JsppsBSON Count? 369 



With the exception of a small portion lying along the shore, 

 this county is almost entirely embraced in the Macomb purchase 

 of 1791. The first attempt to explore this region with a view of 

 actual settlement was made in the autumn of 1793 by Frenchmen. 

 agents of the Castorland Company. There was also a small tract 

 ten miles square, one comer of which extended to the St. Law- 

 rence at French Creek, now Clayton, which was known as 

 " Penet's Square." This tract was named for Peter Penet, an 

 imposter of Revolutionary times, who finally gained the confi- 

 dence of the Oneida Indians. Upon hearing of his revelation in 

 a dream that they were to give him a tract of land, these Indians 

 reserved the land for him in the Treaty of 1788. 



Within a few years after the occupying of Canada by the 

 French, these people penetrated far into the interior and estab- 

 lished small posts for the double purpose of securing the fur trade 

 and converting the Indians to their religion. The Senecas and 

 Cayugas, however, were jealous of the French and annoyed their 

 trade considerably. In 1688 the Iroquois invaded the island of 

 Montreal and destroyed great numbers of the French. During 

 the French and Indian War, which in 1760 resulted in the com- 

 plete subjugation of the former, the frontier again became alive 

 with military operations, and the principal route between Canada 

 and the Mohawk settlements passed through this county. Sacket 

 Harbor, being the most important post on Lake Ontario, was 

 made the headquarters of the northern division of the American 

 fleet and here were fitted out several important expeditions 

 against the British in Canada. 



Between 1848 and 1852 a number of plank roads were built in 

 the county and generally contributed much to its prosperity. 

 Later, when railroads were built, the system was abandoned and 

 the roads transformed into gravel roads or ordinary turnpikes. 



DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY 

 The first crops in Jefferson County, which were mostly corn 

 and potatoes, were raised in the township of Ellisburg, in 1797. 

 Cattle were brought from Oneida County to the town of Cham- 

 pion, allowed to graze during the summer season, and were then 

 driven back and sold for beef. In the early days wheat, as well 



