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Town Historian
Information was obtained from the Historical & Statistical Gazetteer of New York State, R. P. Smith, Publisher, Syr., 1860, by J. H. French. HASTINGS-----was formed from Constantia, April 20, 1825. It lies upon the N. shore of Oneida River, in the S. part of the co. Its surface is level or gently undulating, its northern boundary being about 75 feet above Oneida Lake. The soil is clay, sand, and gravelly loam. In some parts of the town it is difficult to find fresh water by digging. Brine springs are found in several parts in the red Medina sandstone formation. In the N.E. part is a tamarack swamp, of about 5 acres, in the center of which is an immense spring 10 feet in diameter. This spring is on a level with the surrounding summit; and it is surrounded by a deep, loose muck which extends downward to an unknown depth. There are 18 sawmills, several gristmills, and 2 tanneries in town. CENTRAL SQUARE (p.v.,) contains about 50 houses; HASTINGS, (p.v.,)in the N. part, 30; CAUGHDENOY, (Cod-e-noy) (p.v.,) on Oneida River, in the S.W.part, 30; and HASTINGS CENTER (p.v.)15. SMITH MILLS and FORT BREWERTON are villages of about 20 houses each. The latter is situated at the foot of Oneida Lake, on the site of old Fort Brewerton. The first settlement was made at Fort Brewerton, by Oliver STEVENS, in 1789. There are 4 churches in town. A little E. of the fort ground is a sandbank, in which bones are found belonging to men over 7 feet high. A mound at the E. extremity of the bank is full of human bones, indicating the place of sepulture for thousands.--Clark's Onondaga, vol. 2, p.182 Among the early settlers were Timothy VICKERY. Chester LOOMIS, Solomon ALLEN, and Jacob RICE. The first birth was that of John L. STEVENS, in 1802. The first marriage, that of of Silas BELLOWS and Betsey VICKERY, in 1808. The first death, that of Horatio STEVENS, in 1792. Chester LOOMIS kept the first inn, in 1815; and Hastings CURTIS, the first store, in 1820. The first school was taught by Patrick VICKERY, at Caughdenoy.
A saw-mill was built here by Mr. Blunt, in 1822. It is owned by Daniel
MITCHELL. The second saw-mill was built by PEARCE and CORNELL, IN
1838. It is now owned by Levi HAMLIN.
Hastings-In
1821 there was one log house, occupied by Mr. Widger, near where the water-trough
now is, and a small frame one, occupied by William FORD, on the site of
the cheese-factory.
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