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 87
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On the east side of the street, going west, the first house was that of Daniel Bissel, on premises now owned by II. C. Gregory. Samuel Croker occupied the next house, which stood on the site of the present rectory of St. Mathew's church. From this point there was no building until the site now occupied the Unadilla hotel was reached ; here stood a tavern kept by Dr. Nijah Cone. Next below the tavern was a house occupied by Jacob Hayes, since known as the Edson place, and now owned by P. G. Rifenbark. There was but one other building on this side of the street, and that was a rude structure, occupied by a Mr. Slyter, on lands formerly owned by Daniel and Gilbert Cone, and now in the possession of Edward Wiedman.
The first grist- and saw-mill was erected prior to 1808 by Samson Crooker, which stood on the site of the present mills of M. W. Duley. Goods were supplied to the in- habitants first, to a small extent, by Dr. Huntington and General Solomon Martin, but the first regular merchants were Noble & Hayes, who occupied. a building which stood near the present residence of H. Eells. The next regular merchant was Albert Benton, who opened a store in the fall of 1816, on the site occupied by the Fellows and North block and the store of Thomas G. North. This business was conducted by Mr. Benton as sole proprietor until 1823, when Major C. D. Fellows became associated with him, and except at brief intervals has been engaged in active business since with various firms. The business is now conducted by C. D. Fellows & Son, comprising Major C. D. Fellows and son, George B. Fellows.
Wright & Benjamin were also early merchants, who opened, simultaneously with Mr. Benton, a store formerly occupied by Dr. Huntington, who had discontinued business. This building is now located on lands owned by Nicholas Priee, situated in the rear of the premises of L. L. Wood- ruff, fronting the river.
The settlers were not destitute of religious instruction, for as early as 1808, and probably previously, lay-reading was held by the Episcopalians in the school-house, Abijalı H. Beach usually conducting the services. The first reg- ular service was held by the venerable Father Nash, and in 1809 St. Mathew's church was organized.
Among the prominent pioneers of Unadilla, and one whose career was marked with honesty of purpose, upright- ness, and a desire to alleviate the wants of his fellow-man. was Dr. Nijah Cone, of honored memory. He, accom- panied by his wife, emigrated from Connecticut, and in 1808 settled in this village, and for some time kept a public- house, mentioned above as standing at that time upon the present site of the Unadilla hotel. He was a physician of . large practice, and died in 1862, aged eighty-four years. IFis widow,-Lydia Cone,-now at the advanced age of ninety-one years, is living with her son, Lewis G. Cone. and is smart and active, and retains, in a remarkable degree, the vigor and elasticity of youth.
David Finch was an early settler, and located in about the year 1808. Two sons, D. O. and W. T. Finch, are residents of Des Moines, Iowa. The former is a prominent attorney.
Among the carly residents of the village, none occupiel a more prominent position in the affairs of village, town,
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
and county than Sherman Page. He was a prominent attorney, and ocenpied many positions of trust and responsi- bility within the gift of his townsmen. He was member of assembly in 1827, and a member of the 23d and 24th congresses, and associate judge of the county. He erected a house which stood on the site of the present residence of A. G. Owens. ITis family consisted of five children, -two sons and three daughters. Robert was an attorney, and removed to Flint, Michigan, where he died ; the other son, Vincent, is a resident of Madison. His eldest daughter, Elizabeth, is the wife of Arthur Yates, and resides in Waverly, N. Y. Mary and Maria, deceased, were twins. The former became the wife of William II. Emory, and the latter of Frederick A. Sands, Esq. Mr. Sands was one of the founders of the First National bank of Oxford, N. Y., and is ranked among the wealthy and prominent citizens of the county.
Henry Ogden came into Unadilla from Catskill. He was a prominent lawyer and a man of remarkable social qualities. He was member of assembly in 1820. He reared a family of four sons and two daughters. His eldest son, Edmund A., was a graduate of West Point, and an active participator in the froutier wars. At the time of his death he was a major in the regular army. Richard and Frederick Ogden reside in California.
Curtis Noble, mentioned above as a member of the firm of Noble & Hayes, early merchants, was an energetic and useful citizen. He held various offices, and was several times supervisor of the town. Iu those days shad came up the Susquehanna in great numbers, and the inhabitants used to be astonished to hear the fact related that Curtis Noble shot a huge one out of the uppermost branches of a pine-tree. This singular feat was explained by the fact that Mr. Noble, by a well-directed shot, brought down a hawk, in the talons of which was the said shad ! Two sons, George and Charles, now deceased, were residents of the village.
Mr. Noble's copartner, Isaac Hayes, was a man who did much to advance the interests of the village, and was prom- inent among the business men of the county. He was also conspicuously identified with the politics of the towu and county, he having officiated as supervisor for ten years, and six years represented this county iu the legislature as member of assembly. Two children reside in Unadilla, viz., a son, Clark I. Hayes, and Augusta, wife of Arnold B. Watson, a prominent citizen, who was member of assembly iu 1840, and is one of the present directors of the Albany and Susquehanna railroad. Mr. Watson has ever mani- fested an interest in educational matters, and was foremost among the progenitors of the Unadilla academy.
Among the earliest settlers was Daniel Bissel. The first town-meeting was held at his house. His advent into the town was rendered impressive upon the inhabitants by bring- ing with him a half-bushel of silver dollars. Here his life was passed, and here he died, and was buried on the banks of the Susquehanna. The present dwelling of II. J. Lanut stands on the spot where his remains were interred, which have long since returned to dust, and entirely lost their identity. No marble slab tells to the passer-by where rest the remains of this old pioneer.
Among others who located prior to 1796 was Dr. Gnr. don Huntington, who was a useful and honored citizen. Dr. Huntington was the first town clerk, and officiated in that capacity seven years; was supervisor in 1809, and from 1805 to 1808 was member of assembly ..
An honored pioneer, and the first saddler, was Abijah Beach. Two daughters, Mrs. Daniel C. Hayes and Mrs. Thomas Noble, reside in this village.
The first cabinet maker was William Wilmot, who emi- grated from Danbury, Conn., and settled here in IS10. Hle erected the house in which his son now resides. The cabinet and furniture business established by him he con- ducted during life, and was succeeded in the business by his son, D. W. Wilmot, who has since continued it at the old place. One daughter, Mrs. Allen, resides in Chicago. and Louisa and Emeline live in the village with D. W. Wihmnot.
Joseph Bragg was a leading spirit among the pioneers of Unadilla, and during many years was the owner of the village mills, and also rendered himself useful to the com- munity and the traveling public as the proprietor of a public-house. Two sons are living, viz., Edward S. Bragg, in Fond du Lac, who was a soldier in the late Rebellion, and rose to the rank of brigadier general ; aud Frederick. in Chicago, who is a prominent citizen, and has filled many municipal offices of trust and responsibility.
Dr. Edson and Dr. John Colwell were honored citizens, uone of whose descendants now remain. They were locally popular, and eminent in their profeseion.
Another who contributed to make up the business of the village was Neil Robinson, a saddler and harness-maker, who came from Hebron, Conn., in 1813, and settled on premises now occupied by Widow Wright. He is still living in the village of Corning, at the advanced age of ninety-four years. His wife was killed by lightning, Oct. 7, 1826.
Honored and upright actors in the early scenes were Daniel and Gilbert Cone, brothers of Dr. Cone. Gilbert was a justice of the peace and member of assembly. Daniel occupied no official position, but was held in high esteem by all.
An early tavern-keeper was Erastus Kingsley. The pioneer blacksmith was Aaron Axtell. The first tannery was erected by John Eells, who came from Walton in 1$11, where his parents had settled in an early day. He was popular among his fellow-townsmen, and filled various offices. among which were justice of the peace and supervisor. He was one of the foremost in organizing the Presbyterian church ; was one of the first deacons, and a ruling spirit of the enterprise. He died here in 1870, aged eighty-four years. A son, Horace B. Eells, and a daughter, Caroline, the wife of E. C. Belknap, Esq., reside in the village.
An honored pioneer, and owner of a large portion of the land upon which the village is located, was Stephen Benton, who came from Massachusetts and settled here in about the year 1800, on premises now owned by a son-in-law. Major C. D. Fellows. His family consisted of three children .- one son and two daughters. The son, Albert M. resides in Annapolis, Md .; Almira, deceased; Caroline, also deceased. way the wife of Major Fellows.
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Among those who carly located in the village and still reside here is Major C. D. Fellows. He came to Unadilla in 1816, then but fourteen years of age. In 1823 be mar- ried Caroline Benton, mentioned above, who died in 1871. He is a life-long Democrat, and has officiated in various positions within the gift of fellow-citizens. He has served several terms as supervisor of his town, and was elected to the assembly in 1844. Major Fellows is still in active business, and, although past the Seriptural age of three- score years and ten, retains much of his youthful vigor and ambition. He has two children living, viz. : George B., of the firm of C. D. Fellows & Son, and Elizabeth M., wife of Milo B. Gregory, both of whom are residents of the village.
Prominently identified with the interests of Unadilla and Otsego County, is Colonel Samuel North, who settled in the village in 1828. He has served in various official capacities, and is closely identified with the politics of his county and State. In 1849 he was elected county clerk, and in 1853 was appointed principal clerk in the apportionment office of the post-office department. He was soon after appointed one of the nineteeu special agents of the post-office depart- ment, which position he held seven years. He held com- mission under Campbell, Brown, and Holt. Colonel North was the subject of considerable notoriety during the late Rebellion, being one of the number that were arrested and thrown into the old capitol prison at Washington, charged with forging votes. The legislature of 1863 passed an act requiring the governor to appoint agents, whose duties should be to visit Washington, "give general attention to the wants and interests of the volunteers from the State of New York," the " siek in hospitals," etc. Under this aet Colonel North was appointed, and went to Washington in the discharge of his duties. About this time an act passed giving the soldiers in the field the right to vote. This, of course, was open to gigantic frauds, and no sooner had it commenced than charges and counter-charges of fraud were made by both of the political parties. Colonel North's of- fice being the Democratic headquarters, he and two elerks were singled out as victims of the administration, and were arrested, and, without knowing the charge upon which the arrests were made, were thrown into the old capitol prison, where they remained several weeks in close confine- inent in indecent cells before their examinations were held. Finally, a trial was had before Judge-Advocate-General Holt, and Colonel North and his associates were found not guilty and discharged. The charges upon which he was arrested were without the slightest foundation ; his keeper while in prison was a blasphemous wretch; and, taken all in all, this was a proceeding on the part of the administration over which the veil of forgetfulness may well be drawn. Colonel North has two sons residing in Unadilla, Thomas G. and Samuel S. North.
A prominent settler west of the village was Gardner Cone, who located in about the year 1814, on lands now owned by Samuel G. Conc.
Calvin and Lorin Gates emigrated from the "land of steady habits," and settled on the river-road in about the year 1810 or 1812, ou lauds now owned by their descendants. A son and daughter of Lorin survive, viz. : Jehial, who oc- enpies the old homestead, and Nancy, the wife of Abram
Fleming, resides in Otego. William Gates, son of Calvin, occupies the homestead, and a daughter, Lovina, wife of Ephraim Winchell, resides in Unadilla village.
On the river-road, below the village, an early settler was Colonel John Hough. A son, Colonel David Hough, was prominent in the old training days. It was his delight
" To beat the sheepskin, blow the fife, And march in trainin' order."
Other sons of Colonel Hough were Daniel, Henry, and Wade. Moses Foster was a pioneer in this vicinity, and reared a large family. Ilis sons were Norman, Henry, Augustus, David, and Leonard (deceased). A daughter married Erastus Kingsley. A family remembered as early settlers on this road were the Hannas, who located on premises now owned by Mr. Deyo.
An honored pioneer on this road was Elisha Luther. A son, Martin Luther, is a prominent citizen, and has officiated several years as supervisor, and has been the nominee of his party for member of asseurbly. In an early day, one Bacon, a miser, lived a hermit life at the mouth of the Unadilla river on lands now occupied by William Miller. He died, as he had lived, alone.
In the western part of the town, on the river-road, carly settled two brothers, William D. and Elisha Spencer. Wil- liam P. and James K., sons of the former, reside on the original purchase.
In this vicinity, the lands now owned and occupied by Hobart Ives were early settled by Isaae Fuller. A son, Isaae, and a daughter, the wife of Henry Miller, reside iu the town.
Gurdon Morgan was also a pioneer in this vicinity. Sons- in-law now residing in the town are Joseph D. Curtis, Henry Talcott, and Henry Stewart.
Abel De Forest was a sturdy pioneer in that portion of the town denominated as Rogers' hollow. He reared a large family, and numerous descendants are residing in the town.
John Fiske, familiarly known as " Uncle John," is still living in this vicinity, where he settled in an early day. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and participated in the engagement where Colonel Saunders was killed. Hiram. Amos, Albert, and Charles were sons. Charles was killed in the army. A daughter married John De Forest, who is said to have been accidentally shot, soon after the close of the war, by one Rogers. A family of Rogers' were also early settlers here, from which the vicinity derives its name.
Coincident with the settlement of Unadilla, a colony from New Hampshire located in that portion of the town known as Sand Hill. Prominent among them were the Wait family, Theophilus Merriman, Gains Spaulding, Thos. J. Davis, and Simeon Palmer, numerous descendants of whom are numbered among the respectable citizens of the town. Theophilus Merriman erected the first grist-mill in this vicinity.
Thomas J. Davis is a prominent man, and was super- visor of the town in 1840, and again in 1853. A daughter of Peter Davis, wife of Daniel Wait, resides in this vicinity. Aaron Sisson was an early settler at Sand Hill. Two soll,
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MRS. S.G.CONE.
S. G . CONE
VOST!
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RESIDENCE OF S.G. CONE, UNADILLA, OTSEGO CO. N.Y.
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Alanson and Christopher, reside in the vicinity. Deacon Elisha Lathrop is mentioned as a pioneer in this part of the town. Daniel Buckley, father of Wm. and Eli Buckley, was a pioneer. William Sterling and Jacob Porter were also early settlers in this locality.
Among the respected pioneers was Cheder Collins, who rcared a large family. Jareb C. was a son. Rufus, Heury, . Leroy, and a daughter Sally, are residents of the town. James resides in Bath.
A soldier of the Revolution was Captain Seth Rowley, who was a honored pioneer in this vicinity. Abel, a son, resides in the town, and Seth G. S. Rowley, also a son, is a prominent citizen of Bolivar, N. Y.
Among the honored pioneers who early left the comforts of a New England home for an abode in what at that time was considered the western wilds was Samuel Rogers, who settled in this locality and reared a large and respectable family. Gustavus, father of Hon. Sherman S. Rogers, of Buffalo, died in Michigan ; Charles S. died at Sidney Plains; Jabez J. is a resident of Sidney Plains, and his present wife is the mother of Hon. David P. Loomis, a leading attorney of this county and ex-State senator, resid- ing at Unadilla; Henry W., formerly an eminent attorney of Buffalo, now resides in Ann Arbor, Mich. There were also several daughters in the family, one of whom married a Mr. Mills, and a number of the children have been mis- sionaries to China.
Elias Saunders early settled at Sand Hill, on premises now owned by H. Storms, deceased. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was killed in battle. B. G. W. . Saunders, a son, resides in Otego. Another son, Elisha S. Saunders, was for many years a practicing physician in Otego.
Eben Wait eame from Rhode Island in 1805 or 1806, and settled on lands now owned and oceupied by a son, . Abijah Wait. Simeon Wilbur was also an early settler on premises now occupied by a Mr. Blanchard. A brother Stephen was also an early settler. Other early settlers in this vicinity were Hezekiah and William Carr, Eber Feriss, and Father Jolin Cranson, Asel Downing, and David Lyon.
Whitney Bacon came from New Hampshire in 1815, and settled in the locality known as Hampshire Hollow. He died in this town in 1877, aged eighty-six years. He reared a family of twelve children, viz. : Jeremiah W., Samuel D., Dennis, Franklin, Lydia, Eliza, Delia, Nancy, Persis, Willard, and John. Samuel D. and Franklin are residents of the town.
€ In the vicinity of Unadilla Centre, a prominent pioneer was James Maxwell, who came from Massachusetts in about the year 1810, and located on lands now occupied by A. C. Dunham. His family consisted of five children, viz. : Moses B., Sally, Mille, Betsey, and Esther. Moses B., Sally, and Esther are deceased. Mille, the wife of Ebenezer Gregory, and mother of Milo B. Gregory, Esq .: resides in Unadilla. Solomon Smith was an early settler in this vicinity, and subsequently removed to western New York, and located on the Holland purchase. Simeon Pahuer was a pioneer west of Unadilla Centre, and has numerons descendants residing in the town.
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A sturdy and honored pioneer from Norwalk, Conn .. who settled np the river from Unadilla, was Samuel Betty. He loeated, in 1794, on lands now owned by the Hecock family. His family consisted of John M., Samuel, David, and Elizabeth. John M., deceased, was a prominent citizen of Sidney, Delaware county, was sheriff of the county, and also State senator. Samuel, deceased, was member of assembly from this county. David removed to Aurora, Ohio, where he died. Elizabeth, the wife of William T. Thompson, Esq., resides in Unadilla. Ebenezer Foot settled, in about 1815, on premises now occupied by Mrs. Cutler.
UNADILLA IN 1810.
Unadilla rapidly inereased in importance, as is shown by the following description given by H. G. Spafford in 1810 :
" Unadilla, a post-township in the extreme southern angle of Otsego County, thirty-four miles southwest of Cooperstown, and one hundred miles south of west frou Al- bany ; bounded north by Butternuts and Otego; east by Otego ; southeast by the Susquehanna river, or the county of Delaware ; and west by the Unadilla river, or the county of Chenango. The surface is hilly and uneven, but along the stream that forms the boundaries, as also some smaller ones, the land is very good and productive. Nor are the farming lands confined to these tracts; the uplands and hills afford fine grazing and meadow-lands. There are several small streams that afford mill-seats, of which there is an abundant supply. There is a quarry of stones, used for grindstones. There are sixteen saw-mills, that prepare great quantities of lumber for the Baltimore market, de- seending the Susquehanna in rafts. Five grain-mills, an oil-mill, and some other water-works, besides five distilleries of whisky. There is one Episcopal church and fourtecu school-houses, in which schools are kept part of the year. The land is held in fee, and while the getting of lumber causes too great neglect of the soil, it is making destructive inroads upon the forest-trees, that ought to remain for future use. The whole population is 1426, with 116 sena- torial electors, 344 taxable inhabitants, and $141,896 of taxable property.
UNADILLA VILLAGE, pleasantly situated on the Sus- quehanna, contains one Episcopal church and thirty dire !- lings, besides stores, etc. Unadilla has the Appian Way turnpike, that leads from Newburg to Oxford, and some others that lead from Albany to Oxford.
THE UNADILLA HUNTS.
, " Hark ! the goddess Diana calls aloud for the chase, Bright Phoebus awakens the morn !" Hunting Song.
Less than half a century has eame and gone since the hulls which look down upon the pleasant village of Cuadill. were covered with a forest through which the deer roam 41 at will, and slaked its thirst along the banks of the classic Susquehanna. So numerous were they that Uuvlilla an- nually for a long period became the rendezvous of the hunters, which, in consequence of the success that always attended the chase, the hospitality of the " grand sachen." and the personnel of the hunters, gave the " Unadilla Hunt. or Oxford
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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Chase," almost a national reputation. Sherman Page was the soul of the hunt, and known among the craft as the "grand sachem." Heury Ogden and Dr. Colwell also as- sisted in rendering these hunts a success. Among the sports- men were Levi Beardsley, of Cherry Valley, Colonel Clapp, General Rathbone, Judge Morrell, Simon G. Throop, Gen- eral Peter Sken Smith, Hon. John C. Clark, and Colonel Benjamin, from Chenango, Judge Morris, from Butternuts, Colonel Stark weather and Joseph Miller, of Cooperstown, and Devereaux, Lansing, and Griswold, from Utica, with numerous others.
These hunts usually were in November, and began on Tuesday morning, closing Friday evening. The evenings were spent at the " village inn," which stood on the site of the Unadilla hotel, where a "general good time" was had, and no doubt Bacchus reigned supreme. During the week's sport the " grand sachem" would give an excellent supper, when good saddles of venison, fine pike, and wine and brandy were not wanting.
The following interesting description of a day's shooting is taken from the pen of the late Hon. Levi Beardsley, who was an active participator in these hunts :
" Our rendezvous was the village inn, known as ' Hunters' Hall,' where each night was assembled a crowd, consisting of the patrons of the hunt, and a large number of those who, knowing the woods, were to put out the dogs in the morning, and drive the deer to the different 'runways,' where the amateur sportsmen were stationed. These run- ners and scourers of the hills were good shots. Each had his rifle, and were to shoot the deer whenever he could. They were selected and employed by the grand sachem, and were devoted to our interests ; and unless we had employed them we should hardly have been permitted to ' drive the deer,' except at the imminent peril of our hounds, if not of ourselves.
" After taking the best precautions we could, many deer were shot by poachers and interlopers before our dogs, but if they came among us at night, being generally known by our hunters, they fared poorly, for ours were not slow to inflict personal elastisement. I saw one who avowed hav- ing shot one of our deer, and justified it on the ground that he had as much right to do it as we had, knocked down and kicked about the street by one of our drivers. Ours was a raftsman, a good shot, and as fond of a fight as of a frolie, and always ready for either. He so punished the interloper that he gave us a wide berth for the future, though he threatened to shoot our dogs, for which he was ' licked' a second time. Our man Carley was pretty well paid for his pugilistic services, as he assured me on my shaking hands, and leaving a half-dollar in his, that every gentleman had blessed him with an equal amount. Every night the tavern was crowded with our huntsinen, who, with the grand sa- chem, discussed and settled upon the route for the ensuing day. They, as well as the sportsmen generally, were well refreshed, and the evening wound up with story-telling and song-singing, in which our friends Throop and General Smith used to distinguish themselves. The dogs were secured at night, that we might be sure of their services in the morn- ing. Just at daylight the bugle was sounded, which was a signal for the sportsmen to prepare for breakfast, and for
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