HISTORY. The early history of this county contains many events of thrilling interest. The first settlement in the county, was made in 1739, by Mr. John Lindesay, a Scotch gentleman of some fortune and distinction, who, in conjunction with three other gentlemen, had obtained a patent for a tract of 8000 acres, in the present town of Cherry Valley. The place for several years was called Lindesay's Bush. Mr. Lindesay sedulously cultivated the friendship of the Mohawks, with whom this section was a favorite hunting ground, and soon had reason to rejoice that he had done so, for in the winter of 1740, his stock of provisions was exhausted, and on account of the depth of the snow, he was unable to procure supplies from the distant settlements, but the friendly Indians brought food on their backs, and thus administered to his wants. In 1741, by the persuasion of Mr. Lindesay, Rev. Samuel Dunlap, an Irish clergyman of education and talent, was induced to emigrate, with several of his friends, to the number in all of about thirty persons, to this county. Soon after their arrival, provision was made for the erection of a church, a schoolhouse, and a grist and saw-mill. Mr. Dunlap opened, in 1743, a classical school for boys, the first in the state west of Albany. The settlement progressed but slowly for the next ten years. Mr. Lindesay was not well adapted to the management of an infant settlement, and after expending his fortune in the enterprise, necessity compelled him to abandon it. He entered the army, and died in New York, after serving a few years as lieutenant. A few years later, small settlements were made at Springfield, Middlefield, Laurens and Otego. In 1772, when the county of Tryon was formed, the whole population of Cherry Valley was somewhat less than three hundred; and of the entire western portion of the state, (Tryon county comprising all that portion of the state lying west of a line drawn through the centre of Schoharie,) but a few thousands. A number of the inhabitants had served in the French war, and had suffered from the hostile incursions of the Indians. During the Revolution, the inhabitants of this county, as well as those of the frontier settlements generally, were agitated with fear of the tories and Indians, but though often alarmed, they did not suffer from the devastating effects of the border wars, in their own settlements, till the autumn of 1778. Rumors of an intended attack of the Indians and tories having reached the inhabitants in the spring, they fortified the church, and Colonel Alden, with a portion of an eastern regi ment, was stationed to defend the sectiemen. The summer and two of the autuman mouths passed, wilou the ameutatea of the enemy, and beleving enactes secure the later r the fort, and returned to ther homes. On the 6th of November, Caine. Aiden veneres melizan from Fort Schuyler, of the aggraca of a arge is a we and tories toward Cherry VRT: THE THE CLANsemnation o intelligence, the setters regranned permesso a remove H the fort, or at least we de post ther nos valde pry Colo, el Alden decied to request and Will the E, STEY inal apathy, considering the repes mivantet 1000 in såren measures to ascertain is tr Be manet ervil I ent districts, but they, amused to the sun ietings will her commander, kinded a fre, my down a deep and were al su tured by the enemy. On the night of the 10th of Noremmer 2 the evene WI der command of the brutal Water Bunter au Brail, the dis hawk chieftain excamper cenie the ima the morning of the lit approached i ag Colonel Aiden i aicom u La vie mprudence lodged the ombers of tas garrison a diferent use the neighborhood. By means of their prisoners the eveny disco ered in which houses they were woged and to then al captives. Colonel Alden himself was not a sue fort auf of reveng intelligence of the commencement of the attack was stil neret ulous, but ordered the guard is te cues in and went toward the fort. Dearly did he pay for the apaty aut increauiry - be was among the first victus of the cruel massacre winch took place. The family of Mr. Robert Wells, consisting of twelve persons, were all murdered it oud bood and out of Sue sorice boasted that he had käed Mr. Wels wule at prayer. The wife and one daughter of the Rev. Mr. Dunlap, the bardy pioneer of the settlement, already mentioned, were also Bcrificed, and himself only spared through the importunity of an Indian. The wife and four children of Mr. Mitchell, were also inhumanly butchered by the wretches. Thirty two of the inhabitants, mostly women and children, and sixteen continemal soldiers were killed, and a large number made prisoners; al the houses and other buildings of the settlement were burned; and the sun, which that morning looked on a quiet and happy village, in that beautiful valley, shed its last rays that evening upon smouldering ruins, and lifeless corses weltering in their blood. A conference was held at Unadilla in this county, between General Herkimer and Brant, the year previous to this massa cre, in which the General attempted, though unsuccessfully, to dissuade the Indians from taking part in the contest. Since the close of the Revolution, the progress of this county has been rapid, and, its quiet undisturbed by the warwhoop of the Indian, or the battle-cry of the white warrior. VILLAGES, &C. COOPERSTOWN, the county seat, is a village in the town of Otsego. It is situated at the southern extremity of Otsego Lake, and in the beauty of its scenery, and the salubrity of its climate, has few equals among the lovely villages of central New York. The town is largely engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods and paper. Population 1400. Cherry Valley, whose thrilling story has already been narrated, received its name from its situation, and the great abun dance of the wild cherry in its vicinity. It is a pleasant village, situated in a delightful valley. The Cherry Valley Academy, a flourishing chartered institution, is located here. Population 1100. Hartwick is principally distinguished for its Lutheran Theological and Classical Seminary, a flourishing and well conducted institution. Springfield, so called from a large, deep spring in the town, has an agreeably diversified surface, and comprises several villages. It has some quarries of very good marble. Salt-spring-ville has its name from a small brine spring near it, from which salt was manufactured during the Revolution. It is worthy of notice for its distance from the great salt springs of the state, and its elevation above tide water. The Chyle is a noted limestone sink, in this town, eighty yards in circuit and about twelve feet deep; it is oval in form. After rains or thaws, it is filled with water, which gradually discharges itself by small orifices below, giving the water a whirling motion. Unadilla is pleasantly situated on the Susquehanna. It has two fine covered bridges, each 250 feet in length, resting on three arches. It has also conserable lumber trade. A species of sandstone is quarried here for grindstones. Population about 800. Gilbertsville, on the Butternut creek, is a thriving manufacturing village, and has a flourishing academy. 1. Ballstown, 1788. 2. Halfmoon, 1788. 3. Saratoga, 1788. 4. Stillwater, 1788. 5. Charlton, 1792. 6. Galway, 1792. 7. Milton, 1792. 8. Greenfield, 1793. 9. Providence, 1796. 10. Northumberland, 1798. Mountains. TOWNS. 11. Edinburgh, 1801. 18. Day, 1819. 19. Saratoga Springs, 1819. m. Palmertown Mountains. EE. Kayaderosseras. Rivers. C. Hudson River. F. Mohawk. derosseras or Fish Creek. Falls. b. Cohoes. k. Hadley. n. Glens. a. Sacandaga. c. Kaya o. Bakers. Lakes. f. Saratoga. g. Round. h. Long. i. Owl. Battle Fields. Bemis' Heights. Schuylerville. Villages. BALLSTON SPA. Saratoga Springs. Waterford. Schuy lerville. Mechanicsville. BOUNDARIES. North by Warren county; East by Hudson River; South by Albany and Schenectady; and West by Montgomery, Fulton, and Hamilton counties. SURFACE. The surface of this county is much diversified and may be divided into mountainous, hilly, and plain lands. The Palmertown mountains enter the county a few miles west of Glen's Falls, and sink to its general level near Saratoga Springs. The Kayaderosseras range crosses the northwestern corner, and is broken through, in the town of Day, by the Sacandaga river. South of that town, a lateral spur, extending in a southerly direction, unites with Flint Hill of Schenectady county. The hilly portion lies east of the mountains, while the level embraces the eastern and southeastern sections of the county. RIVERS. The Hudson is the main river, forming its eastern and a large portion of its northern boundary line. It receives in its course, from this county, the Sacandaga, Fish creek, and the Mohawk river which waters it on the south. FALLS. The "Great Falls" of the Hudson are formed by the Palmertown mountains crossing this river in the town of Corinth. After a rapid of a mile and a descent of thirty feet, the river has a perpendicular fall of thirty feet more. There is a remarkable sluice 120 yards above, twelve yards long and four wide, through which the great body of the water flows with great velocity. Parts of Glen's, Baker's, and Cohoes falls are also in this county, particular descriptions of which are given under Warren and Albany counties. LAKES. Saratoga lake, at the junction of the towns of Malta, |