000 Agricultural Manual 



fortified. It was named Fort Levi, and here the last French 

 resistance was made against the English in 1700. During the 

 Revolution it was the rendezvous of scalping parties of tories and 

 Indians. 



The first settlement under state authority was made at Ogdens- 

 burg in 1790 by Nathan Fort, agent of Samuel Ogden. Within 

 the next few years the "Ten Towns" were opened for settle- 

 ment, and, shortly after, the adjacent parts of the Macomb 

 purchase. . 



During the War of 1812 the frontier was often alarmed and 

 several times invaded by the enemy. The battle of Chrysler's 

 Field was fought on the north shore of the St. Lawrence opposite 

 this county. 



During the " Patriot "War" of 1837-40 there was more excite- 

 ment at Ogdensburg than at any other point on the frontier and 

 the sympathy held by a number of St. Lawrence citizens for the 

 Canadians led to the battle of Prescott just within the Canadian 

 border. At the close of this war the county rapidly filled up 

 v\ ith emigrants chiefly from Vermont and the other Xew England 

 states. The first town to be organized in the county was Red 

 Mills, near Lisbon, which was settled largely by families from 

 Washington County. 



Upon the completion of the Erie Canal the growth of the 

 county was checked, as the more fertile lands of the West were 

 thus opened to emigration. Fifteen years later, however, a steady 

 improvement was begun, which was greatly encouraged by the 

 completion of railroads in the county. 



DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY 



The first settlers raised small patches of corn, potatoes, and 

 turnips. In winter most of them engaged in lumbering, which, 

 besides furnishing them with cash, cleared the land for crops, of 

 which the most important was fall wheat. The first grist mill 

 was established in 1798. Previous to that time flour was obtained 

 from Montreal at great expense and trouble. To supply material 

 for clothing they produced flax and raised sheep for the wool. 



Between 1800 and 1825, when distilling was an important 

 occupation in many localities, George Parish carried on an 



