years. The work was evidently of great antiquity,—the timber
on the inside being of the same size and apparent age of that in
the surrounding forest. Upon the bank and in the ditch large
oak trees—tbe growth of centuries—were standing. In the
embankment were several openings a few feet in width, which
were once probably used for gates or entrances. In making an
excavation for a cellar, on the e. side, 6 skeletons were found at
the depth of about 2 feet. This was in 1857. Several had been
found previously; and, though all tbe softer parts of tlie bones
had long since disappeared, the teeth and a few of tbe larger
hones still remained. Inside of the embankment may still he
found pieces of a coarse kind of pottery, ornamental pipes, &c.
DeWitt Clinton visited this place in 1810; and his theory is
that this was one of a number of similar works of defense found
occupying the most commanding positions in Western NewYork,
and in the valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi, erected by a race
more civilized than the Indians, and that they preceded the
atter in the occupation of this country: their origin and end
ire alike a mystery; their annals defy the ken of human re¬
search, and their history will remain a sealed book perhaps for¬
ever. Tbe Indians were never able to give any account of this
fortification, as it was older than their traditions.

¹ Named from the fails in the river, the Indian name, “Sha-
se-ounse,” signifying rolling water.

² Downs & Co.’s manufacturing establishment, commenced in
1840, has a capital, Including real estate and machinery, of about
$200,000. They are largely engaged in the manufacture of pumps
and a great variety of other articles, use annually 3,800 tons of
iron, 1,500 tons of coal, and employ 230 hands. Their yearly
sales amount to about $400,000. They also manufacture Goffe’s
Patent Knitting Machine, and are largety engaged in the manu¬
facture of hose, turning out 800 pairs per day; 70 persons are
employed in this department. The Island Works of Siisby,
Mynderse & Co., commenced in 1848, is engaged in the manu¬
facture of steam fire engines, portable steam engines, and a
variety of other machinery. It employs 1-50 persons, and turns
out work to the amount of $200,000 per year. Cowing & Co.’s
works commenced about 1840. They are engaged in tho manu¬
facture of fire engines, pumps, and various other articles,—
employ 140 men, aud turn out work yearly to the amount of
$125,000. The Phoenix Woolen Mills gives employment to 90
persons, and manufactures goods to the amount of $150,000 per
annum. Besides these, there are in the place several flouring
mills, having in the aggregate 32 runs of stone, 2 distilleries, a
brewery, 2 planing mills, 5 founderies and machine shops, a
scythe and fork factory, a woolen factory, and several minor
manufactories. About 50 tons of ipon are used daily in the
several manufactories.—American Reveille, Seneca Falls, 1859.

8 Mr. Smith was the first white settler upon the Military
Tract. Mr. Van Clief was a Revolutionary soldier, having been
in tbe battles of White Plains, with Washington at Valley Forge
and with Sullivan in his campaign against the Indians. He
settled on the river, and engaged in piloting boats pver the
rapids until the locks were built in 1815. Among the other

early settlers were James Bennett, Col. John Harris, and-

Parker. The first child born was a daughter of Lawrence Van

Clief, Nov. 29, 1790; the first marriage, that of  Fly and

Pamela Parkhurst, in 1796; and the first death, that of Mrs.

Job Smith, in 1792. The first school was taught by -

Leonard, in 1797. Lawrence Van Clief kept the first inn, in
1794; and Col. Wilhelmus Mynderse kept the first store, in
1795, and built the first saw- and grist mill, about tho same
time. In 1794, Robert Trout, Nicholas Gouverneur, Stephen N.
Bajard, and Elkanah Watson, under the title of the Bayard
Company, bought of the State 100 acres of land on the N. side
of the river, embracing the greater part of the water-power upon
that side. In 179S they purchased 250 acres on the s. side, and
in 1809, 650 acres more on the same side, the two purchases
embracing all the water-power upon that side of the river. In
1816 they bought 450 acres more on the n. side, completing the
purchase of the water-power. In 1795 the company sold a one-
fifth interest in their purchase to Col. Mynderse, and constituted
him their agent. In 1795 the “Upper Red Mills” were erected
under his direction; aud in 1807 the “Lower Red Mills” were
erected. The Co. refused to sell their land, neglected to improve
the immense water-power that they owned, and in 1825 broke
down, and the property was sold for about one-fifth of its cost.
In 1829-30 the manufacturing interests of tho place began to
increase. About that time a paper mill was erected by Chauncey
Marshall, G. V. Sackett, and Ansel Bascom; a cotton factory, by
Judge Sackett; a machine shop, by McClary & Halliday; and a
clock factory, hy Marshall & Adams. Until the locks wore built,
in 1815, the most important business of the place was that of
transporting goods and boats around the rapids. The “ dress
reform” movement was commenced in this town by. Mrs. Amelia
Bloomer, who adopted the dress known as the Bloomer Dress in
1849.

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

⁶ Asher Halsey, from N. J., came in 1798. Among the other
early settlers were Stephen Crane, Peter and Ezra Degarmo,
Robert Gould, Thos. Susson, Lewis Winans, and Thos. W. Rose-
velt. The first child born was Danl. Crane; the first marriage,
that of James Cook and Betsey Woodworth; and the first death,
that of Ezekiel Crane. Nancy Osman taught the first school,
in 1804. Stephen Crane kept the first inn, in 1809; Nicholas
Traver built the first sawmill, in 1807, and Noah Davis the first
gristmill, in 1817.

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