|
HERKIMER COUNTY. 347
NEWPORT1—was formed from Herkimer, Fairfield, Norway, and Schuyler, April 7, 1806.
It lies on the w. border of the co., near the center. Its surface is broken by ridges of highlands,
which rise 400 to 500 ft. each side of the narrow intervale of West Canada Creek. This stream
flows s. e. through the town, near the center. White Creek flows s. through the e. part. The soil
is a clayey loam, with some gravel on the hills. It is chiefly underlaid by limestone^ which is
quarried in some localities. Newport, (p.v.,) near the center, incorp. March 20,1857, contains
3 churches, 1 bank, a gristmill, tannery,2 and 671 inhabitants. Settlement was commenced
in 1791, by Christopher Hawkins, from R. I. ;3 Rev. David Haskell (Bap.) held the first meetings,
in 1796.4
NORWAY4—was formed from Herkimer, April 10, 1792. Fairfield was taken off in 1796,
Remsen (Oneida co.) in 1798, Russia, as “ Union,'” and a part of Newport, in 1806, and Ohio in 1823.
It lies in the interior of the co., n. of the Mohawk. Its surface is elevated and rolling. It is drained
by tributaries of West Canada Creek. The soil is sandy in the n. w., and loam and gravelly in the
E. and £. Limestone is quarried in several places; and fossils have been found near Whim Creek. •
There is a sulphur spring 1 mi. n. of the village. Norway, (p.v.,) near the center, contains
3 churches, a cheese box factory, and about 30 houses; CSraysville,5 (p.v.,) on the line of
Ohio, contains an extensive tannery and 30 houses.6 The first settlement was made by Whip¬
ple and Christopher Hawkins, from R. I., in 1786; but it was soon abandoned.7 The first religious
meetings were held by Rev. Robertson, in 1792.8
OHIO9—was formed from Norway, as “West Brunswick” April 11, 1823. Its name was
changed May 3, 1836. A part of Wilmurt was taken off in 1836. It lies in the interior, on the
n. border of the settlements. Its surface is moderately hilly, with an elevation of 700 to 900 ft.
above the Mohawk. A range of high, steep hills extends through the x. part. It is drained by
West Canada and Black Creeks and their tributaries. The soil is a sandy loam, with some clay.
A large portion of the town is still a wilderness. Graysviile, (p. v.,) on the line of Norway,
contains a tannery, and about 30 houses. Ollio City, (Ohio p. o.,) in the w. part, contains
10 houses. A few scattering settlements were begun before the Revolution, but were broken up
during the war.10 Religious services were first held at Ohio City, in 1808.11
RUSSIA12—was formed from Norway, as “ Union,” April 7,1806. Its name was changed April
6, 1808. A part of Wilmurt was taken off in 1836. It lies on the w. border of the co., n. of the
Mohawk, its n. part extending into the border of the great northern wilderness. Its surface is
rolling and moderately hilly, and on the w, descends abruptly to the valley of West Canada
Creek. The hills are 800 to 1,000 ft. above the Mohawk. West Canada and Black Creeks flow
w. through the n. w. part, the former forming a part of the w. boundary. On it are some extensive
lumber works.11 Trenton Falls, upon West Canada Creek, is on the w. border. The soil is sandy
|
The first birth was that of a child of Gideon Brayton; and the
first death, that of the wife of E. Ilinman. The first school was
taught by Jeanette Henderson, in 1793. Amos Coe kept the first
inn; Thaddeus Scribner k Bro., the first store, in 1793; Capt.
Hinman built the first sawmill, in 1793; and Carpenter Cole
the first gristmill, the same year. Vale & Eddy built a fulling
mill, in 1793.—Benton’s Herkimer, p. 450.
9 The census reports 5 churches; Bap., F. W. Bap., M. E., Presb.,
and Prot. E.
10 Named from the State of Ohio. This town includes the
Jerseyfield and a small part of the Remsenburgh Patents.
1 1 Mount .settled on Lot 50 of the Jerseyfield Patent some
years before the Revolution. During the war, Mr. Mount was
attacked by Indians; his two sons were killed, and himself,
wife, and daughter fled to Little Falls, a distance of 20
miles. He did not see his wife and daughter after leaving his
house until they met at Little Falls.—Benton’s Herkimer, p.
455. John Miller settled in 1789-90. Warner, David
Thorp, Aaron Thorp, Harmanus Van Epps, and others, were
early settlers. David Thorp kept the first iDn, Ephraim Ash
the first store, in 1820. Mount built the first mills, before
the war. They were burned at the time, or soon after, he was
driven off. The infamous Walter N. Butler was killed about 2
miles above the junction of Black and West Canada Creeks, oil
or near the line between this town and Russia, Dec. 30,1781.
12 The census reports 3 churches in town; Evan. Luth., Ger¬
man Meth., and R. C.
is This town contains a part of the third allotment of the
Royal Grant, portions of Jerseyfield, Remsenburgh, and Ma-
chin’s, and the whole of Lush’s, Marvin’s, and Jacob’s Patents.
14 Hinckley k Ballou have an extensive sawmill, planing mill,
blacksmith shop, trip hammer, and edge tool manufactory,
employ 100 men, and turn out work to the amount of $80,009
annually. |
1
Named from Newport, R. I., tlie former residence of many
of the early settlers.
2
A cotton factory was built in 1808, by Benj. Bowen. The
Herkimer Manufacturing Co. was formed in 1814, with a capital
of $40,000. In 1844 V. S. Kinyon became proprietor by pur¬
chase, and at present gives employment to 80 persons, and turns
out $45,000 to $50,000 worth of sheetings annually.
3
Among the other early settlers were Benj. Bowen, John C.
Green, Israel Wakely, and Geo. Feneer, all from R. I.; Dr. Westel
Willoughby, and Sherman Wooster, from Conn.t Joseph Bense-
ley, A. M. Daniels, Geo. Cook, and Wm. Whipple' were alsoearly
settlers. The first death was that of Silas Hawkins, in 1793.
Abby Justine taught the first school, in 1795. Wm. Wakely
kept the first inn, in 1793, and Geo. Cook the first store, the
same year. Benj. Bowen built the first sawmill, in 1793, and
the first gristmill, in 1794. The first settlers derived title from
parties who had purchased from the courts of forfeiture.
4
Named from Norway, in Europe. This town is included in
the second and third allotments of the Royal Grant.
5
Named from Lathan Gray, a resident of the place.
6
La Dew’s tannery, established in 1853, with a capital of
$150,000, employs 75 men, and produces $150,000 worth of sole
leather annually. The works are driven by a steam engine of 50
horse power.
7
Jeremiah Potter and his son, Eisher Potter, came in with
their families from R. I. in 1788. Their whole store of provisions
to carry them through the first winter was a crop of potatoes
8
and some salt. For meat they depended upon hunting. Thos.
Manly settled in 1789. John, Andrew, and Simeon Coe; Capt.
9
Hinman, from Conn.; John and David Corp, N. Fanning, David
10
Underhill, 5 families of Braytons, Angell, Lemuel, and Philip
11
Potter, Edward Henderson, Uri H. Cook, Henri Tillinghast,
12
Abijah Tombling, and Westel Willoughby, were early settlers,
|
