USA > New York > Otsego County > Gazetteer and business directory of Otsego County, New York for 1872-3 > Part 14
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General Jacob Morris, who during the Revolution was on the staff of Major Gen. Charles Lee, settled in the south part of the town, near the site of the "Morris Memorial Chapel." About a mile north of this Chapel is a marble monument, upon one side of which is the following inscription, which needs no explanation :
"Sacred to the memory of Miss Hannah Cooper, Daughter of the Honble William Cooper and Elizabeth his wife. In the bloom of Youth, in perfect health, and surrounded with her Virtues; On the 10th day of Sep- tembr 1800 she was instantly translated from this World. Thrown from
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her horse on the spot on which this monument is erected. Sensible, gen- tle, amiable. In life beloved, in death lamented by all who knew her. Unconscious of her own perfections, she was a stranger to all ambition but that of doing good. By her death, the tender joys of an affectionate father, the fond expectations of a delighted mother, in an instant were blasted. Passenger Stop ! and for a moment reflect that neither accom- plishments of Person, nor great improvements of mind, nor yet greater goodness of heart can arrest the hand of Death. But she was prepared for that immortality in which she believed and of which she was worthy. "To departed worth and excellence, this monument is erected, this trib- ute of affection is inscribed by a friend, this 1st day of January 1801."
Miss Cooper was a sister of J. Fenimore Cooper.
On the 5th of October 1871, Harry Fortune, a colored man, supposed to be 120 years old, died. He had been known for 65 years by some of the citizens of this town and was an old man at the first acquaintance. He was able to work some until within the last few years, and in 1870 voted the Repub- lican ticket.
The Episcopal Church was organized about 1793. A house of worship was erected in 1801 and was known as Harmony Church. It was located on what is known as the "Church Burying Ground," and is supposed to have been the first Episcopal Church erected in the County. Rev. Daniel Nash was the first pastor. The present Church edifice was erected in 1818 under the direction of Jacob Morris, Paschal Franchot, Volkert P. Van Rensselaer, Martin Noble and Benjamin Davis. It is a stone structure, will seat 500, and cost $5,500. The name was then changed to Zion Church, which it still retains. In 1839 a parsonage was erected at a cost of $1,200. In 1867 Rev. Daniel S. Tuttle, rector of this Church, was elected Bishop of Montana, Utah and Idaho, and resigned the rectorship, Mav 1, 1867. The present rector is Rev. Thomas H. Cullen. The present number of members is 219. The present value of Church property is $20,000.
The Universalist Church was organized in 1843, by N. Steven- son and John W. Whitcomb, with 27 members. The first pastor was David Pickering. Their house of worship was erected in 1842; it will seat 300 and cost 81,200. The present membership is 51 ; the pastor is Rev. W. H. Harrington, and the value of the Church property is $5,000.
The Baptist Church of Morris was organized in Sept. 1793 with ten members, five male and five female. Their first services were held in private houses, in barns, in groves and in school houses after they were built. Rev. John Lawton was the first settled pastor. In 1798, when he was settled, the society " voted to raise for his support, one hundred dollars per annum, twenty to be paid in money and the balance in necessaries of life." In
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1817 a house of worship was erected near the town line, in the north-east part. Uri Jackson, David Thurstin and Joseph Lull, were the Trustees. In 1841 a house was erected in the village; it was 36 by 40 feet and cost $800. Deacon Joseph Lull and his wife, Martha, were members of its organization to their death. Deacon Lull died in 1840, and Mrs. Lull in 1851. The present house of worship, which will seat 375, was erected in 1870 at a cost of $16,000. The present number of members is 142. The present pastor is Rev. Chas. Ayer. The present value of Church property is $18,000. The original members were in part the first settlers of Butternut Valley, and set up a prayer meeting here in 1773, when there were but two families on the ground, which has been continued till now, except as interupted by the Revo- lutionary War.
All Saints, Morris Memorial Chapel, located about three miles below Morrris village, is a beautiful stone structure, erected by the descendants of General Jacob Moris, one of the most distin- guished of the early settlers and one of the first communicants of the Episcopal Church. It was erected in 1866, near the Morris family burying ground. It cost originally $5,000 and will seat 200. From a sermon of Rev. N. S. Rulison, former rector of Zion Parish, we extract the following notice of Morris Memorial Chapel: "The idea of this Chapel originated with two members of our Church, Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Morris. The ex- pense of the work is borne by all the descendants of Gen. Jacob Morris, once one of the most distinguished citizens of this town. The objects had in view in building the Chapel, were to preserve and make sacred the Morris family burial grund, near which it stands, and to afford religious instruction to the families living near it." The Chapel is deeded in trust to the Vestry of Zion Church.
The population of the town in 1870 was 2,253, and its area, 24,057 acres, with an assessed value of $386,763.
There are 13 school districts, employing 14 teachers. The number of children of school age is 683 ; the number attending school, 579 ; the average attendance, 310; the value of school houses and sites is $8,550.
NEW LISBON was formed from Pittsfield, April 7, 1806, as Lisbon. Its name was changed April 6, 1SOS. It is an interior town, lying west of the center of the County. The sur- face is a hilly upland, divided into several ridges by the deep ravines of the streams. The highest summits are from 300 to 500 feet above the valleys. The principal streams are Butter- nut Creek, flowing south through the west part, and the west
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branch of the Otego Creek, through the east part. Gilbert's Lak- is a small sheet of water on the south border. The soil upon the uplands is a clay and slaty loam, and in the valleys a gravelly loam.
Garrattsville (p.v.) in the north-west part, on Butternut Creek, about sixteen miles west of Cooperstown, contains two churches, one hotel, three dry goods and one grocery store, two wagon shops, three blacksmith shops, a shoe shop, tin shop, harness shop, two millinery shops, two physicians, two dress makers, a grist and cider mill, cheese box factory, saw mill, tailor shop, tannery, forty-two houses and about 175 inhabitants.
New Lisbon, (p. v.) known as "Noblesville," in the south-east corner, on Butternut Creek, contains one church, (union,) one hotel, one store, ten dwellings and about 35 inhabitants.
New Lisbon Center is a hamlet near the center of the town, and contains one church, (Baptist,) one shoe shop, nine dwellings and about 40 inhabitants.
Stetsonville, in the south-west part, near the line of Pittsfield, contains a wagon shop, blacksmith shop, two cooper shops and about 35 inhabitants.
The first settlement was made in 1773, in the south-west corner of the town, by Increase Thurstin and Benjamin Lull and his sons. Several of the sons settled in this town and some of them in Morris. Among the other early settlers were S. W. Park, Moses Thurston, Hughey Marks, O. Park, William Pierce, John Johnson, William and John Garratt, and - Brook, all of whom settled in the vicinity of Garrattsville. Elnathan Nobles was among the first settlers at Noblesville, which took its name from him. Joseph Baldwin and John L. Stetson were the first settlers at Stetsonville. In 1778 the first settlers were driven off by the Indians and Tories, their buildings burned and their crops destroyed. After the close of the war, the former settlers returned. A haystack belonging to the Thurstins had been set on fire and burned over on the outside. On the return of the owners in 1783, they found the middle of the stack had been preserved in good order. Sally Thurstin was the first child born in town. The first school was taught by James Mc- Collum; the first inn was kept by Charles Eldredge, in the south part of the town. William Garratt kept the first store, at Garratsville. Louis De Villier erected the first grist mill.
The first religious society organized was the Baptist, at New Lisbon Center, in 1804, by Elder S. Gregory. A Congregational Church was formed the same year by Rev. William Stone.
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The M. E. Church of Garrattsville, was organized in 1840. Rev. M. French was the first pastor. The house of worship, which will seat 250, was erected in 1841, at a cost of $1,050, and repaired in 1870. The present value of Church property is $3,000. The present number of members is 25, and the present pastor, Rev. Wm. M. Hiller.
The First. Congregational Church, at Noblesville, was organized with 11 members in April 21, 1805, by Rev. N. Stone, of Con- necticut, its first pastor. The house of worship, which will seat 300, was erected in 1802 at a cost of $1,600, and repaired in 1861. The present value of Church property is $2,000, and the pastor is Rev. Evine Wales. Of the members of this Church, seven have become ordained ministers, and two (females) missionaries to foreign lands.
The population of the town in 1870 was 1,545, and its area, 26,779 acres, with an assessed value of $374,520.
The number of school districts is 16, employing 15 teachers. The number of children of school age is 472; the number attending school, 391; the average attendance, 211; the value of school houses and sites is $4,245.
ONEONTA was formed from Unadilla, February 5, 1796, as Otego. Its name was changed April 17, 1830. It is the central town on the south border of the County. The surface is a hilly upland, broken by the deep valley of the Susquehan- na, which flows south-west through the south part. Otego and Oneonta Creeks flow into the Susquehanna from the north, and Charlotte River from the south. A range of hills 500 feet high extends along the south-east bank of the Susquehanna. The surface in the center and north part is hilly, broken by narrow and irregular valleys. The summits are from 150 to 300 feet above the valleys. The soil is a gravel, clay and slate, on the uplands, and gravelly loam and alluvium along the valley of the river.
Oneonta, (p. v.) situated in the south part of the town, is one of the principal stations on the A. & S. R. R., and contains five churches, three hotels, two newspaper printing offices, a large number of stores, several manufactories, among which are three foundries, a machine shop and agricultural works, sash and blind factory, a spoke factory, a saw mill, a grist mill, a manufactory of machines for cutting heading, two carriage shops, various other manufactories and a population of 1,383. The village is increasing rapidly in business and population, about 100 houses having been erected during the last season.
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The Oneonta Agricultural Works of Ford Brothers, located near the railroad station, were started in 1866 by E. R. Ford and Henry Howe. They manufacture agricultural implements of various kinds and employ about twenty hands. The Works have been carried on by Ford Brothers since 1869.
West Oneonta (p.v.) contains a church, a hotel, a store, several mechanic shops and about twenty dwellings.
Emons, in the east part, on the railroad, is a hamlet.
Oneonta Plains, about two miles west of Oneonta, is a small village.
The Indians had a camping ground on the flat, between the village and the river, and there was an old Indian orchard and a cemetery in the south-west part of the town, the former on the south side of the river, and the latter on the north.
Henry Scramblin and a man named Youngs, settled in the town previous to the Revolution. Aaron Brink, Frederick Brown and - McDonald, were among the early settlers at Oneonta village. James Youngs settled at the mouth of Char- lotte River ; Baltus Himmel, north of the village. Abraham Houghtaling, Jacob Elias Brewer and Peter Swartz, settled in the north part of the town in 1786; and Josiah Peck, on Oneonta Creek.
The first birth was that of Abraham Houghtaling 2d, in 1786. Baltus Himmel kept the first inn, and Peter Dininey the first store. John Vanderwerker erected the first grist mill.
The first religious society organized was the Presbyterian, in 1786, at Oneonta village. Rev. Alexander Conkey was the settled pastor in 1816.
The population of the town in 1870 was 2,568, and its area, 22,498 acres, with an assessed value of $426,305.
The number of school districts is 15, employing 16 teachers. The number of children of school age is 924; the number attending school, 850; the average attendance, 389; the value of school houses and sites is $14,975.
OTEGO was formed from Franklin (Delaware Co.) and Unadilla, April 12, 1822, as Huntsville. A part of Milford was annexed and its name changed April 17, 1830. It lies on the south border of the County, west of the center.
The town is of uneven surface, the hills being in uneven ranges, nearly or quite parallel with the brooks which empty into the Susquehanna River. The range on the southerly side and along the valley of the river, is unbroken. The soil is a clay and sandy loam.
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The Susquehanna River runs through the southerly side of the town for a distance of about seven miles. The brooks emptying into the river are four, Mill Creek, east and west branches of Ottawa Creek, Flax Creek and Center Brook, extending back from the river in a northerly and north-westerly direction, from five to eight miles.
These brooks pass through handsome valleys, with hill-sides well cleared and cultivated, the lands from the brooks to the tops of the hills being fertile and peculiarly adapted to grass growing and stock raising, growing also good crops of corn, oats, and the other grains cultivated in the region. These hills are generally easily accessible for the purposes of cultivation and use. The lands of this town are mostly devoted to dairy- ing and stock raising.
Otego, (p. v.) is attractively situated on the Susquehanna River, in the south part of the town, and is an important station on the Albany & Susquehanna Rail Road. It contains 7 stores, 2 hotels, 5 churches, (Presb., Bap., M. E., Old School Bap. and Epis.) a sash and blind factory, several mechanic shops and about 600 inhabitants.
Otsdawa, (p. v.) on the creek of that name, in the north part, contains a church, (Free Will Baptist,) store, saw and grist mills, a wagon shop, harness shop, blacksmith shop, and about 100 inhabitants.
Settlements began in this town, along the Susquehanna, soon after the Revolution. The names of some of the first settlers are Peter Schramling, John Winn, John Vanderweriker, John Christian, Conrad Overhiser, Barnet Overhiser, John Hess and John Brimmer. John Youmans and others of Dutch extrac- tion, from the counties of Albany, Schoharie, and along the Mohawk Valley. The residue of the first settlers were mostly from the New England States. Asahel Packard, - Shepard, Philo Goodrich, Wm. French, Elijah Ferry &c., were from Massachusetts. Rowland Carr, Thurston Brown and Jonathan Weaver, were from Rhode Island. Anson Judson, Daniel Wel- ler, Abram Blakely, Solomon Squires, Mareness Goodrich, Ran- som Hunt and others, were from Vermont and Connecticut. Michael Birdsall and brothers, were from Dutchess County. Phineas and John Cook were from Connecticut. The Bundys were among the first settlers in town. Peter Bundy moved here from Montgomery Co. in 1780. He had eight sons and five daughters who settled in this town.
There was much jealousy and ill feeling, and often feuds, be- tween the Dutch settlers and those designated as the Yankees, and they were very nearly equally divided in numbers for many
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years. Disputes and often fighting occurred. At last the fight- ing feature of the trouble was nearly disposed of for all time to come by a battle on Saw Mill Hill, after a saw mill raising, between "Old John French " and David Schramling, the lat- ter a Tory of the Revolution and an active partizan of the Indians, in whose depredations and murders he was a wander- ing participator during the greater part of the war. French was the winner. They were the champions by arrangement.
The Indian chieftain Brant's encampment was still standing, with its poles, crotches and covering, within the limits of the present village of Otego, when the first settlers came in. This encampment was made one of his resting places on his way to the Cherry Valley massacre.
Very much of the business of the early settlers was that of manufacturing pine lumber, which they "rafted " down the Susquehanna River to the Chesepeake Bay. It was a stirring and always a perilous business, this "rafting" upon a rapid and tortuous river for about 350 miles, on its floods or " freshets."
The Baptist Church of Otego was organized in 1816, by Rev. D. Robertson, the first pastor, with 32 members. The first house of worship was erected in 1829, and repaired in 1855. The present membership is 52, and the value of Church property is $3,500.
The Christian Church of Otsdawa was organized in 1830 by Rev. Joshua Hayward, the first pastor, with 13 members. Their house of worship was erected in 1836, at a cost of $1,300 and with a seating capacity of 400. The present membership is 92 ; the pastor is Rev. Wm. Case, and the value of the Church property is $2,000.
The Second Christian Church, located in the north-west part of the town, was organized in 1870, by Rev. Wm. Case, the present pastor, with 19 members. Their house of worship was erected the same year, at a cost of $1,800, and capable of seating 250. The present membership is 28.
The First Methodist Church of Otego was organized with about 40 or 50 members, and a house of worship was erected in 1848 or '49, at a cost of 81,400 and with a seating capacity of 300. The first pastor was Rev. A. Queal ; the present pastor is Rev. J. W. Merwin. The present membership is 130, and the value of the Church property is 88,000.
Immanuel Church of Otego was organized in 1834 by Rev. J. Messinger with 10 members. The first pastor was Rev. J. Hughes. The first house of worship was erected in 1835; the present house in 1866. It will seat seat 250 and cost 82,250.
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The present membership is 60, and the value of Church property is $7,000.
The population of the town in 1870 was 2,052, and its area, 26,905 acres, with an assessed value of $421,151.
The number of school districts is 18, employing the same number of teachers. The number of children of school age is 582; the number attending school, 520; the average attend- ance, 270 ; the value of school houses and sites, $7,050.
*OTSEGO was formed as a part of Montgomery County, March 7, 1788, and originally included the greater part of Otsego County. Burlington, Richmond and Unadilla were taken off in 1792, Hartwick in 1802, and Laurens in 1810. It is an interior town, lying upon the west bank of Otsego Lake, north of the center of the County. The surface is a hilly upland, lying between Otsego and Schuyler Lakes, and descending abruptly towards each. The summits are from 300 to 500 feet above the water. The uplands are divided into two ridges by Fly Creek, which flows south through the center. Oak Creek, the outlet of Schuyler Lake, flows south through the west part. The soil is a clay, sandy and gravelly loam.
Cooperstown, (p. v.) beautifully situated at the foot of Otsego Lake, was incorporated April 3, 1807, by the name of Otsego. The name was changed to Cooperstown, June 12, 1812. It con- tains the County buildings, six churches, viz., Presbyterian, Episcopal, Baptist, Methodist, Universalist and Roman Cotholic, three banks, six hotels, two first-class weekly newspapers, & union school, a saw mill, a grist mill, a sash and blind factory, a planing mill, a large number of stores, mechanic shops &c., and about 2,200 inhabitants. The sidewalks are well flagged, the streets are finely shaded with trees and lighted with gas. Itis the present terminus of the Cooperstown & Susquehanna Valley Railroad, connecting with the A. & S. R. R. at Junction Station.
Lake Wood Cemetery, though not in this town, is an append- age of Cooperstown and as such may properly be described here. The association under whose control it is, was organized in 1856 with the following Board of Trustees: Samuel Nelson, Levi C. Turner, Frederick A. Lee, Ellery Cory, Theodore Keese, Joshua H. Story, John R. Worthington, Henry J. Bowers and Horace Lathrop, Jr. F. A. Lee was subsequently chosen Presi- dent; Theodore Keese, Vice-President ; Jerome B. Wood, Secre-
* Otsego was the original name of the Lake, from which the town and County were afterwards pamed. In the Indian language the place is said to signify a place of friendly greeting. At the foot of the lake was a place of general rendezvous for the Indians, and where traders were accustomed to meet them.
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tary; Dorr Russell, Treasurer. The Cemetery is located near the shore of the lake, about half a mile from the village, and con- tains twenty-four acres, the original cost of which was fifty dollars an acre. It is tastefully laid out and contains some fine monuments, among which the most prominent is that of J. Fenimore Cooper, erected by his literary friends and admirers. It is of Italian marble, resting on a granite base six feet square. The shaft, including the base, die and cap, from which it rises, is about 25 feet in hight and is surmounted by a richly carved Corinthian capital. The four sides of the die are beautifully sculptured in bold relief ; the front with the name of J. Feni- more Cooper, surrounded by a wreath of palm and oak branches, the latter with acorns, one falling and another fallen ; the north side with appropriate naval devices, viz., the anchor, oars crossed, commander's sword and spy glass ; the south side with Indian emblems, such as bow and arrows, and quiver, lance with scalp-locks attached, tomahawk and necklace of bears' claws. On the east side are literary emblems, books and manuscript, with the student's lamp just extinguished, an ink stand, the pen from which has just been seized and borne aloft by an eagle. On its capital stands the statuette of Leather Stocking, four and a half feet high, representing him in the act of loading his rifle and gazing intently in the direction of the game, while the dog by his side, looks anxiously into his master's face, waiting for permission to bound away. The monument stands near the entrance to the Cemetery, and overlooks the lake, village and surrounding country. It cost about $3,500.
The Union School of Cooperstown occupies a fine brick edifice which was erected in 1868-9 at a cost of about $20,000. The lot upon which it is located contains one and one-seventh acres. Six teachers are employed and the average attendance of pupils is about 300. J. G. Wright, A. M., is the principal.
Fly Creek, (p. v.) situated about three miles west of Coopers- town, contains three churches, a hotel, a store, a foundry and machine shop, a manufactory of horse-powers, three blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, a shoe shop, two millinery establish- ments, 67 dwellings and about 325 inhabitants. The Sons of Temperance and the Good Templars have organizations here, as well as the Grand Army of the Republic.
The Otsego Agricultural Works, at this place, were started in 1840 as the " Badger Horse-Power Works." In August 1871 Mr. George H. Gross purchased the Works and changed the name as indicated above. He manufactures threshers and cleaners, horse-powers, churns, circular saws and fanning mills. The
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works are driven by steam power and give employment to 8 or 10 hands.
The Fly Creek Valley Cheese Factory, about half a mile north- east of the village, has a capacity for making 600 pounds daily. H. E. Taylor is the proprietor.
Oaksville, (p. v.) situated on Oak Creek, about a mile north- west of Fly Creek, contains a hotel, a store, a cotton factory, a blacksmith shop, a saw mill, a grist mill, a carding mill, about 30 dwellings and 200 inhabitants.
The Otsego Iron Works, at Fly Creek, were started in 1812 and have been in successful operation ever since. Mr. Shepard, the present proprietor, became a partner in the business in 1869 and is now the sole proprietor. The works cover an area of two acres.
Toddsville (p. v.) is chiefly in the town of Hartwick.
The Otsego Paper Works at this place are owned by R. & I. Worthington, bankers, of Cooperstown. They were established about seventy years ago, give employment to eighteen hands and have a capacity for making 2,000 pounds of printing paper daily.
Hope Factory, about a mile south of Toddsville, on Oaks Creek, is a hamlet, containing sixteen houses, a cotton mill, a grist mill, a store, a school house and about 100 inhabitants. The grist mill contains four runs of stones, with a capacity for grind- ing 150 bushels per day.
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