210 APPENDIX. 



better be left to the keeping of that hazy kind of romance 

 which time gathers about the exploits of the Robin Hoods, Davy 

 Crocketts, and other backwoodsmen of history. We may say 

 that, while clearly the possessor of much muscular power 

 and dexterity to be used in an emergency, Mr. Newhouse is 

 a man of gentle disposition, and is regarded by the remaining 

 red men of his vicinity as their true friend. 



The characteristics which Mr. Newhouse possesses as a 

 mechanic are a critical eye, sound judgment of material rela- 

 tions, nicety of hand, and a conscientious attention to the 

 minutice of any mechanism, on which so often its proper work- 

 ing depends. As a trap-maker, his original idea was to make 

 faultless traps, and nothing could swerve him from this point. 

 His solicitude has been that they should catch game, whether 

 they caught custom or not. The reputation which has come 

 to him on this basis, has made it seem desirable to other man- 

 ufacturers, in several instances, to pirate his name to give 

 currency to their imitations of the " Newhouse Traps." But 

 this quality of particularity, so valuable in the pursuit of ex- 

 cellence, if not combined with other talents does not always 

 lead to great business success ; and the Oneida trap-maker 

 would perhaps have scarcely risen above a local celebrity, but 

 for the introduction of him and his business to a new element 

 of energy and enterprise in the Oneida Community. 



THE COMMUNITY " NEWHOUSE TRAP." 



The Community established itself at Oneida, about two 

 miles from the residence of Mr. Newhouse, in 1848, and the 

 next summer he and his family entered it as members. For 

 several years after this, but little attention was paid to the 

 trap business. A few dozens were made occasionally by Mr. 

 Newhouse in the old way ; but it was not until 1855, under a 

 call for traps from Chicago and New York, that practical in- 

 terest was first directed to this branch of manufacture, with 

 a view to its extension, by Mr. J. H. Noyes. Arrangements 

 were then made for carrying on the business in a shop fifteen 

 feet by twenty-five. The tools consisted of a common forge 

 *nd bellows, hand-punch, swaging-mould, anvil, hammer, and 



