The Town of Fairfield
The town of Fairfield is situated near the center of Herkimer county, as far as
relates to the thickly settled southern part, and is bounded on the
north by Norway ; on the east by Salisbury and Manheim ; on the south
by Little Falls and Herkimer, and on the west by Newport and Herkimer.
It was set off from Norway February 10, 1796, and from it a part of
Newport was taken in 1806, and a part of Little Falls in 1829. The
surface of the town is a hilly upland, the center rising into a ridge nearly
one thousand feet above the West Canada Creek. The soil on the uplands
is mostly clay and in the valleys it is gravelly. It is quite well
watered with small streams, and West Canada Creek flows along the
southwest border. The town comprises the nortii half of Glen's purchase
and the first allotment of the Royal Grant.
The Town of Newport
NEWPORT lies in the western part of the county and is bounded on
the north by Russia ; on the east by Fairfield and Norway ; on the
south by Schuyler and Herkimer, and on the west by Oneida county.
It was formed from Herkimer, Fairfield, Norway, and Schuyler, April 7,
1806. The surface of the town is broken by ridges of highlands which
rise from 400 to 500 feet on each side of the narrow intervale of West
Canada Creek. This stream flows southeast across the town near the
center. White Creek flows southerly through the eastern part. The
soil is clayey loam, with some gravel on the high lands. A part of
Hasenclever's and Walton's patents, and portions of the second and
third allotments of the Royal Grant constitute the town. There were
no settlements in the town prior to the Revolution.
The Town of Danielsville
Nahum Daniels soon purchased the house and a large farm with it and occupied it for many years. He was a prominent citizen, and the place was known as " Danielsville
"for years. This name caused confusion with Dansville, N. Y., and
Joseph Benchley's influence changed the name to Poland, from the fact
that Poland in Europe is in the southwest part of Russia.
Poland Village
Poland Village�Is beautifully situated in the extreme southwest part
of the town, and contains very many handsome residences. Considerable
business is carried on, but very little manufacturing. The settlement
in this vicinity was not made until 1800 or a little later; but after
that date it rapidly filled up.