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. 76-77
CAMILLUS, a Post-Township of Onondaga County, 10 miles NW. of Onondaga, and 160 from Albany; bounded N. by Lysander, E. by Salina and Onondaga, S. by Marcellus, W. by Cayuga County. The Seneca River is a boatable stream, and the Erie Canal lies nerely central across this town. It is well supplied with mill seats, and has several turnpikes.-
There are three small Villages; - Camillus Post-Office; one on the Skaneateles Creek, where is Elbridge Post-Office, - both on the N. branch of the Seneca turnpike, and Jordan, on the Canal, 2 miles N. of Elbridge. There is also a Post-Office in the N. part of this town, called Jonia, making 3 in all. There are 34 school districts, and 1998 scholars. About 4 miles from the Seneca River, there are some very interesting remains of ancient works, among which are 2 Forts, on the farm of June Manro. -
The largest of these is on a high hill, and seems to have had an area of about 3 acres, surrounded by a ditch and a wall of earth. The gate-ways may be plainly seen. My Correspondents say a large lime-sone, found in this Fort, 'has writing upon it, in an unknown character.' The other Fort was smaller, and situated on lower ground. A well is said to have been discovered,on opening which great quantities of human bones were thrown out, mouldered to a chalky dust. It is supposed, from the appearance of the place, and finding flints in the well, that an invading, victorious army, had hastily interred its dead in this well. The population, in 1820, 5791; taxable property, $413840; No. acres of improved land, 21412; No. of neat cattle, 5141; No. of sheep, 9236; No. of horses, 1191; No. yards of cloth made in families in1 year, 41004. There are 6 grain mills, 17 saw mills, 4 fulling mills, 5 carding machines, 1 trip hammer, 6 distilleries, and 2 asheries. The lands are held in fee simple. Of the population; there are 2974 free white males, 2817 females, = 5791, and 10 free colored persons; no slaves; There are 1060 farmers, 150 mechanics, 20 persons engaged in commerce and trade, and 18 foreigners not naturalized. The southern part of Camillus is somewhat hilly, but the northern quite level, and the soil is principally a wam and fertile sandy loam. A small pond of 2 or 2 1/2 acres, on the turnpike, 4 miles from the W. line, constantly emits a strong smell of sulphur. The Otisco outlet, commonly called 9 mile creek, but better Otisco Creek, curves NEastward toward Onondaga Lake in Salina; within 1/2 a mile of this and about 60 rods S. of the N. branch of the Seneca turnpike, is an extensive mine of gypsum of an excellent quality. This is on lot 90, in the SE. corner of Camillus, a township of the military tract. This valuable mineral was first discovered in 1792, by a Mr. William Linsday, on the E. side of a hill about 90 feet high; and in May, 1809, an incorporated company purchased the land and commenced digging; 100 tons were sold in 1810. THe mineralogy of this town, like that of the whole county, is highly interesting; but it requires personal inspection to give its details with the precision belonging to science.
J.M.A., T.A., B.B.
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