USA > New York > Delaware County > Delaware County, New York, history of the century, 1797-1897, centennial celebration, June 9 and 10, 1897 > Part 25
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
was appointed by the Legislature and was a part of the act of incorporation, because none in the town had the power to call a legal town meeting till they had been elected.
The early settlers were men and women accustomed to labor. Their first and main business after building a log house for their families and making them comfortable was to cut the timber, till the land and to bring it into cultivation. They looked at their former homes and the many privileges and comforts they there enjoyed and had sacrificed for their forest homes. That brought no discouragement. They came to this new and wild region to build for themselves homes. They saw elearly that what was needed to restore to them what they had sacrificed was steady, persistent labor and economy. Those thoughts in- spired new efforts and energy. So that every tree that was felled, every rod of ground that was cleared brought those comforts and blessings nearer to their homes. They learned that steady and efficient labor was no barrier to mental or social happiness. Most of those early settlers were from Christian homes and church privileges. They soon felt the need, and regretted the absence. This feeling grew and became stronger, till a public meeting was called to consider the necessity and propriety of forming a Bap- tist church. The meeting was held on the 15th day of January,. 1793, and a Baptist church was organized. This was the first church organization in the town. On the 12th day of October, 1793, the Congregational element, influenced by the same anxious desire, came together by appointment and formed a Congrega- tional church. Those two churches were the only ones in town until 1833. The Methodists had some preaching. The earliest records inform us that Rev. Stephen Whitehead is known to have preached here in 1802. Some time after that there was Method- ist itinerant preaching, but no church house till 1833. There are now eight churches in the town, viz: Two Congregational, two- Baptist, three Methodist and one Episcopal, each having a good church edifice and stated pastors laboring for the advancement of the moral and Christian good of all.
375
TOWN OF FRANKLIN.
In the early days of the town there was much anxiety in ro- gard to the education of the children. The settlers were few and scattered. That made it difficult to establish any system of education. There was then no public school money to be divided among the schools and each parent or guardian was liable for teachers' wages in proportion to the number of children they sent to school. This furnished but very limited means of education. And those wishing higher attainments than the common schools (or grammar and select schools as they were called) could give, had to seek it outside the county. As the population and tinan- res increased common schools grew into more importance. Our state gave large endowment funds and our schools were benefit- ted by its interest. Laws were enacted, school districts formed, school officers elected and teachers required to pass an examina- tion. This brought the district schools up to a much better position : though our schools had been advanced to a better position no effort was made for a higher education than a good common school could give till 1820. In the year 1770 a grant by the King of England was made to a company, of 27,000 acres of land, .since known as the Bedlington patent. That patent had fallen to the state by escheat. Gen. Erastus Root, in 1820, being a member of the Legislature, introduced a bill to incorporate the Delaware Academy and also appropriating the sale of those es- cheated lands for the erection and endowment of said academy. It was strongly opposed. but Gen Root's popularity carried, and the bill was passed and the academy built at Delhi. This awakened a new interest and other academies were talked of. Franklin eventually began seriously to take measures to obtain that object. In 1835 a petition was sent to the Legislature asking for a grant of incorporation for an institution of learning to be called Dela- ware Literary Institute. On the 23d day of April, 1835, the petition was granted and the Delaware Literary Institute was located at Franklin. Measures were then taken to raise $7,000 for the purchase of fifteen acres of land for a site and to build
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
the Institute. This seemed almost an impossibility. But the publie took hold of it with a will and the amount was raised and the first building was built; this was of stone, eighty feet long and forty feet wide and four stories high. The institute was now a permanent institution of learning, fully equipped for business, and gave large promises for the future. And well have those promises been fulfilled. This stone structure stood for twenty- two years, when it was discovered to be on fire. Every effort proved unavailing, and it burned to the ground. The citizens put forth renewed effort, and by voluntary contributions raised sufficient funds and rebuilt the building. While the chapel build- ing was in process of construction it was blown down, necessi- tating additional expense that was soon raised and paid. The ladies' boarding hall was built, a structure 40x80 feet and three stories high, costing a large sum. And all, amounting to $40,000, has been paid by the citizens of Franklin, without asking the state to contribute a dollar, with the exception of the first $7,000 that was for building the first Institute. At that time there were those out of this town with large liberality whose names are re- membered with grateful respect and gratitude. But most of that class are gone to a happier world, as we humbly trust and believe. When the Institute was ready for use the public gave their support and patronage in full, until an increased population and new organizations has given to many of the towns union schools with academie departments.
Up to 1819, there was no paper published in Delaware county. All necessary printing had to be done out of this county. There was comparatively little needed. It was not till 1819 that the first newspaper, the Delaware Gazette, was published in Delhi by John J. Lappan. The Ulster County Plebian, published by Judge Buell, had furnished reading matter for a large proportion of Franklin readers, and the same of the county. There are now twenty-two newspapers published in the county.
The general business of the farmers in the early days was
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TOWN OF FRANKLIN.
clearing land, raising grain, pork and cattle. The grain and pork found market among the lumbermen along the Delaware. The cattle were mostly bought by drovers and driven to the castern markets. Manufacturing and rafting lumber down the Delaware to market began very early to attract attention till it became a very general business. Silas Johnson, a young man from Walton, who in after years kept hotel and lived and died in Franklin, steered the first raft of lumber ever run from Walton. Franklin had plenty of pine timber and gradually worked into the lumber business till for many years it was actively engaged in manufacturing lumber and drawing it to the Delaware at Walton and rafting it to Philadel- phia. This business continued for some years till a very large proportion of pine had been carried away. But it never proved a lucrative business. The business of the farm changed from grain and stock growing to sheep and wool. The town of Franklin became one of the largest wool growing towns in the county, and for some years Delaware county was the largest wool producing county of the state. A few years later another change came over the business of the farm, changing from wool to dairying. And to-day this county is one of the largest butter-producing counties of the state, and its character for quality stands at the head of the butter market. Franklin has done its share in raising the dairy character of the county to where it now stands, both in quantity and quality.
The town has two villages, Franklin and Treadwell. Treadwell is an enterprising and prosperous village of some four hundred inhabitants and situated midway between Franklin and Delhi, is pleasantly located and a place of considerable business for its size. The village has two churches, a Baptist church and a Methodist church, four stores, and one hotel, but no license. Treadwell does not appear to be of the right soil to grow license plants. They have one of the best, abundant and unfailing water supplies of soft spring water for use and fire purposes. It is brought from a distant hill, many feet above the level of the village.
Franklin village is seventeen miles from Delhi, four from the D. &. H. railroad at Otego, and five from the N. Y., O. & W. station. There are four churches in the village, viz: Congrega- tional, Baptist, Methodist, and Episcopal; eight stores, a bank of fifty thousand dollars capital, organized in 1864, which never has
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
passed a dividend, and never has paid less than three per cent. dividend every six months, and no depositor has lost a dollar by depositing in that bank, and no stockholder has failed to receive an equivalent more than equaling the interest on his stock. It has a large surplus and always ready to meet legal demands when presented. There is one hotel but no license. There has been no license granted to any one for more than twenty-five consecutive years. And at our last town election, after an ex- perience of twenty-five years of no license, the town gave a majority of 110 against licencing again. There is one newspaper, the Delaware Dairyman, printed in Franklin, a large, eight-page paper, alive and actively dispensing all the dairy and agricultural news and the early general information once each week to a subscription list of 2,500 subscribers, and doing a large amount of job printing. The village has a large and splendid water supply of the softest and purest of water so arranged that no external impurities can reach it. It is from a height that gives a hundred pounds pressure to the square ineb on the main pipes in the village. That gives full force to the hydrants so that no other power is needed in case of fire. There is a full and efficient company of firemen for each of the departments that are well equipped, and take pride in their doings.
The new Ouleout Valley Cemetery is the pride of the town. A good many thousand dollars in money have been expended on it. Improvements are continually being made. The public feel- ing and interest, and it is continually growing, and is of interest to all. But it needs to be seen to be appreciated.
There is Frank T. Hine Post, G. A. R., men who took the risk of standing in the breach of a divided nation at war, and risking their lives in bringing back the ceceding to a happy reunion and to a powerful and undivided nation. They are worthy of the gratitude and respect of the nation; but it is sad to see that number decreasing as they are discharged, and we lay them away in peaceful rest.
There is a band of gentlemen that dispenses good music to the village, that awakens our drowsy spirits and quickens our sensi- bilities and gives a cheer after the wearisome business of the day. They are a worthy, happy band, ever ready to render their sweet melody where necessity requires it, or where love of music asks it.
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Village of Hamden.
Hamden.
By Henry W. Holmes.
.
T THE history of the town of Hamden dates only from the time of its erection by Legislative enactment April 4, 1825. The prior history of the territory comprised within the present boundaries of the town belongs properly to those towns from which the town of Hamden was formed. It may, however, prove interesting to the present and future generations to know that from Nov. 1, 1683, when the first organized government was formed in the colony of New York. until March 10, 1797, when Delaware county was erected, all that part of Hamden lying east of the Delaware river was included in the county of Ulster. That part of the town lying west of the Delaware was in Albany county until March 12, 1772, when it was included in the new county of Tryon, the name of which was changed to Montgomery April 2, 1784. From Montgomery was formed Otsego, February 16, 1791, and in this new county was included the western part of the present town of Hamden. Thus when Delaware county was erected from Otsego and Ulster, that part of Hamden lying east of the river was a part of the town of Middletown, Ulster county, and that part of the town west of the river was a part of the town of Harpersfield, Otsego county.
Between the erection of the county in 1797 and the erection of the town in 1825, the number of the towns in the county had been increased from seven to sixteen. Hamden, the seventeenth town, was taken largely from Delhi, and a portion from Walton. The original line between Delhi and Walton was the upper line of the Lupton farm, now owned by James A. Chambers, but in 1812 this line was moved up to the lower line of the farm now owned by Arthur Shaw, therefore prior to April 4, 1825, all that.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
part of Hamden north of this lins was a part of the town of Delhi and that portion south of the line was included in Walton.
The boundaries of the town have never been changed. Its area is about 34,000 acres or fifty-three square miles, one twenty- sixth of the area of Delaware county.
The assessed valuation of its real estate was in 1897 8501,000, one-twenty-sixth of the valuation of the county. The personal assessment in the same year was $63,000, or one-thirty-fifth of the county: the population in 1890 was 1,507, or one-thirtieth of the county. More than one-half of the total area, probably 20,000 acres, lies east of the river, but census returns show fully as many inhabitants on the west side as on the east.
The greatest width of the town is along the east bank of the river, seven miles, the width along the west bank being but five and one-half miles, the Delhi line on the east bank being further up the river than on the west. The greatest length of the town is from the point where Hamden, Andes and Colchester corner, near Solo- mon Signor's, to the Hamden-Franklin line near Edward Howland's, which is thirteen and one-half miles in air-line. We are unable to ascertain what was the population of the town in 1830 when the first census was taken after its erection, but subsequent censuses show that at that period the population was rapidly increasing. Thus, the census of 1835 shows 1,349 inhabitants; 1840, 1,469; 1845, 1,767; 1850, 1,919; since when there was a steady decrease until 1880, when there were 1,497. Under the census of 1890 there were 1,507, and there is reason for the belief that there has since been a small increase. Prior to 1880 the United States censuses were taken by the United States Marshal and his deputies, but since the work has been done by enumerators appointed within the town. The United States census in both 1880 and 1890 were taken by Henry W. Holmes, and the State census of 1875 by Harvey M. Seaman.
In March, 1826, the town was divided into fourteen highway dis- tricts, which have since been increased to the number of forty-seven.
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TOWN OF HAMDEN.
In July, 1826, the town was divided into eight school districts, Nos. one, two and three being the river districts and covering a wide expanse of territory on both sides of the river. The first change after the original division was the erection of No. nine, being that part of No. three lying on the west side of the river from De Laneey. The number of districts was gradually increased until in 1845 No. sixteen was erected in Gregory Hollow, being set off from Basin Clove, which remained No. eight.
The number of districts remains at sixteen, all common school districts, there being no graded school within the town. The consolidation of some of the smaller districts, or the adoption of the "township system ' has already been agitated and it is evi- dent that a positive change will ere long take place in the local school system.
The first known settler within the town of Hamden was David Harrower who came from "down East" with his wife and two sons and a cow, in the summer of 1779 according to the most authentic records, but well established tradition places his advent into the unbroken wilderness at an earlier date, They came down the river from Stamford in a canoe, the cow being driven along the Indian trail, and camped upon the river flat on the farm now owned by Arthur Shaw, where a cabin was built and the pioneer settlement of the town of Hamden was permanently established. For a period of six years this family had no known neighbors nearer than Cannonsville or Stamford. Tradition hath it that in 1785, while Mr. Harrower was catching fish he observed a large fresh chip floating down with the current, which to his alert observation was indisputable evidence of the proximity of other white settlers. Starting at once on a trip of investigation, after going up the river about five miles he came to where Bartholomew Yendes had just settled and begun his clearing. It can well be imagined that the advent of such wear neighbors was hailed with great gladness by both families, and that a frequent and mutually beneficial intercourse was thereafter maintained. In 1800 the
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
old "Harrower mansion" was erected upon the knoll near the river, upon what had then become a comparatively well developed and valuable farm. In 1818 this fine estate of 800 acres, com- prising the present farms of Arthur Shaw and William Bryce, became the property of Hon. Donald Shaw, and the Harrower house was occupied by him for many years, and was the birth place of his children. It is only within the past ten years that the old "mansion," the oldest in town, was razed.
William Cornell settled in 1787 the farm now owned by Donald Crawford and occupied it untit 1814. In 1820 it was purchased by Donald Crawford senior, and has always remained in the Crawford family. The first saw-mill in town was built on this farm by Ros- well Peake prior to 1800.
The Howards, several brothers, were among the earliest settlers and occupied a tract of land comprising the present Youmans, Hen- derson and Stewart farms and much of the village of Hamden. James Howard is accredited as the first inn-keeper of the town, having opened such business as early as 1796, probably earlier, on the lot now occupied by Dr. W. D. Heimer.
Walter Chace first came to town in 1791 and secured employ- ment from Benajah McCall, making shingles. He received $4.00 per month and board, which may be accepted as the regular com- pensation for skilled labor at that time. Abont 1800 he purchased of Gershom Howland the farm now owned by his grandson Charles W. Chace, where he resided many years and became one of the leading men of the town, holding the office of justice of the peace seventeen consecutive years from 1828. His son Harry P. Chace succeeded him on the farm and was also a prominent man, holding the office of supervisor in 1835 and 1836, and being the fast Demo- crat ever elected to that office in town.
Gershom Howland came from Rhode Island in 1796 with four sons-Joseph, Job, Phineas and Gershom. Phineas settled on the J. B. Hawley place, Job on the farm now owned by James Kent, and Gershom on the Charles W. Chace farm, which, however, he
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TOWN OF HAMDEN.
soon sold to Walter Chace and removed to the Carman farm in Howland Hollow.
James Mason and his son George came from Schoharie county in 1795 and settled upon the farm now owned by his great-grand- children, John A. and William G. More and their sisters, the children of James M. More, who died about 1864. This farm has therefore remained in the possession of the original settler and his lineal descendants for a period of 103 years. The son, George Mason, soon after settled upon the farm now owned by Henry Loos. The only daughter of James Mason, Jane, married Roswell Peake, who settled in 1798 upon the J. S. Murray lot now owned by R. J. Granlees.
Henry Wagoner came in 1796 and settled on the lower part of the Bagley farm, now owned by Wm. J. Oliver, which soon after passed into the possession of Archibald Church, and is des- ignated to this day as the Church lot.
About 1792 Reuben Ward settled on the farms now owned by E. J. Combs and Andrew Buckham. Soon after Ward sold the Combs lot to Isaac Roberts. John Combs came from New Durham in 1805 and settled on the Brisack farm, now owned by J. H. Turnbull. One son. John, settled on the Raitt farm, now owned by James A. Nichol. Another son, Anson, purchased of Isaac Roberts the farm where his son Edmund J. Combs now lives, and where he was born in 1816; the house in which he was born still standing and forming an annex to his present residence. Here is a man who for eighty-two years has lived on the same farm and practically in the same house.
The Ebenezer Fraser farm now owned by Isaac Scobie was settled in 1797 by Abraham Barber and his sous Simeon, Orbin and Minius, who soon settled the adjoining farms and occupied them many years.
Abraham Bush first came to Hamden in 1810 and settled on the F. M. Keene place opposite DeLancey. In 1818 his son Caspar Bush settled on the farm now owned by Mrs. Rachel Shaw adjoin- ing William Vail's.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
Nathaniel Stevens in 1801 settled on the farm in Terry Clove now owned by his grandson Henry M. Stevens. Matthew Tiff was. a very early settler on the farm now owned by John A. Salton, which he sold in 1834 to William Lewis, who in turn sold it to Alexander Salton in 1850. Alexander Neish came from Scotland in 1826 and first settled in Andes, but in 1828 removed to Terry Clove to the farm on which his sou William Neish now lives and where he has continuously resided since 1828.
Urbana Terry came from Connecticut in 1792 and settled on the farm now occupied by Isaac Belcher. His sons Nathan and Darius soon after settled upon the Louis Robisch farm where they remained many years, after which they emigrated to the West with their families. Another son, Samuel, was the first occupant of the Robert W. Stevens farm. Three sous still reside in town.
Bartholemew Signor on the Jolin D. Salton farm and Thomas Signor on the Alexander MeDougall farm were also very early settlers in Terry Clove, and have numerous descendants within the town. The Salton family came from Scotland in 1830. The four brothers, Alexander, David, William, and John, all married and occupied farms in Terry Clove, and three of them died there within the past few years, William having removed to the west in 1875.
Roswell Belcher has resided upon the farm now occupied by him in Terry Clove since 1819, when his father came there from Connecticut. Roswell had three brothers, Elijah, Isaac, and Alva. They were the first colored family in the town and have always been respected as an intelligent and upright family. Roswell Belcher was the first colored man in Delaware county to serve upon a jury.
James Morrison, Andrew Christie, Jacob Gray, Archie Lawrence and Peter Merritt were the first permanent settlers in Basin Clove. David Nichol entered Gregory Hollow in 1849 when it was an al- most unbroken wilderness. He cleared the land and developed the farm now owned by his son-in-law Hugh C. White.
Village of Delancey.
Street View In Hamden.
39.1.
TOWN OF HAMDEN.
The Coverts were settlers in Covert Hollow at an early date. Underhill Covert on the Philip MeFarlane farm and Abraham Covert on the Allen Anderson place. They were among the best men in town and Abraham was one of the three commissioners of highways elected in 1826, at the first town meeting.
No history of Hamden would be complete without mention being made of " lame Peter" Launt and his brothers, Lewis and John. Peter carried the Delaware valley mails on horseback three times a week to Catskill over the old Catskill turnpike. His home is with his brother, Lewis, who married Janette McFarlane. These three brothers, John aged 94, Peter 88, and Lewis 85, are re- markable for their rugged health and activity and the keenness of their mental faculties.
Maleoh MeFarlane came from Scotland about 1820 and settled on the farm at the head of Chambers Hollow where his son Gilbert still resides.
Eli Bagley came from Hilsdale, Columbia county, in 1809, and having married Eunice Goodrich bought the Henry Wagoner farm. Here Edward Bagley was born in 1815 and succeeded his father in the ownership of the farm, adding to it the " Goodrich lot," making it one of the most productive and valuable properties in town. He also kept public house and conducted a wagon shop on the site of R. Nichol's shop. The latter business he sold to his son Charles about 1866, continuing his hotel and farm until 1889 when he sold it to William J. Oliver who came from Bovina. Mr. Bagley still lives within a few rods of his birth-place. He married Orril A. Pettis daughter of Joshua Pettis, whose son, Philander B. Pettis, is. another native of the town who has for eighty-three years resided within sight of his birth-place. He married Barbara Chace, dangh- ter of Harry P. Chace, and for a time resided with his father in De Lancey, but soon purchased the property now owned by his son. H. R. Pettis, where for many years he combined the business of farming, lumbering and keeping public house.
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