History of Otsego County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 1

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) cn
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 988


USA > New York > Otsego County > History of Otsego County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 1


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98



Gc 974.701 t8h 1753024


A


REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01150 8691


Gc 974.701 0t8h 1753024


840


-


-1740 .-


HISTORY OF


OTSEGO COUNTY,


N. 1.


NEW YORK.


.


WITH


Illustrations and Biographical Sketches


SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.


PUBLISHED BY EVERTS & FARISS, 714-16 Filbert Street, Philadelphia.


1878. 040


------------


Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015


https://archive.org/details/historyofotsegoc00hurd


ITIS ENVNUAS S


1753026


ELLI DoXOSax



VIEW OF LEATHER STOCKING FALLS .


CONTENTS.


HISTORICAL.


HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY.


PAGE


XLI .- Town of Hartwick


156


I .- Voyage and Discovery .


9


XLII .-


continued


161


II .- The Iroquois.


10


XLIII .-


Laurens .


continued .


172


IV .- The Revolution 14


XLV .-


Maryland


175


V .- The Massacre of Cherry Valley


15


XLVI .- 66


continued 180


18.4


VII .- Extinction of Indian Title .


20


XLVIII .-


158


VIII .-- The Close of the Revolution-Influx of Settlers . IX .- Early Customs


21


XLIX .-


Milford .


" continued .


795


X .- Organization of Otsego County


23


II .-


Morris


201


XI .- Geographical-Topographical -- Geological .


24


LII .-


continued


211


XII .- Political History .


25


LIII .-


New Lisbon


219


XIIJ .- Bench and Bar


29


LIV .-


Onconta .


223


XIV .- The Press


32


LV .-


continued .


228


XV .- Medical Societies, etc. .


35


LVI .-


231


XVI .- The Common Schools


37


LVII .--


Otego


238


XVII .- Elcemuosynary Institutions


39


LVIII .-


16 continued


242


XVIII .- Internal Improvements


42


LIX .-


Otsego


2-17


XIX .- Agriculture


43


LX .- Cooperstown


25,


XX .- Statistical


LXI. - :


continued


264


XXI .- Old Militia Organizations


54


LXIT .- 66


271


XXII .- Otsego in the Rebellion


55


LXIII .--


2.7


XXIII .-


58


LXIV .- Town of Pittsfield


236


XXIV .-


66


61


LXV .-


Plainfield


292


XXV .-


66


63


LXVI .-


Richfield .


continued 306


XXVII .- ..


83


LXVIII .-


.6


008


XXVIII .-


16


LXIX .-


= Rosehoom


315


XXIX .-


XXX .- Town of Burlington


97


LXXI .-


.. continued


324


XXXI .- 66


continued


102


LXXII .-


Unadilla .


333


XXXII .--


Butternuts


109


LXXIII .-


continued


341


XXXIII .- 66


" continued


113


LXXIV .- ::


Westford.


351


LXXV .-


Worcester


356


XXXV .-


continued


124


XXXVI .- 66 Decatur


141


XXXVII .-


Edmeston


143


XXXVIII .-


16


continued 146


XXXIX .-


Exeter 150


ERRATA


369


XL .-


continued 152


PATRONS' RECORD AND DIRECTORY


3:0


ILLUSTRATIONS.


Leather Stocking Falls ( frontispiece)


facing title


Outline Map of (tengo County .


9


BURLINGTON.


BUTTERNUTS.


. Portraits of J. II. Rawlings and Wife facing 113


Residence of J. H. Rawlings ( double page) between 112. 112


Portraits of John Norton and Wife .


99


66 Jos. T. Gilbert


.. 112. 119


Residence of Maurice Bolton ( with portrait)


100


Portraits of Jared Comstock and Wife Caring IlG


= Hier Hot - and Wife .


Willet Chase ( with portraits; 103


104


1


Portrait of theurge 1. Clyde Ccing 120


Residence of David i. Packer ( with portraits)


.. 106


Dr. Joseph White


121


.


XXVI .-- =


66


72


LXVII .-


96


LXX .-


Springfield


319


XXXIV .- Cherry Valley .


119


LXXVI .-


continued


192


22


L .-


Middlefield


VI .- Sullivan and Clinton's Campaign .


19


XLVII .-


III .- Otsego prior to the Revolution , 12


XLIV .-


CHAPTER PAGE


PAGE


Residence of Orange Gardner (with port ::: 'ts) . faring 10;


Portraits of. Roswell Kelsey and Wife 108


Residence of A. A. Matteson ( with portraits) . .. Col. David Gardner ".


facing 96


6.


97


Geo. Y. Gilbert ( with portrait) : 112, 110


A. A. Mother ..


109


Portrait of Judge Jas C. Walworth .


.. Benjamin S. Walworth . 16 104


66


52


continued


CHAPTER


4


CONINN LO.


ILLUSTRATIONS.


PAGE


Portrait of Oliver Judd


facing


132


Hon. W. W. Campbell . 139


Residence of G. W. B. Dakin .


facing 140


Joseph Phelon ( with portraits) between 140, 141


=


Mrs. Susan M. Belcher


facing 141


EDMESTON.


Portraits of Hon. D. B. St. John and Wife facing 143


Residence of Chas. F. Goodrich (with portraits) 144


Henry D. Crandall


between 144, 145


Portraits of John S. Coon and Wife


facing


146


"


Gen. S. S. Burnside


235


Residence of the late John Barrett (with portraits) .


I48


View of the Central Hotel


236


Levi B. Banks


149


EXETER.


Residence of Dr. W. L. Hurelle (with portraits) facing 156


B. W. Lidell


157


HARTWICK.


Residence of Cyrus Short . facing 157


Portraits of Harvey Maples and Wife 160


John Winsor


Edwin A. Wells 164


Portrait of H. K. Marsh .


164


Horace Chase . 164


165


View of Hartwick Seminary


165


Portrait of Prof. J. Pitcher


165


Peter S. Smith, M.D.


166


Torry J. Luce .


167


LAURENS.


Portraits of Hervey Keyes and Wife facing 170


Hudson Sleeper "


174


MIDDLEFIELD.


Home of William H. Lyne facing 184


Residence of Horace M. Pierce .


"


185


" S. G. Huntington .


185


Portrait of Mrs. Agnes Church .


191


MILFORD.


Residence of Hon. S. R. Barnes (with portraits)


facing 192


A. G. Morris


¥


193


Wm. R. Hardy


" Frecinan Murry "


195


Otis Westcott 66 196


Portraits of Jared Goodyear and Wife between 196, 197


Portrait of Mrs. Elizabeth Collier


facing 197


Portrait of Richard B. Morris 198


Zilpha Morris . . 199


Residence of Henry Wilcox (with portraits) facing 200


¥ Andrew Spencer .


201


MORRIS.


View of Hillington Cemetery .


facing 202


Residence of Edson Wheeler (with portraits)


the lato Gen. Jacob Morris . 205


Portraits of Ansel C. Moore and Wife 208


Dr. Win. Yates and Wife 210


Capt. Amos Palmer and Wife


212


Residence of J. P. Kenyon (with portraits)


" Myron Wagner = 215


216


Portraits of Deacon Joseph Lull and Wife Hon. Jacob K. Lull


facing 217


217


NEW LISBON.


Residence of Ellis Gross .


facing 205


M. D. Cummings (with portraits) 220


Miss Martha M. Peck :


ONEONTA.


Residence of Carlton Emmons ( with portraits) " the late E. R. Ford between 224, 225 Portraits of E. R. Ford and Wife 224, 225


« Conrad Wolf «


facing 22S


" Solon Huntington and Wife 230


16


E. B. Kilborn


232


Residence of Jas. and Hamilton F. Slade (with portraits)


237


OTEGO.


Residence of Edwin G. Birdsall


facing


23S


Reuben Hale (with portraits) " 239


W. and T. A. Birdsall ( with portraits) between 242, 243


Portraits of Michael Birdsall and Wife


242, 243


Residence of D. Day (with portraits)


facing 243


Portraits of Thomas Burnside and Wife


24-1


OTSEGO.


Residence of F. C. Whipple ( with portraits) facing 24S " Five-Mile Point," Residence of J. D. Tunnicliffe . 249


Portrait of Russell Warren 250


Col. J. A. Cheney 252


The Dr. W. A. Thayer Group of Five Portraits between 252, 253


Residence of Dr. W. A. Thayer


252, 253


the late Platt St. John (with portraits) facing 253


Mrs. H. A. Thayer


254


Francis Taylor "


= 255


The W. K. Warren Group of Five Portraits


256


Residenec of Francis Hecox between 256, 257 " C. Childs 66 256, 257


Outlet to Lake Otsego, Source of the Susquehanna . facing 25;


Portrait of Judge II. Sturges, Cooperstown


Jedediah P. Sill,


Calvin Graves (steel),


" 279


" Hon. W. II. A. crell (steel), Cooperstown


bet. 280, 281


Edward Clark (steel), " 280, 25I


Ambrose L. Jordan (steel), facing 282


Col. John H. Prentiss,


" 285


Peter Barton, 256 .


PITTSFIELD.


Residence, Mill, etc., of A. Finks facing 28S


. of Orinel Hall ( with portrait) . ..


259


Jesse Beardslee (with portraits) .


290


" Caleb G. Mail .. 291


PLAINFIELD.


Residence of Alfred Wood (with portraits) facing 296


Portrait of Solomon Armstrong


208


" William L. Brown . 297


RICHFIELD.


Residence of S. Clapsaldle


facing 297


A. Sitts . 306 =


Norman R. Baker 30.


View of Richfield Springs Seminary .


. 313


Portrait of Iliram C. Brockway . 314


ROSEBOOM.


Residence of George Barrett (with portrait.) . faring 316


Henry Roseboom: (with portrait) ..


Portrait of John W. Sterrieker, M.D.


SPRINGFIELD.


Residence and Carriage Manufietery of J. P. Endres


facing


20;


= of Isaish Cook


..


PAGE


Portraits of Dr. G. W. P. Wheeler and Wife


.


between 222, 223


222, 223


Ellis Gross and Wife


.


facing 225


261


271


19.4


203


214


Portrait of Judge Pascal Franchot .


164


Residence of Clark Davison


£


ILLUSTRATIONS.


PAGE


Portraits of Col. John D. Shaul and Wife


Portrait of Jas. Il. Cooke


Residence of L. W. Rathbone (with portraits) . 332


James H. Cooke . facing 333


UNADILLA.


Residence of S. G. Cone (with portraits) . facing 336


Residences and Mills of Palmer & Johnson (with portraits), double page ·


between 336, 337


Residenee of L. II. Blanchard (with portraits) . facing 340


D. P. and R. W. Chapman (with portraits) 341


Portrait of Arnold B. Watson .


349


Eli C. Belknap 350


WESTFORD.


Residence of Mrs. Luey A. Coates (with portrait ), double page .


between 356, 357


Residenec of Horaee Roseboom ( with portraits)


.


facing 357


WORCESTER.


Jersey Stoek Farm and Residence of John Trickcy (double page) .


between 360, 361


Portrait of John Cook


Portraits of Chas. W. Martin and Wife


=


BIOGRAPHICAL.


PAGE


PAGE


Alvan Stewart .


30


Dr. G. W. P. Wheeler


between 222, 223


Hon. Eben B. Morehouse


30


Ellis Gross


222, 223


George A. Starkweather


31


E. R. Ford


Levi S. Chatfield


31


Conrad Wolf


faeing 228


John Norton


fading 99


Solon Huntington


=


230


Chauneey II. Norton


99


E. B. Kilborn


6.


222


Judge Chas. C. Walworth


104


General Samuel S. Burnside


235


Benjamin S. Walworth


104


James Slade


237


Col. David Gardner


105


Carlton Emmons


237


A. Alonzo Matteson


106


The Birdsall Family .


between 2.12. 243


Willet Chase


106


Thomas Burnside


facing 241


Orange Gardner


107


Rensselaer Day .


216


Andrew A. Mather


107


Reuben Hale 246


The Bolton and Briggs Families


108


Russell Warren


facing 250


David G. Parker


108


Col. Joseph A. Cheney


252


Roswell Kelsey


faeing 108


Dr. W. A. Thayer


253


J. H. Rawlings


113


John Pierce


254


Jared Comstock


116


Platt St. John


255


Elihu Hakes


118


Francis Taylor


255


*George C. Clyde


facing


120


Charles Chilis .


255


Dr. Joseph White


124


William Kendrick Warren


256


Oliver Judd


132


Fenimore C. Whipple


256


Hon. W. W. Campbell


138


Francis ITecox .


256


Joseph Phelon .


140 .


James Fenimore Cooper


263


David B. St. John


facing


143


Julge H. Sturges


facing


264


Henry D. Crandall


between 144, 145


Jedediah P. Sill


271


John S. Coon


faeing 146


Calvin Graves


273


Chas. F. Goodrich


. 149


William Bolt Averell .


290


Levi B. Banks


149


Edward Clark .


280


John Barrett


149


Ambrose L. Jordan


282


Harvey Maples


faeing 160


285


Peter S. Su:ith, M.D.


166


286


Torry J. Luce


167


William G. Hali.


291


Cyrue Short


. 167


Jabez Beardslee .


292


Hervey Keyes


facing 170


Alfred Wood


290


Hudson Sleeper


17.4


William L. Brown


297


Samuel Gates Huntington .


. 191


Sol nou Armstrong


20%


Jared Goodyear


between 196, 197


Hiram C. Brockway


314


Major Peter Collier


facing 107


Normau R. Baker


315


Richard B. Morris


198


Stephen Clapsaddle


315


Adolphus G. Diorris


199


Henry Ro-eboom


Simcon R. Barnes


199


Jobn W. Sterricker, M.D. .


319


Otis Westcott


200


George Barrett .


319


William R. Hardy


200


Colonel John D. Shaul


frein: 328


Andrew Spencer


200


James If. Cooke


332


Henry Wilcox


200


Isaiah Cook


Ansel C. Meore .


facing 208


Levant W. Rathbone


William Yates


..


210


Daikin I. Blanchard


Amos Palirer


=


George W. Palmier


Indge Yasal Yra. But


236


Aerol! B. Watson


Edson Wheeler .


2!7


Urial. whenan


Deacon Joseph Lull


217


El: C. Belknap .


llon. Jacob K. Moll


218


The Cone Genealog;


351


Janes P. Kenyon


219


Elbert Coates


M D. Cummings


223


The Roseboots Genealogy


.


Col. J. Holmes Prentiss Peter Barton


66


.


PAG ..


facing 328 . 332


facing a66


221, 223


PREFACE.


THE author feels that no apology is necessary in presenting this volume to the public. The history contained in the following pages embraces one of the most interesting localities, historically, within the bounds of the Empire State. It has been our honest endeavor to trace the history of the development of Otsego County from that period when it was in the undisputed possession of the red man to the present, and to place before the reader an authentic narrative of its rise and progress to thie · prominent position it now occupies among the counties of the State.


That such an undertaking is attended with no little difficulty and vexation none will deny. The aged pioneer relates events of the early settlements, while liis neighbor sketches the same events with totally different outlines. Man's memory is ever at fault, while Time paints a different picture upon every mind. With these the historian has to contend ; and while it has been our aim to compile an accurate history, were it devoid of all inaccuracies, that perfection would have been attained which the writer had not the faintest conception of, and which Lord Macaulay once said never could be reached.


From colonial and other documents in the State archives, from county, town, and village records, family manuscripts, printed publications, and innumerable private sources of information, we have endeavored to produce a history which should prove accurate, instructive, and in every respect worthy of "Old Otsego."


The following volumes were consulted in the preparation of this work : Morgan's "League of the Iroquois"; Schoolcraft's "Notes on the Iroquois" and " American Indians"; Stone's "Life of Brant," "Life of Red Jacket," and "Life of Sir William Johnson"; Campbell's "Border Warfare of New York"; Lossing's "Field-Book of the Revolution"; Thatcher's " American Revolution"; Barber's "History of New York"; "Documentary History of New York"; Beardsley's "Reminiscences"; Spafford's "Gazetteer, 1810"; French's "Gazetteer, 1860"; "Chronicles of Cooperstown"; "History of Madison County"; "Hartwick Seminary Memorial"; Bailey's "Richfield Springs and Vicinity"; Smith's "History of the Seventy-Sixth Regiment"; Adjutant-Generals' reports, muster-rolls, and innumerable pamphlets. -


We desire to acknowledge our sincere thanks to the following persons for much valuable informa- tion which has greatly lessened our labor in the preparation of the work :


In Burlington to Abram Marcy, Andrew A. Mather, L. F. Hubbell, Geo. S. Gorham, David Fisk, Daniel A. Park, A. N. Balcom, Pitman Cook, and Adna Wood.


In Butternuts to Samuel C. Gilbert, E. S. Halbert, Lewis Donaldson, J. Comstock, and William Cox. In Cherry Valley to William W. Campbell, Charles MeLean, Rev. H. U. Swinnerton, A.M., J. L. Sawyer, and H. HI. Browne.


In Decatur to J. E. Tyler, L. L. Davis, Barzilla Brown, and S. B. Champion.


In Edmeston to S. L. Hoxie, H. Langworthy, Walter Chapin, D. B. St. Jolm, Lewis Spencer, and W. Burlingham.


In Exeter minerous prominent citizens were interviewed for historical data ; and we were also assisted by Beardsley's " Reminiscences" and Bailey's " Richfield Springs and Vicinity."


In Hartwick to Rufus P. Luce, Mr. Burlingham, Elisha Fields, Hosea Winsor, Harris Winsor, Rev. James Pitcher, Miss Davidson, Hiram K. Marsh, and Captain W. J. Kellogg.


7


8


PREFACE.


In Laurens to Hudson Sleeper, Amos Winsor, Thos. Tiffany, Leroy Tucker, H. T. Harris, M.D., Chauncey Strong, A. P. Strong, M.D., William C. Fields, Mr. Hopkins, and Jacob Butts.


In Maryland. to Philor Benedict, S. II. Gurney, Carlton Brown, Geo. W. Spencer, James E. Tyler, and A. Hotelikin's history.


In Middlefield to Sumner Stow Ely, David Blair, Gilbert Parshall, O. I. Pieree, Barzilla Bradley, S. W. Barnum, H. M. Pieree, and Fernando Hubbell.


In Milford to Amos Bissell, S. N. Bissell, Chauncey Goodrich, Jolin Eddy, Captain Joseph Mum- ford, and many others.


In Morris to A. S. Avery, Jacob K. Lull, A. C. Moore, Miss J. A. Franehot, Mrs. J. Davis, and Rev. Hobart Cooke.


In New Lisbon to Jonathan R. Neff, Walter H. Yates, Captain W. J. Kellogg, and Captain L. B. Paine.


In Oneonta to Timothy Sabin, Jeremiah Mereness, David J. Yager, D. G. Campbell, G. W. Reynolds, Mr. Ford, N. N. Bull, and Captain H. G. Wood.


In Otego to William Birdsall, Harvey Hunt, Thurston Brown, Cyrus Hathaway, D. Emerson, and E. Blakely.


In Otsego to Joseph A. Clieney, John Wiley, William Kinnie, Alex. Taylor, H. B. Sprague, and Russell Warren.


In Pittsfield to Chester Card and C. G. Hall. 1


In Plainfield to Parley Philips, Mrs. Whitford, Mr. Clark, H. H. Babcock, Solomon Armstrong, and D. A. Dewey.


In Richfield to Dr. W. T. Bailey and Parker D. Fay, Esq.


İn Roseboom to Henry Roseboom, Dr. Sterrieker, and David W. Bailey.


In Springfield to Albert Coates, H. R. Wood, George O. Smith, Rev. P. F. Sanborn, and J. H. Davy.


In Unadilla to Colonel Samuel North, Major C. D. Fellows, Lewis G. Cone, G. B. Fellows, F. A. Bolles, William J. Thompson, Mrs. Lydia Cone (aged ninety), and many others.


In Westford to Nathan Bidlake, James E. Tyler, William H. Platner, Ezra W. Thurbur, S. B. Champion, L. E. Preston, and J. K. Tyler.


In Woreester `to Hon. Leonard Caryl, Ezra W. Thurbur, C. H. Crippen, S. B. Champion, and John Ferguson.


In Cooperstown we are under special obligations to Samuel M. Shaw, Esq., editor of the Freeman's Journal, for mueh valuable material and assistance, and also to Andrew Davidson, the editor of the Otsego Republican, Calvin Graves, George F. Ernst, Samuel Starkweather, Judge Sturges, Horaee Latlırop, M.D., G. Pomeroy Keese, Newell Wolsey Wells, Frederick A. Goffe, and Fred L. Palmer.


Our acknowledgments are also due to Major J. W. Cronkite, of New York, for the excellent history of the One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment, and to Steplien Holden, Esq., of Sherburne, for that of the One Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment.


COOPERSTOWN, N. Y., April 20, 1878.


D. H. H.


E


R


H


K


River


1


MER


D'Erightm lors! Monticello


Pourdilla Forks


PLAINFIELD


CIOHYPO


RICHFIELD SPRINGS


Hamnardeville


JS'


ELD


Saltspringville.


WestAts Ford


East Sy


C.


EXETER


R


Mida


Gfilo


C


HE R


Y


1


Scheffler baker


<


Kiver


Á


L LE


T


BURLINGTON


Edmestar Burlington Grient


Hi Ouk ville


Contre


burlington


Fly Creek


Rasch com


O


O


New Berlin


Che Fitsfuld


Pleasant


1.1


Hartwick, Village


PITTSFIELD.


New Distanta Centrex .


HARTWICK


-


Hartwick, Semv.1.


N'estford ..


stetsonville


South Hartwich


5


Westville


1 viller


G


New Berlin


Morris


E


MORRIS


2


Copes


West Pour Press


E=/4 5 M=+


L


RS 0.


Gilbertsville


plat à Grove


Z


BUTTERNUT'S


17 -.



ist


Freek


C


undpatente


C EG


R.R.


MIDLAND


UNA


enter


ALBANY


RY


1.


Sidney l'lains


E


LA


WARE


MAP OF


TSEGO


NEW YORK.


Scale 8 Miles to the lack Engraved expressly for they Work


T ENA


Maryla


-


Centr


" Otsdonne


0 N


E OLIN T


A


Pimmon.


SOYEONTA DE SUSQU


MARY L


OUNTY


Charlotte Creek


SCHOCH A. RI


R


with


W


Milford


Turky


COOPERSTALA


Take


&Whitney Br


0


SCHENEVUS !


DECATUR


COUN


0


Bmok.


Clarksville, L. South Voller.


May be Read


PROSE BOOM!


COOPERSTOWN


Gargalloville


Webers Com !!


RD+


NEW LISBON


ELDMES


Burlington Flor Suite Com


0


16


N


South Edmeston


Rock Derne


SPR


"MONTGOMERY


Het Ed mestort O


CHERRY VALLEY


MADISON CO.


1


W


E


Ç


O


Z


ONEIDA CO


Kiver


C


ORCES


Noblesville


E.


U


HISTORY


OF


OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.


BY D. HAMILTON HURD.


CHAPTER I. VOYAGE AND DISCOVERY.


The New World-First Discovered in A.D. 986-The Norsemen- Herjulfson-Lief Erickson and his Adventures-Thorwald Erick- son-His Death-Thorstein Erickson-Thorfinn Karlsefne- Christopher Columbus-John Verrazzani -- John Cabot-Spanish, French, and English Claims to Territory-The French and Indian War-Treaty of Peace.


THE New World, or Western Continent, was first dis- covered by white meu A.D. 986. Herjulfson, a Norse navigator, in sailing from Iceland to Greenland, was driven by a storm to the coast of Labrador, or, as some historians seem fit to claim, to Newfoundland. The coasts of the new land being low, rocky, and otherwise uninviting, no landing was attempted. Thus Herjulfson first saw the new land, but it was reserved for other explorers to set foot upon its territory. The Norsemen returned to Greenland with wonderful stories of the land that they had seen, but no further attempt was made at discovery.


After the lapse of a few years, an Icelandie captain, named Lief Erickson, who was possessed of remarkable spirit of adventure, resolved to discover, if possible, the country concerning which Herjulfson and his companions had related such fabulous accounts, and in the year 1001 landed upon the shore of Labrador. He pursued his course southwest along the coast, and finding the country pleasant und attractive, protracted his visit, and finally reached the territory embraced within the present State of Massachu- sette, where the intrepid explorers remained one year. They proceeded along the coast bordering upon Long Island Sound, and it is claimed that the persevering band found their way to New York harbor. Whether these hardy ex- plorers set foot upon the soil of New York is of but little consequence, as voyages were subsequently made to these shores, and discoveries carried as far south as Virginia.


The return of these adventurers to their native country, with a description of the land they had passed through, stimulated others with a desire to see the new country, and in 1002, Thorwald Erickson, a brother of the former ex-


plorer, made a voyage to the coast of Maine, and is said to have ended his days in the vicinity of the present town of Fall River, Massachusetts. In 1005, Thorstein Erickson, another brother, with a band of adventurers, landed upon our shores, and was followed, iu 1007, by Thorfinn Karls- efne, a celebrated mariner, who proceeded along the coast as far as Virginia. The Norsemen were simply an erratic band of rovers. They made no settlements, nor left any records of importance concerning their discoveries. No real good whatever resulted from their voyages. The en- thusiasin excited by first discovery gradually subsided, and as there were no spoils in the wilderness to fall prey to the Norse freebooters and pirates, the further occupancy of the country was abandoned, and the shadows which had been dispelled for a moment again gathered in ; the curtain which had been lifted was again lowered from sky to ocean, and the New World still lay hidden in the misty future. Until recently, historians have been incredulous on the subject of the Norse discovery, but the fact is now generally conceded. We are in possession of no more reliable information than Humboldt's " Cosmos," but that may be cited as conclusive : " We are here ou historical ground. By the_ critical and highly praiseworthy efforts of Professor Rafn and the Royal Society of Antiquaries in Copenhagen, the sagas and documents in regard to the expeditions of the Norsemen to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Vinland have been published and satisfactorily commented upon. The dis. covery of the northern part of America by the Norsemen cannot be disputed. The length of the voyage, the direc- tion in which they sailed, the time of the sun's rising and setting, are accurately given. While the caliphate of Bay- dad was still flourishing, America was discovered, about the year 1001, by Lief, the son of Erie the Red, at the latitude of forty-one and a half degrees north."


A period of four hundred and ninety-two years had elapsed from Lief Erickson's discovery, when Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa. Italy, touched ufait an island, subsequently called San Salvador, and, planting the banner of Castile, formally claimed possession of the land in the name of the noble Isabella, queen of Spain. He returned


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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.


to Spain, and subsequently made two successive voyages to the New World, each of which was fraught with great and lasting benefit to civilized Europe. In justice to Colum- bus, this land should have borne his name, but through the artifice of a Florentine navigator named Americo Vespucci he was robbed of the honor, and it was bestowed on Ves- pucci, the least worthy of the many adventurers.


Not alone to Spain was left the control of the country which the genius and success of Columbus had brought to the knowledge of the world. Franec, ever regarding with a jealous eye the success of her formidable neighbor, was not slow to profit by the discoveries of Columbus. As early as 1504 the Normandy fishermen began to ply their vocation. on the banks of Newfoundland; and in 1508 a number of the aborigines were taken to France. In 1523 a voyage of discovery was planned under the auspices of Francis I., and the command of the expedition was given to John Verrazzani, a native of Florence. After a perilous voyage he discovered the mainland in the latitude of Wil- mington. After a sojourn of a few days he headed his vessel northward and sailed along the coast of Delaware and New Jersey, entered the harbor of New York, touched Massachusetts and Maine, and continued his course along the coast to Newfoundland. At several points the enter- prising Florentine landed and opened a traffic with the In- dians, being always received with every evidence of friend- ship. He returned to France and published an account of his remarkable discoveries, and, naming the country New France, boldly asserted his claim to the sea-girt coast in the nanie of Franeis I.


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England, enterprising, wealthy, and adventurous, lost no time and spared no money in fitting out an expedition of discovery to the Western Continent, and no day in the his- tory of the New World was more important than the 5th of May, 1496. On that day Henry VII., king of Great Brit- ain, issued a commission to John Cabot. a Venetian, to make discoveries and to take possession of all islands and continents, earry the English flag, and assert the title of the king of England. After a protracted voyage the gloomy coast of Labrador was the cheerless sight that met the anxious gaze of the brave Cabot. This was the real discovery of the American continent. He explored the country for several hundred miles, and, in accordance withi the terms of his commission, hoisted the English flag and took possession in the name of the English king. An inci- dent is related, in connection with this act. illustrative of the love man has for his native country : Near the flag of England he planted the banner of the republic of Venice, little thinking, doubtless, that, as the centuries rolled on, not the flag of proud Albion, but that of a republic, would float from ocean to ocean. Cabot returned to England, and received all the adulations and honors that a proud nation could bestow upon an honored subject. This expe- dition was succeeded by others, all of which redounded to the honor and enterprise of England, and resulted in the founding of colonies which, under the fostering care of the Inother country, soon became prosperous and self-reliant.




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