F 129 .C77 S5 Copy 1 s -^ - , ^ '■■•^ ~= ^^ /V" ./■ j'V^ ■ ^^ ^^ % A' o 0^ \i^' ^^^ A CENTENNIAL OFEEEING. BEING A BEIEF IIISTCmi OF COOPE]iSTO¥N WITH A RIt)(}RAPlll«AL SKKTCll OF JAMES FENIMORE COOPER, RY nON^. TSAAV: N. ARNOLD, TOGETHER WITH OTHER INTERESTING LOCAL FACTS AND DATA. -J EDITED BY S. M. SIIAW/^o^y ^ leag Vi %vJ 3 2 WASrtlVl-' COOPKRSTOWN, N. Y.: PKINTED AT THE FREEMAN'S JOURNAL OFFICE. 18 86, w. f PREFACE. There has been an expressed desire on the part of many of the residents of Cooperstown, for several years past, for a new and more complete "History of Cooperstown," than has heretofore been pub- lished, the old volume bearing that title being out of print ; and since it was issued in 1862 many events of local interest have trans- pired which should go upon record. In compliance with this general desire and an occasional personal request on the subject, I have under- taken to collate and edit this volume, which is issued a century after the firet settlement of Cooperstown ; with what degree of success as to meeting the just expectations of my esteemed fellow-citizens of one of the most noted villages in this country, I must leave to their kind judgment. I will only say, I have conscientiously and with much pleasure done the best I could with the material and time at my com- mand, and have preserved for some other writer at a later period, material that otherwise might have been lost. Next to Mr. Coopers "Chronicles" — which were carried down to 1838 — the most prominent feature of this book is the appreciative tribute which the late Hon. Isaac N. Arnold of Chicago, formerly of Cooperstown, paid to the memory of Mr. Cooper in an Essay which first appeared in the Freeman's Journal in 1884. He had a few copies of the same, illustrated by a number of photographic views, printed in pamphlet form. This tribute of a scholarly and well-known author and admiring personal friend of Mr. Cooper, has been sought for by literary writers and publishers in different parts of the country, by some of whom it is esteemed the best essay ever written on Amer- ica's most noted Novelist and naval Historian, S. M. S. OTSEGO LAKE AND YICINITY. It IS doubtful whether any white man ever visited the shores of this beautiful inland lake previous to the year 1737— nearly a century and a half^ago— at which time it was the favorite resort of the red man. In 1737, Cadwallader Colden, surveyor-general, in his report to the Hon. George Clarke, lieutenant-governor of the province of New York, made this statement : "At 50 miles from Albany, the land car- riage from the iVlohawk river to a lake, from whence the northern branch of the Susquehanna takes its rise, does not exceed 14 miles. Goods may be carried from this lake in battoes or flat-bottomed vessels, through Pennsylvania, to Maryland and Virginia, the current of the river running everywhere easy." In 1753 the Rev. Gideon Hawley — "ordained a Missionary to the Indians, in the Old South meeting house [of Boston,] when the Rev. Dr. Sewall preached on the occasion" — ^journeyed as far as here, and left on record this memorandum : "May 31st. We met with difficulty about getting a canoe, and sent an Indian into the woods to get ready a bark, but he made small progress. In the afternoon came from Otsego lake, which is the source of this stream"— the Susquehanna. It is probable that other christian Missionaries made the same journey at a later period, to this part of the territory of the Six Nations. What was long known as the "Bowers Patent," in Middlefield, was originally owned by John R. Myer, of the city of New York. His davighter married Henry Bowers, who was the father of John M. Bowers, and who inherited the large tract of land which subsequently bore his name. John Nichols was the firet settler who lived on this patent, in a little house which stood near the river on "the Lakelands." He leased a tract of land, and made the first clearing on this patent. It was at his house that Mr. Henry Bowers and his wife first lodged. Nichols' log house was burned in 1802, at the time the timber was burned which was being kiln-dried for the construction of the mansion of Mr. Bowers, who had that day left for Albany. In 1791, when Cooperstown had but few dwellings, Mr. Henry HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. 7 Bowers caused to be laid out and surveyed by Philip R. Frey, the proposed village of "Bowerstown," which extended from the Susque- hanna river to the base of the hill on the east, and from the Lake to a point about 950 feet south thereof llie map of this projected village, now in the possession of Mr. H. J. Bowers, shows that this plat of land — now represented by "the Lakelands" and 350 feet south of the road which forms its southern boundary — was laid out in 82 building lots, nearly all of them 50x130 feet, and in a building lot 200x260 feet for the "Manor Square" on which Mr. Bowers proposed to build, and being part of "the Lakelands," near the Lake and River. "Di- vision street" was to be "as wide as Cooper's street," and started from the eastern termination of our present Main street. "Bridge street" was the northern boundary, and terminated on the west at the first bridge built across the Susquehanna. "Water," "Myer" and "Wash- ington" streets ran north and south through the village. "Otsego" street ran from a point on Bridge street north, near the Lake, where the present owner of "the Lakelands" has constructed an avenue. Later on, Mr. Bowers probably changed his plans, for we do not learn that these "village lots" were ever put upon the market. It is a pity that " Cooperstown" was not originally as well laid out as "Bowers- town." The former will probably ere long cross the river, by legisla- tive enactment, and embrace within its corporate limits all of the former, and a tract of land lying east and south of it. A saw mill was built by Rob't Riddle, on Bowers patent, on Red Creek, in 1 791, being the first saw mill in this part of the country, and one has been maintained there until now. This locality, now em- bracing a number of dwellings, school house, mission church, and the mills, has long been locally known as "Bowerstown." In L783, a little more than a century ago, came Gen. Washington, as is mentioned in the "Chronicles," who said in his published letter : "I then traversed the country to the head of the eastern branch of the Susquehanna, and viewed the lake Otsego." When the Editor of this book came here in 1851, he had the pleas- ure of meeting two venerable ladies who had been well acquainted with General Washington, and who had met him in society, with other Revolutionary celebrities and chiefs — Mrs. Wilson, whose fath- er was at one time on Gen. Washington's staff, and her daughter ]\lrs. Bowers. We often listened with great pleasure to the personal reminiscences of the latter of Washington, Lafayette, Baron Steuben, HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. and other patriots of the Revolution. Mrs. Bowers had a most re- markably retentive memory and a thoroughly-disciplined and well- educated mind ; hence she was a deliglitful convereationalist. After the power of the Six Nations had been broken in the Mohawk valley, and the warlike tribe which gave its name to that locality had been driven further west, the great Indian (confederacy still held sway about Otsego Lake and along the whole distance of the .Susque- hanna valley, and west to Canada. The Tories and British were con- stantly inciting them to deeds of violence. The Cherry Valley Mas- sacre occurred in November, 1778. The following year the govern- ment determined if possible to deal a death-blow to the power of the Six Nations, and it was in the summer of 1779 that Gen. Clinton, commanding one wing of the army sent against them, marched from Canajoharie through an unbroken wilderness to the head of Otsego Lake, carrying with him 220 boats and three months' provisions. His command consisted of about 1,500 troops, and they reached the present site of Cooperstown, July 1. During their stay of several weeks, await- ing the more tardy operations of Gen. Sullivan, whose column had advanced from Wyoming on Tioga, (ien. Clinton employed his men in building the dam spoken of in the "Chronicles." When the wate^^ was high enough to answer his purpose, he embarked his army, broke away the dam, and was soon carried by the accumulated waters to the point where he joined Sullivan, near Tioga, August 22d. The battle which followed, in which the Indian Chief Joseph Brant and his Tory and British allies were routed after an obstinate conflict, with great loss to their combined forces, ended the prestige and almost destroyed the. power of the Six Nations in this part of the country ; and from that day their supremacy, which had at one time extended across the continent, rapidly faded away. Otsego had suffered its last Indian incursion ; and from that time forward only occasionally a few straggling Indians were seen in the cabins of its white settlers. xit this point we introduce Mr. Cooper's record of local events, ex- tendiiig from 1785 to 18H8 : / THE CHRONICLES OF COOPEESTOWN. KY JAMES FEM.MORE- COOPER. INTRODUCTIOX. It is always desirable to possess authentic annals. 'J'he peculiar nature of American history, which commences in an enlightened age, renders that which is so desirable, in our case, practicable, and, with a view that posterity may know the leading facts connected with the origin and settlement of the village of Cboperstown, and that even the present generation may be set right in some important particu- lars concerning which erroneous notions now prevail, as well as pos- sess a convenient book of reference, the following little work has been written. This book has been compiled with care, by consulting authentic public records, private documents, more especially those in possession of the Cooper family, and living witnesses, whose memories and rep- resentations might be confided in. It is hoped no error has been admitted into its pages, and it is believed no essential mistake can l)e pointed out. AVhere the compilers have not found good reasons to credit their evidence, they have proceeded with caution, and made their statements witli due reserve. A work of this character can not have a very extensive interest, but it is thought it will have some with a county in which its sub- ject composes the seat of justice ; and by those whose fathers were active in converting the wilderness around aljout us, into its present picture of comfort and civilization, no records of this nature can be regarded with indifference. 'I'he love of ])articular places, such as the spots in which we were born, or have passed our lives, contributes to sustain all the afiections, and to render us better citizens^and better men. This love is strength- ene HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. 11 CTIArTER I. The site of the present village of Cooperstown, is said to have been a favorite place of resort with the adjacent savage tribes, from a remote period. The tradition which has handed down this circum- stance, is rendered probable by the known abundance of the tish and game in its vicinity. 'J'he word oisego, is thought to be a compound which conveys the idea of a spot at which meetings of the Indians were held. There is a small rock near the outlet of the lake, called the Otsego rock, at which precise point the savages, according to an early tradition of the country, were accustomed to rendezvous. In confirmation of these traditions, arrow heads, stone hatchets, and other memorials of Indian usages, were found in great abund- ance by the first settlers, in the vicinity of the village. It is probable that the place was more or less frequented by Indian traders, for a century previously to the connnencement of the regular settlement of the township ; but the earliest authentic account that exists of any attempt, by any civilized man, to establish himself at this ]:)oint, refers to a much more recent period. On the Tl(\ day of April, 1761, letters patent were granted to John Christopher Hart- wick and others, for a considerable tract of land in this vicinity ; and "SVv. Hartwick, being under the impression that his grants ex- tended to the shore of the lake, caused a cleai-ing to be commenced not far from its outlet. Becoming satisiied that he had passed the boundaries of his estate, this gentleman soon relinquished his pos- session, and altogether abandoned the spot. This abortive attempt at settlement, took place about ten years before the commencement of the American war. It appears by the documents in possession of the Oooper family, that Col. George Croghan. who was connected with the Imlian depart- ment under the crown, obtained a conveyance from the Indians of 100,000 acres of land, lying north and adjacent to the before men- tioned grant to INlr. Hartwick, and on the west side of the Susque- hanna river, and of the Otsego lake, as early as the year 1768. On the 13th of December of the same year, Col. Croghan gave a mort- gage under the Indian deed, to AVilliam Franklin" Esq., governor of the colony of New Jersey, to secure the payment of £3000 ; which money, as appears by the same documents, was obtained by (governor Franklin of certain persons in New Jersey, in the behalf of Col. Croghan, with a view to enable the latter to procure the regular title 12 HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. to the same lands, from the crown. This object was not effected until the 30th of November, 17G9, when letters patent were issued by the colonial government, granting the same tract to George Croghan and ninety-nine other persons ; there existing an order to prevent grants of more than a thousand acres at a time to single individuals. On the 2d day of December, 1769, the ninety-nine other persons named as grantees in the patent, conveyed in three separate instru- ments their rights to George Croghan, in fee simple. These three conveyances, with the patent, still exist among the Cooper papers, and are unquestionably the first legal instruments conveying real estate in the township of Otsego. On the loth day of March. 1770, George Croghan gave a mortgage on that portion of the Otsego patent, as the aforesaid grant was then called, which has since been called Cooper's patent, for the further security of the payment of the said Fum of £3000 ; both of which mortgages, with the accompanying bond, were regularly assigned to the persons already mentioned, as security for their advances. On the 23d day of March, 1773, judgment was obtained against George Croghan, in the supreme court of the colony of New York, upon the aforesaid bond. All the securities above mentioned, became vested in William Cooper and Andrew Craig of the city of Burlington, in the state of New Jersey, by various deeds of assignment, now in possession of the descendants of the former, as early as May, 1785. Mr. Cooper first visited lake Otsego in the autumn of 1785. He was accompanied by a party of surveyors, his object being to ascer- tain the precise boundaries of the land covered by his mortgage and judgment. This party arrived by the way of C'herry Valley and Middlefield, and first obtained a view of the lake from the mountain which has since been called the Vision, in consequence of the beauty of the view it then afforded. Judge Cooper has been often heard to say, that on that occasion he was compelled to climb a sapling, in order to obtain this view, and while in the tree, he saw a deer descend to the lake and drink of its waters, near the Otsego rock. In January, 1786, Mr Cooper took possession of the property that has since been known as (toper's patent, under a deed given by the Sheriff of Montgomery county. It ought to be mentioned, that in 1783, Washington, then on a journey of observation, with a view to explore the facilities for an inland connnunicati"*^^'*"'"V^ x'r''^'^^'^'-.^'''""^^^'^ lia^l entered the first canal boat at Buttalo, and was on his way to New York. After the removal, the i)r(>cession were marched into the village, and were there ad- ares,sed by Saniuel starkweather, Esq., during all of wliich proceedings a nine pounder rtP,Pw^ ''^."^ Mount Msion. at regular intervals, told the hills and valleys around tbat Cooperstown was rejoicing. 16 HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. being lialf of the above raentioned 40,000 acres, to Thomas Wharton, to secure another debt of £2,000. On the 26th October, 1770, John Morton obtained a judgment of a large amount against George t 'roghan. On the 22d March, 1773, judgment was obtained against George Croghan, for the debt due on his bond to AVilliam Franklin. On the — = April, 1775, George Croghan, William Franklin, Thomas Wharton and John Morton entered into an agreement in writing, that the 40,000 acres of land should be sold under the two judgments, and that the proceeds of the sale should go, firstly, to pay the judgment htdd by William Franklin ; secondly, to pay the moitgage held by Thomas Wharton ; and, thirdly, to pay the judgment held by John Morton ; or as much of each, according to the priority of the debts and securities, as there should be assets. This agreement was never com- plied with, in consequence of the war of the revolution. On the 20th December, 1775, William Franklin and his wife as- signed the mortgage of George Croghan, on the 4n,000 acres, and all the securities connected with it to five of the original lenders of the money, for their several share^i of the debt, the remaining three ac- cepting lands elsewhere for their claims ; the amount of the shares of these five assignees being £1,501', New Jersey currency, with intere.t from the date of the bond. On the 3d April, 1780, George Croghan conveyed in fee, 25,477 acres of the above mentioned 40,000, including the site of Cooperstown, to Joseph Wharton, subject to the two mortgages, for the considera- tion of £9,553, Pennsylvania currency; Mr. Wharton being induced to accept this land for a debt of that great amount, in consequence of Mr. Croghan 's being unable to pay him in any other manner. On the 26th June, 1780, George Croghan conveyed, in fee, the re- mainder of the same tract, to Joseph Wharton, for the consideration of £100, this being all the land in the Otsego patent that he had not conveyed in fee, previously to granting the two mortgages, and of course al] that was subject to them. By several deeds poll, made between the years 1776 and 1785, all the rights of the original lenders of the aforesaid sum, with the inter- est on it from 1768, in the several bonds, in the judgment of 1773, and in the oldest niortgage, were vested in William Cooper and An- drew Craig of Burlington, New Jersey. On the 14th January, 1786, all the lands of George Croghan that were subject to the judgment of 1773, and which lay in the Otsego patent, being in amount as near as might be, 29,350 acres, were con- veyed by Samuel Clyde, Sheriff of Montgomery county, to William Coox^er and Andrew Craig, as judgment purchasers, under thejudgment HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN, 17 aforesaid, for the sum of £2.7<'0. leaving a balance of £1 ,139.8s. un- paid, and which has never been satisfied since. On the 8th December. 1786. Joseph Wharton, for the consideration of !S2,()0(), conveyed in fee, all his right to the land in question, to William Cooper and Andrew Craig, then in actual possession of the same as judgment purchasers and mortgagees. On the 12th November, 1787, Augustine Prevost and Susannah Prevost, for the consideration of !^1 . 2. oO, released their right to the equity of the redemption of the mortgage on the whole 4",00robably be sjife to Siiy, that (\>oi>erstown contained in I7!);"i, about thirty-live families, and quite as many houses. As the heads of families were generally young, an average of live })crsons to each family would be sutliciently high : this woiUd give a whole number of one hundred and seventy-live souls. If to these we add twenty-five for single ])ersons, we get a total of two hundred for the population, which could not be far from the truth. The Academy was raised September 18th, 1795. It was one of those tai^teless buildings that atHiet all new countries, and contained two school rooms below, a jnissage and the stall's ; while the upper story was in a single room. Nothing superior to a connnon English education was ever taught in this house, all attempts at classical in- struction failing. Tiiis must be ascribed to the general want of means in the population, at the time : tlie few who gave their children chissi- cal ediu'ations. usually sending them abroad for that purpose 'I'he Academy, containing at that time the largest room in the place, was as much used for other j)urpt)sesas for those of education. Kelig- ious meetings were generally held there, as well as other large assemblages of the people. The st'hool exhibitions of Mr. Cory, in which Brutus and Cassius tigured in hats of the cuts of 177G, blue coats faced with ivd, of no cut at all. and matross swords, are still the subject of mirth with those who remember the protligies. The court on great occasions I HISTORY OF C00PER8T0WN. 31 was sometimes held in this buildiDj:;, and even balls were occjisionally given in it ; in short, it was a Jack of all work, rather than of the par- ticular work for wiiich it was intended. Notwithstanding^ the failure as resi)ects a classical school, the year was memorable for the establishment of another species of instruction, that probably was more useful to this particulai- community, at that early day. On the 2Hth of February, 171)5, Mr. i^^lihu Phinney, a na- tive of (,'Onnccticut, arrived in (Jooperstown brined no; with him the materials for printing a newspai)er ; and on the ^id day of April of the same year, the first number of the Olsc/io IIer(d(I,or \Vt'Mnra Ad- vertiser, a weekly paper, made its appearance. This was the second journal published in the State, west of Albany. We see by its title that, in ITDT), it was considered a western jirint, whereas at the present day, (Joo}>erstown is probably a hundred leagues east of the central point around which journals are now to be found. By means of this })rint we are enabled to make the following curious statistical statement, by which the reader will obtain an insight into the actual condition of the western part of this State at that time. In 1 794, Judge Cooper was elected Kei)r(>sentative in Congress, from a district comj)Osed of the counties of Montgomery, Herkimer, Tioga, Ontario, Onondaga and Otsego, as they then existed, IIiso})ponent was Mr. Winn of Montgomery, and the following is the result of the canvass : COOl'KR. WINN. Montgomery, 304 970 Herkimer, 746 144 Tioga, 89 88 Ontario, 30 2 Onondaga, 95 6 Otsego, 1271 216 Total, 2536 1426 Here we see that the county of Ontario, at that time comprising so much of the State, gave but '^2 votes, while Otsego gave 1487. The fact shows the great rapidity with which the latter county had been settled. A brewery was established in 1794, by two P]nglishmen, of the names of Mulcock and Morgan, but it was in a^lvance of the country, and after a short experiment it failed. July 9th, 1 795, a man named Porteus was flogged at the whipping post, for stealing some pieces of ribbon. '^Phis was the first of two in- stances of the same punishment on the same spot. The whipping post and stocks stood nearly opposite the jail 00,on the collapse of the unfortunate enterprise. For several years past it has been used for storing hops. The "Otsego Lake Building Association." which constructed it, went into the hands of H. Sturges, Esq., as receiver, in May, 1872. Our genial legal friend. Counselor George Brooks, paid a rather novel bet, lost on Horatio Seymour, by wheeling a barrel of flour from the Court House to the bridge over the Susquehanna, when, instead of making a hasty retreat, nothing abashed, he mounted the barrel and made a speech. It is thought ^hat this experience cured him of his Democracy, as he has not since then acted with the party in which he was nurtured. Simon Van Sice was a veteran and pensioner of the war of 1812. having served under Gen. Scott in two or three engagements. On the "golden wedding" anniversary of himself and wife, which occurred in November, they were kindly remembered by their many friends, one .from Poughkeepsie sending a substantial gift of $50. Mrs. Van Sice is now the only person on this corporation drawing a pension for the 90 HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. services of her husband in "the second war of American indepen- dence." 1869. — Mr. Henry F. Phinney had returned to Cooperstown with a handsome fortune, with an increased love for his native village, and with great confidence in its future growth and prosperity, toward which he resolved to devote his time and money. He was a liberal subscriber to every good object and true charity. The Seminary property had passed into the possession of the Second National Bank, by which it was sold to Mr. Phinney in January, and in it he sunk not far from .$ (i.o,000. The interior of the building was changed and improved, to fit it for the purposes of a summer hotel ; the exterior and the grounds were greatly improved ; new outbuildings were erect- ed, and, new furniture added. When completed, the building was named the "Cooper House," and it was leased to Charles A. Watkins of Albany, who continued its landlord for two years. He was a pop- ular young man, but he lacked capital, and mainly on that account was not successful in the business. In January, S. M. Ballard sold the Empire House to J. H. McDon- ald, of Delaware county, who sold it to Edward Clark and J. H. Story in the spring of 1871 ; they spent about !$4,00() on it, named it the "St. James," leased it to D. L. Keyes, and it burned down in No- vember, 1872. Loss on builaing about $14,000 ; on furniture, about $2.5011. In April, there was an unusually heavy fall of rain (2| inches in one night) causing the creek running through the village to overflow, carry- ing away a part of the culvert under Main street and doing a damage of about $1,000. Other localities were also damaged. This was a year of great activity among builders and others in Cooperstown. During most of the summer and fall about one hun- dred carpenters, masons and painters were employed here Mr. Ed- ward Clark's stone mansion was erected, the first sash and blind fac- tory — the capital for which was furnished by Mr. H. F. Phinney — the school house completed, the Seminary changed to a hotel, and a num- ber of dwellings erected. In September, Capt. D B. Boden brought here by railroad a small steamboat, which it was stated had been used as a gunboat in southern waters during the war, carrying a single gun. It attracted no small attention as it was conveyed through Main street on trucks to the dock. It was enlarged and improved, named the "Mary Boden," and placed upon the lake the following summer. The "toot" of its whistle was not very loud, and one day Mr. J. P. Sill — who had been very ac- tive in aid of the Cooperstown railroad— joked the Captain on that HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. 91 fact, who replied : "You wait till I obtain the consent of this village to bond for about .^50,000 for a steamer, and I will show you a steam whistle that will drown the sound of both the locomotive whistles !' Tn September, the County Agricultural Society purchased of Spaf- ard & Hooker the 26 acres of land now owned and occupied by the same near the corj oration limits, 1870, — An old lady, named Bice, living in an old house opposite the Court House, called "F^ull's Head," supposed to be very poor and needy, who had been aided many years by the town, died in January, and ^800 in coin were found among her eifects. A fair, for the benefit of the Cemetery Gateway Fund, held in March, netted $5250. In March, the old jail was again '-presented" by the Grand Jury, and the same month a bill was introduced in the legislature "to facilitate the construction of new county buildings at Cooperstown." At the opening of the spring term of Union School, Mr. John G. Wight was given the position of Principal — a ])lace so long filled by him, with satisfaction to those most deeply interested in the welfare of the school. In July, the village Trustees decided on extending Fair street through the "Cooper grounds," and Counselor Brooks was most active in the work. The way extended directly over the foundation walls of the "Hall." This summer witnessed the presence of a large number of city vis- itors in Cooperstown — one of the best seasons the village has ever ex- perienced. A concert and sale for the benefit of the Thanksgiving Hospital, netted about ^400. Early in September, a "Village Improvement Society" was organ- ized in Cooperstown, for the general purpose of caring for the various points of interest, etc., in the vicinity. It did considerable good work. The Baptist church of Cooperstown reopened for worship the 1st of September, after having been enlarged and greatly improved at a cost of about i$4,000. Mr. Keenholtz, the late contractor for building the C. and S. Y. R. R., obtained a verdict against the company for $41,308 — the full amount claimed by him as the balance due him. The case was ap- pealed and a new trial granted. During this year, there were 22 dwellings erected on the corporation, a number of which were put up by Mr. H. F. Phinney. 92 HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. CHAPTER XI. FROM 1871 TO 1881. Although this decade covered an extended season of general hard times throughout the county, Cooperstown experienced very little of its effects ; even the individual cases were few among our citizens. The village grew and flourished, 1871 witnessing the erection of about 30 dwellings, including that of Fred. G. Lee on Lake street, after- wards purchased and doubled in size by Mrs. Jane R. Carter, and the completion of the large brick dwelling put up on Main street by Mr. Joshua H. vStory at a cost of about .f 20,000. A large steamer was put on the lake ; the Fire Department was for the first time properly organized, and new apparatus bought ; the Hotel Fenimore was built ; a large addition made to the Union School building ; a new Jail and Sheriff's residence, and then a Court House erected ; the threatened bankruptcy of the Cooperstown railroad prevented ; the Pioneer Mills erected at a cost of about $45,000 ; the Aqueduct Association enlarged its supply of water to meet the growing demands of the village ; the census of 1880 showed a gratifying increase in the popu- lation of the place. In detail the record shows : 1871. — Mr. George Story, at an expense of several thousand dollars, added a new story to his brick block on Main street, adjoining his brother's new house — all now known as the Ballard House. In January, the Village Improvement Society of Cooperstown took a lease of Three Mile Point, at a nominal rent, for 25 years, of Mr. Wm. Cooper of Baltimore, who owns that small but valuable piece of lake property. In the same month Mr. J. R. Worthington sold the circulation of his bank to certain parties in Oneonta, who established the "First National" bank of that village, Mr. Worthington being one of its stockholders and directors. He also continued in business as a pri- vate banker in this village. In the month of April, the old "Bull's Head" property, once kept as a hotel, was demolished by Mr. Phinney. In this hotel, Mr. Thur- low Weed was a boarder while working at his trade as a printer in this village, and there became engaged to be married to the daughter of Mr. Ostrander, then the proprietor, and a few years later they were married. Mr. Weed visited this village the followino; summer, HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. 93 when the editor of this book, who had known him for over twenty years, had a long conversation with him in regard to occurrences here while Mr. Weed was a resident. Dr. Blodgett was appointed P. M. at Cooperstown on the first of May, and remained in office for nearly nine years. As rather an unusual event, it may be mentioned, that there was a slight fall of snow here on the 7th day of May. The Cooper House was this year leased to Coleman & Maxwell, who opened it on the i5th of June, and had a very successsul season. The new steamer "Natty Bumppo," owned principally by Messrs. A. H. Watkins and Elihu Phinney, had her trial trip on the 4th day of July. A few days later a set of colors was formally presented the boat by a few citizens of the village. On the 3d August, Professor Maillefert gave an exhibition of the modus operandi of sub-marine blasting, on Lake Otsego, which was witnessed by a large number of highly interested spectators. The Scotchmen of this village and surrounding country this year organized a society and held their first annual meeting at Three Mile Point. Addresses were made by Rev. Mr. McHarg of this vil- lage, and Hon. Wm. W. Campbell of Cherry Valley. 'J'hey had a genuine Scotch piper present, who furnished the music. In October the people of this village showed their sympathy for the sufferers by the great Chicago fire, by contributing about ^800 in money and many useful articles of clothing. 1872. — In January Mr. De Cordova opened a lecture course here with a humorous essay. The firm of Newell & Pank took possession of the new sash and blind factory as lessees, and opened it for business on the 17th of January. On the 7th of March the papers announced the death of Hon. Schuyler Crippen, then one of the oldest members of the Bar of Ot- sego county. He had sold his place on River street to Mr. H. M. Hooker, and was a boarder at Carr's Hotel. On the night of the 11th of July, the steamer "Natty Bumppo," which had just fairly commenced its season of running on the Lake, was destroyed by fire. There was a partial insurance, and the pres- ent steamer bearing that name was built, and launched in November, THE RETIRK.MENT OF JUDGE NELSON— THE HONORS PAID HIM. On the 28th of November Judge Samuel Nelson resigned his asso- ciate Justiceship of the U. S. Supreme Court. He might have been the Democratic candidate for President, at one time, had he consented to the use of his name before the national convention of that party. 94 HISTORY OF COOPEBSTOWN. The Freeman's Journal of Dec. 5th, thus recorded an event which should have a place in this volume : The BesigudHou of Judge Nelson as one of ilie Justices of the Su- preme Court of the United States.— Aiter a service of twenty -eight years on the Bench of the Supreme Court of the United States, and twenty -two years as a Judicial Officer of his native State, Judge Nel- son on Thanksgiving day sent to the Secretary of State of the United States his resignation as one of the Justices of the Supreme Court, and it was accepted on the 1st inst. And thus closes a most remarka- ble and highly honorable and distinguished judicial career, covering a period of half a century. As to point of time and constant service, it is without precedent in this country or England, and we doubt if it has a parallel in the history of Jurisprudence. Lord xMansfield served 32 years and Lord Eldon 28 years, and they were longest on the Bench of Great Britain ; Chief Justice Marshall was 34 years on the Bench, C/hief Justice Taney 30 years, Mr. Justice Story 34 years, and Chan- cellor Kent about 25 years — and of the distinguished Judges of this cjuntry they longest held judicial positions. Judge Nelson was appointed Judge of the Sixth Circuit, which in- cluded Otsego county, in April 1823, which position he held until February 1831, when he was made Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Xew York, and on the resignation of Chief Justice Savage, in 1837, he took his place. In February 1845 he was elevated to the Bench of the Supreme Court of the United States, where he has won the highest honor as a Judge of strong common sense, broad views, the highest sense of honor, and a ready grasp of weighty topics. On questions in admiralty law and intricate patent suits, a writer in a leading Philadelphia paper recently reuiarked, es- pecial deference was always paid to the opinions of Judge Nelson. The Judge has with slight exception always enjoyed robust health, and has never been absent from duty at the State or U. S. Courts but one term, that of last year. At the closing session of the Grand High Commission in the spring of '71, which had lasted seventy days, and was not only of vast importance, but at times very laborious, Judge Nelson took a severe cold from sitting several hours in a room not sufficiently warmed, and after his return honje was for several months confined to his house from its eflfects. From this he recovered, and for the past six months has enjoyed very comfortable health, while his mind has retained all its wonted force and vigor. 'I'here has been a strong desire on the part of many of his friends and admirers in the legal profession, that Judge Nelson should remain on the Bench a few months longer, that his half-century of service might be fully rounded out ; it had even come to his knowledge indi- HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWJ^, 96 rectly — what we heard spoken of in Albany last spring, and quite re- cently — that it was in contemplation by leading members of the I5ar in New York and other parts of the State to celebrate that event in a becoming manner, showing their high appreciation of him as a man and of his eminent services as a Judge ; but when it appeared evident to him that he could not go to Washington this winter and discharge the full duties of his office without running the risk of seriously jeop- ardizing his health — although still able to do all ordinary Chambers work — his strong sense of justice and duty impelled him to the course he has taken, feeling, as he unselfishly remarked, that with so much business pressing upon it, the Court needed the presence of an active working member in his place Judge Nelson completed his Judicial labors the week of his resignation by deciding an important and final motion on the taxation of costs, amount claimed about ^40,000, in a famous suit vdiich had been in the courts during half the longtime he has been on the Bench— the "hook-headed spike case," Troy Iron and Nail Factory, (Burden k (Jo.) vs. Erastus Corning and others. The motion was heard last spring, and the examination of voluminous papers took time and involved considerable labor. Judge Nelson reached the advanced age of 80 years on the 10th of last month, and his massive frame and strong mind and cheerful temperament, all give promise of the prolongation of a long and use- ful life. There is no question that we should have hailed him "Chief Justice" at the death of Judge Taney, had the Administration con- tinued in Democratic hands. Although the following letter from Secretary Fish is of a private character, it is so just, truly appreciative and well-deserved, that we have begged the privilege of publishing it—knowing full well that the public sentiment will be that the Secretary honors himself in honor- ing him to whom it is addressed, and that in speaking as warmly as he does he only expresses the feelings of the Judiciary, the Bar and the reading public wherever the venerable Judge is known : Washington, November 30, 1872. My Dear Judge : I have just received your letter of the 28th, inclosing your resigna- tion as an Associate Judge of the Supreme Court, and cannot allow the formality of an otlicial acknowledgment to go without the ex- pression of my personal regret that the time has come when you feel it your riglit to seek the repose to which an honored course entitles you, and that it falls to me to fill the paper which is to terminate your connection with the highest (Jourt of the country, and to separate you from the administration of Justice, to which for half a century you have contributed an an)ount of patient labor, and of learning, and a 90 HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. purity, dignity and impartiality which have commanded the confidence, esteem and admiration of an entire nation, and the acknowledgment of Jurists in other lands. Thanks, my dear Judge, for your congratulations on the result of the treaty, to whose negotiation you contributed so much learning and wisdom. It has had a "hard run' on both sides of the ocean, since it was launched on 8th May, 1871 — but it seems likely, at last, to vindi- cate itself, and to find a quiet resting place, in the security and confi- dence which it gives to two nations whose passions it has calmed. May years of "tranquil and happy life be yours, my dear Judge ; and allow me to subscribe myself. Very sincerely, your friend, HAMILTON FISH. Hon. Sam'l Nelson, Cooperstown, Otsego Co., N. Y. On the 1 9th of January, 1 873, a large meeting of the members of tlie Bar was held in the U. S. Oourt Room, New York, over which ('harles O" Conor presided, to take suitable action on the resignation of Judge Nelson. Remarks were made by Messre. O'Conor, Pierrepont, ('larence Seward, Kvarts, and others, and a brief address to Judge Nelson was adopted. A (;ommittee of distinguished members of the I'ar was appointed to present this address to Judge Nelson. A similar meeting was held by the Bar of Washington, Dec. 13th, 1 872, and a letter was adopted, signed by all the leading Lawyers then in the city practicing in the Supreme Court of the U. S., and for- warded to Judge Nelson. The State Bar held a meeting in Albany, in 1873, and adopted an address which was presented him by Chan- cellor John V. L. Pruyn in the fall of that year. On the 13th day of February, 1883, the distinguished committee appointed by the New York meeting came here to present to Judge Nelson the address then adopted. The chairman. Judge Pierrepont, wns detained at home, and Mr. E. W. Stoughton took his place. His associates were seven leading mend)ers ol the bar ; and several U. S Judges, and other gentlemen, were present by invitation. eJudge Nel- son was briefly addressed by Mr. Stoughton and Judge Woodruff, in feeling terms, and the address was then presented. In reply Judge Nelson said : (jentlemen of the Committee— I cannot but feel extremely honored by this address of my brethren of the Bar on the occasion of my retirement from the Bench, not more from the friendly and compli- mentary opinions therein expressed than on account of the uimsual and extraordinary mark of respect and affection with which it has been presented ; anil 1 am the more deeply impressed with this mani- HISTORV OF COOPERSTOWN. 97 festation, from the consideration that the gentlemen of the Bar who have originated and promoted this honor, some of whom are before nie. have been themselves not only eye-witnesses of the judicial ad- ministration which they so favorably commend, but in which many of them largely participated in their professional capacity. I shalfever recur to the sessions of the United States Circuit Court held in the city of New York, extending over a period of more than a quarter of a century, with pride and pleasure. The calendar was large and many of the cases important, involving great labor and responsibility. As an evidence of the magnitude of the business for many years the Court was held three months in the Spring and three in the Autumn of the year, and still left an unfinished calendar. But the gentlemen of the Bar concerned in the trials were intelligent, faithful to their clients and to the Court, whose learning and diligence in the prejmration greatly relieved the Judge of his labore, and whose professional deportment and respect banished from the court room every disturbing element, leaving free the full and undivided exercise of the faculties of the Court and counsel in their inquiry after the truth and justice of the case. No one knows better than the presiding Judge how essential this state of feeling between the Bench and the Bar is, not only to the ease and pleasure of both, but to the sound and successful administration of the law. I have said that the gentlemen of the Bar who have originated this unusual honor, have been eye-witnesses of the judicial service so highly commended. On the other hand T can say tliat I have witnessed their professional career from the beginning and until their present eminence, niany of whom hold my license to practice, granted when Chief Jus- tice of the Supreme Court of the State. The eminent chairman of the meeting, Mr. O'Conor, the eldest of them, is scarcely an exception. I'he first session of the Supreme Court of the State after my appoint- ment as Associate Justice was the May Term of 1831, held in the city of New York, more than forty-one years ago. He was then a young counselor, just rising in the profession. He held a good many briefs in cases before the Court from the young attorneys, and was struggling upwards, manfully and with youthful ardor, contending for the mastery against the aged and elder counselors at the Bar — Jay, Ogden, Colden, Munroe. the elder Slosson. Sherwood, Anthon, Duer and others, who then held almost a monopoly of the business before the Courts. The prevailing impression had beew and to a qualified extent was then among the junior members of the Bar, that the experienced seniors had the ear of the Court. This, according to tradition among them, had been undisguisedly so, and to a much larger extent, before the old and 98 HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. revered Supreme Court of the State. But even at the time I speak of, this feeling in the Court, and which vs^as perhaps not unnatural, had not entirely disappeared. It required, therefore, ability, courage and resolution on the part of the junior, to encounter this impression, which he must in some degree have felt in the trial of streng h against the experienced and favored senior. In the country, where I have always resided, Talcott, a young counselor, remarkable for intellectual power and legal learning at his age, opened the way, under some dis- couragements in the trial and argument of causes before the circuits and in bank. Other juniors, taking courage from his example, followed- lie was afterwards Attorney General of the State, the youngest coun- selor, I believe, ever appointed to that office in New York at the time, with perhaps the exception of Josiah Ogden Hoifman among the earliest of the Attorney Generals. I was still young when advanced to the Bench of the State, and, as was perhaps natural, my sympathies inclined toward the younger members of the Bar struggling upward and onward in their profession, and as far as was fit and proper they had my favorable consideration and kindness. I would do injustice to my feelings and cjnvictions if 1 dosed these few observations without making my acknowledgments to the Bar of the Second Circuit of my great indebtedness to them, for any judicial standing to which I may be entitled. Since my first advancement to the Bench, nearly half a century ago, I have had their uniform good will and friendship, liave been instructed by their learning and encour- aged by the expression of their favorable opinions. They have ever been not only ready but forward to economize and lighten the labors- of the Court when the amount of business pressed the hardest, even at the expense of their own personal convenience So uniform and habit- ual were these exhibitions of respect and friendship, that I felt when in Court and engaged in the administration of the law that T was sur- rounded, not in courtesy but in reality, by professional brothei-s, and that every error would be charitably considered and every act worthy of commendation would receive its full rewaixl. The address of the Bar of New York on the termination of my Judicial lab(3re, and in approbation of them, I look upon as the crowning reward, which will be a source of perpetual consolation in the decline of life, and so long as a kind Providence shall permit the speaker to lii:iger heve o-n earth in the enjoyment of faculties unimpaired." These proceeding's appeared in full in the Jomnial of Feb. 20, 1873 r which closes them by saying : After the delivery of the reply, the- Judge arose and received the congratulations of the Judges, the com- mittee, and others present. An elegant and sumptuous entertainment,. HISTORV OF COOPEHSTOWN. 99 prepared by a noted caterer of Albany, followed. The committee and their friends were then treated to a sleigh-ride on the Lake ; a portion of the evening was spent with Judge Nelson, and the next mornino- they returned home, well pleased with the discharge of a pleasant duty, and with their winter visit to Cooperstown. The affectionate regard with which in private conversation they spoke of "the old Chief," his qualities as a eludge, a lawyer, and a man, showed the sincerity with which they had entered into this public demonstration — and they may rest assured that all they said found a warm response in the hearts of the fellow citizens of Judge Nelson. 1873. — Joyful times among the merchants of Cooperstown at the opening of this year, when hops were selling at 55 cents a pound ! It is stated, on page 89, that the town of Otsego bonded to the ex- tent of i^l 50,000 in aid of the Cooperstown Railroad. To this sum the town afterwards added ^50,000, making the total amount $200,- 000. The paid-up capital stock of the road is f 308,405, of which the town of Otsego owns nearly two-thirds. Its railroad debt at the date of the publication of this book, is $128,500, In March, 100,000 young bass and 20,000 salmon trout were placed in the lake. The hatching had been superintended by Capt. P. P. Cooper. The fire department of Cooperstown was re-organized in May, under the new law giving it a Chief Engineer with two Assistants — a movement which had been long advocated. The first chief was Marcus Field. The corner stone of the Hotel Fenimore was laid on the 30th day of June. On the 4th of July there was a grand celebration of the day in this village. Addresses were made by Rev. C. K. McHarg and Messrs. G. P. Keese and Edwin Countryman. A procession,"including the Fort Plain Fire Department, paraded the streets, and in the eveiiing an exhibition of fire works was given on the lake. As a remarkable fact, it did not rain ! In August, the Albany Zouave Cadets visited this village, and a grand ball was given at the Cooper House for their entertainment. While here they complimented Judge Nelson by a serenade. The 18th of September, the Hon. John Y. L. Pruyn of Albany pre- sented to Judge Nelson an address from the Bench and Bar of this State, as a testimonial of their regard and appreciation. It was a quiet and informal affair. On the morning of September 26, the village was startled at an early hour by the ringing of the Court House bell, the occasion of 100 HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWK which was to apprise the citizens of the fact that the house of Edward Edwards, the cabinet maker, had been entered just before daylight by three burglars, who had robbed Mr. E. of ^210 and a watch, shot him twice in the breast, and left him for dead. His daughter, who alone was in the house, gave the alarm, and the immediate neighbors went at once to her assistance. By that time, however, the men had escaped, and were never afterward caught, nor was any reliable clew to their identity ever obtained. Mr. Edwards died about three weeks later from the effects of his wounds, after enduring much suffering, and having been delirious most of the time. He was not able to give a very clear description of his assailants, and it remains to this day ^ mystery who they were. The Board of Supervisors of this county having decided to appro- priate $20,000 toward building a new Sheriff's residence and jail, on condition that the town of Otsego appropriate .f5,000 additional toward the same object, Mr. Luther I. Burditt, then the Supervisor of this town, at once gave his check for that amount, trusting to his fellow-citizens interested to reimburse him. To do so, it was resolved to raise the money by subscription, although a special act had been passed authorizing its levy upon the town. All but about $600 was voluntarily pledged, and by comparatively few citizens. The begging was principally done by Fayette Hinds, D. L. Birge and S. M. Shaw. Every dollar subscribed was collected by Supervisor Hinds, who suc- ceeded Mr. Burditt in office. He was a valuable worker in a good cause. Those who solicited subscriptions were constantly met with this remark : ''We approve of the project, and would willingly pay our tax toward it, but object to paying the taxes of other people, many of them rich and giving but little, and others rich or able as ourselves and giving nothing" — and with that sentiment almost every subscri- ber will heartily sympathize, when he notices the omissions. Volun- tary taxes for churches and charitable objects are all right — but in purely public matters like this, the money should be raised by a gen- eral tax. The following were the subscribers to the "jail fund :" Jedediah P. Sill, - - - $500 1 L I. Burditt, - - $100 CO Edward Clark, - - 500 00 Fiederick G, Lee, - 100 oo H. F. Phinney, 25U 00 A. A Jarvis, - 100 oc W C Kejes, - - - - 200 00 B. F. Murdock k Bro., - 60 00 Samuel Nelson, 150 00 K. Russfll k Co., 50 00 Mrs, Jane K. A. Carter, - - 100 uO F. M. Robinson, 50 m Lois A. Carr and others. 100 00 R. Butler, . 50 oo Elihu Phinney, - - 100 00 Jo/aiston Bro's, 50 00 Calvin Graves, 100 00 G. Ponieroy Keese, - 50 OO John Wood. - 100 00 D. A. Avery, - 50 OO Johnston & Field, - 100 00 W.H.Ruggles, - - ' 50 OO HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. 101 H. VI Hooker & Co., Geo, W. Ernst, S. M. Shaw, C. W. Smith, A. H. Watkins, J. I. Heudryx & Son, - J. K. Worthington, Sam'l S. Edick, - Sturges & Countryman G. M. Grant & Co , Ellery Cory, Andrew Shaw, Tyley & Hinman, Wm. Brooks, K. Quaif, - George Brooks, - K. A Lee, Griswold & White, Bowes & Jackson, Nelson Smith, C. K. McHarg, - Beadle & Soule, $50 00 50 00 50 00 50 00 50 00 50 00 60 00 50 00 50 00 50 00 50 00 50 00 40 00 30 00 25 00 •25 00 25 00 25 00 25 00 25 00 25 00 25 00 C. R. Burch, - Geo Jarvis & Co., John B. Hooker, - Sanford Casler, - McCabe Bro's, Smith & Spingler, John L McNamee, Jerome Fish, George B Wellman, C. Z. Gregory, - R. Spafard, - John Potts, Rufus Wikoff, Robt. Pearse Jarvis & Bliss, - - - - 25 00 E. M. Harris, Walter H. Bunn, - Fayette Hinds, - John F. Scot", - P. H. Potter, Doubleday & Eldred, M. & J. Austin & Co., - B J. Scofield, - H. C. Fish, Lynes & Van Horn, - Samuel A Bowen, W.G. Smith, - E D. Shumway C. Childs, - - - - H. Groat, Chas. R. Hartson, N. D. Gray, - N. W. Cole, S. Harper, H. B. Wa ker, - D. E Siver, - Peter Sayles, J . D. Vanderwerken, - Orrin Benton, - Peter Hecker, 25 00 John Pank. 25 00 Frank Carroll, 25 00 P. P Cooper, - 25 00 H, L. Hinman, 25 00 W. T. Bassett, - 25 00 T. S. Blodgett, 25 00 C. & L. Hinds, . 25 00 W. K. Warren, 25 00 John Hinds, 25 00 Hills & Shumway, 25 00 S. Irvin Haynes, 20 00 Hosea Chapel, 20 00 Albert Pieice, - 20 00 Wm. C. Persons, - 15 00 Buckingham Fitch, 15 00 Charles Peck, The winter of 1873 gave us more than four months continuous sleighing. The ice remained in Otsego lake until the 4th of May, and the lake was again skimmed over on the morning of the 0th. Xo similar record had occurred for nearly 40 years, as shown by the record kept by Mr. G. P. Keese. " 18 -i^- — January 1. — Governor Dix appointed Edwin Countryman, $15 00 15 00 15 00 15 00 15 00 15 00 10 00 10 00 10 00 10 00 10 00 10 00 10 00 10 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 GO 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 3 00 3 00 3 00 2 00 2 00 102 HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. Esq., Justice of the Supreme Court to fill vacancy. He was not an applicant for the place. A "mysterious stranger," who proved to be an imposter, spent sev- eral days in this village early in this year ; he pretended to be deaf and dumb ; intimated his desire to purchase real estate ; had negotia- tions with bank officers and others ; was evidently a "confidence oper- ator ;" his "box containing $40,000 in gold," did not reveal property of any value. The chief of police of the city of New York intimated that the fellow was not unknown to him by reputation. He was the sensation of the day, and evidently came here to victimize a bank. He gave the name of Wood, and claimed to have just arrived from England. The ravages of an unusually severe storm, which visited this county in June, did much damage, destroying bridges and other property, to the estimated amount of $200,000. The rain-fall in this village was 2^ inches, and in and near Cooperstown considerable damage was sustained. Hotel Fenimore w^as opened for business as a summer hotel, in June, and did a good business through the season. It was continued as such for several summers, at the risk and expense of Mr. Edward Clark, who was represented by his agent, Mr. Bunyan. In the ag- gregate, Mr. Clark was a loser to the extent of several thousand dollars. He gave the property to his son, Ambrose J. Clark, on whose death it again came into the possession of his father. A fair in August, in aid of the "Orphan House of the Holy Saviour," resulted in placing $500 to the credit of that institution. The Albany Institute held its ITth field meeting in this village on the 3d of October. Hon. J. V. L. Pruyn presided and gave a brief account of the organization and purpose of the Society ; after which, papers were read and addresses were made by a number of gentlemen of the Institute and the village, and the society adjourned. The first issue of the Otsego Republican, under the proprietorship of Russell & Davidson, who had bought the establishment of J. I. Hendryx & Son, appeared on the first of November. Gen. Kilpatrick delivered his lecture on "Sherman's march to the sea" to a large audience, in December. Gen. K. was in command of Sherman's cavalry forces in that famous campaign, and his descrip- tion of it was very graphic. 1875. — -The Freeman's Journal office changed quarters, from "com- mercial row" — where it had been* located for 60 years — to the "iron- clad" building, the first week in February. Hon. Edwin Countryman delivered a eulogy in Bowne Hall on HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. 103 the late Judge Nelson, in March. It was a very scholarly and able production. Extensive repairs were commenced on the Methodist church, and completed at an expense of about .^4,000. The reopening occurred in November, on which occasion Bishop Foster preached. In October, the directors of the Cooperstown Railroad effected a settlement with the heirs of the late contractor Keenholtz, whose judgment against the company had been confirmed by the Courts - The last week in December, an advertisement appeared in the Re- })ublican offering for sale — "by virtue of several executions issued out of the Supreme Court of this State," the real and personal property of this Railroad Co. This was an unexpected movement, which oc- casioned great surprise, in view of the fact that the general belief had been that the condition of the road was substantially sound, and that with prudent and careful management it could be extricated from its temporary embarrassment and be made a more valuable property. Time has justified that belief and proved that the course since adopted by the Directors was a wise and judicious one. and has re- sulted in verifying the more hopeful predictions then made as to the future of the road. In the following March, Mr. Andrew Shaw was elected president of the road, bonds to the amount of !8^40.0OO were issued to meet the floating debt and to settle the Keenholtz claim, and from that time to the present, with slight interruption, the road has been slowly emerging from its debt. 187H. — The ''Centennial Year"' of the American Union was ushered in at Cooperstown by the firing of cannon, ringing of bells, bonfires, martial music, kc. A large crowd of people was on the streets until one or two o'clock a. m., waiting to hail the auspicious hour. The president of the village, and the supervisor of this town, was a native of .Middlefield, James A. Lynes, Esq. The work of demolishing the old jail building was accomplished in January. In February, Judge Sturges received from Governor Tilden the appointment of (,'anal Appraiser, a position held by him upwards of three years. The "Half Shire" bill was defeated in the Legislature, in April, and that ended a contest in which this village was deeply interested. The firm of Bundy l^ros. made their first business announcement in March. The Ballard House was opened to the public in May, being the J. H. Story dwelling and the George Story brick block, on Main street. 104 HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. The corner stone of the new building of H. M. Hooker & Co., Main and Pioneer streets, was laid with considerable ceremony, during the latter part of July. Remarks were made by citizens of the village, and the village band discoursed stirring music for the occasion. ''Kingfisher Tower," standing a little out from the shore, in lake Ot- sego, two miles north of Cooperstown, naturally attracts the attention of all visitors to these waters. It was constructed during this year, and in September the wealthy gentleman who caused it to be built at an expense of several thousand dollars, complied with the request of the editor of this volume, by penning the following article for the Journal, in which paper it was published : "Point Judith," one of the most prominent, as it is one of the love- liest, of the many diminutive capes that jut out from the shores of our lake, presents to the discriminating lover of nature features of greater beauty and opportunities for embellishment scarcely afforded by any of the others. Appreciating this fact, Mr. Edward Clark, almost im- mediately after purchasing the property, caused to be erected the pic- turesque cottage in the manner of the Swiss chalels, (to be used as a rustic retreat, or more literally, a private picnicing house.) Nestling among the trees it gave a suggestion of retirement and quiet, adding to the peaceful character of the spot it ornamented, while its varied detail and bright, though not gay, coloring harmonized with the infi- nite forms and colors of Nature's work. The design, however, was not complete until the erection of the structure just finished, which is to be known as "Kingfisher Tower." This consists of a miniature castle, after the style of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, standing upon the extremity of the Point and rising out of the water to a height of nearly sixty feet. It forms an objective point in the scene present- ed by the lake and surrounding hills ; it adds solemnity to the land- scape, seeming to stand guard over the vicinity, while it gives a char- acter of antiquity to the lake, a charm by which we cannot help being impressed in such scenes. Some apprehension was felt lest a proper foundation could not be secured strong enough to resist the force of the ice in winter. This has been accomplished by driving a number of piles on which a grillage was formed of heavy timber, fjlled with concrete, and on this solid masonry was laid, several feet in height. The castle is about twenty feet square at the base, and at a height of five feet above the water is the main floor. 'I en feet above this is the first platform, provided with ramparts and machicolated parapets. Above this stage the tower alone rises, eight feet square, crowned with a pyramidal roof pierced with a window on each side, the walls bear- ing at one angle a bartizan with conical roof The walls of the struc- ture are most solidly built of stone from the shores of the lake, the HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. 105 roofs covered with earthen tiles, the bright red color of which con- trasts finely with the sober gray of the stone. 'Ilie main windows are brilliant with stained glass, and each bears in the center a heraldic shield. A drawbridge connects the castle with the causeway running to the main land, while a portcullis can be lowered to close the entrance. The drawbridge, portcullis and doors are all of solid oak. Stairs lead to the highest platform of the tower, and from the numer- ous openings and loopholes with which the walls are pierced, a fine panoramic view of the lake and country can be obtained. 'I'he effect of the structure is that of a picture from mediajval times, and its value to the lake is very great. Mr. Clark has been led to erect it simply by a desire to beautify the lake and add an attraction which must be seen by all who traverse the lake or drive along its shores. They whose minds can rise above simple notions of utility to an appre- ciation of art joined to nature, will thank him for it. The original design for " Kingfisher Tower" was selected from several drawn by Henry J. Hardenburgh, Esq., architect, and the entire work upon it has been executed under his supervision. The visits of tramps, during the entire winter, were disagreeably frequent throughout the county. A public tneeting was held here to take measures to abate the nuisance, and action was also taken by the Board of Supervisors. T\\Q first mile of steel rails on the Cooperstown railroad, was laid in December. They are now all steel. 1877. — A famous game of old-fashioned base ball was played here, in August — Judge Sturges heading the "Reds" and Judge Edick the "Blues" — 16 on a side. The victory was with the "Blues." It called together a large concourse ot people. The first accident on the Cooperstown railroad, resulting in the loss of life, occurred October 3. A man named G. W. Hopkins, who had been an inmate of the bounty House, was seen walking on the track, and although the engineer immediately reversed the engine, the un- fortunate man was struck by the pilot and instantly killed. Cooperstown was visited by a grand excursion party from Oneonta, on the 1 7th October, in which more than 1,100 people participated. The Military Company, and the Fire Department of that village, were the more prominent features, and the day was pleasantly spent in target practice, a dress parade, Arc, and closed with the presentation by our citizens of a number of elegant prizes to the best marksmen. Cooperstown was slightly shaken by an earthquake, at two o'clock, A. M., November 4, lasting from six to eight seconds. It was rather the most notable event of this rather dull year. 106 HISTORY OF G00PER8T0WN. 1878. — The village was invaded by a small army of tramps, on the 20th of January, as was often the case during this period, and twelve of these recreants, were lodged in jail before night. Later in the year, another public meeting, called for the purpose of abating this tramp nuisance, was successful in its efforts — the tramps not liking the idea of being set to work breaking stone for a living. On the night of February 1.5th, the sash and blind factory was des- troyed by fire, the loss being about .^18,000. About a month later, the Worthington Bank building and the stone store adjoining it were burned. The latter, it was generally believed, was of incendiary ori- gin. There was a heavy insurance on dry goods being sold by a firm from the city who had a short lease of the building. Samuel Harper occupied the stone building as a furniture factory and store, and his stock was almost wholly destroyed. Mr. Crittenden, the present proprietor of the Cooper House, took possession in May of this year, and made many striking improve- ments, preparatory to its opening to summer quests in June. He bought the building and furniture for about %1 i ,000. Myron A. Buel, the murderer of the young girl Catherine Mary Richards, at Plainfield (^enter, was brought to this village and lodged in jail, July 4. This young man, (not 21 years old at the time of the murder,) was tried and convicted the following winter, and executed in this village, November 14,1879. The prosecution was by District Attorney Benedict and L. Ij. Bundy ; the defense by James A. Lynes and S. S. Morgan. The execution was performed by the sheriff. Mr. James F. Clark. The surviving members of the 121st Regiment held a reunion in this village in November. It was largely attended, and the "Boys in Blue" were well entertained. The Court House building was condemned, by a committee ap- pointed for its inspection, in December. 1879.- The lake was closed only 61 days this season, the shortest ]3eriod in twenty years. On the site of the old sash and blind factory, Mr. ( -lark, at an ex- pense of about .^4.5,000, erected the new Pioneer Flouring Mills, and Planing Mills, the former of which were leased to E. Delavan Hills & Co. for a term of years, and the latter run by Mr. Clark's Agent. 'I'hese mills are located near the railroad depot, and are connected with the railroad by a side track and turn-table ; are equipped with the best and most approved machinery manufactured. The power for propelling this machinery is furnished by two lai'ge boilers, a 150- horse-power Watts, ( Jampbell & Co. engine, located in a brick build- HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. 107 ing adjoining the mills. They were completed in March, and oper- ations began in the following month. The Fly Creek "Fantasticals" made a, sudden descent upon Coop- erstown on the 14th of August and caused much amusement by their ludicrous appearance and deportment while parading the streets. The Board of Supervisors met in extra session in June, to consider the matter of building a new Court House, and decided that a new building was a necessity and that immediate action must be taken to erect one. The committee on finance was authorized to issue county bonds in aid of that purpose. The old Court House liaving been de- clared unfit and unsafe for further use, the Sheriff w^as instructed to rent suitable quarters for the holding of Court, and accordingly secured Bowne Hall, a very commodious and comfortable room for such purpose. A public meeting was held at Bowne Hall in July, to discuss the new Court House matter, and a committee appointed to take such action as might be desirable and necessary in support of that project ; and during the regular session of the Board of Supervisors, held in November, final arrangements were made for the erection of this much-needed and handsome building. The town of Otsego was placed in a peculiarly embarrassing posi- tion by the requirement made by the Board of Supervisors, that it make a special contribution toward the grounds and building of i^lO,- 000. How to raise so large an amount was a matter of much discus- sion. It was conceded that it could not be raised by voluntary sub- scription ; and finally — by a very broad and liberal construction of the statute quoted below — it was agreed to raise it by tax. The towai records, and newspapers of that date, record the following : "A special tow^i meeting was held, pursuant to call, at the Clinton House, December 2, 1871). Called to order by the Town (/lerk, and the following resolution was submitted by S. M. Shaw : 'Resolved, That the Supervisor of the town of Otsego, in behalf of said towni, be and he is hereby authorized to apply to the Board of Supervisors of Otsego Co. for power and authority to purchase a site for a Town Hall and to purchase or erect a building for such Hall, as provided by subdivision 20, of section 1, of chapter 482 of the law^s of 1875, and to borrow on the credit of said town the sum of $10,000.' Nine hundred and seventy- two votes were cast, of which 654 were in favor of the resolution, and 328 opposed to it."' A leading member of the Bar and an ex-County Judge remarked at the time : "This is about the broadest and most liberal construc- tion I have ever known given to a statute law — but it seems to be the only w^ay to raise the required amount, to dispose of a troublesome 108 HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. matter, and to settle once more the question of county town, and I think we shall have to acquiesce." The town of Oneonta was before the Board of Supervisors at the time with a proposition to put up the county buildings at its own expense. By a vote of two to one in numbers, representing not less than four-fifths the taxable property of the town, the tax-payers thereof had voted, and nearly all of them afterward cheerfully paid, this tax — which they all thought should not have been made necessary by the action of the Board of Super- visors. In November, the Cooperstown Aqueduct Association purchased the old Gregory Mill property, thus getting control of the "water power" for running their pumps, and decided to reconstruct the entire water works, by building— on the site of the old grist mill — a new brick pump house, and placing in it two very powerful pumps, capa- ble of supplying the village most abundantly with water. This plan was carried into effect. A large pipe was laid up into the lake, com- mencing at a point just south of the cemetery, and running thence to a well in the pump house ; engine-pumps of the most approved make were purchased, and new and larger pipes laid through the streets. 1880. — The Journal's publication by S. M. Shaw & Co., was an- nounced on the first day of January, Edward S. Brockham, for many years connected with the office, having become one of the proprietors and publishers at that date. The contest between several eager candidates for the Postmaster- ship, was ended in January by the appointment of Mr. Harvey I. Russell to that office. The contract for building the Court House was let to S. R. Barnes and the McCabe Brothers for .1^24,995, in the latter part of January. Much alarm was manifested at the discovery on the morning of May 1st, that several points on "the Vision" were on fire, and a large number of men were employed till late at night in subduing the flames. The damage would have been serious, had there been any wind. The sight at one time was a grand and exciting one. The Round House of C. & S. Y. R. R. Company, in this village, was destroyed by fire on the 5th of June. Two engines belonging to the Company were badly damaged, and the baggage car burned. Loss estimated at fully .f COOO ; no insurance. A large number of families in this village and vicinity opened their houses, in July of this year, for the reception of the poor children of New York, sent into the country by the "Fresh air Fund," for a fortnight's stay in the country. About 13(5 of these little waifs were thus most kindly cared for, or boarded out by others, the large brick HISTORY OP COOPERSTOWN. 109 house south of the village, owned by Hooker Ar Spafard, being tem- porarily fitted up and opened for that purpose. At an expense of about .f'2,000, Mrs. Jane R. Carter caused several noted improvements to be made on the property of ('hrist Church, in July. Mrs. Carter's liberality caused the erection of the beautiful cloister, connecting church and chapel, and the artistic interior arrangement of the chapel is also due her. About |1 ,000 v^^ere ex- pended on improvements of the church proper, by the parish. In October, occurred the annual reunion of the 121st and l.'52d regiments, N. Y. Volunteers, in this place. There was a large attend- ance, and interesting proceedings. ^ As an evidence of the esteem in which Prof. J . G. Wight was held by his pupils, a gold watch was presented their faithful instructor, by the school, at the close of the fall term. LAYING OF THR CORNER STONE OF THE COURT HOUSE. On the 1 .^th of June occurred the laying of the corner stone of the new Court House, with imposing ceremonies. Between eight and ten thousand people were in attendance. The Masonic Order was repre- sented by the Grand Master and other high dignitaries of the State Lodge, the Utica Comniandery, K. 'l\, fourteen different Masonic Lodges, and representatives from several other lodges ; the 1 Otli Regi- ment Band of Albany, the Utica City Band, and two other bands were in the procession, with the Board of Supervisors, Building Com- mittee. Village Trustees, and others. 'J'he sight was a very imposing one, as this procession filled the entire length of Main street. Vlajor Walter H. Bunn, D. G. M., was Marshal on the occasion. The large arch erected on the Court House grounds, through which the proces- sion passed, was beautifully covered with evergreens and flowers. In this work sever-al ladies kindly assisted. A hard shower seriously interfered with the ceremonies planned for the laying of the corner stone. An ode was sung by a choir of gentlemen and ladies, and then Principal Architect, Capt. H. G. Wood, addressed the Grand Master in the prescribed terms of the Order, closing with the request that he proceed to lay the corner stone. The corner stone was then put in its proper position by the McCabe Brothers, builders, and the (ilrand Master and his associate high officials stepped forward and conducted the ceremonies in the usual form. At the close of the proceedings of laying the stone, the Masons sang the Dedication Ode. The Grand .Master then briefly addressed the assembly present, and Rev. Dr. Lord pron:>unceci the benediction. The address prepared for this occasion by Hon. Hezekiah Sturges. was as follows : 1 1 mSTOR Y OF CO OPERSTO WN. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow- Citizens : On the 16th of February, 1791, the Legislature of the State of New York created out of the territory theretofore embraced in the county of Montgomery a politi- cal division of the State called the county of Otsego. There were then two townships in the county, one called the town of Otsego, organized in 1788, and Cherry Valley, organized in 1791. The town of Otsego was made the shire town. The village that bears the hon- ored name of its founder was selected as the site for its Temple of Justice, where for more than 89 years it has remained, and still does remain. Assembled on this spot, at this hour, to lay the foundation of a new Hall of Justice, thick thronging shadows come flitting over us, freighted with historical recollections, and with memories of men .who have left the impress of their minds and their characters on the his- tory of the country for more than three-fourths of a century. i'he first Court House for the county of Otsego was built in 1791, located on the southeast corner of what was then known as Second and We:t streets of this village, now familiarly known as the loca- tion of the Davis block. Its historian describes it as a structure 30 feet square, two stories in height ; the first or lower story of squared logs containing four rooms, and used as the jail ; the second story frame work, and used as the court room. 'I'he entrance to the court room was on the north front, two flights of steps on the exterior of the building, meeting on a platform before a door that opened to the air. This was superseded by a brick structure erected in 1806-~T, on the site in the then extreme western limits of the village, 56 feet long and 50 feet wide. The jailer had rooms in the building, and the jail was in the lower story. That Court House was destroyed by fire on the evening of December 17th, 1840, and in 1841 another was erected on the same site. And now, after forty years, the dilapidating power of decay, and the instability of its ground rest, necessitate the con- struction of a new Temple. The first court of record, called the Cburt of Common Pleas, and the first criminal court of record, called the Court of Sessions, was held at the first-erected Court House, the 21st of June, 1791. The Hon. William Cooper was the first Judge of these Courts. He be- came a resident here in 1788, was the founder of the village, and efii- cient in procuring the legal organization ; was conspicuous in estab- lishing the judicial, literary, and religious institutions of this part of the county, and in promoting the comfort and welfare of the pioneers to this then nearly primeval forest. He presided over those Courts until October, 1800; and from the beginning he impressed upon the HISTORY OF COOPERsTOWN. HI (Wrt of Common Pleas of the county of Otsego a character for dig- nity, ability and impartiality vhich it retained and maintained till its last session, in June, 1847. Jedediah Peck was the Assistant Judge at the first term of the Court. He was a native of Connecticut, of but little legal learning, but remarkable for his sound judgment and quick perception. He was an itinerant surveyor in the county, then new and uncultivated. Judge Hanunond says, "he would survey your farm in the day time, preach a sermon in the school-house in the evening and on Sunday, and talk politics the rest of the time. If not the projector, he was the efficient and persevering advocate of the common school system, and through his exertions the foundation of the common school fund was laid."' These acts entitle him to, and will ever secure to him, the gratitude of the people of this county. Associate Justices of the Peace at that term of the court, were Ephraim Hudson, Joslma H. Britt, John Mathias Brown and Miller Johnston. The Court of Common Pleas was continued in this State from the Colonial period of our history, and from 1777, the number of Judges and Associate Justices of the Peace differed in the various counties of the State ; in some counties as many as twelve each, con- stituted that Court. But an act was passed in March, 1818, lin)iting the number of Judges to five, and abolishing the office of Assistant or Associate Justices The Court thus constituted was continued with- out material change till the adoption of the Constitution of 1846. It was the duty of the county ('lerk to act as the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas. Gen. Jacob Morris was the Clerk of this Court in 1791 for this county. He had distinguished himself as aid of Gen. Lee in the Revolutionary war. He came to reside in this county in 1787, as the agent of the owners of Morris patent. He was distinguished for his high culture, sound judgment, courteous manners and manly bearing. He was prominent in all the early enterprises in founding the religious and literary institutions in the south part of the county. These with other eminent pioneers made this county, from its earliest organization, distinguished in the State as the houK' of industry, intelligence, intellectual refinement, and high moral character. Abram Ten Broeck, John I. Morgan. James Cochran, Christopher P. Yates, Amaziah Rust, Andrew Wemple, Anthony I. Merwin and Jacob J, I^^onda, were the members of the Bar for the Court of Common Pleas, in this county in the year I 791. The office of District Attorney was created by law, on the 4th day of April, 1801. Prior to that time, this officer was called the Assist- ant Attorney General. Under an act of 1 79G the State was divided into seven districts, and an Assistant .Attorney General was appointed 112 msTOEV OF COOPERSTOWN. by the Governor and Council of Appointment, during their pleasure, in each of these districts. The seventh District was composed of the counties of Herkimer and Otsego, and Thomas R. Gold, who became a member of the Bar of the Gourt of Common Pleas of Otsego county in 1792, was appointed Assistant Attorney General in 1797. In 1801 the office of District Attorney being created, the State was divided into seven districts as before, and subsequently several new ones were created. That division placed Otsego in the sixth district, and Nathan Williams was made the District Attorney therefor in August, 1801. In 1818 each county was constituted a separate dis- trict, for the purposes of this office, and on the 1 1th of June of that year, Ambrose L. Jordan was appointed District Attorney for the county of Otsego. During the existence of the Court of Common Pleas, Wm. Cooper was First Judge fronj 1791 to 180i»; Joseph White from 1800 to 1823; John C. Morris from 1823 to 1827; George Morell from 1827 to 1832 ; James 0. Morse from 1832 to 1838; Jabez D. Hammond from 1838 to 1843 ; Charles C. Noble from 1843 to 1847. The records of the Court of Common Pleas and the Court of Sessions, held at the same terms, during the fifty-six years of its ex- istence, disclose that this Court performed a very large amount of judicial labor. That Court commanded the respect and confidence of suitors, of advocates, and of the people. It was abolished by the constitution of 1846, and what is denominated the County Court was established to take its place. And now, after the experience of thirty years, it may be seriously questioned whether the change has been any improvement of our local judiciary. The first Circuit Court and Oyer and Terminer, in this county, was held on the 7th of July, 1792. Hon. John Lansing, one of the Justices of the Supreme Court, presiding. This Court was held here but once a year, till the reorganization of the judiciary in 1821, and thereafter two terms of this Court were held here- — and in September 1823, Hon. Judge Nelson first presided in that Court in this county. The history of the Otsego Bar commences with the organization of the county, and nearly dates waththe period when the foundations of our State and National governments were laid. This is no time to individualize and eulogize. It is enough, on this occasion, to say that the members of the Bar of this county have maintained the high character of the profession for legal learning and forensic ability. It has at all times contributed to preserve civil and social order, public and private justice, to keep alive sentiments of obedience and rever- ence, and the supremacy of the calm, grand force of the law over fit- HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWJS/. 113 fill passion and ungoverned license. It has been seen and felt in the establishment of the civil, political, literary and religious institutions of our country, the outgrowth of which has been the peace, good order and moderate prosperity that prevail in our borders, till here, within our county, we answer the inquiry of Sir William Jones : "What constitutes a State? Not high-raised battlement or labor'd mound, Thick wall, or moated gate; Not cities proud, with spires and turrets crown'd; Not bays and broad armed ports, Where, laughing at the storm, rich navies ride; Not starr'd and spangled courts, Where low-browed baseness wafts perfume to pride. No: Men, high-minded men, With powers afar above dull brutes endued, In forest brake or den, As beasts excel cold rocks and brambles rude: Men who their duties know, But know their rights, and knowing, dare maintain. ******** These constitute a State. " Of such is the county of Otsego. But the interest attaching to the construction of a Court House, does not all lie in the reminiscences of the past. It has another, if not a higher and nobler significance, that is to be seen and felt, not only by the generation that now is within the geographical limits of our own county, but by all the generations yet to come. Such a structure is the physical personification, or rather the material sym- bol, of liberty protected by law. It is the forum where unlicensed liberty on the one hand is restrained, and where despotic power on the other is repressed. The history of the centuries gone is replete with the description of men, of factions, of parties, to maintain an undefined liberty or unrestrained license on the one side, and despotic power on the other. Indeed, during the entire political history of the world, whole nations, in every age and in every clime, have been tinged with the blood of their people in maintaining the one, and in overthrowing the other. During nearly the whole of the KJth century and part of the 17th, the people of France were engaged in contests for religious liberty, and its rulers were engaged in repressing it by the enforcement of edicts upon the lives and property of its citizens in such manner of cruelty and barbarity, that I fear its parallel cannot be found in the unwritten records of savage life. Yet in the 18th century the pend- 114 HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. ulum swung to the other extreme, till the events that followed hard on the death scene of Louis XVI. engulfed all liberty and all law, all social order, in one common ruin. Liberty is a theme that has called forth the loftiest strains of the poet, the sweetest songs of the lyre, and the most eloquent periods of the orator. The statesman uses it as the watch-cry from the walls of the political edifice against danger ; the demagogue, to awaken political jealousies, and finds it powerful to raise the demon discord ; and yet liberty, when unrestrained, rushes on to anarchy more de- structive to hiiman society than despotic power itself. Hence law is essential to liVrty, in that it defines and secures the right, and spreads its shietd over the weak as well as the strong ; for law is made for those who are not a law unto themselves ; for the lawless and disobedient. It, for the most part, is a body of rules and enact- ments, portions of which may be traced to inspired wisdom, others to Kome, the lawgiver of nations, others to the refining process of rea- son, perfected by the learning of more modern times. It so far restrains and circumscribes liberty, that "it defends the helplessness of infancy, it restrains the passions of youth, it protects the acquisi- tions of manhood, it shields the sanctity of the grave, and executes the will of the departed." Hence the only safety of the body politic lies in that condition of society in which liberty is restrained and protected by law. Yet without administration and enforcement of law, there would be in efi'ect no law. Therefore, the whole order of society rests on its sure administration. Here, therefore, in this rising Temple, may the law be always ad- ministered in the solidity of justice, and in the stability of fortitude, so long as the shadow of these walls shall follow the rising or setting sun. So long as that lake shall mirror on its piacid bosom yon clas- sic mountain, may liberty here be protected by law. Eiuiin, the column marching to slow music. On approaching the rink, where the services were to be held, Commander Flanigan brought his com- mand to "reverse arms." At the rink the soldiers were brought to company front, and stacked arms before entering. The rink was filled, seating over a thousand people comfortably. Capt. Audrew Davidson, on taking the chair to preside, made a few appropriate and well-timed remarks The invocation was by Rev. Mr. Pitcher of Hartwick Semi- nary ; Rev. Mr Olmstead read a selection from the Scriptures ; singing by the choir ; prayer by Rev Mr. Denniston The address of Rev. Mr. McHarg occupied just an hour, and the speaker was, as usual, equal to the occasion. Every word was distinctly heard by the large audience, and from the opening to the close of the eulogy the -closest attention was paid the orator. The speaker devoted his time principally to a deeply interesting account of the public life of the deceased hero, showing perfect familiarity with his great military career, and also his position on important measures which came before Congress during his two presidential terms. He then spoke of his trip around the world, the great honors paid him by the most distinguished people everywhere, and finally of his sickness and death. The singing, which was under the direction of Mr. Wm. H. Russell, was excellent — the choir com- of about a score of gentlemen of this village. This season, as in several preceding summers, Cooperstown was visited by a number of large excursion parties, from Albany, Bing- hamton and other places. On the lake were a large number of camp- ing parties. The popular game of lawn tennis was more generally introduced and played in Cooperstown this summer. Several large parties en- gaged in this favorite out-door game, were assembled on the convenient grounds of Mrs. Carter and Mr. S. B Steers, on the lake Several hundred hop pickers were brought to Cooperstown by the railroad, from Albany and other cities, the closing week in August. This has been a custom during the last few years The house building mechanics of Cooperstown were kept well employed during the fall on the dwellings being erected by Messrs. J. F. Reustle, E. F. Beadle, J. A. M. Johnston, E. S. Bundy, L. I. Bur- ditt, W. P. K. Fuller and others. The Masonic Lodge Room of this village was extensively and elaborately repaired during the summer. New carpets, curtains and fixtures were added at a large expense, and the l^dge now has a handsome room. The expense of these improvements was between 128 HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. 5$700 and i$800, and shared by Otsego Lodge. No. 138, and Otsego Chapter, No. 26. The former has a membership of 150 and the lat- ter about 80. The first week in October, on petition of the property owners of North Fair street, the Trustees of the village commenced laying sewer pipes from Main street to a junction with the main sewer. The American Hotel, on Pioneer street, was sold by D. M. Hunter to Albert Palmer, in November, and the latter took possession the same month. A meeting of the drafted men of Otsego county was held in this village on the 3d of December, the object being to obtain legislative enactment which will enable the towns to pay the expense to which these men were put during the late civil war. The village papers published in December contained this mention of the sale of a handsome and desirable piece of real estate on the lake, near Cooperstown : "The 'Leatherstocking Falls' property, com- prising 88 acres, which has been in the Johnson family nearly all of the time for 80 years, has been sold by Edward H. Johnson, the present occupant, to Walter Langdon of Hyde Park, Dutchess county, who designs it for his nephew, Woodbury Kane of New York ; con- sideration $10,000." Several Cooperstown people went to Florida, to spend the present winter. Said a village paper, at the close of this year : "Dwellings of the value of about .s4o,000 have been erected on this corporation during this year ; and a few just off of the corporation to the value of about .$22,000. Both exclusive of lots and out-buildings. We do not in- clude Mr. Constable's fine residence on the lake, completed this spring, and which alone cost about $20,000." The "Willow Brook" place, in the village, was sold by Mrs. F. A. Lee to her nephew, Mr. Henry C. Bowers of New York. Some of the predictions which Mr. Cooper made, in 1838, in the closing paragraphs of his "Chronicles," are now being realized. Ac- commodations have been provided, in hotels and boarding houses, for those who wish to spend the summer season here ; others, who desire a furnished private house, are readily accommodated, some of the most desirable dwellings in the village being placed at the service of city families, and generally at a fair rent. Although the shores of the lake are not yet "lined with country residences," these have commenced to make their appearance, several having been built within the last two years, two or three near the head of the lake. Others will follow ; HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWJ^. 129 slowly, it may be, on account of the difficulty of obtaining desirable locations, of five to twenty-five acres or more of land, at what would be deemed a reasonable price. It is more than probable that within the present decade Cooperstown will have direct railroad communical tion with the Hudson river, and that will invite a far greater number of summer visitors to Otsego lake and its beautiful shores. It is not likely that Cooperstown will ever become a manufacturing place, for several evident reasons — a potent one being, its capitalists do not wish to see it such. But the village is likely in the future, as in the past, to witness a steady and solid growth. There is one improvement we should be glad to chronicle — one which we at least hope will be chronicled by the next editor of the History of Cooperstown— and that is, the erection in this village of note in the United States, and of all others in this country best and most widely known throughout Europe, by reputation, of a Library and Art Building worthy the name of the place. In time, and proba- bly at no very distant day, a Village Hall and Firemen's Building will doubtless be erected ; let it be a credit to Cooperstown. 130 HISTORY OF GOOPERSTOWK THE GLIM MEE glass; Although the varied charms of the landscapes surrounding Coop^ erstown, attractive in themselves, and rendered still more fascinating: by the magic pen of Cooper, cannot fail to be sources of exquisite delight to all lovers of the beautiful in nature, it is the '"Glimmer- glass," haunted with the wraiths and slmdes of the creations of the great Novelist, lying as pure and fair as on creation's first day, "Among the pine-clad mou-ntains,- Foreyer smiling upward to the skies," that appeals most to the fancy and dwells longest in the mind. In the romance of the "Deerslayer,"^ the chief charm of association lies on the Lake and its shores ; its scenes being laid almost wholly on its waters or upon the land immediately surrounding them, and with such accuracy is every point, cove and shoal portrayed, and made the scene of some romantic incident or deed of daring, that it is- difficult to believe that the facts and characters were creations of fiction, so deftly and with such a semblance of reality ajre they por- trayed. Although the description of the Lake as seen by Deerslayer, iS' that of its appearance prior to the year 1760, it remains in all essen- tial particulars the same beautiful gem as when, undisturbed by the hand of man. the fringing forests were mirrored in its glassy surface ;. and the impression it prodttced on the mind of Deerslayer, a mind peculiarly sensitive aixl appreciative of the beauties of nature, may well bear repetition m these pages : An exclamation of sm-prise broke from the lips of Deerslayer, an exclamation that was low and guardedly made, however, for his habits were much more thoughtful and regulated tlmn those of the reckless Hurry, when, on reaching the margin of the lake, lie beheld the view that unex})ectedly met his gaze. It w-as, m trwih. sufficiently striking to merit a brief description. On a level with the point lay a broafl slueet of water, so placid and limpid, that it resembled a bed^. of the pure mountain atmosphere, compressed into a setting of hills- and woods. Its length was about three leagues, while its breadth was irregular, expanding to half a league, or even more, opposite to^ mSTORY OF C00PERST0}MS. 131 tlie point, and contracting to less than half that distance, more to the southward. Of course, its margin was irregular, being indented by- bays, and broken by many projecting, low points. At its northern, or nearest end, it was bounded by an isolated mountain, lower land falling off east and west, gracefully relieving the sweep of the outline. Htill the character of the country was mountainous ; high hills, or low mountains, rising abruptly from the water, on quite nine tenths "of its circuit. T\\q exceptions, indeed, only served a little to vary the scene ; and even beyond the parts of the shore that were com- paratively lowi the back-ground was high, though more distant. But the most striking peculiarities of this scene were its solemn •solitude and sweet repose. On all sides, wherever the eye turned, nothing met it but the mirror-like surface of the lake, the placid view "of heaven, and the dense setting of woods. So rich and fleecy were the outlines of the forest, that scarce an opening could be seen, the whole visible earth, from the rounded mountain-top to the water's ■edge, presenting one unvaried hue of unbroken verdure. As if vege- tation were not satisfied with a triumph so complete, the trees over- hung the lake itself, shooting out towards the light ; and there were miles along its eastern shore, where a boat might have pulled beneath the branches of jdark Rembrandt-looking hemlocks, "quivering- aspens," and melancholy pines. In a word, the hand of man had never yet defaced or deformed any part of tliis native scene, which lay bathed in the sunlight, a glorious picture of affluent forest-grand- eur, softened by the balminess of June, and relieved by the beautiful variety afforded by the presence of so broad an expanse of wat^r. "This is grand !-— 'tis solemn !— 'tis an edication of itself, to look •upon !" exclaimed Deerslayer, as he stood leaning on his rifle, and .gazing to the right and left, north and south, above and beneath, in whichever direction his eye could wander ; "not a tree disturbed even by red-skin hand, as I can discover, but everything left in the order- ing of the Lord, to live and die according to his own designs and laws ! "This U a sight to warm the heart !" exclaimed Deerslayer, when they had thus stopi>ed for the fourth or fifth time ; "the lake seems made to let us get an insight into the noble forests ; and land and water, alike, stand in the beauty of God's providence! Right glad am I that < 'hingachgook appointed our meeting on this lake, for, hitherto, eye of mine never looked on such a glorious spectacle." "Have the Governor's or the King's people given this lake a name ?" he suddenly asked, as if struck with a new idea. "They've not got to that, yet ; and the last time I went in with •>skins, one of the King's surveyors was questioning me consarning 132 HISTORY OF COOPERS TO WIST. all the region hereabouts. He had heard that there was a lake in this quarter, and had got general notions about it, such as that there was water and hills ; but how much of either, he knowed no more than you know of the Mohawk tongue." ''I'm glad it has no name," resumed Deerslayer, "or, at least, no pale-face name ; for their christenings always foretell waste and de- struction. No doubt, howsever, the red-skins have their modes of knowing it, and the hunters and trappers, too ; they are likely to call the place by something reasonable and resembling." "As for the tribes, each has its own tongue, and its own way of calling things ; and they treat this part of the world just as they treat all others. Among ourselves, we've got to calling the place the 'Glimmerglass,' seeing that its whole basin is so often fringed with pines, cast upward from its face ; as if it would throw back the hills that hang over it." Deerslayer made no answer ; but he stood leaning on his rifle, gazing at the view which so much delighted him. The reader is not to suppose, however, that it was the picturesque alone which so strongly attracted his attention. The spot was very lovely, of a truth, and it was then seen in one of its most favorable moments, the surface of the lake being as smooth as glass and as limpid as pure air, throwing back the mountains, clothed in dark pines, along the whole of its eastern boundary, the points thrusting forward their trees even to nearly horizontal lines, while the bays were seen glittering through an occasional arch beneath, left by a vault fretted with branches and leaves. It was the air of deep repose — the solitudes, that spoke of scenes and forests untouched by the hands of man — the reign of nature, in a word, that gave so much pure delight to one of his habits and turn of mind. Still, he felt, though it was unconsciously, like a poet also. If he found a pleasure in studying this large, and, to him, unusual opening into the mysteries and forms of the woods, as one is gratified in getting broader views of any subject that has long occu- pied his thoughts, he was not insensible to the innate loveliness of such a landscape neither, but felt a portion of that soothing of the spirit which is a common attendant of a scene so thoroughly pervaded by the holy calm of nature. The deep forests that then covered the western shores have long since disappeared, and are replaced by the gently rising, green-clad slopes of fertile farms. But the eastern shores still retain their verdant covering, birches and maples crowding together near the water, and the dark, whispering pines and ''Rembrandt-looking hemlocks" rising to the very summit of the mountains, where in relief against the blue HISTORY OF COOPERSTOWN. 133 sky, these Titans of the forest seem to be st