The Early History of Chenango County
The Early History of Chenango County
From
The History of Chenango County
by James H. Smith (1880)
History of Afton
History of Afton
AFTON was formed from Bainbridge November 18, 1857
The first settlement in Afton was made in July, 1786, by Elnathan BUSH, who came in from Sheffield, Mass., with his family, then consisting of his wife and four children. They came as far as Cooperstown on horseback, and thence by canoe down the Susquehanna, leaving Cooperstown May 2, 1786. He settled on the left side of the river, opposite the forty acre island, known as Stowel's Island, about two miles below Afton. This island and another one near it, one of which contains ten and the other forty acres, had been cleared and cultivated by the Indians, and derive their name from Hezekiah STOWEL, who subsequently owned them. Mr. Bush had visited this locality with a view to settlement before the Revolutionary war, in company with two others who were relatives.
January 30, 1790, Mr. Bush exchanged his property here with Hezekiah Stowel for a piece of land on lot 74 in Bainbridge, nominally containing 81, but actually 100 acres, which Stowel had taken up the previous year, the consideration being 80L, to which he removed. It is the farm on which his grandson, Joseph Bush, now resides, and there he resided till his death, May 15, 1791. Joseph Bush, just referred to, says he very well recollects hearing his father say there were no other settlers in the old town of Jericho when Elnathan came in.
{It has been generally supposed, and is so stated in French's Gazetteer of the State of New York, and subsequent publications copied therefrom, that William Bush, a grandson of Elnathan BUSH, was the first child born in the town, in 1786. The fact is, the William Bush referred to was born in Sheffield, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, April 15, 1785, and was brought to the present town of Afton, then a part of Jericho, the following July. He died November 15, 1858, aged 71, having been honored with three wives, Esther, who died November 5, 1813, aged 27, Sally, who died December 29, 1828, aged 33, and Maria, who, we believe, is still living.}
[see Elnathan Bush under the town of Bainbridge]
The Dominie JOHNSTON (Col. Witter Johnston,) was then living at Sidney Plains, where he settled in 1772. He left his improvements during the war and returned to them at its close, having rendered service therein as Colonel. He (Johnston,) continued his residence there till his death October 4, 1839, aged 86. Lois, his wife, died there July 27, 1787, aged 22; and Jane, his second wife, Sept. 26, 1817, aged 47.
Hezekiah STOWEL, to whom reference has been made, was a Vermont sufferer, and came in from Guilford in that State in 1786, and settled at Bettsburgh, on 220 acres on lot 63, on the east side of the river, and was the pioneer settler on the site of that village. He subsequently removed to the west side of the river, where he is buried, probably at the time he made the exchange with Elnathan BUSH. He lived and died in the locality. It is not known that he lived on the place exchanged with Bush in Bainbridge. His children were:-Asa, who settled at Bettsburgh, on the place now owned and occupied by Enos M. JOHNSTON, where, in 1788, he kept the first inn, in a log building* which stood on the river bank, opposite the residence of Mr. Johnston and who married Hannah, daughter of Samuel BIXBY, of Guilford, Vt., and died there November 3, 1826, aged 66, and his wife September 18, 1850, aged 88; Elijah, who settled on the west side of the river, on the farm now occupied by ----- CHAMBERLAIN, and who died childless, in advanced years, while on a visit to a relative in Pennsylvania and whose wife, Rebecca, died here February 25, 1837, aged 70; Betsy, who married Daniel DICKINSON who settled in Guilford and afterwards at Seneca Falls; Isabel, who married Elisha STOWEL, who settled at the ferry about two miles below Bettsburgh; Polly, who married Calvin STOWEL, who settled on a farm adjoining Asa Stowel's on the south; Levi, who settled on the homestead on the west side of the river, and afterwards, in advanced life, moved to the east side, to the farm now occupied by James POOL, and died at Seneca Falls while visiting relatives there; and Sally, who married Charles GRINNELLS, and settled on the homestead farm on the west side of the river, where she died. His only grandchild living in the county is Gratia Ann, wife of Gustavus GREENE, in Afton, daughter of Levi. Four great-grandchildren are living in the county, Abel, Nathan and Jenette, wife of Henry JONES, in Afton, and Hannah, wife of Charles BIXBY, in Bainbridge.
* This building afterwards gave place to a frame one, which stood a little nearer the highway; and this in turn to a third, also a frame building, which stood on the site of Johnston's residence, for which it gave way in the summer of 1876, when it was moved just across the road, and a little lower down, and has since been converted by Mr. Johnston into a cheese factory, for which purpose is now used by him. Stowel kept tavern in each of these, and till his death. There has not been a tavern kept there since. Lepha, daughter of Asa Stowel, who married Dr. BOYNTON, was, it was said, the prettiest woman who has lived in Afton.
Ebenezer, John, Isaiah and Joseph LANDERS, brothers, the former of whom had served two or three years in the army during the war of the Revolution, came in from Lenox, Mass., in March, 1787. They started when the ground was covered with snow, with ox sleds, with which they arrived at Unadilla. There they built canoes to carry their families and goods down the river when the ice gave way; but becoming impatient of waiting; they proceeded on foot, on the crust of the snow, Ebenezer carrying a feather bed on his back, and his wife, her youngest child, Stephen, in her arms. They reached their destination the last of March. Ebenezer afterwards brought in the goods by the river, making several trips for that purpose. Ebenezer and Joseph had been in the previous year and made some preparations for their settlement. They had made a small clearing, built a log cabin, and planted some corn on Stowel's Island. Ebenezer, who brought his wife, Olive OSBORN, of Massachusetts, and three children, settled near Afton, on the east side of the river, on the farm now occupied by his grandson, Charles Landers. He took up 100 acres when he first came in, about forty rods above the place on which he subsequently settled, lying on both sides of the river, but his title proved defective and he had to relinquish it. His second selection was 50 acres on lot 58, to which he subsequently added by purchase. He was a carpenter and worked at his trade for several years. He died where he settled February 14, 1846, aged 87, and his wife, August 27, 1850, aged 93. The children who came in with him were Polly, Thomas and Stephen, the latter of whom was then two years old. Polly was born July 6, 1781, and married David POLLARD and settled on the farm now occupied by Hiram LANDERS, where she died. Thomas was born November 2, 1782. He married Esther, daughter of Moses HINMAN, and after living at home several years, took up the farm now owned by ---- HARD, where he died June 8, 1862, and his wife March 26, 1830, aged 46. Stephen was born August 10, 1785. He married Polly, daughter of Matthew LONG, and settled one and one half miles north of Afton, on the farm now owned by his son, Thomas, where he died July 19, 1870, aged 84, and his wife, October 13, 1850, aged 60. Stephen was a millwright and put a great many buildings in the town. Ebenezer's children born after he came here were Joseph, who was born July 6, 1790, and married Jerusha, daughter of Lemuel WARNER; Nancy, who was born March 17, 1795, married Billings CHURCH, and died December 25, 1841, aged 48, and her husband, January 7, 1871, aged 82; Hiram who was born December 31, 1796, and married Sophia, daughter of Jonathan HAMMOND; Solomon, who was born December 10, 1798, who married Mary, daughter of Benjamin CARPENTER, and after her death, January 16, 1829, aged 26, her sister, Elizabeth A., (who died April 27, 1845, aged 45,) and died December 24, 1876, aged 78; and Isaiah, who was born in March, 1801, and died young. Hiram is the only one now living. John Landers, brother of Ebenezer, settled in Lisle; Isaiah, another brother, in Afton, where he died August 31, 1844, aged 75, and Thirza, his wife, April 8, 1836, aged 69. Joseph, the other brother, settled nearly a mile up Kelsey Creek, on the place now occupied by Luman POLLARD. He afterwards removed to Lisle. Jehiel Landers, who lives on the east side of the river, about two miles above Afton, is a son of Isaiah's, and the only one of his children living. Isaiah Landers, Jr., died March 8, 1839, aged 35.
Henry PEARSALL came from Long Island about 1787 and settled in the north-east part of Afton, one-half mile west of what was known as the Middle Bridge, which went off in a freshet a number of years ago and was not rebuilt. Having built a small house in the woods, he brought in his family, consisting of his wife, Anna SIMMONS. and one or two children. The house thus erected answered the double purpose of a dwelling and shop, for he followed his trade until his death. About 1809 he removed to the north line of the town of Bainbridge, about three miles north of Bainbridge village, and took up 88 acres, on which he resided till his death, about 1840. His children were: Amos, who married Clarissa, daughter of John NICHOLS, an early settler in the north part of Bainbridge, and settled in the locality of his father in Bainbridge, where he died February 18, 1864, aged 72, and his wife July 4, 1878, aged 83; Ann, who married Alson SEARLES, a resident of Bainbridge, and is now living at Unadilla, her husband having died June 26, 1871; Smith, who married Polly, sister of Alson SEARLES, and settled near his father, where he died in 1874; Samuel, who married Sally, daughter of Henry THOMPSON, of Bainbridge, and settled and died in the same locality; Abigail, who married Ansel PHINNEY, a blacksmith, with whom she removed to Bainbridge village, where she died; Henry, who married Samantha NORTON, of Guilford, and succeeded his father on the homestead farm, where he died December 23, 1871, aged 70, and his wife, August 28, 1871, aged 68; and Polly, who married Leonard NORTON, of Guilford, where they settled. He died October 23, 1870. She is still living, in Coventry, with her niece, Mrs. Chester BENEDICT. His grandchildren living in the county are Charles and Reuben, sons of Amos, in Coventry, where the former has been Justice of the Peace for twenty years, was Supervisor in 1856 and '57, and a Member of Assembly from this county in 1869; William and Hiram, sons of Smith, on the homestead of their father in Bainbridge; Frank, Charles, Emma and Sarah PHINNEY, children of Abigail, all in Bainbridge; James and Polly, wife of Melvin YALE, in Bainbridge, Amanda, wife of Hiram LANDERS, in Afton, and Matilda, wife of Chester BENEDICT, in Coventry, all children of Samuel; and Sherman Pearsall and Ada, wife of Jerome WESTCOTT, in Bainbridge, and Lewis Pearsall, in Guilford.
Richard CHURCH came in from Brattleboro, Vt., in the fall of 1788, and settled on the east side of the river, one-half mile below Afton, on the place now owned by the heirs of Levi Church and Andrew JOHNSTON and Joseph ANGELL, the latter a son-in-law of Billings Church. He was a son of Col. Timothy Church, a Vermont sufferer, who did not settle here, but acquired land as such, on 300 acres of which Richard settled, and which, after the latter's death, in the spring of 1813, was divided between two of his sons, Billings and Levi, Billings' portion being that now occupied by Andrew J. Johnston and Joseph Angell, and Levi's that occupied by his heirs. Richard brought with him his family, consisting of his wife, Polly, daughter of David POLLARD, and one child, Billings, then an infant. Billings married Nancy, daughter of Ebenezer LANDERS, and settled on the homestead, where he lived till advanced in years when, in the spring of 1857, he sold his place to his nephew, Devillo C. Church and went to live with his daughter Frances, wife of Enos M. JOHNSTON, with whom he died January 7, 1871, aged 82. Richard's children, who were born after he came here, were: Col. Ira, who married Angelia ATHERTON, sister of Cornelius Atherton, and settled about a half mile above Afton, on the east side of the river, on the farm, a portion of which is owned by Stanton T. DONAGHE, afterwards purchasing the Peck farm, about a mile below Afton, on the east side, now owned by Ransom MERRILL, and subsequently the farm which forms a part of the Ives farm, which he subsequently turned over to his sons, and removed to Morris, where he resided until his death, March 12, 1861, aged 70, his wife having died July 15, 1847, aged 56; Rufus, who married Phebe TURNER and settled in Afton, and afterwards removed to Orleans County and died there; Polly, who married Dr. Gaius HALSEY, of Kortright, Delaware county, where she lived and died; Warren, who married Saloma C. HALL, who died May 2, 1849, aged 37, who was of a roving disposition, and moved and died out of the county, December 24, 1857, aged 57, and Esther, his second wife, April 1, 1858, aged 39; Levi, who married Elathea, daughter of Joseph WORKS, and settled and died on the homestead; Permelia, who married Ezra CORBIN, and is still living in Bainbridge; Rhoda, a maiden lady, who died in the town April 2, 1866, aged 66; Richard, who died young and unmarried, of small-pox, June 2, 1828, aged 20; and Wilson, who married Eliza Ann JONES and settled in Afton, on the east side of the river, where he now resides, with his second wife, Fanny NEVINS. Numerous descendants are living, ten in this county, viz: Devillo C. Church, a banker, Richard, Rush, Clara, wife of James CORBIN, Frances, wife of Enos M. JOHNSTON, and Polly, wife of A. E. ESTABROOKS, in Afton; George CORBIN, Eunice, wife of Charles J. HUMPHREY, and William CORBIN, in Bainbridge; and C. A. Church, in New Berlin. Dr. Gaius L. HALSEY, a prominent physician at White Haven, Pa.; Frank Church, Road Agent for the U. S. Express Co. at McGregor, Iowa; Alonzo S. Church, former Cashier of J. M. Little's Bank of Mason City, Iowa; Lafayette Church, who keeps a livery at McGregor, Iowa; Gaius H. Church, a prominent farmer at Cresco, Iowa; and George M. Church, a speculator at McGregor, Iowa, are grandchildren of Richard Church's.
Seth STONE settled in Afton village, on the east side of the river, nearly opposite the Universalist church, where he died April 22, 1826, aged 65; and Eunice, his wife, July 12, 1815, aged 54. His son Horace married Rebecca JOHNSTON and lived on the homestead farm. He built a tavern about 1825, the first in the village, on the east side of the river, which he kept a good many years. It stood where Noble BUCK now lives. He and his wife both died there, the former December 2, 1845, aged 60, and the latter July 5, 1874, aged 83. Seth had two daughters, Rachel, and Irene, the latter of whom married Jesse EASTON, both of whom settled on the east side of the river, three miles above Afton, at what was known as the Middle Bridge, which was built about 1825 or '6, and swept away by a freshet some thirty years ago.
The BENTON family mostly died in that locality [Middle Bridge], Nathaniel May 8, 1845, aged 84, and his wife, Hannah, March 11, 1839, aged 71. His children were Belah who was a bachelor and lived and died at home, February 17, 1830, aged 40; Nathaniel, who removed to Ohio at an early day; Col. Ansel, who married Cornelia, daughter of Samuel WEEKS, and settled where William B. GROVER now lives, near the homestead farm, and died a year or two after his marriage, September 6, 1845, aged 48, leaving one child, Albert Hyde, a druggist in Afton; Eunice, who married Hiram RAMSEY and is now living in Ohio, well advanced in years; William, who accompanied Nathaniel to Ohio; Jared, a bachelor, who died there June 30, 1835, aged 35; Julius and Isaac, both bachelors, and both of whom died there, the former March 10, 1837, aged 35; and Orrin, who married a daughter of James V. HUMPHREY.
Orlando BRIDGEMAN settled one and one-half miles below Bettsburgh, on the farm now occupied by John POOL, where he died a good many years ago. Reuben and Abner Bridgeman were sons of his. Abner married Temperance JOHNSTON, and, after living for a number of years below Bettsburgh, removed to Elmira, where he died. Reuben settled in the same locality.
David POLLARD came in from Norwich, Conn., in 1790, and settled on the east side of the river, one mile below Afton, on the place now occupied by William LANDERS. He made a small clearing and built a log cabin and then sent for his family, consisting of his wife, Polly, and six children. He died there December 30, 1830, aged 85, and his wife June 9, 1821, aged 69. His children were Polly, who married Richard CHURCH, Lucy, who married William OLDEN, Cynthia, who married Heman KELSEY, Thomas, who moved to Seneca Falls some fifty years ago and died there, David, who married Polly LANDERS and lived and died on the homestead, Joseph, who married Polly POOL, and settled about a mile west of Afton, on the north end of the farm now owned by his son Luman C. Pollard, and after becoming too feeble to work it sold it to his son Jeremiah (who is now living in California, to which State he removed in 1849,) and removed to the village, on the east side of the river, where he died March 13, 1859. Only two grandchildren are living in the county, Luman C. and Lysander Pollard, both in Afton.
Settlements were made as early as 1795, proably earlier, by Abijah STEVENS, Abraham BENTON, and Heth KELSEY, and as early as 1796 by Thomas and Capt. Enos CORNWELL.
Abijah STEVENS came in from Connecticut, and settled on the east side of the river, about one and one-half miles above Afton, on the farm now occupied by the widow of John CARR, where both he and his second wife, Esther, died, the former May 9, 1844, aged 87, and the latter January 1, 1832, aged 76. His children were John, who married Clara LANDERS and settled where Jonathan FARNSWORTH now lives, and died there, he and his wife, the former March 9, 1861, aged 73, and the latter November 11, 1877, aged 84; and Harvey, who removed to Ohio, children by his second wife. He had one child by his first wife, Lydia, who died September 1, 1822, aged 76, viz.: Sally, who married Samuel HINMAN and died on the homestead.
Abraham BENTON, settled on the site of Afton, on the west side of the river, on a portion of the farm now occupied by Luman C. POLLARD. His house stood just east of the railroad track. He was the first settler on the site of the village, on the west side. He died there August 3, 1816, aged 53, and Desire, his wife, who afterwards married William BEARDSLEY, January 24, 1858, aged 85.
Heth KELSEY, a Revolutionary soldier, settled in the upper part of the village, near the mouth of the creek which bears his name, where he kept a tavern. He afterwards removed to Coventry and lived with his daughter and died there February 5, 1850, aged 94, and Rhoda, his wife, November 26, 1838, aged 80. His children were Russell, who married Fanny MERSEREAU, of Otego, and settled on the homestead farm, afterwards removing to Bainbridge, subsequently to the locality of Elmira, and finally dying in a poor-house; Heman, who married Cynthia, daughter of David POLLARD, and settled on one-half the homestead farm of 396 acres (Russell taking the other half,) and afterwards removing to Chemung River and died there; Lois, who married Clark SMITH, of Coventry, where both she and her husband died, the latter, in a fit, October 8, 1864, aged 82; Lodema, a maiden lady, who died in Afton; Rhoda, who married Alpheus WRIGHT, who, in 1823, in company with his brother Josiah, built the Sullivan House in Afton, and kept it 15 to 20 years. Rhoda died in Afton. Her husband afterwards removed with his brother Josiah to the Chemung River and died there.*
* We think it probable that Heth Kelsey, who died in Afton, July 3, 1846, aged 63, and whose wife Clarissa died January 20, 1852, at the same age, was a son of the one who died in Coventry, though none of the authorities consulted mention him in connection with the latter's children. He is probably the Heth Kelsey who kept a tavern in the yellow building now occupied as a residence by Silas FAIRCHILD in the village of Afton.
Thomas and Enos CORNWELL were brothers. They settled on some 300 acres about one and one-half miles below Afton, on the east side of the river, which has since been cut up into several farms and divided among Thomas' heirs. Abel Cornwell, son of Thomas, is living on a part of the farm, and is the only one of his children living there. Thomas died on the place February 12, 1841, aged 71; and Anna, his wife, who was born February 3, 1783, died February 27, 1860. Enos was a bachelor. He deeded his farm to Samuel, Thomas' eldest son, to take care of him in his old age. He died July 27, 1843, aged 76. Samuel removed to Elmira several years ago.
Joab, Abner and Daniel BUCK, brothers, came here from England before the war of the Revolution. Joab settled at Canton, St.. Lawrence county; Abner, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, to which county he gave his name; and Daniel, settled first in Danbury, Connecticut, and a few years previous to 1800 removed to Afton, and settled on the farm now occupied one-half of it by Robert CLARK, and the other half by William IVES. Daniel was a Presbyterian minister and organized in 1802 the first church in the town. Daniel S. BUCK, his son, came in with him, but afterwards removed to Sheshequin, Pennsylvania, where he died February 8, 1870, aged 87, but was brought here for interment. Anna, his first wife, died July 25th, 1835, aged 57, and Eunice, his second wife, October 9, 1851, aged 61. Three sons of Daniel S. are living, Noble, in Afton; Daniel S. H., in Greene; and Lyman, in Hooper, below Binghamton.
Daniel S. BUCK was a noted hunter. He took 300 acres of land for which he paid with the bounties received for the destruction of wild animals, $60 for each wolf and $75 for each panther, of the latter of which he killed eleven in one year. He made hunting his business while game lasted and some seasons made more than his neighbors did at lumbering. While in Afton we spent an evening very pleasantly with his genial son Noble, who is now well advanced in years, listening to the recital of his father's adventures while on hunting expeditions; but two must suffice to illustrate his prowess. At one time, about 1811 or '12 he, in company with Robert CHURCH, followed a panther to its lair, which was in a ledge of rocks, about five miles south of the village of Afton, in the town of Sanford, in Broome county. The passage to the den was about three feet high and two feet wide, and terminated at a distance of 24 feet in a cave about 20 by 30 feet and 11 feet high. His dog led the way into the den, and soon returned very weak from the loss of blood from a severe wound in the throat. Buck took from his neck a handkerchief and tied it around the dog's throat, and having stationed Church at the entrance of the cave with an ax in hand to assail the panther if it followed him out, he proceeded into the den himself with his rifle. He threaded the narrow passageway on his hands and knees. At its terminus there was a descent of some two feet to the floor of the cave, which was covered with leaves. There he halted, and on peering through the darkness discovered at the further side of the den the glaring eye-balls of the panther. He aimed between the orbs and fired, observing at the instant he did so a slight change in their position. After delivering his fire he backed out closely followed by the panther, which forced its head into his face, but owing to the closeness of the quarters was unable to hurt him. On reaching the outer terminus he discovered Church retreating in the distance, notwithstanding his cries to him to be prepared to assist him should the panther emerge from the opening. Having prevailed on Church to resume his post he reentered the den, again took deliberate aim at the glaring eye-balls, and was again followed in his retreat by the infuriated beast. He entered the third time and noticed but one orb, the second shot having taken in the other. He aimed at the remaining one, fired and again backed out, this time without being pursued. His dog, though weak, was then sent into the cavern, and was followed by Buck, who, on reaching the further extremity of the entrance way, heard it lapping blood He proceeded into the den on his hands and knees and had not proceeded far when his hand came in contact with the animal's head. This sent a cold shudder through him, but the panther was dead and was dragged from its den.
At another time, about 1815, while proceeding toward a deer he had chased through a thick brush, about two miles south of Afton, and shot, he discovered a huge panther standing upon the body of the prostrate deer, from the side of which he had torn a a fragment of flesh. Without an instant's warning, the panther, as soon as it discovered him, leaped toward and within thirty feet of him. Quick almost as lightning, Buck raised his rifle, took aim between the eyes, and fired, and so nearly was the animal upon the point of making a second spring, that it half spanned the intervening distance, and, changing ends, fell dead. It measured eleven feet from the end of its nose to the tip of its tail, and was spotted with jet black spots as large as a silver dollar, in this respect differing from the ordinary panther.
Daniel HYDE came in from Claverack, Columbia county, in 1801, and settled two and one-half miles north of Afton, at what is known as North Afton, on the farm now occupied by Edward WILKINSON, where he died. His children were: Edward, who married Lydia, daughter of Nathan BATEMAN, and settled in the same locality, and who afterwards removed to Masonville and died there; Daniel, who married a woman named GRAHAM, and settled in Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he died; Chauncey G, who married Lucretia, daughter of Amasa NEWTON, and settled and died near the old homestead; Elijiah, who married Jemima, daughter of Amasa NEWTON, and also settled and died near the old homestead; Sophia, who married a man named MARTIN, and removed with him to Paris, Canada, and died there; Polly, who married Leighton JOYCE, and settled in Greene county, and died in Brooklyn; Cynthia, who married Dr. Archibald WELCH, and settled and died in New Haven, Conn.; and Olive, who married Wells NEWTON, and settled in Bainbridge and died there. The grandchildren living in the county are: A. C. Hyde, only child of Chauncey G, a druggist in Afton; and Daniel A., Rosanna, wife of Jas. M. OLENDORF, William E., Lodosca, wife of George KNIGHT, Chauncey G., and Harriet, wife of Justus CARR, children of Elijah, also in Afton.
Judge Peter BETTS came in as early as 1803 and settled at Bettsburgh, to which place he gave his name. He was a large land-holder, and opened there in 1805 the first store in the town, which he kept till his removal to Bainbridge, about 1820-'25, where he also engaged in mercantile business. He represented this county in the Assembly in 1804-'5, again in 1808, and again in 1811. He was born in Norwalk, Conn., January 17, 1772, and died in Bainbridge, June 19, 1849. Eliza, his wife, died February 9, 1819, aged 40. His children were: Peter, Sally, who married a man named KASSAM, Pamelia, who married Robert HARPER, Eliza, who married a man named RATHBUN, all of whom are dead.
Cornelius ATHERTON came in from Pennsylvania in 1803 or 4. He was born in Cambridge, Mass., in 1736, and was the fourth in descent from Gen. Humphrey Atherton of Boston, from whom all the Athertons in America are descended. He married Mary DELANO and with her removed to Amenia, Dutchess Co., N. Y., in 1763. He was a blacksmith by trade, and having discovered the process of converting iron into American steel, in 1772 he entered into a contract with the Messrs. REED, merchants of that place, to superintend the erection of steel works, to be constructed by them, and to instruct their workmen in the art. The works were erected and were in successful operation during the war of the Revolution. From Amenia he returned to Cambridge, where he superintended an armory belonging to John and Samuel ADAMS and John HANCOCK, which was burned by the British soldiers during the Revolutionary war. Thence, in 1775 or '6, he removed to Plymouth, Luzerne Co., Pa., where he worked at his trade. He was drafted at the time of the Wyoming massacre, but his place was filled by his eldest son, Jabez, who volunteered to become his substitute, and was accepted and mustered in. The youthful patriot fell in that sanguinary engagement and his name heads the list on the Wyoming monument. Atherton's wife, by whom he had seven children, died soon after the Wyoming massacre. He afterwards re-married and had seven children by his second wife. After his removal to Afton he continued to work at his trade till his death, December 4, 1809. Humphrey, his oldest son by his second wife, was a miller. He married a widow lady named WICKS, but had no children, and died in Afton, December 11, 1849, aged 62. Charles, his second son, was a blacksmith. He married a lady named BRAMHALL, with whom a few years later, he removed to Friendship, Allegany co., where he worked at his trade several years, till the death of his wife, when he sold his property and went with a friend to Emporium, Cameron Co., Pa., where he died May 13, 1869, aged 76. He had no children. Hiram, the third son, married Miss Lovina SISSON, of Plymouth, and followed his trade of wagon-maker a few years in Afton and subsequently for several years in Norwich, from whence he removed to Greene, and engaged in the cabinet business, which he pursued till his death, March 19, 1870, aged 73. They had five children, all of whom are dead, except one daughter, who is living with her mother in Norwich. William, the fourth son, was a shoemaker. He married Miss Jane E. HAMLIN, by whom he had two children, both of whom died in infancy. They finally removed to Paterson, N. J., where both died, he August 2, 1879, aged 77. Cornelius, the youngest son, is still living in Afton. He has one son who is a telegraph operator on the Baltimore & Ohio R. R.
William JOHNSTON, a Revolutionary soldier, came in from Hartwick, Otsego county, in 1807, and settled a half mile south of Bettsburgh, on the farm now occupied by Devillo DUTTON. He took up 50 acres in Broome county, on the line of Afton, and bought about one and one-half acres in Afton, the title to which proved defective. He subsequently purchased it of Asa STOWEL. He afterwards removed to the town of Sanford, Broome county, where he died February 10, 1843, aged 91, and Deborah, his wife, April 14, 1843, aged 81. He had six children, only one of whom is now living, Levi, in Afton, aged 77.
John JOHNSTON, brother of William, also a Revolutionary soldier, came in from Montgomery county two or three years later, and settled about half a mile south of Bettsburgh, on the place now occupied by Ira WOODRUFF, where he and his son Samuel started a tannery and carried on the shoe business, and where he died. His children were: John S., William, Nathaniel, Nancy, Persis, Henry and Betsey, all of whom came in with him, and all of whom are dead. Nancy married Joshua CROSBY, and Betsey, Whittington SAYRE. Enos M. Johnston, a banker and merchant in Afton, but a resident of Bettsburgh, is a grandson of John and son of Henry Johnston, the latter of whom was a lumber dealer, speculator and oil stock dealer, and acquired considerable wealth. Andrew Johnston, a farmer in Afton, is also a son of Henry's, and these are the only two of his children living in the town. Several of William's grandchildren are living in the town, among them Lydia, wife of Jonathan FARNSWORTH. SAMUEL JOHNSTON, brother of William and John, also from Montgomery county, came in a few years later, and has numerous descendants living in the town. He died December 1, 1830, aged 68. Nathaniel, a bachelor brother, and Mary and Christiana, maiden sisters of William Johnston, came in with him and lived with him till their death.
Oliver EASTON came in from Wilmington, Vt., in 1809, and settled on Long Hill, where Matthew LONG, from Vermont, with a large family of grown-up children, was the first settler at an early day. Easton settled on the farm now occupied by his grandson, Henry Devillo Easton, about three miles north-west of Afton. He leased 60 acres of gospel lands, which he occupied till his death December 11, 1839, aged 74. Delight, his wife, died January 5, 1860, aged 86. He carried on farming and lumbering, mostly the latter. His children were eleven in number: Chauncey, who married Lucinda daughter of Taft POLLARD, (an early settler from Vermont, on the farm now occupied by Hiram LANDERS,) and settled and died at Ayrshire; Ebenezer N., who studied for the ministry and removed to Andover, Mass., where he married when well advanced in years and died; Jesse C., who married Irene, daughter of Seth STONE, and settled in the village of Afton, on the east side of the river, where Fayette BENTON now lives, and who afterwards removed to Wellsville, N. Y., where he now resides, aged 80; Louisa, who married Stephen WILLIAMS, and settled in the south-west part of the town, and afterwards removed to Coventry, where she died; Lester, who married Asenath, daughter of Luke NICHOLS, and settled and died on the homestead, where Devillo Easton now lives; Lucretia, who married Heman B. SMITH, for several years a merchant in Afton village, where she still resides; Rufus, who married Prudence DeWOLF, and settled in Windom, Pa., and died in Afton while on a visit, September 10, 1845, aged 37; Riley, who was born in 1809, married Betsey, daughter of Nathan BATEMAN, who settled in Windom, Pa., and after fifteen years returned to Afton, where he and his wife still reside; Abby Ann, who married S. C. BUMP, and settled in Afton, about two miles north-west of the village, and afterwards removed to the edge of the village, where, about 1846, her husband rebuilt the grist-mill erected several years previously by his father, and where she died, her husband subsequently remarrying and is now living in Baltimore; Elijah, who married Jerusha, widow of James NICHOLS, settled in Wisconsin, and is now postmaster at Winona, Minn.; Cynthia M., who married J. C. FLAGG, a wagon-maker in Afton village, where she died.
Other early settlers were William BATEMAN, Aaron SLADE, Joseph PECK, Levi PRATT, Silas WRIGHT and Moses HINMAN.
William BATEMAN came from New England States and settled at Ayrshire, on the farm until recently occupied by his grandson Henry BATEMAN, where he died. He was an Irishman and a Revolutionary soldier in the American army. His sons were Nathan, who married Dolly, daughter of Samuel NICHOLS, who settled at Ayshire, opposite his father, and died there; and David, who married Margaret CAMPBELL and settled in Bainbridge. After the death of his wife he went to live with his daughter in Masonville. He died June 7, 1866, aged 89, and his wife September 5, 1862, aged 75.
Aaron SLADE was from Vermont. He too settled at Ayrshire and died there. Among his children was Aaron, who went to Buffalo with the Mormons when en route for Nauvoo, but returned and settled on the Chemung. He had a grandson also named Aaron.
Joseph PECK settled about a mile below Afton, on the east side of the river, where Hezekiah MEDBURY now lives, and died there. His children were Joseph, who lived and died at Ayrshire; John, who lived in the south part of the town where Abel STOWEL now lives, and afterwards removed to Lisle; Ezekiel, who married Electra BUCK, and after living some years in the town joined the Mormons; Noah, who was a bachelor; and Benjamin, who married Phebe CROSBY, and lived and died on the homestead farm April 30th, 1829, aged 41.
Levi PRATT came in from the New England States and settled near the Pond which bears his name, on the farm now owned by Joshua HALLETT, where he died March 3, 1846, aged 81, and his wife, Sarah, August 11, 1858, aged 92.
Silas WRIGHT came in from Vermont and settled on the site of the village of Afton. He bought of David CHURCH, who came in shortly previous and was dissatisfied with the quality of the land, a plank house which the latter had erected on the site of Dr. James H. COOK's residence, and lived there till his death, May 27, 1827, aged 75. He was a farmer and lumberman. His sons were Alpheus and Josiah, the former of whom married Sophia MERSEREAU of Otego, and the latter Rhoda, daughter of Heth KELSEY, and who jointly built and kept for several years the Sullivan House in the village of Afton. Both subsequently removed to the Chemung River country and died there. He had one daughter, who married a man named KELLEY, who is also dead.
Moses HINMAN settled about one and one-half miles above Afton, on the east side of the river, on the farm known as the CARPENTER farm. He was a wheelwright and worked at his trade. He died July 22, 1872, aged 81. None of his children are living. Harvey, John, Seth and Pliny, who live in the south part of the town are grandsons of his.
MERCHANTS:- The first merchants in Afton were probably Sayres BURGESS and Isaac MINER, who did business during the war of 1812 and a few years afterwards in a frame building which stood on the site of the store now occupied by Harris BRIGGS. BURGESS lived and died in the town. His death occurred January 7, 1832, aged 35. MINER, in company with David COOPER built on Kelsey Creek, about 1809, the first saw-mill in the town. There has been a mill there ever since. The old mud-sills are still in use. The mill is about one-fourth mile above the village and some seventy rods above the mouth of the creek. The water is conducted from the creek to the mill by means of a race about forty rods long. Albert NEELY did business some three or four years and left the town at an early day. Hiram LONG, a native and resident of the town till his death, February 9, 1844, at the age of 45, did business some six or seven years from about 1825. He afterwards, about forty years ago, built the Musson House, which was kept by his brother Lewis some ten years. Heman B. SMITH, who was born September 11, 1803, and died August 28, 1858, came from Delaware county and opened a store about 1828 or '9, and kept it some eight or ten years, when he failed. He was succeeded by David LOVELAND, who continued about two years, and died here August 20, 1842, aged 63. Murrin JACKSON came from Butternuts, Otsego County, soon after Loveland failed, and was the principal merchant for a good many years. He sold to J. B. CHAFFEE about the opening of the war of the Rebellion and removed to Binghamton, where he died. Chaffee did business some six or seven years and failed, when he removed to Binghamton where he now resides.
Whittington SAYRE and ---- GOODSELL commenced business on the east side of the river about 1815 or '16 and continued some two years. GOODSELL came from Cooperstown and returned there. SAYRE removed to Elmira and engaged in the lumber business. Their store stood a little above where Stanton DONAGHE now lives. They are the only merchants who have done business on the east side of the river.
The present merchants and those associated with them:- Daniel A. CARPENTER, general merchant, commenced business here in 1854, in company with his brother-in-law, Daniel CARPENTER, to whom he sold his interest in 1857. In 1859, he and Eli SHAY bought out Daniel Carpenter to whom they sold again at the expiration of five years. The latter continued about three years, a part of the time in company with his son-in-law, James COLLINS, with whom two or three years later he removed to Bath and afterwards to Addison, where they now reside. Daniel A. CARPENTER recommenced business in the fall of 1869, and has since continued it. He is a native of Afton, where he was born August 13, 1820. He is a son of Benjamin S. Carpenter, an early settler and prominent man in Bainbridge. He was elected Sheriff in 1864, and served one term.
Eli M. SHAY subsequently engaged in the sale of groceries and clothing, which business he still continues, having been associated from 1876 to February, 1878, with Norval W. FLETCHER. Mr. SHAY came from Colesville, in Broome county.
George B. HICKOX, hardware dealer, a native of Gilbertsville, Otsego county, came in from Sherburne and commenced business in the spring of 1865. After one year he was associated about two years with Robert PADDOCK, who sold his interest to B. Frank WILLIAMS. The latter remained a like period and sold to Charles FISHER who sold his interest to Mr. Hickox, April 1, 1879.
Harris BRIGGS, grocer, came in from Coventry, where he had carried on mercantile business six years, and commenced business here April 1, 1866. He was associated as a partner with H. S. CHAMBERLIN three years, and with C. L. SEELEY about one and one-half years.
R. N. GALLUP, came from Walton, Delaware county, in the spring of 1866, and commenced the hardware business. In March, 1877, he sold to his son, Russell Gallup, who still carries on the business, having been associated the first six months with Robert BEACH, the second six months with Porter G. NORTHRUP, and the succeeding two years with Robert YALE.
Charles HILL, grocer, came from Meredith, Delaware county, and commenced business in December, 1868.
Albert C. HYDE, druggist, who is a native of Afton, commenced business in the early part of 1869, in company with Joseph ANGELL, under the name of Angell & Hyde, and bought his partner's interest at the expiration of five years.
Martin D. HOWARD, furniture dealer and undertaker, commenced business December 29, 1869. He came from Hartford, Conn., where he was engaged in the manufacture of locks.
Enos M. JOHNSTON & Sons. In the spring of 1875, Enos M. Johnston, Hiram CORNELL and H. B. JOHNSTON, commenced a general merchandise business, under the name of Johnston, Cornell & Co. In the spring of 1878, E. M. Johnston bought Cornell's interest and admitted to partnership another son, E. C. Johnston, and the business has since been conducted under the name of Enos M. Johnston & Sons.
Joseph A. DECKER, grover, commenced business in August, 1877. He is a native of the town.
Henry G. CARR, druggist, commenced business in October, 1877. He is a native of the town. He bought out T. L. WILLEY, who had done business some three years.
H. J. FOX, general merchant, commenced business April 1, 1878. He came from Binghamton where he had done business for nearly four years.
Mrs. A. L. WELCH, milliner and fancy goods dealer, came from Worcester, Otsego county, and commenced business in March, 1879.
POSTMASTERS:- The first postmaster was probably Albert NEELY or Joseph P. CHAMBERLIN, at least fifty years ago. Josiah WRIGHT succeeded Chamberlin about 1830. Next was Zaccheus Smith, who came here from Delaware county & kept hotel in the Sullivan House. He held office until about 1840, and was succeed by Murlin JACKSON. Cornelius ATHERTON was appointed about 1855 or '6, and was followed in 1861 by Lewis POST, who held it till his death February 12, 1863, aged 54, when Daniel A. CARPTENTER was appointed. Carpenter was succeeded in a short time by E. M. SHAY, who held the office till June 23, 1877, when Theodore L. WILLEY, the present incumbent was appointed.
PHYSICIANS:- William KNAPP, who lives at Bainbridge, is believed to have been the first physician who practiced in this locality. He removed to Elmira. Dr. Nathan BOYNTON, who was located at Bettsburgh, and Drs. STARKEY and ROOT, who studied with Boynton, and the latter of whom practiced in company with him at Bettsburgh, practiced here at an early day. They all removed to Elmira. Abraham BENTON, brother of Orange Benton, practiced medicine nearly fifty years ago. He was a noted temperance man. He sold out in 1837 to Elam BARTLETT and removed to Illinois. Dr. BARTLETT practiced some ten years, when he bought a small farm in the town of Colesville, on which he died, January 9, 1862, aged 53. Herschel D. SPENCER, M.D., came in from Lisle, his native place, and bought out Dr. Bartlett. He practiced here till his death July 27, 1857, aged 33. Dr. KOON, who came from Mt. Upton, succeed Spencer, and remained about three years. Present physicians are James B. COOK, Philetus A. HAYES and George BISSELL.
James B. COOK, was born in Harwinton, Litchfield Co., Conn., July 20, 1817, and studied medicine in Oswego, N. Y., with Drs. Gardner and Brown, with whom he remained a little over two years. He next pursued his studies for one year with Dr. Frank HINE, in Franklin, Delaware county. He attended courses of lectures at the Fairfield Medical School in 1838 and '9, and in 1840 he attended a course of lectures at the Albany Medical Institute, where he was graduated in Feb'y., 1841. He commenced practice the latter year in Hobart, Delaware county, and removed thence in January, 1842, to Afton, where he is still practicing.
Philetus A. HAYES was born in Castle Creek, Broome county, September 10, 1848. He commenced the study of medicine in his native place with Dr. S. P. Allen, with whom he remained two years, one year before entering college and one between terms. He entered Geneva Medical College in the fall of 1868, and was graduated January 27, 1870. He commenced practice at Killawog, Broome county, immediately after graduating, and a year afterwards he removed to Afton, where he has since practiced.
George A. BISSELL cane from Valcour Island, Clinton county, N.Y., in the spring of 1877, and practiced a few months, till about the 1st of December, when he returned to Clinton county. He again came in the fall of 1878 and has since practiced here.
LAWYERS:- The first lawyer in Afton was probably George SMITH, who was here in 1830. He came in a young, single man and married a daughter of Henry OLENDORF. He practiced here several years and removed to Norwich, where he died. He was the only lawyer of any note who located here until the present ones came in.
The present lawyers are Jacob B. KIRKHUFF, George A. HAVEN and Josiah D. MERRITT.
Jacob B . KIRKHUFF was born in Stanhope, N.J., September 12, 1836. He read law in Red Creek, N.Y., with Jacob B. Decker, with whom he remained six months. He entered the Albany Law School March 7, 1861, and was admitted on examination in November of that year. He commenced practice in Red Creek the same year and after six months removed to Savannah, in the same county. After two years spent west, in 1870, he located in Afton, where he has since practiced, since the spring of 1879 in company with Josiah D. MERRITT. He has been a notary public since 1873.
George A. HAVEN was born in Pitcher, N.Y., October 1, 1844, and read law in Oxford with Hon. Solomon BUNDY. He entered the Albany Law School in September, 1872, and was graduated May 17, 1873, having been admitted a month or two previously at a general term. He commenced practice in Oxford in 1873, and removed to Pitcher in 1875, and from there in April, 1878, to Afton.
Josiah D. MERRITT was born in Bainbridge, September 24, 1852, and commenced the study of law at Chicago, Ill., in the Law Department of Chicago University. He subsequently pursued his legal studies in the North-Western University, from which he was graduated June 9, 1877. During his second college year he also read law in the office of Bage, Denslow & Dixon, of Chicago. He was admitted June 13, 1877, and commenced practice in Racine, Wis., where he remained about a year, when he removed to Hampshire, Ill. He removed thence after about eight months to Afton and formed a law partnership with Jacob B. KIRKHUFF, which still continues.
Bettsburgh
The first store at Bettsburgh was kept by Peter BETTS, from whom the place derives its name. He traded some ten or fifteen years and was succeeded by Dr. Nathan BOYNTON, who traded during the period of his medical practice there. He also carried on a saw-mill and a grist-mill. Robert GRANT, who was located just over the line, in Colesville, traded some three years, in 1857, '8 and '9, and also carried on a tannery. Enos M. JOHNSTON, who had previously kept a small grocery, opened a store after Grant's failure, and traded several years, until his store in Afton was opened. Frank SHEPARD kept a store here a few years at an early day.
Asa Stowel built a saw and grist-mill at Bettsburgh some seventy years ago. It was destroyed by fire about 1872. A grist-mill was built on the same site about two years after by Isaac N. SMITH, who still operates it. It has three run of stones.
A carding machine was established and operated several years at Bettsburgh by Thomas TERRY.
There is a cheese factory located at Bettsburgh, which is owned by Enos M. JOHNSTON, by whom it was converted to its present use from a dwelling-house in April, 1878. He is making 550 pounds of cheese per day.
The first post-office in the town was established at this place, and was first kept by Peter BETTS, who held the office until his removal to Bainbridge. He was succeeded in the office by Dr. Nathan BOYNTON, who held it several years, till his removal to Elmira, when Peter DICKINSON was appointed. He held it about eleven years, till his removal to Afton.
History of Bainbridge
History of Bainbridge
The territory included in this town was at first claimed by Robert HARPER, under a grant from the Indians but the State repudiated the title and granted it, together with the town of Afton, to the "Vermont Sufferers," by whom the first settlements were made. The Vermont sufferers were persons who, by reason of their allegiance to the Government of the State of New York during the controversy existing between it and the State of Vermont, immediately after the close of the Revolutionary war, relative to lands which were finally ceded to the latter State, were dispossessed of certain property and otherwise punished by the Green Mountain State; and who, as a recompense therefor, were granted lands in the township of Clinton, afterwards known as Jericho, embracing the whole of the major portions of the present towns of Bainbridge and Afton. February 24, 1786, Col. Timothy CHURCH and Majors Wm. SHATTUCK and Henry EVANS, to the former of whose regiment [of Cumberland county] the majority of the sufferers belonged, presented, in their behalf, the following petition to the New York State Government:- ........ [see separate List of Vermont Sufferers"]
Thus it is seen that the first settlers in this locality came under duress, having been driven from the homes of their birth or adoption to the inhospitable wilds of a country thickly studded with gigantic pines and infested with wild beasts. But even the rigors of a life in such a wilderness, remote from civilization, were gladly accepted in exchange for the comforts and social advantages which they were no longer allowed to enjoy in their former homes, and the persecution and social ostracism to which their fidelity had subjected them. Hither they came with naught save their strong, brawny arms and resolute wills to grapple with the new conditions of life, and well they succeeded in wresting from them the elements of a comfortable and happy existence, as the beautiful homes, thriving industries, and attractive villages, with their educational and religious institutions, and other social advantages, bear abundant testimony; but the hardships and privations they endured as the price of these can be appreciated by but a few of the present generation, who have entered into their labor and enjoy the fruits of their heroic, persistent, intelligent and devoted efforts.
The first settlement upon the tract granted to the Vermont sufferers, and, so far as our information extends, in the original county of Chenango, was made near Bettsburgh, in the present town of Afton, in 1784, by Elnathan BUSH, who came from Sheffield, Mass., where for eighteen years, he held under the King the office of sheriff, which, his sympathies being with the Americans, he resigned at the opening of the Revolutionary war, in which his son Charles served during the whole period of its continuance.
Mr. Bush brought in his family, consisting of his wife, Vashti STEBBINS, of Sheffield, and four children, Charles, Japhet, Joseph and Polly. They came as far as Cooperstown on horseback, and thence by canoe down the Susquehanna, leaving Cooperstown on the 2d of May. He first settled on the west side of the river, opposite Stowel's Island, about two miles below Afton. January 30, 1790 he exchanged this property with Hezekiah STOWEL whose grandson, Nathan STOWEL, still occupies it, for 81 acres (really 100 acres though the deed specifies only 81,) on lot 74, in the town of Bainbridge, about a mile above the village, on the west side of the river, which was acquired by Stowel the year previous, and to this he removed the following April. The consideration was 80L. This piece was deeded by Stowel to Japhet and Joseph Bush, sons of Elnathan, and now forms the residence farm of the latter's grandson, Joseph Bush, having remained in the family since 1790. Mr. Joseph Bush has made improvements to the farm, which now embraces 255 acres. Elnathan's log cabin stood about fifteen rods in a south-westerly direction for the present residence of Joseph Bush and was occupied by the family ten years, till 1800, in which year the latter was built. There is no trace left of the old log cabin or its site. The present house which superseded it, was the first frame house in the town of Jericho. It was built by Joseph Bush, father of the present occupant, and although it has been remodeled and modernized, the frame and size and shape of rooms remain as at first. The barn which stands about eight rods from the house, the only one unpainted, is an object of great interest, as it is, perhaps, the oldest relic of those bygone days remaining in the country. It was built by the same individual in 1791, and is still in a remarkable state of preservation. It has only been changed from its original condition by having been re-shingled and ceiled, the changes made being such only as were necessary to preserve it. The marks of the scriber are still clearly discernible on the frame, which is, apparently, as sound as ever.
Elnathan Bush died on the homestead in Bainbridge, where he and others of his family are buried. The family burying-ground consists of a plot three by four rods, inclosed by a substantial cut-stone wall. This, together with a strip around it two rods wide, was perpetuated in the title April 10, 1879, so that it cannot be alienated from the family. A magnificent dark Quincy granite monument, tastily ornamented, stands in the center of the inclosure. From the base, which is six and one-half feet square, to the top of the shaft, is thirty feet. The dates of death of those interred therein are inscribed thereon, and from it we learn that Elnathan died May 15, 1791, aged 63, and his wife November 8, 1813, aged 81. The death of the former was the first in the town. [See Elnathan Bush under the town of Afton]
Charles Bush, son of Elnathan, married Joan HARRINGTON in 1794. This was the first marriage contracted in the town. Charles lived with his mother on the homestead until his removal, about 1810, to Vincennes, Ind. He died at Batavia while on his way to Bainbridge on a visit, soon after the close of the War of 1812. None of his children are living. Japhet, the second son, married and lived with his mother. He removed with his brother Charles to Vincennes, Ind., and died there. Joseph, the third son, married, in 1795, Susan WEEKS, whose father was an early settler in the town of Guilford. He settled upon the old homestead, which he occupied until his death, which occurred September 23, 1851, aged 82. His wife died December 29, 1797, aged 22. April 5, 1799, he married Betsey, daughter of Jabin STRONG, of Glastenbury, Conn., who died February 5, 1853, aged 73. He had one child by his first wife, Susan, who married Alanson BURR, of Caneadea, N. Y., and removed with him to that town and died there. His children by his second wife were: Horace, who was born January 29, 1801, and died single on the homestead October 8, 1827; Alvah C., born November 13, 1804, married September 20, 1830, Ellen, daughter of Judge Levi BIGELOW, and removed to Tioga, Penn., whence she returned to Bainbridge, where she died in 1831, at the birth of her first child, Ellen, wife of John A. MATTHEWS, of Winona, Minn., September 21, 1841, Alvah C. married Annah BIGELOW, sister of his first wife, by whom he had no children; Maria, who was born October 3, 1806, married September 3, 1827, Charles A. BAXTER, of Sidney, to which place she removed, and from whence, after the death of her husband, March 9, 1845, she returned to Bainbridge, to live with her father, and died there September 13, 1846, leaving five children, all of whom are living-Mary E., wife of Wm. C. BEATTY, in Bloomfield, N. J., Wm. S. in Highland, Minn., Julia, wife of Edwin R. MEAD, in New York City, Susan E., wife of Thomas A. JOHNSON, in Animas City, Col., and Charles A. in Selma, Minn.; Leapha, who was born September 29, 1808, married September 9, 1829, Wm. S. SAYRE, a lawyer in Bainbridge, and died June 23, 1850, leaving three children, all of whom are living-Horace in Minneapolis, Minn., Susan in Bainbridge and Sarah in Binghamton; Isaac, who was born October 14, 1810, married August 23, 1839, Martha, daughter of Hon. John H. PRENTISS, of Cooperstown, and died on the homestead June 16, 1843, leaving no children; Jabin S., who was born June 16, 1817, married December 31, 1839, Eliza DePUY, and settled at Tioga, Penn., where he now resides; and Joseph, who was born February 23, 1823, and is now living unmarried on the homestead in Bainbridge.
Polly, the daughter of Elnathan Bush, married Gideon FREEBORN, of Cazenovia, where she resided till after his death, when she went to live with her only son Rodman, in Caneadea, N. Y., where she died. Rodman still resides there.
The first settlement within the present limits of the town of Bainbridge, was made, if we are correctly informed, in the summer of 1786, by Caleb BENNETT, who came in company with his brothers, Phineas, Silas and Reuben, from Pownal, Vt. Caleb settled on the south-east corner of the cemetery in the village of Bennettsville, which derives its name from him. The excavation for the cellar under his house still remains to mark the locality. Phineas settled on the river one and one-half miles below, in Afton, on the farm now owned and occupied by Samuel CORBIN. He was the first Supervisor of the town of Bainbridge, in 1791. His house stood opposite the brick-yard. Silas settled at "Crookerville," opposite Unadilla, where he built a grist-mill, which is believed to have been the first on that site. Reuben afterwards settled in Ithaca, where he lived and died, and to which place Phineas also removed. Caleb continued to reside here till his death, which occurred March 22, 1830, at the age of 72 years. Elizabeth, his wife, died June 25, 1849, aged 89. He and Reuben Bennett built the first mills at Bennettsville in 1798, on the stream which bears their name. This was the first grist-mill in the town.
Caleb Bennett's children were Anna, who was born February 3, 1783, married Thomas CORNWELL and settled in Afton, where her son, Abel, now lives, where both died, he February 12, 1841, aged 70, and she February 27, 1860, leaving ten children, five sons and five daughters; Phineas, who married Sophia, daughter of Henry CHANDLER, an early settler in Coventry, and settled in Bennettsville, where he built, sixty-five years ago, the house now occupied by the families of George SLATER and Adelbert WINSOR. He died there December 28, 1856, aged 72, and his wife, August 24, 1863, aged 78, leaving ten children, seven of whom are living, five in this town,-Phineas M., Susan, wife of Elder H. ROBERTSON. Clarissa, widow of Pliny KIRBY, Jane E., wife of Porter B . VAN HORNE, and Benjamin,-and Rufus, in Greeley, Col., and Augusta, wife of Samuel CORBIN, in Afton; Abel, twin brother of Phineas, who was born December 25, 1784, married Flavilla HOAG, and settled in Bennettsville, where he died October 23, 1860, leaving three of seven children, who are still living,-Abel and Edward E., at Binghamton, and James, on the homestead; "Naby," who married Jeremiah THURBER, and settled and died in the town April 15, 1811, aged 25 years, leaving one daughter, who is also dead; Hannah, who married Charles S. MERRITT and settled in Bennettsville, where she still resides, and where he died April 12, 1862, aged 73, leaving two children, who are still living,-Eliza, wife of Orville HILL, and Richmond; Eunice, who died in child-hood; Prudence, who married Enos GOODMAN and settled in this town, where both died, the former October 9, 1864, aged 75, and the latter December 2, 1861, aged 78 leaving seven children, only two of whom are living,-Luther and Merritt; Arnold, who married Nancy FORBES, settled in Bennettsville, and afterwards removed to Bainbridge, where he now resides, and three of whose four children are living,-Elizabeth, Leroy and Clarissa; and Hiram, who married Gratie CHANDLER, and settled in Bennettsville, where both died, the former September 4, 1876, aged 73, and the latter, September 21 1873, aged 71. None of their children are living.
Reuben KIRBY and Wm. GUTHRIE, his father-in-law, came from Litchfield, Conn., their native place, in 1787, and settled on lands on lot 85, purchased of Robert HARPER, of Harpersfield, Delaware county. They built their cabins and made some improvements, and returned the following fall to Connecticut. In the spring of 1877 they returned with their families, crossing the Hudson River at Hudson, and proceeding thence via Cherry Valley to Otsego Lake. There they constructed a float by placing boards upon two canoes, and on this their families and household goods were conveyed down the Susquehanna to the place of settlement. They drove through the forests some cattle and a horse, the latter of which, after having been subsequently lost for nearly four months, was returned to them by the Indians. Their title to these lands proved defective in consequence of the repudiation of Harper's claims, which were based on a purchase made of the Indians, and they therefore soon after relinquished their claims to them. Guthrie repaired to Albany, and after an absence of some three months, succeeded in purchasing a mile square, lot 81, lying on both sides of the river, but mostly on the west side, together with about 200 acres on lot 85, a part of his first purchase, including his improvements.
Kirby abandoned his first purchase, and took a part of lot 81, lying on the east side of the river. His first house, which stood near the river and nearly opposite to where Robert CORBIN now lives, was liable to be overflowed when the river was high. He therefore built near the place now occupied by Wm. R. KIRBY, about two miles below the village of Bainbridge. Guthrie settled on the farm now owned by Philo Kirby about the same distance from the village, but on the opposite side of the river. Their first facilities for grinding corn consisted of the primitive mortar and pestle so common to all the new settlements in this section of country. Their first grinding at a regular mill was done at the stone mills in Sidney, on the Ouleout Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna, about eighteen miles distant; but when the mill at Bennettsville was made accessible by the opening of a road leading thereto that labor was very much lessened. They obtained salt of the Indians, who were numerous in this locality for several years after the first settlements were made.
Their dusky neighbors, who were generally friendly, would borrow a kettle of them and in a few days return with a supply of the needed article. It was never known to the settlers from whence they obtained it, as they dare not follow them on such occasions. Guthrie kept in 1793, on the place of his settlement, the first tavern in the town, a business in which he was succeeded at his death by his son William. Both Kirby and Guthrie, also their wives, died on their respective homesteads. Kirby's first wife, Anna, daughter of Wm. GUTHRIE died in 1793. The following year he returned to Connecticut, and married Naomi PATTERSON, of Washington, in that State. He came back with a sleigh, drawn by oxen, and crossing the Hudson on the ice at Catskill, proceeded thence by way of Harpersfield, and the mills on the Ouleout, thence down that stream to the place on the river known as "Wattles Ferry," and thence down the river to his home in Bainbridge. His second wife lived to be over 90, and died at the residence of her son Pliny.
Reuben Kirby's children were Laura, who married Miles HINMAN and settled in Upper Lisle, where both died; Lois, who married Robert Foster, settled in Otego, and subsequently removed to the Wyoming Valley, near Wilkesbarre, where both died; Sally, who married Sylvester SMITH, (who settled at Masonville, after-wards removed to Painted Post, where he became a judge and died,) and who, after his death, returned to Bainbridge, where she still resides (June, 1879,) aged 88 years; all of whom were by his wife. His children by his second wife were Reuben, who was born April 26, 1795, married Patience E., daughter of Sylvester CORBIN, and after her death, Dec. 28, 1834, at the age of 34 years, Louisa D., widow of Levi KNEELAND, with whom he is still living on a part of the homestead farm, aged 84 years; Joseph, who married Sally, daughter of Samuel CORBIN, settled on a part of the homestead farm, and afterwards removed to Bainbridge village, where he died Sept. 12, 1875, aged 77, and where his widow still lives; Philo, who married Susan, daughter of Wm. GUTHRIE, Jr., settled on the homestead farm and subsequently removed to the Guthrie homestead, where he now resides, his wife having died Nov. 15, 1867; and Pliny, who married ----- BENNETT, and settled first on a part of the homestead farm, and afterwards on the place now occupied by his widow, where he died. Numerous grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren of Reuben Kirby's are living in the town. G. F. Kirby, of Chicago, a civil engineer, who was employed in the construction of the Pacific Railroad through Iowa, and the bridge which spans the Mississippi River at Clinton, is a son of Philo Kirby and grandson of Reuben, Sr. The four brothers, sons of the second wife of Reuben Kirby, though farmers, follow lumbering while the pine in this section lasted. It was marketed in Philadelphia.
Wm. GUTHRIE died in August, 1806, and Susan, his wife, in March, 1813. Their son, William, who was born Dec. 3, 1768, married in 1799, Sarah WHITNEY, of Binghamton, who was born May 8, 1775. He died march 14, 1813. The children of William, Jr., were: William 2d, who was born Aug. 12, 1800, married Sarah RYNDERS, and having followed the lumber business in Chemung county, is now living in Elmira; Gershom, who was born Jan. 15, 1802, married Elizabeth KETCHUM, by whom he had four children, and also followed the lumber business in Chemung county, where he and his wife died, the former March 28, 1855, and the latter Feb. 2, 1853; Sarah, who was born Nov. 25, 1803, married Hezekiah TARBLE, had three children, and died in Bainbridge, Oct. 27, 1833; Susan, who was born Jan. 25, 1805, married Philo KIRBY, had four children, and died in Bainbridge, Nov. 15, 1867; Olive, who was born Aug. 6, 1806, married Allen RANDALL, of Lisle, where he died April 17, 1874, having had eight children; Emeline, who was born Aug. 11, 1808, and married Samuel STOW, of Binghamton, where she died in 1869; George W., who was born Feb. 15, 1810, was for a number of years in the Custom House at Philadelphia, was afterwards in the employ of the Government at Washington, and subsequently in San Francisco, where he married Emma GARSON, by whom he had six children; Orphelia, who was born Aug. 31, 1812, married Washington C. LANE, editor of the Philadelphia Ledger, and died in Philadelphia in 1844, having had one daughter.
Wm. GUTHRIE, Sr. had six daughters, Anna, who married Reuben KIRBY, Sr., and died in Bainbridge in 1793; Eunice, who married a man named GRAHAM, and had two sons and five daughters; Mima, who married Dr. HYDE, and had two sons, Ira and Charles; Rhoda, who married a KELSEY; Lois, who married Col. Witter JOHNSTON, who came to Sidney Plains in 1772, served in the Revolution, and was afterwards a resident of Sidney Plains till his death, October 4, 1839, aged 86, and where she died July 27, 1787, aged 22; and Ruth, who married ----- COOPER, and lived and died in Bainbridge.
Asahel BIXBY, who was, we believe, the first of the Vermont Sufferers to settle in the town, came from Guilford, Vt., in October, 1787, then in his eighteenth year. His father, Samuel BIXBY, had been allotted 380 acres of lot 81, by the Commissioners of the Land have previously seen, was purchased about this time by Wm. GUTHRIE. Young Bixby therefore located on lot 75, originally an unassigned lot, 380 acres of which were patented to his father January 12, 1789. On this lot, which lies mostly on the east, but partially on the west side of the river, his first improvements were made. He came in alone and on foot, but was joined at Cherry Valley by Israel STOWEL, an acquaintance of his, also from Vermont. He went to live at first with his sister Hannah, wife of Asa STOWEL, at Bettsburgh, and remained there till February following, when he moved on to his father's land, on the east side of the river, and built and occupied a log shatty covered with brush, and made a small clearing. The following June he was joined by his father's family, for whom he had in a measure prepared the way.
Samuel, who was a Justice of the Peace in Vermont, was one of the first Assessors in Bainbridge. His children were Priscilla, who married in Vermont and remained there, Hannah, Sibyl, Betsey, Asahel and Samuel. Hannah also married in Vermont, Asa, son of Hezekiah STOWEL, who had previously settled in Afton, where she also settled and died September 18, 1850, aged 88. Her children were Arad, Hannah, who married Isaac MINER, Asa, Elijah, Jemina, who married Wm. LOOP, and Leapha, who married Dr. Nathan BOYNTON. Not one is now living, though all lived to be over eighty, except Asa, who died young. Sibyl was married after removing here to Henry EVANS, Jr., son of the original settler in the town by that name. She died July 29, 1846, aged 80. Her children were Tirzah, who married Manasseh HADLEY, Maria, who married Orrin JACOBS, Sibyl, who married Calvin MORLEY, Henry and Edward, the latter of whom is the only one by her first husband, Henry EVANS. Three are living, Maria, Sibyl and Henry. Betsey married Russell REDFIELD, who came in from Vermont at an early day, and settled, after marrying, on 50 acres of Samuel Bixby's land, given him by the latter, and died March 14, 1853. Her children were Gratia, who married Ansel EVANS, Harvey, Sibyl, who married Lawrence CONKLIN, Hannah, who married Asa WARNER, Clarina, who never married, Betsey, who married Chester BUCK, Powers, Philip, and Luranca, who married Dr. HALL. Five of them are living, but none in this State, Powers, Philip, Sibyl, Betsey and Luranca. Asahel married Clarina, daughter of Deacon Israel SMITH, and settled on the west side of the river, on the farm now owned and occupied by Peter LEONARD, where he died October 5, 1862, aged 92, and his wife May 22, 1847, aged 72. His children were Lois, who married Chauncey AUSTIN, Chandler, who died in Angelica, N. Y., December 30, 1868, aged 72, Rial, who died May 15, 1847, aged 46, Priscilla, who married Robert B. WARNER, Ira and Charles, the latter of whom, the youngest, is the only one living in Bainbridge. Samuel married Lois ATWATER, from Connecticut, and settled on the homestead farm, now occupied by his son Samuel and daughter Dinah, a maiden lady, the only two of his children living in the town, and where he died July 23, 1857, aged 83. His wife died April 2, 1852, aged 75. His other children were Jonas, Mary, who married Elisha SHARP, Titus, Joel, Henry and Asa, of whom only Mary, Joel and Asa are living.
Major Henry EVANS was one of the earliest of the Vermont Sufferers to settle in this locality. Precisely what year he came we are unable definitely to determine, but it was probably in or about 1789, the date fixed by another authority (French's Gazetteer), for it is traditional among his descendants that his death, August 6, 1792, occurred about three years after his settlement here. July 11, 1786, he received patents for lots Nos. 73 and 79, each containing 640 acres; and April 5, 1789, a patent was given to Henry Evans, Jr., in pursuance of Acts of the Legislature passed May 5, 1786, and March 20, 1788, for 100 acres in the southernmost part of lot 41.
Major Evans came in with his family, consisting of his wife, Abigail, who died April 12, 1821, aged 77, and two sons and six daughters. He settled on lot 80, which lies upon the east border of the county, and the north-west corner of which centers in the Susquehanna. The homestead farm is now occupied in part by his grandson, Weston Evans, and is situated about two and one-half miles east of Bainbridge village. Stephen STILES had previously settled on this log, under a title received from Robert HARPER, which proved defective. He located nearly a mile from the county line, opposite to where Chapin UNDERWOOD now lives. STILES, after the marriage of his daughter, an only child, to a man named NYE, who lived in Otsego county, went to live with her. He was demented many of the latter years of his life. Lot 73, containing the Bainbridge village plot, was sold by Evans in 1793 to Col. Timothy CHURCH, for eighteen cents an acre. The two remaining lots he retained till his death, at the age of 58 years, and when the youngest of his children became of age, were divided. The death of Major Evans was probably the third one in the town. The stone which marks his grave in the village cemetery at Sidney Plains, bears this quaint add primitive epitaph:- "This man came to this country At an early day, Where nothing dwelt but beasts of prey, Or men as fierce and wild as they."
His children were: Abigail, who married Elijah CURTIS, who settled in the same locality at an early day; Anna, who married Orcus BRADT, who settled first on the Delaware, and after the division of the Evans lots, removed to this town; Mehitabel, who married Aaron OWENS, who also settled on the Delaware, whence he removed, after the division, to the portion allotted to his wife, where he died, January 13, 1846, aged 69, and his wife, August 5, 1814, aged 34; Lucy, who married John COMPTON, who also settled on the Delaware; Lydia, who married Ezra WHITE, an early settler in Sherburne, where both died; Achsa, who married Parson REDFIELD, who settled early near the east line of the town, and after the division removed to his wife's portion of land, where both died; and Henry and Josiah. Henry, Jr., married in Vermont, Sally, daughter of Josiah RICE, of that State, and had two sons when he moved in, Ansel and Newel. He settled near his father, on a part of the homestead farm, where his wife died. He afterwards removed to Bainbridge village and died there, having previously married Sibyl, widow of Edward DAVIDSON, who (Sibyl) died July 29, 1846, aged 80. Henry, Jr., had four children by his first wife, Ansel, Newel, Jehial and Sally, the latter two of whom were born in Bainbridge. Ansel lived on a farm included in the original patent, and died Feb. 10, 1873, aged 83. Newel married Phebe, daughter of Dr. Benjamin YALE, of Guilford, and settled on the site of Bainbridge village, where his wife died Oct. 27, 1826, aged 30. He afterwards removed to Delaware county and married Harriet WEBB, of Deposit, where she is still living. He died in that county. Jehial, who as born in 1795, is still living in Bainbridge village, to which he removed in 1800. Sally married Benjamin JACOBS, from Vermont, and removed to Canada, where she died. The children of Henry, Jr., by his second wife were: Maria, who married Warren JACOBS, and is living in Bainbridge; Tirzah, who married Manasseh B. HADLEY, now dead; Sibyl, who married Calvin MORLEY, and is now living in Bainbridge; Dinah, who died at the age of about six years; and Henry, who married Betsey, daughter of John PETERS, and is living in Deposit.
Deacon Israel SMITH came in about this year (1789,) from Brattleboro, Vt., with his family, which was large, and settled on lot 76, on the east line of the county, opposite the mouth of the Unadilla. His farm lay upon both sides of the Susquehanna, and was a little north of and partly adjoining that of Samuel BIXBY. It has since been cut up into smaller farms and is occupied by several individuals. He continued to reside there until his death, June 7, 1811, aged 73. Abigail, his wife, died November 10, 1791, aged 50, and was probably the first female who died in the town. His children were Deacon Israel, Jr., Simeon, Amos, Chloe, Sibyl, Clarina, Asor and Abigail. Deacon Israel, Jr., who was one of the first assessors of Bainbridge, married Electa CHURCH, and settled on the southern portion of the homestead farm, and died there Jan. 27, 1837, aged 72, and his wife, February 23, 1841, aged 72. His farm was afterwards divided among four of his sons, Heber, Rufus, Deacon Elihu and Otis, the latter of whom occupied the homestead, which is now in the possession of his son Samuel. The farm of Deacon Elihu, who died October 8, 1865, aged 62, is occupied by his daughter Angeline, who married Amos CLARK. Two daughters of Deacon Israel, Jr., Electa and Abigail, maiden ladies, are living in Bainbridge. Simeon, son of Israel, Jr., married Susan STOCKWELL and settled on the west side of the Susquehanna, opposite the homestead and died there, leaving a large family, only one of whom, Giles, is living in the town. Amos married Betsey ALLASON and settled at Colesville. He afterwards removed to Ashtabula county, Ohio, when that county was new, and died there. Chloe married in Brattleboro, Vt., and remained there. Sibyl married Jared REDFIELD, who came in as early as 1791, and settled on the west side of the river, opposite her brother Israel, and died near there Feb. 24, 1844, aged 75, and her husband, May 1, 1814, aged 48. Clarina married Asahel BIXBY in 1793, and died on the place on which her husband settled May 22, 1847, aged 64. Only one child survives her, Charles, who is living in Bainbridge. Asor married Hepsey SMITH and settled on the homestead. He afterwards removed to Afton where he died childless. Abigail married David McMASTER, settled on the east side of and a little above the mouth of the Unadilla, in Otsego county, and afterwards removed to Afton, where she died, leaving two sons, Judge David, now living in Bath, and Cyrus, who died on the homestead in Afton in the early part of 1879.
Settlements were made about this year (1788,) by Abraham FULLER and Gould BACON from Conn. BACON settled on lot 76, on the east side of the river, one and one-half miles above Bainbridge where Nelson HUMPHREY now lives. He afterwards removed to the mouth of the Unadilla, and died there April 1, 1821, aged 75. He was an eccentric genius, and a bachelor, living alone in a small log hut, which stood upon a low flat, adjacent to the river. He furnished us many anecdotes both as principal and narrator, says William S. SAYRE in his Centennial History of Bainbridge which we quote, as any of the early settlers. "Of his many hairbreadth escapes by flood and field we briefly related the following:- "Bacon's hut was on a low flat, and there occurred in the fall a remarkable flood in the Susquehanna River, referred to in after years as the 'pumpkin freshet,' from the fact that the corn fields along the river were overflowed, and pumpkins swept off. Bacon was awakened in the night by the waters, which had risen to cover the floor of the cabin, upon which he slept, and found that is was necessary to move. He made a hasty meal from a pail of cold succotash, and taking his gun and ax started for higher ground, which, however, he was unable to reach. Owing to the rapidly rising current he was compelled to take passage on a floating log, which lodged with other flood-wood against a tree, where he remained until found by Deacon Israel SMITH and taken off in a canoe. While occupying quarters upon the flood-wood he was able to kindle a fire and roast a pumpkin that floated to him, on which he subsisted very comfortably. During his stay a 'painter,' which like himself had been set adrift, came swimming towards his miniature island. When he was sufficiently near Bacon admonished him that he was an unwelcome visitor by a salute from his rifle, and the animal sought some other landing.
"On another occasion prior to this, he shot a large bear on what is known as Humphrey's hill. So fat and heavy was bruin that he found it necessary to go after his oxen in order to remove the carcass to his hut. But the oxen refused to go near enough to the bear to allow him to hook the log-chain. Bacon finally resorted to the stratagem of covering the bear with leaves; he then carefully backed the oxen up and hitched the chain around bruin's neck. But as soon as the dead bear made his appearance from under the leaves the oxen cast one terrified look behind and away they went through the woods, over knolls and down the steep hill at the top of their speed. Bacon found it no difficult task to track them to his hut by remnants of the bear, which were strewn along the course they had taken; and he never told the story in after years without a sign for the large fat bear, the loss of which as a store for his larder he sorely felt and deeply lamented."
Thaddeus NEWTON came in from Dummerston, Vt., about 1790, and settled in the south part of the town on the farm adjoining that now owned and occupied by his great-grandson, George W. NEWTON, buying 75 acres in the south-west corner of lot 45, to which he removed three years after, and on which he, his son Amasa, and grandson, Marshall, died,-Thaddeus, in August, 1812, Amasa, in May, 1855, and Marshall, in February, 1864. His children were Charles, who married Sally JESTON, settled on the lot next west of his father's, No. 44, and afterwards removed to Oxford, where he died about 1841; Obediah, who married and settled on the farm adjoining Charles' on the south, and afterwards removed to Ohio, where he died; Amasa, who came in 1793, married Jemima, daughter of James NICHOLS, an early settler in the town of Afton, on the farm on which his grandson, Samuel G. Nichols, now lives, and where he and his wife died; Betsey, who married James FRASER and died in Bainbridge; and Polly, who married Levi BEMUS, and after some years removed from the county; all by his first wife, Jane SMITH, who died in Worcester, Mass., during the Revolutionary war. He afterwards married a widow, Sally BELCHER, (nee BUMP,) by whom he had four children, Lucy, who went west while single; Abigail, who married Lloyd HOLCOMB and lived and died in Coventry; Jane, who married Martin SLADE and lived and died in Coventry; and William S., who married Caroline ANNABLE and is now living in Oxford. Only one grandchild is living in the county, Lucretia, daughter of Amasa, and widow of Chauncey HYDE, in Afton, though numerous descendants are still living in the town, even to the seventh generation.
William ALLISON came in among the first and settled on the site of the village of Bainbridge. His log hut stood on the south-east corner of Main and Mill streets, where Benjamin F. NEWELL now lives. He claimed that it was the first, or one of the first, within the limits of the village. He continued to reside there until his death. His son William succeeded him on the homestead, which he afterwards sold and removed to the Charles BUSH place, where he died November 20, 1865, aged 81. Sarah, his wife, died February 12, 1839, aged 47. Martin O., son of William, Jr. still occupies the place. William, another son of William, Jr.'s, is living in Michigan. Betsey, daughter of William Allison, Sr., married Amos SMITH, and removed with him to Colesville and died there.
Joseph LANDERS was also among the first settlers. His daughter, Relief, who was born in March, 1791, is reputed to have been the first female child born in the town.
James GRAHAM and Jared REDFIELD settled in the town as early as 1791, probably earlier. Their names appear among the town officers elected that year. GRAHAM settled about a mile below Bainbridge, on the west side of the river, where Walter HIGLEY now lives, and died there. He had two sons and two daughters, James, one of the sons, removed from the town at an early day; and Wm. the other, was a bachelor and occupied the homestead a good many years after his father's death. He sold it to Walter Higley and removed to Afton, where he died August 9, 1872, aged 87. The daughters were Anna, a maiden lady, and another who married Warren HARPER, a resident of Windsor. James Graham was one of the first assessors of the town. Jared REDFIELD was from Connecticut, and settled on the west side of the Susquehanna, near the east line of the town, where Charles ANDERSON now lives. He died at Lanesboro, Pa., May 1, 1814, aged 48, while returning from Baltimore, whither he had been with a raft of lumber. He married Sibyl, daughter of Deacon Israel SMITH, by whom he had a large family. His children were Henry, who died March 11, 1853, aged 62, Asahel, Chester, who died December 27, 1857, aged 60, Abigail, who married John ALLEN, Julia, who married John MERCEREAU, Parnold, who married Hiram FISH, Levi and Benjamin, only the latter of whom is living, in Michigan.
Moses, Aaron and Abel STOCKWELL, brothers, came in as early as 1792 and settled on the west side of the river. Moses located about a mile above Bainbridge, where Giles SMITH, his son-in-law, now lives, and died there March 11, 1857, aged 87. Urania, his first wife, died Jan. 28, 1807, aged 37, and Electa, his second wife, Jan. 8, 1864, aged 82. Aaron located just over the line, in Guilford, where he built and operated mills and died. Abel was of a roving disposition and never made a permanent settlement here. He died in Binghamton, Sept. 10, 1855, aged 72, and his wife, Emila, April 18, 1852, aged 61. Moses' children were Abel, Eli, Henry, Zenas, Urania, who married Chandler BIXBY, Sabra, who married ---- THOMPSON, Patience, who married Asa SEARLES, Leapha, who married and moved west, and Lucinda, who married Giles SMITH, of whom Eli, Urania, Sabra and Lucinda, are living. Aaron's children were Leonard, Joel, Thomas, Aaron, Stephen, Malinda, who married Stowell JACOBS, and Susan, who went west with her brother. None of them are living in the county. Abel's children were Davis, Abel, Julia, who married Chester REDFIELD, Emily, who married Joseph SMITH, Leapha. who died in girlhood, Clarissa, who married Cyrus STOCKWELL, a cousin, Cynthia, who married a man named BENNETT, and Betsey Ann, who went west. None of them are living in the county.
David HITCHCOCK settled on the west side of the river, about a mile above Bainbridge, as early as 1793. He had only a small place, which now forms a part of the HICKOK farm, recently sold to a Mr. CLARK. He removed with his family to the Genesee country.
Samuel NOURSE came in from the New England States as early as 1796 and settled on the east side of the river, about a mile above Bainbridge. The farm has been divided and is occupied at present by Alexander MOODY and Russell Williams. He removed to Ohio at an early day and was one of the first settlers of that State. His family, which was large, went with him.
John CAMPBELL and Benjamin S. CARPENTER made settlements in the town as early as 1800, and Major Frederick DEZANG about that year. CAMPBELL was a Scotchman, and settled on the farm next below that of Samuel NOURSE, where his grandson Burr C. Campbell now lives, and died there. His children were John, who was a cooper by trade, a shiftless sort of fellow, who raised a large family who were in indigent circumstances, and lived in various places; Archibald, who was also of a roving disposition, and finally left his wife and the town; Margaret, who married David BATEMAN, and lived and died in the town, Sept. 5, '62, aged 75, and her husband, June 7, 1866, aged 89; and Daniel, who is living on the old homestead, aged over eighty, and has been completely deaf the last ten years; and Peter, who went west when a young man.
Benjamin S. CARPENTER came from Orange county and settled in Bainbridge village, and bought the major portion of the lands comprising the village site. He kept a hotel and engaged in the mercantile pursuits, continuing till about 1800 or '12, when becoming pecuniary involved, he removed to the farm in Afton now occupied by Abel BRIGGS, about a mile above Afton village, where he died Dec. 28, 1836, aged 70, and Catharine, his wife, April 27, 1827, aged 50. He had eleven children, only two of whom are living, Daniel A., a merchant in Afton, and Martha A., wife of Daniel CARPENTER, in Addison, Steuben county. In 1802, Benjamin S. Carpenter donated two acres of land which is now occupied by the Presbyterian church and the village green, to encourage the establishment of a church and school, and to provide a parade ground on certain conditions, which he afterwards claimed were not compiled with. He again took possession of it and fenced it. The villagers became incensed at the action and tore down the fence, and such was the opposition manifested that the attempt to reclaim it was practically abandoned.
Major DEZANG was a Frenchman, and came in from Geneva. He settled to the west side of the river, near the bridge in Bainbridge village. He was one of the proprietors of the turnpike from Esopus to Geneva, and built, in 1805, with his partner, Mr. OLENDORFF, the first bridge across the Susquehanna in Bainbridge. The work of construction was done by Henry EVANS and Luther THURSTON. He was engaged in mercantile business in the locality of his settlement till about the close of the war of 1812. His family was one of considerable prominence and business enterprise in their day. His son Richard, after a good many years of active business life spent here, returned to Geneva. His other sons were Philip, William and Arthur. He had two or three daughters, one of whom was named Amelia. One married Dr. HOUGHTALING, another a man named GRISWOLD, and a third, Richard LAWRENCE, who came here about the same time as the Dezangs, and was engaged in mercantile and milling business, in company with Richard Dezang. Their mills were located at the mouth of the Unadilla, and have gone to decay.
Orra MYERS, a Dutchman and a blacksmith, settled as early as 1801 on the east line and in the north-east corner of the town. His farm is the north-east corner farm in the town, and is now occupied by a son of John PECKHAM. He worked at his trade in connection with is farm, and died of a cancer. His children were Aaron, who died July 9, 1845, aged 75, Andrew, a daughter who became the wife of Aaron COLTON, ] and another daughter.
Solomon WARNER and Reuben BEALS, settled in the town about 1802 or '3. WARNER, who was a Revolutionary soldier, came in from New Milford, Conn., and settled on a farm adjoining that of Asahel BIXBY on the south-west, on the same lot. The place is now occupied by Hiram LOCKE. It was originally settled by Jedediah SMITH, who came in from the New England States in company with Cyrus STRONG, within a few years after the first settlers, as early as 1795, and kept there in company with Strong a store and bartered goods for lumber. Smith was detected in passing counterfeit money and left the town in consequence at an early day. Strong continued his resident in the town some 15 or 20 years, engaged in speculations. He then removed to Binghamton, where he became quite wealthy, and was president of the first bank in that city. WARNER lived on the farm till his family was grown up, when his sons Robert B. and Lemuel took it, and he removed to the farm now occupied by Alvah LYON, where he died Aug. 10, 1839, aged 78, and Rachel, his wife, Feb. 25, 1834, aged 70. Robert B., his son, died June 8, 1865, aged 69. Others of his children were Solomon, Asa, who died Dec. 30, 1866, aged 67, Mercy, who married Arad STOWEL, Sally who married Lewis NEWELL, an early and prominent merchant in Bainbridge, Zeruah, who married Joseph son of Eben LANDERS, Cornelia, who married Ezra HUTCHINSON, Athalia, who married William COLEMAN, not one of whom is now living. Athalia, who died in Allegany county in 1879, was the last of the family left.
Reuben BEALS was from Vermont. He settled on the west side of the river, about a mile above Bainbridge, on the place now occupied by Dr. Garvis PRINCE, where he kept a tavern at an early day. He afterwards removed to the village and died there Dec. 17, 1843, aged 69, and Hannah, his wife, April 29, 1851, aged 75. His children were James, David, Polly, who married Chauncey HOFFMAN, Atalanta, who married Hiram SCHROM, and died April 30, 1833, aged 30, and Nancy, who became the second wife of Hiram SCHROM, who died Sept. 17, 1875, aged 68. Not one of them is living. The last, David, died in the town two years ago.
Thomas HUMPHREY came in from Connecticut in 1804, with three of his children, Nathaniel, Charles and Johanna, and lived with Abner and Thomas Humphrey, sons by his first wife, who came in several years previously, as early as 1796, and settled on the river road, at what is now known as Humphey Settlement, Abner where Perry Humphrey, his grandson, now lives. The elder Humphrey had been a Revolutionary soldier, and was a cripple when he came in. He died in the town. His son Abner died Sept. 20, 1820, aged 54, and Abigail, the latter's wife, Sept. 2, 1829, aged 63. His son Thomas died June 20, 1839, aged 63, and Sela, his wife, Dec. 7, 1835, aged 59. He had seven children by his first wife and three by his second. Nathaniel, who is living in Bennettsville with his son, Oren H. Humphrey, in his 90th year, is the only one living. James H. Humphrey, another son by his first wife, took up, in company with his brother-in-law, John PRATT, a part of the farm now occupied by Albert NEWELL. He died Oct. 1, 1846, aged 63, and Lydia, his wife, Sept. 30, 1856, aged 68.
Daniel HYDE, who was born in Lebanon, Conn., Sept. 11, 1782, settled in Bainbridge soon after 1800, and married Oct. 28, 1828, Clarissa, daughter of James and Eunice (GUTHRIE) GRAHAM, who was born at Sharon, Conn., Dec. 27, 1786. Their first child, Amanda M., was born here Oct. 20, 1809. She married Collins ALLEN, of Colesville, where they settled, and she died May 30, 1854. The family removed, about 1815, to Colesville and subsequently to Mentor, Ohio, where he died April 3, 1841.
Silas FAIRCHILD came in from Dummerston, Vt., in 1806, and settled in Bainbridge, where he worked at carpentering and cabinet-making, and died. He had nine children, only two of whom are living, Silas in Aton village, and Jesse in Oneonta.
Following are other of the early settlers, some of them, in all probability, among the first, but we have been unable to determine definitely the date of settlement:-Reuben BUMP, James B. NICHOLS, Edward PRINCE, Abel CONANT, Thomas, Samuel, Henry and Mott PEARSALL, Charles CURTIS, David SEARS, Samuel BANKS, John Y. BENNETT, John THOMPSON, Eli SEELY, Richard L. LAWRENCE, Jabez S. FITCH, Orange BENTON, Abner SEARLS, Jacob, Thomas and James IRELAND, William, Charles, Daniel and Samuel LYON, Seth JOHNSON and John NICHOLS.
Reuben BUMP came from the East and settled on the east side of the Susquehanna, in the east part of the town, where Eleazer SPENCER's family now reside. He afterwards removed to Afton and died there July 29, 1868, aged 91. Jerusha, his wife, died March 12, 1855, aged 76. He had two sons and a daughter, Josiah, who moved to the locality of Elmira, Carpenter, who is now living in Baltimore.
James B. NICHOLS settled at West Bainbridge, on the place now occupied by his son, Thomas. He had one other son, James, who removed to Steuben county.
Edward PRINCE came in from Connecticut and settled on the south line of lot 71, on the place now owned by Judge SMITH, of Cortland, and occupied by William BENNER, and died there. His children were, Noble, Caesar, Jervis, Huldah, a maiden lady, a daughter who married Ephraim HILL, Electa, who married Jacob IRELAND, and a daughter, who married a man named VIBBARD, and resided in Otsego county. All are dead.
Abel CONANT came from Vermont and settled in the north-east part of the town, on the farm now occupied by the widow of Henry SCOTT, and died there. He had a numerous family. Mrs. Stephen PETTYS living at West Bainbridge is a daughter.
The PEARSALLs came from the East. Thomas settled on the brook, on the south part of lot 71, on the place now occupied by the widow of his son Robert, and died there; Samuel, on the north line of the town, directly north of Bainbridge, where his grandson, James Pearsall, now lives, and died there; Henry, on the farm adjoining Samuel's on the west, where his grandson, Sherman Pearsall now lives, and died there; Mott, on the west side of the brook, opposite Thomas', from which he afterwards moved. Thomas' children were Sutton, William, Thomas, Joseph, Gilbert, Nathaniel, Jemima, who died unmarried, Sally, who married William BUSH, Amy, who married Asa WARNER, and Phebe, who married Albert NEALLY. None of them are living in the county. Samuel had a numerous family of children, among whom were Samuel and Amos.
Charles CURTIS settled first one and one-half miles above Bainbridge, on the west side of the river, and started the hat business, which he afterward carried on in the village, where, after living retired some years, he died. His children were Charles, George, Adaline, who married Colonel Hiram SCHROM, Helen, who married Henry A. CLARK, a lawyer in Bainbridge. Both daughters are living in Bainbridge.
David SEARS came in from Connecticut. He bought the Gould BACON farm, on which he died. His children were Lucretia, who married Philip DEZANG, Polly, who married Henry REDFIELD, Amelia, who married David KNAPP, David, Isaac and Talcott, all of whom are dead.
Samuel BANKS, who was born April 18, 1755, settled on the west side of the river, about three-fourths of a mile below Bainbridge, on the place now occupied by his grandson, John Banks, where he and his son William died, the former June 24, 1826, and the latter, who was born September 27, 1783, March 24, 1855. Charity, wife of Samuel, who was born September 28, 1760, died December 2, 1848. His other children were Permelia, who married Isaac SEELY, and died April 6, 1828, aged 46, and a daughter who married Sutton PEARSALL and is also dead.
John Y. BENNETT was from the New England States. He settled on the west side of the river, near the mouth of the Unadilla. He had a large family of daughters, and, though a farmer, it is believed that he never took up land, and that he went west quite early.
John THOMPSON settled on the south line of the town, east of the PEARSALLs who settled in that locality, on the farm now occupied by John PARSONS, where he died. His children were Henry and Jacob, who went west, Kate, and another daughter who married an INGERSOLL.
Eli SEELY settled on the west side of the river, about two and one-half miles below Bainbridge, where Homer BRISTOL now lives. He afterwards moved to Afton, and died there by choking September 20, 1850, aged 88. He was twice married. His first wife, Sally, died in Bainbridge, November 5, 1821, aged 51, and his second, Ann, January 23, 1866, aged 57.
The LYONs were in as early as 1792.
Merchants:- The first merchant in Bainbridge of whom we have any authentic information was Albert MINOR, who was doing business in 1805, but had discontinued previous to 1812. He removed to Ohio. Major Frederick DEZANG was probably the next merchant. His store stood near the end of the bridge, on the west side of the river. He traded as late as 1815, but probably not long after the close of the war. Richard Dezang, his son, and Richard LAWRENCE, his son-in-law, succeeded him, and traded in an old gamble-roof building, which for many years thereafter, stood on the site of J. Mitchell ROBERTS' residence, to which it was removed from the site of the "Mammoth block," near the Park Hotel, in 1818, in which year they erected a new building on the latter site. Dezang & Lawrence sold a few years later to Judge Peter BETTS and Jabez S. FITCH, who dissolved after trading a few years, Betts continuing in the same store, in company with his son Peter, and Fitch in one built by him on the corner diagonally opposite, where the new brick block now stands. After about two years Judge Betts was succeeded by his son-in-law, Robert HARPER, who continued in trade till about 1842 or '3, when he sold to Ansel EVANS and Josiah E. OWENS, who traded some three or four years. Mr. McEWEN, a connection of Judge Betts', traded three or four years from about 1823.
Lewis NEWELL commenced mercantile business about 1810 and continued till about 1814, when he removed to Oneonta. His store was the building now occupied as a residence by Jehial EVANS. He also carried on blacksmithing very extensively. ----- PARKER succeeded Newell in the same store and did business a good many years.
William SHAW was granted a license to keep a grocery May 28, 1829; but whether he had previously been engaged in mercantile business, and how long he continued to trade we are not advised. He was a butcher and followed that business a good many years. In 1830 a license was granted to Elisha SHARPE to open a grocery. He traded about three or four years. Sharpe lost an arm the day proceeding Fourth of July celebration in the village in 1828 or '9, by the premature discharge of a cannon, which had then recently been received for the use of the artillery company which had been organized in this vicinity. The discharge forced the ramrod through a part of the body of John REESE, and tore off the right arm of Dr. William KNAPP and the left arm of Elisha Sharpe.
Moses Gaylord BENJAMIN and Albert NEALLY commenced mercantile business on opposite sides of the street about 1820. Benjamin continued till his death Jan. 18, 1833, the latter part of the time in company with Dexter NEWELL, who continued till his death, June 17, 1850, and a part of the time with Elliott KIDDER. Neally traded some three or four years, in company with Moses BURGESS, who afterwards engaged in the foundry business in Bainbridge, which he carried on till his death Oct. 9, 1865. In 1866, the foundry passed in to the hands of Don A. GILBERT, who was engaged in mercantile business from 1863 to 1866, was burned in 1867, re-built in 1868 and again burned in 1875. The saw-mill attached, now owned by Porter VAN HORNE, was not burned. Neally went west.
Abraham OWENS, who married a daughter of Dexter NEWELL, commenced trading shortly before the death of the latter and continued till near the opening of the war, when he removed to Unadilla.
About 1834, Stephen BROWN and Josiah B. NORTHROP commenced the tinsmith business, to which hardware and subsequently dry goods were added. They continued in company till about 1860, having been associated some seven or eight years the latter part of the time with Ozias B. TYLER. Northrop went west; so also did Brown a few years later. Tyler still resides in the village.
Wallace W. DAVIS and ---- CHAFFEE commenced trading about 1860. After about two years Chaffee withdrew and returned to Unadilla, from when he came. Davis, continued till he was burned out in February, 1878, a part of the time in company with Gilbert SHERWOOD, his brother-in-law.
Dudley BULLOCK came in from California and commenced trading a few years previous to the war, in which he participated as Captain of a company in the 114th Reg't., raised in this town. He did not again engage in mercantile business. Daniel BULLOCK, his nephew, from Oswego county, in company with Don A. GILBERT, succeeded to Dudley's business. After a year or two Bullock sold to Ransom MITCHELL, who after two or three years sold to Clark BUTTS and James K. WHITMORE from Otsego county. They sold after about three years to ---- CONKLING, who traded about two years.
Following are the present merchants in Bainbridge: Gaylord S. GRAVES, furniture dealer, who came from Mt. Upton, and has traded here since 1849, for two years in company with Mrs. Harriet SEELY; Mrs. Helen B. CAMPBELL a native of Norwich, dealer in dry goods and millinery goods, who about 1872 succeeded her husband, Theodore R. Campbell, who commenced the dry goods and grocery business about 1870, millinery goods having been substituted for groceries in the spring of 1878; Charles M. FRISBIE, druggist, who came from Delaware county, and has traded since November, 1871; Charles M. PRIEST, general merchant, a native of Bainbridge, who came from Masonville, Delaware county, where he had been engaged in mercantile business in 1872, since which time he had traded here, in company in 1873 and '4 with Bennett P. VAN HORNE; Garvis PRINCE, hardware dealer, who came from New York, and commenced business in 1875, in company with George L. BABCOCK, with whom he was associated one year; Luman B. CLARK, grocer, who has resided in the village since May 17, 1855, and been engaged in mercantile business here since 1876; A. Frank MOSES, druggist, who came from Clymer, Chautauqua county, where he had carried on the same business, and brought out L. A. WRIGHT in 1876; Joseph B. EHRICH, jeweler, a native of Brooklyn, who came here from Oak Hill, Greene county, and succeeded his brother, Samuel S. EHRICH, who commenced the business in December, 1876; Isaac G. HANCOCK, dealer in boots and shoes, who came from Syracuse and commenced business in March, 1877; Mrs. Julia Ann HOLCOMB, milliner, who came from Troy in 1869, in the interest of her sister, Mrs. George R. SALISBURY, who established the business the previous year, and in September, 1877, sold to the present proprietor; John M. ROBERTS, grocer and dealer in lime, plaster and cement, who has also been station agent at Bainbridge since 1870, commenced the dry goods business in 1865, which he continued about two years in company with Ransom MITCHELL, and the grocery business in Dec., 1877; Charles P. PERRY, hardware dealer, who came from Unadilla March 16, 1878, having carried on the same business there some four years, in company with W. H. HESLOP; Henry Walker CURTIS, general merchant, commenced business here April 1, 1878, having previously carried on the same business at Mt. Upton and Sidney Plains, from the latter of which places he came here; Thomas Jefferson LYON, dealer in groceries, boots and shoes, a native of Bainbridge, who commenced business in the spring of 1878, at which time he bought the stock of his brother-in-law, J. R, KELLEY, who had carried on the business some twenty years; Adelbert L. PALMER, general merchant, who commenced business Oct. 1, 1878, having previously resided in the village some thirteen years; T. VAN ALSTINE, confectioner, who came from Philmont, Columbia county, and commenced business in April, 1879; Nathan HOPPE, who came from Elmira, and commenced business May 7, 1879; and Frank W. CRAIN, jeweler, who came from Laurens, Otsego county, in 1876, and commenced business June 1, 1879.
Postmasters:- The first post-office in the town of Jericho was established in a house which stood about twenty rods east of the residence of Dr. Garvis PRINCE. It was kept by Eliab SKEEL and David HITCHOCCK, but which was first cannot now be determined. It was kept there about three years, and removed to Bainbridge village in 1805, when the bridge was built there. The mail was brought on horseback from Catskill once a week. The locality first mentioned had been surveyed and laid out with a view to its becoming "the" village, and a tavern was kept there then and several years afterwards by Reuben BEALS, in a little frame building which occupied the site of Dr. PRINCE's residence while the post-office was located there. But the building of the bridge about a mile below determined the location of the village there and the removal of the office also.
The first postmaster after the removal of the office to Bainbridge was Hon. John C. CLARK, who held the office till his election to Congress in 1826, when his son-in-law, Col. Moses G. BENJAMIN, was appointed, and held it till his death, Jan. 18, 1833. He was succeeded by Dexter NEWELL, who held it till 1849, when Abram G. OWENS was appointed. Samuel L. BANKS succeeded Owens, and held it till his death, Sept. 22, 1853, when Simeon SHEPARDSON was appointed. He and Col. Hiram SCHROM filled the interval till 1861, when Edward H. VAN HORNE was appointed, and held the office three or four years. He was succeeded by Theron R. HOLLISTER, who held it till his removal to Binghamton. Blin S. SILL next held it till his death in 1873. John W. CUDWORTH next held it till April 1, 1877, when Frederick J. NICHOLS, the present incumbent, was appointed.
Physicians.- The first physician at Bainbridge, of whom we have any information, was Dr. PORTER, a skillful physician, but intemperate man, who practiced here as early as 1805, and for several years thereafter. Dr. HOUGHTALING was contemporary with him. Nathan BOYNTON, who was located at Bettsburgh, also extended his practice to this locality at an early day. William KNAPP came in soon after 1805 and practiced as late as 1836, but left soon after. Charles B. NICHOLS was a contemporary practitioner with Knapp, and left about 1845. Knapp went to the locality of Tioga Point, and Nichols to Vermont. William D. PURPLE, of Greene, practiced here from 1824 to 1830. Erastus ROOT and Ebenezer MUNGER were practicing here in 1827. The latter continued till about 1840. Both joined the County Medical Society in 1822. P. SMITH took a farm at an early day, and afterwards removed to the village, continuing practice till about 1826 or '27. Hinman HOFFMAN, a very skillful physician, who was licensed in New Hampshire, practiced here over fifty years ago, and occasionally till his death. He lived near the mouth of the Unadilla. Elam BARTLETT and ---- COOKE were practicing here in 1843, also S. W. CORBIN, M.D., who joined the County Medical Society in 1830. Bartlett died Jan. 9, 1862, aged 53.
Blin Smith SILL, who was born April 3, 1809, was practicing here as early as 1839, in which year he joined the County Medical Society. He continued practice till his death in 1873. He married Catharine A. LATHROP, who died May 11, 1845, leaving three children, Arabella, Stella and Eratsus L.
Dr. McLAURY came from Delaware county about ----, and practiced four or five years. He returned to Delaware county.
J. W. FREIOT, M.D., who was born Nov. 14, 1801, came from Troy about 1843, and resided here till his death, Nov. 14, 1875, though he practiced but little. He was a man of large property. His widow and two children still reside in the village. William PURINTON, came here from Harpersfield, where he had previously practiced, about 1840. and practiced till his death, June 23, 1855, aged 61. Eliza R., his wife, died July 15, 1866, aged 57. Charles A. CLARK was practicing here in 1854, and Cyrus N. BROWN in 1859, in which years they joined the County Medical Society. John YALE, from Guilford, practiced here eight or ten years from about 1861. Drs. WHITNEY and VAN HORNE, the latter from Otsego county, came here some twenty years ago and practiced, the former about seven or eight and the latter about ten years. Isaac D. MEACHAM came from Triangle in 1866, and practice here till 1879.
The present physicians are Robert D. L. EVANS, Heman D. COPLEY and Orville J. WILSEY.
Robert D. L. EVANS was born in Bainbridge May 30, 1835. He studied medicine in Pittsfield, Mass., with Dr. A. M. Smith. He entered Berkshire Medical College in Pittsfield in 1855, and was graduated Nov. 22, 1858. He commenced practice the latter year in Lee, Mass., and removed thence in 1862 to Bainbridge, where he has since practiced.
Heman D. COPLEY was born in Harpersfield, N.Y., Jan. 21, 1851, and studied medicine at Davenport, in his native county, with Dr. J. E. NORWOOD. He entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York in 1871, and was graduated March 3, 1875. He commenced practice in 1875 at Chatham, N.J., and removed thence in 1876 to Bainbridge.
Orville J. WILSEY was born in Otego, N.Y., Oct. 17, 1854, and commenced the study of medicine, at Unadilla, with Dr. Joseph SWEET. In 1876 he entered the University of the City of New York, where he was graduated Feb. 19, 1878, having during the intermediate year (1877) attended a course of medical lectures in Albany. He commenced practice at West Oneonta and removed thence to Bainbridge May 28, 1879.
Lawyers:- Simon G. TROOP, who resided at Oxford, was the first lawyer who practiced here.
The first resident lawyer was John C. CLARK, who was born in Connecticut, Jan. 14, 1793, and was graduated from Williams College in 1811. He removed from Massachusetts to Hamilton, and from thence, after a brief residence, to Bainbridge, about 1818. He was elected District Attorney of this county in Oct., 1823, and represented it in the Assembly in 1826, and in Congress from 1827 to '29 and again from 1837 to '43. About the close of his last Congressional term he gave up the practice of law and removed to Chemung county, where he engaged in the lumber business. He died there Oct. 25, 1852. He was an eminent lawyer.
William S. STOW came in about 1820 and practiced till about 1825, when he removed to Wayne county, where he practiced a good many years. John G. McCREA came about 1828, and after practicing a year or two returned to Saratoga county, whence he came, and where he soon after died. Horace DRESSER came in about 1835 or '6 and practiced some three or four years, a part of the time in company with John C. CLARK. He removed to New York and practiced there a number of years. George M. SMITH came from Norwich about 1836-'40, and after practicing three or four years returned and died there. He was elected District Attorney of this county in 1841 and again in 1844.
Isaac BUSH, son of Joseph and Betsey Bush, of Bainbridge, where he was born, studied law with his brother-in-law, William S. SAYRE, in company with whom, after his admission, about 1836, he practiced some five years. He continued practice here till his death June 16, 1843, aged 32.
James M. BANKS, a native of Bainbridge, read law in Oxford with James CLAPP, and commenced practice in Bainbridge about 1848, with William S. SAYRE, with whom he continued five or six years, when he removed to Chicago, where he now resides. He was elected District Attorney of this county in June, 1847, holding the office till November, 1850.
George L. WINSOR, from Guilford, read law with William S. SAYRE and his uncle, George H. Winsor, with whom, after his admission in June, 1854, he practiced till shortly before his death, in 1878.
John BEVERLY, from Herkimer county, came in 1871 and practiced for awhile with Charles B. SUMNER, and afterwards, for a short time, alone. He went to Grand Rapids, Mich.
Arba K. MAYNARD came from Sherburne, where he had previously practiced, in 1835, and practiced here three or four years. He was a man of some talent and acquired some notoriety in the county. He removed from here to New York, where he was Judge of the Marine Court some six years. He was subsequently in Minnesota, and was at one time the Democratic candidate for Governor of that State.
The present attorneys are William S. SAYRE, Henry A. CLARK, George H. WINSOR, Charles B. SUMNER, Leroy BENNETT and Elliott DANFORTH.
William Strong SAYRE was born in Romulus, N.Y., March 5, 1803. He was graduated from Hamilton in 1824, and read law at Norwich with David BUTTOLPH and Charles A. THORP, and afterwards in Bainbridge with John C. CLARK in company with whom, after his admission in October, 1827, he practiced about four years. He has since practiced here without intermission, having been associated at different times with Isaac BUSH, James M. BANKS, George H. WINSOR and Leroy BENNETT, with the latter of whom he has been in company about two years, under the name of Sayre & Bennett. He was Justice of the Peace form 1833 to '37; Supervisor of Bainbridge in 1840 and '58; and Presidential Elector in 1856. (He died since the above was written, January 20, 1880.)
Henry A. CLARK was born in Sidney, Delaware county, August 2, 1818, and pursued his legal studies in Buffalo with John L. Talbott, now Judge of the Supreme Court of this State. He was admitted to the bar in 1841, and commenced practice in Bainbridge, where he has since continued. He was a State Senator from the 23d District, embracing this county, in 1862 and '63, and was chairman of the Committee on Internal Affairs.
George H. WINSOR was born in Guilford, N.Y., March 23, 1815, and read law in Delhi with A. & E. PARKER, and subsequently in Masonville with George KETCHUM. He was admitted in 1854, and commenced practice that year at Masonville. He removed thence November 20, 1855, to Bainbridge, where he has since practiced. He was a Member of Assembly from Delaware county in 1850.
Charles B. SUMNER was born in New Berlin, N.Y., August 18, 1847, and read law in his native town with Henry BENNETT. He was admitted May 12, 1869, and commenced practice in Bainbridge August 10th of that year, in company with Horatio N. WARNER, who came in with him from Utica, to which city he (Warner,) returned after two months' practice. Mr. Sumner was subsequently in company with Melville KEYES, who came in from Oneonta in October, 1869, and returned there the following spring. Mr. Sumner was Special Judge of this county from January, 1873, to January, 1877.
Leroy BENNETT was born in Bennettsville in this town September 12, 1837, and pursued legal studies three or four years with Henry A. CLARK, of Bainbridge. He was admitted at the General Term in Binghamton in May, 1877; in February, 1878, he commenced practice with William S. SAYRE, with whom he still continues.
Elliott DANFORTH was born in Middleburgh, N.Y., March 6, 1850, and read law in the office of his father, Judge Peter S. Danforth, of Middleburgh, where, after his admission at the January General Term at Albany, in 1872, he commenced practice. He removed thence to Bainbridge, August 10, 1878, and formed a law partnership with George H. WINSOR, which still continues. In 1874, Mr. Danforth, by invitation delivered a Fourth of July oration in Bainbridge. He then formed the acquaintance of Miss Ida, daughter and only child of Dr. Garvis PRINCE of that village, and December 17th of that year he was united in marriage with her.
West Bainbridge
Postmasters:- There is a post-office there, and William WATROUS is the postmaster. The office was established about forty years ago. Thomas NICHOLS as the first postmaster, and held the office twenty-eight years. He was succeeded by Timothy S. LANE, who held it till its discontinuance in 1861. It was subsequently re-established.
History of Columbus
History of Columbus
Columbus was formed from Brookfield, Madison county, Feb. 11, 1805.
The first settlement is said to have been made in 1781, on lot 44, by Col. CONVERSE, who also kept the first inn, which he opened in 1793.
Henry, Daniel, James and Benjamin WILLIAMS came from Point Julia, R.I., in 1792. They came in the early spring with an ox team and one horse, and brought their feather beds with them. Henry and James were married, and the former, who married Patty CRANDALL, had two children, named Polly and James. They left their families at the CARR place in Edmeston while they rolled up a log house, which occupied only two days. All occupied one log house until others were erected. Henry was a soldier of the Revolution. He purchased the farm lying in the south-east corner of the town and built his log house on the west bank of "Aunt Pat" brook. Henry sold the piece of land on which he first settled to Josiah BAKER and moved to the east part of the same lot, he located on the river road, and there during the rest of his days kept what in olden times was known far and near as the "Aunt Pat Tavern." He built a frame house in 1808. His sons John and Oliver also kept tavern in that building. He had fourteen children, only three of whom are living, John and Martha, widow of Elijah ATHERTON, in New Berlin, and Betsey, settled on a farm adjoining Henry's on the north, but removed at an early day to Virgil, in Cortland county. Benjamin settled on a farm adjoining Henry's on the south, where for a few years he carried on his trade of tanner and currier. He removed with his family to Washington county. The site of the tannery is now occupied by the residence of "Dr." PORTER. Daniel settled three miles north of South New Berlin, a half mile west of Davis' crossing, where Israel ANGELL now lives. In 1794 he married Phila PARKER, and their marriage was the first contracted in the town of New Berlin. He afterwards removed with his family to the mouth of Whitewater River, in Arkansas.
Farther up the stream from the BAKER place, Moses HOWARD, son of Thomas Howard, from Rhode Island, rebuilt his log house and cleared up his farm, which was reputed to be one of the best in the town. He left his farm to his son Moses, who still occupies it. James BAIRD, who settled on the lot next above him, was his rival in the farming business.
The next farm of 57 acres, on lot 44, was settled by Nicholas RICHER, who came from Berlin, Rensselaer county in 1800, and occupied it till his death, Nov. 1, 1829, aged 58. The farm is now occupied by Charles E. HAYWOOD. His wife, Anna WILCOX, to whom he was married in New Berlin, also died there, Oct. 14, 1842, aged 62. He had four children, Nicholas, John, Randall and Anson, the first two of whom were born before he came here, and the latter two, in Columbus.
The lots on the creek next north of the RICHER farm were settled by Peter GERMAN and Jonathan BROWNELL, who came from Nine Partners, Dutchess county. Mr. GERMAN was a brother of Hon. Obadiah GERMAN, of North Norwich, and is supposed to have built the first frame dwelling house in the town. It was a small building and stood near the small brook at the foot of the hill, where now stands the dwelling house on the farm. He is believed to have been the first justice in the town. A daughter of his became the wife of Hon. Joshua LAMB.
Jonathan BROWNELL built a log house on the creek, near where yet stands his old barn, and there he kept tavern for many years. There also the public business, town meetings, elections, and company trainings were held in the early settlements of the town.
Thomas HOWARD, Sr., was a native of Rhode Island and emigrated from Charlton, Mass., to Columbus, in 1794. But eight persons had preceded him in the settlement of the town. He moved his family and household goods with an ox team, crossing the Hudson at Albany and wending his way westward via Cherry Valley, Cooperstown, over the old State road winding among the Burlington hills to Wharton Creek, and down that stream to the Unadilla, near where he located, on the lot next north of the Henry WILLIAMS farm. The farm on which he settled and died is now owned by Bennett LOTTRIDGE. His sons were Isaac, Moses, Joseph, Abram, Jacob, Thomas, Jr., and Hopkins. The Howard family held a prominent place in the settlement of Columbus. The elder Howard served several years in the Provincial army during the French and Indian war, and again in the struggle of the colonies for independence. He died in Columbus Jan. 24, 1837, in the 95th year of his age.
Samuel CAMPBELL was a native of Mansfield, Connecticut, and emigrated to Columbus at an early day. He became the owner of a large farm on the west bank of the Unadilla, a little north of the turnpike running through the town. He held the offices of supervisor and justice, the latter over twenty-five years, was a Member of Assembly from this county in 1808-'9, 1812 and 1820, and represented the 15th district in Congress in 1821-'3.
Joshua LAMB and his brother Alvin came from Oxford, Mass., in July, 1804, and settled on the west side of the Unadilla, on the southeast corner of a lot, where the turnpike crosses the river road. They were carpenters and built a large two-story dwelling, where Joshua kept a tavern during nearly all the remainder of his life. Alvin died young; but Joshua lived to be an old inhabitant of the town and left several sons to inherit the large property he accumulated by economy and industry.
George CLARK settled on the opposite side of the turnpike from Judge LAMB, and also kept tavern. The place is now owned by Truxton Lamb, a son of Judge Lamb, and the old-fashioned tavern has been turned into a good modern farm house.
Elisha MORGAN, who was a merchant in the early days of the settlement, owned the south-west and north-east corner lots where the river road crossed the turnpike, and built a large two-story dwelling-house on one corner and a store on the other. He traded there several years, and sold out and removed to the western part of the State.
Charles H. TOLL, also a merchant, came from Schenectady and occupied a room in Judge Lamb's dwelling-house, and sold goods there for some time. He then built a store at Columbus Center, and after trading there a short time sold to Benjamin STORRS and went to Camillus, Onondaga county.
Dr. Tracy ROBINSON settled on a small building lot on the west side of the river road, next south of Elisha MORGAN's. He was the first regular physician who settled in Columbus.
Nathaniel CALKIN settled on the river road, on the farm next below Dr. Tracy ROBINSON. His log house stood on the hill on the west side of the road, and some distance north of the old state road, which crossed the Unadilla at the foot of the hill, on "Akin's bridge," and passed up the hill gorge, west over the hill to the Peter GERMAN farm and Jonathan BROWNELL's log tavern, thence up the creek and its west branch into Sherburne, and on west to Cayuga Lake. A brick kiln was erected on Mr. Calkin's farm, from which the early settlers obtained the means to build brick out-door ovens. Chimneys were then unknown in log houses. Mr. Calkin left his property to his children.
One of his sons built a large two-story house, near the foot of the hill on the east side of the river road, which was burned and another built in its place by a grandson.
Jonathan HUBBY settled and cleared up a wilderness lot adjoining the CALKIN farm on the south.
Isaac GREEN located on the lot of Jonathan HUBBY and the HOWARD farm on the river road. He was an enterprising, industrious man, and in addition to farming was engaged in the milling business. He owned the grist-mill on "Aunt Pat" brook above the Henry WILLIAMS farm, and built the two-story house yet standing on the premises. The old mill and dam have long since passed away. This was the first grist-mill in the town and was built in 1795 by Job VAIL, probably for Mr. Green. Vail also built the first saw-mill the previous year.
Gates POPE settled north of the PERKINS farm, on a river farm through which runs Pope brook. He was a thriving and industrious farmer, and supplied the neighborhood with brick from a kiln on his farm.
Ezra BEEBE settled early on the west side of Shawley brook, about where the old State road crossed it. He was a frugal, industrious farmer, managed his affairs prudently, and at his death, August 27, 1866, at the age of 86, left his well-improved farm to his children, one of whom still lives on it.
Capt. Joseph PAGE located on the east side of the creek about opposite the BEEBE farm. Capt. Page left his farm to his son Joseph, who occupied it during his lifetime.
John H. REYNOLDS settled on a farm next adjoining the PAGE farm on the south. He was an active, enterprising man and an influential citizen; was a militia colonel and a good officer.
Isaac SHAWLEY settled on the brook which bears his name, where the old turnpike crosses it; and his father-in-law, Mr. KENNY, made a settlement before the road was built.
John DOWNING settled on the brook, north of the SHAWLEY farm. Archibald and Daniel PERKINS, brothers, located in the neighborhood of the DOWNING farm on the creek north of the old turnpike road.
Esek OLNEY came from Rhode Island about the beginning of the present century and settled on the north side of the old turnpike, a little east of Shawley brook. He was a respectable farmer and brought his farm into a good state of cultivation.
Eliab UNDERWOOD settled on the old turnpike, east of the OLNEY farm, in the latter part of the last century.
Captain Elijah PALMER settled north of the SPARR and HOWARD settlement and was active in conjunction with his neighbors, among who was Gilbert STRONG, who settled near him, in promoting the settlements in the north part of the town.
Silas AMES was another early settler in this locality, near the GREENLEAF farm.
Samuel WHITMORE first settled on the west side of the Unadilla, near where the turnpike crossed from Edmeston into Columbus, about the time the road was made; and when the gate was changed from the east to the west bank he became its tender and continued such till his death, which occurred Dec. 9, 1855, at the age of 86. Anna, his wife, died at the same age Oct. 20, 1854.
John LOTTRIDGE came from Albany in December, 1799, and settled a half mile west of the village, on a small stream, where it crossed the State road. There he started a tannery, which he removed a year later a mile south of the village, to the farm now owned by Nicholas RICHER. He had twelve children, eight of whom are living,-Bennett, Polly, John and Julana are the only ones living in Columbus.
William BUTTON purchased a building lot on the PERKINS place, a little north of the LOTTRIDGE tannery, and built a house. He was a carpenter by trade, and possessing a good English education he was employed to teach school during the winter months. But he soon wearied of a backwoods life, sold his house to Kimball WEBBER and took his final leave of Columbus wilds. Webber moved the house to the north side of the turnpike, near where the State road comes out to the turnpike.
Captain BERRY built a house on the south side of the turnpike from the WEBBER house and kept tavern for some time. He sold to a Mr. JOHNSON, who kept the tavern and also carried the mail for some years from Cooperstown to Oxford, by way of Sherburne. He then sold the premises and left the town.
Joseph TUBBS, who was a blacksmith, erected a shop on the south side of the turnpike, a little west of the JOHNSON tavern, where he carried on the blacksmith business during the remainder of his working days.
Garrett REED, who was also a blacksmith, settled in the same neighborhood.
On the turnpike, east of Columbus Center, and next east of the Stephen HOWARD farm, Solomon RATHBUN first squatted and built a small tenement. He was an odd kind of a man, somewhat capable of cutting and making men's and boys' wearing apparel. His shanty passed into the possession of a Mr. CHAPMAN, who erected a shop for the manufacture of household furniture, to supply the needs of the first settlers. Dr. Isaac FINCH was the next owner of the lot and built a dwelling house thereon. Levi HAYWARD, a brother-in-law of Dr. Finch, settled on the river road a little south of the turnpike. He was a skillful and prudent physician and practiced in company with Dr. Finch. Dr. Hayward moved to New Berlin village and continued his practice.
Elias UNDERWOOD settled somewhat more than a mile up the creek from Jonathan BROWNELL's farm. He sold his farm to Abel HYDE and went west.
Abel HYDE came in from Connecticut in 1802. He was a careful, prudent an industrious farmer and at his death August 14, 1839, at the age of 82 years, left his farm to his children.
Edward WILLIAMS settled on the south part of the same lot about the same time that UNDERWOOD settled on the north part. He was from Massachusetts, and was a strong, robust farmer. He died May 23, 1825, aged 54, and was succeeded on the farm by his children.
John MUNAL settled on a lot adjoining the WILLIAMS lot on the south. He built a saw-mill on the creek, which supplied the neighborhood with materials for erecting more commodious dwellings. Thomas LOW came from Albany and settled on the lot next west of Elias UNDERWOOD. He was of Dutch descent, an enterprising farmer and brought his farm into a good state of cultivation. His son-in-law, Frank EAGLES, settled on the south-west fifty acres of the LOW lot and remained thereon till his death.
Jared COOK purchased the LOW farm and settled on it about 1804 or '05. His son's widow now lives on it.
Major Walter CLARK, a native of Connecticut, came here about 1803 from Hartwick, N.Y., where he had lived a year or two. He settled on the lot next north of the LOW lot, adjoining the SIMMONS lot on the west, about two miles north-west of the village. The farm is now owned by Alanson CAMPBELL. He had five children who grew to maturity, two of whom, Rensselaer W., and Silas were born in Connecticut, and two of whom, Silas and Nathan, are living, both in Columbus. Silas is engaged in mercantile business in the village. Nathan is a farmer and owns the Stephen HOWARD farm a little east of the village. Rensselaer W. Clark died May 31, 1855, aged 53. He was Member of Assembly from this county in 1844.
Judatus WILLIAMS, who, like all who settled in that neighborhood, was a Connecticut man, settled on the lot adjoining the Ambrose HYDE farm on the north. He died June 24, 1852, aged 77, and Abigail, his wife, Oct . 10, 1842, aged 69.
A Mr. NICHOLS and two sisters first settled on a lot adjoining the Judatus WILLIAMS lot on the north, the last part of 1798, and cleared a patch large enough to build a sort of shanty to live in.
On the opposite side of the road running north and south through the neighborhood, Ezra LOOMIS settled and cleared up a farm. He was a son of Thomas LOOMIS of the Revolutionary army, the latter of which died Sept. 5, 1842, aged 86. Isaiah LOOMIS settled on the lot next north of the Ezra Loomis lot; Solomon ALDRICH, a native of Rhode Island on a wild lot a little north of the WILLIAMS and LOOMIS neighborhood; and Stephen SEARS near the latter. Mr. SEARS was a deacon of the Congregational Church, a quiet, peaceable neighbor and cleared up his farm by industry and hard labor. He died March 14, 1847, aged 84, and "Sary," his wife, May 7, 1838, aged 72. A Mr. CROSBY settled near Mr. SEARS and married one of his daughters. This wedding was one of the first in the town. The first marriage is said to have been contracted by Joseph MEDBERRY and Hannah BROWN in 1794.
John TRACY came from Norwich, Conn., in 1806, and located about a mile west of the center, where he was engaged in farming till his death, Jan. 14, 1820. His children were Rachel, born Aug. 22, 1781; John, born Oct. 26, 1783, married Susan, daughter of Joseph HYDE, of Norwich, Aug. 30, 1813, at Franklin, Conn., and was an early and prominent lawyer in Oxford [see page 289 of this work]; Zebadiah L., born Oct. 8, 1786; Ulysses, Bela, born April 19, 1794; Esther, Emily, Ulysses and Harriet.
A Mr. SALISBURY settled on a lot next east of the Elias UNDERWOOD lot. He sold to Elijah FULLER and went west. Mr. FULLER and his young wife settled on this lot about 1805. He was industrious, economical and prudent, and left his property to his children. He died April 30, 1864, aged 87, and Ruth, his wife, Feb. 12, 1849, aged 68. Price FRENCH taught the school on the old turnpike in the Gilbert BARNS neighborhood one or two winters. The school-house stood on the GAGE lot, on the north side of the road, west of Mr. BARNS' residence. It was the first school taught in that neighborhood. The first school in the town is said to have been kept by Nicholas PAGE.
William GRIFFIN was one of the early settlers in Columbus. He came from one of the New England states, and became a well-known business man among the first settlers. He purchased the tavern stand on the turnpike at Columbus Center, owned by Jonathan BROWNELL, and kept the tavern several years. He died Oct. 5, 1838, aged 56, and Dolly, his wife, April 5, 1837, aged 67
Sampson SPAULDING, from Massachusetts, was one of the first settlers in the town. He purchased and settled on a wild lot near the head waters of Shawley brook in the neighborhood of Captain David SMITH and Silas AMES.
Merchants:- Elisha MORGAN was engaged in mercantile business as early as 1810, at Columbus Corners, which was then more considerable of a settlement than the Center. He continued in trade till 1831.
Deacon Benjamin STORRS, from Connecticut, was engaged in mercantile business at the Center, in company with his brother Lathrop, from 1815 to 1821, and subsequently alone till about 1831, when he was succeeded by his son Experience, who continued the business till his death, October 26, 1833. On the death of his son Experience, Benjamin resumed the business, which after a few years, he sold to his son Hiram, who built the store now occupied by Larchar & Bryant, and traded there till 1856, when he failed.
John BEACH was trading in 1819, in the building now occupied as a dwelling by Elliot SHERMAN, but remained only a few years, when he went west.
Abner BURLINGAME, cousin to Anson Burlingame, commenced business at the Center in 1837 and continued till 1848.
In 1847, before MYERS commenced trading, Harvey HOWARD and E. Darwin HAYWARD were associated with Hiram E. STORRS about four months under the name of Storrs, Howard & Co., Storrs continuing till his failure in 1856. In 1856, Monroe GATES commenced trading in the Clark store and continued till about 1858, when he returned to Plainfield, Otsego county, whence he came. Wesley H. LOTTRIDGE, a native of Columbus, bought Gates' stock in the fall of 1858 and traded till 1863, when he sold to Silas CLARK, who still continues the business.
The only other merchants engaged in business here are Larchar & Bryant, (O. D. LARCHAR and George M. BRYANT.) The business was established in 1871, by Jerome NORTON.
Physicians:- The earliest physicians in Columbus were Drs. Noah B. FOOT and Tracy ROBINSON, though which was first is not certain. Dr. FOOT located a half mile west of the village, but remained only a few months. Dr. ROBINSON located two and a half miles east of the village at what is known as Columbus Corners, where, at an early day, there was a post-office, which was removed across the river to South Edmeston some forty years ago. Dr. Robinson removed previous to 1817 to Binghamton, where he became prominent and died.
Isaac FINCH came from Saratoga county about 1807-10 and located a half mile east of the village, where he practiced till the spring of 1839, when he removed to Columbus Corners and practiced there so long as he was able.
Caleb G. HALL practiced here from about 1815 to 1835, when he went to New Berlin, where he continued till about 1840. He then returned to Columbus, practiced one year, and removed to Cooperstown, where he died.
Levi HAYWARD came from Saratoga county in 1812 and practiced with his brother-in-law, Dr. Isaac FINCH, till 1814, when he removed to Solon. He returned to Columbus in 1817 and practiced here till 1821, when he removed to Edmeston. After practicing there three years he again returned to Columbus, locating at the Corners, where he remained till February, 1826, when he went to New Berlin, and died there March 25, 1827.
A. BUCKINGHAM came from Otsego county in 1826 and located at Columbus Corners, where he practiced about a year and removed to the Center, where he remained till 1830, when he removed to Sherburne. After a year or two he removed to Columbus, and two or three years later again removed to Sherburne and established himself in the drug business, mostly giving up the medical practice.
Elias B. HARRIS came from Otsego, his native county, in the spring of 1847, and after two years' practice removed to Waterville, N.Y. Aristus BROWN came from Edmeston, Otsego county, in 1858, and practiced one year, when he returned to South Edmeston.
The present physicians are E. Darwin HAYWARD and Benjamin Alvin CHURCH.
E. Darwin HAYWARD was born in Solon, N.Y., June 10, 1814, and removed with his parents to Columbus in 1817.
Benjamin Alvin CHURCH was born in Coventry, in this county, Sept. 11, 1855.
Lawyers: - Although Columbus has been remarkably devoid of those elements which contribute to the support of the legal fraternity she has furnished a goodly number who have embarked in the legal profession. The following are the names of lawyers whose parents were early settlers in this town: John TRACY, John HYDE, John MORGAN, Edwin D. LAMB, Ira BARNES, Silas WARREN, Charles FULLER and Lewis CAMPBELL.
History of Coventry
History of Coventry
The first settlement in the town of Coventry was made in 1785 by Simon JONES, who came from Coventry, Connecticut, and located on the old Chenango road, near the center of the town, on 100 acres, which are now occupied by Timothy D. PARKER, and died there childless Jan. 12, 1817, aged 67.
Benjamin JONES, cousin of Simon Jones, came in from the same place in 1788, and settled on the same road, one and one-half miles south-east of Coventry village, where Thomas TIFFT now lives. He took up 250 acres of land, and kept there that year the first inn in the town, in a frame building which is still in use as a wagon house. He kept tavern but a few years, being principally engaged in farming. He was for some years the agent for the sale of lands in this locality. He removed about 1833 with a portion of his family to Wellsville, where two of his children now reside, Zenas H., a lawyer, and Clarissa, wife of William GIFFORD. Two sons remained here, Benjamin John Lewis and Luman P., the latter of whom still lives here, having carried on the boot and shoe business in Coventry some thirty-five years. The former settled about two miles east of Coventry, where Edgar PEARSALL now lives. He subsequently removed to Susquehanna, where he died June 22, 1858, aged 52. Sylvia M., his wife, died Feb. 16, 1875, aged 63.
Benjamin Jones joined the Revolutionary army at the age of eighteen years, and served till the close of the war. During his residence here, in 1806, he represented this county in the Assembly, and during his legislative term he was instrumental in securing the formation of the town, of which he was one of the first officers, and in giving it the name of his native place in Connecticut. He was the first member of the legislature from this town,* and was one of the first assessors of the town of Bainbridge in 1791. The first post-office of the town was kept in his house and was removed to Coventryville on the establishment of the tavern there.
* Five members of the State Legislature from this town are still living, four of them in the town, Rufus CHANDLER and William KALES, who were in the Assembly in 1858, and Romeo WARREN and Charles PEARSALL, who were in the same body, the former in 1866 and the latter in 1869. William CHURCH, now living in South Orange, N. J., was in the Assembly in 1840.
Burrage MILES came from New Haven, Conn., about 1789, and took up 200 acres, comprising the whole of the site of Coventryville, where he settled. Having kept a hotel in New Haven, Conn., his native place, he erected a frame house in which he kept tavern. In 1811 he built the present hotel in Coventryville, which he kept till his death, Sept. 12, 1848, aged 83. He married in New Haven, Elizabeth, sister of Ozias YALE, of Cheshire, Conn., who died Sept. 15, 1832, aged 68. His children were Betsey, who married Augustus MARTIN, Lumna, who is now living in Coventryville, and is the surviving member of the family, and Burrage, who lived and died in Coventryville, July 23, 1829, aged 24. They were all born in Coventry, and Luman, who was born in a hotel, has kept one ever since he was able to do business.
When MILES came in, Royal WILKINS had squatted on the creek, one-fourth mile south of Coventryville, and had made a small clearing and built a shanty, but he removed soon after to Afton, where he settled and raised a family. His location here was near where Charles PEARSALL now lives.
Ozias YALE and Deacon William STORK made settlements in 1792, and Deacon RICHARDS about that time. YALE came from Cheshire, Conn., and settled one-half mile north of Coventryville, where T. M. WILLIAMS now lives, and died there May 26, 1853, aged 86. He was a farmer, and held the office of justice several years. He was twice married. Hannah, his first wife, died Dec. 23, 1810, aged 55; and Agnes A., his second wife, March 8, 1875, aged 88. Two sons are living. Thomas, in Bainbridge, and Robert in Norwich. Evaline, wife of Nathaniel SMITH, living in Norwich, is a daughter of his. The deaths of his daughter Hannah and son H., both children by his first wife, the former Oct. 3, 1796, at the age of three years, and the latter July 9, 1800, at the age of six years, were among the earliest in the town; and the birth of the former, must have been among the first, if not the first in the town.*
* William, son of Moses ALLIS, born in 1794, is credited with being the first child born in the town.-French's Gazetteer of New York.
Deacon William STORK was also from Cheshire, Conn. He took up 100 acres, in the east part of the town, where he and his wife died, the former Dec. 3, 1822, aged 52, and the latter, Rebecca PARKER, March 17, 1832, aged 59. He was a carpenter and joiner, and carried on that business in connection with farming. He had eight children, only four of whom lived to attain majority. Two were born in Connecticut, but died in infancy, as also did the other two, who died young. The four who lived to maturity were Julia, who was born in Coventry Sept. 16, 1799, married Don C. PARKER, of Cazenovia, where they settled (and where she now lives,) afterwards removed to Greene, where he died Nov. 2, 1862; Anna, who died a maiden lady on the homestead in Coventry; Lauriston, who married Rheuby, daughter of William CLARK, of Cazenovia, where they settled and he died; and William L., a lawyer, now living in Cazenovia.
Deacon RICHARDS settled on the old Chenango road; also Hardin BENNETT, about 1792-5.
Roger EDGERTON settled about for miles south of Coventry, where his grandson, George Edgerton, now lives, and was killed there by falling down stairs. He came as early as 1790, in which year a son of his died, his death being the first in the town. Two of his sons are living, Hiram in Franklin, Delaware county, and Albert in Minnesota. One other grandchild is living in Coventry, Eliza Ann, widow of Cyrus SMITH.
Philo YALE settled in the town in 1794, when nineteen years old, and built his house in 1800. He dug the first grave in the cemetery in Coventryville, for William BUTTON. It is in the north-east corner of the yard.
Moses ALLIS came in as early as 1795 and Zenas HUTCHINSON and Levi PARKER about that year. ALLIS was a shoemaker and settled three miles south of Coventry, where the widow MARTIN now lives. He resided there till well advanced in years, when he went with his son to Ohio, where he died. None of his children are living here. His son William, who is generally supposed to have been the first child born in the town, removed to Ohio about 1830 and died there. HUTCHINSON came from Coventry, Conn., where he was born Sept. 17, 1782, and settled on the first farm west of Coventry village, which is now owned by John KALES. He afterwards removed to the Corners and died there Nov. 3, 1869. He held the office of Justice of the Peace for thirty years, and was town clerk and school teacher a great many years. He married Electa TRUMBULL, who was born March 3, 1794, and whose father was an early settler in the town, where she died Feb. 18, 1870. He had two children, both daughters, Calista, wife of Chauncey S. WILLIAMS, living in Coventry, and Sophia, who died at the age of seventeen.
PARKER came from Cheshire, Conn., and settled on the site of the Congregational parsonage in Coventry village. He afterwards removed to the west part of the town to the place where his son Levi now lives, died and there April 9, 1846, aged 79. Phebe, his wife, died Oct. 4, 1859, aged 89. His children were Eldad, who settled in Coventryville, where he died June 4, 1820, aged 26: Levi, married and settled where his daughter, Mrs. Daniel BEECHER, now lives, and died there Oct. 3, 1864, aged 68, and Polly G., his wife, Oct, 5, 1854, aged 59; Aaron, who was a Baptist minister, and is now living at an advanced age; Luman, who settled at Coventryville; Laura, who married Merit STODDARD, and after his death Oct. 12, 1820, Ahira BARDEN, with whom she is now living in Tioga county, aged about 90; Phebe, who married A. B. DODGE, and is living in Triangle, Broome county, aged about 70; and Lucinda, who died young and unmarried. James S. Parker, a merchant in Coventry, Mrs. Daniel BEECHER, of Coventry, Merrit S. Parker, a merchant in Greene, and Mary, wife of Dr. M. B. SPENCER, of Guilford, are grandchildren of his.
Record WILBUR came in from Vermont as early as 1798, and settled about a mile south of Coventry, on the place where Loren B. PORTER now lives, and died there Jan. 29, 1862, at the advanced age of 99 years. Naomi, his wife, died Jan. 21, 1842, aged 76. They had no children.
A man named CHILDS, whose wife was a sister of of Record WILBUR's, came in soon after WILBUR and made a cleaning and planted corn on the place now owned by Susan JUDD. He remained only one summer, and returned to Vermont, from whence he came. His wife never came.
Captain Jotham PARKER came in as early as 1795, probably about that year, and settled one mile south of Coventryville, on the place now owned by Reuben PEARSALL. He built in that locality, in 1795, the first grist-mill in the town. He kept there also, in an addition to the south part of his house, the first store in the town. Hiland, his son, afterwards kept store there in company with Benjamin JONES. Capt. Parker also kept a tavern. He died there, after a short but active business life, July 19, 1815, aged 62. His wife, Sarah, survived him many years, and died Nov. 15, 1848, at the advanced age of 90 years. His children were: Hiland, Jotham, Jr., who died in February, 1839, aged 42; Luman, who died Oct. 8, 1801, aged 20; Emily, and the widow LOVELAND. Emily is the only one now living.
The grist-mill built by Captain Parker was located on a small brook, one-fourth mile south of Coventryville, near the residence of Charles PEARSALL. A portion of the stone foundation may yet be seen. It was operated as a grist-mill till about 1854, when William WARNER converted it into a carpenter shop, which was burned about four years ago.
Simeon PARKER settled at an early day one and one-half miles north of Coventryville, where his grandson, Peter Parker, now lives, and where he and his wife died, the former Feb. 7, 1824, aged 48, and the latter July 30, 1835, aged 60. He married Polly SPRAGUE. Their marriage was the first one contracted in the town. Their children were: Lucius, Hiram, Simeon, Joel, Henry, Merrit, Polly, Betsey, Sally, Louisa and Nancy, only two of whom are living, Nancy, a maiden lady, in Oxford, and Betsey, who married a man named COY, and is living in Butternuts.
A man named STIMSON settled in the north-east corner of the town on the farm now occupied by Draper EASTON, in 1800, and died there. He had six children, Jason, who married Betsey JOHNSON, Simeon, Roswell, who married a sister of Jason's wife, Nancy, who married Ira BARTHOLOMEW, Betsey, and another daughter who married the father of William GILBERT, all of whom are dead.
Deacon John STODDARD, who was born July 1, 1763, came in from Watertown, Conn., his native place, in 1801, and settled in Coventryville, on the farm now owned and occupied by his grandson, Wm. A. Stoddard, where he died Feb. 24, 1821. He came in with his family, consisting of his wife, Sarah, daughter of Nathan WOODWARD, of Watertown, Conn, and six children, Curtis, Merit, Polly, John, Sarah, and Elijah Woodward. Three were born after they came here, Abigail, Wells and Abiram, but not one of the nine is still living. He took 250 acres of land, nearly 100 acres of which is still occupied by his grandsons, John and William A. Stoddard. He wife died January 2, 1840, aged 83.
The Stoddards have been a prominent, influential and highly respected family. Curtis married Hepsey, daughter of Samuel MARTIN, from Watertown, Conn., who came in with Mr. Stoddard in 1800 and prospected the lands they took up and accompanied him in his settlement the following year. Mr. MARTIN died here Jan. 17, 1840, aged 76, and Phebe, his wife, March 22, 1841, aged 76. Curtis Stoddard settled on 50 acres of his father's farm, where he raised a family of eight children. After the death of his wife he removed to Little St. Joseph, Ohio, where he died in 1834. Merit Stoddard, married, Laura, daughter of Levi PARKER, and settled in the west part of the town, where he died Oct. 12, 1820, aged 32 years. Polly Stoddard married Sylvester STEPHENS, of Camden, Oneida county, and removed with him to that county, where he died. After his death she returned to Coventry, and subsequently married Daniel BENEDICT. She died here in 1876. John Stoddard, who also became a deacon, married Merab, daughter of Oliver PARKER, an early settler in the town, where he died March 29, 1856, aged 85, and Abigail, his wife, Jan. 10, 1861, aged 89. John settled on the homestead of his father and died there Jan. 20, 185 5, aged 60. His wife died March 20, 1857, aged 60. He was a Justice of the Peace for twenty years. Sarah Stoddard married Deacon William Albert MARTIN, a resident of Coventry, where both lived and died. He died March 22, 1846, aged 53. Elijah Woodward Stoddard, who was born in 1799 and died in 1837, was graduated at Hamilton College in 1823, studied theology in Philadelphia and was licensed to preach in June, 1826. He married Althea COYE, of Cooperstown, and in 1826 was settled as pastor at Lisle. He subsequently preached in Windsor, in each place six years, and removed to Little St. Joseph, Ohio, where he died. Abigail married Miles DOOLITTLE, a resident of Coventry, who built in 1815 the first and only carding-mill and cloth-dressing establishment in the town. It stood on a small stream which was early known as Great Brook, about a mile south of Coventryville.* Abigail died Aug. 7, 1830. Wells Stoddard married Eunice, daughter of Eliakim BENEDICT, and settled in Coventry. They removed in 1833 to Marion, Iowa, where he died in 1853, and where his widow still resides. Abiram married Lavnia SMITH, of Derby, Conn., where he practiced medicine and died in 1839. Four of John Jr.'s children, Henry, John, Albert and Lewis and one of Curtis', Hepsey, wife of Joseph JOHNSON, are living in Coventry.
* It is erroneously stated in French's Gazetteer of New York that the first carding and cloth-dressing mill in the town was built by A. & William H. ROGERS about 1795.
Deacon Philo MINOR came from Woodbury, Conn., 1802, a single man, and made a clearing of two acres about a mile east of Coventryville, on the place now occupied by C. BURLISON. He returned to Connecticut the following fall and married Polly STILLSON, and in the winter brought his wife on an ox sled. About 1850 he removed to the place now occupied by Lewis STODDARD, and subsequently to Afton, where he died Nov. 16, 1864, aged 83. His wife died Feb. 6, 1848, aged 64. He had nine children, five of whom are living, George, born in 1803, Clark, and Esther, widow of Seneca Reed, in Coventry, and Mary, wife of Sylvester CORNWELL, and Sarah A., widow of Calvin FRANKLIN, who died Sept. 8, 1861, in Norwich.
At one time Mrs. Philo Minor left her home to go to a place near the Brocket Pond to arrange some weaving. She went on horseback. There were then no roads except "log roads." Taking the wrong one she got lost and remained in the woods all night. It was dark and rainy, and when she could no longer see she perched herself upon a leaning tree as high as she could and still hold the horse. She placed the saddle over her head as a protection against the falling rain and so passed the night, with the wolves howling all around her, but she kept them at bay by beating the stirrups together, thus making music which they apparently did not like.*
*From Hon. Charles PEARSALL's notes of Coventryville.
John MINOR came in about the same time, and he and his wife, Anna G. BEARDSLEY, died here, the former Feb. 9, 1854, aged 84, and the latter March 4, 1852, aged 79. Their daughter, Elizabeth D., married John FOOTE, a native of Coeymans, N. Y., who was a tanner and shoemaker, and settled in Coventry, where he held several military and town offices, and was Deacon of the Congregational Church. They had two children, Lydia Ann, who married Henry Milton KETCHEM and removed to Minnesota, and Jane Amanda.
John MANDERVILLE and Elisha WARREN came in from Massachusetts, the former from Granby in that state, in 1805. MANDERVILLE settled in the south part of the town, four miles south of Coventry, on 50 acres which now forms a part of Charles MARTIN's farm, and died there about 1819. He was the first Supervisor in Coventry. He had eight children, Asenath, who married Chauncey BREWER, Sophia, who married Lemuel JENNINGS, John, William C., James, Horace, Homer and Melancthon S., only two of whom are living, Homer in Foxburgh, Pa., and Melancthon S., in Coventry. Two grandsons, Asahel and Harry, are living in the town on lands afterwards acquired by him.
WARREN settled in the east part of the town, one and one-half miles south-east of Coventryville, on the place now occupied by Clark L. HORTON, where he died Jan. 13, 1806, aged 41. Lois, his wife, survived him many years. She died March 20, 1848, aged 80. He had three sons and one daughter, Woodward, who was born in Watertown, Conn., Jan. 17, 1791, was an architect and carpenter, and died Sept. 7, 1855, aged 64, Elisha, Lydia, who married Hial BENEDICT, and Romeo, the latter of whom represented this county in the Assembly in 1856, and now resides in Coventryville, is the only living one.
Settlements were made in 1806 by Jabez MANWARRING, Henry CHANDLER and Pardon BEECHER.
Jabez MANWARRING came from New London, Conn., and settled first three miles south-west of Coventry, on the farm owned by John BEALS and occupied by Franklin SEYMOUR. In 1812 he removed to the farm lying next north, and resided there till his death, April 23, 1861, aged 80. In 1808, he married Sally HOPKINS, from Waterbury, Conn., who died Oct. 21, 1863, aged 79. They had ten children, seven of whom are living, viz.: Charles B., in Nanticoke, Broome county, Henry and Edward S., in Windsor, Broome county, Lucius in Coventry, William in Grandville, Mich., and Samuel and Albert in State Center, Iowa. George, who died in Clinton county, Iowa, about 1864, and Sally Maria, who married Albert PRATT, of Afton, and subsequently David BLAKLEY, of Wisconsin, where she died, were children of theirs.
Deacon Henry CHANDLER came from Brattleboro, Vt. He stopped about six months in Bainbridge, and removed thence to this town. He settled at Coventryville and had charge of the grist-mill which was then in operation a little south of that village. He built a log-house into which he moved his family, and after about a year he bought a farm of nearly fifty acres about one and one-half miles south of Coventryville, now known as the old SANFORD place. He afterward removed to the farm now occupied by Benedict FOOTE, in the north part of the town. He went to live with his children in Bainbridge during the latter years of his life, and died there July 21, 1826, aged 72. Penelope, his wife, died March 25, 1841, aged 72. His children were Nelly, who married Hardin BURNETT, Sophia, who married Phineas BENNETT, Nabby, who married Calvin NILES, Michael, Henry, Selah, Rufus, David, Lockwood, and Lois, who married William WILSON. Rufus, who resides in Coventry is the only one living.
Parson BEECHER removed from the parish of Salem, Conn., now Nangatuck, and, like many others of the early settlers, fearing the miasmatic diseases and reputed sickness of the low lands and river courses, sought out an elevated location between the Chenango and Susquehanna rivers. He took up 100 acres of wilderness land a mile below Coventry and there raised up a family to usefulness, honesty and sobriety. He continued his residence there till his death, Aug. 10, 1843, aged 60. His house is said to have been the first frame house on that part of the Livingston tract lying in Coventry, and the first on the Catskill and Ithaca turnpike between Bainbridge and Greene, a distance of sixteen miles. There town meetings and elections were "regularly held," as well as stated preaching every fourth Sabbath. In January, 1808, he married a lady of his native town, (who died in 1875, at the advanced age of 91 years, with mind unimpaired,) and removed her to a log cabin in his forest home. The farm was retained in the hands of the family till within some 25 years, when Julius Beecher, who succeeded his father in its occupancy, sold it and removed to Wellsville, Alleghany county, where he now lives. Parson Beecher's other children were Sarah, who married a son of Curtis STODDARD, and after his death, Amos YALE, and is now living a widow on the Amos Yale place in Guilford, where her husband died Feb. 17, 1857, aged 49; Daniel, who was twice married, and is now living with his second wife, Betsey PARKER, in Coventry; Annette, who married Russell M. SMITH, and died in Coventry in the spring of 1877; Harris H. and Harry, twins, the latter of whom married the widow Phebe Ann RICE and is now living in Norwich; Hector, who married a lady named LEONARD, with whom he is now living in the south edge of Oxford; Elbridge, who married and removed to Ohio and died there; and Jane, who married John B. HOYT, both of whom are living in Pittston, Pa. Julius married Elizabeth PAYNE, and after her death, Sarah Ann STEWART, who is living with him in Wellsville.
Lewis WARREN, son of Nathaniel Warren, came in from Watertown, Conn., about 1808 or '9, and settled about three miles south-west of Coventry, where Ira FAIRCHILD now lives. He returned to Connecticut about 1811, and remained there till 1822. He died in the west part of the town, where his widow and two daughters now reside.
Harvey JUDD removed from Watertown to Delhi, Delaware county, in 1809, and the following year to Coventry, to the place now occupied by Monroe FOOTE, but owned by the widow of Harvey P. Judd, about a mile south-west of Coventry, where he, his wife, Sarah CASTLE, and son Harvey P., died. He died Sept. 27, 1857, aged 94; his wife Feb. 18, 1845, aged 80; and his son Dec. 27, 1869, aged 64. Only one child is living, Susan, widow of Lewis WARREN, who was 89 years old June 9, 1879.
Francis KALES came from Albany in 1811 and settled on the south line of the town, on the farm now occupied by Mark J. KEOGH, but owned by his father, William Kales. Both he and his wife were of Irish descent and both died there, the former in April, 1852, and the latter in February, 1847. John and William, both residing in Coventry village, are the only members of the family living. The latter was a Member of Assembly from this county in 1858.
David HUNGERFORD came in from Watertown, Conn., his native place, in 1812, and settled about three miles south-west of Coventry, where his son Chauncey has lived since his birth in 1830. He continued to reside there until his death, Jan. 12, 1860. His widow, who is a native of Vermont, still survives him, in her 97th year, with mental faculties but little impaired. He came in with his wife, to whom he was married in Watertown, and four children, Maria, widow of Moses HATCH, and Susan, widow of Harvey P. JUDD, living in Coventry; Rachel, wife of John R. GOBLES, living in Fulton City, Ill.; and Lavinia, who married Joseph SNELL and died in Kattelville in Broome county March 6, 1849. Two sons and three daughters were born after their settlement here, Sally, a maiden lady, living with her brother on the homestead; Anna, widow of Townsend BARNUM, living in Hastings, Minn.; Laura, wife of Ralph BAIRD, living in Coventry; David, living in Kansas; and Chauncey, living on the homestead.
Most of he early settlers in the locality of Coventryville and on the road extending north into the south part of Oxford were from Cheshire, Conn., from which fact the little hamlet in the south part of that town derives its name, and the road in question is known as Cheshire street.
The first school-house in the town was a log structure, located about ten rods north of Charles PEARSALL's blacksmith shop (one authority says it was north and another west of that shop). Sherman PAGE, the first teacher, then a young, single man, was a resident of Unadilla, afterwards became somewhat distinguished as a lawyer and legislator. Among the first school-girls were Roxy MILES, Patty MILES, Hannah YALE and Sally MILES, who afterwards became respectively the wives of Russell WATERS, Amansa IVES, ---- JONES and ---- BECKWITH. Mrs. WALTERS died May 11, 1835, aged 48; and Mrs. IVES, March 16, 1858, aged 84, and her husband Oct. 6, 1823, aged 60. After a few years another school-house was built in what was called the Warren district. It stood between the lands now occupied by Erastus JUDD and Joel Judd, (formerly known as the BENEDICT farm,) and was afterwards removed to near when Elam BARSTOW now lives, where it remained till after that district was united with the Coventryville district.
[Note: book used Waters and Walters]
Coventry Village
Merchants:- The first merchant at Coventry, it is believed, was Henry ALLEN, who came in from Coventry, Connecticut shortly previous to 1810, and kept a store in a part of his tavern. He left the town at an early day. Dr. Diodate CUSHMAN opened a store about 181 or '19 and continued as late as 1827, about which time he left the town. George RYDER was associated with him about a year.
William CHURCH, whose father Josiah Church, from Vermont, was an early settler at Church Hollow, which derived its name from him, commenced business about 1830, in company with David EVERETT, who sold soon after to Rufus CHANDLER and Zerah SPENCER, the latter of whom died Feb. 5, 1832, aged 33. About which time the business was discontinued. Church returned to Church Hollow and opened a store there. Chandler resumed business about 1834, with Gilbert D. PHILLIPS, to whom after after about a year he sold his interest.
Mr. PHILLIPS came in from Greenville, Greene county, and settled three miles south-west of Coventry, where he engaged in farming, wagon-making and running a foundry, which he continued till he engaged in mercantile business, when he removed to the village, where he died Dec. 18, 1872, aged 82. His widow is still living in Coventry in her 83d year. From 1840 to 1858, he was associated in mercantile business with his sons Edgar A. and James M. Phillips under the name of G. D. Phillips & Sons. Amasa J. HOYT became a partner in 1851 and Frederick LeRoy MARTIN in 1858, in which year the name was changed to Phillips, Hoyt & Martin. James M. Phillips withdrew in 1852 and F. L. Martin in 1860, since which time the business has been conducted by the remaining partners, Edgar A. Phillips and Amasa J. Hoyt, under the name of Phillips & Hoyt who keep a general stock of merchandise.
Romoeo WAREN, William CHURCH and Edwin BIRGE bought out Dr. CUSHMAN. After about a year Rufus CHANDLER bought Birge's interest. The business was continued some two yeras, when Chandler and Warren sold to Church, who continued trading some four years.
J. S. PARKER & Son, grocers, commenced business in February, 1877.
Postmasters: The first postmaster at Coventry was Dr. Tracy SOUTHWORTH, who was appointed about 1833 or '4 and held the office several years. Gilbert D. PHILLPS next held it five or six years, and was succeeded by his son Edgar A., who held it some four years. George CORNISH next held it about two years, till his removal. He was succeeded by William CHURCH who held it till about 1860, when his son Charles was appointed and held it till June, 1861, when Amasa J. HOYT was appointed. Hoyt was succeeded Dec. 10, 1877, by Mary A. KALES, the present incumbent.
Physicians:- The first physician was Diodate CUSHMAN, who commenced practice in the east part of the town as early as 1813. He afterwards located in Coventry ad practiced there till within a few years of his death, which occurred about 1838 or '9, while on his way to New York with a drove of cattle. He was also engaged in mercantile business here and at Chenango Forks. The next was Tracy SOUTHWORTH, who came from New Berlin during the later part of Cushman's practice as early as 1827, and practiced here some ten years. Alfred GRIFFIN came in abut 1830 and was succeeded in the spring of 1835, by Asahel WILMOTT, who removed in 1843 to the west part of the State. George STURGES came in from Coventryville in 1843 and practiced a year or two. S. B. PRENTISS practiced here some two years, about 1845, and at the meeting of the County Medical Society June 9, 1846, was made the subject of commendatory resolutions by reason for his contemplated removal. He went to Kansas, having sold his practice to William H. BEARDSLEY, from Butternuts, who removed to a farm about three miles south of Coventry in April, 1869, and is still practicing there. R. OTTMAN came in from Pennsylvania in 1845, but remained about a year only.
The present physicians are James D. GUY and Jesse E. BARTOO.
James D. GUY was born in Oxford, N.Y., Dec. 23, 1840, and studied medicine at Harpersville, Broome county, with his uncle, Dr. Ezekiel Guy, and at Nineveh, in the same county, with another uncle, Dr. Timothy Guy. He entered Geneva Medical College in the fall of 1866, and was graduated Jan. 23, 1868, in which year he commenced thence to Coventry Nov. 28, 1869, and has since practiced here.
Jesse E. BARTOO was born in Jasper, Steuben county, Feb. 28, 1847. He studied medicine in Dansville, N.Y., with Dr. Preston, and in Greene with Dr. R. P. CRANDALL. He entered the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati in the fall of 1875, and was graduated there May 9, 1876. He commenced practice in Greene in that year, and continued till the spring of 1879, when he removed to Coventry.
COVENTRYVILLE
Merchants: The first merchant at Coventryville is supposed to have Otis LOVELAND, who traded some three or four years from about 1809. He was succeeded by Russell WATERS, who traded till 1816, when he removed to the farm now occupied by Charles PEARSALL.
About 1818 or '19 Levi PARKER built a store on the site of the residence of George MINOR, which is believed to have been the first occupied by Thomas W. WATKINS, whose father-in-law, Burrage MILES, leased the land on which it stood, the condition of the lease being that it should be occupied as a store and nothing else "so long as grass grows and water runs." A part of Minor's residence is still fitted as a store, to comply with the requirement of the lease, though it is not occupied as such. Watkins traded but a few years. John REED and Charles G. OSBORN traded in the same place, under the name of Reed & Osborn till about 1833. George MINOR kept a small store on the same ground about two years, when Benjamin SLATER, from Norwich, rented it and kept it some two years. In the meantime he built the store now occupied by William H. IRELAND, which he occupied till 1851, when he sold to Calvin Franklin and Peleg PENDLETON, who traded about three years and removed to Greene. Harris BRIGGS and Rufus L. CORNWELL bought out Franklin & Pendleton and traded some two years, when Cornwell bought Briggs' interest. In the spring of 1867, Cornwell sold to William H. Ireland, who has since carried on the business, having been associated about one and one-half years, in 1867-8, with his cousin, Oliver Ireland, and afterwards with his brother-in-law, Thomas GREEN.
Postmasters:- The postoffce at Coventryville is believed to have been established in 1797 and kept first by Jotham PARKER, about a half mile south of the village, where he also kept a tavern and a small store. Just when the office was removed to the village, and who first kept it there, whether Thomas W. WATKINS or Russell WATERS, who are believed to have followed in succession, is uncertain. Waters it is presumed, held it till 1816, when he was succeeded by Dr. Edward CORNELL, who held it till his death, July 19, 1849. He was succeeded by Leonard R. FOOTE, who held it about four years and was followed by E. G. WATERS, who held it till about 1857, when Peleg PENDLETON was appointed, and was succeeded about 1861 by Rufus CORNWELL, who held it till the spring of 1867, when William H. IRELAND, the present incumbent, was appointed.
Physicians:- The first of whom we have any authentic information was Asahel WILMOTT, who removed to Coventry in the spring of 1835. Edward CORNELL, whose father, Lemuel Cornell, was one of he first settlers in Guilford, was practicing here in 1827, and continued till his death, July 19, 1849, at the age of 56. Tracy S. CONE came in about 1850 and practiced twelve years, and removed to Oxford. Charles G. ROBERTS came in a few years after Cone left and practiced till the death of his father, George W. Roberts, in Greene, Feb. 10, 1870, when he went there and took his place. Dwight E. CONE, a nephew of Tracy S. Cone, came in about 1875 and practiced two years. There has been no physician here since.
History of German
History of German
German was formed from DeRuyter March 21, 1806.
There is a conflict of authority with reference to the first settlement in this town. French's Gazetteer states that the first settlement was made in 1795 by Benjamin CLEVELAND; while Elias LIVERMORE is positive that Cleveland did not come to this county until after his grandfather, Abraham LIVERMORE, came, in 1796. We have no means of determining which statement is correct. [Abraham Livermore's tombstone, erected many years ago, bears this inscription: "He was the first settler in the town of German in 1796."]
Abraham LIVERMORE was a native of Pelham, Mass., and a Revolutionary soldier, who lost his property by the depreciation of the Continental currency. In 1795 he left his native place and emigrated to the western wilderness, with his family consisting of his wife, Hepsey and nine children, viz.: Abraham, Jr., Rebecca, Daniel, Polly, Abel, Cyrus, Hepsey, Sally and Martin. He halted for a few months at Paris, in Oneida county, where he left his family, while, in the spring of 1796, with an ax upon his shoulder, he made his way through the forest by means of marked trees to the locality of German village, on the site of which he took up 156 acres, embracing both the north-east and south-east corners, extending east about thirty rods and about half a mile south. He made a small clearing and rolled up a log cabin, which stood a little west of the residence of H. L. BENTLEY, and while thus engaged lodged under the friendly shelter of a large wild cherry tree, against which he put up some brush to protect him from the weather. This was his only shelter until his log cabin was erected. In the fall he returned to Paris and brought in his family with an ox sled, hiring some one to bring them. In that rude habitation he opened a tavern, the first in the town, which he also kept for several years in the more commodious house erected a few years after on the site of H. L. Bentley's residence, which was also the first frame house in the town. He also built, previous to 1807, the first frame barn in the town. It still stands opposite the residence of Mr. Bentley. The locality of his settlement is still known as Livermore's Corners, though the name of the post-office is German. He died there March 11, 1826, aged 77. After his death his wife went to live with a daughter in Paris, where she died, aged over ninety years.
Of his children, Abraham returned to Pelham about 1812, and married Hepsey COMSTOCK, of that place. He did not come back here till some 15 or 20 years after. He then settled on fifty acres joining his father's on the south and died there Dec. 2, 1846, aged 70. His wife, after his death, went to live with her daughter in Dubuque, Iowa, where she died. He had six children, three of whom are living, Abigail, wife of Abner BENTON, and Betsey Maria, wife of Alanson BENTON, brother of Abner, in Iowa, and Benjamin, who married Mary ROOT, of Cincinnatus, where they now live.
Rebecca married and moved to Indiana, where she died. Daniel married Desire, daughter of Michael MEAD (who settled in German about 1800,) and settled on fifty acres joining his father's farm on the east, which now forms a part of Henry Smith's farm. He afterwards removed with his family to Ohio and subsequently to Iowa, where he died. He was a carpenter and joiner and mill-wright, and built a good many mills in this locality, including the original one on the side of Walter O. BANKS' mill, which he operated for several years. It was a saw-mill, was built about 1825, and was the first mill in the town. There has never been a grist-mill in the town. He had six children, all of whom went west.
Polly married Hezekiah CRESSY, and settled in Aurelius, Cayuga county, where she died. Abel married Deborah SALISBURY and settled on fifty acres where William BURNAP now lives, where he died Sept. 15, 1849, aged 65. After his death, his wife went to live in Earlville, where she died March 24, 1858, aged 67. They had thirteen children, six of whom are living: Elias, who married Eunice LEACH, and lived in German till 1878, when he removed to Willet, where he now resides; Cyrus, who removed to Ohio and married there; Polly, who married Nelson CRANDALL and is living in Ohio; Maryette, who married Waldo PICKETT, and is living in Ohio; Farmer, who married Sarah PICKETT, sister of Waldo, and is living in Wisconsin; and Samuel, who married in Massachusetts, and is now living there.
Cyrus married Arabella ROCKWELL, and settled on fifty acres north of his brother Daniel, which now forms a part of Henry SMITH's farm. He removed to Ohio with his family and died there, he and his wife. Hepsey married Jonathan HEAD, of Paris, Oneida county, where she lived and died. This marriage was the first one contracted in the town. Sally married a man named ROWE, of Madison county, and and died soon after. Martin never married. He removed some twenty years ago to Iowa, where he now lives, aged about 86 to 87.
Benjamin CLEVELAND came in from Oneida county in 1797, and squatted on a piece of land next north of Abel LIVERMORE's. He staid {sic} only a few years, and removed form the county. His daughter Polly was the first child born in the town, but not as early as 1796, as is stated in French's Gazetteer, and Child's Gazetteer of Chenango County. We quote from the latter the following incident connected with Cleveland's settlement here:-
"These two families, so remote from any other settlement, suffered great privations and hardships during the first few years of their settlement here. In June, 1796, Mr. Cleveland's family were entirely destitute of provisions, and to procure a supply for their pressing necessities, he started for Fort Stanwix, (now Rome,) intending to return in three or four days. He was detained longer than he expected, and on the fourth day of his absence, Mrs. Cleveland and the children, who had eaten nothing for three days except a few roots found in the woods, started for their nearest neighbors in Cincinnatus, on the Otselic, four and a half miles distant. When about a mile from home they were frightened by the appearance of a bear in their path and thought it prudent to return. The next morning the mother was too weak to walk and the two older children again set out for Mr. RAYMOND's on the Otselic. Mrs. Raymond was almost as destitute as those who sought her aid, but made a pudding of bran, the only article of food in the house, and bestowed this and a bottle of milk upon her starving neighbors, which sustained them until relief came. At another time, when the family was reduced to the greatest extremity, two unmilked cows came to their house at night and went away in the morning, furnishing the family with a supply of milk for several days. It was never known where the cows came from or whither they went. Other families suffered in a similar manner, but by patient endurance they lived to enjoy the comforts and many of the luxuries of life."
Very few settlements were made in the present town of German for several years after these two families came in, although all around it the settlements were quite numerous previous to 1800. Why its settlement was thus tardy can only be conjectured as being due in some measure at least to it remoteness from the center of interest (Cazenovia) which largely induced the settlements in the Gore.
Michael MEAD is believed to have been the next to settle in the town. He came in about 1800 and located on fifty acres next east of Abraham LIVERMORE's. He did not live here many years, but removed to the locality of Cayuga Lake.
John BALDWIN settled early in the north part of the town and died there.
Capt. LAWRENCE came in about 1812 and settled a mile and a half south of German, on the place now owned by Mr. TORREY. He removed from the town after some ten years.
Merchants:- The first merchants at German were Platt SMITH and Charles LIVERMORE, the former of whom afterwards married his partner's sister Caroline. They opened a store about 1834, on the site of the present one, in a building they had previously occupied but a few years. SMITH removed to Dubuque, Iowa, where he married his partner's sister, and became an eminent lawyer, and is now living. They were succeeded by Nelson DREW, who came from Otsego county, and traded several years in the same building. He removed to Cincinnatus and thence to California. He has since died. Frank BARNES, a native of the county, who had previously clerked for J. P. HILL of McDonough, opened a store in the same building about 1847 or '8, and traded till about 1851, when he removed to Cincinnatus.
Ezra FULLER, who came from Fort Edward, Washington county, in 1850, and Alexander FERRIS, who came from Broome county, opened a store in 1866, in a building erected for the purpose in 1864, by Mr. FULLER on the site of the old one, which was removed and is now occupied as a residence by James LIVERMORE. They traded a few years under the name of Fuller & Ferris, when Fuller bought the interest of his partner, who soon after removed to Fenton, where he now resides. Fuller after about three years sold to William BAILEY, a resident of Cincinnatus, who traded two years, when the business reverted back to Fuller, who, after trading two years, sold to Chas. D. BOWEN, from Cortland county, who continued two years and sold to L. D. TURNER, by whom the business was continued some eighteen months till Jan. 1, 1877, when Ezra FULLER and Harvey S. NICHOLS bought him out and traded together till the store was burned March 1, 1879. The present store was built the same spring by Mr. Nichols, who opened it for business July 1, 1879, and still continues. Mr. Nichols came here from Cincinnatus, his native place. Mr. Fuller continues to reside in German.
Postmasters:- The first postmaster in German was Abel LIVERMORE, who was appointed about 1821, and kept the office in his tavern, which occupied the site of William BURNAP's place, till 1839, when his son Elias was appointed. He was superseded in 1840, by Nelson DREW, who held the office till about 1845 or '6, when he was succeeded by Mr. BURNAP, who has since held the office with the exception of about six months, when Abraham LIVERMORE held it.
Physicians:- The first physician in German was probably William W. PAGE, who was licensed in Oneida county, and located in the Stanley settlement, about two and a half miles north-east of German. He practiced a few years from about 1823, Oct. 14th of which year he joined the County Medical Society. He had left previous to 1827. Russell W. MORLEY, who had previously practiced in McDonough, practiced in the east part of the town a few years from about 1835. He returned to McDonough and resumed practice there. He died April 29, 1859, aged 74.
History of Greene
History of Greene
The settlement of the town was commenced in 1792, on lot 11, on the site of the present village of Greene, by Stephen KETCHUM, who came from Ballston Spa, Saratoga county, with an ox team to Oxford, and thence on a raft to his place of destination. Mr. KETCHUM was a man of great energy and character, and admirably fitted for pioneer life. His rude cabin, though not a public house in the common acceptation of that term, was the seat of a generous hospitality which was dispensed freely to all the adventurers in this section of the country. He was for many years the most noted man in the town; he was its first magistrate, and was the recipient of other important trusts. He died April 15, 1810, aged 58 years. His children and their descendants were among the most respected in the town. His sons were Stephen and Daniel, the former of whom died May 17, 1863, aged 85, and the latter, August 19, 1842, aged 42. Stephen married Esther SHELDON, who was born in Torrington, Conn., March 1, 1783, and died Sept. 10, 1847, aged 64. Hester, wife of Daniel, died April 17, 1866, aged 74. He had two daughters, both of whom are dead. One married Stephen BRADLEY, some of whose children are now living on the Genegantslet in this town; the other married William HOYT, none of whose children are living in the town.
In the fall of this same year, 1792, the first detachment of a colony of French refugees, who are supposed to have arrived at Philadelphia the preceding year, came on and formed a settlement. They consisted of M. de BO LYNE, M. SHAMONT, M. LeFEVRE, M. BRAVO, M. DuVERNET and M. OBRE, who, with their associates, fled from their own country to escape the terrors of the revolution. One of their number, Charles Felix de BO LYNE*, had preceded the main body and purchased of Malachi TREAT and Wm. M. MORRIS, to whom it was patented in 1787 or '8, a tract of 15,835 acres on the east side of the Chenango, which was subdivided in 1792, by Captain John Harris, a surveyor, into about 150 lots of various sizes, exclusive of the French village plot. It was resurveyed in 1807, by William McAlpin.
* This name is variously spelled BULOIGN and BULOGNE.
We have preferred to adopt the orthography of Charles
Felix Bo Lyne BARNETT, of Greene, who was named
after this worthy gentleman.
This advance party, a portion of whom had their families, which comprised some young ladies, came by the way of the Hudson and Mohawk rivers to Fort Plain, and thence across the country to Butternuts, in Otsego county, where they induced Simon BARNETT, a Frenchman, who had previously resided in Philadelphia, and had acquired some knowledge of the English language, to accompany them in their settlement in Greene. They were, mostly, gentlemen and ladies of education, refinement and polished manners, and their leader, M. de BO LYNE, is said to have been a titled nobleman in France. Until they could provide shelter for themselves and families they enjoyed the hospitality of Stephen KETCHUM, whom they employed to cut a road through the wilderness from their settlement in the "Chenango road," at or near the point where the east line of the present town of Greene intersects it. This road, the vestiges of which are still visible, seems to have never been used after the colony was broken up. A village plot was laid out, each lot containing ten acres, and the whole embracing about 300 acres.
"The plans of operation in carrying on their agricultural pursuits were the same adopted in many parts of their native country, where the agriculturist with his family resides in the village and owns and works a farm, more or less remote from his residence. With the view each was to select his farm on other portions of the tract, this combining social intercourse and good society with rural pursuits."
Rude dwellings were constructed from the materials at hand, and each settler proceeded to put a small patch of land under complete cultivation; while their supplies of provisions were drawn from great distances at much labor and expense. "Under these circumstances," says Dr. PURPLE, before quoted, "it is not strange that persons reared in affluence and accustomed to the pleasures of refined society should yield to the pressure of the misfortunes that soon overtook them."
In 1794 the little colony was visited by the celebrated French diplomatist, Talleyrand, who was then sojourning in this county. He came from Philadelphia on horseback, accompanied by a traveling companion and a servant, and after remaining here a few days, pursued his journey to Albany. Having while here made the acquaintance of M. DUTREMONT and family, who had previously joined the settlement, and become much interested in his eldest son, on leaving he prevailed of his parents to accompany him to France, where he subsequently became his private secretary.
In the spring of 1795, M. de BO LYNE, while on his way to Philadelphia, was drowned while crossing the Loyal Sock, a tributary of the west branch of the Susquehanna, then much swelled with the spring floods. This untimely death of their leader, and the failure to pay the balance of the purchase money due on their land (on which a considerable sum had been paid and a mortgage given for the balance,) and the consequent inability to secure valid titles thereto, led to the ultimate dispersion of the colonists, the majority of whom left in 1796. They descended the Chenango, in such boats as they could procure for the purpose, to its intersection with the Susquehanna, and thence down the river to a point on its western bank in Bradford county, Pa., where they again commenced a settlement which they named Asylum, but which afterward acquired the name of French Town.
Their lands in Greene reverted to the original patentees. Simon Barnett, the only one of the French refugee colonists who remained here, was born of French parents on the Isle of Martinique, in the West Indies. At the early age of 14 years, during the Revolutionary war, he started for this country in a French privateer, which was captured by a British man-of-war and brought to Philadelphia, where young Barnett made his escape. He afterwards learned the trade of a ship carpenter, and worked at it till he had acquired some property, including a house and lot in Philadelphia, which he exchanged for land in Butternuts, to which town he removed a few years after the close of the war. He married in Philadelphia Margaret SIDELL, who emigrated with her parents from Germany. From Butternuts, in 1792, he accompanied the French refugees to their settlement in this town, locating on a half acre of the Joseph JULIAND farm in Greene village, and after their dispersion removed to a 200 acre tract four miles below the village, on the east side of the river, 100 acres on each of Nos. 8 and 9 of the Treat and Morris tract, the lower half being now occupied by William BAKER, and the upper one having recently been sold to Stephen GALAWAY. Here he resided till within a short time of his death, at an advanced age, in March, 1838, when he removed to the residence of his son, Charles Felix Bo Lyne Barnett, who was born in Butternuts, Nov. 23, 1792, and is the only survivor of a numerous family
Captain Joseph JULIAND joined the French colony just before its entire dispersion as early as 1796, in which year he was chosen an officer in the old town of Bainbridge. He was born in Lyons, France, Jan. 17th, 1749, and in early life received a good Academic education. His subsequent studies were directed with a view to his becoming a medical practitioner and he acquired a good general knowledge of that science, which in after life, as commander of a ship's crew and a pioneer in a new country, proved very serviceable. His tastes, however, led him to abandon the study of medicine and adopt at an early age a maritime life, in which he rose through all the subordinate grades to the rank of commander of a vessel in the mercantile marine of France. In this capacity he made several voyages across the Atlantic, principally between the ports of Nantes and Bordeaux in France and Boston and Philadelphia in this country. His periodical visits to this country afforded him opportunity to travel in the interior, mingle freely with the people, and learn their language, manners and customs. On one of these occasions, while spending some time in the vicinity of New Haven, Connecticut, he made the acquaintance of Hannah LINDSLEY, the daughter of a respectable farmer, whom he married in 1788, and soon after removed to a farm near Greenfield, Massachusetts.
In 1798, having heard of the establishment of the French colony here, on being solicited to do so, he made preparations to join it. After disposing of his property he set out on his journey with his family consisting of his wife and two children. He penetrated this then almost unbroken wilderness "in the expectation of finding a new home and congenial society." Leaving his family in the present town of Coventry he proceeded to prepare for their reception here. On arriving at the settlement he was surprised to find that many had gone and that others were preparing to follow; but nothing daunted he purchased the land, including the town plot, abandoned by his disheartened countrymen and made it his home during the rest of his life. He lived to witness the success of his enterprise and enjoy in some measure the fruits of that prosperity to which he contributed so much. He came here as the agent of John JUKEL, who acquired through his wife, who was a LIVINGSTON, a large portion of the French tract. He died Oct. 13th, 1821; and his wife, who was born in New Haven, Connecticut, Jan. 27th, 1763, April 11th, 1851. He had five sons and one daughter, all of whom lived to be heads of families and resided in the vicinity. Four sons are still living, viz.: Lewis, George and Frederick in Greene, the former, the eldest, on the homestead, and Richard W., in Bainbridge. Joseph, who was born Feb. 23, 1797, died Feb. 13, 1870. His wife, A. M., who was born May 6, 1804, died May 1, 1860. Irene, wife of Richard W., died Feb. 8th, 1818, aged 25. His grandchildren living are Joseph in Bainbridge, and Stephen [sic?], wife of James M. BANKS, in Chicago, children of Richard W.; William L., Joseph B. and Emma C., children of Lewis, on the old homestead in Greene; Charles and Henry, children of George, in Greene; Joseph E., a banker, Cornelia, wife of William RUSSELL, senior partners in the firm of Russell & Juliand, bankers, children of Joseph Juliand, deceased, both in Greene; and John, Sarah and Minnie, wife of E. J. ARNOLD, a lawyer, children of Frederick, all in Greene.
Frederick Juliand, the youngest son of Captain Joseph Juliand, was born in Greene, October 9, 1806, and received an academic education in Oxford and Utica. He was one of the incorporators for locating the Soldiers' Home, and a trustee for the Inebriate Asylum in Binghamton from its inception in 1853 to 1868. He was a Member of Assembly in 1856, serving on the Committee on Banks, and was State Senator from the 23rd District, comprising Chenango, Madison and Cortland counties, in 1864 and '65, when he was chairman of the Committee on Public Printing and a member of the Committee on Banks, Roads and Bridges, and Poor Laws. In the Senate he was instrumental in securing the extension of the Chenango Canal from Binghamton to Athens. In 1876 he was again elected to the Assembly. In the summer of 1864 the town of Greene had occasion to forward funds to an agent at Newberne, N. C., who was there endeavoring to enlist men to fill their quota. Mr. Juliand, much against his will, was induced to undertake the task. He started by the way of Washington and Norfolk, taking the steamer Fawn at the latter place for Roanoke Island, by the way of the Dismal Swamp Canal. When about 150 miles from Norfolk they were attacked by guerrillas and nine of the party of thirty, killed and wounded. Mr. Juliand and the remainder of the survivors were taken prisoners and robbed of all their baggage. The steamer was burned and they were compelled to march all night, a distance of 30 miles, to Elizabeth City, where, after being robbed of $6,000, a portion of the funds he was transporting, he and Major Jenney, of Syacuse, were paroled, through the interference of a friend, the remainder of the party being marched off to a vile southern prison, where it has since been ascertained more than half of them died horrible deaths. He and his companions made their escape from Rebel dominion in a sail-boat, after being without food or shelter for about two entire days.
In 1793, Nathaniel KELLOGG, Cornelius HILL and Daniel TREMAIN settled at Brisbin; KELLOGG was a clergyman and organized there, in 1795, the first Baptist church in Chenango county. He settled on the farm now owned by ---- LIETCH and removed to Steuben county about 1820. He had only one child, a daughter, who married Selah BARNES. HILL settled on the TILLOTSON place and built near there, three miles above Greene village, the first grist-mill on the river within the town. He subsequently removed to Smithville and died there. TREMAIN, father of Daniel, Erastus and Silas Tremain, settled on lot 9 of the Livingston tract, on the east side of the river, about one-fourth mile below Brisbin, on the place now occupied by his grandson, Richard Tremain, where he and his sons died, Daniel, Sr., Dec. 21, 1853, aged 94, Mary, his first wife, April 9, 1819, aged 57, and Sabra, his second wife, June 4, 1842, aged 64. Daniel, his son, died Feb. 24, 1841, aged 51, and Cynthia S., his wife, July 14, 1849, aged 47. Silas died Jan. 26, 1818, aged 30. Mary, wife of Samuel WALKER, of Greene, Richard Tremain, of Brisbin, and Erastus Tremain, of Smithville Flats, are grandchildren of his. Erastus, son of Daniel, succeeded his father on the homestead.
Conrad SHARP, a Dutchman, came in from the eastern part of the State in 1793, and settled on the west side of the river, about three miles below Brisbin, on the farm now owned and occupied by the widow of Seth HOLLENBECK where, in 1794, he opened the first tavern in town. It was a log structure and in 1806 he had the honor of entertaining in it Governor Morgan Lewis, who was then interested in the establishment of brigade military trainings.
SHARP was succeeded there about 1807 by David S. CRANDALL who soon after built a frame house, and about 1838, the stone one now occupied by the widow Hollenbeck. He kept hotel there till his death, Oct. 31, 1857, and was succeeded by his son till within about 26 years. Crandall was born Nov. 9, 1772; his wife, Anna, was born April 30, 1782, and died Oct. 23, 1856. Dr. Ralph B. Crandall, of Greene, is a son of his. Harrison, another son, is living in Pennsylvania. SHARP's children left the town at an early day. Sharp built in 1795 the first saw-mill in the town. It stood near the grist-mill erected the previous year by Abraham STORNS and Henry VORSE.
Amos GRAY and Samuel WHEELER settled in 1794, the former one-half mile below Brisbin, and the latter on the site of the village, on the east side of the river, on the farm now occupied by Eli BARTOO, where he died. Gray, who was blind, was a brother of Elder Jeduthan Gray, who organized at Genegantslet, in 1807, the Second Baptist Church Society of Greene, of which he was for twenty-five years the pastor. The Grays were from Berkshire county, Mass. Amos died where he settled. His children were: Jeduthan, 2d., who, after attaining his majority, about 1807, removed to Greene village, where he kept the hotel on the site of the Chenango House, and removed West about 1810 or 1812; Enoch, who kept at Brisbin, in 1796, the second school house in town, teaching some ten winters in succession,* and lived and died in Greene village; and Amos, who lived on the homestead till well advanced in years, when he removed to Greene village, where he died May 9, 1868, aged 77. Warren and Bethuel were sons of Elder Jeduthn Gray, who settled on a farm between Greene and Genegantslet in 1807, and removed about 1825 to northern Pennsylvania, where he died, in 1830, at an advanced age. Warren possessed a highly intellectual and judicial mind. He enjoyed a large share of personal popularity, and held various town offices, among them that of Magistrate for fifty consecutive years. He died in December, 1868, aged 83. Bethuel died February 4, 1866, aged 79, and Cornelia, his wife, July 7, 1869, aged 75.
* The first school was taught near Chenango Forks in 1794, by an Englishman named Thomas CARTWRIGHT.
Samuel WHEELER was an Englishman. His father served in the British army during the Revolutionary war under Burgoyne, and on the surrender of that General, remained in the country. Samuel's children were: William; Samuel, who died March 26, 1847; aged 57, and Nancy his wife, December 27, 1860, aged 71; Harry; Ephraim, who died July 17, 1873, aged 68; Sally, who married Samuel WILLIAMS, (who died April 16, 1849, aged 63,) and is now living in Chicago; Margaret, who married Edson CORBIN; and Jeanette, who married Silas BETTS.
Abraham STORMS, from Coxsackie, and Henry VORSE, from Cherry Valley, came in as early as 1794, in which year they built, on the TILLOTSON farm, at the mouth of Crandall Creek, which empties into the Chenango about two and one-half miles above Greene village, the first grist-mill in the town. Storms brought in with him from the Hudson River country the stones for the mill, with a yoke of oxen. The mill did not stand many years, as every vestige of it was gone in 1807. The creek upon which it stood is now mostly dried up. Previously the most accessible mill was at Tioga Point.
STORMS settled first in the locality of the mill. He afterwards removed to the farm now occupied by John M. CHAPPELL, on the east side of the river, about two miles above Chenango Forks, where both he and his wife died a good many years ago. None of his children are living. VORSE's children living are: Polly, widow of Jonas UNDERWOOD, in Illinois; Betsey, widow of Zenas Chase, in Michigan; and William, probably in Minnesota. All of his children removed from the town at an early day, except Urania, who married Samuel RACE, and lived in the town till her death, November 6, 1866.
About this year (1794) settlements were made on the west side of the river, a few miles below Brisbin (sic), by Derrick RACE and John HOLLENBECK. RACE, who was born June 24, 1770, came from Egremont, Mass., having previously been here as a surveyor. He settled two miles above Greene, on the farm now owned and occupied by his son Derrick, and known as the Race Farm. He died there June 17, 1857, and Hannah, his wife, who was born July 2, 1770, January 7, 1861. His children, in addition to Derrick, were William B., now living in Oxford, aged 84; Abigail, widow of William RACE, in Greene; Christina, wife of Erastus BROWN; Charles T., and Stephen A., in Chicago; Nicholas, who died April 24, 1873, aged 79, and Annie, his wife, August 23, 1874, aged 78; Lucretia, who married Erastus TREMAIN, who died seven or eight years ago; George T., who died June 2, 1850, aged 49; and Smith, who died July 31, 1877, aged 71. Many of Race's grandchildren are living in Greene and Oxford.
Settlements were made from 1792 to 1795 on the Chenango road, in the south part of the town, by Nathan BENNETT, Joshua ROOT, Eleazur SKINNER, Thomas and Joab ELLIOTT, Roswell FITCH, Aden ELLIOTT, Philo CLEMMONS and Captain MANDEVILLE, who located in the order named from west to east. BENNETT settled on the farm now occupied by his grandson, Oliver Bennett, on Page Brook, and died there. Aden ELLIOTT opened the second tavern in town in 1795.
David PARSONS came from Armenia Dutchess county, in 1794-96, with his family, and settled on the west bank of the river, about a mile above Chenango Forks, where the widow of John OCKERMAN now lives. About 1810 he removed to the place now occupied by the family of his son Alva, in the upper part of the village of Chenango Forks, where he died in 1873. Chauncey Parsons, who was born in the last named locality, Oct. 13, 1810, and now resides in that village, is the only one of his children living. Alva died May 22, 1871, aged 75.
In 1796, Isaac ROSA settled on the east of the river, on the farm now owned by David BAIRD, about two miles above Greene. He subsequently kept a public house, at Genegantslet, where most of the public business of the vicinity was done. He was elected the second Supervisor of the town, in 1799, and was re-elected for five years. He was a man of marked character in the early settlement of the town. He was the first master of the Eastern Light Lodge. He removed to to Waterloo, Seneca county, about 1818, and died there about 1838.
Settlements were made in the south part of the town, west of the river as early as 1796 by Elisha and Noah GILBERT, Stephen PALMER, Joseph and Cornish MESSENGER, and Peter and Jacobus TERWILLIGER. The TERWILLIGERs were Dutchmen, were kinsmen, and came from the Esopus country, though Jacobus is believed to have come immediately from the Mohawk country. Peter settled about a mile north of Chenango Forks, where Cyrenus, son of Hiram Terwilliger, now lives, and Jacobus, two miles north of that village, where Simon S. Terwilliger now lives. Both died died where they settled. Peter was the father of Captain Herman Terwilliger, and Jacobus of James.
Nathan SMITH was born in Massachusetts in 1781, came in from Dutchess county with his mother in 1799, and settled on lot number 77, upon which he was the first settler. Underhill MILLER, from the New England States, settled at Brisbin, and Benjamin ROBBINS, Daniel BROOKS, Peter PERRY, David FITCH and Eseck L. HARTSHORN, at Greene village, previous to 1800. Squire Loren MILLER, of Brisbin, is a son of Underhill. HARTSHORN settled on the east side of the river, on a portion of the lands formerly occupied by the French colonists. He removed from the town with his family after a residence of eight or ten years. With the exception of Miller none of their descendants are living here.
Henry BEALS, who was born December 31, 1790, came in about 1800 with his mother and sister and settled in the village of Greene. He was a carpenter and joiner and built most of the frame houses in that village. He married Ruth, daughter of Samuel MARTIN, of Coventry, who was born August 14, 1801, and died January 1, 1833. He died November 24, 1852, leaving two sons and two daughters, all of whom are living. William, the eldest son, is a prominent man in the town of Barker, of which he has been supervisor for the last twenty years. DeWitt, the other son, moved west about 1840 to '45, and is now a prominent teacher there. His daughters are Susan, who married a Mr. STODDARD, of Coventry, where she is now living; and Clarissa, a maiden lady, who is living with her mother, Beal's second wife, in Greene village.
Edmond HARRINGTON, Joel WINSTON and Jared PAGE, settled on Page Brook, in 1801.
Lyman NOBLE, Daniel BOARDMAN, Herman CARTER, Joseph ANDERSON, Joseph WINCHELL, David WINCHELL, Zachariah and Ezra WHITMARSH and William DRISKALL, settled on the Genegantslet as early as 1801.
CARTER settled first on the western bounds of the town, on the place since known as the BOUGHTON farm; and when the Catskill and Ithaca turnpike was completed he located upon it and kept a public house at Genegantslet Corners. He raised a large family, many of whom are still living. He died Jan. 16, 1846, aged 82; and Mariam, his wife, Jan. 17, 1838, aged 73. David WINCHELL died May 17, 1873, aged 79, and his wife, Philura, Oct. 4, 1853, aged 53. The WHITMARSHes came in from the Hudson River country, from the locality of Coxsackie, and settled a mile above the Corners, on farms adjoining that of Eli WEBB. Both died in the town, Ezra on the homestead, which is now occupied in part by his grandson, Ceber Whitmarsh. Aber Whitmarsh, who is living near Brisbin, is the only survivor of Ezra's children. Zachariah had two sons and four daughters, two of the latter of whom are living, Rheuama, widow of Earlman ROGERS, near Whitney's Point, and Belinda, wife of Peter PERKINS, in Smithville.
As early as 1802, Elisha SMITH, Thomas WATTLES, Hial WATTLES, Jacob HOLT, Platt BRUSH, Sherman BOARDMAN, John BOARDMAN, Stephen KETCHUM, Jr., Daniel KETCHUM, Chandler CUMMINGS, Joseph RUNDALL, Elias FORBES, and Reuben WILDER made settlements on or near the site of Greene village; and Solomon and Benjamin HARRINGTON, Waters HINE, Asel STOCKWELL, Elihu SPENCE, Samuel A. SKEEL, James BURROUGHS, George BYRAM, Benjamin TOWNSEND and Daniel LOW in the south-west part of the town.
Elisha SMITH was the first local agent of the HORNBY estate, receiving his appointment in 1802, and all the sales on the Chenango Triangle from that period to 1812, when he resigned the agency and removed to Norwich, were made by him.* He procured the survey of the village of Greene in 1806, and to him the residents of that village are indebted for its spacious streets. He erected in 1803 the first building in the village on the corner occupied by the Rathbone Block, which he occupied as a dwelling and store. He was for several years Judge of the Common Pleas of Chenango county. He was a man of much enterprise, and his character was venerated by the early settlers. He died in Norwich about 1825. He was the father of Elisha B. Smith, Colonel of the 114th regiment, who was killed at the head of his regiment at Port Hudson in 1863.
Thomas WATTLES was a brother-in-law of Elisha SMITH's. He built, in 1803, the first frame house, for a tavern, on the site of the Chenango House, which stood till the latter was built, having been several times repaired and remodeled. It was first kept for some years by Wattle. Hial Wattles was Thomas' brother. Both removed from the town previous to 1814. Thomas was afterwards engaged in establishing mail routes in various parts of the State.
* Judge SMITH was succeeded in the agency by Robert MONELL, who resigned in 1819, when John D. HENRY served temporarily in that capacity till the appointment of Charles CAMERON in 1821. Mr. Cameron continued to act in that capacity till 1848, when all that remained of the tract, about 5,000 acres was sold to Col. Joseph JULIAND. He removed to this place from Canandaigua at the solicitation of his friend and countryman John GREIG, who was appointed general agent of the tract in 1806, and acted as such until all the lands were disposed of. Mr. Greig acquired a princely fortune by his agencies for foreign landlords. Greene continued to be the place of residence of the local agent. Mr. Cameron continued his residence here till his death, Dec. 26, 1852, aged 79 years. He was a native of Scotland, where he received a respectable academic education, and immigrated to this country at the age of eighteen, with Col. Charles WILLIAMSON, who came as agent of the PULTNEY estate. The party landed in Norfolk, Va., in December, 1791. For many years Mr. Cameron superintended the business operations of Col. Williamson, surveying lands and building mills and roads. He laid out the village of Bath in 1795, and was the first merchant there. He was the local agent at Lyons from 1798 to 1805, and built the first flouring mill there. He sent the first fruits of the Genesee Valley to an eastern market. He was one of the earliest merchants at Canandaigua, when the entire business of the Genesee country was done there. Few men were more extensively and favorably known as pioneers in Western New York.
Joseph HOLT was from the Eastern States and settled and died on the site of Frank V. TURK's residence, in the village of Greene. His wife died before him. He had no children. He had charge of supply trains during the Revolutionary war and was popularly known as Colonel.
Platt BRUSH settled just north of the farm now occupied by Lewis JULIAND, within the corporation of Greene. He removed at an early day to Oxford.
John and Sherman BOARDMAN, brothers, settled near the village of Greene, and about 1812 removed to Genegantslet, where they died. Their children removed from the town at an early day.
Chandler CUMMINGS settled first in the neighborhood of the village. He was then a single man, but afterwards married and removed to the place now occupied by his son, James C., about two miles north of Greene. One other son, Edwin, is living on the homestead farm.
Joseph RUNDALL was a blacksmith in the village and removed from the town at an early day. His wife was a stout, robust, masculine woman, well fitted for pioneer life and was known to cut beech trees two feet in diameter to browse her cattle. Their son, Johnstone Rundall, was the first child born in the town, an honor which was subsequently suitably acknowledged by a gift to the mother of a deed for fifty acres of land from the HORNBY estate.
Elias FORBES took up the farm now owned by Henry MATTESON, about two miles north of the village. After two years he removed to the farm which now forms a part of the one owned by his son Aaron Forbes, and died there.
Captain Samuel A. SKEEL afterwards settled near Birsbin, on the west side of the river. He was a surveyor and afterwards became a Universalist minister. He was a man of fine native endowments, conspicuous mental vigor and strong reasoning powers. He removed to the western part of the State about 1830 and pursued his calling in the ministry until his death in 1856.
Captain Joseph TILLOTSON came in from the Hudson River country about the beginning of the century and settled on the west side of the river, about three miles above Greene, on the farm now occupied by George CHAMBERLAIN, who married his grand-daughter, Augusta TILLOTSON. He was a man of great industry and frugality and acquired a large tract of land, including 1,000 acres in one body. He and his wife died on the homestead. His children were Sabrina, who married William B. RACE and died April 11, 1833, aged 37; Jeremiah, who is still living in Oxford; and Silas, who died April 14, 1872, aged 62.
Garry RICE came in from Connecticut soon after 1800 and settled on Page Brook, in the east part of the town. He is still living on the east side of the river, about two miles below Greene, aged 85 years. Five children are living: Maria, wife of William LAMENT, in Coventry, Phebe, wife of John FLAGG, in Binghamton; and Robert; Amanda M., widow of William PARKER and proprietor of the Chenango House; William; and Lucy, wife of Nehemiah SHERWOOD, a milliner, all in Greene.
David BRADLEY settled in 1803, and William BATES as early as that year. BRADLEY came in from Kent, Litchfield county, Conn., and being in good circumstances, took up considerable land, for which he paid down. He settled half a mile above Genegantslet, the farm being now in the possession of A. B. ROBINSON. August 29, 1803, he deeded to his sons, Zachariah and Smith, the farm, a part of which is now occupied by Philo WEBB. He died on the farm upon which he settled, May 30, 1837, aged 84, and Lydia, his wife, on the farm next above it with her son David, July 30, 1845, aged 83. His children were: Zachariah and Smith, who settled on the farm now owned by Philo WEBB, and the former of whom died March 24, 1863, aged 83; and his wife, Lodema, May 23, 1846, aged 68, and the latter October 15,1816, aged 35; David, who was born in Kent, Conn., October 31, 1784, married Sally, daughter of Stephen KETCHUM, settled on a farm of 120 acres, given to him by his father, and now owned by Daniel BRADLEY, a grandson of the elder David, and died there March 25, 1872; Timothy, a single man, who lived with his parents, and died May 13, 1818, aged 28; Orlow, who lived on the homestead and was for many years a Magistrate; Mercy Fanny, afterwards wife of Dr. Levi FARR, who was born in Kent, Conn., February 14, 1787, and died February 28, 1847; and another daughter, who married a man named BECKWITH, then living in Triangle; all of whom are dead. Daniel D. Bradley, Rachel, wife of Nathaniel MOORE, Mercy, widow of Robert EDWARDS, and Maria, wife of William HARRINGTON, all living in Greene, and Mary, wife of James CROMBY, living in Brooklyn, are grandchildren of the elder David.
William BATES also came from Connecticut. He settled on Crandall Creek, (named from David CRANDALL, an early settler,) about three miles above Greene, where he died about 1810. The farm is now owned by Derrick RACE. He had three sons, Loren, who is a clock-maker in Connecticut, Harris, who is living in Greene, and William, who went west some thirty years ago. His daughters were: Laura, afterwards wife of Hiram BARTOO, father of George Bartoo, a hardware merchant in Greene; and Anna, wife of George T. RACE, (who died June 2, 1850, aged 49.) now living in Greene.
Samuel LADD, the most prominent tanner in this part of the State, and a brother-in-law of Elisha SMITH, came in about 1803, and settled in the north part of Greene village, on the place now occupied by Albert MEAD. His tannery, which was a large one, stood directly opposite his residence. He carried on the tanning business some twelve or fourteen years, when he sold out to Robert WILSON and removed to Sherburne, where he died. None of his family are living there. WILSON came in company with a man named BARDEN, who settled directly north of the residence of Lewis JULIAND. Both were sea captains, and were driven from the ocean by the embargo of 1812. They were high-toned men and bitter politicians. Both removed from the town in the latter part of 1815.
John UPHAM, a poor, but energetic, thorough-going Dutchman, came in from the Hudson river country about 1804, and settled in the village and died there. He had considerable family, most of whom are dead. John, his eldest son, and Thomas, the next eldest, born August 21, 1802, were good thrifty farmers, and lived and died in the town, the former Sept. 5, 1863, aged 65, and the latter, April 10, 1873. Elizabeth B., wife of John, who resided in the vicinity of Genegantslet, died June 26, 1863, aged 74. He had two or three daughters who married and settled in the town.
Samuel PECK came in from the New England States about 1805 and settled in the north part of the town, on the farm now occupied by Mr. CULVER, where he died April 1, 1860, aged 79, and his wife, Betsey, July 6, 1864, aged 80. He was well educated and a worthy man and a prominent member of the Congregational church in Greene. He raised a large and respectable family of whom three sons, Daniel, Philo and Asabel, and one daughter Clarissa, widow of Levi MORSE and mother of E. C. and Edward Morse, merchants in Greene, are living in this town.
Eli WEBB came in from Egremont, Massachusetts, where he was born July 19, 1771, in 1806, and settled on the west side of Genegantslet creek, a mile above the corners of that name, on the farm now occupied by Stephen DAVIS, whose father Dow Davis was an early settler in the same locality and died there, he and his second wife, Cloe, the former June 6, 1871, aged 90, and the latter July 2, 1852, aged 57. Mr. Webb died on the place May 3, 1846, and Polly, his wife, July 27, 1854, aged 72. He had three children, all of whom are living, Sarah, wife of Heman CARTER, in the village of Greene; Ann, (widow of Moses B. ADAMS, who died March 9, 1873, aged 67,) in Smithville Flats, with her daughter, Mrs. Benjamin BROWN; and Philo, (his wife, Mary E., died Oct. 4, 1875, aged 64,) near Genegantslet.
Nathan WEBB, brother of Eli, came in from Massachusetts, about the same time and settled on Brag Pond Brook where Harris MONK now lives. He resided there a good many years and moved to Triangle and died near there. None of his descendants are living in the town. One son, Mason, died here; the rest of the children removed from the town.
Other early settlers were Col. John FORBES, who settled on the Gengantslet as early as 1807, and removed, about 1845, to Batavia, where he now resides, "in the yellow leaf of old age," "enjoying the conscious reflection of a well spent life," Henry BIRDSALL; the TERWILLIGER Bros., Solomon, Barney, Herman and Simon; and Levi FARR, Elisha LADD and Jeduthan GRAY, who also settled on the Genegantslet as early as 1807.
Henry BIRDSALL was from Westchester county, and settled among the first on the east bank of the Chenango, a little below the STORMS farm, on the place now occupied by the family of his grandson, John Birdsall, who died there in the spring of 1879. Henry and his son Henry also died there there, the latter about a year ago. Dorborah, widow of Amos PARSONS, how living on the homestead is believed to be the only one of the children of the elder Henry living.
The TERWILLIGERS were Dutchmen and came in from Amsterdam. Solomon, Barney and Simon settled in the "sap bush," in the south part of the town, Solomon, on the farm now owned and occupied by his grandson Solomon Terwilliger where he and his son Deacon Simon died, the former August 21, 1826, aged 78, and his wife, Gitty, Feb. 29, 1817, aged 60, and the latter October 19, 1876, aged 80, and his wife, Matilda, April 27, 1878, aged 75; Barney on the farm now owned and occupied by Theodore Terwilliger, a grandson of Solomon's where he died; and Simon, on the farm now owned and occupied by his grandson, Simon S. Terwilliger, where he also died. They came in single young men but subsequently married, and leave numerous descendants now living in the town. Harmon B. Terwilliger, son of Barney, now residing in Triangle, is believed to be the only one of their children living.
Philo B. PALMER, another early settler, was a native of Pennsylvania and became a resident of this town in 1810. He was a mechanic and enlarged and beautified the public house in the village, of which he was for several years the owner. He was a man of literary attainments, and removed to his native State in 1825.
The BIRDSALL family, though not as early in their settlement as many others, deserve mention from their business and social prominence.
Colonel Benjamin BIRDSALL came to Greene from Hillsdale, Columbia county, in 1816, accompanied by his three sons, Benjamin, George and Maurice, all middle-aged men, with families, who also became residents of the town. James Birdsall, another son, settled at Norwich a few years previous, and was engaged in legal and banking business. He was an active politician and represented the 15th district in Congress from 1815 and 1817, and this county in the Assembly in 1827.
Colonel Birdsall had a colonel's commission in the Revolutionary war and represented Columbia county in the Assembly in 1792, '3, '6 and 1804, and in the State Convention in 1801. He was a man of much enterprise, great force of character, urbane and gentlemanly, and possessed of an unusual share of mental vigor. He died in Greene, Oct. 8, 1828, aged 84 years, and Elizabeth, his wife, September 9, 1836, aged 83.
Benjamin Birdsall, Jr., his eldest son, was a man of much intellectual force, and was a magistrate for many years. He resided for many years a few miles west of Greene village. His children were: Colonel Benjamin, an officer in the war of 1811, and while in command of the military station at Greenbush, in 1818, was shot and killed by one of his soldiers, a crime for which the latter was executed; Samuel, an attorney at Waterloo, Seneca county, who represented the 25th District in Congress from 1837 to 1839, and died in 1972; William, who was a physician in Wayne, Steuben county; Betsey, who married Noah ELY, of New Berlin; Melinda, a maiden lady, who died some years since in Pennsylvania; and George, a farmer in Pennsylvania.
James Birdsall, son of Colonel Benjamin, of Revolutionary fame, settled in Norwich, as before stated. His children were: Henry, an attorney in Addison, Steuben county; Benjamin and Maurice, merchants at Fentonville, Mich.; Adelaide, who married William FENTON, of Norwich, who was subsequently Lieutenant-Governor of Michigan; Sarah, wife of Henry DILLAYE, of Syracuse; and Elizabeth, Rispah and Catherine, who reside in San Francisco.
George Birdsdall, son of Colonel Benjamin, was a physician in Greene. He had two daughters, one who married Mr. PERKINS, a teller in the Bank of Norwich, and subsequently a clergyman now residing in Springfield, Ill.; and Charlotte, wife of Rev. Mr. PAYNE, residing in the same place.
Maurice, son of Colonel Benjamin Birdsall, was a farmer and lived in the village of Greene. He was a man of high social standing, upright and universally esteemed. He died Jan. 7, 1852, aged 77. His first wife was Ann PIXLEY, of Columbia county, who died June 12, 1829, aged 51. He subsequently married Ann PURPLE, of Greene, who still survives him. He had eight children: John, an early lawyer in Greene;* Anna, who married Alvah HUNT, an early merchant and prominent man in Greene, and died February 20, 1878; Polly, who married Hon. Thomas A. JOHNSON, (who was elected Supreme Court Justice for the 7th District June 7, 1847, and held that office till his death, in 1872,) and died in 1865; Benjamin, who was a well-to-do farmer in Wisconsin, and removed in 1871, with his numerous family, to Iowa; Emeline, who married Robert O. REYNOLDS, a very respectable lawyer in Greene; Maurice, Jr., who married Elizabeth JULIAND, of Bainbridge, and after her death, Maria RANDALL, of Norwich, and who has been actively engaged in mercantile and other pursuits in Greene nearly forty years, and who is now extensively engaged in the produce business; Louisa, who married the late Judge Washington BARNES, of Steuben county, and died in 1859; and James, a physician in Wisconsin.
The following, illustrative of the character of and hardships and privations endured by the early settlers of this town, we quote form Dr. Purple's contributions before referred to:- "The pioneer settlers of this town, at least for the first few years, were subjects of great privations. Their roads were little less than Indian paths along the streams. The canoe was the principal mode of conveyance. Their corn was pounded and converted into samp by means of a mortar made in the end of a section of a log with a pestle suspended by a sweep, or taken to Tioga point, a distance of sixty miles, to a mill. These journeys were made in a canoe, and occupied several days.
"The road on the west side of the river was first traveled in 1794. That on the east side was not used until some years later. The road on the Genegantslet was made passable in 1802. Edward LOOMIS, in the employ of the Hornby estate, cut the road from Oxford to Smithville Flats in 1804. [Daniel Loomis, of Oxford, son of Edward, says that this road was cut through in 1800. He received from the Hornby estate as compensation for this labor fifty acres of land in Smithvlle, where he settled.] The road north from Conrad SHARP's was cut through the same year.
"The Susquehanna and Bath Turnpike, which passed east and west through the town, was made in 1807. The first bridge over the Chenango was built the same year.
"They (the first settlers,) mostly came from the New England States, though many of them had settled in the eastern counties of this State. They came poor. Few were able to even make a small payment for their lands. Much want and even suffering was the consequence. But common necessities produced the spirit of genuine hospitality, and in all the relations of life, from the raising of the log-cabin to the supplying the destitute at their tables, they exhibited more the spirit of family affection than of mere neighborhood sympathy.
Their only resources were derived from the manufacture of shingles for the Baltimore markets; or in felling the trees of the forest, cutting and burning them, and from the ashes making black salts for an Eastern market; and until they could have time to clear the land and raise food from the earth, they were very dependent on their more fortunate neighbors. This appeal was responded to with alacrity, 'not grudgingly,' but freely, even to the dividing of the last loaf. In this respect, at least, they exhibited Christian principles that would not unfavorably contrast with their more fortunate and refined descendants."
Merchants:- The first merchant in the village and in the town, was Elisha SMITH, who came in from Norwich as the agent of the Hornby estate in 1802, and in 1803 opened a store in a framed building erected by him that year on the site of the MORSE store, opposite the Chenango House for the double purpose of a store and dwelling. He did business till his return to Norwich in 1812. The building he occupied was burned about 1836-'8. David FINN, the first postmaster did business from 1805 to '17; and Osburn B. SCOVILLE from about 1808 to '15, when he removed to Maryland. William PORTER and ---- TAYLOR did business in company from about 1815 to '20, when they removed from the town. Simeon HUNT came in from Rhode Island, directly after the close of the war, in 1815 and traded till about 1819, when he went South to recuperate his health and died at Natchez of consumption in 1821, aged 36. He occupied the corner on which the BARNARD store now stands.
Charles E. BARNARD came in from Cooperstown in the fall of 1820 and bought an acre of ground and the store which occupied the site of the present postoffice and in which David FINN previously did business. In the spring of 1821 he opened a stock of goods there and the following year formed a partnership with William HATCH, who was elected sheriff of the county in November, 1837, serving one term of three years. This partnership continued till 1837, when it was dissolved. Barnard continued the business and the same year formed a partnership with Frederick MELOY, which continued one year. In 1838, his son, F. E. Barnard, became his partner and the business was conducted under the name of Barnard & Son till 1843, when they dissolved. F. E. continued until 1852, when he admitted his brother, Robert P. Barnard, to partnership, and the business was carried on under the name of F. E. Barnard & Bro., till 1855, when F. E. withdrew, and R. P. admitted his brother, Charles H. Barnard, with whom he continued until the death of the latter March 27, 1864, aged 32 years. R. P. Barnard has since carried on a general merchandise business alone. Charles E. Barnard built the Barnard store on the site now occupied by his son, in 1827. That building was burned in 1843, and the present block, which perpetuates his name, was built by him the same year. He died in July, 1850, aged 60; and his wife, in April, 1873, aged 75.
Asa WHITNEY, William PORTER and Warren GRAY commenced business under the name of Whitney, Porter & Gray about 1822, and continued about a year.
Alvah HUNT and Col. Elijah RATHBONE, the latter of whom came in from Oxford, commenced mercantile business in 1823, and in 1837 associated with themselves William HATCH, under the name of Rathbone, Hunt & Hatch; they built the latter year, the Chenango House on the site of the first public house in the village. In 1844 Messrs. Hatch & Hunt withdrew, and Mr. Rathbone admitted to the partnership Benjamin H THURBER, with whom he did business till his death, June 21, 1849, when Peter B. Rathbone succeeded to his father's interest. They closed out the business about 1852. Mr. HUNT was a younger brother of Simeon Hunt. He represented the sixth district in the State Senate in 1839, '40, '41 and '42, and was elected State Treasurer Nov. 2, 1847; serving two successive terms of two years each. He removed to New York at the expiration of his second term in 1851, and died there October 28, 1858. Anna, his wife, died February 20, 1878. Mr. RATHBONE was a man of great energy, industry and perseverance and was a very prominent man in the town. He was born April 24, 1792, and continued his residence in the village till his death. Mr. HATCH went to Batavia, where he lived in retirement some time and was suffocated there, he and his niece, by breathing charcoal fumes in their room. Peter B. Rathbone was supervisor of the town in 1858, and Sheriff of the county from 1858 to '61. In 1867 he moved to Syracuse, where he now resides, and is the senior partner of the firm of Rathbone & Knapp, proprietors of a planing-mill in that city.
The JULIAND brothers, Joseph, Lewis, Frederick and George, commenced business in 1830 under the name of J. Juliand & Bros., and dissolved in 1840. Frederick continued the business until 1862, when he transferred it to his son, John R. Juliand, who associated with himself as partner Henry MINER. In 1866 they discontinued business here and removed to Binghamton. The Juliand brothers are sons of Captain Joseph Juliand, who is referred to in connection with the early settlement of this town, and all are still living here, except Joseph, who died in 1870. Frederick Juliand was also engaged in the produce commission business, which he still continues. Arad and William W. GILBERT, from the eastern part of the State, commenced business under the name of A. & W. W. Gilbert in 1831, and continued about three years, when Arad removed to Massachusetts and William to the West.
John W. CARTER, dealer in hats and caps, came in from Norwich in 1835, and commenced business July 21st of that year, which he still continues. He was associated with Charles A. WHEELER as partner from 1864 to '70.
Maurice BIRDSALL commenced the mercantile business in company with Willis SHERWOOD in 1839, and continued with him three or four years. He was subsequently associated with various partners till about 1863, when he discontinued the mercantile business and engaged in banking, in company with Lewis S. HAYES, continuing about three years. He then engaged in the produce commission business, which he has since conducted quite extensively.
L. D. LEWIS came in from Sharon, N.Y., in 1834, and carried on the business of harness-maker till the opening of the canal in 1836, when he built the storehouse recently occupied by the late Thomas J. COLE, in which he did a storage and forwarding business till 1854, when, having for the three or four latter years been engaged also in the sale of dry goods he removed to New York City where he now resides. The business was continued here by his son-in-law, C. F. G. CUNNINGHAM, till his death, Oct. 13, 1878, when his wife, E. C. Cunningham, daughter of L. D. LEWIS, succeeded to the business, which she still continues, dealing in fancy and dry goods.
Eugene CUSHMAN came in from Otsego county about 1842 and did business some eight or ten years.
William F. RUSSELL was born in Monticello, Sullivan county, N.Y., and carried on the mercantile business there from 1834 to 1851. He married Oct. 17, 1849, Miss Cornelia Juhel JULIAND, daughter of Col. Joseph Juliand, of Greene, and in April, 1851, removed to this town. He built his present residence in the summer of 1851, and engaged in mercantile business here in September of that year, in the block now used as a bank, continuing till March 1, 1859. The following June he engaged in private banking with his father-in-law, Joseph Juliand, continuing till the death of the latter, Feb. 13 1870, when he became associated in the same business with his brother-in-law, Joseph E. Juliand, with whom he still continues the business under the name of Russell & Juliand.
Dr. Wm. D. PURPLE, dealer in books and stationery, who had formerly practiced medicine in the village for several years, commenced mercantile business in 1853, and still continues it.
Samuel WALKER, dealer in boots and shoes, commenced business in 1853, in company with C. B. WHEELER, whose interest he bought after the expiration of a little over a year. He has since done business alone, with the exception of the years 1874 and '75, when his son-in-law, O. E. MERRELL, was his partner.
Frank TURK, dealer in fruit and confectionary, commenced business in 1854, having been associated at different times as partner with S. A. WILLARD and George W. BAKER, each about two years.
John S. ATWATER, furniture dealer and undertaker, is a native of Homer and removed from German to Greene in 1855. In 1864 he commenced his present business, having been associated as partner from 1867 to '72 with A. P. KELSEY, whose interest he bought in 1872.
James RAMSEY, grocer, came in from Smithville in 1865, and the following year commenced business in company with Charles GRAY, whose interest he bought after about two years. With the exception of one and one-half years he has since done business alone.
G. H. BARTOO commenced the hardward business in 1866, in company with T. D. WELCH, who sold his interest to A. D. MARTIN, April 1, 1878, and the business has since been conducted under the firm name of Bartoo & Martin.
David TERWILLIGER, a native of Greene, commenced the grocery business in April, 1866, in company with C. B. WHEELER, who did business together under the name of C. B. Wheeler & Co. seven months, when Mr. Terwilliger purchased Wheeler's interest. He admitted Chester RACE to partnership in 1869, and bought his interest in April, 1870, at which time William G. RICE became his partner and remained such three years and five months. Mr. Terwilliger has since done business alone.
Lucius T. DARBY and Oramel FORBES commenced the mercantile business in 1866, and continued one year, when Mr. Darby bought Mr. Forbes' interest and took in as partner Chaplin B. PERKINS, with whom he continued three years, when he sold his interest to Mr. Forbes, who, with Perkins, traded some three years.
E. C. MORSE, dealer in dry goods, ready-made clothing, &c., commenced the grocery business in 1866, in company with his uncle, S. M. MORSE, who remained with him one year. His brother, Edgar D. Morse, became his partner in 1868, and his uncle again acquired an interest in 1871. The three did business together till October, 1872, when the brothers bought their uncle's interest and separated, E. C. abandoning the grocery business to his brother, Edgar D., who has since continued it in a separate store, for five years, from 1873, in company with Allen PAGE. E. C. Morse has also carried on the confectionery and tobacconist business in another location since 1872, in which year he bought out S. P. Morse and John W. DAVIDSON.
John W. DAVIDSON, grocer, commenced business in 1872. He came into this town about 1838, from Triangle, from which town he removed to Connecticut, and to the village of Greene about 1854.
J. B. HUNTING, jeweler, came in from Bainbridge, and commenced business in June, 1873.
L. LOMBARD, boot and shoe dealer, who was formerly engaged in farming in Greene, commenced his present business in the fall of '1874, in company with O. Lombard, whose interest he bought April 1, 1878.
Albert H. SHAPLEY, jeweler, came from Hamilton in August, 1874, and in 1875 commenced his present business, which he has since continued.
F. L. PERKINS, general merchant, came in from Whitney's Point, where he was engaged in the same business, in Oct., 1877.
J. S. WOOD, druggist, who was formerly a resident of the village, commenced business in January, 1878.
Johnson & Graves (S. M. JOHNSON and George D. GRAVES,) furniture dealers and undertakers, came in from Bainbridge, their native town, and commenced business in April, 1878.
James A. HARRISON, druggist, who was formerly a resident of the village, commenced business in 1878, at which time he bought out Dr. Marcus M. WOOD, who commenced the drug business here in 1857.
Edward G. KINNEY, hardward merchant, who was formerly a resident of the village, commenced business April 1, 1879.
G. H. BURLINGAME & Co., (L. ARCHAMBEAULT,) dealers in clothing, hats and caps, came in from Binghamton and commenced business in April, 1879.
Other merchants who have done business here, are: Calhoun & Conklyn, Benjamin PERKINS, B. B. REED, Glover & Perkins, in 1842; A. D. ADAMS, C. & A. SQUIRES, Bingham & Maynard, BIRDSALL, Nichols & Lyon and Israel BALDWIN, who are believed to have succeeded each other about in the order named.
Postmaster:- The postoffice at Greene was established in 1807. The route on which it formed a station extended from Cooperstown, via Oxford, to Chenango Point (now Binghamton.) The first mail carrier was Charles THORP. ..... The successive postmasters from 1807 to 1870 are as follows: David FINN from 1807-'10; Charles JOSSLYN, 1810-'24; E. B. SMITH, 1824-'33; William M. PATTERSON, 1833-'34; Erastus PERKINS, 1834-'36; Charles SQUIRES, 1836-'41; Frederick JULIAHD, 1841-'45; Charles SQUIRES, 1945-'49; Chester BINGHAM, 1849-'53; William D. PURPLE, 1853-'61; Lucius T. DARBY, 1861-'66; Peter B. RATHBONE, 1866-'69; and Chales B. WHEELER, the present incumbent, who was appointed April 14, 1869.
Physicians:- Dr. GUTHRIE was the first physician in the town. He settled on the river a mile or so below the village, but remained only a short time. Dr. FINCH settled by Conrad SHARP's. He, too, remained but a short time.
Dr. Charles JOSSLYN was the first physician in the village. He came here from Butternuts, Otsego county, in 1805, and located first at Conrad SHARP's. The following year he removed to the village, where for twenty-one years he devoted himself to his professional duties with approbation and success. He was a man of mark among the settlers, and was honored with various responsible public trusts. He was postmaster at Greene for fourteen years, Justice for seventeen years, and County Judge for a like period. He removed from the town about 1826, and died in Windsor, visiting one of his children there, in 1850.
Levi FARR, M.D., was born in Pittsfield, Mass., July 8, 1787, and removed to this town from Montgomery county in 1807. He settled first at Genegantslet, where he married Mercy Fanny, daughter of David BRADLEY, an early settler in that locality. He entered at once upon the active duties of his profession, and pursued them with untiring zeal and devotion to the interests of his patrons, who were widely scattered over a large section of sparsely settled country, mingling with his professional services kindly counsel and advice, which were as eagerly sought and for which he was not less highly respected. He "filled a large space in the public mind, and is gratefully remembered by his contemporaries." He removed to this village in 1825, and died here July 22, 1859. From his youth he was troubled with imperfect vision, and about 1840 became entirely blind. He accumulated a very handsome property, and gave by his will $4,000 as a permanent fund for the benefit of the common school in this village. He enjoyed in a large degree the confidence of his fellow-townsmen, who often elected him to positions of trust and responsibility. He was a Magistrate in the town for a number of years.
George BIRDSALL came in from Columbia county in 1816, and practiced more or less until his death. S. K. BRADLEY, son of David Bradley, practiced here from 1831 to about 1836. He removed to Ohio, and died there a few years later.
Augustus WILLARD, M.D., was born in 1800, and was the eldest son of Samuel Willard, M.D., of Stafford, Connecticut, who was graduated at Harvard college in 1787. He received a good common school and academic education and entered upon the study of medicine with Dr. THOMAS of Cooperstown. In 1821 he entered the office of Dr. Charles JOSLYN, of Greene, and there, and at Harvard Medical college, where he was graduated in 1823, completed his preparatory medical studies. He was graduated with a class of about forty and received the prize for the best Medical thesis. In 1824, at the written solicitation of a number of its citizens, he located in the village of Greene, where his strong intellectual powers, studious habits, critical research, and undivided application to professional duties soon gave him prominence among his contemporary practitioners. His long and exemplary professional career fully merited the generous confidence reposed in him by the entire community as an honest, upright and skillful physician. In his professional associations the County, State and National associations felt the influence of his talents and his ardent devotion to their interests. He was elected President of the State Medical Society, at the semi-centennial anniversary of that organization in Feb., 1857, and in 1858, he delivered the annual address before that Society, in the Assembly Chamber. Dr. Willard was a conspicuous and devoted member of the Masonic fraternity and was rewarded with its highest honors. His obsequies were numerously attended and conducted by members of that fraternity, the services being rendered by M. W. G. M., Clinton F. PAIGE of Binghamton. He died March 12th, 1868, aged 68, and Catharine S., his wife, April 3, 1845, aged 38.
C. Cameron Willard, M.D., son of Augustus Willard, M.D., was born Nov. 4th, 1828, and studied medicine with his father. He was graduated at New York, and practiced here about three years preceding his death which occurred Sept. 24th, 1786.
Charles S. WOOD came in from Connecticut in 1851, and practiced here until about 1862, when he entered the army as surgeon. After leaving the army he went to California and subsequently to New York, where he is now in the full tide of successful practice.
George W. ROBERTS came in from Troy in 1840, and after spending two or three years on a farm, moved into the village and commenced the practice of medicine, which he continued till his death Feb. 10, 1870. He was the pioneer homeopathist in Chenango county.
The present physicians are: William D. PURPLE, Marcus M. WOOD, Ralph B. CRANDALL, Leonard M. JOHNSON, Charles G. ROBERTS, and Geo. O. WILLIAMS.
William D. PURPLE, M.D., was born in Burlington, Otsego county, April 6, 1802. His father was Edward Purple, an early settler in the town of Smithville. Dr. Purple commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Charles JOSSLYN of Greene, in 1820, and remained with him four years. He afterwards continued his studies with Arthur PACKER and Austin ROUSE of Oxford. He was licensed to practice in 1824, and entered upon the duties of his profession in Bainbridge, where he remained six years, when he removed to Greene. He practiced here till 1853, when he abandoned the medical profession and engaged in mercantile business, which he still continues. Dr. Purple possesses a remarkably retentive memory, and his mind is a rich store-house of facts and incidents connected with the early settlements in this locality, with which he is probably more conversant than any other individual in the southern part of the county. His efforts to rescue from oblivion the intensely interesting facts which enter into the early chapters of the county's history, and which are rapidly passing out of the reach of the present generation, are worthy of the highest commendation and of more general emulation. He has been a liberal contributor to the periodical medical literature of the country, and in 1849, on the recommendation of the State Medical Society, received from the Regents of the University of this State, the Honorary Degree of M.D.
Marcus M. WOOD, brother of Dr. Charles S. Wood, was born in Litchfield, Conn., August 1, 1833. He entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York in 1825, remaining that and the following year. He then entered the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1857. He commenced the practice of medicine in Greene April 1, 1857, and still continues it. He opened a drug store in the village in 1857, which he conducted till May 1, 1878, when he sold to James A. HARRISON.
Ralph B. CRANDALL was born in Greene, December 27, 1819. He was graduated from the Pennsylvania Medical College of Philadelphia, which he entered in 1854, Feb. 21, 1856. He commenced practice at Montrose, Pa., in 1854, having previously studied medicine, the latter part of the time with Dr. Rufus R. Thayer of that village. He removed thence to Greene in the spring of 1858, and has since practiced here.
Leonard M. JOHNSON was born in Le Raysville, Pa., Jan. 24, 1830, and was educated at Franklin Seminary, Delaware county, and at Hamilton College. He entered the Albany Medical Institute in 1853 and was graduated in 1855. He commenced practice in Berkshire, Tioga county, in 1856, and in 1858 removed to Nebraska. In 1861 he entered the army as assistant surgeon in the 3d N. Y. Infantry and was promoted to the surgeoncy of that regiment in 1863. He left the army in 1865 and settled at Greene, where he has since practiced his profession.
Charles D. ROBERTS was born in Troy, N.Y., May 29, 1835, and commenced the study of medicine with his father, Dr. George W. Roberts, at Greene, in 1854. He commenced the practice of his profession here in April, 1870.
George O. WILLIAMS was born in Norwich, Conn., April 14, 1843, and commenced the study of medicine with his father, Dr. R. O. Williams, at Upper Lisle. He subsequently pursued his medical studies with Dr. S. H. FRENCH at Lisle. He entered the Albany Medical College in September, 1865, and was graduated in December, 1866. He commenced the practice of medicine in the Spring of 1867, at Smithville Flats, where he remained six years, when, in the spring of 1873, he removed to the village of Greene, where he has since practiced.
Lawyers:- The first lawyer in the village of Greene was probably Hon. Robert MONELL, a native of Columbia county who removed to Binghamton in 1808, and opened a law office. John A. COLLIER was his contemporary practitioner there, and as there was not sufficient business to sustain both they cast lots to determine which one should leave. It fell to Monell's lot "to fold his tent." He selected this village as the scene of his future operations, and moved here in 1811. Thus Binghamton lost and Greene gained a most worthy citizen. In 1812 he succeeded Elisha SMITH as agent of the Hornby estate, and discharged the duties of that office in connection with his legal practice till 1819, when he resigned them into other hands. His duties as land agent brought him into intimate relationship, and formed for him a favorable acquaintance with the residents of this section of country, and prepared the way for his subsequent public usefulness. He as elected to the Assembly from this county in 1813, and again in 1814, being the first of his townsmen thus honored. "In that body, in the dark hours of 1814, he faithfully performed his duty by sustaining the efforts of Gov. Tompkins, in upholding the arms of the national administration in its conflict with Great Britain." In 1818 he was elected to the 16th Congress from the 15th District, then composed of Broome, Chenango, and Otsego counties, and such was his popularity at that time, that, notwithstanding a strong party organization against him, he received but one opposing vote in his own town. In 1825, '6, '8, he again represented this county in the State Legislature; and in 1829, '31, the 21st District, then composed of Broome and Chenango counties, in the 21st Congress. He was District-Attorney of Chenango county in 1827. February 11, 1831, he was appointed Circuit Judge of the 6th Circuit, which office he held till 1845, when he was appointed Clerk of the Supreme Court, and removed to Geneva, which was one of the four places in the State where the Supreme Court Clerk's office was located. He remained there in that office till the County Clerks were constituted Ex-Offico clerks of the Supreme Court, under the Constitution of 1846, when he returned to Greene and resumed the practice of his profession, which he continued until his death in December, 1860, aged 74 years.
Hon. John BIRDSALL became a resident of the village in 1816. He had received a liberal education at some of the eastern colleges, and entered the office of Judge MONELL as student. He was admitted to the bar before attaining his majority and became the law partner of his preceptor. "He signalized himself as a man of marked character, and held a conspicuous place at the Bar." In 1823, he removed to Mayville, Chautauqua county, where his shining abilities soon attracted attention and led to his appointment, April 18, 1826, as Circuit Judge of the 8th Circuit. He was then only 25 years old. He fixed his residence at Rochester during his judgeship, which he resigned in 1829 and returned to Mayville. In 1831 he represented Chautauqua county in the Assembly, and in 1832, '3 and '4, he represented the 8th District in the State Senate. In 1837 he removed to Texas and formed a law partnership with General Samuel Houston, the President of the Republic of Texas, and was Attorney-General of the "Lone Star" State till his death in 1839.
John J. TAYLOR read law in the office of Judge MONELL and practiced here a year or two, about 1834 or '5, when he removed to Owego, where he now resides.
Nathan CHAMBERLIN, a brother-in-law of Judge MONELL, was for some time in partnership with him here. He was appointed surrogate of this county July 8, 1819, and county clerk June 7, 1820, in which year he removed to Norwich, where he was postmaster for some years, and died about 1828.
Adam G. RANSOM practiced law here several years, till about 1835, when he sold to Robert O. REYNOLDS, who studied with him, and removed to Binghamton. Reynolds practiced here till the fall of 1844, when he sold to Lester CHASE and removed to Norwich, and subsequently to Cortland, where he died in 1856. He was appointed District Attorney of Chenango county till the office was abolished in 1846.
Robert B. MONELL came from Hudson, N.Y., about 1830 and read law in the office of his uncle, Judge Robert Monell. After being admitted he practiced here till about 1846 or '7. He was clerk in chancery till the office was abolished in 1846. He returned to Hudson, where he still resides, and practiced with his father, Joseph D. Monell, till the latter's death. He is a brother of the late Claudius L. Monell, First Judge of the Superior Court, who died a few years ago.
Judge Thomas A. JOHNSON came in from Colesville, Broome county, about 1830, and read law with Judge Monell. He practiced here a year or two and removed to Corning, Steuben county, where he pursued a very successful practice until elected Justice of the Supreme Court for the 7th District, first, June 7, 1847, again Nov. 6, 1849, and again November 1857, holding the office at his death in 1972. He was a very eminent judge.
William M. PATTERSON, a native of Oxford, was practicing here a few years previous to 1836, and continued till 1840, when he removed to Binghamton; after a few years he removed to Wisconsin and died there. Erastus FOOTE came from the north part of the county about 1836 and read law with William M. Patterson. He was admitted in 1838 and practiced here till April, 1851, when he removed to Wisconsin, and after a few years to Milwaukee, where he died two or three years ago. Alonzo JOHNSON came from New Berlin in the spring of 1840 and practiced till about 1866 or '7, when he removed to Washington, D.C., to fill a clerkship in one of the departments, and died there a few years ago. Selah SQUIRES, a native of Binghamton, read law with Judge MONELL and was admitted about 1848. About 1858 he removed to New York, and afterwards accepted a clerkship appointment in Washington, where he died. Frank CUNNINGHAM came in about 1850 and read law with Lester Chase. He was admitted in 1852 and practiced till 1853, in company with his preceptor. He then practiced a year or two in company with Judge MONELL. He went west. Ransom McDONALD came in from Schoharie county about 1856, and practiced till his death six or seven years ago. He was appointed Special Judge of Chenango county April 4, 1864, vice Alfred NICHOLS, deceased, and held the office for the balance of the term. Robert L. BROUGHAM came from the northern part of the State in 1870 and practiced one and one-half years, till 1871, when he removed to Glens Falls, N.Y., and died in Livingston county, while residing in the former place. H. W. FROST came from Windsor, Broome county, about 1870 and practiced till Sept., 1874, when he removed to Wisconsin. William IRVING came from Whitney's Point in 1847 and read law with Erastus Foote. He was admitted about 1848 and practiced till 1849, when he enlisted as a Colonel, was taken prisoner, confined in Libby Prison, and subsequently exchanged. He is now practicing his profession in San Francisco.
The present lawyers in Greene are: Lester CHASE, Edgar J. ARNOLD, Marshal F. PORTER and Lester Elways CHASE.
Lester CHASE was born in Triangle, N.Y., May 2, 1815. He commenced the study of law with Robert O. REYNOLDS in Greene, in 1836, and was admitted in October, 1840, since which time he has practiced his profession here. Since May, 1878, he has been practicing in company with his son, Lester Elwyn Chase, under the name of L. & L. W. Chase. He has been Justice six years, and Notary Public since January, 1869. He was Master in Chancery from 1843 to '46. Lester Elwyn Chase was born in Greene June 2, 1852, and commenced the study of law with his father in October, 1971. He was admitted to practice in May, 1878, in March of which year he was appointed Notary Public.
Edgar J. ARNOLD was born in New Berlin, Chenango county, May 27, 1850. He was educated in the study of law in his native town with Messrs. JENKS & MATTERSON, the former of whom is now Judge of Chenango county. He completed his legal studies with James E. Dewey, of Fort Plain, and was admitted to practice in June, 1871, commencing in Greene, where he has since continued. He was Clerk of the village five years, from 1873 to '78.
Marshal F. PORTER was born in New Lisbon, April 30, 1849. He commenced his legal studies with Messrs. JENKS & MATTERSON, and completed them with E. J. ARNOLD, of Greene. He was admitted September 10, 1874, and commenced that year, and has since practiced in Greene.
CHENANGO FORKS
The first permanent settlement on the site of the village was made in 1791 by John Barker, from Branford, Conn. He came by the Susquehanna to Binghamton, and then up the Chenango, with his family, and settled on the east bank of the Tioughnioga, on the place now owned by Simeon ROGERS, and the heirs of John Rogers, his brother. He took up some 60 or 70 acres of land, which extended to near the mouth of the Chenango, and purchased the improvements of Thomas GALLOP, who came in 1787, and whom he found living a hermitage-lilke life, just west of the Tioughnioga, in the town of Chenango, near the site of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and with his family took up his residence in the Treaty House. He continued his residence here till his death, Nov. 29, 1836, aged 94 years. Mary, his first wife, died August 25, 1800, aged 56; his second wife, also named Mary, July 18, 1824, aged 73. None of his children are living. The town of Barker, in Broome county, is named in honor of him. Samuel Barker, a brother of John's, came in from Connecticut, shortly before him, and settled just out of the village, in the town of Greene, where he lived a good many years, and died there. He kept for several years the gate of the bridge built across the Tioughnioga, about the close of the war of 1812. Beverly Barker was a son of his.
Simeon ROGERS, a young, unmarried man, came in soon after from Branford, Conn., and settled on 100 acres, adjoining John BARKER's place to the north. In 1792, he married Mary, daughter of John BARKER. This was the first marriage contracted in the town of Barker, in which these settlements were made; and Chauncey Barker, their son, who was born in September, 1793, and died June 29, 1844, was the first white child born in what was afterwards the old town of Lisle. Simeon Rogers kept the first inn in Barker, where he also kept the first store and built the first mill. He died here March 26, 1856, aged 93, and Mary, his wife, Feb. 5, 1859, aged 85. Two children only are living. George, on the homestead, and John B., also in Chenango Forks. The latter was born May 6, 1796, and is probably the oldest settler in this locality.
In 1792, John ALLEN, Asa BEACH and Solomon ROSE, also from Connecticut, joined them in the settlement. All located on the east bank of the Tioughnioga. A family named STEAD settled among the first near the west end of the iron bridge, and kept the first ferry across the Tioughnioga, in which river Stead and one of his sons were drowned. None of his children are living here.
Deacon Joseph WILLARD was born Oct. 5, 1876, and came in from Lenox, Mass., about the beginning of the century and settled near the east end of the iron bridge. He as a young single man and a hatter by trade, which business he followed here a great many years, until within a few years of his death, Nov. 17, 1869, aged 83. Sept. 6, 1810, he married Eliza, daughter of Robert FAULKNER, an early settler in the locality of Binghamton, she died August 7 ,1829, aged 34. He was one of the original members of the Congregational church of Chenango Forks, in 1821, and an active deacon of it from that time till his death. Four children are living, Simon, in Marathon, Joseph, in Greene Robert, in Barker, and Harriet E., wife of Daniel LOWELL, a merchant in Chenango Forks.
Merchants:- The first merchant in Chenango Forks was Simeon ROGERS, who opened a small store in his log house about the beginning of the present century for the accommodation of his neighbors. He brought his goods in from Catskill, the journey occupying two weeks. Robert O. EDWARDS, from Mass., opened the first store of any considerable importance about 1817 or '18, in a building erected for the purpose opposite to where Dr. Lodowick HANES now lives. It stood in the road and was afterwards torn down. He continued business a great many years, till within a few years of his death, December 11, 1861, aged 76. He was a prominent man in this locality and raised a large family of children, none of whom are now living here. A son and daughter, Charles and Susan, are living in Albany. Caroline his wife died April 7, 1828, aged 39. He was succeeded in the mercantile business by his son Edward, who continued but a short time.
Dr. D. CUSHMAN opened a store about 1828 and kept it five or six years. He was a drover and the store business was conducted by John WILLARD, who succeeded him, and continued it till his death, Nov. 9, 1847, aged 41. John B. ROGERS opened a store in 1829 and kept it about forty years, during a large portion of which time he was engaged in buying and selling butter.
There were no other merchants here of any considerable prominence, except those now doing business, and those interested with them.
Daniel LOWELL, general merchant, commenced business in 1834. He was in partnership with John H. THOMAS in 1853, and with Charles O. ROOT, of Binghamton, from 1854 to '60.
Maurice HAGAMAN, general merchant, commenced business about 1836, in company with John B. ROGERS, with whom he continued about six years. He was subsequently associated some six years with his brother James. In 1863 his son John became his partner and continued such till his death, Dec. 26 1878, aged 38.
Hiram KING commenced business about 1844, in company with Townsend BAGLEY, and closed out after about two years. Bagley went to California. After an interval of a few years spent in boating, about 1855, he resumed the general mercantile business and has since continued it, from about 1867, in company with his son, George R., under the name of Hiram King & Son.
George HOADLEY, general merchant, a native of the town of Barker, commenced business in 1864. He was associated with his brother W. H., from 1864 to 1867.
Joseph P. JOHNSON, grocer, from New York, commenced business in 1867.
John W. KINYON, dealer in hardware and crockery, commenced business in t he fall of 1868. He formerly lived in Broome and Chenango counties, in the former of which he was born.
Thomas R. LAKEY, general merchant, came in from Westchester county N.Y., May 1, 1857, and commenced mercantile business in 1868.
S. H. HARRINGTON commenced the drug business in the fall of 1870, in company with H. C. HALL, with whom he continued one year. In the spring of 1879 Weller ROOS became his partner and the business has since been conducted under the name of S. H. Harrington & Co.
Rufus B. BENNETT, grocer and hardware dealer, came in from North Fenton and commenced business in 1875, in company with Alexander FERRIS, whose interest he bought after the expiration of two years.
Charles N. HOLLISTER, a native of Chenango Forks, commenced the grocery business in 1876,
John Barker HOGAN, hardware dealer, commenced business in 1877.
Postmasters:- Simeon ROGERS, the first postmaster, was appointed as early as 1802, probably as early, as is believed, as 1799, and kept the office till about 1826, when his son, John B., was appointed and kept it 29 years, till about 1855. He was succeeded by Dr. William B. SQUIRES, who held it till his death, Jan. 20, 1858, when Dr. Royal R. CARR was appointed and held it about two years. Theodore S. ROGERS, son of John B. Rogers, was next appointed and held the office two or three years, when Henry Augustus Rogers, his brother, was appointed and held it till his death, July 3, 1876, aged 55. His widow, Harriet A. Rogers, succeeded him and still holds the office.
Physicians:- Royal R. CARR, who died recently in Binghamton, William B. SQUIRES, from Chenango county, and Reuben WINSTON, from Westerloo, Albany county, were practicing medicine here in 1846; but how early they commenced and who preceded them, if any one did, we have not been able to definitely determine. CARR continued practice till about 1870, when he removed to Binghamton, where he practiced till his death. Squires did not practice much after 1846, owing to ill health. He removed to a farm and remained on it, in the effort to reclaim his health, till his death, Jan. 20, 1858, aged 34. WINSTON was practicing in company with Dr. Squires and left for Wisconsin in 1846. William DORR came in from Vermont in 1848, and practiced till 1856, when he removed to Binghamton.
The first resident physician was probably Sidney A. SHELDON from Otsego county, a young, single man, who came about 1826, and soon after married Mary Ann, daughter of Robert O. EDWARDS, one of the early settlers in this locality, and a prominent merchant lumberman at Chenango Forks. He practiced here five or six years, when he removed to Mississippi, where he died. His wife is now living in Kingston, Canada. A Dr. PEETS practiced here two or three years previous to 1846; and a Dr. CHURCHILL a corresponding time, about 1837 or '38.
The present physicians are Lodowick HANES, Salphronius H. HARRINGTON, Zina A. SPENDLEY and Clark W. GREENE.
Lodowick HANES was born in Westerloo, Albany county, March 5, 1809, and studied medicine with Dr. Zina W. LAY, of Westerville, in that town. He was licensed to practice in 1842, and commenced in the town of New Scotland, in his native county, whence he removed to Chenango Forks in 1846. Though not now in active practice, he is occasionally called upon to assist in difficult cases and in surgical operations.
Salphronius H. HARRINGTON was born in Greene, Chenango county, March 2, 1829, and studied medicine at Lisle, with Dr. S. H. French. He was graduated at Union College in 1853, and attended the Albany Medical College in 1854 and '5, graduating there the latter year. He commenced practice at Lisle, in company with Dr. French in 1855, and removed thence in June, 1856, to Chenango Forks, where he has since practiced.
Zina A. SPENDLEY was born in Binghamton, Oct. 19, 1842, and studied medicine there with Dr. George A. Thayer. He subsequently attend the Eclectic Medical College of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated June 25, 1869. He commenced practice at Mott's Corners, in Tompkins county, where he removed in 1866, and in 1868 located in Chenango Forks, where he has since practiced.
Clark W. GREENE was born in the town of Willett, Cortland county, Oct. 30, 1848, and was graduated from the Normal School at Albany in 1870, in which year he entered the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, where he was graduated March 1, 1873. He commenced the practice of his profession the following April in Chenango Forks, where he now resides.
Lawyers:- The first and only lawyer at Chenango Forks was Arthur J. FORD, who located here in 1877, and remained about a year.
BRISBIN*
* named from John BRISBIN, formerly a Director, now Vice-President of the D., L. and W. R. R. The viillage was originally known as East Greene, by wihch name it is still very generally known. The name was changed in 1871, after the completion of the U., C. & S. V. R. R., to conform to the name of the station on that road, which had been previouly named.
Merchants:- The first merchant at Brisbin was Benjamin HORTON, a native of Coventry, who commenced business in 1842, and continued about ten years, when he sold it to John R. WHEELER and William TREMAIN, who, after one year, in the spring of 1852, sold to Charles P. and Albert JEWELL, who continued four or five years and dissolved. Charles continued alone and assigned, in 1858 or '9, having been associated one year with Alfred H. RACE. Charles HORTON and William Tremain succeeded him in 1859, and did business about two years, when Horton bought Termain's interest and discontinued after about a year. This last firm built the store now occupied by Edward L. WEBB. Cyrus TUTTLE, of Oxford, opened a branch store between 1850 and '60 and kept it some two years. Derrick H. WELLS next did business about a year. He was followed by Amos HINMAN, in 1870-'1. Charles SCHOUTEN succeeded Hinman, taking his goods, and continued one year, when Hinman resumed business which he continued about a year. Joseph GIBSON took Hinman's goods in the fall of 1875, and did business about one and one-half years. Then Hinman again did business about a year and removed to Binghamton. Henry F. BALCOM, from Oxford, next did business about one and one-half years, from the fall of 1876.
The present merchants are Samuel LEE, who came from Smyrna in the fall of 1875; and Edward L. WEBB who came in from Utica in April, 1879.
Benjamin HORTON's store stood opposite the residence of Sherman A. McCULLOR. It was removed in 1867, and is now occupied as a residence by Hiram TUCKER, the station agent of Brisbin.
Chauncey HILL and Eli HAYNES, Jr., did mercantile business about two years. They opened their store shortly before the building of the canal was begun. It was the first one in that locality, which then out-ranked Brisbin in commercial importance, but has long since lost that prestige and relapsed into rural sobriety. Drs. R. B. and Addison CRANDALL, brothers, next did business there about two years. They bought Hill & Haynes' goods and removed their stock when they discontinued. David BAIRD subsequently did business there about two or three years. There has been no other store there of any consequence. Others did business there for short periods.
Postmasters:- The old post-office in this locality was established about one and three-fourths miles below the present village of Brisbin, about 1838, and Lorin MILLER was the first postmaster. He secured the establishment of the office there, where he was then keeping a hotel, in which the office was kept by him four years. He was succeeded by Uri KING, who kept it two or three years. John STOUGHTON was postmaster in the lower village in 1843, about which year the office was removed to the upper village, now Brisbin. David SMITH, who kept the office in the hotel, was probably the first postmaster there. He held it as late as the spring of 1851. He was succeeded by George RACE, who removed the office to the lower village and kept it about a year, when Albert JEWELL was appointed and moved the office back to the upper village, both being designated East Greene. Charles Jewell was appointed in 1853, and held the office till 1861, when Charles F. HORTON was appointed and held it till Feb., 1865. Charles M. SCHOUTEN was then appointed and held it as late as 1869. He was succeeded by W. W. TORREY, who held it till April 14, 1873, when Lorin MILLER, the present incumbent, was appointed.
Physicians:- The first physician at Brisbin was probably William CLARK, who practiced three or four years from the time the canal was opened, in 1836, and removed to Ohio. James PURPLE located at the lower village about 1843, and practiced some two years, when he moved west. James B FLETCHER came in about a year after Purple left and staid (sic) only a few months. M. L. VOSBURCH came here from Rochester about 1850, and staid (sic) about two years, when he moved west. John TREMAIN, a native of the place, studied with Dr. Vosburgh and commenced practice in the summer of 1852. He remained about two years and removed to Smithville Flats. He is now in Dakota. There was no other resident physician until Vincent BURGESS came in. Dr. Burgess was born in Wolverton, England, March 9, 1851, and came to this country with his parents in 1856. He commenced the study of medicine in Kirkwood, Broome county, with Dr. George E. Pierson. In 1874 he entered the Louisville Medical College, of Kentucky, for which he was graduated in 1876. He commenced practice that year at Upper Lisle, and in 1877 removed to Brisbin, where he has since practiced.
GENEGANTSLET
Merchants:- The first merchant at Genegantslet of whom we have any authentic information, was a man named WOLFORD, who was doing business soon after the close of the war of 1812, in a building which stood on the south-west corner, and was torn down some 25 or 30 years ago. He continued business here but a few years. Elisha SADD, one of the first settlers in the town, was an early merchant at Genegantslet. He died in Greene in 1827, aged 73. Sherlock WILLARD opened a store about the time, or shortly before, Wolford left, and kept it several years. He also kept a distillery. Willard closed business about 1825, and Greene having then began to assume prominence as a commercial center, no other mercantile business of any consequence was afterwards transacted here.
Postmasters:- The first postmaster was probably Dr. Levi FARR. He held the office several years, till his removal to the village of Greene in 1825. He was probably succeeded by Elisha SADD, who died in 1827, and he by Moses B. ADAMS, who held the office four or five years. It then passed into the hands of Alvin GRAY, who held it till its discontinuance, about 1863.
Physicians:- The first physician at Genegantslet was Levi FARR, who practiced here from 1807 till 1825, when he removed to Greene, where he practiced till within ten or fifteen years of his death in 1859, seven years after becoming blind. Daniel CLARK came in from Delaware county about the time of Dr. Farr's removal and practiced here several years, when he removed to Smithville. He was the last physician at Genegantslet.
History of Guilford
History of Guilford
It is generally supposed, and is so stated in French's Gazetteer and other works consulted, that the first settlement in the town was made by Ezekiel WHEELER, in 1787. While we cannot disprove the statement, we have good reason to doubt its accuracy. From conversations had with members of this family, we hare led to believe that Wheeler did not settle in the town until seven years later. There is little to aid the searcher in this peculiar field of inquiry, and in the absence of documentary proofs, facts can only be stated approximately. While it is difficult, perhaps impossible, to determine with certainty just when and by whom the first settlement was made, it is pretty certain that several families had made settlements in 1790 and '91, a few possibly a year or two earlier. We incline to the opinion that the MERCEREAUS-Joshua and John L.,-were the first. It is certain that the former was here in 1791, for in that year he was elected one of the first officers of the town of Bainbridge, which then, together with the major part of the present county of Chenango, formed a part of Tioga county, which was erected that year from Montgomery county. It is possible that he was here two or three years earlier. French says he built, in 1789, at the mouth of Guilford creek, where he settled, the first mill in town. The Mercereaus, who were brothers and Frenchmen, came here from the locality of New York. Both settled at East Guilford, on the south line of the town, Joshua on the farm now occupied by Matthew MILLER, and John L., on that occupied by Adney TALCOTT. Joshua afterwards removed to Guilford Center, and kept tavern there, and subsequently, after the death of his wife, to Steuben county, and died at Painted Post. John continued to reside in the town till his death. He was the first Surrogate in Chenango county, an office to which he was appointed March 22, 1798. His sons were: Harmon, a bachelor, John, James and Theodore, who removed to Steuben county about 1830. The mill, which was a frame building, stood on the site of the present mills at East Guilford. It had rotten down about 1820.
About 1790 James HAYES moved in with his family from Putnam county, and settled at what is now known as Latham's Corners, on the Unadilla, in the north-east part of the town. His son Ira, who was married, accompanied and settled with him. They came in with a wagon, which is believed to have been the first one brought up the Unadilla, those who preceded him having made the ascent in boats. He died here February 7, 1823, aged 82; also his wives, Elizabeth and Minewell, the former September 28, 1807, aged 61, and the latter April 11, 1824, aged 72. His children were: Ira, Edward J., Lewis, Daniel, Ammi, John, Smith, Sally, Elizabeth, Rhoda and James, Jr., the latter of whom remained in Putnam county, but removed to the town of Smithville some eight or ten years later.
Ira was a saddler and harnass-maker, and died on the old homestead April 23, 1841, aged 68. He married Margaret TERRY, who died February 25, 1850, aged 73. He had three sons and three daughters: Friend, who married Sally DUNBAR, and had one daughter, who is now the wife of Foster C. PLACE, of Mount Upton; David, who married Ethelinda BUSHNELL, of Saybrook, Conn., who died June 18, 1836, aged 39, and for his second wife Hannah CORY, and had one son, Cory D., now a banker at Clinton, Oneida county, and one daughter, Edna M., who married George H. SPRY, a lawyer at Minneapolis, Mich.; Ur, who married Julia Ann BUCKINGHAM, with whom he is now living at Mount Upton; Electa, who married William S. MOORE, of McDonough, now of Guilford; and Eliza, who married Benjamin CHAPMAN, of Norwich, where both are now living at an advanced age.
Edward J. married Abigail TERRY, sister to Ira's wife, and died April 6, 1813, aged 38. He had three sons, Harry, James and Edward T., the latter of whom, a member of the firm of Hayes & Rider, piano manufacturers at Norwich, is the only one living. He had also one daughter, who married Tompkins Jewell, of Guilford.
Lewis, Ammi and Smith settled in Steuben county. John had two sons, Edward and William, the latter of whom has two sons who are now Methodist ministers. James, Jr., has one son, Elijah, living in Greene. Rhoda married Jesse GREEN and settled and died in Norwich. Elizabeth married Peter BESANSON, a French physician, and lived and died in Cooperstown, N.Y. Sally married Elisha GREEN and lived and died in Smithville.
This same year, 1790, James PHELPS and a man named BUTTON settled near Rockdale, and Robert McLEOD, on lot number 1. About this time also Rufus PHELPS settled at Rockdale, where he was probably the first settler. His log house stood in the garden in rear of the residence of Alvah WARNER. He died there at an advanced age at an early day. His son Rufus removed to Erie county in 1835. James PHELPS was one of the first assessors in the town of Bainbridge, elected in 1791. This year also witnessed the settlement of Sullivan REYNOLDS. He was an important accession to the little colony who had undertaken the subjugation of this wilderness region. He was an active, enterprising business man. He located on the Unadilla at Rockwell's Mills, and established there that year a store, which was the first in the town, and a grist-mill, which was the first one built on the Unadilla. He also kept an ashery and still, stimulating by the productions of the latter, as well as by his energy and enterprise, for many years the settlements in that locality. He died there some thirty years ago. His children were: William, who removed at an early day to Elmira, where he married and died; John, who married Mary MOSES and settled in Pultneyville, N.Y., where he and his wife now reside; Sally, who married Charles WESTCOTT and lived in Norwich, where she died about a year ago and her husband a year or two previously; Randolph and Clark, who removed at an early day to Pultneyville, where the latter died; Maria, who married Samuel BURDICK, with whom she is now living in Guilford; Deniza, who married John GILBERT and lived and died in Masonville, where her husband now resides; and Sullivan, who married Abigail GRISWOLD and lived on the homestead at Rockwell's Mills, till within about twenty years, when he removed to his present residence just across the river in the town of Butternuts.
Settlements were made in 1791 by Isaac FULLER, Daniel SAVAGE, John NASH, Edward ROBBINS and Lemuel CORNELL.
FULLER came from Guilford, Conn., and settled on a small place two and one-half miles south of Mt. Upton, and worked out by the day. He was one of the first elected to the office of pathmaster in the town of Bainbridge. He died there in 1793, his death being the first in the town. The marriage of his widow that same year to a man named POWELL was the first in the town. He had two children, Isaac Y. and Prudence. The birth of the latter, in April, 1791, was the first in the town. One of Isaac Y. Fuller's daughters is living in the town, Aremenia, who married a man name COX, a brother of Isaac Cox.
SAVAGE, NASH and ROBBINS, who were then young men, came in company from Ballston, Saratoga county, from Unadilla by a foot-path indicated by blazed trees, and settled near what has since been known as the old four corners. SAVAGE located on a part of the farm now occupied by Lucius SHELTON, near where the widow Orrin GRIDLEY now lives, about two miles north of Guilford. NASH, on the top of the hill, near VAN BUREN Corners, on the site of the residence of the widow BRANT; and ROBBINS, where Philo SHELTON now lives. Robbins was taken sick with the small-pox, and when sufficiently recovered he and Nash went back to Ballston, leaving Savage to toil alone in the wilderness for seven months, till their return. They came in the spring and the following February Savage brought in his family. There was then but one house in Guilford Center. It stood where John YOUNG now lives and was occupied by a man named CARNEY, who soon after died, and was buried in the woods on the creek, near the Hiram BURLISON place.* SAVAGE died where he settled in 1846. He had three children, Almira, who married Charles COBB, who, after her death, at the Center, removed to the North River; Giles, who married Keziah, daughter of James PHELPS, and settled at Guilford Center, where his wife died Dec. 31, 1864, aged 73; and Clarissa, who married Azor WOOD and lived and died near Guilford Center. Giles was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was killed on the railroad in Michigan some years previous to the death of his second wife, having become slightly deranged. One of his daughters who is living in Kansas is the only one of the family left.
Lemuel CORNELL settled four miles north-west of Mt. Upton, on the farm now occupied by Miles HOUCK, who married his grand-daughter, where he died about 1849. His children were Daniel, who married Catharine WOLCOTT, and settled and died about a mile below his father, on the farm now occupied by his second wife and family; Edward, who married Lovina MILES, of Coventry, where he practiced medicine till his death, July 19, 1849, aged 56, and where his wife died Dec. 2, 1834, aged 39. After her death he married Wrexaville BURGESS, by whom he had one son, Wm. B. Frank R. E. Cornell, a son by his first wife, settled in Minneapolis, Minn., over twenty years ago. He was Attorney-General and is now a Judge of the Supreme Court of that State; Elihu, who married Phila ROOT, settled in Unadilla, and is now living in Gilbertsville, to which place he removed a few years ago; and Maria, who married Seth D. RICHMOND, and another daughter, who married Richard PERKINS, both of whom died in Butternuts.
* Discourse by Rev. S. N. ROBINSON, A. M., on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the First Congregational church of Guilford, of which he was pastor, to which we are indebted for other facts.
In 1792, a man named WASSON settled on the Deacon MILLS' place, now occupied by Andrew BURTON. He was a pious man, and died soon after from an attack of sickness at a religious meeting. He was the first one buried in the graveyard east of the old four corners.
Gordon and Wyatt CHAMBERLAYNE,* originally from Connecticut, were the first settlers in the town of Butternuts, on the opposite side of the Unadilla, in Otsego county. They located at Gilbertsville about 1790, and removed thence in 1793 to Guilford. Both settled at Mt. Upton, Gordon on the farm now owned by Colwell Chamberlayne, his brother Wyatt's grandson, his house standing between the brook and the second house from the corner; and Wyatt on the farm now owned by Foster PLACE, a little above the village. Gordon died on the farm he took up. None of his children or grandchildren are living in the county. Wyatt's children were Zadock, who married Sarah SWAN, of Maryland, and settled on the Gorden Chamberlayne farm, in the house opposite the hotel in Mt. Upton, and died there; Lucy, who married Glazier WHEELER, both of whom lived and died in Mt. Upton; Calvin C., who married Wealthy DEMING, and settled on the farm now owned by his son Cyrenus, to whom, shortly before his death, he surrendered it, and went to live in Mt. Upton, where he died May 24, 1877, aged 84, and his wife Jan. 15, 1871, aged 76; Wyatt, who was a Methodist minister and removed to Canada, where he continued to reside until his death, having the latter part of his life been engaged in farming and mercantile business; Israel, who married Johanna PRICE, and served as a Methodist preacher through the Oneida and Genesee Conferences so long as he was able to preach, and finally settled in the town of Yates, Orleans county, where he died; Joel, who married Eleanor CARR, of Baltimore, and settled and died on the farm now owned by Ur HAYES, just above Mt. Upton; Catharine, who married John DICKEY, and after a few years spent in the town removed to Utica, and subsequently to Syracuse, where both died; Charlotte, who married Elihu PHELPS, and after several years' residence in the town, removed to the St. Lawrence, where they died; Lasslie, who died young and unmarried; and Ashley, who married for his second wife Huldah STETSON, and lived mostly in this town, where he died.
Dr. John A. Chamberlayne, a physician in Utica, is a son of Joel's. Calvin's grandchildren are the only ones living in the county. They are Cyrenus, Colwell and Cordelia, wife of Joseph MORSE, all of Guilford; Caroline, wife of Benjamin PECK, resided in the town till April, 1878, and is now living in Harpersville, Broome county, where their son, Henry C., is a practicing physician. Descendants of Wyatt's to the fifth generation are living in the town.
* This name is now spelled by certain members of the family, Chamberlain.
Settlements were made this same year (1793,) by John SECOR, and William and Nathaniel R. HYER. SECOR came from Haverstraw, Orange county, and settled on the river, near Latham's Corners. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and a cooper by trade. He followed that vocation and died at Mt. Upton, Sept. 27, 1846, aged 84. Mary, his wife, died April 8, 1845, aged 68. His children were Zenas, who removed from the town when a young man; William, who was also a cooper, lived in the locality of Latham's Corners, and died at Mt. Upton; Ezekiel, who married Betsey MASTERS, (who is now living in Clarksville,) and removed to Cooperstown, where he died; John, who married Cynthia YOUNG, settled on the farm now owned by Perry ROOD, and occupied by Franklin PEET, in the locality of Latham's Corners, and afterwards removed to Mt. Upton, and died there; Allen, who removed when a young man to Philadelphia; Russell, who died unmarried a few years ago; James, who married Mary, widow of Lucius DANIELS, and practiced medicine in Mt. Upton; Elias, who removed when a young man to Cooperstown, near the place he now lives; Richard, who married a daughter of Benjamin MARSH, and settled at Mt. Upton; Esther, who married Christopher GIFFORD and lived and died in the town of Morris; Charity, who married Walter HYER, and removed to New Berlin, where both died; Sally, who married Russel BOYCE, and lived and died in Mt. Upton, but is survived by her husband.
The HYERS came from Columbia county and settled two miles below Mt. Upton, both on the farm now occupied by William S. MOORE, where they died, William, July 27, 1845, aged 76, and Lucretia, his wife, May 22, 1833, aged 61; and Nathaniel R., Feb. 25, 1847, aged 75, and Charlotte, his wife, April 26, 1836; aged 63. William's children were William G., who died Aug 3, 19874, aged 80; Charles; Palmer, who died June 27, 1873, aged 74; Darius, who died March 4, 1865, aged 55, and Harriet, his wife, Dec. 1, 1867, aged 59; Schuyler; Sylvia, who married Herman ST. JOHN, and died April 13, 1875, aged 78, and her husband, Dec. 31, 1878, aged 86; Sarah, who married Jared MUDGE, Jr., and died June 18, 1877, aged 87, and her husband Nov. 16, 1868, aged 84; Abbie, who married Joseph SMITH, and died Nov. 6, 1843, aged 51, and her husband Feb. 9, 1869, aged 83; Lovina, who married Thomas STUART; and Patty, who died unmarried Feb. 13, 1869, aged 66, all of whom are dead. Numerous descendants are living in the locality. Nathaniel's Elijah EASTWOOD and died Feb. 18, 1865, aged 64, of whom only Nathaniel is living.
Ezekiel WHEELER came from New Hampshire in 1790, and settled first at Unadilla Forks. On the death of his wife in 1794, he removed to Guilford and took up 150 acres on the Unadilla, a little south of Latham's Corners. The farm on which he settled has since been retained in the hands of the family, and is now occupied by his grandson, Silas Wheeler. His log cabin stood a little south of the present residence of his grandson, Silas, and in it in 1796 he opened a tavern which was the first in the town. He afterwards kept tavern in the house which took the place of the log one and stood on the site of Silas' present residence, for which it gave way in 1851. His son Ezekiel also kept tavern in the old house, but not till after his father's death, which occurred Oct, 2, 1826, aged 78. He was a noted sportsman and spent most of his time till old age disabled him in hunting and fishing. He married a second time; his last wife, Charity, died Nov. 3, 1835, aged 78. He had four sons and one daughter, Heman, Glazier, Ezekiel, Caleb and Hannah. Heman married a lady named RUGER, of Plattsburgh, Clinton county, and removed thence to Ohio at an early day and died there. Glazier married Lucy, daughter of Wyatt CHAMBERLAYNE, and settled at Mt. Upton, where he died Nov. 27, 1826, aged 47. Ezekiel married Sally, daughter of David DEMMING, and settled and died on the old homestead July 8, 1840, aged 56. His widow is still living there in her 90th year. Caleb married a sister of Heman's wife, and lived and died in Plattsburgh. Hannah married Caleb BATTERSON, who lived in the east part of the town till after her death, when he removed to Unadilla.
Nine of Ezekiel Wheeler's grandchildren are living, Silas; Hannah, wife of Sylvanus CARHART; Amelia and Fanny, both maiden ladies in Guilford; Ezekiel and Caleb BATTERSON in Unadilla; Electa, wife of Alanson NOONING, in Morris; and Francis Wheeler and his sister Charlotte, in Preston. A. H. Wheeler, a merchant at Mt. Upton, is a great-grandson of his. Ezra Wheeler, brother of Silas, was born in 1820, and in 1849, removed to Berlin, Wis., where he practiced law. In 1852 he was elected to the Legislature of that State, which he afterwards represented in the Thirty-eighth Congress, serving on the Committee on District of Columbia. In 1854 he was elected County Judge, and held that office eight years. He died in Colorado of consumption, having visited that Territory in the hope of restoring his health.
About 1795 or '6, Samuel and Lyman IVES, Joel HENDRICKS and Joel JOHNSON established themselves at what is known as Ives' settlement, HENDRICKS on the farm now occupied by Lewis Ives. A Mr. TENBROECK owned a tract of land four miles square in that part of the town and gave portions of it to those who bought farms of him to induce settlement.
HENDRICKS' children were Leontas, who married Julia FARNHAM, of Unadilla, lived near the homestead a good many years and afterwards removed to Coventry and died there; Jesse, who married Lydia IVES and lived in that locality till advanced in years, when he went to live with a daughter who married and died in the vicinity of Sherburne; William, who lived in that locality several years, married late in life and removed to Coventry; Alonzo, who lived first in Guilford and afterwards removed from the town; Eliza, who married young, but did not live with her husband and died in the edge of Bainbridge; and Abigail, who married Martin POST and lived in the edge of Oxford, when both died.
Uri YALE settled on lot 53, in the south-west part of the town in 1796, and Dr. Benjamin Yale, his brother, on the same lot in 1799. Both died there, the latter at the age of 100 years, and both had large families, whose members have settled in the same locality, which is known as Yaleville. The descendants are numerous, respectable and wealthy.
John DIBBLE settled at Guilford village at an early day. He kept tavern there in 1798. When he came in, there was but one log house and a small clearing on the site of that village, and they were abandoned. Dibble was a mill-wright and was given 100 acres of land on the site of the village to induce his settlement there. His tavern occupied the site of the present hotel. He died in 1806 of small-pox contracted in Ohio, where he had gone to contract lands. He married May 29, 1791, Loretta WARNER, who continued the tavern a short time after his death, and afterwards married William CABLE, who came in at an early day and bought a large tract of land, including the site of Guilford village, where he was an early merchant. Dibble left five children, Russell, Ira, Huldah, who died in childhood, Anna and Maria. Russell was born May 31, 1793. He married Salina ISBELL and settled in the village, where George BALDWIN now lives. He was a tanner and carried on that business here about forty years. About the close of the war of 1812, in which he served, and for which service he is now drawing a pension, he built the old tannery in Guilford, the foundation of which still remains and forms the substructure of Bradley & Winsor's cabinet shop, which occupies the same site. He is now living in Mt. Upton. His wife died Nov. 19, 1857, aged 60. Ira was born April 13, 1795. He married Charlotte ROOT and lived in Guilford and died there at an early age. Anna was born June 22, 1799, and married Silas SEELY, of Oxford, where she lived and died April 20, 1871, aged 70, and her husband May 17, 1855, aged 56. Maria was born July 21, 1801. She married Niram R. MERCHANT, a carpenter and joiner and mill-wright, and lived and died in the town in the fall of 1878. Numerous descendants of Dibble's are living in the county. Three grandchildren are living in Guilford village, Andrew P. Merchant, a founder and machinist, and Jane E. and Helen L. Merchant, both maiden ladies. Purley A. Merchant, of Guilford, son of Andrew P., is great-grandson of Dibble's.
Matthew SEYMOUR, a man named HODGE and Amasa COLBURN came in previous to 1800. SEYMOUR settled on the place now occupied by the widow of John P. HALL, at Guilford Center; and HODGE on the ANDERSON place. COLBURN settled in the north part of the town, where his sons, Amasa and Azariah, now live, and died there, he and his wife, Experience, the former Dec. 15, 1860, aged 84, and the latter July 16, 1857, aged 83. Two daughters, Martha, widow of William GUNN, and Speedy, a maiden lady, are also living on the homestead. Zenas, the oldest son, died in Chautauqua county. Augusta, a daughter, who was born April 18, 1811, died March 16, 1866. Abigail, who was born April 18, 1805, married Dwight IVES, and both died in Mt. Upton the former July 24, 1864, and the latter, who was born Sept. 22, 1804, Nov. 29, 1865.
Settlements were made about 1800 by Major David RICHMOND, Abraham IVES, Colonel Stephen WINSOR, Daniel JOHNSON, Elihu MURRAY, Joel and Aaron ROOT and Eliab FORD.
Maj. RICHMOND came in from Rhode Island and settled at Latham's Corners. His house stood on the site of the one owned by David WESTCOTT of Utica, and occupied at present by Emerson J. POTTER. He died there Oct 14, 1818, aged, 71, and Nancy, his wife, July 9, 1844, aged 94. His children were Joseph, Thomas, Polly, Esther, Nancy, David, who lived in Rhode Island, and Seth, who married Keziah HUNT and lived on the homestead till his death in June, 1879, at the age of 89 years. Joseph married Rizpah HUNT and settled on Richmond Pond, about five miles east of Norwich. His farm lay partly in Norwich and partly in New Berlin, but his house was in the latter town. He died there Jan. 25, 1853, aged 80, and his wife May 24, 1836, aged 61. Thomas married Lucy DURAND and settled on the flats one-fourth mile above Latham's Corners. He afterwards removed to the Corners and built the rear part of Orson Richmond's residence and subsequently the front part. He lived there till well advanced in years when he went to live with his daughter Nancy, wife of John HOLMES, of Smithport, Penn., and died there July 2, 1863, aged 86. His wife died May 14, 1857, aged 76. He and his brother Joseph were active, energetic men who did an extensive lumber business; the latter operated a saw-mill which was located at the mouth of Richmond Pond. Polly married Stephen ARNOLD and settled and died on the place now owned by Gordon WOOD on the south line of Norwich. Esther married David WESTCOTT and lived and died in Rhode Island. Nancy married Joseph WOOD and lived and died on the David CORNELL farm. Joseph's and David's children are all dead, and only one of Thomas' is living, Nancy HOLMES of Smithport, Penn. None of the grandchildren are living in the county. The children of George A. TRUESDELL at Latham's Corners are great-grandchildren of Maj. Richmonds. Orson Richmond of Latham's Corners, whose wife Euphemia is a writer of some note, is a descendant of Major Richmond's. Mrs. Richmond was written some ten volumes of juvenile sabbath school and temperance works, has been a contributor to the Ladies' Repository, and is now a regular correspondent of the Northern Christian Advocate, The Watchword, the organ of the Good Templars, the Christian Woman, of Philadelphia, The Christian at Work, the Rural New Yorker, and various other publications.
Abraham IVES came in from New England States, and located in the Ives settlement one and one-half miles south of Guilford. He died there a great many years ago and his wife, in 1827. His children were Samuel, who married Lucy Ann ATWATER; Lyman, who married Lucy McCALL; Elias, who married a sister of Lucy McCALL; Abraham, who married Lois RICE; Clarissa who married Ozias BUSH; Fanny who married Simon TRASK; Merab, who married Elam YALE; Rosilla, who married Stephen YALE; and Eunice, who married Abijah CORNWALL.
Col. Stephen WINSOR came from Rhode Island, and settled in the north edge of the town, where his grandson, Edson Winsor, now lives. He and his wife Mary, died on that place, the former Jan. 14, 1820, aged 75, and the latter Nov. 2, 1825, aged 76. His children were Joshua, Olney, Paris, Stephen, Wilkes, Eppenetis, and Selanah, all of whom are dead. Joshua, Olney and Paris settled in the locality of their father and raised up families. Joshua married Amy COOK, daughter of Gideon Cook, who died Feb. 18, 1818, aged 39, and for his second wife Chloe DAVY, by whom he had two children, Joshua, now living in Norwich, and Amy, who died recently in Guilford. He had no children by his first wife. He died June 17, 1846, aged 72, and his second wife April 17, 1861, aged 76. Olney married Abigail BROWN, in Rhode Island, and had a numerous family, only four of whom are living in this locality, Selanah, widow of John MONROE, and Abigail, wife of Lorenzo BURDICK, at Polkville, Deloss at White Store, and Olney J. at Bainbridge. He died April 17, 1842, aged 65, and his wife Aug. 10. 1858, aged 81. Paris married Ruth, daughter of Alner WOOD and had several children, of whom Ziba is living in Norwich, Harmon, in Bainbridge, Eppenetis, in Guilford, Otis, in Greene, Roxana, widow of Otis BOWEN in Norwich village, and Polly, wife of David WESTCOTT, in Utica. He died July 6, 1840, aged 59, and his wife, Jan. 21, 1836, aged 49. Stephen died March 29, 1859, aged 72. Wilkes went west and died from the effects of a wound received in the war of 1812. Selanah married George COOK, who died April 13, 1859, aged 82. She died March 28, 1848, aged 69. Numerous of their descendants are still living in that locality.
Daniel JOHNSON settled on the farm now occupied by his grandson of the same name, about a mile south of the Center, and he and his son Seth died there. His children were Hiram, who married an ATWATER, settled in the Ives settlement and died at his daughter's in Yaleville; Alpheus, who married Pomona, only sister of Daniel S. DICKINSON, and kept a meat market in Guilford village a good many years and died there Nov. 24, 1841, aged 44; Mary, who married a man named BLAKE, of Coventry, where she now lives; Louisa, who married Lyman BRADLEY and lived in the Ives settlement; a daughter who married Abraham PIER and removed to Michigan; Seth, who married Jerusha ROOT and lived and died on the homestead. A brother of Johnson's came in at the same time and settled in the same locality, where both he and his wife died of fever at an early day. He left two daughters, Lovisa, who married Abial BUSH and Lucy, who married Alba LYMAN. Both lived and died in the town, the latter Jan. 17, 1840, aged 40, and her husband March 9, 1843, aged 54.
Elihu MURRAY was a Revolutionary soldier and came here from Connecticut. He settled here Humphrey's Corners, on the farm now occupied by Sylvester HUMPHREY. He afterwards removed to the Center, where his son Dauphin built about fifty years ago the hotel, now occupied as a dwelling by H. H. VAN COTT. He died there June 16, 1835, aged 82, and Lydia, his wife, July 7, 1836, aged 81. Dauphin kept the hotel a few years and removed to Hinsdale, Cattaraugus county, where he was killed by the cars. He had other children but none of the names are now living here.
Joel and Aaron ROOT were cousins. They came in from Great Barrington, Mass., and settled at Root's Corners, on the Gospel Lot, Joel, where Mr. HOLLIDAY now lives, and Aaron on the farm now occupied by his son Otis. Joel died where he settled, but Aaron gave up his farm to his youngest son and went to live with one of his children who had settled in Chautauqua county, where he died. Joel's children were Milton, who died in Guilford, aged 80 years; George, who was shot dead by accident; Lois; Fanny, who married William SPENCER and after living here several years removed to Pennsylvania; a daughter who married Amos HAVENS; and William, his youngest son, who is living in Smithville and is the only one of the family left. Aaron's children were Amasa, Priscilla, who married and lived in Chautauqua county, and Otis.
Eliab FORD was born in Canaan, Columbia county, N.Y., in 1772. He married Nabby GRISWOLD in 1794, and in 1800 removed to Guilford. He settled on the farm now owned and occupied by F. G. GREGORY, about a mile north of Rockdale, where he raised a large family. He died January 18, 1840, aged 68, and his wife November 27, 1847, aged 70. His children were: Ruth, who married Russell ST. JOHN; Clarissa, who married Amos GREGORY; Russsell, who married Cynthia W. MORGAN; Patrick H., born December 17, 1800, and died May 20, 1843; Ransom, Enos J., Norman, Philetus. Russell and Philetus were lawyers, and held many public offices. Russell was born February 28, 1799. He settled at Mt. Upton, on the site of Place & Morse's store. He was a Justice for a great many years, and practiced law here from the time of his admission till his death, August 11, 1863. His wife, who was born May 24, 1805, died December 1, 1868. His children are: Merlin J., who married Cynthia I. PECK, both of whom, together with their children, Truman R. and Frederick, are living in Mt. Upton; and Caroline M., who married Stephen P. SMITH, of Pennsylvania, and is now living in Brownsdale, Minn.
Oliver INGERSOLL came from Great Barrington, Mass., about 1802, and settled on "Gospel hill," on the place now occupied by Chauncey WADE, where he lived till after the death of his wife, when he went to live with his son Lambert in Oxford, and died there. His children, all of whom were born in Massachusetts, were: Thomas H., Lambert, Lucretia, and Sally, who married in Massachusetts, and remained there; Eva, who married Harry ABBY; Lovisa, who married Joshua BUSH; David, who married Jerusha TUTTLE; Peter who removed to Chautauqua county and married there; none of whom are living. Lambert and Thomas H. were the only two who remained in the county. Lambert settled on the east line of Oxford, and afterwards removed to Oxford village, where he died September 16, 1849, aged 67. Polly, his wife, died March 16, 1867, aged 76. He had a large family, only four of whom are living: Ethan, on the old homestead; Marietta, wife of John L. SHERWOOD, in Guilford; Frederick, in Norwich; and Eliza, widow of Thomas BISHOP, in Greene.
Thomas Horton INGERSOLL came from Great Barrington, Mass, in 1804, with his family, consisting of his wife, Elizabeth, also a native of Great Barrington, and three children, Hannah, David H. and William, and settled on "Gospel hill," about a mile west of Guilford, on the place now occupied by Harvey BRANT. He continued to resided there till his death, June 16, 1810. His wife went to live with her son David at Castle Creek, Broome county, shortly before her death, which occurred June 22, 1841. Two children were born after they came here, Laman and Susan, the latter of whom is living in Guilford, and is the only survivor of her father's family. Hannah married Pelatiah LEONARD, a native of Worthington, Mass., and removed to the town of New Berlin about 1818 or '19, and died May 9, 1868. David H. married Sally, daughter of Samuel MILLS, and lived at Guilford Center till about 1838, when he removed to Castle Creek , and afterwards to Smithville, where he and his wife died, the former March 30, 1879, and the latter May 21, 1862. William was a clothier, and worked a good deal in Binghamton, where he died unmarried, January 15, 1858, aged 55. Laman, who was born April 2, 1805, married Sarah, daughter of Asa SHERWOOD, and lived and died in Guilford village, December 30, 1863. He held various public offices, among them Justice for several years, Loan Commissioner and Member of Assembly, the latter in 1851. His wife still survives him, and is living with her son, Dr. Randall E. Ingersoll, in Guilford. Twelve grandchildren are living, but only three of them in the county, viz: Hannah, wife of A. C. JOHNSON, in Smithville; Mary E., widow of Miles W. EDMISTER, in Guilford; and H. Elizabeth, wife of Bishop R. CARRUTH, a Methodist minister now stationed at New Berlin.
William CLARK and Silas HAMILTON, both from Wilmington, Vt., settled in the town in 1804. CLARK located on the farm now occupied by Alson W. MILLS, about two miles south-west of Rockdale, to which village he removed in 1827, and engaged in mercantile and milling business. In 1834 he sold his farm to Hewitt MILLS, and the following year was engaged on the Chenango Canal. He continued to reside at Rockdale till within seven years of his death, when he went to live with his daughter, Mrs. Sarah H. BUSH, in the edge of Oxford, and died there. His children were Silas, who married Lavina SHERWOOD, of Oxford, removed to Susquehanna, Penn., about 1845, and is now living in Fond du Lac; Hannah, who married Chandler JUNE, afterwards Ansel QUINBY and subsequently Royal SMITH, and is now living at Laona, N.Y.; Sally, who married Samuel H. BUSH, and is now living in Oxford; Julia, who married Arvine BOYD, of Wilmington, Vt., where she is now living; Ransom, who married Elekse LOCKE, and is now living in Rockdale; Albert, who removed to Georgia, and married there, his wife dying soon after, he subsequently married Adaline BOYD, and continued to reside in Georgia until his death, which resulted from shooting at the hands of one of his negroes; DeWitt Clinton, who removed to Georgia, and died there of fever, unmarried; Elihu, who also removed to Brunswck, Ga., and married there, but died in Florida while transacting business there with his brother; and Clarissa, who died at the age of about 18 years.
Silas HAMILTON settled a mile west of Rockdale, on the farm now occupied by Leonard MANWARING, who married his grand-daughter. There he and Hannah, his wife, died, the former Aug. 7, 1816, aged 80, and the latter May 9, 1842, aged 97. His children were Hannah, who married Jonathan LAMB; Silas, who married Fanny LOCKE; Mercy, who married William CLARK; Perses, who married Ira LOCKE; Hoit, who married but did not live with his wife, and died Dec. 25, 1863, aged 81; and Amos, who married Lydia WOOSTER, and after her death May 12, 1825, Polly, widow of David CLARK. All are dead. Amos died Dec. 25, 1867, aged 83.
Samuel A. SMITH came in April, 1805, from Salem, Conn., where he was born Feb. 22, 1782, and settled two miles north of Guilford, at the corners which bear his name. The farm on which he settled, and where he died March 24, 1864, is now owned by Joseph WINSOR. Dec. 25, 1806, he married Wealthy PHELPS, who was born in Bolton, Conn., Oct. 18, 1785, and died Sept. 19, 1822. He afterwards married Hannah THOMPSON, who died Jan. 7, 1855, aged 73, and by whom he had no issue. He represented Chenango county in the Assembly in 1816-17, and again in 1820. He had six children by his first wife: Erastus Phelps; Sally Lavina, who was born Oct. 8, 1809, married Orin MERCHANT May 12, 1830, and died in the town Aug. 16, 1851; Abigail Eliza, who was born May 17, 1812, married Nathan DELAVAN Aug. 18, 1834, and died in the town Feb. 23, 1879; Lucia Ann, who was born Oct. 22, 1816, married Dr. John CLARK Feb. 6, 1843, and is still living in Guilford, where her husband practiced medicine for forty-one years; Wealthy May, who was born Oct. 17, 1818, married Lawrence BRYANT, who was drowned in Lake Pepin, on the Mississippi, about 1851, and married after his death Frederick A. BOLLES, of Unadilla, where she now resides; and William Augustus, who was born March 31, 1819, married Betsey WADE, of Guilford, and is now practicing medicine in Newark, N.J., and is Clerk of Essex county in that State. Erastus Phelps Smith was born Nov. 23, 1806. He married Betsey MILLS, April 15, 1829, and lived upon the homestead until the death of his father, when, having been a lay reader in the Episcopal church , of Guilford, for thirty years, he entered the ministry, in conformity with a long cherished wish, but a step which he had long refrained from taking in deference to the wishes of his father, who strenuously opposed it. He was first rector at Sodus, Wayne county, afterwards at Whitewater, Wis., and subsequently at Hamilton, where he died while rector of St. Thomas' church in that village, Feb. 9, 1876. After the death of his first wife, March 22, 1843, he married Mary, widow of William Cable, who died March 6, 1860, aged 53. He subsequently married Nancy, widow of Dr. HANFORD, of Hobart, Greene county, who is still living in Sherburne, with her only son, Homer Lucius Smith. Three daughters are living, Esther Case, wife of Edward BRADLEY, and Laura Arthusia, wife of Rufus N. MILLS, in Guilford, and Betsey, wife of Henry SHELTON, in Norwich.
Simon TRASK came in from Massachusetts about 1800, and settled in Preston. He removed thence in 1806 to Guilford, and settled about four miles south-east of Guilford village, on the farm now occupied by George FERRIS, where he died Jan. 18, 1831, aged 56. Fanny, his wife, who afterwards married Ozias BUSH, died July 4, 1865, aged 83. His children were seven in number four of whom came in with him. They were Almon, who married Lucretia Maria ROSE; Alice, who married John S. MITCHELL; Simon, who married Jane CRANE; Clarissa, who married Arvine MANN; and George, who married Julia HICKOK. Only two are living, Samuel I., in Guilford, and George in Illinois. Fanny died in infancy soon after they came in. The whole family were then sick with fever and ague, and this induced their removal to Guilford.
Settlements were made in 1804 by Daniel Thomas DICKINSON and Samuel MILLS, both of whom came from Connecticut, the former from Goshen and the latter from Norfolk. DICKINSON settled one and one-half miles north of Guilford Center, on fifty acres, to which he subsequently added at different times 200 acres. The place has since been cut up into three farms, which are now occupied by Joseph WINSOR, James DECKER and A. REYNOLDS. The Dickinson family is a prominent and highly reputable one and has been made conspicuous by at least one of its members both in the State and nation. Mr. Dickinson married Mary, daughter of Roswell CAULKINS, of Salem, Conn., and sister of Hon. Samuel A. SMITH's mother. He continued to reside here till his death Sept. 17, 1841, aged 74, and raised a family of sturdy, stalwart children-stalwart both intellectually and physically. His wife died April 1, 1831, aged 61. His children were Erastus, William Frederick, Ann Pomona, who married Alpheus JOHNSON, and is now living in Afton, aged 81 years, Daniel Stevens, Thomas, Ralph, who died in Goshen at the age of four years, John Ralph, and Mary Sophronia, who died at the age of five years.
Erastus Dickinson married Betsey, daughter of Chester MORSE, who came in from Massachusetts and settled and died in Guilford. Erastus took up a farm of 100 acres three miles west of Mt. Upton, which is now owned in part by Rufus J. HUMPHREY. He lived there till well advanced in years and afterwards in Guilford village. He subsequently removed to Ellicottville, Cattaraugus county, and finally to DeWitt, Iowa, where he died some ten or twelve years ago. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a man of great physical endurance, as was also his brother William F., either of whom could chop an acre of heavy timber in four days. He held the office of Justice here a good many years, and was Side Judge one term. He represented this county in the Assembly in 1844.
William Frederick Dickinson married Polly, daughter of Alexander McNeil, of Oxford, and settled a mile east of his father, on 65 acres, which he afterwards increased to 100. He afterwards removed to the homestead and died there Aug. 17, 1851, aged 56, from the result of an injury received by falling from a fence with a scythe, which cut his hand badly. In sewing up the wound the doctor accidentally caught one of the nerves and amputation at the wrist became necessary. The injury finally affected his brain and resulted in death some ten years later. He held the office of Deputy Sheriff several terms. His wife died June 19, 1846, aged 45.
Daniel Stevens Dickinson was born in Goshen, Litchfield county, Conn., Sept. 11, 1800, the date of Commodore Perry's victory on Lake Erie. He received a common-school education, and without the aid of an instructor mastered the Latin language and became versed in the higher branches of mathematics and other sciences. He learned the trade of carding and cloth dressing in the factory of Chauncey W. MORSE, which was located on the turnpike about three miles south-east of Guilford. In 1821 he entered upon the duties of a school teacher, and in 1826 he commenced the study of law at Norwich with Lot CLARK and John CLAPP, still devoting three months of each winter to teaching. In 1828, before the completion of his studies, he was regularly admitted to practice at the instance of his preceptor having within two years, notwithstanding the diversion of teaching, mastered all that was required of him. He commenced practice at Guilford Center, where he continued some six years, when, his ambition demanding a broader field operations, he removed to Binghamton, where his genius soon brought him into prominence, both as a lawyer and politician, and where he continue to reside till his death. In 1836 he was elected State Senator from the Sixth District, and served in that capacity form 1837-'40. He was Judge of the Court of Errors from 1836 to 1841; and from 1842 to 1844, by his election to the office of Lieutenant-Governor, was President of that Court, also of the State Senate. He was a Regent of the University in 1843, a member of the Convention which nominated J. K. Polk for President, and a Presidential Elector at Large in 1844. He was in the United States Senate from 1844 to 1851, and while a member of that body served on important committees, and originated and ably supported several important measures. In 1861 he was elected Attorney-General of the State, and served two years. He was a delegate to the Baltimore Convention in 1864; and in 1865 was appointed by President Lincoln United States District Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He died suddenly in New York city while in the discharge of the duties of that office, April 12, 1866. Before accepting that last position, he declined several appointments tendered him by the President of the United States and the Governor of this State. His Life and Works were published in 1867, in two volumes. He married Lydia, daughter of Dr. Colby KNAPP, of Guilford.
Thomas Dickinson was born Jan. 23, 1803. He married Eliza, daughter of Seth THOMPSON, of Hartford, Conn., and settled on the homestead, where he lived till about 1847. He afterwards removed from a farm a mile north of Guilford in 1871, to the farm he now occupies, near that village. He was Deputy Sheriff for two terms, under A. C. WELCH and Romeo WARREN; has been Justice of the Peace since 1835, with the exception of two and one-half terms; and Notary Public eight terms, an office he still retains.
John Ralph Dickinson married Julia Ann BOOTH, and settled first on the homestead in Guilford, engaged a part of the time in teaching. He removed to Binghamton about 1831, and was for several years teller of the Broome County Bank, which was established that year. He had commenced the study of law before going to Binghamton, and completed his legal studies there with his brother, Daniel S. He was admitted and practiced law, and afterwards became a Judge in Broome county. He was for several years editor and proprietor of the Binghamton Democrat. From Binghamton he went to New York and engaged as a Clerk in the Custom-House. He was afterwards engaged in banking business in Chicago with his brother-in-law, James H. WOODRUFF. He is now Clerk in the Land Office at Washington.
Deacon Samuel MILLS was a soldier in the war for Independence. He settled at Guilford Center, on the farm now owned by Alexander BURTON and Horace WADE, where he died of a cancer, Jan. 17, 1837, aged 83, also his wife Lucy, Nov. 9, 1826, aged 73. He had six children, only two of whom came with him, Charlotte and Calvin. The others, Abiram, Hewit, Samuel and Daniel came the year following. Charlotte married Ira BRADLEY, who came in from Stockbridge, Massachusetts, about 1810, and settled on land taken up by her father, where he started a tannery in company with his brother-in-law, which they operated some twenty-five years. He afterwards removed to the Ives settlement, where he died Sept. 4, 1856, aged 69, and his wife May 21, 1833, aged 44. Calvin married Sophia ROGERS and settled about one and one-half miles east of East Guilford. He afterwards removed to the town of Alden in Erie county, where both he and his wife died. Abiram, who was born June 2, 1778, married Esther HARRIS, (whose father came in from Saybrook, Connecticut, about 1808,) and settled just north of his father, on the farm now owned by Wm. HOVEY of Norwich, and occupied by Charles MINER. He removed thence to Masonville, and died at Sidney, Nov. 30, 1864. His wife died April 21, 1854, aged 78. Hewit married "Claraisa" WHITING and settled on a farm adjoining his father's on the south side, the one now occupied by Ransom HOVEY, where his wife died May 12, 1813, aged 27. He afterwards married the widow Philinda BRAZER and removed to Shaver's Corners (E. Guilford,) where he died Sept. 10, 1848, aged 63. Philinda died April 3, 1831, aged 40. His son Alston now occupies the farm on which he died. Samuel married Sally COBURN and was engaged in tanning and currying in company with Ira BRADLEY. He afterwards removed to Castle Creek, Broome county, where he and his wife died. Daniel married Sally HARRIS of Saybrook, Connecticut, and settled about one and one-half miles north of Guilford, on the Norwich road, on the farm now owned and occupied by Erastus CARHART, where his wife died July 17, 1833, aged 53. When advanced in years he went to live with his son Uri in Poughkeepsie, where he died. He had lost his right arm before he came in, through bleeding, and subsequent malpractice. Several of Deacon Mills' descendants are living in the town. Two grand-children, Lucy and Sarah, daughters of Calvin, became the wives of missionaries to China.
Ira LOCKE removed from Wilmington, Vermont, in 1801, to Brookfield, Madison county, and thence in 1808, to Guilford. He settled about three-fourths of a mile west of Rockdale, on the farm now owned and occupied by his son Heman J., where he died Jan. 19, 1852, and his wife Perses, Jan. 2, 1864. His children were Asenath who married Wilsey H. SCOTT, and lived and died, she and her husband, in Nineveh, Broome county; Sophia, who married Gurdon MORGAN and lives in Unadilla, where her husband died some years ago; Elekse, who married Ransom CLARK, and is now living at Rockdale; Hephzibah, who married Arvine CLARK and is now living in Wellsburg, Chemung county; Hiram, who married Olive HYER and is now living in Bainbridge; Heman J., who married Esther SLITER and is now living on the homestead; and Hannah, who married William P. PEABODY and is living in Butternuts.
Ira B. McFARLAND, a native of Kinderhook, Columbia county, removed thence with his parents to Otsego, and subsequently to Sidney Plains, from which place he removed to Guilford about 1809, with his wife, Polly, daughter of Captain Solomon FENTON of New Haven, Conn. He engaged in farming near Guilford village, working by the month, and afterwards squatted on land belonging to Peter LIVINGSTON, on the east side of Guilford Pond. In April 1816, he removed his family to Oxford and taught school seven winters and one summer in succession. He then bought 30 acres three miles below Oxford village, on the west side of the river, on which, with the additions made thereto from time to time, making the whole 150 acres, he now resides in his 90th year (he was 89 Aug. 30, 1878.) His wife died during the recent war. They had eight children, seven of whom reached maturity: Edwin Ferris, who married Abigail, daughter of David SIMMONS, and engaged in teaching, removing about 1842 to Kentucky, where he resumed teaching, and died of consumption about 1858; Orson Lawrence, who married Julia, daughter of William HOLMES, was engaged in farming here and in Steuben county, and subsequently in carpentering, and is now keeping a grocery in Troupsburgh, Steuben county; Jane, who died at the age of seven; Betsey, who married Cyrus HORTON, and died in Norwich, where her husband was a molder; Maria, who married Erastus BRIGGS and died on the homestead farm four or five years ago; Solomon, who married Hannah FOLGER, and is now practicing medicine in Oxford; Henry, who married Sarah HORTON, and is practicing dentistry in Oxford; and Charles Arthur, who married Charlotte WEBB and is living on the homestead farm, which was transferred to him by his father.
Deacon Jesse WHITING came in from Norfolk, Conn., in 1810, and settled a mile north of Guilford Center, on the farm occupied until recently by Philip MINER. About 1836 he removed to Masonville, where he died April 22, 1845, aged 82. Hannah, his wife, died Jan. 23, 1852, aged 86. His children were Deacon Erastus B, who was born in Norfolk, Conn., Aug. 18, 1807, married Arthusas MILLS, and died May 8, 1857, and his wife, July 26, 1863, aged 59; Julius, who married Lucinda PAYNE, and died Dec. 29, 1842, aged 58, and his wife, Aug. 4, 1848, aged 62; John F., who married Roxana DICKINSON; Claraisa, who married Hewit MILLS; and Hiram, who died in Norfolk, Conn., before they moved here. None of the children, and but few of the descendants are living in the county, Edwin M. and Hiram L. Whiting in Guilford, and Lucy, wife of William M. HOVEY, in Norwich.
William PLACE settled in the town about 1812; William GUNN, about 1813; and Roger WILLIAMS, in February, 1818. PLACE, who was a stone-mason, settled near Mt. Upton on a small lot which now forms a part of Cyrenus CHAMBERLAYNE's farm. He afterwards removed to the locality of Rockwell's Mills, to the place now occupied by his daughters, Mary Ann, widow of Seth D. RICHMOND, and Harriet, a maiden lady, where he and his wife Sally died. He died Sept. 18, 1827, aged 48, and his wife, Feb. 23, 1870, aged 84. His other children were Hiram G., who married Betsey THAYER, and lived and died in the town Aug. 16, 1874, aged 67; Foster, who married Lucinda WHEELER, and after her death Minerva HAYES, and is now living in Mt. Upton; Helen, who married John BLACKMAN, and lived and died in Mt. Upton; Sally, who married Alpheus NEWMAN, and is now living in Addison Steuben county; Fields, who married Ursula PECK, and after her death Amy NEWTON, and is now living near Latham's Corners; Ulrica, who died when ten or twelve years old; Wm., who died in childhood; Mahala, who married William LEACH, and settled in Norwich, where both died; and Alaxeronia, who married Nelson GREEN and afterwards Chauncey GRAVES, and is now living at Latham's Corners. Several descendants are living in the town. Horace Place, a dry goods merchant in Mt. Upton, is a grandson of William's.
William GUNN was a native of Cambridge, N.Y., and removed thence to Guilford in 1810. He settled on the Unadilla at Rockwell's Mills, where he built in the following year the first carding and cloth-dressing establishment in the county. The building stood on the site of ROCKWELL's stone mill and was burned at an early day. He soon afterwards formed a co-partnership with Joseph RICHMOND and erected a sizable building on the same site and engaged in the manufacture of cotton and woolen cloths. The building was three stories high above the basement, which was used as a machine shop. The first and third stories were occupied with cotton machinery, and the second floor, with woolen machinery. The building was erected about 1813 or '14, and was burned in the winter of 1831. Gunn sold his interest about 1828 to ---- STEWART and Paris ANDREWS, having a few years previous dissolved his partnership with Richmond, who took for his share the cotton machinery, which was considered about half the value of machinery and fixtures, retaining a half interest in the building till it was burned. Richmond continued the manufacture of cotton cloths till about 1829, when he leased the property to a Mr. WEBB, of Norwich, who was carrying on the business when the mill was burned. Stewart & Andrews carried on the manufacture of woolen cloths up to the same period, when the site and mill privileges were sold to William BOWNE, of New York City, who erected a stone building and continued the manufacture of cotton goods, with Webb as his agent, some five or six years, when he failed, and the machinery was taken out and sold and the building never after used as a cotton manufactory. The property then passed into the hands of Amasa BALLOU, who carried on the manufacture of woolen goods till it came into the possession of the ROCKWELLs in 1849, though but little was done for some years previous to that time.
William Gunn continued to reside there till his death Jan. 19, 1830, at the age of 54 years. He was twice married: Abigail, his first wife, died May 16, 1816, aged 34, and Phila, his second wife, Sept. 19, 1826, aged 43. Three of his children are living, Cynthia, widow of Charles LATHLAM, at Rockwell's Mills, Sophia, wife of Samuel CHURCHILL, in Iowa, and William H., a Justice of the Peace in Norwich village.
Rogers WILLIAMS, a descendant of Roger Williams, of New England, whose fame has made him a national character, came in from Gloucester, R. I., and settled at the head of Cable Pond, now known as Guilford Pond, on lot 49. In 1834 he removed to Guilford and worked out by the day; and in 1839, to Guilford Center, to the farm now occupied by his son Anthony, where he and his son-in-law, John HARRINGTON, carried on the cabinet business. He died there Sept. 30, 1878, aged 88. His children were Anthony, now living at Guilford Center; Freelove, who married John HARRINGTON, and died in Ohio about six years ago; Amanda, who married George GOULD, of Herkimer county, and died about thirty years ago; George, who died unmarried June 6, 1875; Alice who married Peter VAN WALKENBURGH, subsequently Daniel BATEMAN, and is still living in Michigan; and Ann, who married Anthony RASBECH, and is still living in Jefferson county.
Other early settlers, some of them among the first, though we have been unable to determine the exact date, were Roswell MORGAN, Asa HAVEN, Captain Joseph LATHAM, John EDDY, who settled in the north part of the town, on the farm first taken up by Dr. James MASON, and afterwards occupied by Ollis BOWEN, and died there April 11, 1820 aged 53, and Captain Abner WOOD, who also settled in the north part of the town and died there in October, 1821, aged 76.
Roswell MORGAN, was born at Stonington, Conn., in 1764, and married Cynthia WITTER in 1786. He was a captain in the first American army during the Revolution, and after the close of the war, in which he was wounded, removed to Guilford and settled on the farm now owned and occupied by George ANDERSON, about a mile north of Rockdale, upon which he raised a family and died there. He, his wife and some of his children are buried in the cemetery upon that farm. His children were: Elijah, Lucy, who married Godfrey GARDNER, Nathan, Ebenezer, Jasper, Gurdon, John, Thomas B., Cynthia W., who married Russell FORD, father of M. J. Ford of Mt. Upton, Roswell B. and Warham W., all of whom are dead except Thomas B., now living in Coventry, and Roswell B., living in Fredonia, Chautauqua county.
Asa HAVENS settled on the farm adjoining that of Silas WHEELER on the west of the one now occupied by E. F. CURTIS, where he died Sept. 12, 1856, aged 79. Among his children were Solomon G., who lived in Buffalo, was an associate with Millard FILLMORE in the practice of law, represented Erie county in Congress from 1851 to 1857, and died in Buffalo, Dec. 24, 1861; Hiram, who removed to Pennsylvania; John who removed to the town of Pitcher when a young man; James, who lived and died in Buffalo, where he was in the law office of his brother Solomon G.; Alfred, the youngest of the boys, who went west and is now editor of the Faribault (Minn.,) Democrat; Sarah, who married a DOWD and lived in Pitcher; Polly who married and removed to Michigan; and Jane, who married Henry, nephew of Gen. WELCH, of New Berlin and subsequently moved to California, where she died. Haven, after the death of his wife, who was a daughter of John EASTWOOD, married the widow SYKES, whose son Charles P. Sykes, has been somewhat prominent, was at one time manager of Pomeroy's Democrat, and is now interested in silver mining in Arizona. Haven had three children by his second wife, Harriet, who is living with her brother in Faribault, Minn., Caroline, who married Dr. S. HINMAN of East Homer, and Euphermia, who married west and died at LaCrosse, Wis.
Capt. Joseph LATHAM came from Stonington, Conn., his native place, and, like many others of the early settlers, desiring to escape the malarial diseases which prevailed to an alarming extent in the low lands, settled upon the hill about four miles west of Latham's Corners, named from his son Henry B., who settled there after marrying. Latham brought with him his wife, who was a DENISON, a native of Stonington, where they were married, and six children, Stanton, Alexander, John, Henry B., Paul W., and George D. Alexander and Paul were bachelors and sea captains. Stanton died at sea; Alexander, on the homestead in Guilford; and Paul in Norwich, to which village he removed after having followed the sea some 25 years. John married Hannah DENISON and settled two miles west of Latham's Corners. He was elected County Clerk in 1842, (which office he held three years,) and removed to Norwich, where he afterwards lived and died, both he and his wife, having, after the expiration of his official term, served as book-keeper for H. H. HAYNES for eleven years, and till within about a year of his death. Henry B. married Jerusha, a daughter of A. LATIMER, of New London, whose house was one of the first destroyed at the burning of that town during the Revolution. Henry carried on blacksmithing at Oxford and subsequently at the Corners which bear his name where he also engaged in farming and kept tavern, the latter for thirty-three years. He died there in June, 1853. His widow is living, aged 93, (July, 1879,) with her son Joseph H. Latham, a hardware merchant in Norwich, where he has carried on that business for twenty years as principal and for years as clerk for H. H. Haynes. George married Amanda EVERETT and settled in Guilford, removing thence to Oxford, where he educated his daughters, and afterwards to Illinois, where he is now living.
Merchants: - The merchants of Guilford were: William CABLE and his son William W., who came in shortly previous to 1800 and opened a store soon after 1807, and continued to trade till 1830, when Daniel P. Cable, another son, bought the business, and continued it till about 1847, when he went to New York, and died there in 1870.
William D. GILBERT, father of Dr. Rufus H. Gilbert, the originator of the elevated railway in New York, and whose father, Abner Gilbert, was an early settler about three miles north-west of Guilford, opened a store about 1836 and traded till about 1844, when he went to Caton, in Steuben county, where he now resides, having been postmaster there about twenty years.
Asa T. SHERWOOD was an early merchant, and had discontinued trade previous to 1828. His store stood opposite to that now occupied by N. D. BARTLE. It was removed opposite the cabinet shop of BRADLEY & WINSOR, and afterwards across the road, by Thomas DICKINSON, brother of Daniel S. Dickinson, and was occupied by him as a dwelling. It has since been torn down.
EASTMAN, SPAULDING & Co., locally known as "East India Co.," were early and prominent merchants.
The present merchants are: Daniel BEEBE, M. V. B. WINSOR, K. E. BUNNELL, John F. SHERWOOD, N. D. BARTLE and Jacob A. HAYNES.
Daniel BEEBE, general merchant, came in from Hartwick, May 1, 1844, and has since carried on business here. He was associated with his son, Daniel Dwight Beebe, from the summer of 1852 till October, 1863. He first rented the store occupied by William D. GILBERT, and afterwards bought it. It was burned April 19, 1864. He then rented a building, which he occupied till his present store was built, in 1873. Mr. Beebe is now (July, 1879,) in his 88th year.
Martin Van Buren WINSOR, general merchant, is continuing a business which was established by HARROTT & ERKSON in the spring of 1867. In 1868, R. E. BUNNELL bought Harrott's interest, which he sold to M. V. B. Winsor in the spring of 1870, when the firm name became Erkson & Winsor. In 1873, Erkson sold his interest to Geo. W. DEXTER, who sold to Mr. Winsor, the present proprietor, in 1878.
K. Eugene BUNNELL, hardware merchant, commenced the dry goods business in the fall of 1869, in company with Jno. E. ERKSON, and April 10, 1871, sold his interest to M. V. B Winsor. Sept. 1, 1871, he bought out I. H. WILLOUGHBY and Andrew BURTON, hardware merchants, and Nov. 1, 1873, he took in as partner Albert R. BROWN, whose interest he purchased March 1, 1879. He is still associated with Mr. Brown in the manufacture of the "iron-clad milk-pan," which business they commenced on that article, one obtained in the spring of 1874, the other in 1876. They also manufacture a butter salting scale and the "Arctic Creamery," for setting milk.
John F. SHERWOOD, druggist, grocer and boot and shoe dealer, commenced business in 1871 in company with his brother E. C. Sherwood. They sold after about a year to their brother, H. M. Sherwood, of whom they originally bought, and who had previously done business some five or six years. In 1874, H. M. Sherwood sold to Newton D. BARTLE from Oxford, and Leroy C. HAYES. Mr. Bartle bought Mr. Hayes' interest at the expiration of about a year, and still carries on a general mercantile business. J. F. Sherwood resumed business in 1874, in company with his brother E. C., whose interest he bought May 1, 1878.
Jacob A. HAYNES, grocer, commenced business Oct. 23, 1876.
Postmasters: - The post-office was established in Guilford in 1838, and Erastus DICKINSON was the first postmaster. He held the office till 1841, when Dr. John CLARK was appointed. He was succeeded in 1845 by Daniel P. CABLE, who held it till his removal to New York, about 1849. Dr. John Clark was again appointed June 22, 1849, and probably held it till 1853. John HALL, Jr., next held it till 1861, when Nathan W. CADY was appointed and held it till his death in Dec., 1875. Geo. W. DEXTER, the present postmaster, was next appointed, in January, 1876.
Physicians: - Guilford was supplied at an early day by physicians who had located at the Center, which was then the largest village of the two. John CLARK, M.D., was, we believe, the first physician who located here and he occupied the field until his death, March 15, 1874, at the age of 61 years, and exclusively with the exception of his son, Richard M., and Dr. SPENCER, both of whom are still practicing here.
Dr. John CLARK was born in Mayfield, Fulton county, N.Y., Dec. 10, 1812. He studied medicine with Dr. Charles Chambers of Broadalbin, N.Y., and was graduated at Fairfield Medical College in 1832, shortly before he had attained his majority. He removed to Guilford in April, 1833, and practiced his profession here till his death. Feb. 6, 1843, he married Lucia Ann, daughter of Samuel A. SMITH, by whom he had three children, John who is a lawyer in Ithaca, and Paris G., and Richard M., twins, both of whom are practicing physicians, the former in Rochester and the latter in Guilford. His widow is still living in Guilford.
Dr. Richard M. CLARK was born in Guilford, Oct. 17, 1845, and studied medicine there with his father, Dr. John Clark. He entered Bellevue Medical College, New York, in 1866, and was graduated there March 1, 1868. He commenced practice that month and year with his father in Guilford and was thus associated till the death of the latter in 1874. In that year his brother Paris G., who also studied medicine with his father and was graduated at the same time and place as himself, removed from Rochester, where he had been practicing, and formed a co-partnership with him, which continued two years. Paris G., then returned to Rochester, where he is still practicing.
Dr. Marshall D. SPENCER was born in Triangle, Broome county, N.Y., May 23, 1833. He studied medicine with his father, Dr. S. L. Spencer, at Triangle, till the death of the latter in June, 1858, from a dissection wound received while holding an autopsy. He afterwards pursued his studies with Josiah G. Beckwith and George Seymour of Litchfield, Conn. In 1854-55 he attended medical lectures at the University of New York, and was licensed by the Broome County Medical Society July 23, 1859. He commenced practice in Halsey Valley, Tioga county, in 1855, and in April, 1856, removed to Guilford, where he has since practiced.
Dr. Harry P. GUY was born in Harpersville, Broome county, Dec. 20, 1848. He studied medicine at that place with his father Ezekiel Guy, and was graduated at Geneva Medical College March 12, 1875. He commenced practice at Cooperstown, where he remained till April, 1877, when he removed to Guilford and formed a co-partnership with Dr. Richard M. CLARK, which still continues.
MT. UPTON
Merchants: - The first merchants at Mt. Upton were George FENNO and John Z. SAXTON, who opened a store as early as 1820, probably a little earlier, and traded till the death of Fenno, April 19, 1829, when SAXTON, who came here from Connecticut, removed to Fredonia, Chautauqua county, and from thence to Argyle, Wis., where he died a few years ago. FENNO was an Englishman and came here from New York. He was born Jan. 28, 1786. Oliver M. MATHER opened a store directly after the death of Fenno, and continued about five years. He came here from Otsego county and continued to reside here till his death, a few years ago. He was succeeded by Oliver H. EVERETT, from Connecticut, who bought Mather's goods and continued in trade till his death, about 1837 or '8. Nathaniel DANIELS bought Everett's stock and traded one to two years, when he formed a partnership with his sons, Landon and Lucius H., under the name of N. Daniels & Sons. After some five years Nathaniel and Landon withdrew, and Lucius formed a partnership with Lucius H. DONALDSON, under the name of Daniels & Donaldson, which was continued about three years, when Daniels sold to a man named TOBEY, who traded about a year and returned to Dutchess county, whence he came.
Previous to this, about 1842, Willis GREGORY and Landon DANIELS formed a co-partnership which continued about two years, when they sold to Henry BILLINGS, who came from the west part of the county and did business about ten years, during which time he was associated at different times with Willis Gregory, Ur HAYES, W. ARNOLD, and Charles P. SYKES. Billings sold to David WESTCOTT, a former resident of the county, who traded about five years, when he sold to Tompkins JEWELL, and removed to Norwich and engaged in trade there. He soon after removed to Utica, where he still resides. Jewell, after about two years, sold to Ransom and Jay E. TRUESDELL, brothers and farmers, from Rockdale. The Truesdell Brothers continued about a year, when Ransom sold his interest to Frederick W. CURTIS, of Rockdale. Jay E. Truesdale soon after sold to H. W. CURTIS, brother of Frederick. The business was continued by the Curtis Brothers about three years, when they dissolved, and F. W. took his share of the goods to Sidney Plains. H. W. Curtis continued here alone till 1870, when Horace F. PLACE became his partner, and the business was conducted under the name of Curtis & Place seven years. In 1877, Curtis sold to George A. GREGORY and the firm became Place & Gregory, and remained such about sixteen months, when Gregory sold to Franklin MORSE. The business (general merchandise) has since been conducted under the name of Place & Morse.
About 1835, Seneca DIMMOCK, of Burlington, commenced trading and continued till about 1838. He sold to Amos GREGORY, originally from Connecticut, but for several years a resident of the town. Gregory sold about 1840 to Henry W. SILL, who traded about eight years and sold to Willis GREGORY. About this year also (1835) Winsor & Orcott (Geo. H. WINSOR and Daniel ORCOTT,) opened a store and traded about five years, when they sold a part of their goods and removed the remainder to Masonville. Winsor is now practicing law in Bainbridge.
About 1847 or '8, William GREGORY, a native of the place, commenced trading here. He sold to William GREEN, also a native of the town, who sold to William CARPENTER, a native of the county. The business passed successively from the hands of Carpenter to those of his brother Chester, James Russell BRETT, Charles E. BRETT, brother of James R., Dr. Benjamin F. SMITH, Lyman D. IVES and Alexis H. WHEELER, the latter of whom, a native of the town, still carries on the business of drugs, groceries, boots and shoes, which he commenced in March, 1872.
The other merchants at present doing business here are Francis H. PECK, general merchant, who came in from Morris, where he had been engaged in farming for twenty years, and has traded here since the spring of 1867 and Rood & Lynch, (Perry ROOD and John R. LYNCH,) general merchants. This business was commenced in 1869 by John A. DAY, who after about two and a one-half years sold to Truesdell & Brown, (Harvey TRUESDELL and Albert R. BROWN,) by whom the business was carried on till the fall of 1873, when Perry Rood bought Brown's interest, and the firm became Truesdell & Rood. After one year Rood bought Truesdell's interest and one and one-half years later admitted John R. LYNCH to partnership. The business has since been conducted under the above name.
Postmasters: - The first postmaster at Mt. Upton of whom we have any authentic information, was John Z. SAXTON, who probably held the office during the period of his mercantile career here. He was succeeded by John F. MATHER, Lucius H. DANIELS, Lucius H. DONALDSON, Russell FORD, from about 1842 to '49, Willis GREGORY, from 1849 to '53, Wm. GREGORY, who held it till his death, Aug. 25, 1854, Chauncey S. GRAVES, from 1854 to 1861, James R. BRETT, Jay E. TRUESDELL and Jesse HOOKER from 1861 to 1865, Merlin J. FORD, from 1865 to 1875, and Alexis H. WHEELER, the present incumbent, who was appointed January 13, 1875.
Physicians: - The first physician to locate at Mt. Upton was John F. MATHER, who came here between 1827 and 1830 and removed to Garrattsville previous to 1843. He was a skillful physician, but became very much addicted to inebriety. He died in Garrattsville. James S. COGGESHALL was practicing here in 1843 and '44. David MATTESON, M.D., practiced here from about 1838 till his death, Feb. 20, 1847. Joseph C. BRETT, James SECOR, John YALE and James MATTESON, the latter the nephew of Dr. David Matteson, studied about the same time with that gentleman. BRETT commenced practice about 1845 and continued till within a short time of his death, which occurred Feb. 2, 1857, with the exception of a few years during the latter part of the time spent in Gilbertsville. SECOR and YALE each commenced practice about 1846, and the former continued till his death in July, 1861. BRETT and YALE practiced in company. MATTESON probably never practiced here. YALE was a native of the town. His grandfather, Uri Yale, was one of the first settlers at Yaleville, which derives its name from the Yale families who settled there. He practiced here thirteen years, till 1859, and removed to Corning, and thence after a year or two to Bainbridge, where he practiced some eight or ten years. He is now living in Wisconsin. James R. BRETT, brother of Dr. Joseph C. Brett, studied with Dr. Yale in 1855-8 and practiced till the opening of the war, when he enlisted and contracted a disease which developed into consumption and terminated his life Feb. 14, 1863.
Ebenezer McCLINTOCK came from Delaware county, in the fall of 1861 and practiced about a year. He then enlisted in the 114th Regiment, was discharged by reason of disability, came home, and afterwards received an appointment as Assistant Surgeon in a reserve surgical corps. After the war he located at Morris, where he died of consumption. Benedict Arnold WEEKS came from Rockdale (where he had practiced about a year,) about 1863, and practiced some two years. He is now living near Hudson. Dr. McDOUGALL came in from New Berlin in 1868 or '9, but practiced only a few months, when he removed to Mt. Vision, in Otsego county. He is now in Oneonta. Henry S. EDSON came from Otego in the summer of 1877, and removed in the spring of 1878 to Sidney Plains.
Dr. Jonathan GURNSEY, who located two miles above the village, and died there June 27, 1853, and Dr. Colby KNAPP, who was located at Guilford Center, were the earliest practitioners in this locality. They traversed a large circuit. Dr. Knapp peddled blue pills and abolition doctrines when it was dangerous to be known as an abolitionist.
The GUERNSEYs were a prominent family in the town. They came from Massachusetts about 1818, and settled on the farm now occupied by George A. TRUESDELL. He married Frances BROWNELL, who died Nov. 3, 1877, aged 78. His children were Caroline, who married a man named KING and lived in North Norwich; Phebe, who married a man named ROOT, of Madison county, and afterwards Rev. Mr. MURDOCK, a Presbyterian minister of Elmira; Euphemia J., the authoress, who married Orson RICHMOND; Addison, Hamilton and Henry, the latter of whom died in youth. All the rest are living, the boys in Wisconsin, Caroline in Madison, Phebe in Elmira, and Euphemia J. in Guilford.
The present physicians at Mt. Upton are Benjamin F. SMITH and James R. WALKER.
Dr. Benjamin F. SMITH was born in Unadilla, N.Y., Dec. 10, 1833. He commenced the study of medicine at Mt. Upton in Oct., 1854, with Dr. John YALE, with whom he remained three years. During that time he attended two courses of lectures at the Albany Medical College, where he was graduated Dec. 22, 1857. He commenced practice in Mt. Upton in Jan. 1858, in company with his preceptor, whose practice he bought after one year.
Dr. James R WALKER was born in Butternuts, N.Y., March 3, 1858, and commenced the study of medicine at Mt. Upton, Nov. 27, 1875, with Dr. Benjamin F. SMITH. Oct. 1, 1877, he entered the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and April 1, 1878, the University Medical College of New York, where he was graduated Feb. 28, 1879. He commenced practice in Mt. Upton April 14, 1879.
Lawyers: - The first lawyer in Mt. Upton was Francis Upton FENNO, who was born in Butternuts, Otsego county, Aug. 30, 1819, and practiced here from about 1843 till his death, Aug. 17, 1861, with the exception of about two years spent in New York. The second was Landon DANIELS, who studied with Fenno, and practiced from about 1846 till 1860, when he went to Michigan. George Washington CHAMBERLAYNE, a native of the town, practiced from about 1848 till within a short time of his death, in 1867, with the exception of of a few years spent in California. He was the Democratic nominee for Member of Assembly in this district in 1863. Russell FORD came from Canaan, Columbia county, N.Y., in 1800. He held the office of Justice of the Peace, a great many years, and thus familiarized himself with the ethics of law. He was admitted to the bar on motion of Daniel S. DICKINSON, at the General Term in Binghamton, and practiced law from that time till his death, Aug. 11, 1863, though not as a dependency. Joseph PHELPS came from New Berlin, where he read law with Henry BENNETT, about 1871, and practiced about two years.
Alvin BENNETT, the only lawyer now practicing here, was born in Guilford, Oct. 31, 1846. He read law one year with Hon. D. P. LOOMIS at Unadilla, and three years with E. C. BELKNAP at the same place. He was admitted at the General Term at Albany, March 7, 1872, and commenced practice at Mt. Upton the following year.
GUILFORD CENTER
Merchants: - The first merchants at Guilford Center were Caleb MANN and Henry SMITH, who sold goods in the tavern four or five years from about 1809; but the first of any considerable importance were Rufus BALDWIN and Ephraim H. DENISON, the former from Goshen, and the latter a resident of Norfolk, Conn. They opened a store previous to the war of 1812, and traded several years. Rufus continued after their dissolution till about 1836, in company with his brothers, Horace and William, the latter of whom continued till about 1846, when he was succeeded by George B. DYER, who sold after one or two years to William BALDWIN, who discontinued after some two years. Eleazer H. FITCH, from New York, commenced trade about 1820, and continued till his death, Dec. 6 ,1852, doing an extensive and lucrative business. Fitch was associated about three years with Cornelius OAKLEY, also from New York, who owned a mile square in the central part of the town, of which afterwards Fitch bought the unsold portion. Thomas and James NEWTON were contemporary with the Baldwin Bros., about 1829 or '30, and traded some four or five years in the wing of the hotel. They were thorough business men. They came here young, single men and strangers. Both married here and moved west. W. W. CLARK traded here four or five years from 1860; and George H. BALDWIN, five or six years from about 1870. Clark is a native of the town, and is now carrying on a cooper-shop in Guilford, to which place he removed.
Postmasters: - The first postoffice in the town was kept at Humphrey's Corners, by Dr. Colby KNAPP, from whom it was named Knappsville. It was removed thence to the Center, and the first postmaster at the Center was Daniel S. DICKINSON, who held the office till his removal to Binghamton, when he was succeeded by Asher C. MOSES, who had previously studied law with Dickinson. Moses held it till about 1839. The office was removed about this time to Guilford and there was a short interval when there was no office here. It was re-established about 1841, and the name, which had previously been Guilford, was changed to Guilford Center, to distinguish it from the upper village, which assumed the name of Guilford when the post-office was established there, in exchange for that of Fayette, by which it had previously been known. The first post-master after the re-establishment was Charles D. COBB, who was succeeded by Daniel MORGAN, who held the office till 1849, when Thomas P. HICKS was appointed and held it till 1853, when he was succeeded by George F. HUMPHREY, who was succeeded in 1861 by Franklin S. CLARK. Clark held it till Nov. 19, 1867; was again appointed, but held it only three months. George BALDWIN next held it several years and was succeeded by George WOOSTER, who held it till July 24, 1875, when Erastus A. WHITING, the present incumbent, was appointed.
Physicians: - The first physician who located at Guilford Center and the first in the town was Dr. Colby KNAPP, who was born in Norfolk, Conn., April 25, 1768, and removed thence in 1800 to Guilford. He located at Humphrey's Corners, about four miles east of Guilford, where he took up a farm and practiced medicine in all this section of the country. He subsequently removed to the Center, where he resided and practiced till within a few years of his death, when, having earned a wide-spread reputation, he removed, at an advance age, to Binghamton, to live with his daughter Lydia, who married Daniel S. DICKINSON, and died there March 5, 1853.
"Dr. Knapp had not the advantages of a collegiate education, but being possessed of strong natural powers and studious habits he soon acquired an eminence in his profession that early obtained for him a diploma from Yale College .* * His mental powers were not so quick and brilliant in their operations as in many of less eminence, but remarkably clear and judicious. With him an opinion upon any subject was the result of careful investigation, and when once formed seldom changed. His peculiarly calm and cool temperament, whatever might be the exciting circumstances in which he was thrown, eminently prepared him for his profession."*
* Funeral Sermon of Dr. Colby Knapp, delivered at Guilford April 3, by Rev. J. L. Jaynes, pastor the First Congregational Church of Guilford.
Dr. Knapp had two children by his first wife, from whom he was divorced before coming here, Cyrus, who died young, and Sophia, who married a man named HEWEN, who removed south, where he now resides, his wife being insane. He married after coming here Lucinda MURRAY, who died Sept. 3, 1846, aged 63, and by whom he had ten children: Lydia, who married Daniel S. Dickinson, Eliza, who married --- DICKERMAN and died in Guilford; Lucy, who married Horace DRESSER and died in Bainbridge, where her husband was then teaching school; Lucinda, who married ---- WESTCOTT, and is now living in Binghamton, her husband having died in Jackson, Miss.; Hannah, who married James HATHAWAY, a teacher in Chicago, where she is now living; Bessie, who married Hon. Giles HOTCHKISS, of Binghamton, where both died; Frederick, who married a southern lady and is living in New Orleans; Cyrus, who married west, and is living in Springfield, Ill.; Colby, who is living west; James, who married a Miss SCOTT, of Bainbridge, now dead, and is now living with his second wife in Jackson, Miss.
Drs. FARRELL and LEE, from Sherburne, located at Guilford Center at an early day, about 1834 or 1835. LEE remained but a short time. FARRELL practiced several years in company with Dr. Knapp. William BEARDSLEY came here in 1844, after Farrell left, and after practicing three or four years removed to Coventry. Walter L. BARBER came in from Greene county about 1843. He removed to Deposit after two or three years' practice. Dr. WHITCOMB, a native of the town, commenced practice here about 1836, and continued three or four years. He removed to Yazoo City, Miss.
Lawyers: - The first lawyer at Guilford Center was Daniel S. DICKINSON, who practiced from his admission to the Bar in 1828 till his removal to Binghamton in Dec., 1831; and the only other one was Asher C. MOSES who was a student of Dickinson's, and after some ten or fifteen years' practice removed to Deposit, where he now resides.
ROCKDALE
Merchants: - The first merchant in Rockdale was Gaius BOUGHTON, who came from the New England States and opened a small store about 1814 of '15, and traded some two or three years. The building in which he traded has been remodeled, and is now occupied as a dwelling by Hubert M. GATES. The next was William CLARK, who came from Wilmington, Vt., in 1804, settled on the farm now occupied by Alson W. MILLS, about two miles south-west of Rockdale, and commenced trading in 1827, first in a room in his dwelling-house, (which has been taken down,) which he occupied till his store was built the same year. The store stood just south of the hotel. It was afterwards removed to the site of the present store, and was burned in 1872. He continued trade some five years, carrying on a milling business at the same time.
Amos MATTESON was the next merchant. He came from New Berlin about 1839, and traded till his death, in the spring of 1842. He was succeeded that year by Ransom CLARK, who traded till 1860, when he sold to John A. CLARK, from Wellsburgh, N.Y., who traded one or two years and sold to a man from Franklin, who removed the goods to that place. Edward P. ARMS opened a store about 1863 or '64, and sold in 1866 to Ransom CLARK and James F. GRAVES, who did business till 1872, when they were burned and did not resume.
Charles V. MORRIS and Truman PRENTICE, from Butternuts, rebuilt on the same site and commenced trading in January, 1873. They continued about two and one-half years, and sold to Henry A. SKINNER and Daniel S. CALKINS, who traded one year, when Skinner bought out Calkins and sold after a year to Squire W. RICHARDS. Richards traded about eighteen months and sold to William J. SLITER, of Sidney Plains, who removed the goods to that place. George W. GREGORY, the present merchant, bought the building in the spring of 1879.
Postmasters: - The first postmaster was Isaac COX, who was appointed about 1829, and held the office till 1832, when Ransom CLARK received the appointment. Mr. Clark was succeeded in 1853 by John WILSON, who held it one year, when John A. CLARK was appointed and held it about two years. Edward P. ARMS was next appointed, and held the office till 1866, when James F. GRAVES received the appointment. Ransom CLARK, the present incumbent, succeeded Graves in 1870.
Physicians: - The first physician in Rockdale was James SECOR, a native of the town, who came from Mt. Upton about 1847, and returned there after eight or nine years' practice. Altron B. MAYNARD came from Connecticut about 1849 and practiced about two years, when he removed to Cortland county. A. B. WEEKS came in from Montgomery county in 1861, and after about two years' practice removed to the locality of Fort Plain. A. B. STANTON practiced here about six months in 1871. He removed to Butternuts, where he now resides. There has been no physician here since he left.
EAST GUILFORD
Joseph F. BEALE is the merchant at East Guilford. He commenced business in October, 1875, at which time he bought out Jerome PRESTON. He had previously resided in the village, to which he came from South New Berlin, about thirteen years ago. Mr. Beale is the postmaster at East Guilford, to which office he was appointed July 18, 1873.
ROCKWELL'S MILLS
LATHAM'S CORNERS
YALEVILLE
VAN BUREN'S CORNERS
History of Lincklaen
History of Lincklaen
Lincklaen was formed from German, April 12, 1823.
The settlement of the town was commenced towards the close of the last century. The only families who had located in the town previous to 1799 were those of Deacon Elisha and Jesse CATLIN, Abel FAIRCHILD, ---- BACKUS and Aaron PEET.
Deacon Elisha and Jesse CATLIN were brothers. They came from Clinton, N.Y., and were the first settlers at Lincklaen, which was and is still known as Catlin Settlement. Elisha located on the site of Samuel LORD's residence and resided there till his death, May 30, 1826, aged 67. Roxana, his wife, died Oct. 17, 1841, aged 81. Jesse lived in a little log house near Elisha's, but did not stay here long. He removed soon after to Tioga county, Penn. Elisha kept the first tavern in the town in the building which having been remodeled, is now occupied as a residence by Samuel Lord, and he and Christopher SHIPMAN, who settled in the south part of the town soon after 1800, built the first saw-mill in the town. It was located on the small stream a little north of his tavern. It did not stand long, but traces of it are still visible.
Elisha Catlin had several sons and daughters, who mostly married and settled in the same locality. His son Orrin was a Presbyterian minister. All are dead, and not a Catlin remains in the settlement. Dewey, his eldest son, married Dolly BLOUNT, daughter of Elisha Blount, who, together with his brother, Squire Walter Blount, settled two miles south-east of Lincklaen, where Chauncey R. FULLER now lives, but removed form the town at an early day. Walter lost his wife here previous to his removal, June 22, 1811.
Abel FARICHILD came from Connecticut and settled a mile south of Lincklaen, where Herbert HARRINGTON now lives, and died there March 30,1840, aged 77, and Nancy, his wife, March 16, 1835, aged 72. His sons Charles, Sillick and Philo were the first merchants at Lincklaen.
BACKUS occupied a little log-house which stood on the west side of the creek, near the barn of Thomas HOLL. He removed soon after to Cazenovia.
Aaron PEET settled about a mile below Lincklaen, where Daniel LANE now lives, adjoining Abel FAIRCHILD's farm. He soon after removed from the town.
Gurden WELLS came from Stratford, Conn., in 1799, and setted {sic} about a half mile north of Catlin Settlement, where Julius SWAN now lives. After four years he sold his implements to Joseph PULFORD, also from Stratford, Conn., and removed a little north to the place where Asa SWAN now lives, where he lived only one year. He then removed to the farm now owned by Daniel LANE, about a mile south of Catlin Settlement, where he died Dec. 27, 1827, aged 70. His wife was Sarah BURRITT, sister of Elihu Burritt, of Stratford, Conn. She died on the place now owned by Elder E. A. POOLE, a mile north of Catlin Settlemnt, Oct. 31, 1831, aged 60. They had eight daughters and two sons-Edwin and Philander. The eldest daughter, Sally Maria, who was born in Stratford, Jan. 17, 1793, is still living on the place where she settled after her marriage-the place owned by Elder E. A. POOLE, before referred to. Gurden Wells' third daughter and fourth child, Matilda, was born in Lincklaen, August 10, 1800, and was the first white child born in the town.
Joseph PULFORD, to whom reference has been made, died on the place purchased by him of Gurden WELLS, August 4, 1838, aged 78, and Phebe, his wife, March 26, 1846, aged 87. Samuel, Elihu, David and Delilah, who married for her second husband, Emerson THAYER, were children of his. Joseph Pulford built the first grist-mill in the town at the head of the Wilcox mill-pond. It stood there a good many years and after it was run down, about 1826, a second one was built by Samuel Pulford, son of Joseph. It is the one now owned by Wilcox Bros., & Co., at the forks of Mud creek. Samuel Pulford also built the first saw-mill on the site of the WILCOX saw-mill.
Nathaniel GRAY came from Sherburne about 1802, and built a log-house where Isaac FULLER now lives. He remained here but a year or two and removed to Evans, Erie Co.
George BURDICK came from Rhode Island in 1804, and made the first settlement at what is still known as Burdick Settlement. He located where Jonathan G .CARPENTER now lives. He married in Rhode Island, Vashti COON, who was born August 26, 1781, and died Oct. 31, 1871, aged 90. George died on the homestead Feb. 11, 1850, aged 71. They had numerous children.
Daniel BURDICK, a distant relative of George Burdick, was a native of Rhode Island, and came in from Petersburg, Rensselaer county, in September, 1805, and located at Burdick Settlement, where Charles GREEN now lives. He took up 150 acres on lot 12, which is now owned in part by his grandson, Benjamin S. Burdick, and Schuyler OLIN, Charles PIERCE, Charles GREEN and Norman G. BURDICK. He built, in 1806, the first frame barn in Burdick Settlement. It is still standing, a little west of the residence of Benjamin S. Burdick, having been removed from the homestead farm. The frame is yet in a good state of preservation Daniel Burdick was born in Hopkinton, R.I., Dec. 20, 1746, and died where he settled, Dec. 3, 1808.
He married in Hopkinton, Temperance, daughter of William HALL, of Hopkinton, where seven of his children were born. His wife, after his death, went to live with her daughter Abigail, in the edge of DeRuyter, and died there June 1, 1846, aged 90. Their children were Sarah, Nancy, William, Temperance, Daniel, Jr., and Abigail.
Perry and Whedon BURDICK, kinsmen of Daniel Burdick, came in from Rhode Island a few years later. Perry settled a mile north-east of Burdick Settlement, where John TOBIN now lives; and Whedon, in the Settlement on the farm now occupied by John TOBIN, Jr. Both had families and both died in the town, Perry, on the old homestead, June 18, 1858, aged 82. Whedon was a man of excellent repute. Hannah, his wife died May 9, 1865, aged 91. He had a numerous family; who mostly married and settled in this locality. Four of the children are now living: Weltha, widow of Matthew WELLS, and Horace W., a jeweler in DeRuyter; Sophia, widow of Gardner CARPENTER, now residing in Wisconsin; and Lebeus M., who was ordained a minister by the Seventh-Day Baptist church of Burdick Settlement.
Samuel STILLMAN also settled here in 1805, and Deway MAINE, about that year. Samuel Stillman was born in Farmington, Conn., Feb. 5, 1747, and came here from Berlin, Rensselaer county, the same year, but a little earlier than Daniel STILLMAN. He settled a mile north of Burdick Settlement, on what was long known as Stillman street, where his great grandson, George R. Stillman, now lives, a portion of the farm being now owned by Cornelius STEELE. He took up fifty acres, on which he died in October, 1834, also his wife, Lydia, who was born Oct. 21, 1749, and died April 18, 1828. They had eight sons and two daughters. Seven of the sons and one daughter settled on what was known as Stillman street, extending from Burdick Settlement north to the county line. The children were Davis, Jared, Samuel, Jr., Thomas, Elisha, Maxson, Joseph, William, Prudence, Hannah, many of whom had reached maturity when they came here. Very few of this once numerous family are left here. Benjamin Stillman, son of William, is living in Burdick Settlement.
Deway MAINE was also from Connecticut. He purchased of George BURDICK, who took lot 13, the south fifty acres, where Riley PRESTON now lives, and died there Jan. 31, 1847, aged 77. His wife, Lucinda COLEGROVE, also died on that place Dec. 26, 1865, aged 90. They had four sons and six daughters, of whom Prentice and Silas are living in the west, Susan in Allegany county, and Lucy on the homestead.
Eliphalet JOHNSON, from Rhode Island, settled soon after 1808, at Burdick Settlement, where Marshall B. GILLESPIE now lives, and lived and died there in the spring of 1833. He had several children, who mostly married and settled in this town. Some of them afterwards removed to Allegany county, where Asa, the only one now living, still resides.
Wolcott BENNETT and Joseph DARLING settled in the town at an early date, on adjoining farms, about two miles north of Catlin Settlement, BENNETT, where his grandson, Alfred Bennett, now lives, and DARLING on the farm next north of that, where his grandson, Charles Darling, now lives. BENNETT and his son Wolcott, who succeeded him on that farm, both died there, the former, Dec. 6, 1831, aged 75. Joanna, his wife, survived him twelve years, and died June 17, 1843, at the age of 88 years. DARLING and his wife, Sarah, both died on the place where they settled, the former Nov. 9, 1824, aged 78, and the latter Jan. 9, 1846, aged 89. Joel, Elijah, who married Sophia, daughter of William RYNECK, and Levi, who married Mary, daughter of John COMSTOCK, were sons of his. All are dead. Elijah died on the homestead in the spring of 1879, and his wife, March 6, 1858, aged 55.
Caitlin Settlement
Merchants: - The first merchants at Catlin Settlement, the first also in the town, were Charles, Sillick and Philo FAIRCHILD, brothers, who commenced trading about 1821, but continued only a few years. Their store stood a little south-east of the village, below the forks of the road. The building was afterwards removed to near the site of Thomas HOLL's residence. Lincoln N. TIBBALS traded in it a short time from about 1831. It was burned soon after Tibbals vacated it.
Orrin C. BALDWIN opened a small grocery about 1850, and after a few years he opened a shoe store, doing quite a business. David MATTHEWSON succeeded him in the grocery business, and after a few years was joined by his brother, Amos W.
The present merchants are Edward N. ANDREWS and Edgar A. COON, the former of whom commenced business in January, 1874, and the latter in 1877. Mr. Coon also keeps the hotel, which property he bought of Thomas JONES about 1868 or '9. His store is kept in a portion of that building.
Postmasters: - The post-office at Catlin Settlement was established at an early day. Abel FAIRCHILD was probably the first post-master. The present post-master, Horace POOLE, was appointed in 1861.
Burdick Settlement (Lincklaen p.o.)
Merchants: - Arthur M. PRESTON commenced mercantile business here in May, 1878. He is a native of the place and the first and only person who has engaged in mercantile business here.
Postmasters: - Mr. PRESTON is also the postmaster here. The office was established Nov. 19, 1877, and DeWitt CRAFT was then appointed postmaster. He was succeeded in the office by Mr. Preston Feb. 20, 1879.
History of McDonough
History of McDonough
McDonough, the 15th of the Twenty townships, was formed from Preston April 17, 1816.
The settlement of this town was begun in 1795, in which year several had located here, among whom was Sylvanus MOORE, James TALMADGE, Nathaniel LOCKE, Captain Joshua A. BURKE, Loring and Emory WILLARD, and Henry W. LUDLOW.
From a written account of his father's settlement here, prepared in 1879, by William S. MOORE, in his 79th year, who is perhaps the best living authority with regard to the early settlement of this town, and to which we have been kindly permitted to refer, it appears that Sylvanus MOORE emigrated from Simsbury, Conn., in 1795, with the intention of locating at Oxford, where there was then but one frame house, that of Benjamin HOVEY's, but the prevalence of fever and ague along the river bottoms induced him to change his purpose. In Oxford he met Henry W. LUDLOW from New York, who had come on for the purpose of promoting the settlement of a large tract of land owned by his father in this town. From overtures made by Mr. Ludlow, among them a promise to speedily erect a saw-mill on the tract, Mr. Moore concluded to look at the land. He penetrated five miles into the wilderness, following a line of marked trees, before he found a desirable location. He contracted for one hundred acres, to which he soon after added another one hundred, in the south-east part of the town, the farm which is now occupied in part by Perry TILLOTSON, on which he continued to reside till his death, at the age of 81 years, and is buried in the cemetery on the farm. He was then a young, single man, without a dollar to apply on the purchase price of his farm. His entire wealth consisted of his clothes, an ax and a few shillings in money. With the latter he procured a few days' rations in Oxford, and started in early spring with a stout heart, a strong purpose and resolute will to wrestle with the harsh conditions which surrounded his future home. His land was densely covered with beech, maple, black cherry, basswood and ash, which was the prevailing timber in this section. His first work, as in all the new settlements in this country, was to roll up a log cabin and clear a spot for his first crops. This accomplished, he returned late in the fall to Oxford and taught school during the winter. The money thus earned was applied to the building of a house on his lands, and while this was in progress, in December, 1797, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Solomon CURTIS an early settler one and one-half miles east of Oxford, on the farm now occupied by Andrew MOREY. Their wedding tour consisted of the journey to their wilderness home. By what mode of conveyance the journey was made we are not advised. This was the first marriage contracted in the town.
Mr. Moore soon succeeded to the agency of Mr. Thomas Ludlow's lands in this town, the son of that gentleman having become, by dissipated habits, incapacitated for that trust. After the completion of the State road to Ithaca he opened a public house to accommodate the tide of emigrants which passed over it in search of homes in the Genesee county. The increasing travel and new accessions to the settlements soon necessitated an addition to his house. This was the first public house in the town, and was opened in 1799. Mr. Moore continued to dispense these hospitalities for many years.
Having paid for the farm, and raised sons large enough to undertake its management, he relinquished the farm to them and bought the Ludlow mill property together with one hundred acres of land, and devoted himself to its management. He soon rebuilt the mill and purchased an additional three hundred and eighty acres of land, mostly covered with pine timber, so that he was able to supply the demand for lumber. This saw-mill was built by Henry W. Ludlow in 1798, on the outlet of Ludlow Pond, named from the builder of the mill. It was the first mill in the town and tended largely to promote the settlements in this locality. Mr. Moore still continued to invest in lands until he had acquired 1,100 acres free from debt.
He was early commissioned captain of a military company, then an office of no little distinction, and held his commission until he became the oldest member of his regiment. He represented the town as Supervisor some eight or ten years, and was magistrate for a number of years.
The great abundance of game and fish in the forests and streams vastly mitigated the privations of which the early settlers were exposed; indeed without them the settlement and subjugation of this wilderness would have been well nigh impossible with the class of people who generally braved the trials and dangers incident thereto, as most of them were utterly destitute of means and depended largely upon these as a means of subsistence, especially during the earlier years of their settlement. Most of the early settlers therefore became more or less expert as marksmen. The gun was as indispensable as the implements of husbandry, not only as an aid in furnishing the means of subsistence, but also as a means for protection against the beasts of prey which infested the forests and were a constant source of alarm for many years.
On one occasion Mr. Moore was reminded during the early part of his settlement that the meat tub was getting low; so at the close of his day's labor he repaired to the woods with his gun and soon had the good fortune to start a deer, which he speedily shot. He was quickly on the spot and to his surprise he found that though he had seen but one, he had shot two, which lay within a rod of each other. His attention was attracted by a rustling in the bushes near by and he discovered a third deer, which was rising to its feet. He instantly grasped it and with a tremendous effort succeeded in holding it till he cut its throat. Thus he had the satisfaction of carrying home three full grown deer, which was sufficient to replenish his meat tub and supply his neighbors besides.
Mr. Moore's wife was truly a help-mate. She was a woman of great energy and perseverance, as well as amiability, and greatly assisted by her industry in paying off the indebtedness on the homestead; for in addition to her domestic duties, including the manufacture of cloth from flax, a very essential crop, from which the clothing for the family was made, she also found time to assist her husband in various ways with his work of clearing up the land, and to weave for her neighbors who did not have looms. One season, while she had the care of five children, she carded, spun and wove two hundred pounds of wool for Mr. LUDLOW, thus helping to make the last payment on their farm. Mrs. Moore was very skillful and successful in the treatment of disease and during the early years of settlement her aid was frequently called into requisition in critical and dangerous cases, so that for many years, when professional aid was not easily obtained, she supplied quite satisfactorily that deficiency. Her oldest daughter has in her possession an old account book of her mother's which contains a record of one hundred and forty-four births which she attended professionally, and this number does not include the many for which payment was made at the time an of which no record was kept. She died in 1822, at the age of 44 years.
After the death of his first wife Mr. Moore married Miss Polly COVILLE, who is still living in Oxford, with her son, Thomas, aged 89 years. He had six children by his first wife, Eliza T., William S., Nathaniel Locke, Joshua Burke, Lysander and Cynthia H.; and three by his second, Mary, Thomas and George. Eliza T., who was born March 20, 1799, was the first white child born in the town of McDounough. She is still living in the town. She married Daniel SMITH, who died where she now lives, Sept. 25 ,1877. William S., married Mercy HAYES and settled in Guilford, where he still lives. Nathaniel Locke married Polly PALMER of Rochester, where he was then teaching school. He settled and still lives in McDonough, where his wife died Sept. 15, 1877. Joshua Burke died young and is now living in McDonough, where they first settled and have lived 51 years. Cynthia married Vinson LOOMIS and settled in Smithville, where both died. She died Aug. 8, 1839. Mary married Edward CURTIS and is living in Washington, D.C. Thomas married Maria RANDALL, and after her death, Elizabeth DUSHONG. He is now living in Oxford. George married Lorette WIDGER and is living in the Western States.
Jonah MOORE, brother of Sylvanus, came in some three or four years later and settled on the farm adjoining his brother's on the east, where Peter SHARPE now lives. He was drowned in the Chenango at Oxford some sixty-five years ago, under circumstances which induced the belief that he was murdered. He married, shortly before coming here, Marcia PIERCE, by whom he had ten children: Lyman, who died in Oxford, unmarried, when a young man; Chester, who married Patty CLEVELAND and lived and died in the town in 1876; Phebe, who died young and unmarried; Stoughton, who married Maria SHERBURNE, of Sherburne, and lived and died in St. Catharine's, Canada; Sylvanus, who went South and married there; Barney, who married and removed to the west part of the State and died there; James, who married, lived and died in the West; Henry, who died unmarried at an advanced age; Zalmon, who married Hannah WILLCOX and lived and died in the West; and Marcia, who died in the West, unmarried.
James TALMADGE, Nathaniel LOCKE and Captain Joshua A. BURKE settled in the same locality and within a mile of Sylvanus MOORE, the former on the place now owned by H. O. CURTIS, of Oxford, in the east part of the town. His death was the first in the town.
LOCKE afterwards removed to Oxford and died there.
BURKE settled in the locality of Ludlow Pond, where E. ECCLESTON now lives. He taught the first school in the town, and afterwards removed to New Hampshire.
Loring and Emory WILLARD were young, single men, and brothers. They removed about 1801 to Cayuga, on the east shore of Cayuga Lake, where they married, raised up families and were active participants in the events connected with the early settlement of the town of Aurelius, where descendants of theirs still live. Loring died there in 1845.
Henry LUDLOW settled at the head of Ludlow Pond, but there is nothing left to mark the locality of his settlement. He built on the outlet of that Pond, and on the site of the one now owned by Stephen L. ECCLESTON, the first saw-mill, and the first mill of any kind in the town, as before noted. He also kept in his house the first store in the town. He opened it in 1802, but kept it only a short time. It is presumed that he kept the goods mostly for the accommodation of those in his employ and the new settlers then coming in. He held the agency for the sale of the lands of his father, Thomas Ludlow, till dissipation unfitted him for that office. He died on the limits of Norwich, Sept. 7, 1814, aged 40.
Ephraim FISH and Nehemiah DUNBAR came in soon after MOORE, and settled o the adjoining farms on the old State road, about three miles east of McDonough village, FISH on the farm now occupied by Ira HILLER, and DUNBAR where Charles DUNNING now lives. Reuben and Benjamin FISH were sons of Ephraim, and Ephraim Fish now living in McDonough is a grandson; but none of his children are living.
DUNBAR died where he settled and left a somewhat numerous family. His children were Polly, who was born in Greenfield, N.Y., June 16, 1796, married Walter OYSHTERBANKS and settled in the town, and after the death of her husband, June 12, 1862, went West and died in Ann Arbor, April 15, 1872; Sally, who married Friend HAYES and is living in Guilford, having again married since the death of her first husband; Hannah, who married and settled in Oxford and died there; Willard, who married "Hopy," daughter of Daniel MATTESON, and lived and died in the town; Cynthia, who married Henry HAMILTON settled no the old homestead, and afterwards removed to Cortland county, where she now resides; and Samantha, who married Prince HILLER, settled in McDonough, and is now living in Smithville.
Benjamin KETCHUM and his brother-in-law, Benjamin KENYON came in about 1796, and settled on adjoining farms about four miles south-east of McDonough village, KETCHUM on the farm now owned by Amelia DAILEY and occupied by Charles CURTIS, and KENYON on the farm now occupied by the WIGHTMAN brothers. KETCHUM afterwards removed to Smithville, and after four or five years to the springs in the south edge of McDonough and died there. His wife was probably the first wife female who died in the town. [French says her death was the first in the town; but Lysander MOORE, son of Sylvanus, says that this is not the fact-that James TALMADGE was the first person who died in the town.] Ketchum's children were: John, who removed to Ohio when a young man; Isaac, who married a HOTCHKISS and settled in Smithville, afterwards removed to Binghamton, but died in Smithville while on a visit Dec. 17, 1873, aged 77; and Sally, who married Hiram READ and settled on a part of the Ketchum farm in Smithville. They afterwards removed to the town of Greene, where both died only a few years ago.
Benjamin KENYON died near where he settled, near the springs in McDonough. His children were: John, who removed to Onondaga county on becoming of age, and is now living in Niagara county; Polly, who married Amos BURDICK and removed to Illinois, and subsequently to Michigan, where she died; Hannah, who went to Onondaga county, and married there; Israel, who married Sally PHILLEY and settled in McDonough, where both now live; Singleton, who married Susan HILLER, and settled and is now living in McDonough; and Lydia, who married a man named ALLEN, and lived and died in Cortland county.
William MEAD, who soon after removed from the town, and Joseph and Ransom COOK, brothers, came in about 1798, the latter from Simsbury, Conn. Joseph COOK settled a half mile west of Sylvanus MOORE, and Ransom on the farm adjoining his on the north, where he and his wife died. Their brother John came in soon after, and he and Joseph removed to the town of Franklin in Delaware county. Their father, Ebenezer Cook, came in some twenty years after, and settled a little north of Sylvanus Moore's, on land which now forms a part of Eli CORBIN's farm. His wife died in the town, but he removed to Connecticut before her death and died there. He was poor and lived mostly with his children None of Ransom's children are left here. They removed to Ohio, some before and some after his death. Two or three of the family are now living there.
Other settlers of about his period were Edward COLBURN, John ANDERSON, Daniel WAINWRIGHT and M. TURNER.
WAINWRIGHT settled, but remained only a short time, about a mile east of McDonough village, on the farm afterwards occupied by William NORTON, who came in from Vermont about 1803 or '4. One son, William is now living in German, aged about eighty.
The first settler on the site of McDonough village was a man named DIBBLE, who came in about 1805. He was an auger maker and followed that vocation to some extent after settling here. He lived a good many years in the town, but removed previous to his death.
Adam OYSHTERBANKS, [This name is spelled as above in old records and upon the monument which marks his grave; but the descendants now omit the prefix Oyshter, which Walter O. Banks of German, a grandson says is simply a nick name appended to BANKS, which is the correct name, and uses the initial letter of Oyshter as a middle initial.] who was born in Fairfield, Conn., March 28, 1769, came in from the east about 1808 and settled on the chestnut ridge, about two miles east of McDonough village, on the farm afterwards occupied by Adam STANLEY, an early blacksmith at McDonough village, and at present by Leander BEEBE. He afterwards removed to the locality of Milo WEBB's mill, a little east of the village, and died there, August 2, 1826. His children were Abby, who married Roswell BUTTON, lived at first with her father, afterwards removed to Pharsalia, and subsequently to Pennsylvania, where she now resides; Laura, who married Albert ALLEN and settled first in McDonough, but is now living in Michigan; Betsey, who married Nathan DANIELS, settled in McDonough, and afterwards removed to Wayne county; Aaron, who married a SIBLEY and settled in Wayne county, now living in Michigan; and Walter, who was born in New Baltimore, N.Y., August 18, 1792, married Polly DUNBAR, and settled and died in German, June 12, 1862. Numerous descendants of this family are scattered over the country; but only three are living in this State, Harmon W. BANKS in Greene, Loren O. Banks in Wayne county, and Walter O. Banks in German, all sons of Walter and grandsons of Adam.
McDonough Village
Merchants:- The first merchant at McDonough, was John Fisk HILL, a native of Athol, Mass., who came to Oxford about 1818 and did business there with Epaphras MILLER two years. He then removed to McDonough and commenced mercantile business in the old red store which occupied the site of the store now occupied by Joseph G. BROWN, in company with Epaphras Miller, of Oxford, whose interest he bought after about two years. In 1834 his brother Jacob P. Hill, who had clerked for him three years, became his partner; and in 1837 the latter bought John F.'s interest and associated himself with Martin DANIELS, whose interest he bought after three years. Jacob P. Hill has since carried on business alone. The building in which John F. Hill commenced business has been twice moved and is now occupied as a dwelling by Nathaniel THORINGTON. He built the store now occupied by Mr. BROWN about the time he dissolved partnership with Mr. Miller.
John Hill, father of John F., and Jacob P. Hill, came in from Richmond, N.H., in 1817, arriving at Preston in February of that year. The following March he removed to Chestnut ridge, two miles north-east of McDonough village, where J. C. SIMPSON now lives. He died there Oct. 13, 1852, aged 80. His wife, Susanna, died in the house of her son, Jacob P., in apparent good health, while engaged in ordinary conversation, Dec. 24, 1846, aged 71. His children were, besides John F. and Jacob P., Susan, who married Ira COLE, and is living in the West, aged near 90; Chester, who died Dec. 1, 1873, aged 71, and Emeline B., his wife, Jan. 8, 1852, aged 45; Sophia, who married Samuel BACHELLER, and died Oct. 24, 1855, aged 50, and her husband Feb. 24, 1844, aged 46; Edwin, now living in Norwich; and Theodore, the only one of the children born in McDonough, also living in Norwich.
The next merchant to John F. Hill was Ransom RATHBONE, who lived and was engaged in mercantile business in Oxford, and owned in McDonough a paper mill, which was built by John Nevins, in 1828, and burned about 1836-'40; about 1833 Mr. Rathbone sent here his son Henry W., who carried on the mercantile business till his father's removal to Elmira, about 1839-'40. Mr. Rathbone built the store now occupied by V. C. EMERSON.
Immediately after Rathbone discontinued, a "community store" was started by an association of farmers, under the name of Drew, Lull, Birdlelbough & Co., which was managed by Horatio MACK, assisted by Alex. HAMILTON, and continued two or three years. About this period, from 1840-'2, Nelson COVILLE, a native of the town, was also engaged in trade here. His father, Micah Coville, who died here July 16, 1869, aged 87, built the first frame house in McDonough village, in 1818; and Leroy, son of Micah Coville, who was born in 1818, is said to have been the first white child born in the village. Nelson died Nov. 19, 1858, aged 47. The house, to which additions have subsequently been made, is still standing, and is now occupied as a residence by Charles K. GREENE.
Theodore Hill, brother of John F. and Jacob P . Hill was engaged in trade here from about 1841 to 1862, and was associated from about 1842-'7 with Martin DANIELS. Samuel R. BLIVIN opened a shoe store about 1863, and sold about 1866 to Randall PERRY, who sold to Stephen LEWIS after about a year. Lewis, after a year or two, took in a partner and added groceries to the business, which he continued till 1875, when he sold to Seymour MARTIN, who added dry goods and clothing, and in February, 1876, sold to Eneas L. ENSIGN and James V. GALPIN, who added drugs, and in September, 1877, sold to Galpin & Dailey. In August, 1877, Ensign and Galpin sold their stock of boots, shoes and ready-made clothing to Lewis E. BURDICK who is a son of William R. Burdick, of McDonough village, and who is still engaged in the business, having added hides and leather thereto.
John OSTRANDER came in from Tully in the winter of 1869 and opened a hardware store and tin shop, and Oct. 1, 1871, sold to Joseph G. BROWN, a native of Smithville, who still carries on the business.
Varanes C. EMERSON, general merchant, commenced business here June 14, 1858, in company with Eleazer ISBSELL, whose interest he bought in December, 1865, since which time he has carried on the business alone. Mr. Emerson is a son of Moses S. Emerson, a native of Candia, N.H., who removed thence to McDonough in 1818. He was a carpenter and joiner and mill-wright, and followed that vocation in connection with the management of a small farm of thirty acres, in the village of McDoough, till 1846. He died of apoplexy Sept. 25, 1856, aged 51, while on a visit to his native place, but his remains were brought here for interment. Eliza, his wife, died March 22, 1874, aged 65. He had four children besides Varanes C. Maria T., who died in infancy, Elizabeth S., widow of David R. RANDALL, living in Wilkesbarre, Penn., Lucinda F., who married Jonathan C. JONES, of German, where she lived and died in May, 1878, and Herbert, who is now living on the homestead.
Postmasters:- The post-office at McDonough was established about 1825, and John F. HILL, who was instrumental in securing its establishment was the first postmaster and held the office till 1837, when his brother, Jacob P., succeeded him, and held it till the return and re-appointment of John F., who had spent some five years in in Catskill and Norwich. The latter then held it till his death, Nov. 1, 1846, when his brother Theodore was appointed and held the office till 1861. He was succeeded by his brother, Jacob P. Hill, who has since held the office, with the exception of 16 months under Andrew Johnson's administration, when Varanes C. EMERSON held it. Mr. Hill was re-appointed within fourteen days after Ulysses S. Grant was inaugurated President. It is a noteworthy fact that, with the exception of these sixteen months, the office has been in the hands of the Hill family since its establishment.
When the office was first established the mail was carried on horseback, in saddle-bags, from Oxford to Cincinnatus. In 1848, on the completion of the New York & Erie railroad to Binghamton, they commenced, and still continue, to receive a daily mail from Greene.
Physicians:- The first physician at McDonough was probably Russel W. MORLEY, who was licensed in New Hampshire and came from Athol, Mass., about 1818. He located on two acres, a mile east of McDonough village, which are now owned by Ross BLIVIN. He afterwards removed to the village and built the house where Mason WHIPPLE now lives. He practiced here more or less till his death, April 29, 1859, aged 74, or until incapacitated by age. Silas G. CHAPPELLE was practicing here as early as 1827, Oct. 9th of which year he joined the County Medical Society. He practiced a few years and removed to Penfield, Monroe county. Elam BARTLETT and William D. PURPLE, the latter now of Greene, practiced here a short time between 1830 and 1840. Milton MASON, of Preston, commenced practice here about 1840 and continued till his death, Oct. 20. 1843.
Ephraim K. FROST, who was a physician, surveyor and farmer, came from New Hampshire about 1835, and followed all those vocations till 1854, when he removed to Delaware county, Iowa, and died there a few years ago. It is recollected that he had an inordinate appetite for petty town offices.
Seneca BEEBE came from Lincklaen in 1843 and practiced till 1858, when he removed to Norwich and practiced there, in Hamilton, Cincinnatus, and Oxford successively, in each place about a year. From Oxford he removed to Cincinnatus, and thence about two years ago to Marathon, where he now resides.
Eneas L. ENSIGN, son of Solomon and Irene Ensign, and the seventh of eight children, was born in Pitcher, Sept. 8, 1830. His earlier life was spent on the farm and at school, surrounded by the best of home influences. At the age of seventeen he began teaching, and from that time till he was twenty-one divided his time between teaching and attending school. At the age of twenty-one he commenced the study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. Horace HALBUT, of Pitcher, and the following year placed himself under the tutorship of his brother, Dr. Samuel Ensign, of Freetown, Cortland county, with whom he completed his studies in 1856, in the spring of which year he was graduated at the Albany Medical College, where he attended two courses of lectures. April 1, 1857, he bought Seneca BEEBE's practice in McDonough, where he has since been in active practice.
Luther James PURDY commenced practice here Jan. 1, 1871, and after two years removed to Smithville Flats, where he has since practiced. Further mention is made of him in connection with the history of Smithville.
Lucian P. ENSIGN, nephew of Dr. Eneas L. Ensign, came in 1873 and practiced till 1877, when he removed to Nebraska.
Louis P. BLAIR, the only other physician now practicing here, was born in Castle Creek, N.Y., July 8, 1854, and received his literary education at Binghamton Academy. He commenced the study of medicine in the Buffalo Medical College in 1874, and in 1876 entered the Kentucky School of Medicine, where he was graduated June 28, 1877. He commenced the practice of his profession here in April, 1878.
Lawyers:- Henry WELCH, a native of this county, came here from Smithville in 1862, and practiced law one year. He removed to Norwich and subsequently entered the army, and is now practicing in Jefferson county. He is the only lawyer who has practiced at McDonough.
East McDonough
Deacon Elijah THOMPSON kept store here for several years some twenty-five years ago, in the building now occupied as a dwelling by John FRANKLIN. He was succeeded by his son Giles, who traded three or four years in the building in which the widow of Edson GALE now lives, which then stood on the opposite side of the road from the old tavern stand, just west of the house now occupied by the widow of Rev. Cyrus STEERE. The building was originally a barn or shop and has been moved four times. Ephraim SPRAGUE, who came from the east, opened a store in the same building about 1865 and traded till his death two or three years after. He kept a general stock of goods and is the only one who has kept any considerable store here. Philo FOSGATE commenced trading soon after Sprague's death, in the same building, which he removed to the corner opposite the old tavern stand. He sold after two or three years to his brother-in-law, Elijah W. THOMPSON, who continued the business till his death, Sept. 21, 1873. Jeremiah CALVERT, Jr., came here from McDonough village in March, 1875, and has kept a small grocery since.
The post-office at East McDonough was established about thirty years ago, and Horace CORBIN was the first postmaster. He was succeeded by Stephen RANDALL, who held it from 1853 to 1857, when John Giles THOMPSON was appointed and held the office till Dec. 31, 1861, when Stephen RANDALL was again appointed and has held the office continuously since. An office was previously established a mile below East McDonough and Benjamin RANDALL was the postmaster there.
On a small stream emptying into Ludlow Pond outlet, about three miles south-east of McDonough village, is a saw-mill owned by E. J. SPAULDING and built some 30 to 40 years ago. On Bowman creek, in the south-east part of the town, is a saw-mill which is owned by Nathaniel Locke MOORE. It was built forty years ago or more.
History of New Berlin
History of New Berlin
New Berlin was formed from Norwich, April 3, 1807 (name was changed to Lancaster May 9, 1821; orginal name restored March 22, 1822.)
This, the 16th Township, as well as the 17th, as we have previously seen, were purchased by John TAYLOR, of Albany, in the interest of himself and associates, John I. MORGAN, William SIMMONS and William B BOYD, of New York city.
The first settlement in New Berlin was made in 1790, by Daniel SCRIBNER, who came with his family from Ballston, Saratoga county, intending at first to settle in Morris, Otsego county, but learning of Indian improvements on the Unadilla that could be purchased, he left his family at the head of Otsego Lake, and set out for that place, traveling through the woods until he arrived at a small clearing on the west bank of the Unadilla, opposite the Indian Fields in Pittsfield, where he found apple trees growing from seeds planted by the Indians, and there he located. Having decided upon his location he returned for his family, which he brought by canoe down the Susquehanna and up the Unadilla to the locality selected for his future home. He built a large and commodious log house on a piece of high ground a short distance from the river, commanding a fine view of the valley. There he opened the first inn in the town. There, too, occasionally, the town meetings of Norwich, which then embraced this town, were held. He was an industrious, prudent farmer, and with the help of his two sons, Samuel and Gamaliel, who were nearly grown up, he soon cleared up his farm.
During the first year of his residence in this place he was obliged to go to Chenango Forks for grain for subsistence. This journey he performed in a canoe, down the Unadilla and Susquehanna to Binghamton, thence up the Chenango to the Forks. Having purchased his grain he returned by the same route, extending his journey up the Susquehanna to Wattles Ferry, where was the most accessible grist-mill. The journey occupied eighteen days and the distance traveled was nearly two hundred miles. So great was the labor of carrying grists to mill that the primitive method of reducing the grain by the mortar and pestle was resorted to. A little later when the number of settlers had increased, in order to lessen the burden, their grists were united and brought to Scribner's, whence they were conveyed in a canoe constructed from an immense pine tree, to Tubb's mill at Toddsville, near Cooperstown. Two men, though sometimes only one, took charge of the cargo. The journey there and back occupied a week, and sometimes more.
Samuel ANDERSON and Silas BURLINGAME were among the first settlers on lots 76 and 77, on which New Berlin village is located.
ANDERSON came from Massachusetts the latter part of the last century and erected his dwelling on the north bank of the creek which runs through New Berlin village, between the creek and S. L. MORGAN's store.
Silas BURLINGAME came from Providence, R.I., and settled on lot 76, south-east of the bank. He had several children, some of whom settled near him. Josiah, his eldest son, built his house near where the old factory store now stands, the latter being now occupied as a dwelling. His barn yet remains as one of the old landmarks of former times. The premises are now owned by Delos MEDBURY. Josiah taught the first school in New Berlin. The first frame school-house stood near the iron bridge across the Unadilla in the village of New Berlin. Another son, Daniel, was a distinguished pioneer preacher of the Methodist church. His house stood on the east street near the iron bridge. Joel, son of Daniel, and father of Hon. Anson Burlingame, was born in that house. He was a man of strong mind, great energy and considerable acquirements. He removed in 1824 to a farm in Seneca county, Ohio, where he lived for ten years, and in 1833, again removed to Detroit, and from thence two years later to a farm at Branch, in Michigan. He was a delegate from Oregon to the Convention which nominated Abraham Lincoln for President.
Anson Burlingame, the distinguished diplomatist, was born in Ambler Settlement in this town, Nov. 14, 1820, and was three years old when his father removed to Ohio.
Levi BLAKESLEE, Charles KNAP, Joseph MOSS and Jeremy GOODRICH were the chief promoters of New Berlin's prosperity. In 1800 BLAKESLEE purchased a building lot of Silas BURLINGAME, on the corner where Fuller, Ball & Co.'s store now stands. He built a small, one-story dwelling house and store under one roof. This was the first store in the town. From him the place was for some time known as Blakeslee's Corners. He was associated in the mercantile business at different times with Harry W. GREEN and Ebenezer BIVINS, the latter his son-in-law. After discontinuing mercantile business he kept tavern several years in the building near the depot, owned by Lorenzo JAQUITH. Mr. Blakeslee built a paper-mill on the site next above the furniture establishment of G. W. BENTLEY & Son, and till recently occupied by the mill of Daniel HARRINGTON. The paper-mill was burned a few years ago, rebuilt, and again burned in November, 1877, but not rebuilt. In those days paper was made by hand, with the help of very little machinery. It was pressed by a screw press turned with a lever, and dried in the sun or air, in an open room on tenter bars. The process was slow and required the labor of many persons. He also owned the grist-mill built by Daniel VAIL, which stood on the site of the furniture factory, and was burned in October, 1878. He gave much aid to public improvements.
Charles KNAP came to New Berlin in the spring of 1801 and commenced the business of tanning. The same spring he married Betsey, daughter of Thomas LOOMIS, a soldier of the Revolution. He afterwards built a mill to manufacture oil from flax seed, a woolen factory, and the store owned by J. S. BRADLEY. Gen. H. DeFOREST was his partner in the mercantile business and the manufacture of woolen cloth. Mr. Knap was once the President of the Bank of Chenango, at Norwich, and his son Tracy was the President of the First National Bank of New Berlin at its organization. Only one child, Charles, now living in Philadelphia, is left. The elder Knap died Oct. 21, 1852, aged 78, and his wife, Oct. 7, 1849, aged 66.
Joseph MOSS was born Sept. 8, 1775, and was one of the early settlers of the town. In 1812, when the Farmers' and Mechanics' Manufacturing Company was chartered, he became its agent. Under his supervision the dam across the Unadilla in New Berlin village was built, and a canal was constructed from it to the place of business, a small wooden building which stood on the site of the new grist-mill, where the manufacture of cotton cloth was begun. The yarn was spun by water-power machinery, but wove into cloth by hand, as water-power looms were not then in use. Weavers from near and distant neighborhoods were employed to weave the yarn into cloth, and performed the labor at their homes. The business increased to such an extent and in 1827 a large stone factory was erected and water-power looms introduced to accommodate it. That building was destroyed by fire the same season, and rebuilt in 1828, and the business was continued under the agency of Mr. Moss till 1849, when the business agency terminated. Mr. Moss died Oct. 29, 1859. Horace Moss, son of Joseph, who during his father's agency in the cotton mill was engaged there as clerk, is the only child remaining here.
Jeremy GOODRICH came from Connecticut in the latter part of the last century. He married Lydia, daughter of the widow Abigail DOWNING, who then lived in a log house on the Captain Samuel WHITE farm, now occupied by the widow of his son Samuel White, nearly opposite to where the old brewery stood. Goodrich commenced the manufacture of potash and pearlash from black salts. In the early settlement of the town the business of clearing the lands and boiling black salts was an important one, for that was the only product the settlers relied onto obtain money to pay for their farms. No other product could be sold for money in those primitive days. His ashery was on the north side of the village creek, near the North street bridge.
Mr. Goodrich became the owner by purchase from Samuel ANDERSON, of the land where the ashery stood, on both sides of the creek down to the Unadilla. In 1798, he built on the south side of the creek a small structure which was the first frame house in the town. There for a term, from about 1802, he sold merchandise, and in the process of business, about 1814 or '15, he erected a large wooden building fronting the east and north streets. The eastern part was made into a dwelling for the family, and the other part into a large store, in which he carried on mercantile business for many years in connection with his potash and pearlash business. He also kept tavern in that building for a while. The building was recently torn down by Mr. JACOBS, who bought the property. In addition to his other multifarious business, he was postmaster for some years. He died Jan. 9, 1830, aged 61, leaving a valuable property. His wife died April 6, 1833, aged 52; and her mother in 1841, aged 83, retaining full vigor of her mental faculties to the last.
Captain Samuel WHITE, a native of one of the eastern States, settled about 1793, on the farm now occupied by the widow and daughter of his son Samuel, in the north edge of New Berlin village, and the north part of lot 76. The farm has since been cut up into smaller ones and village lots. His first house was a log structure. He afterwards built a small frame house with a quaint scalloped piazza in the front. Captain White, after he had cleared his farm, engaged extensively in apple culture. He transplanted from a distant nursery a thousand young apple trees, mostly grafted, and covered the whole hillside of his farm with the orchard which, in after years, furnished the inhabitants far and near choice and valuable fruit. Being on elevated ground, the orchard, when in blossom, presented a gorgeous and beautiful appearance amid the surrounding forest scenery. He died June 4, 1814, aged 49, and Isabella, his wife, March 15, 1844, aged 75. He left sons and daughters to inherit the fruits of his labors, all of whom are gone, except David H., who still lives in the village.
Artemas HERRICK with some kinsmen and families settled on lot 74, while the town was a wilderness, except here and there a small bit of clearing and a log house. He was an enterprising, energetic pioneer. He built a dam across the Unadilla adjoining his farm, and erected a grist-mill and saw-mill. With the exception of Job VAIL's mill, which dates from nearly the same time (1795 or '6,) these were the first mills on the Unadilla. They proved a great convenience to the settlers. The Herrick farm, the Herrick mills and Herrick Brook, were familiar names to the early settlers, but do not dwell in the memory of the present generation. After the farm was sold to pay debts incurred by Herrick in building the mills and making other improvements, and he had gone to other lands, the stream was called the Aunt Pat Brook, the pet name of a celebrated ancient landlady, whose husband kept a tavern a few rods over the line in another town, which name it retains to the present day, although the landlord, the landlady and the tavern itself have long ago ceased to exist, and the mills, passing to other hands, are now known as the red mills, and owned by Mr. LOW, who changed the grist-mill into a cheese-box factory, which now stands unused, a wreck of its former usefulness.
Gideon PECK, HERRICK's father-in-law, was well advanced in years when he left his native home in Connecticut to settle in the new country log cabin. The ten acre lot which Mr. Peck owned was bought of Aretmas Herrick, and is now owned by Mr. PORTER. His log house stood on the hill to the west side or the road, and the frame dwelling which he and his aged wife afterwards lived stood at the foot of the hill on the east side of the road. Both buildings have long since been torn down.
Sabin WARNER, another settler on lot 74, was a thrifty farmer. His wife is yet living on the farm with one of her sons, who now manages it.
Richard STONEMAN, was the only early settler on HERRICK's lot (74). He was from London, England, or its neighborhood, and arrived at New Berlin about the beginning of the present century. He purchased a few acres of Herrick in the north-west corner of that lot.
John and Stephen G. SIMMONS, brothers, were natives of New York city. Their father, who was wealthy, was the owner of several lots in New Berlin and Columbus. John Simmons, in the beginning of of the first settlement of this town, located on one of his father's lots, No. 75, adjoining the ANDERSON lot on the north, and his brother, Stephen G., about the same time, on another of their father's lots, No. 78, adjoining the BURLINGAME lot on the south. John Simmons, after making some improvements sold his farm to Thomas STEERE, a Rhode Island farmer, who emigrated from that State with his brother-in-law, Major Chas. HARRIS, who bought the north part of that lot, and Steere the south part, except a piece on the east end adjoining the river, which Simmons had previously sold to Levi BLAKESLEE, and a piece on the west end which he had sold to Jeremy GOODRICH. Steere and Harris were practical farmers and brought the Simmons; farm to a good state of cultivation. Mr. HARRIS died May 24, 1828.
Thomas STEERE left his farm to his children on his decease, and after passing through the hands of seven owners, it is now owned by Warren REYNOLDS, a son-in-law of Welcome ARNOLD's, who has lately erected a large, commodious and splendid dwelling on the ground.
About 1797, Thomas BROWN came with his family and effects from Rhode Island, the land of his nativity, to New Berlin. One or two years previous James and Barnabas, his sons, had been sent to explore the new country and prepare a dwelling place for the family. They came with an ox team, bringing some necessary articles for the occasion, and fixed the future home of the family on a lot situated on Great Brook.
Thomas Brown died about 1814. His son James inherited the homestead and at his death it descended to his heirs. It is now owned by the heirs of Jason MATTHEWSON.
Barnabas Brown married Nancy, daughter of Nathaniel MEDBURY and settled on the lot next to Samuel ANDERSON's on the west, about a half mile west of New Berlin, on the farm now occupied by Thomas LOW. He commenced house-keeping in a new log house erected for that purpose near where the old orchard stands, on the north side of the road running east and west through the farm. The orchard was among his first works after he commenced clearing up his farm. After a few years he built a more commodious house, where yet may be seen the old red-painted, one story, steeple-roof building which was the residence of Judge Barnabas Brown, amidst his happy family of sons and daughters, through a long and useful life spent in private and public employment. He was commissioned Justice of the town of New Berlin by the Council of Appointment and served in that capacity several years. He was Supervisor for several years in succession, in which office he has been reputed even to the present day the best Supervisor the town every had. He was Judge in the Common Pleas Court in the Clintonian times of State politics. He died Dec. 6, 1855, at the ripe age of 93 years, 11 months and 3 days. His wife died March 6, 1846, aged 69. Lewis Brown, son of Barnabas, is residing in New Berlin village; and Peleg, another son, is a resident of Alabama.
The ARNOLDs and MEDBURYs came from Rhode Island. Nathaniel MEDBURY was the leading one. He purchased the wild lot adjoining on the south the farm of Thomas BROWN on Great Brook, and with the help of his son Hezekiah, a stalwart young man, soon transformed the wild woods into well-cultivated fields. He represented this county in the Assembly in 1812-'13, but was stricken down before the close of his term by a virulent epidemic which entered the Hall of Legislature. His son Hezekiah remained on the farm many years after his father's death. He finally sold the homestead and removed to the town of Bainbridge, where he died Feb. 22, 1859, aged 79.
Benjamin MEDBURY, a relative of Hon. Nathaniel Medbury's, and co-immigrant with him settled on the next lot south of the latter. Joseph Medbury, a brother of Benjamin's, settled on a lot a short distance north of the James Brown premises, where he remained till his death. Stephen Medbury, another brother of Benjamin's, settled on the hill west of New Berlin village. He was a good enterprising farmer and turned his wild lot into an excellent farm. He also carried on the trade of cooper. He died May 2, 1856, aged 85, and Tabitha, his wife, April 25, 1852, aged 75.
Jabez ARNOLD came from Gloucester, R.I., his native place, in 1802, and settled about one and one-fourth miles west of New Berlin, on the farm now occupied by his grandson Eddy Arnold, where he resided till his death. He had a large family of sons and daughters, who occupied distinguished places among New Berlin's inhabitants. Five sons and two daughters accompanied him in the settlement. [Benjamin, Thomas, Lucy, Lucretia, Samuel, Eddy and Jabez.] One son, Welcome, remained behind, and followed the family in 1805, Othniel, the eldest son, came in 1799, in company with Thomas RICHMOND, a carpenter and joiner, of whom he was learning the trade, and with whom he staid {sic} until his father came in. William, the youngest, was born here, and died at the age of about nineteen. The MEDBURYs, BROWNs, and ARNOLDs were intimately connected by intermarriage and were a numerous class among the settlers.
William and Andrew KNIGHT, brothers, came from Gloucester, R.I., about 1799. The former sold his farm to Jabez ARNOLD in 1802, and returned with his family to Rhode Island. Andrew settled in the south part of New Berlin village, where Sanford KINGSBURY now lives, and some five or six years after removed with his family to Pittsfield, Otesgo county. Harriet, wife of Alfred THOMPSON, living in New Berlin village, is a daughter of Andrew's.
Capt. Barnet and Caleb HILL, brothers, and Michael PHILLIPS, were the first settlers on the land lying between the Silas BURLINGAME lot, 77, now a part of the village site, and the Jabez ARNOLD lot. Caleb Hill died June 26, 1814, aged 59. The Barnet Hill farm is now in the hands of his grandson, a son of Nehemiah, residing at New Berlin village. Two other sons of Barnet's, one named Barnet, are living in Pittsfield, below the Indian Fields. Capt. Barnet Hill died Nov. 24, 1832, aged 71. The Michael PHILLIPS farm is now owned by Darius ATHERTON.
Reeve and John DILLEY, brothers, settled on a wild lot next west of one of the SIMMONS' lots, west of Great Brook.
Asa WILLIAMS settled on a wild lot some little distance from the DILLEY's, towards Norwich.
Nehemiah LEACH came from Connecticut about 1804, and settled on a side-hill lot beyond Asa WILLIAMS, near the west line of the town, which was afterwards known as Leach Hill. The farm is now occupied by Josiah ROWLEY. About this time he married Anne AYLESWORTH, of Edmeston, Otsego county. He lived there till within a few years of his death, when he removed to an adjacent farm in the town of North Norwich, where he died in 1847. He had a numerous family, six of whom are still living in the county, viz:-Athelinda, widow of Harvey SHERMAN, Eliza Ann, who is living in Pitcher; Lavinia, widow of Brown TIFFANY, living in Norwich; Nehemiah, the keeper of the Chenango county poor-house; and Julania, wife of Alvin COOK, now living in Lincklaen.
William and John MAYHEW, brothers, settled on a lot near one of the SIMMONS' lots, on Great Brook.
Isaac SHERMAN settled on the brook emptying into Great Brook, west of the Mayhews, and built on his farm a saw-mill. It was among the first erected in the town and furnished much valuable pine lumber. It is still in operation and it, as well as the farm, are still in possession of his descendants.
Isaac and Abner BURLINGAME, brothers, settled on Great Brook, on the lot next north of the SIMMONS' lots.
Noah MATTHEWSON, a strong, robust Rhode Islander, came about 1800 and settled first on the Unadilla. He afterwards removed to and built his log cabin on the high land near the pond which bears his name. He soon after built a more commodious one-story frame dwelling, which still stands, and was one of the first frame buildings erected in the town. His son, Noah, resides on a farm near the pond. Waterman Matthewson is also a son of his.
Stephen SKINNER, at an early day, settled on the same highland ridge some miles north of MATTHEWSON's farm, and near the north line of the town. The place is known as Skinner Hill.
Stephen and Nathaniel KINNEY were among the first settlers in the neighborhood of Mr. SKINNER. William ROBINSON was one of the first settlers in the same neighborhood.
Thomas SARLE, a native of Rhode Island, settled on a river lot a short distance below SCRIBNER tavern.
Asa ANGELL settled on the lot below the SARLE farm. He came from Rhode Island, moving his young family on an ox sled. The journey occupied four weeks. Mr. Angell was an exemplary man.
William, Pliny and Joseph PHELPS, brothers, settled on the river on adjoining farms, a little below the Dr. FOOTE farm. William, as he advanced in years, occasionally went forth to preach the gospel, which he conceived to be his duty.
Job VAIL, who is reputed to have been tinctured with tory sentiments during the Revolution, was a pioneer in the valley of the Unadilla. He took up a lot near the Asa ANGELL farm. After he had provided a shelter for his family he next built a grist-mill and saw-mill, two conveniences greatly needed and appreciated in the new settlement. [These mills, located at New Berlin Center, were, says French's Gazettteer of the State of New York, the first in the town, and built in 1795 or '6; but that work says the saw-mill was built by Job VAIL, and the grist-mill, by Daniel VAIL, on lot 74. Mr. John HYDE, our informant, ascribes the origin of both to Job VAIL, and says they "were the first mills in the town, with the exception of HERRICK's mills, which were built about the same time."]
Nathan TAYLOR owned the lot on which the village of South New Berlin is located. He was an honest and industrious farmer and took an active part in the management of town business. He held town office from time to time, was a Justice under the Council of Appointment, and for some time a Judge of he Court of Common Pleas.
John AMBLER was an early settler on Great Brook, at what is known as Ambler Settlement, a name the locality derives from him.
Charles RICH was an early settler on an adjoining farm.
Jonathan MATTHEWSON settled near Ambler Settlement and was actively and extensively engaged in business.
Peleg FIELD came from Scituate, R.I., in 1796, and the following year opened a shop and worked at his trade of blacksmith. He was the first blacksmith in the town, and was for many years the only man in the county who had a trip-hammer or who could fix mill irons. He was born Jan. 30, 1776, and died Jan. 10, 1857.
Captain Lemuel MUNROE was also a blacksmith. He came about the beginning of the present century and opened a shop on the south side of the street in New Berlin village. His home stood on the place now owned by the widow of Benajah CHAPIN. At his death, May 28, 1818, aged 58, he left the homestead property to his son, Lines W. Munroe.
Jacob BREWER another blacksmith, settled on the opposite side of the street. The shop he occupied is still standing, though but a wreck of its former usefulness.
John PIKE, also a blacksmith, purchased the old shop and carried on the blacksmith business several years. He married Parmelia, sister of General WELCH, who died April 25, 1830, aged 37. After her death he married the widow HARRIS. He died May 31, 1860, aged 68.
Lewis WINSLOW, who built, owned and occupied the house where his daughter, the widow of William MANN, now lives, was a carpenter, and worked at his trade till the time of his death.
A man named TAMMANY, who was a tailor, had a shop and worked at his trade where the widow of Albert SPENCER now lives. He was the first person to engage in that business in New Berlin.
Gen. Augustus C. WELCH was prominent among the early settlers. He was engaged in the manufacture of nails in a shop which stood on the north bank of the creek which runs through New Berlin village, between the creek and MORGAN's store. When machinery was introduced in the manufacture of nails Mr. Welch abandoned the nail business and engaged in mercantile business and inn keeping. He purchased the tavern-stand on the corner now occupied by Mr. GASKIN, which was then a small building, having been enlarged by subsequent owners. He built a store west of the tavern and during the most active portion of his life continued these two branches of business. He purchased the lot and built the house now occupied by J. T. WHITE, where he lived the rest of his life. That part of the building now occupied by the bank he used a while for a store. He then bought the corner formerly owned by L. BLAKESLEE, tore down the old Blakeslee store, and built that now occupied by Fuller, Ball & Co., where he traded until his last sickness, the better part of the time in company with John T. WHITE, who had formerly been his clerk, and is now cashier of the New Berlin Bank. He held various town offices; was Member of Assembly from this county in 1827; and in 1828 was elected Sheriff of the county. In the military service he passed through the different grades from a private soldier to the rank of Brigadier-General. He died Jan. 23, 1853, aged 66; and Sally, his wife, Feb. 27, 1841, aged 48.
Charles MEDBURY, a cooper by trade, was an enterprising man and took an active part in the early settlement of New Berlin. His dwelling, an old-fashioned two-story building stood on the south side of East street in New Berlin village. He worked at his trade for several years. His shop stood on the same premises. He also kept tavern a part of the time. He afterwards engaged in mercantile business, in which he was interested a part of the time with Ebenezer BIVINS, an educated apothecary, with whom he continued till the latter's marriage and business association with his father-in-law, L. BLAKESLEE. He died May 23, 1859; and Lucretia, his wife, Jan. 16, 1870. They had a large family of children.
The first settler on the site of Holmesville was Jedediah HOLMES, who came from the New England States about 1804, with his family, consisting of his wife, Hannah BROWN, and eight children. He located just above the grist-mill in that place. His log house stood some five rods north of the mill. The place derives its name from his son, Abraham, who was extensively engaged in business enterprises here. In 1832 he removed to Ohio, and he and his wife died there.
Uzziel ROE setttled early in the west part of the town and died in North Norwich, Aug. 24, 1860, aged 84. Sarah, his first wife, died Feb. 8, 1848, aged 70; and Patience, his second wife, Feb. 6, 1857, aged 87.
Lawson JUDSON came from Connecticut about 1814 and settled in New Berlin village. He bought a lot on South street and built thereon a one-story house and shop, which he afterwards raised to the dignity of a two-story dwelling.
Russel CHENEY, who became the owner of JUDSON's place and whose widow still owns it, married Phila, daughter of Charles HARRIS, and during her life worked at the shoemaker's trade. Some time after her death, (Sept. 5, 1860, aged 59,) he sold the place formerly occupied, purchased the Judson premises, and married Miss PRATT. He died Feb. 27, 1871, aged 73.
David ATHERTON, who was a saddler, came from Connecticut and built a one-story dwelling on the premises now occupied by Amenzo CADY's shop and the MEDBURY store in New Berlin village. He afterwards sold to Isaac VANDYKE and removed to the adjoining town of Columbus. His wife died here Dec. 2, 1809, aged 27.
Calvin THOMPSON, a carpenter and joiner, was one of the early settlers in New Berlin village. He was much esteemed for his industrious and quiet habits. His son, Alfred Thompson, occupies the homestead, which is situated on the west side of the road a little below the Baptist church.
Merchants:- The prominent early merchants in New Berlin were Levi BLAKESLEE and Jeremy GOODRICH. The former commenced trading in 1800, and the latter about 1802. Both have been fully noticed in connection with the early settlers.
Lawrence McINTYRE, an Irishman, traded a few years in the building now occupied by George SAGE, the frame part of which he built about 1805 or '6. The building has since been remodeled and repaired.
About 1815, Charles KNAP, who came from Connecticut, in 1801, and was engaged in the tanning business in New Berlin, built the brick store now occupied by Jesse S. BRADLEY, and commenced mercantile business in company with Henry DeFOREST, who came from Connecticut to Edmeston, in Otsego county, and from thence about 1815 to New Berlin. After they dissolved partnership, DeForest built the store now occupied by S. L. MORGAN, where he traded in company with Silas A. CONKEY.
Wm. Turpin BROWN, son of Barnabas Brown, a pioneer settler in this town, traded here some five or six years immediately preceding his death, which occurred March 9, 1856.
Coleman & Joyce opened the first drug store in the early part of the present century, in the small gamble-roof building on the north side of East street, now occupied as a dwelling by the widow RHODES. They traded here several years, but had moved previous to 1816. Asahel HATCH came from Hamilton about 1814 and after Dr. COLEMAN's removal engaged in the drug business, to which both he and Coleman had been specially educated. Hatch occupied the store built by Isaac VAN DYKE on South street, known as the Medbury store. He left New Berlin about 1818. Ebenezar BIVINS succeeded Hatch in the drug business in the same store. He married here the eldest daughter of Levi BLAKESLEE.
The following are engaged in mercantile business in New Berlin: Morgan Finch & Phelps, dealers in general merchandise. The business represented by this firm was commenced in 1857 by Solomon L. MORGAN.
George SAGE is carrying on a general merchandise business which was established in the fall of 1860, by W. A. LULL and William A. MEDBURY, the former from Morris and the latter a native of New Berlin. They continued in company till August 7, 1868, when Medbury sold to C. L. ROBINSON and E. A. SAGE, and the name became Robinson, Lull & Sage. April 7, 1873, Robinson withdrew and George and Andrew J. Sage became partners, under the name of Lull, Sage & Co. In 1875, Andrew J. Sage, retired, and the remaining partners continued the business till the fall of 1878, when they sold to George Sage, the present proprietor.
Fuller, Ball & Co., general merchants, are the successors to a business established in 1863, by E. R. FULLER, a native of Cooperstown, who removed to New Berlin with his parents in 1836, at the age of two years. In 1865, Henry M. CUSHING became his partner, and the business was conducted under the name of Fuller & Cushing till 1868, when Cushing retired and I. K. BALL and J. M. ANGELL became his associates. The business has since been conducted under the name of Fuller, Ball & Co., though Mr. Angell retired in 1878.
James McFARLAND, clothier, commenced business in 1864. He had worked the three preceding years for Morgan & Hawkins of New Berlin.
Jesse B. BRADLEY, hardware merchant, commenced business in 1865, in which year he bought of Henry TEW, who came from Morris and traded five years.
Charles H. POPE, dealer in boots, shoes, groceries and ready made clothing, commenced business in 1866, in which year he bought out I. T. BUTTERFIELD, for whom he had clerked seven years.
Dimock & Matterson, (George C. C. DIMOCK and Truman I. MATTERSON,) general merchants, have done business in company since 1867.
Church, Morgan & Co., (C. A. CHURCH, S. L. MORGAN and C. L. ROBINSON,) dealers in flour, feed, coal, lime, plaster and grain, commenced business in 1870. The only change which has taken place in the firm occurred in 1876, when C. L. ROBINSON took the place of George and Eugene A. SAGE and W. A. LULL, who were members of the original firm.
Hazard & Dykes, (Dr. A. C. HAZARD and James L. DYKES,) druggists, commenced business Jan. 10, 1871. They bought, at his death, the stock of E. E. BLOSSOM, who came from Norwich in the fall of 1868.
Henry J. HALSTEAD, hardware dealer, commenced business here in 1871, in company with B. J. HAIGHT under the name of B. J. Haight & Co. In March, 1879, he bought Mr. Haight's interest. Mr. Halstead is a native of Otsego county and came here from Oxford.
L. Spafard & Co., (Lewis SPAFARD and A D. SPRAGUE,) general merchants, commenced business in 1875.
Adelbert H. HANDY, grocer and baker, commenced business in October, 1874, at which time he bought out Adelbert SNOW, who did business here about a year and a half. Mr. Handy is a native of New Berlin.
G. W. BENTLEY & Son, (Edward C.,) furniture dealers and undertakers, came in 1876 from Brookfield, where the Elder Bentley established the business in 1853, continuing there the manufacturing interest, in company with his son Edward C. from 1872, until Feb. 10, 1879, when the establishment at Brookfield was burned. After the fire at Brookfield, the manufacturing department, which gives employment to eight persons, was transferred to New Berlin, where the sales department had been since 1876. A building, thirty by fifty feet, three stories high, was erected for its accommodation on Mill Creek, in New Berlin village, which affords a fall at this point of about thirty feet. The building was begun May 1, 1879, and was ready for occupancy July 1st, following. They manufactured all kinds of furniture and burial caskets. Their ware-house is in the building formerly occupied by E. A. BELL as a dry goods store, which they remodeled and repaired in November, 1879.
Sidney E. OLIN, grocer, is a native of New Berlin, and commenced business in 1876. Tracey H. MORSE, merchant tailor, came here from Unadilla in 1877. Horace J. WOOD, druggist and grocer, commenced business in April, 1879. He came from Greene, where he had carried on the drug business ten years, and bought out the grocery stock of J. C. Oatley, to which he added drugs. He is a native of Utica. M. S. Willard & Co., (Mrs. G. W. ARCHAMBAULT,) bakers and confectioners commenced business August 14, 1879.
Postmasters:- The first postmaster in New Berlin was Jeremy GOODRICH, who has been succeeded in that office by Noah ELY, Samuel MEDBURY, William D. KNAP, John T WHITE, George W. WILLIAMS, Edward C. WILLIAMS, George W. SUMNER, Jesse BRADLEY, Arthur BATES, Joseph ARNOLD, Thomas A. AVERY, Stiles GRAY and Thompson WHITE, the latter of whom was appointed September 13, 1871, and is the present postmaster.
Physicians:- The first physician at New Berlin was Ebenezer ROSS, who came here from Connecticut about 1804-'05 and opened an office in a small building, afterwards occupied in part as a law office by John HYDE. It stood near the residence of Henry TEW, which was built by Dr. ROSS about 1815 or '16. He practiced here till his death Feb. 4, 1826, aged 46.
Royal ROSS, nephew of Dr. Ebenezer Ross, who had lived and studied with his uncle, came from Connecticut, and attended Fairfield Medical College in company with Nathan BEARDSLEE, and with him removed to Sherburne and commenced the practice of medicine. He was licensed by the Chenango County Medical Society Nov. 10, 1821.
Russell B. BURCH, from Hartwick, Otsego county, commenced practice here as early as 1830, and continued till within a short time of his death, from consumption, June 21, 1861, aged 54. Dr. P. H. HARD, who studied medicine with Dr. MITCHELL, of Norwich, and was licensed by the Chenango Medical Society in March, 1825, practiced here a year or two before 1840, and removed to Oswego. D. Herman GREY came here from the Eastern States about 1834, and removed in 1841 to Wisconsin. Caleb G. HALL was practicing here in 1840, and removed in the fall of that year to Cooperstown. James HARRINGTON, who was licensed by the Chenango County Medical Society in the fall of 1830, and was practicing with Dr. Hall, removed the same year to Pennsylvania. A. T. LYON was practicing here in 1850. Frank B. ABBOTT was practicing here in 1861, and G. A. JONES in 1868. They remained only two or three years. Abbott removed to Vallonia Springs, Broome county, and Jones to Albany.
The present physicians are Dyer LOOMIS, Alvin C. HAZARD, James B. NOYES, Hobert S. DYE and Floyd D. BROOKS.
Dyer LOOMIS was born in Ashfield, Mass., Feb. 5, 1801, and was educated in Sanderson's Academy in Ashfield. He pursued his medical studies with Dr. Barney Colwell, of St. Johnsville, N.Y., and subsequently with Dr. Daniel Ayers, of East Canada Creek, N.Y. He was licensed by the Montgomery County Medical Society in June, 1826, and was graduated at Fairfield Medical College Jan. 31, 1827. He commenced practice in Palatine and remained there five years. He removed thence to Butternuts, and after five years' practice there attended another course of lectures at Fairfield Medical College. After completing the course, in 1840, he removed to New Berlin, where he has practiced till within the last two years, when he retired from active practice. He still resides in New Berlin. He is the third son of Rev. Josiah Loomis.
Alvin C. HAZARD was born in Great Bend, Penn., June 21, 1838, and was educated in the Academy in his native place. He commenced the study of medicine in 1860 with Dr. E. A. Wilmot, of Great Bend. In 1863, he entered the United States Railroad Medical Department, connected with the army, as assistant surgeon, serving in that capacity two years, and one year in charge of the United States Military Railroad Hospital at Alexandria, Va. He left the military service in January, 1866, and located at South New Berlin, where he practiced his profession for five years, removing in 1871 to the village of New Berlin, where he has since practiced. He was licensed by the Chenango County Medical Society in May, 1866. He was Supervisor of New Berlin in 1869, and was elected Sheriff of Chenango county in November, 1879, on the Republican ticket.
Lawyers:- The first lawyer to locate at New Berlin was Abijah BENNETT, who came with his parents from Connecticut the latter part of the last century and settled at Pittsfield, N.Y. About 1804 or '5 he removed to New Berlin and opened an office and practiced here till the war of 1812, when he entered the United States regular army, in which he held a lieutenant's commission, and died here July 18, 1813, aged 32.
Noah ELY, who was born in Berkshire county, Mass., in 1786, came from thence to New Berlin about 1814 or '15, and practiced till old age compelled him to desist. He died here in January, 1871.
Henry BENNETT was born in New Lisbon, Otsego county, Sept. 29, 1808. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1832. He located about this time in New Berlin and continued to practice here till his death. He was elected to Congress in 1848, and served in that capacity ten successive years, from 1849 to 1859. He lacked only one vote of being nominated for the sixth time to that office. In the 34th Congress, 1855-57, he was Chairman of the Committee on Public Lands, and reported a number of important bills for the benefit of the Western States. He was a member of the same committee in the 35th Congress.
John P. USHER came from Brookfield, N.Y., about 1831 or '2, and read law with Hon. Henry BENNETT and subsequently with John HYDE, both of New Berlin. He was admitted about 1837, and practiced in company with his preceptor, Mr. Hyde, two years, when he removed to Indiana.
Alonzo JOHNSON came from Milford, Otsego county, between 1830 and 1840. After practicing a year or two he removed to Greene.
Henry O. SOUTHWORTH came from Bridgewater, Oneida county, about 1841 or '2, and completed his legal studies with Noah ELY. He practiced here a few years and removed to Rome.
Samuel S. RANDALL, a native of Norwich, son of Perez Randall, practiced law here a few years previous to 1840, and married here.
Nathan BEARDSLEE, a native of Pittsfield, Otsego county, came here about 1825 or '6, from Sherburne, where he lived a year or two. He practiced here till his death, Oct. 16, 1831, aged 35.
George W. SUMNER, a native of Guilford, in this county, came to New Berlin as a student and read law with Henry BENNETT. He served as Justice of New Berlin two successive terms; and represented this county in the Assembly in 1864 and '5. He was drowned in Crooked Lake, Aug. 10, 1865, while visiting an associate Member of Assembly. He was born Dec. 27, 1821.
The present lawyers in New Berlin are John HYDE, Oscar F. MATTERSON and Henry H. HARRINGTON.
John HYDE was born in Franklin, Conn., June 24, 1791, and removed with his parents in 1802 to Columbus, then Brookfield. He commenced his law studies in 1811 with Stephen O. RUNYAN, of Oxford, and completed them with John TRACY. He was admitted in 1816 and commenced the practice of his profession that year in New Berlin, where he has since continued. Mr. Hyde is the author of some admirably written sketches on the early history of New Berlin and Columbus, which he has kindly placed at our disposal, and as he is an authority on these subjects we have made liberal extracts from them. In his old age he enjoys in an eminent degree the respect and confidence of his fellow townsmen, who have honored him at different times with various town offices.
Oscar F. MATTERSON was born in Burlington, Otsego county, Aug. 29, 1832, and was educated in the common and select schools of his native town. He commenced the study of law in 1852, with George S. GORHAM, of Burlington, and was admitted in 1854. He commenced practice in December, 1855, in New Berlin, where he has since continued in company with W. F. JENKS.
Henry H. HARRINGTON was born in Garrettsville, Otsego county, Oct. 17, 1838, and was educated in the academies of Cooperstown, Fort Plain and New Berlin, to which latter town his parents removed in 1854. He commenced the study of law in 1859, with James E. DEWEY, of Cherry Valley, with whom he remained till his admission in 1861. He was supervisor of New Berlin in 1868.
South New Berlin
Merchants:- The first merchant of whom we have any definite information was Judge Nathan TAYLOR, a native of Rhode Island, who came from Pittsfield, Mass., in 1803, with his young wife, and cleared up a farm in the south part of the village. He was the founder of South New Berlin, and was prominently identified with all its substantial interests. He was a Justice for fourteen years. He commenced trading here about 1812, in a building which stood on the south-east corner, on the site of Chancellor BABCOCK's store, and was afterwards burned.
Caleb BOTTS came from Delaware county about 1820 and opened a store in a building which stood on the north-west corner, where the BREFFLE House now stands.
Ephraim WOOD, who had been engaged in shoemaking at New Berlin, and had kept a small store a short time in Holmesville, commenced mercantile business here about 1835. He was a prominent merchant here for a good many years.
The following are the merchants now engaged in business in South New Berlin:-
C. B. and H. BABCOCK, (Charles B. and Hobart,) general merchants. This business was established in 1841, by Ephriam Wood, Jr., who was associated with Charles B. Babcock from 1854 to 1857, under the name of Wood & Babcock.
Chancellor H. BABCOCK, general merchant, commenced business in 1863, at which time he bought out E. D. JACKSON.
Frank VAN VALKENBURG, general merchant, commenced business in 1866, in company with his father-in-law, Elijah B. DIXON, whose interest he bought in February, 1871.
George E. HAWLEY, druggist, commenced the general merchandise business here in 1867, in company with Charles E. BRETT. December, 1875, he established himself in the drug business.
De Florence H. WALES, dealer in hardware and tinware, commenced business here April 1, 1878.
There are two millinery shops in the village, one kept by Mrs. E. A. B ROOKS, who came from Burlington, Otsego county, in 1876, and commenced business in April, of that year; the other, by Mrs. William BASSETT, a native of South New Berlin, who commenced business in 1876.
Postmasters:- The first postmaster at South New Berlin was Judge Nathan TAYLOR, who procured the establishment of the office, which he kept several years, till about 1830, when he was succeeded by Caleb BOTTS, who was followed by Frederick PHELPS. He was probably followed by Daniel GIFFORD, who held the office in 1842, and was succeeded within a year by Alva BABCOCK, a blacksmith, who held it from about 1843 to 1850, when Nelson CRANDALL was appointed, and succeeded by Alva Babcock, who held it till 1861, when Grove BABCOCK, son of Alva, was appointed and held it till February 11, 1862, when Chancellor H. Babcock, the present incumbent, was appointed.
Physicians:- The first physician to locate at South New Berlin of whom the present inhabitants have any knowledge was Horatio G. KNIGHT, who came in at an early day, previous to 1813, and practiced till his death, June 8, 1821, aged 33. He was succeeded by Daniel BELLOWS, who practiced sixteen years, till about 1838, when he removed to Norwich. James HARRINGTON, whose parents were residents of the town, and Russel TAYLOR, were contemporaries in their settlement here and practiced in company some time. Harrington remained nine years, till 1843. Dr. Taylor, remained some five or six years, and sold to Dr. Dan FOOTE, son of Dr. Dan Foote, a very early physician and settler at New Berlin Centre, where he practiced, principally as a surgeon, till his death. The younger Foote practiced here about six years, and still resides in the village. John P. HARRIS, a native of Plymouth, came here from Norwich in 1843, and practiced about eight years, till his death, from softening of the brain. Elias M. JENKINS came from Andes, Delaware county, in 1862, and after practicing some four year removed to Michigan. Alvin C. HAZARAD came from Great Bend, Penn., in 1866, and after practicing a few years, removed in 1871 to New Berlin, where he is practicing.
The present physicians in South New Berlin are Stanford C. GIBSON, William H. KINNIER and James R. WALKER. [Dr. Walker came from Mt. Upton Oct. 23, 1879. See page 243 (Mount Upton).]
Stanford C. GIBSON was born in Berne, Albany county, Jan. 14, 1810.
William H. KINNIER was born in Smithville, July 5, 1844.
Lawyers:- The first and only lawyer to locate at South New Berlin was Arthur BENNETT, who came from Oxford in the summer of 1878 and removed in the spring of 1879 to Tioga county.
Holmesville
Merchants:- The first merchant at Holmesville was Waterman FIELDS, a native of the town, whose father came from Rhode Island among the first settlers and located two miles west of New Berlin. Waterman Fields built his store in 1833, on the site of the store now occupied by Martin A. BURLINGAME. It is still standing, having been removed from its original location, and is now occupied as a residence by Mrs. Almira CASE.
Abraham HOLMES, James ISBELL and Zara ARNOLD opened a store about 1844, in the building now occupied by Charles H. THORNTON, which was built for the purpose by Mr. Holmes about that time.
Charles H. THORNTON, a native of Holmesville, is now trading here. The only other merchant now trading here is Martin A. BURLINGAME, who is a native of the place, but came here from New York, and commenced business Feb. 1, 1879.
Postmasters:- The post-office at Holmesville was established in the fall of 1871, and George MILLER was the first postmaster. He was succeeded in the office by the present incumbent, Wallace SHERBURNE.
New Berlin Centre
Cemetery grounds of St. Andrew's Church in New Berlin: Civil War: Soldiers' Monument constructed of the best Rhode Island gray granite, stands over twenty feet high, and weighs over thirty-one tons. It is surmounted by the figure of a soldier of the same material. The names of the following persons who "Died for their Country" are inscribed upon it:- Front side. Smith HAIGHT, Jarvis HOWARD, John HARKINS, Chapman HOUGHTAILING, George E. JACOBS, Everett D. JACKSON, Wallace JACKSON, Morrell KINNEY, Morris J. LULL, Galen LULL, Clinton H. MEDBURY, Henry MARKS, Daniel W. PUTNAM, David PORTER, Francis M. PECK. Right side. Henry PICKENS, James READ, George W. ROBERTS, Jacob ROBINSON, Lewis REDDINGTON, LaFayette E. SHERBURNE, Stephen C. SCOTT, Lt. William D. THURBER, Louis Edwin TEW, John C. TALMAN, Edwin THATCHER, Cor'lius VAN VALKENBURGH, James J. WALES, Thomas WISWELL, James E. WOODMANSIE, Samuel WINSOR. Left side. William H. ANGELL, George AGARD, Lt. Isaac B. BURCH, Walter La F. BRIGGS, Chester L. BUCHANAN, Luther GAGE, William CHAMPLIN, Charles T. FIELD, Henry BENNETT, Jr., Andrew J. BURRELL, Delevan BURLINGAME, Frank BABCOCK, John BUNT, Chester COOK, Leonard EDWARDS, George FERGUSON.
[The monument bears the inscription- "Erected May 30, 1877."]
History of North Norwich
History of North Norwich
North Norwich was formed from Norwich, April 7, 1849.
The first settlements in this town were made in 1794, by some eight or nine persons from Nine Partners, Dutchess county, who purchased the 10th township, or large portions of it, and for whom it was surveyed and divided by Captain John HARRIS, a pioneer settler in Norwich. Among these persons were Jonathan DAN, Jacob GROW, Jonathan MEAD, Jonah POYER, Abram and Edward PER LEE and Isaac BOCKEE. Jonathan DAN is said to have been the first settler in the town. [French's Gazetteer says Joseph LOTHROP and A. MEAD made the first settlement, on lot 1, in 1794.] He located on the Smyrna road, on the farm now owned by John W. STURGES. He continued to reside on that place till his death. Among his children were Miranda, who married Jonah POYER, who lived in this town and in advanced life went to live with his daughter, the wife of James H. SMITH, in Smyrna. He died Aug. 5, 1870, aged 87; and his wife, Aug. 30, 1854, aged 60. Milton MYGATT's wife, of Smyrna, is a daughter of Jonah POYER's. Seth & Abijah Dan were also sons of Jonathan DAN
Jacob GROW settled in the south part of the town, on the farm now occupied by Willard SAGE. He afterwards removed to the locality of Polkville, in the town of Norwich, where he was killed while drawing timber, August 20, 1818, aged 53. Sarah, his wife, died March 30, 1813, aged 51. None of the family are left here.
Jonathan MEAD settled on the east side of the river, opposite Plasterville, on the farm now occupied by Daniel FISHER, where both he and his wife (Sarah) died, the former May 11, 1800, aged 64, and the latter Feb. 10, 1804, aged 66. His children, many of them, had become men and women when they came here, and some of them were married in Dutchess county. They were Amos, John, Samuel, Thompson, Ruth, Rachel, Sarah, Rebecca. Amos settled in the house next west of the cemetery near the village of North Norwich, where, in 1803, he commenced keeping tavern. This was the first tavern in the town. The house has been changed and modernized and is now occupied as a residence by Morris FURMAN. Mead sold in 1816 to Edmond G. PER LEE, who resided there till his death, June 25, 1859, aged 75; but he did not keep tavern. Mead removed to Marcellus, where he and his wife died. His only son, Amos, Jr., who was born Sept. 12, 1794, was the first child born in the town. John married Rhoda TITUS, and settled on the river in the north part of the town, on the farm now occupied by Lewis BRYANT. He sold that farm and spent the last years of his life in Plymouth, where he died May 18, 1843, aged 78, and his wife, May 30, 1846, aged 78. Samuel married Polly HAIGHT. He settled and lived in various places in the town, and both he and his wife died here. Thompson was a militia general and was taken prisoner at Queenstown during the war of 1812. He married Miriam HAIGHT, sister of Polly Haight, and settled on his father's homestead, where he lived several years. He afterwards removed to the Hall farm, from thence to Norwich, and after several years, when advanced in life, to the West, where he and his wife died. Ruth married Israel FERRIS and settled on the east side of the river in this town. They afterwards removed to Milo, N.Y., where she died. Rachel married Ebenezer HARTWELL in 1795. This marriage was the first one contracted in the town. Sarah married Jacob GROW, previously referred to, who after her death married Sarah HASKELL, widow of ---- BORDEN. Rebecca married Col. Jarvis K. PIKE, who served as a colonel in the war of 1812. He settled at Plasterville and afterwards removed to Wisconsin, where both died. Each of the sons of Jonathan Mead kept tavern in this town at the same time, in different locations.
Isaac BOCKEE owned about 500 acres a little south of North Norwich. He died in the town. He was the father of Isaac S. Bockee, who died March 8, 1848, aged. 61.
Several families came in the following year (1795,) and settled at the village and along the valley of the Chenango. Among these were Jeremiah and Abner PURDY, Israel FERRIS, Ebenezer HARTWELL and Judge Joel THOMPSON, from Dutchess county. Jeremiah PURDY and Judge THOMPSON were in the town of Sherburne.
Abner PURDY was a native of Horse Neck, near Salem, in Westchester county, and came to North Norwich from Dutchess county. He settled a little east of the cemetery near North Norwich, where Isaac PER LEE now lives, and resided there till his death, July 25, 1821, aged 69. His wife, Hannah FISHER, was the first person who died in the town, and the first person buried in the cemetery near North Norwich, in 1796. He afterwards married the widow Naomi RANDELL, who died Nov. 30, 1847, aged 86, and by whom he had one child, Alfred, who married a daughter of Dr. MILLER, of Truxton and was engaged in mercantile business some twenty-five years in Norwich. He was Clerk of Chenango county from 1839 to 1842, and removed some four or five years after the expiration of his clerkship to the farm of his father-in-law in Truxton, where he died. Abner Purdy's children by his first wife were Hannah, who married Stephen S. MERRITT, who settled and kept tavern in the present hotel in North Norwich, which he built. He afterwards removed to Norwich, where he died Nov. 16, 1854, aged 69, and his wife Sept. 2, 1851, aged 70; Tamma, who married Ammon MERRITT, brother of Stephen, and settled, lived and died in North Norwich, the former Aug. 29, 1850, aged 62, and the latter, Sept. 14, 1863, aged 76; Nancy, who married Frederick SEXTON, of Sherburne Hill, where both died, the former March 27, 1838, aged 54, and the latter, March 15, 1871, aged 90. Sexton's son Frederick and daughter Tamma, are living on the homestead in Sherburne; Abner, who married ---- STEVENS, of Geneseo, where they settled and died leaving no children; Amy, who married Weeks SMITH, settled first in this town, afterwards removed to Richmond, N.Y., and died there; Jemima, who married Elisha, brother of Weeks SMITH, and settled in Perry Center, Wyoming county; Polly, who married John GUTHRIE and settled in Sherburne, where both died; Rachel, who married Reuben FERRIS, of North Norwich, where he settled and afterwards removed to Steuben county, and died there; Malinda, who died young and unmarried; Daniel, who married Betsey, daughter of Jonathan DAN, and settled in Plymouth, where both died; Abner, who married Abby, daughter of Joseph COOK, and settled first in North Norwich, but removed at an early day to Illinois, and died there; and Smith M., who became a lawyer of distinction in Norwich, where he died March 28, 1870, aged 73. He was appointed first Judge of Chenango county, Jan. 11, 1833, and elected county judge in 1847. He represented the 22nd District in Congress from 1843 to 1845. He married Prudence, daughter of Newman GATES, of Norwich, who still survives him, and is living with her son, Dr. Charles M. Purdy, of Norwich.
Israel FERRIS settled on the DALRYMPLE farm, about a mile above North Norwich. He was a brother of Benjamin Ferris, an early settler in Sherburne.
Ebenezer HARTWELL came in from Dutchess county and settled about a mile and a half north of North Norwich village, on the farm now owned and occupied by Milton BENTLEY. He took up the entire lot comprising some 250 acres, and resided there till his death Dec. 16, 1857, aged 89. In 1795, he married Rachel, daughter of Jonathan MEAD; this marriage being, as previously stated, the first one in the town. His wife died May 12, 1845, aged 65. His children were Hannah, who married Horace FLINT; Samuel, who married Phebe, daughter of James PURDY, who settled on the place now owned and occupied by Charles HARTWELL, at Sherburne Four Corners, where he died Nov. 2, 1868, aged 70, and where his widow still lives; Jonathan Mead, who married Eliza CRANDALL, cousin of Israel Crandall; Polly, who married Horace GREEN; Benjamin, who married Philura, daughter of Harvey TALCOTT, of Smyrna, where they settled, and both of whom are now living in Norwich; Rachel Diantha, who married Josiah PURDY, of Georgetown; Sarah, who married Zenas WISWELL, of North Norwich, and settled in Bainbridge, where she died; Hiram, who married Celia, daughter of David ECCLESTON, of Preston; Ebenezer, who died unmarried August 26, 1843, aged 26; Thompson, who married Lucy, daughter of Nathaniel PURDY, of Plymouth, settled on his father's homestead in North Norwich, removed in 1863 to Norwich, and thence in the spring of 1879 to Spencerport, where he now resides; Rebecca, who married James COOK, a Baptist minister, of North Norwich; and "Lowvinia," who died unmarried May 15, 1843, aged 22. Oliver Hartwell, father of Ebenezer, did not come here till some time later. He died here July 17, 1835, at the advanced age of 96 years.
In 1796, settlements were made by John PECK, Jesse RUNDELL, Gen. Obadiah GERMAN. John PECK came from Dutchess county and settled about a half mile south of North Norwich, on the farm now occupied by Lorenzo REYNOLDS, known as the BOCKEE farm, from Isaac Bockee, who leased to Peck and his son-in-law, Daniel FISHER, one hundred acres each, for ten years without fee, the condition of the lease being that each should have as many acres of wild land in New Berlin, where Bockee also owned a tract of land, as he had cleared at the expiration of the ten years. Fisher cleared fifty acres, and Peck about the same quantity, but neither lived on their lands in New Berlin. At the expiration of the ten years both removed to Plymouth, where FISHER lived and died, Dec. 20, 1820, aged 63. PECK afterwards removed to Sherburne and died there Sept. 19, 1819, aged 77, and Sarah, his wife, Nov. 3, 1830, aged 85.
PECK's children were Joel, who married his first wife (Huldah) in Dutchess county, and after her death, August 17, 1827, aged 29, married Mercy ----, of Sherburne, and settled a half mile north of North Norwich, where three of his great-grandchildren now live, and died there Feb. 16, 1852, aged 83, and his second wife, August 9, 1855, aged 79; Polly, who married David WILBER, a pioneer settler in Smyrna; Sarah, who married Daniel FISHER; Northrop, who married a PHILLIPS and settled in Solon, where they died; Nathan, who was a Baptist minister , settled in Solon and died in Cortland county, having lived several years in Nelson, as pastor of the church there; John, who settled and died in New Woodstock, Madison county; Betsey, who married John NASH, and settled in Sherburne, where he died. She removed after his death to Smyrna, and died there. Sarah, after the death of Fisher, married William HARRINGTON, and after his death became the second wife of Peter COLE, who came from Dutchess county about 1796, about the same time as PECK and FISHER, and settled three-fourths of a mile south of North Norwich, on the farm now occupied by Samuel TITUS, Jr., and John P. BELLINGER, where he and his first wife died. He died April 10, 1844, aged 74; Sarah died on the homestead in Plymouth August 20, 1847, aged 77. John was also a Baptist minister of some note. He was born Sept. 11, 1780, and died Dec. 15, 1849.
FISHER's children were Polly, who was seven years old when her father came here, and married Lyman COOK; Thompson G., who married Catharine, daughter of Russell WILCOX, of Smyrna, settled on the homestead farm, after a few years removed to Smyrna and subsequently to Norwich, to give his children scholastic advantages, where she died, and after her death sold his farm in Smyrna and went to live with his daughter, Jane, wife of Cyrus HARTWELL in Sherburne, where he died; Rachel, who married Ira RYDER; Phebe, who married Benjamin PHELPS; Calvin L., who married Abigail ROGERS, settled in Plymouth and after some years removed to Smyrna, where he died Jan. 29, 1868, aged 66, and whose widow is still living at Sherburne Four Corners; John, who married Martha HOLMES and settled in Plymouth, where they died; Wilber, who was a physician; and Sarah, who married William WALKER and settled in Sherburne, where both are now living.
Peter COLE had an only son, Peter, Jr., who lived several years on a part of the homestead farm and removed to the west part of the State. He had several daughters, one of whom married David HARRIS, who settled in Plymouth and died March 3, 1852, aged 57. One married a DRAPER, settled first in Plymouth and afterwards removed to Ohio. Charlotte married Morris MEAD and settled in this town, where she died Jan. 24, 1866, aged 57, and her husband Oct. 20, 1867, aged 67. Another married John RUNDELL, who settled first in North Norwich and afterwards when west.
Jesse RUNDELL settled in the north part of the town, on the PUGSLEY farm, which is now owned by Jonathan SLATER. He was killed in October, 1802 , by falling from the rafters of the Baptist meeting-house, in North Norwich, the construction of which he was superintending. He was twice married. Isaac and Lydia were children by his first wife. Isaac married Sarah RANSOM, and Lydia, Elias KINNE, who lived on the flats below North Norwich. His children by his second wife were Darius, Orrin G., Lyman, Clara and William, none of whom are living in this locality.
Gen. Obadiah GERMAN came here from Dutchess county and settled on the site of North Norwich village. His house stood opposite the Union church in that village. He was the first merchant in the town and his store was a great place of resort for the towns people. He was a militia general and in his day was one of the most prominent men in the western part of the State. He owned a large tract of land in this town, including the village site, and was agent for wild lands in some of the western towns in the county. He represented this county in the Assembly in 1798-'99, 1804-'05, 1807-'09, and 1818; was United States Senator from this State from 1908-15; and was appointed First Judge of Chenango county March 16, 1814. He is the only person from this county who has attained the distinction of United States Senator. He continued his residence here till his death Sept. 22, 1841, aged 75. His wife (Ann,) died Sept. 13, 1829, aged 61. After her death he married Mary Ann KNIGHT, by whom he had two sons, who went with their mother to Syracuse when young. Among his children by his first wife were Albert, who built and kept tavern in the house now occupied as a residence by Charles GILE, and removed at an early day to Ohio; a daughter, who married Stephen ANDERSON, settled in North Norwich, and after his death, May 2, 1853, removed to Wisconsin, where she now resides; another daughter who married a noted Methodist minister named HARMON; and Walter, who succeeded his father for some time in the mercantile business here.
Jesse PIKE came among the first settlers from Dutchess county, and located where Warren BROWN now lives, about two and one-half miles below North Norwich, and died there Sept. 17, 1799, aged 43. His wife (Rebecca,) afterwards married Charles MERRITT and removed to North Norwich village, where she died March 15, 1833, aged 69. Pike's children were Jarvis K., Samuel, Jesse, John, Mercy, who married Loren WARNER, and Rebecca, who married ---- WEST, all of whom are dead.
Other early settlers were, Thomas BROOKS, Azel CRANDALL, Nathan CHURCH and sons, Cogshall WALL, Stephen PUGSLEY, William WEST, Jacob COLE, the KINNNE brothers, Thomas WELLING, Cyrus CASE, Samuel HAIGHT, Samuel TITUS, George and John KING, ---- FLAGLEY, and William TIFFANY.
Thomas BROOKS settled in the adjoining town of Plymouth, and died there Aug. 30, 1822, aged 61. He taught the first school, however, in this town. The school-house in which he taught was located at Sherburne Four Corners, a little east of the cheese factory. It was a log building and stood as late as 1805 or '6, when a frame school-house was built a half mile above, near Andrew MARTIN's blacksmith shop. Mrs. Samuel HARTWELL, who is now living at Sherburne Four Corners, attended school in the old log building about two years before it was superseded by the frame structure. In 1803, when she first attended school, Deacon ADAMS who lived on Sherburne Hill was the teacher.
Azel CRANDALL, from Connecticut, settled in the village of North Norwich, where he was engaged in wagon making a number of years, until he became old. After the death of his wife, Philena, Dec. 29, 1865, aged 79, he went to live with his son Marshall in Ohio. Samuel, another son, was a bachelor, and succeeded his father in the wagon business, which he continued till his death, May 6, 1859, aged 53.
Nathan CHURCH and his sons Samuel, Nathaniel, Nathan, Benjamin and William, came from Connecticut about 1816, and settled on what is known as Church Hill, in the east part of the town, where all died except Nathaniel, who was a bachelor, and died at the county-house, and Benjamin, who is still living in the town, aged nearly ninety.
Cogshall WALL settled in the west part of the town, within a quarter of a mile of North Norwich, and died there July 30, 1826, aged 62. Elizabeth, his wife, died Dec. 10, 18111, aged 44.
Stephen PUGSLEY settled on the Jesse RUNDELL farm, two and a half miles up the river from North Norwich, and died there July 21, 1805, aged 78.
William WEST settled where Edward ADSIT now lives, in the north part of the town, and died there June 4, 1810, aged 65.
Jacob COLE, from Dutchess county, settled on the river road a mile and a half below North Norwich, where Samuel TITUS, Jr., now lives, and died there June 3, 1800, aged 94. Rachel, his wife, died June 12, 1808, aged 69. Peter Cole was a son of his and succeeded his father on that farm.
Stephen KINNE came from Connecticut and settled on what is known as Kinne Hill. Nathaniel, Benjamin and Elias, brothers of Stephen's, came in at the same time and settled in the same locality, some in Sherburne and some in New Berlin. Elias removed in 1810 to North Norwich and settled about a mile and a half below the village, just below the Joseph COLE farm. Benjamin was killed in the war of 1812. Stephen died Oct, 1, 1855, aged 79; and Elizabeth, his wife, May 1, 1822, aged 48. Nathaniel died Feb. 4, 1854, aged 84; and Eunice, his wife, April 13, 1868, aged 89. Stephen, son of Nathaniel, who had ten girls and one boy, is now living in North Norwich. Almira, a maiden lady, who is living with her sister, the wife of George WATERS, are daughters of Stephen and are living in North Norwich. Miriam, widow of Benjamin GORTON, who is living three miles north-east of North Norwich, is another of Stephen's daughters.
Thomas WELLING, who also came from Connecticut, married Priscilla, sister of the KINNE brothers and settled in the same locality as they.
Cyrus CASE settled about two miles below North Norwich, on the farm now occupied by his grandchildren, Adelbert and Cyrus Case. He sold his farm to his son Albert, (who died there Oct. 27, 1876, aged 71, and Sylvia, his wife, Dec. 26, 1860, aged 46,) and removed to Sherburne. He afterwards returned to North Norwich village and died there May 12, 1856, aged 83. Roby, his second wife, survived him many years. She died May 17, 1875, aged 80. One son, John W. Case, is living in Norwich.
Samuel HAIGHT settled on the east side of the river, near the line of Sherburne, where Mr. COLE now lives, and died there Jan. 9, 1806, aged 68 Deliverance, his wife, died Dec. 6, 1805, aged 69. His children were William, John, Samuel, Lent, Miriam, who married Thompson MEAD, a daughter, who married Samuel MEAD, and Aner, who married Pardon MORRIS. Three grandchildren, Deloss, Charles and Almira, are living in North Norwich.
Samuel TITUS settled in the locality of Plasterville and died there Feb. 5, 1804, aged 64. James Titus, who lived a little above Plasterville, where Augustus ALDRICH now lives, and died March 26, 1821, aged 56, was probably a son of his. Martha, wife of Samuel, died Aug. 13, 1816, aged 74. [This family is not connected with that of Samuel TITUS, who now resided in North Norwich, about a mile below the village, aged 84, and who settled in 1816. Several of his children are living here.]
George and John KING, brothers, from Dutchess county, were among the first settlers in the town. They located in the east part of the town, at what is known as King's Settlement, where each raised large families. George died there some thirty years ago. They were the first settlers in that locality. George's children were George, Hezekiah, Benjamin H., Tama, who married Charles RANDALL, Lottie, who married Elijah BUELL, Lavina, who married David WEBB, all of whom are dead.
The BUELLs, who came in about 1820, succeeded to their possessions. There are four families of Buells: Elijah, Simon, George and William Riley, all of whom have families.
Rev. Mr. FLAGLEY, a Universalist minister, settled early in that locality, and sold to Benjamin BLOOM from Dutchess county, some years after.
William TIFFANY, from Dutchess county, settled soon after the KINGs in the same locality, where his grandson, William Tiffany, now lives, and died there. His children were Nelson, Albert, Richard, Lewis and two daughters, one of whom married ---- GILE, and the other, Elijah BUELL. Richard and Lewis and Gile's wife are still living in that locality.
Thomas NORTH settled previous to 1805, two and a half miles below North Norwich, on the place now owned by John MITCHELL. He removed from the town with his family about 1808. His son Henry, who was a blacksmith, afterwards came back and carried on his trade at North Norwich till shortly before his death, Feb. 26, 1858, aged 61.
Joseph COOK, a native of Connecticut, came from Amenia, Dutchess county, in 1807 or '8, and settled in the north part of the town on what is known as the Middle Road, on the farm now occupied by Stephen TITUS, Garry WELTON and Ross Cook and his brother George, where he resided till about 1834. His children by his second wife were Lyman, who married Polly, daughter of Daniel FISHER and settled in North Norwich. Abigail, who married Abner PURDY, of North Norwich, where they settled and lived till about 1836. Aaron, who married Lydia CULVER, settled in North Norwich, and removed about 1833 to Ohio. William, who married Anna PURDY, settled in North Norwich, and removed about 1837 or '8 to Bainbridge. Spencer, who married Harriet ARNOLD, settled in North Norwich, and removed about 1836 or '7 to Spencerport. Emily, who married James ARNOLD, settled in Oxford, from when after ten or eleven years they removed to Ohio. Eliza CRANDALL, a granddaughter of Joseph Cook's, came in with him and married Mead HARTWELL, settled in North Norwich, and removed about 1837 go Michigan, where they now reside.
Merchants:- The first merchant was Gen. Obadiah GERMAN, who opened a store at a very early day in a log house on the east side of the river, on the flats near the farm of Daniel F. BISSELL and afterwards in a building which stood just north of the Baptist church. He was succeeded in the business by his son Walter, who built and occupied the front part of the store now occupied by Perlee SHAW. Walter traded till about 1818, after which the store was empty about two years and was subsequently occupied as a school-house a like period. CRAWE & CHURCH, the latter from Coventry, traded in the same building about two years, from about 1829, and failed. A man named TANNER succeeded Crawe & Church soon after they discontinued, and after about a year removed to Sherburne Four Corners, where he also engaged in trade. A man named LEEK did business here about a year about 1834.
Charles MERRITT and Walter K. SEXTON commenced trading here as early as 1835, in the building next north of the hotel, now occupied as a dwelling by Peter Russell. They continued some two or three years. Mead HARTWELL and William POYER, both residents of the town, commenced trading in the store now occupied by P. L. SHAW, about a year after Merritt & Sexton opened and failed after about a year. William PERLEE, a native of the town, traded one year, about 1834, and failed.
Noyes RANDALL, from Pharsalia, commenced trading about 1846, in a small building which stood on the west bank of the canal near the bridge, and has since been removed, and continued some four years. Benjamin PORTER, from Coventry, bought his stock and traded about a year, in 1850. He was succeeded in 1851 by James LUDINGTON, Sr., from Plymouth, who in 1854 removed to the Merritt store, and failed after trading there one or two years. Lathrop ROSBROOK occupied the Ludington store from about 1856 till his death, Jan. 28, 1860. His nephew, Joseph ROSBROOK, sold out the goods in the interest of the heirs, occupying about a year. Lathrop Rosbrook was also engaged in the forwarding business. He was an active, able business man. Benjamin SEYMOUR next did business a few months, and sold his goods to Lewis E. CARPENTER, a former resident of the town, who traded here two or three years.
In 1849, the German store which stood empty from the time PERLEE discontinued trading, was formed into a church and occupied by the Methodists about twenty years. At the expiration of that time Marenus JANES opened a store there and traded till the spring of 1872, when he sold to Perlee E. SHAW, who came here from Lebanon, N.Y., and is still engaged in business. The only merchant now doing business here is Daniel G. FIGARY, who came from Sherburne in the spring of 1868, and engaged in butchering and painting till the spring of 1877, when he embarked in his present business.
With the exception of ROSBROOK and JANES and the present merchants, all who have engaged in mercantile business here have failed.
Postmasters:- The postmasters at North Norwich have been too numerous to attempt to trace them from the establishment of the office. The present postmaster is Lewis E. CARPENTER, who was first appointed in 1849 and held the office till 1853. He was preceded by Dr. H. H. BEECHER, who held it some four years, and was succeeded by Deloss JANES, whom he succeeded May 28, 1861. In 1866 Zenas S. CHURCH was appointed. He was succeeded by Lewis E. CARPENTER July 3, 1871, since which time there has not been any change.
Physicians:- The first physician to locate at North Norwich was probably Daniel KNIGHT, who came here about 1822, from Sherburne, where he had previously practiced, and continued here till about 1842. He did not however, practice much for several years pervious to his removal. E. WAKELEY, from Pitcher, came shortly before Dr. Knight left and remained till about 1846. Harris H. BEECHER practiced here from the spring of 1848 till December, 1861, when he removed to Norwich.
[See page 326, Norwich, for mention of Dr. Beecher.]
The physician now practicing here is Dr. James D. LEWIS.
King's Settlement
Plasterville
Sherburne Four Corners
History of Norwich
History of Norwich
The first settlement in the present town of Norwich was made in 1788 the year in which the Indian title to this section was extinguished by Avery POWER, who came before the title was extinguished and squatted on lands for which he afterwards paid, at the rate of three shillings per acre, by services rendered the government surveyors, who laid out this tract in 1789 or '90. The farm he took up was early known as the Indian fields; for, with the exception of some fifteen or twenty acres lying upon the side hill, it had been cleared and cultivated by the Indians, and apples trees in bearing, planted by the latter, were then growing upon it. Latterly it is better known as the RANDALL farm, from its subsequent occupant. It contained the whole of lot 39 (250 acres,) and an additional thirty-six acres. It is located a mile south of Norwich village, lying on both sides of the river, but mostly upon the west side, lot 39 cornering near the residence of Homer JOHNSON. His log cabin stood a little east of the canal, near the barn on the Jeduthan NEWTON place, formerly owned by John Randall. Mr. Power was possessed of a hardy, bold and venturesome spirit, which made him restive under the restraints imposed by civilization.
He was a sort of compromise between the savage Indian and civilized white man. He soon pined for the wild associations which the locality of his settlement was rapidly losing, and in 1800 he sold to John Randall, and removed to the Western States, receiving for his farm and improvements $4,100. His removal was doubtless hastened by the misfortune which overtook him; for he lost in as many weeks three daughters after a brief illness, all of whom were buried on the Burlingame farm on the east side of the river, the yard being still preserved. These deaths were supposed to have been the first in the town. His daughter, Lucy Power, was the first child born in the town.* His was the first dwelling house and, says Clark, the first tavern, ** in Norwich.
[* There is some question as to who was the first male child born in the town. French's Gazetteer of the State of New York states that it was Marcus COLE; while Dr. Harvey HARRIS, of Norwich, who was born August 3, 1795, and claims to be the fourth child born in the town, says that Horace, eldest child of Hascall RANSFORD, was the first. Marcus COLE, he believes, was born in 1794, and Horace RANSFORD in 1791; but the records of the Ransford family show that the latter was born July 23, 1794.]
[** Mr. CLARK says, "Power's habitation was opened as a kind of inn for the entertainment of whites and savages, but chiefly for the accommodation of the latter." The RANSFORD family claim that Hascall Ransford kept the first inn. French's Gazetteer of New York says Benjamin EDMUNDS kept the first inn. Unquestionably, however, Mr. Raynford's inn was much larger and much more worthy of the name than any that preceded it.]
David FAIRCHILD is supposed to have been the next settler in the town. He located near the south line of the town, near what was once known as GATES' tavern. He soon after removed to the central part of the town of Preston, where he was killed about 1805, in a log trap, set for bears. He was a noted hunter and trapper.
The third settler is supposed to have been Silas COLE, who came with his wife from Connecticut, on horseback, both riding one horse. He took up all that part of the village of Norwich lying east of South Main street, between the points where East street intersects and the Canasawacta crosses South Main street. It afterwards formed the farms of Elder Jedediah RANDALL and Judge STEERE, on the former of which he settled. Mr. Cole built the house afterwards owned by Judge YORK for a tavern; and when the first militia muster was advertised to take place in Norwich he made extensive and expensive preparations to entertain the expected multitude, which was even greater than was anticipated, but, owing to the numerous hucksters, who supplied the wants of the large crowd, the tavern keepers failed to receive their expected patronage. Mr. Cole thus became involved and was obligated to sell his fine farm, which he did, and removed with his family and three children, Marcus, Lucius and Minerva, about 1806, to Sugar Creek, Ohio, where he died.
Capt. John HARRIS and William SMILEY came in company from Voluntown, Conn., in 1789. HARRIS took up land that year and returned in the fall for his family. SMILEY brought his family with him, and settled on the west side of the river, two miles below Norwich, on the farm afterwards occupied successively by Stephen COLLINS, Elias BREED, who held it a great many years, and John FRYER. He built that year on the site of the residence recently occupied by John Fryer, a log house, which Dr. Harris says was the second dwelling house in the town. This is the farm on which the sulphur spring before referred to was located. Smiley sold about 1796-'8, to Stephen COLLINS, and went west with his family. COLLINS came in at that time from Connecticut, and about 1806, built the present house on that farm. He kept tavern there, and also the toll-gate on the turnpike from Utica to Binghamton, which was built about 1800. About 1810, he sold to Elias BREED and removed from the town with his family.
BREED came from Stonington, Conn., and continued to reside on the farm till his death, Dec. 6, 1849, aged 67. His wife, Elizabeth R., also died there, Oct. 22, 1868, aged 84. There were succeeded on the farm by their children William and Jane, wife of John FRYER, the latter now living in Norwich village and the former on the homestead.
William married a daughter of James PACKER, in the south-west part of Norwich, and is also still living. [Charles, who is demented, and is living in the village; Elias S., who married Sarah, daughter of Roswell ENOS, and died in the town, of cancer in the neck, Feb. 1, 1842, aged 38; Noyes P., who married a VANAMBURGH and was accidentally killed Dec. 12, 1835; and Samuel, who married Julia BENNETT, from the locality of Oswego, and is living in St. Paul, were children of Elias BREED's.]
Captain John HARRIS was born on Nantucket Island, Mass., about 1753. He followed the sea and ran a packet between New York and Liverpool till the opening of the Revolutionary war, when he removed to Voluntown (now Sterling,) Conn., where, in 1776, just one month before the Declaration of Independence, he married Tamer, daughter of William RANSFORD, a native of Voluntown, Conn., where they resided till 1790. Captain Harris, as before stated, came to Norwich in 1789, and took up 256 acres, extending from Broad street to the river, and from the south bounds of the American Hotel property to the north line of the TERWILLIGER place, in the north part of the village. Having arranged with Avery POWER and William SMILEY to build him a log cabin he returned in the fall for his family, which he brought in the following January, with two yoke of oxen, attached to a long sled, on which were placed goods and family supplies. His family rode in a sleigh, drawn by a span of horses. They stopped one night at the house of John EASTWOOD, a noted Methodist, who had then made a settlement on the Unadilla in Guilford.
The journey from the Unadilla to Norwich occupied two days. His family then consisted of his wife and six children, Blin, Abby, John, Squire, Tamer and William.
The house, which he expected to find ready for occupancy, was not begun. He quartered his family with that of William SMILEY until he rolled up his log-house, which, with the aid of his brothers-in-law, Hastings and William RANSFORD, who accompanied him in the settlement, in 1790, occupied only four days. Smiley's house contained only one room, and in this he, his wife and two or three children, Harris, with his family and two brothers-in-law, lived in the most democratic manner, making their beds upon the floor. Harris' house was something of an improvement on this, as it had two rooms. It stood just north of the brook which crosses the main street near the brick brewery, between that and the orchard on the REXFORD place; but no trace of it remains. The orchards referred to was set out by Harris between 1790 and 1797. The house was replaced in 1808 by a frame structure, which was removed in the spring of 1836, to the corner above the residence of Dr. Harvey Harris, for which it made way, and in 1850, it was again removed to the canal, where it still stands, being still occupied as a residence.
Harris was principally engaged here in surveying. He surveyed and divided the 10th township (North Norwich,) which had been bought by some eight or nine individuals. [Among them were Jonah PIER, ---- DAN, Jacob GROW, Thompson MEAD, Abram and Edward PERLEE, and Isaac BOCKEE, from Nine Partners, Dutchess county.] He laid out immediately after coming in, the road which now forms Broad street in the village of Norwich and then extends north from the Canasawacta two and a half miles in a straight line and from thence north to Sherburne and south to Oxford. This was the first road in the old town of Norwich, and in the north part of the county, probably the only one then in the county, except the old military, or Chenango, road in the south part of the county, and possibly the Unadilla river road. Harris and his wife both died on the homestead, the former of dropsy, in 1797, and the latter, February 18, 1835, aged 76. Subsequent to Harris' death, she married Samuel HULL, from Stillwater, Saratoga county, who also died here, Dec. 13, 1830, aged 88. Harris had two children after he came here Harvey and Annie. [Of Harris' children: Blin married Charlotte BENNETT, from Connecticut, and settled on the north part of the homestead farm, where Andrew PELLET now lives, where he and his wife died, the former, Nov. 8, 1844, aged 65, and the latter, July 30, 1850, aged 63. They left two children, Blin, who married Polly ROSS, and practiced medicine in Norwich from about 1849 till his death, Jan. 31, 1864, aged 55, leaving five children, and Angeline, who married B. Frank BROWNING. Abby married Henry FINCH and removed to Oswego, where both died, having ten children, only three of whom are living, Dolly, who married a Methodist minister, Eunice, who married a lake captain and removed to California ,and Julia, who married ---- HUTCHINSON, of Oswego. John, who married Maria, daughter of Thomas PRENTIS, of Plymouth, and died in March, 1877, aged 91. He was twice married. His second wife, Polly, daughter of Solomon WAIT, of Preston, is still living in New Berlin; only one of his six children is living, Rebecca, widow of Edward, son of Ansel BERRY. Squire was a bachelor and lived with his brother John, died in New Berlin Dec. 25, 1875, aged 91. Tamer married Pardon BARNES, and after his death, in Norwich, where they settled, Calvin RICHARDSON, with whom she removed to Kingston, Penn., where she was taken sick, returned to Norwich and died. William died when about ten years old. Harvey, who was born in Norwich, where he still resides, August 3, 1795, and practiced medicine in his native village, from 1818 till about 1870 (see "Physicians in Norwich,") married, in 1822, Philada, daughter of Truman ENOS, they had six children: Abbie, Truman, Hannah, Augusta, Harvey, George, William. Annie married Archibald CLARK and settled and died in Norwich village, where the widow of Benjamin GARDNER now lives. They left four children, three of whom are now living-Julia, Andrew and Charles.]
Hascall and William RANSFORD, before referred to, were brothers and natives of Voluntown, Connecticut, from whence they removed to this county. They came on foot. Hascall was born February 10, 1766, and came at the age of twenty-four years. He took up 150 acres of land, to which he subsequently added, a mile north of the village. The farm, the larger part of it, is now occupied by J. Dakin REED. R. A. YOUNG, occupies that part of the farm which lies east of the river. A portion of the west side is occupied by his daughter Fanny, wife of Anthony LAMB. It is still known as the Ransford farm, having remained in that family till within some twelve or fifteen years.
He worked two summers and spent his winters in Ballston. The second winter he brought in his parents, William and Abigail, the former of whom was born in Old Plymouth, Massachusetts, July 3, 1728, and the latter in Hillingsby, Connecticut, Feb. 25, 1726. His father died July 2, 1814, aged 85, and his mother, May 6, 1811, at the same age. At this time (1792) his worldly possessions consisted of a span of horses, a sleigh and forty dollars in money. With the latter he bought a yoke of oxen. He sold one horse and the other went to make the first payment on his land. July 12, 1792, he married Fanny, daughter of Matthew GRAVES, who was born in Conway, Massachusetts, December 21, 1775.* He had previously made a small clearing on his land and built a log shanty in which he soon after commenced keeping tavern. This, his family claim, was the first tavern in the town. The house stood on the east side of the road, about twenty-five rods south of the residence of the widow LAMB, about the locality of the gate across the road leading to the bridge which crosses the canal in that vicinity. About 1799, he built a frame house, which stood on the hill opposite the log house, on the west side of the road. This was torn down some twenty or more years ago, by George MULLIGAN, who used the frame in the construction of his present residence in the north part of the village.
That was the second frame house in the village.** Haskell died on the farm on which he first settled June 30, 1839, aged 73, and his wife, on the portion then occupied by his son William, December 20, 1859, aged 85. He represented Chenango county in the Assembly in 1814. Numerous descendants are living in the locality of his settlement.
[Hascall RANSFORD's children were: Horace, Abigail, Hannah, Hascall, Matthew, Graves, Horace (the second by this name), William, Fanny, Louisa Frances, Charles and Hiram.
Horace was born July 23, 1794, and died Sept. 4, 1795. Abigail, born Jan. 22, 1797, married Dr. Elisha WALES, of Norwich, and died June 21, 1814. Hannah, born Oct. 17, 1799, after the death of her sister Abigail, married Dr. Elisha WALES, who died in Norwich, Oct. 19, 1819, aged 27. She died Oct. 6 1874, aged 76. Hascall was born May 12, 1800, married Eliza, daughter of General Thompson MEAD, and settled in the north edge of Norwich village, where he died. His wife died in Norwich village. Matthew Graves was born June 8, 1802, and married Sophia, daughter of John T. WASSON. She died Dec. 6, 1872. Matthew, who still resides in Norwich village, claims to be the first child born in a frame house in Norwich. Horace was born June 18, 1804, and died April 21, 1816. William was born July 5, 1806, and married Laura, daughter of John PELLET. He settled on the homestead and lived there till within some fifteen years, when he sold the farm and removed to Wood's Corners, where both he and his wife reside. Fanny was born March 12, 1809, and married Anthony LAMB. They settled on a part of the homestead farm, where she still resides. Louisa Frances was born June 14, 1811, and died Aug. 31, 1813. Charles was born Jan. 18, 1815, married Esther, daughter of Roger BISSELL, and settled on some sixty acres in the village. He afterwards bought a farm two and a half miles above the village, where both now reside. Hiram was born April 1, 1817, and died Dec. 27, 1828.]
[* This was the first marriage contracted in the town. The ceremony was performed by Joab ENOS, who was made a Justice for that occasion, as there was no clergyman or other person authorized to solemnize marriages nearer than Tioga Point, to which place Mr. Ransford at first proposed to go. Mr. Enos was ignorant of the ceremony, and was aided in its performance by John HARRIS, who stood at his back and prompted him. ENOS came in that year (1792) from Windsor, Conn. and was then living on the east side of the river, on the Charles BURLINGAME farm. He removed two or three years after to Oxford, where he was afterward elected County Judge, which office he held when the county was organized. He continued to reside there till his death. Among his children were Henry, Eben, who died June 27, 1808, aged 43, Jerusha, who married Joshua BURLINGAME, father of Charles Burlingame, the surveyor, and died Jan. 20, 1835, aged 58, and her husband, Dec. 22, 1852, aged '84, and Polly, who married Levi SHERWOOD, all of whom are dead.]
[** It is generally supposed that this was the first frame hose in the town; but the first was built by Matthew GRAVES, in 1798, the year in which SMITH's saw-mill was built. It stood on the west side of South Board street, about midway between the canal and creek. It was removed some twenty years ago to its present location, near the creek. It is the last house but one on the west side of that street, from the village toward the creek.]
William RANSFORD settled on 190 acres on the east side of the river, at Wood's Corners. The farm has since been divided between two grand-daughters: Henrietta, wife of William K. LOOMIS, a wheel-wright in Norwich, and Jennette, wife of M. J. REESE, who is now living on the homestead. He married Hannah, daughter of Josiah BROWN and both died on the farm upon which they had settled. He died Oct. 26, 1826, aged 27. They had five children, three sons and two daughters. [These were William, who married Emily PHELPS, and lived an died on the homestead farm; Josiah, who was a bachelor, and also died on the homestead farm; Lucy, who married Wm. G. MILLER, a wheelwright, of New Hartford, settled in Norwich village, where he died Aug. 12, 1843, aged 45, and after his death removed to Plymouth, where she died Aug. 20, 1862, aged 59; Abby, who married Horace HAMILTON, and settled near Mead's Pond in North Norwich, where both died; James, who married Betsey HAMMOND, and settled, lived and died on the homestead farm (Sept. 3, 1874, aged 69,) where his widow now lives with her daughter, Mrs. M. J. REESE. The homestead was divided between James' daughters.]
Jacob and Joseph SKINNER, brothers, came in from Hebron, Conn., in 1790. We are not advised where Jacob first settled, but after the death of Timothy JOHNSON, about 1794, he occupied the farm taken up by the latter about 1795.
JOHNSON came from Sterling, Conn., and settled on the flats between the road and the river, on the west side about half a mile north of the village of Norwich. Johnson was the first adult person who died in the town. His wife died in Connecticut. He had two sons, Heman and Jared, the former of whom married, settled and died in Plymouth, the latter settled and died in North Norwich.
SKINNER occupied that place only a few years. He soon after removed from the stone mill, to the crest of the west hill, where he built a log house and afterwards a frame structure, in which both he and his wife died, the former June 3, 1847, aged 80, and the latter, (Phebe,) Feb. 1, 1842, aged 72. They left two sons and a daughter. John, who married a daughter of Job STAFFORD,* and settled and died in the north-east quarter of Norwich; Reuben, who removed when young and single to Chautauqua county; and Hannah, who who married a BREED and settled first on the homestead and subsequently in Guilford.
* Job STAFFORD came from Connecticut about 1794 or '5, and settled in the east part of Preston, where both he and his wife died. Another daughter, Amy, married Whitman WILLCOX, who came from Connecticut about 1794, and settled on the east side of the river, about two miles south of Norwich, where both died.
Joseph SKINNER settled on the east side of the river, about a mile above Norwich village, on the farm now occupied by Clarissa, widow of Joseph Skinner, Jr. He was a young, single man, and came on foot and alone, with fifty cents in his pocket, carrying on his back a bundle, done up in a handkerchief, and containing his possessions. He bought sixty acres of land, and built a log cabin on the river bank. Being out of provisions, he borrowed some corn of a neighbor, who preceded him in the settlement, took it to Oxford and had it ground. On returning he borrowed of the same kindly neighbor a spider, in which to bake his bread, which, he said afterwards, was the sweetest he had ever tasted. The following year (1791) he married Lois TRAIN, daughter of Oliver Train, who came in about this time with the family of Martin TAYLOR, from Whately, Mass. Her father never came to this country. He soon afterwards removed to the village. Skinner and his wife died on the farm which he first took up, the former April 16, 1854, aged 86; the latter, Nov. 2, 1839, aged 71. [Their children were: Isaac, who married Polly HASCALL, settled first in the locality of King's Settlement in North Norwich, subsequently lived in various places, and finally removed to Ohio, where he died July 4, 1877; Justin, who died at the age of three years; Otis, who married a Miss RANDALL, settled first in Norwich, and afterwards removed to Sherman, Chautauqua county, where he died; Charles, who married Nancy MAIN, settled on a part of the homestead farm, afterwards removed to Plymouth, where he died; Aretas, who married Henrietta DAY and settled in Sherman, Chautauqua county, where he died; Daniel, who married Ruamia A., daughter of Henry PIKE, of North Norwich, settled near the river bridge at Wood's Corners, where he kept tavern a good many years, and after the death of his wife, Oct. 9, 1844, aged 33, married her sister, Lovisa A, and removed to North Norwich, where she died December 27, 1868, aged 46. He married for his third wife, Mary Ann, widow of William DODGE, and afterwards removed to Kings Settlement, where he died Feb. 11, 1874, aged 65: William, who married Mary Ann, daughter of Dennis BALLOU, settled in Plymouth, where he practiced medicine till within a few years of his death at Portland, Chautauqua county; and Joseph, who married Clairssa, daughter of Nehemiah BROWN, of Cortland, and settled, lived and died on the homestead, Oct. 8, 1879, aged 64. Not one of the eight children are living, but few of the descendants are living here. They are mostly in the West. The grandchildren who are living in the county are: Isaac W., son of Joseph, Jr., in Norwich; Leonard, in Kings Settlement, Lovisa, in Norwich, and Mary, wife of Wm. CHAFFE, in Plymouth, children of Daniel; Clara, wife of Cornelius PRESCOTT, and William, both in Plymouth children of Dr. William.]
Nicholas PICKETT and Major Thomas BROOKS were settlers of about this period, 1790-91. PICKETT located on the east side of the river, on what was afterwards known as the PENDLETON farm. He sold out after a few years and removed West. Major BROOKS settled on the west green in Norwich village, on which he built a log shanty. He removed at an early day to the south-east corner of Plymouth, to the farm now occupied by Ambrose BRYANT. He was killed by the fall of a tree, August 20, 1822, at the age of 61 years. Lucy, his wife, died on that farm Dec. 31, 1827, aged 71. Major Brooks was a Massachusetts man. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and also participated in Shay's Rebellion, a fact which he always admired and justified. His children mostly scattered and removed from the town. [They were Thomas, a bachelor, who removed to and died in the Southern States; Clitus, married, lived and died in the locality of Ithaca; Thesius, who married and lived and died on the homestead farm; Clara, a maiden lady, who died on the homestead; Cassius, who married a daughter of Amos MEAD, (nicknamed "Horseneck Mead," from the name of the place from whence he came in New England, to distinguish him from Amos MEAD, who came from Dutchess county and settled in North Norwich,) and settled on the north part of the homestead farm, and afterwards removed to Michigan.]
Settlements were made about 1791 or '2, by Matthew GRAVES, Martin TAYLOR, and Colonel William MONROE.
Matthew GRAVES came in from Hatfield, Massachusetts, and settled in the south part of Norwich village, on the John RANDALL, Jr. farm, where he lived till about 1813, when, being advanced in years, he went to live with Dr. Jonathan JOHNSON, his son-in-law, on the opposite side of the road, where Dr. William H. STUART now lives. The house in which he lived on the first farm, a small frame structure, is still standing on the CONKEY farm, having been removed to the locality of the canal, and is still occupied as a tenement house. He died at the residence of his son-in-law, Hascall RANSFORD, August 17, 1824, aged 86. His wife (Hannah MORTON) died on the old homestead March 28, 1813, aged 69. Their children were all born in Massachusetts. The eldest daughter married and remained there. [His children were: Charles, Israel, Fanny, Hannah and Dexter. Charles married and settled on one hundred acres below the homestead farm. He and his wife died there. Israel married a WELLS, from Massachusetts, and settled on a farm next north of his father's. His house stood on the site of J. H. LATHAM's residence. He removed to the north-east quarter of this town; afterwards, about 1812, with his family to Virgil; and subsequently to live with his son, Ovid, in Chautauqua county, where he died. Fanny married Hascall RANSFORD. Hannah married Dr. Jonathan JOHNSON, who settled opposite her father's, where Dr. William H. STUART now lives, and practiced medicine here till near his death (See "Physicians in Norwich.") Dexter married a KENDALL, and settled in the village, where he carried on a distillery for some time. He removed to Chicago about 1820. Both he and his wife died in the West.]
Martin TAYLOR was from Massachusetts, and was implicated in the Shay rebellion. On the night of the day that the rebellion was quashed he mounted his horse and rode to Utica and thus escaped by proving an alibi. He returned to Massachusetts, and in 1791, squatted on the west side of the river, opposite the covered bridge which crosses the river at Norwich, where Joseph SKINNER now lives. About 1804-'6, he removed to Wood's Corners, and from thence, during the war of 1812, to Chautauqua county. His sons Jared and Erastus, his only children, were engaged in the battle of Queenstown, in which Jared was shot through the leg. He afterwards joined the family in Chautauqua county.
Col. William MONROE enlisted as a drummer boy in the war of the Revolution, at the age of fourteen years, and served through that war. He came here from Windsor, Conn., and squatted on the east green in the village of Norwich. He built a log-house near the corner of Main and Broad streets, intending to take up land.
When the Twenty Townships were offered for sale by the State, certain of the settlers in this locality employed Capt. John HARRIS to attend the sale and purchase the lands in which they were interested; but Leonard M. Cutting, of New York, by bidding a penny an acre more than Mr. Harris was authorized to bid, secured the lands in the 15th township, and designed making them lease lands. The determined opposition of the settlers, however, defeated his plan, and saved Chenango county from those bitter feuds and clandestine violence which, for many years previous to 1846, agitated some of the eastern counties in this State. Avery POWER was the only one who had a title to his lands. The other settlers expected to purchase directly of the State, but Cutting forestalled them.
In 1793, Mr. Cutting, whom Dr. Harris described as a man small in stature, but big in feeling, visited the town and endeavored to induce those who had settled here, to the number of some twenty-five or thirty, to accept leases. He visited the homes of the different settlers, among them that of Monroe, who was away from home. From there he went to John SHATTUCK's,* to which place Monroe followed him, on being informed by his wife of Cutting's visit. There Monroe, who was a large, powerful man, weighting about two hundred pounds, got into an altercation with Cutting, during which the latter called Monroe a liar. Near the door stood a swill barrel, made from a hollow button-wood tree, and provided with a brass-wood bottom. Monroe seized Cutting and doused him into this, remarking as he did so, "You young stripling! Call a Revolutionary soldier a liar, will you!" and emphasized his remarks with a repetition of the act, sousing poor Cutting, with his ruffled collar and cuffs, up to the neck in the barrel. Cutting, thoroughly discomfited, returned to New York as soon as his clothes were suitably washed and dried, and soon after sold the township to Dr. John Stiles, of Elizabeth, N.J., and Anthony LAMB, of New York, the latter of whom sold the last of his lands on the east hill some ten years ago. Messrs. Stiles and Lamb obviated the objectionable feature with regard to rents, but advanced the price of lands to twenty shillings per acre. This was a grievous disappointment to the occupants of the lands, who expected to purchase them for three shillings per acre. Many on learning that efforts were being made to make them lease lands became discouraged and threatened to leave the lands and abandon their improvements; but Dr. Stiles came on and pacified them by making the above offer on long time. All the first settlers were poor, and many required a long time to lift the burden of indebtedness. Capt. John Harris, so Dr. Harris informs us, was the only one of the first settlers who paid anything down on their purchases.
*[This we get from Dr. Harvey HARRIS who is unquestionably the best living authority regarding the earlier history of the town. The Shattuck family fix the date of Shattuck's settlement was 1797.]
In the meantime, Colonel Monroe, fearing a suit for trespass, removed to and bought the south-east corner lot in the town of Plymouth, where he built a log house and lived, he and his wife, till their death. The place on which he settled is now owned by Benjamin FRINK, son of Benadam Frink, to whom it was sold by Orsamus,* son of Colonel Monroe, a good many years ago. Colonel Monroe was twice married. His second wife was the widow of Benjamin PRENTICE, who also died on the homestead. He had two sons by his first wife, and one son and three daughters by his second.
[The children by his first wife were William and Barney. William married a daughter of Zebulon MONROE and settled on a part of the homestead farm. He afterwards removed to Preston, where he and his wife died. Barney married and settled in Preston, where both he and his wife died. His children by his second wife were: Orsamus or Virgil, (?) who settled on the homestead, which he sold to Benadam FRINK; Sally, who married Dudley WILLIAMS, of Plymouth, where she died, and he still lives; Emily, who married Dwight DIMMOCK and settled in Michigan; and Harriet, who married Lewis BROWN, of New Berlin, and where both are still living.]
*This same authority gives this name as Virgil in another connection. Which is correct, or whether it is a double name and both are correct, we are unable to state.]
John WAIT came in about 1792 or 1793 and settled about a half mile north-west of Norwich village, on some one hundred acres which now forms a part of Dakin J. REED's farm. He died Sept. 28, 1801, aged 57, and Mary, his wife, the latter in Preston, June 18, 1842, aged 94. His children were: William, who married Nancy, daughter of Josiah BROWN; Judy, who married a carpenter and settled in Preston, where both died; Electa, who married and soon after moved west; Chester, who removed when young to Michigan; and Polly, who became John HARRIS' second wife, and is now living in New Berlin.
{See John WAIT (same person) in Preston early settlers; mentions another son, Solomon}
Josiah BROWN, Manasseh and James FRENCH, James GILMORE and John McNITT joined the settlements about 1793 or 1794.
Josiah BROWN came from Massachusetts, and settled at Wood's Corners [These corners derive their name from Kimball WOOD, who , kept tavern there some twenty or thirty years, and whose father, Thomas Wood, settled in the town in 1797.], on the east side of the river, about a mile and a half above Norwich, on the farm afterwards occupied for many years by James THOMPSON. There Brown and his wife died. [Their children were: Joseph, who married Clara HEDDY, settled in Hamilton, afterward removed to Norwich village, where he died; Edward, who is living at North Norwich; Hannah, who married William RANSFORD; and Nancy, who married Wm. WAIT, a carpenter, who settled at Wood's Corners, where both died, and died Aug. 9, 1825, aged 44, and his wife, Dec. 11, 1857, aged 78.
There was ANOTHER Josiah BROWN, who settled a little later, about 1794 or 1795, on the farm next below the cemetery in Norwich village, where his grandson, Hezekiah Brown, now lives. [Their children were: Hezekiah, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Silas COLE, and settled on the homestead, which he occupied till his death, Oct. 24, 1847, aged 69, when he was succeeded by his son, who now owns it, and where the former's wife died Feb. 22, 1866, aged 83; Richard, who died at Plattsburgh during the war of 1812, in which he served as a physician; Joseph, who married Martha FITCH, settled just south of the canal, on a part of the homestead farm, where his wife died Dec. 21, 1850, aged 71, and he at North Norwich Jan. 30, 1871, aged 87; William, who married Mary W. JOHNSON, of Kings Settlement, settled on the homestead with his brother Joseph, where his wife died March 6, 1827, aged 31, afterwards married Julia, daughter of General Thompson MEAD, of North Norwich, where they now live; and Charles, who married a daughter of Asa PELLET.]
Manasseh FRENCH, a Baptist minister, and the first clergyman in Norwich, settled about a half mile below the Norwich village cemetery. He was a plain, unaffected preacher, and removed soon after to Cayuga county, and became the pioneer preacher in the town of Sennett in that county. He was one of the constituent members of the Sennett Baptist church, which was organized September 12, 1799, and was its first pastor, serving in that capacity till 1808. He settled on fifty acres of land in the town of Sennett.
James FRENCH, a brother of Manasseh's, settled about the same time in the north-east quarter of Norwich, on the farm now occupied by his grandson, Eben French. He and his wife died there. His son James, who married a daughter of Lemuel WELLS, succeeded him on the farm, where his wife died, and lived there till some four years ago, when, having married for his second wife Polly, daughter of Willard SMITH, an early settler in Norwich, he removed with her to the village of Norwich, where he died in the spring of 1878, and his second wife the following spring. Another of French's sons was living till recently in North Norwich.
James GILMORE settled about two and a half miles from Norwich village, on the farm now occupied by John SHATTUCK, where he died Feb. 18, 1821, aged 77, also his wife and sister Esther, a maiden lady, the latter of whom lived to exceed a hundred years. His daughter, Submit, married Col. Stepehn L. AVERY, who settled on the Gilmore farm, and after her death, March 30, 1847, removed to Norwich village, and subsequently, after seven or eight years, to the locality of Earlvile or Hamilton. Colonel AVERY came in about 1816 from Stonington, Conn., with his brother, Roswell R. Avery and another brother, who was a bachelor. Roswell was a wagon-maker and settled first on the south-east corner of the east green, and afterwards where his daughter, the widow of Porter CLARK, now lives, east of the canal on East Main street. Mary Ann and Cornelia, also daughters of Roswell, are living with the widow CLARK. Roswell died March 1, 1871, aged 79, and Mary, his wife, Sept. 28, 1843, aged 43.
John McNITT, of Irish descent and a Revolutionary soldier, settled nearly a half mile south of Polkville, on the farm now owned by ---- TURNER, son of Deacon Turner, of Norwich, where he and his wife died. He came in with his wife and two sons, James and John, the latter of whom removed to Rock River, Ill. James married Ruth JOHNSON and settled on the hill a mile and a half south-east of Polkville, where he died Nov. 22, 1862, aged 77, and his wife, July 4, 1871, aged 78.
Settlements were made by Hezekiah PELLET and Elisha SMITH about 1794; by Alexander McCULLOUGH, E. GREEN and Jedediah SPRAGUE, about 1796; by John and Daniel SHUTTUCK, Stephen STEERE, Thomas WOOD and Amos BOWEN in 1797; by Joshua BURLINGAME previous to that year; and by Uriah AVERY and the ALDRICHes, Stephen HENRY and the PHILLIPs about 1798.
Hezekiah PELLET came from Canterbury, Conn., his native place, and settled on the east side of the river, where he took up a large tract of land, which, at his death, embraced two valuable farms. The homestead farm is now owed by Matthew RANSFORD, and on that Hezekiah died March 20, 1816, aged 58. His wife (Mary,) after his death, lived with her son John, who succeeded his father on the homestead, which he retained for a number of years. He finally sold to Matthew RANSFORD and removed to the village, where his mother died April 17, 1845, aged 84. After Mr. Pellet's death his oldest son, Archibald, came into possession of the other half of the farm, which is now occupied by Peleg PENDLETON and his half- brother, the former of whom is a grandson of Hezekiah Pellet's.
[His children were: Archibald, who married Lavina GIBSON, from the western part of the State, to which locality he removed a few years ago, and died while on a visit to his only son John, in the West.
John married Annor, daughter of Chauncey GARLICK, an early settler in Norwich, who died April 7, 1841, aged 43; he subsequently married the widow Perces WAGNER, and died in the village, where she still resides. Nancy married William R., son of Samuel HAMMOND, and died April 23, 1823, aged 30, and her husband, Dec. 2, 1820, aged 37. Another daughter married Roger BISSELL, who settled about two miles above Norwich, near Mead's Pond, on the farm now owned by Charles HALL. Betsey married William PENDLETON, who settled on the homestead of his father, who was an early settler in the town. Esther married Joseph Henry MOORE, (a grandson of John MOORE, who was shot dead in his garden, in the infamous massacre of Glencoe, Ireland, his native place,) who was born Aug. 25, 1800, settled about 1820 at Norwich; she died in 1869, and he in Feb. 1860, aged 58; they had eleven children, eight of whom lived to maturity. Three daughters are now living in Norwich village: Sarah, wife of Benjamin FRINK; Esther, wife of Christopher FRINK, brother of Benjamin; and Josephine Henrietta, wife of Hon. John F. HUBBARD, Jr. Editha married Elias P. PELLET, eldest son of Asa Pellet, who was for a number of years publisher of the Chenango Telegraph, and died July 24, 1838, aged 31.
Deacon Elisha SMITH came from Hatfield, Mass. [another authority says he came from Connecticut], and succeeded Col. William MONROE on the GUERNSEY farm, occupying at first the log house built by Col. Monroe on the west green in Norwich village. He built, in 1798, the mills on the west bank of the Canasawacta, in the locality of the present stone mill, known as the Guernsey mill. [Clark's History of Chenango County says this grist-mill was the first constructed in the present limits of Chenango county. This is far from being true, as there were several which ante-dated it, two by least nine years.] The saw-mill was built first, and the lumber for it was obtained from New Berlin. He soon after, about 1799, built the house now occupied by William B. GUERNSEY, which stood originally on the site of the liberty-pole. About 1804, Deacon Smith sold out to Peter B. GARNSEY and removed to the north-east quarter of Norwich, to live with his son William, where he and his wife died. Smith came in with his wife, Abigail CHURCH, and five children, Reuben C., William C., Lois, Martha, and Jotham. [Reuben married the widow Mary WHEELER and settled in the north-east quarter of this town. He removed about 1819, to Bristol, Ontario county, where he and his wife died. William married Dorothy, daughter of John SHATTUCK, and lived and died in the northeast quarter of this town, where he raised a large family, only three of whom are living in the town: Erasmus, Asa and Louisa, the latter of whom is the wife of T. J. HASKELL a dentist in Norwich. Lois married Elijah, brother of Colonel William MONROE, who removed about 1818 to Phelps, where both died. Martha married David SHATTUCK, March 28, 1799. (See account of John SHATTUCK.) Jotham was a bachelor and lived with his father and brother, William, with the latter of whom he died.]
Alexander McCULLOUGH was a Revolutionary soldier and came from the New England States. He settled in the south-west part of the town, on the farm now owned by Daniel M. HOLMES, where he and his wife died. He had three sons, Alexander, who married in Preston and moved west; John, who married Rebecca, daughter of Casper M. ROUSE, and removed to Chautauqua county; and William, who went west and married there.
Judge Stephen STEERE came from Chepachet, R.I., and in company with Capt. Edward GREENE and Jedediah SPRAGUE, from the same State, purchased the south-west quarter of Norwich, on which they settled, STEERE about a quarter of a mile above the White Store, where William T. MORSE now lives, near the railroad bridge which crosses the small brook above White Store, GREENE about a mile below White Store where his great-grandson, Adolphus Greene, now lives; and SPRAGUE, about a mile north of White Store, where Douglas BURLINGAME now lives. They were the first settlers in the locality of White Store. Greene and Sprague continued to reside where they settled till their death. Capt. GREENE died April 22, 1824, aged 67, and Prudence, his wife, Dec. 9, 1814, aged 59, leaving seven children, all of whom are dead. [These were Arthur, who settled on the homestead farm, and afterwards removed to Pennsylvania; Edward, James, Jesse, Hannah, who married Joseph WOOD; Elcy, who married William ARNOLD; and Abigail, who married Arthur BURLINGAME, and died July 13,1866, aged 84, and her husband, June 30, 1833, aged 57.]
SPRAGUE had three sons, all of whom are gone. [Arthur, Charles, and Obediah, the latter of whom died in Pennsylvania. The former two settled here, and Charles died here February 4, 1828, aged 35, but Arthur afterwards went West.]
Judge STEERE soon after removed to Norwich village and located on fifty-six acres of the Silas COLE farm and seventy acres bought of John HARRIS. His first house stood between the residences of John CONKEY and the daughters of Abiel COOK, on East Main street, and about two years after, he removed just north of the south canal bridge where, says Dr. HARRIS, he attempted to erect a frame house, before the mills at Norwich were built. The frame was hewed pine, and the clapboards were rived and planed. This, says the Doctor, though a shanty, was the first frame structure in the town. Soon after the mills were in operation he built anew, about two rods south of the residence of the widow FITCH. [Dr. Harris fixes as the date of Steere's settlement about 1791 or '2. Data in possession of the family, though they do not definitely determine it, refer it to the year 1797. The above incident serves to strengthen Dr. Harris' supposition.]
There he and his wife (Rizpah) died, the former in 1816, and the latter in 1810. Steere had been a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Providence, R.I. Here he was engaged in land speculations. Steere brought in his wife and family with an ox team. The journey occupied three weeks. His son Smith says they were obliged to cut a road from Butternuts to the Unadilla. Steere had ten children. [Judge Steere's children were: William, Richard, Mark, Stephen, Timothy, James, Simon, Thomas, Rizpah and Smith. Dr. Harris adds the name of Asahel, whom Smith Steere did not name, and omits that of William, who, together with Richard, remained in Rhode Island. Mark married in Rhode Island, and did not come to Norwich till after 1812. He kept for several years the Eagle Hotel in Norwich, which was built about 1799 or 1800, by his brothers, Stephen and Asahel, who came in with their father. Stephen was a bachelor, and bought about fifty acres in the locality of the Midland depot, which, at his death, he deeded to Smith Steere, son of his brother Smith, with the latter of whom he lived. He died Dec. 24, 1865, aged 90. Timothy married Cyrenia, sister of Willard SMITH, the latter of whom came from Rhode Island about 1795 or '6, and settled a little north of the village. He (Smith) kept a butcher shop in a barn near where the jail stands, and afterwards removed to a farm near Polkville, where he died in the spring of 1879, aged about 95. Timothy Steere settled on his father's homestead, and afterwards removed to South New Berlin, and died there, he and his wife, on the place now owned and occupied by his sons, Stephen and Timothy. Jane married Dr. Daniel BELLOWS, and settled on the Unadilla river below Holmesville, where he practiced his profession till about 1855, when he removed to Norwich, and practiced there till his death, March 6, 1866, aged 70. After his death his wife went to live with her friends in Greene. She died May 18, 1874, aged 81. Simon was a cripple. He studied medicine with Dr. Jonathan JOHNSON and removed to Ohio, where he died. Thomas went to Ohio with Simon, but returned, married Polly, daughter of Jesse BROWN, and studied medicine with Dr. Henry MITCHELL. He kept a drug store in Norwich three or four years, from about 1812, and removed to Michigan, where he died. Rizpah married James BIRDSALL, who was for many years a lawyer in Norwich, commencing practice here soon after 1800 and continuing till about 1839, when he removed to Fenton, Michigan, where both he and his wife died. He was a Representative in Congress from this State from 1815 to 1817, and represented this county in the Assembly in 1827. Smith married Phebe McLEAN, widow of Charles Wm. RANDALL, and lived in Norwich with his brother Stephen till the death of the latter, and since then with his son, Smith Steere. His wife died in 1869. Smith Steere, Jr.; Betsey and Julia, daughters of Mark; and Frances, wife of Thomas CRANDALL, daughter of Timothy, are the only grandchildren living in the village. Four are living on the Unadilla in New Berlin, Stephen, Asahel, Timothy and Elizabeth, all children of Timothy.]
John and Daniel SHATTUCK, brothers, came from Farmingham, Mass., and settled in Norwich village. John married June 29, 1775, Ruth PHELPS, of Phillpston, who died of consumption in Conway, April 26, 1788, aged 30. He married for his second wife, about 1788, the widow Cranston, who died in Phelps, N.Y. He did not take up land in the village; but about 1800, or soon after, in conjunction with his son David, took up a hundred acres on the west side of the river, about two and a half miles below the village, where his great-grandson, John Samuel Shattuck now lives. In the winter of 1804, he removed to Phelps, with his wife and son Daniel, and died there. David, after his father's death, also removed to Phelps and took with him the rest of the family. [His children by his first wife were: David, Dorothy, Ephraim, Jonathan, and a child born March 11, 1788, and died March 14, 1788; and by his second wife, Daniel, and two which died unnamed, one June 12, 1789, the other Feb. 26, 1854. David was born April 22, 1776, married Martha, daughter of Elisha SMITH, and died in Phelps, Jan. 10, 1811, leaving two children: Leroy, who was born in Norwich, March 9, 1800, and still lives there; and John, who was born March 18, 1810, and died Dec. 13, 1877, in Norwich. Dorothy was born Oct. 19, 1779, and married William C., son of Elisha SMITH. They settled, lived and died in the northeast quarter of this town. They raised a large family, only four of whom are living, three in Norwich-Erasmus, Asa and Louisa, wife of T. J. HASKELL, a dentist in Norwich. The fourth is living in New York. Ephraim was born Oct. 11, 1782, and married Sarah HILL, who was then keeping house for her brothers, who came here from Massachusetts about 1804 or '5, settled in the east part of the town, and removed to Salina about 1810 or '11. Ephraim settled in North Norwich, from whence he removed about 1826 to Fulton, where he died. Jonathan was born July 14, 1785. He did not marry. He was killed by a saw-log in April, 1809.]
Daniel SHATTUCK came with his family, consisting of his wife, Elizabeth WASHBURN, and three children, a son and two daughters. He was a carpenter and mill-wright and carried on his trade in the village till about 1803, when he removed to Phelps, where his wife died. He died of cholera in Canada West, where he went to build a mill. His children were Reuben, who was born Nov. 22, 1778, married in 1800, Bethaniah JOSSLYN, and removed to Otsego county where he died, leaving no children; Olive, who married Hatfield COOPER, of Humphrey, Cattaraugus county, where they settled; and Lydia, who married Samuel COOPER, who died at sea. She afterwards married David WHEELER, who settled in Ontario county, where she died in 1848.
Thomas WOOD was a native of Sapatic, R.I., from whence he removed to Thompson, Conn., where he married Mercy, daughter of Samuel KIMBALL, with whom he removed in the spring of 1797 to Norwich. He settled about four miles east of Norwich, where he took up 250 acres, the farm now owned by Buel BARNES, son of Asa Barnes, who owned the farm a good many years. In 1805, Wood sold to Esek SMITH, who came in at that time from Rhode Island, with his son William and the latter's family, consisting of his wife and four or five children. The elder Smith lost his wife in Rhode Island. The Smiths removed some ten years after to Pennsylvania. Mr. Wood, after selling his farm in Norwich, removed to North Norwich, to the farm on which his son Marmaduke now lives. He took up 122 1/2 acres on lot 79, on which he resided till his death, April 3, 1813, aged 45. His wife, Mercy, also died on the place August 16, 1845, aged 71. They had seven children, two of whom were born before they came here. [These were: Kimball, Phebe, Marmaduke, Porter, Thomas, Alvira and Adeline Orinda, the latter of whom died unmarried Sept. 7, 1838, aged 26. Kimball married Laura WAIT, daughter of Wm. Wait of Norwich, and settled near Plasterville, near the homestead in North Norwich, where his widow still lives. He kept tavern there, and from him the locality is known as Wood's Corners. Phebe married Joseph CHAPEL, a cabinet-maker, who settled in Norwich, and died Nov. 8, 1861, aged 77. Marmaduke was born in Norwich in 1798. He married Jerusha, daughter of Chesebro RANDALL, with whom he has since lived on the homestead in North Norwich, during a period of seventy-four years. Porter, who was born Sept. 29, 1801, married Sabra, daughter of Pardon BROWN, and settled in Norwich village, and died Dec. 10, 1859. Thomas removed in 1826, at the age of twenty-one, to Michigan, where he married, lived and died, in 1865. Alvira went to the locality of Grand Rapids, Mich., and died there soon after marrying.]
Amos BOWEN came from Gloucester, R.I., in 1797, and settled a mile and a half south-west of White Store, on the farm now occupied by his grandson, Francis Bowen, where he died Jan. 31, 1866. He was born Feb. 6, 1774. He married in Connecticut, Rebecca, daughter of Gilbert SALISBURY, who was born March 24, 1776. He came here immediately after marrying. His wife also died on the homestead, March 20, 1858. They had five children, all of whom were born here. [Amos Bowen's children were: Rensselaer, Ollis, Roxana, George W., and Almira. Rensselaer married Asenath, daughter of Olney WINSOR, and settled on a farm adjoining his father's on the north, where his son-in-law, Joseph G. CURTIS, now lives. He removed to White Store, where he now lives, in 1869. His wife died June 2, 1874, aged 74. Ollis married Roxana, daughter of Paris WINSOR, and settled on a farm adjoining his father's on the south, in the town of Guilford. He afterwards removed to Rockwell's Mills, where he died February, 1879. Roxana married Harvey BRANT and settled near Guilford village, in which both now live. George W. married Clarissa, daughter of Calvin CHAMBERLIN, and settled on the homestead, which he sold some eight or nine years ago to his son, Francis. He then removed to Rockwell's Mills, where he now lives. His wife died in March, 1879. Almira died at the age of about nine years.]
Gilbert SALISBURY, BOWEN's wife's father, came here from Killingly, Conn., about 1802 or 1803, and settled about one and one-half miles west of White Store, where William HULL now lives, on the farm owned by George PHETTEPLACE, where he died March 5, 1824, aged 85, and Rebecca, his wife, June 13, 1809, aged 57. They left several children but none of them are living. One grandchild, Uri MALLORY, is living in Norwich.
Joshua BURLINGAME settled on the farm now owned and occupied by his son Charles, and died there Dec. 22, 1852, aged 84.
Uriah AVERY came from New York, and settled on a part of the John RANDALL farm, where his granddaughter, a maiden lady named Cary, now lives, on the west side of South Broad street, about twenty rods south of the canal bridge, where he died August 25, 1843, aged 82, and his wife, Sibyl, August 14, 1838, aged 80. He was a saddler and harness-maker, the first in the settlements, and carried on that business till his death, or so long as he was able to work.
His daughter, Eliza married a son of Judge CARY, of Oxford, and lived and died in the same house. Cary died in Oxford, previous to his wife, while on a visit to his father's. His son William was clerk for one of the Lyttles, merchants in New York.
The locality known as the Rhode Island settlement in the north-west part of the town was settled about 1798, by the ALDRICH, HENRY and PHILLIPS families, who came from Rhode Island. A Mohegan Indian who had been friendly toward the white people came with them, and continued to reside there till his death. There were five families of Aldriches, one of Henrys, and three of Phillipses.
Benjamin ALDRICH settled on the farm now occupied by his two grandsons, sons of Samuel, where he and his wife died. He had three sons, Nathan, George and Samuel, the former of whom was married when they moved in. He settled on the farm next adjoining his father's on the north, and afterwards removed to Greene, where both he and his wife died. A son and two daughters are now living in Greene. Sarah, another daughter, married EVANS, and settled and still lives in the locality of her father's first settlement. Her husband died there. George married and removed to Chautauqua county. Samuel married Sarah KEITH and settled on the homestead, where his wife died. He afterwards married Eliza CHILDS and removed to Norwich village, where he died. His widow still lives there.
Gardner and Noah ALDRICH, brothers, and Benjamin Aldrich, were all three cousins of the Benjamin Aldrich just named, and were all married when they came in. Gardner settled on a farm still occupied by a member of his family, and afterwards removed to Plymouth. Noah settled on a farm adjoining his brother's, and removed about the same time to Plymouth, where both died. Benjamin settled on the hill about a mile west of Norwich village, where he and his wife died. He had three daughters, each of whom married a CRANDALL, Joseph, William and Latham, and all of whom are living, two in Norwich and one in Plymouth.
Stephen HENRY settled on a farm adjoining that of Nathan ALDRICH on the north. It is now occupied by Benjamin FRINK. He afterwards removed to Norwich village, where he and his wife died. He had one son and two daughters. Stephen, the son, settled and died in the Kings Settlement in North Norwich. One daughter married Deacon Levi BROOKS, and settled in Plymouth, where they died. The other married a shoemaker named WARNER, now living in Norwich village. She died in Pharsalia, or the west part of Plymouth, where they were then living, some ten years ago.
Rufus, Nathan and Owen PHILLIPS were brothers. The latter two removed soon after to Plymouth. Rufus, who was married before he came, settled among the ALDRICHes. He afterwards removed to Norwich village and lived in the second house north of the Catholic Church, where he and his wife died. They had three daughters. One married a man named HINMAN and moved north; another married Charles PARKER, a wagon-maker in Norwich village, where both died; and the third, Eliza, who was a maiden lady, lived and died on the homestead.
Settlements were made by John RANDALL and Hezekiah BROWN in 1800; by Nathan PENDLETON, the GIBSONS and Casper M. ROUSE, about 1800; and by Jacob REYNOLDS previous to that year.
John RANDALL was born in Stonington, Conn., March 24, 1754. He married in his native place Nov. 7, 1775, Mary, daughter of John and Mary (PRENTICE) SWAN, who was born in Stonington, Conn., Nov. 29, 1757. In 1797, he removed thence with his family consisting of his wife and nine children to Pharasalia, and from thence in 1800, to Norwich, where he purchased of Avery POWER 286 acres of land located south of the village, for which he paid $4,100. The farm, which embraces some of the most valuable and productive lands in this section, is still known as the Randall farm, and is owned in part by his descendants. He was one of the constituent members of the First Baptist Church of Norwich, of which his brother, Rev. Jedediah Randall, was the first pastor. His wife died March 29, 1813, aged 55. May 3, 1816, he married, at Stonington, Conn., Hannah Mary, widow of his brother, Roswell Randall, and daughter of Rev. Nathaniel and Hannah (STODDARD) AVERY, who was born in Stonington, Conn., in 1764, and died in Norwich, Oct. 9, 1938, aged 71, preceded by her husband, who died Oct. 7, 1818, aged 64. He had thirteen children, the first ten of whom were born in Stonington, Conn., the eleventh at Pharsalia, and the last two in Norwich. They were John, Denison, Charles, Paul, Perez, Samuel, Elias, Martha, Roswell, Esther, Lucy, Hannah and Jedediah Wheeler.
John was born March 1, 1776, and married at Stonington, Conn., Nov. 25, 1806, Hannah, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (HALE) SNOW, who was born at Brookfield, Conn., Feb. 18, 1786, and died March 12, 1855, at Norwich, where all their nine children were born, and where John died Sept. 9, 1754.
Colonel Denison was born Oct. 25, 1777, and married at Stonington, Conn., in 1801, Betsey STEWART, who was born at Stonington, Conn., in 1780, and died in Clarkson, N.Y., May 21, 1861. Denison succeeded to the occupancy of the house and farm in Pharsalia owned by his father prior to his removal to Norwich, and resided there till his death Oct. 18, 1824. He represented this county in the Assembly in 1812. He had ten children, all of whom were born in Pharsalia.
Capt. Charles was born Jan. 25, 1780, and married at Stonington, Conn., Jan. 29, 1804, Keturah, daughter of Captain Nathan and Amelia (BABCOCK) PENDLETON, who was born at Stonington, Conn., Dec. 5, 1782, and died at Norwich, April 28, 1811. November 7, 1811, he married at Norwich, Mary, sister of his first wife, who was born at Stonington, Conn., Dec. 16, 1786, and died at Norwich, Dec. 26, 1817. Sept. 3, 1818, he married at Norwich, Abigail, daughter of George and Edith KING, who was born at Cambridge, N.Y., Nov. 2, 1789, and died at Norwich, Aug. 26, 1844. Dec. 8, 1846, he married at Earlville, Mrs. Dolly PARDEE, daughter of Nathan and Dolly GEER, who was born in Chesterfield, Mass., Jan. 1, 1792. He had twelve children, all of whom were born in Norwich. Captain Charles followed his father and the other members of the family to Pharsalia in May, 1798, then in his nineteenth year, with three yoke of oxen, crossing the Hudson at Catskill. He was three weeks on the road. In 1800 he accompanied his father to Norwich. In 1812, he went with the regiment of Col. Thompson MEAD, as Lieutenant, to the Niagara frontier. He was converted, with thirty-two others, Jan. 17, 1817, baptized and united with the Baptist church in Norwich, of which he was chosen deacon Jan. 2, 1819, a position he acceptably filled nearly fifty years. After spending a few years in Norwich village, engaged, in company with Truman ENOS, in the manufacture of leather, he retired to a farm on the east side of the river, opposite to that of his father on the west, which he cultivated till a few years preceding his death, when he removed to the village and died there April 1, 1872.
Paul was born April 12, 1782, and married in Norwich in 1807, Charlotte COLLINS, who was born at Stonington, Conn., June 19, 1785, and died at Falmouth, Ky., May 13, 1814. June 4, 1816, he married at Falmouth, Ky., Elizabeth SWING, who was born in New Jersey, Jan. 1, 1793. They had nine children; the first two were born in Norwich, the next five at Falmouth, Ky., and the younger two at Rushville, Ind., where he died.
Perez was born April 6, 1784, and married at Norwich in 1808, Betsey, daughter of Benjamin and Eunice (PARKER) EDMUNDS, who was born at Woodstock, Conn., in 1787, and died at Norwich, Sept. 9, 1813. In 1816, he married Ruby, daughter of William and Welcome JOHNSON, who was born at Canterbury, Conn., Dec. 25, 1796, and died at Norwich, May 12, 1865. He had thirteen children, all of whom were born in Norwich. Perez represented this county in the Assembly in 1818. He was appointed County Clerk of Chenango county March 6, 1819, and, with the exception of the years of 1820, and 1831, '32 and '33, continued to discharge the duties of that office satisfactorily till his death, March 29, 1838.
Samuel was born May 10, 1786, and married at Norwich, in 1813, Sally WHAPLES, who died at Henderson, Ill., in January, 1850. He died at Providence, Ill., Feb. 24, 1851. They had five children, all of whom were born in Norwich.
Elias was born August 3, 1788, and died in Norwich, Feb. 17, 1803.
Martha (Patty) was born August 27, 1790, and married at Norwich, Dec. 8, 1811, James W., son of James and Huldah GAZLEY, who was born in New York City, July 23, 1784, and died at Cincinnati, Ohio, June 8, 1784. She died in Cincinnati, Dec. 24, 1817.
Roswell was born Oct. 10, 1793, and was married at Pharsalia, Nov. 20, 1826, to Lydia BROWN, who was born at Stonington, Conn., January 16, 1803, and died at Pharsalia, March 14, 1831. Roswell died Sept. 5, 1839.
Esther was born January 14, 1796, and was married at Norwich, July 17, 1817, to Charles, son of Collins and Mary (RANDALL) YORK, who was born in Stonington, Conn., July 22, 1793, and died in Norwich, April 10, 1873, where Esther also died Nov. 21, 1873.
Lucy was born July 30, 1798, and died at Pharsalia, May 9, 1799.
Hannah was born March 24, 1802, and died at Norwich, January 12, 1827.
Jedediah Wheeler was born May 17, 1804, and married at Rushville, Ind., in 1828, Lucinda, daughter of John and Elizabeth PERKINS, who was born in Rushville in 1808, and died in Orange, Ill., November 13, 1865. He died at Knoxville, Ill., February 1, 1861.
Hezekiah BROWN, a native of Rhode Island, came in 1800, from Sterling, Conn., where he married Elizabeth COLE, a native of the latter place, bringing his wife and one child, Harry, who died soon after coming here. He settled on the farm next south of the cemetery, which is now owned by his youngest child, Elisha, where he died Oct. 24, 1847, aged 69, and his wife, Feb. 22, 1866, aged 83. He was a Justice of the Peace. [Their children were: Harry, Henry V., Betsey, Mary Ann, Jesse C., Emeline, Lucy R., Hezekiah, Susan B., and Elisha. Henry V. married Elizabeth, daughter of Elias BREED, and resided in Norwich till within two or three years of his death, when he removed to Illinois, where he died June 10, 1862, aged 53. Betsey married H. B. KENYON, a Baptist minister, and died in Ira, Cayuga county, leaving twelve children, who are scattered over the country. Mary Ann married Lynde G. WELLS and settled in Pharsalia. They subsequently removed to Pitcher, where she died Oct . 6, 1879. She had eight children, four of whom are living. Jesse C. married Rebecca BYINGTON and settled on a part of the homestead farm; afterwards went West. Emeline married Jonathan SLATER and settled in North Norwich, where they are now living. They have two children, both of whom are living: Edwin R, in Ulster county, and Mary B., wife of James YARNS, in North Norwich. Lucy R. married Bela HIBBARD and settled in Pittsford, Monroe county, where they lived till his death, after which she removed to Rochester, where she now resides. Hezekiah married in Pittsford, N.Y., and removed to Illinois. His wife died while on a visit in Pittsford. He afterwards married Mary WOODRUFF, of Pittsford, with whom he is now living in Michigan, to which State he removed a few years since.
Susan B. married Thomas H. PRENTICE and settled on the Canasawacta in Norwich village, where they now reside. They have two children, both of whom are living: Ralph H., in Illiinoios, and Adella E., wife of Sydney D. HAYWARD, in Norwich village. Elisha married Nancy TEEPLE, of Schoharie county, with whom he is now living on the homestead farm, on which they settled. They have no children.]
Nathan PENDLETON came in from Stonington, Conn., his native place, soon after 1800, and settled on the east side of the river, about three miles below Norwich village, on the farm now owned by the widow of Peleg Pendleton, who died there in July, 1866. His land lay on both sides of the river. He brought in his wife, Amelia BABCOCK, a native of Stonington, Connecticut, and seven children, three girls and four boys, leaving five in Connecticut. Two of the latter, Isaac and Keturah, both of whom married in Connecticut, came in afterwards, Isaac, in 1811, and Keturah, some years previously with her husband, Charles RANDALL, son of John Randall, to whom reference has been previously made. Nathan and his wife died on that place; so also did two sons, Peleg and Simon, and one daughter, Amelia, his eldest child, who was a maiden lady, and died at the age of eighty-seven. Nathan Pendleton survived his first wife, and after her death married Rhoda GAVITT, who also died on the homestead. Not one of the family is left, neither of those who settled here, nor of those who remained in the east. The last one, William Pendleton, died in Norwich, July 17, 1878, aged 83. Two of his daughters became wives of Charles RANDALL, Keturah and Mary. [His other children were: Sally, who married John LANGWORTHY and lived in Connecticut, till some twenty-five years ago, when they removed to Alfred, N.Y., where they died; Charlotte, who married Christopher BROWN, and settled in Connecticut, where both died; Nathan, who married Phebe COLE, and also lived and died in Stonington, Conn.; Isaac, who married Bridget, daughter of Peleg STANTON, of North Stonington, Conn., and in 1811, removed to Oxford, and settled on a farm in the north edge of that town, which is now owned by his son, Stanton Pendleton, of Norwich, where she died in 1832, and he some ten years later; Simon, who was a bachelor; Catharine, who married, lived and died in Oxford; William, who married Betsey PELLET, and after her death, Rhode WADE, (the latter of whom is living with her daughter Ellen, wife of Isaac WILBER, in Norwich;) Peleg, who married Lucy BABCOCK, from Mystic, Conn., and settled, lived and died on the homestead farm in Norwich, where his widow now resides. Fourteen grandchildren are living in the county. Robert A. STANTON, a lawyer in Norwich, married Elizabeth, only daughter, and surviving child of Nathan and Phebe Pendleton.]
Chauncey GIBSON, who was originally from Connecticut, came from Duanesburgh with the family of his father, John Gibson, and settled on the east side of the river, near Wood's Corners, on the farm now owned by Matthew RANSFORD, where his father and mother died. Chauncey removed some twenty years since to South New Berlin where he and his wife died. [His children were Stanford, who married a daughter of Thomas HALL and settled at South New Berlin, where for some thirty years he practiced medicine; Harriet, who married Ira LINCOLN, and settled in Norwich village, where her husband carried on the painting business till her death, when he removed to Ohio, where he still lives; Schuyler, who was a Universalist minister, and located and died in the Western Reserve; and Polly, who married Henry BENNETT, a lawyer in New Berlin, where he died and she still lives. Mr. Bennett was a Representative in Congress from this State from 1849 to 1859 continuously.]
William GIBSON, brother to Chauncey, came in about the same time from Ballston, Saratoga county, where, being a wheelwright, he was engaged in the manufacture of spinning wheels, an article which was in large demand at that day. He settled on a farm adjoining Chauncey's, and carried on the wheelwright business till his death, when his brother Chauncey, who was also a wheelwright, succeeded him, and continued it until his removal to New Berlin. William's wife was a sister to Hascall and William RANSFORD. She died at her brother Hascall's, with whom she went to live when her husband was taken sick. [Their children were: Alex., who married, and settled near Hascall RANSFORD's, from whence, after five or six years, he removed to Genesee county; Betsey, who married Samuel HUMPHPREY of Duanesburgh, where they settled and died; Katy, who married in Genesee county; William who died a bachelor, in Norwich; Hannah, who married Lester Clark and settled in Adrian, Mich., where she died and he still lives.]
Casper M. ROUSE came from the New England States and settled on the site of Norwich village cemetery , where he lived a number of years. He removed to Sugar creek about 1820. He was State Senator while residing in this county from 1812 to 1815; he also held the office of Side Judge and Justice. He was the Senator for whose alleged bribery State Treasurer David Thomas was tried in Norwich in 1812. [See page 12] His children were Dr. Austin, Erasmus, John and Rebecca, who married John McCULLOUGH, the latter three of whom went west with their father. Austin married Jane E. PERKINS, daughter of Erastus Perkins, an early tavern keeper in Oxford. He studied medicine with Dr. Henry MITCHELL in Norwich and commenced practice in Oxford in 1820, continuing there till his death August 27, 1866, aged 70. His wife who was born May 2, 1806, also died in Oxford, September 28, 1875.
Jacob REYNOLDS, brother to Sullivan Reynolds, who was interested in the mill property at Rockwell's Mills at an early day, came from the east the latter part of the last century, and settled about a hundred rods south of White Store, where Egbert MYRES now lives, where he died April 1, 1837, aged 79. His first and second wives died on the same place, Sarah*, November 15, 1807, aged 51. His third wife, Amy, died in the house now occupied by Rensselaer BOWEN, at White Store, January 29, 1846, aged 73. He left two children by his third wife, Jacob and Alma, the latter of whom married Edward WOOD, both of whom are living in Onondaga county.
{* only listed one name under "first and second wives"}
Families named SHIPPEY, PETERS, MONROE, BALLOU, COOK and PHETTEPLACE from Rhode Island, settled in the south part of the town, near the line of Guilford about 1800.
Thomas SHIPPEY, settled one and one-half miles south-west of White Store, where David FIELDS now lives, and died there March 12, 1823, aged 75, and Hannah, his wife, Dec. 6, 1838, aged 86. [Among Shippey's children were, Eliakim, who died Oct. 15, 1834, aged 52, and Lydia, his wife, July 23, 1866, aged 80; Ezekial, Philemon, who died Dec. 3, 1842, aged 53, and Sally, his wife, Sept. 9, 1847, aged 41; a daughter who married Emer ALDRICH; Paul, who died April 20, 1813, aged 27, and Duty, who died April 25, 1822, aged 28.]
Wilmarth PETERS settled about three miles south-west of White Store, and died there Feb. 3, 1864, aged 79. He was twice married and both wives died on the same place, the first, Rhoda, April 12, 1807, aged 32, and the second, Polly, March 2, 1854, aged 73. [He had four children: Hannah, who married Philip PHETTEPLACE, deceased, and is now living in the south edge of Norwich; Lydia, wife of Peter GIBSON, living a little below Mt. Upton. One son, Ira died in Norwich; the other went to Pennsylvania.]
David MONROE settled and died on the farm on which his son John afterwards lived and died. The elder Monroe died May 30, 1809, aged 70, and Mary his wife, Sept. 11, 1833, aged 86. His son John married Phebe COLEGROVE, and died July 19, 1865, aged 91. His wife died March 8, 1862, aged 86. Celaney WINDSOR, daughter of Olney Winsor, and widow of John MONROE, grandson of David Monroe, is living a little below Polkville, with her son Wellington, where her husband died in March, 1879.
Sylvanus BALLOU settled one and one-half miles west of White Store, where David B. PHETTEPLACE now lives. He afterwards removed to Smithville, where he died Dec. 1, 1857, aged 90, but was brought to White Store for interment. Mercy, his wife, died in Norwich, July 3, 1822, aged 59. Rev. Daniel Ballou, a Universalist minister now residing in Utica, is a son of his. He had two other sons, one of whom, Amasa, went west, after the death of his wife, Cyrene, Oct. 31, 1842, at the age of 32 years.
Gideon COOK settled two miles west of White Store, where ---- EGGLESTON now lives, and died there Sept. 6, 1813, aged 67. Jane, his wife, died Jan. 10, 1816, at the same age. [George, Sylvanus, Daniel, John, Richard and Elijah were sons of his. He had daughters, one of whom married Joshua WINSOR. George died April 13, 1859, aged 82, and Selanah, his wife, March 28, 1848, aged 69. Sylvanus died Sept. 1, 1868, aged 81, and Mary, his wife, April 29, 1860, aged 70. Daniel married Wate SHELDON. He died April 29, 1868, aged 78, and his wife, April (13?), 1837, aged 36. Richard died Dec. 20, 1852, aged 71, and Sarah, his wife, August 12, 1853, aged 67. Elijah died Feb. 16, 1815, aged 31.]
Elijah COOK, brother to Gideon, settled three-fourths of a mile west of White Store, where Eddy Cook, a great-grandson of Gideon's, now lives, and died there. He had a large family of girls, who married and moved away. One, Orpha, who married Joseph MAY, returned after her father's death, and died here Jan. 25, 1866, aged 80, and her husband, March 17, 1862, aged 82. Another daughter, Amanda, married Otis WINSOR.
David, Philip, Thomas and Samuel PHETTEPLACE were brothers. David settled three miles south-west of White Store, where his son Jonathan now lives. There he and his wife died. He had two wives. His first was Zeruah, daughter of George BOWEN, whom he married in Rhode Island; the second was Betsey TUCKER. Both died here. Jonathan, Noyes and David B., children by his first wife, are living in Norwich. The children by his second wife are all gone. Philip settled on a farm adjoining David's on the south. Both he and his wife died there. None of their children are left. Thomas settled about three miles north-west of White Store, where Philander GREEN now lives. He afterwards removed to Cortland county and died there Oct. 21, 1858, aged 80. Lillies, his wife, died April 2, 1861, aged 80.
David, Philip and Thomas married sisters. Philip's wife was named Judith. Thomas had a large family, only one of whom is living in this locality, Emeline, widow of Jesse MATTESON, in Norwich village. Samuel settled just above Holmesville, where Charles BRITT now lives. One child is living in Norwich, Lydia, widow of Harry BURLINGHAM, who died Nov. 23, 1854, aged 52.
Peter B. GARNSEY [This was the original orthography. At present the family spell the name GUERNSEY] , a native of New Lebanon, Columbia county, studied law in the office of Chancellor Walworth, and was admitted as an attorney Nov. 5, 1795, and as a counselor, Feb. 7, 1800. The former certificate is signed by Chief Justice Yates, and the latter, by John Lansing, Jr. He married at New Lebanon, Dec. 25, 1797, Mary SPEIRS, daughter of Dr. Speirs, a prominent merchant of New Lebanon, and removed immediately thereafter to Oxford village and engaged in the practice of his profession. [His children were: Peter B., Jr., Polly, William G. and Lavinia. Peter B. was born Jan 3, 1799. He married Mary BELLAMY of Catskilll and settled in Norwich village, occupying the house now occupied by John CRAWLEY, the jeweler, which then stood on the site of the Congregational Church. He died there April 15, 1829, owning at his death the carding machine in Norwich village, which was built by his father. He had only two children, Augustus, who died in childhood, and William B., who married Jane M., daughter of David MAYDOLE, with whom he is now living in the old Peter B. Garnsey homestead. Polly was born April 30, 1801, and married Dr. John THOMPSON. They settled in Sharon, N.Y., and in 1835 returned to Norwich, where both died. She had seven children all of whom lived to maturity; James G., who married a daughter of Dr. David Y. FOOTE, settled in Norwich village, where both still live, and was a State Senator from the 23rd District in 1874 and '75; Mary, who married Wilmot SCOTT and removed to Galena, Ill., where she died; Lavinia, who married Judge Frank BEEBE, of Minneapolis, where she died, leaving two daughters; Ellen Harriet, who married Judge John WALDRON, a miller and land holder in Iowa; Cynthia, who married Abel COMSTOCK, a resident of Smyrna, where she died; Ella, who married Caleb THOMPSON, a cousin, and a resident of Dubuque; and Sarah, who married Rev. I. H. RIDICK, a Methodist minister, of Au Sable, Mich., where they now reside. William G. was born Jan. 6, 1809. He was a bachelor and was engaged in farming and milling. He died in Norwich village. Lavinia was born July 17, 1811, and died unmarried in the home of her father.
James G. Thompson, son of Dr. James and Polly Thompson, was Treasurer of Chenango county from 1854 to 1857, and Clerk, from 1857 to 1871. William B. Guernsey, son of Peter B. Guernsey, Jr., was a captain in the 89th N. Y. Regt.; and lieut.-colonel and subsequently colonel in the 126th U. S. colored troops.] He removed thence soon after 1800 to Norwich village and purchased of Elisha SMITH the old Col. MONROE place with the mill and other property added by Deacon Smith. This purchase included all that part of the village laying west of Broad street, north of Benjamin CHAPMAN's store and south of Henry street, extending across the Canasawacta, nearly to the crest of the west hill. Here he engaged, in addition to his legal practice, in the milling business. He was also interested with Thomas MILNER in wool carding and cloth dressing at Wood's Corners, one and one-half miles above Norwich village. Mr. Milner subsequently kept store for a number of years on the corner now occupied by COMSTOCK's clothing store. [Thomas Milner died Nov 26, 1843, aged 65, and Elizabeth, his wife, August 13, 1825, aged 42.]
It would appear from information received from Mr. William B. Guernsey that when Mr. Garnsey bought the place the grist-mill built by Deacon Smith was not standing. The saw-mill built by the latter stood a good many years. Mr. Garnsey built near it a grist-mill, which stood until the present mill on the east side of the creek was built, in 1836, when it was converted into a saw-mill and used as such for several years. Mr. Garnsey, in 1832, sold the mill property, together with all his other property, except the homestead, to his son William G. Guernsey, and retired from active business. He died in the house now occupied by William B. Guernsey, near the court house. It originally stood on Broad street, where the liberty pole now stands, and was removed by him to its present location in 1807, to make room for the court house and jail. Having promised a site for the county buildings if they were established in Norwich, a determination which he was instrumental in securing, he donated the ground on which the court house and jail now stand, and the west park which fronts them. This house, whose external appearance indicates a modern structure, is one of the oldest of Norwich's ancient landmarks, having been built about, perhaps a little earlier than 1800. The house is substantially as it then stood, the frame and rooms being precisely the same. It has been modernized by new casings, outside coverings, etc.
Peter B. Garnsey was one of Norwich's prominent and substantial citizens, and contributed in no small measure to the prominence it now enjoys in the county. Mr. Clark says of him:- "Perhaps no citizen was so closely identified in his lifetime with the early growth and prosperity of the village of Norwich as Peter B. Guernsey. Himself and his heirs after him have been extensive land owners in the heart of the village. Mr. Guernsey was a lawyer by profession, but early relinquished his calling for active business pursuits. The characteristics of Mr. Guernsey's mind were strong, natural sense and untiring perseverance under difficulties that never intermitted. He was one of the many early settlers who literally died in the harness." [History of Chenango County.]
Settlements were made at a early day by Samuel HAMMOND, Rev. Jedediah RANDALL, John WELCH, Lemuel SOUTHWICK, Lobden JAYNES, Jonathan COLEGROVE, Jonathan THORNTON, Capt. James THOMPSON, Capt. Ana WINSOR, Benjamin SHELDON, Maj. Samuel MAY, and Gideon MANN.
Samuel HAMMOND settled in the north part of the village of Norwich, and lived in the house now occupied by Thomas LILLIS, which then stood on the site of Mr. CORNELL's residence. He was engaged in farming, and resided there till his death, which occurred Dec. 2, 1821, at the age of 63 years. His wife, Polly, also died there, five days later, (Dec. 7, 1821,) aged 62. [He had one child, William R., who married Nancy, daughter of Hezekiah PELLET, and lived on the homestead, where he died Dec. 2, 1820, aged 17, and his wife, April 12, 1823, aged 30. William R. left four children, all of whom are living in Norwich, three of them in the village, viz.: Samuel R., a bachelor, now living with B. B. ANDREWS; Lovina, wife of B. B. ANDREWS, a banker, merchant and tanner in Norwich village; Mary, widow of E. W. HOUCK; and Betsey A., widow of James RANSFORD, now living just outside the village, across the Chenango.]
Rev. Jedediah RANDALL was born in Stonington, Conn., March 20, 1758. He was the first pastor of the Baptist church in Norwich, and in the two-fold capacity of preacher and farmer, was a vaulted and highly esteemed citizen. His farm, in the south part of the village, is now mostly cut up into village lots. He died here Feb. 22, 1844, aged 86, and Martha, his wife, Oct. 29, 1848, aged 88.
John WELCH was a blacksmith, and settled in the west part of the town, on the farm now occupied by Hiram HALE and Cyrus BROWN, where he and his wife died. Nathaniel Welch, who removed west at an early day, was a son of his.
Lemuel SOUTHWICK settled on the hill, about a half mile east of Polkville, on the place now occupied by Mr. GRANT. He removed from the town with his family at an early day.
Lobden JAYNES was a mason. He settled first in the Rhode Island settlement in the north-west part of Norwich, and after a few years removed to the town of Plymouth. He was the chimney builder of this section of country.
Jonathan COLEGROVE settled about four miles north-west of White Store. He early removed to Pennsylvania and died there October 8, 1812, aged 76, but his remains are interred at White Store. He was an early teacher in this locality, and is recollected to be an austere one, though a man of good ability.
Jonathan THORNTON settled in the same locality as COLEGROVE. He was a stone mason and worked at his trade in connection with farming. He died March 9, 1847, aged 82; and Freelove, his wife, November 10, 1851, aged 88.
Captain James THOMPSON settled about four miles west of White Store, and afterwards removed to Polkville, where he died March 10, 1873, aged 90. Nabby, his wife, died where he first settled, July 16, 1851, aged 63. He was twice married. None of his children are left here. Smith, his son, went west; and Polly, his daughter, married Daniel HUNT and both lived and died in this locality.
Captain Ana WINSOR, who was distantly related to Colonel Stephen Winsor, settled two and one-half miles west of White Store, where George MEDBURY now lives. He died there Dec. 30, 1820, aged 71; and Amey, his wife, August 28, 1834, aged 82. Washington, a Baptist minister, Adin and Angel, were sons of his, but all removed from the town.
Benjamin SHELDON settled about three miles south-west of White Store, where Delancy PHETTEPLACE now lives, and died there July 18, 1816, aged 65. Sarah, his wife, also died there Feb. 15, 1835, aged 85. Benjamin and Luke Sheldon were sons of his. The former lived and died on the homestead, August 25, 1824, aged 37. The latter settled and died in Guilford, near VanBuren's Corners, Sept. 7, 1851, aged 72. His wife, Mercy, died July 27, 1836, aged 59. Joseph May, who married Orpha, daughter of Elijah COOK, Daniel, whose widow is living in Guilford, and Asa, who went to Ohio at an early day, were sons of his. Joseph and Daniel settled and died in this locality; the former March 17, 1862, aged 82, and his wife, Jan. 25, 1866, aged 80.
Gideon MANN settled on the farm on which Benjamin SHELDON, Sr., afterward settled, but removed at an early day. Caleb and Olney were sons of his. Caleb settled a mile and a half above White Store, and died there August 19, 1828, aged 46.
George KNAPP joined the settlements in 1804. He came from Rhode Island, and settled on the south line of the town, on the farm on which his daughter Mary, the widow of John SHATTUCK, now lives, and died there some thirty years ago. He married in Rhode Island a Miss RATHBUN, and came with his wife and two children, Anna and George, the former of whom married Charles HATCH and removed to Cattaraugus county, where she now resides. Her husband died there. George married Betsey, daughter of Captain LYON (who settled at an early day on Lyon Brook, which derives its name from him,) and settled and died in Guilford. His widow is still living on the homestead. Mary SHATTUCK is the only one of the children living in this locality.
Asa PELLET came from Canterbury, Conn., in 1805, and settled in Norwich village, on the place now occupied by John Haynes, and owned by Mrs. S. H. BARNES. His occupation was that of a farmer. He purchased of Judge Stephen STEERE about two hundred acres of land, the farm originally settled by John SHATTUCK, on which he resided till his death, which occurred July 2, 1838, aged 71. He imported soon after his settlement the first merino sheep brought into Chenango county, and was extensively engaged in raising wool. He married in Canterbury, Abigail PORTER who died in Plymouth, Feb. 7, 1864, aged 82, while visiting her son Asa, who resided in that town. They had nine children, two of whom were born in Canterbury.
[They were: Elias P., William Burnham, Harry, Harriet, Asa, Abigail, Nelson, Julia and Justine. Elias P. married, Feb. 7, 1830, his cousin Edith Ann, daughter of Hezekiah PELLET. Elias settled on that portion of the homestead farm which is now occupied by the widow of John, son of Hezekiah Pellet, and there he died, Jan. 8, 1840, aged 36, and his wife, July 24, 1838, aged 31. They left only one child, Elias Porter, who married Petrona P. SALCEDO, a Spanish lady, and is now U. S. Consul to Barranquilla, U. S. of Colombia. The only other child was De Witt, who died at the age of four years. Wm. Burnham was a bachelor and lived in Norwich village. He was officially connected for some fifty years with the Bank of Chenango, as clerk, teller and cashier, retaining this connection till his death, Jan. 10, 1873, aged 68. Harry married Lucinda SEXTON, daughter of George Sexton, of Norwich, and settled at White Store, where he was engaged in farming. He subsequently removed to Norwich village, there his widow still lives, and died there March 12, 1865, aged 55. Harriet married Samuel Howe BARNES and settled on the homestead farm, where she still lives. He died Nov. 14, 1860, aged 52. They had six children. Asa married Olive MAUDEVILLE, of Ohio, and settled in Plymouth, where they now reside. They have two children. Abigail married Charles E. BROWN, son of Joseph Brown, of Norwich, where they now live. They have no children. Nelson married Melvinia BOWEN, daughter of Ira Bowen, of Homer, and settled in Norwich. He died Oct. 16, 1853, aged 35. His widow and two daughters, Florine M. and Grace B., wife of John B. HALL, of Guilford, are now residing in Norwich village. Julia married Charles Wagner WEBSTER, and settled in Fort Plain, where they died; she thirteen years ago, and he, October 5, 1879, aged 62. They had six children, four of whom are living, all in Fort Plain. Justine married Charles Winter OLENDORF and settled in Norwich. They have one daughter.]
Lemuel WELLS came from Massachusetts about this year (1805), and settled in the north-east quarter of Norwich, and died there, he and his wife. They had seven children, all sons. [They were: Rufus, a bachelor, who lives with his brother, Gordon Wells, on Silver street in Norwich, the latter of whom married Mary TANNER, and has no children; Wright, who married a daughter of James FRENCH, and is now living on the homestead; Lemuel, who is living opposite the homestead; Reuben, who married a daughter of Palmer EDMONDS and settled about a mile south of his father, in the SNOW district, where he still lives; Solomon, who married in Guilford and settled in that locality; and another, the youngest, who removed from the town at an early day.]
Palmer EDMONDS came from Rhode Island about 1805 or 1806, and worked on shares for seven or eight years a part of the William RANSFORD farm. He afterwards bought a farm in the north-east quarter of this town, and died there, he and his wife.
Truman ENOS came to Norwich in 1806, and established a tannery which he carried on about forty years. He died at Norwich village, May 11, 1869, aged 91 years. He had three wives, Lendy TRAIL, who died April 29, 1815, aged 35; Betsey CAMPBELL, who died July 2, 1817, aged 26; and Abby PARMELEE, who died Jan. 14 1862, aged 69.
James PACKER, a native of Groton, Conn., came in from Guilford, Vt., in 1806, and settled about three miles south-west of Norwich, on the farm now occupied by his grandson of the same name. He look up a hundred and fifty acres on lot 52, on which he resided forty-five years, and raised a family of twelve children. In 1851 he removed to Norwich village, and died there Dec. 7, 1867, aged 83. He married Mary BILLINGS, a native of Groton, Conn., who died on the homestead farm June 16, 1826, aged 40. He afterwards married Eunice LEWIS, of Norwich, by whom he had one child. She died in Norwich, June 29, 1868, aged 89. [His children were: James, Jr., who died young, Feb. 23, 1820; Charles, who married Sarah LEWIS, who lived and died in Corning, April 2, 1877; Amos B., who married Sarah MOORE and lived and died on the homestead farm, March 17, 1858; Horace, who married Mary Adelia TISDALE, (who died May 25, 1847, aged 23) and is now practicing law in Oxford; Ruamy A., who married Matthew O. WELLS, and died on the homestead soon after her marriage, April 10, 1833; Nelson, who married Mary McDOUGALL, and is practicing medicine in Wellsburgh, Penn.; Mary P., who married Wm. D. GILBERT, and lived and died at Corning, Aug. 18, 1848; Marcia Caroline and Martha Emeline, twins, the former of whom married William R. BREED, of Norwich, where she now resides, and the latter, Ezra B .BARNETT, and lived and died at Norwich, July 21, 1853; Elizabeth B., who married Elias P. PELLET, of Norwich, and after his death, Nathan PENDLETON, of Oxford; James Henry, who died in youth; and Sarah L. W., second wife of Daniel M. HOLMES, of Norwich, where both are now living.]
The south-east part of the town was settled by families from Rhode Island, among them the COOKs, WINSORs, THOMPSONs, AINSWORTHs and JENNISONs, who came about 1816 or '18, except the Cooks, who came about 1799, and the Winsors, about 1800. Numerous descendants of these families are now living in that locality.
John, Richard, Daniel and Laban COOK were brothers, and all came in with families and settled on adjoining farms. John had two sons, both of whom are living on the homestead. Richard and Laban had no children. Daniel had two or three daughters. Olney, Joshua, Ziba and Washington WINSOR were brothers, and each had families when they came in. The locality is known as the Cook settlement.
Merchants: - The first merchant in Norwich was Dr. Joseph BROOKS, an educated physician, but not a medical practitioner. He opened a store about 1798-1800, in a building which stood on the site of the residence of Hon. B. Gage BERRY, on the south corner of North Broad and Pleasant streets. He occupied the house both as a residence and store, using the front room for the latter purpose. He traded two or three years, and then commenced keeping tavern in a building which stood a little north of the American Hotel, which he continued till his death, which resulted from consumption March 10, 1813, at the age of 41 years. Lot CLARK married his widow.
Two Englishmen,-Sharp and Thomas MILNER, commenced trading soon after Brooks discontinued, in a building which stood about fifteen rods north of the residence of the widow LAMB, a half mile north of the village. They continued till 1810, and afterwards started a woolen factory and distillery at Wood's Corners, on the west side of the river, which they continued several years. Milner afterwards commenced trading again and continued till his death, Nov. 26, 1843. Sharpe removed to Otsego county.
Joseph S. FENTON, who was a member and leader of the Congregational church of Norwich, commenced trading here about 1810, and continued as late as 1823 or 1824. Asa NORTON and Perez RANDALL also commenced trading about 1810. Norton was from Butternuts. He traded till about 1816 or 1817, when he went west. Randall was a son of John RANDALL, and was associated one year, 1814, with John HARRIS, brother of Dr. Harvey HARRIS. Cyrus WHEELER, Porter WOOD (the latter of whom traded till his death. Dec. 10, 1859, and was for some years in company with Thomas MILNER,) David E. S. BEDFORD and Charles YORK, who was in company a year or two with Cyrus WHEELER, were early, prominent merchants.
Benjamin CHAPMAN, who was born in Connecticut in 1791, came from Durham, Greene county, in 1810, and settled in Norwich village, where he has since resided. He was employed first as a clerk for Zeno ALLEN, who came from Durham that year, and opened a store in a building which stood nearly opposite the American Hotel, which was removed to East Main street before the canal was built, and converted into a residence, for which purpose it is now used. Allen did business here only two or three years, when he removed to Sacket's Harbor and died there. Mr. Chapman clerked for him during his stay, and then for Ira WILLCOX, of Oxford, who was engaged in trade there, and opened a branch store here, which he continued two or three years. In 1815, Mr. Chapman commenced business for himself in the building, which has since been enlarged, and is now occupied by his son, William H. Chapman, and nephew, William Porter Chapman, who succeeded him in the business, and are now doing business under the name of W. H Chapman & Co. Benjamin Chapman retired from active mercantile business about 1853. His son, William H., then changed the stock to drugs, but two years later, in 1855, changed back again to dry-goods. William Porter Chapman, who had clerked for William H. Chapman, since the spring of 1856, became his partner in 1865.
Postmasters: - The post-office at Norwich was established in the latter part of the last century. Hascall RANSFORD was the first postmaster, and kept the office in his log cabin, which answered the double purpose of residence and tavern. The mail was carried on horseback from Cooperstown once a week. John STEARNS was the first mail carrier. After a few years the mail was brought from Utica, still on horseback, and the office was removed to the village. About 1808 the mail was brought by stage from Utica, twice a week. The present postmaster is James K. SPAULDING. [We have been unable to obtain a satisfactory list of the postmasters of Norwich; there is no record of them, and the statement of individuals most likely to know them are so indefinite and contradictory as to be worthless.]
Physicians: - The first physician both in the village and town of Norwich was Jonathan JOHNSON, who was born in Canterbury, Conn., Jan. 13, 1770, studied medicine in Pomfret in his native State, and came to Norwich from Ballston, Saratoga county, on horseback, about 1794. He boarded with Matthew GRAVES, and on the 28th of December, 1797, married his daughter Hannah. He located in the south part of the village, opposite John RANDALL, on a part of the Silas COLE farm, and soon after his marriage built the house now occupied by Dr. W. H. STUART, where he spent the greater part of his life, and died Sept. 27, 1837 aged 67. His wife died April 17, 1874, aged about 96. [Their children were: Homer, John, Erasmus Darwin, Jedediah and Emily. Homer was born Oct. 31, 1800, and married Roxana, daughter of Daniel SKINNER. He settled on the farm on which he now resides, on the east side of the river, a little below Polkville. His wife died there May 9, 1862, aged 56. John was born August 8, 1806, and died Oct. 2 1824. Erasmus Darwin was born May 30, 1808, and died unmarried July 9, 1862. Jedediah was born Nov. 14, 1810, and died April 18, 1811. Emily was born Dec. 18, 1816, and is living with her brother Homer. Homer had ten children, five sons and five daughters.]
Dr. Johnson practiced here till his death or until ill health incapacitated him shortly previous to that. His first surgical operation, if not the only one he ever performed, occurred about 1798, when, by the aid of a Dr. Upham, from Pennsylvania, who was passing through this valley on his way to the north, he amputated the leg of Levi SKINNER, at Wood's Corners. Skinner's leg was crushed a little below the thigh by a falling tree, The operation was performed with a razor for an amputating knife and a forked wire for a tenaculum. The operation, notwithstanding the rude implements used, proved successful. There was then no surgeon nearer than Cherry Valley, where Dr. Asa WHITE was then located. Dr. Johnson made no pretensions to being a surgeon.
Dr. Henry MITCHELL, who came here, in 1806, from Coventry, to which town he had removed a year or two previously from Connecticut, and who was the second physician to locate here, did not commence the practice of surgery till 1818. After that he performed nearly all the capital operations in surgery in the county for several years, and some in the adjoining counties.
Henry MITCHELL, who, as we have seen, came to Norwich in 1806, arriving here on the day of the great eclipse, came originally from Woodbury, Conn., where he was born in 1784. He was graduated from Yale College in 1803, in the same class with John C. Calhoun, and had just completed his medical studies when he came here. He continued to practice here till his death, Jan. 12, 1856, at the age of 72, though he did not practice much during the last few years of his life. His duties as a physician during the early years of his practice were extremely arduous. His ride was large, extending into adjoining counties, and he visited his patients on horseback, threading the dense forests by means of blazed trees. He was for many years the leading surgeon in the county, and made hernia a specialty, becoming eminently proficient in its treatment. He was highly educated and moved in the best professional circles. He represented this county in the Assembly in 1828, and was a member of Congress from 1833 to 1835. He married here, Rowena, daughter of Nathan WALES of Plymouth, who died June 3, 1835, aged 42, having borne him seven children.
[These were: Charles, Henry, Julia Maria, Harriet B., John, Mary A., Jane and Catharine, the latter of whom died April 18, 1830, at the age of six years. Charles Henry married Mariett RIDER. He studied medicine with his father and practiced the first two years in Oswego, and subsequently for four or five years, till his death July 27, 1841, aged 28, in Norwich. Julia Maria married Judge Samuel B GARVIN, whose parents were residents of Butternuts. Harriet B., married Col. John WAIT who settled in Norwich, where he practiced law some twenty years, and till his death, Nov. 2, 1868, aged 58. His wife died in Norwich, May 28, 1837, aged 21. John married Caroline FOOTE, daughter of John Foote, of Hamilton, and settled in Norwich, where he and his wife still live. Mary A. married Col. Samuel R. PER LEE, who settled in Norwich, where he was engaged in mercantile business some ten years. He afterwards engaged in the forwarding business, which he continued till the close of the canal, having during this time spent three years in the army, first as Adjutant and Quartermaster, afterwards as Lieut.-Colonel and after the death of Col. Smith, as Colonel of the 114th Regt. He was seriously wounded in the neck in the battle of Opequqn, with a minnie ball, and in the side with a fragment of a shell. After leaving the service he was brevetted Brigadier-General, for "gallant and meritorious service during the war." He is now engaged in the produce business in Norwich. His wife died in Norwich. Jane married Thomas MILNER, for several years a merchant in Norwich, who after her death married Lottie TALCOTT.]
Harvey HARRIS, son of John Harris, a pioneer settler in Norwich, was born in Norwich, August 3, 1795, and commenced the study of medicine in 1814, with Dr. Henry MITCHELL. He attended lectures at the New York Medical College in 1816 and was licensed by the State Commissioners in 1817. He commenced practice in New Berlin in March of that year and remained there one year, when he removed to Norwich, where he practiced till within about ten years, and where he still resides. Ill health compelled him to withdraw from practice and advancing years prevented his resuming it. In 1832, in the absence of Dr. Mitchell, he performed his first capital operation in surgery, that of trephining, on ---- SOULES of the town of Plymouth. The operation was successful.
Dr. JONES came here about 1830 and practiced about a year; but failing to secure a remunerative practice he removed to Texas, of which State he afterwards became Governor. Patrick HARD, a nephew of Henry Mitchell's wife, studied with Dr. Mitchell and practiced in company with him one year, about 1831 or '32, when he went to Oswego. William BAXTER practiced here about two years while Mitchell was in Congress-1833-'35.
Andrew BAKER was born in Berkshire county, Mass., August 28, 1805, and removed about 1830 to Allegany county, and thence to Howard, Steuben county, where he engaged in shoemaking and studied medicine with Dr. A. B. Case. He subsequently attended Geneva Medical College, where he was graduated in 1836, in which year he commenced to practice medicine in Bath. In 1842 he removed thence to Norwich, where he practiced till his death, Dec. 14, 1863.
Daniel BELLOWS removed from Rhode Island to South New Berlin in 1821, and practiced there till 1846, when he removed to Norwich, where he practiced till within a year or two of his death, when he became incapacitated by apoplexy, which terminated fatally March 6, 1866, at the age of 70. Nancy, his wife, died May 18, 1874, aged 81. Hi son, Horatio Knight Bellows, who was born in New Berlin, Nov. 5, 1823, received an academic education in the academies at Hamilton and Gilbertsville, and pursued his medical studies with and under the direction of his father, was graduated from the Medical Department of the University of New York in 1847, in which year he commenced practice in Norwich. He has enjoyed an extensive practice. In January, 1879, debilitated by the severe mental and physical labor connected with his profession, he was attacked with cerebral amamia which has finally resulted in probable cerebral softening, from which he now suffers.
Blin HARRIS, son of Blin Harris, and grandson of the pioneer, John Harris, studied medicine with his uncle, Dr. Harvey Harris, and went west, practicing three or four years in Erie, Penn. He then returned to Norwich, about 1849, and practiced till his death, Jan. 31, 1864, aged 55. He married Polly ROSS, by whom he had five children, all of whom are living, four in this county, Mary, Angeline, Blin and Charlotte, the latter in New Berlin, and the former three in Norwich.
George W. PALMER came from Madison county about 1850, having then just graduated in Homeopathy. After one or two years' practice he returned to Madison county, near Hamilton, where he has since practiced. He was the first Homeopathist to locate in Norwich, after Dr. BRUCHHAUSEN. Dr. Hiram HURLBUT, a botanic physician, came from Fabius, N.Y., July 13, 1845, and practiced till his death, Nov. 16, 1877. Charles CHURCH, formerly of Norwich, attended lectures in Philadelphia and New York, and graduated at the latter place in 1871. He commenced practice in Norwich immediately after graduating and remained three years, when he removed to Passaic, N.J. R. B. PRINDLE came from Coventry some six years and has since practiced here, though he now devotes his time mainly to other business. Guy WESTCOTT, an electrician, and a native of Norwich, practiced here some two years about four years ago. There have been other physicians who staid {sic} for short periods, but did not become prominent in the medical practice of the village.
The physicians now practicing here, in addition to those named, are, Casper BRUCHHAUSEN, Charles M. PURDY, James J. WESTCOTT, Harris H. BEECHER, Geo. W. AVERY, Stephen M. HAND, William H. STUART, Daniel J. MOSHER, Edwin C. ANDREWS, James H. WESTCOTT, Leroy J. BROOKS, Samuel J. FULTON, Wm. H. RANDALL, and Emma Louise RANDALL.
Casper BRUCHHAUSEN was born in Frankfurt on the Main, Prussia, Aug. 25, 1806, and was educated in Frankfurt College. He immigrated to Philadelphia, where, in 1839, he commenced the study of homeopathy with Dr. Charles Frederick Hoffendahl, a graduate of the University of Berlin, who removed in 1840 to Albany, where Dr. Bruchhausen continued his studies with him. He afterwards pursued his studies with Dr. George W. Cook, of Hudson, and subsequently went to New York and placed himself under the instruction of Drs. Frederick Gray, and A. Gerald Hull, who were then the principal practitioners of the homeopathic school in New York city. The latter was then editor of The Homeopathic Examiner, published in that city. August 12, 1842, Mr. Bruchhausen removed to Greene, and from thence after about nine months to Oxford, where he remained five years, from 1843 to 1848. The latter year he removed to Norwich, where he has since practiced.
Charles M. PURDY was born in Norwich, Aug. 16, 1826, and was educated in the academies of that village and Oxford. He commenced the study of medicine in 1846, with Dr. Andrew BAKER, of Norwich, and attended lectures in Albany Medical College that and the succeeding year. He was licensed by the State Medical Society in June, 1847, and commenced practice that year in DeRuyter. He removed thence after six months to Norwich, where he has since practiced, the first year in company with his preceptor, Dr. Andrew Baker.
James J. WESTCOTT was born in Eaton, N.Y., Sept. 1, 1826, and was educated in the common schools of his native town. He commenced the study of medicine in 1852, with his father-in-law, Dr. Hiram HURLBUT, of Norwich, and in 1855, entered the Syracuse Medical College, where he was graduated in 1857. He commenced practice that year in company with his preceptor, Dr. Hurlbut, with whom he continued two years, and has since practiced here.
Harris H. BEECHER was born in Coventry, where his father, Parson Beecher, settled in 1806. Having been incapacitated for manual labor from an injury producing painful and protracted lameness, at the age of sixteen years he was sent to Oxford Academy, where he remained four years, teaching at intervals to defray a part of the expense necessarily incurred. Being somewhat advanced in a college course, which he could not pursue for lack of funds, he turned his attention to medicine as the business of his life. His medical studies were pursued in Coventry under the instruction of different practitioners, and subsequently in Binghamton in the office of Dr., now Prof. Davis, of Chicago, teaching in the meantime not having been wholly relinquished. In the latter part of 1847 he was graduated in medicine at Castleton, Vt., and in the spring of 1848, located at North Norwich, where he practiced till December, 1861, when he removed to Norwich, where he has since practiced, with the exception of some three years spent in the army, which he entered in 1862, as Assistant Surgeon of the 114th Regiment, at the organization of that regiment, serving in that capacity till the close of the war and the disbandment of the regiment. For nearly nine months he was on duty by order of Gen. Banks at the United States Marine Hospital at New Orleans, and also for several months in charge of a post-hospital at Berwick City, La., containing a large number of wounded from the battle-field of Bisland. Before leaving the Marine Hospital for the famous Red River campaign, he was presented by the soldiers of that hospital with an elegant gold-headed cane and other valuable tokens of their appreciation and regard. In the Shenandoah Valley, during the closing year of the war, he was the most of the time the only medical officer with his regiment in the field.
While yet young Dr. Beecher exhibited quite a literary taste, and early commenced writing on miscellaneous subjects for the newspaper press, which, in the midst of other duties, he has continued more or less constantly to the present time. His "Army Correspondence," published mainly in the papers of his district, was eagerly sought for and read with interest. After the war, desiring that the noble deeds of his brave comrades should live in history, as well as in the hearts of a grateful people and surviving friends, he published, in 1866, a "Record of the 114th Regiment, N. Y. S. V.." embracing nearly six hundred pages, dedicated to his lamented Colonel, Elisha B. SMITH, and all his fallen comrades, and graphically delineating, as the title page indicates, "Where it went, What it saw, and What it did." He has also spent much time and made considerable progress in gathering facts and data for a Memorial Record, portions of which have been published, of all the deceased soldiers in the late war from Chenango county. He has on various occasions given carefully prepared addresses, embracing medical, agricultural, scientific and political subjects. He takes a deep interest in educational matters, having held the position of School Superintendent, long serving as a trustee of Norwich Academy, and President of the Board.
As a physician he stands high. He passed a highly satisfactory examination before the Medical Board, and was recommended by the Surgeon-General of the State. He is a bachelor. He represented Chenango county in the Assembly in 1874, serving on the Committees on Public Health, Public Education and Joint Library.
George W. AVERY was born in Sherburne, March 9, 1827, and received an academic education in his native town. He commenced the study of medicine in 1847, with Drs. Devillo WHITE and E. S. LYMAN, of Sherburne, and Profs. Alden MACH and James H. ARMSBY, of Albany. He was graduated from the Albany Medical College in January, 1850, and immediately thereafter commenced practice in Rochester, where he continued till May, 1861, when he entered the army as Surgeon of the 13th N. Y. Vols., and remained with that organization till it was mustered out two years after. He was afterwards for one year Surgeon of the 11th Heavy Artillery. After leaving the service he resumed practice in Norwich, where he has since continued. In April, 1865, he received a commission as U. S. Examining Surgeon for pensions, which he still holds. He was elected Coroner of Chenango county in 1870, serving three years, and again in 1877, still holding that office. He was for thirteen consecutive years Treasurer of the Chenango County Medical Society, an office he now holds, and was only relieved from its duties to assume those of President of the Society for one year.
Stephen M. HAND was born in New Lebanon, N.Y., March 8, 1830, and was educated in the common schools of his native town and in Massachusetts, where and in Columbia county, his father was an itinerant farmer, working farms on shares. He removed to Broome county with his parents in 1844, and there attended the Academy at Binghamton. He commenced the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. S. D. Hand, of that city, remaining with him one year. He then entered the office of H. H. Child & Son, the former of whom was President of the Berkshire Medical College, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He pursued his studies there two years and in the meantime attended lectures in that college, where he was graduated November 22, 1853. He commenced practice in Windsor, Broome county, in 1855, and remained there nine years, with the exception of one year spent in the Union army as Surgeon. In March, 1864, he removed to Norwich, where he has since practiced.
William H. STUART was born in German, November 4, 1839, and was educated at the Academy at Cincinnatus. He commenced the study of medicine in 1858, with Dr. A. D. Reed, of Cincinnatus; attended medical lectures at the University of Vermont, at Burlington; and was graduated from the Albany Medical College December 24, 1861. He commenced practice at Smyrna, in January, 1862, and some six months later received an appointment as Assistant Surgeon in the 28th N. Y. Vol. Infantry, and in 1863, at the expiration of the term of service of that regiment; he received a like appointment in the 143d Regiment, though he did duty with it only ten days. He was assigned to duty in the Hospital of the 1st Division, 20th Army Corps, where he remained till the disbandment of the regiment at the close of the war. After leaving the army, in 1865, he located at Earlville, where he practiced six years, and then removed to Norwich, where he has since practiced.
Daniel J. MOSHER was born in Laurens, N.Y., September 8, 1839, and was educated at the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and at Detroit Medical College, and was graduated from the latter in June, 1869. He had previously studied medicine with Dr. H. K. BELLOWS, of Norwich. He entered upon the practice of his profession in Norwich, in 1869, and has since continued here. Dr. Mosher was a medical cadet in the army about six months in 1863, and about four and a half years in the navy, from 1863 to 1867.
Edwin C. ANDREWS was born in Sherburne, Feb. 2, 1834, and educated at the Academy at Homer. He commenced the study of medicine in 1863, with G. W. Davis, of Seneca Falls, and was graduated at the Philadelphia Medical College in the spring of 1870. He commenced practice at Seneca Falls in 1866, previous to graduating, and continued there till March, 1870, when he went to New York City, and from there he removed the following June to Norwich, where he has since practiced.
James H. Westcott was born in Norwich, June 27, 1850, and educated at the Academy in his native village. He commenced his medical studies with his father, James J. Westcott, of Norwich, about 1868, and in the fall of 1871 he entered the Philadelphia University of Medicine and Surgery, where he was graduated the following year. He commenced practice in Norwich in 1872, in company with his father, continuing with him till after the spring of 1876, when he went to Binghamton and studied with his uncle, Dr. John E. HURLBUT, an oculist and aurist in that city. He returned to Norwich in September of the same year.
Leroy J. BROOKS was born in Norwich, August 2, 1849, and received his literary education at the Academy in Norwich and the High School in Rochester. In the spring of 1868 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Horatio K. BELLOWS, of Norwich, with whom he remained one year. He completed his studies in Bellevue Medical College Hospital in New York, where he was graduated in March, 1872. After spending a year in practice in that hospital he removed to Norwich, where he has since practiced.
Samuel J. FULTON was born in Sherburne, July 20, 1825, and was educated at Michigan University. He commenced the study of medicine in Pontiac, Mich., in 1845, with Dr. Amos Walker. He entered the University of Michigan in 1842, but was compelled to relinquish his studies by reason of inflammation of the eyes, which disabled him from reading for three years. In 1848 he entered the Western Homeopathic College [This was the second Homeopathic Institute in the country, the first, and then the only other, being at Philadelphia.], at Cleveland, now the Homeopathic Hospital College and was graduated from there in March, 1850. In the winter of 1850 and '51 he was demonstrator of anatomy in that institution. After practicing in various places in the Western States he removed to Binghamton and engaged in other business, expecting to discontinue the practice of medicine; but by solicitation he removed thence to Norwich in August, 1876, and took the place of Charles A. CHURCH, who had removed to Passaic, N.J.
William H. RANDALL was born in Williamsport, Pa., Dec. 18, 1855, and received his early education in the Academy at that place. He commenced the study of medicine at Williamsport, in 1875, with Dr. Thomas Lyon, and in the fall of 1876, he entered Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, where he was graduated in the spring of 1878, March 15th. He commenced practice at Trout Run, Pa., and after six months received an appointment on the clinical staff of Jefferson Medical College Hospital, where he remained till March, 1879, when he removed to Norwich.
Emma Louise RANDALL, who is a great-grand-daughter of John Randall, who settled in Norwich in 1800, was born in Norwich, November 13, 1849, and was educated at Norwich Academy and Vassar College, Poughkeepsie where she took a special course. She commenced the study of medicine in the fall of 1874, with Dr. H. K. BELLOWS, of Norwich, and soon after entered the Woman's Medical College of the New York Infirmary, founded in 1869, by Emily and Elizabeth Blackwell, who were the first lady physicians in this country. There she took a four years' course and was graduated May 22, 1878. After practicing a year in the hospital and dispensary connected with that College, as assistant physician, she returned to Norwich, where she is now practicing. She is the first lady physician in Chenango county.
Lawyers: - [We are sensible that the list of early attorneys in Norwich is incomplete, a fact which we must attribute to the inability or indifference of those whom we consulted.] The first lawyer who located at Norwich was James BIRDSALL, who came from Dutchess county soon after 1800, and was admitted to practice October 15, 1806. He practiced here several years and married here Rizpah, daughter of Judge Stephen STEERE, with whom he removed about 1839 to Fenton, Mich., where both died. He was an active and leading politician in this county, and was a Representative in Congress from the 15th District from 1815 to 1817, and a Member of Assembly from this county in 1827. He was one of the first directors of the Bank of Chenango, and was elected its attorney Oct. 6, 1818. On the creation of the office of Vice-President of that institution, Sept. 16, 1823, he was elected to fill it; and March 15, 1825, he was elected Cashier, holding that position till 1833.
David BUTTOLPH and Peter B. GARNSEY were also lawyers here about this period. Buttolph, who was licensed June 15, 1808, came from Dutchess county soon after BIRDSALL, with whom he formed a law partnership which continued five or six years. About 1838, Buttolph retired to a small farm of some fourteen acres, on the Canasawacta, about one and one-half miles above Norwich, where he resided till his death, which occurred some ten years ago, in Charleston, S.C., while on a visit to his son David, who was a Presbyterian minister in that city. He was an active politician and a prominent attorney at an early day. He married Urania Lyman, of Durham, Conn., who died from bleeding at the lungs April 3, 1827, aged 35. He afterwards married Esther, widow of Deacon Joseph KELSO [Died April 19, 1826, aged 44.], who died May 19, 1859, aged 76. He had one other child, Jane, who was an invalid, and died August 19, 1875, aged 48.
GARNSEY was admitted November 5, 1795, and had practiced previous to coming here, in Oxford. Soon after coming to Norwich he was mainly engaged in manufacturing enterprises. [For further information regarding Mr. Garnsey see page 319-under Peter B. Garnsey.]
James W. GAZLEE, who was licensed June 16, 1809, came here from the East about that time, but removed after a year or two to New Orleans. He was a man of good ability, and married here, Patty, daughter of Capt. John RANDALL.
Nathan CHAMBERLIN was admitted October 13, 1813, about which time he came here from the east part of the State. He married here a daughter of Judge Robert MONELL, of Greene, and after practicing five or six years removed to New York where he died. Lot CLARK was admitted to practice June 11, 1816, and was one of the leading Republican politicians here about 1820. He practiced here till about 1830, when he removed to Lockport. He was the father of Hiram C. CLARK, author of the History of Chenango County, of 1850, who also practiced here a little between 1850 and '60, and died a few years ago in New York.
Smith M. PURDY, son of Abner Purdy, an early settler in North Norwich, studied law with James BIRDSALL, of Norwich, and was licensed February 10, 1819. He practiced the first year in Sherburne, and from thence removed to Norwich, where he practiced till his appointment as First Judge of Chenango County, January 11, 1833. He was elected County Judge in June, 1847, the first person elected to that office in Chenango county under the Constitution of 1846, which made it elective. He was a Representative in Congress from the 22nd District from 1843 to 1845; and was one of the most prominent lawyers of his day in Central New York. He died March 28, 1870, aged 73. He married Prudence, daughter of Newman GATES, of Norwich, who still survives him, and is living in Norwich with her son, Dr. Charles M. Purdy.
Abial COOK was a prominent cotemporary {sic}of Purdy's, and was admitted on the eighth of January of the same year.
Charles A. THORP came from Gilbertsville in 1820, on the twelfth of October of which year he was admitted. He practiced one year in New Berlin, and from thence removed to Norwich and formed a law partnership with David BUTTOLPH, which continued several years. He was a smart, active lawyer, and removed about 1865 to the Mississippi, below Galena, Ill., where he now resides. John CLAPP, who was admitted Oct. 10, 1822, was associated in practice with Lot CLARK. In their office Hon. Daniel S. DICKINSON commenced to read law in 1826.
Benjamin F. REXFORD, whose parents had settled at an early day in Sherburne, removed from thence in 1833 to Norwich, having then just completed his studies and been admitted on the 12th of June of that year. He was a prominent lawyer and stood at the head of his profession in the county. He practiced here till his death in the fall of 1872.
Samuel Bostwick GARVIN, whose father was an Episcopal clergyman and a fine linguist, finished his law studies with John CLAPP, of Norwich, where he practiced a short time. From here he removed to Sherburne and from there to Utica, where he enjoyed a lucrative practice.
Sherwood S. MERRITT was born Sept. 4, 1817, and was admitted about 1841. He was a close student and industrious lawyer, and practiced in company with Judge PURDY, and afterwards with Henry M. HYDE. He died March 16, 1869.
Harvey HUBBARD was born March 29, 1821, and admitted about 1822. He was afterwards in partnership with Robert O. REYNOLDS, who was admitted Oct. 17, 1835. He was a fine scholar and writer, and his tastes led him to prefer literature to the legal profession. He became the editor of the Chenango Union, and published some works of prose and poetry. He died Sept. 14, 1862.
Kimball H. DIMMICK was admitted about 1843 or '44, and practiced quite extensively in the bankruptcy courts. He was appointed Brigadier-General of militia about 1848 or 1849, and raised a company for the Mexican war. He went to California and afterwards became a Judge at San Jose in that State.
Philander B. PRINDLE, who was admitted Feb. 13, 1835, was a man of large acquirements, an accomplished gentleman, and a safe adviser. To him all referred for facts in politics and history of this State. He was Clerk of the Assembly in 1840, '41, '47, '48 and '49, and has been pronounced the best the State ever had. He died in February, 1868.
Henry M. HYDE was admitted about 1842 or '43, and practiced in company with George M. SMITH, who was admitted June 11, 1834. He was a man of brilliant talents, a fine speaker and successful advocate. His health failing he removed to New York, or Brooklyn, and after some years died there.
B. Gage BERRY was born in Norwich, Oct. 10, 1830, his father, Ansel Berry,* having removed to this town from Dansville in 1826. He was educated at Norwich Academy and Cazenovia Seminary and in 1852 commenced the study of law with Benjamin F. REXFORD, of Norwich, with whom he remained two years, and with whom he practiced one year after his admission, in 1854. Failing health induced him to go to Sing Sing, where he received an appointment as clerk in the prison at that place. After the expiration of a year, he returned to Norwich and formed a law partnership with John WAIT (who was admitted Feb. 10, 1836,) which continued under the name of Wait & Berry till 1861, when Mr. Berry acquired a half interest in the Chenango Telegraph. In 1864 he acquired the remaining interest, and has since been its publisher, having been associated since Jan. 1, 1876, with John R. BLAIR, of Cambridge, N.Y. He was for four years Secretary of the New York and Oswego Midland Railroad; and for six years Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of Chenango county. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Senatorial District Committee in 1862; and was Deputy Provost marshal in 1863-'64. He has often represented his party in State conventions; was a member of the Republican State Committee in 1862; and alternate delegate to the National Republican convention at Philadelphia which nominated Grant for the Presidency in 1872. He represented Chenango county in the Assembly in 1878.
*[Ansel Berry was born in Norwich, Conn, Nov. 28, 1805. His parents died while he was in his infancy, and he went to live with his eldest sister Mrs. Nathaniel UFFORD, whose family soon removed to the Black River country, thence to Onondaga county, and finally to Tompkins county. In 1826, he married Miss Lorinda GAGE, and immediately removed to Norwich, where he resided till his death, July 10, 1870. Giving up the farm, he entered the establishment of David GRIFFING and learned the hat trade. After finishing his apprenticeship, being without means, he sought a co-partnership with Thomas MERRILL, who was then engaged in the hat business at Sherburne Four Corners, and with whom, in 1830, he opened a hat store in Norwich village, continuing after the retirement of Mr. Merrill in 1854, when, other business growing upon his hands, he sold out his store. In 1856 he was elected to the Assembly from this county. He was also several times elected to the office of coroner, supervisor and village trustee. After the death of his wife, July 27, 1835, at the age of 33, he married her sister Hannah, who still survives him on the old homestead in Norwich. He had two children, both by his first wife, Edwin R., and B. Gage, the former of whom was born May 22, 1828, and died Dec. 10, 1870.]
Samuel S. RANDALL was educated in Oxford Academy in 1823, and Hamilton college in 1824-5. From 1825 to 1830 he pursued the study of law in the office of Clapp & Clark in Norwich, and was admitted Feb. 9, 1831. After practicing several years in Pitcher, New Berlin and Norwich, in 1836-37 he was appointed deputy journalizing clerk of the Assembly. In May, 1837, he was appointed to a clerkship in the office of the State Superintendent of Common Schools, continuing in it as General Deputy Superintendent, till the fall of 1846, when he resigned on account of ill health. He returned again in the spring of 1849, after a brief absence in Virginia. In 1851 he was appointed to a clerkship in the War Department at Washington, which he exchanged in 1853, for that of City Superintendent of Public Schools in Brooklyn. In June, 1854, he was elected Superintendent of Public Schools in New York City, and held the office by successive biennial elections till June, 1870, when he resigned. In November, 1873, he was appointed Inspector of Common Schools for the Eighth School District, composed of the 22d and 24th wards, and the appointment was renewed in November, 1876.
The attorneys now practicing in Norwich village are William N. MASON, Horace G. PRINDLE, Hamilton PHELPS, Isaac S. NEWTON, Eliur H. PRINDLE, Deloss M. POWERS, David L. FOLLETT, David H. KNAPP, Geo. W. MARVIN, Calvin L. TEFFT, Henry M. TEFFT, George M. TILLSON, Robert A. STANTON, George W. RAY, Albert F. GLADDING, Charles SHUMWAY, Edward B. THOMAS, Elmore SHARPE, John W. CHURCH, Willie B. LEACH, William F. JENKS, Euclid B. ROGERS, Frank B. MITCHELL, Charles H. STANTON, Clarence G. COOK, George Abraham THOMAS, Issac F. TIFFANY and James E. NICKERSON.
William N. MASON was born in Preston, Feb. 13, 1820, and was educated at Oxford Academy. He commenced the study of law in 1838 with Messrs. COOK & WAIT, of Norwich, and afterwards pursued his studies with John WAIT, their successor. He was admitted in October, 1841, and entered upon the practice of his profession in Norwich that year, having since continued it here. He has been longer in practice in the village than any other attorney located here. He has held various minor offices, among them that of Justice for some twenty years, having first been elected to that office in 1850. Before the adoption of the Constitution in 1846, he was Supreme Court Commissioner and Master in Chancery. He has also held the office of United States Commissioner. He was elected Special Judge of Chenango county immediately after the law was made to apply to this county, (act of July 11, 1851,) and held that office till 1860. [The Civil List says he was elected in 1855.]
Horace Gerald PRINDLE was born in Newtown, Conn., Jan. 6, 1828, and was educated in the common schools of Unadilla, (to which town his parents removed in 1836,) and the Academy at Gilbertsville. He commenced the study of law in 1844, with Henry BENNETT, of New Berlin, with whom he remained four years and four months. He subsequently pursued his legal studies in the office of Benjamin F. REXFORD, of Norwich, where he has practiced since his admission in 1848. He was elected County Judge in 1863, and held the office continuously fourteen years. He was superintendent of Common Schools in Norwich in 1851-2, and Justice from 1852, to 1856.
Hamilton PHELPS was born in New Berlin, Oct. 12, 1823, and was educated in the New Berlin and Norwich Academy. He commenced practice of the law in 1844, with Charles A. THORP, of Norwich, where he commenced immediately after his admission in 1848 or '9, and has since continued. He was elected Special County Judge in 1860.
[Civil List. Mr. Phelps says he was elected in 1855.]
Isaac S. NEWTON was born in Sherburne, May 18, 1825, and received his early education at the district schools and the academy of that town. He was graduated from Yale in 1848, and that year commenced the study of law with Rexford & Newton, of Norwich, the latter of whom was his brother. He afterwards pursued his legal studies in New York city, with Nathaniel B. Blunt, and for six months in Illinois and Wisconsin. He was admitted in December, 1850, having commenced practice in Sherburne, in April, of that year. In February, 1853, he removed to Norwich, where he has since practiced. He was District Attorney from 1854 to 1860.
Elizur H. PRINDLE was born in Newtown, Conn., May 6, 1829, and was educated at Homer Academy. He pursued his legal studies with his cousin, H. G. Prindle, of Norwich, and was admitted in January, 1854. He commenced practice in Norwich, where he has since continued. He was elected District Attorney in 1859, and held that office until his election to the Assembly in 1863. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1866-7; and was a Representative in Congress from the 19th District in 1871-3.
Deloss M. POWERS was born in Norwich, Nov. 10, 1831, and educated in the Academy of his native village. He entered the Albany Law School in 1856, and was graduated there the following year. He commenced practice in 1858, in Norwich, where he has since continued. He was for four years Clerk of the Board of Supervisors.
David L. FOLLETT was born in Sherburne, (where his grand-parents were pioneer settlers,) July 17, 1836, and educated at Cazenovia. In 1856 he commenced the study of law, pursuing his studies with Messrs. Rexford and Kingsley, of Norwich. He was admitted in January, 1858, and in May following entered upon the practice of his profession in Norwich, where he has since continued it. Having been appointed Assessor of Internal Revenue for the 19th District of New York, he held that office until it was abolished by Congress. In 1874 he was elected Judge of the Supreme Court for the Sixth District, an office he still holds. [His associates in this office are: Douglas Boardman, of Ithaca, William Murray, Jr., of Delhi, and Clora E. Martin, of Binghamton.]
David H. KNAPP was born in Guilford, June 27, 1836, and was educated in the academies of Norwich and Binghamton. He commenced his legal studies in the spring of 1857, with Isaac S. NEWTON, of Norwich, and pursued them with him till his admission in May, 1859. He practiced the first year in Chicago and returned from thence to Norwich, where he has since practiced, having been associated from 1870 to 1874 with E. H. PRINDLE, and for the last two years with George W. Ray, who was also a member of the firm of Pindle, Knapp & Ray. He was Justice from 1862 to 1870; and was elected District Attorney in 1874, serving one term of three years.
George W. MARVIN was born in Dryden, Tompkins county, September 22, 1829, and was educated at the Academy in Jamestown, N.Y. He commenced the study of law in 1846, with his brother, Judge R. C. Martin of Jamestown, and after studying a year or two engaged in teaching, continuing that vocation several years. He resumed his legal studies with Isaac S. NEWTON, of Norwich, and was admitted in May, 1861. He then commenced and has since continued practice in Norwich.
Calvin L. TEFFT was born in Edmeston, N.Y., March 1, 1852, and was educated at Winfield Academy and Cooperstown Seminary, principally the latter. He commenced the study of law about 1859, having pursued his studies for eight seasons during the intervals of teaching in Otsego county. In 1860 he entered the office of Judge Burke, of Elyria, Ohio, where he remained during the summer of that year. In 1861 he entered the office of Wait & Berry, of Norwich, continuing his studies with them till his admission in November, 1861. He commenced practice in 1862, in Norwich, where he has since continued. He was Loan Commissioner in 1864 and '5; and was District Attorney in 1866, '7, '8, and again in 1872, '3 an '4.
Henry M. TEFFT was born in Edmeston, N.Y., November 30, 1839, and was educated in the academic department of Madison University and the academies at Homer and Norwich. He pursued his legal studies with David L. FOLLETT, of Norwich, commencing in 1862, and was admitted in 1865. He commenced practice immediately after his admission, in Norwich, where he has since continued.
George M. TILSON was born in Richfield, N.Y., May 7, 1841, and was educated in Cazenovia Seminary. He commenced the study of law in December, 1861, with Isaac S. NEWTON, of Norwich. In 1862 he entered the army as Captain of Co. K, of the 161st N. Y. Vols., serving two years. On returning from the army he resumed his studies with Mr. Newton. He was admitted in May, 1866, and that year commenced practice in Norwich, where he has since continued, having been associated with his preceptor from 1868 to 1873. He was for four years, 1869-73, postmaster of Norwich.
Robert A. STANTON was born in Norwich, April 29, 1838, and was educated in the academies of Norwich and Oxford. He commenced the study of law in 1859, with Horace PACKER, of Oxford, and afterwards pursued them with Judge Dwight H. CLARKE, of that village. In May, 1861, he entered the army and served till July, 1864.
[He enlisted as Lieutenant of Co. C, in Sickles' Excelsior Brigade of U. S. Vols., which was mustered as the 72d N. Y., though it was composed of men from various States who enlisted with the exception that the organization would be on the same footing as regulars. By this change he became a private. He was promoted to Quarter-Master- Sergeant in the 74th N. Y. Vols., to which he was afterwards assigned, in 1861; and successively to 2d Lieut., (in April, 1862,) 1st Lieut., (Dec. 19, 1862,) and Captain, (March 9, 1863,) in the same regiment.]
On returning from the army he resumed his legal studies with Rexford & Kingsley, of Norwich, and was admitted in November, 1865. He commenced practice January 1, 1866, in Norwich, where he has since continued. He was elected Justice in 1865, and resigned after executing the duties of that office two years. He was elected District Attorney in 1868 and served one term.
George W. RAY was born in Otselic, Feb, 3, 1844, and was educated at Norwich Academy. He commenced to read law with E. H. PRINDLE, of Norwich, in March, 1866, and was admitted in November, 1867, in which year he commenced practice in Norwich, where he has since continued.
Albert F. GLADDING was born in Pharsalia, Dec. 9, 1842, and was educated in the district schools of his native town and Norwich Academy. He commenced to read law, August 22, 1866, with David L. FOLLETT, of Norwich, and was admitted in May, 1869, in which year he commenced practice in Norwich, continuing in the office of his preceptor as assistant till 1874. He was a Justice one term from Jan. 1, 1872, and in 1873, was appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue, which office he still holds.
Charles SHUMWAY was born in Guilford, June 10, 1847, and educated at the Academies of Norwich and Cortland, principally the former. He read law with Messrs. MERRITT & PRINCLE, of Norwich, commencing in 1868, and after the death of S. S. MERRITT, (March 16, 1869,) continued with his partner, E. H. PRINDLE. He was admitted in December, 1871, and commenced practice in Norwich, where he has since continued.
Edward B. THOMAS was born in Cortlandville, N.Y., Aug. 4, 1848, and educated at Cortland Academy and Yale College, graduating at the latter in 1870. During the winter of 1864-'65, he read law in the office of Ballard & Warren, of Cortland, and in the summer of 1868, with Judge Hiram CRANDALL. After leaving college he resumed the study of law with Judge William H. Shankland, of Cortland, and was admitted Nov. 16, 1870. He commenced in Cortland, where he remained till April 2, 1871, when he removed to and has since practiced in Norwich.
Elmore SHARPE was born in Smithville, July 21, 1844, and educated at Oxford Academy and Collegiate Institute, where he was graduated in the fall of 1866. In 1867 he commenced the study of law, devoting to it such time as could be spared from the active duties of farm life. March 26, 1871, he entered the office of Hon. Benjamin F. REXFORD, of Norwich, and was admitted Nov. 15th of that year. He practiced in the office of his preceptor till the death of the latter in the fall of 1872. His principal business is that of a claim agent.
John William CHURCH was born in Norwich, April 15, 1846, and was educated at Norwich Academy and Hamilton College, graduating in the Law Department of the latter institution in 1872. He had previously, in 1868, read law in the office of Robert A. STANTON, in Norwich, and after graduating, established himself in practice in that village. He was Deputy U. S. Marshall from 1867 to 1870; and was elected District Attorney in 1877. [His grandfather, Capt. John CHURCH, who was a Revolutionary soldier, came from Newfane, Vt., about 1810, and settled in the west part of the town of Pharsalia. Being advanced in years, he removed after a short time to Norwich, where he died July 13, 1824, aged 68. His wife also died there. They had two children, William H. and Hezekiah, the latter of whom removed to Addison, N.Y. and died there unmarried. William H. married Harriet D., daughter of Timothy BOSWORTH, and settled in Pharsalia. He afterwards removed to Norwich village, where he and his wife died, leaving five children, four of whom are living, two in this county, Caroline, wife of Albert F. GLADDING, a lawyer in Norwich, and John M. CLARK, the subject of the above sketch.] {believe should be John W. CHURCH instead of CLARK.}
Willie B. LEACH was born in North Norwich, May 11, 1851, and was educated at Norwich Academy and Cornell University from which he was graduated in 1871, in November of which year he entered the law office of Hon. E. H. PRINDLE, of Norwich. He was admitted in November, 1876, and commenced practice that year in Norwich.
William F. JENKS was born in Burlington, N.Y., Aug. 29, 1831, and was educated in the common schools of his native town. He commenced the study of law in the spring of 1851, with Gorham & Foster, of Burlington, and completed his studies with Cutler Field, of Cooperstown. He was admitted in August, 1853, and in the fall of that year commenced practice at Friendship, N.Y., continuing there till the following year, when he removed to New Berlin, and from thence in January, 1875, to Norwich, where he has since practiced. He was Supervisor of his native town one year; and in 1877, was elected County Judge and Surrogate of Chenango county, which office he still holds.
Euclid B. ROGERS was born in Norwich, March 1, 1852, and educated at Norwich Academy and Madison University. He read law with Isaac S. NEWTON, of Norwich, commencing in 1871, and afterwards with Chapman & Martin, of Binghamton. He was admitted in 1876, and commenced practice in Norwich.
Frank B. MITCHELL was born in Norwich, Sept. 19, 1852, and educated at Williston Seminary, at East Hampton, Mass., and Yale College. He entered the latter institution in 1871, and was graduated in 1875. In 1875 he entered the Columbia Law School of New York and was graduated there in 1877, in the spring of which year he was admitted. He commenced practice that year in St. Louis, and after a year and a half removed thence to Norwich.
Charles H. STANTON was born in Trenton, N.Y., entered Hamilton College in 1868, and was graduated there in 1872. He took a partial law course there, and in 1874, he entered the law office of Robert A. Stanton, of Norwich. He was admitted as attorney in January, 1878, and as counselor, in September, 1879.
Clarence G. COOK was born in Hartwick, N.Y., Feb. 19, 1853. He was educated mostly at a select school in Hartwick, and subsequently spent one year in Hartwick Seminary. Entering the law office of Luther I. BURDITT, of Cooperstown, May 1, 1875, he pursued his studies there a year, and subsequently a year with James H. KEYES, of Oneonta, completing them with Isaac S. NEWTON, of Norwich. He was admitted as an attorney in May, 1878, and as a counselor, in September, 1879. He was elected Justice in the spring of 1879. [He removed in the early part of October, 1879, to Richmondville, N.Y.]
George Abraham THOMAS was born in Norwich, Sept. 10, 1847, and was educated at Norwich Academy and Madison University. He commenced the study of law in 1872 with H. G. PRINDLE, of Norwich, and was admitted as an attorney in May, 1878, and as a counselor, in 1879.
Isaac F. TIFFANY was born in Knoxville, Penn., Nov. 5, 1857, and educated at Hornellsville Academy. He commenced the study of law Aug. 31, 1876, with E. H. PRINDLE, of Norwich, having for the two preceding years been clerk for E. P. PELLET, then and now United States Consul to Barranquilla, United States of Colombia. He completed his studies with Mr. Prindle and was admitted Sept. 5, 1879.
POLKVILLE
WHITE STORE
History of Otselic
History of Otselic
Otselic was formed from German, March 28, 1817.
The settlement of this town was later by several years than in the towns bordering the Chenango and Unadilla rivers, and was slow after it was commenced. As late as 1824, when most of the latter towns and some of the towns more remote from those rivers had nearly attained their maximum population, the population of Otselic was only 525, about one-third of what it is at present.
The first settlement was made in 1800 by Ebenezer HILL, who was originally from the New England States, but came here immediately from Syracuse, or "Salt Point," and settled at Otselic, where he built and kept for some ten or twelve years the first tavern in the town. It occupied the site of the tavern burned there April 4, 1879, was in fact that tavern. He built there soon after his settlement a saw-mill, which stood near and on the west side of the Otselic, about twenty-five rods below the bridge which crosses that stream in the village of the same name. This was probably the first mill erected in the town, though another authority says the first was erected by James RUSH. [French's State Gazetteer. The correct name is RUST, not RUSH. The mill erected by the latter was built about 1817 or '18.] It did not stand long.
There has not been a mill there for sixty years or more. HILL's first wife died in the East, leaving two daughters, Lydia and Sally, the former of whom married Nathaniel HOTCHKISS, who settled in the town at an early day and after his marriage removed to Canton, where both died. Sally married Ephraim WARNER, who came from Granby soon after 1800 and settled a half mile below Otselic. They had two sons and two daughters, the former of whom went west. One of the daughters, Huldah, married a man named KINNEY, with whom she is now living in Otselic After WARNER's death, Sally married Edwin HOUSE, with whom she removed to Indiana, and there died.
David STODDARD is said to have been the next settler in this town. He was born in Litchfield, Conn., Nov. 15, 1773, and being an "only son," received a double portion in the distribution of his father's estate, June 21, 1793. The latter year he married Dorcas, daughter of Seth and Lois (BLODGETT,) KENT, who was born in Westfield, Conn., Dec. 21, 1756, and died Oct. 11, 1830, aged 74. He settled in Litchfield, and in 1803 removed thence to Otselic. He took up wild land in the locality of Hill's settlement, enough to make a large farm, which he cleared and cultivated successfully; at the same time doing an extensive business in buying and driving cattle, by which he gained a handsome competence. Mrs. Stoddard was a woman of remarkable courage and executive ability. She took the entire management of the large farm during the absence of her husband while driving cattle to market; and often while the farm was new and uncleared she had to leave the little log house in the night to drive off the wolves that were trying to reach her calves and sheep. He died in Groton, May 15, 1858. They had four children, Aaron, David D., Harmon and John J., all of whom were born in Litchfield, Conn. They all married and settled in Otselic, where all died except David, who removed in Nov., 1859, to Mazeppa, Minn., where he died June 1, 1870. Originally a Whig, he became one of the pioneer abolitionists, casting in 1840 the only vote of that party in the town. Aaron was a farmer and drover, and died Dec. 2, 1846. Harmon succeeded to the homestead farm in Otselic and died there May 2, 1873. His widow still lives on that farm. John J. died Feb. 1, 1839, aged 39.
Five grandchildren are living in this county, viz: Noyes, Maria, wife of Henry SHERMAN, Cordelia, wife of Eli Truman CARD, and DeVer, children of Harmon, all in Otselic; and William, son of David, in Pitcher.
Other early settlers were Reuben BUCKINGHAM, William and Thomas S. FISH, Josiah WOLCOTT, William CROSS, William HURLBUT, William COOK and William SMITH, all of whom settled in the northern part of the town, and Elias BENJAMIN, Buell WARNER, Benoni PARCE, Lewis COOK, Aeneas THOMPSON, John and James WARNER, Abraham FAIRCHILD, William GREENE, James RUST, Benjamin EASTMAN, Dr. Abijah KINNEY, in the southern part.
Reuben BUCKINGHAM settled on the west side of Otselic, a little more than half a mile below the village of that name. He died Jan. 14, 1859, aged 71.
William and Thomas S. FISH were brothers and settled at Otselic village. The latter removed a few years previous to his death to Georgetown, where he died May 30, 1860, aged 74. William removed to Ohio. Avery Fish, son of Thomas S. Fish, is still living in Otselic.
Josiah WOLCOTT settled about a mile and a half west of Otselic, on the old turnpike. The place has since been divided by Henry SHERMAN who now lives where he settled. He afterwards removed to South Otselic and died there. Josiah and a daughter who married Welcome PHILLIPS were grand-children of his.
William CROSS came from Saratoga county previous to 1808, and settled on the farm now occupied by Andrew SHEPARDSON. He afterwards removed to the south part of the town and died there. None of his family are left here.
William HURLBUT settled on the flats in Otselic village. He removed from the town at an early day. One of his sons was a physician in Norwich.
Elias BENJAMIN settled at South Otselic, near the Baptist church. He also removed from the town at an early day with his family.
Buell WARNER was a brother of Ephraim Warner before referred to, and, like him, came from the New England States. He settled about 1810 on 100 acres at South Otselic, where Silas HILL now lives, and removed about 1818 to a farm about a half mile south-west of Otselic, where he died about 1830. He had several children who married and settled in this town and DeRuyter, and some of whom afterwards went west. Not one is left here. Timothy WARNER, another brother of Ephraim's, a native of Granby, came from Sandersfield, Mass., in 1816, and settled a half mile north of South Otselic, where George MATTHEWSON now lives. He married in Sandersfield, Hannah HOLMAN, a native of England, and raised his family there. He died Jan. 25, 1835, aged 69, and his wife, March 23, 1855, aged 94. They had six children, Timothy, Huldah, Chauncey, Hannah, Asher and Roswell. Timothy settled on the homestead and died there Feb. 18, 1863, aged 69. Hannah, Asher and Roswell are still living in Otselic. Hannah is the widow of Lorrin COOK, of New Marlborough, Mass., who settled and lived for fifty years on the farm now occupied by Wallace NEAL in the east edge of Lincklaen, and removed in 1871 to South Otselic, where he died, April 30, 1878, aged 80. She taught in 1871, the first school in the town. The school house stood near the residence of Judson E. PARCE, in South Otselic. It was a frame building, erected for the purpose, and was afterwards removed to the west side of the creek, to the site of the present school house in that village. It was burned about 1830. Previous to 1817 there was no organized school district in the town, and only fourteen children of school age; two of these were only three years of age. One of the two, Zenas COOK, son of Lewis Cook, afterwards became a Universalist minister. Hannah taught only one term. Martha, the mother of the Warner brothers, came in with Timothy and lived with him till her death, Oct. 30, 1825, aged 87. Their father died in Tolland, Mass.
Lewis COOK came from Marlborough, Mass., about 1810, and settled on a hundred acres at South Otselic. His house stood near where the residence of David B. PARCE now stands. He returned to Massachusetts with his family about 1827. Cook came in company with Aeneas THOMPSON, who married his sister, and settled opposite the creamery, about a half mile below South Otselic, near where Silas HILL now lives. He also returned to Massachusetts.
William GREENE settled in South Otselic and died or removed previous to 1816.
BENJAMIN came from Hopkinston, N.J., and settled in Westmoreland, where he married Sally PRESHO, of Massachusetts, and worked in a furnace. In 1817 he removed to South Otselic, where there were then only three or four houses. He soon after removed to the ridge road and about 1838, to the place now occupied by his sons Lewis and Woodal and daughter Phebe, where he died Sept. 21, 1854, and his wife, Aug. 5, 1870. The three living on the homestead are unmarried and are all there are of the family living.
William COOK came from Hadley, Saratoga county, in 1808, and settled near the cemetery in the north part of the town, where Andrew SHEPARDSON now lives, and died there. His wife died in 1824 in Georgetown, where she went to live with her niece Caty, wife of Reuben BUCKINGHAM, who came in with Cook. Cook had no children.
Dr. Abijah KINNEY came from Hartford, Conn., about 1806, and settled near the creek in Otselic village. About 1822 he removed to the place now occupied by his son Ogden, where he died Aug. 10, 1848, aged 77, and Vasti, his wife, Nov. 23, 1843, aged 67. His children were Tudor and Ogden, both now living in Otselic, the latter on the homestead, Lorenzo, who lived and died in this town Sept. 22, 1851, aged 40, Laura, who lived and died in the town, Wesley, who removed to Milwaukee and is now living there, and Marvin, who went west and married and died there.
South Otselic
Merchants: - The first merchants in South Otselic were Samuel and William MESSENGER, sons of Arvina Messenger, an early settler in Lincklain, in which town they were born. They opened a store in the summer of 1830 in the store now occupied by Frank E. COX, which then stood on the site of James BROW's barn. They did business about three years and returned to Lincklaen. Columbus C. BURR, a merchant in Manlius, bought the store property and sold it to John F. COOPER, who had clerked for him. Cooper removed the store to the corner just north of the present hotel and commenced trading about 1834, the year after the failure of the Messengers, and continued some five years. Luther BOWEN and his son Wells H., formerly of this town, bought out Cooper and traded in the same building till about 1847, when the former sold to Mirtalu N. WALDRON, of Pharsalia, who traded in company with the latter, under the name of Brown & Waldron, some five years when he sold to his partner, who became associated with Dr. James K. BOWEN, his brother, and they erected a new building on the site of the PARCE store, into which they moved about 1851. About 1858 they sold to Wells B. UFFORD. Wells H. BOWEN removed to Kansas and is now living in Atchison. Dr. Bowen removed to Missouri, where he died.
J. PARCE and his sons David B., and Dwight, the latter of whom died in the army, traded about three years from about 1856. David B. Parce and J. Floyd THOMPSON commenced business under the name of Parce & Thompson, in the same store, about 1859, and continued till the death of Thompson, at Norfolk, Va., while a captain in the army, July 5, 1864. About 1865, Parce bought Thompson's interest and continued till Oct. 4, 1877, when the store was burned. He immediately erected the present building on its site, but was taken insane just as he was about to restock it. He had an insurance of $5,000 on the stock and building, but the policies proved to have been forged by the agent. This loss in connection with others resulting from bad debts is supposed to have occasioned his mental malady. He was one of the best and ablest business men the village has ever had. The building is an exceptionably fine one for a village of its size. Its cost was $5,000. It is three stories high, the upper story being fitted up for a public hall.
Mr. Parce's nephew, Judson E. Parce, who had been a clerk for his uncle for many years, succeeds him in the business.
The other merchants now doing business here are, S. WHEELER & Son, (Sylvester and Hiram S., the former a son of Daniel Wheeler, an early settler in Lebanon,) hardware merchants, the successors to a business established in 1854, by Avina MESSENGER and Hiram S. WHEELER; John WILDMAN, Jr., grocer and druggist, who commenced business in December, 1866, in company with his brother Albert J. Wildman, and continued till May, 1873, when they divided their stock, the latter taking the dry goods and clothing department, which he also continues to the present time; John P. NEWTON, a native of Otselic, general merchant, who commenced in December, 1872; and Frank E. COX, grocer and druggist, who is a native of Otselic, and commenced business Oct. 15, 1878.
Postmasters: - The post-office at South Otselic was established in 1830 or '31. Dr. Norman FORD was the first postmaster and held the office a great many years. He was succeeded by James CLARKE. Dr. WYCKOFF held the office a short time; and David B. PARCE from 1861 to June 2, 1879, when his nephew, Judson E. Parce, the present incumbent, was appointed.
Physicians: - The first physician at South Otselic was Norman FORD, who came from Delhi, Delaware county. He was born in Franklin in that county, August 20, 1800, and received his medical education at Fairfield Medical College. He removed to South Otselic in 1824, and in 1826 married Mary J., daughter of Jonathan BEACH, of Lincklaen. He removed to Iowa to live with his children in 1870, having given up practice some five or six years previously. He died at Algona, Iowa, August 22, 1879. He was an excellent physician, well read, but his usefulness was impaired by spinal disease which crippled him from childhood and for some years before his death rendered him unable to walk more than a few steps at a time, and then only by great exertion.
Dr. WYCKOFF came from Delaware county about 1849 and after practicing one or two years went west. LaFayette AVERY came from Preston about the time Wyckoff left and practiced till the fall of 1859, when he removed to LaGrange, Mo., where he now resides. Irving G. REYNOLDS came from Georgetown about 1870, and practiced till his death Nov. 24, 1876.
The present physicians are James T. JAMESON and DeWitt C. CRUMB, the latter of whom was born in Preston, Sept. 2, 1845, graduated from Buffalo University Feb. 20, 1871, practiced 5 ½ years in Preston and removed thence to South Otselic in 1876.
James T. JAMESON was born in Yorkshire, England, August 22, 1812, and was educated at the grammar school in Manchester, where most of his early life was passed. There in 1828, he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Richard Thomas HUNT. He was licensed December 4, 1834, by the Apothecaries Hall, London, and graduated at the Roy College of Surgeons in London , Nov. 8, 1839. In 1868, he removed to South Otselic, from Lincklaen, where he has since practiced though but little except as counsel during the last few years.
Lawyers: - The first lawyer at South Otselic was Silas WARREN, who came from the town of Columbus about 1850 and practiced here till he entered the army, about 1863. He died of chronic diarrhea contracted while in the army soon after the close of the war. He never returned here to practice. F. M. BENJAMIN, a native of Cortland county, came from Cincinnatus in 1863 and practiced till about 1866 or '7, when he returned to Cincinnatus, where he is now practicing. The only present attorney, Morell F. UFFORD, was born in Pitcher, January 1, 1843. He was admitted in May, 1868, and commenced practice at South Otselic in August of that year.
Otselic
Merchants: - The first merchant in Otselic and in the town was George COLEY, who came here with his father, William Coley, an Englishman, who was a colonel in the American army during the Revolutionary war and settled in Otselic, where Hiram DUTTON now lives, and died there Nov. 30, 1843, aged 85, and Sibyl, his wife, Jan. 26, 1824, aged 66. George Coley, who was keeping tavern on the site of the one recently burned there, opened a store in that building in 1812 and traded till about 1830, when he went to Otsego county. He subsequently returned to Otselic, and engaged in farming, and afterwards went West.
Lorenzo and Wesley KINNEY, natives of Otselic, commenced mercantile business about 1832, and continued some two years. Amaziah PARKER, from Pompey, succeeded them and stayed some five years. He removed to Cuyler. Samuel GRIFFITH came from Otsego county about 1840 and after trading about two years went West.
Elizur GOODRICH, who formerly resided in the town, opened a second store about 1850, and continued three or four years. Franklin RUSSELL, from Boston, succeeded Goodrich and traded about two years.
Josiah P. DAVENPORT, the present merchant, came from Georgetown, his native place, and commenced trading here in 1862.
Postmasters: - Asa PRITCHARD is believed to have been the first postmaster at Otselic. He held the office as early as 1812, probably earlier, in his dwelling, and till his death, July 30, 1838. He was succeeded by Orrin STETSON, who held the office some five or six years. Nathan BUCKINGHAM next held it some four or five years. Sprague BARBER, the present incumbent, succeeded Hiram D. STANTON, on his death, April 24, 1864.
Physicians: - The first physician at Otselic was Abijah KINNEY, who came from Hartford, Conn., about 1806. He never practiced much here, however, being chiefly engaged in farming. Dr. WHITMORE, of Georgetown, and HENDERSON, of South Otselic, practiced here for several years, but never settled here. Norman, John and ---- BAKER, three brothers, from Seneca county, practiced here in succession two or three years each from about 1850. Dr. WILBER, from Smyrna, practiced here about a year after the Bakers left. Dr. Hiram SCRANTON came from Pharsalia, his native place, about 1840, and practiced some eight years. James STANBRO, a native of Otselic, commenced practice here about 1854, and continued till within a year or two of his death, in April, 1879. Dr. TRUMAN practiced here about a year about 1858.
Alexand PURDIE, who was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, July 12, 1792, was graduated at the Edinburgh Medical College in 1812, and subsequently at the King's College, London, where he practiced till September, 1853, when he emigrated to New York and thence removed to Piqua, Miami county, Ohio, and thence in 1861 to Otselic, where he practiced until disqualified by age. He still resides in Otselic. His son, Dr. Alexand J. N. Purdie, was born in Manchester, England, August 25, 1824, and was graduated in surgery in the King's College, London, in 1849, and in medicine at Edinburgh Medical College in 1852. He emigrated to New York in 1857, and in 1858 removed to Cincinnati, Ohio. A year later he removed to Otselic, where he has since practiced.
The only other physician here is James I. MASON, who was born in Palmero, Oswego county, August 4, 1848, removed to Otselic in December, 1863, was graduated at the eclectic medical College, of New York city, Feb. 18, 1870, and commenced practice here in April of that year.
Otselic Center
Beaver Meadow
Upper Beaver Meadow
End of Otselic (pg 475-482)
History of Oxford
History of Oxford
In the fall of this year (1790) Elijah BLACKMAN came in from Connecticut and squatted on the little island in the Chenango river, within the limits of Oxford village, commonly known as Cork Island.* This land had been previously bought by Benjamin HOVEY, who purchased a tract of land on the east side of the river, and subsequently the "gore", that part of the town of Oxford lying west of the Chenango. These purchases included the site of Oxford village, which was named by Hovey after his native town in Massachusetts.
* This island derives its name from the fact that a duel was fought upon it about 1830, by E. SHERWOOD and a man name STARKWEATHER in which the seconds loaded the guns with cork bullets.
When General Hovey came on a little later to take possession of his land, he gave to BLACKMAN, in consideration of the improvements he had made on this island, a piece of land about a mile and a half up the river, on lot No. 3 of the gore, which was supposed to contain 100 acres, but which, when surveyed, proved to contain one hundred and twenty-eight acres. On this Blackman continued to reside till his death, about 1825. It is now occupied by a grandson of his. Elijah Blackman had two sons, his only children, Elijah and Jabez, the former of whom removed from the town in 1813. Jabez married Hannah TRISKET, whose father was an early settler of the town, and lived and died on the forty-two acres of the homestead farm given him by his father, who divided the farm previous to his death. * * The elder Blackman had an adopted daughter, Polly KNAPP, who was a native of Connecticut, and afterwards became the wife of Colonel Samuel BALCOM. She was the first white woman in the town of Oxford, or rather female, for she was then only ten years of age, and was brought in upon the shoulders of her foster brothers, who had returned to their native State for supplies, and wearied of a life in the lonely backwoods, devoid of female companionship.
** Jabez BLACKMAN, who was born in Connecticut in 1771, died Jan. 17, 1849 aged 78. His wife died Oct. 30, 1839, aged 54. They had five sons, Silas, Levi, Almon, Lawson and Marcus P., all of whom, except Almon, died on the homestead in early life. Silas died June 3, 1827, aged 26. Levi, who died Sept. 30, 1830, aged 27, married Prudence, daughter of Samuel COLE, who died Nov. 2, 1832, aged 25. Almon lived on the homestead till about 1850-'55, when he removed to Preston, where he died Feb. 7, 1873, aged 67. He married Cynthia WEBSTER, who died May 23, 1874, aged 65; and had three sons and a daughter, that latter of whom married ---- MATTERSON of North Norwich, and died soon after. Henry and Philetus, two of Almon's sons, are living in Preston. Marcus P. died Jan. 27, 1843, aged 22.
James PHELPS came in about the same time as Elijah BLACKMAN and located within the limits of the village. He remained but a short time however, for he was gone in the spring of 1791.
Gen. Benjamin HOVEY came in from Oxford, Mass., in the fall of 1790, and built a log house on the site of Fort Hill, to which he removed his family the following year. This house occupied a portion of the site of S. H. FARNHAM's store. A portion of the stone foundation, loosely laid, was disclosed on removing the steps to the latter. Mr. Hovey had engaged to open for the State a road from Unadilla to Cayuga Lake, near Ithaca. It was known as the old State road and was finished about 1793. Francis BALCOM and Thomas and James McALPINE cut the road from Unadilla to Oxford. "It was located and constructed," says William H. HYDE, Esq., of Oxford, "to harmonize with the dauntless and energetic character of the age, which was never guilty of circumlocution to avoid a hill, regardless of the old maxim, elevation is exposure."* Hovey was a man of rugged energy, blessed with rare personal qualities, a veritable pioneer; but he became restive under the restraints of civilization, and remained here but a few years.** He was associated with BURR and his confreres in a scheme to improve the navigation of the Ohio, by which he was financially ruined.
* Historical Reminiscences, Oxford Academy Jubliee.
** He probably left here about 1805, having, the previous year, tendered his resignation as trustee of Oxford Academy, a position he held for ten years.
A letter from Samuel Miles HOPKINS, a well-known lawyer of that day, recited the following facts, which will be of interest in this connection:- "One hundred and ten miles west from Catskill, through a country almost entirely new, brought me to the village of Oxford, and to the house of Benjamin Hovey, the founder of it, and who, eighteen months before, had cut the first tree to clear the ground where the village stood. Here, too, I found Uri TRACY, (of the class in my college two years older than myself,) and whom, after forty years, I still count among the most valuable of my friends. Here I took my residence. Hovey was a man of very strong natural sense and vigor of action, but of very little education. He had been unfortunate in Massachusetts. His family had preserved life in the wilderness for some days by eating the grain from the ear in an unripe state. Suddenly he started for New York, laid open plans for the settlement of land to the proprietors whom he found, built Oxford on his own lands, and became the leading man of a very growing country. I settled at Oxford as a lawyer. My first law draft I made by writing on the head of a barrel, under a roof made of poles only, and in the rain, which I partially kept from spattering my paper, by a broad-brimmed hat. In such a village as this, the first frame building was an Academy, of two stories high, and Mr. Tracy was the teacher. No Yankees without the means of education." *
* Oxford Academy Jubliee, p. 41.
Daniel TUCKER, who was born in Leicester, Mass., May 15, 1763, removed thence in 1787 to Wattle's Ferry, a little above Sidney Plains, and in the spring of 1791, to a farm of fifty acres one mile above Oxford village, on the west side of the river, which is now owned and occupied by his son, Edward Tucker, and on which he died September 7, 1845. He bought of Benjamin HOVEY, in 1793, in which year he married Mary McKENZIE, who was born in Kinderhook, Columbia county, Feb. 28, 1773, and died July 19, 1833. Mr. Tucker came from Massachusetts on foot, and when he arrived in Oxford there were only two log houses in the town, one was Elijah BLACKMAN's, on the island, the other, Benjamin HOVEY's, on Fort Hill. He worked for Mr. Hovey the first two years after coming here, and drove team between Oxford and Catskill. Sleighs were used and the runners were shod with ironwood. There was no road at that time, and those who accompanied the teams carried axes with them to cut away the trees. He had eleven children, only two of whom are living, both on the homestead farm.*
*The children were Polly, who was born Dec. 20, 1795, and died March 25, 1854; Daniel, Jr., born April 15, 1796, died in 1797; John, born May 8, 1797, married Lydia FARWELL, of Cattaraugus county, being previously removed to Steuben county, where he died in November, 1870; Sally, born May 9, 1800, and died unmarried Feb. 17, 1836; Lucretia, born Aug. 6, 1801, and died unmarried June 30, 1831; Lovina, born Nov 20, 1803, still living on the homestead farm; Louisa, born Aug 15, 1805, and died Aug. 22, 1809; Lucina, born March 10, 1807, died Sept. 20, 1808; Alexander, born March 19, 1808, removed to Steuben county, where he married Jane GUERNESEY, and after her death returned to this county, and died in Bainbridge, April 22, 1872; Jennet, born May 26, 1801, died unmarried Sept. 24, 1836; and Edward, born May 27, 1813, married Mary E. HEMINWAY, and is still living on the homestead farm.
Settlements were made about this time (1701) b John BARTLE, Peter BURGOT, Benaiah LOOMIS, Francis BALCOM, Eben ENOS, John CHURCH, Charles HURST, William WETENHALL, Heber and Reuben WILLIAMS, John BUCKLEY and Jesse HAMILTON.
John W. and Richard BARTLE, brothers, from whom most of the Bartles in this country are supposed to have descended, came from Germany previous to the Revolution, and settled on the Livingston Manor, in Columbia county. Richard afterwards removed to the west, where many of his descendants now live. John removed to Oxford, with his six sons and one daughter, and failing by some wrong-doing of others to secure the land promised him, settled on the west side of the river, at the mouth of Bowman's Creek, some four miles below Oxford village, on the place now owned and occupied by his great-grandson, Irwin Bartle, which has ever since been retained in the Bartle family. There he kept the first inn in the town, and there he, his son David, and grandson West Bartle, died. His children were John, Peter, Hendrick, Philip, Andrew, David and Elizabeth. John was a harness-maker. He lived and plied his vocation in various parts of the town, in which he also died. He married a lady named DUFFEY, by whom he had ten children, and after her death, he married Lydia TUTTLE, by whom he also had ten children. Nineteen children attended his funeral. Peter, Hendrick and Philip settled on Panther Hill, which derived its name from the fact that a panther had been killed upon it in the locality of their father's settlement, Peter, where Jacob BUCKLEY now lives; Hendrick, where Cyrus CRANDALL now lives; and Philip, where Lewis KETCHUM lives. Peter married twice. His second wife was Tabitha, daughter of Benaniah LOOMIS. This marriage, which took place in May, 1795, was the first one contracted in the town. He was a surveyor and surveyed all this section of country. He went west soon after the close of the war of 1812, and died in Ohio, March 22, 1831. He was born Sept. 24, 1769. He had four children by his first wife and five by his second. Only two are living: Uriah, in Oxford, and Caroline, widow of Orson WEBB, in Wellsboro, Pa. Hendrick married Tabitha WHITE, by whom he had eight children, only two of whom are living, Cornelia, widow of Walter SMITH, in Erie county, N.Y., and Sally, wife of Alanson W. STEWART, in Oxford. Philip afterwards bought the farm now owned in part by Uri Bartle and Henry LEWIS. He married Betsey, daughter of Benaiah LOOMIS, with whom he lived in unbroken harmony nearly seventy years, "leaving the legacy of a spotless example." Their home on Panther Hill was known far and wide as a haven of rest for the poor and needy, and of unbounded hospitality. Both died in the house now owned by Henry LEWIS. In their log house on the sand bank, near the WARN burying ground,* was taught the first school in the town. They had no children. Andrew married and settled where Charles WILLCOX now lives, at South Oxford. He afterwards removed with his family to Junius, N.Y., where he and his wife died. David succeeded to the homestead, where he and his wife died. He married Rhoda WEST, by whom he had eight children, five of whom are living.** Elizabeth married Henry GORDON., a carpenter and joiner and cabinet maker, who settled on the east side of the river about a mile below Oxford, on the farm now owned by the LOBDELL sisters, daughters of the late Abijah LOBDELL, where he died June 19, 1820, aged 49. After his death, she removed to Oxford village, where she died Aug. 2, 1854, aged 81.***
* This ground was given by Andrew WARN for burial purposes.
** These are Hannah, Maria, widow of Benajah LANDERS, (who died in July, 1879,) living in Oxford; Andrew, in Pennsylvania; Newton, a merchant in Unadilla; Philip, in Union, Broome county, and A. F., in Oxford.
*** They had a numerous family, of whom, Susan, widow of Nehemiah SMITH, is living in Oxford; Jay, in Pennsylvania; and Eliza, wife of Captain Squire MOREHOUSE, in Deposit.
Peter BURGOT had a large family and removed at an early day to Allegany county. Two of his daughters, Sally, who married Abijah LOBDELL, a merchant in Oxford, and Lucretia, who married John DODGE, lived and died in the town.* He (Burgot) settled on the farm now owned by Eli CORBIN.
* French's State Gazetteer says the first mills in the town were erected by Peter Burgot, one and one-half miles west of Oxford village, in 1792. Uri BARTLE, son of Peter Bartle, and grandson of John Bartle, the pioneer, says the grist-mill built by Burgot was in the south part of Preston, on the farm now owned by Deacon Grandison NORTON. It was located on a small stream emptying into Mill Brook, usually called Widger Brook, from the WIDGER family, who settled upon it. It was abandoned by reason of complaints made by the Widger's, because the water set back and over-flowed lands, which have since been converted into a fine meadow. Mr. Bartle further says that his father, Peter Bartle, built the first grist-mill in the town of Oxford. It was located on Bowman Creek, about a mile above its mouth, and was built more than eighty years ago. It was about a quarter of a mile below the saw-mill on the same stream, owned by Jacob BUCKLEY, who finally owned it. It was abandoned by him some twenty-five or thirty years ago, in consequences of damages it sustained by the bursting of one of the stones, which tore away one side of the mill. It was never repaired.
French also states that the first death in the town was a child of Peter Burgot's; and the first death of an adult was that of Andrew LOOMIS, in 1793. Edward TUCKER, son of Daniel Tucker, a pioneer, says the first death was that of Andrew COWLES, a single man, who was killed while chopping on the hill where the VAN WAGENEN cemetery is located, and was buried where he died.
Benaiah LOOMIS removed from Egremont, Mass., his native place, to the locality of Catskill, in 1787, and two or three years later to Oxford. He settled on the west side of the river, near the south line of the town, on the farm now owned and occupied by his grandson, Wheaton Loomis, where he died abut 1835-'40. He married Rachel PATTERSON, of Egremont, Mass., who died about 1815. Her father, who was an Irishman, was a tinsmith, and first brought tin to America. They had nine children.* After the death of his first wife, he married the widow Prudy CORBIN, by whom he had no children. Numerous grandchildren and an army of great-grandchildren are living, many of them in the county.
* Their children were Betsey, who married Philip BARTLE, and lived and died in Oxford; Jane, who died young; Catherine, who married Peter RORAPAUGH and lived and died in Smithville; Ruth, who married Jeduthan GRAY, and died in Kentucky, to which State they removed about the close of the war of 1812; Tabitha, who married Peter BARTLE, who deserted her, when {sic} she married his brother Hendrick, and died in Pennsylvania, where, after the death of her husband, about 1841, she went to live with her daughter; Amy, who married John STEPHENS and died in Greene; Nancy, who married Chauncey HILL, and lived and died in Smithville; Edward, who married Polly SMITH, and was one of the Pioneers of Smithville, where he lived within a short time of his death, June 21, 1869; and Daniel, who married Sally TEN BROECK, who lived and died on the homestead farm about 1852.
Francis BALCOM who was born in Sudbury, Mass., July 19, 1767, came in from Newfane, Vt., and settled in Oxford village, where A. D. HARRINGTON now lives. He was one of the party that cut the old State road from the Unadilla, at Rockdale, to Oxford. He pursued farming, and received the first deed given to settlers in the town of Oxford. The deed was recorded in Owego. He came here a young, unmarried man, and married Priscilla, daughter of Didymus KINNEY, who came in from Columbia county in 1794, and settled in Oxford village. KINNEY's sons removed from the town at an early day. Priscilla was born in Dutchess county, January 1, 1776. Francis BALCOM and his wife both died in the town; the former Aug. 8, 1850, and the latter Sept. 25, 1866. They had eleven children.*
*These were Henry, ** who was born Jan. 18, 1798, married Mary, daughter of Lyman HUNNEWILL, (who came from Block Island, off the Rhode Island coast, previous to 1800, and settled in Oxford village, where his wife, Darcus, died in 1804, and where he resided till within a short time of his death, which occurred in Milford, Otsego county, in 1832,) who was born Aug. 22, 1804, died Sept. 10, 1 869, and her husband, Jan. 26, 1878; Joseph, who married Lucretia, daughter of Moses WARREN, (who came in from Canterbury, Conn., soon after 1800, settled three or four miles below Oxford village, and died in the town,) was of a roving disposition, removed from the town about 1833 or '34, and died in Troy; Samuel, who died young and unmarried in Pennsylvania; Leafa, who married Benjamin CORY, of Watertown, N.Y., where she died; Hiram, who died in Oxford, young and unmarried; Fanny, widow of Zebedee LARNED, of Watertown, N.Y., now living in Geneva, N.Y.; Ann K., wife of Hubbard RANDALL, of Mt. Vernon, Iowa; Charles Austin, a bachelor, who died in Bainbridge; Polly, who married Daniel THROOP, and died in Nineveh, N.Y., in Oct. 1850; Stephen, who married Margaret HEALEY of Nineveh, N.Y., in Sept., 1854, and died in Illinois in 1863, of camp fever; and William, a merchant in Oxford, who married R. S. LEWIS.
** Henry BALCOM, for forty-two years gave to Oxford Academy his ceaseless, tireless energies and the benefit of his wise counsels. Prompt at meetings, shirking no duties laid upon him, assuming fearlessly such responsibilities as were required of him, he was always a useful and desirable trustee. Genial in his nature, of a peaceful, happy disposition, his intercourse with the board and with its members as individuals was uniformly pleasant.-Academy Records.
Henry BALCOM, father of Francis Balcom, was born in Sudbury, Mass., Aug. 16, 1740. He removed about 1774 to Newfane, Vt., and thence, two years later than Francis, to Oxford, where he died Oct. 28, 1812. He was a Revolutionary soldier, fought under Stark at Bennington, and served till the close of the war. His wife, Keziah STOW, came with him, and died Sept. 26, 1826, aged 89. Three other children came in with him, Leafa, Samuel and Sally, the former of whom died unmarried about 1851 or '2. Samuel, who was variously known as deacon and colonel, was born in Sudbury, Mass., Dec. 31, 1772, married Polly KNAPP, (an adopted daughter of Elijah BLACKMAN's, and the first white female in the town of Oxford,) and settled on or near the place now occupied by Loren WILCOX, on the west side of the river, about two miles above Oxford. He subsequently removed to the village of Oxford and died there Aug. 27, 1847. His wife died Feb. 16, 1859.* The Balcoms are a worthy and highly respected family.
* Henry Balcom's grandchildren who are living, in addition to the children of Francis Balcom, are: Lyman, at Painted Post, N.Y.; Eliza, widow of William PEARSALL, in Owego, N.Y.; Rev. Benjamin in Corning, N.Y.; Harriet, widow of William RHODES, in Fond du Luc, Wis.; Uri T., in Chicago, and Rev. George F., in Cawker City, Ks., children of Samuel Balcom; and Frederick W, in Pennsylvania; Samuel H., a merchant in Oxford, and Charles E., in New York, children of Sally, wife of Samuel FARNHAM. Judge Ransom Balcom, who died in Binghamton, Jan. 6, 1879, was a son of Samuel Balcom. Five great-grandchildren are living in the town of Oxford, Lucy A., daughter of Henry Balcom, John B., son of Samuel WHEELER, and Ella C., William G. and Ward V., children of William Balcom.
John CHURCH came from Great Barrington, Mass., and settled on the west side of the river, one mile south of Oxford, on the farm now occupied by Obediah TOWER, where he died Oct. 6, 1825. His first wife, whom he married in Massachusetts, was a HOLLENBECK by whom he had seven children. His second wife was Patty THAYER, from Vermont, by whom he had two children.*
* His children by his first wife were: Fitcha who married Luman McNEIL and lived in Oxford, where she died some three years ago; Sylvester, who married Lucinda MILES, and lived and died in Oxford about 1836; Bradford, who married Anna BARNES, and is living in Illinois; David, who removed to Ohio and died there; William, who died unmarried; Elizabeth and a daughter unnamed who died in childhood. Those by his second wife were: William, who married Laura BARNES and is now living in Oxford village, and is the only member of the family living in the town; and Erastus, who died in 1832, at the age of eighteen.
William WETTENHALL, (now spelled WHITTENHALL) an Englishman, came in from Albany and settled on the west bank of the river, two miles below Oxford. He built there a frame house, in which he kept tavern several years. The house is still standing, and, though in a dilapidated condition, is occupied as a residence. He was a tailor by trade, and worked at that vocation a part of the time. He removed about 1808 to Smithville and subsequently to McDonough, where he died in his eighty-ninth year. Only one child is living, George, in Steuben county. Nancy, wife of Squire HAMILTON, was his youngest daughter. She died in Oxford in 1877, in her ninetieth year.
Heber and Reuben WILLIAMS, originally from Rhode Island, came in from Columbia, Herkimer county, and settled on the west line of Oxford; Heber on the farm now occupied by Burton WESTOVER, who married his grand-daughter, Amelia WEEKS, and Reuben, on the farm now owned by Martin CHURCH. HEBER and his wife, Martha, died the same day on the farm upon which they settled, and were buried in the same grave. Reuben removed to Steuben county about 1825, and died there. HEBER came in a little earlier than Reuben. Another brother settled in the same locality at an later day, but removed soon after to Steuben county.*
* Heber's children were: Daniel, who married Lucinda LOOMIS and is living in Cincinnatus; Polly, who married Vinson LOOMIS and died in Smithville about 1823; Sally, who married Isaac WRIGHT and died in Wisconsin; John, who married and moved to Wisconsin; Malinda, who married ---- CASE, and is living in Smithville; Julia, who married Stephen WEEKS and died on the homestead farm.
John BUCKLEY settled in the west edge of Oxford, on the farm now occupied by his son, Jacob Buckley, where he died. His children were: a daughter, who married Angus BARTLE, and lived in Pennsylvania; Jacob, who married Clarinda HASTINGS, and is living on the homestead; Hannah, who married Uri BARTLE, and is living in Oxford; and Peter, who married Ruth Ann BARTLE, and died in Tioga county, Penn.
Jesse HAMILTON came from Brookfield, Mass., and settled in Oxford village, but soon after removed to the farm now occupied by William HOBAN, about two and a half miles south-west of the village, on which he died December 30, 1814, aged 62, and Sarah, his wife, Oct. 20, 1839, aged 80. None of the family are living. The youngest died in Smithville in 1879.*
*Several grandchildren are living in the county, among whom are Uri WHITTENHALL, of Greene; Harriett, widow of Clark LEWIS, of McDonough, and Mrs. Benaiah LOOMIS and Warren HAMILTON, of Smithville.
Uri TRACY came here from Connecticut as early as 1792, and married here Ruth, daughter of General Benjamin HOVEY. He located in Oxford village, and continued to reside there till his death, July 21, 1838, aged 75. His wife survived him but a few years. She died January 31, 1846, aged 71.
The name of Uri Tracy is one around which clusters many of the dearest of Oxford's earlier associations. His public duties were varied and responsible, and were performed with a rare fidelity. He had been a Presbyterian clergyman and a missionary to the Indians. Possessed himself of a liberal culture, {he was a graduate of Yale College}, he was a prime mover in the establishment of the Oxford Academy, of which he was also the first teacher. He was President of the Board of Trustees of that institution at his death. He was appointed Sheriff in 1798, and held the office till 1801. He was the first to hold this office in Chenango county. He was elected County Clerk in 1801, and was also postmaster, keeping both offices for a time in the basement of his frame dwelling. He held the office of Clerk till 1815. He was a Member of Congress from 1805-'7 and 1809-'13. He was appointed First Judge of Chenango county in 1819. He was both teacher and preacher in the early settlement of the country, and was prominently identified with all the town's substantial interests of that day.*
* His children were: Otis J., who was twice married, and died in the town Aug. 21, 1850, aged 54. His first wife, Jane D., died Nov. 13, 1820, aged 19, and his second, Eliza, Aug. 19, 1828, aged 25. Uri, who married Persis, sister of Perez PACKER, a noted physician of Oxford, was a Magistrate for twenty years or more, and died in the town Aril 6, 1856, aged 56, and his wife, May 3, 1857, aged 54; Charles O. and Samuel Miles, who were lawyers and settled and died in Ohio, where both were prominent men; Mary who married Peter DICKINSON, who as engaged very extensively in lumbering. and removed to Pennsylvania.
In this year, (1792,) it is claimed the first birth in the town occurred. But authorities do not agree as to who was the first child born. One asserts that Charles A. HUNT, son of Luther Hunt, who died May 16, 1849, aged 56, was the first male child born in the town; while another {French's Gazetteer of New York} asserts that the first was Ellis LOOMIS, of whom we have not been able to get much definite information.*
* Uri BARTLE, to whom reference has previously been made, says Ellis LOOMIS was an adopted son of Philip BARTLE, and probably a son of Andrew LOOMIS, whose death, French says, was the first in the town. He married Margaret, daughter of Hendrick BARTLE, and went West, where both he and his wife died. Daniel LOOMIS, of Oxford, who defers to Mr. BARTLE's opinion, thinks he was a son of Ellis LOOMIS, a relative of Benaiah LOOMIS, who came in at a very early day and settled on the west side of the river, about four miles below Oxford.
Anson CARY, Jonathan BALDWIN and Zopher BETTS joined the settlements in 1793, and Theodore BURR, about that time.
Anson CARY, a Revolutionary pensioner, removed from Windham, Conn., to Union, in Broome county, where his first three children were born. In 1793, he removed thence to Oxford village, where his son George A., his fourth child, was born in May of that year. He came up the Susquehanna and Chenango rivers in a canoe, which was paddled by an Indian named Seth, and took up the farms, embracing about one hundred and twenty-five acres now owned by Charles A. BENNETT and John CARY, where he resided till his death, May 3, 1842, aged 80. He was the first blacksmith to locate in the new settlement, and worked at his trade a great many years, carrying on his farm at the same time. He shop stood just below the old pear tree in front of Mr. Bennett's residence, on the same side of the road. The old tree was planted by Mr. Cary in 1798. Five others, all of which were brought from Connecticut, were planted at the same time; but the latter were destroyed by the fire which consumed his unfinished residence in 1803, the fire being set by his son Zalmon, who was then three years old. About 1804, he built the house in which Charles A. Bennett now lives. He was a county judge, sheriff, and justice a great many years, and for a few years was engaged in mercantile business in Oxford. He married Hannah CAREW, who died July 9, 1842, aged 78.*
*They had eight children, Horatio, Minerva, Harriet, George A., Palmer C., Zalmon S., Hannah and Albert G. Horatio was born March 27, 1785, married Betsey RHODES, and died in Lockport, Feb. 10, 1855. Minerva was born Oct. 15, 1787, married Amos A. FRANKLIN, and died in Wisconsin, May 23, 1859, after about thirty years' residence in Oxford. Harriet was born July 29, 1789, married Bogardus BENNETT, and died on the homestead Aug. 9, 1863. George A. was born May 8, 1791, married Sarah WATTLES, who died June 18, 1821, aged 21, and after her death Adaline CRANDALL, who still lives in Oxford. He died in Oxford April 21, 1869. Palmer C. was born March 31, 1798, married Rowena OSGOOD, and lived and died in Oxford. He died May 13, 1875, and his wife May 10, 1869. Zalmon S. was born Aug 31, 1800, married Pamelia RANDALL, and lived in Oxford, where he died Aug. 23, 1854. His widow and their only son, John, now occupy the place where he died. Hannah was born June 17, 1804, and died unmarried Oct. 8, 1855, the day set for her marriage. Albert G. was born July 20, 1807, and married Melissa MATTHEWSON, of Smyrna. He studied medicine in Oxford with Dr. Perez PARKER, and after the death of the latter with Dr. William G. SANDS. He commenced practice at Black Rock, in Erie county, and after a year, about 1837, returned to McDonough, where he practiced a year, when he removed to Woodhull, Steuben county, and practiced seven years. He then returned to North Norwich and practiced about a year. From there he removed to Smithville, where he practiced three or four years, when he removed to a farm in Oxford, where he still resides.
Zolpher BETTS came from Massachusetts and settled on the south line of Oxford. The farm on which he located is now occupied by Wheaton LOOMIS. Only one child is living, Annie, widow of Jeremiah TEN BROECK, now about 86 years old. She resides with her son, Ira Ten Broeck, in the south edge of Oxford.*
* His other children were: Erastus Silas, Warren, Rachel, who married Blodgett SMITH, Prudence, who married William WHEELER, Armis, who married Wheaton RACE, and Polly, who married Lorin MILLER. Numerous grandchildren are living in the county.
Jonathan BALDWIN, who was born in Egremont, Mass., Feb. 11, 1765, removed thence in the spring of 1793 to Oxford. He come {sic} on foot, with his ax upon his shoulder, by the Catskill turnpike, via Delhpi, and took up forty acres on the site of the village, on the west side of the river. Having made a small clearing and put in some wheat, he returned to Massachusetts, and on the 3rd of March, 1794, married Parthenia STANFORD. He soon afterwards returned to his new-bought lands in Oxford, and built the house now owned and occupied by Frank CLARKE, on the south-west corner of State and Lafayett streets, the frame of which is the one then put up. While thus engaged he boarded with Peter BURGOT's family. The next fall his wife came in, in company with Solomon DODGE. She brought with her apple, currant and rose seeds, which she planted. Some of the apple trees raised from those seeds are now standing on Charles ECCLESTON's place.
Mr. Baldwin was a carpenter and, in company with Theodore BURR, the celebrated bridge builder and mill-wright, erected in 1793 or '4, the mill in Oxford village now owned by Nathan BUNDY, then owned by Mr. Burr, who settled in the village shortly previous. Messrs. Burr and Baldwin were also connected in the construction of bridges. The former patented and built the first arch bridge across the Susquehanna. He lived in Oxford several years, and removed before the war of 1812, with his family to Northumberland, Penn., where he and his wife died. None of their descendants are living here.* The Baldwins raised a family of eleven children and resided here till their death. Mr. Baldwin died July 2, 1845, aged 80; and his wife, April 21, 1848, aged 76.**
* BURR's children were: Henry, who went to Northumberland, Penn., and married, lived and died there; George, who was dissipated and did not marry; Charles; Marilla, who never married; Phila, who married in Pennsylvania, Silas MARSH, who was a merchant in Oxford from about 1816 to 1826, and removed to Duanesburgh, where they lived and died; Sena, who married Simon G. THROOP, lived and raised a family here, and afterwards removed to Pennsylvania, where she died two or three years ago; Amanda, who married Charles CATLIN in Pennsylvania. All except Sena, removed with their parents to Pennsylvania.
**BALDWIN's children were: Marianne, born Jan. 15, 1795, married Oct. 26, 1817, Peleg B. FOLGER, a shoemaker from Hudson, who came here about the close of the war of 1812, and boarded with Baldwin, and died Feb. 5, 1857, aged 65, but whose widow still lives in Oxford; James Hovey, born July 2, 1796, married while helping his father build a bridge at Wilkesbarre, Penn., Elizabeth SHAFFER, of Lewisburgh, Penn., lived in Oxford, and died in Pennsylvania, while engaged in building a bridge; Sophia, born June 22, 1800, married Frederick Green, from Dutchess county, and is now living in Michigan; Haplone, born July 2, 1802, and died unmarried at the age of 30; Nancy, born Jan. 13, 1801, and died in infancy; Louisa, born March 24, 1804, still living in Oxford; Thomas, born July 4, 1805, married Rebecca BUCKELY, both of whom lived and died on the farm now owned by their daughters, Mary Louisa, wife of Charles BENNETT, and Adelaide; Charles, born July 21, 1807, and died unmarried Dec. 8, 1849; Betsey M., born March 25, 1809, and living unmarried, on lands bought by her father over eighty years ago; Samuel, born March 2, 1811, married Jane HAGAMAN, of Greene, removed to Woodhull, Steuben county, and died in Corning; and John, born Nov. 6, 1813, now living with his sisters Louisa and Betsey in Oxford village.
Solomon DODGE to whom allusion has been previously made, came in originally with Daniel TUCKER from Sidney, and settled a half mile above Oxford, where Alvin MORSE now lives. He, too, was in Hovey's employ two or three years. He was a single man, and married a sister of Ritchison BURLINGAME, who was the first surveyor in the town of Oxford. He was surveying here in 1793; and settled on the Cole farm, now owned by Amos MINER and Paul Smith GRAVES; afterwards for a few years on the Blackman farm. He removed about 1820, to Cattaraugus county. Dodge sold to Daniel DENISON about 1820, and removed to Cincinnatus, whence he returned after five or six years, and settled some one and one-half miles west of Oxford village, where he died.*
*Among Dodge's children were: Marshall, who lived and died in McDonough; Henry, who was a clothier, married a daughter of Elijah BLACKMAN, lived some time in McDonough, and afterwards removed to the locality of Auburn; Russell, who lived first in McDonough, removed to Steuben county, and died in Addison; Ira, who is now living in Pennsylvania; Alfred, who married a daughter of Elder BEMUS, removed to Steuben county, where he was engaged in lumber a number of years, and died there; Israel, who removed to and married in Steuben county, where he now lives; Almira, who married a minister named BURLINGAME, of Otselic, and is now living in Cincinnatus; and another daughter, who married Gideon LAYTON, and removed to McDonough, where Solomon's wife died.
John McNEIL came from Hillsdale, Columbia county, in 1794, with his wife, Mary WISE, and two sons, Ira and Luman, and settled on the east side of the river, a mile and a half below Oxford village, on the farm now owned by Ward VANDERLYN. He took up a hundred acres, but was chiefly occupied with his trade, that of a blacksmith. He died on the farm on which he settled, July 26, 1832, aged 64; and his wife in the village of Oxford, March 15, 1843, aged 72. Ira married Clarissa HOUCK, of Lee, Massachusetts, and worked several years with his father at blacksmithing, which he afterwards pursued in the village till his death. Luman married Fitche CHURCH, and carried on blacksmithing in the village several years, when he removed to the farm on which he now lives, on the east side of the river, about two miles below the village. He was eighty-seven years old January 31, 1879. He married at the age of nineteen and lived about sixty-five years with his wife, who died a few years ago.*
*John McNeil's children who were born here were: Sophia, who married Erastus SMITH, of Oxford, a cabinet-maker, who died in Buffalo, and his wife, who was for many years deranged, in Oxford, a few years ago; Lewis, who married Clarissa WARN, settled first in what is known as "the desert," in the south part of Oxford, afterwards lived in various places, and died in Delhi; Charlotte, who married David P. WILLOUGHBY, also settled at first in "the desert," where they lived for many years, and both of whom are now living at South Oxford; John G., who was a bachelor and a blacksmith and died in the town; Andrew, who married Maria SMITH, settled on the homestead farm which he sold in 1842 when he removed to the John CHURCH farm, on the west side of the river, a mile below Oxford, and afterwards to the locality a half mile above South Oxford, where he died Jan. 23, 1868, aged 62; Charles A., who married Philura MAIN, a native of North Stonington, Connecticut, and pursued farming till thirty-four years old, when he removed to Oxford village, where he now lives, and followed butchering for fifteen years.
Settlements were made at an early day by Asa SHERWOOD, William DENISON, Deacon William GILE, Jonathan and Ozias BUSH, Alvin STEVENS, Walter SIMMONS and Rev. John CAMP, all of whom, except Sherwood, located in Oxford village.
Asa SHERWOOD came from Fairfield, Conn., in company with his brothers Isaac, Levi and John, and settled a little east of Oxford village; Isaac, on the farm now occupied by his grandson of the same name; Levi, near the lower cemetery, which was a part of his farm; and John, in the town of Guilford, on the south side of the "Gospel. hill" lot, to which Asa soon after removed, the farm on which he settled, and on which he and his wife died, being now occupied by the widow of John KELLY. John died in Oxford with his daughters.*
* Asa's children were, Isaac, David, Gorham, William, Asa T., John L., Sarah, who married Laman INGERSOLL, and Abigail, who married Hawley BRANT, only two of whom are living, John L., near the homestead, and Sarah, with her son, Dr. Randall E. INGERSOLL, in Guilford.
Isaac's children were two in number, both of whom preceded him in death, Samuel and Rebecca, who married and lived in Otsego county.
Levi's children were: Levi and Polly, the latter of whom married Levi NICHOLLS, and removed to Pennsylvania, and both of whom are dead.
John's children were: Marquis, who died May 15, 1830, aged 32; Bradley, who died Feb. 7, 1850, aged 48; Morgan; John Hinman, a wealthy speculator in New York; Willis; Sally, who married Alvin OWEN, whose father was an early settler on Gospel Hill; Lavinia, who married Silas CLARK; Paulina, who married ---- RUSSELL, of Winsor, now living in Wisconsin; and Lucy, who married Thomas Jefferson WOOD, and removed to Wisconsin some twenty-five years ago.
William DENISON occupied a house which stood on the site of St. Paul's church, and which soon after became the home of James CLAPP, Esq., after whose death it was torn down to make room for the church, Deacon GILE's dwelling occupied the site of G. H. PERKINS' residence. Epaphras MILLER afterwards built on the same spot. Jonathan BUSH built the rear part of the house occupied by the heirs of the late Charles A. HUNT. Mr. Bush owned considerable land in the village; and it is said that Washington Square was once a corn-field owned by his son, Oziah Bush. Alvin STEVENS lived on the farm now owned by Nathan PENDLETON. Walter SIMMONS occupied a log-house, the first on the right-hand side of the road as you approach the village from the east, and next above the house of Mrs. M. SCHAURTE, for many years the tavern stand of William BUSH. Mr. CAMP, a Presbyterian minister, occupied the farm where Mrs. Erastus GORDON now lives.
Erastus PERKINS, who was born in Norwich, Conn., Jan. 18, 1778, removed thence in 1799 to Oxford village. After about a year he went to Deposit, where he built the first frame house in that village, and after about a year returned to Oxford. About 1801 or '2 he built the Park House in Oxford, which he kept for several years. The house was kept by some member of the Perkins family, first by his brother Capt. James and son Alvin S., as late as 1850. The building now standing is the one then erected. It has, however, undergone some slight changes and received some additions. Mr. Perkins married in Oxford, Abigail S., daughter of Alvin STEVENS, by whom he had six children.* She died Jan. 31, 1815, aged 34. He afterwards married Ursula M., widow of William ALLEN, of Connecticut, who died Jan. 2, 1821, aged 42, having no issue who reach maturity. He married for his third wife Agnes, daughter of Gerrit H. VAN WAGENEN, who was born Dec. 12, 1788, and died Feb. 13, 1868. He had three children** by his third wife, who survived him nearly sixteen years. He continued his residence in Oxford till his death, which occurred May 30, 1852. Eight grandchildren are living in Oxford and two in Greene.
* These were Erastus S., who married Eunice BUTLER; Alvin S., who married Frances, daughter of Jabez ROBINSON; Leonard S., who married Harriet BENNETT; Gurdon, who married Frances A. SQUIRES; Anna Maria, who married Col. Joseph JULIAND, of Greene; and Jane E., who married Dr. Austin ROUSE. All are dead.
** These are Sarah A., wife of James W. GLOVER, a lawyer in Oxford; Gerrit H., who married Frances WILCOX, of Honesdale, and is now a merchant in Oxford; and Frances B., who became the third wife of Andrew J. HULL, formerly a lawyer in Allegany county, now living in Oxford village, and died Feb. 23, 1868.
Ebenezer ROOT settled in the town previous to 1800, and Amos HAVENS soon after. The former came from Great Barrington, Mass., and settled in the east part of the town, five miles south-east of Oxford village, on the farm now occupied by Theodore INGERSOLL. He was a miller, and in 1820, he removed to Guilford and took charge of a grist-mill in that village. At an early day he was a drover and cattle dealer. He afterwards took charge of a grist-mill near Van Buren Corners, which was built by the WESTCOTTs, to grind grain for their distillery. The mill is still standing, but has not been in operation for a good many years. He continued to operate the mill, which was run on shares, till his death, Feb. 12, 1842, aged 82. He was twice married and had seven children by each wife. His second wife was Cynthia WHIPPLE, who died Feb. 15, 1856, aged 80. Those of his children by his first wife who arrived at maturity, went west, and all, except Eben, who is living in Leavenworth, Kansas, are dead. Four children by his second wife are living in Guilford.*
*The children by his second wife were: Jerusha who married Seth JOHNSON, and Charlotte, who married Ira DIBBLE, and after his death, Charles GODFREY, - both of whom are living in Guilford; Polly, who married Willis GRIDLEY, of Caton, Steuben county, where she died; Daniel W., who died in Ohio; Harriet, who married John YOUNG, and is living in Guilford; and Silas and Cyrus, (twins,) the former of whom is living in Guilford, the latter died in Yazoo, Miss.
Amos HAVENS settled in the east edge of Oxford on the farm now occupied by Rev. Bishop A. RUSSELL, where he died. His family afterwards removed to Bainbridge. Among his children were: William; Champlin; Ursula, who married Job IRELAND; Mary Ann, who married and lived in the West; Calista, who was a deaf mute; and Frederick, who was blind, having destroyed the sight of one eye by doctoring the other, which was accidentally destroyed with a knife.
Nehemiah SMITH came from Lyme, Conn., in 1801, and settled on Fort Hill, in Oxford village. He was a carpenter and cabinet-maker, and pursued that vocation here till his death, in December 1835. His wife, Elizabeth GEE, a native of Lyme, Conn., died in Oxford in 1858.*
*Their children were: Erastus, who married Sophia McNEIL, of Oxford, settled in Oxford, and afterwards removed to Buffalo, where he died Oct. 26, 1847, aged 56; Charles, who removed to California, and died unmarried; Betsey, who died in Oxford, unmarried, in 1836; James, who went to New Orleans, and died there unmarried; Susan, who died unmarried, in Utica; Abigail, who married William SHERWOOD, of Oxford, and died in Norwich Aug. 21, 1850, aged 49; Captain Nehemiah, who married Susan GORDON, and died in Oxford June 14, 1873, aged 71; Esther, who married William TYRRELL, and died in Buffalo July 25, 1876; Sally Maria, widow of Asa SHELDON, Ellicottville, N.Y., during the recent war; and Fanny J., who married John M. CROZIER, of Buffalo, where she now lives.
Samuel LEWIS came in from Voluntown, R.I., in the spring of 1804, with his wife and seven children. They came with covered wagons, starting on the first of March and arriving here on the first of April. He settled on Fly Meadow Creek, on the farm now occupied by his grandson of the same name, where both he and his wife, (Sarah EDWARDS, of Voluntown, R.I,) died, the former Feb. 9, 1818, aged 74, and the latter May 1, 1832, aged 82. The children who accompanied him in his settlement here were Samuel, Clark, Sally, Hannah, Lucy, Patty and Prudence. Samuel married Ruth BARBER of Voluntown, R.I., and brought with him his wife and two children, (Abram and Daniel,) and settled in the same locality as his father, where the widow of his son Daniel now lives, and died there Sept. 14, 1829, aged 54. His wife died June 1, 1842, aged 65. He had seven children who were born here.*
* These were Gardner B., who died March 19, 1858, aged 52; Thomas, now living in Norwich, and the only member of the family left; Lyndol T., who died July 5, 1843, aged 26; Eli, who died Dec. 11, 1843;a aged 23; Aaron; Ruth, who married ---- WADE; and Hannah, who married Chandler PRESTON. Abram, who came in with him, died March 14, 1844, aged 45, and Joanna, his wife, Aug. 20, 1827, aged 29.
Clark who was born in Hopkinton, R.I., married Mary WILCOX, a native of Exeter, R.I., and settled in the same locality, on the place now occupied by his son Samuel, where he died (in Preston,) Oct. 27, 1853, aged 75, and his wife, Nov. 21, 1855, aged 70. They brought with them one child, Eunice, who became the wife of Elnathan TERRY, of Norwich, where both died, the former May 19, 1873, aged 70, and the latter, (who was born June 19, 1795,) June 25, 1866. They had eleven children subsequent to their settlement here.*
* These were Mary, who was born in the November succeeding their settlement, married Charles ECCLESTON, and now living in Oxford village; Stephen and Clark, both living in Oxford; Edward, who died Dec. 2, 1820, aged 3 years; Hannah, who married William R. BURDIC, and is living in McDonough village; Ira, a deaf mute, living in Smithville; Samuel and Sarah, twins, the former of whom died Aug. 29, 1816, aged three years, and the latter, Jan. 3, 1814, aged six moths; Sarah E., who died March 23, 1826, aged four years; Clarinda, who died Jan. 25, 1827, aged two years; Samuel E., who was a Member of Assembly from this county in 1861, and is now living on the homestead; and Prudence, a deaf mute, who is now matron of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum in New York.
Sally married Stephen LEWIS, of McDonough, where she lived till after his death, when she returned to Preston, where she died Dec. 27, 1846, aged 70. She had no children. Hannah was Stephen LEWIS' first wife, and died in 1826. Four of her children are living.*
* These are Arnold and Ezra, in Pennsylvania; Hannah, wife of Hiram BERRY, in Brisbin, in the town of Greene; and Sally, widow of Uriel STEAD, in Guilford.
Lucy, who was born Oct. 28, 1795, married Nathaniel WILLCOX, in Voluntown, and settled in the same locality as her father, and died there Jan. 2,2 1873. Two of her children are living, Rebecca, wife of Dorman DOOLITTLE, in Windsor and Nathaniel in Sherburne, Patty married Latham BEEBE, of Preston, and settled in German, where she died. Seneca BEEBE, a physician in Cincinnatus, is the only one of her children living. Prudence married Gates WILLCOX, of Oxford, where they first settled. They afterwards removed to McDonough, and subsequently to Wellsboro, Penn., where both died. None of her children are living.
Important acquisitions were made to the settlements in 1805, '6 and '7, from the character and prominence of the persons who joined them during that period. Prominent among these were Henry MYGATT, John TRACY, Judge Austin HYDE, Dr. Benjamin BUTLER, Solomon BUNDY and Captain HOPKINS.
Henry MYGATT, a native of New Milford, Conn., removed thence, about 1806, to Oxford, where he pursued, for a few years, the saddler's trade, which he abandoned to engage in mercantile pursuits. He followed the latter business several years, in company, a part of the time, with his brother William, who came in from New Milford, Conn., in 1818. He married, about 1809, Sally S. WASHBURN, of Chenango county, who was born March 27, 1791, and died Sept. 26, 1818. She bore him four children.* He afterwards married Mrs. Susan OSMER, of Connecticut, by whom he had three children.** He died in Oxford, May 5, 1835, aged 51. His brother William continued the mercantile business but a few years; but devoted his whole attention to the tanning business, which he established here in 1818, and pursued for a great many years, quite extensively, gaining a highly reputable business standing. His tannery stood at the foot of the hill, on the east side of the river, some distance in rear of the house now owned and occupied by his daughter Sarah, the widow of Dr. Alfred COE, who was, many years ago, a prominent physician in Oswego. It was long since leveled to the ground, and no vestige of it now remains. He died there Feb. 4, 1868, aged 81 years; and Caroline, his wife, May 15, 1866, aged 68 years. They had one son and seven daughters, six of whom lived to maturity, and four of whom are now living.***
* These were: Henry Rowland, for many years a prominent lawyer in Oxford, born April 10, 1810, and died March 31, 1875; Orlando N., born Aug. 24, 1812, died Aug. 17, 1827; Clarissa A., born Feb. 2, 1815, married John DONNELLY, (who lived but a year or two after-died Oct. 30, 1838-) and is now the wife of Frederick A. SANDS, of Oxford; and Sarah Eliza, born Jan. 6, 1818, wife of Dr. William G. SANDS, with whom she is now living in Oxford.
** They were: Susan Throop, born Sept. 5, 1855, died July 8, 1823; Frances Louisa, born May 10, 1824, died March 3, 1825; and Caroline Louisa, born Dec. 1, 1825, died Jan. 7, 1827.
*** The four now living are: Elizabeth, wife of Henry L. MILLER, of Oxford; Sarah, widow of Dr. Alfred COE, of Oswego, now living in the old homestead in Oxford; Caroline, wife of R. J. BALDWIN, a retired banker and lawyer of Minneapolis, Minn.; and Jane, wife of Dr. George DOUGLAS, of Oxford.
John TRACY, who was born in Norwich, Conn., Oct. 26, 1784, removed thence with his father's family to Columbus, Chenango county, and in 1805 removed to Oxford, and became Deputy Clerk for Hon. Uri TRACY, who was then County Clerk. He entered the law office of Stephen O. RUYNAN, of Oxford, and was admitted to the bar in 1808. He commenced and continued the successful practice of his profession in Oxford village, where, for many years, he was postmaster. He was appointed Examiner and Master in Chancery; Surrogate of Chenango county in 1815 and again in 1821; First Judge of Chenango county in 1823; and a Regent of the University of New York in 1830. In 1831 he received an appointment of Circuit Judge of the Sixth District, but declined the honor on account of ill health. He was a Member of Assembly in 1820, '21, '22 and '26; and in 1832 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor of New York. He was President of the Court for the Correction of Errors, also of the Constitutional Convention of 1846. He was an active, efficient and reliable friend of the Oxford Academy, serving for twenty-two years as a member of its Board of Trustees, and for any years as its presiding officer. He married, in Connecticut, Susan, daughter of Joseph HYDE, of Norwich, in that State, by whom he had three children.* She was born July 3, 1788, and died February 3, 1864, survived only a few months by her husband, who died June 18th of the same year.
* They were: Esther Maria, widow of Henry R. MYGATT; S. Eliza, widow of James W. CLARKE, the first President of the Bank of Oxford, who died June 10, 1878; and John W. Tracy, who was drowned in the Chenango river. The former two are living in Oxford.
Judge Austin HYDE, who was born in Franklin, Conn., Jan 21, 1789, settled in Oxford at the age of nineteen years, and continued his residence there till his death, Feb. 25, 1850. He read law in the office of Hon. Uri TRACY, and was for some years deputy county clerk. He afterwards engaged in mercantile business with his brother-in-law, Henry MYGATT, continuing from about 1816 to 1829, when on account of ill health, he abandoned the vocation and removed to a farm. He was twice member of the State Legislature, in 1823 and 1833. He held various important local trusts, among others the offices of supervisor, justice of the peace and judge. He was the first collector on the Chenango canal, and was appointed by the Chancellor, receiver to close up the affairs of the Chenango County Mutual Insurance Company. He married in Oct., 1818, Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Noadiah and Clarissa (LYNES) MYGATT, of New Milford, Conn., who was born in New Milford, June 2, 1799, and still resides in Oxford. They had four children, all of whom are living.* Four of Mr. Hyde's brothers are living, three in Oneida, where all settled. The oldest is eighty-seven, and the youngest, seventy-five years old. A sister is also living, aged over eighty.
* They are: William Henry, a leading lawyer in Oxford, born Sept. 4, 1826; Caroline Eliza, born March 27, 1821, living unmarried in Oxford; Minerva, born Nov. 1, 1830, married Clark I. HAYES of Unadilla, where she now resides; and Mary Elizabeth, born May 7, 1835, living in Oxford.
Dr. Benjamin BUTLER came in from Norwich, Conn., about 1806 or '7 and settled in Oxford village, where he died Jan. 15, 1839, aged 75. He was extensively engaged in sheep raising and buying and selling land. At his death the hills surrounding the village were covered with sheep owned by him, and let out to various parties to keep. He had large landed possessions and a great many men in his employ. He had three daughters who were remarkable in their way: Mary, who married Nicholas DEVEREAUX, a prominent man in Utica, where she now resides, and whose eldest daughter Hannah, is the wife of Hon. Francis KERNAN of that city; Cornelia, who married William C. PIERPONT, of Pierponit Manor; and Elizabeth, a maiden lady living in Utica, who still owns the homestead farm in Oxford. Butler's wife, Hannah, died Aug. 1, 1829.
Solomon BUNDY and Captain HOPKINS came in from Huntington, Conn., about 1806 or '7, and settled on contiguous farms about two miles south-east of Oxford, Bundy on a farm now occupied by Walter J. REDMOND 2d, and Hopkins on the farm adjoining it on the south, which has since been cut up into several farms. Mr. BUNDY took up 114 acres, on which he resided until his death, Feb. 24, 1851, aged 76. He married Jane FRASER, who was of Scotch descent, and died Aug. 22, 1846, aged 70. They had nine children, three of whom were born before they moved in.*
* They were: Oliver Treat, who studied medicine with Dr. Arthur PACKER, and soon after acquiring his profession, moved to Windsor, where he married, and thence to Deposit, where he practiced till his death, Jan. 9, 1874; Rachel, a maiden lady, who resided with her father till his death, and afterwards with her brothers, Edward A., on the homestead farm, and Solomon, in Oxford village, where she died Aug. 15, 1866, aged 63; Jane Maria, who married James NOBLE, a Baptist clergyman, with whom she removed to Iowa, where she now resides, having raised a large family of children; Nathan, who was a Baptist clergyman, and removed from the town; Amelia, a maiden lady, who died Oct. 29, 1851, aged 40; Philo, who removed to Oswego, engaged in mercantile pursuits, married there Margaret BURT, and after her death Catharine VAN DYKE, of Oswego, where both are still living; Edward Augustus, who married Esther SHAPLEY, and is now living in Oxford; Solomon, a laywer in Oxford, and the present representative in Congress from the 21st District, who married Roxanna HITCHCOCK, (born Dec. 28, 1821,) and after her death, July 29th, 1848, Elizabeth A. McGEORGE, of Oxford, still living.
Three grandsons are living in the town: Nathan A. and McGeorge, the former the miller and the latter an attorney, in Oxford village, sons of Solomon; and Edward A., Jr., a farmer.
Daniel SILL, son of Rev. Elijah Sill, was a settler of a somewhat earlier date. He was born in New Fairfield, Conn., in 1771, married Jan. 25, 1898, Abigail McKNIGHT, and with her removed to Oxford, where she died about 1806, leaving four children, all of whom were born in Oxford.* He married Albasindra BARNES, Feb. 2, 1808, by whom he had two children.** He was a farmer and after several removals, died in Ossian, N.Y., Feb. 17, 1829.
* They were: Asenath, born Dec. 13, 1798, married Samuel LEWIS, and died in March, 1850; Addison, born Aug. 2, 1800, married Jemima CLEVELAND and died in Kingsville, Ohio; Diana, born Jan. 31, 1803, died Aug. 25, 1804; and Susan, born Dec. 10, 1804, married Ami CLEVELAND, and died May 15, 1839.
** Griswold, born Jan. 10, 1810, died July 27, 1811; Ogden, born Feb. 27, 1812, died Sept. 24, 1817.
Gerrit H. VAN WAGENEN, born January 21, 1753, was a Revolutionary soldier and went to Canada in Aug., 1775, as Second-Lieutenant in the 8th company of the 1st regiment of New York State troops, under Colonel McDougall. He participated in the storming of Quebec, in the columns of General Montgomery. In May, 1776, he was sent to New York and thence to Philadelphia, in charge of prisoners. Returning to New York and finding that the British were landing on Long Island, he offered his services to General Sullivan, and was sent by him with four other officers to the Jamaica Pass. The entire party were {sic} captured. He was held prisoner twenty-two months, when he was exchanged. He then received an appointment in the department of the Commissary of Prisoners, in which office he continued about three years. March 11, 1783, he married Sarah, daughter of Derrick and Rachel (VAN RAUST) BRINCKERHOFF, born November 5, 1764, and engaged with his father in the hardware business, which the latter had carried on at No. 5 Beekman slip, since 1760. In 1822 he removed to Oxford, where he established the same business, but continued it only a few years, his chief business being buying and selling land, which he continued till his death, Nov. 20, 1835. His wife died Dec. 29, 1833. Their family was a numerous and prominent one.*
* Their children were: Rachel, born Oct. 5, 1783, and married Tyler MAYNARD in May, 1811, died May 8, 1839; Hubert, born Feb. 3, 1785, and lived and died in Poughkeepsie; Agnes, born Dec. 12, 1788, married Erastus PERKINS, of Oxford, died Feb. 13, 1868; Wilhelmina Maria, born March 24, 1793, died unmarried at Oxford, Nov. 2, 1873; Sarah B., born December, 1794, died unmarried, Dec. 23, 1878; Catharine born Oct. 2, 1796, a maiden lady, living in Oxford, and the only survivor of the family; Richard, born Oct. 8, 1798, died unmarried, at St. Joseph, Mich., Sept. 27, 1837, Gerrit G., born March 17, 1835, and died in New York, leaving one son, Gerrit Hubert, born Feb. 27, 1838, now living in Rye, N.Y.; William, born July 26, 1802, married Ursula A. GLOVER, of Oxford, Jan. 8, 1840, and died in Oxford, Dec. 6, 1864; John, born July 25, 1804, married Sarah A. HOPKINS, daughter of Frederick Hopkins, Nov. 11, 1833, and died in Oxford, July 2, 1845. William left three children: John Richard, born Nov. 9, 1841, married Clara L. LESTER, of Binghamton, now engaged in the banking business in Oxford; James Glover, born Dec. 1, 1845, married Mary E. MILLARD, of Oxford, and is proprietor of the St. James Hotel, Oxford; and Mary Elizabeth, born Feb. 21, 1857, a maiden lady, living in Oxford. John left two children: William Hubert, a druggist in Oxford, who married Hannah L. SELDEN, of Williamstown, N.Y.; and Susan Elizabeth, born April 9, 1841, the wife of O. H. CURTIS, a lawyer in Oxford.
Merchants:- The first merchant in Oxford was probably Gen. Benjamin HOVEY, who is believed to have opened a store soon after coming here, on the site of the store now occupied by S. H. FARNHAM. The next, and the first of whom we have any authentic record, was Capt. Samuel FARNHAM, who was born in New London, Conn., Dec. 16, 1775, and removed thence in 1799 to Oxford village, where, the same year, he opened a drug store, in a story and a half frame building, which stood on the site of Miller, Perkins & Co.'s store, in the Exchange Block, to which it gave place, after having been occupied for various purposes during a period of some thirty years. He continued the business till his death, April 20, 1822, having been associated for two years, from 1807, with Epaphras MILLER. Capt. Farnham received his military title from his connection with an artillery company (the first one in the town,) organized and commanded by him. He received his Captain's commission from Morgan Lewis who was elected Governor in 1804.*
* In 1800, Capt. Farnham married Sally, daughter of Henry BALCOM, who was born May 21, 1780, died Feb. 16, 1859, and by whom he had ten children: George born May 5, 1800, married Susan, daughter of Thomas GIBSON, (who came in from the West Indies about 1821, and lived and died in the town,) and died in New York, Feb. 4, 1850; Epaphras Miller, born Sept. 4, 1801, died Oct. 2, 1805; John P., born Nov. 12, 1803, married Frances STEERE, of Norwich and died in Carbondale, Penn., Feb. 27, 1871; Julia Ann, born in 1806, and died in fancy; Alex. H., born Dec. 29, 1807, married --- ENOS, of Norwich, and died in Honesdale, April 19, 1858; Chas. Edward, July 17, 1810, died Oct. 2, 1811; Samuel H., a merchant in Oxford, born in February, 1813; Frederick W., born May 17, 1815, married ---- GUNN, now now living in Honesdale; Charles, born April 18, 1817, married Charlotte BISHOP, and now living in New York; Sarah D., born August 24, 1819, died June 15, 1820.
William DENNISON had a store soon after 1807, but did business only a few years.
Epaphras MILLER, who was born in Glastonbury, Conn., in 1778, removed thence in December, 1800, to Oxford, as the agent of General HOVEY. About 1807, he formed a copartnership with Samuel FARNHAM in the drug business, which he continued till 1809, in December of which year he opened a stock of general merchandise. About 1831 he formed a partnership with Thomas G. NEWKIRK, which continued till about 1836 . His son, Henry L. Miller, became interested with him about 1834, continuing till 1841, when he withdrew and formed a partnership with William MYGATT. Epaphras Miller discontinued the business about 1843. July 14, 1810, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. Samuel BALDWIN, who was born in West Stockbridge, Mass., in 1787. They died in the house in which they first commenced housekeeping, the former July 5, 1860, and the latter July 14, 1853.*
* Their children were: Henry L., who married Elizabeth MYGATT; Elizabeth, who married John LATHROP; Hannah, who married Benjamin CANNON; and Benjamin S., who died unmarried in 1859. The first three are living in Oxford village and are now among its' most prominent, influential and cultured citizens.
William MYGATT and Henry L. MILLER did business till 1851. April 1, 1853, Gerrit H. PERKINS became the latter's partner; and in the spring of 1868 William M. Miller, son of Henry L. Miller, became a member of the firm. The business has since been conducted under the name of Miller, Perkins & Co.
Henry MYGATT came from New Milford, Conn., about 1806, and after carrying on the saddler business a few years, commenced mercantile business, in which he was joined , in 1818, by his brother William, who , however, continued but a short time. Henry continued trading several years, associated, from about 1816 to 1829, with Judge Austin HYDE, and finally transferred the business to his son-in-law, John DONNELLY, who continued till failing health compelled him in a short time to relinquish it, and died Oct. 30, 1838, aged 31. They occupied the building in which the widow of Madison BRIGHAM now resides. It then adjoined the residence of Dr. William G. SANDS, who used it till recently as an office. It was removed to its present location about two years ago.
General Ransom RATHBONE was doing business as early as 1819 or '22, where Dwight CLARK's residence now stands and continued till about 1834, when he removed to and founded the village of Rathboneville. From him, also, the town of Rathbone, in Steuben county, derives its name. He established the first store in that town in 1842. He was for a long time a General in the State militia.
Gerrit H. VAN WAGENEN established the first hardware store in Oxford in 1822, in the south end of the Rogers House, which was built previous to 1796, and was then known as Wells' tavern. He traded but a few years.
Ira WILLCOX came in from Greene county about 1812, and opened a store near the Park Hotel. In 1814, he built the front part of the store now occupied by S. H. FARNHAM, and in 1836, the rear part and the upper story, enlarging it from 40 by 24 feet to 110 by 50 feet. He traded till about 1846,* and was succeeded by Nelson C. CHAPMAN and Joseph G. THROP,** the latter of whom had been his partner for several years. About 1856, they sold their stock to Miller & Perkins, who had previously done business in a store which has since been converted into a dwelling, and is now occupied by Dr. M. M. LEE.
* Ira WILLCOX died Nov. 29, 1852, aged 61
** CHAPMAN and THORP were brothers-in-law, went to Iowa, and engaged in banking in Clinton. They afterwards removed to Northern Minnesota, where they bought a large tract of timber and were extensively engaged in lumbering. CHAPMAN died in St. Louis about six years ago. THORP is now traveling in Europe. His daughter, Sarah CHAPMAN, married Ole BULL, the celebrated violinist, in Norway. She was an accomplished musician and an excellent pianist.
John RATHBONE, brother of Gen. Ransom Rathbone, came from Oswego soon after the war of 1812, and opened a store, which he continued some ten years. He removed to a farm in Cortland county, having become dissipated and impoverished.
George FARNHAM, son of Samuel Farnham, succeeded his father in the mercantile business at the latter's death, and after trading for or five years, sold to his brother John, who traded some five years, sold to Dr. CLEVELAND, and removed to Pennsylvania. Cleveland traded three or four years and sold to Leonard PERKINS, who sold in 1839, to Alpheus D. BROWN, and removed to Houston, Texas. Brown traded three or four years.
Erastus PERKINS opened a drug store near the Park Hotel in 1822 and carried on the business in company with his son Erastus about ten years. The elder Perkins continued till his death, May 30, 1852. Erastus SMITH, a native of Oxford, David WILSON, a native of Keene, New Hampshire, Luman and Ira McNEIL, Sylvester CHURCH and ---- CANFIELD traded four or five years from about 1823 or '4.
Cyrus A. BACON, an early settler in the town, and a former merchant in Oxford, and Uri TRACY, son of the early settler by that name, and a native of Oxford, commenced business about 1825 and traded five or six years. Bacon continued till his death, December 8, 1878, having been associated at different times with Ebenezer SHERWOOD, David T. McGEORGE and Thomas B. HARROTT.
Ethan CLARKE from Bookfield, Madison county, opened a store about 1822 and traded till his death, February 8, 1857; having been associated the first year or two with Henry BALCOM, and the succeeding few years with Ebenezer SHERWOOD, afterwards, from 1836, with his brother-in-law, Joseph H. DWIGHT, who was an officer in the war of 1812, and continued till his death, Aug. 6, 1845. In 1854, F. G. and James W. Clarke and Frederick A. SANDS became his partners, under the name of Clarkes & Sands. At the expiration of a year Sands removed. At the death of the elder Clarke, his son, F. G., acquired his interest. The firm name, which was changed to J. W. Clarke & Co., continued till 1858, when John R. Clarke, another brother, became a partner, and the name was changed to Clarke & Co. In 1868, J. W. Clarke sold his interest to his partners, when the name became Clarke Bros., remaining so till 1873, when F. G. Clarke bought his brother's interest and has since conducted a general merchandise business. On the opening of the canal the firm added storage and forwarding to their business and became extensive dealers in produce. These branches were continued till the close of the canal.
C. F. T. LOCKE opened a grocery and liquor store about 1836 and did business about twenty years. [Died May 13, 1857, aged 60.] Rufus BALDWIN came from Guilford and opened a store about 1834, continuing in trade until about 1857, when he went to Minneapolis. George McNEIL and Cyrus A. SHELDON commenced trading about 1847, and continued till the death of Sheldon, Oct. 8, 1851, when William and Charles HAMILTON succeeded them and traded four or five years.
Thomas J. NEWKIRK, after dissolving with Epaphras MILLER, formed a partnership with his brother Warden, and traded a few years under the name of T. G. Newkirk & Co. Thomas G. continued till within a short time of his death, which occurred March 24, 1875, associated a part of the time with his son F. P., and Ward VAN DERLYN, the latter two continuing the business a short time.
William W. PACKER, a native of Oxford, carried on the drug business for five or six years, till his death, March 21, 1851. Dr. Samuel Ray CLARKE, brother of Ethan Clark, succeeded Packer, and traded till about 1860. [Died June 1, 1860, aged 59.] Cyrus TUTTLE was doing business as early as 1834, and continued till his death, when he was succeeded by James B. BROWN, who is still doing business. Arad TUTTLE, brother to Cyrus, traded some six or eight years, about 1848. He went to Buffalo and died there. James H. FOX and Horace READ commenced business in 1854, and continued until 1868, associated part of the time with William THOMPSON. Seth H. FISK traded some twenty years from about 1830. He returned to New Hampshire, from when he came and died there. E. P. WILCOX, who came from Greene county, and had previously for several years carried on the business of founder and machinist, kept a hardware store from about 1838 to 1853. He died here. William E. CHAPMAN kept a book store some fifteen years at a comparatively early day.
Following is a list of the Merchants at present doing business in Oxford.
Samuel H. FARNHAM, son of the pioneer merchant, commenced the jewelry business in 1839 and continued till 1859. In 1870, he resumed business, adding to his former branch groceries and notions, which he still continues. *
* We acknowledge our indebtedness to Samuel H. Farnham for data relative to the early merchants in Oxford.
Judge B. GALPIN dealer in books and stationery, commenced business in 1845. He came here from Greene, where, for four years, he had been engaged in general merchandising. Mr. Galpin is also publisher of The Oxford Times.
Cyrus M. GRAY, dealer in clothing, boots shoes, hats, caps, and gents' furnishing goods, commenced general merchandising in 1850. In 1858 John R. WHEELER became his partner and remained such eight years, when they sold to Edwin M. TOWER and Dwight MORLEY, who in the spring of 1873, sold to Charles O. WILCOX, a native of Oxford, who associated with himself D. F. CLARKE, of Preston, whose interest he bought at the expiration of four years. Mr. Wilcox is doing a general merchandise business. Mr. Gray resumed his present business in the spring of 1876.
Charles FRASER, furniture dealer and undertaker, commenced business in 1851, in company with his brother William, who bought Charles' interest after a little less than three years, and still continues the business. Charles then formed a partnership with T. C. PETTIS, which lasted about three years, when he sold to Pettis, who soon after sold to David C. BRONSON, with whom, in 1862, Charles Fraser formed a partnership which continued till 1865, when William Fraser bought the business. Charles resumed business in 1867, and has since continued it, having been associated with T. C. Pettis from the fall of 1875 till May, 1879.
John LORD, boot and shoe dealer, commenced business about 1854, in company with Edward N. OSBORN, with whom he continued six or eight years. He had previously done business one yera with Eliakim NORTHRUP, who traded here from about 1838 till his death, Feb. 4, 1852, aged 62. Osborn enlisted in the 114th Regiment, and after the war went to Great Bend, where he carried on business several years. He now resides in Harford, Penn.
William BALCOM, grocer and crockery dealer, commenced business in 1857, in company with Joel F. GLEASON. They bought out C. F. T. LOCKE, but Gleason died before they took possession. [Joel F. GLEASON died Feb. 4, 1857, aged 50.] In 1858, Balcom associated with Sanford MASON, whose interest Gurdon HICKS bought in 1859. Balcom bought Hicks's interest after the expiration of about a year.
Coville & Moore, (LeRoy COVILLE and Sylvanus MOORE,) jewelers. This business was established in the fall of 1859, by LeRoy Coville and H. H. CADY, who dissolved in 1867, each continuing separately, the latter two years. In 1869, Sylvanus Moore became associated with Mr. Coville.
W. H. VAN WAGENEN, druggist, commenced business in 1860, in company with Dr. George DOUGLAS, whose interest he bought at the expiration of eight years.
J. C. DEVERELL, merchant tailor, commenced business in 1865, and has since continued with the exception of two years (1869 and '70,) spent in New York, Tarrytown and Hornellsville.
William GILLMAN commenced business in 1866, and sold after about eight years to his sons George and Charles, the latter of whom bought his brother's interest at the expiration of a year, and again admitted his father. The business (groceries,) has since been conducted under the name of Gillman & Son.
Mrs. M. L. BUSH, a native of Norwich, in this county, and dealer in millinery, and fancy goods, commenced business in 1871, having for several years previously resided in the village.
A. S. LEWIS, grocer, commenced business in 1872, in company with his brother H. E., whose interest he bought after the expiration of twenty-two months.
Ralph B. WHEELER, from East Haddam, Conn., dealer in groceries, boots and shoes, commenced business in 1873, in company with Frank E. SPERRING, whose interest he bought in the spring of 1879. Sperring removed to Kansas City. F. Elden BILLINGS, dealer in clothing, hats, caps, boots and shoes, commenced business in 1874. He came from Smyrna, his native town.
A. H. BRILL, hardware merchant, came from Oneonta, and commenced business in January, 1877.
Van Der Lyn & Co., (Ward VAN DER LYN and Frederick H. BURCHARD,) hardware merchants, commenced business February 22, 1878, at which time they bought the bankrupt stock of W. A. MARTIN, who had carried on the business some nine years. Van Der Lyn is a native of Oxford, and Burchard, of New York, but came to the town in infancy.
T. G. GATES, grocer and liquor dealer, commenced business Sept. 1, 1878. He had previously carried on the same business in Smithville three years.
Cook, Boulls & Gibbons, (Wm. COOK, Thomas BOULLS and Matt. GIBBONS,) furniture dealers and undertakers, commenced business in October, 1878, Boulls & Gibbons having previously done business from June, 1877.
N. B. ECCLESTON & Co., (James B. BROWN,) druggists and grocers, commenced business Dec. 19, 1878. Both formally resided in the village.
C. O. KING, grocer and confectioner, commenced business April 14, 1879. He is a native of the village.
Mrs. P. A. FLAGG, milliner, commenced business in April, 1879, having previously carried on the same business in Binghamton six years.
Clarke & Curtis, (DeFrancis CLARKE and Henry A. CURTIS,) grocers, commenced business in May, 1879. Both formerly resided in the town.
Postmasters:- The first postmaster in Oxford was Uri TRACY. The office, which was kept in the basement of his residence, was, without a doubt, established soon after the settlements were begun. Uri Tracy was succeeded by John Tracy soon after the latter came here, (1805,) and the office was held by him till 1838, when Peleg GLOVER was appointed. James W. CLARKE received the appointment in the spring of 1841, and was succeeded in the spring of 1843 by Cyrus A. BACON, who held it till the spring of 1849, when Luman McNEIL was appointed. Cyrus A. Bacon* was again appointed in the spring of 1853, and was succeeded May 12, 1861, by James W. Glover, who held the office till March 4, 1878, when Benjamin M. PEARNE, the present incumbent, was appointed.
* Cyrus A. BACON, who died in Oxford, May 12, 1879, was for forty years or more a trustee of Oxford Academy, and at the time of his death was the oldest person living who was ever a member of that board.-Academy Records.
Physicians:- The first physician in Oxford was doubtless Timothy ELIOT, though but little is now known of him. He was a son of George and Hannah Eliot, natives of Connecticut, and was born at Killingworth in that State, March 20, 1773. He probably came here very soon after the settlement was begun, for he died here Nov. 2, 1796. He had previously located at Unadilla. Drs. HARRISON, Isaac F. THOMAS and THROOP were among the earliest physicians who located here. Dr. Thomas did not stay long, neither did he leave a good reputation.
George MOWRY came in, a young single man, at an early day and practiced till his death. He married here a Miss MANLEY, by whom he had two sons, both of whom went west. He was a cripple, from spinal disease; but enjoyed a good professional reputation. He was one of the original members of the Chenango County Medical Society, of which he was the first secretary, an office he held for over fifteen consecutive years.
Charles JOSSLYN came here about 1805, a single man, and after practicing a few years removed to Greene, where further mention is made of him.
Perez PACKER, son of Wm. Packer, an early settler in Preston, commenced practice at Latham's Corners, in the town of Guilford, about the opening of the war of 1812, and soon after removed to Oxford, where he became eminent in his profession. He was one of the leading physicians in the county, and as a surgeon there was not probably his superior in the county. He stood very high in his profession. He was born January 31, 1790, and died in Oxford, July 10, 1832.
Austin ROUSE, a native of Norwich, son of Judge Casper Rouse, came in soon after Dr. PACKER, with whom he practiced for some time. He married here Jane E., daughter of Erastus PERKINS, who was born May 2, 1806, and died in Scranton, Penn., with a daughter who was living there, Sept. 28, 1870. Dr. Rouse was a conscientious man and stood high in his profession. He practiced here till his death, August 27, 1866, aged 70. [Dr. Rouse had three daughters, Maggie, who married Adolphus BENNETT, and is living in Philadelphia; Louisa, who married James A. CLARKE, son of Dr. Samuel R. Clarke, and is living in Georgia; and Mary, who married Henry ROONE, and is living in New York.]
Samuel BALDWIN, was born at Egremont, Mass., in Nov., 1756. At the age of 17 he was drafted into the militia of his native State, and served in the continental army at different periods thirteen months. In 1775, he was a minute man, and was called into active service soon after the battle of Lexington, the 19th of April of that year. He joined the continental troops at Boston, where he remained three months. In Jan., 1776, he was one of the volunteers who marched into Canada, in prosecution of one of the most difficult and perilous enterprises undertaken during the Revolutionary contest. Besides suffering from an attack of small pox at Montreal, he marched on his way to that place, in one day, sixty miles upon the ice of Lake Champlain. In the spring of 1777, the army under Gen. Gates having been obliged to retreat before the combined British force of the North, Mr. Baldwin returned to Egremont, much reduced and enfeebled by the hardships and privations he had endured. He was again drafted the following September and once more joined the army under Gates. He was present at the battle of Saratoga and witnessed the surrender of Burgoyne, Oct. 18, 1777.
After this Mr. Baldwin devoted himself study and acquired a substantial education in the ordinary English branches, with a sufficient knowledge of the languages to enable him to commence the study of medicine, the practice of which he commenced in West Stockbridge, at the age of twenty-eight years. In 1800, having been twice a Representative in the Massachusetts Legislature, he removed to Wyoming, Penn., where he resided, with the exception of two years spent in Ohio, until 1819, when he removed to Oxford, where he spent his life with his daughter, the wife of Epaphras MILLER. He practiced here a few years, but not, except among his intimate friends, for several years previous to his death, which occurred Sept. 2, 1842. He was a large, powerful man, standing six feet in height, and was a vigorous pedestrian. He had an extensive practice in the Wyoming Valley, and in urgent cases, so well were his great physical powers known, he was often urged by those who solicited his professional services, to go without waiting for his horse. He possessed a rare faculty of threading his way through the almost interminable forests. His mind was singularly inquisitive and discriminating and well furnished with diversified stores of knowledge, which his ready and retentive memory always rendered available.
Samuel Ray CLARKE came in from Brookfield about 1822 or '3, and practiced here till his death, June 1, 1860, aged 59. His wife, Susan MAXON, survived him but a few months. She died October 29, 1860, aged 52. Dr. Clarke was a man of very fair standing in his profession.
Reuben BANCROFT, a cousin of George Bancroft, the historian, came in from Massachusetts soon after 1816, and practiced till his death, Jan. 21, 1847, aged 52.
Dr. YORK came in from Norwich quite early, but did not depend upon his profession for a living. He was a man of excellent character, but his timidity, resulting from a want of confidence in his abilities, unfitted him for the profession. He consequently practiced but little. He married a daughter of Deacon PUNDERSON, through whom he acquired a good property. He removed to a farm in the town of Preston. He lived several years in retirement in Oxford and died here.
George RIDDELL, whose parents were early settlers in Preston, came in from New Orleans about 1850, and practiced two or three years. He had a brother who was a professor in a medical college in New Orleans.
The present physicians are, William G. SANDS, George DOUGLAS, Solomon F. McFARLAND, Robert E. MILLER, Dwight M. LEE, John W. THORP and De Witt GLEASON.
William G. SANDS was born in Bainbridge, N.Y., Nov. 5, 1810. He studied medicine in Oxford with Dr. Perez PACKER, and was graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York in 1832. He commenced practice in Oxford immediately after graduating and continued about twenty years. He is now living in retirement in Oxford.
George DOUGLAS was born in Franklin, N.Y., May 7, 1823, and educated at the Delaware Literary Institute and the University of the City of New York. He studied medicine with Dr. Francis HINE, in Franklin, and Dr. Daniel CLARK, of Smithville Flats. In 1842 he he entered the Medical Department of the University of the City of New York, where he was graduated April 14, 1845. He commenced practice in Smithville Flats, where he remained a year, when, in 1846, he removed to Oxford, where he practiced till 1876, when he went to Brooklyn. He returned to Oxford in June, 1879.
Solomon F. McFARLAND was born in Oxford, July 12, 1828, and received his education in the Oxford Academy. He commenced the study of medicine in his native place with Dr. George DOUGLAS, and in 1853 entered the University of Michigan, remaining one term of six months. He re-entered the institution in the fall of 1856, and was graduated in the spring of 1857. He commenced practice in Throupsburgh, Steuben county, in the spring of 1854, under a license granted by the Chenango County Medical Society, April 21, 1854, and continued there till he re-entered Michigan University. After graduating, he resumed practice in Oxford, where he has since continued. He was Assistant Surgeon of the 83rd N.Y. Vols. in the fall of 1862, but resigned on account of ill health. In the spring of 1863 he was appointed Surgeon of the Board of Enrollment of the 19th District of New York, and performed the arduous duties of that office fifteen months, when failing health again compelled him to relinquish military service.
Robert E. MILLER was born in New Canaan, Conn., Aug. 27, 1837, and was educated in the district schools of Unadilla, (to which town his parents removed during his childhood,) and in the Gilbertsville Academy. In 1854 he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, and pursued a two years' course. He commenced the study of medicine in Gilbertsville in 1857, with Dr. J. R. WHITE, now of New York, and in 1859 attended a course of lectures in the Albany Medical College. In 1860 he attended a course of lectures at the Homeopathic Medical College in Philadelphia, where he was graduated March 1, 1861. He commenced practice in Oxford in May of that year, and has since continued here.
Dwight M. LEE was born in Georgetown, N.Y., January 25, 1843, and was graduated at Hamilton College in 1863. He attended two courses of lectures in the Medical Department of the University of New York, and in 1864 entered the Albany Medical College, where he graduated December 27, 1864. He immediately entered the army in the capacity of Assistant Surgeon, as a volunteer, without assignment, and was commissioned April 1, 1865, and assigned to the 22d N. Y. Cavalry. He was promoted a few months later Surgeon by Brevet in the same command. He left the army in the fall of 1865, and commenced the practice of his profession at Smithville Flats, from whence he removed, after about a year, to Oxford, where he has since practiced.
John W. THORP was born in Booth Bay, Maine, April 30, 1839, and was educated in Bowdoin College, where he was graduated in 1861. He commenced the study of medicine in Oxford, with Dr. Solomon F. McFARLAND, and a year later entered the Maine Medical School, at Brunswick, where he was graduated in 1868. In 1870 he entered the University of the City of New York, and was graduated there in 1872. He commenced practiced, immediately after graduating, in Oxford, where he has since continued. During the interval of six or seven years, from the completion of his classical studies to his entering the Maine Medical School, he was Associate Principal of Oxford Academy.
Dr. De Witt A. GLEASON was born in Pitcher, N.Y., February 7, 1850, and received his literary education at Oxford Academy. He commenced the study of medicine in Oxford, with Dr. D. M. LEE, attended lectures at the Michigan University in 1870 and '71, and in 1872 was graduated from Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn. He commenced practice in Henderson, N.Y., in May, 1873, and after two years removed thence to Oxford, where he has since practiced.
Bench and Bar (Lawyers):- From the fact that Oxford was originally a half shire town of Chenango county, it early attracted to it a brilliant array of legal talent. The first lawyer to locate here was Samuel Miles HOPKINS, whom we have quoted in another connection. He was a graduate of Yale College, where he formed the acquaintance of Hon. Uri TRACY, between whom and himself there existed a warm and enduring friendship. He came here in 1792, but no very definite information can be gleaned as to the length of time he practiced here, or other facts regarding him. It is believed, however, that he did not remain here long. He was living in Albany in 1807.
Stephen O. RUNYAN was here before 1799, and continued as late as 1813, probably till his death, which occurred April 23, 1820, at the age of 48 years. His office stood on Washington Square, at the head of which he resided, and subsequently on the site of the office now occupied by Hon. William H. HYDE and William R. MYGATT. He was remarkably social, and possessed in an eminent degree the faculty of making himself agreeable. He was very popular with the people. His mind was richly stored with anecdotes, which he was fond of relating.
James CLAPP, who was a student of Aaron Burr's, and William M. PRICE, both remarkable men and fine lawyers, came here from New York in September, 1808, and practiced in company a short time. PRICE, who was of a roving disposition, returned in 1815 to New York, and became a man of some note. Mr. CLAPP, who was born in Hartford, Conn., Dec. 5 1785, continued here till his death, Jan. 8, 1854. His residence stood on the site of the Episcopal church. His wife, Julia H., died Nov. 17, 1832, aged 38. He has three sons and a daughter living. [These are, Benjamin Clapp BUTLER, whose name was changed by the Legislature from Benjamin Butler Clapp, at the instance of his grandfather, Benjamin BUTLER, and who is now living in Luzerne, Warren county, N.Y.; James, who is living in Europe; Nicholas, residing in New York; and Julia, widow of Walter L. NEWBERY, once the wealthiest man in Chicago, who died on the ocean while going to join his wife in Europe, where she now resides. Mary, the eldest daughter, died at home unmarried.]
John TRACY studied law with Stephen O. RUNYAN, and after his admission, 1808, formed a partnership with his preceptor. He was a careful, studious, methodical and sound lawyer. He stood at the head of his profession. His rulings in law were never reversed in the courts of appeals. (See biographical sketch)
Henry VAN DER LYN, who was born April 21, 1784, came to Oxford from the North River country in June, 1806, and practiced here till his death, Oct. 1, 1865, though but little during the later years of his life. He was eccentric, possessed of good talent and great acquirements. He was the best equity lawyer the village ever had, Henry R. MYGATT, excepted. He was known as "the Count." He was the cousin of the celebrated artist named Van Der Lyn.
Judge Samuel McKEON came from Herkimer county about 1825, and taught in the district schools of this and the adjoining towns four or five winters, reading law in the meantime in the village. He was admitted about 1830, and practiced till about 1847 or '8, when he removed to Sullivan county, where he was interested in lands. He was appointed Surrogate of Chenango county Dec. 1, 1837, and held the office till 1843.
Henry R. MYGATT, LL. D., who was born in Oxford, April 10, 1810, of Connecticut parentage, read law with James CLAPP, and was admitted in January, 1833. He practiced here till his death, March 31, 1875, but not much during the last year or two of his life. He wore himself out in his profession. He was a close, studious and laborious lawyer, and enjoyed a very extensive practice. He was greatly beloved and respected for his excellence of character. He was highly benevolent, and did more for benevolent objects and in the interest of the village than any other man in it. He was not an aspirant for public office, and invariably declined all nominations therefor. There was a strong disposition to place him on the Supreme Court Bench, but he was inexorable in his determination to refuse public office. His sterling qualities of head and heart abundantly graced the humbler walks of life-his chosen field of philanthropic endeavor. He was a staunch friend to the interests of education, and his sympathies and energies were firmly enlisted in the interests of the Oxford Academy, to which its records bear testimony.* He was a graduate of Union College, in the same class with the notorious Robert Toombs of Georgia.
* The records of that institution thus memorize his services in its behalf:- "Elected [trustee] on the 24th of March, 1835, he soon took a leading part in its management, and during the intervening time, although almost overwhelmed with the cares and duties of his profession, he never gave up his interest in its prosperity. "He gave to it his money largely, freely in almost princely benefactions. "He gave to it his time, his energies, his labor, his wise counsels, and his wide-spread and valuable influence. "For eight years the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, for a series of years its Vice-President and President, as in all other matters, he was faithful and diligent and present when his duty called."
Ransom BALCOM, a native of Oxford, read law in the office of Judge McKOON and Count VANDERLYN, and was admitted about 1841. He practiced here very successfully until about 1846 or '7, when he went to Binghamton and was one of the firm of Hotchkiss, Seymour & Balcom, a prominent law firm, all of whose members are dead. In 1855, he was elected to the Supreme Court for the 6th Judicial District and having been thrice re-elected, held that office till within a short period of his death, when failing health compelled him to relinquish the duties.
Dwight H. CLARKE, son of Ethan Clark, for many years a prominent man here, was born in Oxford, March 2, 1819, and was a contemporary and partner of Judge BALCOM's, having been admitted about the same time. He, too, studied with James CLAPP. He was elected County Judge of this county in 1855, and re-elected in 1859, serving till January 1, 1864. He continued to practice here till his death, April 17, 1874. He was brother to James W. Clarke, the first President of the Bank of Oxford. His father was for several years proprietor of the stage house, where the Rogers House now stands, was interested in the stage lines in this valley, an important enterprise of that day, and was extensively engaged in mercantile pursuits.
Simon G. THROOP was a contemporary practitioner with VAN DER LYN and CLAPP. He was a brilliant, but dissipated man. He did not practice here long, but removed to Pennsylvania, where he died recently at an advanced age. He was a man of good address, and his ready wit made him popular with the masses. William PATTERSON was admitted here and practiced a few years from 1825.
Other lawyers practiced here for short periods, among whom were Enos JOHNSON, who died here, and Benjamin CANNON, who studied with Count VAN DER LYN, and after practicing here a short time, returned to Cannonsville, Delaware county, his native place, named from his father, who was an early settler there. He was elected County Clerk of Delaware county in 1852, and served two terms, six years. He returned to Oxford in 1873, and died here in December, 1877.
The attorneys now practicing in Oxford are: Horace PACKER, James W. GLOVER, William H. HYDE, Solomon BUNDY, Oscar H. CURTIS, Samuel S. STAFFORD, Charles W. BROWN, William R. MYGATT and McGeorge BUNDY.
Horace PACKER was born June 2, 1812, in Norwich, N.Y., to which town his parents, James and Mary (BILLINGS) Packer, natives of Groton, Conn., removed in 1806, from Guilford, Vt. He was educated in the district schools of his native town and the academic and collegiate departments of Madison University. He commenced the study of law at Norwich, with Samuel B. GARVIN, and after one month removed to Oxford, in April, 1839, and entered the office of Hon. Samuel McKOON, with whom he completed his studies. He was admitted in January, 1842, and commenced practice that year in Oxford, where he has since continued. He was Master and Examiner in Chancery some five years, and until that Court was abolished.
Mr. PACKER has given much attention to agriculture, and was two years, 1858-'59, President of the Chenango County Agricultural Society. He established at East Smithville, in the spring of 1866, the first Creamery west of Orange county. It was the third in the States, also in the United States. He has since established two others, one at Pharsalia Center, and the other in the town of Coventry.
James W. GLOVER was born in Oxford, August 28, 1822, and received his education in the Academy in that village. He read law with Henry R. MYGATT, and was admitted in January, 1846. He commenced practice in Greene, and after three months removed to Oxford, where he has since practiced, with the exception of six months spent in Auburn. He was postmaster at Oxford for seventeen years from May 12, 1861. He is a son of the late James A. Glover,* of Oxford, and a grandson of Nathan Glover, a pioneer in the town of Plymouth.
* James A. Glover, who died May 23, 1875, "was for a long term of years heartily and zealously attached to the best interests of the Academy, and contributed to sustain and strengthen it by his support and influence, and ever evinced a high regard for its honor and welfare."-Oxford Academy Records.
William H. HYDE was born in Oxford, Sept. 4, 1826, and received his early education in the Academy of his native village. He entered Yale College in the spring of 1846, and Geneva College the same year, graduating at the latter in 1848. He read law in the office of Henry R. MYGATT, of Oxford, where, after his admission in 1854, he commenced practice, spending the first year or two in the office of his preceptor. He has since practiced his profession, at the head of which he now stands, in his native village, with the exception of one year, (1860,) spent in Wisconsin. He was a Member of Assembly from this county in 1857; Special County Judge of Chenango county from 1864-68; and Supervisor four years, 1870, '1, '2, and '3, serving as chairman of the board the last year.
Solomon BUNDY was born in Oxford, May 22, 1823, and spent the early years of his life upon a farm. About 1850 he removed to Oxford village and engaged in mercantile business, which he pursued in company with various individuals at different times. In 1857, he entered the law office of James W. GLOVER, and on his admission in 1859, formed a law partnership with Horace PACKER, under the name of Packer & Bundy, which continued till his election as District Attorney of Chenango county, in November, 1862. In 1876, he was elected to the 45th Congress from the 21st district, as a Republican, serving on the Committees on Militia and Expenditure in the State Department. He was one of the sub-committee of three which investigated the charges against George F. Seward, minister to China.
Oscar H. CURTIS was born in Norwich, N.Y., March 25, 1832, and was educated mainly at Gilbertsville Academy and Union College, from the latter of which he graduated in 1858. He came immediately to Oxford and engaged to teach the languages and higher mathematics in the Academy there. He taught five terms, and during the last term had charge of the school. He commenced to read law in Oxford with Henry R. MYGATT in the spring of 1860, having previously studied in the intervals of teaching, and completed his studies with him in the spring of 1862, when he established himself in practice in Oxford. July 29, 1862, having been commissioned by Governor Fenton to raise a company for the 114th Regiment N. Y.. Vols., he turned his office into a recruiting station, and had the honor of raising the first company for that regiment, Co. A., which was mustered on the 6th of August following. He was Captain of that company until July, 1863, when he was promoted to Major of the 144th, with rank from Aug. 26, 1863, and served in that capacity till the close of the war, when he resumed the practice of his profession in Oxford, where he has since remained. He was elected Justice in the fall of 1867, and held that office continuously till the summer of 1875, when he resigned. During this time he served four years as Special County Judge of Chenango county, to which office he was elected in 1868. He was Loan Commissioner three years, and in the fall of 1878, was elected Member of Assembly from this county, serving on the Committees on Charitable and Religious Societies and Game Laws, the latter of which was codified. He was also a member of the Committee on Grievances, which did not meet.
Samuel S. STAFFORD was born in Preston, N.Y., June 8, 1837. He read law with Solomon BUNDY and was admitted in May, 1867, when he commenced practice in Oxford, where he has since continued. Previous to commencing the study of law he spent ten terms in the Oxford Academy, closing in June, 1862. He entered the army as First Lieutenant of Co. A., 114th Regiment, and was wounded in the leg in a reconnaissance during the siege of Port Hudson, on the 11th of June, 1863, from the effects of which he was discharged July 8, 1863. He was a Member of Assembly from this county in 1865; was School Commissioner of the 2nd District of Chenango county in 1867, '8 and '9; was Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue one year; for nine years preceding May, 1879, village Treasurer; and is now serving the seventh year as Loan Commissioner.
Charles W. BROWN was born in Stockbridge, N.Y., Nov. 23, 1849. He entered Hobart College in 1867, and in 1872, commenced to read law in the office of Henry R. MYGATT, of Oxford. In 1873, he entered the Albany Law School, from which he was graduated in 1874, in which year he established himself in practice in Oxford, where he has since continued. While in the Albany Law School he was president of a class of one hundred students from all parts of the country. He was elected Justice in 1875, and re-elected in 1879. He was sole collector on the Chenango Canal, south of Utica, in 1876, the last year the canal was open. In 1874, '5, '6 and '8, he was clerk of the Board of Supervisors of Chenango county.
William R. MYGATT was born in Oxford, April 20, 1851, and received his early education at Oxford Academy. He subsequently spent three years in the Vermont Episcopal Institute at Burlington, and in 1870, entered the Troy Polytechnic Institute, where he took a two years' course in engineering. He commenced the study of law in 1872, at Oxford, with his father, Henry R. Mygatt, and in September, 1875, entered the Albany Law School. He was admitted in May, 1876, and established himself in practice in Oxford immediately after graduating. He is a trustee both of the village and the Academy, and secretary of the Chenango County Bar Association.
McGeorge BUNDY was born in Oxford, July 8, 1855, and was graduated from Amherst College in 1876, in which year he commenced to read law in the office of his father, Solomon Bundy, with whom he completed his legal studies. He was admitted in November, 1878, at the general term at Albany, and established himself in practice in Oxford.
SOUTH OXFORD
South Oxford, in the south-west part of the town, was formerly the seat of a post-office and a manufactory of hoes, forks and edge tools of considerable importance. The post-office was moved to Coventry Station, a mile below, after the completion of the Utica, Chenango and Susquehanna Valley Railroad. The station agent is postmaster. He succeeded his father in the former position, and probably as postmaster also. There is a small grocery kept by Henry WILLCOX, and a cooper shop, kept by Charles HOLMES.
{Evidently there is a missing sentence referring to "his father"}
CHESHIREVILLE
Cheshireville is a hamlet near the south line, and derives its name from the fact that most of the early settlers in that locality came from Cheshire, Connecticut.
Manufacturers:- On the west side of the river, about two miles below Oxford, is a saw and grist-mill owned by Edwin TOWERS. It was built some forty years ago by Stephen and Clark LEWIS, the former of whom operated it till the fall of 1878, he having bought his brother's interest some twenty years ago. A saw-mill was built on the same site by John Stratton about fifty years ago.
History of Pharsalia
History of Pharsalia
Pharsalia was formed from Norwich as Stonington, April 7, 1806.
The first settlement was made in 1797, by Col. John RANDALL, from Stonington, Conn., who located in the west part of the town on lot 48, where Charles H. BROWNING now lives, at Pharsalia. He built there, in 1799 or 1800, the first frame house in the town. It is not standing now. In 1799 his son Charles went to Norwich, where a saw-mill had been built the previous year, and purchased the first load of boards ever used in Pharsalia. In 1800, Col. Randall removed to Norwich with his family, leaving his son, Col. Denison upon the farm in Pharsalia, which the latter occupied till his death, Oct. 18, 1824. The Randalls have been a prominent family in the county, but none of the descendants are left in Pharsalia. Roswell, a younger son, was for some time engaged in mercantile business in Pharsalia.
[See page 316 of this work for a full account of the Randall family.]
Others of the first settlers were Daniel and Joseph DENISON, Joseph and Caleb BREED, Nehemiah BROWN, the WEAVERS, Sanford MORGAN and David DAVIS, all from Stonington, Conn.
The DENISONs were brothers, and settled in the south-east part of the town, Daniel on lot 70, the first lot east of East Pharsalia, on the stage road, where Carolos HALL now lives, and Joseph, on lot 59, the lot north of his brother's, on the place now owned and occupied by Justus and Selden MARSH. Aaron B. GATES, of Norwich, owns the Daniel Denison farm. Both afterwards removed to Oxford. They were large land-holders and Daniel especially was a man of some prominence. He owned at one time the whole of lots 70, 54, 43, and 38, besides other lands. He built on lot 70, at the place of his settlement, the first frame barn in town. It was torn down a few years ago. Daniel died in Norwich March 17, 1818, aged 77. None of the descendants of the Denisons are left in the town.
The BREEDs also were brothers, and settled in the west part of the town, Joseph on lot 49 and Caleb on lot 50, on the farm now occupied by his son Matthew, where he died Sept. 14, 1828, aged 66, and Rhody, his wife, Dec. 9, 1827, aged 60.
Nehemiah BROWN settled a mile and a half north-east of Pharsalia, where John LUTHER now lives. He and his wife, Rebecca, died at the residence of their son-in-law, Jabish BROWN, the former Dec. 15, 1824, aged 84, and the latter, Dec. 5, 1831, aged 84. Their children were Nehemiah, Lewis, Kitturah, Polly and Rebecca.
John, Lodowick, Joshua and Jonathan WEAVER, brothers, and Betsey WEAVER, their sister, came from Stonington, Conn., in 1798. They came in the winter with an ox sled. John settled on Brakel Creek, in the town of Pitcher, where Ransom RORAPAUGH now lives. He afterwards removed to the west part of the State. He had two wives and twenty-four children. Lodowick and Joshua settled in Pharsalia, the former a mile north of Pharsalia, on lot 32, on the farm now owned by Isaac S. NEWTON, of Norwich, and occupied by Ed. HUNTLEY, and the latter on lot 69, on the same road-the center road, a half mile to the east of Lodowick, who afterwards removed to Pitcher, to live with his son Noyes, and after the death of the latter, March 28, 1838, to Groton to live with his son Denison, where he died Jan. 31, 1848, aged 84. He (Lodowick) was born May 18, 1763, and married Sept. 4, 1787, Patty, daughter of Nehemiah and Rebecca BROWN, who also died in Groton, Feb. 29, 1852, aged 82. They had eight children: Lodowick, Polly, Samuel Stanton, Russell, Denison Randall, born April 10, 1798, the first child born in Pharsalia, Noyes, Philura, and a daughter who died in infancy. Joshua died June 4, 1811, aged 58, and Anna, his wife, Aug. 12, 1819, aged 69. Jonathan settled in Plymouth, where he kept tavern and died in 1813. Betsey was a maiden lady and lived with her relatives, and died in Pitcher, in October, 1838, aged 77.
Asa WEAVER, who built the first mill in Pharsalia [French's State Gazetteer. Hon. Horace L. BARNES, of Pharsalia, says Jarius FRINK built the first grist and saw-mill.], is believed to have been a brother of the WEAVERs above named, though very little is known of him by the remnant of that family. His grist-mill stood a little south of the stream saw-mill at North Pharsalia. He also built a saw-mill on the same stream-the Canasawacta-a little above the steam saw-mill, where the bridge crosses that stream on the west road from North Pharsalia. Both were built about the beginning of the century, and were in a state of decay in 1827.
Sanford MORGAN settled at the Center, about half to three-fourths of a mile east of the church at that point, where he resided and kept tavern for a good many years. He also kept there the first store and post-office in the town. He kept both store and tavern as late as 1827.
The house in which he lived was burned two years ago. The farm is now owned by Horace PACKER, of Oxford. None of the family are now living here.
David DAVIS settled on lot 69.
The first settlers were soon followed by Joseph LORD, Jabish and Benjamin BROWN, Lewis BROWN, Asa WEAVER, John COATES, Winlock ECCLESTON, Jeffrey LAMPHERE, Noah GRANT, Jarius FRINK, Luke BABCOCK, Prentice FRINK, Stephen FRISBEE, Philoman FRISBEE, Nathaniel PRICE, Vine STAR, the pioneer blacksmith, Gurdon WILLIAMS, Nathaniel WALDRON, Augustus and Edwin WHITING, Daniel KINNEY, Russell STEWART, Timothy BOSWORTH, Joshua FARGO, Ephraim POWELL, Benjamin HAMMOND, Nathaniel, Avery and Russell BROWN, Joel CRANE, Ezra BURDICK, and others.
Joseph LORD came about 1800 and settled about half a mile south of Pharsalia, where his grandson, James, now lives, and died there Aug. 10, 1839, aged 82, and his wife, Caroline, Jan. 17, 1861, aged 96. He built and was interested in the mill property in that locality. His children were Isaiah, Samuel, Roswell, David, and several daughters.
Major Jabish and Benjain BROWN (not related) came from Stonington, Conn., their native place, soon after 1800. They were both young, single men. They came in the spring, worked one season and returned in the fall to Stonington, where Benjamin married Phebe BROWN. They returned here on horseback that fall or the following spring. Benjamin settled a mile north of Pharsalia, on fifty acres now owned by Nathaniel LEWIS. He afterwards removed to the village, where he died Feb. 1, 1857, aged 78, and his wife, Jan. 26, 1856, aged 79. Their children were Celestia, Ansel, Livonia, Amos M., Aurelia and Angeline. Jabish married, soon after his return, Kiturah, daughter of Nehemiah BROWN, this marriage being the first contracted in the town. He settled opposite Benjamin BROWN and died there, he and his wife, as previously stated. He was supervisor for several years. His children were Perlina, Lydia, Rebecca, Calvin G., Russel and Hiram.
Noah GRANT came from Stonington, Conn., in 1802, and settled on lot 73, in the south-east corner of the town on what is known as the Berry farm, which is now occupied by Silas W. BERRY. He afterwards removed to East Pharsalia and built there in 1806 or '8 the first saw and grist-mill in the south part of the town. The first-mill is still standing and in use, about two miles below the head of the Genegantslet. The saw-mill stood on the site of the present one, which was built about thirty years ago by Lyman B. FELTON. It is owned by H. R. POWELL, but is not in use and has not been for ten or twelve years. The first saw-mill rotten down. Noah Grant removed to Ohio soon after the close of the war of 1812, but his family remained here. His children were Russell, Miner, William B., Noah, Patty, Ruth, John, a daughter, and Justus, who married Amy, daughter of Samuel BARTLETT, and settled at East Pharsalia, on the site of the present hotel. He was a carpenter and cabinet maker, and worked at his trade a number of years. He built and kept the first hotel in that village. It stood on the site of the present one, which was also built by him about forty years ago. The first one was built about 1824.
Luke BABCOCK came from Westerly, R.I., soon after 1800, and settled about a half mile east of North Pharsalia, on the place now owned by Lorenzo BARLOW, and died there. His children were Prentice, Paul, Desire, Nancy, Phebe, Hannah and Delight.
Nathaniel WALDRON came form Newport, Rhode Island, about 1805 or '6 and settled a mile and a half north of East Pharsalia. He bought in company with Thomas BUTLER, from Stonington, Conn., about one-third of the town of Phasalia. He removed about 1818 to the place now occupied by his son Mirtalu N. Waldron, in the north-west corner of the town, where he died April 20, 1831, aged 62. He married Ruth, daughter of Joshua BOWEN, of Bristol, Rhode Island, and had, when he came here, two children, Betsey and Martha B.
Mr. BUTLER never settled here.
Augustus and Edward WHITING, brothers, came from Stonington, Connecticut, in 1802, and settled in the north part of the town, Augustus, on lot 38, on the place now owned by John CHILDS, and Edwin just across the road on lot 27. They established a distillery there. Both removed at an early day to the west part of the State.
Major Timothy BOSWORTH came from Bristol, Rhode Island, in 1804, and settled on lot 53, about a mile and a half north of East Phasalia, where his grandson, Noyes A. Bosworth, now lives. He took up the entire lot. He was well advanced in years when he came here. Both he and his wife are buried on the farm on which they lived and died. Their children were George, Timothy, William, Gardner, Allen, Ann, Elizabeth and another daughter who became the wife of Jonathan FARGO.
Abel NEWTON settled about 1802, on lot 22, in the north part of the town, on the farm afterwards occupied by his son Miles, and at present occupied by Stephen MAXFIELD. He died in the town.
Elijah POWELL came from Dutchess county about 1802 and settled in Sherburne. He removed thence in 1804 to Pharsalia, and settled about a mile and a half west of East Pharsalia, on the farm now owned by his grandson, Henry R. Powell, and occupied by George YOEMANS. The farm has ever since been in the hands of the family. He died June 17, 1869, aged 97, in Richford, Tioga county. His wife, Jane, died March 28, 1846, aged 74. His children were Samuel, Elijah, Jonathan, Isaac T., Betsey, Rebecca, Amanda and Lucina. Four grandchildren only are living in the county, all children of Isaac T., viz: Henry R. Powell, a merchant in East Pharsalia, Orville M., in Pharsalia, Wallace D., in Plymouth, and Harriet, wife of Lucius CRUMB, in East Pharsalia.
Benjamin and John HAMMOND, brothers, came from Newport, Rhode Island, in September, 1809, and bought land of Judge Nathaniel WALDRON. They bought 47 acres, of which John owned some 13 acres and Benjamin the remainder. They paid $6 an acre, though they could then have bought land on the flats in Norwich village at $2.50 an acre. The place, which is about two miles north of East Pharsalia, is now owned by John BROOKS. John lived with Benjamin. Both had families when they came, Benjamin a wife and there till about 1850, when he went to live with his son John in Norwich, where he died in 1858, aged 87. His wife died four years before, aged 84. John, who still lives in Norwich, is the only one of his children left.
Captain Nathan BROWN, who was a native of Stonington, Connecticut, came from Belchertown, Massachusetts, in February, 1808, with his family, consisting of his wife, Eunice, daughter of Ichabod BROWN, of Stonington, Connecticut, ten children and a colored servant named Henry. He settled on lot 33 in the west part of the town, on the line of Pitcher, on 100 acres now owned and occupied by his son Ephraim P. Brown, where he died June 2, 1847, aged 82, and his wife, Sept. 28, 1826, aged 59. His children were Eunice, Patty, Betsey, Roxana, Nathan, Almira, Alfred, and Charles.
Avery BROWN, a younger brother of Captain Nathan Brown, came in a few years later from Stonington, Connecticut, and settled in the north-west corner of the town, where his son Nathan H. now lives, and died there, he and his wife. His children besides Nathan H., were Avery, Luther, Cyrus, Minetta, Marinda and Maranda.
Russell BROWN came from Stonington, Connecticut, where he married Polly, sister of Nathan BROWN, who is still living with her son, William S. Brown, at Pharsalia. They came a few years after Nathan and settled about a mile and half south-east of Pharsalia, where their son Nathan now lives. He died there. Russell Brown, now living at East Pharsalia, is another son of theirs.
The BROWNs were numerous and comprised several distinct families, all of whom were from Stonington, Connecticut. They are said to have numbered at one time one-third of the entire voting population of the town.
Joel CRANE came from Wethersfield, Vermont, in February, 1806. with two horse teams, one a double team, drawing a double sleigh containing the household goods, and a single horse attached to a cutter containing his family, consisting of his wife, Sally GRAVES, originally of Worcester, Massachusetts, and four children, Hendrick, Amaziah, Sally M., and Luther, all of whom were born in Wethersfield, Vermont. Two children were born after they came here, Betsey J. and Mary M. Mr. Crane settled first in Norwich. In May, 1807, he located on 60 acres of the John RANDALL farm at "the Hook," where, in 1811, he commenced keeping tavern in a frame house which stood on the site of the present tavern, or a part of it. The south part of the present tavern, 32 by 34 feet, two stories high, was built as an addition to the first frame house in 1816, the latter having been removed about 1818 and used as a shed and store house and afterwards torn down. He kept tavern there till his death, Jan. 14, 1835. Joel was a son of Hezekiah Crane, of East Windsor, Connecticut, where he was born Jan. 19, 1772. His wife was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Feb. 17, 1777, and died in Phasalia, Aug. 22, 1852. They were married in 1796.
Ezra BURDICK came from Stonington, Conn., about 1808, with his wife, Martha FISH, and two children, Patty and Delilah, and settled in Brookfield, whence, after some two years, they removed to Pharsalia, where he lived and died July 3, 1859, aged 75, and his wife, April 11, 1827, aged 41. After her death he married Mary HART, who died May 17, 1858, aged 69. He settled a half mile east of Pharsalia, where Silas MORGAN now lives. He afterwards moved a mile and a half south, to the place now owned by Calvin HUNTLEY, where he lived till he was over seventy, when he went to live at McDonough, and died with his son, William R. Burdick.
Elijah BURDICK, father of Ezra came in soon after him and settled on the center road, about a mile south-east of Pharsalia. He died in the town Dec. 17, 1833, aged 75, and his wife, Avis ROBINSON, Feb. 18, 1836, aged 75. His children were Daniel, Betsey, Patty, Avis, Hannah, Eunice and Sally.
East Pharsalia
Merchants:- The first merchant in East Pharsalia was John BECKER, who opened a store in the south part of the village, near when Alanson COY lives, previous to 1827. He traded at intervals some three or four years. Other early merchants were the KINNEY Brothers, about 1836, who occupied the store in which Henry R. POWELL is doing business; Pride & Smith, about 1841; and Henry BAKER, the latter of whom came from Marlboro, Mass., with his parents some fifty odd years ago, and was trading here from about 1845 to 1850.
The present merchants are Henry R. POWELL and Moses H. FRANKLIN. Mr. POWELL commenced business in the spring of 1857, in company with his father Isaac T. Powell, who commenced about a year before. Both are natives of the town. They traded together some seven or eight years, when H. R. Powell bought his father's interest and has traded alone since, with the exception of one year, when he was associated with Henry BAKER. Mr. FRANKLIN commenced business in the fall of 1877. He and previously done business here a few years about the close of the late war. He has resided in the town some twenty years.
Postmasters:- The post-office in the town was located at the Centre. The office at East Pharsalia was established when the stage route which formerly ran through the Centre was changed as it now exists, about 1825, and Justus GRANT was the first postmaster. He held the office a great many years and resigned it about 1842 to Henry BAKER, who held it during the time he was engaged in mercantile business. He was succeeded by his brother, George L. Baker, who held it till about 1857, when H. R. POWELL was appointed . Halbert GRANT, the present incumbent, was appointed in 1861, and has held the office continuously since, with the exception of two years, when he resigned in favor of C. S. SUMNER.
Physicians:- Bla BEARDSLEY and Berlin ROBINSON were early physicians at East Pharsalia. E. R. MORGAN practiced here the latter part of the war and a short time after. J. D. UNDERWOOD practiced here about two years about the same time. Levi D. GREENLEAF, the present physician, has practiced here and at Pharsalia some fifteen years.
North Pharsalia
The post-office at this place was established about 1855, and the first postmaster was Ichabod CRITTENDEN , who held the office a year. He was succeeded by Erasmus D. BROWN, the present incumbent, who was appointed in the fall of 1856, and has held the office continuously since.
The grist-mill at North Pharsalia was built about two to three years ago, by Isaiah WHITE, the present proprietor. It contains one run of stones and is situated on the Canasawacta, which has a fall of eight or nine feet, but is not a very constant water-power.
Pharsalia
Merchants:- The first merchant at Pharsalia is believed to have been Walter GERMAN, son of General Obadiah German, of North Norwich. He was doing business here previous to 1812 in the south room of the tavern. He enlisted during the war of 1812, and for some misdemeanor was hung. The first building erected for a store stood on the site of the one now occupied by Morris D. BROWN, and was first kept by Walter GERMAN, who removed his goods from the tavern to that building, which is believed to have been erected by his father. Other early merchants were Roswell RANDALL, O. G. RANDALL, Washington EDDY, Charles YORK, son of Judge Charles York, of Norwich, and Hendrick CRANE.
The present merchant is Morris D. BROWN, who commenced business in company with his father, William S. Brown, in 1867. After trading some seven years they were burned out. After the fire, Morris D. Brown resumed business in company with his brother, George D. Brown, whose interest he bought after about four years.
Postmasters:- The post-office at Pharsalia was established about 1825, at the same time as at East Pharsalia. Roswell RANDALL was probably the first postmaster. He held the office for several years. The mail was carried on horseback for several years by Judah BEMENT, of Plymouth. Morris D. BROWN, the present postmaster, was appointed in February, 1874. C. H. BROWNING preceded him and was appointed in 1861.
History of Pitcher
History of Pitcher
PITCHER was formed from German and Lincklaen, February 13, 1827.
The town of Pitcher is wholly embraced in the tract of land known as the Gore, and a tract originally patented to John W. WATKINS, June 14, 1793, and subsequently acquired by the Holland Land company, under whose auspices the early settlements were made, not however, the first. The first settlers reached this locality in 1791, via Oxford, and for a few years their only communication with the outside world was a blazed route to that embryo village, the germ of which was planted the previous year. In 1791 Ebenezer FOX, from Litchfield, Mass., his native place, and Jacob NOTEMAN, Abram DORN and John VAN AUGUR, from the locality of Schenectady, settled in the north-west part of the town, on the west line, and Silas BURGESS two miles south of them. About three years later John LINCKLAEN, agent of the Holland Land Company, caused a north and south road to be cut through their entire purchase along its western border from Cazenovia to the town of Pitcher. The engineer in charge of this enterprise had a corps of four axmen and one teamster, among whom were John WILSON and James SMITH, two of the hardy Jerseymen who accompanied Mr. Lincklaen in the settlement at Cazenovia in 1793, and the former of whom afterwards settled in Pitcher and the latter in DeRuyter. At this time the families named were the only settlers in this town, and so far as they knew, there were no settlers within many miles to the north of them. When, therefore, the road-cutters had approached sufficiently near so that the sound of their axes could be heard by the inhabitants of this secluded little settlement many speculations were indulged in as to the character of their approaching visitors and the nature of their mission; and were overjoyed when, early one morning, the engineer, in advance of his axmen, made his appearance in the settlement and broke to them the intelligence that a new means of communication with the civilized world was opening to them. The men gladly turned out with their axes and assisted in the completion of the undertaking, and that night, when they hospitably entertained the harbingers of their good fortune, was the happiest which had closed upon the little band of pioneers, whose social and commercial relations were thenceforward intimately connected with the settlement at DeRuyter.
Mr. FOX was a cooper and kept the first shop of his craft in that part of the place known as Deran, lying in Pitcher. He died in 1861, DORN in 1821; and they, as well as VAN AUGER, died in Pitcher. VAN AUGUR's descendants removed from the town. William BREED lives where he settled. DORN's son Charles lived there till about 1860.
Carrie, wife of Luman ELBRIDGE, of Pitcher, is a daughter of the latter. BURGESS put up a log house in what is known as the four-mile wood and raised a large family, only one of whom-Thomas-is now living there. Mrs. Ledyard BAKER and Mrs. P. H. LYON, daughters of Ebenezer FOX, are living in Pitcher and are the only ones now living there. Mrs. L. A. HALL, of Pittsfield, Otsego county, Mary CUMMINGS, of Syracuse, and Sally MURRAY, of Homer, are other daughters of Ebenezer FOX, and all are descendants on their mother's side of Oliver Hazzard PERRY.
Soon after the completion of this road, in 1794 or '5, Mr. Lincklaen sent John WILSON, a mill-wright, of Nelson, to build a mill on Mud creek, about one-third mile above its confluence with the Otselic. The mill was afterwards known as Sullivan's mill; its ruins are yet plain to be seen. At the same time a carpenter named SCHUYLER was sent to build a house for the company. It stood a little west of the large red barn on the farm of Joseph ALEXANDER. Wilson remained and worked the mill after its completion, and while thus engaged became acquainted with Polly, daughter of Jonas HINMAN, with whom, on the 16th of May, 1799, he contracted the first marriage in town. He afterwards removed to the farm now owned by William SMITH, in the south-west corner of the town of Lincklaen, where both he and his wife died, the former Nov. 9, 1843, aged 84, and his wife, Oct. 22, 1849, aged 67. The farm was afterward occupied by his son John L., who lived on it till within a year or two of his death, when he removed to the farm now occupied by Ezra BENNETT, in the north edge of Pitcher, where he died Feb. 15, 1867, aged 61. He had two daughters, both maiden ladies.
Among the early settlers were Benjamin and Abel FAIRCHILD, Ebenezer WAKELEY, Jonas HINMAN, Silas BEEBE, George TAYLOR, Elijah FENTON, Jonathan CHANDLER, Abijah RHINES, Gideon PEET, M. MILLARD, Lewis and Philo BLACKMAN and Richard WARNER.
Benjamin FAIRCHILD came from Trumbull, Conn., in 1795, and settled at Pitcher village, where he built and kept a tavern in a log house which stood on the site of the hotel in that village. This was the first tavern in the town and was kept by him till within some fifteen years of his death, when he was succeeded by his son Daniel, who kept it till his death. Benjamin soon after built on the same site a frame house which was afterwards removed to the site of Adna WARNER's residence and occupied as a dwelling-house. It was torn down in 1874 to make room for Mr. Warner's residence. In 1829 his son Daniel built the present hotel, which has since been repaired and enlarged.
Benjamin Fairchild was born in 1760. He married Dolly BLACKMAN, also a native of Connecticut, who was born in 1767. They both died in Pitcher, of small-pox, Benjamin Jan 21, 1837, aged 71, and his wife, Jan. 27, 1831, aged 64. Their children were Lemuel, born June 7, 1785, Zalmon, born Oct. 3, 1787, Philo, born Oct. 17, 1790, Pamelia, born Oct. 11, 1793, Isaac, born Nov. 5, 1796, Daniel, born Nov. 13, 1799, Sally, born Nov. 9, 1802, and Polly, born Sept. 25, 1805, only two of whom are living-Zalmon and Polly. Lemuel married Celia, daughter of Job and Elizabeth CROCKER, and settled in the village where Bigelow PACKER now lives. Zalmon married Polly BLACHARD and settled in the village, where he now lives. Philo married Rochsa FENTON and settled on a farm which now forms a part of the PARTRIDGE farm. Pamelia was a maiden lady and died in the spring of 1879. Isaac married Mercy PENNOYER, of DeRuyter, and settled in the village. Daniel married Polly, daughter of Joseph STERLING, and settled and died in the tavern, May 9, 1838. Sally married Dr. Genet SHIPMAN, whose father, Deacon Daniel Shipman, was an early settler at what is now as Shipman's bridge. Polly married Zuriah McWHORTER, who settled and lived for any years on the old McWhorter farm in Cincinnatus.
Job CROCKER, to whom reference has been made, came at an early day from Cape Cod, and settled on the knoll a half mile north of Pitcher village. After the death of his wife, Sept. 28, 1828, aged 68, he went to live with his daughter in Lincklaen, and died there May 7, 1831, aged 83. His children were Richard, Betsey, Haskins, Celia and Olive, twins, Daniel, and Samantha, none of whom are living.
Ebenezer WAKELEY, who was born Nov. 3, 1770, came at a very early day from Connecticut and settled on what is known as Wakeley hill, about a mile south of Pitcher Village. He afterwards removed to that village, to live with his son-in-law, Dr. David McWHORTER and died Jan. 22, 1854. He wife, Mary Abigail, died April 28, 1845, aged 71. He was the first supervisor of Pitcher; was Side Judge, and represented this county in the Assembly in 1808-'10, 1812-13, 1816-'17, and in 1819. He taught the first school in Pitcher. He had only three children.
Jonas HINMAN came from Trumbull, Conn., about 1800, and settled about a mile above Pitcher, on the farm owned in part by his grandson, Edward Hinman, and in part by George HAKES where he died Dec. 14, 1833, aged 81. Cathy, his wife, died Oct. 3, 1836, aged 74. His children were Polly, Sally, John, James and a daughter.
A son of Silas BEEBE's, who was born in November, 1796, was the first child born in the town.
George TAYLOR came from East Hartford, Conn., in 1803, and settled on fifteen acres about a quarter of a mile above Pitcher, where Billings ALLEN now lives. About 1807 he removed to the place where his son George now lives, a little west of Chandler's Corners, where he died Sept. 22, 1860, aged 95, and his wife Sarah W., in March, 1849, aged 87. His children were Cryprian, Sally, and George, who married Anna, daughter of Solomon ENSIGN, and is living on the homestead; Theodocia, who married Orrin ANDERSON, and lived and died in Pitcher, the former Jan. 8, 1875, aged 74, and her husband, Feb. 22, 1864, aged 67; Daniel, and Polly.
Elijah FENTON came from Willington, Conn., in 1798 or '99, and bought a farm and improvements of Gideon PEET, who came in a year or two earlier and had cleared some the acres upon the place where Ralph TAYLOR now lives. After making the purchase Mr. Fenton returned to Connecticut. He came her again about 1802 or '03, and about 1804 brought in his family, which consisted of his wife, Polly STORRS, a native of Connecticut, and five children, Ameilia, Elijah, Eneas, Rochsa and Polly. Both Fenton and his wife died on that place, the former March 22, 1850, aged 88, and the latter, April 3, 1847, aged 82.
Col. Jonathan CHANDLER came from near Hartford, Conn., soon after 1801 and settled at the Corners which perpetuate his name, about a mile above the village, on the place now occupied by his grandson, William Ransom Chandler, where he died July 30, 1844, aged 82 1/2 years. He took up a large tract of land in that locality and was interested in the mill property now owned by George H. ANDRUS, a half mile above Pitcher village, consisting of a saw and grist-mill, the latter of which was built by him at a very early day, among the first in this part of the county. The mill property remained in the hands of the family till 1847, when it was purchased by I. B. ALLEN. The grist-mill, a stone structure was rebuilt by his son Jonathan, in 1841-'424. Mr. Chandler was probably the first postmaster in the town. He was also engaged in mercantile business. His store, a frame building, stood near his residence. It is still standing in the rear of William R. chandler's residence and is used as a tenement house.
He kept store there as late as 1830.
Mr. Chandler was born Jan. 1, 1792, and Oct. 1, 1781, he married Sarah EASTON, of Connecticut, who was born Oct. 25, 1762, and died March 22, 1840. Their children were Samuel, who was born Dec. 10, 1781; Oliver E., who was born Sept. 16, 1783; Jonathan, Jr., who was born Dec. 27, 1785; Walter, who was born June 3, 1788; Horace, who was born June 3, 1792; Loel, who was born May 16, 1794; Abel, who was born Feb. 1st, 1797; Sally, who was born Feb. 14, 1800; Harry, who was born August 9, 1802; and Hiram, who was born Nov. 14, 1809. Only one other grandchild besides William R Chandler, son of Hiram, and Mrs. WEAVER, daughter of Oliver E., is living in this county, viz: Julia Maria, daughter of Abel, wife of George W. DENSLOW, of Norwich.
Deacon Lewis BLACKMAN, a native of Huntington, Conn., came from Roxbury in that State in November, 1802, with horses and wagon across the country by the Catskill turnpike, via Sidney. He remained that winter in Pitcher village, and in the spring removed to North Pitcher, where the took up 75 acres, the major part of which is owned by his grandson, Norton Blackman, and the remainder by Edson and John ELDRIDGE. He died there July 17, 1841, aged 72. When he came his family consisted of his wife, Charity, daughter of Nathan SMITH of Connecticut, who died Feb. 16, 1871, aged 99. and five children, Rosel, Roxy, David, Sheldon and Charles. Five children were born after they came here, viz: Dolly, Nancy, Dotia, Minerva and John S.
Richard WARNER came from Waterbury, Conn., in 1801, and settled on 50 acres in Taylor, then Solon, and in 1810 removed to Pitcher, to the place now occupied by John DRYER, a half mile south of the village. He afterwards removed to the village, where he and his wife died, the former March 25, 1857, aged 85, and the latter, (Polly,) Sept. 24, 1849, aged 72. Their children were fifteen in number: Obadiah, Deacon Shelden, Adna, Minerva, Maria, Edward, David, Curtis, Rachel, Electa, Calvin, Florilla, Elmina, and Richard P.
Curtis BEACH came from Trumbull, Conn., in the winter of 1800, with his family on ox sleds, and bought the improvements, consisting of a log house and a small clearing, of Silas BEEBE, who removed to Pitcher village and lived there some years. The snow fall was heavy that winter, and when the Beaches arrived at their destination with the two sleds drawn by oxen and laden with the family and household effects, they found the house literally buried in snow. His wife and children sat upon the sled while he dug a roadway to the entrance of the hut, a labor in which he was assisted by Charles and Walter HYDE, brothers, and young, unmarried men who came from Connecticut and settled in the same locality. Beach died there May 8, 1820, aged 57, and his wife, Rachel HAWLEY, of Connecticut, April 19, 1851, aged 88 Their children were Percy, Isaac, Asa, and Polly. None of the family are living.
Abijah VINING came from Connecticut about 1800 and settled about a mile south-west of Pitcher, where Judson WIRE now lives, and died there, he and his wife, Rebecca, the latter April 1, 1811. His children were Philo, and Leeson.
Settlements were made about 1803 or '04 by Daniel SHIPMAN and Edward SOUTHWORTH. SHIPMAN came from Connecticut, and settled at North Pitcher, where Elias SMITH now lives. He was killed at the raising of the Congregational meeting-house Nov. 3, 1820, aged 47. He had five sons, all of whom were physicians, and two daughters.
Deacon Edward SOUTHWORTH settled at North Pitcher, where Beardsley SANFORD now lives, and died there March 19, 1830, aged 66. His children were Anna, Sally, John, Constant, Jesse, Mary and Edward.
Truman and Abraham FAIRCHILD, brothers, came in with their father from Dutchess county about 1804, and settled at North Pitcher, Truman on the place now occupied by Milton UFFORD, where he died Nov. 16, 1816, aged 40.
Jonathan KENYON came from Richmond, R.I., in 1806, and settled two miles north-west of Pitcher village, where Elias Kenyon, his grandson, now lives, and died there in March, 1831. He had seven children, Samuel B., Jonathan, Colonel Asa, Elizabeth Patty, Mary, Solomon and Dorcas.
William SMITIH, who was born in Huntington, Conn., in 1777, came from Litchfield, Conn., about 1804, and settled at North Pitcher, where John BREED now lives. He remained but a short time and returned to Connecticut, coming back here about the close of the war of 1812. In 1820 he went west. His children were Harriet, Harry, Julius, Augustus, Julia Ann, William B., Charles Benton, Charles Harvey, Frederick G., Lucius S. and Lewis S.
Joseph SMITH, brother of William, who was born in Huntington, Conn., in 1764, came from the same place in 1807, and settled in the north part of the town, on the line of Lincklaen, on the farm now occupied by Wallace NEAL. He died in the town April 27, 1853, aged 89, and Sally, his wife, Sept. 20, 1823, aged 47. His children were Zira, David, Joseph, Betsey E., Rebecca, Catharine, Minerva, Sabrina, Samuel B., Sarah, Samuel B., Isaac P. and Nancy.
Other early settlers were Solomon and Perez HAKES, Simeon FINCH and Solomon ENSIGN. The HAKESes came from Stonington, Conn., and settled about two and a half miles north-east of Pitcher, on the road to Pharsalia, Solomon on the place now occupied by his grandson, Solomon Hakes 2d, and Perez, where his son Denison now lives. Solomon died Sept. 21, 1867, aged 95, and Fanny, his wife. June 8, 1857, aged 80.
Simeon FINCH settled in the south part of the town, on Brakel Creek, and died June 9, 1858, aged 84, and Zilpah, his wife, March 11, 1864, aged 89.
Solomon ENSIGN settled in the central part of the town, and died June 18, 1864, aged 93, and Elizabeth, his wife, August 20, 1847, aged 77. He was the father of Judge Solomon Ensign, who died May 11, 1872, aged 77.
Lorin COOK came in with his father, Solomon Cook, from Marlborough, Mass., about 1812, and settled near the old cemetery in the north-east corner of the town, where he carried on the blacksmith business so long as he was able to work. He married Hannah, daughter of Timothy WARNER, and died April 30, 1878, aged 80. Solomon afterwards removed to Lincklaen, his title to his place in Pitcher proving defective.
Becoming sick he returned to live with his son Lorrin, and died there of consumption.
Merchants:- The first merchant in Pitcher, and the first also in the town, was Reuben ROOT, who came from Burlington, Otsego county, in the summer of 1805, and traded two or three years in a building which stood on the site of Bemiss & Barrett's store. He returned to Otsego county. A man named GRAY came from the West about a year after Root left and traded two or three years. A man named BUTTERFIELD traded a short time about the time Gray left.
Zalmon FAIRCHILD was the first prominent merchant in this place. He is a son of Benjamin Fairchild, one of the pioneer settlers in this town, and came here with his parents at the age of seven years, in 1795, and commenced trading about 1810, in a small frame building which occupied the site of Benjamin Fairchild's residence. The building stood till within a few years, when it was removed to the west part of the town and used as a barn. His stock of goods, it is said, were kept at first in a chest. He continued in trade till about 1858 or '60 when he sold to O. F. FORBES, who had been his partner three years previously. Mr. Forbes formed a co-partnership with Orlando COY, which continued about a year, when Forbes bought Coy's interest and entered into partnership with E. A. FISH, with whom he continued about five years, when they sold to William and Addison TAYLOR, brothers, from Plymouth, where they had kept a small store. They traded till about 1874, when they sold their goods to Bemiss and Barrett.
E. Clark LYONS came from Cazenovia in 1841, and kept the hotel at Pitcher seven years. He then engaged in the mercantile business and opened, in 1848, the first drug store in the village, which he continued till 1869, when he sold the building to Giles HYDE, who immediately sold to L. E. DARLING, who opened a hardware store and tinshop which, after a short time he sold to Francis B. RECORD, of Otselic, who, after two years, sold to Fayette F. BENNETT, who traded till his death, Nov. 9, 1875. William E. HARRINGTON, a native of Pitcher, bought out Bennett's heirs in December, 1875, and still continues the business.
E. W. ALLEN, who was for several years pastor of the Congregational church in Pitcher, commenced trading here about 1867, and continued about three years, when he removed to Walla Walla.
Theron and Thurlow BLACKMAN, brothers, of Pitcher, traded here from 1876 till the spring of 1879, when they assigned.
The merchants at present doing business here, besides Mr. Harrington, are Bemiss & Barrett, Frank P. HAKES and William SAXTON.
Bemiss & Barrett, (Solomon K. BEMISS and Charles M BARRETT,) are general merchants. The business was established March 1, 1869.
Frank P. HAKES, dealer in drugs and groceries, commenced business in February, 1873.
William SAXTON, general merchant, commenced business April 11, 1878.
Postmasters:- The first post-office at Pitcher was established in June, 1841, as West Pitcher. The name was changed to Pitcher, February 23, 1842. E. Clark LYONS was the first postmaster and held the office twenty years continuously. William TAYLOR succeeded him in 1861, and after a short time was followed by Thomas CARTER. After Carter the office was held successively by A. D HARRINGTON, Thomas McELROY, E. W. ALLEN and Solomon K. BEMISS, the present incumbent, who was appointed April 3, 1871.
The first post-office in the town was at Chandler's Corners, a mile north of Pitcher village, and Jonathan CHANDLER, who had an ashery and small grocery there, was the postmaster. The office was subsequently removed to Pitcher Springs.
Physicians:- The first physician who located in Pitcher was Dr. JOHNSON, about 1808 or '9. He practiced here but a short time and went to Norwich. If the person here referred to is Jonathan JOHNSON, of Norwich, it is doubtful if he ever located here, though he might, and probably did extend his ride into this locality at that early day.
David McWHORTER, a nephew of Dr. John McWhorter, of Cincinnatus, practiced here from an early day, about the opening of the war of 1812, till 1849. He removed to Michigan. Drs. Stephen R. BRADLEY, Russell BALLOU and Lyman ROSE practiced here for short periods.
Dr. Horace HALBERT, the present physician at Pitcher, was born in Union Valley, Cortland county, June 8, 1826.
North Pitcher
Merchants:- The first merchant at North Pitcher was a man named KINNEY, who did business about two years from about the close of the war of 1812. Zira and David SMITH, brothers, were trading here about 1824, and continued some two or three years. Samuel PLUMB opened a store about 1830, and continued about two years. Roswell and Charles BLACKMAN, brothers, bought out Plumb in the spring of 1832, and traded some twelve years. J. A. Holmes & Co., (Zira SMITH, Jethro HATCH and David BLACKMAN,) commenced business about 1835, and continued about two years. J. S. BLACKMAN and Monroe SMITH traded some two or three years about the beginning of the war. There have been no other merchants of note.
Postmasters:- The post-office at North Pitcher was established about 1828. Samuel PLUMB was the first postmaster. He held the office several years, and has been succeeded by J. S. BLACKMAN, Wilbur KNOWLES, Edward FOX, Israel TUTTLE and Lucius E. PIERCE, the latter of whom is the present incumbent, having held the office since May 25, 1871. Pitcher Springs
History of Plymouth
History of Plymouth
Plymouth was formed from Norwich, April 7, 1806.
The first settlements were made about 1794, by several French families, among whom were D. G. JEFFREY, John and Modest RAYNOR, brothers, the latter of whom had a family. Most of them removed to Ohio at an early day. They settled in the locality of Plymouth village and probably came at the instance of Benjamin WALKER, of Utica, an English gentleman who owned the lands in this locality. He came from England about the opening of the war of 1812, and was made a captain in the first New York regiment raised here during that war. Mr. Walker built, or caused to be built, a saw and grist-mill and a large barn one hundred feet long for the accommodation of the settlers. The first mill stood where Allen STEWARD now lives, about a hundred rods below the present mill in Plymouth village. It was afterwards discovered that the wrong site had been selected and a second mill was built about 1801 or '2, on the site of the present one, which was built about thirty-five years ago, by a company composed of several individuals. Nathaniel PRENTIS bought this second mill at an early day and was killed Oct . 13, 1809, at the age of 42, by the fall of a heavy rafter while engaged in repairing it.
Major Thomas BROOKS, Silas HOLMES and ---- BLOWERS were among the first settlers of the town. Major BROOKS, who was a militia officer, came from the New England States, settled in the south-east corner of Plymouth, on the farm now owned and occupied by Ambrose BRYANT. He was killed by the fall of a tree Aug. 30, 1822, at the age of 61 years. His family continued to reside on the farm, and his wife, Lucy, and sons, Thomas, Socrates and Cassius and daughter Clarissa, a maiden lady, died there, the latter at the age of about 80. His wife died Dec. 31, 1827, aged 71. He had two other sons named Thesius and Clitus. His daughter Clarissa taught the first school in the town about 1800 or 1801. The school-house in which she taught was a log structure, and stood a little below the store occupied by James B. ANTHONY. It was an uncouth structure and soon gave place to a more commodious one.
Silas HOLMES, who was formerly from Connecticut, came in from Saratoga county and settled on the Norwich road, about three miles below the village, where, about the beginning of the century, he built a grist and saw-mill, which he occupied till his removal to Chautauqua county, about 1834-40. The grist-mill is now owned by Mr. ROSS and the saw-mill by Orrin SEXTON. Mr. Holmes represented this county in the Assembly in 1812 and 1823. His children mostly went West with him.
Mr. BLOWERS settled on the place afterwards occupied by Shubal TOWER, about a mile above the village, where J. STEWARD now lives. He died at an early day, his death being the first which occurred in the town. He was buried on the corner opposite the present tavern, where some eight or ten of the first persons who died were interred; but the spot is built over and all trace of the graves obliterated. Henry PRESCOTT's residence stands upon the spot.
Subal TOWER, to whom reference has been made, came from from Massachusetts about 1801 or '2. He resided here till his death, Jan. 7, 1858, aged 90. Abigail, his wife, died March 1, 1856, aged 81. His children were Salma, who died in the town June 20, 1844, aged 46; William, Rodney and James B., who went to Wisconsin; Almon, who died in the village a year or two ago; Obadiah, a deacon of the Baptist church, now living in Oxford; Nelson, the youngest son, who also went to Wisconsin; and Hannah, the eldest child, who married Lemuel FERGUSON and died Dec. 25, 1829, aged 33.
James PURDY, brother to Abner Purdy, a pioneer settler in North Norwich, came from Amenia, Dutchess county, in February, 1796. He settled in the north-east corner of the town, at Sherburne Four Corners, on the farm now owned and occupied by his grandson, Charles HARTWELL, where he died Nov. 19, 1828; also his wife Phebe, Sept. 2, 1840. Only one of his family is living, Phebe, the youngest, who was born on the farm in 1798, and is still living on it, remarkably well-preserved, both mentally and physically. She married Samuel HARTWELL, who settled on his father's homestead,which is also occupied by Charles Hartwell, his eldest son, and died there.
Judah BEMENT settled in the town in 1798 or '9, and John MILLER previous to that year. Judah BEMENT was blacksmith and came from Massachusetts. He settled in the village on an acre of land opposite the Baptist meeting house, where Marvin STEWARD now lives, which was given him by Colonel WALKER, of Utica, for establishing a blacksmith shop in the village and plying his trade there. He was the pioneer blacksmith. He carried on that business, in connection with tavern keeping, in the village several years. He afterwards removed to a large farm about a mile and a half south-west of the village, where he carried on a large distillery. When advanced in years he sold his farm and removed to Norwich village, where he died Dec. 19, 1843, aged 66, and Lydia, his wife, March 25, 1844, aged 64. His daughters were Electa, who married Dexter SACKETT and lived and died in Plymouth; Martha, who married Daniel BUTLER and lived in Plymouth; Mary, who died unmarried, March 17, 1839, aged 23; Fanny, who married James KERSHAW and removed to Norwich and died there; and Clarissa, who married and died soon after at Norwich, Nov. 18, 1839, aged 22.
John MILLER was a German and came from the locality of Albany. He settled on the farm now occupied by Danforth R. CUSHMAN. He removed to Broome county after several years. His son John settled on the George STEWARD farm, about a mile below the village. He removed to Ohio about 1830. The latter's son John occupied that farm some years after his father's removal and died in the town Feb. 9, 1864, aged 69, and "Almyra," his wife, June 6, 1848, aged 57. John was the only one of his children who remained here.
Nathan WALES came from Tolland county, Conn., in the fall of 1799, and his family in the winter by means of sleighs, via Albany. He located near the present residence of George P. CUSHMAN, in a small log house in the hollow near the village. He soon after bought land about a mile above the village, the farm now occupied by Wesley TELLETT, where he died Sept. 22, 1825, aged 75. His wife, Sally, died April 25, 1827, aged 76. His son George died on the same place July 29, 1844, aged 64. He had twelve children, only one of whom is living, Danforth, in Plymouth village, aged 83 years. Danforth Wales represented this county in the Assembly in 1843.
Settlements were made about 1800 by James BAMFORD, Colonel William MUNROE, Asa CURTICE, Levi GARDNER, and soon after that year by Townsend S. GARDNER, James GERMAN, Jonathan WEAVER and David BLAIR.
James BAMFORD was an Irishman and came here from Utica. He settled about a mile above the village, on the farm now owned by Isaac S. NEWTON, of Norwich. He afterwards removed to a farm about half a mile above it and died March 8, 1843, aged 80. Adam S. Bamford, living in Norwich, is a son of his.
Colonel MUNROE was one of the first settlers on the site of Norwich, and removed from thence to the south-east corner of this town by reason of a difficulty between himself and Leonard M. CUTTING, who was the original owner of the 15th township. [See Norwich} While living in Norwich, and subsequently in Plymouth he filled several prominent positions, among them that of Sheriff, to which office he was appointed March 23, 1809, again Feb. 8, 1811, and again March 6, 1819. He was the first Member of Assembly from this town, in 1816. He died on the farm on which he settled in this town, and was succeeded thereon by his son Virgil, who sold it to Colonel Benadam FRINK, and removed to Wisconsin. [Mr. Danforth WALES, of Plymouth, says Colonel Munroe's second wife was the widow of Nathaniel PRENTISS, instead of Benjamin, as stated by Dr. HARRIS, of Norwich; also that William Munroe, a son by his first wife, died in the Beaver Meadow in Otselic, instead of Preston.] He was uncle to Dyar Munroe the latter of whom is father of the Munroes living in Plymouth.
Asa CURTICE settled about a mile and a half south-west of the village, and died in the town April 29, 1826, aged 52. His daughter was the first wife of Marvin STEWARD, of Plymouth, and died early. None of his children are living here.
Levi GARDNER came from Massachusetts and settled on the farm now occupied by Albert MUNDY, a half mile north of the village, where he died and is buried. His wife, Huldah, died March 19, 1872, aged 100 years. None of the children are left here. Some of them went west. Townsend S. Gardner, brother of Levi, came in a little later and settled first about a mile north-east of the village. He afterwards removed to the farm where William SABIN lives and died there June 10, 1840, aged 77; and Thankful, his wife, Nov. 19, 1849, aged 86.
James GERMAN was a half brother to Obadiah German, a prominent early settler in North Norwich, and came here from Dutchess county. He settled in the east part of the town, where he owned 300 to 400 acres of land. Ebenezer ADAMS now owns the land on which he settled. He removed with his family about 1823, to New Jersey.
Jonathan WEAVER settled in 1798, on the Smyrna road, about a mile from the village, on the Smyrna road, about a mile from the village, on what is known as the KNOWLES' farm, now occupied by David ROWE, where he died, April 13 1813, aged 60. Sarah BABCOCK, his second wife, died Aug. 14, 1819, aged 29. His children by his first wife were: Jonathan, Jr., who died in 1840, aged 60; Warren and Betsey. Those by his second wife were: James, Charles B., Gordon, who died in Smryna, Aug. 19, 1847, aged 50, Elias, who died in Norwich, and Lucretia.
David BLAIR came from Becket, Mass., with a family of eleven children and settled on the Smyrna road, about a mile and a half north-east of the village, where William WARNER now lives, and died there July 22, 1829, aged 80, and Miriam, his wife, Aug. 25, 1827, aged 78. His children, all of whom are dead, were: Thompson, Calvin, David, Robert, Luther, Erskine, Dolly, who married Robert HENRY, Miriam, who married Isaac SABIN, Hannah, who married Chester ALLEN, and Eunice and Theodocia , neither of whom married. Erskine succeeded his father on the homestead and died there. Luther, Thompson and Calvin went west at an early day. David settled first in this town and when advanced in years went to live with his children in the Black River Valley.
Nathan GLOVER and Christopher FALK joined the settlements in 1802. GLOVER came from Plainfield, Conn., with his family, consisting of his wife and six children, Abigail, Benjamin, James A., William, Nancy and Alphena. He settled in the east part of the town, close to the line of Norwich and died there in 1807. His wife died in Oxford, April 22, 1832, aged 71. Abigail, his daughter, married John BACKUS, of Oxford, and died there five or six years ago. James A., who was born April 24, 1799, married Ann BRADLEY, of Oxford, to which town he removed soon after his father's settlement here, and died there May 23, 1875. His wife, who was born July 8, 1792, died Dec. 27, 1871. Nancy married Joseph NOYES, of Billerica, Mass. Alphena married Joseph MAYDOLE, brother of David Maydole, the hammer manufacturer of Norwich, and is now living in Jefferson, Wis. Two children were born to Nathan Glover after his settlement here,- Sophia, who died unmarried in Oxford in 1878, and Emeline, who married David WILLSON, of Oxford, and died in Hunter, Ill., July 4, 1868.
Christopher FALK came from Sharon, Schoharie county, and settled about two miles south of Plymouth Center, and died there June 14, 1808, aged 38. He came with his family, consisting of his wife, Marion FRARY, and one child, Henry, the latter of whom is still living at Preston, aged 82. His children who were born after he settled here were: Elias, Justus and Lucretia, the latter of whom is the only one of these living. She married Asahel STEWARD, with whom she is living in Plymouth, where they settled. Elias and Justus died young.
Captain Joseph PRENTIS came from the locality of New London, Conn., in the fall of 1803, and settled on the farm John MILLER first took up. He was killed by the fall of a tree Jan. 20, 1804, aged 69. Margaret, his wife, lived to be 94 years old. She died Feb. 17, 1829.
Simon TAYLOR, who as a British soldier, and became a prisoner by the surrender of Burgoyne's army Oct. 17, 1777, came to Plymouth about 1805 or '6 and settled on a small farm about a mile east of the village, where Charles BROWNING now lives, and died there April 4, 1834, aged 78, and Ruth, his wife, Sept. 5, 1847, aged 90. The farm was afterwards occupied by his youngest son, Richard D., who is now living in Smyrna, well advanced in years. He is the only one of his children living in this section of country.
John CLINTZ, a Polish Prussian, came in about 1806 from Utica, where he kept a good tavern, which he sold for $15,000. He died here March 12, 1831, aged 77; and Cornelia, his wife, June 7, 1846, aged 82.
Other early settlers were Robert GALLOP, Charles BABCOCK, John THORP, John EGENTON, Isaac SABIN, David DIMMICK, Abraham HOLCOMB, Uriah FITCH, Daniel SCOTT, William FREEMAN and Rev. Elisha RANSOM.
Robert GALLOP came from the locality of New London, Conn. He was a Revolutionary soldier and was badly wounded at the taking of the fort at that place. He settled about a half mile above the village, on the road to Smyrna. In advanced life he went to live with his daughter, the wife of Erastus FOOTE, first in Norwich and afterwards in Greene, where he died, but was brought here for interment.
Charles BABCOCK settled in the village, where he kept tavern on the place now occupied by the widow of Ira THOMPSON. He is said to have been the first inn-keeper in the town [French's Gazetteer of the State of New York]; but Mr. Danforth WALES thinks that a man named AMSBRY kept a tavern at an earlier day on the site of Thomas GREEN's residence.
John THORP [Henry FALK, of Preston, says that this was Abraham, not John Thorp] established the wool-carding and cloth-dressing business, in company with a man named DONALDSON, between 1805 and 1810, on the site of the first grist-mill built by Col. WALKER, about a hundred rods below the present one in Plymouth village. DONALDSON remained a short time. The works were afterwards carried on by Dan MONROE, who died here Feb. 12, 1854, aged 79, and Nicholas and William BROWN, the latter of whom were in company some time, after which William carried on the business alone.
John EGENTON, an Irishman, traded in the village a short time in company with John McKIBBIN, also an Irishman, who served in the British dragoons. McKIBBIN remained here some twenty years; EGENTON died here Sept. 6, 1807, aged 44.
Isaac SABIN settled on the Smyrna road about a mile and a half from the village. He died in the town after two or three removals, May 7, 1855, aged 72.
David DIMMICK, who was born in Canterbury, Conn., in 1777, settled about a mile south of the village and died there Jan. 15, 1854, and Sarah, his wife, Feb. 10, 1856, aged 76. Erastus Dimmick, living in Plymouth, is a son of his.
Abraham HOLCOMB came from the Hudson River country and settled on the George CUSHMAN place about a half mile below the village and died there Sept. 8, 1844, aged 91, with his son-in-law, Ira BUELL, who married Chloe, his youngest daughter. His wife, Betsey, died March 11, 1846, aged 88. His son William succeeded him on the homestead and died March 12, 1832, aged 53.
Daniel SCOTT settled in the south edge of the town, on the farm now occupied by the widow of his son, Jay M., and died there Dec. 8, 1865, aged 91. Roxey, his wife, died Dec. 1, 1856, aged 77. His children were Horace, Merritt, Deacon Asa S., Walter, Jay M., and a daughter.
William FREEMAN settled in the edge of the town and died there, he and his wife, the former April 6, 1875, aged 87, and the latter, (Betsey,) April 16, 1875, aged 75. Rosetta, wife of Charles BROOKINS, living in North Norwich, is a daughter of his.
Rev. Elisha RANSOM was a Baptist minister and located first in Norwich village, before there was any church there. After preaching there a few months he removed to the east edge of Plymouth, to the farm now occupied by William SACKET, where he died Aug. 17, 1818, aged 72, and on which he was succeeded by his son Elisha. Elder Ransom, though a man of good ability and eminent piety, was an eccentric genius, who, thinking it a folly to have a large door, constructed one in his log hut which was so small that he was obliged to crawl into the latter upon his hands and knees.
Eliphalet CUTTING came from Massachusetts about the opening of the war of 1812, and settled about a mile and a half west of the village on the Otselic road. He afterwards located in the village, and died there Oct. 2, 1843, aged 75; and "Turzah," his wife, Sept. 30, aged 77.
David COOK came from Thurman, Warren county, in 1813, and settled in the south part of the town, on the farm now owned by his grandson, Walter A. Cook. He was preceded in his settlement here by his sons Joseph and Caleb, who came in with their families from Athol, in the same county, in 1811, and settled in Frinkville (South Plymouth,) on land now owned by Walter A. Cook, of Norwich. David, his wife, Alice, and one son Joseph died on that farm. Joseph had five children. David Cook's other children were: Lydia, Polly, Sally, Alice, and Abial.
Merchants:- The first merchant at Plymouth and in the town was John RAYNOR, one of the early French settlers, who opened a store about 1801 or '2, about where the residence of John MUNROE stands. His goods, three sleigh loads, were brought from Albany in the winter season. He traded some five or six years. His store was afterwards occupied by other merchants and subsequently by Dr. John CAMP as a residence.
R. D. DILLAYE, a Frenchman, commenced mercantile business here about 1805 or '06, in a small red building which had previously been occupied as a dwelling, commencing in a small way and continuing till between 1820 and '30. He developed a large and important business for the time and place; latterly occupying a building which stood a little in rear of the store now occupied by James B. ANTHONY.
Rufus BACON came from Madison county before the war of 1812, and returned there after trading a short time. He was keeping tavern there in 1814. Horace DOUD came from the Hudson River about 1816 and traded till about 1821 or '22. Charles JONES came from De Ruyter between 1830 and 1835, and after trading two or three years sold to his brother William, who came here from Ohio, but traded only a short time. Nathaniel SIBLEY came from Norwich about 1840 and traded two or three years. He built the store now occupied by Mr. ANTHONY, and still resides in Norwich. Samuel PRENTIS came with his parents from Connecticut. He was contemporary with Sibley and traded six or eight years. There have not been any merchants here of any prominence since they left, until the present ones came.
The present merchants are Henry S. MONTGOMERY and James B. ANTHONY. Mr. Montgomery carries on the grocery business which he commenced in March, 1865. Mr. Montgomery was formerly a resident of Smyrna. He served two years in the army and came the spring following his discharge in the fall of 1864. James B. Anthony, general merchant, commenced business Sept. 1, 1875. He is a native of Portsmouth, R.I., but has resided in Plymouth most of his life.
Postmasters:- The first postmaster at Plymouth of whom we have any information was Oliver BEMENT, who held the office as early as about 1815, when the mail was carried upon horseback. He was succeeded by R. D. DILLAYE, who held it a good many years. Dyar MUNROE, who was appointed during Harrison's administration and held it several years, Dennis BALLOU, Dr. William SKINNER, William MILLER, who held it but a short time, Augustus H. HOLCOMB and Wallace D. POWELL, the present incumbent, who was appointed in 1868. A mail is received from Norwich each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and from DeRuyter, each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Physicians:- The first physician was probably Jesse GRANT, who was here as early as 1804 and practiced four or five years, when he removed to Greene. Cyrus FRENCH, who was a successful physician during the prevalence of the epidemic from 1804 to about 1814, which took off many of the early settlers, came in soon after Dr. Grant left and after practicing two or three yeas, removed to Pharsalia and died of that disease soon after. Dr. Edmund BANCROFT practiced here during the prevalence of the epidemic fever and died here. Ira SHELDON came from Vermont about 1807 or '08, and John CAMP about the same time. Dr. Sheldon took up the farm which is now occupied in part by the widow of Ira Sheldon and carried on farming in connection with his medical practice, the latter of which he continued more or less till his death, Dec. 22, 1848, aged 65. Dr. Camp also practiced here till his death, about 1840. Drs. Maxson and Russell BALLOU were early practitioners here. William SKINNER practiced here a short time. W. H. DAY practiced here from about 1845 to 1850 till as late as 1863, Oct. 31, of which year his wife died here. L. D. GREENLEAF was here a short time about 1866. He removed to Pharsalia, where he now resides.
The present physician and the only one in the town, is Byron J. ORMSBY, who was born in Hamilton, N.Y., March 25, 1847.
History of Preston
History of Preston
Preston was formed from Norwich April 2, 1806.
The first settlement was made in 1787, by James GLOVER, who came from Norwich, Conn., his native place, and settled on lot 75, on the farm now owned and occupied by Samuel E. LEWIS, on Fly Meadow Creek, about three miles south of Preston Corners. He removed soon after 1800 to Montezuma, where he died. He built in 1789 the first grist-mill in the town, which is said also to have been the first in the county. It stood on the east bank of Fly Meadow Creek, about a quarter of a mile west of his residence. It, or one on its site, stood as late as about 1849. He opened in his house in 1788-9, the first store in the town, and probably, the first in the county, which he kept till his removal to Montezuma. The residence of Samuel E. Lewis was built by him as early as 1794, in which year his daughter Mary Ann, was born there. [French's Gazetteer states that Fanny BILLINGS, who was born July 16, 1796, was the first child born in the town. It is probably that the birth referred to was the first, certainly prior to the one here referred to.] This was certainly the first frame house in the town. Thus it is seen that many of the earlier events connected with the history of both the town and the county are associated with his settlement here.
James Glover was born Dec. 26, 1768, and married Alphena HOVEY, sister of Gen. Benjamin Hovey, an early settler in Oxford. He had nine children, most of whom were born after his removal to Montezuma, viz.: Mary Ann, born Nov. 23, 1796, who married William JOHNSON, (a Scotch Presbyterian clergyman, who lived a great many years, and died in Owasco, where from 1838 to 1863 or '4 he was pastor of the True Reformed Dutch Church of Owasco,) and died only a few years ago; Ursula M., born April 6, 1799, who married Henry TIFFT, and lived in various places, for some time in Albany, where he was connected with one of the State departments, but chiefly in Auburn, where both died; Justus S., born Feb. 21, 1802, who married a lady named CORNELL, of Penn Yan, where he lived and died, but is survived by his wife, who is now living in Eat Saginaw, Mich.; Eliza, born May 6, 1804; James B., born Sept. 14, 1807, who married and died in New Jersey; Harriet S., born Aug. 14, 1813, who was married late in life to Charles H. MERRIMAN, (who was for twenty-six years cashier of The National Bank of Auburn, and afterwards for one year its President,) and is now living in Auburn; Joseph O., born April 13, 1810, who is practicing law in Chicago, and has been for some years United States District Attorney for that district; Catharine A., born Dec. 28, 1816, who married DeWitt C. GAGE, a lawyer, with whom she is living in East Saginaw, Mich.; Wm. Johnson born May 2, 1820, who removed to Illinois, married and died there soon after; and a daughter who married George RATHBUN, a lawyer of some prominence in Auburn, where both died.
None o the descendants have lived in the county since his removal to Montezuma.
David FAIRCHILD came in 1795 and settled at Preston Corners, where William LEWIS now lives. He had three children, John, Amos, and a daughter who married Nathan SQUIRES. Fairchild and his sons were noted hunters and trappers. They removed to Plymouth and afterwards to the Holland Purchase. His daughter and her husband also moved west, first to Canandaigua, where they were living in 1813.
The following year (1796) Randall BILLINGS and Silas CHAMPLAIN from Connecticut: BILLINGS at Preston Center, on the south-east corner, on the farm now owned by George COVILLE, where he and his wife Lucy died, the latter, April 23, 1830, aged 73; and CHAMPLAIN on on the creek, one and one-half miles south-west of Preston Corners, where Porter SLATER now lives. BILLINGS had several children, among them, William, Henry, Asa, Lucy, Fanny, Nancy and Polly, all of whom are dead. CHAMBERLAIN afterwards removed to Pharsalia. He had no children of his own living. His nephews, John, Charles and Lodowick CRANDALL came in a little latter from Connecticut, with their mother, a widow, who, in 1798, contracted the first marriage in the town with Capt. LYON, from whom Lyon Brook, near Norwich, derives its name. John and Charles lived to be of age, but Lodowick went to work on the river above Norwich shortly before he attained his majority and died of fever. His brother John caught the fever from him and also died. Charles married a WAITE and removed to Phelps and died there.
David ECCLESTON came in from Stonington, Conn., in the spring of 1797, and settled on 100 acres two miles south of Preston Corners, at Preston Center, which is very near the geographical center of the county. He died there in 1845, while sitting in his chair, at the age of 88 years. His wife died in Norwich a few years after at the age of 90. He came with his wife, Catharine FANNING, of Stonington, Conn., and six children, David, Washington, Frederick, Hannah, Charles, and one other daughter. David married Polly B., daughter of Dow BURDICK, and settled opposite his father, where he resided till well advanced in years, when he removed to Norwich, where he died Aug. 30, 1872, aged 87. His wife died in Preston May 20, 1847, aged 57. He afterwards married Sally B. -----, who died in Norwich May 4, 1876, aged 71. Those of his children who are living are Polly, wife of Whitman KINYON, in Brooklyn; Esther, widow of Orville FITCH, and Usrula, widow of Erastus R. JOHNSON, and wife of ---- SIMMONS, in Burlington, N.Y.; Aurelia, wife of Stephen LEWIS, in Oxford; Leroy, in Afton; Sarah, wife of ---- EVANS, in Plymouth; Daniel, in Smithville; and Ansel, in Norwich. Washington married Lydia PEABODY, of Norwich, and settled opposite his brother David and afterwards in Norwich, where he lived a good many years. He is now living in Willett. A daughter, Eliza, a maiden lady, is living in Norwich.
Frederick married and settled near East McDouough, where he and his wife died, the latter in 1879, aged about 90. Several children are living, Hosea, Ann, wife of Charles WATTS, Ledyard, Uriel and Minerva, all in Norwich. Hannah married Joseph MARSH and both she and her husband lived an died in Norwich, the former some fifteen years ago and the latter Aug. 3, 1859, aged 85. Her children subsequently removed from the county. Charles married Mary LEWIS and settled on what is known as the ASHCRAFT farm, a half mile south of the homestead. He afterwards removed to Oxford village and died there Dec. 26, 1873, aged 78. His widow is still living in Oxford, aged 75. Three children are living, Charles H. and Noyes B. in Oxford, the former a dentist and the latter a druggist, and Harriet C., wife of Leroy ECCLESTON, her cousin, in Afton.
Settlements were made in 1799 by Jonas MARSH and Colonel Gurdon and Dudley HEWITT. MARSH came from Massachusetts, and located at Preston Center on the north-west corner, where Dudley BROWN now lives, and opened there in 1800 the first inn in the town. He afterwards removed to Pharsalia and died there May 21, 1847, aged 76. His children were Nancy, who married Erastus BROWN of Pharsalia, where they settled and lived a good many years and finally went west; Sibley, who lived in Pharsalia and died in the insane department of the county house in Preston, August 14, 1848, aged 49; Shepard, Stephen, Tyler, and Sally, who married Henry BROWN, brother of Erastus, all of whom went to Pennsylvania; Ursula, who died in Pharsalia of scarlet fever, unmarried; and Sophia, who married ---- SECORD and died in Pharsalia.
The HEWITTs were brothers and came from the New England States. Gurdon settled where the County house now stands. He afterwards removed to Oxford and bought a tavern stand on Fort Hill, and subsequently to Owego, where he died. His son Gurdon was prominently connected with a bank in Owego. His daughter Charlotte married a lawyer in Oxford and afterwards removed from thence. Dudley settled a mile east of the center, on the farm afterwards owned by Ephraim WELLS, but which has since been cut up. He married after coming here a woman in Connecticut, and subsequently removed to Steuben county.
Capt. Stephen BROWN and Simon TURNER settled in the town about 1800. BROWN came from Rowe, Massachusetts, and located about a mile west of the Center, on the farm one-half of which is now owned by Dr. Thomas DWIGHT of Preston, and the other half by Wells CRUMB, where he died March 5, 1841, aged 76, and Sarah, his wife, March 22, 1846, aged 80. His children were Consider, who married and lived on the homestead, where he died September 13, 1864, aged 68, and Candace, his wife, Dec. 20, 1873, aged 71; Walter, who married Elizabeth daughter of Richard SMITH, and lived on the homestead till within about a year of his death which occurred in Oxford, June 13, 1866, aged 68, (his wife died in Binghamton about two years ago;) Olive, who married Moses STEWART of Plymouth, and settled and died in that town; Charlotte, who married Dexter BROWN of Massachusetts, where she lived and died; Louisa, who married Joel F. GLEASON of Oxford, where both died, the former March 19, 1857, aged 49, and the latter, February 4, 1857, aged 50; Sarah, who married Lyman SMITH of Preston, where she lived and died April 12, 1850, aged 49, and her husband November 5, 1847, aged 55; and a daughter. William, living in Norwich, and James and Smith, in Preston, sons of Walter Brown, and Lorana, wife of Oliver MINER and Almeda, wife of Adelbert CLARKE, daughters of Joel F. GLEASON, are grand-children of Stephen Brown's, and the only ones living in the county.
Simon TURNER was born in Stonington, Conn., in 1788, and removed with his parents at the age of ten years to Burlington, Otsego county, and from thence after about a year to Norwich, where he also resided about a year, when he removed to Preston, and lived for seventy-eight years on the same farm. He died July 8, 1879, by drowning in about four inches of water in the brook near his residence, to which it is supposed he went for the purpose of washing himself, and being very lame stumbled and fell, striking his head upon the stones, the fall rendering his unconscious. His wife preceded him in death several years. He left four children, among them Captain Daniel W. Turner of the 114th N. Y. Vols., now residing in Steamboat Rock, Ill.
John WAIT settled at Preston Corners as early as 1801, Sept. 28 of which year he died there, aged 57. Mary, his wife, survived him many years. She died June 18, 1842, aged 94. His son Solomon died Sept. 25, 1846, aged 78, and Lucy, his wife, March 9, 1834, aged 64.
{see John WAIT in Norwich early settler & rest of his children]
Wm. CLARK, a Revolutionary soldier, removed from Hampton, Conn., to Burlington, Otsego county, in 1795, and thence in 1802 to Preston. He settled on 25 acres, a little north of the county house, now owned by Wm. HALL, the keeper of the Insane Asylum, which he traded after a few years for a farm of 100 acres a half mile west of Preston Corners, which is now owned by Wm. B. NICHOLSON, where he and his wife died. He died Oct. 4, 1840, aged 87; and his wife, Eunice F. PRESTON, to whom he was married in Conn., Oct. 31, 1856, aged 98. Two children came in with them, Eunice and Alfred, the latter of whom, born in Conn., June 13, 1789, is still living in Preston Corners, though he is quite deaf. He married Susy, daughter of Sylvester MINER, who died about 1863. They had nine children, six of whom grew to maturity: Albert G., a Universalist minister, who settled at De Ruyter, where he died in November, 1873; Laura Ann, widow of Ralph CRUMB, now living at Preston Corners; Electa Louisa, widow of Wesley POWERS; Lydia N., wife of Prentice EVANS; and Eunice F., wife of J. J. NOYES, all living in Preston, and Wm. W., who married Martha McKIBBIN, and is living in Norwich. Eunice, sister of Alfred, married Wm. NICHOLSON, a native of Stonington, Conn., and both lived and died in Preston. Eunice died April 28, 1839, aged 58, and her husband in the fall of 1878. Their children were Amos, now living in Preston, who married Pamelia FISHER, in died in the spring of 1872; Wm. C., who married Christina STOCKWELL, and is also living in Preston; Lucy, who married Jesse MUNCEY, both of whom died in Truxton; Lois, who married Horace WELLS, and is living in De Ruyter, and Calvin, who married Catharine STEERE, and is living in Penn.
Wm. WALSWORTH also came in 1802. He settled on the road directly north from the Center, and died there Aug. 15, 1825, aged 70, and his wife, Esther, May 24, 1838, aged 83. There children were Perez, who was demented, Nathan, William, Charles, Abel and Daniel, all of whom are dead.
Eli WIDGER came in with a large family from New London, Conn., about 1802 or '3, and settled in the west part of the town, on the farm now owned by the heirs of his son William who died in the spring of 1879, and died there. His wife went to live with her daughter, in Potter county, Penn., and died there. He was a man of excellent repute, though he was credited with having led the British troops who burned New London during the war of the Revolution. His children were Jonathan, Elias, Fanny, who married a man named HINES, but did not live with him, and afterwards committed suicide, George, who suicided by cutting his throat, in 1850, William, who lived and died recently on the homestead, Eli, Henry, who was crazy and was burned to death, Polly who married and removed to Potter county, Penn., Lucy, who married Ichabod ROGERS and removed to Ohio, and Benjamin; none of whom are living, unless it be Benjamin.
Judge John NOYES, a native of Stonington, Conn., came from Guilford, Vt., in February, 1803, with his family, consisting of his wife, Priscilla PACKER, a native of Vermont, and three children, Lydia, John and Daniel, the latter of whom was a year old the preceding December. He bought on the site of the County House an improved farm of 179 acres, of Gurdon HEWITT. He resided there till the opening of the war of 1812, when he entered the army as adjutant in Col. Thompson Mead's regiment. After the close of the war he removed his family to Norwich, where he resided till his death, Sept. 4, 1830 aged 61. His wife died Oct. 15, 1849, aged 78. While living in Preston he engaged in farming; in Norwich he engaged in mercantile business, in which, after two years, he was succeeded by his son John, who continued the business for several years. He represented this county in the Assembly in 1810, and again in 1814; and the Middle District in the State Senate from 1817 till 1820. He was appointed Judge of the Chenango Court of Common Pleas by the Council of Appointment, and held the office of Judge till his death. He had four children after he came here, Priscilla, Betsey, Thomas J. and William P. Lydia, his daughter, married Dr. Wm. MASON, of Preston, and died there, leaving two children, Wm. N. Mason, a lawyer in Norwich, and Harriet, wife of Dr. William PANCOST, of Camden, N.J. John married Clarisssa, widow of Smith MILLER, both of whom died in Norwich, the former July 9, 1852, aged 54, and the latter April 29, 1864, aged 69. He represented the 18th District in the State Senate in 1850 and '51. Daniel married Applia, daughter of Abner DICKINSON, of Preston, where he engaged in mercantile business in 1837, continuing four years, a part of the time in company with his brother, Thomas J., being then and ever since then a live-stock dealer. He removed to Norwich in 1856, and still resides there, having been engaged in the mercantile business there two years while residing in Preston. His wife died Nov. 13, 1864.
He afterwards married Sarah Ann, widow of Harmon HICKOK, who is also living in Norwich. He had five children, all by his first wife, only one of whom is living, Ashbel A., in Hardin county, Iowa. He (Daniel) represented this county in the Assembly in 1844. Priscilla, who was born Sept. 16, 1806, married Delancey WAIT and settled in Preston. They afterwards removed to Norwich, where both died, the former, Nov. 5, 1868, and the latter (born Dec. 7, 1799,) Feb. 7, 1867. They had no children. Thomas J. married Ellen, daughter of Nelson B. HALE, of Norwich, and settled and still lives, he and his wife, in that village where for three or four years he was engaged in mercantile business, in company with his brother, William P. He was afterwards Superintendent on the Chenango canal, and is now Court Crier. He has three children living, James B., a physician in New Berlin, and Clarissa and Ellen, both living in Norwich. William P. married Helen, daughter of Hubbard B. AVERY, and settled in Preston, afterwards removing to Norwich and subsequently to Iowa, where he died, and his wife still lives. He had three children, two of whom are living, Mary and Everett, both in Iowa.
Gashan NOYES, a Revolutionary soldier, and cousin to Judge John NOYES, came in two or three years later from Stonington, Conn., and settled two miles south-west of Preston Corners, on the place now owned by Thomas HOLMES. He came in the summer season and brought his family, consisting of his wife and three children, Gashan, Henry and Mercy with an ox sled, wood-shod, drawn by a yoke of three-year old steers. He continued to reside there some fifty years, and removed after eighty years old with his children to Wisconsin, and died there. His children born here were Fanny, Polly, Isaac, Samuel and Perry.
William PACKER came from Guilford, Vt., in 1804, and took up about 300 acres one and one-half miles south-east of Preston Corners. The farm on which he settled is now owned and occupied by his grandsons Austin J. and Perez Packer. He resided there till within four or five years of his death, when he removed to the place on which his grandsons above named now reside, and died there Oct. 5, 1852, aged 88. He married in Vermont, Sept. 18, 1785, Persis BIGELOW, of Guilford, Vt., who died on the old place Sept. 9, 1836, aged 71. He was born Dec. 22, 1763, and his wife, Oct. 25, 1764. They had eight children, William, Perez, Jotham, Elisha, Charles E., Persis, Lucinda and Lucretia. William was born July 10, 1787, married Abigail MASON, and settled just below the county-house, on the place now owned by Stephen FRANKLIN. He afterwards removed to the Corners and kept tavern there a good many years. He died in the town Dec. 16, 1874, and his wife March 24, 1869, aged 79. Perez was born Jan. 31, 1790, and married Nancy DAVIS, of Oxford. He was a physician, and commenced practice at Latham's Corners, in the town of Guilford, about the opening of the war of 1812. He soon after removed to Oxford where he became noted in his profession, and died there July 10, 1832, aged 42, and his wife Feb. 16, 1843, aged 47. Jotham was born July 14, 1792. He married Almira, sister of Abigail MASON, Jan. 14, 1819, and settled in Norwich village. The next year he bought 30 acres of the homestead farm in Preston. He afterwards removed to the farm on which his sons Austin J. and Perez now live, and died there June 23, 1876, and his wife Jan. 4, 1863, aged 70. Elisha was born March 31, 1796. He married Lucy, sister of Abigail and Almira MASON, and lived on various places in the town. Both he and his wife died at Preston Corners, the former Oct. 20, 1849, and the latter Aug. 23, 1873, aged 77. Charles E. was born March 4, 1799. He married and settled and died in Palmyra Feb. 2, 1826. Persis was born Feb. 22, 1802, and married Uri TRACY, of Oxford, where she lived and died May 3, 1857, and her husband April 6, 1856, aged 56. Lucinda was born Aug. 10, 1805, and married Squire SMITH of Norwich, where she lived and died March 31, 1844. Lucretia was born Dec. 13, 1808, and died unmarried in Preston, Sept. 19, 1835.
Elder Davis ROGERS and his son-in-law, Joseph TRUMAN, came in from Waterford, Conn., about 1804, and settled on the road known as Rogers' street, in the west part of the town, the Elder a half mile south of the meeting house on that road, on the place now owned in part by Nathan Rogers, and Truman at what was known as Truman Corners, on the south-west corner, in which locality he was the first settler. They came across the country via Albany with teams, with their families, and both died upon the place on which they respectively settled, the former April 4, 1833, aged 78. The elder's first wife, Hannah, died there Jan. 4, 1821, aged 70, and his second wife, Avis BURDICK, in Pharsalia Jan. 11, 1835, aged 56. Elder Rogers brought in eight children, four of whom were married when they came, -Davis, Silas, Amos, Adon, who lived and died on the homestead unmarried, June 9, 1851, aged 66, Nathan, Asenath, who married Joseph TRUMAN and came in with him, Lydia and Patty. Davis married Polly, daughter of Jonathan TRUMAN, of Long Island, and settled on the place now occupied by John C. MAXSON, his son-in-law, near which place he died Oct. 9, 1845, aged 68. His wife died Sept. 8, 1845, aged 63. He had one child when he came, Jennette, who married Paul MAXSON. His other children were Mary Ann, who married William CLARK, of Preston, where she lived and died, and Harriet Alzina, who married Zebulon ROGERS, who was drowned while crossing the ferry at New London. She afterwards married John C. MAXSON, of Preston, where she is now living. Silas came with his wife, Sally, and one son, (Silas, who married Maria YEOMANS, and after her death, Sept. 14, 1842, Polly BEARDSLEY, with whom he is now living on Rogers street.) He settled where Emmet Leander HAMMOND now lives, and died there Feb. 21, 1870, aged 88, and his wife Oct. 1, 1877, aged 92. His other children were William, who married Lydia, daughter of James PICKETT, of McDonough, and settled where his son Ellery now lives, and lived there till four years ago, when he removed to the town of Greene, where he now resides; Jemima, who married Jonathan D. ROGERS, of Preston, where she lived and died, June 13, 1842, aged 69; Adon, who married Juliette ROGERS and is now living in McDonough; Sarah, who married Daniel YEOMANS, and is now living in Preston; Lydia, who married Stephen E. BROWN, both of whom lived and died in Preston, the former Aug. 30, 1872, aged 52, and the latter, March 23, 1847, aged 26; Ezekiel C., who married Roxana STANLEY and lived and died in German; Lucina, who died unmarried Feb. 12, 1870, aged 44; and James, who is living unmarried in Preston. Amos came with his wife, Mary CHAPIN, and two children, (Elpha, who married Daniel LEWIS and John, who married Ann FITCH, both of whom are living,) and settled where Ezekiel Rogers now lives. His other children were Hannah, who is living unmarried in Preston; Davis, who married Roby, widow of Jesse ROGERS, and is now living in Illinois; Polly, who married Henry LANGWORTHY, and lived and died in Brookfield; Juliette who married Adon ROGERS, and is living in McDonough; Tryphena, who married Henry HULL, and is living in Oxford; Abigail, who married Horace CHAMPLIN, and is living in Farina, Ill.; Amos, who married Jane ROGERS, also living in Illinois; and Phebe, who married German SOPER, and lives in Minnesota. Nathan married Phebe, daughter of Rogers DAVIS, of Brookfield, and settled on the homestead farm. He afterwards removed to Connecticut, and died there. They had no children. Lydia married Orange HOLCOMB, of Plymouth, where she lived and died. Her children were John, who removed to Ohio and married there, Orange, Betsey and Maria, the latter of whom married John TRUMAN. Patty married Alvah DOUD, and settled first in Preston; afterwards removed to Ohio, and subsequently, after the death of her husband, to Illinois, where she died.
Joseph TRUMAN's children were Polly, who married Thomas Griffin, and lived and died in Oxford; Cynthia, who married John TRUMAN, and lived and died in Wisconsin; Clarissa, who married Clark TRUMAN , and lived and died in Otselic; Sophia, who married Henry CRUMB, and lived and died in Georgetown; John, who married and lives in Otselic; Nathan, who married a BURDICK and is living in Alfred, Allegany county; Henry, who married a SALISBURY and lived and died in Wisconsin; William, who married a BABCOCK, and is a physician in Alfred, Allegany county; and Asenath, who married Orlando HOLCOMB, both of whom lived and died in De Ruyter.
Ethan ROGERS, a half-brother of Elder Davis Rogers, came from Waterford, Conn., his native place, in 1806, and settled a mile below the meeting-house, on Rogers street, where his son Nathan now lives. This is said to be the only place in the west part of the town now owned by the descendants of those who first settled them. He brought his wife, Sally, daughter of Jonathan and Annie TRUMAN, and five children. His children were Ethan, who married Fanny DAVIS, and is living in Preston, aged 73; Clark Truman, who married Nancy WILLIAMS of Oneida county, and after her death, Laura, widow of George BENJAMIN, and is living in Sangerfield, Oneida county, aged 81; Susan, who married Elder Ephraim CURTIS, and lived and died in Truxton; Jesse, who married Roby WILLMARTH, sister of Galon Willmarth, and lived and died in Preston, March 21, 1832, aged 28; Sarah Ann, who married Hial WILLIAMS and is living in Brookfield; Jonathan D., who married Jemima ROGERS, and after her death, which resulted from a cancer, July 29, 1859, Rachel A. MAPES, with whom he is living in Preston; Ezra Harris, who died at the age of about 17; Nathan, who married Harriet CLARK, and is living on the homestead; Betsey, who married Thomas HOLMES, both of whom are living in Brookfield; and Jennette, who married Clark T. ROGERS, both of whom are living in Preston Both Ethan and his wife died on the farm on which they settled, the former April 25, 1841, aged 73, and the latter Oct. 21, 1860, aged 83.
The Rogers and Trumans, who intermarried a great deal, were Seventh Day Baptists, and all settled on the road known as Rogers street. In 1816 a church of that denomination was organized form members of these families, and a meeting-house, which is now in use, was built some 44 years ago.
William KELSEY, brother of Dr. Alex. Kelsey, came in from New Boston, N. H., in 1805, and settled a mile west of Preston Corners, on a farm adjoining his brother's, which is now occupied in part by Augustus SLATER and his son Edwin Kelsey, the latter of whom owns the homestead plot. He married Mary TEWKSBURY, of Vermont, in the winter of 1804, and moved in with his wife the following spring. He afterwards removed a mile further west to the farm now owned by James D. FRANKLIN, where he died March 16, 1851, aged 76, and his wife Oct. 29, 1869, aged 85. His children were Caroline, Mary Ann, widow of Nelson M. SLATER, (who died Aug. 23, 1872,) and is living at Preston Corners with her youngest son, Augustus W.; Daniel D., living in Pharsalia; Emeline, who married Henry FERRY and lived and died in Norwich in 1876; Delia E., and Julia, unmarried, and Edwin, living together at Preston Corners; Jane R., wife of Charles WALLSWORTH, living in Norwich, and Hannah N., wife of Jeduthan NEWTON, also of Norwich.
Other early settlers were: Rev. Hazard BURDICK, who settled near the line of Plymouth, afterwards removed to the Rhode Island settlement and died there Jan. 25, 1841, aged 82, and Esther, his wife, Aug. 28, 1847, aged 95; (Their children were Hazard, who died Nov. 31, 1873, aged 89, Samuel, John, and three daughters, one of whom married David ECCLESTON, son of the original settlers of that name;)
Abraham AVERY, who settled on the Norwich road, two and one-half miles east of Preston Corners, on the farm now owned by the heirs of Augustus ROSS, and after the death of his wife, Mercy, removed to the town of Hamilton, where he died;
Micah GROSS, who settled on the road from Preston to Norwich and afterwards removed to the locality of Norwich, and afterwards removed to the locality of North Norwich;
Phineas WELLS, who settled a mile and a half east of Preston Corners, where Patrick and John REDDEN now live and died there Feb. 8, 1831, aged 59, also Electa, his first wife, Oct. 18, 1806, aged 33, and Abigail, his second wife, Aug. 31, 1829, aged 61;
Lucius GRAVES, who married Submit, sister of Daniel Scott, (who settled in the south edge of Plymouth,) and settled in the north part of the town, where Noah WIGHTMAN now lives, and died there Feb. 24, 1842, aged 66, and his wife August 17, 1851, aged 77;
Capt. John HARVEY, a Revolutionary soldier, who settled about a mile and a half south-west of Preston Corners, afterwards removed to the Corners and died there May 9, 1848, aged 86;
Major James McCALL, who settled in the south part of the town, a mile below the Center, on the place now owned by John MINER, and died Jan. 25, 1867, aged 80, and his wife Hannah, Oct. 11, 1855, aged 72;
Wade and Clark HOUGH, brothers, who came from the New England States, and settled, the former three-fourths of a mile below Preston Center, where Edward COVILLE now lives and died there August 14, 1865, aged 77, and his wife, Mary, June 5, 1868, aged 70, and the latter on the farm next south, where James THOMPSON now lives, and died there Dec. 5, 1864, aged 62, and Servivah E., his wife, March 6, 1867, aged 70;
Gurdon WHITELEY, who was born in Lebanon, Ct., in 1790, was a bachelor, and made his home with Clark HOUGH, where he died Dec. 24, 1864;
Ephraim WELLS, who settled about a mile east of the Center, where Michael SCANLON now lives, and died there;
Angell STEAD, who settled on the same locality as WELLS, his farm being also occupied by Michael SCANLON, where he died June 27, 1833, aged 54, and Ruth, his wife, April 19, 1842, aged 67;
Capt. Joseph SLATER, who settled on the farm next east of STEAD's, which is now occupied by Edward CLARK, and died there;
Major Gideon WETMORE, who settled half a mile below the Center, on the place now occupied by Charles BREED, and after the death of his wife, Sarah SCOTT, March 18, 1856, aged 84, removed to Norwich, where he died Dec. 21, 1861, aged 92;
Asa FANNING, a Revolutionary soldier, and a brother-in-law of David ECCLESTON's, came in from the New England States, and settled about a mile south-east of Preston Corners, where Patrick CASEY now lives, and died there;
Cyrryl CARPENTER came in from the New England States and settled on the farm opposite Major WETMORE's, which is now owned by Charles BREED, where he died June 1, 1832, aged 73, and Lydia, his wife, May 12, 1837, aged 72;
Joshua ALDRICH, who settled in the north-east part of the town and removed when well advanced in years to North Norwich, where he died Oct. 17, 1849, aged 90, and Ruth, his wife, Jan. 11, 1851, aged 95;
George CRARY, the death of whose infant child is said to have been the first in the town; and
William McALPINE, who was the first teacher in the town.
Merchants:- Ebenezer HALL, of Massachusetts, sent his son and a man named PELTON to open a store here, about 1830. They did business here but a few years. They are believed to have been the first merchants at the Corners. They traded in the building next south of the hotel, which is now occupied by George SMITH, the blacksmith. Peter ELY afterwards kept a small grocery for a short time. Daniel NOYES, son of Judge John Noyes, traded here four years, from 1837. There has been no store of any consequence here since. A few goods are kept in the bar-room of the hotel by the proprietor, Mr. NOYES. The post-office is also kept there. Charles W. POWERS, the present Postmaster was appointed in 1873.
Physicians:- The first physician who practiced in this locality was Dr. Alexander KELSEY, who came from New Boston, N.H., his native place, about 1805, and settled about a mile west of Preston Corners, on the farm which is owned in part by Edwin Kelsey and in part by Charles W. POWERS. He practiced here till about 1813, when he removed to Monroe county, where he was killed by the fall of a tree while riding out to visit a patient. He was probably the first physician in the town.
The first physician to locate at the Corners was Dr. William MASON, from whom they were once known as Mason's Corners. He came from Windham county, Conn., about 1809. He had studied medicine in Connecticut, but this was his first field of practice. He continued practice here till 1853, when failing health compelled him to relinquish it, and he removed that year to Norwich village to live with his son, William N., where he died Jan. 13, 1860, aged 73. His wife died in Preston in 1853, and that bereavement was the immediate cause of his removal to Norwich. They had three children, William N., a lawyer, who married Sarah M., daughter of George A. CARY, son of Anson Cary, one of the first settlers in Oxford, with whom he is now living in Norwich; Harriet B., who married Dr. D. P. PANCOST, of Camden, N.J., where they settled and are still living; and Lydia Amelia, who died at the age of 14 years. Dr. Mason represented this county in the Assembly in 1820-22. Dr. Mason came in with his father, General James Mason, who brought in a large family and settled just east of Preston Corners, where he died Sept. 10, 1820, aged 61. His wife, Abigail, died in the house which forms a part of the residence of Edwin KELSEY May 8, 1836, aged 74. Julia, widow of Deacon Phineas ATWATER, of Guilford, now living at Preston Corners is the only member of the General's family living. Dr. Mason occupied the house in which Dr. Thomas DWIGHT now resides.
Dr. Thomas DWIGHT was born in Cincinnatus, Sept. 1, 1817. He studied medicine with Dr. William MASON at Preston Corners, and was graduated from Geneva Medical College in February, 1847. He commenced practice at Preston Corners in 1845, and has since practiced there.
DeWitt C. CRUMB, a native of Preston, son of Ralph Crumb, studied medicine with Dr. Thomas DWIGHT, and practiced here from 1871 to 1873, the first year in company with Dr. Dwight. He removed to Otselic, where he is now practicing.
History of Sherburne
History of Sherburne
Sherburne was formed from Paris, Onieda county, March 5, 1795.
The surface of the country and the disclosures of the plow revealed to the early settlers of this town evidences of its occupancy prior to their advent, and partially indicated the character of its occupants. On the farm originally settled by Timothy HATCH, on the west side of the river, about a mile and a half north-west of the village of Sherburne, were the remains of caches, where corn had been buried; while in the field adjoining it on the north numerous arrow heads, stone chisels, hatchets and pestles have been disclosed by the plow. About four miles north of Sherburne village and one west of Handsome brook, were the remains of an embankment, constructed of coarse gravel, in the form of a horse-shoe, with the open ends towards the north. It was about four rods wide at the outer ends and seven or eight rods deep to the center of the bow. From the lowest point in the center to the highest part of the embankment, it was full twenty-five feet. Embankments extended from each extremity of the bow, that to the east fifteen or twenty rods long, terminating in a swamp, and that to the west, being much longer, terminating at the foot of a hill, and nearly in range with the other, but disconnected from the main structure by an opening two or three rods wide. In front of the whole is a low swampy piece of ground of small extent. Flint arrow heads have frequently been found in its locality. Its origin and use are not sufficiently indicated. [Hatch's History of the town of Sherburne.]
The settlement of the town was mainly begun by a company of persons originally from Kent, Conn., who, two years after the termination of the struggle of the colonies with the mother country for independence, emigrated to Duanesburgh, Schenectady county; and being disappointed in their hopes of securing a title to the lands on which they settled in that town, they resolved to move in a body to the Chenango Valley, to the newly opened lands in the Twenty Townships. In June, 1791, Deacon Nathaniel GRAY, Elisha GRAY, Joel HATCH, Newcomb RAYMOND and James RAYMOND, visited these lands in the interest of the company as an exploring party, accompanied by Josiah THROOP, chief of the corps who had surveyed the tract that and the preceding years. On their arrival they found that a family consisting of five men, one woman and some small children from Paris, Oneida county, had squatted a few hours previously on Handsome brook, and were occupying a bark cabin, to which the explorers were attracted by the tinkling of a bell attached to a cow which was the property of this family. There they found hospitable welcome through the night, and in the morning were regaled by their hostess with new bread and beer, both her own making. This family remained but a short time, for they had left before the return of the party. The exploring party examined the south-west quarter of the 9th township, containing 6,222 1/2 acres, which they and their associates eventually bought of William S. SMITH, to whom the township was patented for $1.25 per acre. They returned with a good report, and in the winter of 1792 Abraham RAYMOND and family settled on the tract selected. Mr. Raymond and his family remained at Norwich until spring, when they were joined by their associates, who in the meantime had increased from eleven to twenty. They were Nathaniel GRAY, Newcomb RAYMOND, Elijah GRAY, Eleazer LATHROP, Josiah LATHROP, James RAYMOND, Joel HATCH, John GRAY, Jr., Abraham RAYMOND, Timothy HATCH, Cornelius CLARK, Joel NORTHROP, John LATHROP, John GRAY, John HIBBARD, Ezra LATHROP [died Oct. 17, 1830, aged 70; Betsey, his wife, Oct. 22, 1853, aged 80.], Elisha GRAY, Elijah FOSTER, Amos COLE and David PERRY, the first eleven being those to whom the contract for the tract was given.
During the summer and fall of 1792 the tract had been resurveyed by Cornelius CLARK, and divided into twenty equal parts in such manner that each should have an equal share of bottom lands and uplands.
During the first year of their settlement (1793,) several log houses were built, the first saw-mill erected, and a road built from the "Quarter" to the Unadilla, a distance of ten miles. This mill was located in the gulf, on a stream east of Sherburne village, about half a mile below Rexford Falls. Joel HATCH was dispatched to the nearest blacksmith shop at Clinton, to procure some necessary mill irons that were lacking. He went on horseback, following Indian paths, and returned with the irons after an absence of three days. All, except Abraham RAYMOND, who was the only one who had thus far brought his family in, returned in the fall for their families, with whom they came back that winter or the following spring.
Abraham RAYMOND settled on the west bank of the river about midway between the river and Sherburne Hill. There he and his wife died. His children were thirteen in number, Mercy, David, Ebenezer, Abigail, John, Cynthia, Newcomb, Lodema, Electa, Joseph, Semantha and two others who died in childhood of scarlet fever.
Newcomb and James RAYMOND were younger brothers of Abraham Raymond, and all were natives of Sharon, Conn. Newcomb settled on 150 acres adjoining Abraham's farm on the south, and resided there till his death in February, 1837, at the age of 89 years. He married in Connecticut the year after the close of the Revolutionary war, Mabel GRAY, who also died on the homestead in Sherburne, in February, 1826. They had ten children, Sarah, Jerusha, Harvey, Irad, Alfred, Anna, Alfred, Laura, Augustine, and George B., the first four of whom were born before they came here. James Raymond settled on a farm adjoining that of Newcomb's on the south, now owned and occupied by Palmer NEWTON.
Nathaniel GRAY was born March 17, 1736. He returned here in the winter of 1793, and located a mile and a half north of Sherburne, and resided there till his death, June 24, 1810. He had two children by his first wife, who died in Connecticut, where he married for his second wife Bethiah, widow of Benjamin NEWCOMB, who was born Feb. 26, 1735, and died on the same farm August 19, 1811, and who had five children by her former husband, all of whom came here. The children by his first wife were Elijah and Bethiah. Gray's second wife's children were Abraham Newcomb, James, Mercy and Hannah Raymond. The first school, which was organized for the winter, was kept at the log house of Nathaniel Gray.
John GRAY's land extended from the river east to the quarter line and included all that part of the village of Sherburne laying north of the State road now known as State street. His log house stood near the site of the Upham block, on the north-east corner of the business part of the village. He was born in Windham, Conn., in 1793, was a revolutionary soldier, and married Elizabeth SKEEL, who was born in New Milford, Conn., in 1745, and died in Sherburne in 1824, aged 79. He had six children, all of whom were born in Connecticut; John, Jr., Nathaniel, Mabel, Betsey, Margaret and Reuben. John, Jr., married and settled on the river, his farm lying upon both sides of the river. His house stood on the bank ten or twelve rods from the west end of the bridge on the old State road. He was Justice here several years and Associate Judge.
Eleazer, Josiah, John and Ezra LATHROP were brothers. Eleazer settled in the south part of the village, where General Hollis ROWLAND now lives; Josiah on the west side of the river, on the farm now owned by Alson ADAMS, where he resided till his death Feb. 28, 1854, at the advanced age of 96 years; John, in the Quarter, just north of the cotton factory, where Martin BENEDICT now lives, (probably,) and Ezra, two and one-half miles north-east of the village, where Theodore ADAMS now lives. They came from Chatham, Columbia county.
Timothy and Joel HATCH were brothers, and the former had a large family. Timothy died June 28, 1847, aged 89, and Ruth, his wife, Nov. 6, 1848, at the same age. Joel died March 26, 1855, aged 90, and Ruth, his wife, Aug. 7, 1838, aged 71. Joel was an early Justice, succeeding John GRAY in that office soon after the formation of the town. He built in 1794 the first grist-mill in town. It was located on Handsome brook, in the north part of the town. The mill-stones and irons were brought from Albany with great labor and at the expense of a three weeks' journey, by means of a sled and oxen. John LATHROP was one of the two who went after them. This mill proved a great convenience, for hitherto they had been compelled to carry their grists a distance of forty miles to Whitetown, over roads no better than Indian trails, or resort to the primitive methods of reducing their grain by means of the mortar and pestle. A second mill was built at an early day by John GILMORE, close to Rexford Falls. The water was conducted to it by means of a spout passing through the roof. The road leading to it was down a small ravine from the north, running under a bridge over which the Cherry Valley turnpike passed. The ravine under the bridge has since been filled up, and no trace of mill or bridge remain.
Joel HATCH built a machine shop on Handsome brook, a mile north of the village, in 1812. He also set up the first turning lathe in the town, probably the first in the county, for turning the various parts of spinning wheels. It was a primitive affair, and consisted in a cord wound around the article to be turned, with one end attached to a spring-pole overhead and the other to a foot-piece. By the alternate action produced by the pressure of the foot and the spring-pole the article revolved backward and forward. This contrivance was the best that was in use for many years.
None of the HATCHes are living here now. Joel Hatch, Jr., was the author of a History of the Town of Sherburne, published in 1862. He died Dec. 27, 1864, aged 73, and Melona, his wife, May 14, 1846, aged 55.
Lorenzo HATCH, son of Timothy Hatch, was the first white child born in Sherburne. Justus GUTHRIE, who is also claimed to have been the first child born in the town, was born on the evening of the same day and year (1793) while Hatch was born in the morning.
Joseph GUTHRIE, whom French's Gazetteer credits with being among the first in the town, in 1792, settled on the north side of Pleasant brook, his farm extending to the river and lying in the angle formed by the river and creek, and died there, both he and his wife.
Joseph DIXON came from Manchester, Vermont, in 1795, and settled on Sherburne Hill, in the west part of the town, on the farm now occupied by Levi N. SMITH.
Levi FOLLETT came from Winchester, N.H., in 1798 or '9, and settled in the south part of the town of Hamilton. He removed thence within a year about a half mile south, to the north edge of Sherburne. He bought of John WATTS 50 acres on lot 41, to which he made subsequent additions, and resided there till his death April 29, 1830, aged 54.
Henry GORTON came from New London, Conn., about 1800, and settled on East Sherburne Hill. He removed thence about 1837 to North Norwich, where he and his wife died. Only one child is living, Mary Ann, wife of Andrus PELLETT, in Norwich.
Samuel STEBBINS came from Hartland, Conn., in 1804, with his family, consisting of his wife, Sarah BOARDMAN, and six children, Eleanora, Sarah, Harlow, Sophia, Melissa, and Jerusha. Mr. Stebbins came here first in 1803 and built that year the rear portion of the Medbury House on the site of which he settled, and where, in company with Bela SCOVILLE, he kept tavern till about 1809. He died March 6, 1833, aged 74, and his wife, September 4, 1833, aged 70. He was a Revolutionary pensioner.
Deacon Calvin COE and Benjamin REXFORD came from Middle Granvile, Mass., the last of February, 1804. Deacon COE, was born in Granville, Mass., June 9, 1781, and died in Sherburne, March 4, 1872.
He was thrice married. Benjamin REXFORD was born in Connecticut in January, 1776, and died July 30, 1825, aged 49. August 16, 1806, he married Mary CLARK, who died April 10, 1846, aged 65. He left five sons, Benjamin, F., Daniel A., Nelson C., John DeWitt, and Seneca Butts. [Nelson C. died March 27, 1875, Rexford Falls.]
Capt. William NEWTON was born in Colchester, Conn. Oct. 15, 1786. His father, Asashel Newton, had served several years in the army of the Revolution. He was in straitened circumstances and had a large family of children, of whom William was the oldest, and on him devolved a large share of the burden of supporting his brothers and sisters. Having learned the trade of a clothier he came to Sherburne in 1806 and worked with Landon & Mills at Bullock Mills. He took a factory in New Berlin in 1807, and went to Camden, N.Y., and worked in 1809. Aug. 22, 1810, he married Lois BUTLER, a native of Wethersfield, Conn., who still survives him and is living in Sherburne with mental faculties unimpaired. Mr. Newton moved his family to Sherburne May 11, 1812, and resided here from that time till his death, which occurred August 13, 1879, at the age of 92 years. He bought twenty acres of land and in 1812 built the house now occupied by Jacob KUHN, and near it a woolen factory, on the bank of Handsome brook, which was ready for cloth dressing in the fall of that year. The factory was burned in 1822 and rebuilt in 1823. It was again burned in the winter of 1826-7 and was not rebuilt. The house in which he resided at the time of his death was built by him in 1822. His surviving children are William Butler, Louisa N. LATHROP and Lucinda N. BUELL, both widows, in Sherburne; Warren, a banker, and Isaac S., a lawyer, both in Norwich; Lucius, a farmer on the homestead in Sherburne; Hubert A., Professor in Yale College; Albro J., a sash manufacturer in Brooklyn; and Homer G., a physician in Sherburne, but not in practice.
Other early settlers were Jeremiah PURDY, Benjamin and Israel FERRIS, Judge Joel THOMPSON, Jonah POYER, John GUTHRIE, Stephen KELSEY, James ANDERSON, Richard JACKSON, John SMITH, Jeremy WARRINER, Benjamin LYON and Simeon PADDLEFORD.
Jeremiah PURDY came from Dutchess county and settled at the Sherburne Four Corners, where Milton BENTLEY now lives, and resided there till he had become advanced in years.
Benjamin and Israel FERRIS were brothers, though the latter settled in North Norwich, about a mile above the village, on the DALRYMPLE farm. Benjamin settled about a mile west of Sherburne village, where Morris BUELL now lives.
Judge Joel THOMPSON settled at Sherburne Four Corners, where Edmund PURDY now lives, and resided there till he was well advanced in years.
Jonah POYER settled at a very early day, when there were only two or three log houses in Sherburne, on the forks of the river, up which he came from Oxford. After a few years he removed to the town of North Norwich.
John GUTHRIE settled on the south line of the town, and after the death of his wife Polly, who was a daughter of Abner PURDY, (April 30, 1821,) he removed to Sherburne village.
Stephen KELSEY settled on the Thompson FISHER farm, in the south part of the town, and died there Sept. 9, 1807, aged 70.
James ANDERSON settled in the south-west part of the town, on the farm now occupied by Roderick FULLER, where he died April 14, 1832, aged 62, and his wife, Electra KELSEY, Sept. 2, 1848, aged 74. His son Stephen also died in this town May 2, 1853, aged 55.
Richard JACKSON settled at a very early day at Sherburne Four Corners, where his father kept a tavern. He died in the first house north of the corners, Jan. 17, 1821, aged 67, and Sarah, his wife, Oct. 20, 1834, aged 74.
John SMITH settled on the Cyrus HARTWELL far, where he was killed in his door-yard by a young team, Aug. 16, 1810, aged 49. His wife, Lydia, survived him many years. She died July 14, 1854, aged 84.
Jeremy WARRINER and Benjamin LYON settled at Sherburne Four Corners, where the latter died Nov. 10, 1854, aged 87, and Hannah, his first wife, May 16, 1806, aged 35, and Debora, his second wife, Nov. 10, 1859, aged 80. WARRINER removed to Hamilton and died there Jan. 14, 1868, aged 83.
Simeon PADDLEFORD erected in 1804 the first machine for carding wool, a mile below Sherburne village. This is said to have been one of the first two machines in the country.
Merchants: - The first merchant in the town was James ELMORE. His store stood opposite the cemetery about a mile and a half north of the central part of the village, where J. R. DENNISON now lives. He also kept the first inn, built the first frame house, and was the first postmaster, receiving the latter appointment from Postmaster-General Joseph Habersham in January 1801. He died April 19, 1836.
Zaccheus W. ELMORE was probably the first merchant in the village. His store stood just south of the Medbury House. He traded till within some ten years of his death, Aug. 10, 1865, at the age of 85.
Elias BABCOCK commenced trading about the same time in a store which stood opposite the bank, and continued at intervals some twenty-five years in company, the latter part of the time, with Milo HUNT, to whom he sold shortly before his death, June 10, 1833.
Joshua PRATT, originally from Connecticut, came from Spencertown, Columbia county, about 1800, and a year or two after commenced mercantile business in a little yellow building which stood on the lot next north of the bank, in which he also resided. In 1809 he erected the building now occupied by the bank, and there continued the mercantile business till 1833, about which time he was succeeded by his sons Joshua and Walstein.
Harry N. FARGO and Harvey RAYMOND commenced trading about 1825 or '26. Raymond soon after sold to Lyman REXFORD, and Fargo & Rexford dissolved, after some two years. Fargo then traded alone till his death, April 28, 1836. Isaac CUSHMAN and Horatio GARRETT traded here a few years from about 1835. CUSHMAN, who was a physician, soon after opened<
History of Smithville
History of Smithville
Smithville was formed from Greene April 1, 1808.
The first settlement in the town, if such it can be called, was made in the valley of the Genegantslet, on the site of Smithville Flats, in 1797, by Robert LYTLE, an Irishman, who was a single man, and erected a shanty, a mere hunting cabin, which stood some forty rods north-east of the lower hotel in that village. He made no clearing, nor other improvements, and in February, 1798, sold to Joseph AGARD, who came in that year from Litchfield, Conn., where he was born August 17, 1746, in company with Major Epaphras SHELDON, from the same place, the latter of whom had previously prospected the locality and induced Agard to accompany him in its settlement. Major Sheldon had formerly been a man of property and Agard had worked for him as a day laborer in Connecticut. They were the first permanent settlers in the town. Both brought in their families, which then consisted of five sons and one daughter each, and varied but little in their relative ages, and both occupied at first the rude cabin vacated by Lytle. But being too numerous for one small cabin, Agard erected in the fall "a pen of logs," "to which the family repaired and excavated the snow and camped down in this inclosure to guard them against the wolves with only the heavens for a covering. They split boards out of trees, and soon improved their habitation." "These families contended against poverty and hardships in a severe winter, with snow nearly seven feet deep, without neighbors till the spring birds struck up their melody." [From MSS. writings of the late Erastus Agard, of Smithville Flats.] AGARD soon after built a frame house, which stood in front of Robert HETRICK's residence in the village, where he died Aug. 25, 1836. Tabitha, his wife, was born Nov. 20, 1750, and died Sept. 9, 1818, aged 68. That frame house was the first one built in the town. It is still standing, but has been moved. It is the first house east of the lower hotel, and is now occupied as a dwelling by Eugene CHASE. Agard was a soldier in the Revolution, and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne. He was descended from Welch ancestors; his wife was of English descent. His children were: Joseph, born in Litchfield, Conn., May 11, 1776, and died of yellow fever in New York, Sept. 11, 1798; Tabitha, called Roxa, born in Litchfield, May 17, 1779, and died Oct. 4, 1814; John, born in Arlington, Vt., Aug. 21, 1781, and died in Michigan, Oct. 26, 1835; Elijah, born in Arlington, Vt., Nov. 10, 1782, and died at Sacket's Harbor, Aug. 22, 1814, while a soldier in the war of 1812; George, born in Tomhannock, March 2, 1785, and died at Springville, N.Y., May 14, 1854; and Erastus, born in Litchfield, Conn., February 11, 1787, and died at Smithville Flats, Oct. 1, 1863. Two grand-daughters are living in Smithvillle Flats, Marianne, wife of Hon. Judson L. GRANT and De Francee, a maiden lady, who is living with her sister, Mrs. Grant.
The first marriage in the town was contracted in 1801 by Enos B. BRAGG and Tabitha (Roxa) AGARD, daughter of Joseph Agard.
Epaphras SHELDON afterwards settled on the farm of the Jesse READ estate, about one-half mile north of Smithville Flats. He returned with his family a few years after to Connecticut.
In 1799, Edward LOOMIS settled in the east part of the town, at East Smithville where he was the first settler. He was born in Egremont, Massachusetts, Feb. 2, 1777, and removed about 1790, with his father from Catskill to Oxford, where the latter settled. He took up 50 acres on lot 25, in Smithville, for which he paid by cutting, the following year, a road from Oxford to Smithville Flats. This was the first road in the town. In the winter he brought in his family consisting of his wife, Polly, the daughter of Blodgett SMITH, a native of Massachusetts, and one child, Vinson, born in Oxford, October 4, 1799, and occupied a log house erected by him the previous fall. It stood on the farm now occupied by Perry LOOMIS, on Burlingame creek, about 100 rods below the junction of Ludlow and Bowman creeks, which unite and form it. He continued to reside on that farm till within two or three years of his death, when he went to live with his son Daniel in Oxford village, where he died June 21, 1869, at the advanced age of 92 years. His wife died on the farm in Smithville June 10, 1850.
Vinson Loomis, son of Edward, married Polly, daughter of Heber WILLIAMS, and lived and died near the center of town, on the farm now occupied by David PURDY. He died November 27, 1864; and his wife on his father's farm in East Smithville about 1825. He afterwards married Cynthia MOORE, who died in 1840.
The children of Edward LOOMIS born after he removed to Smithville were: Jane, who was born May 2, 1801, and was the first child born in the town, who married Thurston WILLCOX of Smithville, where she lived and died July 8, 1861, leaving eight children, (Edward, Mary Jane, who married Ransom YALE, Ruth, who married Chauncey ADAMS, Thurston, Patience, wife of Henry CHURCH, Charles, Harriet, wife of Avery D. LANDERS, and Almira, widow of William STRATTON and wife of Eugene BUTLER;) Eleanor, who married Joseph CORBIN and died August 20, 1876, in Harford, Cortland county, where most of her family are now living, none in this town; Lucinda, who married Daniel WILLIAMS, and died in Cincinnatus, Cortland county, February 24, 1867; Lovina, who married Charles STRATTON and died in Willett, Cortland county, January 3, 1870, leaving five children, one of whom, Louisa, wife of Joseph Warren HAMILTON, is living in Smithville, and another, Charles, in Oxford; Abigail, who married Joel WEBB and is now living in Oxford, where three of her children reside, George, Alvin and Charlotte, wife of Charles A. McFARLAND, and four in Greene, Benaiah, Edward, Whitman and Marion, wife of Clark McNEIL; Daniel, who married Mary CLINE, and after her death May 30, 1853, Diantha, widow of William WOOD, with whom he is now living in Oxford, and has one child living in Smithville, Betsey M., wife of Samuel CLINE; Hannah, who married Simon G. WILLCOX, and died in Cortland November 6, 1866; Lois, who married Jonathan BENNETT, and died in Cortland county January 15, 1865; Rachel, who married Charles WILLIAMS and is living in Michigan; Benaiah, who married Sally HAMILTON, and is now living in Smithville, having five children living in the county, Edward, Alexander and Minnie in Smithville, Sarah, wife of Arvine LEWIS, in Oxford, and Emma, wife of Adelbert FLAGG, in Greene; and Betsey, who married George M. STARKEY, and is living in Broome county.
Timothy SCOVILLE came in from the New England States in 1799 and settled at Smithville Flats. He was a millwright and built in 1805, on the outlet of Long Pond, about fifty rods north-west of the village, the first saw-mill in the town. The mill did not stand many years, but went to decay. He removed to Ohio at an early day. Joseph ROBBINS settled in the same locality the same year, and died there April 2, 1827, aged 71. During this year also (1799) Simeon NEAL, Robert WILLIAMS, Asa STRAIGHT, Daniel PHILLIPS, John YOUNGS and Capt. John PALMER came in. PHILLIPS settled a little west of Smithville Flats and died there, he and his wife, a great many years ago. None of his children are living. The last, Dorcas, who married Daniel WALL, died here August 13, 1876, aged 77, and her husband, September 21, 1875, at the same age. YOUNGS was from Vermont. He purchased 100 acres of land and paid therefor $5 per acre. He settled about a mile south-west of the Flats, on the farm now owned and occupied by Ephraim LOOMIS, and died there May 7, 1837, aged 59, and Jane, his wife, Jan. 26, 1862, aged 69. His children were Stephen and Laura, widow of Amos BOARDMAN, now living in Triangle, by his first wife, and Sylvanus and Sylvia, twins, the latter of whom married Isaac FULLER, Polly, wife of Charles SWEETLAND, living in Triangle, Joseph, who was killed by the fall of a tree June 18, 1842, aged 21, John, who died in Greene about a year ago, and James and Jane, twins, both living in Greene, by his second wife.
We extract from Hamilton Childs' Gazetteer of Chenango County, published in 1869, the following facts relative to Mr. YOUNGS' settlement, furnished by Mr. Harry YOUNG of Triangle, Broome county, as being applicable in great measure to the settlements in general:- "At the time of his settlement here there was one family about one-half mile and another about a mile distant; they were the only ones within five miles.* His first work, like that of all other pioneers in this country, was to clear the land; this he did to some extent and soon raised corn, potatoes and a little rye. He purchased two cows soon after, and yet with this additional aid his little store of provisions would sometimes run short, compelling him to resort to the forest for additions to his stores. Deer were very abundant and furnished the settlers with plenty of venison, and the streams abounded in fish. The tallow of the deer furnished candles, and when that gave out the 'fat pine' was brought into requisition. They pounded their corn for bread, or hulled it, to sustain life, until a mill was erected at Oxford, twelve miles distant. Going to the mill was a tedious journey, for they had no wagons nor roads suitable for them. The grist was placed upon the horse's back, and the animal led over the hills, the journey sometimes occupying three or four days. The children at home were sometimes put upon so short an allowance as to cry for food. The wolves were always within hearing of the traveler and rendered night hideous by their howls. A few Indians still lingered in this region, and were accustomed to camp along the streams, hunt, fish, make baskets, brooms, &c. They were generally quiet and peaceable, but the whites would sometimes abuse them after they became more numerous. On one occasion they laid a plot to frighten the red men from their camping ground. To do this the settlers assembled, and at night crept cautiously as near the Indian camping ground as they deemed prudent, and at a signal, discharged their guns into the air, as they did not wish to hurt the Indians. The latter replied to the shot by firing among the trees behind which their foes were concealed, but no injury was done. The next morning the Indians departed, some went down the river and some went north, where they could hunt in peace."
*This statement is made on the above authority, thought there is reason to doubt its correctness.
Captain John PALMER kept both the first inn and store at Smithville Flats in 1806. He also erected the first distillery, and died in Chenango Forks, Aug. 20, 1847, aged 63.
George SHADDOCK probably came in about this time. He settled about one and one-half miles north of East Smithville, on the farm now owned by Lorin HOLDRIDGE, where he died. His children who lived to maturity were Alvah and Editha, the latter of whom married Lewis CRANDALL, and both of whom are dead. It has been stated that the first death in the town was that of a son of Shaddock's, in 1799. While it is true that Shaddock lost a son at an early day, it is highly probable that it was not earlier than 1804 or 1805, as Vinson LOOMIS, who was born in 1799, could remember the funeral. There remains the possibility of Mr. Loomis' confounding that event with some other similar one.
Settlements were made as early as 1801 by William KNICKERBOCKER, William KIRKLAND, Isaac PERRY, Ichabod MERRIAM and Phineas POND; and as early as 1805, by Isaac SELLICK, Peter RORAPAUGH, Darius TOUSLEY, Isaac GRANT, John PERKINS, Samuel MILLER, James STEVENS, J. J. REED, George MANLY, Daniel CORBIN, Isaac SNEDIKER, John CORBIN and Frederick CLINE. Isaac PERRY died here March 18, 1810. Peter RORAPAUGH came in from Massachusetts and settled at East Smithville, on a farm adjoining Edward LOOMIS' on the north, and now occupied by his son Uriah, where he died about 1851-3. He married Catharine, sister of Edward LOOMIS, by whom he had twelve children: Hannah, who married Jason SMITH and died in Smithville about fifteen years ago; Betsey, who married Jacob CARR and died in Cayuga county; Benjamin, who married Palma, daughter of Nathaniel BLAKESLEE, and is now living in Erie county, Penn.; Andrew, who married Angeline WEBB, of Smithville, where he died; Rachel, who married James CARR and died in Cayuga county; Jeduthan, who married and died in Cortland county; Clarissa, who married Davidson LANDERS and is living in Smithville; Polly, who married Luke HAIGHT and is living in Chautauqua county; Uriah, who married Betsey NASH, and after her death, Julia Ann BOLLES, and is living on the homestead in Smithville; Angelia, who married Augustus VICKERY and is living in Smithville; Tabitha, who married Orrin TILLOTSON, and after his death, Simon G. WILLCOX, with whom she is living in Susquehanna county, Penn.; and Julia Ann, who married Jared KNICKERBOCKER and is living in Chautauqua county. Frederick CLINE was likewise from Massachusetts. He settled in the north-east part of the town, on the farm now occupied by Albert TILLOTSON, where he died. His children were Anna, who married Daniel TYLER and died in Smithville, and another daughter who married Jeremiah MEAD, by his first wife, who died in Massachusetts. He married in Massachusetts for his second wife, Lovina WOODEN, by whom he had eight children: John, who married Polly BENNETT and died in Cattaraugus county; Elisha, who married Betsey BENNETT and died in Cataraugus county; Sally, who married Thomas TYLER and died in Otsego county; Seymour, who married Lovina BENNETT, sister to Polly and Betsey, died in Smithville in 1853; Mary Ann, who married Daniel LOOMIS and died in Smithville in 1853; Lucy Ann, who marreid Isaac HAMILTON, and after hid deathd, Vinson LOOMIS, and is now living in Susquehanna county, Penn.; Lovina, who married Alanson TILLOTSON and is living in McDonough; and Betsy, who married Charles COLE and died in Greene.
The first school was kept by Samuel ASKEELS in 1802.
Captain Jonathan PHELPS came in from Connecticut about 1805 or '6, and settled on the old GUTCHESS farm one-half mile north of Smithville Flats, now occupied by Mrs. Hannah GRANT. Rodney and Becket, his sons, came in with him and settled, Rodney one mile north of Smithville Flats, where William KINNIER now lives, and Becket in the same locality, but removed a little later a half mile further north, on the farm belonging to the Jonas WHITE estate. The Captain removed to Chautauqua county about fifty years ago and died there. Rodney lived in the town till within a short time of his death, on a farm adjoining the one on which he first settled, to which he removed a few years before he died. He died while on a visit to his sons, Smith and Sherman, in Illinois. Becket moved to Genesee county some 45 years ago. None of the Captain's children, but two grandchildren, are living here. Ethelinda, widow of Jefferson READ, and Diantha, wife of Amos HOTCHKISS.
Thomas SHATTRICK came in with his family in company with the PHELPSes from Connecticut, and settled on the farm adjoining that of Rodney PHELPS. It now forms a part of William KINNIER's farm. He lived there a good many years and then removed to Smithville Flats, and subsequently to his son Calvin's in Greene, where he died May 22, 1834, aged 82. Olive, his wife, died July 23, 1819, aged 52. He had two sons, Calvin, who died in Greene, on the same place as his father, and Lyman, who moved west. One daughter by his second wife, Mary, widow of Henry HOYT, is living in Greene.
John CARPENTER came in from Rhode Island about 1806, and settled a little east of the ridge raod, about three miles above Smithville Flats, on the farm now occupied by Chas. MATTHEWS and brothers, where he and his wife Sarah died, the former May 29, 1828, aged 77, and the latter, Oct. 12, 1838, aged 84. Samuel, his son, came in with him and settled in Greene, on the creek road, about a mile above Genegantslet, on the farm known as the FORBES place. Samuel had one daughter living in Greene, Lydia, widow of Elhanan W. KING, who died August 20, 1850, aged 55. She is living with her daughter, Urania ATWATER. Marianne, wife of Judson L. GRANT of Smithville Flats, is as grand-daughter of his.
Settlements were made in 1807 by Edward PURPLE and Jared GRANT, and about that year by Nicholas POWELL.
Edward PURPLE was born in Middlesex county, Conn., in August, 1769, and removed thence in 1798 to Burlington, Otsego county. In 1805 he removed to New Hartford, Oneida county, and then in 1807 to the central part of the town of Smithville, where he took up 50 acres. In 1814 he removed to the village of Greene, and engaged in wagon making. He returned to Smithville in 1828, and died there July 1, 1834, aged 65. Three of his children are living: Thomas S., in Windsor, Broome county, Dr. William D., formerly a physician, now a merchant in Greene, and Lydia, widow of Lyman ACKLEY, in Dubuque, Iowa.
Jared GRANT was born in Litchfield, Conn., Oct. 19, 1779, and removed to Smithville in 1807. He settled about one-half mile east of Smithville Flats, on the farm now belonging to the David Grant estate. After a few years he sold his place and went to Ohio prospecting, but soon returned and bought the HARRISON farm, where Hugh F. CROZIER now lives, and where, in 1818, he built the first two-story house in the town. He subsequently removed to the farm now occupied by George FOULSTON, about three miles north of the village, on the ridge road, where he died Dec. 10, 1849, aged 70. Jan. 27, 1807, just before coming to Smithville, he married Betsey JUDSON, daughter of Lewis Judson, of Litchfield, Conn., where she was born Sept. 20, 1780. She died Oct, 1, 1870, aged 88. Their children were Lavinia, who married John FORBES, and is now living in Rochester; Cornelia A., who married Drury MORSE, and died in Jan., 1878; Mary E., who married Edson GOULD, and died Nov. 3, 1855; Judson L., who was born in Smithville, where he now resides, July 11, 1815, and represented this county in the Assembly in 1859; Rebecca S., who died unmarried Oct. 22, 1850; and Harriet C., who is living, unmarried, with her sister in Rochester.
Nicholas POWELL settled in Smithville Flats, where, in 1809, he built the first grist-mill in the town, on the site of the present grist-mill in that village, which he ran till about 1820. About the same time he built also in the village a saw-mill on the site of the mills of Uri RORAPAUGH, a grandson of Peter Rorapaugh, an early settler at East Smithville. Powell removed from the town soon after discontinuing the mills. He died about 1832, aged 58.
David GRANT, brother of Jared, came in from the same place the following year (1808,) and settled north of him, on the farm now owned by his grandchildren, where he died July 25, 1849, aged 71. His children who are living are: Flora, wife of Horace S. READ, in Oxford; Albert, in Fredonia, Chautauqua county; Oliver, in the north part of Smithville, on the Andrew BAILEY place; and Hiram in Norwich. John Grant, brother of David and Jared, came in about a years after David, and settled on the John HARRISON place, about one-fourth mile south-east of Smithville Flats, on what was called the plank road. He removed to Fredonia about 1830. One son, Lewis, a merchant, and a daughter, Julia Ann, wife of ---- CRISSEY, are living there. John, another son, is a merchant in Jamestown.
David, Caleb and Jesse LEACH, brothers, and nephews of Joseph AGARD's wife, came in with their families from Litchfield, Conn., about 1808. David settled on the site of the house now occupied by he widow of Joseph McCRARY, next north of the Baptist church in Smithville Flats, and subsequently became a Baptist minister; Caleb, where Dr. Luther J. PURDY now lives; and Jesse, about a mile north-east of the village. All three lived here till they became old men.
David died at Whitney's Point; Caleb, in Milwaukee; and Jesse, in Smithville, Oct. 19, 1837, aged 53. Zeruah, wife of Jesse, died August 23, 1871, aged 80. Two sons of Jesse's, Lorin and Frederick, are living in the town.
Other settlements were made as early as 1808, by Jerediah BROWN, Elisha HARRIS, Woodruff HARRIS, Bela and Sylvester COWLES, Whiting EDGERTON, John STARKEY and Levi BENEDICT. Whiting EDGERTON died March 24, 1865, aged 80, and Jane, his wife, Aug. 14, 1874, aged 83. Bela COWLES spent a long life in this town and Greene. "He was emphatically a pioneer in this wilderness, and did his whole duty in making the same blossom with the fragrance of civilization."
Peter SMITH, a Hollander, came in as early as 1810 or 1812, with a large family, and settled on the same farm as Thomas PHELPS. After a few years he removed to the ridge in the north part of the town, on the farm now known as the Smith farm, which was taken up by his son Henry. Peter, another son, settled on the CASEY farm, a little east of the ridge road. The elder Peter died here about forty years ago, and his family removed about that time to Stuben county. His other children were George, who never married, but took up farming adjoining the Henry Smith farm, and now occupied by Moses BRONSON; Sarah, who married Conrad BURGET; and Christina, who married Roman LOOMIS. None of his family are living. Thorit Smith, a grandson, is living on the Henry Smith farm. Two other grandchildren, Joseph and John, are living in Cincinnatus.
Other early settlers were: Stephen OLMSTEAD, Silas READ, Jason SMITH, Reuben CRANDALL, Stephen HASTINGS, Richard HOLDRIDGE, Leonard WEBB, --- NORRIS, and ---- PHELPS.
Stephen OLMSTEAD settled in the central part of the town. He raised a large family. Silas READ settled on the Genegantslet, two miles above Smithville Flats, on the farm now occupied by James and Arthur HARRISON, where he died Feb. 8, 1850, aged 79, and Lucy, his wife, May 25, 1853, aged 78. Colonel Silas M., his son, settled on an adjoining farm on the north, the one now occupied by William HARRISON. He afterwards sold and went to Elmira where he died, Oct. 28, 1858. Virgil Read, a grain dealer in Elmira, and Horace S. Read, a resident of Oxford, are sons of his. None of the elder Silas' children are living. The last, Harriet, wife of Dr. CHAPPELL, died in Rochester in 1876. Sophia and Polly died in Smithville. Hiram settled one-fourth mile north of Colonel Silas, his brother, on the farm now occupied by William JOHNSON. He afterwards removed to Greene and died there. One child only, Bruce, is living in Greene. Merrick settled opposite to his father, where James HARRISON now lives. He afterwards removed to the Flats and engaged in mercantile business, in which his father and brother, Horace S., were also previously engaged and subsequently to the Elder LEACH farm. He died in California, Oct. 31, 1860, while engaged in transacting business for his son.
Jason SMITH came in from Massachusetts and settled about a miles west of East Smithville, where Henry FLAGG now lives. His marriage with Hannah RORAPAUGH, in 1807, has been generally supposed to have been the first in the town; but there is no doubt whatever that the supposition is incorrect. He died in Smithville some twenty years ago, and his wife, some fifteen years ago. His children were: Blodgett, who married west; Lumina, who married Dyer PERKINS, and removed to Michigan; Stephen, who married and moved west; Andrew, who married Betsey Ann, daughter of Joseph CORBIN, and is living in Cortland county; Chauncey, who moved west; Jane, who died in Smithville; and Dow, who removed to Ontario county, where he was living a few years ago.
Reuben CRANDALL settled on Bowman brook, a little north of East Smithville, on the farm now occupied by Albert and Nathan WILLCOX, where he died. He had two sons, Lewis and Cyrus. The former married Editha SHADDOCK, and the latter, Sylpha WILMOTH. Both died on the homestead.
Stephen HASTINGS was from the New England States and settled in the south-east part of the town on the farm, a large portion of which is occupied by Erastus HILL. He removed to Tioga county and died near Owego. His children were: Hiram, William, Abigail, who married James POTTER, and Clarinda, who married Jacob BUCKLEY, of Oxford.
Richard HOLDRIDGE, also from the New England States, settled in the north-east part of the town, on the farm now occupied by his grandson, Lorin Holdridge, and died there. His children were: Ira; Richard, who married Polly WEBB; Daniel, who married a Miss TEACHOUT; Peter, who married Delilah CUTLER; and a daughter who married Jesse MATTESON.
Leonard WEBB was from Massachusetts, and settled in the north-east part to the town, on the farm now occupied by Warren HAMILTON, where he died. His children were: Sally, who married ---- WHEELER; Polly, who married Richard HOLDRIDGE; Merritt, who married an adopted daughter of ---- BALDWIN; Angeline, who married Andrew RORAPAUGH, both of whom died in Smithville; Charles, who removed from the town before marrying; Sylvester, who married Polly NORRIS, and died in McDonough; Julia Ann, who married Henry FLAGG, and died in Smithville.
NORRIS came from the New England States and settled in the east part of the town, on the farm now occupied by his grandson, William Norris, and died there. His children were: Lawrence, Daniel, Henry, Samuel, Peter, Isaac, William, Silas, Charity, who married George WHITTENHALL, and two other daughters who married respectively Reuben and Smith SIMMONS. Two are living, Isaac in Smithville, and Silas in Oxford.
PHELPS settled a little west of East Smithville, where Edward LOOMIS now lives. His wife died upon the farm on which they settled. His children are: Samantha, who married John SKILLIN; Samuel; and Edward, who married a BRONSON, all of whom are living, Samantha in Greene and Edward in Oxford
Smithville Flats
Merchants: - The first merchant at Smithville Flats was John PALMER, who opened a store there in 1806, how long he kept it we could not definitely ascertain. He also kept the first inn and a distillery. The former probably stood on the site of the Central Valley House. Joseph AGARD was probably the second merchant. He commenced business about the close of the war of 1812 and continued till January, 1843, when he sold to his son George, who continued about two years and closed out.
Eli TARBELL came in from Chester, Vt., in 1816, and settled below the village, on the east side of the creek, where he was engaged in farming for several years. In the spring of 1825 he removed to the village and commenced keeping hotel in a building which occupied the site of the Central Valley House and was then an old building. In 1825 he built for a hotel the place now occupied as a dwelling by his widow, wife of Loren HOTCHKISS, which he kept for 13 or 14 years. At the same time he fitted up the north part for a store, and rented it to Isaac COMSTOCK, who occupied it about a year, when he filled the store himself and did business till within a year of two of his death, which occurred Oct. 4, 1845. "He was a man of enterprise and energy, and became extensively engaged in the manufacture of lumber, and for many years was the most prominent man in his vicinity." His son, John Seymour, who had done business with his father three or four years, succeeded him and continued till about 1855, when he removed to Montrose, Pa., where he had since kept a hotel. In the meantime Eli built and moved into a store until recently occupied by the late George KINNIER. Isaac COMSTOCK continued business some four or five years, when he removed from the place. He ran a still quite extensively the last year of his stay.
Nathaniel HOWE commenced mercantile business about 1828, and after about two years became associated with his father-in-law, Silas READ, whose daughter Sophia he married. They continued together till about 1836, when they closed out the business. Silas READ, a son of Howe's partner, commenced business about 1831, and continued till about 1842, when his son Horace S. succeeded him and carried it on five or six years. Merrick READ succeeded to Howe's business about 1836 and continued it some five years.
Others of less prominence may have done business here for short periods, other than those at present doing business and those who have been associated with them.
The following are the merchants at present doing business here: -
Richard HARRISON came in from New York city about 1842 and commenced mercantile business, which he continued till 1865, when his son, A. M. Harrison, succeeded him, and is still dealing in saddlery hardware, boots, shoes and trunks.
Jerome B. LEWIS came in from Madison, his native county, in 1848, and commenced the hardware business, which he has since continued. He was associated as partner with his brother Alonzo the first ten years.
S. L. RHODES, general merchant, who came in from Guilford three or four years previously, commenced business in 1855, in company with Lambert TERRELL, with whom he did business a little over seven years. Mr. TERRELL died Sept. 20, 1862, aged 59; and Jennet, his wife, July 2, 1875, aged 57.
Erastus TREMAIN is a native of Greene and a grandson of Daniel Tremain, an early settler in that town. He removed to Smithville Flats in the spring of 1864, and commenced the grocery business, which he has since continued, with the exception of two years.
Edward HARRISON, general merchant, commenced business in 1869 in company with his brother, A. N. HARRISON, under the name of A. N. & E. Harrison. After about five years he bought his brother's interest.
Dr. Luther James PURDY, druggist, commenced business April 1, 1874, in company with J. D. SKILLMAN, whose interest he bought October 10th of that year.
H. D. READ, a native of Smithville, dealer in boots, shoes and confectionery, commenced business in December, 1875.
J. D. Livermore & Co., (Jerome D. and Cyrus K. LIVERMORE,) general merchants and druggists, came in from Chenango Forks, and commenced business in April, 1879.
Postsmasters: - The first postmaster at Smithville Flat was Erastus AGARD, who held the office a great many years, till 1837, when R. N. MESSENGER was appointed and held it during Van Buren's administration. John S. TARBELL was appointed in 1841 and held it till about 1849, when it passed into the hands of Horace S. READ, who held it about four years. Benjamin BROWN next held it till 1861, when Jerome B. LEWIS, the present incumbent, was appointed.
Physicians: - The first physician at Smithville Flats is believed to have been Dr. LOCY, who came in about 1822, settled where Frederick LEACH now lives, and practiced till about 1831. Daniel CLARK came in from Genegantslet about 1827 and remained till about 1865. He went to Cortland and is now living with his son James in Philadelphia.
Dr. ALLING came in about 1859 and entered a military hospital about the opening of the war. He was taken sick with a fever and returned home deranged and died about 1864 .
Dwight M. LEE, who served about a year in the army as surgeon, came after his discharge, in the fall of 1865, and practice here about a year, when he removed to Oxford, where he has since practiced.
George O. WILLIAMS, who was graduated from the Albany Medical College in December, 1866, commenced practice here in the spring of 1867 and remained six years, when, in the spring of 1873, he returned to Greene, where he is now practicing.
The present physicians are Luther James PURDY and Arthur L. LOWE.
Luther James PURDY was born in German, April 4, 1848, and studied medicine in McDonough with Dr. E. L. ENSIGN, and in Cincinnatus with Dr. R. Barnes. He entered the Albany Medical School in 1869, and was graduated in 1871. He commenced practice in McDonough, January 1, 1871, and after two years removed to Smithville Flats, where he has since practiced.
Arthur L. LOWE was born in West Almond, N.Y., Sept. 15, 1853. He entered the University of Wooster, at Cleveland, Oct. 7, 1874, and remained there two years. November 5, 1876, he entered the University of Buffalo, N.Y., and was graduated Feb. 22, 1877. He commenced practice at Smithville Flats.
Lawyers: - The first lawyer was R. N. MESSENGER, who came here from Oneida, commenced practice about 1834 and continued till about 1841, when he removed to Milwaukee, and died there. No other has settled here permanently since. Robert DUNNING, who lives in the north part of the town, practices here occasionally.
East Smithville
Merchants: - The first merchant at East Smithville was Wm. KNOWLTON, who opened a store about 1829 in the building now occupied as a dwelling by Isaac NOYES, and traded some two or three years. Jonathan BENNETT and Asa WILLCOX opened a store in the same building about 1849 and traded some two years. There has not been a store kept here since. BENNETT formerly resided in this town.
WILLCOX was a native of McDonough, to which town he returned. KNOWLTON returned to his farm one-half mile west of the village, the one now occupied by Chauncey S. BROWN, where previously for several years and subsequently for a short time he also kept store, and where hewas variously occupied as drover, tavern-keeper and shoemaker.
Physicians: - The only physician who has located at East Smithville was Edward YORK, who practiced about a year, some forty-five years ago.
History of Smyrna
History of Smyrna
Smyrna was formed from Sherburne as Stafford, March 25, 1808; name changed April 6 1808.
This is the eighth of the Twenty Townships and one of the six originally purchased of the State by William S. SMITH, who, in 1794, sold it, with the exception of lots 6, 8, 10, 14, 20, which had been sold to settlers, to John LAWRENCE, of New York city, whose heirs owned about three-fourths of the town as late as 1824.
The first settlement as made by Joseph PORTER, who came from Conway, Mass., in August, 1792, and settled about a half mile south of Smyrna village, on lot 14, which he afterwards purchased. His log cabin stood upon a high knoll, on the east side of the railroad track, near the south limits of the farm, which is now owned and occupied by Leman H. TALCOTT, whose father, Joshua Talcott, bought the farm of Porter, on the latter's removal to Chautauqua county. Mr. Porter had he misfortune to be burned out before leaving Massachusetts and was thus destitute of household furniture. He married in Massachusetts, Jerusha, daughter of John POPE, of Martha's Vineyard, who accompanied him in the settlement in 1792. They drove a yoke of oxen, and Mrs. Porter rode a horse, mounted on a feather bed saved from the fire. An ax, a rifle and a few culinary utensils were of necessity brought, but the latter were few in number. Mrs. Porter died without issue soon after their settlement and was buried upon the farm on which they settled. Mr. Porter afterwards married a young wife and removed soon after to Chautauqua county. When Porter sold his farm to Mr. Talcott, he reserved forever the plot on which his wife was buried.
The second family that settled in the town, was that of Joseph TOBEY, who married Mrs. Elizabeth PURCELL, older sister of Jerusha POPE, wife of Joseph PORTER. Mr. Tobey accompanied Joseph Porter in his settlement and helped him to build his log cabin, returning in the fall to Conway, Mass., his native place. The following March Mr. Tobey brought in his family, consisting of his wife, and six children, four of the latter of whom were his wife's children by her first husband. When they arrived at Pleasant brook it was much swelled and full of running ice from the spring floods, making its passage difficult. They crossed upon logs, carrying their effects upon their backs. Mr. Tobey settled on the East end of the TALCOTT farm, adjacent to Porter, and after a year or two removed to the farm now occupied by his son John, about one and one-fourth miles west of Smyrna, where both he and his wife died and are buried, his wife, who survived him some twenty years, aged upwards of 94 years. Tobey came in with a yoke of oxen and two cows, which were hitched mismatched to a wooden sled which contained their children and household effects.
Mrs. Tobey's children by her first husband were Betsey, Polly, ---- and Edmond; by her second husband (Mr. Tobey,) were Elnathan, Phebe, Jerusha, who was born May 7, 1793, being the first child born in the town, and died unmarried in her 20th year; John, who married Temperance STONE, of Smyrna, and settled on the homestead, where he still lives, having in 1876 celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of his wedding; Joseph, Freeman and Deborah.
David WILBUR, Joseph COLLINS and Joseph BILLINGS also joined the settlements in 1793.
David WILBUR [the family now spell the name WILBER] came from Nine Partners, Dutchess county, and settled about a mile north of Sherburne Four Corners, on the farm now owned by Elmer ISBELL. After one year he went back to Dutchess county, returning the following year and locating at Sherburne Four Corners, where he kept tavern eighteen years in the house now owned by Milton BENTLEY. He then traded for a farm about a mile north-west of the Four Corners, which is now owned by his son, Platt Wilbur, and occupied by his grandson, Wesley, son of Platt, where he resided till his death, Feb. 2, 1865, aged 93. He married in Dutchess county at the aged of nineteen, Polly PECK, also of Dutchess county, who died Sept. 14, 1862, aged 90. He came to this county on foot, while his wife came on horseback, carrying in her arms her infant son Thompson, then only two years old. She afterwards returned to Dutchess county and brought in her household goods in the same way. Their son Thompson married Clarissa, daughter of Asa MANWARRING, of New London, Conn., and settled on a farm adjoining his father's on the west, which is now owned by his son, Charles C. Wilbur. He died in Smyrna village, Oct. 10, 1871, having lived on that farm till the 1st of April preceding his death. His wife returned to the farm and died there Dec. 31, 1876. They leave nine children, seven of whom live in this county, (five in Smyrna,) one in Hamilton and one in Chicago.
David Wilber had eight children who were born here, viz: Sally, Smith, German, Maria, Lyman, Cynthia, Platt and Miles.
Joseph COLLINS and Joseph BILLINGS, the former of whom married the latter's sister Betsey, came from Somers, Tolland county, Conn., in the winter season bringing their families on ox sleds. They settled on 160 acres previously selected in the north part of the town, COLLINS on the farm now owned by Thomas BROOKS, and occupied by Deloss Brooks, and BILLINGS on the place now owned and occupied by his son Harlow Brooks. Both resided where they settled till their death. COLLINS died of a fever in Westfield, Chautauqua county, in 1841, while returning from a visit to his son Alonzo in Michigan; and his wife, on the homestead, June 19, 1848, aged 77. BILLINGS died May 18, 1847, aged 74, and his wife "Aby" POMEROY, of Somers, Conn., Sept. 1, 1851, aged 84.
Joseph Collins was a clothier, and carried on that business in connection with farming. About 1818 he erected clothing works just below the saw-mill on Collins' creek [This stream is variously known as Collins' and Billings' Creek or Brook.], and carried on the carding and cloth-dressing business till 1840, when he sold to his sons Levi and Warren, who continued it together seven years, when they disposed of the same.
Joseph Collins and Joseph Billings were interested in the construction of a saw-mill on the same stream. It occupied the site of the saw-mill now owned by Levi Collins. It was built in 1795, and was the first mill erected in the town. A run of stones was soon after put in, and proved a great accommodation to the settlers of that period, who had previously carried their grists to Cooperstown. It was abandoned as a grist-mill about the time the grist-mill in the village was built.
The saw-mill has been continued to the present day, three or four buildings having been erected on the site. Collins & Billings owned the property till about 1835, when the latter sold his interest to Collins and his sons.
The property has since been in the possession of the Collins family.
The mill contains three circular saws-log, wood and splitting saws.
Joseph COLLINS' children were Betsey, Grace, Joseph, Warren, Myron, Marcia, Loren, Joseph W., Levi B., Alonzo and William W.
Joseph BILLINGS' children were Joseph, Timothy, Lauren, Diana and Harlow. Harlow settled and still lives on his father's homestead.
In 1795, Hopson WILLCOX and his son Lillibridge came on horseback from Exeter, R.I. They had selected lots 1, 2, 3, 4, but when they arrived in New York with their money they found that those lots had been sold. They returned and took up 64 acres in the east part of the town. They then returned to Rhode Island, and the next year Hopson came in with most of his family and settled on the place now occupied by the grand-children of his son Hazzard. There he and his wife died, the former about 1821. Lillibridge married in Rhode Island, Anna HOXIE, and settled two or three years later on the farm now owned and occupied by his son Thomas L., a little over a mile north-west of the village. His log cabin stood on the site of the old wood-colored house which stands opposite the residence of his son Thomas L., and gave place to that structure in 1812. There he and his wife resided till their death, the former in 1854 and the latter in 1859. The old wood-colored house is now occupied by his grand-children, Pomeroy and Susannah BILLINGS. Hopson's other children were Robert, John, Russel, Hazzard and Betsey.
Hon. Isaac FOOTE as born in Colchester, Conn., January 4, 1746, and removed thence in May, 1773, to Stafford, Conn. In February, 1795, he removed to Smyrna, and settled a mile south of the village, on the farm now owned by Pierce NEARING, where he died Feb. 27, 1842, aged 96. While a resident of Stafford, Conn., he was repeatedly elected to the General Assembly of the State. In May, 1779, by the united approval of the people, he received a commission as Justice of the Peace, which at that day was the highest evidence of a sterling character. In 1797 he was appointed to the same office in Smyrna, then Sherburne.
October 30, 1800, he was appointed First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace in Chenango county, being the first person who held that office in the county.
May 31, 1773, Mr. Foote married Mary, daughter of Jonathan KELLOGG, Jr., of Colchester, Conn., who died Nov. 15, 1826, aged 81. They had eight children: Mary F., Margaret P., Isaac, who died in infancy, Isaac, (the second by that name,) Amasa, Asahel, who died in childhood, John and Hiram.
Elijah SEXTON was born in Somers, Connecticut, in 1752. He participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. After the close of the war, Mr. Sexton married Sibyl SPENCER and in 1795 or '6* he purchased and settled on a tract of wild land in Smyrna. The farm on which he settled is located about two miles south of the Madison county line and adjoining the town line of Sherburne. It is now owned and occupied by Robert H. KNOWLES. There they resided till their death. He died in March, 1839. His wife died about 1805, aged 44. After her death he married the widow Thankful SPRAGUE, of Hamilton, (nee Grannis,) who died in October, 1862, in the 86th year of her age. He had nine children, six of whom were born in Connecticut, viz: Elijah, Sibyl, Cynthia, Lovina, Harriet, Norman, John L., Abigail, and Rhoanna, all of whom married and raised families.
[* John L. Sexton, of Big Flats, son of Elijah, who was born in Smyrna, May 3, 1798, who claims to be the oldest person living who was born in Smyrna, and is the only one of Elijah Sexton's children now living, says, under the date of March 14, 1880, the settlement was made in 1795. Mr. W. Sexton, of Smyrna, a grandson of Elijah Sexton, says, under the date of March 25, 1880, the settlement was made in February, 1796, though he does not claim entire accuracy as to dates.]
In 1798, Simeon REXFORD bought and settled on the farm now owned by his grandson Frank D. Rexford. His deed bears date of Aug. 24, 1798. A deed bearing the same date was made out to Stephen KELSEY for what is now the Nelson COLE farm, one-fourth mile south of the village. Simeon Rexford died Dec. 31st, 1857, aged 82, and Milla, his wife, May 7, 1836, aged 53.
John BILLINGS came from Stonington, Conn., his native place, and bought farms for his four children, John , Flavia, who married John PARSONS, Joseph and Betsey, who married Joseph COLLINS, but he never made a settlement here. His son John came about 1798, settled on lot 2, in the north-east corner of the town, on the farm now owned, 100 acres of it, by his grandsons, E. C. and John Monroe Billings, and some 60 acres, including the homestead, by William H. CONGDON, where he died June 6, 1828, aged 63. His wife, Lucia, also died there Jan. 29, 1845, aged 80. John Billings' children were Augustine, Mary, Nancy, Lovice, Bertha, John F., Lorenzo, and Orson. John F. Billings built on his farm in 1850 a large commodious cobble-stone house, which was then said to be the finest house in the county. It is also said to be the only house of its kind in the county.
Only two of John Billings' grandchildren are living in the county, Erastus Clinton Billings, a druggist, and J. Monroe Billings, a farmer, both in Smyrna.
John PARSONS came in, previous to 1800, and settled on lot 1, in the north-east corner of the town, on the farm now owned and occupied by his son Alfred, where he died Oct. 17, 1841, aged 70, and Flavia Billings, his wife, June 10, 1859, aged 83. His children were Marvin, Billings, Flavia, Hancy, Solomon, Alfred and Hiram.
In 1799, John PERCIVAL bought land on the turnpike, west of the center of the town, near Warren STANTON's and Hoxie TEFFT's.
In 1800 Obadiah SPENCER bought the Smith CAULKINS or Milton SMITH property.
The same year Stephen PARKER bought the farm owned by Thomas BROOKS.
In 1803 Jesse HUTCHINSON and Apollos ALLEN bought lot 15, comprising the site of the village; also the west half of lot 16. They are supposed to have been the first settlers on the site of the village and were jointly interested in milling and distilling. They built the saw-mill and grist-mill which was purchased in 1809 by Squire John MUNSON. ALLEN's house stood near the residence of A. EASTMAN, on the west side of the garden plot of Laroy C. SWEET.
Alapheus HALL bought the Col. Solomon HALL farm, towards Earlville, in 1804.
Sept. 18, 1804, Aaron HUTHCINSON purchased the east half of lot 26, west of the village, now owned by Dwight HALL and Mrs. MANWARRING.
The same year William STOVER bought the Stover farm; and David FELT, lot I, the PARSONS and TEFT farms. William Stover was elected supervisor in 1810 and held that office continuously till 1820.
Comfort RECORD was an early settler in the west part of the town; also John PARKER, on the farm now owned by Mr. RICHMOND.
Luke HALL came at an early day from Somers, Conn., and settled in the north part of the town, where his son Erastus now lives, and died there, he and his wife.
Benjamin PAUL came from Westminster, Vt., in 1805, and settled about two miles south-west of Smyrna village, on the farm now owned and occupied by William FIELDS. In 1810 he removed to North Norwich and settled where Benjamin SEYMOUR now lives, about two and one-half miles above North Norwich village. After various removals in the town he finally located on the Whapanaka, [An Indian name meaning martin, an animal which frequented that locality.], in the east part of the town, where his son Benjamin now lives, and died there in 1858, aged 76. His wife, Abigail CARR, to whom he was married in Vermont, died on the same place in 1859. Two sons, Alfred and Benjamin, are living in North Norwich. A daughter, Jane, wife of Jeremiah CLARK, is living in Plymouth.
John MUNSON came from Barkhampsted, Conn., in the spring of 1809 and settled just north-west of the village of Smyrna, where his son Albert now lives. He purchased some eight acres, including the HUTCHINSON & ALLEN mill property. He built a distillery in connection with the grist-mill, both of which were burned March 30, 1829.
Mr. Munson was engaged in the milling and distilling business till his death, Dec. 13, 1827, aged 42. He married Sally, daughter of John MERRELL, of Barkhampsted, Conn., who died on the homestead in Smyrna, Jan. 29, 1862, aged 76. He came here with his wife and two daughters, Eliza and Hannah, the former of whom married Philip S. MEAD, brother of Dr. Nicholas B. Mead, who came from Kingsbury, Washington county, about 1826 and settled about two miles south-west of Smyrna village, on the farm now owned by the heirs of Thomas PURDIE, to whom he sold about 1830, and removed to Smyrna village, where he died June 13, 1833, aged 29, and where his wife still lives. Hannah married Jonathan SHEPARDSON, Jr., a native of Plymouth in this county, and settled on the Munson homestead, where he died May 16, 1841, aged 35. His wife afterwards removed to Smyrna village to live with her son and only child, Andrew Shephardson, who is the present clerk of Chenango county. She died there in 1877. Mr. Munson had only one child after coming to Smyrna, Albert, who was born in 1811, and owns and operates the mill property purchased by his father in 1809. Amanda, wife of Gardner BUTTS, living in Smynra village, is the only one of Eliza's children living. She married for her first husband Albertus MERRITT, who died in Milwaukee, where they then resided. Albert has three children living in Smyrna, George A., John H., and Sarah, wife of Frank DIMMICK, a jeweler in that village.
Merchants: - The first merchant in Smyrna was James ELMORE, who came from Sherburne about 1812 and opened a store in the building which, having been enlarged, is now owned and occupied as a dwelling by Cheney HAYWARD. He remained here but a short time and returned to Sherburne, where he had previously been engaged in mercantile business. Harvey TALCOTT, brother of Joshua Talcott, both of whom were among the first settlers in Smyrna, next opened a store in the same building, succeeding Elmore and continuing till shortly before his death, Feb. 25, 1846, with the exception of about a year during the crisis of 1837, having in the meantime built and occupied for several years the store now occupied by the Dixon Brothers. He sold to Webster MORRELL, who very soon after admitted Giles COWLES, from Connecticut, with whom he traded about a year, when he bought Cowles' interest and some two years later sold to Deacon Gardiner J. KINYON, of Smyrna, who traded till his death February 17, 1857. Herbert M. DIXON, in the winter of 1858, opened a store in the interest of Charles H. and Nathan P. WHEELER, as a branch of Wheeler & Co.'s store in Norwich. On the death of the former in 1860, and the subsequent division of the property, the store in Norwich fell to the latter, and the store in Smyrna to Dudley R. Wheeler, father of Charles H., who associated himself as partner, Herbert M. Dixon, who, in company with John S. BLACKMAN, bought Mr. Wheeler's interest, and traded under the name of Dixon & Blackman one year, when Mr. Dixon bought his partner's interest, and in the spring of 1866, his brothers Charles G., and Mott C., became his partners, continuing such three years. In the spring of 1872, his brother Charles G. Dixon again became his partner, and the business has since been conducted under the name of Dixon Bros.
J. Billings PARSONS and Aristarchus MUNROE, the former from Smyrna and the latter from Plymouth, traded in the old Elmore store a few years about 1840. Elmer ISBELL, of Smyrna, whose father, Seymour, came here from Otsego county about 1840, occupied the same store three or four years from about 1843 or '4. Eber DIMMICK, father of F. E. Dimmick, came from Sherburne Hill and traded about a year in the store now occupied by A. K. DIXON. J. Orville RANSOM, from North Norwich, succeeded him, and traded three or four years during the war, first in the same store and afterwards in the building occupied by F. E. DIMMICK and George P. PUDNEY.
Joshua PRATT, from Sherburne, opened a store in 1825, in the building now occupied by Giles COWLES as a dwelling, which was built by Mr. Pratt, who was engaged in mercantile business in Sherburne, and entrusted the management of the store at this place to Richard WILEY, who afterwards traded in the bar-room of the old HALL tavern, which occupied the site of the M. E. church, and was the first tavern in the village. It was kept at a very early day by Obadiah SPENCER, by whom, probably, it was built. The present tavern, or rather the central part of it, was built about 1820 by Luther BOWEN and Jethro HATCH, who kept tavern and traded there a number of years. Several additions have subsequently been made to the building.
Dr. Nicholas B. MEAD and Nathan SUTLIFF, the former from Kingsbury, Washington county, opened a store in the building now unoccupied just west of the residence of Brundage FERRIS, and traded several years. They were succeeded by Milo, son of Nathan SUTLIFF, who also did business several years and failed. Brundage FERRIS occupied the tavern stand of Julius KELSEY. Julius Kelsey, before he moved into the tavern, kept a good grocery some eight or ten years.
Luther BOWEN and Jethro HATCH sold to Russel CASE, who kept the tavern and traded at the same stand for several years.
Trowbridge SHEPARD, a native of Lebanon, commenced trading here about 1830. After a few years he engaged in the drug business, which he continued till his death, Aug. 26, 1862.
The other merchants now doing business here besides the Dixon Bros., are Abel COMSTOCK, druggist and grocer, who commenced in 1864; Almenzo K. DIXON, hardware dealer, in 1866; Ery W. STOKES, flour and feed and ready-made clothing, in 1869; Erastus C. BILLINGS, druggist, in 1878; Charles D. STOKES, general merchant, 1877.
Postmasters: - The first postmaster at Smyrna was probably Samuel HALL, who kept the office in the tavern which occupied the site of the M. E. church, of which he was also proprietor, soon after 1800. He was succeeded by Chester HAMMOND, but the office was still kept in the tavern by Samuel HALL as Deputy. Harvey TALCOTT held the office from about 1829 to 1841, and Elmer ISBELL from about 1841 to 1849. Milo SUTLIFF and Beardsley LEAVENWORTH each held the office about four years. Nicholas B. MEAD was appointed in 1857; Andrew SHEPARDSON in 1861; and Dr. George E. LAWRENCE, the present incumbent, Jan. 10, 1871.
Physicians: - Before any physician located in Smyrna, Drs. CAMP of Plymouth, Israel FARRELL, of Sherburne Hill, and Asa WHITE, of Sherburne, extended their practice in this direction. Probably the first physician who located in the town was Dr. Samuel GUTHRIE, a native of Brimfield, Mass., who came here in 1802, and removed to Sherburne in 1811. He also extended his practice in this direction after his removal. Nicholas B. MEAD came from Kingsbury, Washington county, about 1816, having previously studied medicine in Sherburne with Dr. Israel FARRELL. He continued in practice here till about the close of the late war. William W. PAGE, then a young man, came in about 1823. His health was poor, and he died here after a few years' practice. Dr. BROWN came from Otselic about 1830 or '31, and after a few years' practice removed to Earlville. Asa BABCOCK came from the eastern part of the State about 1833, and practiced two or three years in company with Dr. MEAD. Joshua M. FISK came about 1840, and practiced till about 1856. William H. STUART, a native of German, practiced here six months in 1862, when he entered the army. [See page 327, Norwich]. Dr. URE came in about a year after Dr. Stuart left and practiced nearly two years. Frederick F. COMSTOCK practiced here from the spring of 1873 till Dec., 1875. Other physicians have located here for short periods of a few months, but did not become properly identified with the history of the place.
The present physicians are George E. LAWRENCE, James E. McCLENNAN and Thomas Edward STACK.
George E. LAWRENCE was born in Oneonta, N.Y., Nov. 18, 1816, and educated in the common schools of Oneonta and Sherburne. He commenced the study of medicine in 1837, at Cobleskill, N.Y., with Dr. KIBBER, and subsequently pursued his studies with Dr. Holden SWEET, of Sherburne. He attended a course of lectures in the New York Medical Institute in 1867, and Jan. 5, 1868, was granted a certificate by the Eclectic Society of the State of New York. In January he received a certificate from the Chenango Co. Medical Society, and commenced practice that year in Sherburne, continuing till 1854, when he removed to Smyrna, where he has since practiced.
James E. McCLELLAN was born in Glasgow, Scotland, October 3, 1836, and emigrated to Sherburne in 1852, removing thence after two or three years to Smyrna. In 1867 he entered the Long Island College Hospital, where he was graduated in June, 1868. From thence he went to DeRuyter, where he practiced eight years, and thence in 1876 to Smyrna.
Thomas Edward STACK is a native of Ennis, Ireland and emigrated thence to Smyrna in March, 1878. He is a graduate of Dublin University and the Queen's College.
Lawyers: - Demas HUBBARD, Jr., whose parents were early settlers in Sherburne, was born in Winfield, Herkimer county, Jan. 17, 1806, and received an academic education. He commenced practice here some fifty years ago, and after practicing some five or six years in Justices' courts, was regularly admitted and practiced here till his death, Sept. 1, 1873.
----- WALES, who lived about three-fourths of a mile south-west of the village, practiced in Justices' courts about sixty years and until his death. A Mr. CHAPEL practiced here two or three years from about 1839.
George P. PUDNEY, the only attorney now practicing here is a native of Smyrna, and was admitted in 1877, in which year he commenced practice here.