USA > New York > Broome County > Gazetteer and business directory of Broome and Tioga Counties, N. Y. for 1872-3 > Part 21
USA > New York > Tioga County > Gazetteer and business directory of Broome and Tioga Counties, N. Y. for 1872-3 > Part 21
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The Owego Trade Reporter was started at Owego in March, 1868, by C. H. Keeler, who published it until March, 1871. It was a monthly issue de- voted to advertising and news.
+ For further particulars relative to the "Massachusetts Purchase" we refer the reader to page 73. The early history of this County is so inti- mately connected with that of Broome, which was formerly embraced within its limits, that, to avoid repetition, the reader is referred to the history of the latter County for information relevant to both, especially as regards the settlement of this purchase.
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New England, the western part was being settled by the same class of people, who had previously settled in the beautiful and inviting, but ill-starred valley of the Wyoming, which they reluctantly left in consequence of the troubles growing out of the Indian hostilities and the conflicting claims of the Connecti- cut and Pennsylvania governments for the territory it em- braced, by which the tenure of their lands was rendered uncer- tain and their occupation unsafe. They fled with dismay and disappointment from the accumulating perils of the home of their choice to accept the little less inviting ones offered by old Tioga, where at least they were free from the perplexities in which the controversies in regard to titles involved their former homes.
The following extract from an article written by C. P. Avery, entitled The Susquehanna Valley, and which appeared in The Saint Nicholas for March, 1854, well illustrates the uncommon ties by which these hardy and heroic pioneers were bound to the Wyoming country.
"The 'farewell' to Wyoming must have been painful indeed. She had been not only redeemed from the wilderness by the honest industry of their fathers, brothers, relatives and neighbors from Connecticut, but enriched by their blood which had flowed freely upon many sanguinary fields. They had stood as a frontier breastwork during the whole of the Revolutionary war against the incursions of the common enemy ; and in that grand carnival of slaughter, of July, 1778, Wyoming became a valley of death, and the chivalrous spirits who relinquished all to serve the Re- public, and whose memories the storied monument now perpetuates- thanks to the noble hearted ladies of the valley by whose energy it was reared-were the near relatives or intimate friends of the exiles. The ' farewell' to Wyoming must have been painful indeed."
Wyoming's loss was Tioga's substantial gain. These settlers, undaunted by former reverses, entered with commendable zeal into the transformation of the wilderness into which their lot was cast into broad and fertile farms, assimilating those so re- cently abandoned by them. They have left the impress of their works upon the soil their energy and industry have con- secrated, and of their characters upon the lives of those who succeed them. In the sons are discernible the evidences of hardy toil and habits of frugality in which the fathers were nurtured; and no better legacy could be transmitted by parent to child.
Evidences of the occupancy of the country comprised within the limits of this County, by the Indians, prior to its settle- ment by the whites, either as favorite hunting grounds, or for long continued residence, are found in the many articles of handicraft and use belonging to them, which have been dis- covered by the plow and other means of excavating. A tree was found by the early settlers at Newark Valley upon the
.
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blaze of which were painted certain pictures, which were sup- posed to be a means by which the aborigines communicated theirideas, and to belong to their system of picture writing. "One of these figures," says C. P. Avery, "well remembered by several now living, was an accurate representation of an Indian in full costume for war, facing southerly with tomahawk up- lifted. It was put on in durable black paint, continuing for many years after the valley was first settled. It dated back quite probably to the Revolutionary era, and as was customary with parties upon the war-path, was placed there, not unlikely, to indicate to other bands who might follow, the course which the one in advance pursued. There were other painted marks and figures upon the same tree which have not been accurately remembered, but very likely elucidated some important facts connected with the expedition, as to the strength, tribe and des- tination of the party. A specimen of emblematic or picture writing was also found at an early day upon a tree at Choco- nut, somewhat similar in character, but much more complex and enigmatical. Its meaning, even by conjecture, has never yet transpired."
On the river plain between Owego and Athens lived a num- ber of Indians for a length of time after its settlement by the whites, who demanded from the latter, for their land, for three or four years after the first settlement, a yearly rent, which they expected to be paid in corn. Their chief was designated Captain John. They maintained a semblance of amity toward the whites, being pleased to have them eat with them and ap- pearing offended with a refusal. When they begged something to eat, instead of expressing their wishes in words, they placed their hand first on their stomach and then to their mouth. It was their custom when attended with ill success to eat a root which created sickness and vomiting, and which, they sup- posed, was efficacious in restoring them to more auspicious circumstances.
A few years after the country was first settled an extensive and serious famine prevailed which was felt most severely in the region of country lying between Owego and Elmira. For six weeks or more the inhabitants were entirely without bread or its kind. The famine occurred immediately before harvest time and was supposed to result from the unusual large num- ber of new settlers, and the great scarcity which prevailed in Wyoming that season. During its prevalency the " people were languid in their movements, irresolute and feeble in what they undertook, emaciated and gaunt in their appearance." Wild beans, which were found in considerable quantities, and the most nutritions roots were substituted for more substantial
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food. " As soon as their rye was in the milk, it was seized upon, and by drying it over a moderate fire, until the grain ac- quired some consistency, they were enabled to pound it into a sort of meal, out of which they made mush. This was a very great relief, although the process was tedious, and attended with much waste of grain. In the early part of the scarcity, while there was a possibility of finding grain or flour of any kind abroad, instances were not unfrequent of families tearing up their feather beds and sending away the feathers in exchange for bread. Instances also of individuals riding a whole day and not obtaining a half of a loaf [are cited."] Though none died of hunger during this trying period, two young men died in consequence of eating to excess of green rye .*
From this time the section of Susquehanna's beautiful valley embraced within the limits of Tioga attracted many sturdy and active emigrants from the comparative luxury of their eastern homes to grapple with the temporary hardships and privations incident to the settlement of a new country. A steady and healthy growth has been maintained; and though Tioga can- not point to any gigantic commercial or mechanical enterprise within her borders, she can, with just pride, refer the stranger to the no less gratifying evidences of wealth, prosperity and contentment exhibited by the tillers of the soil, who have sup- plemented nature by improving an already beautiful country and transformed it from its pristine wildness to the productive and attractive farm lands which adorn its gentle slopes. If we do not hear the busy hum of mechanical industry as it greets us in large and populons cities and villages, neither do we see nor deplore the disparaging contrasts between affluence and pov- erty which the latter picture invariably presents. Here all are producers, and the wealth of the country is more uniformly dis- tributed. While few have an excessive abundance of this world's goods, few also are driven to a position of dependency. Founded on this substantial basis of prosperity Tioga's future progress is assured.
The excessive stringency of pioneer life was gradually ame- liorated by the introduction of public improvements as the influx of settlers rendered them necessary and possible. Public roads were opened, bridges erected and better means of convey- ance than the early rough state of the country rendered service- able were introduced. Mills were erected by private capital and individual enterprise. These improvements not only vastly mitigated the severities experienced by the early settlers in reclaiming this wilderness to the uses of civilization; but
* Annals of Binghamton.
K
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tended also to attract to it others who were looking for eligible homes in the west, as this country was then considered.
The issuing of the first commission to lay out the road lead- ing from Catskill Landing on the Hudson to the town of Cath- arines, in Tompkins county, but then in Tioga, in 1797, may be considered the first effort at internal improvement directly benefiting this locality. This, with the projection of other avenues of travel by the construction at various times of high- ways and railroads, opened up new sections of the county to immigration.
Previous to 1793, in which year Col. Pixley erected his mill at Owego, there was no grist mill in the county. The early settlers of Owego, in 1788, found no mill nearer than Wilkes- barre, Penn.,* and thither they conveyed their grain in canoes down the Susquehanna, until 1790, in which year Jonathan Fitch built his grist mill.t In 1792 Mr. Fitch established a grist mill at Nanticoke, (Broome Co.) and until 1793, the settlers carried their grists to that point. What a striking contrast is presented between that time and the present! The laborious process of conveying the products of the farm to the mill or market by means of canoes, or over roads, whose pas- sage at the present day would be pronounced impracticable, is now unknown. The agents which the genius of man has made subservient to his use do the work in less time than was for- merly necessary to make preparation for the journey, which occupied, not unfrequently, two or more weeks.
A good index of comparative values is found in the prices of real estate at certain periods, and as this indicates with a good degree of certainty, the degree of prosperity which any particular locality has enjoyed, we append the following copy of the first deed recorded in the Clerk's office of Tioga county, believing that, although the tract to which it refers is not now in this county, since it was embraced in its original limits, and is, perhaps, equally pertinent to the idea we wish to illustrate it will be both interesting and instructive.
" MEMO'D. Annis & Warren.
"THIS INDENTURE made this twenty second day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety one, and in the fifteenth year of the Independence of the United States of America, WITNESSETH that I Charles Annis of the county of Tioga and State of New York Yoe- man have bargained sold and do by these presents Bargain and sell unto Enoch Warren, James Warren & Bessie Warren of the county and State aforesaid, for and in consideration of two hundred and thirty pounds to me in hand paid, the receipt whereof I do acknowledge to have received to my full satisfaction and contentment, all that Sairtain Lot of Land sit-
*The Saint Nicholas, March 1854.
+ See page 116 for further mention of Fitch's mill.
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uate in the township of Chemung and State and county aforesaid, No. 9. Beginning at a large swamp white oak tree marked with three notches, and a blaze on three sides and the letter F. on the north side standing on the north side of the Tioga river, above Chemung narrows so-called being the corner of three Lots and thence runs north one hundred Chains to a small white oak tree marked standing about one Rod north of a brook thence West thirty seven chains to a stake with stones round it, thence South one hundred and six chains, to a Large Black walnut tree marked, standing on the Bank of the said river, thence down the river its several courses to the place of beginning, Containing three hundred and seventy acres: Together with all and singular the rights hereditaments and appur- tenances to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining, excepting and reserving to the State aforesaid all Gold and Silver mines, and five acres of every hundred acres of the said tract of Land for Highways.
"To have and to hold the above described and bargained premises unto the said Enoch Warren, James Warren and Bessey Warren, their heirs and assigns as a good and indefeaseble estate of inheritance forever, and I do by these presents for myself my heirs executors or administrators War- rant and defend the above described premises unto the foresaid Enoch Warren, James Warren & Betse Warren their heirs & assigns for ever; as their Lawful purchased property; in confirmation of which and in Testi- mony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal day and year above written.
" Signed sealed and Delivered ) in presents of us Witnesses Enoch Warren Junr.
Elijah Buck."
"Charles Anis
her
" Sarah ₭ Anis " mark
" TIOGA COUNTY S. S. BE IT REMEMBERED, that on this Twenty eighth day of June, 1791, personally appeared before me Brinton Paine Esqr. one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the said County of Tioga, Elijah Buck one of the subscribing Witnesses to the within In- denture, and being by me duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that he saw the within named Charles Annis, and Sarah his wife, sign seal and deliver the within Indenture of Release as their Voluntara act and Deed, for the purposes therein mentioned ; and that he this Deponent, together with Enoch Warren Junr. the other witness signed the same as Witnesses in the presence of each other :- I having examined the same, and therein finding no material erasures, or interlineations do therefore allow it to be recorded. Brinton Paine
" Entered in this Register July 9, 1791."
As allusion has been made both in the history of this and Broome county to the Indian Expedition under Gen. Sullivan, it may not be inappropriate, in view of the importance its suc- cess bore upon the country embraced within the original limits of Tioga county, to briefly outline its salient features before proceeding with a somewhat minute description of the early settlements under the heads of the several towns.
The country comprised within the original limits of Tioga county may be considered the geographical center of the home of the Iroquois, which lay chiefly in this State and embraced a small portion of Pennsylvania. The territory over which they held lordly sway has been figuratively described as a fan, with
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the handle, or pivotal point resting at Athens, (formerly Tioga Point) and the radiating arms representing the network of trails which converged at that point-the confluence of the Chemung and Susquehanna rivers-the right extreme resting upon the Hudson, the left, on Lake Erie. From its earliest known history to the time of Sullivan's incursion, the United Confederacy of the Six Nations had successfully resisted every hostile invasion into the Iroquois territory, and in 1688, "carried its victorions arms to the walls of Montreal, in the face of the flower of the French army, whose prowess and chivalry many a battle field of Europe had witnessed." It will be seen then that Sullivan had a powerful, proud and valorous foe to con- tend with ; and it will not appear so surprising that the idea of a large body of men thridding the fastnesses of the wilder- ness and reducing a stronghold which repeated failures to enter led them to consider impregnable should provoke laugh- ter in these not altogether uncouth savages.
At the commencement of the Revolutionary struggle the Six Nations solemnly promised the Colonies to preserve neu- trality, but unfortunately for them their accomplished, saga- cious though somewhat unscrupulous chief-Brant-listened and yielded to the seductive wiles of the English Baronet, Sir Wm. Johnson, and espoused the cause of the mother country. Anticipating a blow from this formidable enemy upon the ex- posed western frontier, the Colonial Government contemplated an invasion of the Iroquois territory in the early part of 1778, previous to the Wyoming massacre. Had this measure been acted upon that calamity would have been avoided, but un- fortunately other counsels prevailed and the project was de- ferred. In October of the same year, the public mind having been aroused by that horrible intervening event, strenuous efforts were again made in this direction; but the season for active operations being so far advanced, and circumstances rendering delay unavoidable, it was put off till 1779. The army of Gen. Sullivan, to whom the execution of this project was entrusted, consisted of three divisions: one from New Jersey, under command of Gen. Maxwell; another from New England, under command of Gen. Hand ; and the third from New York, under command of Gen. Clinton. The New Jer- sey and New England divisions marched from Elizabethtown, N. J., via Easton, thence to. Wyoming, and up the Susquehan- na to Athens. These two divisions, under command of Sulli- van, left Wyoming, July 31, 1779, and moved up the east side of the river. They numbered 3,500 men. In transporting the baggage and stores 120 boats and 2,000 horses were ent- ployed. The boats were propelled up the stream by soldiers
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with setting-poles, and were guarded by troops. The pro- visions for the daily subsistence of the troops were carried by horses, which threaded the narrow Indian path in single file and formed a line about six miles in length. Indians in con- siderable numbers had collected at Athens on the arrival of the army there, but being apparently awed and dismayed by its formidable appearance they yielded their stronghold with only a few inconsiderable skirmishes. Upon the 22d of August, a few days after the arrival of Sullivan's forces at Athens, they were augmented by those under Clinton, 1,500 in number, making a combined force of 5,000. Clinton collected his forces at Canajoharie, and endeavored to induce the Oneidas and Onondagas, who had not taken an active part against the colonies, to join the expedition. His efforts would doubtless have proved successful, as he at first supposed they were, but for an address, written in the Iroquois language, and sent them by Gen. Haldemand, then Governor of the Canadas, which discouraged all but a few of the Oneidas from sharing in it. Bateaux to the number of 220, which had been constructed the previous winter and spring at Schenectady, were taken up the Mohawk to the place of rendezvous, and from thence were transported by land to Otsego Lake, a distance of twenty miles. Each bateau was of such size that in its transit from the river to the lake four strong horses were required to draw it, and, when placed in the water, was capable of holding from ten to twelve soldiers. About the first of July, Clinton proceeded with his troops to the southern extremity of the lake, and there awaited orders from Gen. Sullivan. In the meantime he con- structed a dam across the outlet, in order to make the passage of the river feasible and rapid. He waited through the whole of July for orders from Sullivan, who immediately upon his arrival at Athens dispatched a force of 800 men under Gen. Poor to form a junction with Clinton and with him re-join the main army at that place, but not until the 9th of August was the dam torn away and the flotilla committed to the bosom of the river thus suddenly swollen, and which afforded a current not only sufficiently deep to float the bateaux, but at Oquaga and other places overflowed the river flats, and destroyed many fields of corn belonging to the Indians. The detachment of Sullivan's forces met the troops under Clinton near the mouth of the Choconut, about thirty-five miles from Athens, and re- turned with them to Athens. What emotions must have swelled the swarthy bosoms of the Iroquois at the sight of this formidable hostile array, which portended to them the devas- tation of their loved homes and the breaking of the scepter by which they had so long held the supremacy of this vast terri-
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tory, and coming too in a dry season, on the bosom of a river swollen much beyond its ordinary dimensions, can be better imagined than described. So much was it invested in mystery that little resistance was offered to the advancing foe. The In- dians fled from their homes and cultivated fields, in many of which, it is remembered by those who participated in the expe- dition, corn was growing in abundance and great perfection, or cautiously watched their progress from the neighboring hills. Their consternation was doubtless increased and a spirit of re- venge aroused by the sight of the treacherous Oneidas who were induced to join the expedition and act as guides.
After the junction between Sullivan's and Clinton's forces was effected the whole army proceeded up the Chemung River .* In the vicinity of Elmira, (authorities differ as to the exact locality) where the Indians under their trusty leader, Brant, had concentrated, a battle was fought, and its issue was hotly contested.t The Indians and Tories (the latter commanded by Col. John Butler, a British officer) combined, numbered 1,500.] The field of battle was well and maturely selected by the Mo- hawk warrior, and evinced the sagacity and military tact with which he is credited. Upon this contest the Indians staked their all. Their success or defeat was to determine whether the invaders should encroach further upon the Iroquois territory or be hurled back with such disaster as they considered their temerity justly merited. Hence they fought with desperation. Driven from the heights they first occupied the Indians made another stand about one and one-half miles further up the river ; but the choice of position could not compensate them for the fearful odds against which they contended. Their valor only served to delay the completion of the bloody contest. At the Narrows, ten or twelve miles above Elmira, they made a final and determinate stand. Thither the victorious army pursued them and though they fought with the desperation of despair they were compelled to make a precipitous retreat. Their loss in killed and wounded was great, while our army lost five or six killed and forty to fifty wounded. Thoroughly defeated and dis- pirited the Indian and Tory allies did not again invite a general
* The crossing of the Susquehanna by those who came by way of Wyom- ing, and the mouth of the Chemung was effected by fording. At the latter place the water was nearly up to the soldiers' arm-pits, and each was ordered to keep hold of his file-leader's shoulder, that the current might not break their order .- Annals of Binghamton.
+ Stone, in his Life of Brant, says the battle occurred at Elmira. Wil- kinson, in his Annals of Binghamton, fixes it at a distance of six miles below that place and nearly opposite Wellsburgh. The latter opinion is the one most generally credited by modern writers.
# The Saint Nicholas. Wilkinson says the forces opposed to Sullivan consisted of 800 Indians and 200 Tories.
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engagement, and Sullivan, with little hindrance, penetrated to the Genesee country, destroying in his course villages, orchards and crops. The intrepid Brant did not, however, lose sight of his powerful enemy from the time his warriors sustained their disastrous defeat to the time when the Colonial army retraced its steps, leaving behind it a scene of desolation and woe. He hovered around it and harassed it by making sudden descents upon its advanced guards and small detatched parties, but kept a safe distance from the main army. Sad, indeed, must have been the feelings of the defeated savages to witness the destruc- tion of their homes and yet be powerless to prevent it.
The successful completion of the expedition and its happy results to the frontier inhabitants elicited for Sullivan and his army a vote of thanks which was tendered them by Congress.
The following winter, 1779-80, was one of unexampled rigor and was distinguished by the name of hard winter. It must have borne with extreme severity upon the unfortunate Indians whose houses and crops were destroyed.
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
BARTON was formed from Tioga, March 23, 1824. It is the south-west corner town of the County and contains 32,698 acres, of which, according to the census of 1865, 19,894, were improved. The surface is generally hilly, though a small por- tion of level land lies along the south border. The highland on the west rise abruptly from the valley of Cayuta Creek, and are divided into two ridges by the valley of Ellis Creek. Their summits are broad and rolling and to some extent covered with forests. The highest points are 400 to 600 feet above the river. The soil is a rich alluvium in the valleys and a sandy and gravelly loam upon the hills. A sulphur spring is found on Ellis Creek near the center of the town.
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