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 5
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CHAPTER IX. EARLY CUSTOMS.
"Logging" and " Husking-Bees"-Spinning Bees-Tea and Gos- sip-Pioneer Toilets-Chintz Dresses-Raisings-Wrestling- Amusing Incident : Judge Cooper and Timothy Morse-" Home- spuu"-Picking the Wool-" Breaking"-Weaving-Pioneer Mill-The Mortar, Pestle, and Spring-Pole.
To trace the movements of the first settlers of a State or country and place before the reader a glimpse of their character and customs is oftentimes to record a series of hardships and privations, which to the present generation seem incredible. The pioneers of Otsego were no excep- tions. They encountered the privations incident to the settlement of a new country, and succeeded in subduing the forest and securing for themselves pleasant homes.
Though their modes of life were different and the primi- tive state of the country debarred them of many of the " conveniences of life," the pioneers, as a class, were hardy, and the rude sports of " ye olden time," with the various "logging-bees," " husking-bees," etc., were entered into with canning gost nul th. .................... " ......
" husking-bee" afforded far more enjoyment to them than the waltz or the " German" to the modern belle.
A " spinning-bee" brought together the ladies for miles around. The cards of invitation issued consisted of a small quantity of wool or flax, which was distributed among the invited guests, and the day designated when they should bring in the yarn. When the day mentioned arrived the yarn was returned, tea was drank, and the doings of the neighborhood "talked over" in a truly feminine style.
Ladies in those days were resolute and fearless, and it was not an unusual occurrence for thein to meet a bear while passing from neighbor to neighbor, but this did not in the least deter them from their visits.
The toilet was plain, and but little time was consumed in arranging the entire dress. Dame Fashion was served by menials then, as well as now, although her behests were less severe. She who wore a black skirt, and white or calico short gown, with occasionally a chintz dress, was considered in the height of fashion. The head-dress was a bonnet. High-heeled shoes were sometimes worn, which were adorned by a small buckle. These, however, were not easily obtained, and it was no uncommon occurrence to see both single and married ladies wending their way bare- foot, with shoes and stockings in their hands, to avoid soil- ing them by mud, putting them ou before entering the house.
The "raising" of a building was sure to entail a vast amount of sport, and on these occasions journeys of miles were made by the settlers to assist a neighbor. During the raising of the building whisky was dispensed freely, and after the work was completed the party collected, when the last driuk was taken, and theu the sport commenced. It usually consisted in wrestling. A ring was formed, and frequently the amusement began with the boys, the men being spectators. The boy thrown would bring in one to try his strength with the vietor, and thus the sport was continued until the whole company had wrestled.
These wrestling matches were a popular pastime, and the trials of strength were not confined to the youth and early manhood. Those advanced in years were often seen with- in the "ring," and many a young athlete was borne to the ground by the strong arm of the patriarehs of the settle- ment.
Judge William Cooper was a muscular and finely-de- veloped mau. He was interested in the sports of the day, and as a wrestler was considered champion of the settk- ment. He at last, however, found a " foemau worthy of his steel."
A number of the settlers had congregated at Griffin's tavern in Cooperstown, and a wrestling match was finally gotten up in front of the hotel, where the ring was formed, aud the contestants matched for the trial of strength. Judge Cooper was present, and after witnessing the sport a few moments said .-
" I am a wrestler myself, and I believe that I can throw any man in the county." Adding. " I am anxious to find a man ou my patent that can 'down me,' and to such an one I'll give one hundred aeres of land." ..... 1 .. .:
23
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
stepped up to the judge, and, laying his hand on his shoul- der. Mid,-
" Cooper, I believe that I can lay you on your back !"
The judge's eyes sparkled as he replied, " If you can I'll give you one hundred acres."
The "ring" was formed and the sport commeneed. More soon exhibited himself as victor, and the judge, upon rising, ordered his clerk, Richard Sruith, to make out a deed for the number of acres mentioned. The land eon- veyed was located in the town of Burlington, and the clerk who framed the indenture was the first sheriff of Otsego County.
Each family manufactured its own cloth, which was a tedious proecss, as the earding-machine was not then in ex- istence. The wool was picked by the family, usually in the evening while seated in front of the crackling " back-log" tlrat briskly burned in the old fireplace. After picking, the wool was greased and " broke," and then carded into rolls by hand, when it was ready for spinning. Nearly every family owned a large wheel and a small one, the former for wool and tow, and the latter for flax. A loom was also generally embraced in the necessaries of housekeeping, and those provided with this valuable auxiliary of pioneer life freely offered its use to their less fortunate neighbors.
One of the greatest inconveniences experieneed by the early settlers was the want of good mills for grinding grain. The first mills erected were poor, and the flour made was coarse, and often black from smutty wheat. These incon- veniences caused them to resort to Indian corn as a means of sustenance, as that cereal afforded good "johnny-cakes" and excellent cornmeal. Each family had its own mortar, pestle, and spring-pole for pounding the corn, and the meal was manufactured at will. The mortar consisted of the end of a hard-wood log cut off square, with one end hol- lowed out to receive the grain. The pestle was a piece of hard-wood fastened to a spring-pole. The mortar is set on end, the corn poured in, and thien beaten and pounded with the pestle. Samp was also made in this rude mill, and scores of pioneers relate that they have had many a good supper of smup and milk, the samp being pounded in these mortars.
CHAPTER X.
ORGANIZATION OF OTSEGO COUNTY.
Organizations of Towns-First County Officials-First Court-House , -Incideut of Judge Cooper-First Court of Sessions-Grand Jury-Petit Jury-Witnesses-First Execution-Court-House De- stroyed by Fire - Movement to Change the Location of the County-Seat-Unsuccessful-Present Court-House-County Build- ings.
THE county of Albany was formed on the first day of November, 1683, and embraced " the manor of Rensselaer- wick, Schenectady, and all the villages, neighborhoods, and Christian plantations on the east side of Hudson's river from Roeloffe Jansen's creek, and on the west side from Sawyer's creek to the outermost euds of Saraghtoga." By subsequent enactments the county of Albany was made to
north and west of present limits, and also included the entire State of Vermont.
In 1772, Tryon county was set off from Albany, and nanied in honor of Sir William Tryon, then provincial governor. It embraced all the present territory of New York lying west of a north-and-south line passing nearly- through the centre of the present county of Schicharie. The county-seat was located at Johnstown. April 2, 1784. its name was changed to Montgomery, in honor of General Richard Montgomery of the Revolution. The first county set off from Montgomery was Ontario, in 1789.
Otsego was set off from Montgomery, and organized as a separate county, Feb. 16, 1791, and Cooperstown designated as the county-seat. A part of Schoharie county was taken off in 1795, and a portion of Delaware county in 1797.
The county as at first organized consisted of only two civil subdivisions, viz., Otsego and Cherry Valley, both of which had been organized as portions of the old county of Montgomery, the former, March 7, 1788, and the latter, February 16, 1791.
As the population inereased, other towns were formed. and at present Otsego consists of twenty-four towns, viz. :
ORGANIZED
ORGANIZED
Burlington . April 10, 1792.
New Lisbon ........ April 7, Is0℃. -
Butteruuts . Feb. 5, 1796.
Queonta ..
Feb. 5. 1795.
Deeatar. March 25, 1808.
Otego ....
April 12, 1822.
Edmeston. .. April 1, 1808.
Pittsfield. March 24, 1797.
Exeter ... March 25, 1799.
Plainfield. March 25. 1737.
Hartwick
March 30, 1802.
Richfiel I.
April 10. 1792.
Laurens ....
April 2, 1810.
Roseboom .. . Nov. 23. 2:54.
Maryland. March 25, 18OS.
Springfield
March 3, 1797.
Middlefield. .. March 3. 1797.
U'nadilla ... April 10. 1792.
Milford.
Feb. 5, 1796.
Westford .. March 25. 1Sts.
Morris .. .April 6, 1849.
Worcester.
March 3, 1797.
The first county officials were as follows :
Judge .- William Cooper, appointed Feb. 17, 1.91.
Surrogate .- James Cannon, appointed Feb. 17, 1791. Clerk .- Jacob Morris, appointed Feb. 17, 1791.
Sheriff .- Richard R. Smith, appointed Feb. 17, 1791.
District Attorney .- Ambrose L. Jordan, appointed in 1818.
Treasurer .- Elihu Phinney, date of appointment un- known.
The first court-house erected was a primitive structure. and stood on the southeast corner of West and Second streets, on the site now occupied by the Davis block.
It was a two-story building; the lower story was con- strueted of logs and contained four rooms, and was used as a jail. The upper story was more pretentious in appear- ance, being built of frame-work, and was occupied as : court-roomu. The entrance to this room was on the north front, and was reached by two flights of stairs meeting at : platform before the door. The jury-rooms were in a tavern. which was occupied by the jailer. This stood on the lt with the court-house, and was erected the same year.
Soon after the organization of the county there was con- xiderable strife in relation to the public buildings Lesmesi Cooperstown and Cherry Valley; and Judge Coper playfully remarked,-
" The court-house should be placed in Cooperstown, the jail in Middlefieldl. and the gallows in Cherry Valley "
The following amusing incident of these early days is
24
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
" My father was made justice of the peace at an early day after the county was organized. A day was agreed upon for all those appointed to meet at Cooperstown to take the oath of office and receive their commissions. My father got a new blue coat, rather short, which was pronounced by a country tailor ' a handsome, genteel coat.' I recollect a rather coarse pair of white-topped boots for the occasion. At the appointed time he went, and, I think, walked there and back, which was as well as to ride, as the roads then were. He stayed all night, and with those that met there must have had a hard time of it at Griffin's tavern, the ' Bold Dragoon of the Pioneers,' for he came home laine, partly from an injury in a seuffle, pulling off each other's boots, nolens volens, and partly from walking so far in his new ones.
" Among the justices was James Aplin, an honest, worthy, but rather vain man, who lived in Hartwick. They used to tell this ancedote of him ; but whether true or false I cannot state. It was said that on his return home 'he remarked to his better half, ' My dear, last night you slept with James Aplin ; to-night with James Aplin, Esquire. God bless my good friend Judge Cooper.'"
In the first court-house, for a period of ten years, justice was administered, we are led to believe, by an impartial hand, and many of those who subsequently became noted for their legal talent practiced at the bar of this old court- house.
. It at length became inadequate to the wants of the rapidly- increasing population, and in 1806 an act passed the legis- lature for the erection of a new court-house and jail, and in 1806-7 a building for that purpose was buil. on the site occupied by the present court-house. It was a two-story brick structure, 50 by 56 feet, the upper story being occu- pied as a court-room, and the lower story as a jail and jailer's residence.
The court-house having been destroyed by fire in Deeem- ber, 1840, it was then deemed a proper time by numerous citizens residing out of Cooperstown to adopt measures seeking the removal of the county-seat, and vigorous meas- ures were inaugurated by individuals in Hartwick and Portlandville to accomplish this object. A spirited oppo- sition was raised, and finally three referees were chosen to locate the county-seat, who designated Cooperstown, in May, 1841. In the following month an appropriation of $10,000 was voted for the erection of a court-house and jail, and in July the contract for their erection was let to Peter Becker, Harry Clarke, and Thomas Clarke, for the sum of $9974. Both structures were built of stone,-the court-house being 46 by 56 feet, and the jail 37 by 73 feet. The court-house is still standing. The jail was superseded by the present neat and substantial brick jail and sheriff's residence in 1876. The brick building containing the surrogate's and clerk's offices is a commodious structure, located between the court-house and jail.
The first court of sessions was held June 21, 1791,- William Cooper, judge ; Jedediah Peck, Ephraim Hudson, Jo-lina HI. Britt, John Mathias Brown, Witler Johnson, enquires.
The court convened, "agrecably to law," at the house of 1
by reading the commission of the peace, adjourned to the court-house, where it was reopened, and the following per- sons appeared, and were sworn in as the first grand jury of Otsego County, viz. : Samuel Tubbs, William Cook, John Howard, Ichabod B. Patmer, Abijah Gilbert, James Averill, Daremus Warren, Nathan Davison, Robert Carr, David McCollum, Paul Gardner, Benjamin Lull, Samuel Craft, Martin I. Van Alstine, Elisha Fullinan, Isaac Stacey, Jabez Hubbell, Uriah Luce.
The charge being given by Judge Cooper, the grand jury retired from the court-house to the house of Joseph Griffen, and came into court the same day with an indictment against Benjamin Batchelor.
Abram Norton and John Gardner, for a riot and assault upon, and false imprisonment for the space of eight days, of Esther Batchelor. Batchelor pleaded " not guilty" to the indictment, and at four o'clock on the ensuing day the following persons were impanneled to "try the traverse," viz. : Jonathan Brown, Josiah Stevens, William Stevens, Alpheus Wentworth, Zachariah Coe, Daniel Carr, Jonathan Waterbury, Amasa Woodruff, Abel Clark, Thomas Curtis, Joseph Culver, John Grummond.
The witnesses sworn upon the trial of this indictment were Esther Bachelor, Elisha Fullam, Isaac Stacey, Cath- erine Davison, Tabithy Duhany, Robert Riddle, Jane Riddle, and John Adams.
Crime prevailed in those early days, but received a prompt arraignment and speedy punishment. The first murder trial in the county was that of Stephen Arnold, a school-teacher in the town of Butternuts, charged with taking the life of a small child six years of age, by whipping her to death. He was tried at Cooperstown, in June, 1805, found guilty, and sentenced to be hung. On the day appointed for the execution, and while he stood upon the gallows awaiting the drop of the fatal trap, a messenger arrived with a reprieve. and his sentence was subsequently commuted to imprison- ment for life.
The first execution in the county was that of Levi Kelley, who was sentenced by Judge Samuel Nelson, for the murder of Abraham Spafard, in the town of O sego, Sept. 3, 1827. He was executed on the 28th day of December, 1827.
CHAPTER XI.
GEOGRAPHICAL-TOPOGRAPHICAL-GEOLOGICAL
OTSEGO COUNTY is located near the geographical centre 'of New York, between latitude 42º and 43º north, and longitude 74° and 76? west from Greenwich, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Oneida, Herkimer, and Mout- gomery counties ; on the east by Schoharie and Delaware counties ; on the south by Delaware county; and on the west by Chenango and Madison counties.
The surface of Otsego presents a varied feature of boll outlines of irregular hills and deep valleys.
The highest summits attained an elevation of 400 to 700 feet above the valleys, and 1700 to 2000 feet above tid ... The declivities of the hills are generally gradual, except in
25
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
into the county from Delaware. terminating upon Schenevas creek, in an abrupt declivity 300 to 500 feet in height.
In the town of Burlington the highest ridges are about 400 feet above the valleys; in Butternuts, 500 to 600 feet ; in Cherry Valley, " Mount Iudependence," 1000 fect; in Decatur, 250 to 300 feet ; in Edmeston, 400 to 500 fect ; in Excter, 400 to 500 feet ; in Hartwick, 250 to 350 feet ; in Laurens, 250 to 350 feet ; in Maryland, 350 to 500 fect ; in Middlefield, 400 to 600 feet; in Milford, " Crumhorn Mount," 500 to 600; in Morris, 250 to 350 feet ; in New Lisbon, 300 to 500 fect; in Oneonta, 150 to 500 fect; in Otego, 200 to 400 feet ; in Otsego, 300 to 500 feet ; in Pittsfield. 200 to 400 feet; in Plainfield, 200 to 500 feet ; in Richfield, 150 to 400 feet; in Roseboom, 300 to 550 feet; in Springfield, 200 to 400 feet ; in Unadilla, 400 to 500 feet ; in Westford, 400 to 500 feet; in Wor- cester, 350 to 400 feet.
The principal streams are the Susquehanna and Unadilla rivers,-the latter of which forms the western boundary,- and Wharton, Butternuts, Otego, Cherry Valley, and Sche- nevas creeks.
THE LAKES.
There are numerous beautiful little inland seas in Otsego, which, together with the picturesque landscape views sur- rounding them, has given .to the section a reputation for beauty of its natural scenery unparalleled in this country. The lakes of Otsego, though not as pretentious as those of other localities, are none the less charming, and are, in all respects, well calculated to impress the stranger with their beauty.
Otsego lake, lying within the towns of Springfield, Mid- dlefield, and Otsego, is a beautiful sheet of water about eight miles in length and one mile wide. It is 1193 feet above tide, and is rendered picturesque by the surrounding hills, which rise to the height of 400 to 500 feet. This is one of the finest lakes in the Empire State. It has been well stocked with fish, and is celebrated as a fishing-ground.
Canadargo lake hes about three-fourths of a mile south from the village of Richfield Springs, and is five miles in length and from one to one and one-half miles in width. It abounds in excellent fish, and has been well stocked with trout and white fish by Seth Green, of Rochester. Crumhorn lake is a small shect of water located in the eastern part of Milford, and a similar body, called Gilbert's lake, is located in the south part of New Lisbon.
The geological formatious of the county are not of a , particularly interesting character, and are briefly given. The limestones found in the northeast part of the county' are of the Helderbergh division, while the hills in the sonth part are composed of the shales of the Hamilton group and the shales and sandstones of the Portage and Chemung groups. In the extreme southern and south- eastern parts the summits are crowned by the red sand- stone and shales of the Catskill group. The soil differs in various portions of the county. In the northeast it consists chiefly of a gravelly and calcareous loam, and in the southern part, on the smumits of the hills, a clay and shaly loam is found, while in the valleys a gravelly loam
CHAPTER XII.
POLITICAL HISTORY.
The Constitution of 1777 -Its Adoption at Kingston-Ratification of the Federal Constitution-The Constitution of 1821-The Coun- cil of Appointment Abolished-The Constitution of 1846-Presi- dential Eleetors-Judicial-Circuit Judges-First Judges of Com- mon Pleas-County Judges-Surrogates-Congressmen-State Senators-Members of Assembly-Sheriffs-Clerks-District At- torneys-School Commissioners-Loan Commissioners-Treas- urers-Regents of the University-State Assessor-Canal Ap- praisers-Attorney-General.
THE CONSTITUTION OF 1777 AND AMENDMENTS.
THE convention of the representatives of the State of New York which adopted the constitution of 1777 con- vened at Kingston, having adjourned from Fishkill to that place. The constitution was reported March 12, and was discussed and finally adopted April 20, 1777, being the first constitution of the State.
The first convention which assembled in this State after the organization of the State government and adoption of the constitution of 1777, was called to ratify the Federal constitution. It convened at Poughkeepsie, June 17, 1788, under a concurrent resolution of the legislature passed in January of that year. At that time the county of Otsego was not organized, but was part of Montgomery county-which county was represented in that convention by six members, viz. : John Frey, Wm. Harper, Henry Staring, Volkert Veeder, John Winn, and Christopher P. Yates, all of whom voted against the ratification, except Yates, who did not vote.
The county of Otsego was erected from Moutgomery, Feb. 16, 1791, and was first represented in the assembly, at the fifteenth session thereof, by James Cannon, who was a representative from Montgomery previous to the division of that county. The senate cousisted of 24 members, apportioned to four districts, under the title of Southern, Middle, Eastern, and Western districts, each entitled to six members, divided into four classes, so that the terms of six should expire each year. If the ceusus of the seventh year showed an increase of one-twenty-fourth the number of electors, such distriet was entitled to an additional member; such increase was to continue until the senate consisted of 100 members. The census of 1795 made the number 43, and it so remained until the constitution was amended in 1801, when the number was fixed at 32. Under the constitution of 1777 Otsego County was a part of the Western district until 1815, when it was made part of the Middle district.
The senators from the district who resided in Otsego were Joseph White, Jacob Morris, Moss Kent, Robert Roseboomu, Jedediah Peck, Luther Rich, Farrand Strana- han, Jabez D. Hammond.
Previous to the constitution of 1777, voting was rire voce, but by that constitution the legislature was anthoriz -i to pass an act to vote by ballot; and in 1778 an act was passed for the ballot for governor and lieutenant-governor, but retaining the viva voce system for members of the legis- lature. In 1787 this was also done away with, and the
26
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
last Tuesday in April, and might be held five days. To vote for governor, lieutenant-governor, and senator required the voter to be possessed of a freehold of the value of £100 over all debts charged thereon. Six months' residence and the ownership of a frechold of £20 value, or a yearly rent of 40 shillings with an actual rating and payment of taxes, entitled a person to vote for members of assembly. The assembly has always been chosen annually, and consisted at first of 70 members, with the power of inerease of one member for every one-seventeenth increase of eleetors, until it contained 300. At the time of the amendment of the constitution in 1801 the number had reached 108. It was then reduced to 100, to be increased, after each seven years' census, at the rate of two annually, until the number reached 150. In 1SOS the increase was 12, in 1815 it was 14.
MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY FROM 1792 TO 1823.
1792 .- James Cannon.
1793 .- Jacob Morris.
1794 .- Benjamin Gilbert.
1795 .- Jacob Morris.
1796 .- Jacob Morris.
1797 .- Joshua Il. Brett, Francis Henry, Timothy Morse, Isaac Nash, Abram C. Ten Broeck.
1798 .- Joshua Dewey, Franeis llenry, Elijah Holt, Timothy Morse. 1799 .- Joshua Dewey, Benjamin Gilbert, Francis Ilenry, Jedediah Peek.
1800 .- Jedediah Peek, Robert Roseboom, Jacob Ten Broeck, Rens- selaer Williains.
1801 .- Benjamin Hicks, Solomon Martin, Jedediah Peck, Jacob Ten Broeck.
1802 .- Samuel Campbell, Solomon Martin, Jedediah Peek, Jacob Ten Broeck.
1803 .- Daniel Hawks, James Moore, Jedediah Peek, Luther Rich. 1804 .- Peter P. Dumont, Jedediah Peck, Solomon Pier, Henry Seott. 1805 .- Gurdon Huntington, William Lathrop, Luke Metealf, II um- phrey Palmer.
180G .- Daniel Hawks, Gurdon Huntington, Luther Rich, Rufus Steere.
1807 .- Thomas Brooks, Gurdon Huntington, Robert Roseboom, Henry Seott.
1808 .- Lemuel Fitch, Gurdon Huntington, Robert Roseboom, Henry Scott.
1809 .- Haviland Chase, Roger Kinne, Martin Lnee, Henry Seott. 1810 .- Joseph Brown, Erastus Crafts, Abel De Forest, Benjamin Gilbert.
1811 .-. Daniel Hawks, Isaac Hayes, Elijah H. Metcalf, Robert Rose- boom.
1812 .- Daniel Hawks, Isaac Ilayes, Elijah Il. Metcalf, Robert Rose- boom.
1813 .- Erastus Crafts, Abel De Forest, Samuel Griffin, James Hyde. 1814 .- Erastus Crafts, Abel De Forest, Samuel Griffin, James Hyde.
1815 .- Nathaniel Fenton, Lemuel Fitch, Arunah Metealf, Robert Roseboom.
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