I discovered a very interesting book about local history! It's "The Mohawk" by Codman Hislop. I discovered it while perusing my library's shelves. Codman Hislop was Professor Emeritus of American Civilization at Union College in Schenectady. His book is full of historical yarns. It's very readable. I only just started it, but am enjoying it.



The book was originally published in 1948. This is from the back of the book:

Bishop writes living history. Father Jogues is there, as are Sir William Johnson and Molly Brant, Nicolas Herkimer, De Witt Clinton, Eliphalet Nott, the Remingtons, Charles Steinmetz, and a host of others. Fur trading, land grabbing, Dutch, Palatines, Yankees, the Battle of Oriskany, the Erie Canal, the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad, General Electric are all part of the story of The Mohawk. Hislop's presentation of this unique region is both informative and compelling.

Unfortunately, Charles Grandison Finney is woefully absent from most New York history books, and I see this is no different. The massive and intense religious revivals that inspired the abolition movement, women's suffrage, and the temperance movement are not worthy of many historians' attentions, apparently. I may have to quit my research into copper farmhouse sinks, and take up the literary call instead, to set things straight.

Nonetheless, this book is readable and tells the tales of some of my favorite historical characters. I'll post a review when I'm done. You can get a sneak peek of the book at Google Books online. They don't have the entire book, but the sample is enough to give you an idea of what the book is like. I found out that I can embed the book here-- very cool! Take a peek. :)