USA > New York > Otsego County > Gazetteer and business directory of Otsego County, New York for 1872-3 > Part 15
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The Hope Cotton Mills, in the south part of the town, owned by R. Steere, employ about seventy-five hands, make about 2,000 yards of print goods per week, using from 2,500 to 3,000 pounds of raw material.
The Cheese Factory of J. P. Kenney, in the west part of the town, has a capacity for making 600 pounds daily, using the milk of 250 cows.
Otsego Hill Cheese Factory, owned by Mr. Babbit, is about the same size.
Three Mile Point is a point of land jutting into the lake from the west shore, about three miles from Cooperstown. It is a place of resort for pleasure parties during the summer. It was originally the property of Judge Cooper and was willed to his descendants in common until 1850, after which it was to be the sole property of his youngest descendant bearing the name of William Cooper. The hotel of A. W. Thayer, near this place, affords all necessary accommodations.
Wild Rose Point is another place of resort near the one just mentioned.
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The settlement of this town was commenced about 1785, though some slight improvements had previously been made and abandoned. In 1786 a permanent settlement was com- menced at the village of Cooperstown by William Cooper, who had come into possession of a large tract of land in the vicinity. Among the first settlers were William Jarvis, William Ellison. Israel Guild, John Howard, Elisha Phinney, John Miller, Wm. Abbot and a widow named Johnson. The first framed house was erected on the site of the village, by Mrs. Johnson. Wm. Abbott settled on a farm about half a mile south of the village. Mr. Cooper, accompanied by his wife, arrived in the spring of 1787. They reached the head of the lake in a chaise, and came to the foot of the lake in a canoe. Mrs. Cooper did not remain, and she disliked the passage by boat so much that the chaise was brought down in two canoes. A bridge across the outlet was constructed of logs, and a road had been cut through the forest along the shore of the lake, but it was so difficult to pass, that when the chaise left the settlement, two men with ropes accompanied it to keep it from upsetting. In 1788 a village plat was laid out, including six streets extend- ing in an east and west direction, and three crossing them at right angles. In 1788 Mr. Cooper erected a house on Main Street, opposite the head of Fair Street. It was of two stories, with two wings, and on some old maps is designated as the " Manor House." Here he was accustomed to entertain his visitors in a manner becoming his position. He did not bring his family to reside permanently until 1790. The first store was established in the winter of 1789-90, by Mr. Cooper, Mr. R. R. Smith having it in charge. At this time there were seven framed houses, three framed barns and thirty-five in- habitants in the village. This enumeration is supposed to have been made previous to the arrival of Mr. Cooper's family in October 1790, as that numbered in all, including children and servants, fifteen. The next year the first lawyers arrived and located in the village, one of whom was Abraham Ten Broeck, of New Jersey, and the other, Jacob G. Fonda, of Schenectady. The first physician was named Powers, and Dr. Fuller arrived in June 1791, and remained in practice for nearly fifty years. Dr. Powers was accused of mixing tartar emetic with the drink provided for the guests of a ball at the Red Lion Hotel. He was tried, convicted, put in the stocks and then banished. The first child born in the village was Nathan, son of John Howard, and the first death that of a son of Joseph Griffin. Oct. 11, 1792. The first child born on the Patent was William Cooper Jarvis, of Fly Creek. He was born in 1787 and received fifty acres of land from the pro-
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prietor after whom he was named. The first school was taught by Joshua Dewey. William Ellison kept the first inn, in 1786. James Averill was an early settler. In 1792 he exchanged his farm with Mr. Howard for a tannery, and afterwards became identified with that branch of business. Oliver Cary was the second school teacher in the town. In 1795 a plan was started for the erection of an academy, and about $1,500 were sub- scribed for that purpose. The building was raised September 18, 1795, by one hundred men selected for the purpose and superintended by E. Robbins. It was 65 by 32 feet, and two stories high, the upper story being all in one room. On the 28th of February, 1795, Mr. Elihu Phinney, from Connecticut, arrived in Cooperstown with the materials for printing a news- paper, and on the 3d of April appeared the first number of the Otsego Herald or Western Advertiser. It was the second paper in the State, published west of Albany. On the 9th of July of this year, a man named Porteus was flogged at the whipping post for stealing some pieces of ribbon. In 1799 the residence of Judge Cooper, known as 'Otsego Hall,' and subsequently occupied by J. Fenimore Cooper, was completed. For many years this was the finest private residence in the County. A new street has recently been laid out through the grounds.
Some idea of the facilities for traveling at this early day may be formed from the following incident: In 195, Judge Cooper, with his wife and two children, left Cooperstown in his carriage, drawn by. four horses. They dined at Middlefield Center and reached Cherry Valley a little before sunset. Leaving Cherry Valley early the next morning, they reached Canajoharie the same evening, and in two days from this time arrived in Albany, making the journey from Cooperstown in four days.
A post-office was established in this town in 1:94 and the mail was received weekly. Joseph Griffin was the first post- master. The place continued to increase in population, and in 1812 it contained 133 houses, 57 barns and 686 inhabitants. In 1809 a cotton factory was erected on Fly Creek, and manu- facturing of various kinds was established in the village and in other parts of the town, causing an increase of population.
As already stated, the first inn was kept by William Ellison, near the outlet. The first one of any note was the " Red Lion," kept by Joseph Griffin. It stood on the corner of Main and Pioneer Streets.
" The second public house of any consequence, was the Blue Anchor, kept by William Cook on the corner diagonally opposite to the Red Lion ; this house was in much request for many years among all the genteeler portion of the travelers. Its host was a man of singular humor, great heartiness of
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character and perfect integrity. He had been the steward of an English East Indiaman and enjoyed an enviable reputation in the village for his skill in mixing punch and flip. On holi- days, a stranger would have been apt to mistake him for one of the magnates of the land, as he invariably appeared in a drab coat of the style of 1776 with buttons as large as dollars, breeches, striped stockings, buckles that covered half his foot, and a cocked hat large enough to extinguish him. The land- lord of the Blue Anchor was a general favorite, his laugh and his pious oaths having become historical."-Chronicles of Coop- erstown.
A large number of distinguished men have had their residence in the village of Cooperstown since its settlement. Among these were J. Fenimore Cooper, Gen. John A. Dix, Hon. Samuel Nelson, Hon. E. B. Morehouse, Hon. Schuyler Griffin and many others.
Hon. Elisha Phinney, the publisher of the first newspaper in the County and the proprietor of the first book store, came to Cooperstown in 1795, and continued to conduct the paper which he started until 1813. He was the father of H. & E. Phinney, who succeeded him in business and became extensive publishers as well as booksellers. In 1820 a stereotype foundry was estab- lished at which was cast a set of plates for a quarto family bible, from which 200,000 copies were manufactured. The business was carried on in Cooperstown until 1849, when the destruction of their establishment by fire caused their removal to Buffalo, where H. F. & E. Phinney, Jr., were members of the firm of Phinney & Co. Mr. H. F. Phinney was for several years a member of the firm of Ivison & Phinney, of New York City. He is now the largest real estate owner in Cooperstown and one of the most enterprising and public spirited of its citizens.
In 1813 an elephant was exhibited in Cooperstown. It was heralded by the following notice, which is in strong contrast with the flaming show bills and numerous menageries which exhibited in the village during the last season :
"Perhaps the present generation may never have an opportunity of seeing an elephant again, as this is the only one in the United States, and this is, perhaps the last visit to this place."
Cooperstown has suffered at various times from fires. The greatest contlagration was that of April 10, 1862, when about one-third of the business portion of the village was destroyed. On this occasion fifty-seven buildings were destroyed, valued at 848,850; the amount of insurance was $16,800. The loss of other property than buildings was estimated at 853,175, which was insured for 83,300. Another fire occurred the same year,
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destroying property to the amount of $10,000, with an insur- ance of $4,000.
The first religious society organized in the town was The Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown. In July 1795, a camp meeting was held in this vicinity by members of all denomina- tions, and in August of the same year a call was issued for the formation of a Presbyterian Church. Before the society was organized, Rev. Mr. Mosely was employed to preach for six months. The legal society was organized Dec. 29, 1798, but the spiritual organization did not take place until June 16, 1800. Rev. Isaac Lewis was the first settled pastor. The services were held in the academy. The first house of worship was erected in 1807.
The Presbyterian Church, located at Fly Creek, was organized March 20, 1828, with twenty-one members. Rev. Samuel Man- ning was the first pastor. Their house of worship was erected in 1840 at a cost of $1,600, and capable of seating 200. The present membership is 40 ; the value of the Church property is $3,000, and the pastor is Rev. C. K. McHarg.
Christ Church (Episcopal) of Cooperstown was organized Jan. 1, 1811, by Rev. Daniel Nash, the first rector. The first services held in this town according to the rites of the Episco- pal Church were at the funeral of Miss Hannah Cooper, who was killed by being thrown from a horse on the 10th day of September, 1800. The services were conducted by Rev. Daniel Nash, who was then a missionary in the County, and afterwards known as " Father Nash." Their Church edifice was erected in 1810. It has been enlarged and improved and is still occu- pied, having a seating capacity of 460. The number of com- municants is 175; the present rector is Rev. D. Hillhouse Buel; the value of the Church property is $25,000.
The Methodist Church of Cooperstown was organized about 1816, and a house of worship was erected the next year. Their house of worship will seat 400 and is valued at 88,000. The number of members is 86; the pastor is Rev. H. M. Crydenwise. They have recently erected a parsonage which, with the lot, is worth about $3,000.
The Methodist Church at Fly Creek was organized about 1816 with seven members. Rev. Ralph Lanning was the first pastor. Their house of worship was erected in 1837 and has a capacity to seat 500. The present membership is 110; the value of the Church property is 85,000, and the pastor is Rev. George Parsons.
The First Baptist Church of Cooperstown was organized Jan. 21, 1834, and their house of worship was erected in 1835-6 at
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a cost of 83,000 and having a capacity to seat 275. The first pastor was Rev. Lewis Raymond. The present membership is 85 ; the pastor is Rev. Charles C. Smith, and the value of the Church property is $9,000.
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church was organized about 1851, by Rev. Father Gilbride. The first house of worship was erected about 1855 ; the present house in 1867. It cost about $12,000 and will .seat 300. The present membership is about 300; the pasor is Rev. M. C. Dewitt, and the value of the Church property is $25,000.
The First Universalist Church, (Christ Church) located at Fly Creek, was organized in 1805 and is the oldest Universalist Church in the State. The Church edifice was erected in 1820 and rebuilt in 1861. It will seat 250 and is valued at $5,000. There is a Parish Library connected with the society. The present membership is 40; the pastor is Rev. C. L. Wait. Services are held at 2 o'clock every Sunday afternoon.
The Second Universalist Church, (Church of the Messiah,) located at Cooperstown, was organized in 1831 by Rev. Jacob Potter, the first pastor. Their house of worship was erected in 1833 and remodeled in 1860. It cost $3,000 and will seat 300. The present membership is 40; the pastor is Rev. C. L. Wait, and the value of the Church property is $8,000.
The Thanksgiving Hospital, Cooperstown, was planned in April 1865, as a Thankoffering to Almighty God from the Christian people of Otsego, for the restoration of Peace and the preservation of the Union after the civil war. The neces- sary fund was raised and a suitable building was purchased and remodeled in 1867. On Thanksgiving day of the same year, the Hospital was solemnly dedicated by religious services. The institution was regularly incorporated in September 1868. The house and lot are valued at $5,000. The house can receive, if necessary, eighteen patients, though especially prepared for fifteen. The number of patients during the year 1871 was 35, many being severe chronic cases, remaining through the year. It is the expectation of the Trustees that a new building with thirty beds will be erected ere long in a favorable position. This institution is entirely free from debt. Many more applications are received than can be accommodated in the present build- ing. The Trustees are E. Phinney, Horace Lathrop, M. D., Mrs. Harriet W. Way, Miss Susan Fenimore Cooper and F. G. Lee. The physicians are Dr. W. F. Bassett and Dr. M. L. Bassett.
The population of the town in 1870 was 4,605, and its area, 32,478 acres, with an assessed value of 8884,144.
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The number of school districts is 17, employing 22 teachers. The number of children of school age is 1,272; the number attending school is 886 ; the average attendance, 488; the value of school houses and sites, $26,815.
PITTSFIELD was formed from Burlington, March 24, 1797. New Lisbon was taken off in 1806. It is situated on the west line of the County, near the center. The surface is a hilly upland, terminating in abrupt declivities upon Unadilla River, which forms the west boundary. Wharton Creek flows across the north-west corner, and several small tributaries of Butternut Creek flow through the south part. The soil gen- erally is a slaty and gravelly loam.
Pittsfield, (p. v.) locally known as "Pecktown," in the north part, contains a hotel, a store, a blacksmith shop, a carpenter shop, a saw mill, 14 dwelling houses and about 60 inhabitants.
Hoboken is a hamlet in the north-west part and contains a store, a cotton factory and several dwelling houses.
The first settlements were made in the valley of the Unadilla, about 1793, by Jacob Lull, Aaron Nobles, Hubbard Goodrich and Mathew Bennett. Seth Harrington and Benjamin Eddy settled in the east part of the town soon after the settlements on the Unadilla. The first school was taught by Benjamin Pendle- ton, at Richfield village. Mathew Bennett kept the first inn, in 1797, and Henry Randall, still residing in the town, the first store, in 1810. Benjamin Atwell built the first mill, and the Arkwright Manufacturing Company the first cotton factory, both of which were on the Unadilla.
The first religious organization in the town was the Baptist, in the south-east part. There are only two Church edifices in town, both union churches; one east of the center, built in 1849, and now occupied by the Methodists, which is the only religious organization in town ; and the other in the south-west part, built about 1857.
The population of the town in 1870 was 1,468, and its area, 22,696 acres, with an assessed value of $268,088.
There are 12 school districts, employing 11 teachers. The number of children of school age is 485; the number attending school, 285; the average attendance, 182; the value of school houses and sites, 83,525.
PLAINFIELD was formed from Richfield, March 25, 1799. It is the north-west corner town of the County. The surface is a broken and hilly upland. Unadilla River forms the west boundary and is bordered by steep bluffs, rising to the hight of 400 to 600 feet. The soil is a clayey and sandy loam.
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Unadilla Forks, (p. v.) in the west part of the town, at the junction of the east and west branches of the Unadilla, con- tains two churches, a hotel, a grist mill, a saw mill, a furniture manufactory, a planing mill, a carriage shop, three stores, a bedstead factory, a blacksmith shop, two boot and shoe shops and about 400 inhabitants.
Plainfield Center is a hamlet, containing a church and half a dozen houses.
Spooner's Corners is a post office in the north-east corner of the town.
Leonardsville, (p. v.) on the west border, chiefly in Madison Co., contains a foundry and blacksmith shop in this town.
The first settlement of this town was made at and near Plainfield Center, in 1793, by Ruggles Spooner, Elias Wright and John Kilbourne. Samuel Williams settled on the Una- dilla, in the north part, and Benjamin and Abel Clark at the Forks, about the same time. The first school was taught at Spooner's Corners by James Robinson in 1797-8. William Lincoln kept the first inn, at Lloydville, and Luce & Wood- ward the first store. Caleb Brown built the first mill, in 1805, on the Unadilla.
The Baptist Church at Unadilla Forks was organized June 5, 1817, by a council composed of delegates as follows : from the First Baptist Church of Winfield, Jonathan Palmer, Jr .; from the Church in Edmeston, Elder Stephen Taylor, Nathan Wright, Chauncy Hopkins, Roger Southerland and Stephen W. Taylor ; from the Second Church of Winfield, Elder Ebenezer Vining, Ethol Palmer, Jonathan Jones and Ebenezer Thayer ; from the Church in Brookfield, Elders Thomas Dye and Joshua
Wells, Eleazer Brown, Luther Hinkley, Nathan Brown, 2d, and Daniel Main ; from the Church in Paris, Daniel Budlong, John Budlong, James Rhodes and John Davis. The number of members at the organization was 17, and the first pastor was Rev. Joshua Wells. Their house of worship was erected about 1830 at a cost of about $1,500 and with a seating capacity of 300. The present pastor is Rev. Jesse Evans; the number of members is 71, and the value of Church property is about $3,000.
The population of the town in 1870 was 1,248, and its area, 16,705 acres, with an assessed value of $268,140.
The number of school districts is 13, employing 11 teachers. The number of children of school age is 402; the number at- tending school, 298; the average attendance, 177; the value of school houses and sites is 85,045.
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RICHFIELD was formed from Otsego, April 10, 1792. Exeter and Plainfield were taken off in 1799. It is the extreme northern town of the County. The surface is rolling and moderately hilly, with a mean elevation of 150 to 200 feet above Schuyler Lake. Nine Hill, on the west side of the head of the lake, rises to a hight of 300 to 400 feet. Schuyler Lake, in the south-east corner, occupies a deep valley and receives several small streams from the north and west. The soil is of a diver- sified character, consisting of gravel, slate, clay, and sandy loam, well cultivated and productive. Cheese is largely manufactured in the town.
Richfield Springs, (p. v.) in the north-east corner, near the head of Schuyler Lake, is pleasantly situated and contains four churches, viz., Presbyterian, Episcopal, Universalist and Roman Catholic, a newspaper office, a bank, two saw mills, a grist mill, a planing mill, a large number of hotels, stores, mechanic shops &c., and about 1,000 inhabitants. The village derives its name from the celebrated mineral springs, which are noted for their medicinal properties and are visited by a large number of invalids annually. The place is also a resort for summer tour- ists and is becoming one of the most frequented in the State. A railroad connects it with Utica, and it is proposed to extend it to Cherry Valley.
Monticello, (Richfield p. o.) near the center of the town, con- tains two churches, two stores, a hotel, a blacksmith shop, a shoe shop, a cheese factory, a saw mill, a cheese box factory, a. cider mill, a wagon shop, a dress maker shop, a milliner shop, a seminary and about 200 inhabitants.
The Cheese Factory of H. C. Brockway, at Monticello, turned out about 20,000 pounds during the last season.
Brighton Corners is a hamlet in the north part and contains about 20 houses.
The settlement of the town was commenced before the Revo- Intion, but it was broken up during the war: The first settlers after the war were John Kimball, Richard and William Pray, John Beardsley, Joseph Coats and Seth Allen, who came in about 1787. William Tunicliff, Daniel Hawks, John Hatch, Ebenezer Eaton and Joseph Rockwell, settled near Richfield Springs in 1789 ; and Obadiah Beardsley and Obadiah Beards- ley. Jr., settled near Schuyler Lake in 1790.
From " Reminiscences of Otsego," by Hon. Levi Beardsley, we have gathered some interesting incidents connected with the early history of this town. Judge Beardsley was about four years old in 1790, when his grandfather, father and two brothers removed from Hoosick. They started with a cart and
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one or two wagons drawn by oxen and horses, and drove a few cattle, sheep and hogs. Judge B. and a sister two years old, were stowed away among the furniture, and the mother with a sick infant was left behind. They crossed the Mohawk near Fonda and went to Canajoharie, thence by the old Continental Road towards Springfield. At night they stopped at the house of Conradt Seeber. They were out of bread and could get none at Seeber's or of his neighbors, but were compelled to make a a meal of potatoes. The next day they went three miles with teams, and then left some of the wagons, as the roads were very bad. The Judge says ; " My father put a saddle on one of the horses and on another packed a bed and bedding, on which the [servant] girl was to ride. I was placed on the horse behind him, on a pillow tied to the saddle, with a strap under my arms buckled around his waist to prevent me from falling off, and carrying my sister before him we proceeded on our journey, the girl riding the other horse on top of the bed and bedding, and a yearling colt tagging after." They proceeded to the foot of Schuyler's Lake, where they had hired the " Herkimer Farm," on which was a small clearing before the war, and two log huts. After planting corn, Mr. Beardsley returned for his wife, who came on horseback, on a man's saddle, and carried the child, Mr. B. walking beside them. During the summer they cut a road to their own land in Richfield and put up two log huts, a short distance apart, and covered them with poles and bark. The floors were of logs split and hewn, and the chimneys were of sticks and mud.
In 1791 William Tunicliff built a saw mill near Richfield Springs, and the next year a grist mill, near the same place. Judge Peck was the millwright.
It was no uncommon thing for ladies to walk two or three miles for an afternoon visit, returning in time for milking. Married and unmarried ladies were often seen walking with shoes and stockings in their hands, to avoid getting them soiled with mud, and putting them on just before entering the house. Carding and quilting bees were common. Spinning bees were meetings when they brought in the yarn spun from wool pre- vionsly distributed. Wrestling, running, leaping &c., were the athletic sports indulged in by the men.
The first marriage in the town was that of Ebenezer Russell and Mrs. Moore, a sister of Judge Beardsley's mother. "Judge Cooper of Cooperstown was sent for, being the nearest magis- trate, and came eighteen miles principally through the woods, to perform the ceremony. The neighbors were invited, the old pine table was in the middle of the room, on which I recollect was placed a large wooden bowl filled with fried cakes, (nut
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cakes or doughnuts as the country people call them.) There might have been something else to constitute the marriage feast, but I do not recollect anything except a black junk bottle filled with rum, some maple sugar and water. The Judge was in his long riding boots, covered with mud up to his knees ; his horse was fed that he might be off when the ceremony was over. The parties presented themselves and were soon made man and wife as his 'Honor' officially announced. He then gave the bride a good hearty kiss, or rather a smack, remarking that he always claimed that as his fee; took a drink of rum, drank health, prosperity and long life to those married, ate a cake or two, declined staying even for supper, said he must be on his way home, and should go to the foot of the lake that night, refused any fee for his services, mounted his horse and was off; and thus was the first marriage celebrated."-Reminiscences of Otsego.
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