USA > New York > Otsego County > Gazetteer and business directory of Otsego County, New York for 1872-3 > Part 16
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The first death was that of this same bride. The first birth was that of Joseph Beardsley. The first school house was built of logs and covered with bark, with a floor of logs, split and hewed. Oiled paper supplied the place of glass, and a large fire- place daubed with mud, and a stick chimney, supplied the heat- ing apparatus when cold weather arrived. The arrangements for recess were novel. Only one scholar was to go out at a time, and to avoid the inconvenience of asking, a hole was bored in a log in which was placed a peg. Any scholar was permitted to go quietly out, removing the peg at the same time, and on re- turning, replace it, when another was allowed the same privilege.
The Presbyterian Church of Richfield Springs, was organized in 1803. Their house of worship was erected about 1825. It will seat 250 and cost about $2,500. The present membership is 50 ; the value of the Church property is about $10,000; the pastor is Rev. F. H. Seeley.
The First Universalist- Church of Richfield Springs was organized in May 1835 by Rev. Job Potter, the first pastor, with 30 members. Their first house of worship was erected in 1834; the present house in 1871, with a seating capacity of 300. The society now numbers 100 members; the value of Church property is $18,000 ; the pastor is Rev. S. R. Ward.
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church was organized in 1851 by Father Gilbride, the first pastor, with 15 members. The present house of worship was erected in 1870, with a seating capacity of 250. The membership is about 75; the value of the Church property is about 85,000; the pastor is Rev. M. C. Devitt.
The population of the town in 1870 was 1,831, and its area, 20,126 acres, with an assessed value of $432,400.
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The number of school districts is 12, employing 11 teachers. The number of children of school age is 629; the number attending school, 417; the average attendance, 226; the value of school houses and sites is $9,360.
ROSEBOOM, named in honor of Abram Roseboom, one of the early settlers, was formed from Cherry Valley, Nov. 23, 1854. It lies on the east border of the County, north of the center. The surface is a hilly upland, broken by the valleys of several streams. The hills are generally rounded, and their summits elevated from 300 to 350 feet above the valleys. The soil is a gravelly loam.
Roseboom, (p. v.) in the north-west part, near the Middlefield line, on Cherry Valley Creek, contains two churches, two stores, a hotel, a wagon shop, two blacksmith shops, a grist mill, two saw mills, a cheese factory, a shoe shop, a millinery and dress making shop, a physician, planing mill and 225 inhabitants.
Pleasant Brook, (p. v.) situated west of the center, contains two churches, two stores, a hotel, a blacksmith and wagon shop, and about 200 inhabitants.
South Valley, (p. v.) situated a little south of the center, con- tains 2 churches, a store, hotel, harness shop, 3 wagon shops, 3 blacksmith shops, a shoe shop, a millinery shop, physician and 150 inhabitants.
South Valley Tannery, Geo. Barrett, prop., about one mile west of South Valley post office, employs five hands, consumes from 125 to 150 cords of hemlock bark, and from 100 to 125 cords of wood per annum, and turns out about 8,000 sides of leather annually. At this point there is also a grist and saw mill, and a rake manufactory.
Websters Corners is on the east border, partly in Schoharie County.
Center Valley is on the north border, partly in Cherry Valley.
The settlements were commenced about 1800. Abraham . Roseboom erected the first saw mill, carding and fulling mill, in 1806, at Lodi. Daniel Antisdale kept the first inn and the first store, at the same place, in 1832. The first grist mill was erected by Cornelius Law in 1818.
The First Baptist Church of Cherry Valley, located at Rose- boom, was organized about 1843 by Deacon Sherman with 18 members. The first pastor was Rev. Thomas P. Childs. The house of worship, which will seat 800, was erected in 1844 at a cost of $2,000. The present number of members is 28, and the pastor, Rev. Daniel Leach. The present value of Church property is 82,000.
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The M. E. Church of Roseboom was organized in 1861 with 40 members. Elder Shank was the first pastor. The house of worship was erected in 1861 at a cost of $1,300, and will seat 300. The present value of Church property is $1,200. The present number of members is 30, and the pastor, Rev. W. B. Thomas.
First M. E. Church, Pleasant Brook. The first house of wor- ship was erected in 1847. The present one, which will seat 200, was erected in 1866 and repaired in 1869. The present value of Church property is 83.000. The present number of members is about 75, and the pastor, Rev. W. B. Thomas.
The population of this town in 1870 was 1,590, and its area, 20,589 acres, with an assessed value of $212,285.
The number of school districts is 13, employing 11 teachers. The number of children of school age is 458; the number attending school, 382; the average attendance, 165; the value of school houses and sites is $3,890.
SPRINGFIELD was formed from Cherry Valley, March 3, 1797. It lies upon the north line of the County, east of the center. The surface is a rolling and moderately hilly upland, the hills generally rising about 200 feet above the val- leys. Mount Wellington, east of the head of Otsego Lake, in the south part of the town, is about 400 feet high. Summit Lake, in the north part, lies so near the watershed that in high water it discharges its water both north and south. The streams are small brooks. In the north part is a deep sink, called the "The Chyle," into which a considerable stream of water runs and flows through a subterranean passage for some distance, and again comes to the surface. The sink is tunnel- shaped, about 240 feet in circumference and 15 feet deep. After heavy rains it is sometimes filled with water, which often mores around rapidly while being discharged through the orifice below. The soil is a black and yellow loam, resting upon limestone and slate. Hops are extensively raised in the town.
Springfield Center, (p. v.) situated about a mile from the head of Otsego Lake, contains 2 churches, 3 stores, 2 hotels, a wagon shop, 2 blacksmith shops, a grist mill, millinery shop, telegraph office, cooper shop, harness shop, shoe shop, machine shop, a physician and 225 inhabitants.
East Springfield, (p. v.) in the east part, on East Springfield Creek, Contains a church, store, hotel, blacksmith and wagon shop, cabinet shop, shoe shop, millinery shop, a cheese factory, I
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a grist mill, a seminary, a cigar maker, a physician and 200 inhabitants.
Springfield, (p. v.) near the center, contains 2 churches, a store, blacksmith shop, cooper shop and 200 inhabitants.
In the summer of 1779, Col. William Butler was ordered to join the forces of General Clinton, and while at Springfield, assisting to open a wagon road from Canajoharie to the head of the Otsego Lake, for the transportation of boats, David Elerson, whose fame as a scout was widely extended, came near losing his life. He had obtained permission to go about a mile from camp, to a deserted house, and gather some mustard for'greens. While engaged in this, he was surprised by about a dozen Indians who were advancing cautiously to capture him. He seized his rifle, which was standing against the house, several tomakawks being hurled at him at the same instant. The enemy cut off his flight to his friends, and in running in an opposite direction, he had to pass over a small clearing, the edge of which was covered with fallen trees, greatly obstructing his passage. Here the Indians discharged their rifles at him, but to no effect. After running for some time, and thinking he had escaped his pur- suers, an Indian suddenly appeared before him. He raised his rifle to fire, just as the Indian sprang behind a tree, and a ball from the opposite direction entered his own body, making a severe wound just above the hip. He renewed his flight, and descending a hill into a valley, through which flowed a small stream, ho became greatly exhausted. A draught of cool water revived him so that he reached the opposite hill with compara- tive ease. He had proceeded but a short distance when an Indian appeared in pursuit. A shot from his trusty rifle laid the savage in the dust. Scarcely had he reloaded his gun, when several others appeared in sight. As they gathered around their fallen comrade and began their death yell, Elerson darted off into the forest. Finding a large hollow tree, he crawled into it and heard no more of the Indians. The next morning he crawled out, and finding that it rained, and not knowing what direction to take, returned to his shelter. Here he remained three nights and two days without food. He then came out, cold, stiff and hungry, and directing his course by the sun he came out near Brown's Mills, in Cobleskill, about three miles from his place of concealment and about twenty-five from the place where he was first surprised. Here he fell among friends where he was kindly treated and removed to the Middle Fort, where he remained until his recovery.
The first settlements of this town were made in 1762 by John Kelly, Richard Ferguson and James Young, from Ireland, at
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East Springfield; and Gustavus Klumph and Jacob Tygart, at the head of Otsego Lake. Most of these were driven off during the war. Mr. Tygart had two sons, John and Jacob, who were taken prisoners and carried to Canada during the war. Soon after the war, Elisha Dodge, Col. Herrick and Aaron Bigelow, from Connecticut, and Eli Parsons, Eliakim Sheldon and Isaac White, from Massachusetts, settled near the center of the town. Benjamin Rathbone, from Connecticut, settled in the east part in 1788. The first inn was kept by Eli Parsons, at East Springfield, and the first store by Thomas and Stacy Horner. Garrat Staats erected the first grist mill and saw mill, before the war.
The first church organized was the Baptist; Rev. Mr. Fairman was the first preacher.
The Universalist Church, at Springfield Center, was organ- ized, with 15 members, in 1854, by O. Shipman. John Losee, D. Franklin and others. Rev Mr. Sage was the first pastor. The house of worship, which will seat 350, was erected in 1857 at a cost of $3,500. The present number of members is 5.
St. Paul's (Episcopal) Church, at East Springfield, was organ- ized, with 25 members, January 25, 1871, by Rev. David L. Schwartz, the first pastor. A church site has been procured, valued at $350, but no house of worship has yet been erected. The present number of members is 25, and the pastor is Rev. E. Folsom Barker.
The population in 1870 was 2,022, and its area is 26,585 acres, with an assessed value of $499,225.
The number of school districts is 15, employing 14 teachers. The number of children of school age is 711; the number attending school, 505 ; the average attendance, 236; the value of school houses and sites is $5,680.
UNADILLA was formed from Otsego, April 10, 1792. Milford, under the name of Suffrage, was taken off in 1796, and Oneonta, under the name of Otego, was taken off the same year. A part of Otego was taken off in 1822, and a part of Butternuts in 1857. It lies at the junction of Unadilla and Susquehanna Rivers, in the south-west part of the County. The surface is a rolling and hilly upland, the highest summits being from 400 to 500 feet above the valleys. The principal streams are Unadilla River, which forms the west boundary, Susquehanna River. the east, and Sandy Hill Creek. The soil on the river bottoms is an alluvial loam, and on the uplands a slaty and gravelly loam.
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Unadilla, (p. v.) incorporated April 2, 1827, and situated on the Susquehanna River, in the south part of the town, is a station on the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad, and contains four churches, two banks, a newspaper printing office, a union school, four hotels, two wagon shops, a cabinet shop, a saw mill, a grist mill, a paper mill, a spoke factory, a foundry and machine shop, a planing mill, several other manufactories, a large number of stores and about 1,200 inhabitants. The principal street is about a mile and a half in length, bordered by fine shade trees and good flagstone sidewalks.
Wells Bridge, (p. v.) in the south-east corner of the town, is a station on the A. & S. R. R. and contains two stores, a black- smith shop, a cooper shop, a saloon and about a dozen dwellings. It was formerly called East Unadilla.
Unadilla Center, (p o.) in the north part, is a hamlet.
Sandy Hill, situated about a mile and a half from Wells Bridge, contains two churches and about a dozen dwellings.
Settlements were made along the valley of the Susquehanna River, previous to the Revolution, but we have no means of determining the precise date. A conference took place in this town, in 1777, between General Herkimer and Capt. Joseph Brant, which is described elsewhere. Among the early settlers were Daniel Bissel, Abijah Beach and Solomon Martin, at Unadilla ; Peter Rogers and men named Bates and Morefield, at Unadilla Center, and Abel DeForest and Willis Buckley, in the east part of the town. Solomon Martin kept the first store, in 1800, and Sampson Conger built the first grist mill.
From the town records, to which we had access through the kindness of the Town Clerk, we have made some extracts. In 1:96 the town meeting was held at the house of Daniel Bissell. at which the following officers were elected, viz., David Baits, Supervisor : Guidon Huntington, Town Clerk; Jonathan Spencer, William Hanna and Timothy Birdsall. Assessors ; Nathan Tupper, Collector; Enos Yales and William Potter. Overseers of the Poor ; David Francis, Enos Yales and Samuel Merriman, Commissioners of Highways; Nathan Tupper and Seth Scott, Constables ; David Francis, Solomon Martin and Thomas Wilbur, School Commissioners. The same year we find the following record :
"Voted by majority, that Hogs which shall have on yoaks that are Eight Inches long above the neck, and four below, shall be allowed to run as free commoners."
"A Return of a highway laid out through the Town of Unadilla- Beginning at Abner Griffith's, on the River and running north to the Sand- hill Creek, where the Patent line crosses, then crossing the Creek, thence
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northerly through lot No. 119, until it runs 25 rods on the lot of Elisha Lathrop, then turning east unto the east line of lot No. 118, thence along said line and the east line of lots No. 117 and 116, thence by a line of marked trees to the north line of the Town. Also a road beginning near Samuel Merriman's house and running along the Patent line to the Indian Creek, then crossing the same, then on said Creek until it comes near Thomas Wilbur to Cranson's Road - Subject to straitning or altering where found necessary.
"signed. "DAVID FRANCIS Com.
"ENOS YALE
of
"SAMUUL MERRIMAN Highways."
Among the ear marks recorded, is the following :
"Stephen Wilber's Mark. A swallows tail in the left ear with a half penny before it." .
In 1797, "Voted That the Town will be at the expense of sending for Esq'r Scramblin or some other Magistrate to Qualify the Town officers."
The number of persons assessed in the town in 1797 was 106, and the town at this time included Butternuts, Oneonta and Otego. The total real and personal estate assessed, amounted to £2.409. The tax was £74 6 shillings. In 1799, Solomon Martin was appointed "Sealer of Weights and Measures," and the town voted to provide him with a standard of weights and measures. The Town Clerk was allowed five dollars for his services during the previous year. In 1800 the town voted to build two pounds, one to stand "not to exceed half a mile from Hubbei's Mill, so called, and the other, within half a mile .of Yale's Ferry, so called." A commission was appointed to superintend the erection of the pounds, under the following instructions :
"Voted, That the 2 Pounds shall be built of logs rolled up in form or manner of a House and shall both be completed by the first day of July next, and the expense of both Pounds shall not exceed 30 dollars."
In 1804 the town meeting was held at the school house near Daniel Bissel's. In 1808, " Voted That hogs run free with yokes and rings." As this was not regarded sufficiently definite, the following was adopted :
"Voted, That hogs running on the commons shall be yoaked with yoaks, Eight Inches above the neck, four Inches below the neck and four Inches each side the neck-also that the rings above mentioned shall be put into the hogs noses."
Notwithstanding this "yoaking," the next year they were not allowed to run on the commons, under a penalty of twelve and a half cents for each offense.
The first church organization in the town was St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, organized in 1809, with seven members. The first wardens were Josiah Thatcher and Abijah H. Beach. The vestrymen were Israel Hayes, William Smith, Stephen Benton,
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Abel Case, Solomon Martin, Curtis Noble, Nijah Cone and Sherman Page. Rev. Russell Wheeler was the first pastor. The first house of worship was commenced in 1810, and con- secrated by Rt. Rev. John Henry Hobart, Sept. 11, 1814. The Church edifice was completed by a donation from Trinity Parish in 1813. The same year Goldsbrow Banyar donated a lot of land containing 116 acres, and lying about two miles west of the church. The land was subsequently cleared and became a valuable farm, which was sold in 1865, for $4,500, and in 1866 a parsonage was erected on a lot adjoining the church, costing $7,500. The present house of worship was erected in 1845, and enlarged in 1855, so as to seat 400. The present membership is 90; the pastor is Rev. M. Scofield ; the value of the Church property is $15,000.
The Methodist Church at Unadilla has a membership of 100, and a house of worship that will seat 250. The present value of the Church property is $8,000, and the pastor is Rev. W. A. Wadsworth.
The Methodist Church at Unadilla Center was organized in 1830, and a house of worship was erected the same year at a cost of 8500, and capable of seating 300. The present member- ship is 30 ; the pastor is Rev. W. A. Wadsworth, and the value of the Church property is 82,000.
The Presbyterian Church was organized in 1843, and their house of worship erected the next year. It will seat 300 and is valued at $3,000. The present membership is 75, and the pastor is Rev. Mr. Robinson.
The population of the town in 1870 was 2.555, and its area, 27,982 acres, with an assessed value of $444,500.
There are 19 school districts, employing 15 teachers. The number of children of school age is 797; the number attend- ing school, 642; the average attendance, 319; the value of school houses and sites is $6,276.
WESTFORD was formed from Worcester, March 25, 1808. It is an interior town, lying south-east of the center of the County. The surface is hilly; the highest summits are from 400 to 500 feet above the valleys. It is drained south by Elk Creek, and west by tributaries of Cherry Valley Creek. The soil is a sandy loam of good quality.
Westford, (p. v.) situated on Elk Creek, near the center of the town, contains four churches, a hotel, two stores, a grocery, a grist mill, two blacksmith shops, two shoe shops, a wagon shop and about 200 inhabitants.
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Westville, (p. v.) on the west line of the town, partly in Mid- dlefield, contains 2 churches, viz., Methodist and Baptist ; 2 stores, 2 hotels, a blacksmith shop, a pump factory, a wagon shop and about 150 inhabitants.
The first settlements were made about 1790, by Thomas Sawyer, Benjamin Chase, Oliver Salisbury, Alpheus Earl and father, Artemas, Moses and David Howe, and Ephraim Smith, all from Vermont. They settled in the south-east part of the town. Among the other early settlers were Luther Seaver and Samuel Babcock, from Massachusetts, about 1793. The first child born in the town was William Chase. Nathaniel Griggs kept the first. inn, at Westford village, in 1795; and David Smith kept the first store about the same time. Captain Arte- mas Howe built the first grist mill, in 1794, and also the first saw mill.
The Congregational Church of Westford was organized in 1800 by J. Bushnell with eight members. The first pastor was Rev. G. Colton. The first house of worship was erected in 1809, and repaired in 1852, and has a seating capacity of 500. The present membership is 63, and the value of the Church property is $5,000.
The Baptist Church of Westville was organized in 1830 with 44 members. The first pastor was Rev. Benj. Sawin. The first house of worship was erected in 1829. The present house in 1871, with a seating capacity of 350. The present membership is 103. The value of Church property is $5,500. The pastor is Rev. James B. Grant.
The Methodist Church, located at Westville, was organized in 1851 by David Elliot, the first pastor. Their house of worship was erected the same year at a cost of $1,200 and with a seating capacity of abont 400. It was repaired in 1870 and is valued at $5.500. The present membership is about 100, and the pastor is Rev. A. W. Thompson.
The Methodist Church of Westford was organized at a very early day, but we have no data to determine particulars. The present house of worship was erected in 1862 at a cost of about $2,500 and capable of seating 300. The present membership is 140; the pastor is Rev. John Pilkinton, and the value of the Church property is 85,000.' A flourishing Sunday School is connected with the Church.
St. Timothy's Church of Westford was organized in 1838 by Rev. Timothy Minor, the first pastor. A house of worship was erected in 1840 and repaired in 1867, with a seating capacity of
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200. The number of members at its organization was 20; the present membership is 16. The value of the Church property is $2,500. The pastor is Rev. Edward Goddard.
The Baptist Church of Westford was organized in 1825 by Rev. Elijah Spafford, the first pastor, with 16 members. The first house of worship was erected in 1835; the present house in 1860 at a cost of $1,000 and with a seating capacity of 300. The present membership is 50, and the value of Church property is $3,000.
The population of the town in 1870 was 1,300, and its area, 20,857 acres, with an assessed value of $259,300.
The number of school districts is 11, employing the same number of teachers. The number of children of school age is 360; the number attending school, 300; the average attend- ance, 150; the value of school houses and sites is $3,620.
WORCESTER was formed from Cherry Valley, March 3, 1797. Decatur, Maryland and Westford were taken off in 1808. It is the south-east corner town of the County. The surface is a hilly and broken upland. The highlands, which occupy the south part of the town, descend towards the north by an abrupt declivity 350 to 400 feet high. This declivity forms a continuous ridge, extending north-east and south-west through near the center of the town. The principal streams are Charlotte River and its tributaries, and Schenevus Creek. The soil is a sandy loam.
Worcester, (p. v.) in the east part of the town, is a station on the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad, and contains three churches, viz., Methodist, Congregationalist and Baptist ; a hotel. six stores, two milliner shops, two wagon shops, three blacksmith shops, a saloon, saw mill, a planing mill, a public school and 71 dwellings, with a population of 323.
East Worcester, (p. v.) in the north-east part of the town, is a station on the A. & S. R. R. and contains two churches, viz., Methodist and Baptist; a hotel, five stores, three blacksmith shops, two boot and shoe shops, a wagon and sleigh shop, four undertaking establishments, three milliner shops, a harness shop, a grist mill, a planing mill, a saw mill, a tailor shop, 85 dwellings and 393 inhabitants.
The East Worcester Woolen Mill, located a short distance north of the village, was erected about 1836. The building is of wood, 30 by 60 feet, and two stories high besides the basement. It gives employment to six or eight hands.
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The East Worcester Rural Cemetery is located in the north part of the village and contains three acres laid out into 165 lots. It is aprivate enterprise and is owned by John M. Stever. It was laid out and opened in the spring of 1871, and compares favorably with other cemeteries in the County.
South Worcester, (p. v.) in the south part of the town, on Charlotte River, contains two churches, viz., Methodist and Lutheran ; a bank, a hotel, two stores, a harness shop, a black- smith shop, a wagon shop, a grist mill, a saw mill, 24 dwellings and 109 inhabitants.
Maple Grove Cemetery, located a little north of the village of Worcester, was organized June 7, 1865. It is well laid out and contains six acres. John Cook is the President, and W. H. Leonard the Secretary and Treasurer of the Association.
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