus. pend operations. The village of Whitehaven was built mainly by this company.
LI. LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
Square miles, about 563. Organized, 1881.
Population, 37,345. Valuation, 1845, $8,579,869.
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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
TOWNS.
1. Avon, 1789.
9. Groveland, 1812.
2. Geneseo, 1789.
10. Springwater, 1816.
3. Lima, 1789.
11. Mount Morris, 1818.
4. Sparta, 1789.
12. Conesus, 1819.
5. Caledonia, 1802.
13. York, 1819.
6. Leicester, 1802.
14. Portage, 1827.
7. Livonia, 1808.
15. North Dansville, 1846.
8. Nunda, 1808. 16. West Sparta, 1846.
Rivers. N. Genesee. a. Cashaqua. b. Comesus Outlet. c. Out- let of Hemlock Lake. d. Honeoye Creek. r. Canascraga.
Lakes. f. Conesus. g. Hemlock.
Battle Fields. Beardstown.
Villages. GENESEO. Mount Morris. Dansville. Avon Springs. Portageville. Nunda. Moscow. Lima.
BOUNDARIES. North by Monroe; East by Ontario; South by Allegany and Steuben; and West by Wyoming and Genesee counties.
SURFACE. This county is situated on the northern slope of the great dividing ridge which separates the tributaries of the Susquehanna and Ohio, from the waters flowing into the lake.
The southern portion of the county is about 800 feet above Lake Ontario, and the descent toward the lake, though for the most part gradual, is divided into two terraces, the one, nearly on a line with the Portage falls, in Wyoming county ; the other, a continuation of the mountain ridge of Ontario. This inclined plane is, however, intersected by the valley of the Genesee river, which, with a width of from two to four miles, has a depth, in the southern part of the county, of not less than 400 feet. A ridge of still greater elevation, traverses the section between the Conesus and Hemlock lakes, bearing northeast.
RIVERS. The Genesee river is the great stream of this coun- ty, and receives all the waters which rise in, or flow through it. Its principal tributaries are the Canascraga and Cashaqua creeks, and the outlets of the Conesus and Hemlock lakes.
The Honeoye outlet forms a portion of the eastern boundary of the county.
LAKES. Conesus and Hemlock are the only lakes of impor- tance in the county. The former is nine miles long and nearly a mile broad. It is well stocked with fish, and is said to be more than 300 feet deep.
Hemlock lake is six miles long and one mile wide. It lies partly in Ontario county.
CLIMATE. The climate is mild and temperate; more uniform than in some other sections of the state. It is regarded as very healthful.
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STATE OF NEW YORK.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. About two-thirds of the county, upon the north, belong to the Ontario group, consisting princi- pally of the limestone of the Onondaga salt group, which, in some cases, approaches very near the surface. In the southern portion, the Ludlowville and Cashaqua shales are the prevail- ing rocks, though intermingled with limestone.
1 Bog iron ore occurs in the county. Gypsum is abundant. Some brine springs have been discovered, though not of great value. The sulphur springs of Avon* · have a high and deserved celebrity, in numerous diseases, and rank among the best sulphur springs in the United States.
SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The soil is generally highly fertile, and well, adapted to the growth of grain. In the north it consists principally of sandy loam, intermingled with de- composed limestone, which renders it perpetually fertile.
In the north, the oak prevails, but is occasionally interspersed with other timber ; in the south, oak, maple, elm, basswood, but- ternut, walnut, ash, hemlock, white pine, &c., are the principal. forest trees.
PURSUITS. Agriculture. The culture of grain, and the rear- ing of cattle and swine, form the principal pursuits of the inhab- itants of this county. Manufactures are, however, rising in
* The following are analyses of the sulphur springs of Avon. That of the Up- per spring was made by Professor Hadley, of Fairfield, and that of the Lower, by Dr. S. Salisbury, Jr. of Avon.
UPPER SPRING.
Carbonate of lime,
Grains. 8
Nulphate of lime,
84
magnesia,
10
"
soda,
16
Muriato of soda,
18.4
Amount of saline ingredients.
136.4
One gallon contains per volume.
Sulphuretted Hydrogen,
Carbonic acid gas, .
5.6
Gases,
17.6
LOWER SPRING
Carbonate of lime, .
Grains. 29.33
Chloride of calcium,
8.41
Sulphate of lime,
57,44
magnesia.
49.61
soda,
13.73
Amount of saline ingredients,
158.52
Carbonic acid gas,
cub. in. 3.92
Sulphuretted hydrogen,
10.02
Nitrogen,
5.42
Oxygen,
56
Gases, 19.92
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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
importance. The principal articles manufactured are flour, pa- per, lumber, distilled liquors, cloths, &c.
Commerce. The Genesee Valley canal furnishes a conven- ient mode of transportation, for the produce of the county, to tide water. There are no mines in the county.
STAPLE PRODUCTIONS. Wheat, pork, and cattle are the great staples of the county. Large quantities of butter, wool, oats, and corn are also exported. Hemp and flax are grown largely in the Genesee valley.
SCHOOLS. There are 193 school-houses in this county. The schools were taught, on an average, nine months during the year 1846, and 12,677 children were instructed, at an expense of $19,502. There were 25, 121 volumes in the district libraries.
There were twenty-four private schools, with 136 pupils, and three academies, with 165 students.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Presbyterians, Methodists, Bap- tists, Episcopalians, Dutch Reformed, Universalists, Unitari- ans, Congregationalists, Lutherans, Roman Catholics, and Jews. There are seventy-two churches, and ninety-two cler- . gymen of all denominations.
HISTORY. The banks of the Genesee river in this county, were the favorite residence of the Seneca Indians, for a long period before the white man had trod that beautiful valley. In civilization, this tribe were more advanced than the Indians gen- erally, and were considered foremost in the arts of peace, among the allied tribes. They cultivated their fields, built cabins for themselves, and when they could not obtain a supply of food from the forests or the lakes, looked to the products of their soil for sustenance.
In 1687, the Marquis de Nonville, governor of Canada, en- raged at the firm adherence of this tribe to the English, collect- ed a large force of French and Indians, and commenced an ex- pedition against them. Following the course of the Genesee, he approached their villages with the intention of destroying them, and subjecting the captives he might take to the torture; but the wily Senecas were too crafty for the French commander. They stationed 500 warriors in ambuscade on his route, and having thrown his troops into disorder, by a well directed vol- ley of musketry, rushed upon them, tomahawk in hand: The battle was fierce and bloody ; the Senecas were at length re- pulsed, but not without severe loss on the part of the French. De Nonville could not be persuaded to follow them till the next day, and then found that they had destroyed their villages, and removed their wives and children beyond his reach. Two old men, all that remained, were carried away, killed and eaten by his savage allies.
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STATE OF NEW YORK.
De Nonville returned to Canada, establishing, in his route, a fort at Niagara, which he garrisoned with 100 men. This fort was so closely invested by the Indians, that e ghty-eight out of the hundred perished from starvation, and but for the aid of a party of friendly Indians, the rest would have shared the same fate.
In 1779, General Sullivan terminated his campaign on the banks of the Genesee, in this county, alter sending a detach- ment to Little Beardstown, now Leicester. It was in this town that the brave Lieutenant Boyd met with his melancholy fate, being executed with the most horrible tortures by the Indians, at the instigation of the infamous Butler, after his life had been guarantied by Brant.
Ebenezer Allen, known as Indian Allen, the first miller of Rochester, a monster of wickedness, settled here soon after the revolution, but in a few years removed.
The principal founders and benefactors of the county were William and James Wadsworth, who emigrated from Connec- ticut in 1790. They purchased large tracts of land, which, by the rapid tide of immigration, soon became very valuable. Many of the early settlers were from Connecticut, and their enterprise and industry has made them wealthy.
VILLAGES. GENESEO, in the town of the same name, is the seat of justice for the county. It is pleasantly situated, about a mile from the river, on the terrace back of the flats. It ,is well built, and has considerable trade. The Geneseo academy, for- merly the Livingston county high school, of which Mr. Wads- worth was the chief benefactor, is located here. It has a spa- cious building, and is well endowed.
In this town are situated the Wadsworth farms, located on the broad alluvial flats of the Genesee, and celebrated for their fertility and superior cultivation. The mansion of the late James Wadeworth is, perhaps, unsurpassed in the state for the beauty of its location. Population 1600.
Avon, in the town of the same name, has become a favorite resort of late for invalids and pleasure seekers, from all sec- tions of the country. The healing virtues of its justly cele- brated springs were known to the Senecas, long before the country was visited by the whites. Red Jacket, a distinguished Seneca chief, was accustomed to resort to them, Population 800.
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Upon the Genesee flats in this town, the Mechoacan, wild potatoe vine, or man of the ground, (Convolvulus panduratus,) is found abundantly. It has a large bulbous root, three or four feet in length, and frequently six or eight inches in di- ameter. It is a mild cathartic, resembling rhubarb in its effects.
There is a pond on the flats irregularly circular in form, a neck of land runs into it and expands within the circle, and upon this are remains of Indian fortifications.
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LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
Lima, situated in the town of the same name, is a beautiful village, remarkable for the neatness of its dwellings. The Gen- esee Wesleyan seminary, located here, is under the control of the Methodists. It was incorporated in 1834, and placed under the visitation of the Regents of the University in 1836. It is well endowed, and in a highly flourishing condition. Popula- tion 600.
Mount Morris, in the town of the same name, is a finely sit- uated, thriving village, settled in 1804, by emigrants from Con- necticut. It is considerably engaged in manufactures. Popula- tion 1400.
Dansville, in the town of North Dansville, at the head of the Genesee valley, forty-five miles from Rochester, is a large, thriving and busy village. It is extensively engaged in manu- factures, and has an abundant supply of hydraulic power. Pa- per, flour, leather, iron, cloth, and lumber, in large quantities, are :
among its principal manufactures. A branch of the Genesee Valley canal extends to this village. Population 1800.
Nunda, in the town of the same name, on the proposed line of the Genesee Valley canal, is a place of considerable business. It has a flourishing academy, and several manu- factories. The town in which it is situated was annexed to Livingston county, by the legislature, in 1846. Population 1100.
Portageville is in the town of Portage, on the west bank of the Genesee river, where it enters the gorge, and is surrounded by beautiful and picturesque scenery. It has great facilities for manufacturing. This town, like the preceding, was taken from Allegany in 1846. The falls and tunnel here are worthy of notice. Population about 1000.
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LII. MONROE COUNTY. ·
Square miles, 607. Organized, 1891.
Population, 70,899. Valuation, 1845, $14,351,436.
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TOWNS.
1. Chili, 1802.
11. Pittsford, 1814.
2. Gates, 1802.
12. Ogden, 1817.
3. Greece, 1802.
13. Rochester, 1817.
4. Parma, 1808.
14. Henrietta, 1818.
5. Riga, 1808.
15. Rush, 1818.
6. Penfield, 1810.
16. Clarkson, 1819.
7. Mendon, 1812.
17. Wheatland, 1821.
8. Perrinton, 1812.
18. Irondequoit, 1837.
9. Sweden, 1813.
19. Webster, 1838.
10. Brighton, 1814.
Rivers. N. Genesee. a. Sandy Creek. b. Black Creek. C. Allen. d. Honeoye. e Salmon. f. Little Salmon. h. Irondequoit. Falls. p. Genesee Falls. Honeoye Falls.
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MONROE COUNTY. . 299
Lakes and Bays. J. Ontario. i. Toronto, or Irondequoit Bay. j. Braddock's Bay. k. Duck Pond. I. Long Pond.
Cities and Villages. ROCHESTER. Pittsford. Brockport.
BOUNDARIES. North by Lake Ontario; East by Wayne coun- ty ; South by Ontario and Livingston counties, and West by Genesee and Orleans counties.
SURFACE. This county, like Orleans and Niagara, is divided into terraces by the Ridge-Road, and the mountain ridge, which cross it from east to west. The surface as a whole declines gradually towards the lake. The terrace, at Rochester, is 270 feet above Lake Ontario, and sixty-four feet below the upper terrace, which is nearly on a level with Lake Erie.
On the shores of Irondequoit bay, and Irondequoit creek, are numerous conical sand hills, sometimes single, at others united, and rising to an average height of 200 feet.
RIVERS. The Genesee is the principal stream. Its tribu- taries are the Honeoye creek, from the east, and Black, and Allen's creeks, from the West.
Sandy, Salmon, Little Salmon, Rush, and Irondequoit creeks, flow directly into the lake.
BAYS. Teoronto or Irondequoit Bay, Duck Pond, Long Pond, and Braddock's, or Bradlow's Bay, are the principal of the nu- merous inlets of e lake, upon the coast of this county,
The name of the first (Teoronto) is of Indian origin, and signifies "the place where the waves gasp and expire."
CLIMATE. " The climate of this county, influenced by the near- ness to the lake, is mild and equable, and the thermometer has a less average range, than in most parts of the state. Pul- monary affections are, however, becoming increasingly preva- lent.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. The basis rock of the county is the Medina sandstone, which is widely expanded, and makes its ap- pearance at the surface along the shore of the lake. Above this lies the Clinton group, thinner than in Wayne; next the Niag- ara group, abounding in fossils ; next the Onondaga salt group, which is well developed in some parts of the county, and con- tains numerous beds of gypsum.
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