THE TOWN OF LITTLE FALLS

HERKIMER COUNTY, NY

Original "View of the Canal at the Little Falls Mohawk River" engraving by T. S. Woodcock, from a drawing by W. G. Wall; image ©1998 Martha Magill.

"At Little Falls may be seen perhaps the most wild and picturesque scenery upon this route. Here there is a bold passage of the Mohawk river and the Erie canal through a rocky defile which affords a view of great beauty.

Fifty years ago a noted stage route from Rochester to Albany led through Little Falls. The road wound along near a precipice by the river side. On one occasion General Winfield Scott was in the stage, when at a sharp turn near the bottom of the hill, a Pennsylvania wagon was seen winding its way up diagonally. The driver saw but one escape from a disastrous collision. However, having no time for reflection, he instantly guided his team over the precipice and into the river, from which the horses, passengers, coach and all were safely extricated. The passengers, following General Scott's example, made the driver a handsome present as a reward for his courage and sagacity." From: "The Tourist's Guide Through The Empire State", edited and published by Mrs. S.S. Colt, Albany, NY, 1871; pp.166-167

And that's all Mrs. Colt had to say about the bustling area of Little Falls. We hope to make up for that lack of attention. The Town of Little Falls is the geographically smallest town in Herkimer County and surrounded by five other towns. The small city of Little Falls, strategically situated on the Mohawk River and Erie Canal, was settled long before the Revolutionary War by both Palatines and Yankees. By the time the 1869 gazetteer was written, the city of Little Falls had 5,000 residents, including a sizeable number of recent arrivals from Roman Catholic Ireland. The area was noted throughout the state for it's woolen mills and small factories, and was the county's cheese and agricultural marketing center. If your ancestors arrived in the county in the mid to late 19th century, Little Falls may turn out to be the place where they initially settled and found employment. We look forward to info about your ancestors' contributions to Little Falls' history.

• Revolutionary War Pension Applications of Thomas Rankins and James Rankins Jr.
  
  
• Colonel Timothy O'Brien, Little Falls native and member of the 152nd NY Volunteers
  
  
• The 1st NY Light Artillery, Battery A
  
  
• The 2nd NY Mounted Rifles, Company M
  
  
• Captain E. P. Halstead's Company of the 2nd NY Heavy Artillery
  
  
• 16th NY Artillery, Cos., B, D & F
  
  
• The 34th NY Vol. Infantry, Co. B
  
  
• The 97th NY Vol. Infantry, Co. I
  
  
• Lincoln's Speech at Little Falls