From ROMAN CITIZEN newspaper, Rome, Oneida County, New York, Wednesday, December 18, 1850

                                                                              VERNON

          First Settlement -- Soil and Products -- Fine Stock and Business of Villages and Community

The eastern part of the town was first settled, and after the purchase of the land from the Oneida Tribe of Indians by the State, the population increased, among whom were found the Messrs. Van Epps, Root, Gay, Marshall Hungerford, Hills, Grant, Williams, Hotchkiss and a few more families --this was about 1795.  The soil is of the very best kind, peculiarly adapted to grain of all kinds and has no waste land, is gently undulating which renders it easy of access to the settler --it found a ready sale to emigrants from the New England States, who were men of no ordinary character leaving a rich legacy to the present generation, in their Institutions of Religions and Educational privileges such as but few towns are favored with.

Vernon is six miles square and contains by the present census 3069 inhabitants.  There being no large manufactories, the inhabitants are mostly engaged in the farming interest.  But few towns in the county can boast of better farms than the Town of Verona.   For a few years past many of the farmers have turned their attention to the Dairy and raising stock.  There is found in this town the best breed of cattle in the county if not in the State.  The farmers have devoted much time and attention to selecting the best kind of cattle and now they are reaping richly the reward for their labors.

The inhabitants have for a few years past, had a Town Agricultural Society and yearly Fair, besides attending to the County Agricultural Society and Fair.  It has undoubtedly has had the effect to promote rivalry and of course an improvement in all that partains thereto.

The great Western Turnpike was formerly the thoroughfare thorough the town from Utica to Buffalo and it was a great road of travel.  On the digging of the Canal, travel was diverted and for a few years Vernon Village felt its loss, but recently it has improved in appearance and wealth.  It contains one Bank, four Churches, a flourishing Academy, eleven Stores, quite a number of Mechanics, and a large Tannery, presenting to the traveller the appearance of enterprise and business.

Vernon Centre in the east part of the town, contains two Churches, and the Plank Road from Rome to Bouckville connecting the Southern Plank Roads south into Pennsylvania and the south part of this State with the great Northern Plank Roads to Watertown, Ogdensburgh and Oswego west.  Oneida Castle lies in the extreme west part of the town (and in close proximity to Oneida Depot) it is a place of some business.  Near it formerly was the Mission Station to the Oneida Indians, and in it their Council House.  As a Tribe but few of them are left, having a few years since removed to Green Bay.  Near the Castle is a Farm of 178 acres on which is erected a large house, called the "Hall" in commons and lodging in the same.  Their garden is a fine one and large, the farm has the appearance of being in a high state of cultivation.  To say the least of them they are a singular community, living by themselves, shut out from the social intercourse of their fellow citizens.

Through the south part of this town and the south part of Westmoreland, trace of the great Military Road built by Gen. Ambriecombrie in his expedition against the Six Nations in the French War of 1756 are still to be seen.