that of the garrison was but four wounded, two of whom afterward died.

There were two other forts in Schoharie county, the Upper, five miles southeast from the middle, on the Schoharie creek, in the town of Fulton; and the Lower, near the village of Schoharie.

Many other incidents connected with these incursions are deeply interesting, but pertaining only to individual conflicts, must necessarily be omitted.

Justice, however, requires that we should notice, in passing, the brave and fearless Schoharie rifleman, Timothy Murphy, whose services to the cause of freedom were numerous, and rendered with a cheerfulness and devotion worthy of all praise. Such was his skill in the use of his rifle, that the foeman who came within its range, was always sure to "bite the dust."

After the Revolution, quiet was restored, and the beautiful valley of the Schoharie was soon again lined with farms and dwellings, which indicated the thrift and competency of their

owners.

The German language is still spoken by many of the older inhabitants, but their children receive an English education.

VILLAGES, &C. SCHOHARIE, in the town of the same name, is a small village situated in the midst of a region rich in minerals. Its public buildings are neat and substantial. Population about 500.

Esperance, the only incorporated village in the county, is in the town of the same name, It has some manufactures. Population about 500.

Sharon Springs, in the town of Sharon, and near the boundary line of Schoharie, Otsego, and Montgomery counties, has recently become a place of fashionable resort. The sulphur waters are said strongly to resemble those of the White Sulphur springs of Virginia. There is also a chalybeate spring here. The Pavilion, a fine hotel, was erected in 1836, and during the season is usually thronged with visitors.*

*The following is Dr. Chilton's analysis of the waters of these springs.

Sulphate of magnesia, (Epsom salts,)

66

lime

Grains.

42.40

Rivers, O. Chemung river. a. Canisteo. b. Conhocton. c. Bennett's creek. d. Tuscarora. j. Mud. k. Five Mile. 1. Twelve Mile. q. Cowanesqua. r. Canascraga. s. Tioga river.

Lakes. BB. Seneca. m. Crooked. n. Little. o. Mud. p. Loon. Villages. BATH. Corning. Painted Post. Hammondsport. Hornellsville,

BOUNDARIES. North by Livingston, Ontario and Yates counties; East by Seneca lake and Chemung county; South by the State of Pennsylvania; and West by Livingston and Allegany counties.

SURFACE. This county belongs to the great table land, which extends through the southern tier of counties; owing, however, to the perishable character of the rocks on which it is based, the rivers have worn deep valleys, whose precipitous banks, frequently 400 or 500 feet in height, give it a greatly diversified surface. The general elevation of the table land is about 1500 feet above tide water. An irregular ridge on the west separates the waters of the Susquehanna from those of Genesee river.

64

RIVERS. The principal stream of the county is the Chemung, formed by the union of the Tioga, the Canisteo, and the Conhocton. The name of the river means a horn in the water," and is said to be derived from an immense horn or tusk which protruded from the bank of the river many years since. These streams are navigable during the freshet season. Their principal tributaries are Bennett's and Tuscarora creeks, of the Canisteo; and Mud, Five Mile and Twelve Mile creeks, of the Conhocton. The only other streams of any size are the Canascraga and Cowanesqua.

LAKES. Seneca lake forms the eastern boundary of the county for about eight miles. Crooked lake extends into it from Yates for about the same distance. Little, Mud and Loon are the names of the other lakes. The latter has a subterranean outlet half a mile long.

RAILROADS. The Corning and Blossburg railroad entering the county from the south, terminates at Corning, which is situated at the head of the navigable feeder of the Chemung canal. The New York and Erie railroad will pass through this county.

CLIMATE. The surface is so much elevated that the winters are generally cold and severe, and the seasons backward. The county, however, is generally healthy.

GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. The surface rock of this county, to the depth of nearly 1000 feet, is the Chemung group of sand

stones and shales. It has some beds of bog iron ore, and several sulphur springs.

SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. Most of the soil is productive. The uplands are well adapted to grazing. The alluvial flats of the Chemung river comprise the richest lands in the county, and are said to exceed those of the Mohawk in fertility.

The county north of the Conhocton river, and east of Five Mile creek, is covered chiefly with oak, chesnut, hickory, black walnut, yellow and white pine timber; between the Canisteo and Conhocton, beech, maple, white pine, and hemlock, are the prevailing forest trees, except a narrow tract on the Canisteo, where oak prevails. South of the Canisteo, beech, maple, white pine, and hemlock, are predominant. The oak and yellow pine lands produce excellent wheat; the other lands are better adapted to grass.

PURSUITS. Agriculture is the chief pursuit. Grain is largely produced on the alluvial lands. Great numbers of cattle and sheep are raised on the table lands. The lumber business is an important branch of industry.

Manufactures are increasing in importance. Lumber is largely manufactured in the southern part of the county. Flour, leather, and fulled cloths, are also produced in considerable quantities.

The Commerce of the county, by means of the spring navigation of the rivers, the navigable feeder of the Chemung canal, and the facilities afforded by the Corning and Blossburg railroad, is quite large and increasing.

STAPLE PRODUCTIONS. Wheat, oats, corn, potatoes, butter, wool, and lumber.

SCHOOLS. In this county there were, in 1846, 326 district schoolhouses, in which schools were maintained an average period of seven months. The number of scholars in attendance was 19,771, ard the sum expended for their tuition $20,918. The district libraries contained 30,125 volumes.

There were also twenty-four private schools, with 626 pupils, and one academy and one female seminary, with 148 students.

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Methodists, Presbyterians, Báptists, Episcopalians, Universalists, Unitarians, and Roman Catholics. There are seventy-five churches, and 114 clergymen of all denominations, in the county.

HISTORY. This county is indebted to the enterprsie and energy of Mr. Charles Williamson, the agent of the Pulteney estate, for its early settlement and rapid growth. Finding emigrants unwilling to settle upon the elevated lands of this county, while the more alluring flats of the Genesee remained in mar

ket, he resolved himself to set the example of emigration to this section. Accordingly, in 1792, with two companions, he cut his way through the forests, and located at Bath. In 1795, the population in the vicinity had increased so rapidly, that Mr. Williamson established a theatre at his new settlement. The succeeding year, the county was organized, and named after Baron Steuben, the Prussian General. The same year a newspaper was established at Bath, and called the Bath Gazette. The population of the county at this time was about 800. The whole county, except the town of Reading, belonged to the Pulteney estate. The emigrants were mostly from Pennsylvania, except in the town of Prattsburgh, which was settled by New Englanders.

In the present town of Erwin, formerly stood the Painted Post, so famous in our early Indian annals, erected by an Indian chief, (probably during the first French war,) to commemorate his victory over the whites, and the number of scalps and prisoners, he had taken.

VILLAGES. BATH, the county seat, was laid out by Mr. Williamson in 1792. It is on the north bank of the Conhocton, has regular and parallel streets and two public squares, and is regarded as one of the most pleasant villages of western New York. Here is a flourishing female seminary. Population 1500.

Corning, situated on the south side of the Chemung river in the town of Painted Post, is admirably located for trade, being at the junction of the Corning and Blossburg railroad, with the navigable feeder of the Chemung canal, and also on the proposed route of the New York and Erie railroad. Its coal trade is already very great, and its growth has been rapid. Population 1200.

Hammondsport, situated at the southern termination of Crooked lake in the town of Urbana, is a thriving village. A steamboat plies between this place and Penn Yan. It has also a communication with New York, by means of the Crooked and Seneca lakes, Cayuga, Seneca, and Erie canals. Population 1000.

Painted Post, in the town of Erwin, is a flourishing village at the junction of the Conhocton and Tioga rivers. It has a large amount of hydraulic power, which is in part applied to manufacturing purposes. The painted post above described, is in this village. Population 600.

Hornellsville is a village of considerable importance, situated on the Canisteo in the town of the same name.