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1722 |
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Tuscarora Indians, exiled by North Carolina colonists, move into New York to O-HI-GI (Crowding the Bank) near Piffard, making the Five Nations of the Iroquois the Six Nations. |
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Various Sources |
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1791 |
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Robert Morris purchased these four million acres from the state of Massachusetts. |
Robert Morris (finance commissioner of the revolutionary government) buys four million acres of land lying between the Genesee and Niagara Rivers in Western New York from the state of Massachusetts: eastern boundary - Genesee River; western boundary - Niagara River; northern boundary - Lake Ontario; southern boundary - Pennsylvania.
Immediately thereafter, he sells the land to a private Dutch syndicate known as the Holland Land Company for $4 million. But before the deal could go through, extensive Indian claims on the land have to be canceled - and the "sachem" Red Jacket is opposed. |
Various Sources |
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1792 |
January, 8 |
Donald D. McKenzie, an early pioneer of the area now known as York was born in Inverness, Scotland. |
Mr. McKenzie was an early pioneer of the York area who settled in the York area in 1804. His descendents in York were two sons and two daughters - Donald, William, Margaret and Mrs. Mary F. Clunas. From his graphic and interesting writings concerning the early settlement of the Genesee country, it was learned that they started for America abut the middle of July in 1803. |
James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 411 |
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1794 |
August, 9 |
David Piffard was born. |
David Piffard, who was born in the village of Pentonville, pariash of Clerkenwell without,Middlesex county, England, came to America in December, 1822; remained a short time in New York city, and in 1824 cane to this part of the Genesee Valley and purchased of John Brinton a tract of land of about six hundred acres, a portion of which is now the site of the hamlet hearing his name. |
James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 |
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1797 |
September, 15 |
Treaty of Big Tree clears Seneca title to those lands west of the Genesee River |
Treaty of Big Tree clears Seneca title to those lands west of the Genesee River to the Niagara Frontier. Now with clear title Morris was able to sell these lands for settlement. Seneca and Tuscarora Indians were directed to reservations. The bulk of the land was then sold to the Holland Land Company. Robert Morris did retain some 500,000 acres of prime land long the Genesee River. His large land tract is known as the Morris Reserve, Honorary Creditors Tract and / or the Tuscarora tract. ----- Treaty of Big Tree (near Geneseo) is signed with the Senecas. They sell their 1.3 million acres of land to Robert Morris for $100,000, and are restricted to five reservations on the Niagara frontier: Tonawanda, Allegany, Cattaraugus and Tuscarora Reservations as well as Buffalo Creek Reservation (a few blocks from what would be the Buffalo harbor; by 1850, Buffalo Creek Reservation will be abandoned and cleared for development.). Red Jacket is paid a $600 signing bonus and guaranteed $100 a year for life. Former Indian captive Horatio Jones (Handsome Boy) acts as one of the interpreters. Land around the area of the future Letchworth Park is ceded to Mary Jemison, over the protests of Red Jacket. Morris's sale to the Holland Land Co. is now completed |
The History of York |
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1800 |
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Among the early settlers of the York area were Donald and John McKenzie, Angus McBean, John and Alexander Frazer, Archibald Gillis, and John McCall. David Martz was an early settler. |
At the time of the first settlement here the territory now known as York was embraced in the town of Caledonia, and the settlers, chiefly from Scotland, located first at "Big Springs," now the village of Caledonia, in 1799 and 1800, and then from there branched out into the section of wilderness then called "South Woods" and now known as the town of York |
James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 411 |
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1804 |
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In 1804 land east of the river sold for $2.00 to $4.00 per acre, while west of the River prices were from $1.50 to $2.50. |
In 1804 land east of the river sold for $2.00 to $4.00 per acre, while west of the River prices were from $1.50 to $2.50. Everything west of the river was Genesee County, the county having been established in 1802. Donald McKenzie had built on the road, or lane, which extends from the Inverness School south to the Wm. Sullivan farm. John Fraser took the farm now occupied by Kenneth McVean. An Ontario paper of 1805 advertises: “For Sale—At most reduced prices, Forty Thousand Acres of land in the town of Caledonia, formerly Southampton. Joseph Ellicott.” |
History of York, N.Y. Mary Root Pg.13 |
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1804 |
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The first child born was in York, New York, a son to Donald Clunas. |
French says the first child born here was Angus McKenzie |
James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 |
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1804 |
March, 26 |
The second child born in York, New York was Angus McKenzie a son to Donald McKenzie. |
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James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 |
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1806 |
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In 1806 the first postoffice was established at Geneseo. Mail went once in two weeks to Canandaigua, the carrier receiving the yearly salary of $26.00. |
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History of York, N.Y. Mary Root Pg.13 |
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1806 |
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Donald McDonald settled near Fowlerville in 1806. |
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James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 |
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1807 |
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John Russ, from Vt., settled at the York Center. |
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French's Gazetteer of New York State, 1860 |
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1807 |
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In 1807 Ezekiel Morley and son Joseph built the first sawmill in our town, at Toggletown, on what is a part of the Homer McVean farm. |
In 1807 Ezekiel Morley and son Joseph built the first sawmill in our town, at Toggletown, on what is a part of the Homer McVean farm. His sons Joseph and Ezekiel died in January, 1813, and his wife died in 1826. These three are buried in the little cemetery at the entrance of the McVean farm. There are no other markers, but in the census of 1825 it states that there were five males and five females in the family and that he owned 105 acres of land. I cannot trace what became of them. |
History of York, N.Y. Mary Root Pg.13 |
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1807 |
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The first saw-mill, known as the Morley Mill was built by Ezekiel Morley and Joseph his son. |
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James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 |
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1808 |
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In 1808 Ralph Brown, a native of Darlington, Yorkshire, England, took a farm at what is now the north side of York Center, built a Log cabin on the north side of what we call Trimble’s lane. |
In 1808 Ralph Brown, a native of Darlington, Yorkshire, England, took a farm at what is now the north side of York Center, built a Log cabin on the north side of what we call Trimble’s lane. This tract did not include the south side of the village as that was taken by Dr. Theodore Beardsley who came from Vermont in 1814 and purchased from the Willinks Brothers two hundred and two acres of land, which I will describe later. After completing his log cabin, which he soon converted into a tavern for accommodation of travelers and new settlers, Mr. Brown built a sawmill at the foot of the lane and about 1816 he built a gristmill. The millrace to furnish power began a short distance vest of the Leicester road, at what we used to call the “old clay - bottom swimming hole,’’ and crossed the road between the two little houses on the vest side, through the Agnew lot and around the hill to the foot of Brown’s lane. This lane became a public highway extending south to meet the River Road just west of John Hackett’s home. After the passing of the mill this road was closed. |
History of York, N.Y. Mary Root Pg.13 |
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1808 |
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Duncan Grant from Inverness, Scotland settled in 1808 on Lot 5l with five sons and two daughters. |
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James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 |
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1810 |
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Capt. Aaron Russ settled near Fowlerville, New York. |
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James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 |
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1810 |
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William Fraser settled in 1810. (at Inverness ??) |
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James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 |
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1811 |
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Archibald Kennedy from Scotland settled in the spring of 1811 (at Inverness ??) |
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James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 |
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1811 |
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William Ferrin settled near Fowlerville, New York in 1811. |
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James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 |
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1814 |
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Elijah Heath built a saw-mill and hand-rake factory, as well as making many other farm tools, neckyokes, axe-handles, etc., on the creek east of the Inverness school which gave the place the name of Toggletown, which it still holds. |
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History of York, N.Y. Mary Root Pg.22 |
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1815 |
March, 21 |
On Mar. 21, 1815, in a cabin on the shore of Cayuga Lake, a girl was born, called Matilda Watkins. |
On Mar. 21, 1815, in a cabin on the shore of Cayuga Lake, a girl was born, called Matilda Watkins. Her father, John Watkins, had a ferry there for the accommodation of travelers. When Matilda was a year old her father was drowned in trying to pilot a boat across Lake Ontario to Toronto. The mother sold the ferry and cabin and with her baby came to live with her father, Riverus Russell who had come from Connecticut and taken a farm at what is now Linwood, the northeast section at the four corners. After a time the mother married a man from Stone Church but only lived a short time and the little girl again came to live with her grandparents. She attended the school near Wm. Stewart’s where Peter McNab, son of Daniel; Charlotte Walker, daughter of James; Catherine Stewart, daughter of James P.; and Mary Kennedy, daughter of Archibald, were her schoolmates. |
History of York, N.Y. Mary Root Pg.22 |
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1816 |
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In 1816 the Leicester Road was surveyed by James Hill under the direction of Donald McKenzie and Theodore Beardsley. |
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History of York, N.Y. Mary Root Pg.23 |
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1816 |
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The first store was run by Chandler Piersons. |
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French's Gazetteer of New York State, 1860 |
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1816 |
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The census reports 9 churches in town; 2 Presb., 2 M.E., Bap., Cong., Asso.Presb., Asso.Ref.Presb., and Ref.Presb. |
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French's Gazetteer of New York State, 1860 |
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1816 |
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Fowlerville is first permanently settled by Wells Fowler and William Taylor in 1816, and William and Henry Janes, Ira Torrey and Eliakim Weller at or about the same time, all of whom came from and near Pittsfield, Mass. |
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James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 417 |
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1817 |
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Dudley Newton settled in 1817.(at Inverness ??) |
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James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 |
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1817 |
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The first inn in York, New York area was kept by Nathan Russ. |
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French's Gazetteer of New York State, 1860 |
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1818 |
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Ralph Brown built the first gristmill. |
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French's Gazetteer of New York State, 1860 |
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1819 |
March, 26 |
The Town of York is formed from Caledonia and Leicester. |
The name of the town was derived from Hon. Joseph York, Member of Assembly from St. Lawrence county, who , as chairman of the committee, had favorably reported the bill for the formation of the town. |
James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 411 |
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1819 |
April, 6 |
The first town meeting was held on the first Tuesday in April, 1819 at the inn of Nathan Russ. |
This place of meeting was designated by the Special Act of Legislature for the formation of the town. The offices chosen by the people at the meeting were:- William Jones, Supervisor; Peres P. Peck, Town Clerk; John Darling, John Dodge, Henry Janes, Assessors; Joseph R Ramsdell, Collector; Moses Allen, Thomas Blake, Overseers of the Poor; John Russ, William Taylor, Newcomb Mead, Commissioners of Highways; Jonathan Tainter, Joseph R Ramsdell, Constables; Wells Fowler, Philander Sexton, N. Sacket, Commissioner of Schools. |
James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 413 |
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1820 |
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There were 7609 acres in the Town of York |
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James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 78 |
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1823 |
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A part of Covington was annexed to the Town of York. |
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French's Gazetteer of New York State, 1860 |
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1827 |
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Post-office established at Fowlerville. Fowlerville derived its name from Wells Fowlerville and was chosen by the unanimous resolution of the inhabitants who resided there. |
For a number of years Fowlerville was known as Inverness post-office. |
James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 417 |
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1832 |
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The first wine in the county was made by Samuel Warren in 1832 |
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James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg XXIV |
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1836 |
April, 25 |
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CHURCHES - in Western New York are informed that Mr. SAMUEL WARREN of York, Livingston county has on hand five barrels of pure wine, from grapes of his own vineyard
April 25, 1836 |
New York Evangelist |
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1837 |
November, 14 |
On the fourteenth of November, 1837, proposals were received for constructing twenty-eight miles of this canal from the rapids in Rochester to Piffard in the county of Livingston. |
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The Genesee Valley Canal; Chapter 19 |
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1870 |
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York had a population of 2564 |
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James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 414 |
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1875 |
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York had a population of 2475 |
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James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 414 |
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1875 |
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There were 25377 acres in the Town of York |
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James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 78 |
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1877 |
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Dr. George H. Jones, born in Manchester, NY, Graduated from Michigan University in 1877 and came to Fowlerville in 1877. |
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James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 418 |
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1879 |
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There were 29693 acres in the Town of York (29458 Farm, 235 Village, 0 Railroad) |
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James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 78 |
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1880 |
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The town of York contains fourteen school districts, employing 15 teachers at a total amount of $3,431.07 |
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James H Smith, History of Livingston County., 1881 pg 414 |
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1882 |
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Greigsville, New York - An amateur geologist, Carroll Coker, predicted salt could be found on his land. Despite skepticism on the part of State geologists, Mr. Coker was able to convince six men to finance a search. |
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Genesee County Express Electronic Edition Vol. 1 No. 45 Thursday, February 20, 1997 |
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1883 |
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Starting at a depth of 1012 feet, the search team struck a 137 foot deep vain of rock salt. An interested New York City group of capitalists formed the New York Rock Salt Company, including William Foster, Jr. and Abraham Quackenbush |
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Genesee County Express Electronic Edition Vol. 1 No. 45 Thursday, February 20, 1997 |
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1884 |
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The Hamlet of Retsof was established when workers began arriving with their families. |
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J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987 |
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1884 |
August, 14 |
The Empire Salt Company made an excavation 26 by 16 feet, down to rock at the well on the Lewis farm. |
The Empire Salt Company made an excavation 26 by 16 feet, down to rock at the well on the Lewis farm, over which will be erected the building to contain the shafting equipment. The building will be erected as soon as possible. |
J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987, pg 19 |
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1884 |
September, 11 |
The Empire Salt Company is not fully underway although a very good beginning has been made. The shaft is down about 20 feet. |
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J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987, pg 19 |
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1884 |
September, 21 |
Empire Salt Company of New York begins work on a shaft twelve by eighteen feet. |
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J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987 |
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1884 |
September, 25 |
The Empire Salt Company is fast completing the necessary buildings and arrangements, while at the same time mining goes on favorably. The shaft is down between forty and fifty feet. |
The Empire Salt Company is fast completing the necessary buildings and arrangements, while at the same time mining goes on favorably. The shaft is down between forty and fifty feet. There are forty miners now at work on the shaft, twenty men at a time working ten hour shifts. |
J Marilyn Hannett Yasso, History of Retsof, New York, 1987, pg 19 |
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