1840-1847

1840	Termination of the operation of the Partridge-Pierce forge.
1841	The first tavern in South Colton was built by a man named Knapp. The first South Colton school, taught by Nelson Gurley, was in a log shanty. The first store in that village was opened by J.C. and J. Irish. J.C. and J. Irish built and operated the first store, in which was kept the first Post Office. Scott S. Irish was later Postmaster and kept one of the stores. Other early store proprietors were Henry Close, I.L. Robinson, W.J. Horton, J.L Matthie, George Snell, Edward Lindsay, Dennis and Phillip Healy. Sawmills made use of the unharnessed power of the Racket. Irish Delosh operated one on the West side of the river, Lindsay and Young on the East side and J.C. Bruce at Cold Brook.
1843	The Township of Colton was formed from Parishville April 12. Colton was the 27th Town of St. Lawrence County by an act of the State Legislature. One name, suggested by Parishville and not used was Springfield.
1844	Next to Hopkinton, the Town of Colton was the largest town in the county, containing 123,229 acres, nearly covered with forest, the Northern part only being inhabited. The first starch factory was built by Hiram Pierce, making approximately 30 tons of potato starch a year from the crops of nearby farmers. The first Town Meeting was held February 20 at the Stark Hotel. The following were elected: Paine Converse, Supervisor; James H. Bridge, Town Clerk; Zina Hepburn, Silas Hawley and Hiram Pierce, Justices of the Peace; James Ellis and Clark D. Norris, Assessors; Isreal Draper, Pliny Hepburn, Henry Gibbons, Commissioners of Highways; J.C. Higley, Superintendent of Schools; Hiram Pierce, Overseer of the Poor; Wait Perry, Sealer of Weights and Measures. The whole number of votes cast was 67.
1845	According to U.S. census figures, the total population of the Town was 466. Of these, 198 were New Yorkers, 138 New Englanders, 3 came from other states and 59 came from British possessions. There were 4 common schools, 1 grist mill, 4 saw-mills, 1 tavern, 2 retail stores, 1 grocery. The most important crops in order of their quantity were potatoes, corn, turnips, wheat, barley, flax, peas, beans. Three falls Post Office was established.
1846	A. Barton Hepburn was born on what was later known as the Bullis farm. Timothy Bedal cleared his home in the wilderness and made his living by making "Black salts". About this time the great famine in Ireland caused many families to emigrate to the North Country, through Montreal as well as New York City. A mile wide swath was cut through the Southern portion of the Town by the freak wind storm called "The Great Windfall".
1847	William Day settled in Colton. He was a guide in the South woods.