.V A ''^ ^^0^ "^ V .0 T^. .c,^^ 4 o .^" ./^:^^'% ^°''^<>- ./^:ri^^\. ^'/fe 4" ^ 'j.' J?'*. ^^-n^ ^^^ Digitized by the Internet Arciiive in 2010 witii funding from The Library of Congress http://www.archive.org/details/otsegocountynewyOObaco ^SJ-Ah /%*vl^ "^^^ff "ji^K '. V" >^,c_ «^"i *i^a)abk OTSEGO COUNTY New York Geographical ^i^ Historical P'ROM THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO THE PKESENT TIME. WITH COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP MAPS FROM ORIGINAL DRAWINGS By ED WIN F. BA CON, Ph. B. ONEONTA, N. Y. The Oneonta Heuald, Publieberi 1902. THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, T'vo CopiEf! Recsived SEP. 22 1902 COPVBIOHT ENTRY CLASS «- XXa No. cow B. Copyrighted by Edwin F. Biicon IDO-J PREFACE There is a growing demand for the means of local geo- graphical and historical study in schools, and this little mannal is intended to meet this demand for the schools of Otsego County. It was originally prepared in manuscript for classes in the Oneonta State Normal school and now, with the approval and encouragement of the school commissioners and teachers of the county, is offered in its present form. In its preparation I have had the pleasure of visiting every townshiiD in the county, thus gaining information at first hand and from the most reliable sources. For events previous to our time, I have found excellent material. The history of the county from the earliest times to 1878, by D, Hamilton Hurd, is very complete to that date, and I have, with permission, freely quoted from it. In addition to this I have had access to Campbell's "Annals of Tryon County," Beardsley's "Remi- niscences and Anecdotes," and Halsey's "Old New York Fron- tier,"^ — three works of surpassing interest, together with a num- ber of local sketches, including Sawyer's "History of Cherry Valley," Ward's "Annals of Richfield," CamxDbell's "History of Oneonta, " Shaw's "History of Cooperstown, " Halsey's "Pioneers of Unadilla, " and Hotchkin's "History of Mary- land. ' ' I am also indebted to the supervisors of the several townships and to others for careful revision of the township maps and of the text, by which the greatest accuracy has been secured. While making this study, an opinion previously formed has been essentially modified. That opinion was that farming in Otsego county had, owing to western competition and other causes, ceased to be profitable ; that there were many abandoned farms, and that the rising generation thought only of getting away from the old homestead and seeking employment else- where. All such views must be due to the depression of former years, for they are no longer true to the facts. The increase in rural prosiDerity evident throughout the state is equally apparent PREB'ACE in this region. Owing to the tendency of population toward the villages there are some abandoned farmhouses, but there are no abandoned farm lands in the county, and the intelligent and thrifty farmer is everywhere doing well. This improvement is most evident in the line of dairying, which is now the leading and most profitable industry. Otsego county has a most interesting and honorable record. Its early settlers were of good New England and old England stock, and their numerous descendants here and in the west, to which many of them have gone, must read with interest the record of pioneer struggles, of victory over savage and foreign foes, of heroic strife for the Union, of modern culture and en- terprise. The study of geography properly commences around the home. The perspective of world study is better from this stand- point, and the children who become thoroughly interested in it will go on to the study of their own and foreign countries with a clearer idea of its nature and importance. The prevailing inter- est in local geography is therefore to be encouraged by every means, and it is hoped that this little contribution to it may prove acceptable to the teachers of the county. While primarily intended as a school text book, the require- ments of the business world have also been kept in view in the preparation of this work. The county and township maps, all from original drawings, are thoroughly up to date, and the de- scriptive text concerning routes of travel, population, post-offices, newspapers, business and manufacturing interests, express, tel- graph and telephone facilities, commend it to all classes, while its business-like quality can in no wise impair its usefulness in the class-room. E. F. B. Oneonta, New York. August, 1902. Otsego County Part I— General History Location and Political Origin. TSEGO COUNTY is favorably situated upon the highlands at the head waters of the Susquehanna river, a little southeast of the center of the state, and contains 1,038 square miles. It is bounded by the following named counties : On the north by Oneida, Herkimer and Montgomery ; on the east by Schoharie ; on the south by Delaware ; and on the west by Chenango and Madison. It was originally a part of Albany county, which was or- ganized in 1683, and which covered a large section of the state, and the whole of the present state of Vermont. In the year 1772 Tryon county was set off from Albany county. In 1784 the name Tryon was changed to Montgomery and in 1791 Otsego was set off from Montgomery with Cooperstown as its county seat. As thus formed the county, although with its present dimensions, was divided into only two townships, viz : Otsego lying to the west of Otsego Lake and the Susquehanna, and Cherry Valley to the east of those waters. With the increase of population these townships were again and again subdivided until the number is now twenty-four, as shown in the accom- panying map. Natural Features. The surface presents a great variety of hill and dale with many beautiful landscapes. In every township are found ele- vations of from 250 to 500 feet, among which flow a great num- ber of small streams. The greatest elevations are in Cherry Valley townshixD, where several hills rise more than 2,000 feet 8 GENERAL HISTORY above tide. The most important water courses are the Unadilla river, which constitutes the western boundary, the Susquehanna flowing down centrally from Otsego Lake and constituting a portion of the southern boundary, Wharton and Butternuts creeks, flowing into the Unadilla river ; Otego, Schenevus and Cherry Valley creeks flowing into the Susquehanna, and Oaks creek, the outlet of Canadarago Lake, flowing also into the Sus- quehanna. Otsego Lake, the largest body of water in this region, lies within the townships of Otsego, Springfield and Middlefield. It is eight miles long and about one mile wide. It lies about 1,200 feet above sea level, and is surrounded l^y hills that rise from 400 to 500 feet above its surface. It is a lake of unsurpassed beauty, and many excursions are made upon it by means of steamers and other pleasure boats. Its banks are also dotted with summer camps and cottages. This lake has been made famous as the scene of Cooper's novels, "The Deer- slayer," and "The Pioneer." The Six Nations. This region, before the advent of the white man, has been described as an ' 'Indian Paradise. ' ' It was a superb hunting ground, the home of the deer, the elk, the moose, the bear, the otter, the martin, the wolf, the fox, the squirrel, and of numer- ous water fowl, while salmon and other fish abounded in the rivers and lakes. The natives belonged to a famous Indian league called by the English the "Six Nations," though the French applied to them the general term "Iroquois." It is well to know something of the origin and history of this league, for the colonial settlers throughout the state had much to do with it. It is supposed to have been formed about the year 1600, and consisted at first of five tribes — the Onon- dagas, Oneidas, Mohawks, Cayugas, and Senecas. Later it re- ceived the Tusc&roras, who came from North Carolina. It was with the Mohawks and Tuscaroras that the white settlers had most to do. These Indians were fierce and aggressive. From the far east to the Mississippi they were known and dreaded by other tribes, none of whom were able to resist them. "I have been told," says Colden, "by old men in New England who re- member the time when the Mohawks made war upon the GENERAL HISTORY Indians, that, as soon as a single Mohawk was discovered in their country, the Indians raised the cry from hill to hill, 'A Mohawk! a Mohawk!' upon which they fled like sheep before wolves without attempting to make the least resistance." The first whites -who came in contact with the tribes of this confederacy were the French, who lived in peace with them, and the Indians aided them against the English in the "Old French war" (1754-1763). Later, when the English had tri- umphed over the French, they made friendly treaties with these Indians and thus received their assistance against the rebellious colonists. And so it happened that in the war of the Revolu- tion the English, the Tories and the Indians were combined against the patriots who were fighting for independence. The scattered settlements were almost defenceless against this strong combination of enemies, and all the more so because very many of the best men were enlisted in the colonial army and thus were far from the homes that so much needed them for de- fence. All the horrors of that x^eriod resulted from this condi- tion of things, but the Indians, from their standpoint, had a good excuse for making war upon the patriot settlers, for x^revious to the war they had made a treaty offensive and defensive with the English, and as allies were bound to join them in their war ui3on the "rebels." But at the close of the Revolution the poor Indians paid a terrible penalty for being on the wrong side in that struggle. At first the feeling against them was so strong that they came near being destroyed or driven out of the state, but through the influence of Washington and others they were assigned to reser- vations, and measures were taken for their civilization and edu- cation. The few Indians now remaining in the state are the descendants of those fierce warriors of the olden time. The First White Settlements. According to Halsey, "white men appear to have been in the upper Susquehanna valley in 1616, or about one hundred and sixty years before the revolution. They came as explorers and then as traders. After them in the next century came mis- sionaries to the Indians. Finally, in 1769, arrived surveyors."* *"The Pioneers of TJnadilla Village," by Fraiici.^! W. Halsey. 10 GENERAL HISTORY The first grant of land to white settlers in this region was made in the year 1738, and consisted of about 8,000 acres, located in the northeast part of the present county of Otsego. It was granted by George Clark, the lieutenant governor of New York, to four men — John Lindesay, Jacob Roseboom, Lenelet Ganesvoort, and Sybrant VanSchaiok. The originator and leader of this settlement, Mr. Lindesay, was a Scotchman, a man of wealth and culture. The others, judging from their names, must have been of the old Dutch stock. Their settlement was at Cherry Valley. These pioneers, with their families, suffered many priva- tions during the first years of their settlement, and in the winter of 1740-41, would have perished but for the assistance of a friendly Mohawk who came to them from the Mohawk valley on snow shoes and, learning their destitute condition, made repeated trips to his home, bringing back provisions. This kindness was the result of Mr. Lindesay 's generous treatment of the Indians from the beginning. He had made them his fast friends Eind received in turn the same kindness that William Penn and all other settlers experienced who were just and friendly to these trusting children of nature. In 1741 the little settlement was increased by the arrival of five families originally from the north of Ireland. The heads of these families were Rev. Samuel Dunlop, David Ramsay, William Gallt, James Campbell and William Dickson. They added about thirty persons to the community. During the next ten years only four new families came. Mr. Lindesay had re- tired from the settlement, having gone into the military service, and trouble had broken out with the Indians so that progress was retarded by constant fear of an Indian war. In 1762 there were only eight families, and during the French and Indian war it became necessary to build a fort at Cherry Valley, at which a company of soldiers was stationed. But no serious hostilities took place, and at the beginning of the Revolution the settlement numbered three hundred persons. The town of Edmeston was settled about 1770 by Col. Ed- meston, a former officer of the English army, who received a tract of 10,000 acres for his services in the French war. Hartwick dates from a grant made to John Christopher Hartwiok, in the year 1761. GENERAL HISTORY 11 In Laurens the first settlement was made by Joseph Ma> all in 1774. Middlefield was settled in 1755 by Wm. Cook and others. In 1773 Ebenezer Knapp from Dutchess county settled on But- ternuts creek in the town of Morris. Increase Thurston and Benjamin Lull settled in New Lis- bon in 1773. Henry Schramling and families bearing the names of Young and Alger settled in Oneonta township before the Revolution, but the exact date is not known. There were several other small settlements within the present limits of the county before the Revolution, as at Milford, Ex- eter, Unadilla, and Richfield Springs; but they assumed no importance until after the war, Otsego County During the Revolution. Up to the time of the Revolution the settlers in this region had managed to keep on tolerably good terms with the Indians, but with the outbreak of the war of independence a great change occurred. It was a question which side the Indians would take in the impending conflict. They would perhaps have sided with the colonists or remained neutral had it not been for the oppos- ing influence of one man, Sir William Johnson, who had long been among them as the agent of the British government, and who had dealt very justly with them. This man found means of uniting five of the "Six Nations" against the patriot settlers. The Oneidas, although friendly to the British, refused to fight against the colonies and consequently their territory was ravaged by the tories. Throughout the struggle the Indians, encour- aged by the English loyalists and tories, carried on a merciless warfare against the scattered and feeble settlements of central New York and Pennsylvania. In July, 1778, occurred the great massacre of Wyoming, a village on the Susquehanna river in Pennsylvania, and in the following November a like fate befell the settlement at Cherry Valley. This latter disaster might have been averted if the warnings given had been promptly heeded by the ofiicer in com- mand of the small garrison stationed at that place, for a fort had been built and all the inhabitants might have been brought within it. But the commander, Col. Alden, seemed to doubt 12 GENERAL HISTORY the truth of the warnings although they came in an official communication from the officer in command at Fort Schuyler. He was one of the first to be killed as he retreated, bravely de- fending himself, toward the fort. In this massacre thirty- two of the settlers together with sixteen soldiers acting as a guard outside of the fort were slain. The fort itself, bein^ defended with cannon, held out against the several assaults made u^Don it. Failing in these attacks, the savages set fire to all the dwellings outside the fortifications, and retreated down the Cherry Valley creek taking with them as prisoners about seventy of the inhab- itants, though nearly all of these were soon released and per- mitted to return in safety. The military post was maintained until the next summer, when it was abandoned. A second at- tack and massacre in 1780 compelled the remaining inhabitants to flee for safety, and the place was thus entirely deserted until after the close of the war. These and other Indian massacres aroused the general gov- ernment to an act of terrible retribution. A campaign of de- struction was organized under the command of Generals Sulli- van and Clinton, who received orders to attack and destroy without mercy all the villages of the hostile tribes of the state. General Sullivan, who was chief in command, first marched from his camp on the Hudson (May 1st, 1779), to the scene of the late massacre in the Wyoming valley. From thence he moved to Tioga Point at the confluence of the Chemung and Susque- hanna rivers and built a fort which he called Fort Sullivan. In the meantime Gen. Clinton with 1800 men ascended the Mo- hawk river, from the Hudson to Canajoharie. He thence made the portage to Otsego Lake with the intention of descending the Susquehanna river to Tioga Point, there to form a junction with Gen. Sullivan. He had transported a large number of boats across the country from the Mohawk for this purpose. In these he descended the lake, but found the river too low to float them, upon which he devised a very ingenious means of raising the water. He dammed uj) the outlet of the lake until the water rose nearly three feet, then having all in readiness, and his boats distributed along the banks, he cut the dam and so safely floated down on the swelling current. The Indians along the course of the river were greatly as- tonished at this phenomenon. First the water fell, and then suddenly and without any visible cause, rose, bearing upon its GENERAL HISTORY IS bosom a hostile fleet. They regarded this as an interposition of the Great Spirit in favor of their enemies, and so fled in terror from their villages, leaving the invaders to make their journey unmolested. Only a portion of the force kept to the boats, the greater part marching along the banks of the river. The junc- tion with Sullivan was safely made and the combined forces, now numbering 3,200 men, advanced northward on a mission of devastation through the rich Indian settlements of the Che- mung and Genesee valleys. All the villages were burned, the numerous fine orchards cut down, and immense quantities of corn destroyed. The Indians, after making a brave stand and being defeated at Newtown, on the present site of Elmira, fled to the protection of the British forts at Niagara, around which they encamped and where they spent the winter in great dis- tress, but their spirit was not broken and they were soon again upon the warpath, continuing their depredations upon the white settlements until the close of the Revolution. But the field of conflict was changed from tlie Susquehanna to the Mohawk and Schoharie, for on the upjDer Susquehanna there remained nothing to fight for and no one to fight. Suc- cessive conquests by both parties had given the whole region back to nature and to the wild beasts. Almost the only human beings who now traversed it were those who followed the an- cient trails on their way to the new battle grounds beyond. It was thus that Otsego county, which had nearly a dozen white settlements at the beginning of the Revolution, was an un- inhabited wilderness at its close, but with j)eace a new era was soon to dawn upon it. The Fokmation of Townships. Gen. Sullivan's devastating march made Central New York better known to the whites than ever before, and as soon as re- leased from military service many of his ofiicers and men has- tened to return as peaceful settlers to a region through which they had so recently passed as destroyers. A great tide of emigration also set in from the New England states. The settlements made before the war and abandoned during the Indian troubles were also quickly revived as soon as peace returned, and from that time the population rapidly increased, as is apparent from the formation of new townships immedi- 14 GENERAL HISTORY ately following the organization of the county in 1791. Be- tween that date and the end of the century, nine years, eleven new townships were formed by subdividing the original ones, viz: Burlington, Butternuts, Exeter, Middlefield, Milford, Pittsfield, Plainfield, Kichfield, Springfield, Unadilla, and Worcester. Between 1800 and 1810 seven more townships were formed, viz: Decatur, Edmeston, Hartwick, Laurens, Maryland, New Lisbon, and Westford. Otego^ was formed in 1822, and Oneonta in 1830. Morris was taken from Butternuts in 1849, and Roseboom from Cherry Valley in 1854. rOPUI.ATION, The population of Otsego county increased with wonderful rapidity from its organization in 1791 up to about 1830, since which time it has remained nearly stationary, although some of the villages have gained. In 1790 the population of the county was 1,702, in 1800 it was 21,634, in 1810 it was 38,802, in 1820 it was 44,856, and in 1830 it was 51,372. The largest popula- tion recorded at any census was in 1880, when it was 51,397, or twenty-five more than in 1830. Since then the villages have gained about six thousand, while the rural ijojjulation has lost more than this number. In 1890 the population was 50,861, and in 1900 it was 48,939. Otsego County in the Reukllion. Otsego contributed its full quota of men to the union cause. The total number of enlistments credited to the county was 2,925, distributed among 129 regiments in all departments of the service — infantry, cavalry and artillery. The largest pro- portion of Otsego men were found in the 51st, 76th, 121st, and 152d regiments of state infantry, in the 3d cavalry, in the 1st, 2d and 3d artillery, and in the 1st engineer corps. 87 enlisted in the U. S. regular army and 146 in the navy. In addition to these, 526 are recorded as enlisting without mention of the regi- ment or branch of the service to which they were assigned. The bombardment and capture of Fort Sumter in Charles- ton harbor in April, 1861, was the real beginning of the war. It was immediately followed by the President's call for 75,000 volunteers to defend the government and suppress the rebellion. To this call Otsego made a prompt response. A company GENERAL HISTORY 15 was organized at Cherry Valley of which George W. Tucker- man was captain and Egbert Olcott and Cleveland J. Campbell lieutenants. It was however not quite soon enough to be ac- cej)ted for that service. Those were days of prompt enlistment, and the required number had been received before the Cherry Valley comjDany rejported at Albany. Its members joined other companies a little later. The next organized movement in the county was also at Cherry Valley, where the 39tli regiment of New York State Na- tional Guards had for many years been quartered. In Septem- ber, 1861, this regiment authorized its Colonel, John D. Shaul, to offer its services for the war. The next month Gen. George E. Danforth, the commander of the brigade to which the 39th belonged, came to Cherry Valley and established a military jjost. The 39th was then recruited and organized for the war to the number of six companies with a total of 500 men. In this in- complete form it was ordered to Albany, and its several com- panies assigned to other regiments, there being no time to wait for it to fill up its ranks and go as a unit. Two companies, those of Captains E. N. Hanson and N. Bowdish, were trans- ferred to the 3d New York artillery, and those of Captains A. L. Swan, J. E. Cook and J. W. Young to the 76th infantry. The following are brief sketches of some of the regiments that contained Otsego county men : The Fifty-First. — Company I of this regiment was recruited principally in Otsego county. It saw hard and heroic service both in the east and west. At Antietam the regiment lost ninety-five men in five minutes. At Fredericksburg, in Sum- ner's corps, it lost six color bearers and eighty men. Its flag was the first to wave over Jackson, Miss. Of 1,200 men who went out in this regiment, only 200 returned at the close of the war. The Seventy-Sixth. — The majority of the men of this regi- ment were from Cortland county, but three companies were from Otsego. Its first commander was Nelson W. Green of Cortland, and the second William P. Wainright, under whose strict discipline it became famous. It served three years and took part in nearly all the great battles in Virginia, especially distinguishing itself and suffering heavy losses at Gainesville, South Mountain and the second Bull Run. At Gettysburg it formed part of the first army corps under General Reynolds, 16 GENERAL HISTORY and was in that terrible struggle on Willougliby Run, where on the first day the fate of the army depended upon holding the position while other divisions moved to take possession of Cemetery Ridge. The 76th went into this action with 348 men and 27 officers, and in half an hour it lost two officers killed and sixteen wounded, 30 men killed and 116 wounded. It was here that General Reynolds was killed. This corps was splen- didly commanded by three men who in succession fell in battle while leading it, viz : Reynolds, at Gettysburg ; Wadsworth, in the Wilderness, and Rice at ISpottsylvania, all within a single year, and the last named after being in command but two days. On the expiration of three years for which the 76th enlisted, 165 of its members re-enlisted and were transferred to the 147th, an Oswego regiment, with whom they served until the close of the war. The One Hundred and Twenty-First was recruited in Ot- sego and Herkitner counties. Its first colonel was Hon. Richard Franchot of Morris, and its first Major was Egbert Olcott of Cherry Valley. Its second Colonel was Emory Upton, one of the ablest and bravest officers in the service, a graduate of West Point, and iinder him the regiment became famous. The rec- ords of the war department credit this regiment with taking part in 25 battles, including Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Bpottsylvania, Petersburg and the final series of en- gagements that ended with the surrender of Lee and the close of the war. It had 14 officers and 212 men killed in battle, 27 officers and 596 men wounded. On the Gettysburg battlefield has been erected a monument commemorative of the part taken by the 121st in that battle. It is of Quincy granite and bronze, and is surmounted by the figure of a soldier. It bears, besides the historical inscriptions, a bronze medallion of Geiieral Emory Upton, life size. This regiment contained 483 Otsego county men. The One Hundred and Fifty-Second : This regiment, like the 121st, was raised in the twentieth senatorial district, which comprised the counties of Otsego and Herkimer. It was re- cruited at Camp Schuyler across the Mohawk from the village of Herkimer and was mustered into the United States service at that place October 15, 1862. It was immediately sent to Vir- ginia, where it was actively engaged until the close of the war, G ENERA L HISTOR Y 17, except during the summer of 1868, when it was sent to New York city to aid in the suppression of the draft riots. Its hardest service occurred after General Grant took command of the Army of the Potomac. It was then engaged in the battles of the Wilderness, at Cold Harbor, and at the siege of Petersburg. Its ranks were so much depleted by sickness and losses in battle that at the end of June, 1864, it was reduced to 145 enlisted men and 11 officers. It took part in the final events that resulted in the surrender of General Lee, and on May 2, 1865, it marched through Richmond. It was mustered out July 13th, of that year. Among its officers from this county were Col. Alonzo Fergu- son of Oneonta, Cleveland J. Campbell of Cherry Valley, adjutant ; George W. Ernst jr. of Otsego, quartermaster; William R. Wall of Springfield, captain; Elias Young, first lieutenant; and John Land, second lieutenant of Company D ; Edmund C. Gilbert of Butternuts, captain, and Josiah Hinds of Otsego, first lieuten- ant of Company G ; Uriah B. Kendall of Hartwick, captain ; William R. Patrick, first lieutenant ; William I. Hopkins, sec- ond lieutenant of Company H ; Alonzo A. Bingham of Otsego, cajDtain; Charles Hamilton of Roseboom, first lieutenant; Ed- ward W. Butler of Roseboom, second lieutenant of Company I. The regiment belonged to the first brigade, second division, second army corps, under the command of General Warren. Of its men, over 400 were from Otsego county. The Third Cavalry, called the "VanAllen Cavalry," in honor of its first Colonel, was composed of men from Otsego, Delaware, Schoharie, and other counties. Its second commander was Colonel Simon H. Mix, one of the best officers in the ser- vice, who was killed in an engagement on the Weldon railroad. This regiment did good service around Richmond and in North Carolina. It contained 143 men from Otsego county. In July. 1865, it was consolidated with the 1st Mounted Rifles, and des- ignated as the "Fourth Provisional Cavalry." First Light Artillery. — This regiment was organized at El- mira, but contained 78 Otsego men. Its first commander was Colonel Guilford D. Bailey who was killed at Fair Oaks while spiking some cannon that had to be abandoned to the enemy. He was succeeded by Colonel Charles S. Wainwright, who was promoted to Brigadier General in 1864. This regiment was in 18 EN ERA L HISTOR Y battle at Williamsburg, Manassas, Cliaucellorsville and other places. Second Light Artillery : This regiment was organized in New York city, but was largely recruited from the interior of the state, including 150 men from Otsego county. Its battle flag was inscribed with the names of Second Bull Eun,Spottsyl- vania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Reams Station and other places. The Third Light Artillery entered the service as the Nine- teenth Infantry Regiment under Col. John S. Clark and was transferred to the Artillery in 1863 and in this capacity served with great credit under Scholield, being attached to the 23rd corps and afterwards on the Atlantic coast, at Hilton Head, Fort Macon, Kingston, Goldsboro, and Charleston. It con- tained 66 men from Otsego county. The First Engineer Corps : This was a body of 1,800 picked men from all parts of the country under the command of Col. E. W. Serrell. Companies G and I contained about 100 Otsego men. It was employed in engineer work in Virginia and the Carolinas, and especially in the siege of Forts Sumter and Wagner in Charleston harbor, where it planted the cannon known as the "Swamp Angel" with which the walls of Fort Sumter were battered down. The G. A. R. Posts. There are twelve G. A. R. posts in the county, namely : Cooperstown, L. C. Turner Post, No. 26. Cherry Valley, Emory Upton Post, No. 224. Gilbertsville, W. A. Musson Post, No. 223. Hartwick, H. N. Duroe Post, No. 653. Morris, Geo. Kidder Post, No. 61. Oneonta, E. D. Farmer Post, No. 119. Otego, C. A. Shepherd Post, No. 189. Portlandville, Olcott Post, No. 522. Richfield Springs, Weldon Post, No. 256. Schenevus, Brown Post, No. 15. Unadilla, C. C. Siver Post, No. 124. Worcester, Johnson Post, No. 25. GENERA L HISTOR Y 19 Villages and Postofficks. The following is a complete list of villages and hamlets of Otsego county. There is a postoffice at each place except where some other place is designated. Thus, Bowerstown (mail Cooperstown. ) Name Township Pojiuhition Bourne Exeter 20 Bowerstown (mail Cooperstown) Middlefield 70 Brighton (mail Richfield Springs) Richfield 48 Burlington Burlington Ill Burlington Flats Burlington 212 Center Valley Cherry Valley 107 Chase . . • *• Hartwick 26 Chaseville Maryland 123 Clintonville (mail Milford) Hartwick Cherry Valley Cherry Valley 772 Colliersville Milford 130 Cooperstown Otsego 2368 Cooperstown Junction Milford 115 Decatur Decatur 91 East Springfield Springfield 190 East Worcester Worcester 430 Edmeston Edmeston 749 Elk Creek Maryland 52 Exeter Exeter 60 Fly Creek Otsego 238 Garrattsville New Lisbon 253 Gilbertsville Butternuts 476 Hartwick Hartwick 605 Hartwick Seminary Hartwick 124 Hope Factory (P. O. Index) Otsego 130 Hyde Park (mail Index) Hartwick 150 Ketchum Pittsfield 19 Laurens Laurens 233 Lena New Lisbon 15 Lentsville Middlefield 36 Maple Grove Morris 44 Maple Valley Westford. 29 Maryland Maryland 227 Middlefield Middlefield 243 20 GENERAL HISTORY Name Township Population Middlefield Center Middlefield 108 Middle Village (mail East Springfield). Springfield 60 Milford Milford 532 Milford Center (mail Portlandville) . . . Milford 100 Monticello (P. O. Richfield) Eiclifield 218 Morris Morris 553 Mount Vision Laurens 300 New Lisbon New Lisbon 169 North Edmeston Edmeston 15 Oaksville Otsego 149 Oneonta Oneonta 7117 Oneonta Plains (mail Oneonta) Oneonta 100 Otego Otego' 658 Otsdawa Otego 62 Patent Burlington 23 Phoenix Mills Middlefield 150 Pierstown (mail Cooperstown) Otsego 75 Pittsfield Pittsfield 73 Plainfield Center Plainfield 32 Pleasant Brook Roseboora 127 Portlandville ". .Milford 352 Richfield Springs Richfield 1537 Roseboom Roseboora 226 Salt Springville Cherry Valley 119 Schenevus Maryland 613 Schuyler Lake Exeter 406 Snowdon Otsego 27 South Edmeston Edmeston 206 South Hartwick Hartwick 63 South Valley Roseboom 227 South Worcester Worcester 150 Springfield Springfield 160 Springfield Center Springfield 350 Stetsonville (mail New Lisbon) New Lisbon 40 Toddsville Hartwick. . , 302 Unadilla Unadilla 1172 Unadilla Center Unadilla 73 Unadilla Forks • • • • Plainfield 312 Welcome New Lisbon 13 Wells Bridge Unadilla 165 GENERAL HISTORY 21 Name Tnwnshiji West Burlington Burlington West Edmeston Edmeston . West Exeter Exeter Westford Westford . . West Laurens Laurens . . . West Oneonta Oneonta . . . Westville Westford. . . Wharton .' Burlington Worcester Worcester. . Populnlion 110 222 1()7 167 117 207 72 26 1020 Political Relations. Otsego county forms an assembly district, and with. Her- kimer it forms the thirty-third state senatorial district; with Delaware, Schoharie and Ulster it forms the twenty-fourth congressional district* and it is a part of the sixth judicial dis- trict, which includes also the counties of Delaware, Madison, Chenango, Tompkins, Broome, Chemung, Schuyler, Tioga and Cortland. Newspapers in Otsego County. (Weekly unless otherwise indicated.) Townfihip Name Location Estri [blished Butternuts Otsego Journal Gilbertsville 1876 Cherry Valley Cherry Valley Gazette Cherry Valley 1818 Edmeston Edmeston Local Edmeston 1882 Hartwick Hartwick Review Hartwick 1902 Hartwick Hartwick Visitor Hartwick 1902 Hartwick Hartwick Sem. Monthly Hartwick Seminary 1887 Laurens Otego Valley News Laurens 1899 Maryland Schenevus Monitor Schenevus 1863 Milford Otsego Tidings Milford 1889 Milford * Teachers' Gazette Milford 1897 Morris Morris Chronicle Morris 1864 Oneonta Oneonta Herald Oneonta 1853 " Oneonta Leader " 1902 " Oneonta Press ( ( 1876 " Oneonta Spy " 1887 1 1 Oneonta Daily Star , " 1890 22 GENERAL HISTORY Towiisliip Nmno Location Oneonta *The Oneoutan Oneonta Otego Rural Times Otego Otsego Freeman's Journal Otsego Farmer Republican Coooerstown Richfield Richfield Springs Mercury i- Richfield Springs Daily Richfield Springs Unadilla Unadilla Times Unadilla Worcester Worcester Times Worcester * Monthly school papers. tJuly and August only. EstablMied 1893 1881 1808 1877 18a8 1866 1888 1854 1876 The Public School System. The public schools of Otsego county are subject to the general school laws of the state, which date from legislative en- actments of 185B and 1867. Each township is divided into school districts and each school is under the authority of trus- tees chosen by the parents and taxpayers of the district. The schools are free of tuition to all pupils of school age (5 to 18 inclusive), provided they attend within the districts in which they reside. Those attending in other districts pay a moderate tuition fee. School text-books are not supplied free unless the district so orders and supplies the means. The public schools of the county are of four kinds, viz : 1 — Rural schools in which only the common English branches are taught. 2 — Grade schools in which there are two or more depart- ments. 3 — Union free schools, graded, supplied with apparatus, charts, etc, and employing a number of teachers. 4 — High or Academic schools subject to the Regents of the University of New York and enjoying certain advantages by virtue of this relation. Any Union Free School may, upon application and inspec- tion, become a regents or high school. In order to do this it must maintain an academic department, must have at least $250 worth of reference books, a microscope and other apparatus for scientific instruction. All public schools receive money from the state to assist in the purchase of reference books and ap- paratus. GENERAL HISTORY ^3 Compulsory Education Law. Every cliild in proper mental and physical condition shall attend school as follows: Between 8 and 12 years of age: As many days annnally as the school is in session from the first of October to the first of June. Between 12 and 14: At least eighty consecutive school days ; also when not legally employed. Between 14 and 16 : When not legally employed. The Old Academies. Previous to the festablishment of the present public school system of the state, Otsego county was the seat of numerous private institutions of learning, among the most noted of which were the Cherry Valley Academy, the Gilbertsville Academy, the Cooperstown Seminary, the Unadilla Academy and the Hartwick Seminary. The Unadilla and Gilbertsville Acade- mies have both, within the past few years, been consolidated with the public schools of their respective towns. The Cooperstown Academy, originally a Methodist institution, after various changes in ownership, was discontinued, and the building, which for many years was a summer hotel, was burned in 1893. The Cherry Valley Academy was discontinued in 1895, and the Hart- wick Seminary, a Lutheran institution, founded by John Christopher Hartwick in 1797, and liberally endowed by him, alone remains. Railroads. The railroads in or adjoining Otsego county and which con- tribute to its prosperity, are as follows: The "Delaware and Hudson" system, which extends from Albany to Bingharnton and to the coal regions of Pennsylvania, with northern extension to Rouse Point and other branches. The "New York, Ontario and Western," with its "New Berlin Branch," from Sidney to Edmeston. The "Unadilla Valley" road from New Berlin to Bridgewater. The "Delaware, Lackawanna and Western" road with a branch from Eichfield Junction to Richfield Springs. ^4 GENERAL HISTORY The "Ulster and Delaware" road from Kingston on the Hudson to Oneonta. The "Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley" road connecting with the "Ulster and Delaware road at West Davenport. The "Oneonta, Cooperstown and Richfield Springs "electric road, which is to connect with the New York Central at Mo- hawk and Herkimer. The "Unadilla Valley Railroad Company" is extending its line from New Berlin to Oneonta via Morris and the Butter- nuts valley, also northward from Bridgewater to Utica. The Albany and Susquehanna Railroad. The construction of this important road opened Otsego county, previously isolated, to the trade and commerce of the world. But it was undertaken before the value of such an improve- ment was generally appreciated. The discussion and legislation that led to its accomplishment extended over a period of many years, and it was only after a hard struggle that the means were obtained and the work begun. The first man who advocated the building of railroads in the county was Jacob Dietz of Oneonta, who in 1827 published arti- cles on the subject in the "Freeman's Journal" of Cooperstown. In 1832 several roads were chartered but never built. In 1845 a charter was obtained for a road from Binghamton to Schenec- tady, traversing the county, but this also failed. Finally in 1851 (Ajiril 19th) the present Albany & Susquehanna road was chartered, and after 13 years of agitation and controversy the public interest was sufficiently aroused, the means pro- vided and the work begun. This was in 1863. The road was completed from Albany to Cobleskill in the summer of 1864, to Oneonta in August, 1865, and to its terminus at Binghamton in January, 1869. Among the most active promoters of this great work were : Richard I Franchot of Morris, who was the first president of the road, Jared Goodyear of Colliersville, Eliakim R. Ford and Harvey Baker (the energetic contractor), of Oneonta, and Arnold B. Watson of Unadilla. In 1870 the "Delaware & Hudson_ Canal Company" * obtained a lease of the Albany & * The Delaware and Hudsou canal extends from Honesdale, Penn., via Port Jervis, to Kddyville, near Kingston, N. Y., and was built chiefly for the transportation of coal. The railroad system of this company has superceded the canal, which is now out of use except a small portion near Kondout. GENERAL HISTORY 25 Susquehanna Kailroad for 99 years, payintji; at first 7 per cent and now 9 per cent interest on the par value of its stock. It added also other lines to its system and the whole is now called the "Delaware & Hudson Kailroad." Agkicui.tukal Resources. According to the census of 1900 there were in Otsego county 5,634 farms having a total of r)12,224 acres, of which 470,787 acres were improved. The value of farms and farm property was as follows : Land and improvements except buildings $9,487,540 Buildings $7,350,970 Implements and machinery $1,223,000 Live stock $3,414,454 Total $21,475,964 The value of farm products for the year 1899 was. . ..$4,261,749 Expenditures for labor and fertilizers $719,210 Net Earnings $3,542,539 Dividing the net earnings by the number of farms gives $628.77 as the average return to the farmer for his own labor and capital. I'^AKM Products of Ot.skoo (>)unty for the Year 1809 ; Census of 1900. Acres Quarts CEREALS Oats 25,539 1,002,190 Corn 9,769 414.450 Buckwheat 5,251 99,220 Barley 857 7,530 Rye 772 11,160 Wheat 320 5,620 HAY Tons Hay and grain cut for hay 149,789 183,014 Forage (cornstalks, etc.) 6,639 33,507 Iius}}f>]s VEGETABLES Potatoes 6,396 753,613 Onions 20 4,837 .26 GENERAL HISTORY A crofi Bushels Beans 176 2,119 Peas 52 1,133 Miscellaneous Vegetables 951 rounds HOPS & TOBACCO Hops 7,038 4,115,300 Tobacco 1 580 Trees Bushels FRUITS Apples 331,659 446,046 Pears 11,110 6,683 Peaches & Nectarines 914 660 Plums and Prunes 7,040 583 Cherries 2,425 313 Apricots 15 Acres Qunrts BERRIES and other small Fruits 153 292,370 Number Value LIVE STOCK Cattle 87,707 Horses 14,321 Sheep 29,966 Swine 14,156 Mules 30 Asses 8 Goats 13 13,414,454 DAIRY PRODUCTS Gallons of Milk 25,865,122 Gallons of Cream sold 2,158 Pounds Butter made 2, 412, 218 " Cheese made (?) 62,001 $1,793,836 POULTRY Nuniliei' Chickens, including Guineas 221,310 Turkeys 4,993 Ducks 2,353 Geese 911 Value of Poultry, June 1, 1900 $94,279 Value of Poultry raised in 1899 $111,494 Doz. of Eggs produced in 1899 1,651,250 WOOL Fleeces shorn 16,643 ' Pounds of Wool 121,534 BEES & HONEY Swarms of Bees June 1, 1900 4,321 Pounds Honey ]jroduced in 1891. ) 79,360 GENERAL HISTORY 27 AoKICULTURAL SOCIETIES. The Otsego county Agricultural Society holds a fair an- nually at Cooperstown. Fairs are also held annually by local societies at Morris, Oneonta, Richfield Springs and Schenevus. Patrons of Husbandhy. This organization has fifteen local societies or granges in Otsego county. Its objects are educational, financial and social. It insures farm property, advocates good roads, and has been influential in the establishment of free rural mail delivery. Meetings are held every two weeks for the discussion of topics loertaining to the interests of farmers. The state gives to each grange, on application, an agricultural library of 100 volumes. The membership in Otsego county numbers 665 and consists of farmers and their families. The first grange in this county was organized at Elk Creek in 1886 and since that date W. H. Chamberlain of Elk Creek has been county deputy and secretary. Summer E-EsoiiTS. The high altitude and salubrious climate of Otsego county render it an attractive region for summer residence. Richfield Springs has long been a favorite health resort, and Coopers- town, with its surroundings, famous as the scene of the "Leath- erstocking Tales," will never lose its charm while "Glimmer- glass" invites the wanderer to its placid waters. But while these two places are most noted there are many others where summer dwellers find coolness, health and rural beauty. With its increased railroad facilities, which already link together its most attractive spots, Otsego county, with its fifty-three vil- lages, so long isolated from the outer world, is now accessible from all directions, and no small portion of its prosperity is due to its easy communication with the great cities to which it sends its abundant dairy and other products and from which it receives in summer many seekers of rural peace and pleasure. The Otsego Society, The natives of Otsego county, however far they may roam, never forget the old home and do much to perpetuate the mem- 28 GENERAL HISTORY ury of it. Those who dwell in and near New York city have organized a society containing now 66 members, the purpose of which is thus set forth in its constitution: "The society is organized for the purpose of establishing a closer intimacy among the present residents of New York city and vicinity who have come from the county of Otsego, and for the purpose of cultivating social intercourse among its members. " The society was organized February 26, 1901, with the Hon. Silas B. Dutcher of Brooklyn, a native of the town of Springfield, as president and Edwin J. Johnson esq. of Brook- lyn, a native of Richfield, as secretary. OTSEGO LAKE, COOPERSTOWN, N. Y. Part II— the Tow^nships Burlington Areci, 27,217 Acres. Population, 1,263. BURLINGTON was formed from the township of Otsego in 1792 and was then much larger than at present, Pittsfield and Ed- meston having since been set off from it. The surface consists chiefly of hilly uplands and ridges extending north and south, which at various points, attain an eleva- tion of 400 feet above the valleys. The principal streams are Butter- nuts and Wharton creeks. The early settlers of the township came mostly from Ver- mont, but some from Massachusetts and Connecticut. In 1787 came the five Angel brothers, Jonathan, William, Joseph, James and Thomas, and in 1789 Captain Gad Chapin, and Perez Briggs. In 1790 came Alexander Parker, Deacon Benjamin Herrington with his four brothers, Elijah, Francis, Richard and Elisha ; the four Johnson brothers, Elisha, Harris, Ira and John, and the three Church brothers, Amasa, Willard and Cady. About this time came Jedediah Peck, a leading citizen who represented the county in the state legislature from 1799 to 1804. He is honorably remembered as the author of the bill establishing the public school system of the state. Other hon- ored names in the early days were Jeremiah and Elisha Pratt, Samuel Gardner, Lemuel Hubble, Uriah Balcom and Zacheus Flint. so BURLINGTON Other respected families of the olden time, whose names have been jjerpetuated, are those of Deacon Albert Bolton and his son Daniel, Colonel David Gardner, Dan Mather and his son Andrew A. Mather, Lemuel Bolton and his family of ten children, Oapt. Elisha Parker, a soldier of the Revolution and Roswell Kelsey. Caleb Clark, formerly president of the First National Bank of Edmeston, approaches his ninetieth year at his home in West Burlington, or with his grandchildren in Oneonta, with a cheerfulness that is an explanation of his long life. Burlington is a prosperous agricultural town. The lead- ing industry is dairying, the milk being mostly sent to the local cheese factories, or to the Borden condensery at Edmeston. VILLAGES: There are three villages in this township, viz: Burlington (population 111), Burlington Flats (population 212), and West Burlington (population 110). Wharton and Patent are rural postoffices. SCHOOLS : Number of districts 13. Teachers, 14. Chil- dren of school age, 214. CHURCHES : There are six churches in the township, viz : At Burlington, Baptist and United Presbyterian ; at West Burlington, Episcopal and Methodist; at Burlington Flats, Baptist and Methodist. Butternuts Area., 2(),00S Acres. Population, 1,(>!)S. BUTTERNUTS was formed from Unadilla in 1796. Its surface is a hilly upland ris- ing from the Unadilla river, which bounds it on the west, in a series of steep bluffs to the height of 500 or 600 feet. Butternuts Creek flows south- west through a deep valley near the center of the town. A large number of smaller streams flow through valleys among the hills, dividing the ridges and giving to the region a peculiarly broken appearance. Gilbertsville, formerly called Butternuts, is the only village in the township. The following graphic description of it is abridged from a sketch published in the local paper, the "Ot- sego Journal. " "The village is located in a beautiful valley. On the west a high hill rises abruptly. Downward through the hills extends a deep ravine into which a little brook flows, in springtime rushing down with the violence of a mountain tor- rent and in summer rippling gently over the stones on its way through the heart of the village. Toward the east the valley stretches away for some distance. Through this valley flows the Butternuts Creek on its winding course. This stream is spanned in three places at roads leading directly into the village by iron bridges. On the hill just south of the village are situ- ated the fine residences of Thos. Swinyard and N. C. Chapman, who make Gilbertsville their summer home. The site of the village was included in the Patent of 35,000 acres of land granted by the state to Lewis and Richard Morris as indemnity for property destroyed during the Revolution. The name But- 32 BUTTERNUTS teriints was derived from the descriptions in the Morris and Wharton Patents, all beginning at 'Three Bntternnt Trees' growing from one stump or root. The Messrs. Morris divided their Patent by lot. General Jacob Morris received from his father, Lewis Morris, a tract of 5,000 acres. "Abijah Gilbert of Warwickshire, England, came to Amer- ica in 178(i, spending the winter with relatives in New Jersey. It was here he met Richard and Lewis Morris and purchased a tract of 1,000 acres for which he paid 571 pounds, 8s. 8d. before seeing the wilderness that was to become his home. The orig- inal tract included the portion where Gilbertsville now stands, reaching away through the Butternuts valley and back on the hills bounding the village. In 1787 Gen. Jacob Morris made his first expedition into the region accompanied by Mr. Gilbert, and the settlement of the village began in the same year. ' 'The second settler was Joseph Cox, also of Warwickshire, England. The third settler was a woman, Betsy Nichols, and the first wedding that which celebrated her marriage with Joseph Cox. Mr. Cox introduced the making of English cheese, still quite an industry in that section. Dairying is the principal occupation at the present time. "In those early days the timber being so abundant was of comparatively little value. The main object of work was to clear the land for crops. The fourth immigrant was John Marsh, an energetic young pioneer from Connecticut. He brought a yoke of oxen of great service in logging. In 1791 Mr. Gilbert returned to England and in the following spring brought his family to the log cabin home in America. "Two sons of Abijah Gilbert, John Y. and Joseph T.,who had been attending school at Schenectady, came to the settle- ment in 1799. About the same time came also William Musson and Samuel Cotton, with whom Mr. Gilbert formed a business partnership under the name of Musson, Cotton and Gilbert. This firm established a store on the Musson farm in 1806. Religious services were held for some time in Mr. Gilbert's barn, and the first religious society was formed in 1797." Edward Thorp was a pioneer north of the villacre. His son Henry was a member of Assembly in 1873. Charles Root, the father of Major Charles P. Root, was an early settler in the east- ern part of the township. The Shaw brothers, Deacon Samuel, Col. David and William came from Massachusetts in 1796. BUTTERNUTS m Other pioneers who are honorably remembered were Capt. John Bryant, and the brothers. Levi and Thomas Halbert. Levi Halbert was the first teacher in the town. The first su- pervisor was Lewis Franchot (179(>-'98), and the first town clerk Hezekiah Dayton (1796-1805). GILBERTSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 15. Number of teachers, 15. Children of school age, 320. The Gilbertsville High School occupies the substantial stone building formerly used by the Academy. It is under the control of the Kegents of the University of the State, and grants Regents' diplomas. It provides a classical course of four years. It is well supplied with apparatus, maps, and anatomical models. Pupils have access also to the excellent village library. • The faculty of the school consists of a principal and four assistants. CHURCHES : At Gilbertsville, Baptist, Episcopal, Meth- odist, and Presbyterian. NEWSPAPERS: The "Otsego Journal," published at Gilbertsville. Established, 1876. Cherry Valley Area, 24,058 ^Xeres. Population, 1,802. tUnii jvlONTGOMER'i CHERRY VALLEY town- ship was organized in 1789 and then comprised all that portion of the county east of Otsego Lake and the Susque- hanna river, and including the whole of the present town of Springfield, but with the increase of population it was repeatedly subdivided until eight townships had been formed from the original one- The surface is generally hilly. The highest elevations in the county are in this township, several points exceeding 2,000 feet in height. Among these is Mount Independence, three miles east of Cherry Valley village, and formerly regarded as the highest, but the New York State Survey has recently de- termined a higher point, namely, a hill two and one-fourth miles northwest of Center Valley on which a signal station of the survey has been established. This summit is 2,301 feet above tide, and is the highest known point in the county. The waters of the central and southern part flow into the Susquehanna, while the northern part is drained by trilmta- ries of the Mohawk. The soil is fertile, particularly in the val- leys, where are found many of the finest farms in the county. The village of Cherry Valley is beautifully situated on Cherry Valley creek near the centre of the township, and is ro- mantically environed by hills. It was the first white settlement in the county, dating from a land grant made by the authorities of New York to John Lindesay and others in 1738, the settle- ment being made two years later. • Its name was derived from the abundance of wild cherries that grew in the vicinity. CHERRY VALLEY -VJ The early history of this place is of unusual interest and importance. It has been given in part in connection with the general history of the county. The massacre of 1778 deso- lated the place. A few brave settlers remained under the pro- tection of the garrison, which was called away the next summer; but a second surprise and massacre by the savages in the spring of 1780 (eight being killed and fourteen carried into captivity), caused the unfortunate settlement to be completely abandoned. ' 'It was indeed wiped out of existence, all that remained — the fort, the church, and every dwelling being burned, and thus the results of the labors of nearly forty years were de- stroyed and the valley returned into the undisputed possession of the beasts and the birds, and Cherry Valley, a few years be- fore the largest and most prominent of the frontier settlements of New York, was but a name. "* But with the return of peace the settlers who had sur- vived the horrors of war and massacre returned and sought their former homes, though they found only a wilderness, but the hardships they had endured fitted them for their new struggle. The village arose from its ruins audits builders were soon re-in- forced by the western tide of emigration of those days, and in a few years Cherry Valley -was again the largest settlement south of the Mohawk. In 1783 General Washington, accompanied by Gover- nor George Clinton and other distinguished men, being on an extended tour through the state, visited Cherry Valley. The party was entertained at the house of Col. Samuel Campbell. Judge William W. Campbell (a grandson of Samuel), in his "Annals of Try on County, " relates the following incident of this visit. Gov. Clinton, observing several stout boys, re- marked that they would make fine soldiers sometime. Mrs. Campbell replied that she hoped the country would never need their services. "I hope so, too. Madam," said Washington, "for I have seen enough of war." Cherry Valley has been the birthplace or residence of some distinguished men, among whom are the following : Col. Samuel Campbell, a distinguished patriot of the Kev- olution and one of the heroes of the battle of Oriskany, where he took the chief command after Gen. Herkimer was wounded. * Sawyer's History ])age il. 36 CHERRY VALLEY Col. Samuel Clyde, also one of the heroes of the battle of Oriskany and of the border wars of the Revolution. He was the first sheriff of Otsego county. Rev. Dr. Eliphalet Nott, president for sixty years of Un- ion College, Schenectady, whose first pastorate was at Cherry Valley. Hon. William W. Campbell, Justice of the Supreme Court of New York, and aiithor of ' 'Annals of Tryon County, ' ' ' 'Life of DeWitt Clinton," and other works. Hon. Jabez I). Hammond, an eminent lawyer, Otsego County Judge, Member of Congress, author of "Political His- tory of the State of New York," and "Life and Times of Silas Wright." Hon. Levi Beardsley, lawyer, State Senator, and author of "Beardsley's Reminiscences, " a valuable contribution to local history. Dr. Joseph White, an eminent physician and surgeon, president of the Otsego Medical Society, of the New York State Medical Society, and of the Fairfield Medical College. He was almost equally distinguished in law and in finance, a man of wonderfully varied attainments. Rev. Solomon Spaulding, the first principal of Cherry Val- ley Academy and the reputed author of the "Book of Mor- mon, ' ' which he wrote as a romance. Other noted men of the early time were the lawyers Alvin Stewart, James O. Morse, James Bracket, Isaac Seeley, George Clyde and Horace Lathrop. The Cherry Valley bar was famous throughout the state. Sawyer says in his history : " The history of this country, and probably of the whole world, presents no other case in which a village of less than a thousand people has possessed, at one time, so great an array of legal talent, in active and successful practice." Among the early settlers who are honorably remembered were also Archibald McKellip, James Thompson, James Can- non, William Peeso, Dr. David Little, Major John Walton Robert Shankland, a native of Ireland and a famous patriot and Indian fighter, James and John Wilson and Edwin Judd. An old lady, writing of the early times in Cherry Valley, relates the following of Alvin Stewart, the wittiest and most successful lawyer of his time in the state : CHERRY VALLEY 37 "He was a teacher at first in the Academy, and always kept his eyes open when he made the prayer at the opening of the school. One scholar, bolder than the others, said : ' Mr. Stewart, why do you always keep your eyes open when you pray ? ' He said, 'we are commanded to watch as well as pray. ' But he was much liked by his pupils. I wish I could remem- ber all the funny things I've heard of him. An old lady told me that once a boy did something against the rule, and he told him to go and get some withes. When the boy came back he told him he thought he should have to kill him ; and, as he threatened, he kept poking the withes in the ashes to season them. When school was dismissed, he took up the bundle of sticks and told the boy to run ; and he whipt all the benches and chairs, and the boy escaped unscathed. He was addicted to taking too much sometimes, but he afterwards reformed and became a great temperance man. ' ' VILLAGES : This township contains three villages, viz: Cherry Valley (population, 772), Salt Springville (popu- lation, 119), and Center Valley (population, 107). SCHOOLS: Number of districts in the township 12. Number of teachers 16. Children of school age 295. The Cherry Valley High School is the successor of the famous old Cherry Valley academy. It is a Kegents' school of high grade, with a wide range of scientific and classical instruc- tion. The building has recently been enlarged, improved and supplied with new apparatus. The library contains 1,500 volumes. CHURCHES: There are four churches: Baptist, Ejoiscopal, Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian. NEWSPAPERS: The "Cherry Valley Gazette," one of the oldest papers in the county (established 1818), is the local organ for Cherry Valley and adjoining townships. Decatur Ai-ea,, 12,S41 Acres. Population, 559. DECATUR township was set oflP from Worcester in 1808. Its surface is hilly, broken by narrow valleys. The principal streams are Oak and Parker creeks tributary to the Schenevus. The first settlement was made in 1790 by Jacob Kinney near the present village of Decatur. The first merchant in the village was Nahum Thompson, who was member of the assem- bly in 1844. The first supervisor was David Tripp, and the first town clerk was Lemuel Fletcher. The first school was taught by Samuel Thurber about the year 1798. The first grist mill was erected by John Champion, the grandfather of S. B. Champion, editor of the "Stamford Mir- ror." James Stewart, built the first carding mill. Jacob Brown and his son Jacob came from Columbia county in 1787. Nathan and Gardner Boorn were early settlers. Amos, a son of Gardner, was sujjervisor for six years. The brothers, Elisha, John and Samuel Waterman, came from Nor- wich, Connecticut, soon after the Revolution. From Elisha was descended the late Lewis Edson Waterman, the inventor of the ' 'Waterman Ideal Fountain Pen. ' ' Mr. Waterman was born in Decatur in the year 1837, and died in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1900. Other pioneer settlers were John Treat, Charles Treat, Charles Kaple, Orra Ferris, Amos Crippen, Robert Lansing, Chelsea and Lorenzo Dow Davis and Andrew Sloan. VILLAGES : This is a strictly agricultural township, hav- ing only one village, Decatur, with a population of 70. CHURCHES : There is only one church in the township, a Methodist church at the village of Decatur. SCHOOLS : Number of districts, (x Number of teachers, (3. Children of school age, 75. Edmeston Aren, 2T,0Ti'^ An-ps Poj)iilntioii, 1,707. EDMESTON was formed from ~~r-|the town of Burlington in 1808. The surface is an elevated upland, broken by numerous valleys. The highest elevations are about 400 feet above the Unadilla river which forms its western boundary. The township takes its name from Col. Edmeston, an officer in the old French war (1754-1763), who for his services received from the crown a tract of 110,000 acres along the Unadilla river. To this tract Col. Edmeston sent Persifer Carr,a faithful old soldier of his command, who remained here until carried away with his family captive by the Indians, but after the Revolution he returned. In 1818 William Stickney and Samuel Simons built a forge and . trip hammer for the manufacture of axes, rifle barrels^ scythes and wrought iron plow shares. The first physician was Dr. Gaines Smith, who came with his family from Vermont in 1800. His grandson, Hon. David B. St. John, became a resi- dent of the town in 1820. Other early settlers in the town who have living descendants were David Chapin, with his large family, Nathan Langworthy, Henry D. Crandall, Stephen Hoxie, Adin and Lyman Deming, John S. Coon, Charles F. Goodrich, Levi D. Banks, Daniel R. Barrett, Abel Matterson, Charles Burlingham, Erastus Waldo, Daniel R. Barrett, Joseph Bootman, James P. Ackerman, Ephriam Chamberlain, Edwin Phelps, John T. Richards, Hiram Wright, Benjamin Peet, George B. Talbot, Elder Taylor, Andrew Hawkins, Silas Coates, Julius Lines, Samuel Hopkins, O. L. Smith, George Arnold, Daniel Chapin and Jacob Talbot. 40 EDMESTON VILLAGES : There are three villages in this township : Edmeston (population 749), West Edmeston (population 222). and South Edmeston (population 206). North Edmeston is a rural postoffice. SCHOOLS : Number of districts, 13. Number of teachers, 17. Children of school age, 266. The Edmeston High School is under the supervision of the Board of Regents. The academic department has a well equipped laboratory, a library of 1,000 volumes, and all necessary reference books. The faculty consists of a principal and^four assistants. i^^''.^l EDMESTON HIGH SCHOOL CHURCHES : There are six churches in the township of Edmeston, namely : Baptist, Methodist and Free Methodist at Edmeston village ; Baptist and 7th day Baptist at West Edmes- ton and a Union church at South Edmeston. NEWSPAPERS: The "Edmeston Local," established in 1882, circulates also as a local organ in the townships of Bur- lington, Pittsfield, Plainj&eld, and New Lisbon. Exeter Are/1, 11,S!)5 Acrfif^. Popjilfifion. ],0S7. EXETER was formed from Richfield in 1799. The surface is generally hilly, some of the elevations being 300 feet above the valleys. It is drained by Herkimer and Sutherland creeks which flow into Oanadarago lake and by Butternuts and Wharton creeks which flow into the Unadilla river. The earliest landed propri- etors in this township were Major John Tunniclifl^ and William Angell. Major TunniclifP was a gentleman of intelligence, culture and wealth, who came from Derby, England, in the year 1756, and purchased 12,000 acres of land belonging to the patent that had been recently granted to David Schuyler and others, his purchase lying to the west of Fly Creek and being mainly within the present town- ship of Exeter but extending somewhat into Richfield. Here he built a cabin at a place called "The Oaks," and commenced a settlement, but danger from the Indians soon caused him to abandon it until the close of the French war, when he returned with his family and made here his permanent home. William Angell was from Rhode Island and located on what has since been known as Angell's Hill, in school district No. 3. His family consisted of six sons and several daughters. His son William G. Angell, was an influential man, and represented his district in congress. Other early settlers were Jonathan Angell, Seth Tubbs, Jacob Goble, Caleb Clark, Bethel Martin, Amos and Hull Thomas, Joshua Gorton, Uriel Stone, Ashel Williams and Au- gustus Curtiss. John and Aaron Phillips of Cambridge, Mass., came to Exeter in 1790. They established a circulating library 42 EXETER and in 1822 a Congregational church. Among the early settlers was Hon. Levi Beardsley, an eminent lawyer and author of "Beardsley's Reminiscences and Ancedotes. " He came to Exeter in his infancy with his parents in 17U0. The family set- tled on "The Herkimer Farm," but afterwards removed to Richfield. A Pioneer Home in the Forest. To give an idea of the trials endured by the settlors in those days we quote from his entertaining book of "Reminis- cences:" "We left our eastern home with a cart, one or two wagons, one or two yoke of oxen, three or four horses, and a few cattle, sheep, and hogs. The roads were excessively bad, and we took but little household goods with us. My mother was left behind with a sick child. My sister, about two years younger than myself, was with me, stowed in a cart or wagon among the chairs and furniture, and put under the care of a girl brought up by my grandfather. ' ' Some distance this side of Canajoharie they abandoned their vehicles, in consequence of the bad roads, and proceeded on their journey. "Some of the i^arty drove the live stock, and went on the best way they could. My father put a saddle on one of the horses, and on another packed a bed and bedding, on which the girl was to ride. I was placed on the horse behind him, on a pillow tied to the saddle, with a strap under my arms buckled to his waist to prevent me from falling off, and carrying my sister before him we pursued our journey, the girl Sukey, riding the other horse on top of the bed and bedding, and a yearling colt tagging after. This constituted the cavalcade, so far as my father and his family were con- cerned. " Their destination was finally reached, and soon after Mr. Beardsley's father returned to the east and brought his wife and sick child to the new country. He says : "She rode the horse on a man's saddle, and carried the child, my father in a patriarchal manner walking by her side ; and thus the family were at last re-united in the woods at the foot of the beautiful lake, and by the side of the fine little stream known as Herkimer creek, then full of fish, particularly the speckled trout. EXETER 43 "The house that we moved into was a small log cabin, the body laid up, and part, though not the whole, of the roof covered with black ash and elm bark, which had l)ecn peeled from the trees at the season when bark is taken oft' easily. When opened out and put on the roof and pressed down with i)oles or small timbers, the rougii side exposed to the weathcu', it makes a good roof that will last several years and shed the rain quite well. The house was only partially covered, and when it rained we had to put our effects and ourselves under that part which was sheltered. ' 'The floor was of basswood logs, split and hewed partly on one side, and then spiked down making a substantial floor, but only about half was laid. We had no fire x^lace or chimney, and till this was built the cooking must all be done out of doors. ' 'A mud-and-stack chimney and fireplace were afterwards added as the weather became cold, and to get earth or clay to make mortar to daub the house and make the chimney, a hole was dug under the floor which was our only cellar, in which, in winter, we put a few bushels of potatoes and turnips, and took up one of the flattened logs from the floor whenever we wanted anything from below. I have said there was no door when we moved in. My father on reaching the house with my mother and family, suspended a blanket at the doorway to keep out part of the night air. ' ' The First Wedding. Mr. Beardsley gives a further insight into the customs of those days in his descrijDtion of the first wedding. He says : "Let me describe the first wedding, which was the marri- age of a sister of my mother, who was married to Ebenezer Russell; the marriage was at my father's, in the log house. I do not remember how the parties were dressed, but no doubt in their best gear. Judge Cooper, of Cooperstown, was sent for, being the nearest magistrate, and came eighteen miles ijrinci- pally through the woods, to perform the ceremony. The neigh- bors were invited, the old pine table was in the middle of the room, on which I recollect was placed a large wooden bowl filled with fried cakes (nut cakes or doughnuts, as the country people call them). There might have been something else to constitute the marriage feast, but I do not recollect anything except a black 44 EXETER junk bottle filled with rum ; some maple sugar and water. The judge was in his long riding boots, covered with mud up to his knees, his horse was fed, that he might be off when the cere- mony was over. The parties presented themselves, and were soon made man and wife as his "Honor" officially announced. He then gave the bride a good hearty kiss, or rather smack, remark- ing that he always claimed that as his fee ; took a drink of rum, drank health, prosperity and long life to those married, ate a cake or two, declined even staying to supper, said that he must be on his way home, and should go to the foot of the lake that night, refused any other fee for his services, mounted his horse and was off ; and thus was the first marriage celebrated. ' ' VILLAGES: There are three villages in this township, viz : Schuyler Lake (population 406), West Exeter (population 167), and Exeter (population 60). SCHOOLS : Number of school districts, 8, Number of teachers, 11. Children of school age, 158. The Union Free School at Schuyler Lake employs four teachers and is well or- ganized for efficient work. CHURCHES : There are five churches in this township, viz: at Exeter, Methodist ; at West Exeter, Methodist ; at Schuy- ler Lake, Baptist, Methodist and Universalist. Hartwick Area, 25,9S0 Acivs. Population, 7,S00. HAKTWICK was formed from Otsego in 1802. Its surface is hilly, the highest summits being 200 to 350 feet above the valleys. It is drained by several small streams that flow into the Susquehanna and the east branch of the Otego creek. The township was named in honor of the Rev. John Chris- topher Hartwick who, in 1752, purchased from the Indians for the sum of 100 ijounds, a tract of land embracing nearly all of the present township and amount- ing to 21,500 acres. Mr. Hartwick was a native of the duke- dom of Saxe-Gotha in the province of Thuringia in Germany, and had come as a Lutheran missionary to this country. He was for many years a noted preacher throughout the country from New England to Virginia, and it was not until after the Revolution that he settled down upon his purchase and estab- lished a colony. Through the agency of Judge William Cooper he let a great part of his land to settlers at an annual rental of one shilling per acre, with the privilege of purchasing at four- teen shillings per acre. HARTWICK SEMINARY.— In his will Mr. Hartwick left his whole fortune for the establishment of the Seminary that bears his name. The school was opened on the 15th of Decem- ber, 1815, with the Rev. Dr. Ernest Lewis Hazelius as princi- pal. It now has three departments — Regents, Collegiate and Theological. The buildings have recently been remodeled and enlarged. The institution is located four miles south of Coop- erstown on the Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley railroad. 46 HARTWICK Conspicuous among the natives of Hartwiek was William H. Bissell who was born in tins town in 1811, but early re- moved with his parents to Milford where he grew to manhood. He prepared himself for the medical profession, but abandoned it for the law. In 1837 he removed to Illinois, from which state he served as a colonel in the Mexican war. He also represented his district in congress from 1849 to 1855. In 1856 he was elected governor of the state, was re-elected and died at Spring- field, 111. , in 1860, while serving his second term. Among the early settlers were the brothers John and Na- than Davidson, William and Nathan Field, Jerry Potter, Jed- ediah Ashoraft, Joseph Marsh, Nicholas and RufusSteere, Amos and Joseph Winsor, Benjamin and Nicholas Camp, John and Philip Wells, Hopkins Burlingham, Isaac Bissell, Deacon Ziba HARTWICK SEMINARY Newland, Amasa Peters, Uriah Luce, Stephen Ingalls, David and Josiah Majiles. Daniel Murdock and Col. Henry Wheeler. The first suijervisor was Philip Wells, and the first town clerk was Rufus Steere who built the cotton factory at Toddsville. VILLAGES : There are five villages in this township, viz : Hartwiek (population 605), Hartwiek Seminary (poijulation 124), South Hartwiek (population 63), Toddsville (population 302), and Hyde Park (population 150). Chase is a rural post- office. Clintonville, formerly a cotton cloth manufacturing vil- lage, has now only an electric lighting plant, from which Coopers- town is suijplied, ijostoffice at Milford. On the Fourth of July, 11)02, Hartwiek village celebrated its 100th anniversary. HART WICK 47 SCHOOLS: Number of districts, l(v, number of teachers, 17; number of children of school age, 342. The Hartwick Union Free school has a commodious building, newly furnished and jjrovided with a good library, natural history and chemical ajjparatus, and other appliances for teaching. It is a school of four grades and confers Regents' diplomas on its academic graduates. HARTWICK UNION FREE SCHOOL riHUROHES : There are eight churches in this township, viz: At Hartwick, Baptist, Christian and Methodist; atTodds- ville, Union and Methodist ; at Hartwick Seminary, Lutheran; at Hyde Park, Methodist ; and a Christian church near Christian Hill in the northern part of the township. NEWSPAPEES: There are two weekly papers, the "Hart- wick Review" and "Hartwick Visitor," published at Hartwick village. The "Hartwick Seminary Monthly and Eastern Lu- theran. ' ' the organ of Hartwick Seminary, is edited and pub- lished at the Seminary. Laurens Area. 26,116 acres Population, 1,48S. LAURENS was formed from Otsego in 1810. Otego creek, the principal stream, flows nearly south through a fertile and well cultivated val- ley. The first white settler within the present limits of the town was Joseph May all. He located in 177;5 about one mile north of the i^resent village. He was a man of great cour- age, and during the Revolution was celebrated as an Indian fighter. In the same year Richard Smith came from Baltimore and erected a fine colonial mansion, called "Smith Hall" one and a half miles north of the village. It has recently been pur- chased and restored by Willard V. Huntington esq. An early settler was the Quaker, John Sleeper, who maintained a peace- ful neutrality during the Revolution, though for a time com- pelled to leave on account of danger from the Indians. He reared here a family of seven sons and five daughters. The day before the massacre of Cherry Valley, Mr. Sleeper started for New Jersey, and upon arriving at Cherry Valley was urged by his friends to remain over night. But he declined and continued his journey to Bowman's creek, several miles distant, and thereby saved his life. The day following the massacre, a party of savages passed through Laurens and robbed the family of Mr. Sleeper and burned their buildings. Brant, the Indian chief, arrived soon after and, finding Mrs. Sleeper still there, exclaimed, "My God! Mrs. Sleeper, are you alive?" She replied: "Yes; but they have destroyed all our property. " Brant charged the destruc- tion upon the Senecas, saying: "They would kill their best friends," and offered to pay her for the loss, but Mrs. Sleeper, being of the Quaker faith, refused, as she believed that he had LAURKXS 4!) come wrongfully by it. The family soon after returned to New Jersey suffering terribly on the way. At the close of the Revolution Mr. Sleeper returned with his family and rebuilt the house and mill. In 1794 he sold his grist and saw mills and 1,000 acres of land to Griffin Craft of Cherry Valley, who was the first supervisor of the town in 1811. In 1815 General Erastus Craft succeeded to his father's estate. He was a member of assembly in 1810, '13 and 'l-l, and served as supervisor of the town for thirteen years. He married a sister of Judge W. W. Camp)bell of Cherry Valley and has de- scendants in this vicinity and in the west. Other early resi- dents were General William Comstock, a leading merchant, William. C. Fields, who represented his district in congress in 1866 General William Armstrong, Erastus and Ezra Dean. Chauncey Strong, Samuel Allen, Jacob Butts, Nathan Newell, Cyrus Hudson, Solomon Harrison, Peter Scramling, Calvin Straight, a Quaker preacher, Solomon Eldred, Rufus Steere, Stephen Whipple and Joshua Matteson. Ruf us Tucker and Daniel Weatherly were early settlers at West Laurens Dr. Ezer Windsor settled above Laurens on the Mount Vision road in 1794. His son Amos was sheriff in 1812. Thomas Keyes came with his large family from Connecti- cut in 1805 His descendants are inlluential citizens at One- onta and elsewhere. VILLAGES : There are three villages in this township, viz: Laurens (population 233), Mt. Vision (population 300), and West Laurens (population 117). Otsego Park, near Lau- rens village, on the line of the O., C. & R. S. electric railway, eight miles from Oneouta, is a new and popular pleasure resort. CHURCHES : There are three churches in the village of Laurens, viz : Methodist, Christian and Presbyterian ; at Mt. Vision, Baptist and Methodist: at West Laurens, Christian and a Friends meeting house. SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 12: teachers, 14; child- ren of school age, 265. Laurens village has an efficient school of eight grades, with two teachers and 80 pupils. It has a library and school appa- ratus and prepares for Regents' examinations. NEWSPAPERS: "The Otego Valley News," a weekly paper is published at Laurens. Established, 1899. Maryland Area, 20,873 Acres. Popuhitiou, 1,D0S. This township was formed from Worcester in 1808. The principal stream is the Sche- nevus creek, which flows south-west through the town and empties into the Susque- hanna. The surface consists chiefly of a hilly upland, broken by ravines. The settlement of the town dates back to 1790. at which time Elisha Cham- berlain and the three brothers, Israel, Elephas and Phineas Spencer, located near the present Maryland station on the rail- road. The first settlers where Chase ville is now located were Jotham Houghton and his two sons Jerehamel and Daniel. Daniel was a captain in the war of 1812. Wilder, Ezekiel and John Rice settled near Sohenevus, Caleb Boynton in the eastern part of the town, and Joseph Howe in Elk Creek. Early set- tlers and large land owners were Josiah Chase and John Bige- low who came in 1791 and purchased 1,000 acres of land. In 1794 arrived many pioneers, prominent among whom were John Thompson and his sons John and James from Columbia county. They located near the foot of Crumhorn Mountain and their descendants have been leading citizens. Other settlers in the vicinity of Elk Creek were Earl Wright, Philemon Perry, Eleazer Gove, John Kelly, and the Chase brothers, Asa, Dean, Seth and John, with their families. One of the first necessities of the early time was a grist mill near at hand. For a long time all grain had been sent to Cherry Valley. There was, therefore, great rejoicing when in 1794, those enterprising pioneers, Israel and Elisha Spencer, 52 MARYLAND erected a mill near the present Maryland railroad station. At about the same time Jonathan Houghton built a saw mill near Ohaseville, but afterwards removed it to a place near Spencer's Mills. These mills were built by Phineas Spencer, the pioneer carpenter. He was a mechanical genius. He made furniture, plows and coffins. For years he made all the burial cases free of charge. They were doubtless made, as was the custom in those days, of pine boards, colored black by a solution of water with the ashes of straw. The first death in the town was that of the wife of Josiah Chase. The remains were borne a distance of seven miles to the Maryland cemetery, the bearers being on foot as was the custom, for this was regarded as more respectful to the dead. VILLAGES : There are four villages in this township, viz: Schenevus (population 61B). Maryland (population 227), Chaseville (population 123) and Elk Creek (population 52). The Schenevus Valley Fair is held annually on the spa- cious grounds near Schenevus village. SCHOOLS : Number of districts, 15 ; teachers, 23 ; children of school age, 481. The Schenevus High school is under the board of Eegents. and is well equipped for efficient work. It is supplied with apparatus for the teachinsi: of the natural sciences, with maps, globes, charts, reference books and a circulating library of 1,000 volumes. A Eegents' diploma corresponding to an Academic course of four years is conferred upon its graduates. CHURCHES: At Schenevus, Baptist. Catholic, Episco- pal, and Methodist. At Maryland, Christian, and Lutheran. At Chaseville, Baptist. At Elk Creek, Methodist. NEWSPAPERS: At Schenevus, the "Schenevus Moni- tor," a weekly jDaper, established in 1863. Middlefield r^ '■■r-'Ntt r°yC/^ \m P^y^' 0Ts(r m fi ^T >d2r;__' ^^^j%4 Q^/m C^ M/ ii ■< ~Pf7^ , .V ^ 'K/o R 0-' wA l^^,-.,„. ^/y"; RxL r--^ ^Q''-^ MIDDLEFIELD is the largest township in the county. It was set oflF from Cherry Valley in 1797. The surface is hilly, the summits being 400 to 500 feet above the valleys. It is well watered by the Cherry Valley and Red creeks, which flow^ into the Susquehanna. The first settlement was made at New town -Martin, now Middlefield, (lo- cally Clarksville), about 1760; but during the Indian wars of the Revolu- tion the place was exposed to great danger, and all the more so on account of the patriotic spirit that sent its best men to the Continental army. The towai was, in the end, completely depopulated, but at the close of the war its fertile lands were rapidly taken up by old and new settlers, among w4iom were William Cook, the four McCollum brothers, Reuben Reals, Rernard Temple, Gardner Rlair, Levi H. Pierce, John Parshall. David Anderson, Renjamin Gilbert. James Rrad- ley, Capt. Thomas Ransom and Major Jothan Ames. VILLAGES : There are three villages in this township, viz: Middlefield (population 243), Middlefield Center (popula- tion 108), and Phoenix Mills (poiDulation 150). Lentsville is a' rural postoffice. Rowerstown is a hamlet (population 70), with postofiice at Cooperstown. Westville is partly in Middle- field, with postoffice and churches in Westford. The "Index Knitting Mills, ' ' at Phoenix Mills, employ (including branch at Hope Factory), about 400 hands. The County Poor House and Farm are situated in this township, on the railroad, three miles south of Cooperstow^n. SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 19. Teachers, 18. Children of school age, 322. The village schools are graded and efficiently conducted. CHURCHES : There are three churches in this township, viz: At Middlefield, RajDtist and Methodist; at Middlefield Cen- ter, Presbyterian. Milford Area, 28,172 Acres. Population, 2,007. THIS township was formed from Unadilla in 1796. The surface is a liilly upland, di- vided into two ridges by the Susquehanna river, which flows through it in a southerly direc- tion. The declivities are in many places very steep. Crum- horn mountain, on the east bor- der, attains an elevation of 600 feet above the valley. The fertile soil and excellent water power afPorded by the rivers early attracted settlers to this region. Among the leading families at Milford village were those of Charles Morris and his sons Richard and David, James Westcott, John Aylesworth, Norman Bissell, Levi Hun- gerford and Jonathan Sweet; at Portlandville, Thomas Mum- ford, Russell Briggs and Col. John Moore, the Edsons at Ed- son Corners, and at Colliersville Isaac Collier, his son Major Peter Collier, and his son-in-law, Jared Goodyear. VILLAGES: There are four villages in this township, viz : Milford (population, 532), Portlandville (population 352), Colliersville, (population 130), and Cooperstown Junction (population 115). Milford Center (population 100) is a hamlet with rural free delivery from Oneonta. SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 14; number of teachers, 13 ; children of school age, 290. The Milford High School is under the Regents, and is efiiciently organized in all depart- ments. A specialty is made of commercial training and busi- ness jDractice. The faculty consists of a principal and five assistants. CHURCHES : At Milford village, Presbyterian and Meth- odist; at Portlandville, Christian, Episcopal and Methodist; at Cooperstown Junction, Methodist; at Milford Center, Baptist. NEWSPAPERS: The "Otsego Tidings," and "Teachers' Gazette, ' ' at Milford village. jS!^ orris Area, 24,0Sn Acres. • Population, 1,6flO THERE were early settle- ments in this region, but the jjresent township was not or- ganized until 1847, when it was set off from Butternuts. The surface is varied and at- tractive, rising in broken up- lands from the fertile vallej" of the Butternuts creek, which receives numerous brooklets. The western ridge terminates in a steep bluff bordering on the Unadilla river. -". ■ The township derives its name from General Jacob Morris, a son of Lewis Morris, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and who, with his brother Eichard, received a patent of 30,000 acres of land in this vicinity to indemnify them for the loss of property destroyed by the British during the Revolution. An early and influential settler was Mr. Paschal Franchot, a native of France, who raised here a family of ten children. His son Richard was one of the leading men of his time in the county. He was supervisor of the township, rej)resentative,in Congress, first colonel of the 121st New York regiment in the rebellion, and the first president of the Albany and Susque- hanna railroad. Other early settlers whose names have been perpetuated are Ebenezer KnapjD, Benjamin Stone, Jeremiah Cruttenden, Jonathan and Ansel Moore, Amos, Jacob and Ich- abod Palmer, Benjamin Lull with his five sons, Benjamin jr., Joseph, Caleb, Nathan and William, Dr. William Yates, and Ziba Washbon. Some of the customs of those days are thus described by the late Ashel S. Avery of Morris, in his contribution to Hurd's history of the county : "It was a common thing for a shoe- maker (cobbler) to ' whip the cat, ' that is, go into a farmer's MORRIS r>7 house, put his kit in the corner of the room, and with one last, made perhaps from a stick off the wood-pile, make the shoes for the whole family— the largest iirst, then cutting down the last to the next smaller size, the fariiier furnishing the leather. 'Eights and lefts' shoes were unknown. The shoe pegs were all made by hand. "In the square-room of well-to-do i^eople were brass- ornamented andirons in the fire-place. In the summer time this fire-place would be filled with sparrow-grass (asparagus) ; but after wall paper became cheap, fire- boards, with a landscape on them, filled up the space. It was a great invention when the tin baker was made; quite an improvement on the bake-kettle, or the board on which the Johnny-cake was baked before the fire. "One stage coach ran from Oooperstown to Oxford three times a week. It was a four-horse yellow coach, and looked, in the children's eyes, as large as a circus does now-a-days. The postmaster could have carried any one mail in his hat. The postage on a letter was as follows : To Garrattvsille, 6 cents ; to Oooperstown, 10 cents; to Albany, 12| cents; to New York, 18| cents; and to Philadelphia, 25 cents. There were no envel- opes; the sheet of paper was folded up so as to tuck one edge into another, and sealed with a wafer or sealing wax. ' ' VILLAGES : There is only one village in this township, viz: Morris (population, 553). Maple Grove is a hamlet on the southern border (population 44). South New Berlin, on the river, is mostly in Chenango county. Morris has always been one of Otsego's pleasantest villages. One of the best and best attended annual fairs of the county is that held here by the Butternuts Valley Agricultural Society. SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 12; teachers, 16; chil- dren of school age, 295. The Morris High School is the oldest union free school in the county. In its building and equip- ment it ranks among the best. Its academic department fits for either normal school or college, and also for professional schools of law and medicine. Its faculty consists of a ^jrincix^al and five assistants. CHUKCHES : At Morris, Baptist, Episcopal (with "Mor- ris Memorial Chapel"), Friends, Methodist, and Universalist; at Maple Grove, Episcopal. NEWSPAPERS: The "Morris Chronicle," at Morris. New Lisbon Area, 26,899 Acres PopiiLntion, l,22r). THIS township was organ- ized in 1806. Among the ear- liest settlers were Elnatlian Noble from whom Noblesville was named, Increase Thurston, Linns N. Chapin, a surveyor, Joseph Neff, a famous violin- ist, Elias Cummings, William Gregory, Amos Perry, John Cope and Remington Kenyon. Benjamin Cutler, a soldier of the war of 1812, came from Vermont in 1799. He died in Mt. Vision in 1871, at the age of 101 years and five months. Garrattsville was named for John Garratt. He and his wife were carried into captivity by the Indians and held by them seven years. It is related that when they saw the Indians ap- proaching their cabin, Mrs. Garratt seized her clock and silver- ware and fled out at the back door, concealing the silver under an inverted pig trough, while the clock was hastily thrown over the garden fence. After an absence of seven years they returned to find their clearing covered with underbrush and weeds, but there, under the pig trough, was found the silver, and down by the garden fence the old clock. VILLAGES : Garrattsville (population 253) and New Lis- bon, formerly Noblesville (population 169). Lena and Welcome are rural postoffices. Stetsonville is a hamlet with postoffice at New Lisbon. SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 16; number of teachers, 16 ; children of school age, 263. CHURCHES: At Garrattsville, Methodist, United Pres- byterian, and an Episcopal Mission ; at Welcome, Baptist; at New Lisbon, Episcopal^ Oneonta Area, 21.930 Acres. Popnhition. S,mO. THIS township was formed from portions of Milford and Ote^o in 1830. The Susque- hanna river flows through the southern part, dividing it into two ridges. The hills south of the river, called South mountain, attain an elevation of about 700 feet above the valley, and 1,800 feet above sea level. The center and northern part of the town- ship is hilly and broken by the Otego, Silver, Oneonta and Emmons creeks. It was a favorite resort of the Indians in the olden time, and the jjresent Main street is believed to be on the line of an Indian trail. Of white settlers, previous to the Kevolution, little is known. The names of Scramling, Younsr and Alger are all that have come down to us from that time. General Sullivan's de- structive expedition in 1789 broke the power of the aborigines, and after the war the tide of emigration was early turned to this attractive region. Among the early families were those of Henry Scramling, Frederick Brown, Abram Houghtaling, Wm. Morenus, Peter Swart,, James Young, Jacob Wolf and his son Conradt, John and Nicholas Beams, Frederick Bornt, David Alger, Elihu Gif- ford and his seven sons, Solomon Yager and his son David, Jo- siah Peet, Ira Emmons, and Dr. Joseph Lindsay, who was the first physician. Jacob VanWoert settled at the mouth of Otego creek, An- drew Parish, James Blanchard and Thomas Morenus on the south side near "Round Top." Col. William Richardson built a saw and grist mill on Oneonta creek in the vicinity now known as "Richardson Hill." 60 ONEONTA At Emmons, on Emmons creek, then a place of some im- portance. Major Asa Emmons bnilt a carding and fulling mill. At Oneonta Plains early settlers were Elisha Shepherd and Asel Marvin. VILLAGES: There are two villages in this township, — Oneonta, with a i3opulation of 7,147, and West Oneonta, popu- lation 207. The plain west of Oneonta village, in the triangle between the rivers, is called Oneonta Plains. It has a consid- erable settlement, and a Methodist chnrch. Postoffioe, Oneonta. SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 14; number of teachers, 38; children of school age, 1,683. CHURCHES: There are thirteen churches in this town- ship, viz : At Oneonta, Baptist, Free Bajotist, Catholic, Chris- tian Science, Episcopal, Methodist, Presliyterian, United Pres- byterian and Universalist ; at West Oneonta, Baptist and Free Baj)tist; at Oneonta Plains, Methodist, and a Methodist church at Richardson Hill. NEWSPAPERS : There are six news^aapers published in Oneonta, viz: The daily "Star, " and the following weekly papers: the "Herald, " the "Leader," the "Press" and the "Spy." The "Oneontan" is a monthly and is issued during the school year as the organ of the State Normal school. Oneonta Village, The village of Oneonta is pleasantly situated on the north bank of the Susquehanna river, and on the line of the Dela- ware and Hudson railroad, nearly midway between Albany and Binghamton, 82 miles from Albany and 61 miles from Bing- hamton. The greater part of the village lies upon a gentle slope that rises from the river for nearly a mile to the north- ward, and affords from its summit a commanding view of the village and of the wooded highlands that surround it in nearly every direction. Oneonta is a growing and prosperous village, and is becom- . ing a railroad and manufacturing center of considerable impor- tance. Its railroad connections are the extensive "Delaware and Hudson" system, the "Ulster and Delaware, " extending from Oneonta to Kingston on the Hudson, the "Cooperstown ^nd Charlotte Valley" road, which crosses the "Delaware and ONEONIA <)] Hudson" near the village, and the "Oneonta, Cooperstown and Kichfield Springs" electric railroad, which is to connect at Her- kimer with the "New York Central." The "Delaware and Hudson" railroad shops at this point employ nearly 600 men, • and the enlargement of the plant, now in process of construction, will materially increase this force. AURELIA OSBORN-FOX MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Other important industries are the "Oneonta Milling Company, ' ' the "Paragon Silk Mills," the branch of the "Gloversville Knitting Company, " the "Buckley Shirt Manufactory," the "Dauley & Wright Marble Works." and the extensive cigar manufactories of Doyle & Smith, and Hayes & Bowdish. 62 ONEONTA The wholesale trade of Oneonta is important, especially in the lines of flour and grain, groceries, crockery, glassware and pai)er. The "Central New York Fair" is held here each year in the month of September, and is always largely attended. The "Oneonta Building and Loan Association" contrib- utes to the establishment of homes by its stock loans to mem- bers. A s'tate armory is located here, and an efficient military organization maintained (Company G., 1st Reg't, N. G. N. Y.) The buildings of the State Normal School, which was es- tablished here in 1889, occupy a commanding position upon the eminence at the northern side of the village. It is one of the best equipped and most successful Normal schools of the state. Other institutions and societies are the "Aurelia Osborn-Fox Memorial Hospital Society," the "Young Men's Christian Association," the "Oneonta Club," and the "Woman's Club." The village is lighted by electricity, has an excellent water supply, complete telegraph, telephone and express service, and the principal business streets are well paved. The electric road extends through the village to the East End suburb, with a branch to the Normal school. The Yii.lage Schools. The Union Free school, which dates from 1867, employs a superintendent and twenty-three teachers, and has 1.125 pupils enrolled. The High School department, under the Regents, fits for college or business. It is well supplied with apparatus, charts and specimens for the study of the natural sciences. Its business course includes book-keeijing, commercial law, type- writing and stenography. With this school will always be asso- ciated the memory of the late Nathaniel N. Bull, for twenty- five years its efficient and much esteejued i^rincipal (1870-1895). The East End suburb, population 564, has a graded school that employs three teachers. It has a new and commodious school building. The Public Libeaky. The library, under the direction of the school board, [con- tains 6,000 volumes and receives constant additions. Oteso Area. :^(J,()S4 Acres. Population, 1,S17. This township was organized from parts of Unadilla and of Franklin, Delaware county, in 1822, and then called Hnntsville. In 1830 the name was changed to Otego. The settle- ment commenced soon after the Rev- olution. Among the first were Ran- som Hunt, of Bennington, Vt., Capt. Peter and Ool. Elisha Bundy, Capt. Elisha Saunders, Deacon Lester Newlands, John, Michael and Nathan Birdsall, Benjamin Edson, a soldier of the Revolution, John Blakely, Rowland Carr,- John A. and Andrew Hodge, Michael and Benjamin Shepherd, Sylvester Goodrich, John and Nahum Smith, Thurston Brown, Ben- jamin Estes, James Wait and Daniel Weller. The population in the early days was, as in Oneonta, a mixture of New Englanders and Mohawk Germans, and much rivalry and frequent fights occurred until chosen champions, John French for the "Yankees" and Peter Scramling for the "Dutch, " settled it at a sawmill raising on the premises of Ransom Hunt. The Yankee was the victor, and so peace was established. At Otsdawa early settlers were Frederick Martin, Nathan Emerson, King Hathaway and Henry Sheldon. VILLAGES : There are two villages in this township, Otego, (population (558), and Otsdawa (population 62). SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 18; number of teachers, 20; children of school age, 319. The Union Free school at Otego, under the Board of Regents, is well organized for effi- cient work in all departments. The building has lately been remodeled and provided with modern furniture and apparatus. Esijecial attention is given to vocal and instrumental music. The faculty consists of a principal and four assistants. CHURCHES : At Otego, Baptist, Free Baptist, Episcopal, Methodist, and Presbyterian. At Otsdawa, Free Baptist. NEWSPAPERS : The ' 'Rural Times, ' ' published at Otego. Otsego Area. ■32,141 Acies. Poftiilntion, 4,407. OTSEGO is the oldest, township in the county. It was* organized as a part of Montgomery county in 1788, and included nearly all that portion of the present county west of Otsego lake and the Susquehanna river, which rises therein. Its surface consists mainly of a hilly ujjland, divided into ridges by Fly and Oaks creeks. The first while man who passed through this region was Cadwallader Golden, surveyor general, in the year 1737. Six- teen years later, in 1753, Eev. Gideon Hawley was sent to this locality as a missionary to the Indians. The next noted visi- tor was Gen. Georcre Washington who passed through on an exploring expedition in 1783, and "viewed the Lake Otsego at the source of the Susquehanna." The Indian wars of the Eevolutionary period desolated this whole region, but with the return of peace a tide of emigration set in, and the portion now known as Otsego township was es- i:)ecially attractive. This influx of settlers dates from 1788. Among the first were William and Asel Jarvis. who became prominent citizens. William was a i^hysician, and Asel erected at Fly Creek, in 1813, the first foundry and machine shop. His three sons, Chester, Dwight and Kent, were leading men and active in the old military organizations. Other early settlers at Fly Creek were John Adams, Ebenezer Cheeney and Oliver Bates. In 1788 came also George Scott from Yorkshire, England, and about the same time John Patton from Perthshire, Scot- land. Other pioneers were Abner Pier, for whom Pierstown 66 OTSEGO was named, and Major George Pier, a celebrated musician. Hon. Isaac Williams came in 1793. He occupied various im- portant oiEces. In 1813, 1817 and 1823 he represented his dis- trict in congress. Darius Warren came here from Connecticut in 1788, and was the first man who received a deed of land from Judge William Cooper. Erastus Taylor came from Bennington, Vt., and raised a family notable for longevity. Other early settlers whose names have been perpetuated in this vicinity are George Roberts, Ira Tanner, Jesse Teft, Nor- man and Bingham Babcock, Martin Coates, Reuben Plinds, Piatt St. John, Andrew Scribner, Levi Pierce, John Badger, Russell Williams, John Baldwin and Eleaz^ur Loomis. VILLAGES : There are four villages in this townshij), viz: Cooperstown (j)opulation 2,368), Fly Creek (population 238), Oaksville (population 149), and Hope Factory (popula- tion 130). Snowdon and Bourne are rural postoffices. SCHOOLS: Number of school districts, 18; number of teachers, 32; children of school age, 803. CHURCHES : There are ten churches in this townshiiJ, viz: At Cooperstown, Baptist, Catholic, Ex^iscopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Universalist. At Fly Creek, Methodist, Presby- terian, and Universalist. In the Hinds neighborhood north of Fly Creek, Methodist. NEWSPAPERS: "Freeman's Journal," "Otsego Farm- er," and "Otsego Rejoublican, " all published at Cooperstown. Cooperstown. Cooperstown was founded by Judge William Cooper, the father of J. Fenimore Cooper, who in 1785 purchased from Colonel George Croghan (who had purchased it from the In- dians), a tract of 100,000 acres of land lying on the west side of the river and embracing the site of the present village and ex- tending both north and south of it. He purchased this land before seeing it, but in the fall of the same year, he came with a party of surveyors, and in January, 1786, took formal pos- session of his property, afterwards known as the "Cooper patent." William Ellison, a surveyor, came the same year, and in 1788, under Mr. Cooper's direction, he laid out the village. OTSEGO . 67 In 1789, a large house having been built for them, Mr. Cooper brought his family from Burlington, N. J., their former home. The youngest member of this company was the child James, aged two years. The name Fenimore, the mother's maiden name, was later added by himself. This child was destined to become the most famous of American novelists, and the place to which he thus came to be famous as the scene of his romantic tales. The following is from a graphic description of Judge Cooper's arrival written in 1871 by G. Pomeroy Keese esq. of Cooperstown : "One bright October afternoon eighty years ago, as the sun was drawing lengthened shadows over the landscape, bath- COOPER PARK, COOPERSTOWN ing in rich autumnal light the hills which surround the limpid waters of Otsego lake, there came around the base of Mount Vision a lumbering family coach, bearing, with its attendant vehicles, the founder of Cooperstown and his household to their new home. All the glorious beauties of the changing foliage which have since "charmed so many thousands who have visited this still rural retreat, were in their virgin splendor, and as the new comers looked upon the scene and beheld in the reflection of the lake below the dark shades of the evergreens contrasted with the gold and crimson hues of the maple and the beech. 68 OTSEGO they must have been sadly insensible to the chief attraction of their future abode if they failed to see in it one of the most per- fect combinations of hill and valley, lake and forest, which the hand of painter could portray. The party, numbering fifteen in all, with the family domestics, was an imposing cavalcade in this primitive region just emerging from the wilderness The whole population of the place — thirty-five in all — were drawn xip to receive the 'lord of the manor, ' who, from hence- forth, as the first judge of the county and its largest landed proprietor, became the leading spirit of all that region." The village thus begun more than a century ago, although of slow growth, has always prospered and kept pace with mod- ern progress. Its streets are broad and well kept; its driveways along the lake and river delightful, and its campin,a: and boating^ facilities unsurpassed. It has an electric lighting plant, is suid- plied with pure water, and its spacious hotels and dwellings in- vite summer guests, of whom a great number are received every season. The work of the x^ublic authorities has been gener-. ously supplemented by Mrs. Alfred Corning Clark, a distin- guished resident, to whom the place is indebted for a beautiful park and gymnasium, and for the splendid edifice of the Young Men's Christian Association. To its natural beauty of situation and its advantages as a summer resort, Oooperstown adds the romantic interest that is associated with the " Leatherstocking Tales." Cooper^ excelled in his descriptions of natural scenery, and tlie reader Mdio bears his vivid pictures in mind will easily recognize the localities along the lake made classic by his genius. Cooperstown has been at times the permanent or summer home of some fainous men, among whom, beside the great novelist, are Samuel F. B. Morse, Thurlow Weed, Gen. John A. Dix, Gen. Abner Doubleday, Gen. Geo. C. Starkweather, Hon. Samuel Nelson, Justice of the United States Suj)reme Court, and Col. Wm. L. Stone, editor of the New York Com- mercial Advertiser. The Otsego County Agricultural Society holds an annual fair at Cooperstown, which is largely attended. Important benevolent institutions at Cooperstown are the "Thanksgiving Hospital," in the establishment of which Miss Susan Fenimore Cooper, a daughter of the novelist, was largely instrumental, and the "Orphan House of the Holy Savior," OTSEGO 69 which is under the control of the Episcopal diocese of Albany, but which receives inmates regardless of denominational lines. Thr Cooperstown High School. This institution is fully equipped for thorough instruction. It is supplied with all needed apparatus, and with a library of 4,000 volumes. The academic department, under the Regents, prejjares for college and for law and other special courses. Tlie faculty consists of a principal and eleven assistants. COOPERSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL Cooper's Grave and Monument. James Fenimore Cooper died at his home in Cooperstown on the 14th of September, 1851, at the age of sixty-two years. Cooper sleeps in the churchyard beside his kindred, an unpre- tending slab marking the site of his grave. His monument is at Lakewood cemetery, on the eastern shore of the lake, just beyond the site of the panther scene in the "Pioneer. " It is of Italian marble, twenty-five feet high, with a figure of Leatherstocking on the summit. Natty is represented as load- ing his rifle and gazing off on the lake spread out beneath him, while his dog by his side watches his master with eager interest. Pittsfield Area, 22,584 acres. Population 1,101. PITTSFIELD was formed from Burlington in 1797. It retained its . original dimen- sions until 1806, when the present town of New Lisbon was set off from it. It con- sists mainly of fertile uplands lying between the valley of the Unadilla river, which con- stitutes its western boundary, and the Butternuts creek val- ley on the east. Some of the earliest settlers came from Pitts- field, Mass., and hencethe name. Among them were Dr. Joseph O. Cone, Capt. Aaron Noble and Samuel Tyler. The two lat- ter settled at Pittsfield village, locally called Pecktown, from Alvin Peck, who kept the hotel there. Capt. Abel DeForest, a soldier of the Revolution, was an early settler at Meeker Hill. Gardner Hall came from Pownal, Vt, in 1797. His son,Wm.G. Hall, became the leading physi- cian of the town. Seth Harrington and Benjamin Eddy settled in the eastern part about 1793. Jabez Beardsley was a promi- nent settler in the western part on the river. He was supervisor for eleven years. Caut. Joseph Briggs, another veteran of the war, came early from Vermont. He and his son Silas were prominent citizens. Other early settlers were Augustus and Gardner Sheldon, Ezekiel Chapin and Stephen Hawkins. This is a prosperous agricultural township and is chiefly devoted to dairying, the milk being sent either to the conden- sery at New Berlin or to the shipping station at Edmeston. It contains one village, Pittsfield, with a population of 70, and a rural postofSce at Ketchum. SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 12; teachers, 10; chil- dren of school age, 189. CHURCHES: There is a Union church at Ketchum. Ebenezer Chapel in the southern part is supplied by the Bap- tist and Methodist pastors from Morris. Plainfield Aiea, 17,142 acres. Popuhition, SOT. PLAINFIELD was set off from Kichfield in 17U9. The surface is hilly, the bluff's along the Unadilla river, which constitutes its western boundary, rising to the height of 400 feet. The first settle- ment was made in 1793, and the first settlers were Luther Smith, Elias Wright, Giles Kilbourne, Ruggles Spooner, Samuel Williams, Benjamin and Abel Clark. Among the most useful pioneers was Caleb Brown, who built the first grist mill in the town at "The Forks." He also built an oil mill and cloth factory on the east branch of the Unadilla, and a woolen factory a short dis- tance south of the Forks. A noted family was that of Parley Phillips, who came from Massachusetts prior to 1800, and raised here a family of twelve children. Joshua Babcock and his nine children were also prominent in the olden time. He was a member of the as- sembly in 1818 to 1821, and presidential elector in 1836. Aza- riali Armstrong came from Vermont in 1812. He had nine children, several of whom have been leading citizens. At Plainfield Center Joseph Sims was an early settler. His son Jeptha was the author of "Sims' Border Wars. " Joseph Sims jr., a grandson of Joseph, was a noted author and lecturer. VILLAGES : This is a fertile and prosperous township chiefly devoted to dairying. It contains only one village, Una- dilla Forks, with a population of 312. Plainfield Center is a hamlet, the seat of a Welc/h colony that still preserves its native language. Leonardsville is mostly in Madison county. SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 11; teachers, 8; children of school age, 131. There is a Union Free school at Unadilla Forks with three departments. CHURCHES : At Unadilla Forks, Baptist and Free Bap- tist. At Plainfield Center, Welah Congregational, with preach- ing in the Wel^h language. Richfield Area, 20,4] S acres. Popnhitinji, 2,r>20. This township was formed from Otsego in 1792. It then included the townships of Exeter and Plainfield, which were set off from it in 1799. The surface is rolling and moderately hilly with a mean elevation of 150 to 200 feet above Canadarago (or Schuy- ler) Lake. Several wooded mountain peaks near the eastern boundary rise 300 feet higher. Canadarago Lake, the northern portion of which is within this township, lies in a deep valley . and is fed by a number of streams which enter it from the northwest. Its outlet is Oaks Creek, through which its waters flow southward into the Susquehanna river. The settlement of this region was rapid as soon as the close of the Indian wars made it safe to establish homes in the wilderness. The northern portion of (Otsego county was regarded with especial favor in consequence of its beautiful lake scenery, fertile soil, good timber and eligible millsites and water privileges. The most important landed proprietor who located here in the early times was John Tunnicliff of Derby, England, who, in 1756, purchased 12,000 acres belonging to the Otsego patent. In the year 1774 he made a further lourchase of 600 acres from the Schuyler patent, this purchase including a portion of the present village of Richfield Springs. Richfield Springs. The springs that have made this locality famous as a health resort were long known to the aborigines under the name of "Medicine Waters. " The following beautiful description is given of the original spring and of Canadarago Lake : ' 'At the RICHFIELD 73 ^ summit of a gently-rising eminence in the mist of shrubliery, and overshadowed by the lofty and majestic branches of the fir and pine, there issued forth from beneath the roots of a gigantic tree a crystal mineral fountain of life and health. About three hundred rods to the south of this fountain was a romantic and beautiful lake silently sleeping in a quiet valley, skirted on either edge by heavily-wooded alpine ranges, whose giant forest trees were boldly reflected in the deep blue waters that were dis- turbed only by the s'creaming waterfowl or the light canoe of the red man as he glided swiftly over its silver surface. The elk, moose and timid deer drank from its silent waters in the wild solitudes of the primeval forest. Two wood-covered is- lands rested within the bosom of this picturesque lake, one of MAIN STREET, RICHFIELD SPRINGS which has since disappeared, and, as tradition says, the last of the once powerful tribe, the Canadaragos, sank with it far beneath its dark waters. ' ' From the discovery of these springs and their preparation for public use by Dr. Horace Manley in 1820 the village dates its fame as a watering place. The efficacy of the waters was found to be very great in the treatment of many forms of dis- ease and with every returning season the number of visitors in- creased. 74 RICHFIELD "The location of Eichfield Springs is remarkable for natural beauty, not only in its immediate surroundings, but it occu- pies a position in the midst of the most charmingly diversified mountain and lake scenery. The mountain sides, in many in- stances, and especially where bordering upon lakes and streams, are jutted with immense ledges of rocks, or cut with deep ra- vines that assist in giving that romantic character to this por- tion of the state of New York which it so eminently possesses. Six beautiful lakes are distributed in this vicinity, almost within sight of each other. This was a region of popular resort of the aboriginal tribes of the valley of the Mohawk and western part of the state before the whites encroached upon it. " To the natural advantages so plain to the red man the white brother has added those of art and culture. Electricity illumi- nates the streets and pure water from a mountain lake finds its way to the dwellings. Railroad connection is now perfect on the north with the "Delaware, Lackawanna and Western" and the "New York Central," to the south with the "Delaware and Hudson" system by way of Oooperstown and Oneonta. VILLAGES : There are two villages in this township, viz : Richfield Springs (population 1,537) and Monti cello (population 218). Brighton is a hamlet withpostofficeatRichfield.Springs. SCHOOLS : Number of districts, 11 ; number of teachers, 20; number of children of school age 558. The Richfield Springs LTnion Free school has an excellent building and is supplied with modern apparatus, charts, natural history specimens and a circulating library of 1,000 volumes. The academic department, subject to the visitation of the re- gents, awards classical and scientific diplomas and has also a commercial course and a teachers' training class. The faculty consists of a principal and twelve assistants, . Total attendance about 450. CHURCHES : There are nine churches in this township, viz: At Richfield Springs, Catholic, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian and Universalist. At Monticello, Baptist, Epis- copal and Universalist. At Brighton, Methodist. NEWSPAPERS : At Richfield Springs are published the "Richfield Springs Mercury, "weekly, and the "Richfield Springs Daily" during the months of July and August. Roseboom Area, 19,TS9 Acres. Population, 1,031. ROSEBOOM was formed from Cherry Valley in 1854. The surface is diversified, many of the hills rising to the height of 850 feet above the valleys. It is embraced in the original grant to John Lindesay, and was divided into the Belvidere, McKean, Long, and Beaver Dam jD'itents. This was the last town organ- ized in the county and was named in honor of Abram Roseboom, who with John Roseboom owned, at the beginning of the cen- tury, a tract of 2,000 acres lying in the present towns of Mid- dlefield, Cherry Valley and Roseboom. For many years the mercantile business of the locality was conducted at Cherry Valley, and it was not until 1882 that a store was opened within the present limits of the town. This was kept by Daniel Antisdel at Lodi (now Roseboom). The first grist mill was built by Cornelius Low in 1818. Among the early settlers were John Boyce, William Pesco, Simeon Rich, John and Peter Sutphen, Smith Hull, Peter Low, Daniel Clark, Solomon Coats, Rnfus Perkins, John Pear- son, and Isaac Keeling. Some of the early residents are now living nt a great age. Mrs. Mary (Keeling) Pearson at Pleasant Brook is ninety -five, Mrs. Lucy Boyce at Roseboom is ninety - three, and Dr. John W. Sterriker of Roseboom is eighty-seven. This is a prosperous agricultural township. The leading industry is dairying, the milk being sent to cheese factories. VILLAGES: Roseboom (population 226), South Valley (population 227), and Pleasant Brook (population 127). Lowell's Corners is a hamlet on the eastern border. SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 12; teachers 11; child- ren of school age, 148. CHURCHES : At Roseboom, Baptist and Methodist, at South Valley, Methodist, Methodist Protestant and Christian ; at Pleasant Brook, Methodist and Methodist Protestant; at Bentley Hollow, Methodist Protestant. Springfield Area, 26,522 Acres. Population, l,7(i2. SPKINGFIELD was set off from Cherry Valley in 1797. The surface is a roll- ing upland. A j)romontory east of the head of Otsego Lake, called Mt. Wellington, rises to a height of 400 feet. It is a prosperous agricul- tural township. In the year 1762 five families took up lands in the town, viz ; those of John Kelly, Richard Ferguson and James Young in the eastern part, Gustavus Klumph and Jacob Tynart at the head of the lake. Very few additions were made to this little community until after the Revolution. At the battle of Oris- kany in 1777 Capt. Thomas Davy, who has descendants now living in the town, was killed. In the following year Joseph Brant, the leader of the Six Nations, came to Springfield with a party, burned the town and killed or carried into captivity the men, but this famoiis chief was merciful. It is recorded that he "gathered together the women and children into one house and left them uninjured— an act not followed by his tory allies. " On the return of peace there was an immediate influx of settlers into this region. Among them were Benjamin Rath- bun and John Cotes, who as a lad of sixteen had taken part in the battle of Bunker Hill, John James and Robert Young. Other pioneers after the Revolution were Moses Franklin, Abner Cooke, Calvin and Luther Smith. Elisha Hall, the in- ventor of the well known Hall threshing machine, was a pioneer at SiDringfield Center. Hezekiah Haydeu was a pioneer and his descendants have been distinguished elsewhere. VILLAGES: Springfield (population 160), Springfield Center (population 350) and East Springfield (population 190). Middle Village is a hamlet with postofEce at East Springfield. SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 13 ; teachers, 16; children of school age, 309. CHURCHES : At Springfield Center, Baptist, Episcopal and Universalist ; at East Springfield, Ei^iscopal, Methodist and Presbyterian. LofC. Unadilla Are^, 28,849 Acres Population. 2,601 THIS towiisliij) was formed from Otsego in 1792. It lies at the confluence of the Sus- quehanna and the Unadilla, and is watered by the many tributaries of these riv- ers. It is believed to have been settled to some extent before the Revolution, but where or by whom is not known. Like all other parts of the county, it filled up rapidly as soon as peace permitted. Unadilla village dates from about 1790. but its early im- portance was due to the construction in 1802 of the Catskill and Susquehanna turnpike, an important highway which terminated here, the point being known as "Wattles' Ferry," from Sluman Wattles, a leading pioneer in that region. The village was on lands of the "Wallace patent. " Among the first settlers were Aaron Axtell, the village blacksmith, who purchased the first lot; Solomon Martin, a soldier of the Revolution and of the war of 1812, sheriff of the county and member of assembly, from whom Martin brook was named ; Daniel Bissell and his kins- man, Guido L. Bissell; Dr. Gurdon Huntington, the leading physician of that region and member of assembly from 1805 to 1809; Joseph S. Bragg, whose son Edward S. Bragg, became brigadier general in the Rebellion, and a congressman from Wis- consin; Moses Axtell, one of the "Boston tea party," and a hero of Lexington and Bunker Hill; Stephen Benton, a land- holder and merchant ; Captain Uriah Hanf ord, William Wilmot, the first cabinet-maker, Samuel Orooker, the four Cone brothers. Dr. Adanijah, Daniel, Gilbert and Gardner, who, with their descendants, have had an important share in the develop- ment of the village ; Elisha Luther, John Fiske, a soldier of UNA DILL A 79 1812, Whitney Bacon, David Finch, Henry Ogden, who was member of assembly in 1820, Niel Robinson, John Eells, justice of the peace and supervisor, and Calvin and Lorin Gates, who purchased land here about 1810. Among influential citizens of a later date were Sherman Page, an able lawyer, member of aassembly in 1827, member of the 23rd and 24th congresses and associate judge of the county ; Major Christopher D. Fellows, who from his advent in the vil- lage at the age of fourteen to that of ninety-three, "was an ac- tive and intelligent force in nearly all that advanced the inter- ests of the place;" Dr. Gains Leonard Halsey, author of the "Reminiscenses" included in "The Pioneers of Unadilla, " by his son, Francis W. Halsey, Clark I. Hayes, whom farmers have to thank for improved breeds of farm stock throughout this val- ley : Eli C. BelknajD, a leading lawyer ; and Arnold B. Wat- son, than whom no more useful man has ever lived in Unadilla. Alike in educational, " religious and financial affairs he was among the first and best. Ebenezer Gregory came from Gilbertsville to Unadilla Center, where he built the stone house that is still standing. He reared four sons and four daughters, who with their descend- ants have contributed much to the social and business life of Unadilla. Among the early proprietors in the vicinity of Sand Hill, in the eastern part of the township, were Daniel Buckley, John and Aaron Sisson, Samuel Merriman and Elisha Lathrop. John Sisson came as early as 1790 and settled in the vicinity afterwards called Sisson Hill. In the same vicinity were Cap- tain Seth Rowley, a veteran of the Revolution and Captain Elisha Saunders, who was both physician and soldier, and who was killed at the battle of Queenstown in 1812. Unadilla is pleasantly situated on the north bank of the Susquehanna river, and on the line of the Albany & Susque- hanna railroad, 99 miles from Albany and 44 from Bingham- ton. It has a superior system of water works, with reservoirs 150 feet above the village, and an electric light plant furnishing 26 arc lights for the streets, with incandescent lights for the stores and dwellings. It is a manufacturing place of some impor- tance, having a large milk condensery, a carriage factory mak- ing the superior Hanford carriages and wagons, a large tailoring UNADILLA 81 establishment and several cigar factories. It is one of the most attractive villages on the line of the railroad, being noted for its wide and shady streets, its beautiful river view, its handsome residences and its well kejjt jDrivate grounds. VILLAGES : There are three villages in this township, viz: Unadilla (population 1,172), Unadilla Center (population 73), and Wells Bridge (population 165). Rockdale, on the Unadilla river, is mostly in Chenango county. SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 18; teachers, 21-. chil- dren of school age, 44 The Unadilla Union Free School and Academy, which in 1891 succeeded the former academy, has a large, modern building with superior sanitary arrange- ments, city water and electric lights. It ranks as a High School under the university of the State of New York. Its course of instruction includes the natural sciences, ancient and modern languages, and a teachers' training class. It has a library of over 2,000 volumes, besides reference books. The Academic department prepares for college and grants regents' diplomas. The faculty consists of a principal and eight assistants. CHURCHES: At Unadilla, Baptist, Episcopal, Metho- dist, and Presbyterian. At Wells Bridge, Baptist and Metho- dist. At Unadilla Centre, Methodist, and a Methodist church at Sand Hill, in the eastern x^art. NEWSPAPERS: The "Unadilla Times," a weekly paper, established in 1851:. Westford Area, 20,812 Acres. Population, 910. WESTFORD was set off from Worcester in 1808. The surface is hilly, the summits in many places rising to the height of 250 to 400 feet above the valleys. It is well watered by the numerous branches of the Elk and Cherry Valley Creeks. The first settlers came here from Vermont about 1790. They were Thomas Sawyer, Oliver Salisbury, Ephraim Smith, Alpheus Earl, Artemus, Moses and David Howe, and Benjamin Chase, who raised seven sons here. Eobert Roseboom came from New Jersey and located in the northeastern part near Maple Valley. He was a prominent man and the first super- visor of the town, officiating in that capacity until 1814. Samuel and Jonas Babcock, soldiers of the Revolution, came from Berk- shire. Mass., in 1795 and their father Josiah joined them in 1799. The five Sperry brothers gave name to Sperry Hollow. The Hubbard brothers formed the "Hubbard Settlement" and the Bentley family gave nametp "Bentley Hollow. " Judge An- drew S. Draper, former State Superintendent of Schools and now president of the University of Illinois, and his cousin, Judge Alden Chester of the Supreme Court, were natives of this town- ship. Other pioneers were Oliver Bidlake, Joshua and Dexter Draper, David Adams, Eli Tyler, Martin, John and Flavel Wright, Calvin Holmes, James Badeau, Charles Mason, Charles Webster, Eleazer Peasley, Samuel Waterman. Andrew Bice, and Artemas and Jonah Howe, captains of the Revolution. West- ford is a fertile agricultural township largely devoted to dairying. VILLAGES : Westford (population 167) and Westville (population 72). Maple Valley is a rural postoffice. SCHOOLS: Number of districts. 11; teachers 10; children of school age, 131. CHURCHES : At Westford, Methodist, Baptist, Congrega- tional, and Episcopal ; at Westville, Baptist and Methodist ; at Maple Valley, Christian. Worcester Area, 29,080 Acros. Popvlaiion, 2,409. WORCESTER was formed from Cherry Valley in 1797, and then embraced in addition to its Xjresent territory, the towns of Maryland, Decatur and West- ford. These towns were set off from it in 1808. The surface is a hilly upland. It is fertile, par- ticularly along the Schenevus creek and Charlotte river. The first settlements were made soon after the Revolution. Prominent among the pioneers was Silas Crippen. He was supervisor eight years, justice of the peace, judge of the court, and a member 6l the state assembly in 1816. He built, about 179(3, the first grist-mill and saw-mill in the town. His son Phillip was the first white child born in the town. He had nine other children. Abram Garfield, the grandfather of Pres- ident Garfield, lived near Worcester and sleeps in a burial plot now in the heart of the village. Other pioneers were John Waterman, Henry Stever, Moses Essex, Luther, Lester S., Thomas and Deacon Joseph Flint, Samuel Russ, Jonathan Jennings, Amos Belding, Hazard Smith, Samuel Hartwell, John P. Russ, John Pratt, J. H. Her- rington, J.B.Hollenbeck, Green White, John Alvord, David and Alpheus Scott and Philip Becker. LTriah Bigelow was the first physician in the town. Abraham Becker, a son of Philip, was a leading lawyer at South Worcester. A prominent pioneer at East Worcester was John Champion, a native of Connecticut. At twelve years of age, being too young to carry a musket, he entered the army of the Revolution as a teamster and served in this capacity until the close of the war. He then married and removed to the town of Worcester, where he settled on what is 84 WORCESTER known as"Elliot Hill," which is now in Decatur. About 1805 he removed to East Worcester, where he built a grist mill and other buildings. He raised a family of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, who have numeruus descendants, among them a number of distinguished men. His son Aaron was the father of S. B. Champion, the well known editor of the Stam- ford Mirror. WORCESTER HIGH SCHOOL Among his interesting reminiscences of the early times, Mr. Champion relates the following: "The first doctor I remember was old Dr. Warner. He was one of the old fashioned kind, and did not believe in people continually pouring down medicine to keep well. He used to say that people doctored too much, as some politicians now say we are governed too much. Near us settled a newly-married couijle. The wife was as neat as could be, and everything was in keeping with her personal appearance. Their first-born, a son, was WORCESTER sr, kept, like a doll-baby, in the house. It did not tlirive, and Dr. Warner was called in to see it. He looked it over, admired its perfect form and features, took it up and started ont of the house with it. The mother was alarmed, and said the doctor would kill it if he did not bundle it up. It was in the spring, and the father of the child was making a garden. The doctor put it down in the newly made onion bed. The baby took up a handful of dirt and commenced eating it. Tlie mother was more frightened, but it was allowed to eat all it wanted. Then the old doctor left them with the remark, ' 'give it plenty of air, for its lungs, clean dirt for its bones, and you will have a large, rosy-cheeked, healthy child, instead of a poor, pale, weakly, emaciated creature. ' ' Other early settlers near East Worcester were Joshua i3ige- low, Joseph Bowers, James Lockwood, Isaac Caryl, Adolphus Gott, Calvin Jennings, Cary Pepper and Maj. Gen. James Stewart, whose father, James Stewart, was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill. His son. Dr. William Stewart, was a pliys- ician at South Worcester for 60 years. VILLAGES : There are three villages in this township, viz : Worcester (population 1,020), East Worcester (population 430) and South Worcester (population 150). Worcester is a flourish- ing village, provided with electric lights and with pure water from a mountain reservoir 80 feet deep. SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 15; teachers, 23; children of school aee, -ITO. The Worcester High School, under the Re- gents, has a modern building, complete scientific apparatus, a thorough academic course and a well selected library. The faculty consists of a principal and seven assistants. CHLTRCHES : There are eight churches in the township, viz: At Worcester, Baptist, Catholic, Congregational and Meth- odist, at East Worcester, Baptist and Methodist, at South Wor- cester, Lutheran and Methodist. NEWSPAPERS: The "Worcester Times," established 1876, published at Worcester. SCHOOL OF MUSIC ^ UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF PROF. J. C. RINGWALD, Graduate of the Royal Conser- vatory of Music at Leipsic, German}^, and MRS. ELLIE MORRIS-RINGWALD, a Graduate of the Same Institution. BEST INSTRUCTION IN ... . PIANO, ORGAN, VIOLIN, HARMONY, VOICE CULTURE, THEORY OF MUSIC AND COMPOSITION. Mr. J. C. Ringwald is a member of the firm of DENNY & RINGWALD, who carry 14 Best and Standard makes of PIANOS AND ORGANS Inchiding the World's Most STEIN WAY and WEBER Renowned Pianos, • • • ^__^ — : — : — :_ 14 Main Street, Oneonta, N.Y. 214 Geo. I. Wilber, President. E. A. Scramling, Cashier. Sam'l H. Potter, Ass't Cashier. Wilber National Bank, ONEONTA, N.Y. Capital, $100,000,00 Surplus, $200,000.00 Capital, Surplus and Deposits, over $1,700,000,00 IfS^ThegTowth and prosperit J' of a community are clearly indicated by the financial condition of its Banking- Institutions. As an illustration the increasing deposits of the Wilber National Bank the past seven years plainly reflect a very gratifying condition: r)ej)osits, June JSOO, - - $748,674 87 Deposits, June 1S07, - - $S(>],892.56 Deposits, June 1S!)S, - - $859,404.01 Deposits, June 18 09 - - $1,005/224,68 Deposits, June 1900, - - $1,082,178 91 Deposits, June 1901, - - $1,312,105.46 Deposits, June 1902, - - $1,452,177 27' The Bank also enjoys the distinction of having the largest surplus in proportion to its capital of any national bank in Central New York. MORE THAN 130 PLACES HAVE BEEN SECURED BY US FOR ONEONTA GRADUATES .... An Agency is valuable in proportion to its influence. If it merely hears of vacancies and tells you about them, that is something ; but if it is asked to recommend a teacher and recommends you, that is more. Ours Recommends. C. VV. BARDEEN, - - - SYRACUSE, N. Y. H23 81 '4 ^ . -ft-* •** *• w ll\ '^ov^' \0' ^ ♦ . « .0 -: •A o* ^> '" A^ .. "^-^ ""-To^ ,0' 4- Vv N. MANCHESTER, ■j^''; ^"tt^ Q^ ^ ^^^^* '^ ^ °<'^^M*1 "^"^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 223 039 2