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 92
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1832
1833 Russell Bentley.
¥
"
1835
1836 William Kirby.
Jolin Drake. J. Il. Griggs.
1838
Asa Denton.
Waldo Skinner.
1839
1840
Jobn R. Griggs.
Hanson Wright.
1841 Garrett Roseboom.
1842 .John R. Griggs.
1843 . George Skinner.
1844 John Drake.
18 45 .. George Skinner.
1846 Nathau Bidlake.
1847 Waldo Skinner.
1848 David Kelso.
1849 Aaron Pette.
1850 George Guy.
IS51 Waldo Andrews.
1852 George Guy.
1853
David Kelso.
1854 M. J. Hubbard.
1855 David Kelso.
1856 ..
1857
Waldo Andrews.
1858 1859 Nelson Thurbur.
Dwight Chester.
1860 John Drake.
M. J. Ilubbard.
J. C. Holines.
S. E. Manzer.
1863
Thomas MeNutt.
J. Bresee.
O. J. Prime.
Erasmus Snyder.
S. E. Manzer.
L. F. Preston.
IS69
Melvin Griggs.
L. F. Preston.
1871 Charles H. Bissell.
N. Hull.
1872 German Wilbur.
J. K. Tyler.
1873 John T. Newton.
1874
Charles H. Bissell.
S. E. Manzer.
1875
D. S. Bidlake.
The town officers elected in 1877 were as follows :
Supervisor .- George Wing.
Town Clerk .- Robert S. Hall.
Justice of the Peace .- Myron J. Hubbard. Commissioner of Highways .- Horace Roseboom.
Assessor .- Abram Bulson.
Overseers of the Poor .- James II. Thomas and William Utter.
Collector .- John I. Wilbur.
Anditors .- W. O. Wilbur, J. S. Newton, and J. Esmay. Constables .- A. Baldwin and William Kingsley.
David Kelso. George Skinner. George Guy, Jr.
Garrett Roseboom, Jr.
R. K. Jackson. J. L. Davis. ..
George Guy. J. T. French. =
1861 Dwight Chester.
1862
. George Wing.
1864. James T. Freneb.
IS65 Waldo HI. Tyler.
1866 Raymond Saxton.
1867 Waldo II. Tyler. IS68
William H. Platoer.
1870. Melvin Griggs.
George Wing. 1876
" Waldo Skinner.
1834
1837 John Drake.
¥
1831
Simeon Chester. John Kelso.
Rufus Bentley. Ezra Williams.
George Skinner.
¥
George Skinner.
355
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
AGRICULTURAL AND GENERAL STATISTICS.
In 1865, Westford had 15,031 acres of improved land, the cash value of which was 81,674,555. There were 3372 acres of plowed land, and 5564 aeres of pasture. Bushels of winter wheat harvested, 319; bushels of winter wheat, 101; bushels of oats, 23,045; bushels of barley, 776; bushels of buckwheat, 5959; bushels of corn har- vested in 1864, 5137 ; bushels of potatoes, 18,841 ; bushels of peas, 175; bushels of beans, 94; bushels of turnips, 800 ; pounds of hops, 170,582; bushels of apples, 18,254; barrels of eider, 451; pounds of maple sugar, 24,191; pounds of butter, 102,250 ; pounds of cheese, 5841.
Agricultural Statistics, 1875 .- Acres plowed, 3347 ; in pasture, 7389 ; mown, 5216; tons hay produced, 5658; bushels barley, 404; buekwheat, 4427; corn, 5934; oats, 42,655 ; rye, 2481; spring wheat, 270; winter wheat, 274; beans, 11; peas, 66; pounds of hops, 55,159; bushels potatoes, 37,365 ; pounds of butter made, 141,905 ; cheese, 1065.
Area .- Westford has an area of 20,812 aeres, the as- sessed valuation of which is $455,250, and the equalized valuation, $330,911.
POPULATION.
1810 1215
1845. 1500
1814. 1336
1850. 1423
1820. 1526
1855. 1371
1860 1382 1825 14SS
1830
1645
1865.
1282
1835
1547
1870
1300
1840
1478 | 1875. 1256
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF WESTFORD.
This religious organization was effected in about the year 1790, and the first church building was ereeted in 1823. It was 40 by 60 feet in size, and cost $1300. This society has had but two church edifices. The present one is 52 by 36 feet in size, and was erected at a cost of $2500. The first trustees of this church were as follows : Edward Mills, W. Fellows, J. Perry, A. Van Dusen, and John North. The present trustees are John Hull, W. II. Platner, W. H. Tyler, N. Banker, and HI. Bell. The church has a present membership of 113, and is under the pastoral care of Rev. Albert F. Brown, to whom we are indebted for its history.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
This is one of the old religious organizations of the county, having been formed in 1800 by Rev. T. Bushnell. The first pastor who officiated for the church was Rev. George Colton. Among the first members were Charles Mason, Jonas Babcock, John Manning, and Josiah Hub- bard. The first church building was erected in 1809, on the site of the present edifice. This was repaired and remodeled in 1852. Among the ministers who have officiated for this church were Messrs. Caldwell, Keys, Baldwin, Gillett, Clark, Moore, and Campbell. The present trustees are Garrett Roseboom, Robert S. Halt, and II. E. Draper.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church was organized by Rev. Elijah Spafford in 1825. At its organization it consisted of sixteen metubers.
It was not until about ten years after its formation that a church edifice was erected. This was superseded in 1860 by the present building, which was erected at a cost of $1000.
ST. TIMOTHY'S CHURCH.
This church organization was effected in 1838 by Rev. Timothy Minor, the first rector. The church builling was ereeted in 1840. In 1867 it was repaired, and is now a comfortable and convenient house of worship. The present wardens are Andrew Snyder and David Kelso; vestrymen, Nathan Bidlake and Revillo Holmes. The church is at present in a more prosperous condition than it has known for many years past. Rev. Theodore A. Snyder is the rector.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
of Westville was organized in 1830, with forty-four mem- bers. The first settled pastor was the Rev. Benjamin Sawin. The first church edifice was erected at about the same time with the organization of the society. The present neat and substantial edifice was ereeted in 1871.
THE METHODIST CHURCH
at Westville was formed in the year 1851. The organi- zation was made by Rev. David Elliott, who became the first settled pastor. The first church building was erected during the same year that the church was organized, at a cost of $1200. The present church edifice was built in 1871.
MILITARY RECORD.
The following-named persons eurlisted from this town during the war of the Rebellion. Our thanks for this list are due to J. K. Tyler, Esq., of Westford, and to the super- intendent of the bureau of military statistics at Albany :
George C. Allen, lieut., ent. in the 51st Regt. in 1861 ; killed while loading his mien in a charge at the battle of Newbern, N. C., March 12, 1:02.
Philor Prindle, ent. in the 31st Regt. in 1861; died in camp in 1861.
Raymond L. Wright, ent. in the cavalry in 1861, and was killed in a charge at the battle of Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864.
Henry Wright, enl. in the S21 Rugt , Jan. 1862, and was killed on skirmish line at Cold Harbor, Va., in June, 1864.
Augustus lloag, enl. in the 7th II. Art .; was taken prisoner at Spottsylvania, Va., in May, 1864, and died at Andersonville.
Wilber Mosier, enl. early in the war, and was wounded in the Wilderness, May 6, 1864; captured by the enemy, and died a prisoner.
Jolin Lansing, enl. in the 121st Regt. in 1862; killed at the battle of Such m Church, Va., May 3, 1863.
Geo, Quackenbush, enl. in the 121st Regt. in 1862; served till the close of the war,-the last two years as lieut, in charge of an ambulance train.
Sewell Le Valley, enl. in the leIst Regt. in 1862; was in the ranks until April. 1864, when he was detailed as brigade saddler, and served as such lo the close of the war.
Augustus Ballwin, enl. in the 121st Regt. in 1862; was wounded in the hip at the battle of Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864; diy, at close of war.
Samuel G. Crawford, enl. in the 12Ist Regt. in 1862. Mbert Bell, enl. in the 12Ist Regt. in 1862.
Shedrack Lamphere, enl. in the 12Ist liegt. in 1862.
Nicholas Banker, enl. in the 121st Regt, in 1862; was in all battles of the real. ment until May 10, 1564, when he was wounddel by a shell frota a Col vi battery ; he remained in the field, and about two months thereafter ton.h lus place in the rauks; innstered ont with the regiuint.
John K. Tyler, onl, in the fist Best. in late; he serve l'in th ry .. . ' shared the fortunes of the regiment every day from lip; to vt. . .. had a ride in an ambulance or a betth in a hospital ; he wasti on ; men of the one hundred who went out in Co. G that participated in all of two battles, aml came out withont a wound.
Moses D. Bruttey, cul. in Co. I, Ist Engineers, Bet. 99, 1981 ; die Je " . Warren Wright, eul. in Co. F. Ist Engineers, Aug 2, Ist; An July 15, 1.6. William 1, Whitney, end. in Co. D. SHEav. Aug. 2%. Nel ; des. June 5. Chas. 11. Landen, ent, in Co, E, Fthe H. Art, (AL. 16, 163; ds. Aug. a., Fui
356
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Chas. W. Boyce, cul. in Co. D, 30th Mich. Inf., Dec. 29, 1864; dis. in 1865. Harrison Potte, enl. in The 76th Regt. in 1>G1 ; dis, in 1>63.
D. R. I. well, ent. in Co. G, 12Ist Regt., Sept. 12, 1864; lost arm at Sailor's Creek.
S. W. Graffield, eni. in Co. E., lat Engineers, Ang. 29, 1864 ; died in 1865. Win. E. Wright, eni. in Sept. 1864, in the 3d Cuv .; served to The close of The war.
Philrtus P. Bentley, enl. in The 1521 Regt. ; wounded ; servel during the war. Gen. Winans, enl. in the 152d Regt. ; wounded ; served during the war. John Cook, end. in the 5lat Regt. ; lost a leg, which canread his death. Antbruse J. Cook, served In The service about four years, regiment not known. Raselus Haskins, enl. in The 121st Regt. in 1864.
Almarin Baldwin, enl. in The cavalry, and received an honorable discharge.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ELBERT COATES.
The subject of this sketch was born Sept. 24, 1803, in the town of Westford, Otsego County, N. Y. He was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Coates, who were among the first settlers of tlre town. Ile was the second son of a family of eight children. At the age of twenty-one years he assumed control of his father's business, and at his father's death, which occurred in 1828, he, with Jacob L. Snyder, as executors, settled the estate to the entire satisfaction of the other legatees.
Mr. Coates purchased the interest of the heirs in the estate, and to the farm, then embracing 225 acres, he made subsequent additions, until at the time of his death he was in possession of nearly 500 acres.
His wife's portrait and a view of his late residence may , be seen elsewhere in this work. His portrait also would appear liere, but unfortunately there are none in existence. March 27, 1857, he married Luey Ann Bennett, daughter of Aaron and Sally Bennett, who were early settlers in the town of Maryland. To Mr. and Mrs. Contes were born Ella D., Elbert, and Effie M., all of whom are living with their mother. Mr. Coates was a man of unusual ability, and was well posted on the events of the day ; a man of un- tiring industry, and during a busy life succeeded in accu- mulating a large property ; and during the late war it is related of him that he paid the highest taxes of any man of his town. He was a stanch Democrat, but never a seeker after official honors. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died Nov. 14, 1872. A beautiful monument marks his resting-place in the Methodist cemetery at Westville.
THE ROSEBOOM GENEALOGY.
Robert Roseboom was born in Holland in 1693. Ilen- drick Roseboom, son of Robert, was also born in Holland. They emigrated to America about the year 1720, and set- tled in Albany, N. Y. Robert Roseboom died in the year 1764. Hendrick, son of Robert, married Mary Sanders. He died in 1743, leaving a widow and one son, named Garret, born July 19, 1722. Getty, his wife, was born March 26, 1731. He died, leaving a widow and nine chil- dren, viz. : Robert, boru Oct. 9, 1755; Hendrick, born May 27, 1757 ; John, born Jan. 20, 1760; Garret, born Sept. 20, 1762; Peter, born Ang. 17, 1764 ; Gilbert, born Oct. 12, 1768; Mary, born March 14, 1754; Deborah, born Oct. 4, 1773; Peggy, born Dec. 3, 1775.
Robert Roseboom and Jesintie Dumont were married at Raritan, Somerset Co., N. J., March 2, 1776. She was a daughter of Peter and Brachie Dumont of that place, and born June 18, 1751. Robert Roseboom bought of John Van Ness, of Albany Co., Oct. 13, 1786, 250 acres of land for £175, located in Westford, and in the spring of 1787 moved his family, consisting of his wife and three children, viz., Garret, Brachie, and Peter; the latter at the time was about two and a half years old. Gertrude and Jesintie were born Feb. 17, 1795. Robert Rosebooru was a State senator from 1801 to 1805; in the assembly in 1800, 1811, and 1815.
Garret Roseboom was born Nov. 27, 1777, and married Mary Adams in 1816. Ile died Feb. 5, 1870, leaving a widow, two sons, and one daughter,-Robert, Garret, and Emily.
Peter Roseboom was born Oct. 5, 1785. He married March 16, 1816, at New Malbury, Ulster county, Anna, daughter of Job and Sarah Hopkins, who was born Feb. 2, 1794. He settled on the farm owned by his father in his lifetime, and lived and died there, leaving a widow and four children (one daughter, Mary Jane, having died in 1850), viz. : Sarah Ann, Brachie, Mary Jane, Horace, and Jesintic. Peter Roseboom died April 14, 1863; his wife, Anna Roseboom, died March 23, 1869.
Horace Roseboom is now the owner and occupant of the old homestead where his grandfather, father, and motlier died. He has two daughters and one son. He has also two grandchildren, son and daughter of Schuyler and Mary Jane Borst. Mr. Roseboom is an active and prominent citizen, and justly merits the esteem in which he is held.
CHAPTER LXXV.
TOWN OF WORCESTER.
Organization - Geographical -Topographical - First Settlers and their Locations-Initial Events-The First Town-Meeting-Officers Elected-Supervisors and Town Clerks from 1798 to 1878-Agri- cultural and General Statistics-Area-Equalized and Assessed Valuation-Population.
WORCESTER was formed from Cherry Valley, March 3, 1797, and embraced, in addition to its present territory, the towns of Maryland, Decatur, and Westford. These towns were set off in 1SOS. It is the southeast corner town in the county and bounded as follows : on the north by Westford and Decatur, on the east by Schoharie county, on the south by Delaware county, and on the west by Maryland. The surface is a hilly upland, and the soil consists chiefly of a sandy loam. The soil is fertile, partic- ularly along the valley of the Schenevus ereek and Charlotte river, where are found some of the finest farming lands in the county.
The first settlements in this town were made soon after the Revolution, in about the year 17SS. Prominent among the pioneers was Silas Crippen, of honored memory. He was an active and influential man, and did nmuch to advance the interests of his town and county. He was supervisor eight years, also justice of the peace, judge of the court,
IL
COATES
MRS
CY A.COATES.
RESIDENCE OF MRS. LUCY A ATES, WESTVILLE, OTSEGO CO., N. Y.
INSERT
FOLD-OUT OR MAP HERE !
11:15 - 12
-.
MRS. PETER ROSEBOOM
HORACE ROSEBOOM.
PETER ROSEBOOM.
000
RESIDENCE or HORACE ROSEBOOM, WESTFORD, OTSEGO Co., N.Y.
£
337
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
and was a member of assembly in 1816. He owned and condneted successfully a large farm, and built the first grist- mill in the town in 1790, and the first saw-mill about the same time. The farm formerly owned by him is now oceu- pied by Ethan A. Hanor. At the time of his settlement this locality was a dense uninviting wilderness; there were no roads, not even a foot-path or marked trees, and he ent his way through to the settlement. Mr. Crippen was accompanied to his forest home by his wife and two sons, -Sammel and Asa.
Philip, a son, was the first white child born in the town. The other children were Daniel, Sally, Betsey, Silas, Mary, Silas, Charles. James M., son of Asa, resides in this town ; Philip has two sons and one daughter who are residents of the town, Harrison and Schuyler, and Sarah, widow of James B. Cooley. Betsey, widow of J. P. Russ, resides in the village of Worcester, at the advanced age of eighty- two years; a son, Hamilton Russ, and a daughter, the wife of D. T. Gott, are residents of East Worcester. Mary married Leonard Caryl. The children of John are Charles HI., a successful merchant at Worcester; Sabrina, wife of N. Wood, of Westford; Mary A., wife of A. K. Briggs ; Jane, wife of Timothy Castelar, and John, financial agent of Cornell university, residing at Mt. Vernon, Iowa. Schuyler Crippen was a prominent man and served in many official capacities within the gift of his fellow-citizens. He studied law with Jabez D. Hammond, of Cherry Valley, and finally settled in Cooperstown, where he died in March, 1872, aged seventy-seven years. Ile was one of the first eireuit judges after the organization of the Sixth distriet, was member of assembly in 1831, and district attorney in 1837. He has two children, a son and daughter, residing in Albany, N. Y.
Among other pioneers who were contemporaries with Mr. Crippen were Henry Stever, Solomon Hartwell, Uriah Bige- low, Nathaniel Todd, Charles Wilder, and Joseph Tainter.
The first merchant in Worcester was Anson Kinney in 1798. The pioneer grist-mill was erected by Silas Crippen, on the site now occupied by the mill of Benjamin Dey. It was a rudely-constructed affair, but its completion was the occasion of much rejoicing among the early settlers, who previously had carried their "grists" to Sharon. Uriah Bigelow was the first physician in the town, an excellent practitioner, and prominent man.
The settlement was not wholly without religions instrue- tion, as missionaries occasionally preached as time and circumstances woald permit, and as early as 1792 the Con- gregational church was organized. The settlement at Worcester was now in a prosperous condition, and the re- ports of a fertile soil, delightful location, and healthy cli- mate had reached the east, and soon after the tide of immi- gration set in, and the dawn of 1800 finds Worcester one of the most prosperous localities in the county.
James Marsh was a pioneer on lands now owned by Schyler Crippen, and Leonard, a brother of James, on premises now owned by Leonard Caryl.
John Waterman settled on and cleared the farm now occupied by a granddaughter, Wilow Fuller. Henry Stever, Deacon John Rand, Elias Clark, and Moses Essex were pioneers in this locality.
The first settler north of the village, on the Decatur road, was Luther Flint, who located on premises now owned by Sanford Wharton.
John More carly located on lands now owned by Mr. Fitzwater, and here built one of the first earding-machines in the town.
Deacon Phineas Flint was an early settler on the farm north of More, now owned by Horatio Flint, and oecupiel by Lester G. Flint. Thos. Flint, brother of Luther an 1 Phineas, was also a pioneer in this vicinity, on premises now ocenpied by Edward Prindle.
On the premises now owned by E. Vaughn, Joseph Flint, familiarly known as " Deacon," was an early settler. He was quite an active pioneer, and added to his stock . : worldly goods by the manufacture and sale of what was there facetiously called " white-oak cheese." Many an amusing story is related of Deacon Flint and his cheese, and " the boys" took especial delight in annoying him. One day he drove to Leonard Caryl's store with a load of these gems. and while inside negotiating for their sale the mischievous youngsters slyly removed the linch-pin from his wagon. The deacon finally came out, mounted his wagon, and after getting comfortably seated started his team, when. much to his astonishment, the fore wheels went with the team. the " hind wheels" refused to follow, and the cheese rollei around on the ground. Mr. Caryl had two clerks in his employ, Josiah Pickering and Ten Eyek Lamour. They sold one of these cheeses to a Mr. Bryant, who lived en south hill, and slyly slipped a package of salts in his pocket. The next day he returned, and angrily asked, " Why did you put those salts in my pocket ?"
" Well," answered Lamour, " you bought one of those cheeses, and I knew you would want a doctor before morn- ing, and there being none in your neighborhood, I thought I would give you some physic, it being the next best thing I could do for you."
Russell Pierce, familiarly known as " Tutty" the fid-ller. was a pioneer in the Deacon Flint neighborhood. Other early settlers were Mr. Robertson, Asa Butler, the Shel- lanils, John Keley, Samuel Hartwell.
Samuel Russ was an early settler on lands now owned by two grandsons, Samuel and Alonzo.
John P. Russ was a prominent pioneer on lands now owned by E. Ridge. His widow resides in the village of Worcester with her son, Hamilton Russ.
Among other settlers are mentioned the names of Jen- athan Jennings, Mr. Lamour, Andrew Little, Captain .I. i.n Pratt, William Simpson, Amos Belding, J. H. Herrington. J. Eddy, J. P. Hollenbeck, Green White, Mr. Briggs, Th - Tallman, Seth Dickinson, John Alford, David and Al 1- phus Scott, Hazard Smith.
A prominent pioneer at East Worcester was John (1 5: pion. He was born near Lyme, Conn., in 1986. u. 1 .1 twelve years of age entered the American any . fr' Rev. olution as a teamster. he being too young to carry ( Musket as a soldier. He served as teamster until the d's of The war. He had two older brothers in the art y att. sam? time. They were taken prisoners by the Bride. dove of them starved to death in the old Jersey pie ship it Revolutionary tamie. The other barely aus gest mil has
358
HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
life. At the close of the war, John Champion married Miss Elizabeth Kellam,* of his native place, and the next week after being married, and at the age of twenty-two, 1788, emigrated with his young wife to what the Yankees called " York State," aud settled in what was at that time the town of Worcester, and subsequently the town of Decatur, Otsego Co., N. Y.
Ile settled on what is called Elliot Hill, and bought the farın afterwards owned by the Elliots. After paying for his land, and elearing a large part of it, he found out that he had been swindled, and that he had purchased his land of a man who had no title to it, and in consequence he lost his farin, and got nothing for his improvements. It was while living here, for a period of nearly ten years, that he suffered all the privations and hardships of a pioneer life.
The country was one dense wilderness from Schoharie to Otsego on the Susquehanna, except a few scattered settle- ments at intervals along the Susquehanna, and at Cherry Valley. There were no mills where they could get grinding done ; the nearest one was at Sharon, and the next was at Central Bridge, in Schoharie county, about twenty miles distant. He was known to have gone several times to Central Bridge to mill with half a bushel of corn on his baek, and on foot, starting before daylight in the morning, aud returning the next night. Part of the way there was no road, but he was guided by marked trees through the woods, and was often followed by packs of howling wolves on either side the path. Many of the settlers were obliged to travel the same route with grists, in order to save their families from perishing in the wilderness. Deer, bears, and other wild garue were plenty, and hunters occasionally supplied them with meat from the forest.
.
After losing his farm, he moved to what is known as MeCarthy's Corners, in Decatur, where he purchased another tract of land of about 150 aeres, and cleared 40 acres by burning the timber into ashes. He erected a potashery, and went to boiling potash, at which business he succeeded in paying for his land a sceond time-about $400. Potash at that time fetehed a big price, and he did well at the business. Albany was the market place, and the potash was hauled by ox-teams, on roads cut through the woods over the hills, until they reached the valley of the Cobleskill creek, from which place to Albany the roads were better, and thus worked their. way through. It took generally from a week to ten days to make the trip, and upon such occasions the settlers would all combine, and have those who went with a load of potash, bring back a load of groceries and other goods sufficient to supply their wants during the intervals of going. There were other asheries located in other localities, so that they could co-operate with each other in the marketing of their potash.
Among the early settlers of the eastern part of Decatur, who were contemporaries with Mr. Champion from 1790 to 1800, were Peter Elliott, Daniel Elliott, Andrew Elliott, William Seward, Jonathan Perry, Jacob Stonematch, Philip Stonematch, James Works, Richard Taylor, Joseph Bristol,
Jesse Ferris, Gardner Boorn, Nathan Boorn, Samuel Thompson, Sr., Gilbert Smith, James Stone, William Rip- son, Charles Bartholomew, Ephraim Berry, Jesse Oaks, James Clark, Thomas Shaw, John G. Seeley, and others.
About the year 1795 or 1796, William Ripson, with the aid of the settlers near by, built a log grist-inill at what is called " Ferris' Falls," near the head-waters of the north branch of the Schenevus creek, which was the first grist- mill in Woreester, as it was then called, subsequently Decatur.
Their township elections were held mostly at what is now Westford village, and were held in the winter season. It was no small task to go through the snow and woods to the elections, and to do other township business.
Samuel Thompson, Sr., was appointed a justice of the peace for the Hill district, and held the office until the town was divided.
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