Afton in Chenango County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Unadilla Region
Historic New York
Photographed By Scott J. Payne, April 1, 2016
1. Unadilla Region Marker
Inscription.
Unadilla Region. Historic New York. Indians living in the valleys of the Unadilla and Susquehanna Rivers played an important role in the region's early history. Fur traders from Albany and the Mohawk Valley reached out to Oquaga (now Windsor), and a mission to the Indians was established there. The Treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1768 drew a line along the Unadilla River and southward marking the westward limit of white settlement, but failed to bring peace to the frontier. During the Revolution the Mohawk leader Joseph Brant organized the Indians of the area, and these joined Tories in terrifying raids upon the settlements. In retaliation, the Sullivan-Clinton campaign of 1779 destroyed the villages of the Indians and burned their corn, thus forcing them to leave the region.
After the Revolution came land speculators, like Robert Harpur who in 1795 founded Harpursville, with a grant of 30,000 acres, and brought in settlers from the Mohawk Valley and New England. Lumber and agricultural products were rafted down the Susquehanna to market. In 1869 the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad, which became part of the Delaware and Hudson line, was completed, and industry developed along it's route. Farms were principally devoted to dairying;and creameries and factories for milk products were established. Travel and transport once so heavy on the river and railroad have been largely replaced by motor traffic on modern highways.
Indians living in the valleys of the Unadilla and Susquehanna Rivers played an important role in the region's early history. Fur traders from Albany and the Mohawk Valley reached out to Oquaga (now Windsor), and a mission to the Indians was established there. The Treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1768 drew a line along the Unadilla River and southward marking the westward limit of white settlement, but failed to bring peace to the frontier. During the Revolution the Mohawk leader Joseph Brant organized the Indians of the area, and these joined Tories in terrifying raids upon the settlements. In retaliation, the Sullivan-Clinton campaign of 1779 destroyed the villages of the Indians and burned their corn, thus forcing them to leave the region.
After the Revolution came land speculators, like Robert Harpur who in 1795 founded Harpursville, with a grant of 30,000 acres, and brought in settlers from the Mohawk Valley and New England. Lumber and agricultural products were rafted down the Susquehanna to market. In 1869 the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad, which became part of the Delaware and Hudson line, was completed, and industry developed along it's route. Farms were principally devoted to dairying;and creameries and factories for milk products were established.
Travel and transport once so heavy on the river and railroad have been largely
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replaced by motor traffic on modern highways.
Erected by Education Department-State of New York 1965-Department of Public Works.
Location. 42° 14.527′ N, 75° 29.634′ W. Marker is in Afton, New York, in Chenango County. Marker is on New York State Route 7. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Afton NY 13730, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2016, by Scott J. Payne of Deposit, New York. This page has been viewed 519 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on April 2, 2016, by Scott J. Payne of Deposit, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.