USA > New York > Otsego County > History of Otsego County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 2
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The French and Indian war, which began in 1754, re- sulted from the conflicting territorial claims between France and England. At the close of an arduous struggle, lasting
nine years, a treaty of peace was made at Paris, by the terms of which all the French possessions in North Amer- ica eastward of the Mississippi, from its source to the river Herville, and thence through Lakes Maurepas and Pont- chartrain to the Gulf of Mexico, were surrendered to Eng- land. Spain, who had also been at war with Great Britain, ceded East and West Florida to the English crown.
From the close of the French and Indian war to the beginning of the Revolution spanned a prosperous era in the history of the English colonists. The causes which led to the American Revolution and the history of that ardu- ous struggle are so well known that no mention is needed in this connection : sufficeth to say that the colonists, after a weary struggle of nine years, were acknowledged by Great Britain free and independent States ; and proud should Al- bion be to-day in the recollection that her sons planted the germ of the republic whose flag is honored and respected by all nations.
CHAPTER II.
THE IROQUOIS.
Early Traditions-Organization of the League-Aboriginal Nomen- clature of the various Tribes-Wars and Conquests -- Military Prowess-Their Introduction to Gunpowder and Liquor-" Manit- to" or "Great Spirit"-" Fire-Water" and its Baneful Effects- The Incursions of M. Delabarre, M. Denonville, and Count De Frontenac-The Jesuits-1700.
TRADITION informs us that about the year 1600 this nation resided in the vicinity of Montreal, and were in subjection to the Adirondacks. How long the latter tribe had exercised this power, and whether the Iroquois had previously been a powerful nation, are questions that natu- rally suggest themselves to the searcher in history, but have not, by even the most indefatigable workers in aboriginal lore, been answered ; and the peu of the present historian is unable to lift the veil of obseurity that enshrouds the re- mote origin of this nation, the most powerful and intelligent that ever dwelt within the boundaries of this republic.
From the Adirondack's they acquired the art of hus- bandry, and became proficient in the chase and upon the war-path. As they increased in numbers and influence, a passion seized them to become the possessors of the country they occupied, and raising the tomahawk at the Adiron- dacks they waged a fierce contest against them, which re- sulted in the defeat of the Iroquois, and the remnants of the tribe were compelled to fly the country to escape ex- termination. They traced their steps into the lake country, and, gathering their seattered warriors, effected a settlement on Seneca river.
No authority gives us the date of the organization of this eclebrated league, but it was probably in about the year 1600, as it was a powerful organization at the date of Dutch occupation, in 1609. The league originally consisted of five nations, viz. the Ormalges, Omiles, Mahalles, Cayugas, and Senecas. Onun-du-ga, the origin of the name of the Onondagas, signifies " on the hills ;" hence the name they gave themselves, O-mun-du-ga-o-un,-as ren-
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
dered, " the people of the hills." The Oneidas were ealled the " people of the stone," or " the granite people," as indi- cated by their national name, O-na-yote'-ko-o-no.
Ga-ne-u'-ga-o-no was the name applied to the Mohawks, which signified " the possessor of the flint ;" and they had for the device of the village a " steel and a flint."
The Cuyugas were known by the appellation of Gue'-u- gwceh-o-no, " the people of the mucky land." It doubtless referred to the marsh at the foot of Cayuga lake, where they first settled.
Nun-da-wi'-o-no, was the national name of the Senecas, meaning " the great hill people." This was the name also of their oldest village on Canandaigua lake, where, aeeord- ing to their Seneca myth, the tribe sprang out of the ground. The following account of their origin is given from a native souree :
" While the tribe had its seat and eouneil-fire on this hill, a woman and her son were living near it, when the boy one day eaught a small two-headed serpent, ealled Kaistowanea, in the bushes. He brought it home as a pet to amuse himself, and put it in a box, where he fed it on birds, flesh, and other dainties. After some time it had become so large that it rested on the beams of the lodge, and the hunters were obliged to feed it with deer; but it soon went out and made its abode on a neighboring hill, where it maintained itself. It often went out and sported in the lake, and in time became so large and mischievous that the tribe were put in dread of it. They consulted on the subjeet one evening, and determined to fly next morn- ing; but with the light of the next morning the monster had eneircled the hill, and lay with its double jaws extended before the gate. Some attempted to pass out, but were driven baek ; others tried to elimb over its body, but were unable. Hunger at last drove them to desperation, and they made a rush to pass, but only rushed into the mon- ster's double jaws. All were devoured but a warrior and his sister, who waited in vain expeetaney of relief. At length the warrior had a dream, in which he was shown that if he would fledge his arrows with the hair of his sister the eharm would prevail over their enemy. He was warned not to heed the frightful heads and hissing tongues, but to shoot at the heart. Accordingly, the next morning he armed himself with his keenest weapons, eharmed as di- rected, and boldly shot at the serpent's heart. The instan- taneous reeoiling of the monster proved that the wound was mortal. He began in great agony to roll down the hill, breaking down trees and uttering horrid noises, until he rolled into the lake. Here he slaked his thirst, and tried by water to mitigate his agony, dashing about in fury. At length he vomited up all the people whom he had eaten, and immediately expired and sank to the bottom."
The Six Nations were constituted in 1712, by the uniting of the Tuscaroras, Dus-gu-o'-wch, " theshirt-wearing people," -a nation that inhabited the western part of North Caro- lina. The league was originated by the Onondagas, henee they were called the " Fathers of the Confederacy ;" the Mohawks, having first given their consent, were known as " The Eldest Brothers ;" and for a similar reason the Cayu- gas were called " The Youngest Brothers," having given their assent last. The Senceas were named " The Watch-
"men," from the fact, doubtless, of their location near their enemies from the west. The organization of the league was effected on the east bank of the Onondaga creek, on the road to Syracuse. The chiefs and sachems soon diseerned that the compact entered into was in all respects advan- tageous, thus ereating and maintaining a fraternal spirit among themselves, and rendering them powerful upon the war-path. With the consciousness of returning power, their first warlike move was against their old enemies, the Adirondacks, whom they utterly exterminated. Now be- coming convinced of their power, they waged war upon all surrounding nations. Their tomahawk was brandished upon the shores of Lake Superior, their warlike measures were earried into New England, and the sealping-knife gleamed along the valley of the Father of Waters. They conquered the Hurons, the Eries, the Andastez, the Chananons, the Illinois, the Miamies, the Algonquins, the Delawares, the Shawanese, the Susquehannocks, the Nanticokes, the Una- mis, the Minsi; and even the Carmise Indians, in their sea-girt home upon Long Island, found no protection against their attacks. The name of the Iroquois had become a terror to all the Indian nations. " I have been told," says Colden, " by old men in New England, who remembered the time when the Mohawks made war upon their Indians, that as soon as a single Mohawk was discovered in their country, their Indians raised a ery from hill to hill, 'A Mohawk! a Mohawk" upon which they fled like sheep before wolves, without attempting to make the least resist- anee." The thirst for military glory was their ruling passion. They evineed a remarkable spirit of ambition, not unlike Napoleon, or Cæsar of old, and but for the settle- ment of the New World by the Caucasian, we have no right to doubt that eventually the haughty chiefs of the dusky legion of the Six Nations would have wielded the sceptre over the Indians of North America with all the despotism of an Alexander, and, like him, would have thirsted for fresh eonquests. The effects of these military operations were carried as far north as Hudson's bay, while the Mis- sissippi did not form their western limits. They ravished the extreme eastern and southern portions of the United States, and, without doubt, as stated in Rogers' " America," their wars were extended to the Isthmus of Darien.
That was a fatal hour when the red man quaffed the rum from the hands of Henry Hudson. That was a fatal honr when the red man was taught the power of gunpowder by Champlain. It is remarkable that the Indians were made known with these, their two greatest enemies, during the same week of the same year, 1609, by these rival explorers. The manner of giving the first dranght of liquor to the Indians, as related by a manuscript in the New York His- torical society, was as follows : " Hudson, accompanied by a number of his attendants, was ascending. in a canoe, the river that bears his name, and discovering a band of aborigi- nes, made them a sign to halt. He went ashore, and, after friendly salutations, he beckoned to an attendant, who brought him a bockhack (gourd ) and a little enp, both as clear as the new ice npon the surface of a lake. And from the bockhack Manitto, or Great Spirit, as they regarded Hudson, filled the cup with a liquid which he drank, and refilling, handed to the chief near him, who quaffed the cup
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
to the bottom. In a few moments his eyes closed, lustreless, and he fell heavily to the ground. His companions thought bim dead, and the wailings of the women resounded through the forest. After a long time the chief revived, and, spring- ing to his feet, declared that he had experienced the most delightful sensations, seen visions, and was never more happy. He requested another draught, and, following his example, the liquor went around the circle. They all partook of the ravishing cup, and all became intoxicated." From that fatal hour to the present their thirst for the maddening poison has not abated. In vain have their councils passed decrees against it, in vain have their teachers admonished them, and equally useless have been the eloquent and pathetic appeals of their women against it. Whenever and wherever, even at this late day, whether it be the Sioux, among the Black hills, or the remnants of the Iroquois, upon their reservations, they can lay their hands upon fire-water they are certain to drink it. This accursed liquor was among the strongest agencies used by the unprincipled settler in his intercourse with the red man to gain his land and furs.
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In this connection it is proper to observe that the English bestowed no attention upon the enlightenment of the race, either morally or religiously. In striking contrast with the attitude of England-a country under more lasting obligations. to the Iroquois than any other nation upon the globe-was that of France, as exhibited by the Jesuit missionaries, Franciscan priests, and Recol- let fathers. These were the first Caucasians who lifted up their voices in the wilderness in attempting to Chris- tianize the red man. History has never done these fathers justice. They left their homes in sunny France, sur- rounded by every luxury that wealth and ecclesiastical position could afford, and sought an abode in the wilds of the New World, with no companions save the beasts of the forest and hostile Indians. They came not as the trader, worshiping Mammuon, nor the settler in search of a home. They endured all the privations of the forest with the sole object in view of Christianizing the aborigines. Their lives were sacrificed upon the altar of Christianity, that he might be raised from darkness and brought into sweet communion with the Great Spirit.
Their motto-Ad majorem, Dei gloriam-was ever be- fore them, and but for the constantly-recurring wars, they would, without doubt, have left a spirit of Christian civili- zation among the savages of this land. In many localities they wrought a truly wonderful work in inculcating a tem- perance spirit among the Indians, who suffered severely from the unprincipled trader, who took their furs and gave the poor savage liquor in return.
Several attempts were made by England and France to extirpate the confederacy of the Six Nations, but without success. The first incursion into their country was headed by M. Delabarre, the governor-general of Canada, in 1683 ; the second by M. Denonville, also governor-general of Canada, in 1687; the third by Count De Frontenac, in 1697.
These incursions failed to accomplish the subjugation of the proud confederacy, and the year 1700 dawns and finds them in the zenith of their glory. They had reared a
colossal Indian empire, and as far as their unsophisticated vision extended, destined to remain.
" The Father above thought fit to give The white man corn and wine; There are golden fields where he may live, But the forest shades are mine."
CHAPTER III.
OTSEGO PRIOR TO THE REVOLUTION.
Its Isolated Location-The First Settlement-John Lindesay-His Friendly Intercourse with the Indians-The Winter of 1740-Ils Severity-Great Depth of Snow-Communication with the Settle- ments on the Mohawk cut off-Starvation Imminent-Timely Arrival of a Mohawk Indian-Ilis Friendship-Supplies the Family with Food-Arrival of Rev. John Dunlop and Others in 1741-The First Meeting-House-The Pioneer Preacher-The First School in the State west of Albany-Arrival of John Wells in 1743-A Fort erected-The French War-Captain Mckean's " Rangers"-Settlements of Edmeston, Exeter, Hartwick, Lau- rens, Middlefield, Milford, Morris, New Lisbon, Oneonta, Rich- field, Unadilla-The Eve of the Revolution.
"It was a gloomy wild where Indian warriors trod,
Where savage minds in solitude looked up to nature's God."
NOTWITHSTANDING that the territory now embraced within the boundaries of Otsego County was remote fromu the flourishing settlements in the eastern part of the State, and was traversed by none of the great trails of the red man, still it received its first settlers as early as 1740, and when the War of the Revolution burst upon the land the rude cabin of the pioneer was seen in various sections of the county, and
"The axe, that wondrous instrument That, like the talisman, transforms Deserts to fields and cities,"
was already resounding among the stern old monarchs of the forest.
In 1738, thirty-seven years before the first gun was fired at Concord, a tract of land, embracing 8000 acres, located in the northeast part of the present county of Otsego, was granted to four persons,-John Lindesay, Jacob Roseboome. Lenelet Gansevoort, and Sybrant Van Schaick,-by George Clark, then lieutenant governor of the province of New York. In the following year Mr. Lindesay, who was mainly instrumental in securing the purchase, having obtained an assignment of the grant from his associates to himself and Governor Clark, proceeded to survey the entire tract and subdivide it into lots.
In the following year Mr. Lindesay, unused to the hard- ships and privations of frontier life, left the conveniences of a city home, where he had been surrounded with all that wealth could bring, and a highly-cultivated taste suggest. for a home in the forest. How great the contrast. To no one more than he was this apparent, but being a Scot by birth, the sight of deep valleys, the streams murmuring adown their rocky beds, and the declivities of the hillsoles, vividly reminded him of " Oll Scotia," and that alone seemed to him sufficient reason for founding a home in the forest wilds.
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Ile seleeted for a location premises now owned by Joseph Phelou, and gave it the name of " Lindesey's Bush."
At this early date, the locality was a favorite hunting- ground of the Mohawks, as bears, elk, deer, etc., were in abundance. They came in great numbers, and were treated by Mr. Lindesay with kindness, who at onee saw the im- portaree of cultivating and maintaining a friendly inter- course with theru. The kindly spirit of friendship ex- hibited by Mr. Lindesay soon brought forth good fruit, and in all probability was the means of preserving himself and family from starvation during the coming winter.
The winter of 1740 was of unusual severity ; snow fell to a great depth, and all communication with the settleruents on the Mohawk was cut off. It was indeed a gloomy fu- ture. Mr. Lindesay, unaccustomed to the severity of the winters, had failed in making ample provisions for himself and the few that were gathered around him, and starvation stared him in the faec. There seemed no alternative but to await the visitation of the " grim messenger." At this critical juneture, assistance eame in the person of a Mo- hawk Indian, who had traveled from the Mohawk ou snow-shoes, and upon being informed of their destitute condition returned to the eamp on the Mohawk, and, after seeuring a quantity of provisions, wended his way again to the imprisoned family. IIe continued his trips during the winter, and thus this faithful red brother saved from starva- tion the first settlers of Otsego County.
Notwithstanding this episode of frontier life, which to many would have been sufficient reason for abandoning the settlement, Mr. Lindesay still sounded its praises, and in 1741 he indueed Rev. Samuel Dunlop, an Irishman by birth, to visit the location, and offered him, as an induee- ment to settle there, a tract of land embracing several hun- dred aercs. The generous proposal was accepted, and iu 1741 Mr. Dunlop, together with David Ramsey, William Gallt, James Campbell, aud William Dickson, were added to the froutier settlement. These pioneers, with their famuilies, numbered about thirty persons. They had emi- grated from the north of Ireland, were industrious and hardy, and in all respeets well adapted to encounter the privations and toil of the frontier, as they had been in- ured to hard labor from infancy in their native land.
Mr. Dunlop was the first regular preacher in the settle- ment, officiating in a log house, which had been erected for a meeting-house, a short distance north of Mr. Lindesay's. He was an enterprising spirit, and subsequently opened a school for the instruction of boys, who eame from the ad- joining settlements, and from Albany and Schenectady. This was the first grammar-school in the State west of Albany.
In consequence of the isolated location of the settlement it inereased slowly, and during the ten subsequent years not more than four families were added. Among these was Mr. John Wells, an Irishman, who settled in 1743, and in the following year purchased the Lindesay farm. The pioneer of this frontier settlement. Mr. Lindesay, after struggling several years, was compelled to abandon the eu- terprise. In 1744, when the northern frontier was threat- ened by the French and Indians, he joined a company of " Independent Greeas," his father-in-law, Mr. Congreve,
· having resigned his commission as lieutenant in the com- pany in favor of Mr. Lindesay. He remained in the service several years, and subsequently died in the eity of New York. Mr. Wells, mentioned above, was one of the leading citizens, and was appointed the first justice of the peace of the town, and was one of the judges of Tryon county. The little settlement was in constant fear of marauding bands of savages, and during the last French war a body of S00 " rangers" was raised to protect Tryon county, and one company, under command of Captain Me- Kean, was stationed at Cherry Valley, where a rude fort had previously been ereeted. In 1762 the population of the settlement consisted of eight families, and at the begin- ning of the Revolution its population numbered about three hundred persons. We have thus given the reader a glimpse of the first settlement in .Otsego County, as it appeared upon the eve of the Revolution. Other settlements, though few in nunuber, had been effeeted in various portions of the eounty.
The present town of Edmeston was settled as early as 1770, by Colonel Edmeston, an ex-officer in the English army, who was granted a tract embracing 10,000 acres for his serviees during the French war.
A small elearing was made and two huts ereeted, before the Revolution, in the town of Exeter, on what was sub- sequently known as the " Herkimer farm." These two eabins were standing at the elose of the war, when the first settlers eame in, but nothing further is known eoneerning this attempted settlement.
The territory embraced within the present boundaries of the town of Hartwick was granted to John Christopher Hartwick, April 22, 1761, and settlements were soou after commeneed.
The pioneers of Laurens located in that town in 1774, the first settlement being made by Joseph Mayall, a short distance northeast of the present village.
Middlefield received its first settlers in 1755. Those who settled prior to the Revolution were Wm. Cook, Daniel Benjamin, and Reuben McCollum, Samuel and Andrew Wilson, Andrew Cochran, Andrew Cameron, and a Mr. Hall.
On the Susquehanna river, in the town of Milford, one Carr, a "squatter," located prior to the Revolution ; but the settlements in this town assumed no importance until after the war.
Ebenezer Knapp came from Dutehess Co., N. Y .. and located in the valley of the Butternut ereek, in the town of Morris, as early as 1773.
Inercase Thurston and Benjamin Lull and sons located in New Lisbon in 1773, thirty-three years before the civil organization of the town was effected.
Oneonta received its first white settlers prior to the Revolution, but the precise date is not known. Their names were Henry Seramlin and a Mr. Young.
The permanent settlement of Otsego was not made until after the Revolution, but a small clearing was made not far from the outlet. in 1761, by John Christopher Hart- wick, proprietor of the " Hartwick patent," under the im- pression that his lands extended to the shore of the lake. Being soon convinced of his error, it was abandoned.
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Richfield was settled prior to the war, but the perma, Dent settlement was not made until about the year 1787.
In Unadilla settlements were made before the war, but nothing definite is known coneerning either settlers or loca- tions.
CHAPTER IV.
THE REVOLUTION.
Position of the Iroquois-Sir William Johnson-His Influence with the Indians-The Massnere of Wyoming-The " Shades of Death" -- Resolutions of the Continental Congress-Denounced by the Court at Johnstown-Excitement-Meeting at Cherry Valley- Address of the Indian Interpreter, Thomas Spencer-Resolutions Adopted-Conference between Brant and Rev. Mr. Johnson, at Unadilla, in June, 1777-Council of General Herkimer and Brant, at Unadilla, in July, 1777-Brant Enraged-Unsatisfactory Termi- nation of the Meeting.
" Sad was the year, by proud oppression driven, When transatlantie liberty arose : Not in the sunshine and the sunile of Heaven, But wrapt in whirlwinds and begirt with woes, Amidst the strife of fratricidal foes. Her bright star was the light of burning plain ; ller baptism is the weight of blood that flows From kindred hearts-the blood of British veins; And famine tracks her steps and pestilential pains."
IN the beginning of the Revolutionary struggle the little band of colonists found themselves at a disadvantage with their formidable antagonists, not only in men and muni- tions of war, but from the fact that, through the ageney of Sir William Johnson, the fierce Iroquois were arrayed against them, and only waiting the opportunity to wage the barbaric warfare characteristic of the savage.
It must be admitted that no representative of the Eng- lish government ever wielded the influence among the In- dians of this land equal to that of Sir William Johnson. He came to this country when twenty years of age to su- perintend an estate belonging to his uncle, Sir Peter War- ren, located in the Mohawk valley. Young Johnson soon succeeded in gaining the friendship of the Mohenck Indians, and eventually, through the diplomacy which subsequently gave him an enviable reputation, controlled nearly every tribe of the dusky legion of the confederacy.
This was the situation of affairs when the first gun was fired at Concord, and from that hour when the intelligence reached him of the confliet he directly and indirectly roused the savage spirit of the Indian against the colonists ; and to him, more than any other one man, are attributed the border wars of the Revolution, which for cruelty and inhu- manity are unparalleled in the annals of our country.
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