BROOME COUNTY.
The summits of the highest hills are 100 to 300 feet above the -river and 1,200 to 1',400 feet above tide. The town is drained principally by the two branches of Nanticoke Creek, which flow s. through the central portion of the town. The soil upon the hills is a slaty loam underlaid by hardpau. The settlements are principally confined to the valleys. liiunbs Corners, in the central part of the town, contains about 12 houses. Nanticoke Springs, in the s. part, and Glen Aubrey, are p. offices. The first settlement was made on Nanticoke Creek, in 1793, by Philip Counselman and John Beaehtle, from Luzerne co., Penn., and Ilenry Stoddard, from Conn.1 There are 2 churches in town; Bap. and M. E.
POST CKAIE2 —was formed from Chenango, Dec. 3, 1855. It lies upon the e. bank of Chenango River, extending from the central portions of the co. n. to the borders of* Chenango. Its surface consists principally of a high and rolling upland region. The valley of the Chenango is very narrow, and the hills rise steeply to an elevation of 500 to 700 feet above the river. Page Brook flows in a southerly direction through, the center of the town, dividing the uplands into 2 distinct ridges. The soil upon the hills is a clay and slaty loam underlaid by harclpan, and in the valleys it consists of a fine, rich gravelly loam and alluvium. Port Crane, (p.v.,) on the Chenango Canal, in the s. part of the town, has a pop. of 193. Doraville, (p. o.,) in the n. part, is a hamlet. Settlement was commenced in 1788, by Elisha Pease/ The first religious ser¬ vices were conducted by Rev. John Camp, in 1798. There is a M. E. church in town.
SAIVFORD—was formed from Windsor, April 2, 1821. It is the s. e. town of the co., bor¬ dering upon Delaware River. Its surface is principally occupied by the high, mountainous range that extends between Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers. The summits of the hills are 600 to 900 feet above the valley, and the declivities are usually very steep.3 The deep, narrow valley of • Oquaga Creek, flowing s. through the" center of the town, separates the highlands into 2 parts. This valley and that of Delaware River are both bounded by nearly precipitous mountain declivi¬ ties. In its course the creek has numerous falls, furnishing an abundance of water power. The soil in the valleys is a fertile, gravelly loam, but upon.the hills it is a cold, clayey loam underlaid by hardpan. Considerable portions of the central and s. parts of the town are still unsettled. Lumber and 'leather are largely manufactured. Deposit (p.v.) is situated partly in this^town and partly in Tompkins, (Delaware co.) The depot, several hotels, and about half of the dwellings are in this town. Pop. 1249,—656 in Sanford, 593 in Tompkins.4 Sanford, in the central part of the town, W. Sanford, in the n. part, and Gulf Summit, in the s., are p. offices.
Settlement commenced in 1787, by Wm. McClure, from N. H., Whitaker, and Capt. Nathan
Dean.5 There are 3 churches in towh; Bap., M. E., arid R. C.
TIlIAJStGIiE6—was formed from Lisle, April 18, 1831. It is situated in the extreme n\ part of the co., bordering upon both Cortland and Chenango. Its surface consists of a hilly and rolling upland divided into ridges by the valleys of Otselic River and Halfway Brook. The summits of the hills are 300 to 500 feet above the valleys. 'The soil is generally a gravelly loam, better adapted to grazing than to tillage. Whitneys Point,7 (p. v.,) situated at the function of Otselic and Tioughnioga Rivers, contains 3 churches and has a pop. of 205. Upper Uisle, (p. v.,) on the Otselic, in the n. part of the town, contains 2 churches and 35 houses; and Triangle, (p.v.,) on Halfway Brook, in the s.e. part, 3 churches and 175 inhabitants. The first settlement was made at Whitneys Point, in 1791, by Gen. John Patterson, from Berkshire co., Mass.8 The first religious services were conducted by Deacon Josiah Lee, in 1792; and the first sermon was preached by Rev. Seth Williston, in 1795. There are 9 churches in town.9
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April, 1787; the first birth, that of Phebe Edict, in 1788; and the first death, that of. Stephen Whitaker, Oct. 23,1793. Capt, Dean built the first sawmill, in 1791, the first gristmill, in 1792, opened the first store, in 1794, and kept the first inn. The first school was taught by Hugh Compton, in 1793.
7 This name was applied to the tract s. of the Military Tract and “ Twenty Towns” and between tho Chenango and Tiough¬ nioga Rivers. It was bought by Col.Wm. Smith, at 3 shillings 3 pence per acre. The Chenango Triangle embraces Smithville and part of Greene in Chenango co., and Triangle and part of Barker in Broome.
8 Named from Thos. Whitney.
9 In 1792, David Seymour and family settled at Whitneys Point; and between 1794 and 1797, Timothy Shepherd, Asa Kodgers, Benj. and Hendrick J. Smith, and JoMn Landers, set¬ tled at Upper Lisle. The first death was that of Mrs. Hannah Lee, in 1791. The first school was taught by Martha Seymour, in 1193.
10 4 Bap., 2 M. E., 2 Cong., and 1 Univ. |
1
The first birth was that of Betsey Stoddard, July 1,1794, and the first death, that of Sally Bird, sister of Mrs. Stoddard, Jan. 16,1809.
2
Named from Jason Crane, one of the engineers on the Chenango Canal. > ‘ ■
3
The highest point between the two rivers, by the State Road Survey, is 1688 feet above tide.
4
See page 265.
5
Among the first settlers were Daniel Race, Noah Carpenter,
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Nathan Austin, Simeon Alexander, Russel Farnham, S. P. Green,
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Anthony West, Joseph Page, John.Pinney, J. P. Appleton, Silas
8
Seward, Capt. Parker, Isaac Denton, and Dexter May. The first
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marriage was that of Conrad Edict and Elizabeth Whitaker, in
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