Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. III
Between this and CHnton is about 4 miles of low flat land -- very rich, and heavy timbered. Unsettled ; and, indeed, but a very little part of this county is settled. A considerable part of ye lands which are settled, are to hire on lease -- the inhabitants have not y^ right of soil. 10$ is the common price for 100 acres annual rent ; but most of these leases are for perpetuity. About l-3d of the people in Steuben are Welsh-- who are industrious and prudent beyond all example. I am now at ye house of the first settler who came into the town, Esq'" Siser's.
Here I find the grave of the once active and enterprising Steuben, He lies in a swamp, under a Hemlock, with a bier standing over the grave, and a few rough boards nailed to some trees to keep y® cattle off. Alas! what is man! that the great Steuben should be suffered to lie in such a place -- and without a decent m£)jiument.
A few rods from this swamp, we find the place of his former residence -- of which I have taken a rough drawing. This is a very healthful situation. The house faces the south-- and there is a gradual descent for about 80 rods, and an opening about 50 rods wide. The seat of this great man was not indeed a palace, nor what we should suppose would afford contentment to the mind of an enterprising nobleman: It consists of 2 log housesone at the end of the other -- containing in the whole 3 rooms