from A Gazetteer of the State of New York, 1824
A Gazetteer of the State of New-York, by Horatio Gates Spafford, LL.D., 1824, pp. 304-305
MANLIUS, a Post-Township of Onondaga County, 10 miles E. of Onondaga, and 137 miles a little N. of W. from Albany, on the great road to Niagara; bounded N. by Cicero, E. by Madison County, S. by Pompey, W. by Onondaga and Salina. It is nearly 10 miles square, Manlius of the Military tract. The S. part is moderately uneven or hilly, the N. more level, and the soil of the whole is very fertile of grain, grass, fruit, &c. In this town are abundance of mill-seats, on Limestone, Chitteningo and Butternut creeks, and a great number of mills. ABout 1 miles S. of Manlius Village, on the 2 branches of Limestone creek, are remarkably high falls; on the W. branch 100 feet, on the E. about 50. Between these branches is a Sulphur spring, strongly impregnated, and which, in common with several other springs in this vicinity, has a powerful petrifactive action on bodies immersed in its waters. The inhabitants are immigrant Yankees, or German and Dutch, from the Mohawk river, industrious and prosperous. The Erie Canal crosses this town, near its centre. There are 4 Post-Oiffices, and 5 'Villages,' known by local names. Manlius, a Post-Borough, [or incorporated Village, with a Post-Office of the same name,] is situated on Limestone creek, at the junction of 3 or 4 turnpikes, 12 miles E. of Onondaga, and 40 W. of Utica. It contains 100 dwellings, and about 200 buildings of all descriptions, 3 churches, 1 of which is for Methodists, 1 for Presbyterians and 1 for Episcopalians, a Masonic Lodge, [the Post-Office, indicated above,] a printing-office, and a cotton factory, and has a great deal of hydraulic, mechanical and trading business. The Post-Village of Fayetteville, 2 miles N. of Manlius, on the N. branch of the Seneca turnpike, has 25 houses. The Post-Village of Orville, 5 miles NW. of Manlius, on the same turnpike, has about 20 houses, a church, and a side cut to the Erie Canal. Eagleville, 1 1/2 mile E. of Manlius, near the E. line, has about 20 houses. The Post-Village of Jamesville, 5 miles W. of Manlius, is on Butternut creek, and has mills and about 35 houses. Near this is an extraordinary cavern in the earth, discovered by digging a well, which opened into a cavity that has been traced 30 rods under ground. -
Within 2 miles of Manlius Village, above described, which is on the border of a deep gulf through which flows Limestone creek, are 4 grain mills, 5 saw mills, 2 fulling mills, 2 carding machines, 2 nail factories, an oil mill, and a cotton and woollen factory. -
Green Pond, is a curiousity; its surface being near 200 feet below the common level of its shores, precipitous and rocky. Unlike the surface of a smooth water on alpine heights, where the reflection of light shows a ruddy splendor, like burnished gold, this has a mirror of deep green; and it merits alike the attention of the scientific philosopher, and the merely curious tourist. It is known to be 200 feet deep, and the water at the bottom has a strong smell of sulphur. It is a 1 1/2 mile in legth, and 3/4 in width. Population, 5372; 833 farmers, 185 mechanics, and 23 traders, or 'persons engaged in commerce;' 5 foreigners not naturalized; 13 slaves; 30 free blacks; school districts, 24; schools kept 8 months in 12; 1629 children between 5 and 15; 1590 taught in the schools in 1821; public monies received that year, $918.66; taxable property, personal, 14600; total $416940; electors, 1303; 12713 acres of improved land; 2516 cattle, 739 horses, 11066 sheep; 22128 yards of cloth made in families in 1821; 14 grist mills, 15 saw mills, 2 oil mills, 4 fulling mills, 1 carding machine, 1 cotton and woolen factory, 1 iron works, 3 trip hammers, and 2 asheries.
J.M.A., S.L.E., J.O.W., S.M.S.
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14 June 1997
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