This is a transcription of the White Creek Situation and Natural Features from History of Washington County, New York with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some if its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Philadelphia: Everts & Ensign, 1878.
This town is at the southeastern corner of the county. It is bounded on the north by Jackson, east by Vermont, south by Rensselaer county, and west by Cambridge. It comprises twenty-eight thousand three hundred acres, or about forty-four square miles. The surface of the south portion is gently rolling and the central and north portions are occupied by the Taghanic mountains. The summits of these mountains are rocky and broken, and covered with forests, and their sides are bounded by steep declivities and perpendicular ledges. The surface is drained in a general southwesterly direction. The Owl Kill flowing into the town from the north, near Cambridge village, takes a southerly direction, uniting with the Hoosick, below Centre White Creek, on the southern border of the county. The principal tributary of the Owl Kill is North White creek. This is formed of several rivulets rising in the northeast part of the town. South of the White creek the Owl Kill receives five small creeks from the east and three from the west. In the southeast portion of the town is found the Little White creek, formed of several small streams rising north, near the centre of the eastern side. This flows directly to the Hoosick, uniting with it in Rensselaer county.
In the Taghanic range limestone is found, but has never been used to any extent. A small vein of lead was discovered on the Noxon farm, three-fourths of a mile east of Post’s Corners. It was discovered by Samuel Chase digging a post-hole. He prosecuted the search at considerable expense, and abandoned it. The farm was bought by Charles Tripp, who sunk a shaft, but likewise gave up the undertaking. Bruitt & Kane also experimented with the mine, but found it unprofitable. The assay shows twenty-two per cent. of silver, but the vein is not easy to work.