(ilass . Book COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT //^ Gei\eral Erasius Root. Delaware C o^ntv? New ^orU History of tl)e Ccntar^j l(-9r-l397 Centennial Celebration Jcini.- and lo, i J07 Edited by DAVID MURRAY, LL.D. WILLIAM CLAKK. iTHLL'^IIKl! II K I. Fl 1 . \ . V. L'-'.is. Ct^ lOl'YKIGHT I'.Y WILLIAM CLAKK. 1 S 9 « . 70CC?l£SR£CuVED. -O U Judge Ebenezer Foote. / / PART I. Pre (cice. IX issuino^ tins ceuteuiiial volume to the public tlit' ol)ject hus been to comuieiuorate iu some permanent and suitable way the events of the century which has passed. For this purpose the public celebration of the ceuteuui;il aunivcrsarv was held, and the records of this memorial volume ha"ve been collected and printed. To those who have contributed to these paj'^es we desire to ex- press our most cordial thanks, and to hope that thereby a work has been prt)duccd which may lie I'mnid in some deg'ree worthy of the occasion. We trust tliat the impulse wliicli lias been j^iven by this celebration to the spirit of historical iucjuiry amou Colonial patents in Delaware county (note) 47 Character of the early settlers 48 Settlers from New England 48 The Koxbury contingent 49 Scotch immigration 50 Section IV. — Pioneer Experiences. Trials of the first settlers 52 Example of a Scotch family 52 The American axe and its use 55 The logging-bee 56 The first crop WJ Tools and implements 57 The chimney and wood fire 58 Tallow candles 58 Friction matches ( note) .58 Section V. — Revolutionaby Troubles. Tories iu all the settlements GO A ijuarrel at Middletown 60 \ CONTENTS. 7 PAGE. The r^i'ttli'iiii'iit SHVod \>y Tennis (iO A'i{,'ilauoi' eoiiiiiiitti>e at Harpeistield r.l Colonel John Harper '2 Harperstield settlers escape The Indians and British join in frontier raids til! Tlie Wyoming massacres GO The expedition under Generals Sullivan and Clinton fil". The liattle at Newtown l>7 Indian country devastated .-.:'^ G7 The Genessee valley invaded fiH Indian retaliations fiS Indians appear at Harpersfieid Gf^ Berainiscences of the war ''^ Sectiox VI. — Organtz.\tion op the County. New county proposed Gil Charter enacted by the Legislature Git Boundaries of the county G9 Original towns '" New towns ^^' First meeting of the supervisors "1 Court of Common Pleas organized "1 First court house "1 ■Second ■court house '"- Present court house ''^ Exciting experiences '■' Population of the county by towns '*' Taxable inhabitants in 1820 "<■' I'ounty Judges ' ' Surrogates ' ' District .attorneys ' ' County Clerks ''^ Sheriffs ''* County Treasurers '•' Members of Congress '^' State Senators ''•* 8 HISTORY Oh' DKLAWARK CorXTV. PAGE. Members uf Assembly 79' Supreme Ciourt Justices So Coustitutioiial Delpijates H5 State Officers S5. Section VII. — Military Con'cerxs. The Ki'voliitiiiuary iii(i\i'iiiriUs S6 War of 1812, and the renewal of the military spirit 8& Organization of the State militia S(; General training H7 A general training broken up 88 Section VIII. — Anti-Rest Troubles. Lanil and land patents 89 Leased lands ,S9 Form of lease in use 9(1 Movements in Albany, Rensselaer and Columbia eounlies 91 Disguised Indians 91 Law against disguises 92 Shooting of Steele 92' Contests in the courts and the legislature :),") Settlement of anti-rent issues 9.5. Section IX.— The Civil War. Contribution of troops by Delaware eounty 97 Company I of the 71st regiment 9T Troops raised in Colchester 98 Cavalry companj' 98 The Ellsworth regiment 99 The Eighth independent battery 99- The Shepard rifles lOO Company I of the SOth infantry 100 Contriliulion to the lolst regiment 100 14Uh regiment : 101 General conclusions 105 Section X.— Early Industries. (iradual advamement of the county 10(i Intn>diicLion of grist mills lOfi Saw nulls and lumbering lOG, 107 'I'annei-ies lOT fOXTKXTS. 1) vw.v.. Wood asli(>s Hi" Miiplo siifjar lO.s Miillvr iiiiiUiiiv; KIN Eiii-ly hiccils (if cows lii'.i r:irkiii.L; and niarUrtiiiK Imtlur 1 Ml SK( TION XI. — ItOAIlS AND KaILKOADS. Di'lawaii' an inland connt.v Ill Dcvi'ldpnient of roads 1 1 1 Care of till' roads ♦. "... 11 1 'I'll in pike loni panics 1 1- Tli.' Eric Canal 1 1-! AUc^'cd firicvaiice to rcnioto counties 112 New York and Erie railroad 1 !•"> Mistake of abroad gaii^je II') liciiclil of the Erie railroad to Delaware <-oiinly ll'l Alliaiiy and Susquenaniia railroad IH' New York and ()s\vef,'o Midland railroad II" lionte and engineering c|iiestions II" I'.onding the towns for its construction 11" Ulster a"d Delaware railroad 11« Aided liy bonding the towns H"-' Ailvantages secured 1 !'•' Section XII. -Editation and Sihooi.s. The pioneer settlers eager for education I'iO Movi'Uients of New York for ciuiimon scliools 1"-" ■jiie log school house 1-1 En nil I lire and e(|uipnii"iits 1-1 'Peachers' wages (note) 1-- Ucgretful renienibrance ''-•' Studies in a country school 1-5 Going up and standing head '-•' Reading liooks '-■■ Writing, copies and |)eiis '-'' Ink and ink powder '-'' .\ritlinielic '-'' AilvertiBonienl of hook and slalioncry 1-' Thunder storm '-■ Till- Kelaware Academy '-^ 10 irisrouY OF itFJ.AWMii': coixry. I'AGE. Tlio Di'la\v;iri> Litoi-aiy Iiistiluti' I'2:i The Fi'r;;iis()nvill(' A(-adpniy I'M) Acuclciiiv at Deposit l:ll Tlio Aiidos Acaclpmy 1:11 Tlio Stamford Snminary 131 ^Vallnll Aoadomy and Uuioii Srlmol •. i;V2 Section XIII.— Cmiunns and CiirKcir Movements. Relit!ioiis couviction.'^ of pionocr.s 133 Coiigrefjational chuiclu^s 134 Scotch Piosliyterian cliurdic.s 134 IJaptisI c-li inches 13.") Mi'tliodist churches 135 Protestant Episcopal churches 137 Friends 137 Koniau Catholic churches 137 Separate bodies of Scotch churches 138 Scdicli cliiircli in Bovina 13'.) Services, music, Sunday school, i>tc 1311 (V!lel)ration of the Lord's Sujjper 113 Section XIV. — Early Physicians. Want of |ihysicians among tlie early settlers 14.") Br. Oliver Wendell Holmes' view of medicines 14") The mothers were the physicians 14(1 Sell- made doctors 14(1 I'hysicians followed the coloni.sts 147 The clergy were often skilled in medicine 147 Sl.ile mi'clii-al society 14.S ('oiinty niedic-al .societies 14,S Dr. J. H. Brett 14« Di-. Plait Towiisend 14S Other physicians H.S Walter Scott the country doctor 14'.l Life of George Washington ( note i l.")l) Dr. Scott's successor ].")] Equipment of a doctor's office LM Surgical operations ].",-2 Tn rn-Key jr,o Bleeding ]',•> 1>A((F.. ExiK'iiiiH'Mls witli rlili)roriinn \'i'^ A smjjiiiil I'xpoiic'iicc Ifi;) SiwUlli'-liatis anil traveling l")t A I'alal acM-iili'iit l-')4 Seition XV. -BioonAi'iiiiAr, Skkitiies. C'uloncl John Haipi'i'. Iiy Allen S. rrilil>s lo." .Iiiilf;i> Kboufzer Footi' H'd (Icncial Krastus Root l Hon. Samuel Sherwood, liy Saniii(>l Sliciwooil of New York Hill General Henry Leavenworth 174 William B. Ogcleu IT'.I lU'v. Daniel Shepanl 1«'2 .Tndge Amasa J. Parker 1K.'> Jay GouM 1H7 Anthony il. Paine I'.ll Hon. Samuel A.. Law P'l Colonel Amasa Parker I'll Hon. Charle.s Hathaway ll'l Hon. Samuel Gordon 1''2 Dr. (). M. Allahen lll'2 Hon. Norwood Bowne 1!13 Judge William Gleason 19:1 Judgi' William Murray I'-);t General Ferris Jacobs, jr I'-'-t Judge Isaac H. Alaynard I'-"4 PART II. The ('[^ntexnial CELEniiATioN. Afldress of W.-lcume by Hon. Abrain ('. Crosby 2li:i Letter from Rev. John L. Scott, D. I) -'i'^" Letter from Rev. A. S. Ked/.ie '210 Remark.s of Gonerul Amasa J. Parker ^I'i Remarks of Mayor J. H. Milohell .' •21'"> Letter fiom David Murray, LL. D '217 UemarksofJ. I. Goodrich Esii '21'-' Remarks of Thomas G. Smith Ks.| ■2'20 Remarks of Hon. T. E. Hancock '2"2I Extracts from a b'lti'r ■2'2!l 12 nisroRV of DKi.AWMiK corxrv. I'A(!E, VcKMii "V.mi" l.y Artliur ifoic 2->.'i Aikliess l),v Hon. ('has. E. Lincoln 233 List of Relics c-xliihitcd 23K Ci'iiti'nnial dinner 2311 (I rami procession 240 Words of Welcome by Col. R. 1'. Corniiick 24() Anti-Rent Episode by David Murray, LL. D 243 The Anti-Rent "Andes Tragedy" by the, lati^ Hon. Richard Morse 2(i4 Memorial airainst the Erection of the County 2(17 PART III. Town Histoisies. Andes, by O.scar S. Nichols 274 Boxlna, by Hon. D. L. Thompson 2'.ll Colchostei-, By Edward E. Conlon 3111 Davenport, by Walter Seott ; 32(1 Delhi, by John A. Parshall 331» Deposit and Tompkins, by Cu\. G. D. Wheeler 3.55 Franklin, by Williara B. Hanford 373 Hamden, by Henry W. Holmes 3K3 Hancock, by Hon Wesley Gould 401 Harpersfiehl, by Allen S. (Jibbs 41.5 Korlrij,dit, by William B. Peters 451) Masonville. by A. F. (letter 4K1 Meredith, by Josiah D. Smith 41(3 Middletown, by Hon. Jolin Orant, and Mrs. J. K. P. Jackson 503 Ro.xbury, by Dr. J. N. Wright 51S Sidney, by Edwin R. Wattles .52H St.'unford 547 Walton, by Hon. Timothy Sanderson 5()7 APPENDIX. Kci'ord ol' First meeting of Board of Siiperxisors 507 Ki'cor'd of first eleetion canvass (100 NewsiKipers of Delaware County C.Ol Or'ganizatioir of towns (104 f'or-i'cctioris and .\ddilions (i()4 I5ist of llUr.slrcilions. PAoii('zor Foote 15 A PIdiii'i'i- Home i:i Portrait of Hon. Saiimcl Slierwood :t:i Delaware eouiity waterfalls l:) Log house and aii old ihureh 5:! Portrait of Hon. Williaiii B. Ogdeu <>:) A raft, river foniiiis,', sugar making 73 Portrait of Hon. .\masa J. Parker S3 Delaware tounlv lakes 03 The Sherwood residence 1M3 Delaware eounty seeni'ry 113 (ieneral Leavenworth's monument and stone ((uarry 123 Early [ihysicians' outfit and reminders of early days 141 State .\rm(iry at Walton lull Portrait of Jay Gould 177 Group of portraits l'J5 Centennial deeo rations 213 Centennial Itadges 231 .Vnli-Kenters' Indian disguises 24!) Centennial di'eo rations 263 Village of Andes 273 Villages of Union Grove and Shavertown 27il Village of Bovinn Centre "-Hi* Lake Dela wa re, Bo vi na 2i)'.l Village of Downsvjlle 311 Village of Arena and Shavertown view 3111 Village of Davenport 327 Villages of Davenport Centre and West Davenport 331 Village of Delhi 3.37 County farm and liridge, in Delhi 343 Village of Deposit 353 Village of Cannonsville 3.5i)- l:< 14 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. PAGE. Villages of Eoek Kift and Trout Creek 3(>5 Village of Franklin 371 Village of Treadwell 377 Village of Hamden 3sl Village of DeLaneey and Hamden street 389 Village of Hancock 399 Villages of East Branch and Fish Eddy 405 Villages of Harpersfield and North Harpersfield 413 Colonel Harper's monument and views 421 Villages of Halcottville and Kellys Corners 431 Villages of Arkville and New Kingston 441 Village of Bloomville 459 Village of Almeda and Bloomville street 469 Village of Masonville 479 Villages of East Meredith and Mer.'dith 489 Village of Meridale 495 Village of Margaret ville. 501 Village of Griffin Corners 511 Village of Kosbury 319 Village of Grand Gorge 523 Village of Sidney 529 Village of Sidney Centre 535 Village of Stamford 545 Village of Hobart 555 Village of Walton 565 Village of Walton 575 Stratton's Falls and view 585 Jersev cow and butter firkin 593 Introdactor\i. DllLVWAliE c-ouiity has played au iinportaut ]iart in tlic jiast liistorv of the coiuiiiouwealtli of New York. It is tittiiig, Tthereforc, at the end of the first cciitiirv of her organized life, to ■ forumemorate the eirciinistanees of her establishment, and to fi^ather up the faets of her experience which may serve as lessons for the future. The committee haviuj^' charire of the celebration of the centennial anniversary of the county has deemed it suitable to prejjare a volume, which Ix'sides coutaiuintj- th<> luoceedings of the days devoted to the public exercises at Delhi, should also include historical notices of the towns and the county, and bio- ^■ra])hical sketches of some of her most eminent citizens. It is impossible to enumerate all the sources from wliidi in- formation has been derived for the compilation of tliis story of a • century. To the authors of the town histories whose names are given in the contents, the committee desires to express its special .thanks for their valuable contributions. Ackuowledpfenients are particularly due to Mr. John A. I'arsha]]. the veteran antiiiuarian of Delhi, for his constant and williuLr assistance at all times; and to Mr. S. B. Champion of .Stainford who for forty-seven years has edited and published a continuous newspaper and whose recollec- tions cover more than hall' of the county's history. For the illustrations which add so much to the interest and value of the volume we desire to express our obligations to those who have aided us in securing them — to Miss Foote who has per- mitted the photographing of a miniature bust of her ancestor, ■Judge Foote; to Mr. E. B. Sheldon for permission to copy the portrait of General Root in his possession; to Mr. Samuel .Sherwood of New York for a ])ortrait of his grandfather and a 20 Hl.srORV OF DELAWAllE COUNTY. view of the venerable house which he oecupied when he wa« a lewitleut of Delhi; to Mis. John V. L. Pruyu for a portrait of her father, Judge Amasa J. Parker; and to Miss Helen Miller (xould for that of her father, Jay (xould. Besides these notable illustra- tions, it is most fitting to make mention of the picturesque views- of places and things gathered by Mr. Chas. T. Telford, the i)hoto- grapher, who has traveled over the county in search of what would add interest to the past life of the century. It will be of interest here to enumerate the maps and books which have heretofore been published in reference to Delaware county. In this statement we do not include the most important publications of all, viz: the newspaper press of which an account is given in the appendix. Mr. S. B. Champion has kindly furnished a detailed statement of these publications from which this is chietly derived. 1. In 1829 David H. Burr, a land surveyor, i)ublished a map of Delaware county. It was maiulj' designed for the benefit of the owners of laud patents and their agents, and for lawyers con- ducting litigations concerning land. The boundaries of land j)atents and the location of the lots are there given. 2. In 1856 Jay Gould, then in his 20th year, published a map founded on surveys made by himself. It is a wall map containing plans oi all the villages in the county. Mr. Champion admiring his pluck and self-reliance, furnished a small aiiKJiint of financial backing, with which he accomplished the jol). 3. While Mr. Gould was making surveys for his map he also collected material tor a history of the county. The manuscript having been destroyed by tire had to be re-written. It was pub- lished finally in 1S.3(). 4. In 18(j() a Gazetter of the State of New York, giving a brief history of every county in the State, was compiled by J. H. French and published by K. P. Smith of Syracuse. The sketch of Dela- ware county was mainly composed of facts taken from Simms" liistcu'v of Schoharie county, Campliell's histiuw of Tryon county. isriiiiiirfTiiii v. •>i aiilislied hy Beers, I'Ulis and Soule of New York. It resendilcd (iould's nia]! in styh' and ar- raiigeuient, and chiinis to liave beeu wade from ai'tual surveys. But this is uncertain. It contains forty-oue pages, a colored map of each town on u page and outlines of the larger villages on others. (i. In 188(1 a ([uarto vulunie of tiic liistory of Delaware coiintv was published liy W. W. JIuusell iV Co. of New York. It contained 'MVl pages, and was illustrated with county buildings, farms and houses, and with portraits of resident citizens. 7. In 181)5 the Boston Biot;'raj)liical l!e\icw I'ulilishing Com- pany issued a volume uf 71 (i pages, containing biograjihical sketches of 591 persons then resident in the county. aci'om)ianied with portraits of a portion of them. 8. In 187"2 the citizens of Sidney celebrated the centennial anniversary of the first white settlement. The j)roceediugs of this celebration were published in the newspapers of the daj' but no centennial voluiue was issued. In lsi)7 a historical souvenir of Delhi and vicinity, of (!'2 ])ages, was ])ublishcd contaiuiug historical matter and illustrated with views and ])ortiaits. It. Besides these publications, which refer e.\,'as, 26 HISTORY OF ni':i..\\VM{h: forxrv. the Cavugas, aud the Senecas. Subsetiueutlv iii 1717 the Tuseavo- ras, a coguate tribe who dwelt iu the Caroliuus, removed to New York and were admitted into the Indian League, which uow l)e- canie the confederacy of the Six Nations. These tribes occupied the middle and western parts of the State. The Mohicans, sometimes called the Delaware Indians, occupied the regions along the Hudson river and as far east as the Con- necticut, and westward to the head-waters of the Susquehanna. This tribe was less warlike and more disposed to be friendly towards the white settlers than their enemies the Six Nations. The novelist Cooper in his "Last of the Mohicans"* has drawn a fascinating jjicture of the fragments of this tribe at the time of the French war in the region of Otsego lake. They had been conquered and reduced to a pitiable condition of dependence by their fierce neighbors; and at the time of the revolutionary war when the Mohawks, under the lead of Brant and at the instigation of the British, raided the loyal settlements, the Delawares were able to make no headway against them. No part of the present county was ever the permanent home of the Indians. They visited various parts of it on hunting excur- sions, and established camps which remained fixed for mouths; but they always withdrew before the rigors of winter began. The present site of Sidnej' village was thus an Indian hunting camp; and several places on the East Branch of the Delaware, and at the head of the West Branch where the valleys slope oS in several directions, were visited by Indians in their annual hunting excur- sions. This right to rove the forests in the ojjinion of these savages gave them an ownersliiii in territory, which the early settlers were considerate enough to respect. It was the jJolicy of the Dutch, who came first into the territory of the New Nether- lands, to treat the Indians as the real land-owners. They bought the island of Manhattan, although the price which they paid — * Wo have followed the novelist's cxamiilr in iisin;4 tlic word Mohican as till' name of this tritie. IXDIAX (lOTI'AXrS: WILD AXIMM.S. 27 tw ciity-fDiir dollars — seems uow so ridicMilously iiiiiil('i|uate. The Yiiu Keusselaer colonists who settled the territory about Albauy bought the lauds of the ludiaus, of which they afterward received a f>-rant from the Dutch West India C'oiiipauy. So too, after the Dutch possessions in Anicricii had been transferred to the I'luglish iu 1()(]4, the new owners niaiutained the same peaceable relations with the aborigines. Aud when the great Hardenbcrgh patent was given by Queen Auue iu 1708 to Johannes Hardeubergh and his associates, it was required of them that they must extinguish tlie Indian titles before the grant would be complete. In doing this there arose a controversy between the patentees and the Indians as to whether the great tract lying l)etween the East and West branches of the Delaw-are river was included in the sale made by the Indians. In order to settle this dispute the patentees agreed to purchase frmii the claimants the disjmted territory, for which they paid the sum of one Iniiulred and forty-nine jiounds, nineteen shillings. In order to maintain amicalile relations with tlic Six Nations tin? English Colonial (Tovernment ap]iointcd iu 174(i William Jolinsou (afterward Sir William) as Commissary of Indian Affairs. He had been trained by the Schuylers of Albauy who had maintained the traditional Dutch policy of peace and fairness. He established his office at Johnstown in Fulton county, so called after himsi'lf. My his great influence he kept the Six Nations on the side of the British during the French war; and when the hostilities of the revolutionary war were about to break out, his ascendency was shown by the New York Indians alnitist uuanimously taking the side of the tories. He died in 1774 just before active hostilities began; but his i)olicy was continued by the members of his family who were maintained by the government in the same re.spousible position. One of the most important agreements which Sir William John- son made with the Indians was a treaty entered into at Fort Stanwix in 17(iH. This treaty was designed to settle the disputes which had arisen in reference to the western boundary line to 28 HISTUUV OF DELAWARE CUrXTV. which the loeatiou of white settlements mig-ht extend. The line tixed by this treaty was an irregular one beginning on the Ohio river and ruuuing eastward to the Susquehanna, and along branches of the same, thence to the Delaware river, and so north wiird near the present city of Rome and 1)y the Canada Creek to Lake Ontario. It was signed on the part of the British by Sir AYilliam Johnson, and on the jjart of the Indians by representatives of eac-h of the six confederated nations, viz the ^lohawks, the Oueidas, the Tuscaro- ras, the Onondagas, the Cayugas, and the Senecas. Sir 'William on behalf of his government paid to the Indian chiefs the sum of ten thousand four hundred and sixty pounds, seven shillings and three pence, and in return received a deed of the land so conveyed. Delaware county lay to the east of this line, which was known as the "line of pro2)erties." It was therefore open to settlement, both under the terms of this treaty, and under the Hardenbergh patent which had originally been bought from the Indians. The only Indian who is known to have lived in Delaware county after the Revolutionary war was old Tennis, who dwelt alone in a little tent by the lake which still retains his name, situated in Boviua near the borders of the town of Andes. The story con- cerning him is that during the Revolutionary war, when the Indians were about to make a raid upon the white settlements in Middletown, the family of Mr. Yaple received a friendly warning from this Indian who had received kindnesses from them. Taking advantage of this timely caution ilr. Yaple and his neighbors escaped and drove off their cattle and saved much of their belong- ings. Prol)al)ly the action of Tenuis in giving notice to the whites enraged his companions, and made it necessary for him to escape into solitude. Here he lived for many years, supporting himself by hunting and fishing, and occasionally receiving a little help from the white neighbors who always felt for' him a deep sense of gratitude for saving their lives. There is a tradition that when Teunis ran short of lead to make balls for his ritle, he used to make a journey of a few days from IXDIAX OCCrPAXrS: WILD AXIMAl.S. 29 home, aud liriuj^ back with him blocks of a miueral which he used for the mauufacture of balls. This ga\e rise to the belief that there was somewhere within reach a lead mine to which Tenuis went for his sujiplv of this niiueral. Search t'nr it has often been made; but no such mineral deposit has ever beeu found. It is impossible that he derived it from anj' natural mine. Aus to the Catskill foriiiatiou. A little corner on the north side iuchulinf^' portions of the to\vushi])s of Davenport and Harpersfield belongs to the Ithaca formation. South of this, extending;' alonj^' the Sus(iuehauna and including' parts of Sidney, Fraukliu, Meredith, all of Kortright, and j)arts of Harpersfield, Stamford and Roxbury, and following- the West l)riiuch down below Hamden, and the East branch below Halcott- ville, lies a very irregular space belonging to the Oneonta formation. Finally there is another very irregular tract forming the division between the Catskill and Oneonta formations, and belonging to the Chemung formation. No coal deposits occur in any of these formations, and no minerals of any kind have ever been discovered within the limits of the county. Occasionally bowlders have been encountered, especially in the northern part of the county, which indicate that in the glacial ])friod much of this region was covered with ice. Moving with resistless impulse it carried with it from distant points the rocks which it had picked np on its way. In the township of Franklin is an immense bowlder which from its composition and character could not possibly have been derived from any neighboring rocks. This bowlder was brought to my attention by Professor J. C. Smock now superintendent of the (Teological Survey of New Jersey. He visited it when he was studying the evidences of the glacial I)eriod in New York and New Jersey, and expresses his belief that it was brought thither by the ice from some jjoiut in Canada. The rocks in Delaware countj' are not in general suitable for building purposes. The only valuable C[uarries are the fiagging stones which have been found in several localities. In the neigh- borhood of the village t)f Delhi these quarries have been worked to great advantage, so that few places have better tiagged side- walks than this charming country village. When building stones are required in the structures which are to be erected, they must be brought from a distance; or the}' may be picked up in small PIiysTCAr. FKATlliKS. Si)- quantities from the bowlders wbiuli have beeu dropped here and there as described above. The luoimtaius of Delaware couuty form a coiiiu'cting link between the Blue Ridge on the south and the Catskill and Helder- berg mountains on the north. The highest peak in the county is Mt. Pisgah situated in the township of Andes, said to be about 3,400 feet above tide. In the southern part of the county the mountains are high and the vallej'S narrow and declivitous. With the exception of the bottom lands along the rivers, there was little land capable of growing successful crops of grain. The best crop — and this has given to the county its distinguishing spe- cialty — was the gi-ass which furnished pasture to the cows in summer, and hay for them in winter. The springs and brooks which provided abuudam-e of water, and the trees which i)r(>vided refreshing shade, were helps in the same direction. For a long time the aljuudauce of pine in parts of the louuty gave employment to many lumbermen, who cut and hauled and rafted* to market the product of the forests. In like manner the hills covered with hemlock furnished bark for tanning leather. But a century of such anping finally at the beautiful tlats which are now called Sidney. Here they found a few scattered but friendly In- dians, belonging to the Housntouick tribe, which at this time were subject and triliutary to the Six Nations. They selected a farm of 520 acres bordering on the river, which w-as a part of a laud-patent belonging to Bauyar and Wallace, of which they bought the fee-simple. In the Hevolutionary troubles which soon came on Wallace took the tory siy the Stjite of Massachu- setts. The two states settled the question of jurisdiction by an agreement that the price of tlie lauds when sold should go to Mas- sachusetts, l>ut tli.-it the whole tract slioiild belong politically to the State of New York. The land was in 17111 solBernier. Franklin Township, 1770, 30,0011 acres, Thomas Wharton and others. Golrlsljoroiigli Patent. 1770, (i.OOO acres, Edward Tudoi- and others. Hardenhergh Patent, 1708, , Johannes HardeuhiMgh and others. Harper's Patent, 17i',0, 22,000 acres, John Harjier, Jr. - Kortright Patent, 1770, 22,000 acres, Lawienci' Koitiighl. Leake's Patent, 1770, 5,000 acres, Robert Leake. Forfeited by attainder. McKee's Patent, 1770, 40,000 acres, Alexander McKee and others. MeKee's Patent, 1770, 18,000 acres, additional, Alexander McKee and others. Prevost Patent, 1770, , James Prevost. Strasburgli Township, 177(1, 37,000 acres, John Butler and others. For- /eited by attainder. Walton's Patent. 177ii, 20,000 acres, WIIUhmi \Viilto[i and others. Whiteboro Township, 38,000 acres, Henry Wliite ami i.thers. I'orfeii.Ml J)V attainder. 48 msronv or hkla wauk c( ■colonies iiud states of New Kiiyhnul, liist into ciistern New York, tlien into western New York, iinil still later into Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and farther west. There was a time, just subsecjiient to the Kevolutiouarv war, when many of these restless aud adventurous New Euf^'landers stuii^ht homes near the head waters of the Susque- hanna and the Delaware rivers. The immense town of Fraid.\i-:Kh' h:si'i-:Rih:.\ch:s. 55 .•irnnuil tlic |i:irty. stiirtliii<>- siiuin-cls aiiil l)!r(l>, iiiiil ]>iittin;^ tn Hifjfbt till' wolves, the foxes ami tbe bears whieli creep curiously out to see the passiufr cavalcude. A friend who is n'c'iiiK t" help to install the family in its new home, is drivinjj' behind theni a milk-cow and her calf, a half . Every moment that was not needed for the care of his family ami iiis cattle is em]iloyed l)y the father in chol)l)in,!4 ih.wn the trees anmml his l)uildiu'--s. Little by little the <-li'ariii-- became larfjfer and the in-osjiects <>radually bri^;hten. The American axe, which he soon learned to wiehl with force and jirecision, is the most effective tool which has ever licen .levised. With it the intermin- able forests of the continent have been levelled and turned into fruitful fields. A few years later when the two l)oys had <,'rown so as to handle the axe. the three wtuild to^'ether attack a tree: the father cuttinf,' alone on one side, and the two boys putting; in alternate strokes on the other side. The tree cuttin- usually con- tinued during,' the entire winter and tliiis by s)iiin^'-tinie a coiisider- a1)le addition is made to the clearing'. 5() HISTORY OF DELAWAHK COfXrV. The task lit' the ]iiniu'cr however iis not only to cMit dnwii tlic trees. Each tree after it bail been felled, was cut into loj^s of almut fourteen feet; the branches were trimmed off and piled into Ijiiish- heaps. Then when the summer sun had dried the branches, and the more pressing spring's work was passed, advantage was taken of a windv day when there was a strong breeze away from the build- ings. The brush heaps were all kindled, being watched lest tire shoukl do some damage, and in order that the heaps should be com- pletely burned. After this preliminary work was done, then came the great work of "logging." This was sometimes done by the pioneer and his boys. But it was a very heavy task, and if a large clearing was to be made the usual custom was to hold a " logging ' bee." A few of the ueighljors, who sometimes had similar favors to ask, were invited to help on this supreme occasion. Perhaps two additional yoke of oxen were brought, and each man carried his axe on his shoulder. They came after breakfast, and went away after a five o'clock sujajjer. A dinner was served at twelve o'clock and for an hour men and oxen were alike refreshed by rest. It is fair to say that on these occasions the farmer was expected to provide some kind of drink. It was either ram which came from New England or the West Indies; or it was the whisky which already began to be distilled in all these country towns. The men did not drink to excess, and noliody was much the worse for what they considered their suitable indulgence on these occasions. The work they had to do consisted in dragging the logs to- gether and making them into heaps for burning. A yoke of oxen was assigned to each gang, which consisted of two or three men besides the driver. Each log was drawn by the oxen to its heap and rolled hj the men with hand-spikes to its place. Fragments of the unburned branches were piled in along with logs, and thus log- heajjs were made throughout the clearing. As the whole space had already been burned over when the brush-heaps were tired, the task which the loggers now had w as by no means a clean one or an easy one. Their faces and their clothes were soon begrimed with the PIONEER KXPKHIKXCES. 5T coal from the log« and tlir lirnui-lics. I>iit tliis did nut iiitcrfci-c with the good humor of the coiiijiuiiy m- with iu-tivitv and the williuguess with which they worked. After the logging, on some dry, breezy ilay the t'aiiiicr sets fire to these log-heaps, and watching and tending tlicni can't'ully sees them all burned n]i. Then among the stumps on the soil, well fertilized by the ashes left by the l)urued log-heajis. he sows his crop of rye. or oats, or buckwheat. Aud notwithstanding tlie rough and uuplowed surface these tivst crops wcic sure to be rich and abundant. Along with the first croj) of grain — rye or oats but not of buckwheat — the farmer also sows a cro}) of mixed timothy and red clover. The grain comes to maturity during the first summer, but the grass making a stsirt during this summer under tlie friendly shade of the grain, conies to a head and furnishes a crop of hay for the second summer. Potatoes are planted also in the new soil and yield a good crop. Some minor crojjs, such as turnips, cal)bages, and onions are also raised even from the very first. On the farms along the rivers and in [initccted places Indian corn is also planted, although not in' general until the secund year. The stumps and roots of the hardwood tindicr very soon begin to decay, and in a few years can be torn up and l)urned. Thus land which at first was covered with forest, in tlie course of five or six years became cultivatalile fields, yielding abundant crops of grain and hay and vegetables. \Vhere the forests were oi pine, as was the case in many places, the stumi)s were nnu-h longer in decaying. Indeed you may still see fields tilled with innc stumps which iinist have been cut fifty years ago. .■V stiuii]>-niacliine is generally necessary to eradicate the pine stiuiijis, and thin a lire soon reduces them to practicable ashes. The tools and implements in the case of a priniitive farm such as we have been describing were neither many nor elaborate. The axe was the most useful aud important, hammer and cut nails, the saw aud the crowbar. Then there were the voke, the ox-chaiu, the sled ■58 HisroRV (IF /»/-,7,.i ir.i /,"/•: lorxT): to l)c drawn liy dxcn. the harrow used oii new laud cxcn Ix'fore the ploui^li, the hoe and the shovel. Alioiit the ham and stahle were the tlail. the t'aiinin.L;' mill, the half-lnishel ^raiu measure, birch- Iniioui, i't<-. In the house the cookinj;' of food and the neeessarv warmth were furnished by the open tire-])lace. The wood was cut usuiilly in the winter time and was thoroiifj'hly seasoned l)efore it was used on the tire. In the winter W'hen the weather was cold there was built an immense Are fcmsistinpf of a bac'k-lof>', a fore- sti(di, and the necessary top-dressin;;'. When sucdi a tire ;;-ot mnler way it was a sioht to behold. It must be rememliered that at this early chiy friction-matches* were unknown; and at nij;ht before .H'oiuj^ to lied it was ahvays the custom to cover up a bed of coals with ashes, so that the fire mig-ht be kept alive till nioruiuf^'. If liy any accident the tire became extiui;u:shed, the common resonrce was to send to a neighbor's for a shovelful of live coals. There is uothiuj> in which fj;-reater proj^ress has been made duriup the century than in the matter of artificial li<>'ht. At the time of the s<'ttlenient of our Scotch Pioneer — say IH'Ii) — almost the only kind of artificial li^lft in nse by such a family was the candle. It was made from the tallow of the beef or sheep; preferably from the former, because it was harder and .strou<>er. A row of wicdvs was huus' on a stick, ami the whole dijjped at once into a pot of melted tallow an^ain. The stick with its row of dip])ed wicks was then hun^ in a cool place until the layer of tallow becanu' liard. In the mean time a second and then a third, etc., of the rows of wicks were dipped and hung up for coolin<,'. The process was continued until the candles became as lars'e as was desired. An improved method of makinf^- tallow-candles was to have a row of five or six tin caudle moulds soldered toj^etlier parallel. Wiid. ArtiHcial li^lit wiis not so iniK-h used ill those early (hiys as now. Ijuinjis for uhide oil \ver<' soiiie- tiiiics cniiiloyed when a brttvr lii^ht was iieeessary. But 't was not till the discovery of kci-osciic oil iu 185H, iu Peuusylvjiuia, that the nicat iniproveineiit iu the eharaeter of lifjfht for eouutrv houses l)eL;au. Since that time almost every house has its kerosene lainj)s., wlii<-li f\irn'sli a l:;;'lit ncarl\ ciiual to the ;;as-li;^ht of cities. V. Revolationar>j Troables. DELAAVAEE coiiuty was involved in the trials of the Kevolutiou ouly as a froutier comimmity. In tlie meagre settlements at Harperstield, Middletowu and Sidney there were differences of opinion which gradually grew into bitter controversies. Even iu the perilous times which resulted from the invasions of the Indians theie were tories who were ready to lead them against their jiatriot neighbors, and help them to raid their homes and carry off their slender possessions. The Middletown settlers were very sharply divided. Even the boys at school became bitter partisans. It is handed down by tradition that a quarrel occurred l)etweeu two of the school-boys, ■one Isaac Dumoud a sou of Peter, and the other a boy by the name of Markle. The latter called Dumond a rebel; and in retiu-n Duuiond struck him. An encounter ensued; and probably other boys took sides. The matter ended in the breaking up of the school. In the spring of 1778, soon after the burning of Kingston by the British troops, the Indians advanced up the East branch for the purpose of making depredations upon the patriotic settlements. Their designs against Middletown were revealed Ijy the friendly Indian Tennis* as has been mentioned above. He notified ^Ir. Yaple his friend, and by him the alarm was sj^read among his patriot neighbors. They drove oft' their cattle and concealed such of their goods as they could. The Indians burnt their buildings and pursued the fugitives through the hills towards Kingston as far Mi Shaudakeu. It is said that Yai)le afterwards returned to secure some of his goods, and was taken prisoner by the tories au(l carried off to Pepacton. He was however soon after released. * See p. 28. liEVoLITIoXARY THOlIil.F.S. 61 A coiupiiuy of patriot luilitiu was seut from HcLohiirii' to protect ■ the settlei's. A sad event occurred in connection with the \nsit of these troops. In Aiij^iist ITTN they took j>nsouer Messrs. Dumoud and Barrow, supposing them to have been tories, who had returned to the settlement to secure a piece of fjraiu which was ripe. They were mounted, both on a sinj^'lo horse, and at what they thought a favorable moment tried to make their escape. They were detected in their eifort and Dumoud was shot, but Barrow eluded pursuit and escaped. lu the autumn of the same year Peter Brufjher and his young son had returned to the Middletown settlement tt) harvest some of their crops. The Indians had been provoked by his piloting the Schoharie militia against them, and they took this occasion to kill him. The boy they took prisoner and carried him with others to Niagara.* The most trying scenes, however, of the Revolution which oc- curred in Delaware county, were those in Harperstield. Here the settlers were mostly patriots, and early — August 1775 — in the struggle they formed a committee of vigilance. The chief of this committee was John Harper, who received the commission of Col- onel. Others of the active settlers were enrolled and took a solemn oath of fidelity to the f)atriot cause. They had not then given up the hope that at least a part of the Indians might join the American •side in this controversy. As there was a gathering of the Indians . at Oipiago on the .Suscpiehanua river, it was deemed best to des- l)atch Colonel Harper to hold a i-oufercnce with them. This he un- dertook in the winter of 177(5. and carried with him a letter from the Provincial Congi'ess. He was received by them with kindness, and as he spoke their language fluently, he was given an opjiortunity to read the letter and state the wishes of the Congress. They treated him witli the most august ceremony and gave him the as- . surance of their wish to remain neutral in the controversy then pending. But the hopes raised by this conference of Colonel Harper with * See liouldK Hwlory of Delaware County, p. 39. (J2 msToliV v me iiirtueuce of Johusou, he had liccu scut to the Moor Charity School at Leliauou, Couuecticut. Here he ac(|uired a fairly ^ood educa- tion, and made the acquaintance of many boys who afterward became prominent. One of these was Captain Alexander Harper, a brother of Colonel John Harper. By the aid of Sir "William, and through his own active and ambitious genius, he had V)een ad- vanced to the leadershijj of the powerful league of Indians. He does not seem to have been 2:)resent at the conference between Colonel Harper and the Indians at Oquago. And when he after- ward joined the Indians he had little difficulty in reversing all the good inqjressions which had been made, and in persuading his- fierce and lawless warriors to enter upon the bloody succession of raids which followed. The result of a second effort to dissuade the Indians from making common cause with the Bintish was no more favorable than that just referred to. This effort was made by General Herkimer in June, 1777. He had known Brant as an old neighbor in the Mohawk country, and hoped to exert some wholesome influence upon him. Herkimer asked Brant to meet him at I'nadilla on the ■ Susquehanna, and this he did. Each of the leaders had come to the place of meeting with a considerable force. A conference was held, but without any good result. Indeed an angry alterca- tion occurred between Brant and a Colonel Cox who was one of General Herkimer's attendant officei's. And although no open breach of the peace occurred, both jjarties retired from the meeting more bitterly hostile towards each other than before. Under jiressure of such dangers the peojjle of the Harjurslicld settlement concluded that it was safest to escaj)e to some more populous place. A few of the hardy men remained to care for the property and ci'ops as far as possible; but the women and children * Wo fdlliiw Sloiif'x [.iff of Hniiil in those iiarlirulais. Hor). Willian\ B. Oydeq. h'h:\()i.iTioxAi;y rmiiiiLESi. (J5 aii'l most of the men — Jiilv 1777 — took iiiiick aud ((niet lU'iJurture for Clierry Valley. Tlie stunlj- old Scotchman John More who lived remote from the Harperstield settlement had luil heard of their depiirture and was t[uietly remaining in his home. A friendly Indian who belonged to one of the threatening hands, escaped from his conipauious by night and came to John More's house to warn him to follow his friends and make his escape. He was wise enough to follow the advice and with his family and possessions joined in the procession to Cherry Valley. The Johnston settlement on the Susi[uehauna at Sidney i'laius had a visit from Brant and his Indians in June 1777. They stole some cattle from the settlers in order to feed, as Brant said, his hungry warriors. Mr. Johnston held a conference with them, at which Brant gave his ullimalum in the following speech: "I am a man of war. I have taken an oath with tlie king, and I will not make a treaty with ymi. I will give these families forty-eight hours* to get away. So long they shall bo safe. If any amiinf^- you wish to join us, I will protect them and they shall not l)e hurt." The Johnston and Sliter families who were patriots took advantage of the short respite and made their escape to Cherry Valley. Three families espoused the tory cause and remained under Brant's promise of protection. At Cherry Valley these families were pres- ent at the siege and burning of the place by the Indians and British ; but after the war was over they returned to their old homes, and resumed their pioneer life. The Indians of the Six Nations were mainly allies of the British in the Revolutionary war. Part of the Oneida tribe and i)art of the Tuscaroras were either friendly to the Colonists or neutral iu the war. But the Mohawks, the Cayugas and the Senecas, were hostile; and under the active leadership of Brant gave tiie fi'ontier settle- ments in Tryon county an infiinte amount of trouble. They had held early in the war a council with British commissioners, who urgently pressed them to cond)ine against the patriots. They • Another authority niveg the tiiiii' as eight ilays. 4 (j(; HISTORY OF DKLA^VARE COVXTY. thereupou made a treaty uuder which each chief of the savajje allies was to receive a suit of clothes, a brass kettle, a j,'uu aud aiu- iiuiuitiou, a tomahawk, a scalping knife, a piece of t^old, and a promise of a specified bounty for every prisoner or scalp delivered at head-quarters. Under these incentives many savage cruelties were enacted, sometimes by the Indians alone aud sometimes by British troops accompanied by Indians. The little village of Springfield at the head of Otsego Lake was destroyed in the spring of 1778, by Brant aud his warriors. In July, 1778, the terrible massacres at Wyoming* on the Susquehanna were perpetrated. The whole country was aroused, and the result was the sending of the Sullivan expedition, in order to exact due vengeance for the numberless barbarities which had been committed on the frontiers. This expedition was jjlanned by General Washington who in- sisted on the adecjuate punishment of the hostile Indians, who for so many years had acted as the willing agents of the British in harrying aud raiding the New York settlements. The forces of the expedition were to consist of two parts; — one under the command of General Sullivan, which was to ascend the Susquehanna; the other uuder the command of General James Clinton (the father of DeWitt Clinton) which was to be gathered in the Mohawk valley, to ascend the river in boats to Canajoharie, drag the 210 boats across the portage of twenty miles to the head of Otsego Lake, launch them there and traverse the lake to the outlet of the Susquehanna, thence to descend the rivet and juiu the first division at the junction of the Chemung aud Susquehanna. The task of this second division was most difficult, but was performed with prompt- ness and entire success. One difficulty General Clinton surmounted in a most original aud effective manner. It was in August, 1779, that he and his * Thomas Campbell's famous poem of Gertrude of Wyoming made a great impression. He calls Brant the " monster Brant." Brant's son, however, visi- ted London in order to vindicate his father's memory. It is said that he con- vinced the poet that Brant was not [iresent on this occasion. REVOLrriDXARY TliornLES. 67 expedition arrived at the outlet of tlie lake. The drought had so lessened the How into the river that it was too low to tloat the l)oats which had been brouf^ht thither with such labor. Clinton had a dam erected across the outlet liv which the tinw was interrupted. In a few davs the water of the lake was raised to the necessary height. The boats had beeu in the mean time moored in the stream below the lake. Then when everything was ready the dam was removed, and the boats were carried down on the crest of the swollen stream, until they arrived August 22 at the designated place of rendezvous. The westward campaign at once began, under the command of General Sullivan. A considerable battle was fought at Newtown the site of the present city of Elniira. It is called the battle of the Chemung. A combined force of Indians under Braut and of British troops under Colonel ■John Butler, opposed Sullivan's army. But the British and Indians were swept away and the nnirch westward continued. The Indian towns which were found were everywhere deserted, and as a revenge for the long series of depredations upon white settlements, these towns and the crops alumt them were destroyed. The beautiful country* of the Cayugas and Senecas was the blossom of the highest Indian civilization. The Indians everj-- where ded as Sullivan's expedition advanced. A slight and ineffec- tive stand was made before Sullivan entered the beautiful valley of the Genesee. Everything was devastated and destroyed. The ripening crops on which the Indians depended for their winter's supply were Ijurnt "The town of Genesee contained one hundred and twentj'-eight houses, mostly large and very elegant. It was beautifullj' situated, almost encii'cled with a clear fiat extending a number of miles; over which extensive fields of corn were waving, together with every kind of vegetable that could be conceived." f * Stone in liis life of Brant says : " Tlicy liacl several towns and many large villugo.s, laid out with a con.sideraMe degree of regularity. They had franu'undance of apples, were in the enjoyment of the pear and the still more deliiious peach. Lifi- of -lo- j»}>h Bninl. Vol. II, p. 'i."!. + Sullivan's report as cited )>y Stone. Vol. II, ]i. :).!. 68 HlsruliY UF DELAWMih: corxTy. This towu with all its accumulated supplies was utterly destroyed, besides forty other ludiau towus and villages- Oue hundred aud sixty thousand bushels of corn were burned or cast into the river. Fruit trees were cut down and fields of j^rowinj^- vej^etaliles were utterly devastated. On the Kith of Se])teiiiber Sullivan re-crossed the Cxeuesee river aud commenced his return. It had been intended that he should advance on Fort Niagara aud reduce this jjrincipal stronghold^ But perhaps fearing that his force had been too nuuh re ITHT the territory uow foriuiuj^- Delaware eouuty was uicludeil iu the comities of Ulster aud Otsejro. The former reached to the West branch of the Delaware river which formed its north-west boundary; the latter reached the same stream whicli formed its soutli-east boundary. The inhabitants south of the river were compelled to go to Kingston for their necessary law business, while those on the north side went the low^ journey to Coopers- town. In IT'.il a plan was mijoted to carve from the two counties another, to lie called Delaware county from the name of tlie Dela- ware river which took its rise within the proposed boundaries. There \vas a strong opposition of course, as there always is, to the formation of the new county, and a j)etition numerously signed was sent to th<' Legislature protesting against tlic proposed action. For several years therefore the measure was held back, and it was not till 1797 that the bill was finally passed. During this session of the Legislature, Dr. J. H. Brett, a physician of Harpers- tield, \\&H a member of the Assembly from Otsego county, John Burr of Middletown a member for Ulster county, and Ebeuezer Foote a member from Xewl)urgli in Or.inge county. These three active aud eflicient members espoused the cause of the new county, and mainly by their agency the bill was cai-ried through the Legis- lature ami became a law Marcli ID, IT'.i". Some slight changes have been made iu the boundaries of the ■county since the original act of incorporation was passed. In 1K17 n section north of the Charlotte river was detached from Otsego <;ounty ami added to Dehnyare county. .\nd in ls22 a stiip of Delaware county lying on the south side of (lie Sus(|uehanna river, 70 IIISTORV OF DELAWARE COl'STY. but separated from the bodv of the county liy ahiiost inaccessible mountains, was detached from Delaware county and made a part of Otsego. "With these exceptions the lioundaries of the county have i-emained as described in the original act. When the county was chartered there were only seven town- ships already established. They are given below: 1. Harpersfield, organized 1788, in Otsego county. 2. Middletown, organized 1789, in Ulster county. 3. Colchester, organized 17!)2, in Ulster county. 4. Franklin, organized 1792, in Otsego county. 5. Stamford, organized 1792, in Ulster county; in 1834 a part was detached from Harpersfield and Kortright and at- tached to Stamford. {). Kortright, organized 1793, in Otsego county. 7. Walton, organized 1797 (just before the organization of the county), in Otsego county. The other twelve towns of the county have been formed from time to time by slicing away parts of the older towns, in the following order: 1. Delhi 1797, taken from "Walton and Kortright. 2. Roxbury 1799, taken from Stamford. .'J. Meredith 1800, taken from Franklin and Kortright. 4. Sidney 1801, taken from Franklin. .5. Hancock ISOd, taken from Colchester. (i. Tompkins 1806, taken from Walton (for two years called Piueiield). 7. Masonville IMl, taken from Sidney. 1,026 1,798 2,862 3,069 3,238 4,745 Harpersfleld, 1,007 1,691 1,884 l,97(i 1,708 1,613 1,466 1,485 1,420 1,386 Kortright... 1,513 2,993 2,548 2,870 2,441 2,181 2,022 1,812 1,730 1,588 Miisouville 719 1,145 1,420 1,550 1,683 1,738 1,673 1,397 Meredith 213 726 1,375 1,666 1,640 1,634 1,626 1,462 1,563 1,555 Middletown . 1,064 2,318 1,949 2,383 2,608 3,005 3,200 3,035 2,977 3,313 Roxbury .... 936 1,892 2,488 3,234 3,013 2,853 2,.544 2,188 2,344 2,272 Sidney 1,388 1,107 1,410 1,732 1,807 1,914 2,.597 2,461 3,122. Stamford.., 924 1,658 1,495 1,597 1,681 1,708 1,658 1.658 1,638 1,940 Tompkins 869 1,206 1,774 2,035 3,022 3,564 4,046 2,534 2,626 Walton 1,154 1,211 1,432 1,663 1,846 2,271 2,098 3,216 3,544 4,543 Delaware Co. 10,228 20,303 25,587 33,024 35,396 39,834 42,465 42,972 42,721 45,496 In 1820 the following was the number of the taxable inhabitants in each of the towns: Colchester 177 ^Meredith 'Mi Delhi . . ■ 124 Koxbury 169 Franklin 205 Stamford 195 Harpersfleld 105 Walton 183 KortriiJ-ht 2(i(l Middletown 1(17 Total . 1,681 We give in closing this chaj)ter concerning the organization of Delaware county a list * of the several officers from the formation of * For this enumeration we are indelitcd to the yen- York CirU Lixl, sup- plcunented by Mr. J. A. Parshall. oKdAXIZATKlX (IF THE COUNTY. IT tlR' couuty to tlu' iu'esciit, witli tlic tuuc of their electiou to office. I. C'orxiY JriHiEs. Joshua H. Brett 171)7 Hl)eiiezer Foote l.slo Isaac Ofifileu IMIG Ebenezer Foote 1H28 Jabez Bostwick 1S81) Charles Hathaway 1840 Nelson K. Wheeler 1845 l'.iii<.\siy,.\ri()S (IF Till-: cinsry. r'.i YI. CdlNTV TlvKAsriiKliS. Previous to lS4ii the tri'iisurtTs of the i-ountics wore iippoiiitcil l)v the Imiirds of sujtervisors aud held otHce durin;^' tluir plcusiive. •James Elwood lS4s .1. Suvau Paj^'e isTo Horatio N. Buckley l^i")l Miuor Stilsou . . . ISSl Charles A. Foote ISCd J. 1{. Houeywell 1^S,S7 Theophilus F. Melutosh IHdlt C. S. Woodruff. l.sii.j Vn. Members of Congress. I'.nistiis Itoot lsn8-0o Krastus Moot isd'.i 11 Samuel .Sherwood lsl;{-li) Erastus Root isl.") 17 Robert Clark lslil^21 Charles A. Foote l.S-28-25 Selah R. Hobl)ie Is-JT Jl) Erastus Root l.s:51 :{8 Noadiah Johus 182:} 27 Matthew \V. Marvin I8S(; 87 1887 811 William Lewis 1888- 8!» 1840 44 James Ballautine 18".t5 •.k; 1844 48 John ( irant Is'.it; 184S 4'.1 ;80 HISTORY OF DKLAWAlih: COIXTY. ' IX. ]Me;mhkks of Assembly. 1797. . William Horton, Niitliauiel Wattles. 1798. . . .Elias Butler, Erastus Root. 1799 .... Patrick Lamb, Sluman Wattles. 18(»0 Gabriel North, Erastus Root. 1801 .... Gabriel North, Erastus Root. 1802. . . .John Lamb, Elias Osborne. 1803. . . Gabriel North, Elias Osborne. 1804. . . .Adam L Doll, Anthony Marvine. 1805. . . .Anthony Marvine, Gabriel North. 180G. . , .John T. More, Joshua Pine. 1807. . . John T. More, Gabriel North. 1808 Daniel Fuller, David St. John. 1809 John T. More, Elias 0.sborne. 1810 .... Daniel Fuller, David St. John. 1811 . . . Danel H. Burr, Isaac Ogden. 1S12. . . Robert Clark, Andrew Craig, jr. 1813. . . John T. More, Isaac Ogden. 1814. . . .Robert Clark, Asahel E. Paine. 1815 .... William Dewey, Henry Leavenworth. 181(!. . . Martin Keeler, Asahel E. Paine. 1817. . . William Beach, Erastus Root. 1818. . . .James Eells, Erastus Root. 1819. . . Peter Pine, Erastus Root. 1820 .... John H. Gregory, Erastus Root. 1821. . . Benjamin Benedict, Asa Grant. 1822. . . .Asa Grant, Samuel Rexford. 1823 James Ells, Peter Pine. 1821. . . .Jabez Bostwick, Harmau I. Quackenboss. 1825. . . .Erastus Root, William Townsend. 1826. . . .Erastus Root, John Thompson. 1827 Edward Doyle, Erastus Root. 1828 William S. McRea, James G. Redfield. ()R(iAXIX.\Tlii\ OF TIIK CorSTY. Si 1829 Matthew Halcott, Erastus Root. 1830 David P. Mapes, Peter Piue. 1831. . . .James Coulter, James Hugbstou. 1832. . . Jobu EilgertoD, Stixldiu'il Stevens. 1833. . . .Samuel Gordou, Anuisa J. Parker. 1834:. . . .Dubois Burbaus, "William B. Ogdeu. 1835. . . .John (iiiffin, James W. Kuapp. lK3(i. . . Jesse Bootb, Tbomas J. Hubbell. 1837 .... Cornelius Bassett, Darius ]Maples. 1838 Icbabod Bartlett, Jonas :More. 1839 Orson M. AUahen, Nathan Bristol. 18-10. . . Stephen H. Keeler, Charles Knapp. 1841 Samuel Eells, Orriu (iriffiii. 1S42. . . .Milton Bostwick, Nelson K. Wheeler. 1843 .... Edward I. Burbaus, Jesse Palmer. 1844. . . .John McDonald, Linus Pcirter. 1845. .Orrin Foote, Reuben Lewis. l!S4(j. . . John C. Allaben, Donald Shaw. 1847. . . Piatt Townsend, John Calhoun. 1848. . . .James E. Thompson, Luther Butts. 1849. . . .George H. Winsor, Richard Morse. 1850. . . Samuel Dovle, William Gleason, jr. 1851. . . .Hezekiab Elwood, Lewis Willis. 1852. . . .Charles S. Rogers, Daniel Stewart. 1853 Samuel F. Miller, David Rowland. 1854 William B. Smith, Ezekiel Miller. 1855. . . .John Mead, John Haxtuu. 1856. . . .Barna R. Johnson, Warren Dimiiiiil;. 1857. . . .Fletcher Palmer, Samuel \. Law. 1858. . . .Barna R. Johnson, Samuel A. Law. 1859 Donald D. Shaw, died. Barna R. Johnson, Samuel A. I^aw. 1860. . . .Seymour E. Smith, Daniel AVaterburv. 1861 Nelson K. Wheeler. Daniel Waterburv. 82 iiisTitiiv (IF dflawm;/-: loixrv. l!-!()2. Kol)(it W. Couitucy, Fiaucis 1{. (xilljeit. 1S()8. ..leruiiic S. Laudtieltl, Fi-aiicis R. Gilbert. ISfi-t. . . Ira E. Sheruiiuj, Jatues Oliver. ISi;.") Ira E. Sherman, Joliu Ferris. 18G(>. . . .Joshua Smith, (ieorge C. Gibbw. l.S(;7 . . Albert E. Sullard, Edward I. Burhans. 1S68. . , Beujaniiii J. Bassett, Johu Ferris. ISd!) Alpheus Bolt, Orson M. Allaben. 1870. Alpheus Bolt, James H. Graham. 1S71 , , William Lewis, jr., Matthew Griffiu. 1S72. . . .William Lewis, jr., Matthew Griffiu. 1878. . Benjamin J. Bassett, Matthew Griffin. 1874. . . .Warren (t. Willis, (ieorge G. Decker. 1875 . . George D. Wheeler, Isaac H. Maynard. 1S7G William J. Welsh, Isaac H. Maynard. 1877. . . Albert H. Sewell, Robert P. Cormack. 1878. . , .Albert E. Sullard, John S. McNaught. 1S79. Robert Beates. 1880. . . .William Lewis. 1881. . . Chester H. Treadwell. 1S,S2. . .Timothy Sanderson. 1883. . . .Silas S. Cartwright. 1884. . . .Silas S. Cartwright. 1885 .... Charles J. Kuapp. 1886. .David L. Thomson. 1S87. . . .Charles J. Knapp. 1888. George O. Mead. 1889. . . .James Ballantiue. 1890. Henry Davie. 1 891 . James R. Cowau. 1892. . , DeWitt Griffin. 1893. Wesley Gould. 1894. , , .Robert Cartwright. 1895 Delos H. Mackey. 1896. . . Delos H. Mackey. 1897 . .Delos Axtell. Hori. flrriasa d. ParKer. oiiiiAXizATio.x OF rill-: corxrv. Sl'l'KKMK Ciillir •JrsTU'ES. 85 1844 Aniiisii J. Parker. 1867-87 . William Miirrjiy, apiicuntt'd in phicc of Justice Masou. 1887 ... Francis E. Gilbert, ainxiiiited in place of Justice Murray. 1801. 1821 . 1846. 1S67. 187:5. 18!)4. CoNSTrri rioNAi. DKi.Wi.vxKs. . Roswell Hotclikiss, Elias Osl)oru. .Erastus Root, Robert Clark. .Isaac Burr, David S. Waterburv. John Grant, Samuel F. ^liller. .Jonas M. Preston (conimissiouer). . Abram C. Crosby. St.\te Offu'ehs. 1823-24. Erastus Root was Lieutenant-Governor. 1824. . . .Erastus Root was ajipointed a member of a commis- sion to revise the laws. 1835 . . . . Amasa J. Parker was chosen by the Legislature a Regent of the University. 1854. . . .Norwood Bowue was elected State Prison Lisiiector. 1855. . . .Joel T. Headley, who was born in AValton, but at the time of his election was not a resident of the county, was elected Secretary of State. VII. ?\ilitar>; Concerns. WE have alreaily leferied to the military uiovemeuts which pertained to the Revolutiouary period. These were uot uirtuy uor important, because the coimty was then only sparsely inhabited. The troubles that came upon Harperstield, and Sidnej' and the settlements ujjou the East Branch all arose from the Indians under Brant. Tories sometimes accompanied these expetli- tious, and the sufferings entailed were painful and exasperating. But the retribvitory expedition, which was undertaken under (ien- eral Sullivan in 1779, put an end to these annoyances and the whole eastern and southern sections of the State were permanently re- lieved from further raids. By the time the war of islii broke out the county was compara- tively tilled up. All the more inijxirtant settlements were well advanced, and had begun to take on the appearance which they now display. In common with other counties in the State, Delaware furnished troops for guarding the Canadian frontier. But these contributions of troops were only little employed, and the real services of Delaware county troops in this war were not impt)rtant. The chief effect produced by the excitement and achievements of the war was the revival of the military spirit. For many years thereafter the organization of the militia throughout the different counties of the State was kept up with an enthusiasm and an effectiveness which have never been equalled. The law of the State made all able bodied citizens (with a few exceptions) between eighteen and forty-tive yeai's of age liable to military duty, and reciuired them to attend once each year at a general muster at some central point in the county. Besides this MILITAHV CdSCKliSS. S7 j^eueral imister, tboiT wt-rt' m iuudv tnwiis vdluutt^er iiiUitia coiii- piiuies, which reoeived much more frequent traiuiuff and whose officers ami men were di'essed iu uuiform. These voluuteer com- panies were assembled for the general traininj-; at the sanie time as the uu-unifoi-med troops; and on these occasions counted them- selves, as well as were counted by the enthusiastic spectators, as intinitelv more impt>rt;uit and more to be depended on iu any case of real war. The fifeueral training above referred to was held in the month of Sej)tember, generally at or near the village of Delhi. There was a clear, open intervale below the village, called Cavins Hats, where the troops were usually assend)led and put tlnouf^h their evolu- tions. Three days were occujiied iu the function; the tirst being partly used in assembling, and the last partly iu going home. The middle day was the great day. Thousands of men and women, boys and g'irls, came from every jiart of the county to see the great sight. Every where about the entrance to the field booths were established for the sale of lemonade and ginger-bread, and other drinks and cakes. I think there was a special driuk often in evidence on these occasions, called infail. made from honey which had been allowed to ferment. This was a great favorite. But most of the children conHned themselves to ginger-bread and lemonade. The evolutions, especially when the general officers came upon the field on horseback, were watched with thrilling interest. Be- sides the Colonel (as I recall him. Colonel Robert Parker) and other officers of the regiment, there was also present the still more gorgeous Brigadier General (I think General Farrington) and his staff, who had come from a distance to be ])resent on this occasion and to iuspect the troops. As they gallnjied from j)lace to place on the field, aiul sat solemnly and majestically on their horses watching the movements of the rej^iment, they seemed like heroes and demi- gods. To witness these military displays of swords and muskets, of white trousers and brass buttons and shoulder straps, of manual drill and marching and evolution, of the music with drum aud fife, 8f^ msroin' of dki.awahe corxrv. was to boys of tli;it day ;i most ort'ectivc stiimilus uud ediu-atiou. It was thus that the military spirit was aroused amon: paffe* will be fdiiiid ii list of tracts of laud which had lieen obtaiued in Delaware county either by grant or purchase. The owners of these tracts endeavored to induce settlers to take up farms ujinn them. Perlia])s both the patentees and the settlers were often deceived or mistaken concerning the cliaracter of the land \.hich was thus transferred. Much of it was rough, rocky and difficult of cultivation. The farms which were cleai'ed often jtrovcd nniiroductive, and the settlers found they had a very serious task to |ini\id(' for theii' ramilirs and make the |)ay- luents on their land. Some of the patentees had from the beginning adopted the plan of selling their lands to the farmers, and making the ter)ns of pay- ment such that they could be met. Others (leem<(l it better jiolicy to give the farmers leases of their farms, — gi-anting tor the tirst five years the use of the land without rent, for the second live years requiring half the permanent rent, and then after this requiring a full rent of a certain number of bushels of wheat for each one hundred acres; or sometimes a certain sum of mouej- for one hundred acres. The greater part of the county was originally iu the Hardeubergh patent. Sotiic of this great patent, which is said to have contained more tlian two millions of acres, was sold in tracts to intermediate purchasers, b\it most of the remainder had continued to be owned liy the heirs of the Hardeubergh associates. In the report made in the Assendjly iu ISKI liy the committee of which Mr. Samuel J. Tilden was chairman, there is coutaiued an * Soo p. 47. m ;)(( ///.STOAT OF nh'.L.WVMiK CnlSTY. acc-ouut uf the leasehold tracts. These luay he smiiiiiurized as fol- lows: 1st, the Kortrisht tract of which about "if ), (10(1 acres were under lease at six pence an acre; '2d, the Desbrosses tract of (>(),()()(l acres which origiually belonged to the Hardenbergh patent, the land had been leased for seven years rent-free and subsequently at an annual rent of one shilling au acre; 3d, the Morgan Lewis tract of 20,00(1 acres of which 15,000 acres were under perpetual lease, the first five years being rent-free, the second five years on a rent of ten bushels of wheat for each one hundred acres, the third five years for fifteen bushels of wheat, and afterwards for twentv bush- els of wheat; 4th, the G. and S. Verplanck tract of 20,000 acres under lease; 5th, the R. R. Livingston and Mrs. Montgomery tract of 20,000 acres under lease for twenty bushels of wheat for each one hundred acres; (ith, the General Armstrong tract of 8,000 acres, under three-life leases for twenty bushels of wheat for one hundred acres; 7th, the Hunter and Overing tx'acts under leases for twelve and a half, fifteen and eighteen cents an acre. In the History of Delaware County, New York; ISSO, (p. (i5), will be found a lease for a farm on the Coulter brook given by Janet Montgomery to James Thompson, jr., in 1H27. This farm was a part of the Hardenbergh jsatent, and had been inherited by Mrs. Montgomery who was a sister of Robert R. and Edward Livingston. "We give a few lines from this lease, which mav serve as a sample of the ordinary leases under which the lands of Delaware county were held: "Together with all and singular the trees, woods and under- woods to be made use of on the premises and nowhere else; saving and reserving to the party of the first part, her heirs and assigns, all water courses suitable for the erection of mills, with a right to erect mills or other works thereon with three acres of land adjacent thereto; and also saving and reserving a right to erect dams and cut ditches for the use of sucli water-works; and also saving all mines or minerals found on the devised premises with the sole right to dig for and work the same, the said party of the first part com- jiensating for nnv damage sustained thereby." * * * * "Yielding- AXTI-HKXT TKorilLKS. <)] ami i)ii.viii^ therefor durinj^- the cuutimmnce of this present lease, yearly aud every year the yearly reut of two fat heus aud tme day's labor, with a wafjou, sled or plough with ii yoke of oxen or jiaii' of hois;>s and a driver, at snch time and jilacc witliin ten miles as the party of the first part, her heirs aud assigns shall reipiire. * * * * And also it is further eoveuauted and agreed that upon every sale or assignment of the said premises * * the party of the second part shall pay to the party of the tirst part one tenth part of tlic consideration money." It will be inferred from the statement above that at the time of the breaking out of the Auti-reut tronbles in 1S44 a very large part of the eounty was held iiuder lease. No doubt the evils of the leasehold system bore heavily upon the farmers in these rough and unproductive regions. To spare from their little wheat crops enough to pay the landlord his reut was a pinching process, which compelled the families to live upon rye aud buckwheat. Or if the rent was payable in money, much of the returns from their little dairies was swallowed up for this insatiable purpose. It followed therefore that when the farmers heard of movements in Albany and Ilensselaer counties, in Columbia county, and even nearer at hand in Ulster and Schoharie counties, which promised to abate the evils under which they labored, they eagerly lent an ear to the sugges- tions of relief. Ambitious agents came amongst the simple-minded farmers, suggesting a combination not for the purpose of electing t<» the legislatui-e members who would secure for them changes in the laws, which would have been legitimate, but encouraging and planning to resist forcibly the jjrocesses of law-. The least excusable movement was the organization, in imitation of their friends in Albany, in Rensselaer, in Columbia aud other counties of disguised and armed bands of so-called Indians. The avowed object of these bands was to prevent the service of legal papers pertaining to the cc luiuji-. In iicitlicr case was it proved, however, that the prisoner had tired auv of the shots. Under the <-ircnmstauces Governor Wrifrht conmuited their sentences to inijiiisonnieut for life. All the prisoners were traus|inrt( d to the State prison, where thej' remained in eoutinenieut until the winter of 1S47, when tliev were pardoned l\v Governor Yiuint;. There was much criticism of this act of clemency; but the lesson of obtdience to law had been thor- oughly learned, and not a breath of unlawful excitement has ever been nttered since then. The Anti-rent question was still agitated, however; but the ammunition used was not bullets, and tar-aud-feathers, but free dis- cussion and votes. Tlie Constitutional Convention of 1S4() ])laced in the new instrument several }irovisions which served to cure some of the evils under which the leasehold system had labored. New laws were enacted by the Le>iislature which distribnted the burdens of taxation more evenly. The clause in many leases which required a part of the ]>rice, in case of a sale by inie tenant to another, to bi' paid to the landlord, was declaied illej^al and void. The question as to tlie validity of the titles by which the landlords held their lauds were by dii'ection of the Legislature taken into the courts by the Attorney-General. In two cases the matter was carried to the Court of Appeals and by it decided in favor of the validity of the landlords' titles. Thus the legal questions which had furnished le},'itimate grounds for the excitement were disposed of, and the county ^'radmiUy subsided to its usual condition of quiet and good order. The circumstance, however, which led to this peaceful solution of an angry question, was the almost universal sale of the fee- simple of the leased lands to tiie farmers. The experienc<' of the landlords had been so unfortunate for a long time, that they were ready to put a very moderate price on the land, and to make very 9(5 IIISTOKV nF DELAWARE COl'STY. easy terms of puyiiiL'ut. Ou the othiT haud the teuaiits had had so • severe and memorable a lesson iij)i)ii the subject of reut-payiu^^, that they were ready to meet the hnidlord at a point more than lialf way, and beeome the possessors of their farms. Vast tracts in the county in this way, which before were almost universally under leases, have since then liecome fee-simple farms. Such an aj^ita- tiou as prevailed in 1845 and 18i(i would be impossible now. > :Jt-- J IX. The Cisil War. 1861 ISbS. A PERIOD of tiiiil through which Dchiwarc c-ouutv had to jxiss was the war of lS()l-o, wliich was t'dUijht for the preserva- tion of the Uuiou.* The seutimeut of tlie coiiuty was thoroui,'-hlv stirred in reference to this war, aud troops were contributed far in exeess of the average for the whole State. It is unnecessary to exphiin here the causes of this bloody war. It is enough to state tliat the spirit of the North was unanimously enlisted in behalf of the government at "Washington. Vt'e shall only enumerate the several bodies of troops which from time to time left the county to join the armies of the Nation in their effort to i)iit ilown the rebellion. 1. The first body to leave the county was Couqiany I of the 71st regiment. This company left Delhi June 4, IHfil, under the com- mand of Robert T. Johnson as c-aptain. Their movement to the front was a continuous ovation. .Vt tiist they moved to Camp Scott on Stateu Island, where they were attjiched to the E.xcelsior Bri- gade (Sickles Brigade) as Conqiany I of the Third Regiment. From tliis point they were transferreiir, iiud Peters- l)Ui'jj'. Nt) wouder that tbey were luucli rut up, aud when after their voliiuteered service of three years they were discharged in Aufiust, lS(iJ:, Init few of the original company returned to the county. The commander of this company. Captain Johnson was promoted to the rank of ]\Iajor in the li-lth regiment of X. Y. Volunteers, aud tliough lie was wounded, yet he still lives in honor of Delaware county's first coutrilnition to the war. This comjiauy had at various times during its term of service a roster uf twenty- one officers and eighty-three men. 2. The second organized body of Delaware couuty troops was a company which was raLsed in Colchester in May, ISfJl. by Captain William H. Elwood and Elbridge G. Eadeker, who personally sus- tained the j^reliminary expense of the organization. As the body was not large enough to constitute a full comjjany, it was con- solidated with a similar <'ompany from Cattaraugus couuty. aud assigned to the 71st N. Y. Volunteers. They too experienced much hloody fighting under General Hooker. They were engaged in the following battles: Stafford Court House, Siege of Yorktowu, Fair Oaks, Savage Station, Charles City Cross Roads, jNIalvern Hills, Bristow Station, Second Bull Euu, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wapping Hills, Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, and Petei-sburg. They served the full time of their enlistment, viz., three years, and were discharged in the spring of 1864. The portion of the comjiany from Delaware couuty uund)ered tliiiteen officers and fifty-four ])rivates. ;-i. As a third coutrilnition Delaware county sent a company of cavalry, denominated in the war records as Company E of the 8rd N. Y. Cavalry. Fifty-five men were enlisted at Delhi aud detach- ments were added at Walton and Hancock, so that the company numbered about one hundred men when it rendezvoused at Elmira in August, 1801. They were taken to the neighborhood of Wash- ington aud there subjected to the rigors of a winter's traiuiug. They formed a part of ^lajor Mix's liatallion. aud were with rill-: civil. ii'.iK— /.s'.7-/.w.i. ()<) Bunisiilc ill liis I'luujiiii;;!! in North C'liroliiia in ISd'J and IS(;:i. From this they wert* recjillecl to the ut'ij;hl)orh()oil of KichnKiml. Init aj,'ain were sriit back to North Carolina. They saw an imnicnsc amount of service, haviu^' beeu iu tbirtv-tive entfa^fenu iits. 'J'hcii- captaiu was Ferris Jacobs, Jr., of Delhi, who in 1S()3 was jironiotcil to Major, iu ISfil to Lieuteniint-Colouel, in 1S()5 to Brifjadier General, with which rank he was niuster<'il out at the close of the war. The eouipauy carried on its rolls liviuf^ jind dead thirty-one t>fticers and one hundred and tifty-tbree privates. 4. The Ellsworth re^fimeut was recruited from various localities throu^^liout the State. Delaware county furnished a very consid- erable nuudter, who wei'e amonj; the very best of this suj)erb re^rimeut. It was ort,'aui/.ed at Albany in the summer of IKIil, uuder the military designation of the 44th N. Y. Volunteers, ^\■heu it started to the front in October, 1861, it numliered l,()(jl men. For a time the regiment was employed upon pi(• privates returned to .Vll>any, where they were welcomed home by Governor Seymour. .Ml the lest including theii- gallant Colonel Rice were left on Southern battle tields. o. The next contribution to be mentioued is tlie Sth N. Y. I'ldepeud'^nt Battery. It was organized at Newburg, October, IKfil, the enlistiueut being for three years. Most of the men, but not all, were from Delaware county. The captain was Butler Fitch a Delawar ' county man. On its roster, including of course jiromo- tlons and re-enlistments, were sixty-four officers an Company D . 145 Company I. 144 Company E. 151 Company K l-JS Total Field officers, Commissioned officers and Privates., 1,51(;. rill-: I'lvii. UM/i' ■sai-isi;.'-,. 105 Besides the ;il)i>vr martiiil Dr^aiii/.titioiis wliiili were (■(intiil)\it,o(l by Delaware county to the Cixil war, there wei'e manv voluiiteors will) ji>iii"d regimeuts sprin-f when the cows had j^rown tired of hay, aum>s. 115 -the i';uial iicvci' roccived auv ilii'cct l)ciictit. She only ]irotiti"(l from it in a general way by tlio l)nililin^' u]) of the ;^rcat metropolis and the increase tliereliy of the ileniand for those jiroducts wliicli slie liail for sale. In eonunon witli tlie sontliern tier of eoiiuties across the State, Delaware county insisted with fifreat urp^eucy upon tlie construction of a I'ailroad which should connect New Yoik city witli Lake Erie. Phiiis for huildiug the N. Y. and Erie railroad were seriously iliscussed as early as 18'25. Petitions for aid in the enterprise by the State were presentetl to the Lej^islature, and in coujpliance with these the Coinptroller was authorized to loan to tlie company tlie sum of one million of dollars; one quarter of the sum when one hundred miles of the road had been completed, a second quarter when two hundred miles were completed, a third when three hun- dred, and the last when four hundred miles were finished. With this eiicoura^fement the stock of the road was rapidly sul)scril)ed for. Ground was broken for the beginning of the construction at De])osit in this county November 7, ISJ^o. But the financial strin- gency throughout the country in 188(5 and 1887 put an end for a time to the prosecution of the enterprise. But in 18:!8 the State again came to its aid by the grant of an additional loan of three million of dollars. The physical difficulties of Ijuildiug a railroad through such rough and mountainous regions as the Delaware and Susquehanna valleys, were not at first fully realized. Twice the location of the track was changed, in order to avoid obstacles which had not been fully a]ipreciated. Unwisely the road was planned to have a broad guage of seven feet instead of the ordinarj' gauge of four feet eight inches. This was in imitation of the gi-eat engineer Brunei who constructed the (Jreat Western railway of England with a broad track, under the impression that all the competing and connecting lines would finally conform to the broad gauge. But wlien the importance of ■running cars from all roads over the l''.ric, and in turn of liein^'- able 11(5 IIISTOHV OF DKhAWMih: iorXTY. to seud the loiidetl ciu's of the Erie over the roads with which if connected, it became an urgent necessity to change to the narrower and standard guage. The t-haugc was lujt made, however, until much later, and then only at a very considerable expense. The Erie railroad only runs through a small jjart of Delaware county, following the Delaware river, entering from Sullivan county and leaving at Deposit. But even this inconsiderable contact was of infinite benefit to the county. Besides the aid it rendered to the towns immediately adjoining, many parts far to the east were much helped in having a better and easier communication opened up for them with the New York markets. Much of the travel which had before this sought an outlet eastward by long and mountainous routes to the Hudson river, now adopted this natural and easy route down the Delaware valley to Hancock. Many farm products which under former circumstances were not worth send- ing to market now became valuable and merchantable. This was the first step towards bringing Delaware county out into the world. The next stejJ was the opening of the Alljany and Susquehanna railroad. This line was organized in 1851, receiving State and local aid towards its construction. It was finished to Oueonta in 1865, to TJnadilla and Sidney Plains in 1866, and to Binghamton in 1869. In 1870 it was leased to the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company for one hundred and fifty years, and has since been operated as a part of its system. Although the Albany and Sus- quehanna railroad at no point enters Delaware county, yet as it runs for a long distance down the valley of the Susquehanna there are many places where it affords valuable facilities to portions of the county. From the station Emmons there was run for many years a daily stage by way of Elk Creek to Delhi. Erom Oueonta' there was easy communication into the towns of Franklin and Meredith, and from Unadilla and Sidney Plains into the western towns of the county. The third attempt to invade the solitude of Delaware county ROADS AXn UM I. ROADS'. 117 WHS iniule by the New York iiud Oswef^o iliiUaml iiiilroml, uow iiilleil the New York, Ontario i!^ Westeru. Tliis road was projected ill 1S(!.") and articles of iiiroiiioration tiled in ISCi;. [t was de8if>:ned to rrarh from New York city to Oswego, by ruiiuiuf,' throu^^'ll a. section of the State not before traversed by railroad and thus to open up some hopeful regions which heretofore had been shut in bv niouutaius. ^Iiudi special legishitiou was needed to carry out this desi-^ai. It jilainly could not rely for success upon the sub- scription of stockholders who would risk their money in the enterprise. Henry K. Low, Senator from Sullivau county, and Speaker Dewitt C. Littlejobn from Oswe^-o, were in the State legislature when the plans for buihbnj^- this road were under discussion; and l)y the powerful iiitlueuce of these two men the needed let,nslatiou was procured. The most important of the laws imssed was one enabling any town of a county through which the road was to pass to issue bonds for its construction,. — ^the sum to be raised not to exceed thirty per cent, of the taxable property. Much discussion occurred in regard to the location of the line. .Some of the most earnest friends of the road insisted ujDon the main line being located through the village of Delhi. It was not an easy thing, however, to lay a line through the mountains of I )elaware. Engineering questions are involved in it, and patriotic impulses must remain in the background. It was finally settled to make the main line cross the Delaware valley at ^Valtou, and build a branch line to Delhi. Mr. Ijittlejohu, who had been made president of the company, traversed the route from end to end, ajipealing to the several coiiiniuuities for their aid. As he was a man of endless resources and of most earnest and plausible address, he met with uniform success ill inducing the towns to lii)iid themselves. In the fore- closure proceedings instituted in isT'.t the cost of tlie road is stated at $2(!,883,0()(); of which sum the amount received from bonding the town.s was nearly §7,UUU,0()(), — the towns in Delaware county furnishing $(i(}0,8(JU. For the town bonds thus issued stock was- 118 IIISTimV OF DEI.AWAHK roVXTY. returned by the eoiupuuy. This stock was \vi])&d out by the fi ire- closure proceedings above referred to; and thus the towns were put iu the position of making an absolute gift to this road, ^\'hl) will say, however, that the benefits derived from it have not more than balanced the large outlay? Besides the amounts received from the towns, the company relied for building the road upon the stock subscribed for and on the amounts realized from mortgages. It is only necessary to add, however, that the road has never pr(),- ()()(>, Koxl)urv for $120,()(K), Stamford for $1()(),(K)() and Harperstield for $l()U,(tOU. To all these towus aud to uiauy uot included in the list the road has heen of immense advantage. The whole dairy industry of the easteru j)art of the county has been put upon a uew and improved basis. The supplies of lumber, feed aud Hour which are required by the farmers aud others are lirought to them at a much less cost and at a more convenient distance. XII. E-dacation and Schools. THE PIONEER settlers iu Delaware couuty were almost uuiformly iutellij^'eut and possessed of the eleuieuts of ■education. The desceudauts of the Hollanders and Huguenots who came into Middletown although not at first hand from Hol- land, yet they brought with them the traditiouarj- regard for ■schools, and early established them iu their midst. It will be remembered that the first outbreak of the Eevolution in Middle- town was among the school-boys at the school, where the one called the other a "rebel." The New Englauders who came to Harpersfield, Roxbury, Franklin and Delhi, always after becoming- settled in their homes made it their first duty to provide schools for their children. Nor were the Scotch immigrants, who came into Andes, Delhi and Bovina, behind the other nationalities in organ- izing schools, and maintaiuiug them for the benefit of the rising generation. The State of New York almost as soon as it was constituted, began to legislate concerning education. In 1795 the sum of $50,000 annually was granted for five years for the encoui'agement of public schools. In 1811 five commissioners were apjiointed to organize a school system. In 1812 a public school system was organized with Gideon Hawley as superintendent. District schools were instituted to be mainly sujijDorted by rate bills. In 1821 the office of State superintendent was abolished and the adminis- tration of the school system entrusted to the Secretary of State. In 1849 a free school law was passed and submitted to the jieople who sustained it by a large majority. In 1851 the free school law •was repealed and rate bills agiiin introduced. Finally in 18(i7 a ICO EDrCATKlX .l.\7> SCHOOLS. 121 • flTe scbodl liiw WHS a^aiii enacted wbicli with occasinual aiiiciiil- iiK'iits has rciuaiiuMl tw the ]ins('ijt. No dues are required t'l'inii the attfiidiu"'' children. The schools are sii]ii)oitiMl, first. Iiv ]iiililii- moneys received from the State, and second, by moneys raised l>y local taxation. It may not be iininterestiut^' to recall the district school of the early decades of the present century. It may safely be asserted that nearly all the school-houses of that time iu the county were of log's. Indeed in the annual report of the Superintendent of Public lustruction for 18!t2, there were still forty-five lop school-bouses iu the State. And at a time when the greater part of the dwelling- houses were of logs it is not probable that the school-bouses would be better. The log school house was a building almost s(|uare. It was made by notching the logs into each other and laying them so that the successive log.s would be as close to each other as possible. The spaces between the logs were then j)lastered both on the inside and outside with a mortar made of common clay. .\ chimney was built at one end of the oblong building, and an scat for the accoiniiiodation of the writers. The seats for the other scholars were placed on the three sides of the room, but not across the chimney end. They also were roughly hewn slabs, each supported by foui' wooden legs. The teacher had the dignity of having a little se])arate table and chair, which stood at the end of the scholars' bench mi one side. There was an open space in the middle of the floor, where the scholars stood up to recite their .spelling and reading. The girls sat on one bench and the boys on another; and it was one of the teri'ible jninisliiiients for a mischievous boy to be sent to a seat .among' the g'irls. 12-2 HISTOHY Oh' DELAWARE COIXTY. Ill the winter time this si-hciol was attended hy the larger hoys' and girls, as well as liy a part of the suialh-r ones; Imt in the sum- iiier the work ou the farms kept the ohler children busy, and then only the little ones were able to attend sehool. In conscMjiience of this the teacher in winter was always a mau and in the summer a woman. They were called resjiectively Master and Midrena. The wages* of the winter teacher were probably about sld to ?1.") a month for three months. And the wages of the youug woman in summer were about a dollar a week. lu both cases the teachers besides their wages in money usually "boarded round:" spending about a week at each of the families in the district. School life at this little country school-house was most delight- ful and fascinating. There was a little brook near by where the boys used to wade and Hoat their make-believe boats. There was a forest where they wandered, climbing the trees, picking wild Mow- ers, and drinking from a cool spring. There was ii wild honeysuckle shrub which grew in these woods, and in the season the boys would bring back from their excursions a little bunch of honeysuckle blossoms for the school mistress, which to their great delight she would i^nt in an old ink stand and keep ou her little table. The school assembled at nine o'clock and was dismissed at four.. There was a short recess at eleven o'clock; and then at twelve there was an intermission of an hour. Some of the scholars who lived near went home and got their dinner; but most of them brought lunch baskets with them, and at this intermission proceeded to enjoy what their mothers had jirovided for them. By far the most interesting part of school was this intermission. Nothing ever tasted so good as these simple lunches of bread and butter, a slice of cold meat and perhajis a raw apple. No enjoyment was ever so * In a history of the Setth'iiicnt at Fall Clovi' in .\udes there is a rocoid that Hobert Craig in 1H4'2 was hired to teach the district school tor three mouths at S12 a month ; also that Miss More was paid S17 for teaching seven- teen weeks. This same record also gives the inforination that ?;U.;?4 wcis received from the State as public money for the support of the school ; and- S8.63 as library monej. Hintori/ of Delaifare County, ISS:i, p. 100. Gen. Leavenwortli iVVoqUii\erit iri Foreground. Sio^e Ouairy Sliowirig RocK Formatiori. i-:i>rc.\Ti<)S AXi) sciKxii.s. 125 iutcuse as the phivs auil nues ami fniliis wliicli wcro iuilulficd in (luriu«r this uoon hoiir. Although hall playiii;,^ was not rt'duccd to the system which has sim-e made it tlic national game, I venturer to assert that these school-boys got as much pleasure out of playinf;^ " two old cat" as the great professionals now derive from tlie most scientific game. There is a queer suliject of regretful remeiiil)l'im<-e whicli has remained with me to tiiis day. Once the supjily of liincli was mon; thau 1 i-ould dispose of. On my way home I hid a sur])liis ]iiece of breiid iiiul butter in the chinks of a stoue wall beside the road. No doubt tlu> sciuirrels found it and made short work of my suri)his hincli. Hut for a long time it worried me to think that I iiad thrown away this good bread and butter. The plays and frolics outside of school were, as I have said, far more enjoyable thau the exercises inside. There was a blackberry patch by tile sule of tlu' road where we sto})ped to gorge our- selves. 'l"he ]iatcli was on the land of a farmer who being old and fat was accustomed to sit ou the porch of his house. He would call to us to "clear out;" Imt knowing that he was too fat to chase us and too good natnred to catch us, we did not remit our berry picking until we had enough. Wliat shall I say of what we learned in this little country school V Reading, spelling, writing and arithmetic, were the subjects on which we were emjsloyed. Webster's spelling book was the text- book for beginnei's in ri'adiug as well as in sj)elling. The scholars stood in a row and read or si)elled before the teacher. Their ambitiim was stirred by "going up " and reached its supreme fruition by "standing hea/•;/,. i ir.i /,•/•; coiwry. liiy'liest and cliiff rt'adiii;^' lionk. They skipped the geiieidoyies and some other haixl chapters; l)ut the sermon on the nunmt, and some of the chapters in the l;i>s]ic1 of St. John were read and rei'ead until the reading was half of it reciting from memory. Writing was only second to reading in respect to the amount of attention which it received. Copy-books with engraved copies had not yet been intrnduccd in this country school. It was the duty of the teacher to set a copy at the top of each page. The pens were made from goose-tjuills, which preceded in universal use the more modern steel pen. It was (juite an important and not always an available accomplishment of a country school-teacher to make good (juill pens. We still have a reminiscence of this ancient and neces- sary skill in pen-making in the word "pen-knife," which persists in being used, although the thing itself has passed away for ever. Ink too was not so easily obtained as now. In the stationery stores ink-jiowder was sold, which could be mixed with vinegar and water and thus made into a writing fluid. But more often the ink of the country children was made from the sap of the soft maple. This sap was drawn from the tree in the spring, at the same time as the sugar maple is tapped for its sugar-making sap. This sap when exposed to the air becomes black, and when boiled down and treated with copperas makes a dye for coloring black. When it is still further concentrated it forms a very respectable ink. This was what the scholars principally used; but occasionallj- some high- toned boy put the rest to shame by bringing ink to the scliool made from the ink-powder wliich his father had bought. Arithmetic was never taught in classes. Each scholar proceeded on his own account to cypher through the arithmetic. The book in use during the early part of the present century was Daboll's Arith- metic. It was arranged under successive rules; for example, the rule of addition, the rule of subtraction, the rule of compound numbers, the rule of three, the rule of square root, etc. A scholar was expected to learn each rule by heart, and then work out all the examples under it. The teacher's business was to help him when KOrCATIlIX AXU SCJKJOLS. 1-27 u1>J)1'h1(mI to. He usually had a luauiisi-ript hook containiuji; all tlie I'xaiupks correctlv worked out, to which he turned iu case of ueed. H( ii> is an adveitisriiicnt of (1. iV Ii. M'hitc, 'M^ Maideu Lane, New York, 1SU4, euuiueratin a smoke out of his nostrils. .\nd lire nut of his niDutli ih>voured: Coals were kindled by it. At the briL;htness that was before him his ihiek elouds passed. Hail stones and eoals of tire. The Lord also thundered in the heavens. And the Highest save his voice ; Hail stones and eoals of tire. Aucl as the coiufortiufj verses of the psalm were read the fierceness of the li^htuiuj;- aud the raiu abated: With the merciful tlioii will show thyself merciful; With an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright, With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure. * * * * The Lord my God will eidighten my darkness, For who is God save the Lord? Or who is a rock save our God? The fri.yht which had disti<^iired every couuteuauce gradually faded away; and witli tlie siiushine which followed the storiu came Lack the bright cheerfuluess which naturally belonged there. In addition to the district schools which were established every- where throughout the eounty, a number of schools of secondary grade have attained mmdi promiuence. The oldest of these is the Delaware Academy at Delhi. It was chartered in 1820, General Root being then a Member of Assembly from Delaware county. An appropriation of $(),000 for its benelit was made by the legisla- ture from the proceeds of the sale of the lauds of Robert Leake, which had escheated to the State on account of his disloyalty in the Revolutionary war. The site for the first building was given by General Root, adjoining the site of the court house. Here it stood until the street was to be cut through, when the building was EDl'CATIO.y AXIt SCHOOLS. 12!) mo veil hack to the place where it now stauils, occupied for private uses. lu 185(i the present superb site was secured, and the three buildiujjs erected, wlierc the Academy has since been conducted. .\l)(>ut $40,00(1 was raised foi' these ])ur]i()ses, mostly on scholar- ships. Below is j^'iveu the successive priuci])als from the estalilish- uieut of the Academy until the present time. 1. John A. Savage l,S-21-->4 2. Frederick A. Fenn . ... 182-l~2(; 8. Thomas Farrin^'ton 182()-27 4. Stephen C. Johnson 1827-29 .1 Robert Tolefree lS2!)-^30 tj. William J. Mouteith 1830-32 7 Rev. Orange Clark . . 1832-34 8. Rev. Ebenezer H. Cressy 1834-37 !). Rev. Daniel Shepard 1837 4(1 10. William R. Harper lS4(i-47 11. Merritt G. McKeon 1847-54 1-J. .Ic.liu L. Sawyer 18.14-03 13. Rev. Silas Fitch lS(>3-(;7 14. Levi D. Miller 18(i7 G'.t 1."). William Wight 18(;i)-75 1(5. Sherrill E. Smith 1875-85 17. James O. Griffin 188.-> iio 15. Willis D. Graves 18V»0-!)8 The Delaware Literary Institute at the village of Fraukliu, was chartered by the legislature in 1835. The sum of $7,000 was raised to purchase a site and erect a building. It was of stone, eighty by forty feet, and four stories high. The following were the rates of tuition ,it the bcj^'-iuiiiug: Fur arithmetic, English grammar, geogra- phy anil other common English branches, $3 a term; for surveying, mensuration and other higher English brandies, $4 a term; for Greek, Latin, Algeljra and Geometry $5 a term, and for Frencli $2 extra. l:}0 HISTORY OF lIlCLAWAlilC VOL STY. Up to 1837 the male iiiiil female departnieuts were coudueted separately. Since that time they have been clasised together. lu 1838 the institution was received under the visitation of the Ue- geuts of the University and shared in the division of the Literature Fund. In 1851 a ladies' boarding hall was erected, of wood fifty- tive by forty feet and three stories high. In 1854 the chapel was begun, eighty by forty feet and three stories high. In l.S5() the original stone building was destroyed by tire, the insurance being $3,000. And in the same year the chapel building which was in course of erection was blown down, so that it was necessary to rebuild it from the foundation. The Delaware Literary Institute has from its l)egiuning enjoyed a wide jJopularity, and has been the pride of the people of Franklin. Below are given the names of the successive principals: 1. Rev. William Frazer 1830-38 2. Silas Fitch, jr 1838-4() 3. Eev. George Kerr, D. D 184(i-(50 1:. Stephen Holden and Rev. Milan L. Ward 18(;0-(Jl 5. Oliver W. Treadwell 1802-05 6. George W. Jones 18()5-G8 7. Rev. Frederick Jewel 1868-69 8. George W. Briggs 1869-74 9. E. M. Rollo 1S74-77 10. Charles H. Verrill , : 1.S77-97 11. Elmer E. French 1897- The Fergusonville Academy is situated in the town of Daven- port, on the Charlotte creek. It was founded by Rev. Samuel D. and Rev. Sanford I. Ferguson. Their residence in New York city led them to see the iniportauce of ])rovidiug sweet country school life for the growing boys and girls. The school was beguu in 1848 and from the beginning was a great success. It was a purely boarding school, and the instruction was designed to train the EUL'CATlOS ASl) SCIUXJL.S. \M boys auil ^ii'ls to liabits of virtuous liviuf,'. Both the fouudiTs wcro c'lerf,'_viiieu of the Methodist Episoopiil church, iiud tlieir wide iic- iiuaiutuuce in their denomiuatiou brought to them in this licautit'ul s])ot an almiidaiire of jiatronage. Ill ls.')(i the Ferguson brothers retired frnm the school wliuli they had foiiuded and James Oliver l)ecaiiic the inojirictor and ninuagcr. The school is now closed. An Academy was bej^un in Deposit in IS.'id, Imt the building was destroyed by tire in 1885. Again in 1851-2 a seminary' was built and incorporated under State laws. But it was not tiuaucially successful, and it was sold under foreclosure. The buildings were utilized by the village for a Union School connected with the public school system. With this Union School there is connected an Academical department, where secondary education is imiJarted. The Andes Academy was begun in 1847 by William Stoddard. Mr. Heniy Dowie bought the building and enlarged it in 1857. In isti'j a stock company was formed to wliicli Mr. Dowie trans- ferred the buildings and improvements. The i)rin(ipals have been in succession as follows: 1. William Wight, who served only a short time. 2. Rev. Peter Smeallie 1862-07 3. Rev. James Smeallie 18(i7-7G 4. Rev. E. H. Stevenson lK7i; SO The Stamford Seminai'y was begun in ls4il. .V stock company was formed and a building fifty by thirty-two feet was erected. The schot)l was opened in 1S41I and Jdlin L. Mur]iliy was appointed the first principal. He was a j^'ood teacher, but his financial man- agement was not successful. In 1852 E. W. Boies was nnide principal but he only continued six iiHinths. Then Charles (i. Churchill l)ou<.,dit the ])r(>i>(rty from the coriioratinn. and for a time conducted it as a jirivate enterprise. He in turn sold the buildings to Rev. O. F. Gilbert who for several years conducted the school with success. But he detennined to re-enter the ministry, and sold 132 HJSrORY OF Dhl.AWARK COl'XTy. the school iii 18(!1 to Rev. Johu Wilde who liad before heeii connected with the Seminary at DejJosit. In 1866 Mr. Wilde sold the Seminary to S. E. Churchill, who made many iniprovemeuts iu the lmil(liu<,'s. The school now was in a tide of success. In 1872 the Ulster and Delaware railroad was finished to Stamford, and everything connected with the little vil- lage had a liooni. ^Ir. Churchill saw modes of making' money more easily than by maintaining a boarding school. So he ])r(>cured the incorporation of the institution in 1S72 in order to enable it to receive the bequest of Samuel Judson for the establishment of a Free Library. The people of Stamford in order to continue their Seminary then raised a sum of money and erected a new- and admirable building costing nearly $12,500. Here the Stamford Seminary has rested from its wanderings, and remains as the pride and delight of the little village. It is now a Union Free School. The village of Walton has been active in providing itself with secondary education. In 1853 an association was formed for the establishment of an Academy. The sum of §3.500 was subscribed for the erection of a building. A site was donated and the build- ing erected. The school was opened in the fall of 1853. In the year 1851 it was incorporated by the Regents of the Unive rsity. It continued as an incorporated Academy till 18()8, when it was transformed into a Union School under the public school system, with an Academical department arranged to give secondary instruc- tion. The jniucipals have been as follows: 1. Eli M. Maynard 1851-57 2. Marcus N. Horton . 1857-61 3. Sidney Crawford 18(;i-(i4 1. Charles E. Stimuer 1864-67 5. Strong Comstock 1867-70 6. T. D. Barclay 1870-72 7. Strong Comstock, (second time). . . 1872-92 <( the sevci-iil chuicli or^'auizatioiis iu Delaware (Muinty would be most iuterostiug. It could only, however, be uiulertakeii utter ii prolonf^ed investigatiou of the records of each of the bodies, and would be best done by persons writing' each for his owu deuomi- natioii. What can here be attempted is to sketch the general movements by which the several denominations established them- selves in the new county. It is left to the town histories to give the accounts of the several churches which have grown up in them. It may in general be safely asserted that all the early pioneers were persons of religious convictions, and so far as possible brought with them their own church organizations and arrangements. With the New England settlers came the Congregational churches, which in many cases were transformed into churches connected with the Presbyterian body. From England and Scotland canie many families who at home had been Presbyterians, and who iu theii- new homes took measures to establish churches of their own kind. The -'Great Awakening" which arose out of the preaching of George Whitetield, the Teunants and the Wesleys, hail roused into activity the religious life of New England and the Middle States. And all who came from these ipiarters were ind)ued with a deep sense of dependence on an over-ruling providence. We leave it of course to the town histories to describe the special movements which led to the founding and de\ clojinient of particular (diurclies. It will be sufficient here to give some general account of the princijjal religious bodies and the movements by which they be- came established in this county. 13-4 IllsruHV OF HKLAWAHK COfXTV. The Couyrog;iti(_)U!il fhiiii-lats with their peculiuiities auil Doliti- cal affiliatious came with the einigrauts from New Euf^laud. Harperstiekl, Fraukliu, ^lereilitli, Walton aud other towns, were settled iu jjart by New Englauders aud the establishmeut of Con- grenatioual churches followed soon after. Thus iu 17S7 a church which afterward became Presbyterian was founded iu Harperstield. It is uow called a Congregational church. Others followed thus; in Franklin, 17()3; Walton, 1798; Sidney, 1808; Deijosit. 1S12; Masonville, 1818; Davenport, 1825; Colchester, 182o; aud Han- cock, 1831. There was for a long time a mutual agreement betw-een the Congregational body and the so-called New School Presbyterian church to co-operate iu their pioneer work. It fol- lowed therefore that churches founded under New England intlu- ance often became connected with the adjacent bodies of the Presbyterian church. Presbyterian churches were founded as follows: In Delhi, the First Presbyterian I'hurch, 18(15; in Mason- ville, 1820; in Delhi, the Second Presbyterian church, IHHl ; in Franklin, the .\i-abia church, 1832; in Stamford, 1831. A class of churches, which may be termed Scotch Presby- terian, has arisen in many parts of the county. These were connected with the Associate, the Associate Reformed, and the Eeformed Presbyterian bodies. In 1858 the two former bodies combined to form the United Presbyterian church, by which name the body is now designated. The families who associated them- selves to form churches connected with these bodies were maiuly from Scotland aud the North of Irelaud, who came into the county in the early part of the century. As has beeu exi)lained this immigration began soon after the II 'volutiouary war and continued down as lats as 1810. The Uutherfords, the Scotts, the (iladstones, the Fletchers, the Forests, the Murrays, the Elliotts, the Telfords, the Thompsons, the .Archibalds and others all came from the South of Scotland; and the Lamouts, the McGregors, the McCiib- bons, the !McLaurys also spelled ilcClaughry, McLaughrys, McFar- lands, McDonalds, McCrackens, emigrated either from the North of ciirRciiKs .\\i) cniinii M()\-i-:.\/i-:.\rs. m^. .Scutluiiil or the >iorth ui Irfluutl. Tlu'V were nil protustiiut ;iuil I'hieriy Presbyterinn in tbeir religious affiliatious. Heuce in Andes, Boviua, Delhi uinl Ivortri^ht, where these settlers chiellx miigre- {,'ateil, Seoteh Presbyterian chiirehes fast followed: At the Flats below Delhi in 180.'), in Bovina in 1809, in Kortri<:;ht in 1810, in Andes in 1838, and at Cabin Hill in Andes in 1885. The r.aiitist chnrch caiiie wiUnMit iiiurh external [iressure. Whenever a few families of this faith f<>unury, ISKi; iu Sidney, 1817; in ileredith, ISIS; in Tom])kins, 1830; in Walton, 1888; iu Delhi, 1842; in Hancock, 1858; and in Stam- ford, 18(i8. The most numerous body among the churches iu Delaware county is now no doid)t the Methodist. They began the work of evangelizing in this region almost as soon as the Revolutionary war was ended. The machinery- of the church is well adapted to the circumstances of thinly settled, poor and religious conununities. The country to be covered is divided into circuits in each of which there are a number of preaching stations, situate(l so that one or two preachers (or circuit-riders) can visit them and }ireuch to them as often as the number of stations will permit. Thus if a circuit contains ten jjreaching stations two circuit-riders are assigned to it; and if tach of the preachers were to give the full Sabbath to eacdi station, they would 1)e able to visit every station once in live Siinilays. With even these infreijuent visits it would be ])ossil)le to keep uj) the church organization, and stimulate it to a healthy activity and growth. The work laid on these jiioneer ciicuit-riders was most onerous. 18(i lllsroHY . The Kjiiscopal church be^an in Hobart in ITD-l, the villaf>'e itself Inning- been calh'rated liishoj) Hobart of New Jersey. The second township to fouiul au Episcojial church was Delhi iu 1819, and others iu the foHowin^- order: Walton. 1S30; Deposit, 18()0; Franklin, 18(>5. Tlie only nieetiu^;-house of the Friends, which, however, has not continued to the present, was l)et,'un iu Harpersdeld iu 1810. A cousideral)le number of Eomau Catholic churches have come into existence within the last half- ceuturv. These have arisen chiefly iu connection witli the Roman Catholic population, which has followed the construction and ad- ministration of the railroads which have jjeuetrated the county. It has already been said that the Scotch immi^'rants who came iuto Delaware county brouj^ht with them the liias in behalf of tlii' schools anil clnirches which they hail enjoyed in their old hoiu<'. Their first effort was always to estal>lish a school where their children could receive the elementary and us.'ful education of which they knew so well the value. Next to schools they invariably soufjjht to establish chui'ches for themselves and their families. They brouf^ht witli them, liowever, • It is said that tlie work-bench was used as a pulpit an^l a potash-kettle 138 lUSTonV ur llKLAWARE COlXTV. till the church tlivisious that had arisen iu Scotlauil. Withiu the little circle of Scotch frieuds, there were, for iustauce, the Associate church, the Associate Reformed clunch, and the Eeformed Pres- hyteriau church, which latter body was commonly called the Oameronian church. Each of these bodies had its separate ors'ani- zation and maintained a rigidly distinct system of worship. They did not exchange pulpits with each other, and never gave an invitation to the mendx'rs of the other bodies to partake with them of the Lord's Supper. They all agreed iu using the j)salms of David for singing and the Westminster catechism for the instruc- tion of their children. And yet in spite of these marks of conformity, they were strenuously and sometimes even bitterly opposed to each other on account of disputes which had arisen iu Scotland and which did not in the least relate to their doctrines or their discijDline iu this country. Thus the Cameronians held that Christians ought not to take any part in sustaining or administer- ing' a government which was not conducted on relig'ious principles. Hence the members of the Cameroniau church never voted or took .any part in the elections which were held in America. The church concerning which the following recollections are given was connected w-ith the Associate body. It was the first church established in the town of Boviua: but was followed soon after by another Scotch church of the Cameroniau persuasion. The building was as ugly as could be imagined. It was almost square, without ornaments or projections, or steeple. It was a frame building, clap-boarded, and had been painted of a snuff-brown color. The jiaint, however, had long since been washed away, and the boards left of a natural wood color. • The inside, that is the galleries, the pews and the pulpit, was finished in unpainted piue. At the front of the church there were two doors from the vestibule into the open air. From the vestibule two uncarpeted stairs ascended to the galleries. Two doors led into the main body of the church, near which stood two stoves Imrning wood when the weather required them. The gallery ciiriiCHEs Axti ciirix'cii M(i\ i:mi-:xts. l:{<) • exteuded aroiiud three sides, aud ou the fourth side opposite the eutrauce stood a high pulpit. Directly in front of this was a scciuiil aud lower puljiit- for the precentor. The jkws were jiartly narrow sitting's and partly s(|uare boxes with seats around tlirec sides. The services never beingf held in the evenings, tluic were no arrangements for artificial lighting either by caudles or lani})s. The preacher in this church was a Scotchman who had inuni- grated to America when he was still a young man, having just tinishi-d his theological studies. He was a man of fair abilities, and devoted to his work and his Hock. It is impossible to say how much salary he received, but certainly it must have been quite small. .\s he grew older and his children increased in number aud size he found it necessary to purchase a farm on which he lived during the last years of his pastorate. The church services began at ten o'clock aud were of the ordi- nary Scotch Presbyterian character, consisting of singing, reading the scripture, extemporaneous prayers and a sermon. The whole service lasted about two hours, of which the sermon constituted are ILiiirx. The tuiios he used in his solitary family worship were French, Searborougli, Coloshill, Irisli, Old Hundr(>d, Baiii^or, ami Black- burn. , Early Pliysicians' Outfit. Rerriir\der3 of Early Days. CnrRCHES AXD CHURCH ^fOVE^fRXT^^. 143 re(jiurf»l to comuiit to iiioiiioiy uliaptuis of tlic Jiil)l(', the j)salius in vers(\ and the Shorter Catechism. The parts of the scripture wLi'-li were coiiiinnuly learned were: the l"2tli chapter of Ecclesias- tes, the 58rd and the ()3rd chapters of Isaiah, chapters from the Proverbs, chapters from the Gospels, and from the epistle to tiie Hebrews. As a matter of course the childi'eu also were re(|uir(!d to repeat the Lord's Prayer, the .\postles' Creed and the Ten Coiiimandnicnts. These they had ])riilial)ly learned at home in accoidauce with the invariable Scotch custom. But many children who beloupred to families who were indifferent to religious instruc- tion, obtained in this Sunday school the training which implanted in them the seeds of religious faith. It remains to describe one of the peculiar institutions of th(' Scotch church as it had been derived from the practices in Scot- lau'. Eveu more than the usual amount of accidents must have occurred, calling for the aid which only a doctor can afford. It helps to esplaiu this difficulty, when we re- member that the pioneers who migrated into the new settlements of America were mostly younpf and well and stront":. The old aud feeble would not undertake so perilous an enterprise. And thou^'-h uothiug could prevent the well from l)ecomiuf>' sick, aud the sick from dying, the danger from such sickness and death would be much less than in the old communities from which they came. It must, however, be taken for granted that nature performed most of the cures in those early days as indeed she ]iri)l)ably iloes still. Doctors stood by then as now aud administered what they deemed very important remedies, but which after all had but little to do with the cures which nature WTOUght out by her own medica- ments. In the ITtii and 18th centuries, when most of the coloniz- ing in America took place, medical science was in a most defective condition even in jirogressive nations like England aud Holland. The medical theories which then prevailed have long since been abandoned, aud most of the remedies which were then relied on have given place to others. Dr. Oliver Wen(h'll Holmes in au address delivered in 1860 makes some trenchant remarks concerning the remedies which even then were in use. He says: "Throw out ojnum which the Creator 14() HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. himself seems to prescribe; throw out a few of the specifics* which our art did uot discover and is hardly needed to appl;-; throw out wine which is a food, aud the vaj^ors which produce the miracle of anaesthesia, aud I firmly lielieve that if the whole moti'ria mt'dii-u, as now used, could be suuk to the bottom of the sea, it would be all the better for mankind, — and all the worse for the fishes." f The chief resource of the pioneer families in all that pertained to sickness and wounds, was the skill of the mother. She had inherited from her ancestors a knowledge of all the common ), pp. 38, 39. KARLV l'liy:slCIA\S. 147 iiinuuer approni-h tbeiii iu their kuowledge of curiitive herbs. Thus some old solitary Indian who had beeouie disconueeted from his tribe, or some half-crazed old man or wduian, was sure to be believed to have iniraoulous medical powers, and often spent his time iu searching for herbs out of wliich to extract specifics for human ailments. But physicians were not far behind tlie pioueers in our Ameri- can settlements. Dr. Le Baron came with the Mayflower, and Dr. La Montague came over m l(i29 with a colony of Walloons to New Amsterdam.* The French and Indian war (1754-63) brought into the country a considerable number of doctors of a more .skilful sort. They came as surgeons of the British troops which were sent over. Many American iiractitioners and nurses were associated with these military surgeons as so called " ^Surgeons' Mates," from whom they learned much of their skill in surgery, and a better knowledge of diseases and of the remedies applicable to them. Some of these English surgeons remained in the country after the war was over, and composed an appreciable element in the causes which served to advance the medical profession iu the American Colonies. It is worth mentioning also that very many of the clergy in the early times were more or less skilled in medicine. The wants of the sick came naturally under their notice, and for this reason not a few of them were educated in both professions, as missionaries of the present day are trained, in order that they might be pre- pared for the circumstances of the pioneer settlements. Rev. Jona- than Dickinson of Elizabethtown, whose chief fame was as a theologian and as the first president of the College of New Jersey, had a high reputation as a physician. A notable description by him of the terrible disease called throat (listemi)er in his day, but • It was the custom in the early times as well as mine rccciU, to athiy.ine treated iu the same way. I have seen a mau suffering from severe colic bled profusely until he grew faint and the pain abated. The lancet was- the universal companion of the doctor. He carried it with him on KAiii.y pin.siciAXs. if):} every occasion, aud wa'; ready at a nionieiit's waruiuf,' to wliij) it out and draw off a l)owlful of surplus blood. It is remarkable how completely tliis remedy has been superseded. The practitioner of the present day never thinks of drawing off the IjIooiI of his fevered patient. His effort is to supply foods and drinks which will make for him more blood, instead of takin<^' away his already impover- ished supply. When I was ])r(iiHriug for college at a preparatory school I lived for a time with a couutry doctor, who enjoyed a large country jiractice. I remember well when he came home from a meeting of the County Medical Society, bringing with him a Ixittle of chloro- form, with the wonderful story that it would render jiatieuts insensible to pain during the severest operations. That was the first time I had ever heard of anaesthetics. And we tried it. One of the boys breathed the vapor until he became apparently insensi- ble; aud the rest of us pinched him, stuck pins in him, pulled his hair and tweaked his nose, until we had assured ourselves that anaesthesia was no delusion. Thus one of the miracles of modern surgery had been wrought before our eyes. The most serious medical experience that I remember was encountered when I was Ii\-ing with this same doctor. A child had been born with a hare-lip in one of the families within his practice. After the child had grown sufficiently, the doctor wished to per- form the usual operation to close up the opening. He asked me to go with him to aid him. I did not in the least understand wliat the operation was like; or I certaiidy would have nfuscd. And although chloroform was known to him, he did not venture to use it in the case of this child. It turned out to be my duty to hold the screaming baby firmly in my arms, while the doctor clipped off tlie edges of the opening aud stitched them together. I think that experience has served me for a lifc-tiuK'; and 1 cannot to this day witness severe surgical oj)eratious, even when performed una(dc with the frightened boy. The farm was five miles off, up a steep road and then along a difficult piece of cross-road. But the horses took it without pause or falter. Early next morning you might have seen the weary doctor I'iding slowly back. He had done for the poor man all that his skill enabled him to do. But he knew too well the terrible chances which menaced him, and his head hung sadly on his breast and his heart sank with apprehension. Next Sabbath morning a notice was read in Scotch church, announcing the funeral of Donald Knox who had been crushed .by a falling tree and had died from his injuries. XV. ^iooTapMcal s;3I>etcl)es. COLONEL JOHN HARPER.* J A:\1KS harper, tlie -nmdfiitber of C'oloud Hiirper, oiiiij^Tato.T from tlie coimtv of Derrv, iu Ireland, and arrived with liiw family at Casco Hay iu ^faiue, iu October, 17"2(). There he settled; hut a war haviu;;- Iiroken out with the Indiaus lie removed to Boston, Massachusetts, with his family excejjt his youuf,'est son John, who remained for the defense of the Province, continuin ir)(; insroRY of dklawark county. yeiit pei'sous, and the uaiues (if most of tliciu are intimately connected with the great struggle for iudependeuee. All tlicu living were patriots, aud after our independence was acknowledged, were prominent in their several localities. William, the oldest son, was a Member of the Provincial Con- gress, one of the judges of Montgomery county, aud after Otsego county was formed was one of the Associate judges of that county. He was also Member of Assembly from Tryon county for the years 1781, 1782 and 1784, and from Montgomery for 1785-1789. He married Margaret Williams of Albany, April 18, 17(50. His long and useful life ended at the age of eighty-seven in ^Milford, Otsego county. New York. James, the second son, died of small pox, ^larch 2"2, 17()0. John Harper, Jr., the founder of Harperstield, was distinguished for his bravery and sagacity during the war of the Revolution, when he held a commission as Colonel. He was married to Mirriam Thompson, by whom he had four chiklren — Archibald, Margaret, John and Ruth. John, born July 10, 1774, was the first white male child born in Delaware county. During his youth Colonel Harper attended a school at Lebanon, Connecticut, and while there became intimate with a young Indian who afterward became the celebrated chief aud warrior, Joseph Brant; aud who, although his name has always been held up as the synonym of savage cruelty and outrage, there is much reason to believe has been greatly misrepresented by writers whose jjartisan spirit was too much excited to do him justice, and who were disposed to hold him responsible for the cruelties committed by Indians under his command. Were this true, it seems certain that so strong a partisan as Colonel Harper would not have con- tinued friendly with him during the war, and for many years afterwards. It is nearlv certain that on the occasion of the destruction of Harperstield by the Indians and Tories in 1777, Colonel Harper aud his family w'ere saved by a secret warning from Biaut, the particulars of which will be hereafter related. lUoiniAl'lIICM. SKETCHES. loT Josej)h Hariitr. the fc until sou, does not seem to liiivc been so proniiueiit in the events of the time as either of liis brothers, hut he foii{j;ht liravely in the frontier warfare, and was a niend)er of the Conmiittee of Safety of Har]ierstieUl. After the war he married Cutharme, dau<,diter of Joseph Douglass of Harperstiehl. Alexander Harper was nearly as ])rominent as his more eele- briited l)rotber. and held a eommissiou as C'ajitain. After the war be settled iu Harperstield, and is believed to have kept the first tiiveru iu town; as for several years all town uieetiugs were held at his bouse. He also for several years held the ouly commission as Justice of the Peace within the present boumls of the town. He married Elizabeth Bartholomew, daujifhter of au early settler on the Charlotte, near what is now South Worcester. At the breakiug out of the Revolution, men were compelled to side with the Kin;.;- or the Colonies, and in Harperstield nearly all sided with the Colouies. They formed a Committee of Safety as follows; Isaac Patchin, chairman; John, Joseph and Alexander Harper, Johu Harper Jr., Free{>:ift Patchiu, Audries l{el)ar, William McFarlaud, St. Leger Cowley, Isaac Sawyer, John Moore, and James Steveus. The first capture of Indians, as related by "Siuims," was made by Colonel Harper iu Juue or July, 1777. The Colouel had started ou horseback for Cherry Valley, about thirty miles distant. As he ueared the -Scheuevus creek, iu the present town of Decatur, he saw a ])arty of teu Indians approaching, and as he could not well avoid it he contidently met them. He at ouce recognizeil the leader as Peter, au Oquago chief. He met them in a friendly man- ner, calliu^r them brothera, and they sujiposiu^;' him to be a Kiuj^'s man were thrown otT their >,''uard. and informecl liim tliat they were ou their way to destroy the Sidney settlement of Itev. William Johnston aud others, and that their restiupr place for the night was to be a mile or two above the UKUith of the Scheuevus. Shaking hands with the jiarty he bade them gnod-bye. As soou as he bad passed out of their sight, lie hastily returned 15K uisToKV or i>i:i,AWAiih: corsrv. aud sei-ureil tlirt'O Hiirtliolomew brotherH ou the Charlotte, ami at Harpersfield his Krothcrs Joseph auil Alexiiuder, anil other settlers uutil his i)aity iimnlicred eighteen. Well armed and with ropes they set forward aud reached the ludiau camp just before daylight; fouud them all asleejj, secured their arms, aud then with eight of their number ready with guns to enforce obedience a man with a rope approached each of the slee]3ers; the Colonel taking his stand beside the leader shouted in his ear: "Peter! it is time for business men to be up." The party all started to their feet, but tiudiug their own arms secured aud so many guns ready to shoot any who atteni])ted to escape, they submitted to be liound and were soon on their way as prisoners, to Albany. Soon after daylight Peter recognized his captor and exclaimed: "Ah, Colonel Harper, why me not knoic i/ou i/e.-tterday?" "There's policy in war, Peter." "O yes, me find 'em so now." Soon after the above capture, the enemy under McDonald (according to Simms, but Rev. H. Boies says Brant and Butler) on its way to Schoharie, visited Harjierstield intending to capture or destroy Colonel Harper aud his "Whig neighliors. Ou account of a heavy rain storm the enemy ludted a few miles away aud a friendly Indian stole from the camp, made his way to Colonel Harper's house and informed him of the intended attack. The Colonel hastily concealed what household stuff he could not carry, placed his wife and younger children on a horse, or horses; with the rest of the settlers hurried off in the rain and darkness over the Jefferson hills, to tind safety in Middlebnrgh. Harperstield the next day was sacked and destroyed. Colonel Harper's niill built two or three years before was burned. Simms savs the house was tired at two opposite corners, but the posts being cherry did not burn. During this raid, or not long after, a family named 21cKec is said to have been murdered below Odell's lake in the south part of Harpersfield. The father was absent, but the mother and children Slate Aririory at Waltori. View Sliowirig Location of tt\e Arniory. -0^- iiU)<:HM'in<'Ai. sKh:rciii-:s. ICX were hutclicicil auA tlimwii into (lie lliuncs of tlic bui'iiiii^ Imust!; exc(]it oiu' diiUfj^hU'V. Auue. wlm threw herself at tlie feet of a saviij^c who had his iixe raised to strike her. He admired her hohl- uess !iii:ust '2.S, 1777. "Gentlemen: Since we put Captain ^IcDonald and his army to flif^ht, I proceeded with some volunteers to Harperstield, where we met many that had been forcecl by McDonahl, and some of tin in much abused. Many others were in the woods, who were volun- teers; and as we could not f^et hands on those that were active in the matter, I f^avc orders to all to make their appearance at Schoharie in order to give satisfaction to the authority for what the}' have done; and if they do not, that they are to be pioclaimed traitors to tlie United States of .\merica; which th<'y readily aj,'reed U 102 JllsroliV OF DELAWARE CUCXTY. to, and further declare that they will use their best endeavors to bring in those who have been the cause of the present disturbance. "I would therefore beg the Honorable Council of Safety, that they would appoint proper persons to try these people, as there will Vie many that can witness to the proceedings of our enemy, and are not in ability to go abroad. "From your most obedient humble servant, "John Harper, Colonel." JUDGE EBENEZER FOOTE.' •Judge Foote was born April 12, 175(), in Colchester, Connecti- cut. He was the sou of Daniel Foote and the J)rother of Eli Foote whose daughter Roxaua married Rev. Lyman Beecher and was the mother of Henry Ward Beecher, Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, and others of that talented family. Some of the Foote family espoused the loyalist cause in the Revolutionary war; but Ebeuezer was an ardent j)atriot, and when the first guns were fired he, with several other young men, tied from home without his father's permission and joined the patriotic troops near Boston. He was present at the battle of Bunker Hill and served continuously until the close of the war. For his bravery and efficiency he was promoted from the ranks in which he enlisted tu the position of Major. He attracted the attention of Washington and was by bim assigned to staff duty. He had the misfortune to be taken captive during the war, and was confined with many others in the Bridewell prison in New York city. Along with a uundjer of others he formed a plan to escape. They managed to elude their guards and found themselves in the * We are iiidelited for the facts embodipil in this slietc-h to a memorial volume coneerniiig Samuel E. Foote in which there is an appendix jjiving the principal events in tlie life of Ebenezer Foote; also to an obituary notice t)y General Henry Lea ven wort li printed in the Delaware (lazette December 28, 182'.i, and to memoranda furnished liy Miss Foote of Delhi, the great-great- grandaughter of Judge Foote. BIOilRArjIICM, SKKTCIIKS. 1(J3 •couutrv near where Chambers street now is. They made their way to the Hudsou river with the iuteutioii of crossiug it to New Jersey. They found an old leaky boat, but they were unable to make it sufficiently safe. All the other fugitives then took to the laud and tried to make their way through the hostile sentinels to the country north of them. But Foote found a plauk and with it undertook to Mwim the Hudson. It was in the month of Dei'cudjer and the water was piteously cold. He succeeded, however, in escaping the patrolling vessels, and in making his way to the other side. He landed at Hoboken where he found shelter aud dry clothes. He escaped, but he never recovered wholly from the ctfects of this terrible exposure. Major Foote from his rank iu the Itcvolutimiary army became a member of the Order of C'inciuuati, aud u]i to the time of his death took great pleasure in joining his comrades on the fourth of July to celebrate the achievement of American independence. At the close of the war he only possessed the back ])ay whicdi was due to him for his services. Part of this was paid to him iu money; and a part was liquidated hy a grant of unsettled land on the West branch of the Delaware river. He entrusted the certifi- cate of his army pay to an agent for collection and this precious rascal defrauded him out of the whole. He had married iu 1779 Jerusha Purdy, a meniljer of the Westchester family of that uame. Her property also had been mostly destroyed by the British troo]is in their incursions into the regions north of New York. Major Foote had, therefore, to commence life anew. He started iu a mercantile career at Ncwbvir^h wliicli was then in Ulster county. In this he unist have been more or less successful : for we find that several times he was chosen to represent the county iu tlie State Legislature. He is recorded as having been in the Asseud)ly in 17112, 17'.I4. IT'.m; and IT'.t". It was during this latter year that the bill for the erection of Delaware county was under discussicju, and Major Foote took an active part in perfecting and securing the passage of the measure. He served as Senator from the Middle 1(14 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNrV. District ilurinf,' the years 17!t8, ITilll, 1K(MI, 1801 and 1H()'2. In 17i)ir he was chosen to serve as a member of the Council of Appointment under Governor John Juv. On tlie establishment of the new county he was appointed liv the Governor the county clerk, and immediately removed thither to assume his duties. At this time it must be remendsered that there was no village of Delhi. There were two sites which were looked upon as likely to become the locaticm of the pro])()sed county build- ings. One of these was at tlie mouth of Elk Creek on the grounds of Gideon Frisbee. Here already the first meeting of the board of supervisors had been held and the county court had held its first session. The other was the extensive flat at the mouth of the Little Delaware. There is a tradition that some of the early county meet- ings and courts were held in the latter locality at the house of Mr. Leal. It was near this beautiful intervale that the laud lay which had been granted to Major Foote for his military services; and it was near this on the south that he selected a site and built a residence for himself. The building is still standing but has 2)assed out of the possession of his descendants. Mr. Foote served as county clerk until 1801 when he was suc- ceeded by Philip Gebhard. He was not only the clerk of the board of supervisors, but also the clerk of the courts held in the county and the custodian of their records. In 1810 he was ajijiointed by Governor Daniel D. Tompkins as county judge for a term of six years. Subsequently in 1828 he was again appointed to the same oHice which he held until his death in 182'.l at the age of seventy-four. No citizen of Delaware has ever enjoyed a more distinguished circle of acquaintance. He knew and corresponded with the most active ijolitieal managers of the day, and many of them were his guests at Arbor Hill. We may mention a few from whom letters are still preserved by his descendants: The Patroon Stejihen Van Eeusselaer, Hon. Elisha Williams, (ioveruor Morgan Lewis, General Schuvler, the Livingstons, Cadwalader Golden, Josiah Ogden BIOCRM'IIICM. SKETCHES. 165 HoffiuiUi, l'lnlii> Villi Cdurtliuult. Martin Van Burtn, .Jolin Jav, DeWitt Cliutou, Aaron Burr, etc. Catherine Livingston writes to him regretting not lia\ing seen liini, and \vaudiiiR'il the Democratic pnrty ami liccamc a Whit,'. 17. Ill his youtli ]]f piiblislied ftu arithmetic, ami in 1824 he pulilishtil a vdhnuf of AtUlrosses to the People. He had the houor of hoiiij^- immortalized in Fitz Greeue Hallock"s Croakers, in the poem iiildressfil ti> Mr. I'ottcr tlic V('ntrilo(|iust. IS. He died in New YniU oil his way to Washington to spend the winter with his (lau^litcr Mrs. Selali R. Hol>l)ie.* A collection of papers relatiuf^- to (iencral l\oot was ou exhi- bition during the celebration of the centennial anniversary. Since that time these papers have been presented to the New York State Library at Albany by Mrs. Selah 1!. Hobliic, then the only surviv- ing child of General Root, who has since died, and by Rev. Reeves Hobbie of Newark, her son. They are as follows: 1. Diploma from Dartmouth College, 1793. 2. Recommendations of Erastus Root for admission to the bar of ToUand county, Connecticut, February IG, ITMi. S. Certificate of admission to the bar of Tolland county, Con- necticut, February 25, 1791!. 4. License to practise as counsellor in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, January 4, 1799. 5. Aj)i)ointmeut of Erastus Root as Master in Chancery, by (tov- eruor George Clinton, January 28, 1802. (!. Appointment of Erastus Root as Brigade Inspector of the Militia of Delaware county. New York, with the rank of Major, by (ioverudr George Clinton, JIarch 29, 18(12. 7. .Vppdiutincnt nf Erastus Root as Lieutenant Colonel, Com- mandant of the Hegimeut of Jfilitia in Delaware county, by Gover- nor George Clinton, March 24, l8():i. 8. License of Erastus Root to practise as attorney-at-law in the •General Root's wil was infpii'ssiljli' ami I'lmml \riit un all occnsions. Wlii'ii Ilaiiiiltoii Fish was udiiiinati'd I'or Govi'iiuir hi' is saiil to have exprossod himself tluLS : '• No doiiht Haniiltoii Fish is a good man, but he can't swim in the waters of the Delaware." 1(;H IIISTllin OF liEI.AWAHF. COISTV. Supreme Court of the State of New Yurk, liv .Tames Keut, Chief Jus- tice, Au-ifust 18, 18()(i. 9. Api)()iutiiieut of Erastus Root as Brigadier Geueral of Bri- f^'aile of Militia iu Delaware and other cduutics, by (loveriii)r Dauiel D. Tompkins, February 17, ISOS. 10. Certificate of the election of Erastus Koot as meniher of Congress, June 3, 1808. 11. Discharge of Erastus Root from the office of Master of Chancery, by (xovernor Daniel D. Tompkins, March 30, 1810. 12. Certificate of the election of Erastus Root as a Senator of the State of New York, May 81, 1811. 13. Ai)ji(nntmeut <>f Erastus Root as a Master of C!haucery, by Governor Daniel D. Tompkins, February 12, 1811. 14. Aiipoiutmeut of Erastus Root as Brigadier General of the Brigade of Militia iu Delaware county, by Governor Dauiel D. Tompkins, April 10, 1811. lo. Appointment of Erastus Root as Commissioner for Insolvent Debtors, etc., by Governor Daniel D. Tompkins, June 7, 1811. 1(). Order of Brigadier Geueral P. Farrington to Lieuteuant Colonel Erastus Root, September 4, 1814. 17. Certificate of the admission of Erastus Root as Solicitor and Counsellor iu the Court of CUiiucery, by James Kent, Chancellor, August 23, 181(). 18. Appointment of Erastus Root as Major Geueral of the 8th Division of Infantry, by Governor Dauiel D. Tompkins, March 22, 181(i. 19. Certificate of the election of Erastus Root as Lieuteuaut Governor, Deceiuber 4, 1822. 20. Discharge of Erastus Root as ]Major (xeneral with the thanks of the Commander-in-chief, November 17, 1824. JilUiiRArUJCAL SKKTCUKS. KH) HON. SAMUEL SHERWOOD.' Siiimiel Sherwood was hovu iu Charlotte county (now "Washiuf;- ti>i) county) iu this State, April '24, ITT'.t. His father had come from Counecticut to settle in that thinly impulated rej^ion near Luke (leor^c, and on the lireakini;' nut of the Hexolution hecanie an officer of the vnlunteer troops. Iu ITSd occurred the invasiou of that rej,'ion l>y the British and ludiaus under Colonel Carleton, who rnva^^'ed the wliole district and burned many of the liousis of the Whi^jTs. l\Ir. Sherwood's father's house was liurued at that time; the mother takin-jf her two children, his brother and himself ou liorsebaek barely escaped the ludians. A few years after the war his father moved to Cayuya couuty; there Jfr. Sherwood received a f^ood education at the local schools aud was without doubt a ])re- j'ocious scholar, for at the ajje of si.\teeu he begau the study of the law iu the office of Judf^e Walter Wood of .Vurora. Before he was tweuty be had accumulated some landed i>roperty iu Cayuf^'a county. He entered the law office of Conrad E. Elmendorf of Kiuf^stou, where he remained until November. ITHlt, when he went to Delaware county. Before he was eij^hteen he had tried suits before justices, aud before he was twenty had tried causes against many of the eminent lawyers iu Ulster aud Delaware, such as Smith ThoHipson and (larret Van Ness. MTien Mr. Slierwnud went to Delaware couuty he had formed a ]iartnership with Mr. Elmendorf aud did business in the hitter's name until his admission in Delaware Common Pleas, February Court, 1800. He was )iiarrie(l in isiid to Miss Deborah Hawkins and couj- menced housekeepiup at Delhi next winter. Thei'e were several ohildreu of this niarria^'e. the late 'Slvn. Herman D. (iould bein<,' the eldest. In 1S(I4 he estal>lisiied his house and law office at Sherwood's * This sketch is prefiari'il by Saiinn*l Shcrwooil "f New York City. 170 JUsroHV OF DELAWARE ('OlWrV. bridge (tbeu called Lfal's luid^e) about a mile south of Dellii,. where he had accjuired fousiderablc laud. This house together with the adjaceut farm aud wooded hill were retained by him during his life and bequeathed to his grandson and namesake, in whose possession they now are. Woodland House, so called by its builder, is one of the oldest houses in the township. It is situated on somewhat rising ground overlooking the Delaware river. The architecture is Ionic in style, the woodwork of the porch being somewhat elaborate considering the period of its construction. Mr. Sherwood in selecting a building site had been somewhat of the opinion that a village or settlement was likely to spring up in the neighborhood on account of the junction of the Little Delaware with the larger stream, and in the early part of the century this seemed likely; for just above the bridge w-ere established a tan- nery, a grist mill and other industries. ^Ir. Sherwood was interested in many of these business enterprises. In politics he was originally a Federalist. On going to Dela- ware county he was appointed paymaster in Colonel Butler's regiment of local militia and later was appointed to take the census in Delaware county iu ISOO. In a memorandum made in 1850 he says: "My determination to make Delaware county my residence had its origin in the local ijolitics of the day. The Federalists of Dela- ware and Ulster counties were anxious to persuade me to break a lance with Erastus Root, some six or seven years my senior and then established as the leader of the Democracy of the county. We entered the lists in opposition to each other and rose and fell with the ebb tide of our respective parties. With the accession of George Clinton to the gubernatorial chair of state iu ISdl the Federalists lost power in the state, aud it was only during the war of 1812 that they again obtained a temporary ascendancy after the dissolution of the party, 1810 to IS'2'2. The portion of the party uniting with DeWitt Clintt)u came into power with him iu 1825 aud held this power till his death in 1828. Delaware county, 1798, was- BIOdKAPHlCAL SKETCHEIS. 171 liir^'fly anti-Federal or Democratic, uever j^iviuj,' less than four or tivi- Inimlreil Deiuod'atic iiuijoiity of votes under rep;ular orj^uiiiza- tion, and it became part of the tactics of th^ day for the minority to divide and conciuer, and as every year presented some ' ism ' it •generally happened that the Federalists were able to throw away tbeir vote ou some unobjectionable Democrat rather than ^'oinj,' to the i)olls with a certainty of defeat. In this warfare, which was- always unpleasant, we often succeeded in controlling the supervis- ion of the county and in subduing the tyrannies and injustices of our opponents." lu isri Mr. Sherwood was elected to Congress as a Federalist. The Federalists, as is well known, were Disposed to the war of 1812 and presumably he was in sympathy with his party on that issue. but later he gave his support to the war measures proposed by the atlmiuistration of President Madison. In 1.S14 Mr. Sherwood, whose first wife had died in ISlO. was married to Miss Laura Bostwick and they spent the following winter in Washington. This was the year following the burning of the public buildings in Washington by the British troops; the war was still in progress, the outlook gloomy; nevertheless there were- the usual ceremonial receptions at the WTiite House. !Mrs. Sher- wood's letters written at the time give an interesting picture of the manners and customs of the period, and an entertaining descrip- tion of the appearance (jf Mrs. Dolly Madison, the President's wife. Mr. Sherwood, after serving his term in Congress, was not again a candidate for ])ublic office and later in life became a Democrat. His law practice in Delaware county contiuui d until ls;{0. .Vnioug those associated with liiiu as law ])artiiers or students may be mentioned .\masa Parker, (father of the late Robert Parker of Delhi,) Judge Aniasa J. Parker of Albany, Nelson Wheeler and Franklin Sherwood Kinney. In the early days of the century he was generally pitted against 172 HISTOIIV Oh' DELAWARK COIXTV. •General Koot in lej^al as well as political matters. Sdiuc did papers iu a libel suit entitled " Hoot vs. Sherwood " are still in existence and illustrate tlie conditions of politics aliout iSdS, Itoot claimed that Sherwood had libelled him by publishiufi' a political poster statiuj^' that he (Root) was an adherent of Aaron Burr, and char;,'- ma Root with complicity iu Burr's schemes in the west and urfjiufj the electors to " beware of Burrites." Root succeeded in ^cttinL;- one hundred dollars damaf^es. Iu the trial of James Graham for the murder of Cameron and Mc(Tillivrae the accused asked to have Erastus Root and Samuel Sherwood appointed his counsel. But Street, the District Attoruev, had already secured Sherwood for the ])rosecution. The latter in a private letter describes the trial as a most impressive one. Great crowds of peo2)le were present. Even many ladies, amcmg others the wife of the presiding;- judoe, Ambrose Spencer. About ISHd ^[r. Sherwood moved to New York and established a successful lej^al practice, which he coutinued until alxnit IS.")."), I)roniiueut iu general practice his specialty perhaps was the man- agement of real estate cases, ejectment suits and the like. He was also distinguished as a Chancery lawyer. In early life he had been in active practice against Aaron Burr. In the Anti-rent trials in Delhi he appeared for the jjrosecution at the request of 'Sir. Van- Bureu, the Attorney General. Although engaged in l)usiuess in New York he retained a deep interest iu Delhi. He had been associated with most of the enter- prises of the early period of the history of the village; he was interested iu the establishment of the Academy and was one of the founders of St. John's Episcopal Church. His home, Woodland House, has sheltered four generations of his family as well as many visitors. In appearance Mr. Sherwood was aliove the middle height, strougly built, with dark comjilexion, marked features. He was a uiau of few words but euergetic and forcible. He died in ISIi'i. Four of Ml'. Sherwood's children survived him: Mrs. H. D. (rould. IlKii.HM'IIICM. SKhrrcilKS. 17;^- •loLii Sherwood, iiolnit H. Slurwood ;iud ^Ir.s. i). C'oliltn ilunav. All these are now deiid. John Sherwood was born in Delhi in 1S'2(I. was educated at tlie Delaware Academy and New York private schools and was f^rad- iiated at Yale CoUejje in 188!). He studied law and practiced with his father. At one time he made a specialty of the law coucerniuj,' trade marks and had l)eeu euf^'aj^cd in important cases coiicernin;^" steamships and marine insurance. He was interested in historical literature and was especially conversant with the military history of the co\intry. He married in IS.")! Miss ilarv Elizalietli A\ ilsou. daughter of (ieneral James A\'ilson of Keene, New Hamiisliire. One of their sous, Samuel Sherwood, is the owner of the old Sherwood place and sjienils a jjood deal of his time in Delhi. Another son, Arthur Muriay Sherwood, is of the banking' firm of Tower tV Sherwood, Wall Sti'eet, New Y'ork. ^Irs, Arthur JI. Sherwood was Miss, liosina Emmet. Robert H. Sherwood, son of the late Samuel Sherwood, had lieen a lawyer. He died the year after his father's death, in ISti;! He married in 1852 Miss Mary Neal, daughter of John Neal of Maine. She survives him as do two daughters, Mrs. Picking, wife of Captain Picking, United States Navy, and Mrs. J. Wilson Patter- son of Baltimore. ^Irs. Herman I), (loulil was the iddest daughter nf ilic late Samuel Sherw 1 and was born in this county in ISOd. She mar- ried Herman D. (iould, a prominent business man of Delhi village. He was a merchant and for some time president of the bank and Representative in Congress. They lived in the large and attractive house at the lower end of the village now owned and occupied by the Messrs. Bell. Mr. and Mrs. Gould had four sons: Sherwood D., S. Augustus,. Herman and Charles. S. Augustus (lould is the only survivor of the four. He married ^liss Weston and is now a resident of Chi- cago. Herman (iould had been prominent iu railroad woi-k and 174 JIISTOIIV OF Dh:LAWAJiE COUXTV. was a resident of Illinois at the time of bis death. He left a widow jiud three children — the Misses Rutli and Katharine fTould and Edward L. Crould. GENERAL HENRY LEAVENWORTH. A monument to General Leavenworth stands on the hrow of the hill above the village of Delhi. The situation is beautiful, but the grounds about it have been sadly neglected, and now the graceful shaft is almost concealed l)_v the great trees and the encroaching iinderbrusli. "With my best endeavors I have been able to gather only a few facts concerning him of whom many were proud in his day, and to whose memory they erected this worthy monument. Henry Leavenworth was born in New Haven, C'i>nnecticut,' in 178;-}. He belonged to the same stock as the noted General Elias W. Leavenworth of Syracuse who for so long a time was a promi- nent tigure in New York public life. Like many other young men of New England he had been smitten with the fever of emigration and followed friends into the county of Delaware. He had already begun the study of law before he left New England, and when he came to Delhi in ISO.') at twentv-(me years of age, he entered the office of General Erastus Root to continue his studies. In due time he was admitted to the bar and then became a partner of his pre- ^'ejjtor. He imbibed from his j)artner not only a good knowledge of law xxuA a readj' and cordial manner with all who ajsproached him, but jDarticularly a keen liking for military matters with which the ex- periences of the Revolution made almost all the pioneer settlers familiar. Fi'oui this militai'v ardor came the movement of Mr. Leavenworth at the opening of the war of 1812. He raised a com- pany, (the 25tli Lifantry,) for service and was commissioned as a * Iq a sketch (if liini in the WdKliiiiijtini (IhiJiv \\'ii'M) liis birtliplace is j;iven AS Vermont, but it is bolieveii ttiat ttiis is an orriir. Tin' ni.irmiin'nt iibovi' re- ferred to gives the place or his nativity as Connecticut. lilOiiHM'IIICM. SKF.rcUF.S. 17.-, ■Captain in the Unitcil Slalts Ainiv. He wus in the li;ittlo of ('lii])- pcwa whiTf lie was l)i-('V('ttc(l for hraverv, and attain in I lie battle of Niat,'ara, wliirc be was a second time brevetted. I'nil in this bist battle he had been severely woiiiub'd. Colonel Ijeavenwoitli had married Harriit Lovejov just before settinj;' out for the war. and his wife accompauied him to tlie field of service. Fortunately she was preseut to uurse him and eare for him in bis wounded condition. IJut he recovered and was able again to nrint,' the winter of 1S.'{4 lie came to Washington, on duty <-ouuected with bis mission in the West. During his visit he was admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States. He was put in comnuiud of the military department of the Southwest ami returned to bis duties in the spriuj^-. DuriuL; his o]icrations against the hostile Indians he was seized witli an attack of malarial liver He died from this at Cross Timbers in the 'I'erritory of .Vrkausas. Cajitain James Dean, who was with him at his death, 17(; lllsroliy oh' IIF.LAWARK COVXTV. wrote couceriiiu^- the p tbe principal of the Delaware Academy. 'While he held this position he pursued his theological studies and was ordained a dcacy tbe Bishop of Couuecticut iu 188!1, and a few years later was or- dained a priest by tbe Bishop of New York. During his principal- ship he occasionally officiated in the church at Delhi, and he never gave uji the design to devote his life to the sacred ministry, but death came before he was able to change the plans of his life. When lie came to Delhi the academy was in a depressed con- dition, and the prospects might have deterred a less alert and enthusiastic man. But ilr. Shepard had youth and health and unbounded vigor, and entered on his (bities with an assurance that speedily brought success. Nine years he remained principal, and each succeeding year of this period witnessed a marked advance iu tbe stauding and prosperity of the school. It had a patronage not only from the county of Delaware, but from the large cities of the country. Many boys were sent from New York, with the assured expectation that they would receive not only a sound educational training, V)ut would profit by the Ijraciug physical and moral atmos- phere in which they would l)e placed. The academy hail the contidenci' ami the patronage of the best and most distinguished citizens of the couuty and esi)ecially nf the village of Delhi. The old students will remember well the faithful- ness and vigilance of the trustees iu watching over the institution; how (ieneral Root in his old age renewed his youth and his sriidlar- ship by visiting the school on every suitable occasion; how t't)lnii(d Amasa Parker, Judge Amasa J. Parker, and others, were constantly present on occasions of examiuatiou or at the exhibitions which were lield at the close of the terms. 184 HISTORY oF DF.I.AWARK CorSTV. 'Sir. Slu'itani \v;is the priiiciiial character couiiei'teil witli the Parker. Althdujili he reiuDved from his home iii Delhi at au early age — only thirty-nine, yet he Latl remained long enough to lie chosen to most of the hom)ral)l<' offices of the county, ami to sliow liy his professional ability and l>y his energetic private career, his true worth as a man and a citizen. He was the sou of Rev. Daniel Parker, a Congregational clergy- man who for many years was the pastor of a church in Sharon, Connecticut. He was horn in Sharon in lS(l7; luit in 1816 the father removed to (Ireenville, in (rreene county, N. Y., where he took charge of the .Vcadei.iy of that place. The son, then only nine years old, here ci>mmeuced the study of Latin, and in the usual studies of a classical education made notable advancement. In May, 1H"2S, when only sixteen years old he liecainc pnuci])al of the Hudson Academy. In 1825 he entered the senior class of Union College and was graduated, still retaining his position in the Hud- sou Academy. After graduating he commenced the study of law in the office of Judge John W. Edmonds. In lK-27, at the age of twenty, he removed to Delhi and resumed the study of law with his uncle. Col. Amasa Parker. He was adniit- teil to the bar in 1N2S, and immediately was taken into partnership by his uncle. Here for fifteen years he was engaged in an extensive and laborious practice; his uncle almost entirely confining himself to the duties of the office, leaving to the learned and brilliant nephew the duty of apj)earance in court. In 1834 he was a meudier of the Assembly. In ISS") he was chosen a Regent of the University, which position he held till he was appointed Judge. In lH87-:!!t he was a mcmlicr of Congress from the counties of Broome and Delaware. In 1839 he was a candidate for State Senator against General Root, but was defeated 1)V a few votes. 186 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COCSTY. lu 1844 he was iippointed by Governor Silas Wrip^bt to the ottice of Circuit Jud^e of the Third Circuit. It was at this time he re- moved to Albany where he resided until his death. At no time in the history of the State have the judicial labors devolving upon the judges been more difficult and responsible than those which he was called upon to discharge during the twelve years of his service. The anti-rent excitement was then at its height. It crowded the civil calendars with litigation, and the eriniiual courts with indictments for acts of violence in resisting the collec- tion of rents. The trial of Dr. Boughton ("Big Thunder') in the spring of 1845 before Judge Parker at Hudson lasted two weeks and resulted in a disagreement of the jury. The second trial was held by Judge Edmonds and the ijrisoner was convicted and sentenced to State's prison. In the summer of 1845 Osman N. Steele, Under-Sheriff of Dela- ware county, while attending a sale for rent, at which more than two hundred disguised " Indians " were present, was shot and killed. Over two hundred jiersons were indicted for crimes connected with this killing. The trials were conducted during the autumn of 1845 by Judge Parker. The cases were all disposed of either by trial or by the prisoners pleading guilty. The sad business was ended and Judge Parker had done a pathetic and trying piece of work. In 1846 a new constitution was framed for the State and duly adopted. Under this constitution Judge Parker was elected a Jus- tice of the Supreme Court of the State for the full term. After the expiration of his term of office he devoted himself to the duties of his profession in the city of Albany. A large part of his time was taken up with the argument of cases before the Court of Appeals. He was the author of several law books which were highly esteemed by the profession. Geneva College in 1846 l)es- towed upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws. He was called upon often in his home in Albany to aid in the management of educational and charitable enterprises. For many years he was a. professor in BIOdRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 187 tbf All)!iuy Liiw Si-luHil iiud ilevoted imu-li time tv prepariug aud •jfiviiifj lectui'es. Hf was a iioliticiaii in its widest auil l)est sense. Twice he was thi' cauiliilate of bis party for CMtvcriioi- nf liis State, iu 1851; and n^raiii iu ISoS. JAY GOULD. Jay Gould was horu iu Eoxbiiry. Debiware couuty, in 188(). He WHS a desdeiidaut of the Goulds who immigrated from New Euglaud iuto Delawai-e couuty in 1781).* The ancestor of the family came from England iu HUG and settled in Fairfield, Conn. Abram Gould the great-grandfather of Jay Gould, was a colouel iu the Revolution- ary war and was killed in battle. It was the sou of this revolution- ary colouel who came with other pioneer settlers into Roxbury. Here his sou John B. Gould was born, who grew up to be one of the substantial citizens of the town. He married a daughter of John More who was the pioneer Scotch settler in Roxbury and the founder of Moresville. When their son Jay Gould I was fourteen years old, he was sent to the Academy at Hobart, where he made such good use of his opportunities that he became well founded iu the branches of which he was afterward to make such good use. In 1851 his father es- tablished a hardware store iu the village of Roxbury, and the ener- getic boy, now grown to be sixteeu years of age. was the chief manager of the business. In the midst of all his engagements, however, he contrived to save time to coutiuuc his studies iu survey- ing and engineering. .\ud in the next year, 18.")2, we find liim employed to make a survey of Ulster couuty for a proposed map. His employer, however, failed in his plans, and they were taken up and finished by his young assistants one of whom was 'Sir. Gould. Other surveys followed, — the village of Cohoes, and the counties of .\lbauy, Sullivan and Delaware, .\bont IS.").'! hf was for ,i time a • Soe pngt' 49. t Originally the name was Jason Gould. 188 HISTORY i)F DELAWARE COfXTV. student in tlie Albiuiv Aciuleniy, uo ddulit with tlu- imrjiose ■of jjcrfectiuf,'- biinsi'lf in the briiuches whicli he h;ul occasidn to use. His history of Delaware couuty — a uotrtl)ly thorough ami paius- takiij<4 piece of work — was issued in 18.')(). After the nuinuseript had Ijeeu sent to the printer in Philadeljihia it was destroyed l)y a lire in the printing' house. It was however re-written, and ready for the printer a second time within four mouths from the time of its destruction. The map of Delaware county was also published in 1856 when Mr. Gould was still Init twenty years of age. In the meantime he had formed the acquaintance of Col. Zadoc Pratt of Prattsville, wdio had a giit for discovering energetic and cajjable young men. Col. Pratt had come to the conclusion that owing to the failure of the supply of hemlock bark, the time tor the business of tanning at Prattsville w-as nearly ended. He despatched Mr. Gould, therefore, to search for and select some suitable place where the business could be profitably conducted. In pursuance of this purpose he selected a site in Pennsylvania, where there was an abundance of hendock timber which would furnish bark for a long time. Here he built an extensive tannery and entered uj)()n the business on a large scale. In a few years he was al)le to buy out bis partners, and finally in 1857 he sold out the entire establishment in order to enter upon the occupation which had always bad a fasci- Jiation for him. In his testimony before a Commission appointed by the United States Senate in 1883, to investigate the affairs of the Union Pacific Railroad, Mr. Gould, in describing this transition in his career, says: "I still retained my early love for engineering and I was watching the railrtjads; After the panic everything went down very Jow, and I found a road whose iirst mortgage bonds were selling at ten cents — the Rutland and Washington Railroad, runninj^- from Troy, N. Y. to Rutland, Vt. I bought a majority of the bonds at ten •cents, and left everything else and w^ent into railroading. That was in 18()(). I took entire charge of that road. I learned the Inisiuess, BIOiiRAPIIICAL SKETCHES. I S<) iiiul I was pit'siikut, tiiasurir uuil f^fUfial sujiciiutemlcnt, and (iwiinl a coutrolliug interest." The result of his foresij^lit and cncrjiv was soon apparent. The road which he had rescued was soon after consolidated with others into the Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad with a very suVistantial profit to the young financier. After this profitable transaction he estflblished himself in the city of New Vnrk, becoming an extensive broker, esi)ecially in railroad jiroperties. The New York and Erie Railroad was at this time in dire tiuaucial straits, and ^Fr. Gould purchased large blocks of its depreciated securities. In 1872 he became the president of the road, and for some years thereafter was deeply engaged in its management. Finally however a decisive turn occurred in its affairs through the intervention of the English bondholders and ^Ir. (irould and his friends were retired. When the Union Pacific Railroad became financially end)arrassed, feeling assured of the substantial value of the transcontinental lines, he bought up large <|uantities of its securities. Tliese, when the affairs of the road had l)een improved, appreciated greatly on his hands and returned him a liberal profit. His dealings in the Missouri Pacific securities were of the same kind and leloneI Amasa Parker. Colonel Parker was born in Lilclilield county, •Conn., in 17x4. He was graduated from Yale College, studied law in Litchfield and afterward with Peter Van Schaik at Kinderhook, N. Y. In 1812 he removed to Delhi and formed a law partnership with Sanniel Sherwood, then in the acme of his professional career. This lasted until Mr. Sherwood removed to Xew York. His residence was near that of Mr. Sherwood at the inllux of the Little Delaware. Afterward he formed a partnership with his iiei)hew, Amasa J. Parker, which continued until the latter was apjiointixl a judge and removed to .\lbany. Then he still continued the practice of law with his son. Robert Parker. His distinguished services in his professj.iri iMnlerl with his di'ath in 18.55. Hon. Charles Hathaway. Charles Hathaway was born at Hudson \. Y. in 17'.H.. |{c died at hi- home in Delhi January 21, 1X7(!. He came with his par- ents into Delaware county in 18(is, where he spent the whole of his long life. He commenced the practice of law in Delhi, b<'ing for a time in partnership with Hon. C. A. Foote. He held the office of County Judge and Surrogate be- ginning 1S40. to which he was appointed by Governor Seward. During his term of office there was a bitter controvers.y throughout the State as to the maladministration of the office of Surrogate. The rejiorts of Surrogate Hath- 192 hlSTOHV OF DELAWARE COCXrV. away \vi>io ospot-ially commeiideil as ruotlols foi- houosty ami fairm-ss in cvoiy particular. After the leiiniualiou of his term of office as county judj^e he retired from the practiee of law, and devoted himself to the extensive land interests for which he had lieeii appointed agent. These interests were the same as those for which .Judge Foote had acted. During his lifi' he had avail- ed himself of the assistan<-e of Mr. Hathaway in the niauagement of these im- portant concerns; and licfore his death had him sulistilutcd for' hhiisclf as the agent. Judge Hathaway was during his whole life an active and public-spirited citizen. The introduction of water for the village, the organization of a fire- department, the Vmilding of cliurches and county buildings, the organization of the Delaware Bank, all found in him an active and zealous friend. Judge Hathaway married in l!S2S Maria Augusta Bowne, a neice of Judge Foote and a sister of Norwood Bowne. Hon. Samuel Gordon. Samuel Gordon was born at Wattles Ferry on the Susquehanna in isii-j. Like most of the young men of that day his education was chiefly obtained in the common schools of his home. His busy, active and intellectual boj'hood naturally led to a career beyond the community in which he was born. He acquired by persistent self-effort a good general education including classics and general literature. In 1827 he commenced the study of law with General Erastus Root in Delhi. After admission to the bar in 1829 he became a partner of General Eoot and began that remarkable career of professional activity which ended only with his life. Scarcely a term of the court passed during that long period without his being engaged in some of the most important cases. He was elected in succession to nearly all the offices- which lay in the line of his profession. He was postmaster in 1831; he was member of Assembly in 183.3 ; he was District Attornej- of Delaware county from 1836 to 1839 ; he was elected a member of Congress from Delaware and Broome counties in 1840 ; he was re-elected in 1844; during the civil war he served as provost-marshal of the 19th congressional district until its close in 1865. His wife was Frances Leete and his children were Harriet, Frances, .\ima, Samuel, William and George L. He died at his home in Delhi, October 24, 1S7S. Dr. O. M. AUaben. Dr. Allaben was born in 1808 at a place then in the town of Delhi, but which now is in the town of Hamden. His father removed to Koxburj' when his son was still a small boy. He attended the Delaware Academy and prepared himself for his subsequent professional studies. He commenced the study of medicine in 1827 with Dr. J. B. Cowles of Koxbury. He was graduated in 1831 from the Waterville (Me.) Medical CJoUege, and in the same year settled. for practice in the town of Middletown. Besides his constant devotion to his profession he was always a most pulilic-spirited citi- zen, and ready to exert his influence for the benefit of his friends and the community. He was elected supervisor of his town for seven successive terms lieginning from 1839. He was a member of Assembly in 1840 and again in 18711 ; and a State Senator in l.sr.4 and 186.'). In the latter position he obtained the legislation necessary for bviilding the Ulster and Delaware R. R. In ist;3 he started the Utilitarian newspaper which he per.sonally conducted for five years. In 1832 he married a with wliirli his life was to be associated. He <'aiiie to Dellii in ls;50 in oiiier to enter upon tlie stuily of law witli his brother-in-law Charles Hathaway. But the taste for editorsliip and printiuj? was too strong in him. He wa.s for a time eoiiuected. with a newspaper ealled the Delaware Repulilieau estublislied by George E. Marvine. But this t^nterprise uot being successful, he returned to New York, where he was eonnected with the publication of the Protestant Vindicator. Tlie printing and publishing house was destroyed by fire in 1834, leaving t he- proprietors penniless. Ill 1S:11) he retunieil to Dellii lor the purpose of establishing a newspaper in the interests of the Whig party. The Delaware (iazetle, a Democratic Jiaper-, had been established in IHl!), and in 183!( was the only newspaper printed in the county. At this time Mr. Bowne founded the Delaware E.ipress and dur- ing the remainder of his life continued to be its editor and publisher. Mr. Bowne has held various local ofTlces. He was postmaster from 184a- 1(1 18.V2; he was active both personally and by his paper in every important public enterprisi'. In 18.54 he was elected on the State ticket with Governor Myron H. Clark to the office of State Prison Inspector, in which he served loi- three years. He died at Delhi, January 7. 181)0. Hon. William Gleason. •Imige Gleason was born in Koxbury January 4, 181'.l. He was educated in the common schools of his vicinity, and added ta his ac(iuirenients a vast amount of liberal culture attained by private reading mid study. To the very end of his life he took delight in works on literature, history and poetry, which hi- had learned to love in his boyhood. He studied law ill the office of Judge Levinus Monson of Hobart, and was admitted to the county bar in 1841! and to that of the Supreme Court in 184.5. He was elected H member of Aissembly in 1850 and took an active part in the business of that iHidy. In 1851 he was elected County Judge and Surrogate and removed his residence to Delhi. He was elected to a second term in 1859, and served also as supervisor of the town. He was in every way a i)ublic-s|)irited citizen and ready on every occasion to help forward measures for the jiublii- good. In the civil war when Delaware county was so conspicuous for its patriotic elTorts. no one was more active in devising and working for the public good tlian .Iiidge Gleason. Ill 18.53 Judgi' Gleason was married to Caroline, daughter of -John Bluiich- anl of Delhi. He has had three sons all still living : John 13. Gleason of New York, Wallace B. Gleason of Delhi, and Lafayette B. Gleason of New York. H.' died at his home in Delhi. May 9, 181)4. Hon. 'William Murray. William Murray was born in Boviiia in 18211. He was the son of William Murray who had migrated from Scotland two years before. In his early life he was engaged in the work of the pioneer settler. His education was such as could be acquired at the common schools and at the Di'laware Academy. He commenced the study of law in the office of Siiiiiuel (lordon and was admitted to the bar in 1848. He has held in succes- sion nearly all the offi<-i's in the line of his profession ; Justice of the Peace, District-Attorney, County Juilge. .\fter the e.xpiration of his term of office he 194 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COCXTY. was appointed by Govenmr Fi'iiKni in Januai-y, IHIiH, Justice of the Supn-me Court in the Sixth District in the place of Judge Mason, resigned. In the autumn of 1869 he was elected to the same office for eight years. And at tlie end of this term he was re-elected without opposition for the term of fourteen years. These evidences of popular favor were the results of his judicial fair- ness, his personal amiability and profound legal knowledge. In 18.50 Judge Muriay married Rachel Merwin of Hloomvillc. He has three children living; David Murray, lawyer, of New York, Mrs. Alexander Conklin of Delhi, and Asher Murray, lawyer, of Wadena, Minnesota. He died al Delhi, 1887, aged sixty-seven years. General Ferris Jacobs jr. General Jacobs, the son of Dr. Ferris Jacobs of Delhi, was born March 20, 1836. He received his education at the Delaware Academy, the Franklin Institute and at Williams College. From this last in- stitution he was graduated in 1856 in the same class with President Garfield. He commenced the studj' of law in Philadelphia but afterwani changed to Delhi where he was connected with the office of Parker and <;ieason. He was admitted to the bar in 18.59. Early in the civil war he enlisted a company of cavalry and was mustered in as captain at Elmira in August, 1861. His company belonged to the Third Regiment of New York Volunteer Cavalry. From this time he was in continual active service. He was with General Banks in the Shenandoah ; he was with Burnside in North Carolina, where he was in innumerable engagements and was promoted to the rank of Major; he took part in the memorable campaigns of 1864 and was again promoted to be Lieutenant-Colonel and commanded his regiment. His regiment was so cut up and reduced in numbers that it was necessary to consolidate it with other regiments and Colonel Jacobs resigned. He re-entered the service however and was assigned to duty on the northern frontier. In July, 1865, he was mustered out of service with the brevet rank of Brigadier-General. After his return from the war in 1865 he was elected District-Attorney and in 1871 he was elected tor a second term of the same office. He ran for the office of County Judge but was defeated. He was a member of Congress dur- ing the term 1881-83. In 1869 he married Miss Mary Hj-de of Yellow Springs, Ohio. He died at Delhi. August 30, 1880. Judge Isaac H. Maynard. Judge Maynard was born in Bovina in 1838, being the grandson of the first settler in that town. He was graduated from Amherst College in 1862. He studied law in the office of Judge Murray and established himself at the village of Stamford. Here he was supervisor in 1869 and 1870. He was elected County Judge as a democrat, carrying the county by 1,355 nutjority. although usually its majority was 800 re|)ublican. In 1875 he was elected Member of Assembly; in 1884 he was appointed first Deputy Attorne\--General of the State, which position lie resigned to be- come Second Comptroller under President Cleveland. In 1887 he was appointed Assistant Secretary of the I'nited States Treasury. In 1892 Governor Flower appointed him one of the Judges of the Court of Appeals. Judge Maynard was a man of scholarly attainments, a brilliant and suc- cessful lawyer, and was highly esteemed by many friends. He ilied in Albany June 12, 1896, at the age of 58 years, and his remains rest in Woodland Ceme- terv at Delhi. 1: Ul - IsQacH] (■nlioijt/ PART II. 11 Centennial Celebration. TV/f ARCH 10, IHIIT . . . the birtlula.v of Delaware couiitv. A 1 A- couuty which has rouuded a full ceuturv is uo iiifiiut; there is uo poetical license iu the phrase " Old Delaware." Xatur- allv, as the liuudredth auuiversary drew near, there were thouf^'hts of some tittiuff celebration of the century milestone, but the various suffgestions of individuals or the couuty newspapers did not crys- tallize into definite action. The Delaware Express, at Delhi, had freiiuently called up a remembrance of Mandi 10, 1797. Its editor discussed the advisability of a celebration with many of the promi- nent men of the county but found little interest amouj^ the people ;,'enerally. The project, however, was not to be smothered by any moist blanket of indifference; if the people who should care did not care, latent interest must be aroused. Delaware county had fin- ished a hundred years of honorable history; she had sent out from her borders a host of children who had made history in other counties and other states and had honored their birthplace; Iter sons and her daughters had ever been and were sturdy, honest and full of the free spirit of the native hills. The century mark of such a county must not pass unnoticed. In tlui issue of The Delaware; Kxpress for March (), 1S'.)7, the following call foi' a citizens' meeting was jtrinted: .V Centenntal Mekti-Ni}. On coiisullalinn with some of our iicoplc rn- -;ar"liiiK ilic Comity Ci!iiteiiiiial it is thouj^ht proper to liold a meeting of our 'itizens and others who may ho in town ne.\t Tuesday evening, March '.), at VilhiKc Hall at eight o'clock, to consider the advisability of eelebratiiig the • ■vent. Come and express your opinion. When the a])])ointcd Tuesday evening came just thirteen patri- otic citizens gathered together in the Village Hall. Whatever 200 insroRY uf hklawahe cor sty. misfortune is commonly associated with the fateful uumber thirteen or whatever ill luck comes from a thirteen club, it must heuce and hereafter Imld its jicacc in Delaware county. The meeting started on a Inisiuess basis: from this evening a Centennial Celebration was assured. Mr. "William Clark was elected chairman of the meeting, and Mr. K. P. Mcintosh, secretary. The practical outcome of the evening was the appointment of a committee to consult with the people at the county seat and to report at a later meeting some linal determiuatidii. The committee appointed was J. K. Hood, C. S. AVoodruff, W. I. Alasou, AI. T. Menzie and J. J. Burke. The ]nib- lication of the appointment of this committee stirred up an immediate interest in other towns and the county press gave every encouragement and called upon the citizens to support the move- ment. As oue pajjer said; " That the anniversary of so important an event should be fittingly celebrated finds an almost unanimous affirmative resjjonse from the citizens of old Delaware. Delhi has taken the initiative toward this end l)y temporarily organizing and now let the action of the county seat be ratified by every town in the county and at no distant date." This seemed to be the senti- ment of the entire county. The committee began an active campaign at once. It advised with the leaders of different organizations which it thought t'ould aid, notably the various fire departments of the county. In two weeks time nearly all of the fire organizations had agreed to come to the celebration, which the Committee had set for the 0th and Idtb of June. So general was tlie interest and widespread the en- thusiasm that no doubt of the Centennial's success was possible at the second pulilic meeting held Alarch "28, just two weeks after the real inception of the movement. Sub-committees were at once appointed, correspondence was begun with available men in every town in the county, the fire de- partments were enthused, athletic clubs were stirred up, men versed in the antiquities of their towns were selected as historians and relics of the past were engaged for exhibition. The make-up of (•EXTi:\XIAL CELEBRATloy. -Jdl the viui<>\is iiiiiniiittees represeuted the busiiu'ss anil professioual men of Delhi. In ailditicm to the General Committee the follow- iug were selected: Oh Fimnirr : M. T. Meiizie, S. F. Adee, Jas. E. Harpor. Oil HMonj: William Clark, Robert P. Mcintosh, S. E. Smith. Oil Sjiiiih iM : Hon. A. C. Crosby. On Relics : Dr. Win. Orniiston, Charles W. (iraham. Finiiii'ii's ('(iiiiiiiillir : Thi> Firemen's Board, J. J. Bnrke, Chiel'; W. A. Mcintosh. Secretary. Hiri/rlr Ciimmitlii- : R. P. Mcintosh. F. M. Farrington, C. R. Stilson, Jas. E. Harper. Arranjifements for the Centennial Parade were made county was orgaidzed on the tenth day of Man-h, 1797, only si.\ days after George Washington retired from the duties and responsibilities of the office of President of the United States. Our history commences in the early days of the government when the Revolu- tionary heroes were actively participating in and directing the affairs of the young republic. During the one hundred years since the organization of this county the political map of Europe has been greatly altereated. By the war of 1S12 our government asserted its power and authority on the high seas; protected .\merieaii citizens in their person and property against the arrogant demands of the mother country and. by the bravery of her soldiers and sailors on land and on sea, demoustrati'd to the nations of the earth that we were one nation and people, under a common Hag, and that wherever the starry banner lloate nisroin' ah' dki^awmH': roiXT): At tlie i-.ill dl' llic I'liirf I'Xi'cMtivo niiiiiy liravc sons (if Di'lawjuc cihimI.v promptly enlisted, and went I'ortli to battle for their country, uphold its ffag, preserve the government and maintain the jirineipk-.s of liln'rty so dear to the heart of every friend of hunianit>. They fought the battles of thr union ajid established beyond ([uestioii that heneefoi-tli there will lie liut one counli'y, nation and people uiiitrd and happy undn- a cniiininn Hag and mai-c-hing on to lc tin- bi^^t iiiler.'sts of the whole comniunitv. 2()S iiisr(ii;y or Delaware corxrv. Letter tropi r.c\ . John L. 5cott, I). I)., UF THILADELPHIA, PA. Allow 11)0 to assure you of my keenest regrets at not bciii^ alili" to atliMid. the coming Centennial of Delaware county. I had hoped the pleasure, but fate seems to have ordered otherwise, so I bow to the inevitable. This Cen- tennial, from its very nature, ought to be not only the source of personal pleasure, but also productive of lasting good. Delaware county was a gener- ous mother, and there are many things jier sons cannot afford to forget. If I were to be born over again, I would ask the good Angel to let me off in Bovina, on the banks of the Little Delaware, and near the old mill which my grandfather built just ninety-six years ago. It was a good place to be born in, and an equally good place to leave so soon as one was able to toddle away. As two streams unite to form the Delaware river, so two civilizations entered' into tlie early formation of the county. The Puritan and the Scotch. The Puritan was English, and halted long enough in Xew England to take breath' before attempting the ascent of the Catskills. He scattered his marks all along the way. Eoxbury, Stamford, Hamden, Meredith and Colchester, were the god-sons of New England sponsors. The Scotch on the contrary, were a direct importation. They came straight from old Scotia with their heathery brogue still fresh upon their lips. Andes, Kortright, and Bovina especially were but patches, cut from the map of Scotland and pasted on the face of Delaware county. I saw the last of those centennial pioneers as they were passing into the West now forty years ago. They were a race of honest men. With axe in hand they fought their way to the mountain summit, and but for- them many a rich, fertile farm had remained the forest of a century ago. These were the Highlanders of Delaware county, and formed a distinctive force in its developement. In my boyhood the anti-rent war was still fireside history. The line of battle stretched like a stone-wall through the towns of .\ndes and Bovina. The philo.sophy of this fact few have thought to inquire. It was simply a Scotch sense of injustice, manifesting itself In a strange county. My grandfather spent some money and more time in the log jail at Delhi, because somebody had been shot in an adjoining town. Not long since I learned the reason why he became a part of that hopeless struggle. His father had been a laird or factor, and cjuari-eled with the Earl whom he repre- sented. So he came to America, and took sweet vengeace on the Overings, the Livingstons, and the Kortrights, for what the Earl of Traquair had done at home. They were good haters and true friends. There is a tradition that when the old gentleman was rusticating at Delhi, an oflieer came and said: "Mr. Scott, we know you did not kill Steele, but think you can name the man who did, tell us and go homo !" The old man, sweeping his hand across his throat, and with an expletive which I hope the Recording Angel did not hear, replied; "take my head, sir, take my head. " Liberty at the price of dishonor had no quotation in their markets. Those men at the other end of the century were religious after a fashion [leeuliar to themselves. They generally attended church and those who did not, were always r>'aily with a reason. CEXTh:.\.\IM. CKI.KnixATKiX. 2(l".l it-l»'(.-i!illy it tlioy dill nul like tlio iiiiiiistor. Two iioi^hliiiis, whoso uaiiK's 1 withliolil out of rpspeet to their Uescendauts. hud disagreements, of the most ■ deadly Uiiid. One was a pillar in the eliurch and the other a M/cc/icr outside. '.Thi> niinistiT, tin' Kev. Jas. Douiilas. meeting tlie non-ehneh-goer. remarked .that his parishouer's et>Mdnet was devilish. '-Devilish, it is daninahle sir. it is damnalile." But the minister had done an uneoneious niissionar.v work, and tlie next Sunday his congregation was inereasi'd in attendance liy one. Not as Mr. A. 15. Douglas onee said to me. "that he loved IJome less, hut he lialcil Ids neighlior more. " This was l.ut ilic outside of a kind, poetic nature that few could understand. Somewhere over the hills and out of sight, there was a garden of wild native llowi-rs that best declared their worth. Delaware county owes them a debt which she can never pa.y. Their life and spirit have surviveil the century and live in the nol)lest manhood of the present. There wi're two forces in the Delaware of my day for which I am profoundly grate- ful, the church and village academy. The niijdslers were men of more than onlinary aljility. Forest, Laing. Doviglas. Graham and Wilson had bound their sheaves and were going through the gates. Gibson and Lee were the lirst preachei's I ever heard, and in the maturer judgement of all these years, I regard them still as men of exceptional power. The common schools wi're iuferior,but the village academies gave some of us an opportunity which otherwise had never come. Andes, Delhi, Stamford and Roxbury, were educational centres. I as a boy of fifteen, walked twue a we.'k to Andes, a d. stance of ten nules. For live days instruction it was no eas.v task, but under the tuition of Wm. Wight and Peter Smeallie it paid a thousand times. There was once a family intercourse among the good people of Delaware, which I susiiect has largely become a thing of the past. The old l>ariiers have been swept awa.v, and Delaware county has met and absorbed a newer •ivili/.ation. Our fathers are fast bi'coinjng mere names to be talked about. ■■ Each in his narrow cell fore\ er hi id The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep. " But what they were cannot die. Their accents live in other voices and their footsteps are the paths by which we walk. The walled mountains are their monuments, and the integrity of their sons their highest eulogy. The aliserit salute you. and as we stand Ijy this well of common recollection, let us drink deep anri long t<> th<' honor of idd Delaware, and the men of one hundred years ago. A river dear as life to me. From out the nu>unlains liiids the sea. .\ud oft in thought I w.inder there. .\long the banks of Delaware. The mountains gaze in sondue liu-e. Upon the waters in theii- race. As if they watched in eonstani prayer, .The dear old l>iink« of.p.daware. 210 iiisroiiv (IF iiF.i.AWAHt: cm wry. Along tluise banks.iiii cliisly bed, Thore sleeps in peace iny eliorished dead. Unvexed by toil or tnuiblous eare They rest u[">ii the Delaware. Anil wiirn the lace of lU'e is ruu. One boon I ask and ask but one — That I with them a ^rave may share Upon the banks ol' Delaware. Lcttoi' fiopi Picv. A. yS. Kc(I/:ic. OF GK.\N1) n.WEN, MICH. While thankful for an invitation to attend the celebration of Delaware- county's Centennial, it is too long a .journey for one of my age, four score and ten. I would like to revisit the scenes of my boyhood in Stamford and Delhi. The earliest of these is readily recalled, being the building by my father of a stone milkhouse in Stamford, eighty years ago this month, to facilitate his dairying. It must have been about the year of your county organization when my grandmother Kedzie, whose family in 1795 found a home in what soon became Delaware county, found herself in Catskill, before Landlord Steele established his line of stages to that town, trj-iug on an autumnal Saturday afternoon to persuade a Delhi neighbor to delay his return home till Monday, ofl'ering to pay his hotel 1)111 so that she, refusing to travel on the Sabbath day, might ride home with him. He pleaded his business and went home. She went to church, and having bought a supply of tracts, spent Monday and Tuesday in tract distribution while on her way home on foot. I recall what I suppose was the dedication of the Masonic Temple in Delhi (now the Kingston hotel building | the year forgotten. My brother James and I were permitted to go from our home on the " New Patent" in Delhi town- ship to see the Masonic procession. In doing so we passed the field our father was "summer fallowing " and with amazement admired his industry, when instead of such work he could have a day's fun at the village. In that Masonic procession the thing I most vividly remember was the reverent way Mr. Knapp, familiarly known as Father Knapp, carried the open Bililc tliroiigh the street. When my fathm- removed his family from Stamford to Drihi, wi- attended worship in Rev. Mr. Ma.Kwell's church below Delhi. Gen. Koot, Judges Parker and Sherwood, the merchant, Herman D. Gould, the surveyor, Mr. Hathaway, the hatter, Mi-. Thurber, Mr. Penlield and his blacksmith shop, Kobert Hyde with his trowels, Gurdon Edger- ton and Mr. Steele with their hotels. Judge Foote in his home law onii-e are prominent liguj-es in the gallery of my early recollcctidiis. rogress, which by invention and discovery through ste^ni and electricity has made this a new world. "Praise Goil from whom all blessings flow. " 1'. S. — The descendants of my grandfather Kedzic? have held residence in Delaware county during all the years of its organized history. And those of us who have strayed far away still hold some claim to such connection with old Delaware, even though we declined the environment of its dose-abutting hills. My careless, and as I now recall it, joyous boyhood in Stamford and Delhi, seem almost like a former existence, as all this world will soon seem to be to mi'. And of the world I ho]ie then to have as iih-asant recollections as I now have of your ju.stly proud county, aged one hundred years. I hope the historian of your celebration will be abli' to show the steps and recount the toils and troubles by which Delaware, in lields and homes, in -hools and churches, in reforms and politics, came, within a century, to leh its honorable standing among the counties of the Empire state despite ad hindrance of hills, which with all their ruggedness an- still dear to my recolleclion. •212 IIISTOh'V OF liF.I. AWARE CorXTV. I'lCiiKirK.s of ck'nci'iil Ama.sa j. ParKcr, OF ALHANY. N. Y. Mb. Phesident. Ladies and Gentlemen : It is a matter of great plcaKure to nie to lie witli j'oii here in my native village, upon this occasion, and to join with the sons ami daughters of old Di'laware in celebrating the Ceuteunial of her life. Such a celeliration could not be inaugurated and carried through liy an inert or slothful people. That would be impossible! On the contiary, such a celebration can only have its conception and being among an active and aggressive population, proud of its past history and achievements as well as ambitious for future growth and renown. Not only is a Centennial of this character to be appreciated for re\i\iijt,' ihe past and for the expression of hopes for the future, but for the social and neighborly iutercoui'sc among the people brought together from all parts of the county. The history of this county which will be laid Ijefore you at this time, the facts which will lie brought to light, the duties which will be taught, will in a great measure tell upon the character of every one who takes part in this interesting celebration. Those who are here will, returning to their homes, impart newly gained knowledge to others and thus much that was almost for- gotten in the laud will lie revived and stam))ed upon tlie memories of a new generation. While considering the past of this county we caimot ovei'look the fact that it has contributed its full share toward the bui!di; my iiR'iuory ami iicaily all of tlu'iii have already passed over the dark river into the life eternal. May the (Ireat Ruler i>f all who doeth all things well and who has show- ered his blessings upon us in the past, eontiuue His pniteclion and direction for all time. l\>.-nKii-K.s o\ n.iv^'i' I- II- nililHil. OF ionoi;s, N. V. MH. t'HAIKMAX, L.4.DIES AXD GENTLEMEN: It is Hot wilhuul eousidenible trepidation that I, a physician, respond to your call for a speech on this occa- sion, especially in the presence of so many lawyers as aliound at this county seat anil who are presumably better fitted by trade and training' for this than I. .\nd it is fair to assume tliat they are more fitted Ijy natural predilection and training for tliis task, for I once heard of a father and mother (up here in the hills of Delaware or somewhere) who wished to educate and prepare one of their sons for the greatest influence in life of which he was capable. They thought it necessary to ascertain his natural bciil or inclination, believing that they would attain larger and surer success by educating him along this line. So they left him alone in a room in which had been placed an orange, a dollar and a BiV)le, and they said : " Now it on our return we find that he has taken the oi-ange we will make a farmer, an agriculturist ot liiiii. II he has preferred the dollar we will educate him for a business man, a financier. If he has taken to the Bible we will make him a preacher." Keturning after a few minutes they opened the door and found .Johnnie sitting on the Bible, eating the orange and with the dollar in his i)ocket. The old farmer ex- claimed : "Mary .lane that boy is a hog, we'll make a lawyer of him." I give that to the lawyers just to allay my nervousness. Seriously, ladies and gen- tlemen, I congratulate you on this occasion which you celebrate, and as I address you my heart Alls with pride and pleasure for, Mr. t'hairman. I deem it not only a pleasure but a privilege to be with you all to-day. I ,iiu prouil that I am a son of old Delaware county, and when I look into the faces of my old associates many are the recollections of by-gone happy days that Hash vividly before my memory, and as these recollections appear before^ me I feel like repn>ating poetry and song : Backward, turn backward, oh time in your Might. .\nd make me a child again just for to-night. If it be at all times discreditable to man's character to fail in jiatriotic love and loyalty t4) the land of his nativity, how much more inexcusal)le such recreancy is in a son of old Delaware county. Where in all the broad land can we find a locality offering so much to appeal to patriotic love and pride as this county presents to her sons and daughters. Her climate. .So salubrious, so varied, always stopping short of uncomfortable extreiiu's in wint<'r or in sum- mer. Her physical geography and landscape, scenery, hills and valleys, a happy medium always between the rugged, rocky and often barren mountains «n the one hand, and monotonous levels on the other. 1-2 216 HISTORY OF DKI.AWARK CorSTY. Her pure pereiiuial spiiiij;s, purliiij; rills and stately rivers, tlie feitility ot' her soil ; nowhere else tlo we find the earpeling of the valleys ami the drapery of the hillsides more delightfully verdant with grass, or more biautifully bespangled with flowers, and nowhere else do we find more various, more beautiful or more stately woods than those which are indigenous to her soil, and which frieze and embroider the landscape on every hand. Agriculturally, a country especially adapted to grazing and dairying, her pastures clothed with flocks, her cattle on a thousand hills, add interest to the scenes to mem- ory dear. The agricultural products such as milk, butter, eggs and maple sugar are those which will always lind a market in the great cities of the east not far away, while the character of the climate, the nature of the soil and the purity of the water are such as make these products the best on the market, untainted by garlick, ragwood or a thousand other noxious and deleterious weeds which grow in other sections. These advantages afford greater stabil- ity in the prices of his products and value of property and a more sure reward for his toil to the farmer of Delaware county than to those of other sections of our great country. Delaware county has not suffered as have other sections of our land from the stringency and depression of the last few years. Then, the people of this generation, as we remember them (and we trust they may always continue to be) were a self-respecting. God-fearing, church-going race who reared their children and sent them forth into all departments of human life in the world, inspired, athletic, girded and panoplied ; and we think we may safely affirm that the children of old Delaware county wherever they may have gone and in the midst of whatever opportunities and responsibilities they may have been tested, they have proven themselves exceptionally true and strong in all that goes to make up a noble and useful manhood or a beautiful and lovely womanhood. .A.nd this, after all, is the highest purpose which a com- munity like old Delaware subserves, to furnish men — fresh, pure, strong manhood. Look down the roll of great men who in all departments of human thought and enterprise have attained distinction and have achieved success, especially as heroes and benefactors of the race. Begin with that old history, the Bible, follow down the ages to the present time, trace the biographies of the great men, the successful men, in all walks of life to-day, and note how large a proportion of them came from the influence and environments of rural and agricultural communities. This can all be explained, but that is not my purpose here nor have I time to do so. Enough it is to note the fact, and remember that there is no more ad\antageous sphere in which to rear a family of boys and girls and attain the highest results to which any wise parent would aspire than that this county furnishes, viz., character, not wealth, nor fame necessarily, but manhood and womanhood. And never was there greater need and demand for this product so peculiarly indigenous to old Delaware- than to-day. Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey. Where wealth accumulates and men decay. Princes and lords may llourish or may fade, A lireath can malie tliem. as a breath has made. But a bold peasantry, their country's pride. When once destroyed, can never be supplied. CENTENXIAL CELEBRATION. JIT lA'ttir \'vom lion. l),^i\iil ^\uiici\;, LL.D., OF Ni:\V liKlXSWICK, X. I. It is with {;rc!it rogrot tluit I am conipi'lltMl ti> abiiudon my wish to be ineseiit at the (•clebiation ol' the ci'iitciiuial aiuiiviTsary of the political orj;aiii- 7.alioii of Delaware county. \ century seems like a long period in the history of any civil body ; but when at its completion we look back upon its rounded ypars, it counts for comparatively little. In a certain sense the whole period can be spanned within my own experience. Thus, the political life of General Erastiis Root reaches back to the very origin of Delaware county. He was a Member of Assembly, representing the county in 1798 — the second year of its i>rgani'/.ation. .\nil yet when I was a school boy at Delaware .\ca(lemy, I reniemlicr perfectly his veneralile figure as he used to sit on the veranda of his house opposite the old .\(iidem}- liuildiiig. To us he seemed a most inter- i-sting and pictures<|ue old man. He was fond of gathering us about hitu, and as was his wont, teasing us and telling us stories. He was the President of the Board of Trustees of the Academy, and as such he was a person of great importance, and considerable terror to our little community. He was nearly always present at the examination of our classes, and used to frighten us very much by the learned questions he used to put to us in our Latin and other studies. It was with a kind of awe that it was whispered among us tliat in his youth he had published an arithmetic, wlijch fcir a time held its place beside those of Pike and Dalioll. >!}• friend, Ihe late Judge Parker, of .\lbany, told me a story of General ituol which I have never seen in print, and which you will perhaps pardon me if I here insert : — In the early days of Delaware county, when General Koot was a member of the Legislature, the route from Albanj- to Delhi was by stage ilown the west side of the Hudson to Coxsackie, and thence out over the Cats- kill mountains to the Delaware river. On one of these trips the stage was u|isel and Geiu'ral Root had his leg broken. He was detained at the poor little village many weeks, while his leg was mending. .Jutlge Parker, who had then taken up his residence at Albany, went down to visit him during his con- valescence and foun to this community. His line .scholarship, his apt .•md attractive methods of 218 HISTORY OF DELA^yAliE corxrv. teaching, liis graeol'ul and attractive ])Oisonalty, anil liis puro and manly eluiraetor niailo him the idol of the students and the pride and honor of the town. I confess to a kind ot, gralilication in belongiug to that interesting section of the people of Delaware county which we may denominate the Scotch contin- gent. You will agree with me, I am sure, that no part of the settlers of this county has contributed more to its solid growth and prosperity. In reading the annals of Drumtochty, which Ian Maclaren has so inimitably sketched in the Bonnie Brier Bush, I have often thought that here in your very midst was a Scotch element which only needed such a hand of genius to make equally immortal. Delaware county received its Hrst installment of Scotch immigrants before the richer regions of Western New York, or the still more fertile and atl raetive territories of Ohio, and the farther West was open to settlement. They came here because the hills, the streams and the valleys reminded them ot their dear old homes in Scotland. They brought with them their churches, their . schools and their love of political and religious liberty ; and they have here helped to build up intelligent, honest and God-fearing communities, which have made this county a .synonym for all that is best and most suljstantial. There have been three periods of trial tlirough which this county has been called to pass in attaining her present standpoint. The first of these was the Revolutionary period. This was indeed over before the separate history of the county was begun ; but the patriotic qualities of the heroes of that day w-ere submitted to a sharp test. ■ The second period was the Anti-Kent episode, which in 1845-6 stirred the countj' to its angry depths. And yet out of tlie excitement and tragedies of that time the character of its population has sur- vived unharmed. A third period of trial came when in common with all the North, you were called upon to put down the great Rebellion of 1861-.1. Even yet there are hearts in this community which are wrung with pain at the recollection of the sacrifices which they were called upon to make at that time. Of the hundreds of husbands and sons who were given up to join in that terri- ble conflict, how many are sleeping in unknown graves? and of the thinning ranks who still survive, how many are carrying with them perpetual memen- toes of their battles, their marches and their encampments? And yet out of all these heavy trials who does not recognize that this noble and stalwart county has by means of them been chastened to a higher destiny, and to-day at the end of her first century, stands more conspicuously strong and vigorous than ever before. As one of her loyal sons, who has enjoyed the high privilege of having been born and fostered within her territory, I desire to-day to join with others equally loyal, in celebrating her centennial annivei'sarj-, and in extending to her our congratulations upon the past century of success, and in wishing to her in the future the same allotment of good fortune and prosperity. CEXTi:y.\iAi. ci-:li:i!ratii)X. 2iu liCilliirN.s o| ). 1. lioodiivh, V.si\., (ir IIKI.HI, \. V. Mh. Phesidext and Fellow Citizens: Ninety-seven yenrs jifjo niy fjiiiiid- fiillier. Isaai- (lootlrich, who had been a. soklier of the Revolution, willi Ins family and liis lirother . Tared with his family eanie to Dehiware eouuty. He selll.'d in the town of Delhi at a plaee now ealled DeLaneey, then beinn a |iail of I)i!lii the town of Hainden not having been foiiued till twenty-five years afleiward. At this time my father, Hiram B. Goodrich, was eij^ht years of «(;e, antl when he arrived at the age of twenty-one years lie enlisted as a sol- ilier in the war of 1812 and eontinued in the service until the elose of the war. I was born in Delaware county, have always lived here, and no man has ^{reater reason to cherish feelings of love and gratiludi' towanl this county than myself. The early settlers of this part of the county were many of them from New England. They cut loose from civilization ; they brought their all with them ; lliey burneil their bridges behind them. These l)rave hardy men with their faithful devoted wives, their strong stalwai't sons, their flrm-hearted daugh- ters and the little children " homeless except for the mother's arms and couch- less except for the mother's breast," plunged into this wilderness and enlisted ill a life struggle for its conquest. Instead of being surrounded by the comforts, conveniences and enjoyments of civilized life, '■ Bleal; nature's desolation wrapped them round, eternal for- ests and iinyicliling earth." Instead of the sound Of the steam whistle and the church bell they heard the howl of the wolf, the Scream of the panther and the war whoop of the Indian. Id those days when a man got up in the morning he had to fed of his scalp t<> see if, like his country's flag, it was "still there." This was no " camping out " party, this was no holiday excursion ; it meant business. The siivage beast and the still more .savage man had to be driven out, the forest lijid to be cut down and subdued, and all the hanlships. priva- tions anr more so than to-da.v. rn-marl^.s of Ar. Thomas Ci. 5tr»itb, OF SIDNEY, N. V. Ladies and Gentlemen: I have been delighted in what I have seen and heard this afternoon at this Centennial celebration of old Delaware county. I have heard a great many things this afternoon that take me back to the days of my boyhood. I can recollect in old Delaware county when there was no such thing as a mile of railroad known, no telegraph, nothing but the old stage coach for a means of conveyance ; when it was guite a circumstance to make a journey of a hundred miles; when it took four or five days to get a letter a hundred and fifty miles at a cost of eighteen cents postage. In looking over some of the old relics down in the jury room I was reminded of things in my boyhood days. I well remember when my father used to raise flax, when my mother used to spin it on a little wheel, weave cloth, make tha summer gar- ments for the family out of the tow cloth, and the winter garments out of woolen cloth ; she would spin the wool and dye it and make the cloth. * ' Many of these things remind us that we are getting along in years in the historj' of Delaware county. We call it "old" Delaware. I think ninety-seven times this afternoon I have heard the expression "old Delaware." But, in another sense of the word, what is "old?" "Old" is not always represented by years. AVe get a better idea b.v comparison sometimes. If a man is a hun- dred years old we call him old. If a country or a government was a hundred years old we might not call it old. I think I heard one speaker this afternoon say that there was a building in Roxbury a hundred and four years old. A few years ago, in that marvelous city in the Adriatic sea, I stood inside of a i Iniich building that was built in the sixth century, over thirteen hundred ye:irs old. It looked as though it was made for another thousand yeai'S. We would call that old in Delaware county. * * « For all that I am willing to admit that old Delawai-e, I am rea any tornadoes, don't liavc any blasting sirocco. Bnt sho docs have these grand green hills, these beauti- ful vaUeys, these pretty villages dotted all over, this [iri-tty Delhi backed liy its beautiful green hills. .\11 over the hills of Delaware gushes the sparkling water that is cnuirk.s of Hon. T. E. Hani'Oils, OK SVH.\CUSE, X. V. Mli. Cn.\iini.\N. Fellow Citizens, L.vDiEs .\NU GentlemeK : I am pnmd and pleased to be the salutatorian this evi'niug. I'lnler that arrangement yn\i will soon lie out of tronlile and so will I. I I'ongratulate you upon being one humlred years old to-day, as a county; certainly not as individuals, especially the ladies. Judging from what I heard here this aftemooD, if oiiu person should attempt to tell all the good things that eouhl be said concerning tliis county and its sons and daughters he would speak from now until the dawn of the next centennial day. I have not armed myself with those deadly weapons, the cyclopaedia and the gazetteer, if you have one, but I remember reading in a New York paper the other day that Delaware county was celebrated for many things; among others that it was distinguished for its hops. I understand you claim not to raise hops here, but it must be so, if it says so in the paper. You are al.so noted for your maple sugar, for your tanneries and your temperance Demo- crats. That is certainly glory enough for one county. I have been in a great ninny counties that were not distinguished in that way, especially in the latter respect. One of your fellon- citizens who is dead and gone and who has been referred to by your speakers, called Delaware county the Swit/.c^rland of .\merica ; and with its hills and valleys, its healthful clime and fertile soil, it seems to me that it combines the beauties of Switzerland and of the country about the Khiue. This same veracious newspaper that I was speaking about lievoted some remarks to myself in an adjoining column, of course complimentary, in which it called me, if I remember correctly, a statesman from the Onondago Keser- vation. If that be true, I must be related in some way to the tribe of Dela- wnres. I certainly ought to be interested here because, if I remember reahind him, travel three or four weeks and he would find himself in his neighbor's back yard. Those were the days of stage coaches. These are the days of chain lightning. If you desire to visit with a man in London to-day, iu half an hour you can shake hand.s across the sea. If you want to talk with a man in Chicago, in five minutes you hear him at the other end of the wire. We do well to celebrate the deeds of our ancestors. I ha\e been pleased to hear these venerable men speak about the sires of '76, how the good old men of Delaware county fought for thi'ir liberty, fought to achieve independ- ence for this nation, to build up this garden of the gods where you are living to-day. .\nd I was pleased to hear them tell of the patriots of 1H12. who fought to maintain the dignity and self respect of the youngest of the family of nations; and then still later, how the sons of Delaware left their homes and their firesides, kissed their wives and children good-bye, said farewell to father and mother and went down into the vallej' of the shadow of death to fight in behalf of home and native land. We do well to praise such deeds and to remember gratefully those who have preceded us. I have been told since I have been here that Delaware county is sur- rounded by seven other counties and one State. I would not undertake to tell what those counties are, I never was good in geography. I believe that Sulli- van is one, and Greene and Ulster, Schoharie, Broome, Otsego and Chenango; and Pennsylvania. Is that right'? That is the best recitation I have made in geography in a long time. But, judging from the patriotism I have seen man- ifested here, you are not willing to be bounded by any such narrow confines as that. Sometimes the further a man gets awa}' from home the more patriotic^ he is, and some of you seem to be feeling about like a man from the wild and woolly West who was celebrating the Fourth of July in Paris. In fact there were three of them ; one was from Boston, the other from the South and the other from the West. They were having a Fourth of July celebraticm all by themselves. Aud the gentleman from Boston proposed a toast to the United States. With true Bostonian precision, he says : " Here's to the United States ; bounded on the North by British America, bounded on the South by the Gulf of Mexico, bounded on the East by the Atlantic Ocean and bounded on the West by the Pacific Ocean." The reconstructed gentleman from the South was not satisfied. He says. "I think that hardly expresses the idea. I will pro- pose a toast to our native land. Here's to the United States; bounded on the North by the North Pole, bounded on the South by the South Pole, bounded on the East by the rising sun, bounded on the West by the setting sini. ' The gentleman from the West was not satisfied with that. He says, "I think I can express the idea more clearly ; I will propose a toast. Here's to the United States ; bounded on the North by the North Star, bounded on the South by the Southern Cross, boundetl on the East by chaos, bounded on the CEXTH.WIAI. CKI.KIIIiATKl.y. O^-.i Wi'st liy I'ti-ruity." Ami 1 >u|i|i(>se thai is iilioiit tin' si/.c of Dcinwarc ooiuity t'«-ili»y. Wi> oiitsidi'is, lliMitiles, so to speak, aro wiliiuK to coui't'dc tliat Di'ia- wuri- I'ouiity is about all tlioro is of it. It was uot our fault that we were not liorii hi>rt»; we w<>re not consultefl, we didn't have our ehoice. I am expectin;; to lii>!ir tliat travel strike and I do not intend to talk nuuh longer. I have hi'ard snnir MTy line things about Delaware county. I have been told that for sixteen yc-ars after you built your first jail the county judge and district attorney and the committing magistrates were discouraged be- cause no one viMitured to lireak the law, and linally they turned the jail into a hotel. Anil then for about twenty or thirty years after that when a nuiu coni- niitteack in '"iJt. I suppose that explains the temperance Democrats. I am reminded that some of my fellow members of the bar (I am supposed to be the titular head of the members of the bar) felt aggrieved at some remarks that were made liere this afternoon by a physician concerning the boy who sat on the Bible with the orange in his mouth and the dollar in his pocket. He- claimed that the boy became a lawyer. Now, we can all say that, as far as the dollar in liis pocki't is concerned it is a mistake; but I would call the gentle- man's attention to that passage of s Mr. Mcl'auley iiiid the elders walked Sabbath afternoons over to Stamford, a distance of si.\ miles and hail service. After a while Mr. Forrest was settled in Stamford.. -224 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COrxrV. He was miR-h rosiipcteil by his pooplc. Butli ministcis wcri' coiisidciiMl im-ii of ability. I tliink llr. McCauley was tliought to be tlio stn>nf?er of the two as to intellect, but Mr. Foirest wore the broadcloth auil luul the more poli-shed manner. One time the Associate Reformed body met at Newburg. Those in- terested in that assembly felt disheartened when tlie man who was to preaeli for them appeared, dressed in a homespun suit, but when Mr. McCauley offered his prayer, all fears vanished : they felt sure they had the right man, and ever afterwards it was a favor to have Mr. McCauley come among tliem. * « « In those days the people came from all d.rections, eighl or ten miles, to church. At communion seasons there would be services beginning with Friday and lasting until Monday afternoon. The different churches came together, the houses nearby opened their doors and welcomed all who came. Many a friend stayed over and made a visit of weeks. In reading the story of Chan- cellor Livingston, I was reminded of those days. It was stated of him that he would have friends visiting him, and when they were too much at home, he would send money to another friend and ask him to send for them to visit; after awhile they would return improved. The money was not so plenty, but the interchange of friends was ([uite common. * * * The Sabbath was sacred; no work that was not absolutely necessary to life was done; the dishes would bo left until Monday morning, the wood was brought in Saturday night. If the choice were given to me to have an Aca- demic course without a religious education or a common school education with the old time religious training I would .say every time give me the latter, for they who have that, do the clearest thinking and have the strongest will power to overcome difficulties. I am reminded of a time when Dr. Agnew asked me if I knew two ladies who had called on him from Betty's Brook, they appeared very refined and cultured he said ; .so they were ; a family of daughters and two sons, but with a stirring father and a capable quiet mother the Scotch-Irish element was well developed, there was no backwoods people with such train- ing. The mothers of those days were not clamorous for place, but they held the rudder all the same, behind the scenes. Early in this century the father of the Leals went down below Delhi and bought land for his four sons on the east side of the Delaware, his own farm, I being now called the Meeker farm,) the poor-house lot and the one below; there being no church in the town then, he used to walk to Kortright Center, fourteen miles, every Sabbath. Mrs. Gould told me that she had often seen Grandfather Leal on horseback with Grandmother behind him going to Stam- ford to church. Judge Bostwick told me that no one dared to fish or hunt until the old gentleman was off; they were sure to be fined if he saw them. It was not long before he had a church near by; it stood on the flat a little be- low the Little Delaware bi-idge. Mrs. Thurlier told me that he stood on the bridge and saw the last rafter go up; he leaning on his long staff said, '• Kow Jettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes ha\e seen thy salva- tion ;" thus he had seen three churches organized, ami liis exhortation to his children was, "be always ready to support the Gospel; be mindfufcif Mr. Mc- Cauley for he has been a faithful minister to ye all. " Mr. Maxwell was settled over the Delhi church, he preaching occasionally in the Court-house and also at Cabin Hill ov(>r the Scotch mountain. .\ few of CENTEXXIAL CELErtHATIoS. ■22.') ihi' villagi- in'opU' wi'iil ilowu lo the rluncli, Iml they were not a <-hui-cli-i;()iiij,' •fommunity ; they were iiipn of affairs, al)le lawyers; the first bar in the State -outside of the city of New York it was said : there was a true aristoeraej'; the duiigliters were sent away to school ; in those days Catskill had a superior school, ease of manners and quiet deportment were tauj^lil. Mrs. Ma.\well (Judj^e Foote's daufjhter i was an example of a rdiiiert, delicate lady, and a kind. f;entle woman, always attentive to everyone, but never conileseendiiif! : the yotnifj ladies of that time were not street girls, they were protected liy their homes. The Judges of thai time seemed to lie distrilmleil aroiiinl the country at a distance of three or four miles apart. Judge Law at Meredith Si|uare ; he had hopes of having the county town up there. Why not ? The only Slate road ivissed over the hills, three stage coaches a day passed that way, it lieing the most tiireet roail from Western New York to Catskill en route to New York. But down hill the judges came: Judge Frisbee at the foot of Elk Creek, i the first court was held there,) Judge Keeler farther up the river; Judge Leal be- low the village; Judge Foote two miles further on ; later on Ju 11 Hood one,) I siuuohow jjot to tliitiking, Or, it may be, lialf-way ilrcaming, Over days that long were passed, Over which the shadows passed, A very queer illusion. Or. possibly, delusion, I eliani-ed upou an old-tiinc bi>()k. It had a inildewed. iinriiMil Uxik, It's date was 1H1I7. II' I'm uot very much mistaken, It is a rare and novel relie. In truth a genuine old antiiiue. I read it o'er with greatest care, But whence it came I'm not aware. I trust you'll get the book and read it, E'en though it's stale to our time critic. But of the nineteenth century It's a curious epitome. That it is old, you'll givi^ it credit, Because it's not in the "phonetic. " (I simply stop right here tn state You will not find It up to date.) From it I gather llie impression, And so will you on careful reading ( That is, of <'0urse, providing You comprehend the spellingi. That in eighteen hundred ninety-seven Delhi had some sort of celebration — That many people met up there. From every part of Delawarr : They read some scraps of history. And dilated on their glory, And how they'd reached the summit By excellence of wil . What was its purposi', I donl krmw, Because it was so long ago. Yet 'tis true they hfid this celi'bratiou. Per se, for mutiuil admiration. .\iid I give it to you gratis They boasted of their "status," But what they had to brag about. 228 IIISToliY OF DELAWAUK COVNTY. Or why llicy ilid so jiiiup aud bliuiit, Is what we can't exactly know, Because it was so long a;^o. In nineteen liundred uiiicty-seven, Existing by tlie grace of Heaven, We can't conceive as you well Ivuow, AVliy these old things were ever so. It seems, in those old-fashioned days, The people had peculiar ways Of doing things from hand to hand That we, you Icnow, can't understand. They iiad something called a "phone" By which they talked from home to home; They had a wire, or some such matter. They used for lack of something better, And these were stretched on sticks, they say. In a peculiar sort of way. Now tliese old things we can't conceive, Nor scarcely in our mind believe. Why such crude things were e'er in use, We can't our minds quite disabuse. Why, now we talk with men in Mars, They called it then one of the stars ; When we converse right through the air We can't see why they used a wire. As I read backward to that time I'm quite bewildered in my mind. They talked of gold and silver, 'Twould any mind bewilder. They talked about the ratio. And the consequential value. Now we're making gold and silver. As you'll well remember. By a well-known composition Of this century's invention. They talked of the precious mclal, And of the monetary evil. Gold seemed to them great virtue bear Because it was so very rare. But since we've got to making it At a reasonably fair profit. We keep the ratio as we want By the working of the plant. Our mills are running on full time And our output of gold is tine; And our trade's expanding fast — This year greater than the last. CKXThWXIM. CF.I.r.nHA TliiX. o-H) Our ciiniiiii'ivc Willi all piuipli' far uiid wide Exalts our nation's piido. Our aiuliatisadof at Noitli Poll? Reports a good coudition as a wholo; We've nothing from that part to fear, Except an early frost this year. No doulit that our reciproi-ity Has Miueh advanced us in Unit cciuiiiry. The delicacies that they produce, Exchanged with us for things of use. As we look back a lumdri'd years It fills our eyes with scalding tears. Our fathers in their vain, boasted role, Did never, never take the " pole," And yet, with great solemnity. On the record placed their own stupidity. Then they had a long contention O'er the question of combustion, By burning wood or coals, 'twould seem, (Or did I learn it in a dream, i Why, ever since I can remember, We made our fuel out of \vater. The date of this discovery Is not now in my memory. But we have no contention O'er a coal trust combination. Why I should reckon not, When we make thi- water boil the pot. To extract the fire from water Is a very simple matter, And 'tis queer this thing they didn't know. Only a hundred years ago. It didn't even have a mention At that wondrous eelebratiOnly a hundred .years ago. JentermJal Badges worri by ttie Officers of ttie Delt\i Celebratior\. CEXTEXXrAL CELEBRATION. 0;^;^ Addiw^.s h\ Ik-'n. c" hd.s. K. Ltruoln. OF ALBANY, X. Y. Ml!. President. Ladies and Gextle.mes : At the outsi-t 1 want to cxpn's.-i my uratiliuli' to your distinguisheil cilizon and my good friend Mr. Crosby, for ilivitiii;; nu' to attend this eelebratiou. It was not until yesterday that I felt sure that I could be here, but now I am ready to say that I count this one of the fiutunate occasions of my life. As I have sat here to-day and listened to the histories of your various towns, and the devel(>|iment and growth of this ■county, ray patriotism has been stirred, my love of country has grown, and my respect for American citizenship has increased. I am very glad to-night that I am able to make this visit to Delaware county. I am not a son of Delaware county. I am not even a brother-in-law. More than that, I am not even a .son of Xew York. I first saw the light of day in old Vi'rnioiit, anil for more than forty years my father and mother have slept beneath her sod. But I came to this State when a child, and I have lived here I'ver since. This has been my State. I have taken an interest in all her affairs, I have become proud of her history, I have become proud of her station as the Empire State of this great union; and as I have studied her history and watched her development, I have become more and more proud to be a citizen of the State of New York. There are some things about the State of New York to which it might be well for us to call attention. I recall the fact that back in KiHIi a Colonial .\ssenibly was held, and passed what it called a "charter of liberties." In that charter of liberties it declared that the government rested linally with the " people met in general assembly." You who have read that history remem- ber that King James objecteil. We have been going over to-day, some of us listening, others in fact, the history of Delaware county, and while we liave not lieen purposely searching for great men, we have Ijeen tiudiiig great men all along this strong line from the earliest days until now. We lind men who are gri'at. great in their patriotism, great in tlieir devotion to i)nncii)le, great in their love of education, great in every department of human effort: great men who established the county of Delaware and made it strong, and firm, and stalile, as indicated by that first emblem upon that old cnunty seal, n'pn-- sented by a high mountain and a living, growing stream. Shortly after I came to the bar an incident occurred in England that made a very profound impression on my mind. It was the (^xpiratiou of a lease which had been given a thousand years before. Think of it ! .V lease a thous- and years oUl. And yet. when the lease expired, the peojile who were entitled to the reversion of the land upon the expiration of the lease were on hand ready to take their property. That incident, more than any human language can convey, illustrated thi' strength and the stability of English institutions. That incident showed that the England of .■Vlfred, of William the Conciueror, of Elizabeth, and of Cromwell, is al.so the England of Victoria. It showed also that the England of Hastings, and of Eunnymene, and of Marston Moor, is the England of Waterloo. It showed also that the England of Spencer, and of Shakespeare, and of Milton is the England of Tennyson. It showed that the England of those old days had continued practicallj- unchanged, here and there modif,ing its form of government slightly, but all the while the same grand old England. The Plantagenets. and the Tudors, and the Stuarts, and till' Brunswicks, and linally the Hanovers, have occupied the throne of Eng- land, but it is old England still. As I have thought of that thousand years lease the question has occurred to me. Will this nation last a thousand years? Why not? We are told that historj- repeats itself. That is true to a limited degree, but I do not believe it is true of nations. Nations do not repeat them- selves. There was only one Babylon ; there was only one Gn^ece, the mother of arts and literature. The Greece of to-day is not the Greece of Solon and Pericles. There was only one Rome: although it existed for lifteen c(>nturies, the Home of to-day is not the Eome of f'lesar, and of Cicero, anbe, and one which, long before the expiration of the next century will, I believe, be the lirst city in the world. Your C(uiiity to-day possesses a larger population than there was in the entire 28(5 lUsrORV OF DKLAWAHK CO TXT V. Stati' of New Yorli wlioii your oouuty was orgauizi'cl. Tlicri' an- nioir pcnjile ill the State of New York to-day, anil Goveruor Blai-k is Cliief JIagistratc of a larjjer iioimlatioii, tliaii there was in the entire union wlien Thomas Jefferson was eleeted President. We fount our wealth by billions ; we eount our popu- lation by millions. We have become in fact, and we are destined to remain, the Empire State of this great nation. All this development has come about W'hile you have been progressing, and developing, and making this particular part of the State a strong, stalwart, stable county. This county in its development has seen three complete and revised con- stitutions adopted ; it has had occasion to observe that Now York has been the pioneer in great legislation, in great legal reform, and other States have been copying from us all these years. New Y'ork stands to-day, not only in these material respects that I have mentioned, but in other respects, in law, and legal and constitutional reform, the greatest State, and the great example of all the States of the Union. Y'ou in Delaware county share all this. You have helped to produce it. We are all together a part of this great common- wealth. Y'ou had your share in it, and we have all had our share in it, and we have a right to feel to-night proud of our constitution, proud of the results of constitutional government, proud of this material prosperity, proud of the character of our citizens, proud of the condition of our citizenship, and proud of all these things which go to make up this beneficent institution which we call American civilization. Now, these institutions which wc boast .so much of have come down to us from our fathers. Webster made the remark that these institutions which we have are ours "to enjoy, to preserve, and to transmit." Ours to enjoy : we enjoy them day by day. Ours to preserve, and see that our posterity takes them from us untarnished. Ours to transmit to remotest generations, these institutions which have built up this nation and uuide us what we are. And Webster made this further remark, that if, under such fa\-orable conditions as had existed and did then exist in his day in this country, for the establishment of a government by the people, and for the people, if a free republican govern- ment could not be maintained under those conditions, it could not be main- tained at all. We believe it is here to be maintained through the cycles of the ages, with all these institutions of civil and religious liberty which we are so proud of to-night, and which we glory in as we stand here at the close of this first century of your count}'. Wc stand here to-night on the pinnacle of this century. We look ilown into the past and we see those men struggling through hardships and priva- tions to build this nation, and to establish these institutions; and this genera- tion is responsible not only to the past, to see that we properly preserve and take care of the institutions which we have received from It, but responsible for the future, that we may be able to transmit to our posterity and to generations yet unborn these institutions which we believe are destined to make and to continue to make this American nation the flower of the world in all ages. But there are people coming after us. We have heard n little to-night of the next century. What shall our greeting be to-night to the men and w(unen of 1997? They will look back upon this occasion; they will read the liook ( EXTEWIA I. ( KI.I-:ilI{A TKIX. -J:!? whii-li your piesidout 1ms sugges^U'il will bo [uiuti'il, loiitaiiiiuf,' thi' s|ii'cihi's niid thi" histories wlii<-li wo havo hoard horo, and Ihoy will UkiU into it to see what sort of nion and wonion livod in Dolawaro eoiiuly at this tinio, and what kind of institutions you had. They will loolj to soo what kind of a t'onstitu- tioM you had, whetlior it oxpressod the very hijjhost form of -{ovornniont, and whotlior it was i-ak-ulalod to produce the very best oitizonship. and wliotlior it was inteudod to bring about tho greatest happiness of the people. They will consider all these institutions, and they will consider us personally to see how much of our personality, and how much personal eharaoter we put into these institutions which we are to hand down to them. The responsibility nn'ans much as we stand here at the close of one century, and look into anotlier, and look down the aisles of time until we see the end of that century, and in imag- ination behold that eontiMiiiial a hundred years from now. What will it be? Imagination is uiieiiual to the task of portraying what th.it centennial will be, what institutions it will find, what conditions of people will be there found, and what sort of government they will enjoy ; and whether they will so modify the government as to lose sight of the cardinal principl'^s upon which our institutions are based. Those things will demand their attention, but it is our duty to see that we hand clown to tln"m these institutions in the very best con- dition possible. You remember that remarkable oration by Daniel Webster upon the two hundredth anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims, in which, after going over thi' ground of the development of tho causes which led to the colonization of .America, and the formation of this government, he turned his face toward the future, and he wondered what we should be able to say to those people condng after us a century later. And as he dwelt upon that future, and upon those conditions which he could barely describe, he exclaimed: "Advance, then, ye future generations. We welcome you as you rise to take the places which we now fill, and where we are now passing and shall .soon have passed our brief human duration. We welcome j-ou to the pleasant land of our fath- ers : we welcome you to these healthful skies and tliese verdant fields ; we greet your accession to this blessed inheritance which we have enjoyed; we welcome you to the blessings of good government and religious liberty ; we welcome you to the treasures of science and the delights of learning; we wel- i-onie you to the transcendent bliss of domestic life, the happiness of kindred, of parents, and children ; we welcome you to the immeasurable l)lessings of iiitional existence, the? immortal hope of f'lirisliaiaty, and the light of e\cr- lastiug truth." To-niglit, fellow cilizi'iis, let that be the greeting which we send to the men ami women of lli!)7, and lot us hand down ty a large and exceedingly interesting collection of articles, implements, uten- sils, souvenirs and curios gathered during the years of the century. This exhibit was nicely disjilayed in the grand jury room of the court house, and throngs of f)eople enjoyed a visit to that museum of ancient handiwork and genius. There were many coutri1)utious from nearly all parts of the county, but the towns of Bovina, Delhi, Kortright and Roxburv were most numerously represented. The largest individual exhibits were from W. B. Peterw of Bloomville, Edmund L. Fish of Fish Eddy, A. M. Warner of Stamford and Admiral Gillis of Delhi. In the collection of W. B. Peters was an exceptionally good showing of Indian relics, all found in the town of Kortright. Among these were stone aiTOW heads, knives and tools used by the primitive sons of the forest at the beginuiug of the century, a scalp hook which his grandfather captured with twelve bloody scalps hanging thereon. He also had an admirable collection of rare books, of valuable coins, and musical instruments. Edmund Fish had a display of Hint implements which had been gathered from various parts of this couutry. Illustrative of the early struggles of the pioneers, the best collection came from Bovina, which included household articles, carpenters' tools and implements. The collection loaned by Admiral Gillis contained many revolutionary relics and a great variety of interesting things from Peru. A. M. Warner exhibited geological specimens, Indian relics, old firearms and quaint musical instruments. Some of the other articles of especial interest were a chair used by the Colonial Congress, by AV. B. Hanford of Franklin; an old high post bedstead and coverlet IIT) years old, by H. W. White of Delhi; tin lanterns, the oldest one shown In- Dr. William Ormistou CENrh:XXIA L CELEBRA 770.V. -280 and I will close my remarks by quoting the old adage, that brcxity is the soul of wit. The town is yours for this auspicious occasion. ' CKXThX.XIM. Cin.hlUiATKlX. 'i-ll Wlu-ii till' si>(_';iker had (•(iiii-ludcd, the lines were ([iiicklv ur- niu^rfd and the jirocessiou moved iu the fdlhiwiiij^- order: GHAXD M.VUSHAL— FliANK L. NORTON. Platdon of ('hiof Engineers. Carnages i-untaiiiiug speakers and (.listiiiguislieil guests. Fiisl Diemion. — Marshal, Geokoe M. Bubgin.— Sidney Dniiu Corps; Tliirty-third Separate Company, Walton; Sidney Centre Band; Plielps Host- Company, Sidney; Cartwright Hook and Ladder Company. Sidney; Bovina Ham); Ben Marvin Post, Walton; Jolm \. Logan Post, Stamford; Eggleslon Pos(, Deposit; Plaskett Post. Hancock; Fleming Post, Dt)wusville ; Bryce Post, Hamden; F. T. Hine Post, Franklin; England Post, Delhi. Second Divi-iion. — MARiSHAL, Wii,i.iAM Brinkman. — Brown's Band. One- onta; Stamford Hose Company; Maynard Hose Company, Stamford; Cliurehill Hook and Ladder CV)mpany. Stamford; Fleiselimann's Band; Koxbury Hose Coiiipany; Pakalakan Hose Company, Margaretville ; Arena Hose Company, .\rena ; Hine Hose Company, Treadwell. Third /JicwiV™. — Marshal, George O. Leoxaru.— Downsville Band ; She- liawken Hose Company, No. 1, Hancock ; Hancock Hose Company, No. 2, Hancock ; Hancock Hook and Ladder C<;)mpany, No. 1, Hancock; Andes Band ; Howie Hose Company, Andes; Andes Hook and Ladder Company; Hamden Hose Company; Franklin Baud: Edgerton Hose Company. Franklin ; Edgor- tou Hook and LadirwioH.— Marshal. John P. Matthews.— Walton Band; Mmiow Hose Company, No. 1. Alert Hose Company, No. 2, Fancher Hook and Ladder Company, No. 3, Townsend Hose Company, No. 4. Walton ; Deposit Baud : Deposit Hose Company ; Bloomville Band; Cascade Hose Company, Hol)art; Delhi Band; Coiiuago Engine Company, No. 1, Yonmaus Hose Company, No. •2, Graham Hook and Ladder Company, No. :!. Sheldon Hose Company, No. i. Active Hose Company, No. 5. Athletic Hose C^)nlpany, No. ti, Delhi. Tlie line of march im-luded the follow in>^ streets of the villai^e: Court, Second, Franklin, Woolerton. Clinton and ^[aiii. Au iiiter- esting feature of the ])iirade was the (iim|i.niv of ■•Anti-Reuters" from Andes, dressed iu the Indian L;arli of disj^uise. .V ])ictnre of this company appears elsewhere. This jjiirade was one of jifreat interest, representing- every p.irt of the county. The many liands discoursed inspiring;' music. The tirenieu were resplendent iu bright uew uniforms, in various colors and shades, represeutiug safety from the r^vap^es of tire. The vet- irans of '()1-T)5, now grown cfray with years, representiuf,' the uohle army whidi saved our country in time of peril — an iudestructihh- :242 HrsToiiv of Delaware roT-xTv. union. The separate compauv, iu full imitoiin, representative cif ilie state's defense ajjfainst invasion by enemies. The past century had not seen the equal of this inspiring spectacle, and it was a proud day for the gathered thousands. After the i)ar!ide many watched the game of base ball, while Main street held a crowd of people interested in the hose races and the hook and ladder races by the firemen. Cascade Hose Company •of Hobart won first prize, ?5(), in the hose race and Phelps Hose Company of Sidney second prize, §2.5. Cartwright Hook and Lad- :, LL.D., OF NEW DIUXSWICK, X. I. THE Auti-Reut ayitatiou which occurred in the state of New York lietween 1889 aucl IS-lli was iu runuy respects a re- markable 7iiovenieut. It had its ultimate origiu iu the leasehold tenure of lamls which was intrDilui-ed into this country from Eu- rope, and which was sujjposed to carry with it a trail of the feudal system that for centuries had held its sway iu almost all the coun- tries of Europe. The communities which hecame involved iu these Auti-Rent troubles, and were led into exhibitions of lawlessness and even bloodshed, were iu almost all cases hij^h-toued, industrious and moral. They belonf,'-ed to the staid and conservative parts of the people, as indeed the aj^ricultural elements of a state are sure to do. The objects of this paper are to give some account of the Anti- Rent disturbances in Delaware county. To do this intelligently it will be necessary to explain the introduction of European land tenure into America and how out of this unreasoiial)le system arose troul)lcs which involved the best parts of tlu- State for many years. The first settlements witJiin tjic jiroscnt boundaries of New York were made by the Hollanders. The object of the Dutch "West India Company in its American policy wiis a profitable trade. .\nd almost the only article of trade to be derived from tlic Holland territory iu America was the jx'ltry of fin-hcariii^' aiiiiuals. Hence it was im- portant that jjermanent and trustworthy settlements should be established at convenient points within this territory. The ])r<'seiit ?8tate of New York contains within its boundaries at Little Falls the ■as •244 HISTORY OF DKLAWMiE CorXTV. most available route across the Allei^'hauies to the west, and at the time of the Dutch settlements was the home of the most thrifty, eu- terprising aud war-like tribes of Indians. To bring themselves into contact witli these sources of the fur-trade, the Dutch West India t'ompauv undertook to develop a settlement at All)auy. To this end they ofifered imjiortant concessions to such men of wealth as would engage to found colonies on the frontiers of the Indian territories. Killain Van Rensselaer, a rich pearl merchant of Amsterdam, was the first to undertake this task. He received a grant of land ex- tending twenty-four miles along the Hudson river at Alljany, aud running back twenty-four miles on each side. This extensive tract covered the chief parts of the two counties of Albany and Rensse- laer. The recijiient of this grant was denominated a patroou, and he engaged to plant within seven years a colony on his lands, of at least fifty families. In KKiO a ship-load of emigrants was forwarded from Holland, and in succeeding years others followed. They were chiefly planted on farms in what is now Albany and Rensselaer counties. The lands were leased to them on what are called perpetual leases. The annual rent was at tirst tixed at ten bushels of wheat for one hun- dred acres, together with four fat hens aud a day's work with a team. In the later leases the rent was tixed at fourteen bushels of wheat for one hundred acres. In 16()4: the Holland possessions in America were all transferred by treaty to England, and among them the patroonshij) of the Van Rensselaers. The personal rights of the inhabitants were not dis- turbed, and the patroonship became the manor of Rensselaerwyck, with the rights and usages of an English manor. The English during their ascendency created several othei' great njauors. The most important of these was the Livingston manor in what is now Columbia county. It covered 1(5.5,240 acres. The ob- ject of the English colonial government in thus founding manors- was of course to secure the prevalence in America of a landed aris- tocracy after the jiatteru of England. Tlic land of the Livingston '/•///•; AXTiuHXT i:i'isiiiiK. 245 limUdi' >\iis like tlijit of lifiisscliicrwvck assij^iicd to settlers on lease, •some iu perpetuity, some for uiiuty-iiiiie years, and some tor one or more lives. The "greater jiart. liowcxcr, was leiised for two lives. The aunual rent varied between fourtceu and eighteen liusliels of wheat for one hundred acres. Thei'e were other large patents in different eastern counties, wliose tenants became involved in the Anti-Kent agitation. The principal of these were in Schoharie county, iu Schenectady county, the George Clark tracts iu Montgomery, Scoharie, Otsego, Oneida and Delaware counties, in Greene county, in Ulster county and iu Sullivan and Delaware counties. The tract of greatest interest to Delaware county was the Hard- eubevgh patent. It was granted by Queen Anne in 1708 to Johannes Hardenbergh of Kingston and iiis associates. It included ten miles square, and was claimed by the grantees to extend to the West branch of the Delaware; but this claim was disjiuted by the settlers ■who held that grant only extended to the East branch. The orig- inal grant specified that the land extended to the " Main Branch of the Fish-lvill or Delaware river." Which is the main branch is even yet almost impossible to decide. As the two How toL;etlH>r at Hau- •cock they are so nearly of the same size that we may pardon the dis])utes of the patentees and the settlers. The lauds of the Hardenbergh patent were nearly always granted to settlers on leases at one shilling an acre. Besides this large pat- ent, there were in Delaware county several other considerable tracts; thus there were the Morgan Lewis tract of 15,(100 acres; three tracts of Gulian and Samuel Yerplanck originally of 50,000 acres, of which there were 20,000 acres under lease at the time of the Auti- Hent outbreak. To these tracts must lie added tlinse of liobert R. Livingston and Mrs. Montgomery, and the extensive tracts of Hunter, Kortright and Overiug.* The first Auti-Hent outl>reak took place in the lands of the ♦These itctiis are lukeii from the rt^poj'l of Hon. SuMiiiel J. TiliJen in the -winter of I84fi to the New York Assembly. 24(5 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COl-XTY. Helderljcr^s iu All);iiiy county iu l.s:{!). It ui-Dse from the iitteiiipt made to euforce the collection of rents wLicb the too great leuieucv of tlie patroon Stephen Van Rensselaer had suffered to accumulate in arrears. At the time of his death this accumulation amounted to not less than $-!:()(), (l(»l. The effort to enforce payment led to violent resistance, and the officers of the law were compelled to cull upon the governor, William H. Seward, for military assistance. After the forcible settlement of the questions at issue, at the sutfgestiou of the governor commissioners were appointed to endeavor to make a comiaromise between the landlord and his tenants. But no satis- factory result came from this conference and the commissioners reported their failure to the next legislature. Soon after this, the agitation as to the payment of rents spread to the Van Rensselaer leasehold properties on the east side of the Hudson river. Anti-Rent associations began to be formed iu all the considerable localities. These associations became affiliated and ex- erted a wide intiuence iu all the subsequent movements, both in the Van Rensselaer and other leasehold domains. In connection with these associations there ajjpeared a set of professional agitators, who went about descanting upon the evils of the system of rents and encouraging the tenants in the methods of violence which they adojited. Dr. Boughtou who was afterward tried and convicted iu Columbia county, and ^Ir. Brisbane who was present at the killing of Steele in Delaware county, were both professional anti-rent lec- turers. It must not be assumed that the aims aud purposes of these associations were wholly or even principally wrong. There was- a perfectly legitimate object which they did much to promote. In them began that persistent agitation which finally brought about those reforms which the leasehold system fairly needed. Til the meantime the employment of disguises had been intro- duced to aid iu the resistance to the 25!\ymeut of rent. Wherr- these disreputable disguises were first used we hjive not been able to ascertain. It the second ti'ial of Dr. Boughtou in IXi-'i riiK .wriHExr ei'isode. 2-4T .Imlge Eilmoiids in jiroiiouiii-iuji' st'iitcuct' uixni liim, clmr^^cs tlnit he was the first to introduce them; but tliere is reason to believe that the same dispfuise was used at a much curljer date. The disfjuise consisted of a shecpskiu ciiji [luUed down over the head and face, out of which had bcoii cut holes for the eyes, ears, mouth and nose. Sometimes the caj) was trimmed with orna- mental feathers or plumes of horsehair, and with an artificial beard. The disguised persons called themselves Indians, and the commanders assumed such names as Bi^f-Thunder, Little- Thunder. Blue-Beard, White-Chief, .^c. Besides the caj), the body of the Indian was disguised by a calico blouse extending- a little V)elow the knee, which was contiued at the waist by a colored sash. These "Calico-Indians" were armed with pistols and knives, and usually also carried a ritle. Serious disturbances, accompanied by the appearance of dis- guised Indians, broke out both in Rensselaer county and ui)ou the Livingston manor in Columbia. These disturbances generally consisted in the resistance to the sheriff in serving pajiers upon chdiuquent tenants, or in interfering with sales which the sheriff was called upon to hold for the liquidation of rents. The diffi- culties reached such a pass that at last the governor was called upon to aid the officials of Columbia, and to send troops to assist them in the performance of their duties. Similar disturbances manifested themselves in Schoharie county, in Ulster county, and a second time in Albany county. While these events were transpiring in other counties, the affairs in Delaware county were rapidly converging towards a tragi<'al crisis. Tlie parts of the county in which the excitement first began were the towns of Roxbury and Middletowu. The lands here were a part of the Hardenburgh patent. They lay in the disputed section of the patent l)etweeu the east and west I tranches of the Delaware river. The tenants had been getting stirred u]) by the disturbances which occurred in Albany and Columbia counties. Professional agitatois had visited thcni and •248 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COrXTV. liiul advised them to resist the payiiient of reut. Auti-reiit asso- ciatious had beeu founded and thousands of tenants had enrolled themselves as members. Thev paid a certain niimlier of cents for each acre of their farms, and out of the funds thus collected, the exjjeuses of the aj^itation were paid, puch as exjseuses of meetings, pay of lecturers, equipment of Indians, and their out- lay and maintenance when upon any excursion connected with the organization. In the summer of 1844: John B. (Toukl, the father of Jay Gould, who resided in Eoxbury, was visited by a baud of Indians who requested him to cease having his dinner horn blown for his workmen at dinner-time, as was the custom of all the fanners of that region. The object of this request of course was, that the blowing of Mr. Crould's dinuer-horn might not be mistaken for the signal by which the Indians were summoned to a gather- ing, Mr. Gould however refused to give up the use of his dinuer-horn, notwithstanding the insistauce of the Indians. They threatened him with violence if he continued the practice, and he finally drove them off with a gun. A few weeks later a larger body of Indians surrounded his house and tried to in- timidate him; but he absolutely refused to yield to their demands, and finally as the neighbors began to collect they retired, with- out having secured their end. On their way home they took revenge by capturing Hiram J\Iore and tarring and feathering him. In September of the same year, another outrage was com- mitted in the tarring and feathering of Timothy Corbin, who was engaged as a deputy-sheriff in serving jsapers on Daniel W. S(|uires. The official papers w-hich he carried were taken from him and destroyed. In February, 1845, Under-Sheriflf O. N. Steele with three assist- ants arrested Squires, who had been indicted by the Grand Jury for riot, assault and battery, in being engaged in tarring and feather- ing Mr. Corbin, in compelling the surrender of the sheriff's papers. He was arraigned and admitted to bail. A week later than this. D 3= 0) rn" I li •^ irn • ^^lN THE AXri-HKXT KI'ISODK. 251 Deimty-Sluiirt' J. A. Jiorsoii of MiddUtowu uudcrtook to serve a deeliiratiou iii a case uot eouuecUd with Auti-Kcut. He was met b_v nine (lisguiseil ludiaus, who threateued Liiu with tar iuul fciithcrs, if he came agaiu ou a like erraud. For api^oariup disguised aud armed in Roxburv and MidcUctowu the (iriind Jury in lfS-l5 indicted Sihis Tonijjkins, Lewis Knnpp, Anson K. Burrill and Ezekiel C. Kelly. This indictment was under II law which liad liceu enacted by tlie lef^'islature duriii;^' the session i)f 184"), making it unlawful to appear in disguise aud specifying the iiunishment in two degrees, first when disguised and isecond when disguised and armed. Of the persons thus indicted Kelly pleaded guilty and was tiucd i?"2.")0; the otlicr three w'ere tried, found guilty aud sentenced to State Prison for two years. Under-SheritT Steele with an escort, who had been serving l)apers ou delinquent tenants in the town of .\ndes, was stopped on his way home by a body of ludiaus near the little lake now calh'd Lake Delaware. They were taken back to the village of Andes and there confined in a tavern. Steele found means to despatch a mes- senger to Delhi, which is distant about thirteen miles. The Sheriff, Green Moore, being warned of the predicament of his assistant, -summoned help and started for his rescue. The ludiaus having learned of liis coming immediately scattered aud left their j)risouers free. Shortly after this Under Sheritf Steele and Deputy Sheriff Edg- erton made an incursion into Roxburv for the purpose of arresting persons who had been engaged in tarring aud feathering the slieriff's deputy and in abstracting his papers. They marched in two parties, each composed of thirty to forty men. They made several arrests of persons who were alleged to have been in disguise foutrary to law. Two of them, viz. James O. Bunill and Warren W. Scudder (Blue Beard) were committed, aud four others were discharged for want of proof. Scudder was admitteil to bail. While these disturbances were thus accumulaf iug, tlic slicrilf became concerned for the safety of the jail aud the other jiublic 14 252 HISTORY OF DELA^^^AHE COl'XTV. biiildinf>'s. He sumiiioued a t^uard from the surioiiudiuj^- towus, which he j)hiced iiuder the comniaud of CoUmel Miirviu of Walton. I'udcr the authority of a hxw which liad Iteeu passed by the lej^-isla- ture at its preeediug- session, he l)orrowed from the State a hundred sabres, a hundred pairs of pistols and six hundred ball cartridges. With these preparations he deemed the prisoners under arrest safe from the attempts at rescue which from time to time were thi-eatened. There is evidence that these attempts at violence and resistance to law were contrary to the moderate and sensible oj)inious of even the strongest anti-rent communities. Many meetings were held, some of which were meetings of anti-rent associations, in which a disapj)roval of acts of violence and lawlessness were most strongly and peremjjtorily expressed. But for the time being the guidance of matters was in the hands of the reckless and ii-responsible. The absurd freak of disguises was mainly played by the young and inexperienced, who usually had no property or character of their own at stake. It reipiired the serious and heavy hand of the law to be laid upon them, before they could he awakened to a realizing sense of what they were really doing. The event which was to startle them all back into a full consciousness of the dangerous position in which they stood was now ujion them. On the 7th of August, 1845, Sheriif Green Moore, Under-Sheriff Osman N. Steele, Constable Edgerton and their counsel P. P. Wright, Esq., weut to the town of Andes to sell jH'oiserty belonging to Moses Earle which had been levied on for the non-payment of rent. His farm was upon the Yerplanck tract and subject to an annual rent of $82. It was in arrears for two years, and therefore the Sheriff was to sell property to the value of $()4 and enough more to cover the cost of collection. Mr. Wright had been employed by the agent of the Verplanek landlord, and went to the sale prepared to bid on the property otfered, if necessary. Sheriff Moore and Mr. Wright arrived at the premises about ten o'clock. There were present already a considerable nund)er of THE ASTI-RENT EPISODE. -25:} spectators. Mr. W'riyht soii);Lit :ui iuti'rvifw witli ^Ir. Kurlc aud proposed a settlement of the luatter without a sale. But he de- cliiicil and replied, "You must ^o ahead, I shall tij^ht to tlie liardcst." About eleven o'eloek, Mr. Wrijfht says iu his evideuce afterward fj^iveu, a small body of disf^uised ludiaus crossed the road aud weut through the pasture where the cattle which were to be sold were gathered, and theuce entered the woods. Afterwards other bodies of Indians made tluir a]>]i(arauce, until it was lielieved that more than two hundred were present disguised aud armed. About 1 o'clock one hundred or more of the ludiaus marched single file out of their ambuscade and took their place in the pasture, ilr. Wright was near enough to hold some conversation with them. He called out to them that, "they were all there to break the law." They answered, "Damn the law, we are here to l>reak it." He was told by the Indians that if he dared to bid on tlie property, he would go home to Delhi iu a wagon feet foremost. A pail of whiskey was brought out from ~S\r. Earl's house aud car- ried along the line, from which the Indians drank. OtKcers Steele and Edgerton came to the farm about '2 o'clock on horseback. The Sheriff then announced that the sale would be l>egun, aud started with two or three citizens to drive uj) the cattle which were to be sold. They were driven to a pair of bars opening into the road; but the Indians stopped them from going through. They formed themselves into a hollow sipiare, enclosing the sheriff, the cattle, Mr. Steele and Mi-. Edgert.(m on horseback, and 'Siv. Wiight. It was at this supreme moment, when all the parties were ill a state of the greatest excitement, that an order was heard from the chief of the Indians, "Shoot the horses"; and a moment later another shout from an uncertain (|uarter, "Shoot him, shoot him." A voUej' was at once fired and blood was seen to How from Edgerton's horse. A few seconds later another volley was lired, and Steele fell bleeding from his horse. Three balls had pierced him, besides others which had entered his clothing. 254 HISTORY OF DKLAWAIiE COlWrV. Both the horses died from their wouuds. Sheriff Moore appealed to the Indians, " For God's sake desist, you have done enough." Steele was carried into ]\Ir. Earle's house, and Drs. Peake and Calhoun were summoned to his aid from the village of Andes which is about three miles distant. Three serious wounds were found upon him: One in his arm, another in his hreast, and a third which entered at his Lack and came out through his bowels. He lingered five or six hours in great agony and then died. ^Tiile- lying in his sufferiug he is said to have toM Mr. Earle that if he had agreed to a settlement this morning, he would not have been shot. Earle replied that lie would not settle if it cost forty lives.* There was also a question raised at the trials which followed, ■whether Steele had fired upon the Indians before he was tired ui^ou. It was understood that upon his deathbed he acknowl- edged having fired his revolver after he had received the wound in his arm. The pistol was subsequently picked uj) and was presented at the trials. The condition of the barrels showed that it had not been tired excej)t as stated by Steele. Neither the sheriff, Mr. Edgerton nor Mr. Wright tired their pistols. I The fatal termination of this affair aroused the greatest excite- ment, not only throughout Delaware county, but throughout the State. NewsjDapers denounced the mad violence which had resulted in the death of an officer in the performance of his duty. Every where meetings were held by the friends of the anti-rent movement protesting against the injustice of charging this criminal folly against anti-renters. Nothing could have happened whicli would * It is fair to state that Dr. Calhoun who was present at Steele's death, denies the accuracy of this statement. He saj-s that Earle's answer was, "If they will show me their title I will pay every cent of rent; but if they mean to bully me out of it, I will not pay if it costs forty lives." t There can be no doubt that there was a sjiecial hatred against Steele among the disguised Indians present at Earle's sale. He had been the most active of the SheriiT's officers in searching for and arresting the dis- guised men. The fatal shots which were poured into him, and into no others, were unquestionably fired by some of his victims or their friends. THE AXri-liEXT El'ISODE. -255 tcml to deprive a cause, which nianv cleemod a {^001! caiiwf, so I'oiuiik'tely of the sviupatliv to which it min^ht be entitled. (lovernor Silas Wright at once offered a reward of $500 for the arrest of Warren W. Scuddcr, who was believed to have been m eoiiiniaud of the Indians at Earl's sale. Sheriff !Moore also offered a reward of $;^00 for the apprehension of So udder, and 8200 for the apjirehension of William Bartlett. The Sheriff with an armed /w.»r scoured the county, searching for those who could be showu to have been engaged in auj' way in this fatal affair. On August 'llih (Jovernor Wright issued a proclamation, declaring Delaware county iu a state of insurrection, and ordering thither a sutKcient military force for the preservation of order and the guarding of arrested prisoners. Two companies of volunteers were summoned from the towns in the south and west of the county, where no lease land nor anti-rent sentiment was to be found. Colonel Marvin of Walton commanded these troops, one hundred of whom were mounted and were used to escort the Sheriff' and his ofhcers iu making the needful aiTests. The jail was so tilled with prisoners awaiting trial, that the Sheriff was obliged to build a temporary structure in order to provide room for them. The trial of the persons charged with complicity in the death of Steele was conducted in the Circuit Court held by .Tudge .\^masa J. Parker, beginning August 22, 1845. It was a most trying ordeal through which he was obliged to pass. He had resided for many years in Delhi, and there had begun his brilliant legal career. N[any of the persons who now ajjpeared before hiiu for trial were known to him, and their j^resent critical positions must have deeply touched the sensibilities of his nature. It may safely be said that no person in any way connected with these trying events exerted a more benign intlurnce than Judge Parker in putting an end forever to the methods of violence which had sprung u]i in tliis sober and conservative community. The arraignment and conviction of so many prisoners seem like a barbarous and unnecessary cruelty. But such an experience was necessary to convince them 256 HISTORY UF DELAWARE CdiyTV. of tlie danger and futility i>f tvitlin^- with the execution of the laws. The District Attoruey who eornluctetl these trials was Jonas M. Hughston, and he was assisted by John Van Burcu then the Attorney General, and by Samuel Sherwood as special counsel. The counsel for the prisoners were Samuel Gordon and Amasa Parker an uncle of the presiding Judge, both residents of Delhi. The results of these trials, which continued into October, may be summarized as follows: No evidence was presented which made it certain that any of the prisoners had fired the fatal shots. The nearest apjiroach to this was in the trial of John Van Steenburg, in regard to whom it was testified that he asked to borrow a ramro liuniiiu mmil and has a vast iuriueiii'o iu sefiiiiu><' the prosjurity of ^rowiu^' t'oiiiiminities. 4. The restraints iuserted in the ohl leases to the alieuatiou of himl arc a serious inqicilinient to the (levelopmeut of leasehold properties. The more enterprising set- tlers are kei)t out and the steady making of improvements on farms is discouraged. 5. It is reasonable and fair that the interest of the landlord iu the farms, of which the annual rent is the measure should pay its equitable part of the taxes assessed for State and local purposes. Besides the laws enacted, the constitutional convention of 1H46 inserted several important clauses bearing upon the ques- tions of land tenure. Thus Section 1-1 provides that no lease or grant of agricultural land for a longer period than twelve years, hereafter made, iu which shall be reserved any rent or service of any kind shall be valid. Section lo provides that all lines, tpiarter sales, or other like restraints ui>on alienation, reserved in any grant of land hereafter to be made, shall be valid. In the election which was held in the autumn of 1840 the anti-rent vote was cast in favor of John Young for governor and in consecpience he was elected. In January 1847 a few weeks after he took office. Governor Young issued a proclama- tion pardoning all the anti-rent prisoners remaining iu the State prison. There was some complaint against this wholesale pardon, but the governor in his proclamation made a calm and judicial statement of his reasons; and the consei|ueuces which followed his action have seemed to justify his views. Enough had been done to show that the tpiestions at issue were not such as could be settled by violent resistance to law. The period of legislation and of appeal to courts of law hail now come and tiiis phase of the question was destined to continue many years- I'assing over this legal struggle we have a few words to say al)out their effects on the natural relation of landlord and tenant. The agitation which had so long continued over i)aymeuts of •2()0 HTSTORY OF DELAWARE COrXTV. rent, rtud the laws wbich had been enacted, usuall.v in the interest of the tenants, rendered the landlords wary of the situation. The Van Eensselaer landlords especially became heartily tired and dis- couraged over the continual resistance whicli they met with in the collection of their rents. First they made propositions to sell the fee-simple to the tenants on more liberal terms than had before been offered. Many of the tenants being equally weary of the long- contest took advantage of the depression in the value of the land- lord's holdings and bought their farms outright. Finally the Van Eensselaer family, which had been landholders for more than two hundred years, sold out all the leases which remained and ceased to be the greatest landlords in our country. In Delaware county where the tenants had received such a severe lesson concerning the payment of rent, they were ready to meet their landlords more than half way in settling this burning question. In some cases the landlords sold their rights to new parties, who were ready to arrange witli the tenants for the pur- chase of the fee-simple. Usually the new purchasers, having ac<|uired their properties at a tritling valuatiou, were ready to bargain with the tenants at easy rates. In the report which Mr. Tilden made to the Assembly iu 1S4B he made an approximate estimate of the amount of laud under lease. Thus: In Albany couuty there were 1,397 leasehold farms comprising 233,900 acres. In Rensselaer couuty there were l,()(;f; leasehold farms compris- ing 202.100 acres. In another account referring to the same date the following statement is made: Nearly one-half of Rensselaer county was covered with leases; the greater part of Columbia county; a large part of Delaware county; and about two-thirds of Albany county. To show what changes had been made iu rented farms up to the vear 1880, we refer to the U. S. Census as cited in Professor Che- ney's pamphlet on Anti-Rent Agitation ( Philadeljihia 1887). THE AXTI-REST EPISODE. Jlil Albany C'uuutv 3,325 fniiiis, (iSK) ou lease. Columbia County 3,825 fanns, 735 ou lease. Delaware County .").2ources of Information. 1. Files of till" Albany FrcoluiUlor. 2. Files of the Delaware Gazette. ;t. Records of Itie Clerk of Delaware County. 4. Lcfjislative Documents of the State of New Yoik. .5. Session Laws of the State of New York. Ci. .K. -J. Weise's History of Albany. 7. History of .\lbany County. H. History of Rensselaer County. it. History of Columbia County. 111. Jay Gould's History of Delaware County. 11. Brodliead's History of New York. 12. Hough'.s Gazetteer of New York, 187-i. 13. The .\nli-Renl Agitation : By Professor Cheney. Philadelphia 1SH7. 14. Anti-Rent Disturbances: By D. D. Barnard, .-VnierieaM Wliig Ri-vlew, II : .-.77. !.■>. Sketch of Anson Bingham : By A. J. Colvin, Albany, 1882. Ifi. Manor of Rensselaerwyck : By 0." Pepper, 1846. 17. Mrs. .T. V. L. Pruyn : Memoranda of her father, Hon. A. J. Parker. IH. Mr.s. William Y'ounians : Scrap book kept by her husband. Hon. \Villiain "Yonnians. 10. Hon. Martin I. Towiisend of Troy : Personal KecoUections. 20. Hon. Verplanck Colvin: Meiuoramla of liis father, Hon. A. J. Colvin. 21. Professor .1. M. Vincent. Johns Hopkins I'niversity: Letter of Judge John Martin of Columbia County concerning Anti-Rent dislurl.ances, 184.5. 22. Jolin .\. Parshall, Esq. . Personal Recollections. 2.'{. Robeil Murray, Esq. : Personal Re<'ollection8. 24. The Author Is also indebted to Mr. David Murray, Jr. for searches made at the Library of the New Y'ork Bar .\ssociation in the Session Laws and the Legislative Documents of the State of New Y'ork. and in the New Y'ork Re(>orts. Tbe Anti-Rent ''Andes Tracred^." THE followiug- is a sketch of the sale at wLicli Deinity-Shei'iff Osmau N. Steele was shot, as prepared by the bite Hou. Richard Morse of Andes, aud endorsed h\ others who were present. This account is printed here because it is accepted by many as correct, and was written after the bitter feeling of the anti-renters had passed away aud by one not directly interested. Mr. Morse says: "The history of any important event should be a correct narration of the facts and circumstances surrounding the event, so that the student of history may not be misled in his con- elusious. History is generally made up of traditions and these are usually colored by the feelings and sympathies of the nar- rator, and no better jjroof of the truth of this can be found than in consulting the two published versions of the ' Andes tragedy,' the first appearing in Jay Gould's history of Delaware county many years ago, and the last pul)lisli('d iu ^[uusell's his- tory in 1880, neither of which gave a correct and truthful state- ment of the facts. It was my fortune to be present at the 'Earle's sale,' and therefore an eye witness of the 'tragedy' which may now be very properly called the 'Appomattox' of English feudal tenures in this country, because from that time on the war ceased and peacefid negotiation has since resulted iu substantially wiping out that odious system of tenures. The Earle's sale took place on the 7th day of August. 18-15. Both (if the histories alluded to assert that Steele and Edgerton were there in their official capacity, which is manifestly incorrect, as was proven by the testimony of Green More, who was then Sheriff of the county, and present at the sale. At the O'Connor 262 Cer\teqriial Decoratioris, Maip Street, Deltii. THE AXrr-R.EXT -AXDES TliMi i-jivr •>{■■,:•, •trial, lie tfstitit'd that bis orders to Steele and Ivlj^crtoii were not to ajijieiir at the sale unless tliev liroiiylit a 'posse' of at least forty men with them. John Allen swore that he ai^reed to give Steele aud Edgertou the sixtv-foxir dollars reut for which the 'distress' was made, if they would attend the sale aii<1 hid off the i)roperty. The arrangement with Allen, who was the agent of the landlord, shows couelusivelv tliat neither of them attended the sale otKciallv, on the contrary their jiresence there was clearly for the purpose of speculatioiL Colin Cam])bell aud myself, who at that time occupied adjoin- ing farms to Mr. Earle, were re(iuested liy him to attend tin sale and hid m the property for him. saying that he wanted to jiay his rent aud stop the trouble, aud desired to take that course to do it: we cousented and it was for that purpose that we at- tended the sale. A\Tien we arrived at Mr. Earle's, he called us to one side aud informed us that Northviiii. the 'Indian Chief,' liad sent word to him from the woods, where they were assem- liled, that if he procured us to l)id off the cattle, the 'Indians' Would shoot them, but if he would let P. P. Wright or any other agent of the landlords bid them off, the ' Indians ' would shoot them and the anti-renters would pay him all the damages he sustained. We stated to him that under such circumstances we would have nothing to do with the matter, and we remained there after that simply as spectators. When the Sheriff wanted to commence the sale, the ■ Indians ' and a number of citizens, not in disguise, repaired to the field where the cattle were graz- ing and drove them into a corner near the road and surrounding them, told the Sheriff to proceed with the sale and they would protect him. About that time Steele and Edgertou rode uj), and someone wanted the cows driven into the highway. Mr. William Brisbane objected to that, claiming that the advertise- ment stated that the sale was to take place on the preniises of Moses Earle, and that the highway belonged to the jiublic. At this juncture Steele aud Edgertou rode down to the barn where 266 IIISToliV (JF DELAWMiE COIXTV. oue of till' uotiees of sale was jiosted, and then rode back to the- bars leadiuj^- into the field where the cattle were surrounded by the 'ludiaus' aud Sheriff. "When tliey came to tli<' bars, P. P., Wriyht ste])ped iu between their horses ami jnilled down the top bar, and seizing- the inside stirrup of each horse he vaulted over the bars with them. As the bars were cleared, the horse- men rushed in among the 'Indians' and at this moment Edger- tou drew a pistol aud riouvishiuy it over and around his head, commanded all persons jjreseut to assist iu keeping the peace. As he was swinging his pistol it went off, and that was the first reports of fire-arms on the ground that day. I was standing on an elevation where I could see aud hear all that transpired. As soon as the report of Edgerton's pistol was heard, the order was given by the Chief to shoot the horses, and I saw an ' In- dian' run up to Edgerton's hoi'se and shoot him in the breast. At this time there were many shots fired. The horse when shot reared up aud Edgerton junijied off and raised his baud and cried out, 'For Clod's sake, don't shoot me.' About this time Steele's horse was shot — he having a pistol iu his right baud — aud the horse turned toward the bars. Theu I saw an 'Indian' run up by the side of the rail fence and take aim aud fire at Steele, who crouched down. The horse fell near the bars. Two persons raised Steele ujj and carried him down toward the house.. I then left aud the 'Indians' and spectators all dispersed." T Ao'ainst tbe Erection of the CoQnt\;. H]''. following' rciudustrniice is j^'ivcu tn sluiw t]\v oppo.situni Xn fs\;\}>]\s]]mwer to nniintain common schools of learning for the education of our children, although we have a large sum of money to pay for the benefit of sehools, and are not situatey William B. Peters. Masonville. By A. ¥. (ietter. Mkhedith. By Josiah D. Smith. MiDiii.ETowN. By Hon. .lohn (iraiit, and Mrs. J. K. P. Jackson. lloxBURv. By Dr. J. N. Wright. Sidney. By Edwin R. Wattles. Stamkoud. Written for this work. Walton. By Hon. TinKitliy Sanderson. 271 Andes. IjY O.scar »">. Nichols. OF the earliest settlemeuts uiiide iu tliut portiou of Delaware eouuty now comj^rised iu the towu of Andes, there exists to- day a record of little more thau tradition. The circumstauces at- tending the advance of the pioneers before the revolutionary war were not such as favored the acciniiulatiou of elaborate material for future history. Coming generations shall never know the trvie story of that early march of civilization into the heart of the American forests; and it is difficult to realize what must have l)eeu the hardships and deprivations and uncertainties which the leaders iu that forward movement encountered. There re- mains for us the story of success and progress; the failures and reverses belong to those details that are left to the imagination. The exi^erieuces of the early days were doubtless common to all the settlers of the Middle States; and iu the following nar- rative an attempt will be made to refer to some of the more familiar traditions clustering al)out the l)eginuing of this town. Prior to the Revolution there appear to have been scarcely auy permanent settlements in this |iorti(ui of the county. The peculiar topographical relations — the rocky hills, often thickly wooded and cut by deep valleys, with wild mountain streams, — offered few immediate advantages t/•• AXDES. 275 |ieriimii('iit trsices; tbey may have failed to overcome the difficul- ties which the peculiar character of the country preseuted, aud doubtless some left to joiu the throng of revolutiouary warriors. 'I'licri' arc no records which justify auy certain conclusions as to the fate of these individuals; liut the traditions of their existence lend conii>leteness to the history of the later community, and contributes to the enthusiasm which the tales of colonial strug- gles arouse in American heitrts. It was during the revolutionary period aud in the following years that the tirst permanent settlements began. According to various authorities, the years 1781 to 178i mark the date of these pioneer movements. At about this time several families, making their way up the East branch of the Delaware river, located at the place now known as Shavertown. These families included •lohu, Jacob and Philip Shaver (hence the name). They had mi- grated from Dutchess county, while Philip Barndardt had come to this district from Schoharie county. These names, like those which follow, serve to indicate the nationality of the early set- tlers. .V few years later other individuals began to direct their way along the smaller l)rauches of the rivei". These branches afforded the natural paths along which the invasion into the un- known territory should lie conducted. Thus we learn of Robert Nicht)lson who made his home about 17!)() up the Tremperskill, the small stream joining the East Branch at Shavertown. To the same neighborhood came Thomas More, James Phenix, Elijah Olmsted, Joseph Erskiue, Silas Parish, K. \\asliburH aud Eli Sears, naiiics, many of which are familiar in tiic county auuals. Somewhat later than the period just referred to l)egan a movenu'ut towards the district under discussion, along the direc- tion of the West Branch of the Delaware. Communication with the outer world was less easy along this path, and coiis((iuently the immigration in this direction was less extensive until at a much later ])eriod. Toward the close of the eighteenth century, however, settlers had followed tlie West Branch as far as Delhi, 27(; HISTORY OF DELAWARE COrXTY. aud theu pursuiug their cuursf up the Litth' Debiware — the stream joiuing the West Branch just below the j)resent vilhige of Delhi — had made tlieir way into the preseut town of Boviua aud tbeu gradually iuto the uortheru portiou of what is uow known as Andes. How entirely iudejjendeut the two lines of jjioneer niovemeut were, is well illustrated by the following in- cident which we take from the historical account of the town by H. W. Blake: Aaron Hull, a pioneer, who came l)y the Tennis Lake route, had taken up his abode about one mile north of the present village of Andes. His nearest neighbor to the south was Jonathan Earl, who in 1795 had located on the farm now occu- pied by Robert McNair on the road from Andes to Shavertown. "These two families lived for a j'ear or more unknown to each other, until one evening Mi'. Earl while looking for his cow that had strayed up to what was then the swamp, uow the site of the village, found her in company with Mr. Hull's cattle that he was driving home from their browse pasture." As iu the adjacent parts of the county, so here the early settlers devoted much of their time to the lumber industry. Rafting soon became a profitable business on the Delaware where it was extensively undertaken. The numerous streams in the locality under consideration afforded means of transportation for the logs, aud in the course of time saw mills were erected. With the changes incidental to the country's growth, however, all this has changed, and today dairying forms the chief industry of the community. It was not uutil after the war of 1812-14 that the present town of Andes was formed. At that time the county comprised fifteen towns. By a special act of the State Legislature, passed April 13, 1811t, a portion of Middletown was set aside to com- jirise the present town of Andes. The name, rather unique iu character, is said to have arisen through a suggestion regarding the extremely hilly character of this part of the county, aud the word Andes was chosen to be applied to the town including this V'OH'.V OF AXDKS. 277 UKPUiitiiiii-likc district. 'I'liiit the ilcsiHimtioii wiis uot altogether iiiai)i)ro])ri!it(' will In- evident wlieu it is remembered that the hit,diest puiut in the ciivinty — Mt. Pisgah, witli an altitude of ;t,4(Hi feet — lies in the northeastern [)nrt of the town. The new town was the fourth in size in the county, hut was indeed little more than an unbroken forest with a few settler iuliabitauts. On the first Tuesday in ^larch, IK'20, the first town iiieetiutf was held in what was then designated as the village of Treuipersville, the name being changed to Andes in the following year. At this meeting the town ofKeers were elected, viz: Super- visor, town clerk, assessors, overseers of the poor, commissioners of liigbways, etc. In the absence of general legislation, l)y-laws were adopted, one to the effect that ''No cattle shall be allowed tre(loiiiiuiited, but by no iiieaus exeliuled other sects, anioDg whom the Methodists aud Baptists were most active. In the earnest effort to siiniid tlic Christian faith a religious society ( Presbytei-ian) was organized as early as 18(tl, aud in 1818 a church was erected, l)art of whicli now forms the Town Hall building in Andes village. In 1888 a United Presbyterian Church was erected at Cabin Hill; in 1888 the Methodist Episcopal edifice at Andes was opened. These were followed by Presbyterian house.s of worship erected in 1848 at Andes, in 1851 at Shavertowu, and in the following ytar at Pleasant Valley. All the churches have laliored incessantly and speut money freely in proclainiiuf,'- the words of truth, and to-day the spires of eight churches point heaveuward and afford opportunity for the people to meet together in their respective houses aud worship accortliug to the dictates of their own conscience. It may not be without interest to note that Rev. Dr. James Bruce of the United Presbyterian congregation of .\jides village has spent thirty-three consecutive years in its service. Up to the year 18!)() Andes had at least two public cemeteries, one being located at Shavertown, the second and larger one a short distance southwest of Andes village on the Tremperskill road. The attempt to incorporate this with a larger area of laud failed, owing to the difficulty of making satisfactory arrangemeuts with holders, of adjoining,' i)roi)erty. Acc(jrdiugly in 18!(0 an association was foniied and the ])reseut Rural Cemetery opened. The farm, Icuown as the Smith pro]icrty, located on an elevation to the north of the village, was purchased and a jiortion of it, duly incorjiorated, was set aside for the purpose meuti(med. It was in the year 184.5 that the well known .Vnti-Heut difHculties reached their culiiiination in this county. In tlic previous years the settlers who had U]i to that tiirje jiaid their annual rents uniheriff to proceed with the sale, and promised at the same time to rows OF AxnKS. 283 protect liirii. At this jimc-ture two Doputy Sheriffs. Steele iiml Edjjertoii. !i])i)eare(l upon the seeiie, :ilthoii^h tlie hest authorities iudieilte that they had heiii r((iu(st{'cl nut to h<- jn'eseiit. Wheu it was suggested that the cattle be driven upon the hi-jhway jirior to the snle. iiu objection was ininiediately raised ou the i^rouod that the notice of sale distiuctly stated otherwise, aud, furthermore, that the hij,''hway was publie property. The two Deputy Sheriffs here- Hi)Oii roile alonj^' the hi^'hw.ay to the barn where a notice of the sale bad beeu posted, aud then returned to a poiut where there was an openiuf,' into the field closed by bars. Steele aud I-^dgerton, who were joined by P. P. Wright, entered the field with their horses; Edf^erton, rtourishinfr a pistol, coininaiuled those present to assist iu preserving the peace. The fiic-arm was discharged, — accidentally it is stated, — aud immediately the leader of the Indians commanded them to shoot the horses. At once there was a report of pistols; amid the coufusion two horses were killed and Steele was fatally shot. He died in a short time. Tlie events of the day were reported to the Governor aud the county jiut uuiler martial law. Various legal ])rosecutions followed, two individuals being con- victed aud imprisoned. They were fully pardoned at a later period. The abandonment of the secret Anti-Rent organizations quickly followed. The opening of the Civil war found Andes ready to send forth her (piota of men to defend the Nation's I'ights and to battle for the cause of the North. -\ gooassed into the hands nf his son David, but the institutidu closed its doors a few years later. Another son, James Ballantiue. was siieeessively Supervisor of the town. Member of Assembly and finally State Senator at Albany. He died before conipletiu'>: his term of service, 'Slay 4, 18!)fi. Prominent anioiif;- the iiier6 another com- j)any was organized and a telephone line built between Andes and Dowusville, passing through Shavertown and Pepacton. This line is connected with many of the farm residences along the route and considerable local business is thus transacted by the use of the telephone. The old Delhi and Kingston Turnpike — the road early con- necting Delhi with the Catskill region and the Hudson river — was abandoned lieyond Arkville in 187'2. Later, that portion of the road between Andes and Margaretvjlle was given u]) liy the com]iany, which at the present time still controls the well kept road from Delhi to Andes villaire. l^oxina. IjV lion. I). L. Thorn |),son. ONE liuuilred aud seven years ago three or four liai'dy youug- meu from Westchester couuty, with rudely coustrueted kuapsaeks fastened to their belts aud with trusty rifles upon their slidulders luadc a surveying aud i)rospccfiiig tour (iver au ludiau trail fnnu Stamford, through the eastern part of the couuty. In that little party was Elisha B. Mayuard, a youug man of English descent, in search of a future home for himself aud his fitniily. With keen perception and astute judgment iu regard to richness of soil, he selected that sjjot of ground which is now, and ever since has been iu the possession of the Maynard family in Bovina. In the summer of 1701 young Maynard cleared up two or three acres of land, built a little cabin, mostly under ground, sowed a bushel and a half of rye aud then returued to liis liouie iu West- chester county. He spent the winter of 17'.)1 and 171*2 iu making- preparations for his new home, and in the spring of 1792 moved his family aud all his belongings upon a wood-shod sled drawn by two yokes of o.xen, all the way from the Hudson river. For two years youug Maynard had no neighbors this side of the Stamford range of mountains. The somewhat dangerous conditions and the actual privations incurred by him must be largely left to the imagination. (lame of every kind was abundant, the tameness of which on account of uufamiliarity with uiau was even annoying. It was diffi- cult to raise stock on account of the depredations of bears, ])anthers, and wolves. Benefits, however, resulted from these circumstances, for the mouutaiu brooks were filled with the fiuest trout anil the woods with deer, that fuinisjicd a material )iart of the family food. 1,;' 291 292 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COl'XTY. lu 17!)4 Alcxauiler liriisli caine from Long' Islaiul iiiid settled upon that tract of laiul wliii-li now iufludes the vilhif^'e of Boviua Centre, six miles west of .Mr. Mayuard, his nearest neighbor. These two earliest settlers were blest with unusually lari;fe families, Mr. Maynard haviug- twelve children and Mr. Brush nine. The old Puritan custom of j;iviug children Bible names was in vogue with the Yankee element of the early settlers. Every one of the ]\Iay- nard and Brush families were given Scripture names — the boys having such names as Abram, Isaac, Jacob and Elisha, and the girls Miriam, Kuth, Rachel, Esther, etc. Mr. Brush a year or two after his settlement here, with a spirit of enterprise and the best of motives, bought the seed of the white daisy and sowed it upon his laud, also giving it to neighbors around him. He lived to hear maledictions heaped upon his head for his well meant but mistaken idea of improving the pasturage of the farms. About the beginning of the present century a number of set- tlers, mostly from Scotland, began to establish homes and clear up the land. Among them were the Landons, Leets, Davises, Dumouds, Moscrips, Hiltons, Eussells, Hamiltons and Ormistons. Those peo- ple endured privations and hardships which the jiresent third or foui'th generation of their sons and daughters could scarcely imagine. The comforts, the conveniences, and the luxuries of life were to them unknown. Their necessities were easily supplied, and the source of them came from their immediate surroundings. The crt)ps raised from the newly cleared land were jDrincipally rye, potatoes, and tlax. Sometimes the family enjoyed the luxury of pork for dinner, provided the bears had not cajitured the pigs before butchering time. In such a case they resorted to licar meat, if they could catch the bear. As a sample of physical strength and endurance growing out of the necessities of their environments, it is I'elated that a 'Sir. Davis and a Mr. Hilton upon different occasions canned each of them upon their backs two bushels of rye to a grist mill in Schoharie rowx OF noviXA. >293 cimntT, a distanct' of cij^htt'cii miles from their homes, aiul returned with tile tlt)iir the same day. However, a tjrist mill was soou after erected on the other side of the Stamford moiuitaiu at the foot of Udsc's luook, and to this mill was carried on tiie hacks of men or on horseback the grain to be made into tiour for family use. Amid such surrouudiuj^s the sous and daughters of these pioneers loved and married as in more modern days. The first marriage was that of James Russell and Nancy Iticliie, the first l)irth Elisha Horton JNJaynanl igraiidfatlur of the late Isaac H. Jlayuard) in 17it;i. The first death was that of Hezekiah Davis in 179S. The first sermon was preached by Rev. James Richie in 1795. The first school teacher was William Edwards, who taught a school in 1808. The first general store was kept l)y James "Wetmore. The first grist mill by Htei)hen Palmer. The first resident physician was Dr. Kelly. The first church was built in 1809. From this time onward, early iu the morning and late at night could be heard the sounil eoj)le of Boviua to-day are jnMuid to call their ances- tors. Their labor soon developed the limited resources about them into material prosperity, and all now feel the truth of a sentiment once so beautifully expressed by Thomas Jefferson when he said, " Let the fai'mer be forever houoi'ed in his calling, for they who till the soil are the favored and chosen peojjle of God." From 181") to 1820 those who settled in Bovina came largely from Scotland. They brought with them that Scottish thrift and piety that has so honored the land of Burns and of Bruce, and demonstrated in their love of country and their loyalty to Christ, the true elements of that Christian character which the world respects to-day. It has been rei^orted by agents of the American Bible Society that no family in Bovina has ever been found with- out a bible. The influence of the clergy is universally felt. For forty years no license for the sale of li(|U(ir has l>eeii granted, and with one exception of a few months not a jiauixr from the town has been an inmate of an almshouse. From lK-2() to ISUO hired men's wages were from eight to ten dollars a month. Hired girls received seventy-five cents a week, and if they could weave they got one dollar a weik. .Vn interesting fact in the history of this town is, that the Mormon Proj^het, Joseph Smith, once worked here as a common day laborer. There is a .stone wall still standing on the fai"m of Frederick Johnston built 2<)8 HISTOHV OF DELAWARE COVXTY. b_v him between the years 1835 and 1840. lu 1885 when slavery was abolished iu the state of New York there were two slaves in the town; one was owned by John Erkson and the other by Alexander Johnston. One custom of Scottish origin was that of offering cake jmd wine at funerals. This was kept uj) for some time. Whenever the jjeople entered a house of mourning they were offered cake and wine. This simple service at the burial of their dead was suggestive of appreciated sympathy in times of bereavement. Briefly noticing what is called the Anti-Rent, or Equal Eights party, it may be said that the tirst meeting of this jjarty was held at the hotel of John Seacord, in Bovina, Oct. 1, 1844. John McDonald of Kortright and George Thompson of Andes were nominated for the Assemlily at this meeting. - Mr. ^IcDon- ald being endorsed by the Whig party was elected. For the killing of Under-Sheriff Steele at the Earle sale in Andes, Aug. 7, 1845, John Van Steenburg aud Edward O'Connor wei-e senten- ced to lie hanged Xov. 27. O'Connor was a citizen of Bovina, then living on the farm now owned and occupied by Mr. Stejihen Russell. Naturally the most intense excitement and deepest con- cern were felt for the fate of O'Connor. The sentence was how- ever changed to iiuprisoumeut for life, and early iu 1847 at the request of nearly 12,000 petitioners, Governor Young pardoned Van Steenburg and O'Connor with all who had been iinprisoued for this tragedy. The result of this Auti-Reut afritatiou was that the tenants bought the soil of the laud they bad tilled and occupied, at easy pi-ices. But it had created bitter feelings and animosities among the jjeojile that took years to remove. Busi- ness men who were iu sympathy with the landlords were boycotted to an extent that drove them from the town. Horace Greeley's 2iaper was iu sympathy with the Anti-Reuters aud was uuiversally patronized. Almost everybody in Bovina took the Tribune. It was jestingly said that " up in Bovina the people didn't read anvthing but the Bible aud the New York Tribune." But the TiJWX OF noviXA. 301 Auti-Keut couriict has g'oue iuto liistory, a history oi whii'h the towu to-tliiy scarcely remembers with either pride or pleasure. The tirst post-oflSce iu this towu was estalilisheil at Lake Delaware iu 1821. Previous to that time the mail was brought from Stamford, a distance of sixteen miles, ouce every mouth, people takinjj turns in briufjfiuy it over the mountain. The post- office iu Bovina Centre was established iu 1S41 with Johu Erk- sou as postmaster. The present postmaster is Wni. McC'uue. The early mail carriers iu briuffing the mail, wheu withiu a mile of the post-oflice commenced to blow a horn, aud continued to blow every two or three minutes until their arrival at the post- office. The first physician, as has been said was Dr. Kelly — present- physicians, Drs. Phinney and Dickson. AVben this towu was established there were upwards of 4tM) children of school age; nt)w there are less than 275. The most important trade center is the little village <)f Bovina Centre, in which there are four general stores, one for tlour and feed, one hardware, one drug aud one grocery store, one saw and grist mill, two blacksmith shops, two cooper shops, two boot ami shoe shops, one millinery ])urlor, one barber slio]) aud one hotel. Sixty years ago all the goods sold in this towu consisted of three or four wagon loads drawn semi-annually from Catskill. some Go miles distant. The present trade, exclusive of the liaiulliiig of butter, from figures and estimates, amounts to over one hundred and twelve thousand dollars annually. The schools of this towu are small. No educational .-idvan- tages except the common school have ever been enjoyed by the people iu their home town, wliilc thousands of dollars have l)een paid for education in the academies, seminaries and colleges at other places. Bovina has furnished for the educational aud pro- fessional vocations of life withiu the past forty-tive years, forty- oue persons who have been graduated with distinction from; 302 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COVXTV. colleges arouud us. In .ill st.itistics of this tdwa it is fair to consider the smalluess of populatiou. In OctoV)er, ISdi), the Associate Presljyterian Congregation of Little Delaware, now the United Presbj'terian Church of Boviua, was organized with a membership of eleven souls. The barns tmd private dwellings of the people were used as places of worship until ISl.'i. The first sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Alexander Bullions in the bar-room of Thomas Landon's hotel at Lake Delaware. The minister stood behind the bar, with his Bible resting upon it, and expounded to his little audience the truths and teachings of the Gosijel. About this time Dr. Bullions preached in a barn yet standing upon the farm of ]Mrs. Lucy •Coulter, at which an incident occurred that greatly disturbed for a time the devotional spirit which ought to exist during religious worship. Old grandfather Coulter had prepared the barn flooi' and provided seats for the female jaart of the audience — the men were to stand, or sit on the hay mow. Dr. Bullions had just begun his sermon when a hen flew off her nest with an unusually loud demonstration of cackling, taking a circuit around among the worshipers, to the great diversion and merriment of the •children and less sedate hearers. The preacher stopped and asked is someone would not remove the fowl from the building. Just then old Mr. G., a large '2-40 pound Hcotchman, caught it by the feet and poking it under the hay sat down on it. The hen gave one squeal, and never after disturbed a religious meeting. But the spiritual solemnity of that service was badly impaired. The first pastor of this congregation, Rev. James Laing, was installed in June, 1S14, receiving a salary of $250 per annum. In 1815 a house of worship was built, which was not however completed until 1824 For nine years it was used for religious services without pews or pulpit or stoves. The carpenters' work- bench was used for a ])ulpit, with blocks and benches for seats. During the winter season wt)men brought foot stoves tilled with •coals which for a short time at least kept their feet from freez- voir.v or i:()\i.\A. no:! ■iufJT. The uieu were Imrdy aiul endured the discoinfoit us lust ■tlicv could. In IS'24 this cliuvch buihlinj^- was furnished with pews and ]iiil]iit hut was without any means of heating,' for a nniulier of vears. The conLj'rej^ation j^radually ;;rew in nundiers and in intiuenee in this coufi'euial soil for Presbyteriauisni. Rev. John (Irahani succeeded Rev. Mr. Laiuf^- aud was its pastor for twenty years. He in turn was succeeded by Dr. James B. Lee, who lemained with this people for thirty-two years. The salaries of its clerj^ymen have been j^radually iiu-reased until the present j,'ifted and pojndar younj,' preacher. Rev. W. L. C. Samson, receives $1, ")()(! per annum. The present membership of this congfre- pratiou is 'M'l. The contriliutions the past year for all purposes were over ?!!, ;{()(•. A history of this congregation would scarcely be complete without further notice of the long aud acceptable pastorate of Dr. Lee, who spent the better part of a life time in devoted service to the spiritual aud material prosperity of r.nvina. It every enterprisiug project aud moral reform he was a leader. Difficulties did not discourage him, uor opposition intimidate him. He faithfully aud fearlessly espoused that which he believed to be right, whether it was popular or not, aud his agency in the town's progress was marked in its prosperity and enlightenment. The Reformed Presbyterian or Covenanter Congregation was organized in 1814. It is a church that is and always has been one of practical disseut from the Constitution of the United States, holdinj^- that the National Constitution is radically wrong and rothers were enthusiastic iu their appreciation of that strain of cattle; while a majority of dairymen at that time were slow to acknowledge its superiority. But facts and figures became so con- vincing that the skeptical became believers, and .Jeisey stock was soon found to be profitable and po2)ular. About 1870 "William L. Rutherford, a farmer of considerable means, jiurchased a herd of twenty head from a Conuecticut stock dealer, paying ?2.")() a head, or $5,(100 for the herd. They were all registered thoroughbreds. For ten years the residt of the transaction was highly profitalde to ^Ir. Rutherford in sales of stock from that herd. In 18.su William L. Ruff, purchasing the farm of Mr. Rutherford, also purchased the stock paying $(!,300 for it aloue. For eighteen years ifr. Ruff has given jiersoual attention to this stock, of which lie is justly proud. His transactions as a stock dealer during this time, independent of the butter jiroduced by the herd, has exceeded $88,(100. He has paid !?1,0(I0 for a sinj^le aidmal as a breeder, whose sire was sold for :?rj,(Mio. Mr. RulT has sold three months old calves for over $200, cows for $350 each, .•in'euer- i>us faniilv by ileeils of charity and labors of love, have won ^^rateful apju'eeiutiou throu-jjhout the comiiiuiiity in which for a few weeks duriufi; the summer they reside. We ought not to close this l)rief history of Boviua, without referring to some of its citizens who have become distinguished in |irofcssioiiaI life. Jiidge William Murray of the Supreme Court of the Sixth •ludicial District was born in Boviua, November 21st, 1820. His career was one of steady advancement from a boy working on his father's farm, to that of a Supreme Court Judge. His success was in no way a surprise to his fellow townsmen. He came of a family of brains, inheriting that persevering and determined ambition which always wins success. Judge Murray began the study of law in the otMce of Samuel (iordon in 1S4S, and was ailmitted to the bar at a gtucral terii] held in Albany. His progress was one of steady advancement. He was a Kepul)lican in j'olitics and a firm believer in the principles of his party. His personal appearance was one of affable dignity, and liis decisions as a jurist showed a (lcc]> knowl- edge of law. He died in 1887. Dr. David Murray now living, a brother of the late Judge Murray, attained eminence as Professor in Itutgers College, New Brunswick, N. J., and later as superin- tendent of educational affairs in Jai>an. He is a man of high Bcholarly attainments and his reputation and standing in highest educational dej)artnients is world wide. Hon. Isaac H. Maynard, a grandson of the tirst settler of the town, was born in 18;W. He was graduated from Amherst College in lH(i2, studied law in tlic office of Juiii tliis important pamphlet the I'ollowing statistics are derived : 1. lioviua contains -J", 271) acres of land; the assessed valuation of which in lyi'l was #:!'.)ii,25'.l. The average value of the land including woodland, swamp, etc., is $14..");) an acre. The value of the improv<'d land may therefore 1"' estimated at from live to seven times this sum. 2. The population of the town as given in the Census for 1890 was 1,007. As enumerated in this pamphlet there are 117 farmers engaged in dairying owning 2.<'i(iy cows thus averaging 23 cows to each. The cows are in large pro|>ortion Grade .Ti'rseys : although a number of farmers report part of their stock ns •' thorimghbred Jerseys," "registered Jerseys" or "full-blood Jerseys. ' 3. The total amount of butter made is reported a* (J6,'J88 pounds. Besides butter the farmers sold calves, pork, and other dairy products. The average earnings per cow varied between #101.13 and $30. IS; and for the whole town was $t;3.fl9. 4. Mr. B. G. Gilbert, the secretary of the Dairymen's Association, in sum- ming up tins census says; "The majority of these farms pay their owners from six to eight dollars per acre for the whole acreage, over and above the entire expense of the dairy, with the exception of what labor may be required. This includes uncleared as well as cleared land ; and the labor is often done by the farmer ami his family. The probability is that from the land under cultivation and available for cattle sup|iorl the dairymen of Bovina obtain fully ten per cent net." 17 Colchester. IjY Edvai'd tf.. Conlon. THE town of Colchester was formed AjHil 1(», IT'.l'i, from tin- town of Middletown, and iucluded the present town of Han- cock and a portion of the town of Walton. It was then in the county of Ulster. In 1799 a part was annexed to the town of Walton. Hancock was taken oif in 18()(), and a part of Walton was annexed to Colchester in 1827. Since which last the boun- daries of the town have remained unaltered. At the formation of the county of Delaware in 1797, Colchester was one of the seven constituent towns. The name of the town was suggested by Josejsh Gee, an early settler, who came from Colchester, Conn. It is a matter of regret that the euishouious Indian name, Pawj)acton, was discarded for this harsh sounding English name. The East Branch of the Delaware river runs south-westerly through the north-central jjortion of the town. The Indians called this river Paw2iacton. The Beaverkill river flows west through the southerly corner of the town. The Indians called this river Whelenaughwemack. In the year 1766, Timothy Gregory, then a young man twenty- three years of age, came from Westchester county, and erected a log house on the flat on the east side of the river about one- fourth of a mile above the present river bridge at Colchester, where he lived uutil the Revolutionary war. Tliis was the first house ever erected within the bounds of Colchester, and stood midway between the highway and tlic biunekill, opposite a little sjjring that Hows across the highway at a point a few rods above a small bill in the highway. In the succeeding years a few other settlers located farther up the river, and at the 310 o o t J3 rOWX OF COI.CIIKSTFJi. :{18 coinmeufi'ineiit of the Revolution there were uiiic houses in this Betth'nient. Frederick ^liUer's was farthest up tlie river and stuoil near where the Sliufelt Shaver house was afterwards erected; Mr. Parrish lived at the mouth of Cole's Clove, Russell Gregory just below Broek's lirid^e on tlie east side of the river, William Hose on the west side of the river below Dowusville, near Rock Eddy. The other persons who are known to have resided here prior to the Revolution are, Thomas, and John Gregory, James, and S. Shaver, Silas Bowker, Peter, Harry and Nehemiah Avery, Jacob Baruhart and Daniel Parrish. In 1778 these settlers, on account of the hostility of the In- dians, were compelled to abandon their homes and seek safety within the settlements along the Hudson, but at the close of the war many of them returned and be^au life anew. The first school was established in the town in 1784, by Daniel Parrish. The school house stood at the northerly base of the gi-avel knoll at the entrance to Cole's Clove. The first marriage occurred Dec. 14, 1788, the contracting parties being Abraham Sprague and Mary Parrish, who was a sister of Daniel Parrish. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Bezaleel Howe, a Baptist minister. Sjjrague was tweutj'- two j-ears of age and his bride twenty-one. Sj)rague was a member of the Washington Guards during the Revolutionary War, and was present at the execution of Major Andre. He resided for many years after his marriage on the farm across the river from Dowusville, and cleared the first land there. His house stood between the jireseut highway and tlie biiiiiekill and above the road leading to Dowusville. The first birth, which is recorded, was that of (^atherine Rose, daughter of William Rose, born Dec. '24, 1784. The first death was that of Thomas Gregory, wlio died Dec. 31, 1788, aged twenty years, and is buried in the Phelj)s burying ground at Colchester. Abraham Sprague and Daniel l}t>wker ran the first raff down 314 lUsroliV OF DELAWARE CorXTV. the river that went from above Sliebawkeu, (Haueock), it con- sisted of spar tiuiLers for the I'liiladelpbia ship yards. Upon this trip they gave to many of the turns and islands along the river the names which they still bear. The first saw mill stood on the biuuekill below the residence ©f S. O. Shaver. The first grist mill erected in Delaware county was erectecl by William Horton, and stood on the west side of the river, alxiiit one- half mile below Colchester, on the farm of E. D. Horton. The people brought their grain to this mill in canoes from a distance as far down the river as Equinunk, and for many miles in all directions it was brought on horseback. In the early part of the present century as many as 7,000 bushels of wheat were ground at this mill in a single year. The Phelps burying ground at Colchester is the oldest in town, named from David Phelps, whose residence stood near by. In this Ijurying ground ()nly three graves are marked l)y lettered head- stones, which are common field stones. Besides that of Thomas Gregory mentioned above, are the following: Josiah Gregory, died Dec. 14, ITDG, aged 25 years. Timothy Gregory, died Dec. — , 1821, aged 78 years. In the year 17'.IS the first tax was levied in Delaware county, and the total assessed valuation of real and personal property in the town of Colchester, which then included the town of Hancock, was $14,803.75. The present valuation of such i^roperty is $578,815. The official records of the town begin in 1703 and the record of every town meeting, and all official acts, are carefully recorded in the town clerk's office down to the present time. From these records it appears that the first town meeting in the town of Col- chester, county of Ulster, was held at the house of Lazarus Sprague, in April, 1793, "Where the following officers were duly elected viva voce, by a majority, namely, for the ensuing year: William Horton, Supervisor; Pet«r Ten Broeck, Jr., Clerk." Traham Sprague now lives on where the road crosses the river running easterly in a direct line to strike the county line at right angles; thence starting from the placi' of begiMiiitig and coiuinuc the same line west- erly to the line of Walton. 4th. ReMolvKil, that William Wheeler. Jonas Lakin and Soldnion Miller lie a committee to bring the above resolutions into elTect. At the annual towu meeting, March l;i, 18l;J, it was "Resolved, that the sum of seventy dollars he raised for the support of schools." The following are correct transcripts from the records of the town clerk's office: Born on the 2Hth of September. 1810, a male child of a black slave to John Hitt. Recorded Novemb.'r Kith, IHKi. A negro boy ti.uned Tom belonging to Alexamler Cole was three years old the fourth of March, lsi:t. 31f, HISTORY OF DELAWARE COISTY. Born of a black slave iM-longinjj to Alexander Cole, a male cliild named Benjamin, born the seeonual from Anderson each buried his tomahawk in the head of au Indian, and like & flash and before the third Indian could sirring to his feet, al- though he was awakened by the noise, Anderson's toiuahawk again descended and this Indian followed his companions to the liajipy liuuting ground. The men then took the corn which the Indians had with them and started east. The main body of In- dians in that vicinity almost immediately discovered their dead companions, and set out ujion the trail of the scouts. They knew the two men could never reach the Hudson without aid from the white settlers; that without such aid they must subsist upon the little corn they took from the Indians and the roots they might dig. The Indians therefore sent swift runners ahead and informed the settlers that whoever harbored, aided or fed these men would be killed by slow torture. Among the settlers thus warned were those re.siding in Pawpacton. Anderson and his companion succeeded in reaching the East Branch, and from the top of the high mountain below Downsville they looked down upon the log cabin of Timothy Gregory. They waited till night and under cover of the darkness they descended and crossed the river and went near the house of Gregory. Fearing that the inhabitant of this house might be a tory they dare not knock at the door, but lay down by the side of the path that led from the house to the spring, and soon Mrs. Gregory came towards the spring for water, and Anderson cautiously accosted her and told their story. She informed her husband. The two men were nearly dead from hunger and exhaustion. Gregory acquainted the men with the terrible threat of the Indians against anyone who should aid them, and told them it would be unsafe to conceal them in the house. He brought thein food, and then directed them down the river about three miles and hid them in the rocks on the mountain between the river and Fuller Hill. T(nv.\ (JF CiJl.rUKSTKH. ;-{23 Here tliev reumiued concealed aliout oue week, Gref^orv liriug- iug food to them iu the iiif^lit time, and when thej" had saiu*"'! sufficient strenp'th, early oue morning before it was lipht, he directed thcni ti> the line between Lots tive and six of the Hiir- deubergh Patent, which line strikes the river near Gregorytowu, and. runs east to the Hudson, and aloug the line of blazed trees they set out for the east and reached the Hudson in safety. The mountain on which these men were concealed is known tn this day as ••Anderson's mountain." Soon after leavinj;- these men at the line menticmed, (iregory met three Indians, and they inquired of him why he was so far from home at that early hour. He tuld them he liad come down with his dog and gun to see if he could start a deer — that they freijueuted the river at that place iu the early morning. But the Indians were sus j)iciaus that all was not right and they (juestioued him closely as to whether he had seen the two white men, whom they described. Fortunately, while they were talking, Gregory's dog Ijegau barking, and a large deer dashed down the hill into the river, which Gregory shot and killed, and which he divided lil)erally with the Indians. This completely allayed the suspicious of the Indians, and they believed that Gregory had told the truth as ti) his business there at that early hour. The Indians soon learned that Anderson and his companion had reached the Hudson. They had succeeded in following their trail to the vicinity of the Colchester settlement, and knew the scouts had received aid from someone there, though everyone denied having any knowledge of the matter. A council was held and the In- dians decided to reek a terrible vengeance upon these settlers unless they could learn who the guilty jiarties were. Their plan was to begin at Frederick Miller's, the farthest u]i tlic river, and take every mend)er of the family ti) the next house below, and so on, taking every member of the family to the next house below, and at each house they were to give the settlers an op- portunity to divulge the names of the persons who had given 824: HISTORY OF DELAWARE COVSTY. aid to Autlersou iiuil his frieud, ;iud wlieu they roiiclifd the lust house, that of Timothy Gregory, if they coukl uot obtain the required iuformatiou, tliey would theu massacre every iiiaii. womau aud child. A friendly Indian informed the settlers of this ])lau aud they lost no time in seeking safety in the eastern settlements. It was in the fall of the year, and a part of the corn had been cut aud stacked. This the settlers burned, and destroyed what of their other crojjs they could. Their cooking utensils and tools aud iron ware they l)uried, or sunk in the river and binuekillp, aud along the Hue of blazed trees between Lots five and six they started for the Hudson. They had left none too soon, for on the second day of their journey they were overtaken by an Indian's dog, (They knew it was an Indian's dog by its being closely cropped, as was the Indian custom )-, aud that night they sent the women and children some distance from the line, and the men lay in ambush and waited for the approach of the Indians, who they felt certain were on their trail. But morning dawned and no Indians had been seen. They then resumed their journey and reached the Hudson in safety. The next spring a few of the men ventured back to see their homes. They found that some of the houses had been burned, that the Indiaus had gathered what corn had not been destroyed, and had wintered in the little ravine or gulf about two miles below Dowusville on the west side of the river, and directly back of the residence of C. A. "Warren. In 1779, shortly after the battle of the Miuisink, two scouts were employed, Bowker aud Osterhout, to watch the East branch of the Delaware and report if auy Indians came up the river. It was thought that if Brant sent a detachment against the Susquehanna settlement they would probably take that route. These men were to receive a bushel of wheat each for their services. They took up a position on the poiut of land between the East branch and. Beaverkill, and on the second day after their arrival, they saw a band of Indiaus coming up the river in cauoes. They remained roir.v OF ciii.f fifteen Tndiaus, was through the town of Davenport, aud the capture itself occurred within gunshot of its bonier. The facts as to the event were given by Colonel Harpei', himself, to Rev. Mr. Fenu, late of Harpersfield, who narrates them as follows: In the year 1777 Colonel Harper had command of the fort in Schoharie, and came out through the woods to Harpersfield iu the time of making sugar, and from thence laid his course for Cherry Valley to investigate the state of things there, aud as he was jiursuing a blind 330 HISTORY OF DKLAWARE (orXTV. liiud of Indian trail ami was aseeudiug what are now called the Decatur Hills, he cast his eye forward and saw a comjDauy of men •comingf directly toward him, who had the appearance of l)eiug Indians. He knew that if he attempted to tiee from them they would shoot him down; he resolved to advance right uji to them, and make the best shift for himself he could. As soon as he came near enough to discern the white of their eyes, he knew the head man and several others; the head man was Peter, an Indian with whom Colonel Harper had often traded at Oquago, before the Revolution began. The Colonel had his great coat on, so his regimentals were concealed, and he was not recognized. The first word of address on Colonel Harper's part was, " How do you do, brother?" The reply was, "Well. How do you do, brother? Which way are you bound, brother V " '-On a secret expedition. And which way are you bound, brother ? " " Down the Susque- hanna to cut o& the Johnstone settlement." (Parson Johnstone and .a number of Scotch families had settled down the Susquehanna at what is now called Sidney Plains, and those were the people whom thej' were about to destroy.) Says the Colonel, "Where do you lodge to-night?" " At the mouth of the Scheneva's creek," was the reply. Then shaking hands with them, he bade them good sjieed and proceeded on his journej'. He had gone but a little way from them before he took a circuit through the woods, a distance of eight or ten miles, to the head of the Charlotte river, where were a number of men making sugar; ordered them to take their arms, two days' provision, a canteen of rum and a rope, and meet him down the Charlotte, at a small e-learing called Evans' place at a certain hour that afternoon. Then he rode with all speed through the woods to Harperslield, collected .all the men who were making maple sugar, and being armed and victualed, with each man his rope, laid his course for the Charlotte. When he arrived at Evans' place, he found the Charlotte men there in good spirits, and when he mustered his men, there were fifteen, including himself, exactly the same number as there were of the v^'-.v- sr. Village of Daveriport Ceqter. Village of West Daveriport. ToW.y OF DAVK.XrilUr. 8HS ■eueiuy; tbcu tlic Colouel luinlc his iiicu :ic(|u:iiiit('(l with liis enterprise. Tbev iiiiu-i'hcil ilown the river a little distiiiice, :ui)y business men, lawyers, merchants aud mechanics of all kiuds, attracted here, as lieing the county seat. Among them were Gen. Root, Gen. Leavenworth, Dr. A. E. Paine and many others who became prominent men in its affairs. Of her residents eleven were elected to Congress, aggregating thirty years; one Lieut. Gov. two years; Sjjeaker of the Assembly three years; State Sen- ators twenty years; Members of Assembly aggregating nearly thirty years, and a Justice of the Supreme Court about twenty years, and many other ofiices which it is uuueces.sary here to recapitulate. TOWS or DELHI. 341 Delhi has si'iit out iuto the diflFereut couuties of the State, aud iuto viirioiis states, iiieu who have lichl iiii|ii)itaiit places in the various positions of life — eminent clergymen, lawyers and med- ical men, bankers, etc. The first church erected in the town of Delhi stood just below .Sherwood's brid-^'e on the opjwsite side of the river, and was built in 1811. Rev. E. K. ilaxwell was pastor thereof twenty- eif,''ht years. The tirst child baptized by him is still living in this town. This is now the First Presbyterian church, a now building being erected in the village in 1881. The tirst chui-ch built in the village was St. John's church. In the Gazette of July l-t, 1S3() the following notice appears: Notice. — The inhahitants of Delhi and adjoining towns are respectfully invited to assist in raising the Church in this village on Tuesday, the '20th inst., at 9 in the morning. The frame is heavy, and will require 100 good hands to put up the main body. The frame will be put together on Monda\', which will reiiuire forty hands. E. Steele, C. r>. Sheldox, N. Hathaway, Delhi. July 14th, 1830. Trustees. In the Gazette of the next week it is stated that the building ■was raised without furnishing any ardent spirits, which is the first instance, it is believed, of a public building being raised upon cold water principles. The Second Presbyterian edifice was erected in 1831, the Methodist in 1841, and the Bai)tist in lS-t4. The Christian church at Fitch's bridge was built aljout 1816, the 'West Delhi United Presbyterian church was organized in 1841. The Catholics have never had a church here. After the Village Hall was placed in its present location, they occasionally held services therein; now they have a very neat little room over Brady's meat market. The first fire company organized in the village of Delhi, or in the county of Delaware, was on the 1st of August, 1821, composed of Ebenezer Steele, Captain; Herman D. Gould, Noadiah Johnson, <'hai-les Hathaway, Nathaniel Hathaway, O. S. Decker, Selah R. 342 msTony of delawahk couxty. Hobble, John J. Lappon, Caleb Tlmrber, Homer R. Phelps, David Newcomb, Abner G. Thvirber aud Elijah H. Roberts; appointed by Erastus Root, president, aud G. H. Ed{i;erton, clerk. Of the above members, three in after years were elected Mem- bers of Congress from this county. The first hand engine was the old I'hu^uix, which was bought in New York in the spring of 1832. The Cataract engine was bought in IS-tO, I think, by private subscription, aud was known as the " up street " engine. I cannot omit to mention " Corporal Trim," a somewhat promi- nent character in Delhi fifty or sixty years ago. C. E. Wright, who learned his trade in the Gazette office, thus alludes to him: "Of course many of your peoj^le will remember 'Corjjoral Trim," as he was styled, a colored servant, or body guard of General Leaven- worth. Long after Trim had left the service of his master, he loved to tell to a company of listeners, when his tongue was well lubrica- ted by a few potions of old rye, of his fright when the General ordered him during the battle of Chippewa or Niagara Falls, I don't remember which, to wipe with a tuft of grass the brains of a man that had been sprinkled upon the saddle of his horse, a cannon ball having taken off the owner's head, all in view of the 'Corporal.' Of course Trim obeyed, but the 'hair of his head stood on end like quills upon the fretful porcupine,' and he was i^ale even to white- ness. According to his own story, the close of the battle found the redoubtable ' Corporal ' snugly euscoused under the lowest layer of a rail fence, whither he had crawled for safety. It was a rare treat to hear this quaint character relate these with many others of his- adventures.'' A kind Providence has not blessed our little town with any celebrated mineral spring to make us a great summer resort; but up Elk Creek, from our earliest settlement, there has been a salt spring from which a fine quality of salt has been obtained, and in the Gazette of April, 1832, reference is made thereto, and also hy W. W. Mather, State Geolooist, in 1840. County House ar\d Farrqat lt\e left. Kir)gsior\ Street Bridge. Towx OF DELHI. :^45 III Marcli, ISCi.'j, a stock coiiiiiuiiy was fonucil. kuowu as the Ell; ("reek Salt and Petroleum Company. The capital stock thei-eof was $3()(),0()(). !Si)ou thereafter work was heg-uu, ami after spcmlint;- a few thousaml dollars work was ahaudoiied. But a munificeut Providence has favored us with ilivcrsitied hills aud valleys upon which f^'raze many choice herds of cattle, cool aud refreshiuff si)riuf,'s, and thereby we are eual)led to manufacture as tine a qiuilitv of l)utter as any other county in the State. Soi'ie years aj^o a lady of this town made a small ])ackage of butter that took the first premium in Loudon. l'rol)ul)ly this same lady, and others in the town, coidd have sent a packaj^e of butter to Queen Victoria on her sixtieth anniversary, for her dinner on that cele- livatcd Occasion, and that she and all the memVters of the royal family would have awarded the ///•.-./ premium to the tine sani])li' from Delhi. All honor and praise to the fair maids and matrons who make our far-famed Delaware county butter. Of the various industries carried on in this town from time to time, I think there was never a distillery for the manufacture of whiskey. A few years ago there was a still at the Fall Mills for the manufacture of cider brandy. In the generation or so past the games in vogue were playing of ball, pitching of quoits, etc., aud many a game has taken place between town and town, and often at "The Hook," and Delhi had some crack players. Xeitlier should the game of checki'rs be omit- ted. At one time we had a place here called "Checkerville," situated somewhere up the Little Delaware, and in those days no barroom was considered complete without a checker board tlierein. A "s(piiiiel hunt" was one of tlie sports in the days past. (Generally in June the boys and older men chose sides and hunted a day for wild game, aud at a given time and place met and counted the game, and the defeated party paid for the supjjer — and some- times great dexterity was displayed in stealing game from side to^ side. 34:fi HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. Ill those days Thanksffiviupj was uot considered ])ropei'l_v observed unless a shootiuf>- match was <,'otteu up in wiiich the ■crack shots of the town were present. Rare sport indeed it was. General Training, too, was one of the events eagerly waited for. The Fourth of July and General Training- were the only holidays in the land fifty or sixty years ago. It would be impossible here to give the names of the Kevolu- tionary soldiers now reposing in the dirtereut cemeteries of the town, and the soldiers of the war of 1812, the Seminole war, or the jNIexican war. When the post-office was first established in Delhi, I am uualtle to state. A few years ago I wrote to the Post-office Department at Washington and learned that the original records were destroyed by tire. The first records on tile were October 1, ISOI, when Erastus Root was postmaster. Until within a year or so past there has been but one post-office in the town of Delhi. The first Temperance Society formed in the town was in Jan- uary, 1829, Dr. Ebeuezer Steele, President. At the annual meeting of the Delaware County Society in 1831, Levinus Munson, Amasa J. Parker and Charles Hathaway were appointed delegates to the State Society. The first common school record I can find is in December, 1812. Ambrose Bryan, Erastus Root and Asahel E. Paine were chosen trustees, and R. Deuio, collector. As early as 1788 there was said to be a saw mill in this town, iind fifty or sixty years ago there was scarcely a brook in the town but what one or more saw mills were located thereon, and rafting was one of the events every sjjring. Today there are but two or three mills in town run by the old water wheel, and if the first man who sawed logs in Delhi in 1788, could be transferred for a moment to the Crawfords & Adee mills, what would be his amazement; and then pass along our streets, see the railroad, telegraph and tele- phone poles, our electric lights, hundreds of bicycles, upon which are ladies and gentlemen, lioys and girls, propelling themselves at voir.v Oh' itKi.iii. -.iij tbe nite i)f ii mile iu six to ten luiuutes, tlu'U tiiily would he say: ""Lo, this only have I found, that (rod hntli made inau uj)rip^lit; Init they have sou^dit out many inventions." And then, too, what would uncle .lohu Hunt say to see buildinj^s moved without ox teams? At the time this county was formed slavery was lej^alized in this state, and a few slaves were held in this town. A distiu- ■ruished Representative iu the Legislature iu this State from this viUage. raised his voice iu advocacy of its repeal and voted therefor. At the beginning of the present century thei'e were but six- teen states in the Union, w'ith a population of scarcely 5,000, 0(H), and our borders of civilization scarcely reached out to the Ohio, an5, aged 49 years. Intimately interwoven with the history of Delhi, are its news- papers, and a brief recital of each, which from time to time has been p)ublished in the village, is necessarily proper in this sketch, The first pajier published in Delhi, or iu the county of Dela- ware, was the Delaware Gazette, issued November 18, 1819, John J. Lappon editor and proprietor. On the 23d of April, 1822,. David Johnson became its j)roprietor and continued as such un- til March, 1833, when Anthony M. Paine and Jacob D. Clark became its projarietors. In May, 1839, Mr. Paine became sole proprietor and continued so until February, 1872, when his interest was transferred to his son, George H., and Ira B. Kerr. In Oc- tober, 1881, Mr. Kerr sold his interest to Mr. S. E. Smith, and the firm was Paine iV: Smith until J\[r. Paine's death in January, 1895. February, 1895, Mr. S. E. Smith became sole proprietor. It may here be stated that Gen. Paine and his descendants had an uninterrupted interest in the paper for sixty-two years. The venerable old Gazette has lived to see the rise and fall of several paj)ers in this village. The Gazette building was erected in 1837, 7'r)ir.v OF DKi.lil. ;34<) iiuil occiiiiit'd ill OftoliiT i)f tliiit year, lunl the Gazette Las l)ecu issiieil weekly tlierefroiii ever siuee. The Delaware Republican (No. 1), was issued iu June, 1.S21, Elijah J. Roberts publisher. H. H. Nash afterwards became its publisher, and it was discontinued in 182/), or thereabouts. The Delaware Repuldicau (No. 2,) was issued in Septend)er. 1S:{(). by (reorge Marviue. Messrs. McDonald & Bowne subse- i|Ueutly became its jiroprietors, and the last number issued was dated Dec. 12, IS82. The Delaware .Ji>\irnal was issued April 1(1, 1S;U, by Wlii]i])le iV Wrij^ht, and was published but a few years. The Delaware E.xprcss was issued in January, 1S8SI, by Nor- wood Bowne, who remained its editor and publisher until his death. January, ISild, a jieriod of fifty-one years. After his death the paper was published by his sou, Charles N., for a short period, when it was pul)lished by Bowne cV Gillies, then by P. M. (iillies, and he afterwards sold to Mr. S. F. Adee; Mr. Adee sold to William Clark, its jiresent proprietor. The Voice of the People, (the organ of the anti-renters), was issued by William S. Hawlcy, in June, 1S4(J, and a few years there- after was discontinued. The Star of Delaware was issued iu Decend)er, 18.59, Ijy ]{<'v. C. B. Smyth. How long it was published I do not now recollect. The Young Patriot was issued in 1860 by Ira G. Sprague, and iu 18(52 its name was changed to the American I'anner, and as sn<-li was published for a short time. The Delaware Rei)ublican (No. :{,) was issued May 12, 18(10, by A. Stnrtcvant and T. F. Mcintosh. In February, 18(18, :Mr. •Sturtevaut sold his interest to Joseph Eveland; and the same was published by them until January, 1870, when T. F. Mcintosh l>ecanie sole proprietor, and remained as such until April l.'j, 18!t.5, when his son, Robert P., became associated with liis father, by whom it is now published. The Monthlv Croaker, an amateur publication, was issued in 350 fllSTOHY OF DELAWAHK COlWTy. July, 1SS7, liy Joliii F. Van Der t'ook, Jr., :i bov only twelve years old, aud contimied witlioiit intermission until Novemlier, 1891. lu October, 1SSI2. he went to Cleveland as a reporter on the Press, and after a stay there of six months went to New York city as a reporter on the Harlem Local Reporter, and now is the Eastern manager of the " Seripps-McRae News Company. In our exhibit of relics of the past, what a pity an old Ram- age press, which was about the only printing 2)ress in use when this county was organized, and ujion one of which the first issue of the Gazette was printed, and a pressman could print only about 20i) an hour, was not on exhibition, and then com- pare it with the power presses now in use on our large daily journals which strike off many thousands an hour. What a change, indeed, has taken place in less than a century. "The improve- ments in printing and printing machinery have been great and rapid. Printing has come, in these days, to be a tine art, and the ijroduct of the jirinting press, in its highest and most artistic phases, fully justifies its popular reputation as one of the first, greatest, and most progressive of the modern achievements of men." Since the introduction of telegrams and cablegram dispatches, great changes have taken place in our receipt of news. To-day a person can send an account of our Centennial celebi-ation to our namesake in India, (Delhi) thousands of miles away, and have the same published there to-morrow. The older inhabitants of the village will jsrobably remember the old clock in the belfry of St, John's church. It was the gift of Gen. Erastus Root, and the gift document is dated Nov- ember, 1831. Some years ago it was taken out. As we review our little history of the County Seat for the past century, who will doubt that our forefathers were men of marked ability, solid worth, action, enterprise, thorough patriot- ism and true courage? May the next recurring anniversary of our Centennial witness. roir.v oh' HKi.iii. Hal as jjreat uuil iiiipoitiiut chauj^es iu the ouwaiil stride of civiliza- tion as in the past; auil may our beueficeut Father voiu-hsafe to lis His ever-watchful care iu the future as in the past. "What dearnr privilege, imleed, tlmii U> do as our sires have iloiie, To follow in the paths they proved, t<> linish as they begun; To give to our children uiuleliled. In all that our fathers won." Delhi was the second village iucorjiorated iu the count.v, ^Nfurch ■Jl. IS'il, and its first otKcers were: Trustees, Ei'astus Root, Charles S.. Foote, (iurdeii H. Edgertou, Jahez Hitchcolk and Nathaniel Steele, jr.; Clerk, Gurdou H. Edgerton; Treasurer, Henuau D. Oould; Overseer of HijL,'hways, Jabez Hitchcolk. The Delhi Fire Departnieut was organized March ;{(i. 18(i(t, aud its first officers were: Chief Eugiueer, Apollos C. Edgertou; Assist- ant Engineer, Dexter Petteugill; Clerk, John A. Farshall; Treasurer, Caleb A. Frost. The first taverns, built of logs, were opened iu 17110, hy Gideon Frisbee just above the village, and l)v George Yendes in the lower part of the town. In 179H Mr. Denio opened a log tavern on the present fair grounds. In 1824 the Delaware Wocjlen Factory was started by a company, Samuel Sherwood aud H. D. Gould, i)riucipal owners. In 183i) Hichard Titus purchased the business, and later O. S. Pentield & Company, also Smith tt Pentield. In 18'2(J George Sherwood built the grist mill, aud in 1870 Smith & Pentield constructed the jiresent building. Cassia Lodge, No. 180, F. & A. M., was instituted in Delhi in March. ISOJ). Erastus Root was Master, Ambrose Bryan, Senior Warden. Elnathan Heath, Junior Warden. Delhi Lodge, No. 41}',), F. A: A. M., was instituted at Delhi in ISoS, P. B. Merwin Master. Delhi Chapter, 1-24. H. A. M., was instituted at Delhi, April VI, 1827. Its tirst officers were: Auuisa Parker, H. P., Amasa Millard. K.. Lorenzo Henry, S. Delhi Chapter, No. 240, R. A. M., was instituted at Delhi. Aprd, 18()i». Its first officers were: J. S. Page, H. P., John Woodburn, K., J. ^f. Preston, S. 352 HiSTortr OF Delaware corxrv. Delhi Lod},'e, No. 2(!5, I. 0. O. F., was institutf il at Delbi, March 2, 1847. Its first N. G. was Trumau H. "Wheeler. After au exist- euce of many years it surrendered its charter. Delhi Lodp^e, No. ()2r), I. O. O. F., was instituted at Delhi, March, 18i):i, M. E. Arbuclde, N. G. One of the important industries of Delhi is the Crawfords Wagon "Works, which was established in 181)4, and was enlarged in 1895. They give employment to from forty to eighty men, and their plant now covers about four acres of ground, and comprises four large buildings, and about an acre of Hoor sj)ace. The principal manu- facture is the Stiver gear, pneumatic wagons. The New York Condensed Milk Company established a milk bottling works here in 1805. "Borden's Condensary," as it is called here, is an important acquisition to our village, and gives employ- ment to fifty or more men, and receives the milk from nearly two hundred farms. Sanford's Creamery, in the lower part of the village, is an imi^ortant industry in our village, and has been hei-e a number of yeai's. Some seventj- years ago Mr. Elting had a potash manufactory on the east side of the river, just above the upper iron bridge. Many years afterward James Elwood had a j)otash manufactory not fai' from where the residence of George H. Maxwell now stands. Deposit i\nd TompI>ins. THE town of Deposit is tlif youiifjcest towu in Delaware couutv, and is anionj,'' the snuxUer ones in its area, Imviuf;' 27, (J22 acres of land; there are two towns haviu-,' a less nunil)er of acres. In vahiation of real estate, it bears a very favorid)le conij)arisou with other towns; there is one town of equal valuation per acre, twelve that are lower, and but five of higher valuation. The personal j)roperfv n( tlii' town, when orj^anized, was greater than eleven towns and nearly equal with that of the other seven. It has been materially reduced within the last two years by the removal of the Deposit national l)ank to that portion of the village of Deposit situated in Broome county. The town was organized by the Legistattire of the State in 1880, the territory being taken wholly from the town of Tomp- kins, which was the largest towu in Delaware county excepting one, Hancock, and is still the largest towu in the county, except- ing two, Andes and Hancock. It is the most western, or south-western town in the county, iind is bounded on the w-est partly by the state of Pennsylvania and partly by Broome county. The village of Deposit is divided by the boundary line which separates Delaware and Broome counties. The greater uund)er of inlialiitants of the village, ,ind by far the greater business interests are in Broome county. Yet a majority of the churches, and nearly an equal number of in- habitants, including many of the old residents of the village, are in Delaware county. Ajiplieation for a division of the town of Tompkins and the '■rection of the new town of Deposit was twice made to the Board I'.l :i'>3 35(i IlISTony OF DELAWARE COLWTV. of Supervisors of Delaware county. In 187(i at a nicetiuf^ of the hoard, a vote was taken which resulted in nine for division and eight against. There was a majoritj^ in favor of the new town, hut as the law recjuired a two-thirds vote tlie (|uestii)n was lost. It Wits fully shown to the hoard hy the applicants for this pro- ject, that their only ohject in asking for a division of Tompkins was to save the voters and husiness men of the j)roposed new town the unnecessary distance which thej' were ohliged to travel in attending every town meeting, and in transacting husiness at the town clerk's otKce. There were 350 voters then in the ter- ritory, and more than that number now in the town of Deposit. The extra travel which was always expensive, unpleasant and annoying, was over sixteen miles on an average to each voter, making an aggregate amount, counting all the voters, of about (),()()() miles. The extra travel is now saved to the voters of the town of Deposit, and all the people of the tow-n are accommo- dated in their business interests like other people of the towns of the county. The only ohjection urged against the passage of the bill by members of the board of supervisors, was that if the new town was organized it would be lost to Delaware county, and the people of the town woiild " stejj down and out " and be gathered into the adjoining county of Broome. It was publicly announced before the hoard, l)y those who were opposed to the division, that the generous inhabitants at the county seat had such a devoted love for the people of the jsroposed new town, that they could not allow the joetition to be granted. It would he placing a wicked temptation for eovetousness within conven- ient and easy reach of Broome county, and would be an efficient move for the dismemberment of good old Delaware. No protestation of the people of the proposed new town, of their loyalty to Delaware county, was a sufficient guaranty of their honesty, and no declarations of the inconvenience and un- necessary annoyances which they were obliged to suffer ct)uld arouse the sympathy of their loving friends in the eastern por- yOH'.V.s- OF DKl'OSIT AXD TOMPKIXS. ;{r,7 tioii of flic county. Tlicy were ol)lijifecl to ^o to the Legislature of flic State, aud ask of strau^^ers what could not be •,'raiited to fliciii by their friends at home. The town of Deposit is too youuff to furnish anything'- like an ancient history of its early settlement. All the early records apply to the old town of Tompkins, wliich was organized Feb. •2H, iKOfi, from the town of Walton and was called Pinelield. It retained this name about two years, until the loth of ^Vlarch, 1S()8, when the name was changed to Tompkins in honor of Gov- ernor Daniel I). Tompkins. The first supervisor of tiie town was P.'ter Pine. Very little is known of the territory iui'luded in the present towns of Tompkins and Deposit before the war of t"he Revolution. It was inhabited by various tril)es of Indians; the Leui Leuaj)es (or Delawares) aud the Mohawks were the principal occupants. Their council ground was located near Deposit village, on the east side of the Delaware river, at a place opposite the point where the Tewbeac (Butler Brook) and Oipiaga Creek empty into flu- river. This is at the most westeiii bend of tlu' Delaware, on land formerly known as the Peter Pine farm, and later as the N. K. Wheeler farm. On this place the Indians had several acres of cleared land, where they planted their corn. About two miles Ixlow Deposit they liad another clearing. The place at Deposit tliey called Big Coke-ose, and the place lielow was Little C'oke- ose. These names were afterwards perverted by fjie wliife in- habitants aud the village of Deposit was called Cookhouse; Lit- tle Coke-ose lost its name entirely. Deposit was incorporated by the Legislature of the State in IHH, and was the first village incorpcjrated in Delaware county. 11 included only 15() acres of land, being Lot No. forty-three, Evans Patent, lying between the river and the county line. It wa« wholly within the County of Delaware and had very few in- habitants. In 185L the charter was amended so as to include tlie territory within its present limits. 358 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COCXTY. The first white okiu kuowii to have resided in the vicinity of Deposit, or in the territory of the present town, was Peter Hyu- hack, (usually pronounced Hinepaw). He was a Dutchman, and came up the river in a canoe with his wife and several children to Biy Coke-ose, and settled on the l)ank of the river about forty rods from the Indian council ground. He was a trader with the Indians, was very familiar with them, and after they left the country in 1785 he remained four or five years and then follo^Ved them to Canada. He purchased quite a large tract of laud of the Indians with their improvements; these consisted of their clear- ing on which a few apple trees had been planted or grown, and nothing more. Several of she apple trees are still standing and bearing fruit. About the year 171)0 he sold his possessions to a Mr. Yandervoort, and Mr. Yandervoort sold to Andrew Craig. This last sale was of iOO acres and included all of the old Peter Pine farm. The consideration of this sale and purchase was a dark colored boy about fifteen years of age who was to be owned and treated as a slave. He was to be delivered to Mr. Vander- vooi't at Carjienter's Point, now Port Jervis, and two men were hired to "deliver the goods." These men were Conrad Ediok and Henry Sampson. The boy's name was John Magee, generally called Jack. He was placed in a canoe and all started down the river. They were obliged to stay over uight ou the way, and stopped at Skinner's Eddy. All were tired and all slept, l)ut in tlie morning there was no "Jack in the box." He had made his escape and not long after he returned to Mr. Craig, his former owner, and lived to grow up a free man. He was regarded as a man of consider- able ability. He held the office of Justice of the Peace in the town of Tompkins for a number of years. His residence was at Trout Creek, above Cannonsville. This farm which was sold in 1790 for the price of a slave, may be considered historic ground, not only as the council groimd of the several tribes of Indians who roamed over the hills and Towxs OF DKi'nsrr A\i) vvj.ur/iV.v.s. :m\i viiUcvs (if this i-egiou before the Hevolutiouiu-y war, but ass their |icnuaiK'nt scttlenieut and home for many years, as shown by their ruih' farniinH' pUit. their orelianl and buryin;;- ground. ^Nfaiiy arrows and sjjear heads and stone pesth's for f^rindinj^ corn have lieen found nn the premises. Here too, as stated, lived tlie first white settler, and here was the first f^round broken for the ci in- struction of the New York and Erie railroad. On the 7th of November, IS;}"), James G. King, president of the railroad company, with a few representatives of the organi- zation, met witli citizens of Dej^osit and the surrounding country to break the first ground for the road. President King commen- ced the work with the shovel, and Hon. Samuel B. Ruggles with wheelbarrow nuived the first earth into line for the road. Mr. Stuyvesaut, treasurer, and Wm. Beach Lawrence, another ofiicial (if the company, took pai-t in the work; Gen. Root, of Delhi, and Judge Drake, of Owego, were among the number. All present participated in a very moderate way in removing some of the c.-irth liy shovel (ir wheelbarrow, in the very first work upon this enormously expensive road of 488 miles. Forty miles of the road from Deposit to Callieoon were then put under contract, and the grading was immediately commenced. The first permanent settlement in the territory included in the towns of Tompkins and Deposit seems to have been made l)y a Mr. Fitch, of Bainbridge, father of Jabez Fitch, who afterward became a merchant in the village of Deposit. He came to what is now called Stilesville in 178.'), and located on a small clearing made by tiie Indians near the nidiitli (if the .Vstraguntira (unw called ('(lid Spring Brook) two miles fnnii Deposit village. He built a log house for his family and erected a very rude saw mill with a woorought their grain on horseback by an Indian trail to Cookhouse, fifteen miles, and then by canoe or Indian trail eight miles to Dickerson city. Mr. Dickerson ran the first raft of sawed lumlier down the west branch of the Delaware to mai'ket. He l)uilt several houses and made numerous improvements to his large property, which he called TOWNS OF DEPOSIT ASD TOMPKINS. 3(;3 the '■ Miltou Estate," but like many a new enterprise the expen- ditures were greater than the iuconie, autl tiudiufj; that his specu- lative isiT ash tdmi'Kixs. 309 time lias i-oiiic. He nccil not wait for liis sui)]icr. He can take iiis twelve o'clock (liiincr in the i-ity. The lailioads that traverse the county of Delaware have indeed afforded the most ett'ective menus for transportation, and they are_ uow carryiu;,' to the jjreat metropolis of our country the products of every town in the county, and are hrinj^in;^ back the necessaries and luxuries of life fi'om every laud aud every clime. Yet it seems a straufice couditiou of affairs that the five railroads runuiufi; throuy railro.-id and stage is never less than two days on the way aud often three. Time may be saved by those " who know how- to travel" by sending letters via. New York city, a distance of '2-yO miles. But whj- need we comjilain of our ]ireseut accommo- dations in traveling. Let us look back a hundred years to the time of the f(Uiii;ition of oui' county, when lUir fathers had no railroads aud no regular mails. The improvements for Delaware county are not fully accom- plishe(h We have yet to see trolley roads ruuuiug aloug each branch of the Delaware river ami threading the valleys of the smaller streams through every town in Delaware county. The moral, intellectual and social couditiou t>f the people of the county, within the century since the time of its organization, may be attributed to their churches, their schools and public institutious. Delaware county has more thriving villages with graded schools aud first class institutious for the education of the youug than almost any inland county of the state. We need these schools to pre]iare the coming generations for the active duties of life. 370 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUXTV. The earlj' settlei'H of the couutv fouuil a rouj^b aud ruj^j^eil territory, which could only be subdued by the strong arms and courageous hearts of these jDioueers. A less daring and persever- ing race would have been discouraged and have sought a more congenial climate and an easier soil for cultivation. By their active, honest, intelligent labor, they oj)ened and prepared the way for the present prosperity of the people of the whole county. The reputation of the people of the county has never suffered by a comparison with others of the state. And now with all the modern improvements of the present age and the facilities for advanced education, the present and coming jiopulation will be held responsible for the moral, intellectual aud jiolitical character of the countv. o O Franl>lin. FUANKLIN was tiikeu from Harpersfield Miirch lit, 1793, while a part of Otsego county, aud four years before Delaware vouuty was organized. But its area has been much reduced by the setting off of Walton, Meredith and Sidney. Its surface is uneven, rising into ridges and low niouutaius. The soil is mostly red clay loam underlaid by hard pan, from one to two feet below the surface. Along the creeks the subsoil is gravel or clay. There is very little waste land, and nearly all is suitable for agricul- tural purposes. The Ouleout creek and its branches flow southwesterly across the northern part of the town, to join the Susquehanna, and forms good drainage and some water powers. The hills on either .side of the Ouleout and some of its branches were covei'ed with ilense forests of the largest and best quality of pine. The ixeu- eral forest is beech and maple. In localities there is oak, hickory and chestnut, with scattering varieties. The first town meeting held in Franklin was held at Bartlett Hollow, near Edwin Tay- lor's, at the house of Sluman Wattles. Slumau Wattles was «lected super^■isor and Robert North town clerk; Gabriel Smith, David St. John and Samuel Hanford, assessors. The other town otMcers were also elected, after which resolutions were passed. The eighth was as follows: " Resolved, that the next town meet- ing be held at the house of Daniel Root, at ten o'clock, forenoon." That place was some five miles from the present village. That meeting was held as appointed. It was the first town meeting vailed by the town. The meeting held at Shiman M'attles' on the tirst Tuesday of April, 1793, was not called by the town, but 3:3 .•{74 HISTORY OF DELA\yARE rOUXTV. was appointed by the Legislature aud was a part of the ai-t of incorijoratiou, because none in the town liad the power to call a legal town meeting till they had been elected. The early settlers were men uud women accustomed to labor. Their first and main business after building a log house for their families and making them comfortable was to cut the timber, till the land and to bring it into cultivation. They looked at their former homes and the many privileges and comforts they there enjoyed and had sacrificed for their forest htnues. That brought no discouragement. They came to this new and wild I'egiou to build for themselves homes. They saw clearly that what was needed to restore to them what they had sacriticed was steady, persistent labor and economy. Those thoughts in- spired new efforts and energy. So that every tree that was felled, every rod of ground that was cleared brought those comforts and blessings nearer to their homes. They learned that steady and efficient labor was no barrier to mental or social happiness. Most of those early settlers were from Christian homes and clnu<-li jjrivileges. They soon felt the need, and regretted the al)sence. This feeling grew and became stronger, till a public meeting was called to consider the necessity and propriety of forming a Bap- tist church. The meeting was held on the 1.5th day of January, 17i):-i, and a Baptist church was organized. This was the tirst church organization in the town. On the 12th day of October,. 17133, the Congregational element, influenced by the same anxious desire, came together by appointment and formed a Congrega- tional church. Those two churches were the only ones iu town until 1838. The Methodists had some preaching. The earliest records inform us that Rev. Stephen Whitehead is known to have preached here iu 1802. Some time after that there was Method- ist itinerant preaching, but no church house till 1838. There are now eight churches iu the town, viz: Two Congregational, two Baptist, three ^lethodist and one Episcopal, each having a good church edifice and stated pastors laboring for the advancement of the moral and Christian good of all. TdWX (IF /••/iM.VA7./.V. 375 In the early diu-s of tbe towu there was much ausiety iu re- ffanl to the educatiou of the childi'en. The settlers were few and scattered. That made it difficult to establish any system of education. There was then uo i)iil)lic scliool money to be divided among the schools and each parent or j,niardiaii was liable for teachers' wages iu j)roportii)ii to the uuml>er of childreu they scut to school. This furnished but very limited means of educatiou. And those wishing higher attainments than the common schools (or graauiiar and select schools as they were calltHl) could give, had to seek it outside the county. As the population and finan- ces increased common schools grew into more importance. Our state gave large endowment fund? and our schools were benefit- ted by its interest. Laws were enacted, school districts formed, school otKcers elected and teachers recjuired to pass an examina- tion. This brought the district schools up to a much better position; though our schools had been advanced to a better position uo effort was made for a higher educatiou than a good common school could sjive till IH'20. In the vcar ITTd a yiaiit 1)V the Kiuir of England was made to a conij)auy, of 27, (KM) acres of laud, •since known as the Bedlington iiatent. That patent had fallen to the state by escheat. Gen. Erastus Root, in 182(1, being a member of the Legislatiu'e, introduced a bill to incorporate the Delaware Academy and also appropriating the sale of those es- cheated lanhty feet long aud forty feet wide aud four stories lii^li. The iustitute was uow a permanent institution of learning, fully equipped for business, aud gave large promises for the future. Aud well have those l^romises beeu fulfilled. This stone structure stood for tweuty- iwo years, wheu it was discovered to be on fire. Every effort proved unavailing, and it burned to the ground. The citizens put forth renewed effort, and by voluntary coutril)utious raised sufficient funds and rebuilt the building. While the chapel build- ing was in process of construction it was blown down, necessi- tating additional expense that was soon raised and paid. The ladies' boarding hall was built, a structure 40x80 feet and three stories high, costing a large sum. And all, amounting to $-l(),000, has been paid by the citizens of Fraukliu, without asking the state to contribute a dollar, with the exception of the first $7,000 that was for building the tirst Institute. At that time there were those out of this town with large liberality whose names are re- membered with grateful respect and gratitude. But most of that class are gone to a happier world, as we humbly trust and lielieve. When the Institute was ready for use the public gave their •support aud patronage in full, until au increased population aud new organizations has given to mauy of the towns union schools with academic departments. Up to 1819, there was no paper pu1)lished iu Delaware couuty. All necessary printing had to be doue out of this county. There was compyaratively little needed. It was not till 1819 that the first newspaper, the Delaware Gazette, was published iu Delhi by John J. Lappan. The Ulster County Plebian, published by Judge Buell, had furuished reading matter for a large proportion of Franklin readers, aud the same of the county. There are uow twenty-two newspapers published in the county. The general business of the farmers in the earlv davs was Ik TOWX or FliAXKI.IX. 379 >cleariug htuil, laisiii'^- priiiii, pork ami cattle. The f^iaiii and jxnk fouuil market aiiioiif,' the luiubermeii alou;^' the Delaware. The cattle were mostly Iwugbt by drovers and driveu to the eastern markets. Manufacturing and rafting lumber down the Delaware to market began very early to attract attention till it became a very general business. Silas Johusoii, a young man from Walton, who iu after years kept hotel and li\ed and died in Franklin, steered the first raft of lumber ever run from Walton. Franklin had jileuty of pine timber and gradually worked into the lumber l>usiness till for jnauy years it was actively engaged in manufacturing lundier and ■drawing it to the Delaware at Walton and rafting it to Philadel- phia. This business continued for some years till a very large proportion of pine bad been carried away. But it never proved a lucrative business. The business of the farm changed from grain and stock growing to sheep and wool. The town of Franklin became one of the largest wool growing towns iu the county, and for some years Delaware county was the largest wool producing county of the state. A few years later another change came over the business of the farm, changing from wool to dairying. And to-day this county is one of the largest butter-producing counties of the state, and its character for cpiality stands at the head of the butter market. Franklin has done its share in raising the dairy character of the county to where it now stands, botli iu i|uantity and quality. The town has two villages, Franklin and Trcadwell. Treadwcll is an enterprising and prosjierous village of some iour hundred inhabitants and situated midway between Franklin and Delhi, is pleasantly located and a place of considerable business for its size. The village has two churches, a Baptist church and a ilethodist church, fovir stores, and one hotel, but no license. Treadwcll does not appear to be of the right soil to grow license j)lants. They have one of the best, abundant and unfailing water supplies of soft spring water for use and tire ])urj)08es. It is l)rought from a distant hill, many feet above the level of the vilhigc. Franklin village is seventeen miles from Delhi, four from the D. iV. H. railroad at Otego, and five from the N. Y., O. iS: W. •station. There are four churches iu the village, viz: Congrega- tional, Baptist. ^lethodist, and Episcopal; eight stores, a bank of fifty thousand dollars cai)ital, organized in 1804, which never has •211 380 lllSTOin' OF DELAWARE COVXTY. passed a dividend, aud never has paid less than three per cent, dividend every six months, and no depositor has lost a dollar bv depositing in that hank, and no stockholder has tailed to receive an equivalent more than equaling the interest on his stock. It has a large surplus and always ready to meet legal ilemands when presented. There is one hotel but no license. There has been no license granted to any one for more than twenty-tive consecutive years. And at our last town election, after an ex- perience of twenty-live years of no license, the town gave a majority of 110 against licencing again. There is one newspaper, the Delaware Dairynuiu, printed in Franklin, a large, eight-jiage paper, alive and actively dispensing all the dairy and agricultural news and the early general information once each week to a subscription list of '2,500 subscribers, and doing a large amount of job printing. The village has a large and splendid water supply of the softest and purest of water so arranged that no external impurities can reach it. It is from a height that gives a hundred jiouuds pressure to the square inch on the main pipes in the ■village. That gives full force to the hydrants so that no other power is needed in case of tire. There is a full and eflicient company of firemen for each of the departments that are well equipped, and take pride in their doings. The new Ouleout Valley Cemetery is the pride of the town. A good many thousand dollars in money have been expended on it. Improvements are continually l)eing made. The public feel- ing aud interest, and it is continually growing, and is of interest to all. But it needs to be seen to be appreciated. There is Frank T. Hine Post, (1. A. R., men who took the risk of standing in the l)reach of a divided nation at war. and risking their lives in bringing back the ceceding to a hajipy reunion and to a powerful aud undivided nation. They are worthy of the gratitude and respect of the nation ; but it is sad to see that number decreasing as they are discharged, and we lay them away in peaceful rest. There is a baud of gentlemen that dispenses good music to the village, that awakens our drowsy spirits and quickens our sensi- bilities and gives a cheer after the wearisome business of the day. They ai-e a worthy, happj- band, ever ready to render their sweet melody where necessity requires it, or where love of music asks it. yiiiage u] naQider\. Mam ((en. l^X Mcnry \\ . Holmes. TH !•", Iiistory of tlic tnwii of Hiiiiidfii diite.s ouly from the tiino of its erection l).v Lc-^islative eiuictmeut April 4, 1825. The prior history of tlif t in the lower line of the farm now owned by .Yrthiir Shaw, therefore prior to .\iirii 4, 182"), idl that 3Ki HISTORY OF DELAWARE COVSTY. ])iirt (if Huiiiileii uortli of this lius was a part of the towu of Delhi ami that portiou south of the line was iucludeil in Walton. The bouudaries of the towu have uever been changed. Its arpa is about 34,000 acres or fifty-three square miles, oue tweuty- sixth of the area of Delaware county. The assessed valuation of its real estate was in ISDT Sodl, ()()(), one-twenty-sixth of the valuation of the county. The personal assessment iu the same year was $(13, 000, or oue-thirty-tifth of the county; the population in 1890 was 1,507, or one-thirtieth of the county. More than one-half of the total area, probably 20,000 acres, lies east of the river, but census returns show fully as many inhabitants on the west side as on the east. The greatest width of the town is along the east bank of the river, seven miles, the width along the west bank being but live and one-half miles, the Delhi line on the east bank being further uj) the river than on the west. The greatest length of the towu is from the point where Hamdeu, Andes and Colchester corner, near Solo- mon Signor's, to the Hamdeu-Franklin line near Edward Howlaud's, which is thirteen and one-half miles in air-line. We are unable to ascertain what was the population of the towu in l.s;!() when the first census was taken after its erection, but subsequent censuses show that at that period the population was rapidly increasing. Thus, the census of 1835 shows 1,34!) inhabitants; 184(1, l,40!t; 1845, 1,7(>7; 1850, 1,!U!); since when there was a steady decrease until ISJSO. when there were 1,407. Under the census of 18!tO there were 1,507, and there is reason for the belief that there has since been a small increase. Prior to 1880 the United States censuses were taken by the United States Marshal and his deputies, but since the wtirk has lieeu done by enumerators appointed within the towu. The United States census in both 1880 and 1800 were taken by Henry W. Holmes, and the State census of 1875 by Harvey M. Seaman. In March. 182G, the towu was divided into fourteen highway dis- tricts, which have since been increased to the number of fortv-seveu. Towx OF n.\Miih:x. 385 111 Julv. lS'J(i, the towu was iliviJed into eight school districts, Nos. one, two aud three being the river districts and covering a wide expanse of territory on both sides of the river. The first change after the original division was the erection of No. nine, being that part of No. three lying on the west side of the river from DeLancey. The number of districts was graduallj- increased until in 1S4.^ No. sixteen was erected in Gregory Hollow, being set off from Basin Clove, which remained No. eight. The number of districts remains at sixteen, all comniou scliool districts, there being no graded school within the town. The consolidation of some of the smaller districts, or the adoption of the " township system ' has already been agitated aud it is evi- dent that a positive change will ere long take place in the local school system. The first known settler within the town of Hamden was David Harrower who came from "down East" with his wife and two sons and a cow, in the summer of 1779 according to the most authentic records, but well established tradition places his advent into the unbroken wilderness at an earlier date. They came down the river from Stamford in a canoe, the cow being driven along the Indian trail, and camped upon the river tlat on the farm now owned by Arthur Shaw, where a cabin was built aud the pioneer settlement of the town of Hamden was permanently established. For a period of six years this family haii tlie kuoll near the river, iipou what bail tbeu become a eoniparatively well developed and valuable farm. lu 1S18 this tiue estate of SOO acres, com- prising the present farms of Arthur Shaw aud William Brvce, became the property of Hou. Douald Shaw, aud the Harrower Louse was occuj)ied by him for many years, aud was the birth place of his children. It is only within the jiast ten years that the old "mansion," the oldest in town, was razed. William Cornell settled iu 1787 the farm now owned by Donald Crawford aud occupied it until 1814. In 182(( it was purchased by Donald Crawford senior, aud has always remained iu the (h'awford family. The first saw-mill in town was built im this farm by Eos- well Peake prior to 1800. The Howards, several brothers, were among the earliest settlers and occupied a tract of land comprising the present Youmaus, Heu- derson and Stewart farms and much of the village of Hamden. James Howard is accredited as the first iun-keeper of the town, having opened such business as early as 17!)(), probably earlier, ou the lot now occupied by Dr. W. D. Heimer. Walter Chace first came ft) town iu 17!tl and secured emjiloy- ment from Beuajah McCall, making shingles. He I'eceived $4.00 per month aud board, which may be accepted as the regular com- pensatiou for skilled labor at that time. About 1800 he purchased of Gershom Howland the farm now owned by his grandson Charles W. Chace, where he resided many years and l)ecame one of the leading men of the town, holding the office of justice of the peace seventeen consecutive years from 1828. His son Harry P. Chace succeeded him on the farm aud was also a prominent man, holding the office of supervisor iu 1835 aud 1836, and being the last Demo- crat ever elected to that office in town. Gershom Howland came from Rhode Island iu 179(i with four sons — Joseph, Job, Phineas aud Gershom. Phiueas settled on the J. B. Hawley place. Job on the farm now owned by James Kent, and Gershom on the Charles W. Chace faim, which, however, he TOWN OF HA^n>EX. 387 ssoou sold to \\'ultfi' Cliacc ami rciiKivcd to the t'iiniiau farii] in Howliiud Hollow. Jiiiiies Musou !iud his son (xeortre came from Schoharie couuty ill 17!(.") aud settled iqiou the farm now owned l)y his great-ffraud- childreu, John A. aud William (J. More aud their sisters, the children of James M. More, who died about 1S(U. This farm has therefore remained in the possession of the original settler aud his lineal descendants for a period of 108 years. The son, (xeorffe Mason, soon after settled upon the farm now owned by Henry Loos. The only daughter of .James INfasoD, Jane, married Roswell Peake, who settled in 17118 Mpou the J. S. Murray lot now owned by R. J. Granlees. Henry Wagfoner cai;ic in 179() and settled ou the lower part of the Bagley farm, now owned by Wm. •!. Oliver, which soon after passed into the possession of .\rchiliald Church, ;ind is des- ignated to this day as the Church lot. About 1792 Reuben Ward settled on the farms now owned by E. J. Combs and Andrew Buckliam. Soon after Ward sold the Combs lot to Isaac Roberts. ■Tt)hu Combs came from \ew Durham in 1ir.V OF IIAMDEN. W.n. The t'ovt'its were settlers in Covert Hollow at au early date. Uuderhill Covert on tlie Philip McFarlane farm and Ahraliaui Covert ou the Allen Anderson place. Tbev were anion^' the best men in town and Abraham was one of the three commissioners of hi^'liways elected in 18'2(i, at the first town meeting. No history of Hamdeu would be complete without mention bein;,'- made of •' lame Peter " Lauut and his brothers, Lewis and John. Peter carried the Delaware valley mails on horseback three times a week to Catskill over the old Catskill turnpike. His home is with his brother, Lewis, who married Jauette McFarlaue- These three brothers, John aged 94, Peter 88, aud Lewis 85, are re- markable for their rugged health and activity and the keenness of their mental faculties. Malcolm !Mi'l''.-iilane came from Sc(.)tland about ls2() aud settled ou the farm at the head of Chambers Hollow where his sou Gilbert still resides. Eli Baglev came from Hilsdale, Columbia county, in liSUi), and having married Eunice Goodrich bought the Henry Wagoner farm. Hei'e Edward Baglev was born in 1SL5 aud succeeded his father in the ownership of the farm, adding to it the "(ioodrich lot," making it one of the most productive aud valuable properties in town. He also kei)t puljlic house and conducted a wa^ou sliop ou the site of H. Nichol's shop. The latter l)usiness he solil to his son Charles about 18(]6, continuing his hotel ami farm until ISSD when he sold it to William J. Oliver who came from Boviua. Jlr. Bagley still lives within a few rods of his birth-place. He married Orril A. Pettis daughter of Joshua Pettis, whose son, Philander B. Pettis, is- another native of the town who has for eighty-three years resided within sight of his birth-jjlace. He married Barbara Chace, daugh- ter of Harry P. Chace. and for a time resided with his father in DeLancey, but soon jjiirchased the property now owned by his son. H. K. Pettis, where for many years he combined the business of farming, lumbering and keeping public house. .\llen Stoodley was one of the first settlers in that portion o£ 392 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COl'XTY. the town for luiiuy years kuowu as Stoodley Hollow, l)ut now kuowu hv the uame of its post-office, North Haindeii. The Stood- Jey faiuily eaiue in 18'21, aud was speedily followed by the Millers, Kussells, Fishes, Howlauds, Deuuys, Woods, Ponieroys, Kipleys, Bentons and Goldsmiths. The postofliee was established shortly after 1S5(I with a weekly mail from Walton. About ISS" another postotiiee was established two miles down the brook from North Hamden under the name Mundale with Huf>h C. Munu as ])ost- master, who was succeeded l>y .1. P. Davidson, Alfred Leseur, and last by Rev. Daniel Harris. The first families in this locality were the Munns, Eassons, Doigs aud Darts. A blacksmith shop, cooper- age aud store comprise the business of the vicinity. A co-operative •creamery was conducted for a time about 18510. Wakeman Andrews was one of the early settlers in scIukiI dis- trict No. 15 on the farm now owned by Donald Crawford and known as the Mayham place. His son, Andrew Andrews, settled on the farm now owned by Creorge S. Andrews, where he continued to reside until his death in IS'.X! at the age of ill years. He accumu- lated a tine property, anped, but steadily increasing in volume and already affordiug emplovmeut to many who would otherwise be unable to secure employment within the town. The breeding of sheep and the manufacture of woolen cloth and yarn which was at one period quite extensively conducted, there )>eing one large woolen mill employing several operatives in town, has almost entirely ceased, and the mill has Ixen transformed into a grain and feed store. .\t the first g^eneral election, held in 1H"2(), there were east in the town of Hamdeu 142 votes, of whi(di W. B. Rochester received ninety-six and DeAVitt Clinton forty-six. The total vote in ISHO was 42G, of which (iartield received a majority of 25(!. The vote of 1SS4 was 41(t, of which Blaine received 272 majority. The vote of ISSK was 43K, of which Harrison received 28iS majority, and the vote of 1K!)6 was 412, of which McKiuley received a majority of 245. The vote of IMSS was the largest of which we have any record and was doubtless the largest ever cast iu the town. Piior to IH.'id the lowu was usually Dem.ocrati<'. then the Whigs gained the asccml- 396 HISTOHY OF DELAWARE COUNTY'. Hucy uuil iu ^eucial maintained it until 1M56, when tlif l{epul)lu'au ticket received a niajority of over 'iOO votes. It is a remarkable fact, jn'obably witliout a jiarallel in the state, that for more ikan forty years no candidate of the Republican party for a state or national ofKce has failed to receive in the town of Haniden a majority exceedinfif '200, often nearly 8()(), out of a total vote which lias never reached 440. And further, no Democrat has been elected to the office of supervisor, town clerk, or justice of the peace since 1836. While in other towns there have been political revolutions brought about by general or local causes, the Ke])ul5lieau party iu Hamden has never had a reverse or lost any degree of its prestige. This is doubtless due to the fact that " Free-soilism " early took root in the minds of our voters. The same love of liberty of s])eecli and action that caused a large percentage of our voters, or their fathers, to emigrate from a land of oppression to a land of freedom, caused these voters to early esjjouse and enthusiastically support the cause of abolition of slavery and to join and adhere to the political i^arty which made the United States in fact a country of free speech and free men. Less than oue-tliiid of the town's popuUiliou live in villages. Haiiidoii, the principal village, has nearly three hundred inhabitants, but is much more important as a business center than its size would indicate. Four large establishments dealing in general merchandise, one hardware store, one furniture and undertaking establishment, two feed and grain dealers, two hotels, two blaeksmitli shops, a cooperage and two firms dealing in butter comprise the business directory of the village. Two physicians divide the medical practice, viz ; W. D. Heimer who came from Andes in LSTfi and has ever since practiced iu the town, and enjoys a reputation for success an. no f;iovvlli ami no prospect of any. Ouo ncuoral ini'icliandisi! establishment, one jjrocciy, a piitilic house, a blaoksmith shop, a cooperage ami a K'''*t mill arc the principal Imsincss estftblishmcuts. H. M. Seaman for many years <'oii(luct<'(l licre thi' only tannery in town, but tlie supply of liark becoming exhausted he creclcil a large grist mill on the site of his tannery and utilized his water powiT for griniling grain. This is the only mill in town and is largely patronized. He is also an extensive dealer in flour, feed and grain. The United Presbyterian church society of DeLaucey erected a building in 1H4S which was remodeled in 1KH2 aud was used until December 24, 1H()6, when it was totally destroyed by lire, which was firet discovered about eight o'chiek .\. M. .\ new building was inmiediately planned and was built during the suninier of l.S!)7 at a cost of nearly ST.tUlll for building and furnishing. It was deiiicated October 14, 1897, and has since been used. Kev. Dr. Thomas Park, of Walton, was pastor of this church from 1H7H till 1H92 and under his ministry the membership was greatly increased. The present pastiir is Rev. N. L. Heidgcr, who came from Philadelphia in November, lH!t.">. The Christian church of DeLancey was erected in 1H44 aud was regularly supplied by preachers of that denomination until 1H77, since when it has lieeii occupied only at long intervals. Its last pastor was Rev. James Topping, who regularly supplied its pulpit during the year 18911. The only other church in town is one of the United Presbyterian ilenomination at llundale, erected in 1881 when the society was first formed. Its pastor is Eev. Daniel Harris who came thereto from Kock Rift in IS'.Ki. There arc lour post-olliccs in the town, viz: Hamden, DeLancey, Mundale, and North Hamden. The first two arc money onier ollici's, the others are not. Donald Crawford, Henry W. Holmes, Daniel Harris and Amos P. Wood are the respective postmasters at the ofBces in the order named. The building of the New York & Oswego Midland Eailroad was a matter of much interest to the people of Hamden, aud when it was decided that the road would follow the Siilney-Wallon and Hancock route, the tow-n was bonc sold at par, thus realizing the sum neces.sary to retire the town's bonds at very little actual cost to the town. On these iepresentati9, due twenty-five years after issue with no option of redemp- tion, rate of interest seven per ci-nt., payable semi-annually. .\s early as 1880 the town was desirous of refunding this issue of bonds, but the holders would not accept payment and i r leni,, thus realizing S-i.2.i0, which, together with the- railroad ta.\ rebates, were invested us a sinking fiinil for the li(|uidatioM of the town's lionded debt. When the 3i)8 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COi'XTY. JiODils IVU due Jjinuary 1, IM'.l-l, this sinkius,' fund Miiidurdrd to alicmt *r,,il(l(i. leaving $85,()l)U of the bonded debt still unprovided for. New lionv people of tlieir iiii]H'U(liii<,' diuif^cr, Imt :ilas, tliey woiilil not believe the tale, iiutl history loconls the terrible disaster that befell tbeni shortly thereafter. Only two fai'iilies believed aud jjrotited by the warning-, viz: Fiillertou and Whitaker, who cftiue away with him, the Fullertou family facing to Orange eounty and Whitaker to Hhehocking. Numerous descendants of these families still live. Ill 17S4 a Bajitist miuister, by the name of Ezekiel Sampson settled on the flats a short distance below where Haucock village now is, but he remained there only a few years, and then removed to Chemung county in 178i). In 17,s7 Judge Samuel Preston came to Stockport to survey the lands in that vicinity, one Edward Doyle from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, coming with him. In 178!) Judge Preston determined to establish a colony, locating himself across the river at Stockport. Young Doyle determined to remain with him, and thereafter only went back to Doylestown for an occasional visit. He settled at a point two and one-half miles below Shehocton, now Haucock village, on the farm now occupied by Frank Doyle, one of his descendants. Soon after he married Elizabeth Shaffer, and many of their descenchiuts still reside in the town. Edward Doyle was the first member of the Legislature from this town. He had three sons, Edward, John and Samuel, the last named being the third memlier of the Legislature from the town, and three daughters, Abigail, Elizabeth and Mary. His wife w.is the first nieiidier of the Methodist Episcopal iliurch in tlii' town, she having been a memlter of that church at Canaan, Pennsylvania, where she regularly attended the Quarterly Conferences, going and returning on horseback. The Methodist church was first organized in IS.'U, at Hancock village, then a small liainlet. When they proceeded to organize they discovered that there was no copy of the Church Discipline in the place, so they posted a man on horse- back to the Doyle residence to procure one, in the nieautnne having a very enthusiastic meeting, singing hymns and giving testimony. That small l)eginning has grown into a church at the same place with a present membership of al)Out 30(1. 404 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COVSTY. lu tlic latter ])art of the eigbtecutb ceuturv one Ezra May located iu the town, teaching school in 1800 and ISOl at Sliehoctim, now Hancock village. He afterward became the tirst deacon of the Presbyterian church there. He also gave the old cemetery to the people for a burying ground for their dead. John Duseubury started the first store in the town. It wasn't much of a store, but no doubt was considered quite an acquisition l)y the settlers. Captain John Knight, from near Philadelphia, settled below Stockport about 1785. Numerous descendants of his still reside iu the town and have always been considered people of tine tastes and habits. About ITIH) Aaron Thomas and Moses his brother settled above Doyle along the river. Many of the Thomas family still reside in the town and are considered good substantial citizens. Along the East branch of the Delaware, settlement l)egan about the same time. Henry B. Bascom, D. D., one of the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, was born iu Hancock May 27, 17f)(i. He was licensed to preach in 1813, and iu 18"28 was elected Chaplain to Congress. In 1827 he was called to the presidency of Madison College, Pennsylvania, and in 1842 became president of Transyl- vania University. He was editor of Quarterly Review of tlie Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 184(i-1850, and was elected a Bishop May, 1859. He died September 8th, 1850. The first settlement made in the upper end of the town, was by Abraham Sprague at Long Flats, iu 1788. His grand-son, A. Sisrague, is still living iu the town, in his eighty-sixth year. Abraham Sprague came direct to this place from Newburgh, upon his discharge from the Continental army. The tract of land upon which he settled, consisting of 261| acres, was granted to one John Burch, Esq., of Loudon, by Queen Anne, and was excepted out of the Hardenberg Patent. Burch conveyed the same to William Cockburn in 1772, and Christopher Tappan as agent for Cockburu sold the same to Mr. Sprague in 1777, while he, Sprague, was iu the army. Mr. S23rague soon after his settlement there sold h. Village of East Braqcf). :.M Fii'iii iSkUxtm timiii Village o; i :sri i-. i ;y Tl')^y^' or ii.wcorK. 407 portious (if tlif Tjoiil; I''l:it tn Titus Williams (f^Tiimlfatht'r of ('dloiiel 'Williniiis now icsitliiij,' ut Kiist Hiaucli ) and Charles and James Sutton who settled tbereon about ITil"). In ISOO Titus Williams autl one Stephenson built tlii' first j^n-ist mill near there, and Ste]>hens(Ui run the same until his (h-ath, which occurred some years hlter by drowniuff at Early's ford. He attempted to cross ujjon the ice, but it tjave way and he fell in. His liat bein{>- found later upon the remaining ice at this point told the tale of his unfortunate death. His body was found the next sprinf^ at the head of Cochectou Falls. It was upon discovery buried at a point between high and low water mark, that being supposed to be the reijuirements of the law at that time. Silas Bouker, Major Laudtield and Jesse Baxter settled at Harvard in 1790. About two years thereafter Ichabod Benton, Solomon Miller and Elijah Thomas settled what is known as the Martin Flat near Harvard. In the same year James Miller, great-grandfather of S. Gordou Miller, and his two brothers settled at the juncture of the East branch and Beaverkill on the site of an ancient Indian village calleur Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the Grace of God. of Great Britain. Frani'c, annder of the faith, and so forth. ( Signed i C.\dw.\lladek Cot^df.n, Andrew Elliot. Alexander Golden." A pateut was soou after granted giviufj eacli of the patentees 1.(1(1(1 acres, though most of them afterward deeded their rights to the Harpers. The patent reserved to the King all mines of gold and silver and all pine trees tit for masts, of twentv-foiir inches diameter and upwards twelve inches from the earth, for masts for the royal navy. The grant is also subject to a (luit rent of two shillings and sixpence sterling, yearly for each 10(1 acres, and is erected into a township forever. This township is to elect annually two assessors, two overseers of highways, two overseers of the poor, one collector, one treasurer, and fiiur coustaldes, to l)e chosen at the most public place in the township. Vacancies are to be tilled by election within forty (biys after they occur. Digging the gold or silver, cutting the pine tit for masts, or default in (luit rent renders the patent void. Ill 1771 Cdlniiel Harper removed his family from C'lierry \alley for the i)urpose of making a permanent settlement, and having the patent divided into lots and highways: Adonijah Stanburrough acting as surveyor assisted by several men, one of whom was David Hendrv. 418 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. Rev. Harper Boies, who married a graud-dan^liter of C'olouel Harper and who took a deep iutereti' in the early history of the town and chureh, says; "The Cohmel first erected a shelter for his family in the form of a wigwam, and there lived till a house could be built; but not long after their arrival the Colonel was called away on business. His wife then superintended the erection of a dwelling, directing the men whom the Cohmel had brought with him to assist the surveyor, and before her husband's return the walls were fully raised. The house was soon roofed and fitted for the residence of the first white family that ever made a home in Harperstield. This house stood at the southeast corner of Lot Xo. 133, near a small stream which crosses the turuj)ike below the Center, west of and near the cemetery. Part of the foundation is still visible crossed by a wall about ten rods north of the turnpike. The i^lace is now owned by Gideon E. Wickham, who says that lately he plowed up some bricks near the wall. A part of the house now occupied by him was built by Colonel Hari:)er." From this time forward settlers came in rapidly and lands were cleared till the Revolution. Nearly the whole tract was heavily timbered, and till crops could be raised, all the tiour had to be brought from Schoharie on the backs of horses or men. The following was related to Jay Gould by !Mr. Boies: ■'The lirst wiuter succeeding the removal of the Harpers was very severe. Tlie arraugements they had beeu able to make proved hardly sufficient for the privations they were compelled to endure. « « « * Winter set in earlier than expected, and the snow fell to such depth as to render it almost impossible to reach any settlement, of which there was none nearer than Schoharie, nearly thirty miles away. In the midst of this dilemma their stock of provisions became reduced to a little corn, which was powdered in a mortar and made into jolumy cake. * * * * At last, but one small loaf of johnny cake was left, and the wife who had borne up well to now, began to yield. She had concealed the state of their provisions from her husband till it was useless to conceal longer, and she told him this small loaf was all; and the children were crying for that, but she dared not give them that for fear they might need it more hereafter. The father now resolved to travel to Schoharie on snow shoes on the morrow, and divided the loaf among the fandly but keeping none himself. « « « « In the meantime the Schoharie settlers being aware that their ni'ighbors in roir.Y OF llMiPERSFIKLD. X\\\ the ' Bush." as Harperslleld was usually called, must be slioit of provisions, had determined to go to their relief the same day that the last of the johnny laki' was eaten. Aoeordingly, early on the day in question, a eomiiany set out from Sehoharie on snow shoes, arriving at Harptnslield at riiidiiiijht, to the joyful surprise of the starving inhaliitaiils." The story as tolil by "Siinnis" is that the relief i)arty traveled with sleif^'hs; jiud is iini<-h less reasonable. It is related that on another occasion the Colouel's stock of hay beeame-exhaiisted, iiud he was forced to go over to the Dela- ware river, to a uiitural meadow ou lauds since owned liy the late Elijidi Churchill, and cany hay on his shoulders to keep his cow from starving. The distance is at least four niiles, and the journey was made on snow shoes; and these are only two out of many examples of hardships endured, and assistance ex- tended. Notwithstanding all this, more and more settlers were attracted l>y the liheral terms offered by the patentees, and as in all new settlements new comers were warmly welcomed, and when necessarj- the ready assistance of the settled erected houses- for the new comers at the shortest notice. A history of Harperstield would necessarily be incomplete without a historj- of the Harpers. That which follows is taken from records in i)ossession of his descendants. * cAPTntE oi' eowLiiv .\xn s.\wvek. Early in the spring of 177!), St. Ledger Cowley and Isaac Sawyer were cajjtured by four Indians. They were among the refugees from Harperstield who sought safety in Schoharie at the beginning of difficulties; where their families remained in their absence. The prisoners could speak Dutch, which the Indians under- stood nearly as well as their own language; and the latter could understand little, if any, of the conversation of these Anglo- Americans — Cowley being Irish and Sawyer Scotch. When t.ikeu, they intimated by signs as well as they could, that they were • The skelirh of Col. Haipei :i|i|iears in Part I. and was taki'n from this history. 420 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. friends of the Kiuf^; aud not only evinced a williug-ness to pro- ceed \vitb their captors, liut a desire to do so. An axe l)eh)nfiiuf( to one of theiu was taken alonfi^ as a prize. The prisoners set off with such apparent willingness on their long journey to Canada that the Indians did not think it necessary to bind them; but they were compelled to act as "hewers of wood and drawers of water " for their red masters. After being eleven days captive they arrived at- a deserted hut near Tioga Point, aud the captives were sent to cut wood a few rods distant. On such occasions one cut aud the other carried it to the hut. While Cowley was chopping and Sawyer waiting for au armful, the latter took a newspaper from his pocket aud pretended to read it to his fellow; instead of which he was pro- posing a plan of escape. After the Indians were sound asleep the friends arose aud secured their weapons, shaking the priming from their guns. Sawyer, with a tomahawk, stood over the most desperate of the Indians, while Cowley, with his axe, placed him- self beside auother. At a given signal the blow fell, fatal to the two Indians. Sawyer drew the haudle from his weapou iu trying to pull it from the skull of his victim, aud Cowley had the rest of the tragedy to finish. As another rose to his feet he partly warded Cowley's next blow, which exposed his shoulder, and he fell back stunned. The fourth, as he was about to escape, re- ceived a heavy 1)low from the axe, tied iuto a swamjJ near, where he died. The Indian who was stunned recovered, and while the victors were planning their next course, sprang to his feet, dashed through the tire, caught up his rifle, snapped it at one of his foes, rau out of the hut aud disa})peared. Expecting to be followed, the friends took a zig zag course and succeeded iu eluding pursuit, though at one time they counted ten Indians in pursuit of them. After suffering much from exposure, and still more from hunger they finally reached their friends.* * Abridged from Simms' Frontiersman. Wtiere Alexander Harper vuas captured. Col. Harpers ftoriuirier\t. Site of Claxtoq House. Towx OF }i.\ni'i:nsiih:i.i>. 4-2:{ Sawver is said to biive diid iiiaiiv years alter in Williaiiistuwu, Massachusetts. St. Led^'er Cowley eiaijirated to America from Duhliu, Ireland, .•ilioiit ITii'.i, with ills wife. Mary, and two children, •Jonathan and Samuel, and settled in (ireenlmsh, near Albany, where he eu^at^ed in trade: we would now style him a couiniercial traveler, — uot exactly a peddler, aud uot exactly a merchaut, — in which he contiu- ued several years. Exactly when he reniovensh, besides personal, and names his friends, Hon. Joshua H. Brett, Col. John Harper, and his sou William as executors, giving to each the sum of seven jiouuils for services. The will was })roved .Vug. 7. IT'.IT, before Anthony Marviue, at Kortright — now Delhi. His only descendants of the name now living in town are Wm. A. Cowley and his son John R. Cowley; the former, a great-grandson of St. Leilger. furnished the documents and iuformatiou for this sketcli. C.^PTUKE OV THE SlfiAR M.\KERS. On the second day of April, 17KU, a scouting party commanded by ("apt. Alexander Harper, fourteen in all, was sent from Scho- 4:24 HISTORY i)F DKLAWARE corxrv. biiiie to Hiupi'isticld for the puijiosf of imikiuf^ maple su^'iir, aud watching certain disaffected persons in that vicinity. The names of the party besides Harper were, Freegift and Isaac I'atchin, brothers, Ezra and Henry Thorp, Thomas, James, and John Hen- drj', brothers, Cornelius Teabout, James Stevens, M'illiam Lamb and sou Williiui], Dr. IJrowii, and one other. Shortly after they arrived at the block-house at Harperstiehl where they deposited their provisions, a heavy snow storm came on during which about three feet of snow fell, in addition to that already on the ground. After seeing the uu'u fairly engaged in sugar making at the different camps — tive in number — Harper went l)ack to Sly for several sessions. Isaac moved to Jetferson, upon land owned l)y his wife, and died at about seventy years of age. Ezi'a Thorp never married, but lived for many years, and died on what is still known as "Thorp Hill." where also lived another brother, Daniel, TOWX OF UAUI-KHSFIKIJ). 427 who at the time of tliis liiiil was I'li^^a-^fd iu ilefeuse of the coiist; j)i-iil)al>ly Couuecticnit. 'Ihf latter was father uf the late Nelson L. Thorp of this town. William Lamb, previous to the war, owued the farm where he was captured, and when released, returned there and luiilt a house east of tlie toll gate, near the Centre, where he died aliout IHlit, aged eighty years. The house has been repaired and en- larged, and is now owued l\v Joseph Tate. The bt)y, William, was absent eleven years before he reached the house of an aunt in Schoharie, where his father went to bring him home. William afterwards settled iu the western part of the state with a brother Peter. Two other brothers were John aud David, the former passing his life iu Harperstield, aud leaving a son, William J. who is well remembered. David was an easy, improvideut man, who after living awhih- in Hari)erstield removed to Kortright. M'ni. R. Stanley, a grandson of Wm. Lamb, is now ninety years old. Of the Hendrys, only John was married, aud his wife and a son, four years old, were at Schoharie when he was captured. He was a carpenter, au till the prisoners all hatccl him with a deadly bate. .\fter the war he had the im- pudence to return to .Schoharie. His j>reseuce becoming known H party of AVhigs surrounded the house he was in, near where the Blenheim bridge now stands, and leading him from it into a grove neail>y, wliiiiped liim with hickory gads, giving him be- tween every ten lashes the reasons for that particular uundjer; this was continued till he was nearly dead, and some of them out of pity put an end to his sufferings. Simms recites the story that he thanked thciii for sparing his life, ane the case if they remained in Haddam. David Garmsey was another soldier who settled in the same school district, being on Lot No. 5(5. Abijah Baird, also a soldier, settled on Lot No. ;i"2, at the top of the ]\Iiddlebrook hill, in ITS!), his lot cornering on the south- east with Cajjt. Smith and on the southwest with Mr. Garmsey. He was the first blacksmith in town. It is said he intended to go further, but looking over the great forest ahead, he was discour- aged, and concluded to sto]) where he was. The Harpers came back in 17s:i S4. The Colonel rebuilt his grist mill, and his wife having died during the war, he married the widow of his cousin, Joseph Harper, by whom he had two daughters, Abigail and Sally. Of his nine children, only Margaret, who married Hon. Roswell Hotchkiss, passed her life iu this town. Tradition says the Colonel had a saw mill near his grist mill,, three-fourths of a mile below the Centre; if so no signs of it re- main; biit he built a saw mill on the Middle brook, not far from the school house of Dist. No. VI, one of them being the first saw mill in town. With the Harpers, and following them, came most Yillaae of Halcottville. Villaue of Kelly's Corriers TOWX OF IIMil'KKSFIKl.l). J,^;^' of the earlier settli-rs — thou-^'b some hiul sickeuetl of hardships :iiul gone back to the ohler settlemeuts, — followeil by mauv uew settlers. Aiiioug the tirst of the ucw oues was Samuel Wilcox, who, as before iiieiitioued, iiiDved iutu tlie house where Jimies Stevens was killed in ITSO. He became a ]iroiiiinent man, was Supervisor, Justiee. and one of the tirst Deacons of the Baptist church, when he came near being placed on trial for shooting a wolf on Sunday; the wolf being found prowling around the log pen wlicre the Deacon housed his slu'cp. .\nother settler of 17.S8 or 1784 was Levi Gaylord, tirst Deacon of the Presbyterian church, who came with his sons, Levi, Jedediah,. and Joel, all of whom became jirominent. and useful men in town. The following is a list of tlic earliest known settlers on the various lots in town, revised from a list made several years ago: Ijot 2, Aaron Scott: '.\, Samuel Southmayd; 4, Daniel Lindsley: •">. Daniel Nichols; (>, John Brown; 7, Amos Baruum; 8, Kaymoud .Starr: it, Ezra Nichols; 10, William Baird: l-->, ('apt. James Smith; i;f, Samuel Claxton; 14, Hazard and Salmon W. Beardsley; 15, Kv William Hendry; 17, Phinneas Bennett; 18, James Morrison: li>,^ 2(1, Levi Gaylord; 21, Ezra Thorp; 22, Joseph and John Barnum: 23, Edward Evans; 24, 25, Joseph Benson, Nathan Holmes; 2(i, Joseph Kitte; 27, Najah Beardsley; 28, Lewis Peutield: 211, John r.indsley; 80, Eden Hamilton; .'il, -.Vl. Abijali Band; X\ 34, Caleb- (lil)bs; .'55, Stephen Judd; 30, 37, Thomas Hendry; 3H, Joel Gay- lonl: 3'.t. James Montgomery; 40, Daniel Edwards; 41, Freegift Patchin; 42, Ezra Thorp; 43, Daniel Thorj); 48, Gabriel Gray; 50,. 51, Samuel and John Kuap]p; 52. Muttliiw Lindsley; 53, James Si)encer; 54, Plymeut Dayton; 55, Voluntine; 5(), David Garnisey; 57, James Stevens; 58, Samuel Wilcox: 5!(, Richard Bristol; (iO, David Lamb; (Jl, William McEarlaud; (>2, Thomas Maxou; 63, Syl- venus Graves; (>4, Samuel Stevens; (55, John Moutgomery: ley: 7(i, .Vl)cl Sclcy; 72, Hcnjamin Pierce; 73,74, Isaac Pierce; 75, Benjamin Owens; 7(i, James Bryan; 78, Davtou; 70, Ezekiel Baird; 8(1, Zacli. Brvau; 81. Presbv- 4:54 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COVSTV. teriau church; S2, Alexiiudcr Harper; h:5, Jt>hu M()utjiroiiier\ ; S4, William Lamb; 85, Thelus Hotchkis; 87, Uriah Adams; 88, Asa Warner; 89, Noah Buck; IH), (irershom Davis; 91, Robert Eus:lish; t);"), John Birdsall; 97, Joseph Copley; 98, Perez Pierce; 109, 191, James Campbell; 10:i, Isaac' Dayton; 1(14, Abel Dayton; 1(15, Ki)ine- tus Buckiupfhani; l()(i, Andrus Jerome; 1()7, Zadoc Osboru; 198, Colonel Harper; 110, Joshua H. Brett; 111, 112, Abrani Williams; ll:S, Richard Stanley; 114, Daniel Peters; 117, Alden Bennett; 119, Jacob Titus; 120, Lemuel Birdsall; 121, John Hari)er; 12H, Samuel Campbell; 124. William I. Harper; 12'), Burgoyne ^Icllvaine; 127, Hug-h and John McCuUoui^h; 128, 129, Benjamin Morse; 130, Joel Davis; 131, Daniel Prentice; 132, Roswell Hotchkis; 133, Colonel Harper; 13(i, William McClure; 137, Martin Kello-ifK; l-^*^. Elisha Sheldon: 139, Eliab Wilcox; 142, William Butts; 143, 144, Gideon and John Wickham; 145, Ezekiel Woodbeck; 152, Samuel Doane; 153, Joel Hubbard, sen.; 154, Robert AVatkius; 155, 15(i, Samuel and Thomas Loyd; 159, Ransom Packard; KJO, James Douj^lass; IGl, Uriah Odell; l(i4, Elial) Wilcox; 108, Charles MeMulleu; 1(59, Heman Copley; 170, Robert Henderson; 171, Simcoii Fuller; 173, James Bell; 174, Abel Seley; 175, Colonel William Harper; 17(1, James Scott; 178, John Hendry; 179, James Brown; 180, 181, Ros- well Hotchkis; 182, Joel Mack; 184, Robert Hamilton; 185, David Hendry; 188, William Wardwell; 189, John McClelland; 190, Thomas Porter; 195, Robert and John Wool; 19(5, John Wilson; 197, Daniel Butler; 203, Benjamin Odell; 204, Ruliff Voorhis; 205, 20(i, David and John Wilcox; 207, Andrew Rickey; 210, Stephen Churchill; 217, St. Leger Cowley; 219, Peter Monfort. On the northeast corner of the town Benjamin Bartholomew and his brothers, Thomas, Joseph, James, and Jt)hu, both before and alter the war owned five lots called the Bartholomew tract, or thousand acres; five other lots being north of the Charlotte. They built mills on westerly lots, but which side of the creek is unknown. On the northwest corner of the town Benjamin and Ebenezer Poster, Daniel Sawyer, and Isaac Cleveland were early settlers. TOM'X OF IIARrHliSFlKl.D. 435 A lai->»'e part of wluit is cjillcil Middle lnook was settlid l>_v people from Daiil)iirv, Coiiu., iiud for suiuf tiiiii' was called New Daulnirv. Some veai's aj^o Mr. .loliii Nieliols. then in liis iiinety-tliii'd vear, stated that he \v:is fuiir years old wheu his father, E/ra Nichols, settled ou Lot '.', now ()wiiey Isaac P. Nicliols. The first work after their arrival was t<> erect a h)fjf house, which was built of peeled tii' poles notched toj^ether at the corners, the spaces between the poles beiug tilled with mnd. The roof was covered with larack as a knife would lin. Kiia]>]i ■went for" Day for misusing his hog so, and was coolly told that • when that sow got down here, and see how funny that 'er sheep looked with one leg tucked through t'other, she just split her mouth laughin'." 436 • HISTORY OF iiF.i.AWAiih: rdiwrv. In till' iiiii-tliwfstfi'ii [lai't 1)1' the town, on wlntt is still known as- (^luiker Hill. tluTc settled from Duteliess county ii colony of Quakers, or Friends, as they styled themselves, of about twenty families who built a lofj churcli with a \o'^ partition through the middle to sejiarate the men from the women. If a couple wished to marry, the youuf^' man stated their intention to the meetiuL;' and took his scat with his intended on the women's side. Preachinpr was only as the spirit moved; often uothinj^' was said; just shook hands and separated. Harpersfield, the only ori<)inal town iu Delaware county, was first organized April 27, 17S7. and covered about the same territory as the 250,000 acre tract purchased from the Indians June 14, 17('iS. For some reason this act was inoperative; and March 7th, 17H8, the town was again organized as follows: Harpersfield, and all that part of the said county of Montgomery between the C"ook(|uago branch of the Delaware river and the branch of the Sus(|uehauna river called Adiquitauge, beginning at a rock maple tree marked on four sides with a blaze and three notches, and with the letters and figures .\.. C, 1708, standing on a high point of laud at the south side of a small lake called by the Indians Utsayantha. from whence the said branch of the Delaware called by the Indians Cookquago- issues, and running from thence North thirty degrees West to the said Adiquitange, and thence down the same and the Susiiuehanna to the bounds of Pennsylvania, and East along the same to the river Delaware, and then up the siime river to the place of begin- ning, shall be and is hereby erected into a town by the mime of Hari^ersfield. The territory embraced averaged about fourteen miles wide by about sixty miles long; and from it nineteen towns and parts of towns have been formed iu tlie counties of Broome, Chenango,. Delaware and Otsego. The names of the towns ai-e: Afton, Bain- bridge, Colesville, Davenport, Delhi, Deposit, Franklin, Hamden.. Harpersfield, Kortright, Masonville, Meredith, Oneonta, S.iuford. Sidney, Stamford, Tompkins. Walton, and Windsor. rnwx iiF iiMxfi-:i;sFih:i.ii 4:^7 Altliciuji;h partiiij^ with so nnicli tcrriturv has nunh- the ohl town tlic siiiiiHcst ill the (•(uiiity, rciluciiij^' her from more thiui eight .huudred to but little iiidrc tluiii forty square miles, she is the best Jookiug town of the lot, as the ma]) will show. 'riic lirst town meeting of which any record exists was liehl Vpril 1, 1787, as follows: Chosen unanimously, A\'m. Cure, moderator; John Harper, ■treasurer; Samuel Wilcox. John Deuiston, assessors; Isaac Patchiu, Sen., collector; E/ra Thorp, 'i'helus Hot<'hl A later resoliition reiuls: Any lin;^- louiul ou the ruiniiums with- out being well rinf^'cil mid yoked, .thall pti;/ a tine of titty ccuts. Another time it was voted : That hofj's on the ooiiiiuon shall In- irriix/i-il iu the nose on peniilty of twenty-five cents. The followinj;; seems to show that the town came (|U!ti- near luiitiii^' (•hiircli and state: April "ili, ITllt'i, Resolved: that all the money that has arose from the excise in this town shall l)e collected ami loaned to the proprie- tors of the Presbyterian meetiuj,' house, at the usual interest on dcniaiid. for the purjiosc of carryiu;; on the liuildiu^''. April 2. IT'.l'.t. iiesolved: that tin- excise money now in the hands of the overseers of the poor, shall be aj)propriat4-1I7. (U'or-c t'. (Hl.bs; 1895, Eolla (t. Nichols. The first religions society iu Harjtersfiekl was organizeil Juue 7, 1787, at a meeting lield for that purpose at the house of CoL Johu Harper, wheu Col. John Harper, David Heudry, Benjamin Bartholomew, Joseph Hotchkis, and Daniel Mack were chosen trustees, and it was unanimously agreed that the trustees and congregation should be called "Presbyterian Congregation of Har- perstield." The election was held pursuant to an act passed by the Legislature. April (i. 1784; Deacons, Levi (iaylord and William McFarland. The proceedings were certified by John Deniston and Levi Gaylord, the officers of the election; witnessed by Alex- ander Harper and Roswell Hotchkis, and acknowledged before William Harper, one of the Judges of ^Montgomery county. Five days after their election the trustees agreed to make proposals tO' Rev. John Lindsley, which included the offer of VM) as an annual salary and £100 as a settlement. Mr. Lindsley accepted the ott'er with the understanding that he was to be paid in labor, cattle or notes. He commenced his labors iu the fall of 17s7, and continued them till 17111. He is also supposed to have taught the first school iu town. Between 1791 and 1798 Eev. David Huntington and Rev. William Stone jn-eached for the society occasionally. In 1793, Rev. Stephen Fenn became the minister, and was to receive seventy acres from Lot No. 108, the whole of Lot No. (iT), (one hundred acres,) and XlO in building material; the whole valued at £200, to be considered as his settlement. He was also to receive £7(t annually for four years, after which his salary was to be increased £5.158 per year till it amounted to 111;), which was to be the annual salary thereafter, but if he left before the end of twenty years he was to forfeit £10 per year for each year he fell short of twontv, unless he left through the fault of the TdWX (IF IIAni'KliShlFJ.n. 445 society. Mr. Feuu lenigjiui/.cd the society in ITitS, jinil Caleh (iil>l)s iiud .losliun H. Brett were elcctcil Deacons, ^[r. l''enii cou- tinueil Lis labors with the cliuirh over tliirty-tive years, aud was finally disniisseil in conseqiu'nce of the auti-Masouic excitement caused by the abductiou of ]Morj,^aii, he being' a Masou, and re- fusing to sever his connection with that order. (Rev. H. Boies hist.) It is believed that a church was Imilt — i>rolialilv ot logs — soon after the formation of the society. It is first referred to in the records Nov. 3, 178!), as follows: "Resolved, that it shall Ixt the duty of the Clerk for the time being to notify each annual meeting, sixteen days previous to the first Tuesday of NOveniher annually, at the place of |iul>lic worship and likewise at Col. Harper's grist niill." .Vlso Nov. 15, 17!)1, a resolution specifying the circumstances under which the Trustees shall open the (diurch. The tirst church, however, of which anything is otherwise known was erecteil about IT'.U. anlisliirient of other chui'ches, and internal disseutions have reduced it to a very small mendiership. The following shows the methods of the society one hundied and six years ago: At a meeting of the session of the Presbyterian ciih. in Harpers- field, regularly warned and held at the house of Mr. Stephen .hidd, ou Thursday, July the I'.tth, Ann. Dom. 17!)-_>. Present, Rev"d ^\'illiunl Stone. M. .V., New I'alt/,, !Mod. pro teni. Messrs. C.vLEij Gihhs, ) Klders Liivi G.wi.oKii. \ of said t'hii. The following persons presented themselves to take the Cov- enant of (iod \ij)on themselves, aud to be admitted to solemn ordinance of baj)tism, viz: Messrs. Joseph Harper, David Hendry, William Heudrv, Thomas Jlontgomery, Nathaniel Skinner, Itnliert .{4i; JIISTOHV OF DKLAWARK COIXT): iloutgomery, Joel (iaylunl (by iqjplicatiou of his wife, be beiut<- absent), Mrs. Mercy Gaylord, wife Mr. Jedediali Gay lord. All these were examined aud approved aud recoiuineuded liy the Elders (excepting Mr. Joel Gaylord, who being in family con- nection with the Elders — son of one and son-in-law of the other) was recommended by Messrs. Joseph Hotchkiss and Nathaniel Bristol. Aud likewise Messrs. James Cooley aud Jacob Bright- mau presented themselves to receive the ordinance of baptism for their children, and after a full and caudid examination were approved and recommended, provided that Mr. Cooley shall, i>re- vious to his taking the Covenant the next Lords-day, subscribe to, aud publicly acknowledge a written confession of the ruiuoiis sin of drunkenness; and Mr. Brightman subscribe to, and make a public confession of the detestable sin of fornication at the same time aud place. ******** True copy of record. Attest Wm. Stone, Mod. P. T. \j It is said that a " bee " was made to get out timl)er for the old church, aud Elder "Warner Lake, a Baptist preacher, was jn-esent to help, aud it was suggested that he be asked to pray; Deacon McFarland was also present, aud said this was a "Presby- terian bee," and he made the prayer himself. Another time he rather discouraged the choir leader, who started to use a pipe to pitch his tuues, liy commaudiug him to " (Jit oot o' the hoose i' the Laird wi' that whussle." The second religious society in Harpersfield was Baptist, aud organized about 179"2. They held meetings for some time in a building near the present school house in district number three. Elder Lake, before meutioued, who lived iu Kortright on what is still known as Lake hill, where John Porter now resides, was the first and for many years the minister. Elder Mack was the second, aud was succeeded by Diugee Adams, who served as pastor mauy yeiu-s till very serious charges against him divided aud greatly TOWS OF HMtPKHSriEI.n. 447 weakened the society. They built a clitiri'h iu 1805 about half way between the Centre and Stamford, aided by the town with a site and one hundred dollars. This was removed and rebuilt at Stam- ford in ISUa. The Quaker society was formed about 1810, and for some time meetings were held at the house of John Wickham, an eai'ly settler, who was the first and only preacher. This society is extinct. .V Methodist class was formed in the north part of the town with Silas Washburn as leader and .■il)out thirty iiieiiil)ers, amonj^' whom were the Seleys, Darts, Butts and others. As related by a neighbor who was with him, Washburn ouce proved himself ijuite an evangelist. As was customary with farm- ers of that time they went to New York with their butter in the fall, and as they were going off the boat the horse of a carman backed off the dock and was drowned. The carman was greatly distressed at losing the only means of support for himself and famih', and the people present, though very sorry for him, began to separate. Uncle Sile, as he was called, got u))ou a l)ox and began to shout and a crowd gathered again. ■ You all say you are sorry for this man," said Washburn; " now how much are you sorry? I am sorry five dollars," and placing a bill in his hat passed it around and soon secured money enough to buy the poor fellow a good horse, for which of course he was very thankful. The next year as Washburn was leaving the boat a man accosted him with, " Ain't you the man that was so G d sorry for me last year when my horse was drowned ?" Uncle Sile knew him at once, and replied: "Yes, I was sorry for you; but I'm a great deal sorrier now!" "WTiy?" asked the carman. " Because," said Uncle Sile, " if you don't stop swearing and be a better man you'll go straight to hell ! " He soon had the man crying, made him kneel down, and prayed with him, and made him promise to stop swearing and lead a better life. The Methodists organized a soeietj' Jan. 2, 182;^, to be known as the Methodist Union Society of the town of Harperstield. They 448 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COCXTV. suoii after jmicbiiscd an i)l, H. W. Hamilton; Lot :i(>, Biudt's Patent, Saiuncl Wilcox; Lot 41, Harper's Patent, W. P. Piulney; Lot 01, Joseph Hotchkis; Lots 132, l;^3, Kausom Packard; Lot 156, Samuel Lloyd, James Ells; Lot 181, Joel Mack. ]Maj. Isaac Pierce, John Hristnl, and James Cooley were early carpenters. With the building of the Susijuehanua turnpike Harpersfield became a very active business ])lace; ])robably doing more than any other jjlace within many miles. It had three stores, tud har- ness shops, two cabinet shops, two shoe shops, two tailor shops, a hat factory, three blacksmith shops, and a wheelwright, aud all busy, which looked quite lively for a place of only twenty-four houses. Coaches ran tri-weekly, usually with an extra or more, aud the writer has seen eight four-horse coaches, besides the family coach of the proprietors, stop at Bragg's for breakfast. .Spring and fall the road was fairly lined with teams drawing pro- duce east or goods west. During the summer and early fall immense droves of cattle were continually passing through from the western states. The Delaware turnpike, nine miles long, built in 1841!, or 1844, paid for itself in four years. The advent of the Erie Railroad checked those little profits, and the Albany and Susquehanna cut them tine. The Ulster tV Delaware helped it somewhat, and it is now a little more than paying its way. From 1800 to 1812 the history of the town is uneventful. The town furnished its quota by draft aud enlistment, but most of the soldiers had an easy time, hardly any of them being in battle. A notable exception was General John Ellis Wool, who gained un- dying laurels in that and the Mexican war. A private from Har- persfield named Zenas Berse was so perfectly fearless that the General said if he had a thousand men like Zeue he would drive all the British off the continent. It is unfortunate that no record can now be found to show T(i\y\ (IF IIMil'ERSFIELD. 4.-):! tlic uaiiics of eulisted uicn tluriii^ the u iir cif the Kcliellii)ii. iicir the iimouut paid for bounties. The towu was iujiired much more h\ the hoouiiug of values, leay Stephen Van Dusen, but afterward removed to Lot N'i>. IM. 454 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COrXTY. wlicre he coutiuuetl to reside duriut^- the remainder of his life. During the war he served in the army, part of the time acting as orderly for one of the otiiuers. Being a bright, aetive young man he became secretarj-, thus acquiring the plain, peculiar hand which makes his wiuting admired wherever seen. At one time, while serving as one of the outpost guards to one of the forts on the Hudson, they were raided in the night by a troop of British and nearly the whole giuird slain. Hotchkis had stooped to tie his shoe, but seeing the trooper close upon him he dove into a clump of bushes close by and eseaj)ed. In civil life Judge Hotchkis served as Supervisor, Town Clerk. Justice of the Peace, and various minor oflices, being supervisor when the co.unty was formed. In the county he was Judge of the Common Pleas, Sheriff, 1805-09, and member of the Constitutional convention in 1801. Soon after the Federal (loveruuient was formed a post office was established at West Harperstield, of which he was postmaster till his death, when the office was discontinued. Judge Hotchkis and his wife united with the Presbyterian church in 1792, and at his death, December '2S, 1S4;!, he was the oldest member. His wife died in the spring of the same year. His only descendants now living in town are Daniel N. Gaylord, and his sons, Hai'per and Edward. The most of this sketch and the Hai'- j)er family history was obtained from Mr. Gaylord. REV. H.\KPEK BOIES was born in Massachusetts in 1797. He came to Harperstield in 1830, and became the successor of Mr. Fenn, in July of that yeai-, which position he held for five years, when he returned to Massa- chusetts. During the first year of his ministry in Harperstield an extraordinary revival took place, and moi-e than one hundred members were added to the church. In 1850 he returned by invitation of the church and supplied them for the succeeding five years; during which time, — he being a widower, — he married 7VMI-.V ((/■• IIMn'F.HShlKI.D. 455 Miirguret, yimii-jest ilauj^litcr uf •liiclj^c Hdtilikiss. After 1H55 he ■coutiuueil to reside in Hiirpersticld, j)icacliiiii^' for that and tlic iieit^'hboriug cougregatious, as his failing health permitted. Of a very loviug disposition, the mild deportmeut and affable manners which characterized Mr. Feun, belonged equally to him. His death, which took pl.ice March 7th, 18(>7, the writer felt as a personal loss. Mr. Boies took gi'eat interest in the earlj' history of the town and church, giving material aid to Jay Goidd for his history, and the memoranda left by him have materially assisted the writer. UEV. STEPHKX FENS. The materials for this sketch were derived from Mr. E. A. Dayton, an aged neighbor who knew and remembers Mr. Fenu, from notes by Rev. Harper Boies, his successoi', and from his fare- well sermon. Mr. Feun was born at "Watertowu. Connecticut, in 17(ii), and graduated from Yale College in 17!)"2. He was of medium height, thick set, with rather sandy hair and tlorid complexion; and is described as being " mild in his deportment, affable in his manners, witty, as well as grave in his conversation, with a mind stored with a fund of amusing anecdotes connected with the experiences of himself and others." He came to Harjjersfield in 1798, where he officiated as ])astor of the Presbyterian church for more than thirty- tive years, and is sail! to hH\e been the first college graduate who ever preached in the county. During that time he performed seven hundred and thirteen baptisms in that and in societies around, and he also performed three hundred and sixty-seven marriages. He was a universal favorite with old and young^, being always s\'mj)athetic, whether the occasion was a wedding or a funeral. Probably no man during this time had a greater influence for good over the moral and social development of the town than Mr. Fenn. He might prol)ably have spent his life in this jiastorate, l)ut 45(; HISTORY OF DELAWARE rorXTV. fur the iibtluctiou of William Morj^au iu lS2iS, as supposed, by Masons which rendered the order especially obnoxious iu Har- persfield. ^Ir. Feuu b;louj,''e(l to the ordei- and refusiuf^- to with- draw the occasion was used (by some iu abhorrence to the Masons, and by others who thought their pastor instead of being cheerful, like Mr. Feuu, ought always to be singing "Hark from the Tombs,") to procure his dismissal. About four years after leaving the pulpit iu Harperstield he was siezed with a tit of apoplexy while iu his wagon, on his way to till an appointment, and lived but about thirty minutes after the attack. He died September 2G, 1888. and his funeral was attended in the church where he had so long proclaimed the gospel. One of Mr. Fenn'^ anecdotes shows him as a boy. His family lived near the church and an old lady used to come to their house every Sunday between sermons, when Stejjhen was called upon to till and light her jiipe, which was a large oue, from the family crib; and after smoking awhile she would stick the pipe in her garter aud return to church. Stephen got tired, and one day loaded the pipe as full as he dared with powder, and not have it go off in the house. The old lady had her smoke. i)ut her pil)e iu the usual place and started for church, but before she got there an explosion took place which raised her about a foot from the ground, aud Stephen was freed from his servitude. This oue was rather at his expense iu two ways: A colored couple came to the tavern one night aud sent word up the hill to Mr. Feuu that they wished him to luarry them. ^Ir. Feuu went of course found a crowd there, and the party had lots of fun. After awhile Mr. Fenn began to dun the groom for his fee. "No," said the groom, "You've only half married us." " Yes, I have,' said ^Ir. Feuu, "I've married you just as usual. " "No," said the darkej', "You haiut kissed the bride yet, aud I won't ])ay till you do." Mr. Feuu went without the fee aud called on the rtip. TiiWX OF HARPERSFIEIJ). 457 IliiN. .KlSHIA 11. lilil/I'T. the tirst ])riicticiuf^ plivsiciaii in Hiupcrsticlil, was burn ulmiit 17.")(l. and t-aiiH' to Hsirperstielil about ITSS. The record shows that iu- was elected assessor iu ITSlt, ';«), aud '1)1; aud iu ITill he is tirst uoticed as oue of the justices of the peace. Iu 17!)") he tirst pre- sided at the anuual town uieetiug, previous to which a moderator liad always been chosen. In 17!)()-7 he was Member of Assembly for Otsej^o county, and it was largely owiug to his exertions that the county of Delaware was formed at that time, agaiust a stroup opposition. Iu 17'.)7 he was apjjoiuted first Judjije of Delaware county, which office he held till ISIO, wheu being' sixty years of age he was disi-chard streets. Koi'tright is four years older than oui- county, liaving been formed in 17!)8. The act of 17!t7 which formed our county dii'ected that the county business be transacted at tlie house of frideou Frisl)ee iu tlic town of Kortright until fuithcr legislative action. This house, as ii.any of you are doui)tless aware, is still standing at the Mioutli (it I'',lk Creek aud is occu])ied by Mi'. James Frisbee. '1\ ■"" 4()2 HISTORY ;ht years, I oliservod ii re- spectful dist!inc on 11 narrow seat or shelf at the back of the gallerj-, where a man by the name of Leal was delegated to pick them up and re- j>liice them as one after the other tumbled off on account ot sleep or exhaustion. The service commenced at '.l:li(i in tiie nioniing and (rontinued with an hour's intermission until three in the after- noon. He assured me it was a hapjiy event each Lord's Day when the preacher reached that i)art of his closing prayer where he jileaded for a safe return to their several places of abode. It was then hurrah boys! we'll be out of this now in just three-(iuarter8 iif an hour. Mr. McAuley was a man of the ]ieople and yet his reign of over half a centurj- was well nigh ngal. One only of his large family survives, Mrs. James (r. Ulakely, who at the age t)f eighty-three years is as brij.dit and witty as at forty. During 4(14 HISTORY OF DELAWAHK COUXrV. a recfut vis^it to lier pleasant bome iu Kortiigbt she related to iiic this auecdote: Being called uimu at (iiit- time to marry a rather craukv parishioner, her father made the ceremom' unusually short, hopiuj;' thereby to win bis approval. The experiment was a failure, however, and the worthy miuistei was seriously re])roacbeil for his shortcomings by the injured benedict. A few years later, wife No. 1 ba\in^' died, he invited the pastor the secimd time to officiate in the same capacity; the good work was begun and the jjarties pledged in the usual manner, then came a prayer of regu- lation length, then a somewhat extended address to the bride at the end of which she was told to lie seiited, and the exhortation to the bridegroom, who i-emained standing, commenced and con- tinued for something like an hour, completing at length a cere- mony which the much married man was never known to criticise ou account of Ijrevity. The first Methodist church is believed to have lieeu the one at Bloomville, although the one built ou Betta's Ijrook dated liack to near the first of the century. John Bangs, one of the jiioneers of Methodism, was an early resident of the town and among the first as he was one of the most eminent of the many preachers who have represented that body, ^[any anec- dotes both humorous and pathetic might be told of these faithful and devoted men which are worthy of record if time would admit. In the year 1S87 Bloomville circuit paid its preacher $137 iu cash and ST(i in jirovisious, and his preaching places were limited to Bloomville, West Kortright, Elk Creek, Mei'edith Pond, Federal Hill, Delhi, Peake's Brook, Hamden, Haniden Hill, New Road. "Walton, Walton Mountain and the Griswold school house. Another of the early churches of the town was that of the Reformed Pres- byterian, organized in 1X14, with a church near the residence of ^Ir. Harvey Bolles at Kortright Centre, at which time a man by the name of Williams became pastor and remained ten years, when Rev. Samuel M. Wilson became pastor and remained incumbent until his death in 1S()4:. A new church was built near the white house a mile west in 1S.51. ^Iv. Wilson was a faithful pastor and TDWX OK KdirnaniiT. 4(;.5 the father of & wide awake familv, as I reuieiuhei' of two daughters aud as mauy sous; the latter were full of niiscbief iiud their j)rauks were the bane of the life of at least oue of the neighbors, au old lady, who had appealed to the foud father in vain for his friendly interference, and who on one occasion, hearing that the old gentle- man was daugerously ill, was provoked to say that " preacher or no preacher, if the father of those boys dies aud gets to lienvcn, he will make a good summer's work of it." Kev. .1. O. Bayles succeeded to the pastorate of this church in the year lK(i(i, and for about thirty years was a faithful and capable minister of the Word. The original survey of the Kortright aud Goldsborough Tracts were made by William Coekburu about the year 1770, aud Alexan- der Mills, a pioneer resident, was made agent for the proprietors. Alexander Leal, John McKenzie, aud Daniel McGillivrae, who with their families came from Scotland to Xew York in 1778. left their families iu that city early in the following spring aud in their search for a future home pressed their way through forest and stream and over mountain until they reached the wcjoded hills near where the village of Kortright Centre now stands. There these sturdy Scots found already gathered together in different localities within the present town limits a few and were soon followed 1)j' others as sturdy aud determined spirits as themselves, and having each selected one or more of the recently surveyed fari'is or lots at once began the work of clearing the timber and fitting up as best they could homes for their absent ones who were anxiously await- ing their return. These pioneers were nearly all Scotch aud Irish Protestants, and as no land was a home iu its true sense to them without a place of worship, they soon organized themselves into a religious society, and as early as the following j'ear petitioned the Associate Keformed Church of New York and Pennsylvania for a preacher. This request was shortly after granted by the Presbytery, aud as one of its "vacancies" was supplied and cared for until the settlers 46r> HISTORY OF I)ELA\yARE COVXTV. were ilriveo out iiiul scattered hy the storm of tlie Revolutiouiiry war. Mauy, aud indeed most of these settlers never returned. Among the few, however, were the families of Jlills, Leal and McGillivrae, and with them and following soon after came the names of Harjier, Riggs, McClaughry, Sloan, Stewart, Goodrich, McKenzie and others, all staunch Presbyters, who soon succeeded in reorganizing their society. A jireaching place was provided and after a season of supplies, with Rev. William McAuley as their pastor became the Associate Reformed Church of Kortright, for years one of the largest and most prosperous in the Synod of New York, and of which I have before made mention. After half a century of active work the venerable McAuley, having entirely lost his sight, laid aside his life work and Rev. Clark Irving was installed as juuior or "collegiate" pastor, Mr. McAuley remaining as senior until his death in IS.tI. Rev. Irving was of superior scholarship and au able and successful preacher. In the year 18-1'.) the church edifice was burned and out of its ashes grew three churches, one at North Kortright, one at West Kortright, and one on the old site at Kortright Centre. These churches have since for forty-five years each been doing earnest and successful work, the parent organization under the pastorate of Rev. Irving for twenty years. Rev. .\.. M. Smeallie for seventeen years, and Rev. N. E. Wade, the present incumbent, for eight years; all men of ripe attainments and earnest purjjose. The one at West Kortright under Rev. J. B. McNulty, Rev. John Rippey, and last though not least. Rev. R. T. Doig, has also been highly favored on account of the high rank of the men who have been called to minister to them in sacred things. And the t)ne at North Kortright under that of Revs. John Erskine, James Smealie, R. B. Taggart, R. C. Monteith and A. M. Smealie, all men eminently fitted to till the high ofldee to which they were chosen. The present church edifice at Bloomville was begun and en- closed in the year 1800. A man by the name of Every fell from the highest peak to the ground on the day of its raising without roir.V OF KliHTRIi.llT. 467 sustaiuiug further permaneut iujurv thau the entire loss of oue of liis senses, that of siiielliuf,''. For uearlv thirty years it remained uutinisheil, the seats being composed of boards supported by h)ffs or timbers. It was completed about the year 1830, was rebuilt in 1S.")7. and again rebuilt and modernized in the j'ear 1889. Anjcmg those who have done mo.st active work as preachers may be men- tioned J. B. "U'akely, Ii'a Ferris, A. C". Morehouse, Chas. Palmer, (leo. ■«'. Martin, E. White, O. P. Dales, S. J. McC'utcheon and J. 1'. Race. Among these the pastorate of l{cv. A. C. Morehouse stands perhaps most prominent in the recollection of the ohlcr citizens. His labors l)egau in the spring of the year 185C; he was at the time a comjmratively young man, possessed of a reasonably sound head and an agreeable presence; he was an acceptable preacher and was particularly well adapted to pastoral work. Dur- ing his three years stay at Bloomville and Rose's Brook he con- ducted successful revival meetings and built or rebtiilt tine churches at both station.s. There were at Bloomville about ItKi accessions to the membership as the result of his first effort, among thesi' were many of the first and most influential citizens of the town and village. On one occasion soon after his first arrival at Bloom- ville he set out on a day to make pastoral calls in the village; his attention had been called to the fact that one family, con- sisting of sonu' four or five members, were all ciininiuuicauts of the church except the man of the house, who was somewhat skeptical and sometimes was disposed to resent any allusion made to him by the minister about his future. The new minister de- termined to make this cue of his first visiting places, which he accordingly did, selecting an hour when the head of the house would be likely to be present. He failed to find him in and after a brief call proposed a season of prayer. He had only knelt with the family and begun his petition when he was accosted in a deep bass voice with the command, "Here, d n you, ijuit that! (.^uit that!! Get out! Get outl!" whereupon he hastily arose to his feet, and in a half dazed condition undertook to offer a pro- -K)8 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. test or au apology. lu liis i-oufiisiiiu it was some iiiiuutcs before the good woman of the house could sufficiently compose the youufi; minister to get him to understand that his tradueer was no other than an erring pet i)arrot which had been a favorite in the family and neighborhood for years. A jsrominent figure in Bloomville sixty years ago was that of Asher Merwin, father-in-law of Judge William Murray of Delhi and of Hon. Stephen H. Keeler of Bloomville. In company with Silas Kuajip he built the old hotel in Bloomville about the year 1800. One end of the same was used by him as a store, and the rest by Knajsp as a hotel. Colonel Merwin was a genial old gentleman and a pleasant companion of old or young. In his younger manhood he served for a time as clerk in the Bloomville hotel, kept at that time by Silas Knapjj, who later became his father-in-law. One evening while a young friend who had rode in on horseback from a neighboring town was calling on one of the young ladies of the house his visit, which had been somewhat prolonged, was rather rudely interrupted by young Merwin who informed him that his horse had got loose and had started for home, at the same time giving his friend the grateful intelligence that he had caused the boys to bring a horse, with which he could readily overtake his own if he made good use of whip and spur. The visitor mounted with a bound and was soon out of sight, but soon returned, saying: "Boys, I have a little l)usiness with you in doors; I thought before I reached the bridge that this horse rode strangely like my uu-n." Other early iirominent citizens of Bloomville and its vicinity were Jacob Every, who at different periods built two grist mills; Silas Kna2:)p, Thomas Fitch and Kufus Bunnell, who under the firm name of Fitch & Bunnell conducted a mercantile business and erected several important buildings, among which were the large house now owned by Mr. J. A. Hill, long known as the Bathrick house, the red stoi-e on the opposite side of the street recently removed from the corner of the S. Forman lot, and the Dr. Formau house now standing; Jehiel (iregory, father of Horace Gregory, tf^? Blooinville Street. TOWX OF KOHTHKiHT. ITI who was 11 lifeloiif^ I'esitU'iit. a niercliaiit. I'attlc ilialcr ami an artivo Imsiucss uiau; Aarou, Johu aud William (ire^orv, Moses Lyou, Sr., •lohu Batbrick ami bis two sous, Dauiel ami Noah, Hiram Every, as- niercbaut and farmer; Colonel Adam Jaiiues, as liotel beeper, nier- chant and farmer: .rohn Peters, who as farmer and dealer iu general merebandise, wool, butter, bops, cattle and real estate spent fifty years of a busy life in the villai^e and upward of ninety within the present post-office limits; Yir^'il Bunnell aud sou, (leorge, the latter beiuj^' a man of particulaily tine presence aud a successful mercbant, doing business in the store now oi-cu]>ied by M. F. Allison; Henry aud Isaac Drake, furniture dealers; James R. White aud Andrew !More, mercbauts; Samuel Barlow, also a mer- chant, — the last three being iu their day not only wide-awake- l)usiness men l)ut each possessed of a love of innocent fun which kept a whole village from a couditiou of ennui: George Dales, hotel keeper, justice of the peace and manufacturer of ])roprietary medi- cines; Charles W. Duren, furniture dealei" Harvey Davis, merchaut, farmer and liverymau, was for many years suj)ervisor of the town; Josejih W. Browncll, cooper, justice of the peace aud merchaut; Al)ijah Fiebls Cooj)er aud Aaron Champion ^Miller, were among our most exemplary citizeus. Doctors Wadby, H. K. Wilbird, Stephen Formau, O. L. Butts, and J. R. Matbews each in their turn served their day in ministering to the sick and suffering aud are rcnicni- liered by many for thiir kindly offices. These represent a portion of the business num of Bloomville village and ouly such as have passed into history. Many more who are still among tlie living, and whose life work seems not yet to have been completed, bave done and are doing much among us, li\it their names can hardly be meutioned within the space of this arti(de. .\ somewhat noted character who lived in another town across the Delaware, Imt who was almost a daily visitor and was counted one of our citizens, was William Youmans. or " I'nclc Bill," as he was familiarly c.alled. A idiief pi-culiaiity about the unin, and one 472 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COVXTY. that attracted people for iiiili's to see liiii), was a iimst iiijiiatiiial couditiou of his features, kuown as a liver face. It consisted of an almost blood I'ed growth exteuding dowu from the chiu the length of a medium sized potato, and which also hung pendant from each ear ami a correspDiidiiig disculoriug and slight growth of the same firey red color that covere4Tity. Saiiiuol Oslxini aud Peter Fisher, sous, coutiuiied in pos- session of the ()sl)oru and Fisher farms up to the time of their ileath. Aniouf;: the prosperous farmers of former years living- akiiig the Dehxware were Joseph Clark, for several years supervisor of the towu, a most active aud reliahle citizeu, who succeeded his father, William t'lark, on the M. X. Fiisbic farm, Wheeler, Barlow, Peter, James, aud Audrew KitI, brothers, all of whom raised larj^e aud respectable families at Kiffville. Audrew kept a hotel in the house where DeWitt Kitf speut his last days, ou the east side of the high- way, Heury Sackrider, who was succeeded l)y James, his sou, ou the E. J. Wheeler fai'ui, Duncan aud Joliu McDonald, l)oth of whom lield different offices of trust aud honor. A sou of the latter, Graut McDouahl, became a successful business man iu New York and [)ossessed {jfreat wealth. John Andrews, who occupied for mauy years the farm ownenck oil lands of K. .T. Wheeler, and was run liy a man l)y the name iif John Tolditch, but who was somewhat a])])roi)riat(>lv called tor short, liy old and youn^'. and in fact only linown liy manv as ■' Johnny Tolldish. " Saw mills and ;jrist mills were scattered at ditterent jioints throughout all parts of the town. Whiskey stills and j)utashcries were alsi> abundant throughout the town. Among the early teachers of schools we have often hcai'd men- tion of one named Patterson, an eccentric character but a man of more than comuiou educational al>ilitv. He enjoyed the reputation of being able to solve nearly any or all mathematical pioblems, and also to distort his features so as to frighten the most incorrigible scholar into a meek ol>edience. .\ story is told of an occasion when a most exasperatin^f violation of the rules had been conunitted within the temple of learning, and the l)oys were pron]]>tly called into the entry way and solemnly warned that the guilty boy must come forward, confess his crime, remove the obstruction and throw himself on the mercy of the court. The faithful pedagogue waited and worked his face for all he was worth, but it failed for the first time to start the unknown criminal. The situation was becoming .awkward, when the teacher fell 1>ack and su]))ilied himself with a very large slate and pencil and (piietly told the class that if that boy held off and put him to the further lalior and trouble of tigurinj^' out which one was the guilty one, the trouble with that boy in that school would only have just commenced. 'J'his was counted a most serious turn in affairs by the youngsters and the unfortunate victim at once walked up, confessed his guilt, and took his medicini' like a little man. .Vndrew (iilchrist, for many years a prominent citizens and office holder in the town, was a son of Thomas (lilclirist, who came from Irelanil about the year IHIO. Andrew (iilchrist was the father of Dr. William (iilchrist late of New York, now deceased, a gentleman of great wealth and whose benevolences throughout our town auil county, both public and jiiivate, have been ])rincely. He was a l)rother of Mrs. B. "SI. Banks and ^Frs. Smith of Bloomville. Alansou Banks came from Westchester county about the year ISOO. He was the father of John Tianks, who for many years was an esteemed citizen and who left a large family, of whom the fol- lowing were lon^r or are still residents of oui' town: .M;insoM Banks, 47(i HISTORY OF DKLAWARE COVXTV. who receutly died in Cortlaud coiiuty, Heiirv ]M. Biiiiks, Beujiuuiu M. Banks, both resideutH of the towji, ^Mrs. Jobu O. Thompsou, Mrs. Thomas Robertson, ^Irs. Lehiud Kcnyou, and Mrs. William (r. Stouteuhurgh. Moses Sackrider camL' from Westchester eouuty about the year 1796. He was the father of Timothy, Henry, Daniel and Solomon, Polly, and Hannah Wetmore, wife of James Wetmore, Esq., late of Stamford, and mother of S. S. D. Wetmore and Thomas H. Wet- more, both substantial citizens and life long- residents of the town. Henry Saokrider married a sister of James Wetmore, senior, and was the father of James and Solomon Sackrider, who were louj^ prominent residents of the town. Thomas McClaughry was a native of Ireland, and came to Kort- right from Westchester county in 1784. Two brothers also settled in the town, Richard and Andrew. Thomas reared a large family, among whom known to the writer was Matthew and Edward. Mat- thew was the father of the late Mrs. James McGillivrae, of Walter T. McLaury of North Kortright and of Doctors James and William McLaury, who were long and successfully engaged as medical practicioners in and about the city of New York. Edward was the father of the late E. T. McLaury and grandfather of Judson Mc- Laury, now engaged in the mercantile business at Kortright Centre. A McClaughry (McLaury) lineage of the town of K(U-tright wouhl till a book. John Blakely came to Kortright from Schenectady iu 17;iS. He had five sous, William, James, John, George, and David, and sev- eral daughters. William Blakely married Nancy McDonald, a sister of Duncan and John McDonald, and was one of the prosper- ous and influential citizens of the town. He was father of Joliu D. Blakeley who married a sister of John Peters of Bloomville and spent his early life in Kortright, of James (i. Blakely who nuirried a daughter of Rev. McAuley, and whose wife and family still reside in Kortright, and of Goldsborough Banyer Blakely who married a daughter of the late Pierce Mitchell of ]\Ieredith, and whose wife, one son and daughter reside at Oneonta, N. Y. Many niend)t'rs of this and other branches of the Blakely family have become scattered and are no longer residents of the town. William Rowland, accompanied by his son Ebeuezer, moved to Kortright and settled on a farm at the foot of Keuyou Hill about ISOU. Ebeuezer Rowland became one of the wealthiest men of his 7'oir.v (IF KoiiTRiciir. 477' iliiv residing,' in tlif towi]. He w;is fatliei' of \\'illiiiiii liowliuid Kscj., .liiiiics IJowlaud, El)eiu'Zfr Uowland and GeDij^'e llowhmd, all of whom Ijecunic substiintial aud wealthy citizens of tlie town and arc well known. The home of Ebeuezer Kowlaud who niarnc d a danyhter of Holxnt Mclhvaiu, Escj., and resides in the extreme western part of the town, is oue lit for a prince. In fact the visitor to our town of Kortright who fails to take in that region occui)ied l)y the residences of William INIcClintock. James Rowland, Joiin A[ore(h)(di, M(rritt S. and Joseph Kolierts, William H. Browni 11,. William Blakely and James Kelso, will miss a locality which on acconnt of tine farm houses, barns and outbuildings and neat,, productive, well fenced and well kept fanus is difficult to exceed. The veteran editor of the Stamford Jlirror, S. B. Champion, established his jjrinting bvisiness in Bloomville in the year IS.jl,. and continued the publication of the Bloomville Mirror in that village for about twenty years when he moved his plant to Stam- ford, giving his pu1)licatiou its jiresent name. Benjamin Gerowe, manufacturer of grain cradles, resided lor many yeai's at KilTville. He was the father of AA'illiam (ierowe of Walton, and Harvey B. Gerowe, who with his sou Lucius W. resides also near Kiffville, where they are extensively engaged in the dairy- ing business. Benjamin Gerowe is still living, in the state of Delaware, having reached very nearly the century mark. Orson J. Butts, R. W. and John W. McArthur, Cornelius \V. Every, William Shaw, John O. Thompson, Augustus Dunn, Geo. E. Scott and James (iibson are all ])rosperous and intelligent farmers living in the central ])ortiou of the town. Other substantial citi- zens who were prominent in their various vocations were John and Hugii Kinmouth, farmers, who came from Scotland about the year l.s;iu. The former was the father of J. A. Kiiuiioutli, who still res- ides on the ols<'K, Asa Terry and Caleb Monsou. The tirsf l>irtii was that of Sally Wait, August In. ITST. Tin- first .leatli was tliat of William Wait during the same summer. In 17'.t7 the State road was built, ending at Jericho, now Bain- 4s'2 iiisToiiv OF i>p:i.AWAi{h: corxTY. lirid^c. OtlitT settlers came soou nftcr, Darius Siuitb, Tiuidtliy Enstiiiau, Beruice Hazor, Sj'lvester and Ebeuczer Smith. Dr. Eli Emmons taught the first school; Simeou Wells kej^t the tiist iuu, where the old Baptist pavsouaffc now stands. The site of the tirst school house is now occupied by the liarii of the late John ^I. Parker. The tirst store was kept h.v Fitch and Phelps--, in ISOS. Joseph Biekuell built the first jurist and saw mill in 18U"2, about half a mile west of the present village. Hazor, Ebenezer Smith, Dr. Pliuy aud Darius Smith settled near the fciiter of the town. Collins Brown settled a little east of the center; Silas Kiieeland oil Beech Hill; Wearam Wi^i^ settled about two miles soiitli of the center im the Delaware road. He was well educated and a man of good judgment. He was the first supervisor of the town aud laud agent for John M. Mason for many years. JIalcolm Allen aud John McKinuon came about ISOO aud settled on the Sidney road one and a half miles northwest of the center. L. McQuaiu, the two Eloner brothers and Thomas B. Paliiier came in 1800; Joseph Bicknell, Ira Balcom, Levi Wells, Elijah Whit- man aud (ieorge Clayhom came about 1801; Elijah Whitman aud Wui. Bolt came from Saratoga county. William McCrea, a relative of the Jane MeCrea who was murdered by the Indians in 1777, also came from Saratoga couuty. There was a tragedy enacted at the residence of this McCrea, in which one Paugbourue, a laborer for McCrea, murdered his wife. There was also a case of murder in 1819 by Nathan Foster, who poisoned his wife. The trial was conducted at Delhi and created an intense excitement. Martin Van Buren was present aud assisted the District Attor- neys. Foster was convicted aud iiuug. Mrs. Martha Bradstreet came to ^lasonville in 1819 and commenced suits to recover lands of tlie Evans patent in Masonville and Tompkins. She was successful in some instances; but at the preseut date all these suits have been discontinued, as upon further investigation it was held that the claim was uot established. This claim aud the liti"atiou arising out of it had much to do in retarding the set- TOWX III-- MASIIWILLI-:. 4.S8 -tk'iiR'iit of the town. The villa'>c' of Masouville is ;i y.ivt of Lot 18, iu the Evaus patent, tlie wliolc lot contjiiuiut^- l,(l()7 acres. It was all elainieil by the heirs of Mrs. ^Fartlia IJradstreet. Most of the occupants have settled with the ( laiiii;uits by paying $5,000 to the late William Yoinuans, couusel for the ilainiants. Iu ITitK Timothy Eastman took a lease embraciuj; the site of Masouville. This lease was assigned to Reuben Bump, and by him to a man by the name of Nash, and by Nash to Darius Smith, iather of the late Stillman Smith, iu IKOl. I'licsc parties and their heirs have held possession ever since. Tlu' peo])lc ]iurcli,ised laud from them iu good faith and miule improvements without any knowledge of a trust deed until in IK")!). The settlers there- fore felt that the\- had been greatly wronged and that this deed should be caucellfd. The eastern part of the town, known as East ^lasouville, was settled a little later than the western part. The soil is better adapted for agriculture than the rest of the town. The farmers have the advantage of tin Ontario iV Western railroad which gives them an outlet for their produce. OK(iANI/.\TIOX OV THK TOWN. Agreeable to a vote of the inhabitants and an act of the I^egis- lature, March 1, isrj. the first annual town meeting was held at the house lately occupied by Samuel Wliitniiin, and was adjourned to the school house near Collins Brown. The following persons were elected to ofKce: Supervisor, Wearam Willis; town (derk, Pliny Smith; justices of the peace, L. Liverly, Uzziel Taylor; assessors, Lucius Scolield, Abuer Graves; commissioners of high- ways, Thomas B. Palmer, William McCrea, Erastus Goodman; collector, Robert AV. Fo.ster; constables, R. W. Foster, Job Ehner; fence viewers, William S. McCrea, Closes Shaw, Farriugtou Parker; pound keeper, Joseph Bicknell. At this meeting the following ri-solutions were passed: Res- olved, That the overseers of the poor of the aforesaid town give .their notes on interest to the supervisor and justice of the peace 484 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COVXTY. for all moneys received. Voted, that fences four iiuration to the west. There are now about "i.oOO rows on the farms of the town. Dairying is the })rincipal industry. One hundred and Hnc years ao'O the town was all forest through which wild beasts roamed at will. Seventy years ago there was on an average al)out one cow to a clearing; the tinkle of the cow bell could l)e heard from every hill and valley. As I have stated, we are now largely euga"'ed in dairying. About 475, .500 pounds of butter are pro- duced annually. In the western part of the town there is a cheese factory managed by Ernest Bilby. F. AV. Smith owns two cream- eries, one in the village and one at Jericho. W. A. (lifford owns one at East Mason ville and one at Tacoma. J. C. and V. \\. AVillis own one at Beaver Lake. The patrons of the creamery all use separators, and the butter ranks with the best sent to market, but at the present time the jirice is so low it leaves l>ut a small per cent, to the farmer. The lumberin.u interest in INI.-isonville was of vast ])ro])ortions. rnir.v (*/•■ MASdxvn.i.h:. 4S.-; from iS'id to ISoO. Little else was tlioui^ht of except to cut lof^s, haul lof^'s, sinv lof>'s and build rafts. Had the people followed fanning!' with the same teuacity and zeal as they did the luiid)er- iii<4' business tlic town would lit- niurli luttcr off to-day. Tn the winter time it was no tritlin.L;' matter to j;ct up at four o'clocU of a frosty morninjf, the mercury away below zero, feedinj^- teams, loadiuff slei^dis witli lumber and then starting,'- off for the river, twenty, thirty, ami often tinu's a greater nundier in procession. It was exciting, truly, but it was dry work. So they would sto]) at the coruers. as they calley wolves. He found the travks of five wolves whicli he * Mr. (iravos died in L'i'.is ncnrly iiiiioly yciirs nl' a^c. roWX OF MASOXVII./.E. 487 followeil oviT to liis next noi^libor's. Here tbey bud killed two sIriji. The iieif>:libors were uotitied to turu out mid buut tbein; Tbey followed tbem for some distance witbout killing tbeiii. An amusing story is told of Peter Couse, wbo was tbresbing liurkw heat, «1mii siidilculy a big hear was seen a])proacbing from tbe woods. He gave a loud sliout, turned and ran for tbc liousc. His dog was as scar(i-rs and jikuh'N . .aiiil lias liad tii depend in a j;reat measure upou home mission liiuds for sui)2)ort. The Bradstreet claim for a lonji' time hamjiered it and paused anxiety.* .V Methodist Kpiscopal eliurcli was orf>anized in Masonvillc in \^i'l. I'ntil 1S.")1 tlic uicetiii^^s were held prini'ip.ally in tiic sidn)oI house, at wliirli time a commodious (diurcli was erected, wliiidi was eulari^ed aud modernized in IST.'i. In 1S(U a jjarsonaf^e was pur- chased with a lot containing two aiTcs of land. This property beinj^- inconveniently situated was sold ami a parsonage on the main street near the cliur;auizatiou. The names of the preachers can be j^iven, but they will occupy too much sj)ace for this history. Tlie church has had a steady fi'rowth from the first. Out of it has been formed cliurclies at Bennettsvillc and at Tacoma, which have drawn frnm the streuf^'th of the jiarent society. MASONVII.LE LOIIOE XO. (iliCi. 1'. ,\ \. M. This lodj^e was organized July 11. l.S(;(i, by electing •). C. Bourne, W. M. ; Hiram Seotield, V. ^\ . , A. C. Bailey, Jr., W. There weie twelve ciiarter mendiers. The lodge inis [irtispeicd fidm the beginning aud is now in a satisfactory condition. It has forty-two mendiers in good standing. The Sidney Lodge took a niind)er of the brethren from ilasonville Lodge as charter niendjers. MII.n'AltV. It would be interesting' to give in detail the military move- ments wliiiiulb. IN attcMijitin^' tn write this liistory (wd serious ditiiciilties con- front the writer. SSoiiie years a-j^o the Imililiiij^ in wliidi the town reeords wore kept was destroyed hy tire, and much that woidd no doubt Lave been of material aid in nuikin;^' u]) this record was forever h>st. Ajriiin, within a few years many of the ohler inhabitants from whom valuabh' data couKl have been ob- tained have ]iassi'd away. Oiii- main dependence has lieen such historical facts as are already on record, toj^ether with items of interest furnished by present or former residents of the towu now liviufr, Mei-editli was foiMued from Franklin and Kortrij^ht. March 14. 18(MI. and named from Samuel Meredith of l'liilastwick now stands. Joseph ri)\vx OF .\ii:iii:iiirii. 4t)7 liriiiiiliiill kept the tirst hotel, uiul tlic tirst liirtli uimI ilcutli occuiTfcl ill his fuiiiily. Riit'us liiiiiiiill kept the first store ;it the Stpiare in IT'.i'.l. David Spoor hnilt the tirst grist mill at Meredith Hol- low, iiiiw Mcriilule, at the raisin;^- of whicli a man came near losiii;^ his lite from falliiiH'. If space permitted the writer would gladly make mention of those who came on to take the jilaces of the older settlers aln aih mentioned. The Dihliles. !\[itchells. JOlder Sears, Deacons Ijake and C'arr, Jonathan Heiieilict. Deacon .losiali I). Wells, tlir i'oiters. De:ins. Duttons, Shavers, and many othei's who took an active jiart in town affairs, and in the organization and liuiiding n]j of the chnrches. The Baptist (diuich at Meredith was eonstitnted Vn^ust 2'J, IS]]. February 4, IHIS, it was decided to divide the C'Lurcli aud two Churches were formed, viz: the East aud West Meredith Raj)- tist churches. A report may lir<- in 1S-|"J. Forty-eight members of the East Meredith Baptist church were dismissed to unite with tlie Delhi Ba])tist church. (By East ^b're- dith is meaut Meredith, and not the East ^leredith of to-day.) The present Bai)tist cimrcli at Meredith was erected in 1S48 and remodeled in lS'.):i. The Congregational or I'lcsbyterian i-hurch at Meredith Sijuare was organized in IHl."), the first trustees being Samuel Moody aud Simeon (Iriswold, and the clerk Bildad Curtis. The present cliurch was built in IS^S, and William Fisher 498 IllsrOJn' OF DKLAWARE COfXTV. \V!iw the first settled pastor. The ebnrcli iiiterioi' was remodeled ill 1X57. Later the Free Will Baptists built a eburcli at East Meredith, uow owned ami i-ebuilt by Presbyterians; also the ^lethodists have a church at Meridale. Special mention should be made of that Father in Israel, Kev. (leorjie F. Post, who was called as pastor of the Meredith Bajjtist church three different times, and served as pastor for a period of about twenty-one years, the total numl)er of baptisms beinj^- 1:55. He is still livinj^- at eighty-two years of age, l)ut in feeble health. The building of "The (ireat Catskill Turnpike," as it was called, was a notable event in the early history of the town. It was the great thoroughfare from western New York to Catskill, and thence by boat to New York city, and was in its time to the portion of the state through which it passed, what tiie Central railroad is to-day. It is said that there w'as at times almost a continuous line of teams passing and rejjassing, and there was an average of one hotel to every mile, and every one tilled each night. A former histm'ian says there were at one time seven hotels within the limits of the town. There were in those early days three distilleries and one brewery, two of the distilleries being owned and operated by prominent members of the Baptist church. Although rum drinking was not in those days attended with as swift and certain destruction as it is to-day, yet we tind the good peojile of the town becoming alarmed at the efifects of the drink curse caused by the presence of so many distilleries and hotels. Lawlessness, idleness, and the thousand ills that in- variably follow the liciuor traffic led to the organization of "The Social League," whicB was established by eighty-four of the best citizens of the town. This was the first temjierance so- ciety in Delaware county. So far as the writer can learn, the town of Meredith can boast of never having had a licensed saloon within its borders, aud who shall say that the efforts of those pioneers to save their young men from drunkenness has not been the leaven that has jiermeated the lives and acts of generations following. vnir.v ((/■■ MhjiEnrni. 49;) Lyinj^' fis iiiiuli ot till- tuwii does along the water-shed between '.the Siisi|iiehiuiii;i and Dehiware rivers, the soil which is niaiidy reil shale :uid "2, Hon. Samuel A. Law, Jr., in lH58-(i(), Hon. Milton Bostwick in 1S4:{. ^Ir. Ifostwick is the oldest living ex- assemblyman in the county, and there is only one older in tlic state. He is still living, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. Hon. D. H. JIackey served in 189(i and was re-elected iu l.S!)7. As the years have sped by the ])ioneers and tlieir successors one after another have passed over to the great beyond, and in many cases their places have been tilled by a stui'dy class of Scottisli sons and daughters, and their descendants are to-day among our most thrifty and upright citizens. Fifty years of um-emittiug toil and frugality were rewarded bv ho:nes of plenty, when over these hills and along these vallevs resouniled the clarion notes of war, and an experience came to these homes which, (iod grant, may never be rejteated. Long years ago there appeared a cloud, apparently no larger tlian a mau's liaud, and a few, at times but one, jif our citizens maiched each vear to the ballot box and deposited tlieir protest against the curse of American slavery. I need not repeat the history of gathering doiuls, and the final outburst of the most cruel war this nation has ever seen. Its record is indelibly inscril>ed on marble slul)s in liundreds of cemeteries, in vacant chairs whose occupants come not again, and on the tablets of hearts who freely gave their all to maintain the honor of the dear old Hag. Xo historian will ever tell the story of anguish that wrung 500 HISTORY OF DKl.An'ARE COl'XTV. tbf hearts of fathers and luDthers, or wives aud sisters, who hravely said adieu to sons, husbands and brotherH. Home of them went out from the homes never more to return. In this Heaven- horn sacrifice Meredith stands second to none of her sister towns. The conditions folhnvin^- tlie j^reat civil war have l)een much the same in this as in other towns, aud years of plenty have been succeeded by shortened crops and leaner harvests, but ovir people can with abundant reason lift their hearts in thanksgiving^- and praise to the great Giver of good that so few of the ills and mis- fortunes of life have come to us, and such an abundance of His blessiners. Q to o Middle (o\.n. IjV; llv"'". John cii\uil. 11' 1^ with sincere satisfiietion tliat I witness tli<'se exliibitious iif respect for the woithy deeds iif our forefuthers niid the eviileut disposition of our j)e()ph> everywhere to clierisli the nieiu- orv of tlieir iincestors; especially iu times like the present when |>ublic and private \ irtue so needs the reiuvii>or!ition of noble examples. In field and council the sons of Delaware have done ji;ood and honorable service, and the history of Delaware is cue of which we can well be proud. In the glory of her past history tjie original town of jNIiddletown took no small part and it is a pleasure for us, her cliildi'en, to assist in whatever wav we can in celebrating her oni' hundredth birthday. In this histiu'v I shall l)rietly recount some of the eai'ly history, leaving the later events and growtii and jirosperity of the town to the longer jiajier to be submitted later for j)iil)lic'ation. The town of Midkins, and a small jjortion of Shaudaken in rister county, comprising more than half of th<' whole county of ■2(i ' •■>'" 504 fllSTOIiV OF DKhAn^ARE COUNTY. Delaware. By division it has been reduced to a territory of 58, ()()(»• acres, with a pojndation of about 4,U(KI iuhabitauts. The East branch of the Dehiware river flows throuf^h the eential part of the town, with the Jiataviakill, Bushkill, Dry Brook, Mill l!rook aud Plattekill streams as tril>utaries, draiuiuf^' fertile \allcys, and along which are located the thirteen settlements of the town. This extraordinary number of post otKces can better be appre- ciated directly after a presidential election or before a town caucus. The history of the permanent settlement of this mother of towns properly begins with the advent of the Dutch in 17t!:i, though the Canadian French were here about the time of the French and Indian war, and still earlier there was a Tuscarora Indian village called Pakatakan just above the present village of Mar- garetville, and the above Indian name Pakatakan is still used to designate a company of ]Margaretville firemen. Of this original occujiancy of the town by the Indians the Indian mounds and burying grounds on the old Dumoud farm attest, and the large number of arrow heads and tlint axes that have been found in this vicinity is an additional proof. Still further, there are in all probability many who have heard the authentic but hair raising stories told to this day in Middletown of the wonderful exploits ot Tom Quick and Tim Murphy, the Indian slayers whose favorite haunts were the valleys of the Delaware, stories more wonderful than the "good times coming" prophecies of the Republican politicians. I made mention above of the first jjermanent settlers being Dutch — they were with one exception, to my knowledge, and this was my maternal great-great-grandfather O'Connor, who, while he could speak nothing but the Dutch language, yet he was a full-blooded Irishman, born in Ireland. These Dutch .set- tlers at first consisted of only four families from Ulster county, who bought four farms on Great Lot No. 7, on the Jliddletown flats, receiving deeds therefor dated April '.1. 1708, paying S<2.5(i ])er acre. Five more families joined them during the ne.\t eight years, and all maintained friendly relations with the Indians until TOW.X OF MIDDLRTdWX. 505 tlic time of the Kevolutiim, when the frieudly and timely \viiiiiin{{ (pf iiu Indian named Tenuis, who afterwards lived in Bovina, alono saved them from being massacred by the Indians. As it was they were forced to return to Ulster eouuty. beinj; followed bv the; Indians as far as Shaudakeu. However, the settlers afterward returned and were never afterward disturbed, the Indians being driven westward. A single incident may suffice to show the present generation what kind of a life was lived by those early adven- turers: One night when tlie cows were driven to the enelosun? to be milked a stray yearling steer was noticed in the drove. The cows did not seem to be contented in his comjiauy, and after several vain attempts to milk the uneasy herd, the stray yearling was discovered to be nothing less than a black bear. Chancelh)r Livingston, as one of the heirs of Johannes Har- denbergh, was once the owner of all this secton, which was a part of the land granted Johannes Hardenbergh by Queen iVnno in nw, anil he, Hardenbergh, was thus the original proprietor of the soil, and the village of Margaretville is named after his great-granddaughter Marj^aret. Of the many privations and hard- ships endured by our forefathers in the early pioneer life of the town, in the limited time allowed, I can make but brief mention — personally, I have always sympathized with our foreniothers the most, for the reasim that they had to endure the same hardships that our forefathers did and our forefathers beside. In ITS'.), by act of the legislature, the town of iliddletown was erected, and Benjamin Milk was afterward elected a supervisor of the town to sit at the first meeting of the Board of Suiieivisors held at Delhi, May 80, 17il7 — seven sujiervisors sitting at this meeting. .\t this town election the ballot box was taken from place to place in the town for the convenience of voters, and it may be interesting to know that flu discovery was afterwards made that the successful canditlate, Benjamin Milk, was neither a resident of the town of Middletown or the county of Dela- ware. 5()(; HISTORY OF DEf^AWARE COVXTV. The oldest liousc uow standing iu the town of Middlctowii is on the Daniel Waterl)ury farm. It was built iu IT'.H l)y Colonel John Grant, who was the first postmaster of the town and held office forty years. The town meetings were held here for many years, the draft for tlie war of ISI'2 took jilace iu the same l)uild- iug, and the broad iiieadow near was used for the general ti'aiuiug of the militia. At these general trainings the tubs and pails of whiskey punch were used so freely that the sham lights usually turned out to be real fights before the day was oyer. Very soon after the return of the refugees at the close of the Revolution, a Dutch Reformed Presbyterian church was erected in the old churchyard above the present yillage of Ai-ena, and the first sup- ply preaching was by a one legged man by the name of Anderson, who afterwards became a fortune teller and doctor. Probably the oldest burying j^l^''^ in the county is the old cemetery on the Dumond farm, just across the river from Margaretville. It was used by the early Dutch settlers and many years liefore liy half breeds who preceded them. In the war of ISI'2 three com- panies were drafted from JNIiddletown (as it was then) for the defense of New^ York harbor. In the Anti-Rent war Middletown took a considerable part, one of the saddest episodes of which was the shooting of Steele at Andes, for which Edward O'Connor of Middletown was convicted and sentenced to be hung, but was afterward pardoned by (xovernor Young. The history of the various settlements and villages in the town, the growth in population, schools, societies, business, news- papers, professions, military affairs, tire department, railroads, agriculture and public improvements will have to be left f(n- the published history. Politically, Middletown has always taken a leading part, and many of her citizens have sacrificed their time and submitted, from purely patriotic motives, to the discomforts of holding office. Thus reviving briefly the early history of this county we may safely say that none has a hist(n-y more romantic iu its incidents. Towx III-- Miniii.irriiww .-^((7 more marked for tlit- stiirdv iuilepemleuce unci honesty of its people, for tlieir euer','_v, ^Jtrsistence, will iuiloinitable to defeud tiieir rif^dits. aud rcMidiuess to aceord like rif^hts to otbers. It is 11 i[iU'stioii \v]ii<-]i presses iijiou us wlietber the coiiiity in its snhsequent history has jnoved itself worthy its origin, and wiiether we of to-da}' deserve such aucestry. Tiiis spirit, luiuj^led largely with the spirit of nationality inspired our people to the heroie devotion displayed in the late eivil war. Beinj,' largely an ajjfri- cultural people, with uo very large towns or eities, and with few millionaires and little chance to grow rich by speculation, we have not been tempted to stray very far from our fathers' ways of industry, economy, simplicity of living and providence for the future. l''roni this little garden aud nursery of men how many have gone forth to the broader or more inviting fields oi tlie expanding west and to the great marts of commerce — and this seed of Delaware sowing, wherever cast, has burst into har- vests to the enrichment of many counties and states. One hun- dred years hence, when Delaware shall cehbrate the secoml cen- tennial year of her life as a county, when we, who to-day commemorate the virtues of our historic fathers shall have ])assed into sileiu-e; when they comjiare the present with this, may they tin iu prcdomiuatiug iiuiiihers. The laud is fertile aud well adapted to fanning — ex- celleut butter is made iu large quautities froui dairies of lilooded cattle, cbietly Jerseys. The village coutaius oue geueral store, a post office, a tire iusurauce assoeiatiou, a blacksmith aud a cooper shop, U. P. Church, aud a district school. The U. P. pastor is Rev. J. B. Pollock. Arkville, iu the central part of the town, derived its name from au incident in the history of oue of its oldest houses: In the time of a heavy freshet this house was the only oue that was uot disturbed by the water that came through the valley. Its location on a high knoll, coupled with beiug the home of one Noah Dimmiek, gave it the name of the ark, from which the name of the hamlet is borrowed. Arkville ccmtains four stores, the Commercial House aud Cole's hotel, a graded school with two departments, a Methodist cburi'b, a saw aud a jilauiug mill. Situated ou the Ulster & Delaware R. R. it is the principal depot for farm produce for the western portion of the town of Middle- town, aud the eastern terminus of oue of the few remaiuiug old time stage routes, conuectiug the Ulster A: Delaware with the Ontai-io' A: "Western at Delhi, tweuty-live unles distaut. Several large boarding houses for the accommodation of summer guests are here, and their best advertisement is that they are well tilled through the summer and fall mouths. The Hofifman house, sur- rounded ou three sides by forest trees, is the summer home of many artists aud lovers of uature. The Locust (rrove house is another delightful resort of historical record. This was the ])roperty of Edward Livingston who was ouce INIiuister to France. While in Paris his style of liviu^ jjUiuged him iuto debt aud he mortgaged his estate to a French importer named Laussat, and Joseph Bouchand. They foreclosed the mortgage aud built this house about l.Sl"2. It was purchased from Laussat by the late Hiram B. Kellj', whose widow, Katie, aud son, Eldridge, ai"e now the proijrietors. TOWS OF MIDDLETOWX. 5((<) Diiui-Hvcii is 11 post station y diffjjiug holes in the earth and poundiufj in a liniuj,' of lilue clay. The destruction of the hem- lock forests was followed by the decay of th(> tanning' and milling' industries, and to-day the mill and lumber yard of Oluey Smith is all that recalls the past. On the Delaware river in the western part of the town lies the village of .\rena, formerly known as Lumberville, a name sig- nificant of the early inc'ustry of the place. Arena has an M. E. churcli, a large district school, a (traud Army Post, three gen- eral and one hardware store, a Lodge of I. O. (). F., a fire company, and two hotels. At Grants Mills, four miles southwest of Arena, on the Millbrook stream, is the large boarding house of A. W. and J. M. DeSilva. This region is much sought after by anglers both from city and <-i)uiitry. In the eastern part of the town is Halcottville, named in honor of its first merchant, ilatthew Halcott, who was one of the promi- lu'ut business men of Middletown early iu the century. The Ulster iV: Delaware K. H. passes through the place. It contains one hotel, two general stores, a grange store, a large mill, with Hour and feed store. .\ Methodist church was recently built and Rev. R. S. Beckett is in charge. At tlie Baptist church Elders .\bner Morse and John Clark preside. A new school building has l)eeii erected in a sightly part of the village. Lake Wawaka, a line sheet of water over a mile long, is formed by a diuii across tlie river. On the lake are row boats and a steam launch for j)leasure parties. Kelly's Corners, another station on the Ulster & Delaware K. H. half way between Halcottville and .Arkville, contains a store, a post- office, a large creamery and cheese factory.' Limburger cheese is manufactured here. 510 IIISTOHY OF IIF.LAWARE COVXTY. In the eastern cud of the town is (Irifiiu Conici-s, a village tliat has made rapid f^iuwth in the last ten years. It is situated ou the Bushkill stream aud the Ulster A Delaware E. R. The especial cause of its growth is the suiniiier boarding- business. The beauty of the mountain scenery, the ]iur(' air and fine water have won the city guest. The village has ii line public library, the gift of a woman who spent several seasons here. It is called the Skene library in honor of Dr. Skene, her husband. Other features of the village are four churches, viz. : Methodist, Old School Baptist, BajJtist, aud Episcopal. There are numerous fine summer boarding houses. The societies are Knights of Pythias, with seventy mem- bers, and Good Templars. A bridge over a small stream on Main street divides Griffin Corners from Fleischmanns, named after the senator who built a cottage and laid out l)eautiful grounds on the hill above the dejjot. About ten years ago city people began building cottages here, and now thirty-five ornament the hillside. The cost of these with their grounds is from three thousand to forty thousand dollars each. Among the prominent people who make their summer homes here are ^Irs. t'luirles Fleischmanu, JMrs. L. Blair a sister of the Senator, Louie Fleischmanu and the young widow of Max Fleischmanu, and Mrs. Seidl, the widow of the late musician and leader. There are three stores, mill and other enter- prises in this place. The people of Fleischmanns have fitted up fine grounds for bicycliug aud other athletic games, called the Mountain Athletic grounds; here also is a riding school building that cost $10,000. Marg'aretville, the metrt)polis of JNIiddletown, is located on the East brauch of the Delaware, at the foot of Blount Pakatakan, a lofty verdure crowned peak of the C'atskills, and near the central part of the town. It was named in honor of the daughter of Governor Morgan Lewis, who at one time owned this tract of land by inheritance from her mother. Her mother was a daughter of Chancellor Livingston. At the time of the Revolution Livingston was the owner of all this section of countrv. The first settler on. ■Si . «^A^^ mm*:* ' -tf v^ ^^V^ ToWX OF Mlliin.ETOWS. .-,l:j: the site of the vill!i<,'-e was Ig'iios DuiikukI, in ITst. He sold tLi' land for flOO to a !Mr. Tompkins, who Iniilt tlii' tirst saw mill. Tompkins sold to Jephtha Seafj^cr and Solomon Scott. In 1S4:{ the hit.- Dr. Orson M. .\lhil)(n succeeded Mr. Scott iu^ ow^ner of the west half of the fai-m. and David Sliter the Sealer part. .\t this time Marjjfaretville contained three buildinj^s, — a saw mill, mill house, and the house of Solomon Scott, the father of the venerable Methodist minister Russell S. S<-ott and ^ruudfatlier of S. F. Scott. The mill house was a frame buildinj^', enclosed with plank. It is still in j^ood repair, and occu])ied as a dwellint^'. The tirst hotel was huilt in lK-44 by David Ackerly. It was enlarged by his sou J. B. Ackerly in 1H71, and aj^ain in 1S8;{ and fitted for the accommodation of city boarders. The first store was kept in the ottice of Dr. (). II. AUaben. The Doctor and Rev. Ananias Ackerley, his partner, conducted business near the present home of Mr. E. Clute. lu IS 17 a lartjer store was built on the corner opposite the .Xckerley hotel and occupied in 184!l by liurhaus A: Decker. Mr. Decker continued business here until lH.");'j, when he built a more commodious store near his house. In 187(i he sold his business to his son-in-law Orson A. Swart. Dr. Allabeu, believing the old adage "the pen is mightier than the sword," on July 7th, IHIWJ, issued the tirst iiuiuber of a weekly paper, called the Utilitarian. .\t this time the county had but live pajiers. He continued to till the editorial chair for live years when be sold the paper to A. R. Henderson and H. T. Becker. In 1S7'.I it was purchased by J. K. 1'. Ja(dvson, a staunch Democrat. In Issl a second ]>a]ier was started by Frank Bar(day. It was juiblishid about five mouths, then closed its career. In 1SS)4 the Messenger was established, owned by a stock coni));niy. with John (xrant as editor and Dr. J. W. Telford as assistant. The village of Margaretville was incor))or,ite(l in Is"."). .Vt the first charter election Di'. Smith \V. Keed was elected president, E. A. Olmstead, G. (5. Decker and .\. P. Carpenter trustees. The present corporation oHicers are: .\ndrew J. Kaufman president.. 514 HISTORY OF DKI.AWMiK COIXTY. Charles Gorscli aud Hiifus (iavett trustees, Noiih 1). Oluistead treasurer, Herniou Roternioud sti-eet eoiimiissiouer. Margaretville has three churches. lu 18o() the tirst Mcthoilist E]n8copal church was built, aud Rev. R. S. Hcott was the preacher and Rev. Richard Decker his assistant. lu 1880 the society erected a larger buildiug ou Church street. The present pastor is Rev. Orville Van Keureu. This church has a large memljership aud a llourishing Sunday school. Hon. (1. (i. Decker has been its super- intendent for nearly fifty j-ears. This school was the first in ^liddletown to establish a class in normal Sabbath school aud home department work. So interested was Mr. Decker in having the teachers in his school thoroughly familiar with Bililc history, that in 1893 he built a pleasant room connected with the ihurch for the use of those in the normal class. Through the instrumentality of Rev. W. N. Allalien a Bajjtist society was organized in 187-t. Services were held in tlic ohl academy building until the society in 1881 l)(iught and refitted the old Methodist church ou Main street. In 18",H a Presbyterian society was formed with Rev. 1{. M. Blaekl)uru as preacher, who only remained a few months; he was followed by Rev. Charles Ellis, Mr. Osborn, and Frank B. Seeley. A church was built, and dedicated in August, 1890. The society has made rapid grow-th. Rev. D. G. Law'sou is the present pastor. A Catholic society holds services once a month, conducted by priests from Stamford or Kingston. At present they have no church, but have been discussing the tjuestion of building one. Ill 188!) the Catskill Mountain Agricultural Societ}' was formed, with O. 'Si. Allaben, president, J. K. P. Jackson, secretary, O. A. Swart, treasurer, and William R. Swart, general manager. They purchased twenty-six acres of river flat, below the village, from Wni. R. Swart, paying S"2,5(l(l; improvements costing ^'i.SOO were added and the first fair was held in the last week of August, 1889. Margaretville has four lawyers: A. P. Carpenter, Calvin Hull, J. K. P. Jackson, and S. P. Ives; five physicians: Smith W. Reed, T()W\ OF Miiihi.F.'niws. 515 •Charles Allulxn. (1 T Br..wii, J \V Telford, iiud William K. Heudrv. Dr. Iteed, the veteran pliysieiaii, has practiced here siuce 185;-i; he has beeu sii})eriutendeut of eoiumou schools of the towu and has tilled the office of Supervisor for teu terms. Earlier than ISTl tlic educational advantafjes of the towu were such as could he procuied at tiie ordiuary district school of the day, where one teacher was expected to be able to teach sixty or seventy pupils. But in 1871 a new school buildiuf,' was erected and fitted for two departments. This was the first school in the towu to employ two teachers. As time advanced and Marfifaret- ville became a larger business center the need of a still better school becjime evident. From 1KH2 to 1892 Miss Lucy A. Water- bury, a lady of rare aliility as a teacher, a dauf^hter of Robert L. 'Waterbury, taut^ht a select school here. In 1H;I2 at a meet- iuff called for the pur))ose, it was voted to chauf^e the public school into a I^nion free school, with a school board of nine members, namely ; William K. Swart, E. L. O'Connor, Mrs. S. P. Ives, J. H. Hitt, C. Hull, Mrs. J. K. P. Jackson, Amos Allison, C. J. Dickson, and C. C. Kaufman. Mr. Swart was deeply in- terested in the success of the school and gave lilierally of his time and money. He was president of the board until his death, when Edward L. O'Connor filled the office. The first principal was Alviu A. Lewis. A tine library has lieen added to the school; the bnihling is furnished with running water and heated by steam. The supervisors who have watched over the interests of Middle- town fui- the last twenty years have been selected from this village. The following list gives the name and time of service of each: From IHSO to 1Hk:1 Dr. S. W. Heed; 1HH4, Dr. O. M. Allabeu; 1885, W. F. Doolittle; IHSC, S. W. Reed; 1887, James W. Kittle; 1888 to 1892, S. W. Reed; 18;t2 and 1898, J. W. Kittle; 1894 to 1898, Thomas Winter. In 1885 a water company was established with $lf),(l()() <-apital. The present officers are: Alexander Thoni]>son. president : William 516 HISTORY OF DKLAWAUK ro/.V'/'l". T. Winter, vice-prcsidciit; A. Albcis, secretary ami treasurer; E. L. O'Couuor, snperiutciulciit. lu 18.S7 the Excelsior Hook aud Ladder C()iiij)any was orpjanized with thirty members, aud soon after the Pakatakau Hose C'omjjauy with twenty-five memhers. The liic department was' acce])ted l)v the corporation trustees in lis'.tli. In ISKi; ;i tliree-story liuihlinji' was erected on Church street for the department. In 1891 a state bank was or<;anized with a capital of ?(2").(l(l(t. which has been increased to $40.0(1(1. A tine buildiuy was built ou the corner of ^laiu and Bridf^e streets. Hon. (leorfj^e G. Decker has been president of the bank since its t)rj;aui7.ation, John (irant its first and Noah Olmstead its present cashier. Howard Swart assistant, E. L. O'Connor vice-president, and J. K. P. Jackson attorney. The hotels of Margaretville are; The Ackerly House, the River- side House, the Bouton House. Tlie Rieneral mercantile business is represented by many active firms. There are several societies, the oldest is the Masonic. ()ri,'ani/.ecl in 1835, Knights of Pj'thias and (lood Templars. Another old organization of the place is the cornet band, formed in 185'J, and now, neai'ly thirty years after, it still contains several of the tii-st members. In the time of the Civil war ^liddletowu sht)wed her patriot- ism bv sendini,'' more men to the front than any other town in the county. The popularity of Margaretville as a summer resort is each year increasing. Its clear mountain springs from which it rei'eives its water supply, its improved roads and shaded drives, its miles of stone walk, its clean streets and tine mountain scenery attract all who visit the place. During the summer months the population is largely increased by city peojjle. Among those who have built cottages here is the artist, Mr. Henry ilosler, whose i>aintings are noted both in Euro]>e and Anierica. The normal pojuilation of Margaretville is about 80(1. roM'.V ((/■■ MllilH.h'.TOWX. 517 Aniouf,' those peoph' piuiiiiiieut for their usefulness iu the town of Middletowu iiiuv be nientioued Dr. Orsou M. AUnheii, wlio ciiine here aud settled the year he g-railuated from Waterville Medical CoUejje, Maine, iu ISSl; here he practiced medicine until his ilcatli in 1S;I"2. The respect aud confidence placed in liiin liv the people is shown l)v the nnnierous public offices that he tilled; beiuf,' once a Senator, twice in the Assembly, and seven terms town supervisor. He procured the first lepfislatiou relating; to the Ulster iV Delaware Hailroad, aud was instrumeutal iu various early town and villaj^e improvements. (ieorf the Peoples Bank. Matthew GritJin, an attorney at (IritHn Corners, represeuted the second district of the county iu the Assembly for three years. His sou DeWitt (Jritfin is also an attorney and was Member of Assembly iu XsWl. John (irant, a uative of this town, was elected State Seiiiitor in IHlMi, the vouuL'est member of that bodv. I^oxbarVv VjX Dr. /. N. Wiitjhl. IN the year 178S dh tlic bcuutiful Hats u]>iiu whit-li ndw stautls the vilhige of Roxlmrv, a wauderiug hunter hy the name of Israel Inmau Imilt himself a house of lo<^s aud made a little clearing'. But agriculture was not Israel's forte. The glossy fur of the beaver — whose dam across the East branch of the Dela- ware at that point made those fiats a minature Venice — was vastly more to his taste. But luniau soon had company, for in the next year, 1789, a party of pioneers of about twenty families from Fairfield, Conn, followed a isathway, with blazed trees for a guide, from Catskill, and camped at the mouth of what is now known as Roses Brook in the town of Stamford. Their horses being- stabled in the woods to browse, the third day were missing, when a search party, of which Abram (irould was one, started on their trail. They followed them over the mountain aud on the other side met Inmau who told them he had their horses aud invited them to his cabin. So jileased were they with the location that they returned for their families, aud persuading two others to come with them they came l)ack over their trail to what is now Grand Gorge, passing through the mountain uotch and down the valley to a place now known as West Settlement. Thus the grand old town of Roxbury had its birth. But another settlement had added materially to the beg-iuuing of the town. In the year 17H(i that sturdy old Scotchman John More — whose'^numerous descendants are so closely and honorably associated with the growth and pros])crity of this town — estali- lished his home near the head waters of the East branch of the Delaware, at a jioint seven miles east of Inman's cabin, his land .■.l^ Tdwx OF nn\iui;y. 521 diiiiii bciuj^' now purtiiilly covciod l)y the villii},'o of (iiuud (loiHt'. This befjiiiiiing was known as INfore's Settleiiiont, then Moresville, until in ISTo the ])i)st otlicc di'pavtnn'nt liy n^ason of the conl'usion arising from their hoini^' a niiniher of similarly muned otiiccs in this state chan-j^cd the name to (rraud Gorfje, nprnpas of the j^raiid mountain j^orf^re jnst west of the village. And now commenced the gigantic undertaking of transfonniug a howliuj^' wilderness into tlie heaiitiful town of to-day. "His echoing axe llie settler swuiik, Amid the sea-like solitude. And crasliiug, tliundering, down were liunji The Titans of tlie wood." It was soon learned that the l)ark of the hemlocks which cov- ered the mountain sides could be utilized, and large tanneries sprung into existence along every stream, tr()m which immense quantities of tirst-class sole leather found its way to the markets of the woi'ld. Saw mills on every niountain rivulet furnished lumber for the homes; green jiastures and waving meadows ap- peared, and Koxbury took the place which she long maintained as the first butter town in tlie I'nited States. In 1S45 l{oxliurv became involved in what was known as the Anti-Rent war. Masked and armed men disguised as Indians terrorized the jjeaceable farmers who thought ditferently from themselves in regard to leased land. Many serious and ludicrous incidents o<-curred, a fair specimen being the l)attle of Shacksville: As the signal for the gathering of the Indians was the blowing of a horn the farmers were forbidden to use theirs to call their men to meals. John B. Cioukl, the father of the late Jay Gould, refused to submit to their dictation and j)roceeded to lilow his horn when ami where he ])leased, until one noon after a particu- larly long and aggravating blast, a tribe of warriors swooped down upon him to execute vengeance. The old man. instead of begging for mercy, ([uietly took down his old flint-lock rifle from the antlers where it hung and confi-onted them. That .and the ominous r)2'2 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COVNTY. clickiu'i' of tlif hick wiis euou^li; iu less time than it takes to tell it uotLiugf could l)e seeu but the cloud of dust raised by those bold warriors as thev scooted for tall timber, and the battle of Shiicksville was over. These differences however were soon ad- justed, but more or less of the auti-reut feeliuj;- prevailed until other issues al)sorbed the attention of its followers. "When the war cloud of IHGl spread its fj:loom over the country Roxbury sent nearly one hundred of her sous to defend the iu- tegritv of the nation. Enlisting in tighting regiments over sixty of theui sleep where they fell on the tield of battle, or in the tienches near the prison pens of Richmond, Saulsburv ajad Ander- sonville. Only about thirty of their more fortunate comrades are peacefully waiting for their final muster out as residents of this "town. The building of tlie Ulster A; Delaware Railroad in IST'i marked a new era in the history of this town, making many changes iu long established customs and putting in touch with the outside world in a manner never dreamed of by its early settlers. And though the town was bonded for the large sum of $150,000 for the construction of this road, it has all been paid, and now this town has within its borders over fourteen miles of one of the finest and best managed railroads in the state. Its people can now leave their homes in the morning, go to Xew York, transact a fair amount of business and return liy nine o'clock in the even- ing, a wonderful change from the old five days journey by stage <-oach and steamboat. Roxburv has had the liouDr of contributing two county judges to the bench of this county. Edwin More, who was the first countv juilge elected under the constitution of 184(i, and "William •Gleason, who was elected in 1H51 and again iu 1850, serving eight years. Its citizens have also many times represented this county iu the legislature at .\lbany. In this brief sketch it is utterly impossible even to mention the names of those who have been prominent iu the history of this (n o TOWX OF liOXIUUY. 525 towu. Yi't iiifiiioi V loves to dwell upon the names of John !More who more [H'rlmiis tliaii any ntlier cnii lie calleil the fouutlei' of Itoxbun; of Jay Goukl, the most hiilliaut liuaucier of the age, who was born aud grew to maidiood in a typical Roxbury home; of Hou. Edward I. liuihans. the able and couscieutious magistrate aud sagacious mau of business; of Charles Harley, who for his whole long lift- was the honored merchant, genial companion aud trusted adviser of the entire eastern jiortion of the town, aud of John ('. .111(1 Jiisejili Keatiir, whose enterprise did so miu-li to make the beautiful valley of liatavia the splendid section that it is to-day. The town of iioximry has a ])oj)iilatiiiii of 2, ■Hi wiio receive their mail from four well conducted post offices. Eight cliuiches of th<' following denominations are well supported. Three Metlioil- ist Episcopal, two Reformed, two (old school) Baptist, and one Baptist; all of tliem having excellent edifices, and their ]iul])its supi)lied with ekxiuent and earnest pastors. Two beautiful villages are within its borders, luixluiry and (Irand (xorge. The incorporated village of Hoxlnirv is second to no village in the county. It has wide, level, well shaded aud well lighted streets, the licst possible system of water works, a well eipiipped tire department, a union free school supplied with all the iiiiideni metliods of education, a live newsjiaper, two aiiqile and well arranged public hulls, three tine churches, - one of them the (iould Memorial church, erected in loving memory of their father li\ the chihlren of the late Jay (iould, having a deservedly national reputation. ' .\ lar^e number of first-class villas and cottages are every seasou tilled with summer guests, while the jirivate homes of Rox- bury are beautiful aud modern. Kirk-side, the elegant and spa- cious summer residence of Helen ililler Gould, is an ornament of which any village niiglit l)e proud, while the lucsence of Miss Gould in the town is a bcnisou indeed. Her interest iu every public imjirovement. the establishment aud mainteuance of a juiblic 97 ry2V, HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. lil)r:irv, licr unostentatious and clet^iuit liosjiitality, combine to- place her aniou<,' the must Ixloved of women. "Our homos arc chi-eiicr for her sake. Our doorj'ards briKhtor bloomiii};. And all about the social air Is sweeter for her comiuf;. Her presence lends its warmth and health, To all who come before it; If woman lost us Eden, such As she alone restore it." The vilhige of Grand Gorge is what may be justly called a modern and up-to-date village. A mere hamlet in 1872, the build- ing of the Ulster i.V: Delaware railroad gave it an impetus, and a steady and substantial growth has been the result. Its situation commands the trade of a large portion of Greene and Schoharie counties, which with its extensive milk business makes it an ex- ' tremely lively village. It has two admirable churches, two large (creameries, two mammoth mercantile establishments, a splendid school, a tine system of water works, and its residences are with- out exception in tirst-class condition and of modern construction. It entertains a large number of summer guests, and is in all res- pects a good place in which to exist. Batavia, about four miles south of Roxbury village, is one of the most beautiful valleys in the county, and is a thriviu<>- farming" community. It has two churches, a post office, and many of the tinest farms and farm buildings in the town, and its inhabitants- are altogether a happy and prosiierous people. Such is a brief history of the town of Roxbury in 181)7, Del- aware county's centennial year. Its future is bright with many [jleasant anticipations which are sure to be realized, and it will always hold its position among the tirst towns in our county. The following is a complete list of the persons who have held the office of Supervisor: 17SI9, 180, 18(10, Ira Hicks; 1850, xMar- tiu Kelly; 1851, 1852, 1855, 18(i3, Alexander H. Burhans; 185(i, Jonius M. Smith; 1858, 1872, 1878, Edward Burhans; 1850, Beuja- niiu Scudder; 1860, Charles Harley; 18()2, Alexander More; 18()7, Jaeol) Newkirk; 1808, Hii-am Meeker; 18(i!), Abram Van Dyke; 1870, 1871, (leorge W. Lauren; 1874, Andrew J. Corbiu; 1875, 187(1, Henry C. Soop; 1877, John E. Newkirk; 1878, 187!), O. A. Meeker; 1880, 1881, Daniel D. Andrus; 1882, Charles (!. Keator; 1883, Geor{,'e W. Lauren; 1884, Daniel T. Keator; 1885, Charles G. Keator; 188(;, 1887. Ahiierin Cartwrif^ht; 1888, 1894-i)7, David S. Booth; 188'.)-i)l, B. B. Boutou: I8i)2, Charles Schermerhorn; i8!):{, Ezra H. Bartraui. I'rior to 187(1, the followiujj; held the office of Town Clerk: John T. More, John E. Burhans, Otis Preston, Thomas Mont- f^oniery, Jonathan B. Cowles, John Frisbee, Novatus Blish, Dubois Burhans, Ezekiel Preston, E. Follett, Thomas Keator, Truman C Bidwell, John P. Burhans, A. C. Cowles, A. H. Tyler. Alexander H. Burhans, Samuel B. Follett, Hiram Meeker, Daniel W. IMcGarry, Silas S. Cartwright, Orrin A. Meeker, Richard W. Van D}ke, Jolin C. Van Dyke, John E. Newkirk, Fred J. Youn<>;man, William W. Noble, Henry C. Soop. The early Justices of the Peace were the followiu^j: Al(!sauder Daniels, Harvey Keator, Daniel Rowland, Henry T. B<'<>ker, Timothy Cartwrit,'ht, Edward I. Burhans, Harvey Keator, Samu<'l More, Samuel Scudder, Eli AVrif,'ht, Cyrus Graves, D;ivid M. Smith, Benjamin H. Akin, .\. C. Cowles, Lewis Stratton, Ei-astus Mead, Solomon P. Moffatt, Nelson K. Dart, Hiram Meekei-, All)ort R. Terwila^-er. Geor},'e A. Dart, (ieorfje A. D(>nt, Robert B. Smith, Almerin Cartwri{,'-ht, John T. (irant, Jacob K. Benjamin, Erastus Mead, Ezia Mead, William D. Powell, Samuel B. Shout. r^V Edvin l\. Wattks. ^^IDXEY was origiually part uf the town of Harperstitld. \~y Harpersfield was created a town iu Otsego county in 177H, and eiuljraced lands between the Siiscjuehauua, Charlotte and Del- aware rivers. It included Ijesides the present town of HariJersfield, Franklin, Sidney, part of Bainbridge, and part of Afton. Harpersfield was tlien in Montgomery county — the name !Moiit- gomery having been substituted iu place of Try on, because Governor Tryou was a tory. In 1791 the county of Otsego was created from Montgomery, and the town of Harpersfield, including Franklin and Sidney, became jDart of Otsego. In 179'i, Harpersfield was divided, the western part being called Franklin, — and Franklin was made to include what is now Sidney, — and Sidney was taken oliE from Franklin in 1801. The name of Sidney was given iu honor of Sir Sidney Smith, a British .Vdmiral, who about that time had achieved great success iu Syria (Asia Minor) by <'hecking the progress of Napoleon Bt)naparte. Sidnev' jn-ior to this time was called Susquehanna Flats, but at the suggestion of au English school master named Mandeville, the name was changed to Sidney. Rev. William Johnston, oue of the earliest jjioueers of our town, was boru iu Dublin, Ireland, in 1718. This remarkable man received a thorough education at Fjdinljurgh I'Ui\'ersitv, Scotland. He came to this country when a young man, and married Miss Cummins, an English lady. It is not fidly known where he resided during all the time prior to his removal to this town, but it is l>elieved that it was in the vicinity of Albany. His oc nnvy of sii>.\i-:y. -,31 iiuuuity of Cl'yU, wliicb, however, ceiisecl after the breakiu-^ out of the war. luterestiiiK iucideuts are related in the career of the elder Johnstou, aud the tradition is that tlic notorious Braut met General Herkiiiicr l)y appointment in the summer of I 777, cinMniixd on what is now known as the Milton Jt)hnston farm one mile l)elow the village of Sidney. Here they held a conference and the Rev. William Johnston was present at the interview, and Brant askid him which side he was on, and Mr. •lulinstoii told him lie was on thi- side of the people. Soon after these occurrences the Johnston family removeril lufh, 17ii8, in Duanesborough, New York. He. with his father, Kev. William Johnston, with other connections, came to the Susnuehanna Flats, now Sidney, in 1775. They were the first settlers in that ]>art of the county, and for two years sutTered all the hardships and juiva- tious of a new country. In •Iiine. 1777, they were oliliged to leave their homes and Hee before an invading foe. Brant, a chief, with one hundred and ten warriors, came ami burnt their buildings and slaughtereil their cattle." At Sidney was the site of an old Indian fort where three acres of ground were enclosed by mounds of earth, surrounded by a ditch: and fiji- a long time this enclosure was calh-d tlii' l-'mt (Mounds. In company with Mr. T. (1. Smith we visited recently the old 532 HISTORY OF liEI. AWARE COVSTY. Indiiiii liurial jilacc, located uvur the Ontuiid \ Westei u l)ritlj,'e across the Susquehanna river at Siilney. We found a cireular, liav- stack looking mound about one hundred feet in diameter at the base, and ten feet in height, well authenticated as their burial place. Since that time one of the early tribes assembled on Moses hill just across the river, and decided to make an encampment where Sidney village is now located. Some of the tribes remained there for many years. Excavations and examinations of this mound have proved it beyond doubt to be an Indian burial ground. The unearthing of arrow heads and other relics was sufficient evidence to induce the jteople to have the mound rouain intact. 'Slv. Arthur Bird suggested to the village fathers to have a monument of an Indian chief placed on the mound, holding in his hand the calumet, or pipe of peace, a deserved and appropriate memorial of the "Indian lover" and "his dusky mate." The first grist mill west of Harpersfield was built in 177H by Abram Fuller, on the Ouleout, near Wattles Ferry. An inn was 02)ened by Nathaniel Wattles at the Ferry in ITX.^. The first raft was sent d them, the first white female chilil born in Delaware county. Previous to movinj^' his family the Jndj^e hail minle some im])rovcments. havinj.; erected a lo^- cabin, the covering or roof as well as the ujjper and under floors of which were composed of elm bark. As near as we can learn this was in 1785. About this time John and Alexander Harper bought of the Indians the right and title to a large tract of laud, and soon after sold their contract to a (•ompauy, who petitioned the State for a grant of a patent of land. The patent was granted to Peter V. B. Livingstone, and was known for a long time as the Wattles patent, the Judge being one of the four proprietors. The Harpcis having failed to jiay the proprietors, Judge ^\'attle8 went to Governor Clinton and related the circum- stances. The (xovernor asked him if he had the money due the State, and learning that he had, they both went before the Legislature and the Governor stated the business of Judge Wattles, and thereupon an act was passed reinstating them in the contract. Soon after Judge Wattles, standing upon the banks of the Ouleout, called by the Indians "Leafy Water," surrounded by the swarthy denizens of the forest, made with them a memorable treaty. .Vnd many times thereafter during the frequent troubles that arose he was able, by this treaty, to save himself and family from being massacred. In this brief sketch many incidents and reminiscences must l)e omitted; but we would })ay a grateful tribute to the memory of those grand men who when quenching their thii'st from the flow- ing springs of the forest disj)layed a character as \nn-c as the fountain itself. We have in our possession Judge Wattles' old account book, more than a century old. written by his own hand with ink made from the bark of a tree, with a pen made from the wing of a bird captured in the same dense wilderness. In this book, now jt'ellow with age, we find histoi-ical records of great value, legal 534 HISTORY OF DKLAWAHK COlNrV. documents aud papers, which when we consider the dates when they were written, indicate remarkable ability. Aud what Mr. Francis W. Halsey said le pride in the mention of the Johnstons, Smiths, Bidwells, Hodges aud Burdicks, who figured so prominently in the Susquehanna and t)uleout valleys. The next settlement was made upon Carr's Creek, at what is now Sidney Centre, m 1793. The first pioneer was Jacob Bid- well, who located upon the farm where Harper W. Dewey now resides. The coming of "Uncle Jacob," as he was familiarly known, was some years after the close of the Revolutionary war. Peace had been restored, Indian hostilities had f)ractically ceased, and though living in a dense wilderness very far removed from neighljors aud friends, they enjoyed a sense of security aud safety. Still, they had their battles to fight aud we can imagine some- thing of the sufferings and hardshijjs of these early pioneers. Earliest among the wants of the earliest settlers was that of a grist mill. It was more a necessity than a saw mill, because a good axe could cut and hew logs for a cabin and could thus de- lay the advent of sawu timber for j'ears. But with fiour and meal the case was more urgent. The hollow to]> of a tough stump, or a hollow boulder, soon became inadecjuate to meet the wants of the new comers. One of the first grist mills on the- a T()\V.\ OF SIHXFY. .">:{7 U|)[)fi- Siisi|iiili:iiin:i was Imilt on Chit's t'ret-k. It \v:is Imilt a tew years liifinc the oiic whii-h Aluinu Fuller sot up on the Oiilcoiit, !in^lt> and settled near the village of Sidney Centre, at which time the land upon which this flourishing village now stands, with the ex- cejitiou of one little spot, was an unbroken forest. A[r. .James Hughston settled soon after Mr. Wattles diil, and settled on the Ouleout. It was then a very dense wilderness, and so thick were the trees and bushes that it was said to be im- possible to drive a pair of yoked oxen from Mr. Hughston's house t(j Wattles' ferry. Mr. Hughstou moved his wife into this town on horseback, with her bed ami other articles strajiped on tlic .538 HISTORY OF ItKLAWARK COVXTY. horse; and she used to relate, iiiiioiiii' other iucideuts, how she iinide !l cradle tor her first child t'roiu a piece of a hollow tree. Mr. Hughstou lived aud died at Sidney, was a niafristrnte iu the town for about forty years, was several times supervisor and ouee a member of the State Legislature. Soon after the Revolutionary war, Adam Rifeubark settled on the bank of the Susquehanna, near what is now called C'rookerville. It is said he was a deserter from the British army. Tihiothy Beach, about the same time, moved his family into a cabin he had built at the junction of the Ouleout and Susquehanna, where he lived a number of years aud was drowned in the river by an Indian. He has numerous descendents residing iu this county. In the year 1789 Isaac Hodges came from the town of Florida, on the Mohawk river, to the Ouleout to look for lands for his sons to settle on. He purchased 5(10 acres, being a part of the patent surveyed by Judge Wattles a few years previous. He paid ten shilliuos an acre, aud divided this land among his four sons, Hezekiah, Benjamin, Isaac, and Josiah. Early in the spring of 179(1, Hezekiah with his wife and three brothers took possession of the laud. They moved with a yoke of oxen and one horse, anitants must have consisted of a few families at Sidney, Jacob Bidwell at Sidney Centre, Capt. Samuel Smith at what is now Franklin Depot, and a few squatters aloufjf Carr's Creek. The thriviuf,' villaife of Sidney Centre, located on the New York, Ontario iV Western railway, contains seven stores, two tine churches, and two large creameries; while the energy and enter- prise of its business men insures a healthy and steady growth. The first school built in the Sidney Centre district was located where George Simpson's barn now stands, and one of the first teachers was Miss Lydia Knapp, afterwards the wife of Daniel S. Dickinson. Garrett Dedrick kejit the tirst store, and William Smith was the first postuuister. Jlr. William Johnston of Penn., s))eakiug of himself in a friendly letter says: "I might say, and truthfully too, that I helped to swing the axe right and left to cut down the timber where the beautiful village of Sidney Centre now is." He says further, "Samuel Niles was a good mower, and Launt Thompson was the only man who could go barefoot the year through." If space allowed uk iition could be maile of many worthy men and women, and many interesting events described; but it is enough to call attention to the wonderful changes nuide during the century. lu the i)lace of hardsliip and suffering we see well cultivated farms and handsome villages: instead of being compelled to go to Schoharie to mill with a |icck or hidf-bushel of In<1iaD corn to be ground into meal to keep our families from starvation, we have everything in abundance growing on our own farms, or brought to our doors from idl the markets of the world. Tiuly this fact presents an object lesson worthy our consideration. 5-12 Ulsronv OF DELAWARE COVXTY. The log cabiu was au evolution of the wigwam and was the fii'st dwelling of the wilderness, where the pioneer attempted to construct a home. Uude as it was it secured warmth and safety to the family, and sheltered men and women nf nulilc character and daring enterprise. The great stone cliimuey at one end of the cabin became the roaring tunnel for the household tire. At that time tire, in the form of living coals, was as carefull_y guarded and preserved as was the sacred tire of old. It was the last and most binding duty of the pioneer l)efore retiring at night to bury the tire, and the tirst necessity in the early morning was to search the ashes for living coals, and failing in that the next and only recourse was an early journey to the nearest neighbor, ( which was often a long distance,) to borrow a shovelful of coals. It is a long step from that condition of affairs to the turning on of the electric light by a simple motion of the hand; and think of all that has come between, since the pioneer and his family sat in the blaze of the open fireplace, heaping on boughs of wood to make a light by which the pages of an old book could be read ! This town was rej^resented in the Senate by John M. Betts in 184:8-49. Jonas A. Hughstou was Mendjer of Congress in 1855. Members of Assembly were Sluman Wattles in 180U, Nathaniel Wattles in 1708, (then Franklin), William Dewey in 181(5, Charles Rogers in 1853, Samuel Rexford in 182;i, James Hughston in 1832, Reuben Lewis in 184(5, Ira E. Sherman in 18(35, and 188(), Albert H. Sewell in 1878, Robert Courtney in 18(53, Robert Cart- wright in 1895, Timothy Sanderson in 1883. OwY town is highly favored as a railroad center. The Albany and Susquehanna, now owned l)v the Delaware and Hudson com- pany, was built in 186(5, tmd runs three miles, within our l)ound- aries. The New York, Ontario & Western railway was built in 1870, giving the town fourteen miles more of railway. The New Berli)i Branch, running from Sidney to Edmeston, was completed in 1873. The junction of the great thoroughfares at Sidney give the village remarkable shijoijing facilities, and induce passenger travel, trade and commerce from many jioints. ■/■oi\-.v (IF sin.\h:y. 543- Oiiv of tlu' must iiiiiHirtaiit imlustiii's of >Si,(IOO, in December, 1887, with John A. Clark as president, Slumau L. Wattles as vice-president, and James L. Clark is the present cashier. The bank declared no dividend for eight years, at the end of which time its surplus equalled its original cajiital. Space will allow us to mention only a few of the conspicuous men of Sidney. The Hon. Ira E. Sherman ( lately deceased ) was held in the highest esteem, and his tine sense of honor, ability and kindness, made his presence seem like a benediction. His fame as- a poet is widespread, and from a brooklet, river, or old ruin he would weave a song stoi'V iu language surpassingly Ijenutiful. Mr. H. C. Weller is the oldest business man in our town, and by honorable business methods has been very successful and enjoys the contidence of his nuiny friends iu a remarkalilc degree. Mr. T. G. Smith enjoys a reputation not confined to our town or county. Retiring a few years since from active pursuits, he made a trip to the old country, visiting London, Paris, Na])lcs, Florence, Rome and Vienna, and also traversed Hollainl and Belgium. His correspondence, while abroad, was published in the metropolitan journals, and read with the greatest interest l)y many people. His description of the "City of the Sea," and other historic places, was appreciated and recognized by all who had the pleasure of reading Iiis letters. J544 HISTORY OF DKfMWARE COCXTY. The village of Sidney contains five cbuicbes: Congregational, Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, Episcopal and Ronuiu Catholic. The first newspaper printed in Sidney was the Star, in 1K7(). We now have the Sidnej' Record, Sidney Advocate and the Transcript — the last named published at Sidney Centre. The first number of the Sidney Record, — Arthur Bird editor, — was issued December S, 1S8'2. The population of the village at that time was 550. The organization of the Sidney National Bank, and the energetic work of the distinguished editor of the Record, gave a powerful impetus to the business prosperity of Sidney. Citizens of iHir town are proud of the honorable career of Mr. Bird, in j)ul)lic and private life, and appreciate his manly work in their l)elialf. This gentleman received the appointment of United States Vice- Consul General at Port-au-Prince, Hayti, in the year 1871). Sidney was the first village in the county to have an organized pt)lice force. Mr. Leroy Smith is the Chief, and under liis sujicr- vision the town feels comparativelj- secui-e. In conclusion we would pay a grateful tribute to the noble pioneers of every town who laid the foundation for all we have, and make their lives and character an object lesson for our young men to appreciate and value the rugged integrity and faithful industry of those grand men. The past is history and the future is the unwritten page. Of our uni)aralelled advancement in science, and the jiossiljilities already accomplished they could not have had the faintest conception. And when we review the wonderful growth of our towns, state, and nation, a panoi'ama of astonishing events is constantly before us, and indeed, it is true that the future is known only in a kind Providence and His knowledge is "The Diviiiily tliiit sliapcs nur ends, Kniifth li(>\v tlii'M] iis \Vi' will." 3 o. Written loi- this lli>torv. TH !■", prcsfut tciwii lit' Stiiiiil'ord was t'onucrly a part of ristor i-ouutv, or as it was termed " Origiual County;" that is it was a coiiutv orjifauized l)efore New York State was iiuder its first coustitutiou as a state. Au Act to divide tUe Proviuce of New York into provint-es, sbires and counties was passed November 1, 1()S:S. The act provided: " That the said i)roviuct' he divided into twelve counties," to wit: City and County of New York, Westchester, Ulst r, Dutchess, Orauf^e, Richmond, Kings, Queens, Suffolk, Dukes and Cornwall. The two latter counties were afterward surrendered "to Massachusetts. The first known settlers in the town were Dr. Stewart and Johii and Alex. More, who emigrated from Scotland in 1778. Two years afterwards they were followed by James Stewart, William Fraser, Simon Fraser, Daniel and Abijah Bennett. Others who came were Elijah Baldwin, son of C'alel) Baldwin, a captain in the Uevolutiou- ary army, who came to Stamford early in 17!)2, Philander Smith, a practicing physician, Stephen Beers, a native of Stamford, Conn., Heth (iriftin. Burton Judsou, Isaac tiould, Beuj. (iilliert. These pioneers located in what was called the Towiishi]i Valley, on Town Brook, and about five miles from its nu)utli. It was the intention of the early settlers to make this place the center of business. Accordingly au act was passed by the Legislature, surveys made and a town plot, one mile square, was laid out into pilots forty rods square, with eiglit streets running at right angles. Fuv a new country this locality' was quite thickly settleiven to this locality, and it was called New Stamford. Two years later { April (i, 17!)() ) an Act of the Legislature authorized the layiuj^' out of a road through to the Delaware and Susquehanna valleys. The road extended from near the mouth of the Ouleout to the Hudson' river. For that purpose the laud commissioners were authorized tO' draw from the state treasury a sum " not exceeding' eight hundred pounds." The contract for building this road was awarded to Nathaniel Wattles and Medad Hunt, but proving ruinous the con- tractors were relieved in 1793 by a further grant of one hundred and twenty pounds. The advantages of a road built by the state elated the peojile and in a comjiaratively short time the number of settlers increased; mills were built and an air of activity prevailed throughout the country. The number of settlers increased so rapidly that the formation of a new town was desired. This section was then embraced in the town of "Woodstock, as the territory of that town then extended to the Delaware river. An application for that purpose was made tO' the Legislature, which on April 10, 1792, enacted as follows; " All that part of the town of Woodstock in the county of Ulster bounded West by the west bounds of the county of Ulster, South by the north bounds of Middletowu, East by a line to begin on the side bounds of Middletown, two miles east of Papacton river, and running northerly to a monument number seventeen at the head of said Papacton I'iver, and thence continuing the same course north- erly until it meets the line of Albany county, shall be erected into a separate town by the name of Stamford, and the first town meeting in Stamford shall be held at the house of Peter Knajjp." This meeting was held on Tuesday, April 2, 1793. Patrick Lane was superintendent of the meeting and Peter Osborn moderator. These officers were elected for one year: Georg-e Scpiires, town roWX i)F STAMFOUP. 5.1;) clerk; Siiimicl Iii<^ei«oll, coustiihU-; Andrew Beers, supervisor; Josliuii Wrifjfht, Silas Kuji))]}, Abijiili Bennett, assessors; Daniel Bennett, Sanmel ^ferriaiii, Israel Innian, coniniissioners of lii;,'h- ways; Hufjli Rose ami James (irant, overseers of |)oor; (ieorge ;MeKenna, Ezra Hart, Peter Osborn, Allen (irant, Salmon Mallett. •lacol) Smither, Joliu Wriylit, diHtrict roadmasters; Abraham (lould, Ezra Hait, Simon Frasier, feuce viewers and damaj^'e 'prisers; Peter Shearman, Zalmou Tousev, Israel Inman, pound musters. The next annual town meeting was held at the honse of Philo Norton. The question of a new county became a sid)ject for consideration as the settlement increased between the Delaware and Susiiuelianna rivers. On the lOth of March, IT'.IT, by an .\et of the Lef,nslature the county of Delaware became a fact. The entire territory of the county at first comj)rised the towns of Stamford, Harperstield, Kortright, Franklin, IMiddletown and Colchester, but a short time afterward the town of Walton was added. When first formed the town of Stamford liail an ai'ea of SI, ()()() acres. It possessed all that part of the county of Delaware lying north of tlie northern bounds of (ireat Lot No. -40 in the Harden- burgb Patent. The direct length of its south line was about sixteen and three-fourth miles, and of its eastern line about eleven and one-half miles. Its northern line was eleven miles ,ind its western side, direct from corner to corner, about thirteen and one- fourth miles, .\bout two years afterward its area was reduced more than half by the formation of the town of Koxburv. In 1820 it sustained another loss of territory liy the erection of the town of Bovina. Ten years later ( 1830 ) six lots were taken from Haii>ers- tield at the village of Hobart and annexed to Stamford. Prior to ] S2() the town meetings were held down the Delaware and on Buse's Brook, with one exception, ( IT'.ll ) wiien it was held lit the house of Abel Watkins in the Town Plat. Town meet- ings were subse(]uently held at the Masonic hall in M'aterville, now Hobart, and the town house has ever since been located there. •550 HISTORY OF I)h:LA]yARE COVXrV. The first justice of the peace elected was Dimcau McDouahl, who was elected at the aumial town meeting held April G, 188(t. The methods of voting for town officers prior to 1822 was by cira voce, raising the hand, or l)y the voters arranging themselves on either side of the mom and heiiig counted. The first justices being made b_v appointment no record is obtainable. But bv official signatures it is found that Patrick Laml) held the office in 17!(8, being succeeded by Benjamin Ackerly, ITDi, Andrew Beers, 17i)5; Isaac Hardenburg, 1796, Hugh Rose, 171»7, Asahel E. Paine, 1S(»2, Elijah Canfield, 1808, etc. In 1800 a town insurance company was formed with these offi- cers: Jacob B. Van Housen, Charles Griffin, HenVy Pratt, Xelson L. Thorp, Cyrenus Gibbs, Lyman Wilcox, Frances R. Gilbert, Wuj. R. Beckley and Robt. T. Hume. Mr. Wilcox was chosen president, and Mr. Gilbert secretary. The following from Stamford have been Members of Assembly Patrick Lamb, 1800; John Lamb, 1803; Anthony Marvin, 1805-06 Robert Clark, 1813; James G. Redfield, 1829; John Griffin. 18;i(; Orrin Griffin, 1842; Orrin Foote. 1846; Daniel Stewart, 1853; John Haxten, 1856; Frances R. Gilbert, 1863-64; Isaac H. Maynard, 1876-77; John S. McNaught, 1879. In 1850 Levinus Monson of Hobart was elected a Justice of the Supreme Court (Sixth Judicial district). Only one man from Stam- ford was ever elected to the office of County Jvidge — Isaac H. Maynard in 1878. Those residents of the town who have been elected and served as Sheriffs of the county are Duncan J. Grant, 1835-37; DeWitt C. Thomas, 1847-49; Baldwin (iriffin, 1859-(il; William R. Clark. 1877-79. Many volunteers from Stamford helped to form the 144th Regi- ment, which left Delhi for the front on Sept. 27, 1862. Among those who enlisted were Wesley W. Sanford, Omer Champlin, Beers Grant, James Grant, and niauy others whose names we have not space to mention. T(nV.\ OF STAMI-'Olill. 5<51 Anidii^'' those who resided in thr town :i ccnturv iij,'o were: iSteiihcii Ad.'iiiis. Suiuuel Adee, Diivid Austin, Samuel BaV)bit, Syl- viiuus BriKhaiii, Andrew Beers, John Bennett, Amos Baldwin, • Thomas Brooks, James Boutou, Asa Beach, Archibald Biirf^iss, Thomas Crosby, Alexander Cummiugs, Hemau Dewey, .Samuel Davis, Daniel Foote, Joshua Ferris, James (iraut, Isaac (Jould, Heth (irillin. .lolni Hayes, Ezra Hoyt, Eseck Inman, Benjamin Jones, Jabez Jeuuiugs, Silas and Peter Kuapp, Joseph Keator, John and William Lamb, Daniel Lynch, Niithan Lee, John Mallett, (xeoryf McKenney. Alexander JIcDonald, Klisha Mayuard. Asa Norton, John Polly, Solomon Parsons, Huj,di Rose, Daniel liobin- son, Aaron Rollins, Joshua Simmons, David Smith, John Sherman, Ebenezer Sturgess, Thomas Taylor, Nathaniel Tiffany. Charles Tucker, Henry Voorhis, Demar Wheeler, Joshua Wriyht, Anthony Wilber, Daniel W^oolsey, William Yeomans. BANKS. With increased business came the needs of a bank, and on Octo- ber 24, 18(!8, the First National Bank of Hobart was establislied in that vilhif^e. Previous to the above date the banks at Kingston and Catskill had been used by depositors. The first board of directors was made up of Frederic W. Foote, John M. Olmstead, Russell D. Baird, John Griffin, Robt. I. Hume, Robt. ^IcNauglit, John Cowan. Mr. Foote was chosen president, and John M. Olmstead cashier. The capital at first was §50,000, which was afterwards increased to ^luil, 0(1(1. Ill 1,S72 Mr. Foote resigned his position and Mr. Olmstead was chosen to succeed him as president. In 1881 the bank went into voluntary licjuidation. To the credit of the institu- tion it may be said that during the eighteen years of its existence it never nussed declai-ing a dividend, and during that time it paid to its stockholders about ?lH(i,(l()(t. In 1872 Mr. F. W. Foote started a private banking house, which was known as the l'",x<-liange Bank. Its l)usiness career was short lived. It was on November 12, 1881, that the Stamford National H.ink was organized witii a capital of SoO.iKHt, which was increased in 552 IIISrORY OF DELAWAUK COIXTV. 188() to $75,000. The bank befjau business early iu 188-2 with these officers: M. Fredenburgh, S. W. Hubbard, J. H. Merchant, I. H. Mayuard, Stephen Van Duseu, E. W. Churehill, Edgar Johnson, N. K. Wilson, R. G. Dayton. Mr. Fredenburgh was the Jirst presi- dent, and Mr. Hubbell the fir.st cashier. The present officers are J. H. Merchant, pi-esideut; C. L. Audrus, vice-president; (i. W. Kendall, cashier. Directors, E. W. Churchill, Stephen Van Duseu, Heth Griffin, H. S. Wood, E. W. Gallup, E. L. Seeley. The National Bank of Hobart was established Dec. 6, 1890, with a capital of $50,000. The lirst officers were J. R. Cowan, president; J. M. Olmstead, vice-jsresident; J. A. Scott, cashier. The same gentlemen are still retained in office, with the exception of Mr. Olmstead, who has been succeeded by O. I. Bennett as vice-presi- dent. The directors are J. R. Cowan, J. M. Olmstead, Jacob Law- rence, J. E. Bush, O. I. Bennett, John Bell. FR.4.TERXAL. The first fraternal organization in the town of Stamford was that of St. Andrew's Lodge, F. cV- A. M., No. 48, chartered April 1"2, 179(>. Andrew Beei's was the first master; John French senior warden and James Laughran junior warden. The first by-laws adopted, or at least recorded, were on December 20, 1796. The first number, 48, was renumbered 45, and the charter was forfeited (presumably for not making returns to the Grand Lodge) in 1832. The old warrant of St. Andrew's Lodge was returned to the Grand Lodge August 11, 1852. On September 4, 1852, a dispensation was issued to Harry Andrew-s, Elisha Wetmore, William McCaughan, Agnus McDonald, Alexander Stewart, B. Lyon and Joseph B. Hunt to erect a lodge at Hobart. Harry Andrews was named as master; Elisha Wetmore senior warden, and William McCaughan junior warden. A warrant was issued to these brethren as St. Andrew's Lodge, No. 289, Juue 8, lf^5;}. This last warrant or charter is the one under which St. Andrew's Lodge is now working. St. Andrew's Mark Master's Lodge was an off-shoot of St. Andrew's Lodge, and is not the first masonic lodge organized iu Delaware county as has Towx OF sTAMroRi). r)r>3 •ermucDiislv lieeu recorded. The tirst rci-urds (ilitiiiiuililo of luiv minutes bear date March (1, IT'.IS. The otlicers were Andrew Beers, master; David (i. Wain\vrij;lit, senior warden; Robert (i. Wetmore junior warden; John S. Bradford, tiler. The lodf,'e of Mark Master ^lasons was formed about the time the Grand Chapter of the State was organized. On February 4, 1S()2, n Chapter of Koyal .Vrch Masons was organized, Andrew Beers being chosen high priest; John Lamb, king; and Erastus Root, scribe. The number of tliis chapter was 14. The original charter of St. Andrew's Chajiter is uow in the possession of Delta Chapter Xo. 185, R. A. M. of the village of Stamford, lieing the legitimate and lineal descendant of old St. Andrew's No. 14. St. Andrew's Lodge and St. Andrew's Chapter were the first of the order in Delaware county. The tirst meetings of St. Andrew's Lodge were held at the house of Andrew- Beers, and at other members' liouics. Some time later a masonic liall was built near St. Peter's Episcopal church in Hobart. The Rtiilding, a frame structure, was moved to its present site more than sixty years ago, after having been abandoned for lodge purposes. It is now used as a tenement. The present masonic hall at Hobart was built in 18X!I. St. Andrew's Lodge is more than one hundred years old, its centennial having been celebrated at Holiart on Octo- ber 8, 18;)(;, at which time Major George C. CHbbs of Stamford was the historian, and to him the writer is indebted for much data concernmg the Masonic organizations. St. Andrew's Lodge has a membership of about one hundred. The present olticers are: G. A. Young, master; "Walter Kniskern, senior warden; William Barrett, junior warden; Norman K. Silliman, secretary; John Telford, treas- urer; Itdlicrt ('. 151ackl>urn. senior deacon; W. Frank Clark, junior deacon; John Coon, tyler. Delta Chapter, No. 18."), was organized Feb. K, iHli."). The first officers were, Michael Karen, High Priest; Robt. S. Brownell, King; •Oliver D. Young, Scribe; S. B. Cliamiiion, Secretary. Regular con- vocations are held in the village of Stamford. The present officers .are, .\. L. Van Dusen. Hif,'li Priest; E. A\'. Landon, King; J. W. 554 UlsroHV OF IiKLAWARK COrXTY. Baldwin, Scribe; Joliusou Hiimiltou, treasurer; Geo. (). Leouaril,. secretarj-. There are sixty-five members. Hobart Lodge, No. :^;i!), I. (). (). F., wa.s orj^auized ^Lircli 7, 1848, with these oflScers: Dr. C'alviu C. Covel, noble grand; Bald- win Griffin, vice-grand; John McDonald, treasurer. Capt. John R.. Baldwin was the first member to die, March 7, IHM, The ]u-esent officers are, noble grand, D. J. Young; vice-grand, Freeman Keyser; secretary, Geo. A. Young; treasurer, Justus Cobbe; warden, J. E. Butler. This lodge is the parent Odd Fellows' organizati(m of Delaware county. The lodge celebrated its fiftieth anniversary last spring. KIRE DEPARTMENT, ST.WIFORD. The organization of a fire department for the village of Stam- ford was perfected June H>, 1870. The first apjjaratus j^urchased was a hand engine of the Button make. It was a second hand machine, bought for $250, in Rome, N. Y., by Maj. Geo. C. Gibbs and Harvey S. Wood, a committee ajtiiointed for that purpose by the board of trustees. Major Giblis was appointed chief of the department and A. M. Martin assistant chief. A company consist- ing of thirty-five men was immediately organized to run with the machine, the company retaining the title, "Fort Stanwix Engine Co.," that being the original name of the engine while it was owned in Rome. John M. Bennett was elected foreman. The machine is still in commission but is not much used owing to the splendid system of water works with which the village is supplied. The present officers of the fire department are Geo. O. Leonard, chief; A. L. Van Dusen, 1st assistant; J. G. Dean, 2d assistant; E. L. McArthur, clerk. Stamford Hose Co. No. 1, was organized Nov. 21, 1883. The present officers are, Wm. Myers, foreman; A. L. Mattice, assistant; W. P. More, secretary; Eugene Stouteuburgh, treasurer. L H. Maynard Hose Co. No. 2, was organized April 17, 1880. John Dooley is foreman; F. A. Maynard, assistant; E. L. McArthur,, secretary; A. E. Fink, treasurer. X o yoir.v OF sTAMi-tiia). 557 S. E. Cliiirchill Honk ami Liiilili r Co. was or;;iini/.c(l Ort. 2, 1H95. The otticers are, Iv ('. Hant'ord, I'oninan ; C. E. Smith, assis- tant: J. A. Tooley, secretary; 1>. ('. Hoa^laiid. treasurer. \V.\li;i! WOKKS. The busiuess of the vilhifje haviiij^ increased to such au e.\teut that the need of a better su])ply of water for tire and domestic use became ini]ii rativc. <)ii Fcliruury 2, ISSl, tlir jiicseiit excellent system of water works was established. Au organization was formed and u company, capitalized at S"2(), 0(1(1. immediately bef^au business. The dire<-tors wfiv S. E. Churciiill. J. P. (irant, S. W. Hubl.ell. I. H. .Mayuard, J. C. Van Dyke, Johnson Hamilton. F. (i. Rulifsou, Edgar Johnson aud E. W. Churchill. S. E. Churchill was elected president; J. P. Grant, secretary; S. \V. Hubl)ell, treasurer: F. G. Rulifsou, supei'intendent. A reservoir was constructed about one aud oue-half miles north of the village and mains laid throughout the various streets. Octo- ber 29, 1892, the capital of the company was increased to $30,000, and again on March 8, 1897, to ^45,000. This last increase of capital was for the purpose of building another reservoir about a mile fuither north of the original one aud to put down au increased number of mains. The new reservoir was constructed early in the summer of 1895, at a cost of $1(),(MI(). The water works is one of the best iu the state of its size aud au abundance of pure spring water is supplied the citizens. There are twenty-six fire hydrants located about the village at im])ortant points. The jn-essure of water is 121 pounds to the sipiai-e inch. The present officers are: J. C. Van Dyke, president; J. K. Cowan, vice-president; AVilliani Whitney, secretary; U. H. Earner, treasurer: Johnson Hauiilton, superintendent; C. A. Crowell, A. M. Warner. W. V. (iillespie, E. W. Churchill, directors; George O. Leouard, (,'ollector. SCHOOLS. The first school commissioners of the town were Joseph llurd, Silas Kuapj) and Francis Burritt, who were elected at the annmil meeting in IT'.h;. On Fel). :}, lSi;i, the town was diviited into nine ^58 HISTORY UF DELAWARE CurXTV. .sebodi districts, the connnissioners, Charles B. Perrv, Aaron BlisL, and Dauiel ■McGillivrae, being elected at a special meeting' held in January of that year. The first inspectors of schools were Kohert W Forest, William Kedzie, Joseph D. Beers, :Mutthe\v DcAVitt, Ituht. Greassou and Abel AVatkins. The first school building stood on the east side of Delaware street near the railroad crossing, in a •corner of the lot of the present residence of Mrs. I. H. Maynard. .Small select school had been kept at various times and in dift'i rent parts of the town, but it was not until 1S51 that the citizens were induced to contribute toward the erection of the Stamford Semin- ary building. The building finally passed into the hands of Charles ■■O. Churchill, who built a boarding hall in connection with the school. The building later passed into other hands and is devoted to private eutcriirisos. It was not, however, until 1874 that the "Stamford Seminary " was incorporated under board of regents, .and on the 30th of May the corner stone of the present splendid structure was laid. The building with its apinu'teuanees, exclusive of site, cost S12, ()()(). A bell weighing 300 jjounds was subsequent- ly bought by private subscription. In the seminary building was kept the books of the Judson Library Association, named after Samuel Judsou, jr., who bequeathed to the association $1,500 upon condition that the citizens of the village would contribute an eqiuil -amount of money. This being done the Library Association was formed with a board of trustees composed of S. E. Churchill, J. C. Van Dyke, J. H. McKee and I. H. Maynard. The library con- tains about 3,(100 volumes. The establishment of a Union Free School was not perfected until August, 1881, when school districts No. 1 of Stamford, No. 15 of Jefferson and No. 5 of Harpersfield were consolidated and the Union Free School system was perfected. The first trustees were Norman K. Wilcox, Van Zandt Wyckoff, S. B. ChamiJion, S. I. Brown, Harvey S. Wood, H. S. Preston, I. H. Maynard, S. E. Churchill, John Hagar. I. H. INIayuard was elected president, and Van Zandt Wyckoff secretary. The seminary build- ing was secured and has since been used. The first principal was rnn'.v (II-- sr.\MF<)i:i>. -,.-)!> Ivolit. M. Hu^-'lifs. Ht' was siu'ceedi'il liv Ailelliert Gardonicr, ISS-t; F. M. Siiiitb, LS87; James Blakeslev, IHIH); J. B. Hastiii«rs, 18112; Jaiiics A. Tooley, 18IKi. The jiresent priucijtal is Prof. S. L. Howe, wb'i was PUfiafieil iu LSlKi. The present hoard of trustees consists of H. P. Huhhell, presiileut; S. V.. Churchill, J. H. :\[ereliaut, C. L. Autlriis, H. C. Lawrence, S. I. Brown, J. A. Toolev, A. W. Terry, E. E. Van Dyke. W. H. :\rcAlpine is clerk. The scho>>l has an attendance of alnuit ;?ti(i pupils. HOBVHT. Hobart is a small village in the town of Stamford and aliout four miles west of the latter village. It has a po})ulation of ahout 650 and is the oldest portion of the town of Stamford. The place -was ori-jinally known as "Waterville, presumably taking its name from the excellent water power which the Delaware river atfords at this point. The settlement was at one time called " Tiukertown " from the fact that a man liviuir here ajiprojtriated to his use a fidl •set of tinker's tools belonging to another man. The Rev. Philander Chase, the first rector of St. Peter's Episcojial church, suggested that the village be named after Bislio]) Hobart oi New Jersey, which was done. The village was incorporated early in the spring of ISss. The first meeting of the board of trustees was held on Jlay 81 of that year. Tlie first President of the village was Dr. J. S. lIcNaught; Trustees, J. K. Odell, S. D. Kerr, John Robinson; Treasurer, Case Ostrander; Collector, O. B. Barlow; Clerk, A. H. (irant. The pres- ent officers of the village are: President, James R. Cowan; Trustees, Jacob Lawrence, Oscar L Bennett; Treasurer, William S. Thomson; €lerk, A. S. Carroll. George Foote kept the first tavern, where the old Mansion House building now stands. Cyrus Beers opened the first store, on the same ground wlnre the store of J. W. Griffin is located. The first physician in Hobart was Dr. Josliua H. Brett, who was also the first judge of Delaware county. Other i)hysicians were Drs. Gregory, Hanford, Howard, and J. S. McNaught, the last of whom has been supervisor of the town and represented the diptrict in the Assembly. Dr. ilcNaught is still in active ])ractice and one .of the prominent citizens of the village. The first lawyers were J. B. S])encer and ,\ndrew Beers, the 5()() HISTORV OF DELAWARE CorXTY. lattei- beiuy kuowu as tlu' iihuaiiiu- maker. Souk; of bis almanacs ^ are still in existence. Williaui Trotter was the first po.stmaster at the villaj.;e, ami James B. Eich is the present iucumbeiit. George Foote built the first canliuy iiiill. He also imilt a woolen factory, ami the water to run both mills was taken from the same dam, which althouj^h frequently rebuilt still remains and does good service. The foundry now operated by John Kobinson was built by Charles Whiting in the winter of 184!). Mr. Robinson has owned and conducted the foundry for nearly forty years. The Hobart Agricultural Society was organized June 17, l(S7(i, with these officers: President, D. C. Sharpe; Vice-Pi-esidents, Sam- uel H. Stevens, E. A. Gallup, Charles S. Stevens, H. Meeker; Secretary, E. S. McNaught; Treasurer, James S. Kerr. The first exhibition of the society was held October 10-12, 187G. The grounds and l)uildings are south of the village. The society has not held annual exhibitions in several years, not a sufficient interest being manifested to ensure its success. The Union School of Hobart was organized in 1K!)1, when the present building was constructed at a cost of about $7,000, which includes the furii^sliings. The building mas enlarged in 1895 by the erection of an addition. The board of education consists of James E. Cowan, president; A. S. Carroll, secretary; James B. Eich, treasurer; James A. Scott, R. Hume Grant, William H. McClelland. There is a well stocked library containing about 2,000 volumes attached to the school. Prof. George J. Dann is the principal, and Martha Belle Scott preceptress. The school is now known as the Hobart High School. The lire dejjartmeut was organized August 5, 188(1, the first company being called Star Hose Co. No. 1. In 1894 this comj)any was incorporated under the name of the Cascade Hose Co. About the time of the organization of the Star Hose Co. a small hand fire engine was bought in New York. It at one time belonged to Engine Co. No. 41, of the volunteer dei^artment of that city. The company organized to run with this machine was called Clinton Engine Co. No data of the formation of this comijauy is obtain- able. The "old tub," as it is sometimes called, is still in service but not much used owing to the village being supplied with water works. The officers of this company are, J. E. Butler, foreman; J.. C McMurdy, secretary; C. E. Hauford, treasurer. The officers of 7V(ir.v o/- sT.\MFed $lo,000. James A. Cowan is president; (). B. Foote, vice-i)resident ; S. O. Bennett, secretary; J. R. Stevenson, treasurer. STAMFOKT). Stamford is one of tin- most picturcsfnie ami ln'iilthv villages it tin' Stale. It is about H>2 miles from New York and seventy-four from Kingston. It is familiarly spoken of as the •' Saratoga of the Catskills," lieiiig i|uito noted as a summer resort. Its altitude is alioul l.SOII feet above tide watiT. Thi' vil- lage is roneheil by rail over the T'Ister .V Delaware railroad, which was built as far as Stamford in December, 1S72. Later the rr of 1S70, tin- frame being raised on the Gth of .July of that year. In 1893 Granthurst Park was annexed to the corporation. It is located on the heights overlooking the village and is surrounded by the handsome resi- dences of some of the more wealthy citizens. The Stamford Electric Light Company was organized April, 1892, with a capital of $20,000. The present officers are, J. P. Grant, president ; .1. K. Grant, secretary; S. E. Churchill, treasurer; .J. Corbin, manager. Of the three newspapers in the town the Stamford ilirror is the oldest. This paper was established in 18-51, by Simon B. Champion, who had previous- ly printed a newspaper in the village of Bloomville. Mr. Champion is the oldest publisher in the county and one of the few veteran editors in the state actively engaged in country .journalism. He became a resident of Stamford in 1870, having moved from Bloomville. The Mirror is Democratic in tone and principle and its venerable editor is highly esteemed by all classes. Mr. Champion has held many positions of trust in his town, Mr. A. .1. Champion is assistant editor of the Mirror and Mr. Clifford Champinn its Iiusiness manager. The Stamford Recorder was establisiied in the village in .\pril. 1S!)2. by a company composed of representative Eepublicans who desired an exponent of tlieir political faith. The name of the corporation is The Stamford Printing and Publishing Company, and the printing plant of the Andes Recorder was purchased of William Clark, wlio became editor and manager of tlie Stamford Recorder. In August, 1894, Mr. Clark resigned and Edward .V. .\ckley has been the editor and manager since that time. TO WW (JF STAMF(Jlil). -,(;3- This youug villam' i.s t-ituutod iu tlio boiuitirul valley of Ihc West BiaiR-li ill the western part of the town. Sini'O the eoiiiiiig of the railioad new Iniild- ings, stores, hotel, ami a larjie and important ereaniery have been c-iocted. The ereaniery is owned and operated sneeessfully l)y a company of farmers. James MeLean and S. W. Andrmvs have each fine summer residences here.ind the latter is making very extensive improvements on his grounds. In the picture given on page 4(>0 this place is shown. CHIIRCHES. The first building to be used in town for religious purposi-s was buill about 1798. It was a union meeting house, not denominational. The money. $.5.50, to build this meeting house was raised by popular subscription. Among the original subscribers were Thomas Rickie. Douglas Mcliityre. James Pud- ney, Nehemiah Whitney, Ralph Newell anrthwest of Stamlmd village. Iu 18f':t the society was reorgauizeil .iiid the present Ipuilding erected on Main strei't between the Methodist and Pii'sbvifiiiiM churclies. Some ye.irs au'o the church was rebuilt. The church. 564 iiisronv of r)h:r.A\VARF corxrv. ■was dedioatetl Novemlier 8, 18G6. The Rev. .1. B. Van Hooson was pastor of this church for many years. The present paster is the Rev. R. G. Sibley. The seventh cliureh in town was built in Hobart by tlie Presbyterian •society in 18.54, wiiidi lias not had a pastor rcfjularly. Tlie Jlethodists also built a elHireh at the head of Roses Brook uliiili was tlie eifihth church built in the town. William Trotter, esq., had much to of the county of Delaware was included in the cdunties of Alli,in\ and rister. That portion of the county north of the ^\■(•st biiinch of the Delaware, or what was then called the Fishkill, was within the boundaries of Albany county, and that portion lying on thr' south of the aforesaid branch was included iu the county of Ulster. 29 •'■'"■ 568 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COCXTV. Ou March 12tL, 1772, the couutv of Trvon was organized froiir the fouutv of Albany, so named from Tryou, the cohjnial j^overuor who during the Revolution became so zealous in the cause of the king that he wantonly sent out parties to burn and destroy all the property of the inoffensive eolouists, declaring that he would give twenty dollars for every acting committeeman who should be deliv- ered to the King's troops. The year succeeding the close of the Revolution, the name of Tryon county was changed to Montgomery. This county included that portion of the county north of the "West branch of the river. February IGth, Otsego was erected into a county, including within its boundaries the northern jjortion of the county of Dela- ware. Upon the erection of the present county of Delaware, on March 10, 1797, the southern portion of Otsego county included between the Susquehanna and the West branch of the Delaware, and that portion of Ulster south of the West branch and extending to the northern boundaries of the present county of Sullivan, was erected into the county of Delaware. Upon the formation of the county, six towns were included within its limits, to wit: Colchester, Middletowu, Franklin, Har- persfield, Kortright and Stamford. The town of Colchester was originally organized April loth. 1792, and was carved out of the town of Middletowu, which had been organized March 81st, 1789, as a town of Ulster county. The territory of this town was taken from the towns of Rochester and Woodstock in Ulster county. The town of Franklin was organized April 10th, 1792. from the town of Harpersfield, which was organized ^larch 7th, 17SS, as a town of Montgomery county. Kortright was organized March 12th, 1793, from the town of Harpersfield. Stamford was organized April 10th, 1792. Seven days after the organization of Delaware county the town of Walton was organized. As originally organized the upper or northern boundary line was the line of White's patent, just above Towx OF WM.Tox. 5f;9 D.lhi villiige, ruiuiint;- wi'storlv tlu'ouj:,^^ tlic tuwu of i'ljiukliu iiiul what is uow the town of Jlasonville to the Hue of Broome county, thc'uce southerly to the Dt'lawnrc river at Deposit. The West branch of the Dehiware was the southerly boundary of the town. Upon the formation of the town of Delhi in 1708, the upper line of Liviuf^ston's patent was the northerly boundary. That line was the upi)cr line of the Robert JIurruy farm. In 181"2 the town line was m )ved up to Arthur Shaw's line, Ixiu^'' the iipjx'r line of Bedding- ton's patent. In IM'io, upon the erection of the town of Haunlen, the town line was moved to its ]u-esent location. The town derives its name tmni William Walton, who obtainccl a j^'raut of tweuty thousand acres of land from the Kiuf^ of Enj^laud in 1770. This yraut extended from the Delaware to the Susipie- hanna river and was about two miles in width. The upper line of the patent was located about one mile above Walton villaj^e, near the farm formerly owned by Ste})hen Bcrray and the lower Hue al)out a ujile below the villaj^e. The to[)o{,'raphy of the town may be described !is a mixture of mountain, hill and vaHey. Through the southeastern portion runs the "West branch of the Delaware river. Along that portion of the river in the northern |>arf of the town are wide, fertile fiats. Below the village the Hats become narrower, and the mountains ai)proach almost to the river banks. That portion of the town north of the river is traversed by the East, West and Third brooks, wliicli empty into the river through the plain iipmi wliicli the village of Walton is now situated. The valleys of these various streams form some of the best farming lands in the county. The first pernuiuent settlement was made in the town in the year 17H4. Prior to that time hunters and prospectors had uinloubtcilly ])assed thrniigli tlic unknown forests which then stood as sentinels. Although but little more than one hundred years have passed, many of the events of those early days have faded into tradition, tradition into myth, and myth into fable. It is said that stmie of th(^ carlv settlers from the region of the Siisiiiichanna 570 HISTORY OF DELAWARE CorxrV. valley made iucursious into these regions, allured l>y the plentiful- ness of the game. At this period Dr. Piatt Towiiseiid, a resident of Long Island, purchased of William Walton a tract of live thousand acres from the south end of the 'Waltou patent. A portion of the purchase price was to be paid in surveying the tract, the doctor being a Ijractical surveyor. Seventeen hundred of the five thousand acres ■was paid for in this work. Of the original settlers who came from Long Island with Dr. Townseud, twenty in number, were the following jjersons: The doctor's two sons, "William and Isaac; Robert North, wife and infant son, Benjamin; Gabriel North, wife and two daughters, Hannah and Deliorah; William Furmau, wife and two children; Joshua Pine and sons, John, Joshua and Daniel, and daughters, Nellie and Mollie. They left Long Island in the month of March oi that year and ascended the Hudson in a sloop to what was then called Esopus. Leaving their families at Marbletown the men of the party made the journey fi'om that point to Walton on foot, traversing the almost unknown wilderness. No one of the number has left a detailed account of that interesting journey. Their route, no doubt, touched at the early settlement made at Pakataken, near the present village of Margaretville, and Pepacton on the East branch of the Delaware just above Downsville. When they arrived at the end of their journey they found that some timber pirates had preceded them up the river the year i^revious, and had cut from Pine Hill a quantity of the pine which covered it in great abundance from base to summit, and from which the hill had its name, and had attem^jted to raft it down the river for the Philadelphia market; but being unacquainted with the river the fruits of their piracy was strewn along the banks, the rafts not being sufficiently strong to stand the racking resulting from uuskillfvd jiilotage. These people had built a log hut or cabin for their temporary use, which Mr. Townsend and his party were not slow to apjiropriate and occupy. Though 7YMr.V (//•■ UM/,7'O.V. 571 rude, uo doubt, it was a palace of rest for the wear}- pioneers at the eud of their louf,' and perilous journey. The exact locatiou of this cabin iu the wilderness is somewhat in doubt, but the weiyht of authority seems to place it somewhere near the mouth of the East nronk, nciir what was formerly tlie residence of Damon Hull. Hobert North, one of the i)ioueers, built a lo()8, taxpayers 114; estimated inhabitants .570; assessed property, real and personal, §880.55. In 1810, taxpayers 172; estimated population iS(;o; assessed val- uation §108,801. In 1815, taxpayers lilO; estimated population 1150; valuation S18(i,25(;. Walton village in the year 1815 cdiitiiiued 88 taxpayers ; estimated population Kio. In 1h20, taxpayers I'.IS; estiiuuted populutioii it'.MI; assessed valuation $178,890. In 1825, taxpayers 222; estimated population 1,110. assessed valuation §145,538. In 1880, taxpayers 25(1: estimated jKipulation 1,280; assessed valuation .^184,870. In 1885, taxpayers 8(!1; eeusus ])oinilation 1,754; assessed valuation $157,350. In 1840, taxpayers 887; census pojmlation l,S4fl; assessed valu- ation §182,S70. In 1845, taxpayers 879; census population 2,704; assessed valuation §192,2.50. In 1850, taxpayers 419 ; census population 2,277 ; assessed valuation §212.190. In 1855, taxpayers 497; census population 2,404. In 18()0, taxpayers 550; census population 2,740; assessed valu- ation §541,340. In 18f)5, taxpayers (ill ; census ])oi)ul;iti(iii 2,92(1 : assessed valuation §584,200. In 1870, census population 8,578; assessed vnluatiuii ?;.sl2,222. .574 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. The first grist mill was Imilt l)y ^Michael Goodrich ou East Brook, about a mile from the village, upon the site uow occupied by the Rowland mill. From the best information obtainable the date of its erection is 17!)2. The site has been used for that purpose continuously since that time. The second grist mill was- built about two and one-half miles up the river from the village by Thomas W. Griswold about the year 1798. This mill has long since fallen into decay, and not a vestige is left to mark even the site. The third grist mill was erected in 1802 by Daniel Rob- inson in what is known as the Den, upon the farm now occujned by John Northcott. In 1806 William and Isaac Towusend built the fourth mill, which is still in existence and is owned by A. A. Haverly. This mill is located just above the village on the river. These early mills were very crude in eonstructiou, with only one ruu of stone, aud these were brought a great distance, probably from Schoharie or Albany. They were brought by wagon or cart to the head of the river, two canoes were lashed together aud the stones placed upou them and thus lloated to their destination. Several of the early settlers had a crude contrivance or vat for tanning their own leather. The first tannery was built by Nathaniel Steele ou East Brook on the premises occupied by Pol- lock Howlan the Novelty works were started h\ W. C. (Joiild; for a time they were run liy Wood >V (i.ndd. and then by Peake <& Barlow. Mr. Peake bon-^ht out .Mr. Barlow's interest iu IKid,. and iu l.S!)5 a corporation was formed with a capital stock of oue hundred thousaud dollars. .\l)out one hundred and fifty meu are employed iu its various departments. It is now the principal manufacturing industry of the town. Two foundries are in operatiou; one owned by N. O. Flint, and one by L. E. Hoyt & Co. These are located at West End near the (). \ W. depot. L. K. Hoyt iV Co. employs about twenty men and the Flint foundry a less number. The manufacture of potash was oue of the early industries of the toW'U, coinmenciny about the year 1800. One potash manu- factory was located on East Brook and was discontinued alxmt 18"28. In lK:-{(i one was established near the jinscnt dejiot by Xiles Berray, and still later au extensive oue was established Ijy William Ogdeu and Henry Smith, where the Novelty works are now located on Delaware street. These establishments have loujj since disappeared. Brick kilns were established as early as 1815. One was located, on the farm now owned by James Patterson on East Brook. In 182H Ezra Benedict operated a kiln on East Brook. The clothing of the early settlers was largely made by h.iinl, to use a common phrase. TJie wool from the l)acks of the sheep was washed and carded by hand into rolls. These were spun into yarn upon a spinning wheel, from which it was taken upon a reel. The hand loom was i)ut into o])eration and the shuttle was sent back and forth with each downward motion of the treadles. Some of the housewives were very expert as weavers, and several yards, per day of good solid woolen cloth was the residt. Flax was- ijuite extensively cultivated, and the lian votes were cast for license and 4K(( aj^ainst. The l:nv known ;is the Kaiucs law went into effect M.ucli l.S!)(;. Walt(ni has been, and is one of the leadinfj^ towns in the county in all that pertains to aj,'ricultural interests. Her location pecid- iarly tits her for dairvin-j and kindred agricultural pursuits. The river flats of the East. West, and Third hrooks produce an abun- dance of grain and hay; while the hills which rise on either side from which bubl)les cold, pure water in great abundance, produce rich, sweet pasturage, so necessary for the ])roductiou of the butter, the fame of wiiicli lias become worhl wide . Tlie ninuber of cows in the town at present is estimated at (),()(l(l. The amount of butter pro(lu<'cd is not as large as formerly owing to the growth of the milk traffic, which began to be developed upon the open- ing of the Ontario & Western railroad in 1872. Large (piantitieR of milk are produced in that portion of the town adjacent to the line of the railroad, which is shipped direct to Xew York city, thus diminishing in some degree the j)roduct of butter. The farms which produce the milk are so managed that the jiroduction ex- tends through the winter months, at wiiicli time the |)rice is ad- vanced, making the ]ir()cliictinn mmc jirotitable. Owing to increased railroad facilities from the west and the conseciueut cheapness of grain, large quantities of feed are purchased by the farmers and the number of cows upon their fanns has been largely increased. Formerly the farmer depended entirely upon his own farm for the feed for his stock. Now the great grain belts of the west assist in making the dairy of the eastern farmer. The lirst town meeting was held in the log church of the liiiou society in Ajiril, IT'.t". Prior to that time the town meetings were 580 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COVNTY. lirKl lit tlic house of iliijor Root, near the jivesciit ilivisicjii Hue- of the towns of Fraukliu and Walton. From the town records a few extracts may not be imintei-estiuf,'': "April ;^rd, 1798, at a town meeting held at the meeting house at Walton, the following perstjus were elected into otiice, to wit; Isaac Darrow, collector; David St. John, town clerk; Robert North, supervisor; Isaac Darrow, John Eells, and Clark Cannon, assessors; Benajah McCall, Thaddeus Hoyt, overseers of the poor; Aziel Hyde, Michael Goodrich, Reuben Crosby, commissioners of high- ways; Lewis Seymour, constable aud collector; Thomas Dennis, Joseph Adams, constables; Hilliard Burrhus, Andrew Craig, Dr. Wm. Maxtield, Samuel Teed, Asa Gears, John St. John, Thomas W. Griswold, Moses Hauford, Josiah Cleveland, Dr. Isaac Goodrich, -Vziel Hyde, David Smith, Nathaniel Emerson, Samuel Frisbee, overseers of highways; Benajah !McCall, Isaac Darrow, Samuel Johnston, King Mead, James Bradt, Joseph Webb, Jonas Parks, fence viewers; John Eells, j^ound master; Benajah McCall, Aziel Hyde, James Durfee, commissioners of schools." At a town meeting in 18U3 the following resolution was passed: "That any hog or hogs, running at large without a sufficient yoke and ring, the fence viewers to be judges of the j'okes, shall be liable to be taken aud shut up in any mans enclosure. The owner of said hogs, after being notified to take his hogs home, which notification sliall be made within twelve hours, shall be liable to a tine of fifty cents for each hog so found running at large with- ont yoke and rings, after the first notification, from the first day of April to the first day of December." The following is a list of the supervisors of Walton since its erection and the date of their first election: Robert North, 1797; David St. John, 180.5; John Eells, 1809; Gabriel North, 1811; Isaac Ogden, 1813; Bennett Beardsley, 1815; William Tow-nsend, 1828; William Merwin, 1827; Alan Mead, 1829; Samuel Eells, 1832;- Peter Gardiner, 1830; John Townsend, 1839; Ambrose Ogden, 1842; John Mead, 1S41; David More, 1845; G. S. Mead, 1.S4H; Gabriel 7VM\-.V (//•• ir.l/.7V(.V. .-(HI S. North. ISo"); Bcujiuiiiu J. Bassctt, iHSil; J. B. Kclls. l.s(!8; C. B. Wade, lK(i'.t: M. W. Marvin, 187(1; A. D. Peakf. ISTd; (i. O. Mead, 1877; Charles B. Bass(tt, 18!M); Joscidi Harhv, 18!)2; H. S. He well, 18!»:^. As early as 18()2 \vc tind the earl.v settlers of Walton conibiiiiu",' their eflforts toward securiuj,'' the advautafices of a piililii- hlirarv. Xearl.v fifty shares at $"2 per share were taken and with this fund ;the foundation of a valuable collection was coiuiuenced. In l8(»ii the Walton library was incorporated under the f^eueral act of the leyislature. This organization was kept up and additions made to the collections until the number of volumes reached ()o8. On January 27th, 1852, the library was divided by lot among its mem- bers. By a ])rovision in the settlement of the estate of the late Wm. B. Ogden, a fund of twenty thousauil dollars was set aside for the purpose of erecting a library building and furnishing the same with books. This building is now in course of erection upon the jJublic square at the junction of North street and (Jar- diner Place. Fifteen thousand dollars of the fund is being used in tlie construction of a building. The balance, with some liberal contributions of friends interested in the project, will supjilv the books and provide for the care of the building. As early as 1813 the town was organized into school districts. Orig^iuall.v there were twelve districts; William Townsend. Alex- ander Ogden, commissioners of schools. As at present organized, the town contains twenty-three dis- tricts, the last organized being the Marvin Hollow district, wiiidi was organized in 1850. The necessity for more and better edu- cational facilities soon became apparent to the people of the town, and in 1852 the Rev. J. S. Pattengill, then ))aKtor of the Congre- gational church, a large hearted and lilxral minded man, began the agitation of more extensive educational facilities. He made the theme the subject of several sermons and lectures. .V wakened l)v these ap))eals, a su))scription ])aper was circulated and $."<,. "{(lO was subscribed in sums varWng from ?5 to $30(1. The subscribers 582 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COCXTV. organized tbeiuselv( s iiuder the uame of Tlie Academy Associatiou. At a meeting of tbe association, Foliruavv 3, 1853, the following persons were elected trustees, to wit: Col. John Townseud, D. H. Ciay, Hon. John Mead, Dr. J. S. McLaurv, William E. White, Kev. J. S. Pattengill, Dr. T. J. Ogden, Gen. B. J. Bassett, S. H. White, J. H. St. John, Thomas Marvin, AVhite (Iriswold, Nathaniel Fitch. The board was organized by the election of John Mead as presi- dent; Dr. McLaury, secretary; Nathaniel Fitch, treasurer. J. S. Pattengill, John Mead, and T. J. Ogden were appointed a building committee. The land was donated by John Townseud and J. Eells was appointed master builder. The frame of the building was erected June 23, 1853. The lower lioor was divided into two apartments, one used as a chapel and the other for a primary department. The upper floor was divided into two school rooms, one for ladies and one for gentlemen. The entire cost of the building was about four thousand dollars. The academy was com- pleted December 14th, 1853, and incorporated by the regents February 10, 1854. The first principal emjiloyed was Mr. Eli M. Maynard, assisted by his sister Miss Lucy A. Maynard. Miss Ade- laide Gardiner was the tirst teacher in the primary department. Mr. Maynard resigned in March, 1857. Henry E. Ogden acted as princij)al during the spring term of 1857. M. N. Horton took charge as principal August 26, 1857. During the spring of 1859, an addition was built to the main building at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars, and the lower rooms of the main building were used entirely for a chapel. Mr. Horton resigned March 18(il. In July, 1801, Sidney Crawford took charge as principal, assisted by the following corps of teachers: Miss Jeuuie S. Bostwick, !Miss Charlotte Marsh, who tilled the position of preceptress. Miss E. Maria Ogden, teacher of drawing and painting. Hon. John Mead resigned the presidency of the board March 30, 18G3, and David H. Gay was elected to succeed him. Charles E. Sumner was en- gaged as principal aud began his duties August 24, 1804. He remained in charge three years and was assisted liy ]Miss Lena F. TO WW OF WAi/rox. -,«3. Wlieiit as preceptress iu 1S(;4 aud 1H(!,"), ^liss Jcuiiic Siimucr, lS(io auil LS(>(i. iiij.l Miss Jeuuie F. Barues, 18(i(; to ISdT. Miss Hattie A. Taylor had charR-e of the primary ilepartnieut. Mr. Suiimer was siiceeeih-d by Strong Comstock, August I'.ttli, ISd", and .Miss. Martha Atwood was preceptress. Iu the spring of 1808 a uiiion school was organized, and the academy property transferred tn the board of education. Iu 1H70 the Rev. D. T. Barclay was chosen principal for the two following years. The diplomas were tirst awarded in 1S71. The tirst class consisted of Ella Love, Hannah N. Benedict, Charlotte E. North, Cornelia F. White. >riss Laura (iay was engaged as preceptress iu 1.S7U iind held the position until 188(i. Jlr. C'omstock was again called to till the position of principal iu IST'i and continueil iu charge uutil ISHl. when Pr(jf. Fairgrieve, of Fulton, N. Y., was chosen as principal. Owing to the rapid growth of the town, incident to the building of the Ontario iV Western railroad, the old building soou became inade- quate for the purpose for whi<-h it was intended, and a new l)uil(l- ing was erected iu 1892 at a cost of about forty-rtve thousand dollars. The new building is one of the tiuest of the kind in the state, and was completed and occupied in the fall of 18!)2. The brave and hardy pioneers who left their homes upon Long Island and Connecticut to establish their future homes iu the wilderness in the interior of New York, brought with them the principles and the faith which enabled them to bear up under and sustain the burdens incident to such a great uudertakiug. They were descendants of the men who I'lnturies before had left their own country ami braved the dangers of a stormy voyage of three thousand miles of ocean, in order that they might wi)rshi|i (rod according to the dictates of their own conscience. As early as 1791 a log house was built upon Mt. Pleasant for the double purpose of a ])lace of worshij) on the Sabbath and a school during the week. The church was formally organized Octo- ber 12, 1793, by Rev. David Huntington, a missionary from the (Tcucral Association of Connecticut. Mr. Huntington's stay was- .1584 HISTORY OF DELAWARE CorXTY. Iiiicf. David Harrowev, a iiicmlier of tlic cliurcli, now (■ii1cicy WM.Tux. 587 Esther Bcrrav, John Heath, Di'iviil Hoath, Eleanor Heath, Mrs. Filkins, Elizabeth Orr, (^uartus Merrick, Lucia Jlerrick. The cele- brated Nathan Bangs held i)reailiinff services in "Warreu Tavern as «arl_v as ISdS, and afterwards a iireaclier named Richards came into town on bnsiuess and preached a few sermons. The Rev. Asa Hall, while visiting his father, preached in the house of Cyrus. St. John. That was about the year 181(1. The first regular apijoiutment was January 1. isl'.i. when A. S. Scotield was appointed to take charge of the church, since which time there has been regular j)reach- ing. The following have l>een the appointments: In IS.U, David Terry and James Benson; 1885, ^M. VanDusen and D. B. Turner; 183C, S. IL Knapp and T. Bangs; 1887, S. M. Knaji]) and Arad Lakin: 1888, H. Frost and Arad Lakin; 1889-40, B. Wakely; 1841-4-2, Aaron Rogers; 1843, Sanford Washburn; 1844, J. Tippet, W. C. Smith, and A. H. Mead; 184r), B. M. Gerrung; 184(5, M. S. Peudell; 1847, George Kerr; 1848 George Kerr and Elias Rogers; 184i), David Gibson; 18r,(l, D. C. Drake; 1851, Meto Coachman; 1852, George Palmer; 1858-54, John Davie; 1855, William Hall; 185()-57, Richard Decker; 1858, Charles Sitzer; l85!t-(;(>, P>dwin Clement; IStJl-ti'i, John Y. Richmond; lS(;8-64, Richard Decker; 18()5-(;(i, John W. Gorse; 1867-69, A. R. Burroughs; 1870-72, J. J. Dean; 1878-74, J. :\r. Burgar; 1875, Joseph Eliot; 1876, J. G. .Slater; 1877-79, Edward AVhite; 1880-81, Rev. W. A. Chadwick; 1882-84, Rev. George Hearn; 1885-87, Rev. L. .S. Brown; 1888- 9(1, Rev. (). D. iiamsay; 1891-92, Rev. J. W. Bohlman; 1898-95. Rev. E. H. Roys; 1896, Rev. Robert Knapi.. The first Methodist church was built in 1811, and it cost $1,60(1. The first board of trustees was composed of the following persons: Sanford Ferguson, Julni McCall, Gersham H. Bradley, Hiram Fitch. Cyrus St. John. A new chun-ii was b\iilt in 18(!9 at a cost of $(0,(10(1. This church was used until 1892, when the jH-esent structure was commenced and built at a cost of $20,000. It is said to be the most beautiful church structure in the county. 30 588 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COL'XTY. The first serviees of the Protestant Episeopiil cliiircLi were heM in Walton al)out the year ls;!i( by Rev. 'Sir. Johnson. The first vestry was composed of the followiuf>f named persons r James Noble and Everett Guild, wardens; Isaac Oydeu, Kobert North, Jr., James Smith, "W. B. Ogden, Peter Gardiner,. Joshua Pine,. Bennett Beardslee, Benajah Hawley, John F. St. John, Adam Mallory, Rufns Smith, vestrj'men. In ISHl the church edifice was commenced, and completed in 1884. The clergymen (connected with the early history of the parish were the Eev. Mr. Adams of Unadilla,. Rev. Orange Clark of Delhi, Rev. Russell Wheeler of Butternuts, Otsego county, and Rev. E. K. Fowler of Monticello,^ N. Y. The first installed rector was the Rev. John F. Messinger, who supplied here in 1834; in 1837, Rev. Amos Billings Beach; 1839, Rev. Rob- ert Campbell; in IS-IO, Rev. Asa Griswold; in 1842, Rev. David Hiintington; in 1846, Rev. William G. Heimer; in 1847, Rev. John Creighton Brown; in 1860, Rev. Charles Canfield; in 1861, Rev. F. S. Comptou; in 18f)3, Rev. Frederic Sisson; in 18(!5,. Rev. Gurdon Huntington, who died November "29, 1875; in 1876, Rev. Theodore A. Snyder; in 1877, Rev. Mr. Searing; afterward Rev. Mr. Rathbun, Rev. Reeves Hobbie, Eev. J. R. L. Nisbitt, Rev. Richard Searing, and Rev. Charles Temple at the present time, have been the rectors. The first Baptist church was organized in the year 1866 from the various outlying branches. Rev. Jenkins Jones was stated sujjply during the first year. In November, 1869, Rev. L. 'SI. Purriugton was called as pastor, and remained uutil 1877. The church edifice was erected in 1869 at a cost of $5, ()()(). In 1878, Rev. A. J. Adams was called; in 1881, Rev. E. B. Glover; in 1882, Eev. W. N. Thomas; in 1882, Eev. J. A. Hungate; in 1886, Eev. W. P. Chii)man: in 1887, Eev. C. A. Stone; in 189.5, Rev. A. J. Whaleu; in 1S95, Rev. W. A. King; in 1896, Eev. J. T. Barber. The Reformed Presbyterian church was organized September 5, 18(51. The first church edifice was built on East l)rook, about five miles from Walton village. The first jjastor was Rev. David McAllister, who remained until 1S84. In 1S74 a new church wuj^ Towx or WM/ro.y. 5H«) orcted in Wiiltou vill!if,'e. In iMHo Rev. S. G. Slmw whs ciiUcl to tin- pastoriito and niMainrd until ISDC. Tlic jncscnt i>iistor is iicv. U. ('. Roed. Tlic I nitcd l'rcsl)vtiii.in ciiiiich xviis ()i;^anizid ()(tastor, was called. .V new cluireli edifice was erected on the corner of North and East streets in 18<)1 at a cost of ahout six thousand dollars. The number of mendx-rs is 2H0. The following persons have served as town clerks of Walton: David St. Jolm, date of election \\)v\\ 4, IT'.IT; AVilliam Townscnd, 1801; Robert North, ISOC; David St, John, 1828; Piatt Townsend, 182!t; David H. Gay, 1848; Henry E. St. John, 1857; Charles B. Wade, 18(il; Orson J. Ells, 1SG8; George W. Fitch, 18(>4; David H. Gay, 18(;5; George O. Mead, ISt;?; John S. Eells, 1877; John Oliu- stead, 1888; John S. Eells, the present clerk, 1884. Within a p« riod of one luindred years, twelve men have served as town clerks. The War of Independence was brought to a successful termina- tion and a treaty of peace with the mother country was signed the year prior to the first settlement of the town, .\nioug the early settlers of file town were many who braved tlie dangers anil bore the sufferings in the jjatriot army under Washington during the eventful struggle. From the best information the following persons, early settlers of the town, served in tlu' Revolutionary war either as soldiers of the line, levies or militia: Mattiiew Marvin, .Tared Hoyf, Daniel Nichols, Cajitain James .V. Marvin, James .Vdams, Roger Case, Jonathan Weed, Reul)en Bartow. These men were enlisted largely from the state of Connecticut, and after the revolution moved into the state of New York. The following is a list of the residents of the town who per- formed militarj- service for the state during the war of 1812: 590 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. Beujaiuiu E. Eells, Mead Eells, John Marvio, Stcphoii Berriiv, ;\Ir. Smith, Jouathau Beers, Sanuiel ^loreliouse, Natbau Nichols, (iiihricl North, Johu Patrick. The following is a list of those who were drafted iu the service ill. lull: Jonas Walker, William K. Seeley, Eliphalet Seeley, Syl- vamis Seeley, Seeley Benedict, Silas Benedict, Nathan Benedict, Teuas Ogden, Johu Raymond, Samuel Eells, Levi Hanford, Amasa Hoyt, Chauncey Hoyt, Billy Benedict, Alfred Bradley, Gersham H. Bradley, Captain Harmon Sawyer, Ebeuezer Steele, Smith St. Johu, John Hess, Thomas Marvin, Piatt Richards, Thomas Keeler, Johu Olmstead, Bueld Case, Hanford Wakeman, Hezekiah Yanderburg, Alfred Nichols, William Cable, Simon Cable, Nathaniel G. Eells, Lieutenant Gabriel North, Benjamin North, Quartermaster Gabriel Honeywell, William Seymour, Cook St. John, sutler; Richard W. Stockton, sergeant; Tunis Brazee, Harry Bedell, Johu Barlow, Ebeuezer Hanford. The next military event following the war of 1812, was the so-called "Anti-Rent war" of 1845. From the fact that there was little or no leased laud iu the town, Walton had consequently less sympathy for the " Auti-renters " than there was iu those parts of the county where the land was largely lease lots. The soldiers called out to aid the sheriff in the discharge of his duties were taken largely from the town of Walton and those towns where there was little or no anti-rent sympathy. Major James Marvin, of Walton, was in command of the troops or the sheriflf's posse, as it was termed in those days, during the period that the county was under martial law, by a proclamation of the governor of the state, Silas Wright. The great civil war of 18(11 to 1865 made large demands upon the patriotism and the purse of the loyal North, and the part which the town of Walton bore in that eventful struggle will always be a source of pride to her patriotic citizens. The limits of the present historical sketch will not permit the recording of all the names of those who enlisted and served iu that memorable struggle. Our rOlV.Y OF WAI.TO.W. -,i)l records will therefore be cdutiiifd to a list of the orf,'iiuiziitioiis iu which there were enlisted men from the towu. The followiii{,' list and the battles in which they were engaged is taken from the adjutaut-geuerars report of the state of New York |niblislied in the j-ear lS(iS: The 7"2d Infantry, Company I, C'liptiiiu .lolmson; engagements Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Charles City Cross Roads, Malvern Hill, Bristow Station, Bull Uun. The 71st Regiment; this regiment was mustered into the service of the United States from June 20 to November lit, lH(il. On the expiration of its term of service the original n)embers ( except the veterans ) were mustered out and the veterans and recruits trans- ferred to the 12()th New York Volunteers. The 71st Regiment, Company I, Captain Elwood, mustered into the service of the United States, August 4th, 18()1, and mustered out of service July 30th, 1864, and the recruits transferred to the I'iOth New York Volunteers. Engagements, Stafford Court House, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Fair Oaks, White Oak Swamp, Charles City Cross Roads, Malvern Hill, Bristow Station, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Fredericksburgh. Third New Y'ork Cavalry, Company E, Captain Jacobs. Mus- tered into the service of the United States, from .July 17th to August ■27th, 18(Jl. On the expiration of its term of service, the original members ( except the veterans ) were mustered out and a regiment composed of veterans and recruits retained in service. It was united with the First ^Mounted Rifles, July 22d, 18(i.5, and was called the Fourth Provisional Cavalry. Engagements, Y'ouugs Cross Roads, William.sburgh, Kingston, White Hall, Goldsborough, Balls Bluff, Weldon Railroad, Edwards Ferry, Stony Creek, Peters- burg, Malvern Hill, New Market, Johnson's House. The 8th New Y'ork Independent Battery, Captain Fitch, was raised principally iu the county of Delaware and mustered into the service of the United States, OctoVjer 30th, 18()1. On tlie expiration of its term of service, the original members ( except veterans ) were 592 HISTORY OF DELAWABE COrXTV. mustered out aud a battery composed of veterans and recruits retained iu service until June 30tb, 18(i5, when it was mustered out in accordance with the orders of the war department. Enga<,'e- ments, Malvern Hill, Fair Oaks, Seven Pines. The .Tlst New York Infautrv was mustered into the service of the United States from July "iTth to October 28d, 18(il. The original members (except veterans) were mustered out (m the expiration of the term of service aud a regiment consisting of veterans and recruits retained in service until July 25, 18(J5, when it was mustered out iu accordance with orders from the war department. Engagements, Roanoke Island, Newburg, Manassas, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Poplar Spring Church. The 8S)th Infantry, Company I, Captain T. L. England, mustered into the United States service December 6th, 1801, mustered out August 3, 18(i5. Engagements, Suffolk, Camden, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg. The 101st New York Infantry, Colonel George F. Chester. Mustered into the service of the United States September 7th, 1861. It w-as united with the 37th regiment of New York Volunteers, December 24th, 1862, aud the officers mustered out of service. Engagements, Seven Pines, Peach Orchard, Savage Station, Chicka- hominy, White Oak Swamj), Charles City Cross Roads, Malvern Hill, Groveton, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Fredericksburg. The l-t4th New York Infantry, Colonel Lewis. This regiment was organized at Delhi, New York, to serve for three years. The companies of which it was composed were raised in the county of Delaware. It was mustered into the service of the United States, September 27th, 1862, and mustered out of service June 25th, 1865, in accordance with orders from the war department. Company B of this regiment was raised in the town of Walton, M. W. ^larvin Captain. Engagements, Honey Hill, John's Island, .Tames Island, Siege of Wagner, Deveaux Neck, Honey Hill. The 69th New York Infantry, mustered into the service of the United States, September 7th, 1861, mustered out June 30th, 1805. Engagements, Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Peach Orchard, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellor's Bluff, Gettysburg, Wilder- ness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Reams Station. fl Jersey Cow. H Bauer Firkir). APPENDIX. Tbe First Ijoaid of Supcix isois. Till' fcilliiwinn is a liii-ial Iniiisi-ript nl" llic iiTind of tho proeoediiigs Omnty of Dflawart", held at tlie House of (iideoii Frisl)ie in the Tinvn of KortiKht, in saiil County, on the 30th day of May ( being the last Tuesday), in tin' year of our Lord 1797. Present : Enos Parker from Franklin Roliort North Walton William Horton Colchester Henjamin Milk Middletowii, Chairiiiat] John Lamb Stiimford Roswell Hotehkiss Harporsfield Beiiajah Beardsley Kortright And the Board proceeded to vote for a Clerk, whereupon it was Rinolwd, that Anthony Marvine should be their Clerk for the ensuing year. Likewise ReMoUvd, that Anthony Marvine be Treasurer of the said County of Delaware upon his entering into Bond with Security as the Law directs. Whereu|ion the said Anthony Marvine produced a Bond with Jared Good- rii-h anil Benajah Bi'Jirdsley of the Town of Kortright as Securities, which was accepted Ipy the Board. The Board then proceeded to canvass and I'stiniate the Ballots given for two Members of Assembly for said County, and it appeared on the close of said Canvass and Estimate that William Horton and Nathaniel Wattles Esquires were duly elected Members of Assembly for said County for the ensuing year. Whereupon they were declared duly elected and the proper certificates were made out and sent to their several addresses, according to Law. The Board then adjourned to the third Tuesday in .\ugiist next, at '.^ o'l-lock A. M., at the sjinie place. Test A.VTH. Marvine, Clk. of Board. At an Adjourned Meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Delaware, held at the House of Gideon Frisbee on Tuesday, the 15 Day of August, 1707. Present : Enos Parker from Franklin William Horton Colchester Benjamin Milk Middletown Robert North Walton And adjourned till tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock. .7)08 IIISTOHY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. Wt'diiesday, August IG, 1797. Board mi't i>iiisiitLiit ti> iiit.joiirniMciit, .-iiid tho othi^r members attended, to wit : Benajah Beardsley KorUif,'lil Eos well Hotohkiss Harpersfield John Lamb Suimfoid And Pi'ooeeded to Business. Rexolved by the Board Ihiit each Town be charged with accounts exhibited to us for Services done in such Town previous to the passing the Law for erecting this County, altho the same might have been cliargeable against the ■County, had this County not been erected. Renolvcil. that for Services done in this County and aiiditabic by llii^- Bnuid ( except where otherwise ascertained by Law, or a Renolri' of a Town Jli-eting) the sum of Ten Shillings pr. Day including Expenses be allowed. Resolved, That the Clerk of the Board be allowed (for the ordinary Serv- ices, and lor apportioning the Tax on the several Towns' dujilicates Ac i the sum of twelve pounds per year. Accounts audited against the Town of Franklin, £43 : V, : 8. Accounts audited against the Town of Colchester, £41 : 1.5 :0. Accounts audited against the Town of Walton, £40 : 16 :G. Accounts audited against the Town of Stamford, £SIG :3 :4. The Board then adjourned till to-morrow morning at 6 o'clock A. M. Thursday, August 17th, '97. Board met pursuant to adjournment. Accounts audited against the Town of Harpersfield, £'23 :7 :G. Accounts auditeil against the Town of Kortriglit. £.■?(> : IK :3. After the accounts were audited and finally adjusted the Board Resolved in manner following, to wit : Resolved that the Clerk apportion the Tax of each Town upon the Inhab- itants thereof and transmit the Tax Lists and Warrants to the respective ■Supervisors with due speed. And that he need not make Duplicates thereof, but if tho't necessarj' each Supervisor may make his own. By the Supervisors of the Towns formerly in Otsego : Resnlivd. That We will each request the Collector to collect the amount of Otsego Deficiency as soon as may be after obtaining Warrants, and transmit it to the Treasurer, and that he settle up with the Treasurer of Otsego County as soon as ■convenient. N. B.— Mr. Milk agreed to take the Warrant and List of his Town and make out the Tax therrt>f. The Board then adjourned xim- die. Test Antii. M.\uvrNB, Clk. \t a Special Meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Dela- ware held (in Consequence of a Request of the Court of Common Pleas of said County lately held for Purposes mentioned in their Resolve No. 1 on file l at the House of Gideon Frisbie in the Town of Kortright, in said County, on Tiiesd.ay the 24th Day of October, 171t7. AI'I'KXDIX. ;-)'.!!» Presi>nt : Elms I'mki'i', (liaiiriiiin Franklin William Hoiton Coleliestcr Bonajiih Bcardslcy Kortriglit Rdsw.'jl HotcliUiss HnrpoisnoUl •'"liii La Hill Stamford. The Boiinl, al'ii'i- iiiaturclv idiisiiUin;; tlu' Kccinest in tho said U>'Solv<' and the Intincsts nl' llirir- CoiisUtucnts, I'liruf t(i Ihc fcillowinf; Kosolutions. to wit : ReMoInd, llial \vi' will [iroscnt a Pi'liliim tu IIh' Li-fiislature reiiui'stinj; a Law anthorizin^; llio Supervisors to raise a Sum of Money fur the purpose nf Uuildinn a Court House and Gaol in said County. lii'MDinil. that till' Petition lie for a Law authorizing the Supervisors of tli(! ■County of Delaware for the time lieiiin to raise a Sum not e.\eeeding twelve hundred Dollars lor the purpose of liuilding a Court House, Ac., at such times as they shall think proper. And that the Clerk ilriiw up a petition for the purpose and have it ready for signing by tomorrow niornint;. Adjourned till 7 o'clock tomorrow A. M. Oelolier 2.">lh, 171I7. Thi" Hoard met pursuant to adjournment, and RfH<)lreaper in Deposit was established in 1848 by M. R. Hulee. In 18fi!> It was purchased by Chas. N. Stow, who is still editor and publisher. The Stamford Mirror- was stJirli.'d as the Bloomvllli' Mirror at Bloomville in May, 1851, by Simon B. Champion, who has continued to be its editor and pulillsher. In 1870 the plant was removed to Stamford. The Franklin Visitor- -was started liy G. W. Reynolds March 28, I85."j. In 18()3 it was removed to Delhi and consolldaled witli the Republican. The Walton Blade establisheil at Walton, May 185(1, by E. I'. Berrav . Discontinued. The Deposit Union Democrat— was started In 18.''ifi by C. E. Wright, liut was soon merged into the Courier. The Star of Delaware— was established by Rev. C. B. Siidtli, at Delhi, in De<-ember, 185'.t. and publlsheil for a short time. liiil 602 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COl'XrY. Till' Yduui; I'iitriot — was luiblislicil .-il Drllii for a sliint tiiin' in IMUI. Till' Di'lawan' Rc'iKililii'aii |X.>. :!;— was started Jlay 12, IsiKI, \,y Sturto vaut auil Mclutosh. T. F. & R. P. Mi-I[ito*h ari' its jirt'si'nt fditors aud publishers. The ITtilitariaii — published at Mai'garetville, was establislied July 7, 18(i3. by Dr. O. M. AUabeu. In 1874 it was purfha.sed bj' J. K. P. .Jackson, present editor and publisher. The Andes Recorder. — The first paper in Andes was the Student, estab- lished September .5, 186(5, by Peter Smeallie. A. D. Hitchcock succeeded it with the Recorder. The plant was removed to Stamford April 1, l.s',i2, by William Clark. The paper was re-issued by S. F. Adee and T. W. Miller is m>w editor and publisher. Hobart Free Press. — This paper was started in 186(> by Charles H. Cleve- land. The Delaware Chief and Vdlage Record were also published at Hobart for a time. The Franklin Register — was started in Franklin by A. D. Hitchcock, June 30, 1868. In 1883 the name was changed to Delaware County Dairyman, and Joseph Eveland & Son are editors and publishers. The Walton Chronicle— was established February 3, 1869, by A. 1). Hitch- cock. It is now published by the Chronicle Association and Henry S. White is editor. The Walton True Press — was started by Harvey Ireland in 1872, ami was subsequently merged into the Chronicle. The Hancock Herald — was started in 1873 and Henry W. Wagner is the present editor and publisher. The Deposit Times — was started by S. C. Clizbe in 1874 and discontinued in less than two years. The Star — was the first paper iiuIiUsIhmI in Sidney, beginning in 1«70, by Owen &. Wright. The following have also been published in that village but all have suspended : The Midland Times, 1874. M. W. D. Fenton. The Demo- crat, 1874, J. K. P. Jackson. The Sidney Herald, 187"), M. W. D. Fenton. The News and Wave, 1879, C. C. A C. 0. Brown. The Valley News, 1879, Clayton Brown. The Rural Times, 1881, Mr. Jones. The Unahanna. 1890, Wier Bros. Daily Despatch, 1894, Wier Bros. The Downsville News — was started liy A. E. Peck in 187.5 and is still puli- lished by him. The Charlotte Valley News — was started in 1877, at East Davenport. Il was followed by the Transcript and later the Standard which has ceased pub- lication. The Roxbury Times — was begun in ]H80 and John H. Dudley is now edilor and publisher. The Walton Reporter — was first published in 18.S1 aud is now published by the Reporter Company, with Paul Nichols and John P. White as editors. APPKXDIX. COS Till' Sidiii'v R.'roiil--was starli'd ill i1m> vi'iir lHS-2 liy Artliur Bird, who is. still I'ditiir ami |»d)lisher. The Walton Cyclone— was stiiili'd ill issr, liy Ei'lls \- Soil. In Ism; in was. chunked to tin" Peoples Pre.ss and soon ilisi-ontiiuied. The Delaware Standard a luoliibition paper, was started in Xov.'inliei. 1KM7. I)y Rev. W. M. Howie, .\fter several channes, Wni. S. fole, tin- owner, chaiifji'd the name to the I>i>laware Coiiiity News, which su.spended iu IH'.iri. The Arena Enterprise — was started in 1SS9 by H. D. Ellsworth, and was published for about three years. The Herald— was established at Griirin Corners iu l«9ll by Wilson Unl- raud. John V. Gregory is the present editor and publisher. The Stamford Recorder— was started iu that villaj^e .\pril 10, 1K'J2, by the Stamford Printing and Publishing Company, William Clark editor. The pres- ent eilitor and manager is Edward A. .Ackley. The Walton Times— was started November lit, WM, by Win. H. Eells, the present editor uud publisher. The Margaret ville Messenger -was established iu IH'Ji by the Messenger Company, with John Grant editor, and is still published as above. The Sidney Centre Transcri|)t — was started in 18!).") Ijy W. J. \Veyrau<>li. anil Chas. H. Scliutts is the present editor and publisher. The Church Review was published at Delhi for nine months in Im'.i:!, by .\dfe A- Lawsou. The Sidney Advocate — was establish<'d in l.s'.i.'i by Bolton A Stanton, .ind J. F. .\ndrews is now the editiu-and publisher. There have been two papers published for a time at Blooinville, and pos- sibly the above is not a complete list of all the veutures iu the Held of Dela- ware county journalism. C. Edick Wright, who learned the printer's trade in the Delaware Gazette oHlce, in writing some reminiscences about ten years ago said : "The inlluence- of the Press is felt in every m)ok and eoruer of our land. It penetrates the cabin of the poor as well as the marble halls of the rich. It reaches tin' prisoner in his cell and points him the way to reformation. Next to the Bible, and as an auxiliary, the newspaper is a guide to the statesman, a help to tin- clergy, and an indispi-nsable article in every household." Gush forth eivil libi'ily's springs. Let the Press of the \atir)ii ami land. That dread foe of tyrants and kings. It's country's true sentinal stand. The Pre.ss of the Nation — on progressions age, 'Tis the day-spring of youth, and the guide of the sage. 'Tis the audible footfall of thought on the page. The articulate beat of the heart of the age— 'Tis the •• Harp of a tlioiisand strings." eve Dates of Oro'anization of the Towns^" 1. Harpersfield, original town; Roswoll Hotchlciss, first supervisor. '2. Miildletown. original town ; Bonjaniin Milk, first supervisor. 3. Colchester, urigiual town; William Horton, first supervisor. 4. Franklin, original town ; Euos Parker, first supervisor. .5. Stamford, original town ; John Lamb, first supervisor. (5. Kortright. original town ; Benajah Beardsley, first supervisor. 7. Walton, original town ; Robert North, first supervisor. 8. Delhi, organized 1798 ; Ebenezer Foote, first supervisor. y. Eoxbury, organized 179'.); Isaac Hardenbergh, first supervisor. 10. Meredith, organized 1800. 11. Sidney, organized 1801 : Witter .Johnson, first supervisor. 12. Hancock, organized 18(JG ; John Knight, (1825). 1:3. Tompkins, organized 1806; Peter Pine, first supervisor. 14. Masonville, organized 1811 ; Warren Willis, first supervisor. 1,5. Davenport, organized 1817 ; John Davenport, first supervisor. 10. .\ndes, organized 1819 ; Daniel H. Burr, first svipervisor. 17. Bovina, organized 1820 ; Thomas Landon, Jr., first supervisor. 18. Hamden, organized 1825 ; Jabez Bostwick, first supervisor. IVi. Deposit, organized 1880; Geo. D. Wheeler, first supervisor. Corrections and Additions. On page 70. the date given lor the organization of the town of Delhi ■should be March 17, 1798 instead of 1797. See Session Laws 1798, Chap. 43. On page 72, in reference to the present court house it should be added that in 1894 an annex was built at a cost of about $10,000. On page 75, sixth line from the bottom, 1846 should be 1845. On page 77, the term of Judge Ebenezer Foote should be stated to begin 1823 instead of 1S28. On page 77, the term of Judge Baumes should lie 1.S88 instead of 1889. On page 77, the surrogate named as Amasa J. Parker should be Aniasa Parker. On page 78, the date given for William McLaughry as county clerk should be 1846. On page 78, the name given as sheriff should be Daniel Rowland instead of David Rowland. The same change should be made in the name ip. 81) of thi* nienilier of .\ssi>mbly for 1853. On page 79, the name of Samuel Kexford should have apjieared at State Senator for 1829-30-31 32. On page 80, at the head of the list of members of .\ssembly, it should be stated that the dates given are the years in which they were elected. On page 85, among Supreme Court Justices it should be stated that in 1850 Levinus Monson was appointed in the place of E. B. Morehouse, deceased. Sh.\d in DEL.\WA*nE County : Since the paragraph on page 35 was written I have received from several directions information that shad have been ea\ight in the East Branch of tlie Delaware river in recent years. One of these instances will be found in the histtn-y of Colchester in this volume. DEC 19 1898 jQ3r^