USA > New York > Delaware County > Delaware County, New York, history of the century, 1797-1897, centennial celebration, June 9 and 10, 1897 > Part 23
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Geographically Davenport is a long and narrow town, lying in and along the two sides of the Charlotte valley. The soil is of a chocolate colored clay loam, resembling that of Otsego county more than it does that of a great portion of Delaware county. The scenery is unsurpassed for beauty and grandeur. Sexsmith lake, a body of water shaded on one side by a virgin forest, is one of the most beautiful sheets of water in the world. Strader or Goodrich lake at Davenport Centre is another beautiful sheet, smaller but more accessible and perhaps better known than Sexsmith's. The Charlotte river affords excellent water power.
When the Albany and Susquehanna railroad was first pro- jected it was designed to run through the Charlotte valley; but it was diverted to one side, mainly through the influence of Judge Westover, a large landowner of Richmondville. Then other roads began to be built on other sides, and until recently Dav- enport was left without any of the modern facilities for trans-
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
portation. Still it was far from becoming the least prosperous town in the county. As it lay in the natural line of travel between the Hudson and the west in the age of the Indian trail and of the turnpike, it is no less in the natural line in the age of railroads. Let us hope that the natural advantages will soon be utilized by the continuation of a railroad to tide-water. Then, with adequate facilities for exercise the natural intelligence and enterprise of the inhabitants will show themselves in the renewed prosperity of the town, and I have no doubt that
Cast in some diviner mould The new cycle will shame the old.
At the first town meeting, in April, 1817, John Davenport was elected supervisor, and Seth Goodrich town elerk. The subse- quent supervisors have been, Jesse Booth, Gaius Northway, John M. Ten Eyek, Carlton Emmons, Abijah Paine, Thompson Paine, Benjamin Parker, David Morrill, Zebulon E. Goodrich, Morton B. Emmons, William Simson, jr., Henry Ten Eyck, Geo. C. Paine, George W. Goodrich, Cornelins Miller, Sanford I. Ferguson, Aaron Ford, D. M. Dibble, William F. Ford, John Hitchcock, William McDonald, Jacob E. Norwood, J. George Lockwood, James M. Donnelly, George W. Crawford, John L. Beardsley, Elbert A. Tabor, Henry S. Wickham and Gilbert T. Scott.
The population of the town in 1840 was 2,052, and has varied but little since that time. Davenport, formerly East Davenport, is the largest village. The others are Davenport Centre, West Davenport and Fergusonville. There is a Methodist Episcopal organization in each village and a United Presbyterian congre- gation at Davenport.
The first newspaper was established in 1877 by Marcus M. Multer, and afterwards owned by Edward O'Connor. Later it was called the Transcript and edited by Amasa J. Champion. It was discontinued and the Standard was established by Charles S. Hitchcock.
اسم
I
Delhi.
By John A. Parshall.
D ELHI, the eighth town formed in this county, was organized March 23, 1798, and was taken from Middletown, Kort- right and Walton. A part was taken therefrom in 1820, to form Bovina, and a portion therefrom to form Hamden, 1825. How it came to be called Delhi has been often told, and it is not necessary to repeat it here. The officers designated to locate the Court House and gaol provided that they shall not be erected at a greater distance than two miles from the mouth of the Little Delaware.
Previous to the location of the county buildings there were but few settlements, the largest one being just below the village, the next one on the corporate bounds of the now village, and the third in size a little above the village, where Gideon Frisbee first settled, and where the first courts were held, before the county buildings were erected.
June 18, 1812, it was enacted "that it shall be lawful for the comrs. of excise in and for the town of Delhi, in their dis- cretion, to authorize an inn or tavern to be kept in the building occupied as the jail of the county of Delaware."
I have heard Gen. Paine allude to it, and think he stated that the jailer generally had the bar therein.
At Sherwood's bridge at one time there was a tammery, sad- dle and harness shop, a trip hammer and one or two other industries, and I have been told there was a store there. Sher- wood and Parker had a law office there, and at one time were the leading lawyers in the town.
Among the first settlers in the town were Gideon Frisbee, 339
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
Thomas Farrington, B. Yendes, J. Denio, George Fisher, John, Francis and Levi Baxter. The first birth was that of Huldah, daughter of Gideon Frisbee, June 14, 1787; the first marriage that of Philip Frisbee and Jerusha Harmon, 1791; the first death of an adult that of Dr. Philip Frisbee, 1797.
The Sherwood place has been in the uninterrupted possession of the family since 1801. The main part of the building was erected in 1804, and there Mr. Sherwood had his law office until his removal to New York in 1831, and until his death, October, 1862, spent every summer at the old family mansion. Many and many are the gay parties that have been held in that venerable old quansion. The same may truly be said of the old mansion erected by Judge Foote, a short distance below and on the opposite side of the river, and in the early days of the present century many distinguished guests have been entertained by each in their hospitable homes. Probably there are but few premises of land in this town that have been held in the uninterrupted possession of the same family for over ninety-six years, as in the Sherwood family.
Robert J. Blair states that his farm on Seotch Mountain was occupied first by his grandfather in 1803 or 1804, and so on down to its present owner.
Col. Amasa Parker had a dwelling house near Mr. Sherwood, and it is still known as the Parker House.
Early in the present century the village began to be settled by business men, lawyers, merchants and mechanics of all kinds, attracted here, as being the county seat. Among them were Gen. Root, Gen. Leavenworth, Dr. A. E. Paine and many others who became prominent men in its affairs. Of her residents eleven were elected to Congress, aggregating thirty years; one Lieut. Gov. two years; Speaker of the Assembly three years; State Sen- ators twenty years; Members of Assembly aggregating nearly thirty years, and a Justice of the Supreme Court about twenty years, and many other offices which it is unnecessary here to recapitulate.
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TOWN OF DELHI.
Delhi has sent out into the different counties of the State, and into various states, men who have held important places in the various positions of life-eminent clergymen, lawyers and med- ical men, bankers, etc.
The first church erected in the town of Delhi stood just below Sherwood's bridge on the opposite side of the river, and was built in 1811. Rev. E. K. Maxwell was pastor thereof twenty- eight years. The first child baptized by him is still living in this town. This is now the First Presbyterian church, a new building being erected in the village in 1881. The first church built in the village was St. John's church. In the Gazette of July 14, 1830 the following notice appears:
NOTICE. The inhabitants of Delhi and adjoining towns are respectfully invited to assist in raising the Church in this village on Tuesday, the 20th inst., at 9 in the morning. The frame is heavy, and will require 100 good hand- to put up the main body. The frame will be put together on Monday, which will require forty hands.
E. STEELE, C. B. SHELDON, N. HATHAWAY,
Delhi. July 14th, 1830. Trustees.
In the Gazette of the next week it is stated that the building was raised without furnishing any ardent spirits, which is the first instance, it is believed, of a public building being raised upon cold water principles. The Second Presbyterian edifice was erected in 1831, the Methodist in 1841, and the Baptist in 1844.
The Christian church at Fitch's bridge was built about 1816, the West Delhi United Presbyterian church was organized in 1841.
The Catholics have never had a church here. After the Village Hall was placed in its present location, they occasionally held services therein; now they have a very neat little room over Brady's murat market
The first fire company organized in the village of Delhi, or in the county of Delaware, was on the Ist of August, 1821, composed of Ebenezer Steele, Captain; Herman D. Gould, Noadiah Johnson, Charles Hathaway, Nathaniel Hathaway, O. S. Decker, Selah R.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
Hobbie, John J. Lappon, Caleb Thurber, Homer R. Phelps, David Newcomb, Abner G. Thurber and Elijah H. Roberts; appointed by Erastus Root, president, and G. H. Edgerton, clerk.
Of the above members, three in after years were elected Mem- bers of Congress from this county.
The first hand engine was the old Phoenix, which was bought in New York in the spring of 1832. The Cataract engine was bought in 1840, I think, by private subscription, and was known as the " up street " engine.
I cannot omit to mention "Corporal Trim," a somewhat promi- nent character in Delhi fifty or sixty years ago. C. E. Wright, who learned his trade in the Gazette office, thus alludes to him: "Oť course many of your people will remember 'Corporal Trim,' as he was styled, a colored servant, or body guard of General Leaven- worth. Long after Trim had left the service of his master, he loved to tell to a company of listeners, when his tongue was well lubrica- ted by a few potions of old rye, of his fright when the General ordered him during the battle of Chippewa or Niagara Falls, I don't remember which, to wipe with a tuft of grass the brains of a man that had been sprinkled upon the saddle of his horse, a cannon ball having taken off the owner's head, all in view of the 'Corporal.' Of course Trim obeyed, but the 'hair of his head stood on end like quills upon the fretful porcupine,' and he was pale even to white- ness. According to his own story, the close of the battle found the redoubtable 'Corporal' snugly ensconsed under the lowest layer of a rail fence, whither he had crawled for safety. It was a rare treat to hear this quaint character relate these with many others of his adventures."
A kind Providence has not blessed our little town with any celebrated mineral spring to make us a great summer resort; but up Elk Creek, from our earliest settlement, there has been a salt spring from which a fine quality of salt has been obtained, and in the Gazette of April, 1832, reference is made thereto, and also by W. W. Mather, State Geologist, in 1840.
C unty House and Farmat the left.
.
Kingston Street Bringe.
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TOWN OF DELHI.
In March, 1865, a stock company was formed, known as the Elk Creek Salt and Petroleum Company. The capital stock thereof was $300,000. Soon thereafter work was begun, and after spending a few thousand dollars work was abandoned.
But a munificent Providence has favored us with diversified hills and valleys upon which graze many choice herds of cattle, cool and refreshing springs, and thereby we are enabled to manufacture as fine a quality of butter as any other county in the State. Sorie years ago a lady of this town made a small package of butter that took the first premium in London. Probably this same lady, and others in the town, could have sent a package of butter to Queen Victoria on her sixtieth anniversary, for her dinner on that cele- brated occasion, and that she and all the members of the royal family would have awarded the first premium to the fine sample from Delhi. All honor and praise to the fair maids and matrons who make our far-famed Delaware county butter.
Of the various industries carried on in this town from time to time, I think there was never a distillery for the manufacture of whiskey. A few years ago there was a still at the Fall Mills for the manufacture of cider brandy.
In the generation or so past the games in vogue were playing of ball, pitching of quoits, etc., and many a game has taken place between town and town, and often at "The Hook," and Delhi had some crack players. Neither should the game of checkers be omit- ted. At one time we had a place here called "Checkerville," situated somewhere up the Little Delaware, and in those days no barroom was considered complete without a checker board therein.
A "squirrel hunt" was one of the sports in the days past. Generally in June the boys and older men chose sides and hunted a day for wild game, and at a given time and place met and counted the game, and the defeated party paid for the supper-and some- times great dexterity was displayed in stealing game from side to side.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
In those days Thanksgiving was not considered properly observed unless a shooting match was gotten up in which the craek shots of the town were present. Rare sport indeed it was. General Training, too, was one of the events eagerly waited for. The Fourth of July and General Training were the only holidays in the land fifty or sixty years ago.
It would be impossible here to give the names of the Revolu- tionary soldiers now reposing in the different cemeteries of the town, and the soldiers of the war of 1812, the Seminole war, or the Mexican war.
When the post-office was first established in Delhi, I am unable to state. A few years ago I wrote to the Post-office Department at Washington and learned that the original records were destroyed by fire. The first records on file were October 1, 1801, when Erastus Root was postmaster. Until within a year or so past there has been but one post-office in the town of Delhi.
The first Temperance Society formed in the town was in Jan- uary, 1829, Dr. Ebenezer Steele, President. At the annual meeting of the Delaware County Society in 1831, Levinns Munson, Amasa J. Parker and Charles Hathaway were appointed delegates to the State Society.
The first common school record I can find is in December, 1812. Ambrose Bryan, Erastus Root and Asahel E. Paine were chosen trustees, and R. Denio, collector.
As early as 1788 there was said to be a saw mill in this town, and fifty or sixty years ago there was scareely a brook in the town but what one or more saw mills were located thereon, and rafting was one of the events every spring. Today there are but two or three mills in town run by the old water wheel, and if the first man who sawed logs in Delhi in 1788, could be transferred for a moment to the Crawfords & Adee mills, what would be his amazement; and then pass along our streets, see the railroad, telegraph and tele- phone poles, our electric lights, hundreds of bicycles, upon which are ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, propelling themselves at
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TOWN OF DELHI.
the rate of a mile in six to ten minutes, then truly would he say: " Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions." And then, too, what would unele John Hunt say to see buildings moved without ox teams?
At the time this county was formed slavery was legalized in this state, and a few slaves were held in this town. A distin- guished Representative in the Legislature in this State from this village, raised his voice in advocacy of its repeal and voted therefor.
At the beginning of the present century there were but six- teen states in the Union, with a population of seareely 5,000,000, and our borders of civilization scarcely reached out to the Ohio, and where now stands the city of Chicago, probably the foot of white man had never trod. Now Chicago is the second city in size in the United States, and its first Mayor was a Delaware county boy.
The first burial ground in the town was probably that on Judge Frisbee's place, just above the village, where the Frisbees, Farringtons. Fitchs and other early settlers were buried, and
" Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap,
Each in his narrow cell forever laid.
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."
The first assessment roll of the town was in May, 1798, and contains 125 names-the largest assessment was that of Gideon Frisbee, $226.25; total value, $7,853.19. Alex. Leal, Gideon Fris- bee, Win. Cornell and Elijah Beardsley were the assessors.
The first town meeting was required to be held at the house of Levi Baxter. Ebenezer Foote was the first Supervisor, but the other officers elected I am unable to give, as the town ree- ords for many years after its organization are missing.
Those who have entered the U. S. naval service from this town, (natives) are Charles S. Root, (son of Gen. E. Root,) who died on board the U. S. ship Hudson, as midshipman, in the harbor of Rio Janeiro, December 8, 1828, aged 19 years. Buried in the Protestant cemetery in that city. Wm. K. Wheeler, Lient. Com-
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
mander of the U. S. navy, died at sea March 14, 1876, buried at Gaboo, West Africa. His remains were afterwards brought to this village and placed in Woodland cemetery.
In the U. S. Army, Capt. Rensselaer W. Foote, 6th Infantry,. participated in the Seminole war; killed at the battle of Gaines Mills, before Richmond, June 27, 1862.
Win. Root was in the regular service as a commissioned officer, and at the breaking out of the Mexican war resigned, and died September 21, 1874, aged 61 years.
Frederick Steele was a graduate of West Point, and was in the Mexican war and participated in many engagements; was meritoriously mentioned for distinguished bravery, and was pro- moted. In the war of the Rebellion he had important commands, and was made a General in command of all the cavalry in the Department of Missouri. He died in California, January, 1865, aged 49 years.
Intimately interwoven with the history of Delhi, are its news- papers, and a brief reeital of each, which from time to time has been published in the village, is necessarily proper in this sketelı,
The first paper published in Delhi, or in the county of Dela- ware, was the Delaware Gazette, issued November 18, 1819, John J. Lappon editor and proprietor. On the 23d of April, 1822,. David Johnson became its proprietor and continued as such un- til March, 1833, when Anthony M. Paine and Jacob D. Clark became its proprietors.
In May, 1839, Mr. Paine became sole proprietor and continued so until February, 1872, when his interest was transferred to his son, George H., and Ira B. Kerr. In Oc- tober, 1881, Mr. Kerr sold his interest to Mr. S. E. Smith, and the firm was Paine & Smith until Mr. Paine's death in January, 1895. February, 1895, Mr. S. E. Smith became sole proprietor. It may here be stated that Gen. Paine and his descendants had an uninterrupted interest in the paper for sixty-two years. The venerable old Gazette has lived to see the rise and fall of several papers in this village. The Gazette building was erected in 1837,.
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TOWN OF DELIII.
and occupied in October of that year, and the Gazette has been issued weekly therefrom over since.
The Delaware Republican (No. 1), was issued in June, 1821, Elijah J. Roberts publisher. H. H. Nash afterwards became its publisher, and it was discontinued in 1825, or thereabouts.
The Delaware Republican (No. 2.) was issued in September. 1830, by George Marvine. Messrs. MeDonald & Bowne subse- quently became its proprietors, and the last number issued was dated Dec. 12, 1832.
The Delaware Journal was issued April 16, 1834, by Whipple & Wright, and was published but a few years.
The Delaware Express was issued in January, 1839, by Nor- wood Bowne, who remained its editor and publisher until his death. January, 1890, a period of fifty-one years. After his death the paper was published by his son, Charles N., for a short period, when it was published by Bowne & Gillies, then by P. M. Gillies, and he afterwards sold to Mr. S. F. Adee; Mr. Adee sold to William Clark, its present proprietor.
The Voice of the People, (the organ of the anti-renters), was issued by William S. Hawley, in June, 1846, and a few years there- after was discontinued.
The Star of Delaware was issued in December, 1859, by Rev. C. B. Smyth. How long it was published I do not now recollect.
The Young Patriot was issued in 1860 by Ira G. Sprague, and in 1862 its name was changed to the American Banner, and as such was published for a short time.
The Delaware Republican (No. 3,) was issued May 12, 1860, by A. Sturtevant and T. F. McIntosh. In February, 1868, Mr. Sturtevant sold his interest to Joseph Eveland; and the same was published by them until January, 1870, when T. F. McIntosh became sole proprietor, and remained as such until April 15, 1895, when his son, Robert P., became associated with his father, by whom it is now published.
The Monthly Croaker, an amateur publieation, was issued in
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
July, 1887, by John F. Van Der Cook, Jr., a boy only twelve years old, and continued without intermission until November, 1891. In October, 1892. he went to Cleveland as a reporter ou the Press, and after a stay there of six months went to New York city as a reporter on the Harlem Local Reporter, and now is the Eastern manager of the "Scripps-McRae News Company.
In our exhibit of relics of the past, what a pity an old Ram- age press, which was about the only printing press in use when this county was organized, and upon one of which the first issue of the Gazette was printed, and a pressman could print only about 200 an hour, was not on exhibition, and then com- pare it with the power presses now in use on our large daily journals which strike off many thousands an hour. What a change, indeed, has taken place in less than a century.
" The improve- ments in printing and printing machinery have been great and rapid. Printing has come, in these days, to be a fine art, and the product of the printing press, in its highest and most artistic phases, fully justifies its popular reputation as one of the first,. greatest, and most progressive of the modern achievements of men."
Since the introduction of telegrams and cablegram dispatches, great changes have taken place in our receipt of news. To-day a person can send an account of our Centennial celebration to our namesake in India, (Delhi) thousands of miles away, and have the same published there to-morrow.
The older inhabitants of the village will probably remember the old clock in the belfry of St, John's church. It was the gift of Gen. Erastus Root, and the gift document is dated Nov- ember, 1831. Some years ago it was taken out.
As we review our little history of the County Seat for the past century, who will doubt that our forefathers were men of marked ability, solid worth, action, enterprise, thorough patriot- ism and true courage?
May the next recurring anniversary of our Centennial witness
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TOWN OF DELIL.
as great and important changes in the onward stride of civiliza- tion as in the past; and may our benchicent Father vouchsafe lo ns His ever-watchful care in the future as in the past.
" What dearer privilege, indeed, than to do as our sires have done, To follow in the paths they proved, to finish as they begun ; To give to our children undefiled, in all that our fathers won."
Delhi was the second village incorporated in the county, March 21, 1821, and its first officers were: Trustees, Erastus Root, Charles A. Foote, Gurden H. Edgerton, Jabez Hitchcolk and Nathaniel Steele, jr .: Clerk, Gurden H. Edgerton; Treasurer, Herman D. Gould: Overseer of Highways, Jabez Hitchcolk.
The Delhi Fire Department was organized March 30, 1860, and its first officers were: Chief Engineer, Apollos C. Edgerton; Assist- ant Engineer, Dexter Pettengill; Clerk, John A. Parshall; Treasurer, Calch A. Frost.
The first taverns, built of logs, were opened in 1790, by Gideon Frisbee just above the village, and by George Yendes in the lower part of the town. In 1798 Mr. Denio opened a log tavern on the present fair grounds.
In 1824 the Delaware Woolen Factory was started by a company, Samuel Sherwood and H. D. Gould, principal owners. In 1839 Richard Titus purchased the business, and later O. S. Penfield & Company, also Smith & Penfield. In 1826 George Sherwood built the grist mill, and in 1870 Smith & Penfield constructed the present building.
Cassia Lodge, No. 180, F. & A. M., was instituted in Delhi in March, 1809. Erastus Root was Master, Ambrose Bryan, Senior Warden, Elnathan Heath, Junior Warden. Delhi Lodge, No. 439. F. & A. M., was instituted at Delhi in 1858, P. B. Merwin Master. Delhi Chapter, 124, R. A. M .. was instituted at Delhi, April 12, 1827. Its first officers were: Amasa Parker, H. P., Amasa Millard, K .. Lorenzo Henry, S. Delhi Chapter, No. 210, R. A. M., was instituted at Delhi. April, 1869. Its first officers were: J. S. Page, H. P., John Woodburn, K., J. M. Preston, S.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
Delhi Lodge, No. 265, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Delhi, March 2, 1847. Its first N. G. was Truman H. Wheeler. After an exist- ence of many years it surrendered its charter. Delhi Lodge, No. 625, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Delhi, March, 1893, M. E. Arbuckle, N. G.
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