USA > New York > Gazetteer of the State of New York: embracing a comprehensive view of the geography, geology, and general history of the State, and a complete history and description of every county, city, town, village, and locality, Part 1 > Part 54
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This eo. ineluded 11 of the "Twenty Towns" or "Governor's Purchase," the "Gore" lying between them and the Military Traet, the Harper Patent of 16,000 acres, Vermont Sufferers' Traet of 40,960 acres,2 Livingston Traet of 16,000 aeres, the French Traet of nearly the same extent, a portion of the Chenango Triangle Tract, and several smaller tracts. The territory included within the Twenty Townships was eeded to the State by the Indians, in a treaty held with Gov. George Clinton, at Fort Schuyler, Sept. 22, 1788.3 This traet is sometimes called "Clinton's Purchase," and sometimes "The Governor's Purehase."
The early settlers were principally from Vt., Conn., and the eastern part of the State. The settlers in the N. part of the eo. eame in by way of Rome, and those in the central and s. parts by way of Chenango and Susquehanna Rivers. Many of the carly settlers almost perished from want of food, at times, during the first few years. A colony of French settled at Greene in 1792, but,
1 The Western Oracle, the first paper published in the co., was The Oxford Times was commenced in 1836 by a joint commenced by A. Romeyn, previous to 1804, at Sher- burne Four Corners. It was discontinued in 1808 or '09.
The Olive Branch was started at Sherburne in May, 1806, by Phinney & Fairchild. In 1808 John F. Fairchild became sole proprietor. - Miller, Lot Clark, and Jobn B. Johnson were successively interested in its publication. 1n 1812 or '13 Johnson changed its name to
The Volunteer. In 1816 the press was purchased hy John F. Hubhard, who commenced
The Norwich Journal. In 1844 it passed into the hands of La Fayette Leal and J. II. Sinclair, who merged it with The Oxford Republican in 1847 and changed the name to
The Chenango Union. Harvey Huhhard purchased Leal's interest Oct. 20, 1847, and the paper is now pub- lished by Ilubbard & Sinclair.
The Chenango Patriot was commenced at Oxford in 1807 by John B. Johnsou. and its publication continned for 3 or 4 yrs. The President was published at Oxford in 1808 hy Theophilus Eaton.
The Republicun Messenger was commenced at Sherburn in 1810 by l'etit & Percival.
The Oxford Gazette was started in 1814 by Chauncey Morgan, who published it some years, when it was sold to Geo. IIunt, and afterward to Ilunt & Noyes. Mr. Morgan again became proprietor in 1826, and after a few years tbe paper was discontinued.
The Republican Agriculturalist was commenced Dec. 10, 1818, by Thurlow Weed. It soon passed into the hands of Curtiss, who continued it for a short time, when it was discontinued.
The People's Advocate was commenced at Norwich in 1824 by II. P. W. Brainard. It passed into the hands of Wm. G. lIyer, and was discontinued in a short time.
The Chenango Republican was commenced at Oxford in 1826 by Benj. Cory. 1n 1828 it was purchased by Mack & Chap- man. Marcb 3, 1831, Wm. E. Chapman and T. T. Flagler commenced a new series, and soon after changed its name to
The Oxford Republican. In 1838 Mr. Chapman became sole proprietor. It was successively published by J. Taylor Bradt, Benj. Welch, jr., R. A. Leal, C. E. Cbamberlin, and La Fayette Leal. In 1847 it was merged with The Oxford Journal and published as The Chenango Union. The Anti Masonic Telegraph was connnenced at Norwich in Nov. 1829. by E. P. Pellet. In 1531 B. T. Cook became asso- ciated in its [publication. Its name was subsequently changed to
The Chenango Telegraph. In 1840. on the death of E. P. Pellet, it passed into the hands of his brother. Nel- son Pellet; and upon his death, in 1851, it was conducted for the estate by E. Max Leal aud F. P. Fisher. In Sept. 1855, it was purchased hy Rice & Martin, by whom it is now published.
The Chenango P'utriot was commenced at Greene in 1830 by Nathan Randall. It afterward passed into the hands of Joseph M. Farr, who changed its name to
The Chenango Democrat, and in a short time it was discontinued. The New Berlin Herald was commenced in 1831 by Samuel L. Hatch. In 1834 it was published by Randall & Hatch. It soon after passed into the hands of Isaac C. Sheklon ; and afterward into the hands of Iliram Ostrander, who changed its name to
The New Berlin Sentinel. It was discontinued about 1840.
The Chenango Flug was published at Oxford a short time in 1835.
The Miniature, a small mo., was issued from the same office.
The Sherburne - - was commenced iu 1836 by J. Worden
Marble. Ic 1839 it was removed to Bingbampton.
stock company. It was for some time conducted by HI. HI. Cook. In 184I it passed into the hands of E. HI. Purdy and C. D. Brigham. In 1844 it was published by Waldo M. Potter; in 1845, by Potter & Galpin; and in 1848 J. B. Galpin became sole proprietor, and still con- tinues its publication.
The Bainbridge Enigle was commenced in 1843 by J. Ilunt, jr. In 1846 its name was changed to
The Bainbridge Freeman ; and in 1849 it was merged in
The Chenango Free Democrat, commenced at Norwich Jan. 1, 1849, by Alfred G. Lawyer ; and J. D. Lawyer soon after hecame associated in its publication. It was then carly removed to Cobleskill, Scholarie co.
The New Berlin Gazette was commenced in 1849 by Jos. K. Fox and M. E. Dunbam, and was published about 1 year.
The Chenango News was commenced in 1850 by A. T. Boynton. J. M. Ilaight soon after became associated in its publi- eation, and subsequently became sole proprietor. lle removed the press to Norwich, and, in connection with A. P. Nixon, commenced the publication of
The Temperance Advocate in 1855, and published it 1 year, when it was discontinued.
The Saturday Visitor was commenced in 1852 by Joseph K. Fox. Its name was soon after changed to
The Social Visitor, after which it was published about 5 years. The Spirit of the Age was commenced at Berlin in 1852 by J. K. Fox, J. D. Lawyer, editor. It was continued but a short time.
The Oxford Transcript was commenced in 1853 by G. N. Carhart, and was published about 6 months.
The Sherburne Transcript was commenced in 1855 by James M. Scarritt, and was published about 2 years.
The Chenango American was commenced at Greene, Sept. 20, 1855, by Denison & Fisher, its present pub- lishers.
The Daily Reporter was commenced at Norwich in 1857 by J. HI. Smith. In 1858 it was purchased by Rice & Martin, and was soon after discontinued.
The Literary Independent was commenced at Norwich in (1w> fall of 1858 by a company of young gentlemen con- nected with the academy. It was publisbed about 4 months.
The New Berlin Pioneer was commenced Feb. 19, 1859, hy Squires & Fox, its present publishers.
2 This tract was granted to relieve those persons who had pur- chased lands of the State of N. Y. within the present limits of Vt. These lands were claimed by both N. H. and N. Y .. and, after an angry and protracted controversy. extending through several years, New York surrendered her claim to Vermont.
8 These towns were designated originally by their numbers only, and are now in the counties of Madison, Chenango, and Oneida, as follows :-
Nos.
Present Touns,
Nos.
Present Towns.
1
Nelson, Madison co.
11
Plymonth, Chenango co.
Eaton,
19
Pharsalia,
3
Madison,
13
MeDonough.
4
llamilton,
14
Preston,
5
Lebanon.
15
Norwich.
6 Georgetown.
16
New Berlin,
7 Otselic, Chenango co.
17
Columbus,
8 Smyrna,
6.
18
Brookfield,
66
9
Sherburne,
19
Norwich and
10
New Berlin.
20
1 Sangerfield and }
Oneida co.
Bridgewater,
225
CHENANGO COUNTY.
from defect in title, most of them left. The greater part of the later immigration was also from New England. In consequence of the gradual change which has been going on for the last 20 years in the business of the co., and the substitution of dairying for all other branches of farming, the popu- lation of the co. has gradually decreased, and is now no greater than it was 40 years ago.
AFTON-was formed from Bainbridge, Nov. 18, 1857. It is the s. E. corner town of the co. Its surface consists principally of a rolling upland, separated into two nearly equal parts by the broad valley of the Susquehanna. The summits of the hills are 300 to 500 feet above the valleys, and their declivities are generally gradual slopes. The Susquehanna flows s. w. through near the center, in a broad and beautiful valley. It receives from the N. Kelseys and IIarpers Brooks. Round Pond, one mi. N. E. of the village, covers an area of about 40 acres. It is 25 feet above the surface of the river, and without any visible outlet. The soil upon the hills is a shaly loam, and in the valleys a clayey loam and alluvium. Afton, (p. v.,) upon the Susquehanna, near the eenter of the town, contains 4 churches and 270 inhabitants. Ayreshire, (p.o.,) upon Kelsey Brook, in the N. part, is a hamlet. The first settlement was made upon the Susquehanna, below Afton, in 1786, by immigrants from Conn. and Vt.1 There arc 5 churches in town.2
BAINBRIDGE-was formed as part of Tioga co., by the name of "Jericho,' Feb. 16, 1791. Its name was changed April 15, 1814. Parts of Norwich and Oxford were taken off in 1793, of Greene in 1798 and '99, and Afton in 1857. It lies upon the E. border of the co., s. of the center. Its surface is a rolling upland, divided into two parts by the Susquehanna, which flows s. w. through the center. The valley of the river is about one mi. wide, and is bordered by moderately steep hillsides. The highest summits are 400 to 600 feet above the valleys. The soil uron the hills is a gravelly and shaly loam, and in the valleys a clay loam and alluvium. Bainbridge, (p. v.,) upon the Susquehanna, was incorp. April 21, 1829. It contains 3 churches and 350 inhabitants. Bennettsville, (p. v.,) upon Bennetts Crcek, in the s. E. part, contains 2 churches, a gristmill, sawmill, and about 20 houses. West Bainbridge is a p. o. in the N. w. corner, and East Bainbridge is a hamlet in the N. E. corner. The lands in this town were first elaimed by Ro- bert Harper under a grant from the Indians ; but the title was repudiated by the State, and a por- tion of the lands was granted to settlers from Vt. who had suffered from failure of title to lands in that State granted to them by N. Y. The first settlements were made in 1785, by immigrants from Vt. and Conn.º The first church (Presb.) was formed about 1790, by Rev. William Stone.'
COLUMBUS-was formed from Brookfield, (Madison co.,) Feb. 11, 1805. A part of Norwich was annexcd in 1807. It is the N. E. corner town in the co., and occupies a portion of the high ridge between Unadilla and Chenango Rivers. The highest summits are 400 to 600 feet above the valleys. Unadilla River forms its E. boundary, receiving as tributaries Beaver Creek, Shawler Brook, and several other small streams. The soil is a gravelly and shaly loam.5 Columbus Center, (Columbus p. o.,) upon a branch of Shawler Brook, contains 3 churches, a tannery, and 25 houses. The first settlement was made upon Lot 44, in 1791, by Col. Conversc.6 The first religious meeting was the funeral of Mrs. Dorcas Howard, conducted by Elder Campbell, (Bap.,) in 1797.7
COVENTRY-was formed from Greene, Feb. 7, 1806. Parts of Oxford and Grecne were an nexed in 1843. It is situated centrally on the s. line of the co. The highest elevations, midway between the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers, are about 800 feet above the valleys. The hills are arable to their summits, and their slopes are generally long and gradual. Harpers and Kelseys Creeks, flowing into the Susquehanna, are the principal streams. The soil is a gravelly and sandy
1 Among the early settlers were Seth Stone, Natli'l Benton, Isaac Miner, and Japhet Bush and sons, from Conn., and lleze- kiah Stowell and sons, Orlando Bridgman and sous, and Eben- ezer Church and sons, from Vt. The three last natned families were " Vermont Sufferers." The first child born was Wmn. Bnsb, in 1786; and the first death was that of - Polly. Nath'l Clinrch tanght tlic first school, in 1790; Asa Stowell kopt the first inn, in 1788, Peter Betts the first store, in 1805; and David Cooper and Isaac Miner built the first sawmill, on Kelseys Brook.
2 Two M. E., Cong., Bap., and Univ.
$ Among the early settlers were Wm. Guntheric, Abraham Fuller, Reuben Kirby, and Gould Bacon, from Conn .; Stephen and John Stiles. Heath Kelsey, Chas. Bush. Eben and Jos. Landers, and Jas. Graham. Sam'l Bixby settled on Lot 75, in 1788, and Maj. Henry Evans on Lot 80, in 1789. The first birth was that of K. Landers, daughter of Jos. Landers, in March, 1791; the first mar- ringe, that of Charles Bush and Joan Harrington, in 1794; and the first death, that of Mrs. Reuben Kirbey, in 1792. Wil- liAni Ontherie kept the first iun, in 1793, on Lot 85, Phineas
and Renben Bennett erected a gristmill on Bennetts Creek, in 1789.
4 There are 7 churches in town ; 2 M. E., 2 Bap., F. W. Bap., Presb,, and Prot. E.
5 The people are almost solely engaged in dairying. For 30 years the population has been continually decreasing and the dairies increasing.
6 Among the other carly settlers were Ilenry, Daniel, and Jas. Williams, from R. L., who located upon Lot 90, in 1792; Thos. Howard, from R. I., on Lot 89, Israel Greenleaf, from N. II., on Lot 62, Gilbert Strong, on Lot Gl. und Josiah Rathbone, on Lot 54, in 1794. The first child born was Sally Williams; the first marriage, that of Joseph Medbery and Hannah Brown, in 1794; and the first death, that of Mrs. Dorcas Howard, in 1797. Nicho- las Page taught the first school; Col. Converse kept the first inn, in 1793; Amos C. Palmer, the first store, in 1797; and Job Vail built the first sawmill, in 1794, and the first gristmill, in 1795.
7 The census reports 5 churches in town; Bup., F. W. Bap., Cong., M. E., and Union.
15
226
CHENANGO COUNTY.
loam, with occasional spots of a red, slaty loam, better adapted to grazing than tillage. Coven- try, (p. v., ) a little N. w. of the center, contains 2 churches and 40 dwellings; and Coventry- ville, (p. v.,) 2 mi. E. of Coventry, a church, mill, and 25 dwellings. Church Hollow is a p. o. on the s. line. The first settlement was made near the center, by Simon Jones, in 1785.1 The first church (Cong.) was formed Nov. 19, 1807. Rev. David Harmon was the first preacher.2
GERMANS-was formed from De Ruyter, (Madison co.,) March 21, 1806. Otselie was taken off in 1817, Lincklaen in 1823, and a part of Pitcher in 1827. It is located centrally upon the w. linc of the co. The surface is hilly, and watered by several brooks, forming what is called Five Streams, which flow through the town in a s. direction. The soil is a sandy and gravelly loam, well adapted to grazing. Livermores Corners, (German p. o.,) near the w. line, is a hamlet; and East German is a p. o. The first settlement was made in 1795, by Benjamin Cleveland, from Oneida co." The first church (Presb.) was formed at an early period, and a M. E. association was formed in 1815, at the house of Walter Oyshlenbank.6
GREENE®-was formed from Union (Broome co.) and "Jericho," (now Bainbridge,) March 15, 1798. A part of "Jericho" was annexed in 1799. Coventry was taken off in 1806, and Smith- ville in 1808. A part of Barker (Broome co.) was taken off in 1840, and a part of Coventry in 1843. It is the s. w. corner town of the co. Its surface is a rolling and hilly upland. The hills rise 500 to 700 feet above the river, and are broken by the ravines of the streams. Che- nango River flows s. w. through the center of the town, in a broad valley about 1 mile in width. The Chenango Canal passes through the valley. Gencgantslet Creek flows s. through the w. part in a wide valley, and joins the Chenango a few miles below the village of Greene. Pages Brook flows through the s. E. corner; and several small streams are tributary to the Chenango. The soil is a gravelly and shaly loam on the hills, and alluvium in the valleys. Greene, (p. v.,) near the center, was incorp. April 12, 1842. It contains 4 churches, a flouring mill, furnace, and 814 in- habitants. East Greene (p. v.) contains a church and 158 inhabitants. Genegantslet (p. v.) contains 1 church and 12 houses. Chenango Forks (p. v.) is partly in this town. S. Ketchum settled in 1792.' The first church (Bap.) was organized in 1795,8 by Elder Nath. Kellogg.
1 Goodell and - Clark settled near Mr. Jones in 1786, and Benj. Jones at the same place in 1788. Ozias Yale and Wm. Starka located a little N. of Coventry in 1792, Elijah Warren on Lot 2, in 1804, and Mosee Allis, Roger Egerton, and Z. Hutchin- eo11 soon after. The first birth was that of Wm., eon of Moses Allis, in 1794; the first marriage, that of Simeon Parker and Polly Sprague ; and the first death, that of a son of Roger Eger- ton, in 1790. Sherman Page taught the first school; Benj. Jones kept the first inn, in 1788, and Jotham Parker the first store, in 1799. The first gristmill was erceted by Capt. Parker, in 1795, and the first carding and cloth dressing mill by A. and Wm. II. Rogers, about the same time.
2 The census reports 5 churchee; 2 Cong., 2 M. E., and Bap.
8 Named from Gen. Obadiah German, the original owner of the township. It was first named "Brakel Township."
4 Abraham Livermore eettled at Livermores Corners, in 1796, with his wife and children, Abraham, jr., Becka, Daniel, Polly, Abel, Cyrus, Hepsey, Sally, and Martin Livermore. From their isolated position in the wilderness-remote from any settlement -the Cleveland and Livermore families suffered great priva- tions and hardships during the first years of their settlement. In June, 1776, Mr. Cleveland set out for "Fort Stanwix" for pro- visions, his famlly being entirely destitute. He intended to re- turn in 3or 4 days, but was detained for some time. On the fourtb day of his absence, his wife and children, who had eaten nothing for 3 days except a few roots found in the woods, set out for their nearest nelghbors, in Cincinnatus, on Otselic River, 4} mi. dis- tant. When abont a mile froin home, they encountered a bear, and were frightened back. The next morning the mother was too weak to walk, and the two older children again set out for Mr. Raymond's, on the Oteelic. Upon learning the suffering condition of the family, Mrs. Raymond made thiem a pudding of bran,-the only food ehe had in the house. Thie and a bottle of milk kept the family from starvation until relief came. At another time, when the family were reduced to the last ex- tremity. two unmilked cows came to their house one night, and went away in the morning, furnishing them with milk for several days. It was never known where the cows came from or where they went to. Other families in the vicinity suffered in a similar manner. The first birth was that of Polly Cleveland, in 1796; the first marriage, that of Jonathan Head and Hepsey Liver- more; and the firet death, that of - Hartahorn. Abraham Livermore kept the first inn: Jonathan Chandler kept the first atore, and erected the first inill and factory, on the E. branch of Otselie River.
6 The census reports 3 churches; Presh., M. E., and F. W. Bap. " Named in honor of Gen. Nath'l Greene. That part of the original township of Greene lying E. of Chenango River was in- cluded in a purchase made hy the State from the Oneida and Tus-
carora Indians in 1785. These lands were enbseqnently sold by the State to individual patentees.
7 Mr. Ketchum located within the bounds of the preeent vil- lage of Greene. In the fall of 1792 a settlement was made by a company of French refugees. One of their number, Chas. Felix De Bulogne, had preceded the main body, and made a purchase of 13,000 acres lying on tho E. side of Chenango River. The first party that came consisted of M. Bulogne, M. Shamout, M. Le Fevre, M. Bravo, M. Du Vernet, and M. Obre. A portion of thein had families; and several young ladies were among the party. In Otsego co. Simon Barnet joined the party, and subsequently M. Dutremont, with his family, eettled with them. Before the dispersion of the colony they were joined by Jos. Juliand, who was the only French emigrant that became a permanent resident. N. Bulogne, on his way to Philadelphia in the spring of 1795, was drowned while fording a creek much swollen by the floods. The untimely death of the leader of this adventurous hand proved fatal to the future success of the settlement. The failure of the company to pay the balance of the purchase money due on the traet caused the title to revert to the original patentees. After all the hardships and privations they had endured, the failure to secure a title to their land proved a signal for dis- persion. The majority of them left in the year 1796. In 1794, Talleyrand, the celebrated French diplomatist, visited his fellow- countrymen in Greene. Among the early permaneut settlers were Nath'l Kellogg, Zopher Betts, Benajal Loomis, Cornelius Hill, and Daniel Tremaine, who located at East Greene iu 1793. The first road that was cut through the town was called "The Chenango Road." It ruus from the present village of Bain- bridge to the mouth of Page Creek, on the Cbeuango,-a dis. tance of about 25 mi. The first eettlers upon thie road within the then limits of the town, commencing at the w., were Nathan Bennett, Joshua Root, Eleazur Skinner, Thomas Elliott, Joab Elliott, Roswell Fitch, Aden Elliott, Philo Clemmons, Capt. Man- deville, Simeon and Benj. Jones, Hardin Bennett, Record Wilber, and Deacon Richards, who came in from 1792 to'95. The settlers who located in the e. part, w. of the river, were Jas, and Herinan Terwilliger, Elisha and Noah Gilbert, Stephen Palmer, and Jos. and Cornish Messenger, as early as 1796. The first birth was that of Johnston Rundall, son of Jos. Rundall,-for which honor the mother subsequently received a deed of 50 acres of land from the Hornby Estate. - Cartwright taught the first school, in 1794; Conrad Sharp kept the first inn, in 1794; Elisha Smith the first store, In 1801 Conrad Sharp built the first sawmill. it. 1795, and Abraham Storm and Henry Vorse the first gristmill, in 1794.
8 The census reports 9 churches ; 5 Bap., 2 M. E., Presb., and Prot. E.
227
CHENANGO COUNTY.
and was the first church of that denomination in the eo. Elder Kellogg continued its pastor about 30 years.
GUILFORD-was formed from Oxford, April 3, 1813, as "Eastern." Its name was changed March 21, 1817. It lies on the E. border of the eo., s. of the center. The surface is hilly and broken, consisting of the elevated lands between Chenango and Unadilla Rivers, the hills rising 200 to 700 feet above the valleys. It is drained by the Unadilla, which forms the entire E. boundary, Guilford Pond Creek,1 and several other smaller streams. The soil is a gravelly and slaty loam, occasionally intermixed with clay. Guilford, (p. v.,) located in the valley of Guilford Pond Creek, contains 3 churches, an iron foundery and machine shop, and several mills; pop. 263. Guilford Center (p. v.) contains 2 churches and 20 dwellings. East Guilford, (p. v.,) in the s. R. corner of the town, contains a church, a mill, and 15 dwellings. Mount Upton, (p. v.,) upon the w. bank of the Unadilla, contains 4 churches, several mills, and other manu- facturing establishments ; pop. 190. Rockdale, (p.v.,) on the river, 4 miles below Mount Upton, contains 2 churches, a grist and saw mill, and 25 dwellings. The first settlement was made in 1787, by Ezekiel Wheeler, a little N. of Mount Upton, on the farm now occupied by his grandson, Silas Wheeler, 2d.2 The first church (Bap.) was formed by Elder Orange Spencer, in 1803.3
LINCKLAEN-was formed from German, April 12, 1823. Parts of Pitcher were taken off in 1827 and '33. It is the N. w. corner town of the co. Its surface is a hilly, broken upland, divided into ridges by narrow ravines extending N. and s. The declivities of the hills are usually steep, and the summits are 400 to 600 feet above the valleys. Mud Creek, a branch of the Otselic, flows s. through the w. part of the town. Ashbel Creek and several other small streams take their rise in the s. and E. parts. The soil is a shaly and elayey loam. Lincklaen, (p. v.,) on Mud Creek, contains a church and 15 dwellings. Burdick Settlement, in the N. part, contains a church and 12 dwellings. North Lincklaen is a p. o. in the N. E. part. The first settle- ments were made about 1796. The first religious services were held by Rev. Seth Williston, in 1798. The census reports 4 churches in town.5
MACDONOUGHI®-was formed from Preston, April 17, 1816. It is an interior town, lying w. of the center of the co. The surface is hilly, and in some places broken by deep ravines and sharp ridges extending N. and s. It is drained s. by Bowmans and Genegantslet Crceks and several other streams. Genegantslet Lake lies near the w. border. The soil is a clay loam, better adapted to grazing than tillage. Macdonough, (p.v.,) on Genegantslet Creek, contains 2 churches, several mills, and 168 inhabitants. East Macdonough (p. v.) contains 2 churches and 14 dwellings. The first settlements were made in 1795, by Nathaniel Locke, Loring and Emery Willard, Henry Ludlow, and others.7 The first religious association (M. E.) was formed in 1798. The first church edifice (F. W. Bap.) was erected in 1831; Elder Steer was the first pastor.6
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