USA > New York > Otsego County > Gazetteer and business directory of Otsego County, New York for 1872-3 > Part 9
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The principal streams are Unadilla River, forming the west boundary ; Wharton and Butternut Creeks, its principal tribu- taries ; Susquehanna River, Otego, Cherry Valley and Sche- nevus Creeks. Charlotte River forms a small portion of the south boundary. A large number of smaller streams are tribu- tary to the above. A few small streams rise in the north-east corner and flow into the Mohawk. Otsego Lake, in the north- east part, is a fine sheet of water about eight miles long and one mile wide. It is 1,193 feet above tide and is surrounded by hills from 400 to 500 feet high. Its outlet forms the principal head branch of the Susquehanna. Schuyler Lake, situated a few miles north-west of Otsego, is about three and a half miles long. There are several other small ponds in the County.
The rocks in the north-east corner consist of the limestones of the Helderbergh division. The hills in the south part are composed of the shales of the Hamilton group and the shales and sandstones of the Portage and Chemung groups. The sum-
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mits in the extreme south and south-east corner are crowned by the red sandstone and shales of the Catskill group. Most of the valuable quarries of the County are found in the limestone region of the north-east. The soil in the north-east is a good quality of gravelly and calcareous loam, but further south it is a clay and shaly loam upon the hills, and a gravelly loam and al- luvium in the valleys. The uplands are best adapted to graz- ing; the river intervales are well adapted to the cultivation of grain. Stock raising and dairying furnish the principal em- ployment of the people. Hops are extensively cultivated. Manufacturing is limited, though there is an abundance of water power.
The County Seat is located at Cooperstown, in the town of Otsego, at the foot of Otsego Lake. The first Court House was built in 1791 ; it was thirty feet square; the lower story was of hewn logs and used as a Jail ; the upper story was a frame and used for the Courts. The Jury rooms were in a tavern occu- pied by the Jailor, and standing on the same lot at the south- east corner of Main and Pioneer Streets. In 1806-7 a new Court House was erected near the site of the present structure ; it was of brick and the lower story was used as a Jail. This was burned December 17, 1840. The present structure was erected in 1841; it is of stone, 46 by 56 feet. The Jail and Sheriff's house are of stone and located a short distance west of the Court House. The Clerk's office is of brick, two stories high, and contains the Surrogate's office. It is located adjacent to the Court House.
The first County officers were William Cooper, First Judge ; Jacob Morris, County Clerk ; Richard B. Smith, Sheriff ; and James Cannon, Surrogate.
The County Poor House is located upon a farm of 160 acres, in the town of Middlefield.
The Albany & Susquehanna Railroad extends along the val- leys of the Susquehanna River and Schenevus Creek, through Worcester, Maryland, Milford, Oneonta, Otego and Unadilla. The Cooperstown & Susquehanna Valley Railroad connects with the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad at Junction Station in the town of Milford, and extends along the Susquehanna Valley through Hartwick to Cooperstown. The Utica, Chenango & Susquehanna Valley R. R., connecting Utica with Richfield Springs, passes through Plainfield and Richfield. The Sharon & Cherry Valley R. R. extends from Cobleskill, on the A. & S. R. R., to Cherry Valley. It is proposed to connect these roads and it is also proposed to extend the Cooperstown road to some point on the Utica road. Another road is in contemplation
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from Oneonta to New Berlin, to connect with roads now in pro- cess of construction, making a direct line from New York to Syracuse.
There are ten weekly newspapers published in this County. The first paper published in the County, and the second in the State, west of Albany, was
The Otsego Herald or Western Advertiser, started at Coopers- town, April 3, 1795, by Elisha Phinney. Its motto was :
"Historic truth our Herald shall proclaim, The law our guide, the public good our aim !"
Mr. Phinney continued its publication until his death in 1813. It was then published by his sons, H. & E. Phinney, until 1821, when it was discontinued.
The Impartial Observer was started at Cooperstown, October 22, 1808. It was owned by Judge Cooper and edited by Mr. Andrews. It soon after passed into the hands of John H. Pren- tiss, who changed the name to
The Cooperstown Federalist. As early as 1820 the name was changed to
THE FREEMAN'S JOURNAL. In 1849 it passed into the hands of Daniel Shaw and J. T. Titus. In 1851 Mr. Samuel M. Shaw, the present editor and proprietor, purchased the paper, enlarged and improved it, and has continued its publication to the present time.
The Otsego Republican was published at Cherry Valley in 1812 by Clark & Crandal.
The Switch was started March 11, 1809, at Cooperstown. It represented its editor's name as Anthony Switchem. It was short lived.
The Watch Tower was established at Cherry Valley in 1813. It was removed to Cooperstown in 1814, and published by Israel W. Clark until May 1817, when it passed into the hands of Edward B. Crandal, who continued its publication until 1831.
The Tocsin was commenced at Cooperstown in June 1829, by Dutton & lewes. In 1831 the name was changed to
The Otsego Republican. It was published by Dutton & Hop- kins about one year; by Hopkins, a year; by Hopkins & Clark, a year ; by A. W. Clark, a year; and by Andrew M. Bar- ber, four or five years. In 1840 it was issued by I. K. Williams & Co., and three years after it again passed into the hands of A. M. Barber, and was continued by him until his death in 1855. In October 1855 it was united with
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The Otsego Democrat, which was commenced in 1847 by James I. Hendryx, by whom it was published until October 1855, when it was united with the Republican and the combined papers published as
THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT, by James I. Hendryx & Co., until 1856. It was published by Hendryx & J. B Wood until May 1858, since which Mr. Hendryx has been the sole proprietor. Mr. Charles F. Hendryx, son of the pro- prietor, is now associated with his father as editor. It is a large paper, nine columns to the page, and a fitting representa- tive of the enterprise of the publisher as well as of the flourish- ing village of Cooperstown.
The Otsego Examiner was commenced at Cooperstown in 1855 by Robert Shankland. B. W. Burditt soon after became the proprietor and continued its publication until 1857.
The Cherry Valley Gazette was started in October 1818, by William McLean, who continued its publication uutil 1832. It then passed into the hands of Charles McLean, who contin- ned it until January 1, 1847, when A. S. Bottsford became the proprietor and continued it until 1851. Charles McLean again became the proprietor and, in 1853, sold to John B. King, who published it one year under the name of
The American Banner, when he sold to A. S. Bottsford, who changed the name back to
THE CHERRY VALLEY GAZETTE, under which title it has been published at intervals, by various parties, to the present time. It is now published by William A. Smith.
THE SAW BUCK is a monthly, published at Cherry Valley by John Fea.
The Otsego Farmer was published at Cherry Valley in 1841.
The Otsego County Courier was commenced at the village of Louisville, in the town of Morris, by Wm. H. S. Wynans, in 1845.
The Village Advertiser was commenced at the same place in 1851. It was a quarterly publication, conducted, in 1855, by A. S. Avery.
THE ONEONTA HERALD was commenced Feb. 9, 1853, at Oneonta Village, by I. P. Carpenter. In 1868 G. W. Rey- nolds became the publisher and continued it until 1870, when it passed into the hands of C. S. Carpenter, the present publisher.
THE OTSEGO DEMOCRAT was started July 31, 1868, by G. A. Dodge, at Oneonta, as
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The Susquehanna Independent. It was published under this title until June 5, 1869, when the name was changed to
Home and Abroad. April 9, 1870, it received its present name. It is a large eight page sheet and published by G. A. Dodge.
The Unadilla Times was started in June 1856 by John Brown. It soon passed into the hands of E. S. Watson and subsequent- ly to George B. Fellows. G. E. Beadle was the publisher for a time. In June 1869, G. A. Dodge purchased the paper and issued
HOME AND ABROAD, which is still continued.
The Unadilla Advertiser was published for a time.
THE SCHENEVUS MONITOR was started in September 1864, by J. J. Multer, as an independent paper. It soon after espoused the cause of the Democracy and is still published by him. J. J. & J. L. Multer are the editors.
The Otego Literary Record was started in 1868. It is now called THE OTEGO RECORD and is published by E. H. Orwen.
The Otsego Chronicle was started in 1866, at Morris, by Wm. A. Smith. In 1869 it passed into the hands L. P. Carpenter, who changed the name to
THE MORRIS CHRONICLE, and still continues to issue it under this title.
THE RICHFIELD SPRINGS MERCURY was started in July 1865. It is now published by C. Ackerman & Son.
The principal land Patents included in Otsego County were the following ; one of 26,000 acres to Sir William Johnson and others, granted May 8, 1770; Banyar's Patent of 4,000 acres, granted April 14, 1753; Belvidere Patent, 100,000 acres, to George Croghan and others, partly in Schoharie County ; Cherry Valley Patent, 7,000 acres, to John Lindsey and others; Crog- han's Patent, 18,000 acres; Edmeston's Patents of 10.000 acres to Robert and William Edmeston ; Franklin Patent, 9,000 acres, to Walter Franklin and others; Hartwick's Patent, 21,500 acres ; Lispenard's Patent, 9,000 acres; Middlefield Patent, 29,000 acres, to Godfrey Miller and others; Nettlefield Patent, 13 .- 000 acres, to Richard Laudon and others: Oothoudt's Patent. 13,000 acres ; Otsego Patents, one of 69,000 acres to Charles Read and others, and one of 100,000 acres to George Croghan and 90 others; Schuyler's Patent of 43,000 acres; Springfield Patent of 17,000 acres ; Upton's Patent of 20,000 acres; and Young's Patent of 20,000 acres, partly in Schoharie.
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The first settlement of this County was made at Cherry Valley in 1740 by John Lindsay, who, in connection with Jacob Rose- boom, Lendert Gansevoort and Sybrant Van Schaick, had in 1738 received a patent of 8000 acres, lying in the north-east corner of Otsego County and embracing a part of the village and town of Cherry Valley.
Mr. Lindsay subsequently obtained an assignment from the other three patentees, to himself and Governor Clark, made a survey of the patent in 1739, divided it into lots, and the next year made a settlement which he called Lindsay's Bush. He was a Scotch gentleman of some wealth and distinction, and the resemblance that this region bore to some portion of his native land, doubtless had some influence in making this selec- tion. It abounded in game and was a favorite hunting ground of the Mohawk Indians, whose friendship Mr. Lindsay and the other early settlers found it important to cultivate. The first winter after the settlement, the snow fell to a great depth and all communication with the settlements upon the Mohawk
was cut off. Sufficient preparation for such a winter had not been made, provisions were nearly exhausted and death by starvation awaited the whole settlement. At this critical time an Indian arrived on snow shoes and, on learning the condition of affairs, rendered them relief by going to the settlements and returning with provisions upon his back. This was continued at intervals until spring, and thus the lives of the first settlers were saved.
In New York, Mr. Lindsay became acquainted with Rev. Samuel Dunlap, upon whom he prevailed to visit his patent, offering him several hundred acres on condition that he would settle upen it and use his influence to induce his friends to ac- company him. He was an Irishman by birth, but had been educated in Edinburgh and had spent several years in traveling through the American Colonies. Through his influence several families from Londonderry, N. H., were induced to settle at Cherry Valley in 1741. Among these were David Ramsay. William Galt, James Campbell, William Dickson, with their families, in all numbering about thirty persons. They had - mi- grated from the north of Ireland several years previous, s. me of them having come originally from Scotland, being designated as S'el- Trish.
Freveral years the most friendly relations existed between the Indians and settlers, but at length, through the intrigues of the French, the Indians in many instances came to look upon the settlers as intruders rather than friends. A war colony was sent out and established at Oquago in Broome County. It was composed chiefly of Mohawks who remained attached to the
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English, paid their annual visits to Sir William Johnson and received presents from the English Government. Those who had violated the laws were not permitted to share with the others. A few of this class concerted a plan for destroying the settlement at Cherry Valley while the inhabitants were at church on the Sabbath, but being discovered, the settlers were on their guard, and the Indians withdrew and gave up the plan. Subsequently, owing to the danger arising from the defection of many of the western tribes and the threatenings of those in league with the French, a body of eight hundred Rangers was ordered to be raised for the defense of Tryon County, of which Otsego formed a part, and one company, under the command of Capt. Mckean, was stationed at Cherry Valley. During the continuance of the French War the inhabitants were often called upon to repel the invasions of the French and Indians. During these troublesome times, small settlements had been es- tablished at various points in the County, in the present towns of Springfield, Richfield, Middlefield, Laurens and Otego. Rev. William Johnstone had established a colony on the east side of the Susquehanna, a short distance below the forks of the Una- dilla. Previous to the Revolution, the territory now embraced in Otsego County formed a part of Canajoharie District, one of the five sub-divisions into which Tryon County was divided. Sir William Johnson had held almost unlimited sway over the Indians and exerted a vast influence over the white population of the County. He died just before active hostilities broke out, and his legal authority was transferred to his son, Sir John Johnson, and to his sons-in-law, Col. Guy Johnson and Col. Daniel Claus, all of whom espoused with great ardor the cause of the mother country. This operated unfavorably upon the patriots of Tryon County, as the influence of the Johnsons was such as to unite most of the Indians against the Colonists.
Ata Court held in Johnstown in the spring of 1775, a declara- tion was drawn up and circulated by the loyalists of Tryon County, in which they avowed their opposition to the measures adopted by the Congress that had held its session the preceding year. Though this declaration was opposed, it was signed by nearly all of the Grand Jury and the Magistrates. The excite- ment increased, meetings were called in almost all the districts and precincts, and committees appointed to take into considera- tion the terrible state of affairs in the country. At Cherry Val- ley a meeting was called, the little church was filled with in- habitants of every age. "Parents took their children with them, that they might early breathe the air of freedom, and that their first lispings might be in favor of the liberties of their Country. Thomas Spencer, a resident of the place, and
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an Indian interpreter, addressed the meeting in a strain of rude though impassioned eloquence. The noblest efforts of a Henry or an Otis never wrought more sensibly upon the feelings of the respective congresses which they addressed, than did the haran- gue of this unlettered patriot upon that little assembly." The following is the article of association subscribed to by the patriots in various parts of the County :
Whereas the Grand Jury of this County and a number of Magistrates have signed a declaration declaring their disapprobation of the opposition made by the colonies to the oppressive and arbitrary acts of Parliament, the purport of which is evidently to entail slavery on America ; and as the said declarati n may, in some measure, be looked upon as the sense of the County in general, if the same be passed over in silence, we the sub- scribers, freeholders and the inhabitants of the said County, inspired with a sincere love for our Country, and deeply interested in the common cause, do solemnly declare our fixed attachment and entire approbation of the proceedings of the grand Continental Congress held at Philadelphia last fall, and that we will strictly adhere to, and repose our confidence in the wisdom and integrity of the present Continental Congress ; and that we will support the same to the u most of our power, and that we will relig- iously and inviolably observe the regulations of that august body."
A meeting of the Committee of the County, chosen from the various districts, assembled June 2, 1775, among whose names we find that of Samuel Campbell of Cherry Valley. A corre- spondence was carried on between the Committee and the John- sons as well as with Congress, and the people generally espoused the cause of the Colonies. In June 1777 Joseph Brant went to Unadilla with a party of seventy or eighty Indians and sent for the officers of the militia company and Rev. Mr. Johnstone. Brant informed them that the Indians were in want of provisions. and would take them by force if not by the consent of the citi- zens. The inhabitants let them have provisions, and after re- maining two days they returned, taking with them cattle, sheep &c. The inhabitants friendly to the country immediately re- moved their families and effects to places of greater safety.
In July General Herkimer marched to Unadilla with 350 militia, and was met by Brant at the head of 130 warriors. To the question whether he would remain at peace if certain com- plaints which he made against the Colonies were rectified, Brant replied that the Indians were in concert with the King as their fathers and grandfathers had been ; that the King's belts were lodged with them and they would not falsifiy their pledge. He declared that Gen. Herkimer and the rest had joined the Boston people against the King, but that he would subdue them. After making this declaration, Col. Cox said to Brant that if such was his determination, the matter was ended. Brant then turned to his men and, after a few words, they r :!!! to their camp with a shout and, seizing their guns, raised the
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war-whoop, at the same time discharging several guns. Gen. Herkimer then assured Brant that the object of his interview was one of peace and urged him to prevent hostilities. A word from Brant hushed the storm that was raging in the breasts of his followers, but the interview was postponed until the next day. Previous to the meeting the next day, Gen. Herkimer se- lected four of his trusty soldiers and instructed them to be in readiness to shoot, at a given signal, Brant and three other chiefs, if the interview did not terminate peacefully. Fortunately the parties separated peacefully, Gen. Herkimer presenting to Brant several head of cattle which had just arrived, having been de- tained by obstructions in the outlet of Otsego Lake, down which they were transported. This is supposed to be the last interview that was held with any of the Six Nations, except the Oneidas, with a view to prevent their engaging in the war.
The Indians had for years been accustomed to receive their clothing and other necessaries from the English Government, and as they had received little from the Colonists, they joined the party offering the best prospect for pay. Oquago was a place of rendezvous for the Indians, from which place they had paths along the valleys of the main streams flowing into the eastern branch of the Susquehanna, thence to the Mohawk. One of these passes was through Cherry Valley. Every move- ment of the Indians about Oquago excited the liveliest appre- hension on the part of the inhabitants, and when orders were given to remove Captain Mckean's Company of Rangers, the following letter was written to the Committee by Rev. Mr. Dun- lap, in behalf of the inhabitants. It was dated June 3, 1776 :
"SIRS :- We the inhabitants of Cherry Valley, being assembled yesterday at a public town meeting, and among other things taking the present crit- ical situation of affairs into consideration, I ok upon ourselves and the neighborhood around us, Springfield and Newtown-Martin, as a frontier, lying very open and unguarded, and very much exposed to the enemy, in case an Indian war should break out, or any party of the enemy should take it into their heads to come down upon us; and that it would be abso- lutely necessary to have a party of men stationed here among us, in order to keep a sharp look-out and to scout all around our frontiers ; lest at any time we be taken by surprise. And therefore have appointed me to write to you to lay this matter warmly before the committee and earnestly to im- press them with the absolute necessity of the thing, and to beg of them. that if Captain MeKean and his company be removed from this place, that they would be pleased to send some others in his stead ; that we may not lie together naked and exposed to the assaults of the enemy."
The Committee being unable to comply with this request, several of the inhabitants drew up and signed the following petition to the Provincial Congress of New York :
" The humble petition of the inhabitants of Cherry Valley, Newtown- Martin and Springfield, in the County of Tryon, humbly showeth :
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" That we, the aforesaid inhabitants, from the most authentic intelli- gence we have received from our missionaries and Indian friends, learn that we are in imminent danger of being cut off by the savages, our ene- mies whom we understand are bribed by Sir John Johnson and Col. Butler to execute the same. Know also honorable gentlemen, that the spirit of our inhabitants has been such for the American cause, that out of the small and scattered bounds of Cherry Valley and Newton-Martin, no less than thirty-three have turned out for immediate service and good of their country, and thereby left us in a defenseless condition.
" We therefore, your humble petitioners, humbly pray you would forth- with take this, our deplorable condition, under your immediate considera- tion, and meditate some speedy relief for us, before it be too late; especially, as the inhabitants of the Old English and Unadilla, are daily flying into our settlement, so that we shall immediately, in all appearance, become an open, defenseless and unguarded frontier, and very much exposed to the insults of the enemy, especially scalping parties ; and are at present with- out either ammunition or men any way sufficient to defend ourselves ; and unless you, gentlemen, that can help us, will help us, by sending ammuni- tion to the inhabitants, and a sufficient number of men, such as you may think proper, to guard our frontiers, we must expect to fall victims to the rage and fury of our merciless enemies. And therefore, must once more beg you may take this our deplorable circumstances under your consider- ation, and send us immediate relief, and your petitioners shall ever pray."
The petition was signed by Samuel Dunlap, Samuel Camp- bell, James Scott, Robert Wells, James Richey, James Moore and Samuel Clyde. Their request was now granted and a company of Rangers under Capt. Winn was ordered here. A company composed of those over sixty years of age or exempt from mili- tary duty, was formed in Cherry Valley to protect themselves and their families. In 1677 the house of Col. Samuel Campbell was fortified, a rude embankment of logs and earth inclosing the house and two large barns. Here the inhabitants assembled, bringing with them their most valuable effects. The doors and window shutters were made bullet-proof, and two small block houses were erected in the enclosure. No person was allowed to enter or leave the settlement without permission from the mili- tarv authorities. Here they remained most of the summer, and in the fall returned to their habitations.
In the spring of 1778, Gen. LaFayette gave directions that a fort should be built at Cherry Valley, and the order was carried out, the inhabitants, during its erection, returning to the quar- ters occupied the previous summer.
In May, Brant came up from Oquago with a party of Indians for the purpose of making a raid on Cherry Valley. He posted them about a mile distant and, looking down upon the village and its little fortification through the intervening trees, and seeing troops parading on the green, decided to defer the attack. The soldiers which had so alarmed him, were boys with wooden guns.
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