About two miles and a half north of this place is situated Bronx Mill, the property of James P. Swain, Esq., formerly known as Underbill's Mill. The Bronx River here affords a fine water power to an extensive gj-ist mill and screw manufactory. The building is a large and handsome structure of stone, four storiajg high, and measures forty feet by eighty. The machinery is of the best kind, and the water is sufficient to carry the mill throughout the year, which enables it to grind at all seasons.

The course of the Bronx immediately below the mill is said to have been formerly changed by a large beaver dam, which those industrious animals had erected near the foot of Mr. Underbill's garden. Beaver Pond lies directly north of the mill ; vast quantities of trout, roach, suckers, and other fresh water fish, are bred yearly in the Bronx. In 1S25 Canvas White, Esq., engineer, employed by the New York Water Works' Company, reported to the directors of that corporation, that he would rccomiwend taking the waters of the Bronx at Underbill's Bridge, estimating that 9,100,000 gallons of water might be delivered in the city daily, and that the whole expense would not exceed $1,450,000.^

a Genealogical and Biographical account of the family of Drake, by Samuel G^ Drake. Boston, 1845.

t Corporation Doc. Report for 1833, doc. xxxvi., 375-

158 HISTORY OF THE

The mill and adjoining property, at an early period, belonged to the late Lnncasler Underhill, who lived to the remarkable age of 9S. Thronghout the trying period of the Revoluiion, this individual resided on his farm, and appears to have suffered severely both in person and estate. Durifjg many a severe winter nig!u he lay concealed beneath the body of an oxcart, (which he had taken the precaution to cover with hay,) and on each returning day blessed his good fortune that his liouse had escaped the flames.