USA > New York > Delaware County > Delaware County, New York, history of the century, 1797-1897, centennial celebration, June 9 and 10, 1897 > Part 26
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Allen Stoodley was one of the first settlers in that portion of
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
the town for many years known as Stoodley Hollow, but now known by the name of its post-office, North Hamden. The Stood- ley family came in 1821, and was speedily followed by the Millers, Russells, Fishes, Howlands, Dennys, Woods, Pomeroys, Ripleys, Bentous and Goldsmiths. The postoffice was established shortly after 1850 with a weekly mail from Walton. About 1887 another postoffice was established two miles down the brook from North Hamden under the name Mundale with Hugh C. Munn as post- master, who was succeeded by J. P. Davidson, Alfred Leseur, and last by Rev. Daniel Harris, The first families in this locality were the Munns, Eassons, Doigs and Darts. A blacksmith shop, cooper- age and store comprise the business of the vicinity. A co-operative creamery was conducted for a time about 1890.
Wakeman Andrews was one of the early settlers in school dis- triet No. 15 on the farm now owned by Donald Crawford and known as the Mayham place. His son, Andrew Andrews, settled on the farm now owned by George S. Andrews, where he continued to reside until his death in 1896 at the age of 91 years. He accummi- lated a fine property, and in his prime was one of the prominent men of the town. George S. Andrews held the office of assessor nine years and is one of the most prominent and substantial men in the town.
In 1787 Joseph Fisk came from Bloomville and settled upon the farm now owned by Joseph A. Kelley. Benajah McCall is supposed to have been one of the very early settlers, the date of his occupy- ing the James A. Chambers farm being placed at 1787. In 1808 this property was purchased by William Lupton a wealthy emigrant, who erected the Lupton mansion, the most elegant residence in the Delaware valley, the degree of elegance in those days being in part measured by the smallness of the window panes and the acute- ness of the gables. This farm was afterward occupied by Robert Murray, a prominent builder and once Supervisor of the town; and about 1880 it became the property of James A. Chambers, one of the energetic and successful young farmers of the town, who removed
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TOWN OF HAMDEN.
the old mansion, erected new buildings and transformed a very much run down estate into a model and productive farm.
The first settlement in DeLancey was made in 1790 by Henry and James Edwards, who settled upon the farm now owned by Captain William Hymers and S. P. Howland, and conducted a saw mill at the month of the brook near the river bridge. The first hotel in De Lancey was kept by Isaac Goodrich, who came in 1803 and set- tled on the "Goodrich " lot, now included in the farm of William I. Oliver.
Jabez Bostwick opened the first store in DeLancey in 1809, but soon after removed to the farm now owned by MI. C. MeNaught, which, however, remained in the Bostwick family until 1880. Jabez Bostwiek was county judge, sheriff, member of assembly and one of the most prominent men of the county in his day. Joshua Pettis was also a very early settler and soon after 1800 opened a grocery business on the lot between the residences of D. M. Murray and Robert Davidson. A depression in the ground still shows the site of his building.
Sheldon Patterson settled on the Solomon Signor farm in 1812. and kept publie house.
At the first town meeting held March 7, 1826, Jabez Bostwick was elected supervisor and Daniel Coleman, Jr., town elerk. Since then twenty different men have been elected to the office of super- visor. Besides the present incumbent but four of them survive. viz .: Smith M. Titus who served in 1853, and who for many years bas resided in Kansas; Robert Murray, now residing in Walton: H. A. Combs, and Donald Crawford who served eight years and was chairman of the board of supervisors two years. Two ex-supervis- ors, Alexander Shaw and Henry Holmes, have died within the past year.
The principal town officers at the present time are as follows: Supervisor, William Bryce: Town Clerk, Joseph Davidson: Justices of the Peace, Henry W. Holmes, Royal J. Elderkin, Donald Crawford, C. S. Hymers; Assessors, James A. Chambers, John A. Ballantine,
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
Robert L. Mein; Commissioner of Highways, Frank MI. Keene; Overseer of the Poor, John B. Mable; Collector, John A. Butler.
The removal of the "forest primeval" and its manufacture- into lumber was the first great industry of the early settlers, and within a few years of the first settlement nearly every little rivulet had its saw mill, and on each of the larger streams were several. The manufacture of the lumber gave employment the whole year around to all who desired to labor, and the Delaware river was a cheap and rapid thoroughfare for transportation to Philadelphia, the greatest lumber market of the Atlantic coast.
Going " down the river" several trips each spring was looked forward to with joyful anticipation by the lumbermen. Although much hard labor and more or less risk were involved, the pleas- ures of the voyage and the excitement of seeing the sights in one of the largest cities of the United States, outweighed every- thing else with the average raftsman. This industry was at its highest point in 1850, and some who ean remember claim that to have been the most prosperous era of the town's history. Cer- tainly there was no searcity of work and money was plenty, but the fact remains that with few exceptions the lumbermen lived a hard life and died poor. The lumber business after 1850 began to decline and by 1870 had substantially ended. But one saw mill remains in the entire town, that of H. M. Seaman at De- Lancey, on the site of one of the first mills erected in the town. A small amount of custom sawing is done at this mill, barely sufficient to pay for keeping it in repair, and this mill is the sole reliet of an industry which at one time, it is estimated, annually brought $75,000 of foreign money into the town.
As the lumber business declined the farmer turned naturally to dairying, and from 1860 till 1890 butter making was the one great industry. The great prices received for butter during the Civil war and for many years thereafter enabled many farmers to pay off their mortgages, erect new buildings, purchase new and improved implements and machinery and live in greater comfort
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and with greater case. But in its turn the butter industry has so declined and the profits are so small that is no longer possible to pay for a farm from its products, and with the hope of more profitable returns most farmers, whose location permits, have en- gaged in the shipment of milk, and it is probable that at least one-half of all the milk now produced in the town is shipped to New York, or manufactured in co-operative creameries. Large creameries are conducted at Hamden and De Lancey; others at Terry Clove and Mundale at present inoperative will doubtless be re-opened another season. In addition to these the Borden condensary at Delhi daily receives the product from thirty to forty Hamden dairies.
Within the past few years it has been developed that many of the hills, practically worthless for farming purposes, are filled with blue stone of the finest quality and suitable for flagging, curbing, or building purposes. This business is in its embryo state, not yet fully developed, but steadily increasing in volume and already affording employment to many who would otherwise be unable to secure employment within the town.
The breeding of sheep and the manufacture of woolen cloth and varu which was at one period quite extensively conducted, there being one large woolen mill employing several operatives in town, has almost entirely ceased, and the mill has been transformed into a grain and feed store.
At the first general election, held in 1826, there were cast in the town of Hamden 142 votes, of which W. B. Rochester received ninety-six and De Witt Clinton forty-six. The total vote in 1880 was 426, of which Garfield received a majority of 256. The vote of 1884 was 410, of which Blaine received 272 majority. The vote of 1888 was 438, of which Harrison received 238 majority, and the vote of 1896 was 412, of which MeKinley received a majority of 245. The vote of 1888 was the largest of which we have any record and was doubtless the largest over cast in the town. Prior to 1836 the town was usually Democratic. then the Whigs gained the ascend-
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
ancy and in general maintained it until 1856, when the Republican ticket received a majority of over 200 votes. It is a remarkable fact, probably without a parallel in the state, that for more than forty years no candidate of the Republican party for a state or national office has failed to receive in the town of Hamden a majority exceeding 200, often nearly 300, out of a total vote which has never reached 440. And further, no Democrat has been elected to the office of supervisor, town clerk, or justice of the peace since 1836. While in other towns there have been political revolutions brought about by general or local causes, the Republican party in Hamden has never had a reverse or lost any degree of its prestige. This is doubtless due to the fact that "Free-soilism " early took root in the minds of our voters. The same love of liberty of speech and action that caused a large percentage of our voters, or their fathers, to emigrate from a land of oppression to a land of freedom, caused these voters to early espouse and enthusiastically support the cause of abolition of slavery and to join and adhere to the political party which made the United States in fact a country of free speech and free men.
Less than one-third of the town's population live in villages. Hamden, the principal village, has nearly three hundred inhabitants, but is much more important as a business center than its size would indicate. Four large establishments dealing in general merchandise, one hardware store, one Furniture and undertaking establishment, two feed and grain dealers, two hotels, two blacksmith shops, a cooperage and two firms dealing in butter comprise the business directory of the village. Two physicians divide the medical practice, viz : W. D. Hierwho am from in 1876 and has ever since practiced in the town, and enjoys a reputation for success and skill second to none in the county, and II. C. Neff, who came from Michigan in 1893, and has worked into a good practice and is well liked by his townsmen. There are two churches, the First Presbyterian, erected in 1864 and since improved and remodeled, is a substantial and attractive building. Rev. George Brown was its first pastor. He came to Hamden in 1854 and preached in the old union church building until his own church was erected. He con- tinned its pastor until 1892 when because of failing health he resigned and removed to Walton, where he died in 1895. The present pastor is Rev. J. H. Turnbull. The Methodist Episcopal society occupied the old union church for many years prior to 1892 when they built a new edifice of modern architecture.
Two miles above Hamden on the east side of the river lies the village of DeLanery with a population of 175. The location, with its wide stretching river flats which never overflow. perfect drainage and shaded streets, is one of
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TOWN OF HAMDEN.
the finest in the county for a large village, but with no manufactory or busi- ness enterprise to support a larger population, there is no growth and no prospect of any. One general merchandise establishment, one grocery, a public house, a blacksmith shop, a cooperage and a grist mill are the principal business establishments. 1. M. Seaman for many years conducted here the only tannery in town, but the supply of bark becoming exhausted he created a large grist mill on the site of his tammery and utilized his water power for grinding grain. This is the only mill in town and is largely patronized. He is also an extensive dealer in flour, feed and grain. The United Presbyterian church society of De Lancey erected a building in 1848 which was remodeled in 1882 and was used until December 21, 1896, when it was totally destroyed by fire, which was first discovered about eight o'clock A. M. A new building was immediately planned and was built during the summer of 1897 at a cost of nearly $7,000 for building and furnishing. It was dedicated October 11. 1897, and has since been used. Roy. Dr. Thomas Park, of Walton, was pastor of this church from 1878 till 1892 and under his ministry the membership was greatly increased. The present pastor is Rov. N. L. Heidger, who came from Philadelphia in November, 1895. The Christian church of Delancey was erected in 18H and was regularly supplied by preachers of that denomination until 1877, since when it has been occupied only at long intervals. Its last pastor was Rov. James Topping, who regularly supplied its pulpit during the year 1890. The only other church in town is one of the United Presbyterian denomination at Mundale, erected in IS81 when the society was first formed. Its pastor is Rev. Daniel Harris who came thereto from Rock Rift in 1896.
There are four post-offices in the town, viz : Hamden, De Lancey, Mundale, and North Hamden. The first two are money order offices, the others are not. Donald Crawford, Henry W. Holmes, Daniel Harris and Amos P. Wood are the respective postmasters at the offices in the order named.
The building of the New York & Oswego Midland Railroad was a matter of much interest to the people of Hamden, and when it was decided that the road would follow the Sidney-Walton and Hancock route, the town was bonded to nid in the construction of the Delhi branch. It was represented that the town would receive stock in the new road to an amount equal to the amount of bonds issued, which could in a very few years be sold at par, thus realizing the sum necessary to retire the town's bonds at very little actual cost to the town. On these representations the necessary consent of the taxpayers was sprured and $100,000 of coupon bonds were issued by William Lewis, Marshall Shaw and James Chambers as Railroad Commissioners, bearing date of issue January 1. 1869, due twenty-five years after issue with no option of redemp- tion, rate of interest seven per cent., payable semi-annually. As early as ISMO the town was desirons of refunding this issue of bonds, but the holders would not accept payment and only $9,000 had been surrendered and retired when the entire issue fell due. The original railroad company having speedily become bankrupt and the road having passed into other hands, it was sup- posed that the stock acquired by the town was of no value, but in 1881 William Lewis as Railroad Commissioner sold it for five and one-fourth por cent., thus realizing $5.250, which, together with the railroad tax rebates, were invested as a sinking fund for the liquidation of the town's bonded debt. When the
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
bonds foll due January 1, 1894, this sinking fund amounted to about $6,000, leaving $85,000 of the bonded debt still unprovided for. New bonds to that amount were issued to the Comptroller of New York State and the proceeds used to redeem and retire the old bond issue which has been done with the exception of one $100 boud which has never been presented. The new bond issue bears interest at three and one-half per eent., and $2,000 of the principal sum is payable each year until May 1, 1914, when the entire som falls due. It. will readily be seen that our town has paid dearly for their railroad, but we believe the concensus of opinion is that it has been a good investment. and if to-day the people of the town could get back their money by relinquishing the road they would undoubtedly refuse to do so.
It is estimated that not less than one hundred men were enlisted from Hamden in the civil war. most of them serving in the 72d, 89th, 10Ist and 144th Regiments New York Volunteers, and more in the last named than in any other organization. As a matter of fact Company C of the 144th Regiment was very largely made up of Hamden men and was commanded first by Captain Thomas Lewis and later by Captain M. C. Lewis. The regiment was, during a portion of the war, commanded by Colonel James Lewis, now a distinguished Presbyterian clergyman residing at Joliet, Ilinois. These three Lewises Were all natives of and enlisted from the town of Hamden. Most of the veterans residing in town belong to Bryce Post, No 612, G. A. R.
Donald Shaw, hereinbefore referred to, was for many years the most proml- inent and for a long time wielded a greater influence than any other man in town. He came from Scotland in 1806, and to Hamden in 1820, purchasing the Harrower estate and engaged extensively in lumbering and tanning. Business and politics being then as now almost inseparable, he became a political leader and was elected supervisor in the years 1837. 1838, 1839 and 1842, and in 1847 represented the First district of Delaware county in the New York Assembly. lle died about 1866 leaving an estate valued at $100,000. His son Donald D. Shaw, a young man of exceptional ability and just graduated from Yate college was elected to the Assembly of 1860, but died before the opening of the session.
William Lewis was another Scotchman who became prominent and influen- tial in the town and county. Born in 1827 and emigrating in 1834, he lived on the farm in Terry Clove Dow owned by John A. Salton until 1850 when he engaged in the mercantile business in the village of Hamden. He soon became a recognized leader of the Republican party, and in 1856 was elected to the office of justice of the peace in which he continued eight years. From 1863 1ill 1866 he was United States assessor of internal revenue. In 1871, 1872 and 1880 he was elected to the Assembly of New York. From 1875 till 1881 inclusive he was supervisor of the town and was chairman of the board in 1877 and 187 -. In 1887 he was elected to the State Senate and for two years represented the Delaware-Chenango-Broome district. He had sold his mercantile business in 1874 but for several years thereafter had dealt largely in Delaware county Imutter, being for a time the most extensive dealer in the town, if not in the county. During his senatorial term his health failed and steadily declined until he died, December 11, 1891. He despised deceit and hypocrisy, was a steadfast and loyal friend, never making a promise which he did not fulfill, .and died universally respected for his ability and integrity.
Villige f Hire F
Hancock. By Hon. Wesley Goald.
T HE town of Hancock was formed in March, 1806. It was named after the celebrated John Hancock, and bears the same relation to towns in general that the signature of Hancock to the Declaration of Independence bears to ordinay signatures.
The town contains nearly 170 square miles of territory, and the Delaware river, including the West and East branches thereof, flows upwards of forty miles through the town and along its southerly border.
With its lofty and extensive mountain ranges, its numerous valleys, beautiful lakes, hundreds of springs and streams of the coldest, purest and sweetest water, teeming with fine trout and various other fish, its immense forests of oak, pine, hemlock, maple, beech, birch, basswood, cherry, ash, and other valuable timber, abounding with deer, wolves, bears, wild turkeys, part- ridges and other game, it presented a fine and desirable field for the hardy pioneer and the bold huntsman; but had few at- tractions for the weak and effeminate of the human race.
But little is known, at the present time, of the savage tribes who for long centuries fished in its waters and hunted in its forests. "The steel of the white man hath swept them away." A few small clearings, remnants of Indian villages, and a small number of scattered, roving red men, under the chieftain Canope, were still found along the river by the early settlers of the town.
Until the latter part of the eighteenth century this vast do- main was comparatively unknown to the white man. In the early days of the American Revolution a few hardy spirits settled in the town. The first permanent settler was Josiah Parks, who 21 491
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
having been an officer in the British navy, was commonly known as " Bo'sen" Parks. The only two other white men that are known to have settled in the town prior to the Declaration of Indepen- dence, were JJohn Johnston, who was killed by the Indians, and one Cadoce, whose cabin was located at the mouth of the creek now bearing his name. Nothing further is known of him, and it is thought that he too was killed by the Indians.
Josiah Parks was a man of heroic mold, a man that would leave his impress upon any people that he came in contact with. Many of his descendants are still living in the town of Hancock, and a history of the town would be very incomplete without at least a short sketch of this hardy pioneer. He was born in New Lon- don, Conn., in the month of February, 1745. At an early age he and his brother Silas entered the British naval service in an expedition against the Spaniards. After an nusuccessful assault upon the Spanish fort at Havana, young Parks studied out a plan by which he thought he could capture the fortress. The British officer, learning of his plan, gave him sufficient men, and Parks landing his men on the mainland made an assault upon the Spanish works and captured them. For this act of bravery he was promoted. Shortly thereafter his brother Silas died and was buried at sea. On reaching home he left the British ser- vice, married and moved to Shawangunk, in Ulster county,. where he remained until the breaking out of the Revolution. He proenred from the government, service as a scout among the Indians and tories, and did much valiant work in that capacity. Up to the day of his death the word "tory" would arouse in him the fiercest passions of his firy nature. After the battle of Minisink he moved his family to Equinunk, coming up the river in a canoe with his family and all their belongings, and finding shelter in a cave in the rocks. Shortly thereafter he built a log cabin on the line of what is now the town of Hancock. While at this point a friendly Indian informed him of the intended In- dian raid upon the Wyoming Valley. He at once started to inform
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the unhappy people of their impending danger, but alas, they would not believe the tale, and history records the terrible disaster that befell them shortly thereafter. Only two families believed and profited by the warning, viz: Fullerton and Whitaker, who eume away with him, the Fullerton family going to Orange county and Whitaker to Shehocking. Numerous descendants of these families still live.
In 1784 a Baptist minister, by the name of Ezekiel Sampson settled on the fats a short distance below where Hancock village now is, but he remained there only a few years, and then removed to Chemung county in 1789. In 1787 Judge Samuel Preston came to Stockport to survey the lands in that vicinity, one Edward Doyle from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, coming with him. In 1789 Judge Preston determined to establish a colony, locating himself across the river at Stockport. Young Doyle determined to remain with him, and thereafter only went back to Doylestown for an occasional visit. He settled at a point two and one-half miles below Shchocton, now Hancock village, on the farm now occupied by Frank Doyle, one of his descendants. Soon after he married Elizabeth Shaffer, and many of their descendants still reside in the town. Edward Doyle was the first member of the Legislature from this town. He had three sons, Edward, John and Samuel, the last. named being the third member of the Legislature from the town, and three daughters, Abigail, Elizabeth and Mary. His wife was the first member of the Methodist Episcopal church in the town, she having been a member of that church at Canaan, Pennsylvania, where she regularly attended the Quarterly Conferences, going and returning on horseback. The Methodist church was first organized in 1831, at Hancock village, then a small hamlet. When they proceeded to organize they discovered that there was no copy of the Church Discipline in the place, so they posted a man on horse- back to the Doyle residence to procure one, in the meantime having a very enthusiastic meeting, singing hymns and giving testimony. That small beginning has grown into a church at the same place with a present membership of about 300.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
In the latter part of the eighteenth century one Ezra May located in the town, teaching school in 1800 and 1801 at Shehoeton, now Hancock village. He afterward became the first deacon of the Presbyterian church there. He also gave the old cemetery to the people for a burying ground for their dead. John Dusenbury started the first store in the town. It wasn't much of a store, but no doubt was considered quite an acquisition by the settlers.
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