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TRUXTON, named in honor of Commodore Thomas Truxton, was formed from Fabius, April
8; 1808, and embraced the south half of that military township. The north four tiers of lots of Solon were annexed
April 4, 1811. Cuyler was formsed from the east part of the town, November 18, 1858. It lies upon the north border
of the County, east of the center. The surface is chiefly a broken upland, divided into ridges which have a northerly
and southerly direction. The east branch of the Tioughnioga River enters the town near the center of the east border
and flows westerly until it reaches near the center, then south-westerly until it leaves the town. The other streams
are its tributaries, Westcott and Stewart Brook, and Labrador Creek, from the north; and Cheningo Creek and Trout
Brook from the south. The Truxton Hills are the highest in the County. Nearly the whole surface north of the river
is divided by sharp ridges with steep declivities. Labrador Pond, upon the north border, is noted for the wild
and picturesque scenery which surrounds it. Tinker's Falls is a beautiful cascade upon a small brook that flows
into the outlet of this pond from the east. The soil is chiefly a gravelly loam, well adapted to grazing.
Truxton, (p. v.) situated in the central part of the town, contains three churches, viz., Baptist, Presbyterian
and Roman Catholic, a United States Armory, two hotels, two planing mills, a firkin factory and a cheese box factOry.
Cheningo, in the south part of the town, on Cheningo Creek, contains a school house, a grocery, a blacksmith shop
and about a dozen houses.
Manchester Mills, on the Tioughnioga River, contains a flouring mill with three runs of stones, and a saw mill,
manufacturing lath, shingles, pickets, &c.
Tubville contains the woolen factory of A. W. Crain & Son, employing about a dozen hands, and, a saw mill ownea
by Alvin & Hamilton.
The town is largely engaged in the dairy business, several cheese factories being located in various parts of the
town. Truxton cheese factory is situated about half a mile east of the village. Willow Grove grist mill is near
the same place.
Beattie's Cheese Factory No. 1 is situated about two miles south of the village, and No. 2 is about a mile south-west
of Cheningo. Cheddar cheese is manufactured at these factories.
The first settlement was made in 1793 by Samuel Benedict, on lot 12. The next year Jonah Stiles and Christopher
Whitney came in and located. Stiles was from Vermont and located on lot 4, and Whitney on lot 3. John Shedd, Nathaniel
E. James and Charles Stewart, came in during the year 1797; the first two located on lot 63, the last on lot 93.
In 1798 Robert McNight and John Jeffrey, from New Jersey, located on lot 2, and Billy Trowbridge, from Westchester
County, on lot 5. Mr. T. was a member of the Legislature for two terms, held the office of Sheriff one term, and
was elected to several other county offices. Increase M. Hooker, a native of Vermont, settled on lot 94 in 1798;
he had previously spent one year in Solon. He was a soldier of the Revolution and was present at the battle of
Bennington and other conflicts during that war. John Miller, from Dutchess County, located on lot 93 in 1801, and,
Hugh and William Stewart, from Massachusetts, on lot 4 in 1803. Other early settlers were Zebulon and Judah Pierce,
Deacon James Bell and Asa Babcock.
The first post-office was established in 1799, and Stephen Hedges was the first post-master; John Miller was the
first physician; Stephen Hedges the first merchant, and Joseph Sweetlarid the first miller. The first child born
was Stephen Potter, in 1794; and the first death that of Nathaniel Potter, the father. The State Gazetteer reports
the first birth to be that of a child of Samuel Benedict, and the first death that of a child in the same family.
A. W. Baker taught the first school in 1799, and Bowen Brewster kept the first inn in 1801. James Stiles settled
in the town in 1796; his daughter Julia, then two years old, subsequently married John Wicks, who left her a widow
at the age of sixty-five. She is now living with her son, John Wicks, and is supposed to be the oldest settler
now living in the town.
The first church (Baptist) was organized in 1806, by Rev. Rufus Freeman. The church edifice was erected in 1818.
The present number of members is 200. The Presbyterian Church was organized in 1811, by Rev. Wm. J. Wilcox, assisted
by Rev. John Davenport and Rev. Joseph Avery, missionaries from Massachusetts. Deacon John Severance is the oldest
member now living, he having joined in 1812.
The population in 1865 was 1,689 and its area 27,780 acres.
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