History of Otsego County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 93

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) cn
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 988

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 93

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The following will illustrate one of the difficulties under which they labored in attending elections : The morning of a day on which an important town meeting was held, which caused a general attendance, was dark and threatening ; thick, murky clouds hung upon the hill-tops; everything appeared hushed to silence, except an occasional moan among the trees, which betokened an approaching storm. They heeded not the weather, but hastened on to the town election. During the day the storm came on in all its fury, and by night-fall the snow was nearly waist-deep, and then came the tug for home. Some thought best to stay all night, while others, muore courageous, started for their homes, among whom were John Champion, Jonathan Perry, Gard- ner Boorn, and Samuel Thompson, Esq. They wallowed through the snow as far as Decatur Hollow, where they rested a while, being very tired. Night had now arrived, and as the snow was falling thick and fast, it was a se- rious question whether they should attempt to go over the mountain to their homes or not. Finally courage prevailed, and they started through the snow, and in single file threaded their way along like a " forlorn hope," first one going on ahead to break the road, and then another. Be- fore they had got half way up the hill they became nearly exhausted, aud felt it almost impossible to reach their homes ; but, after a little rest, with renewed conrage they would start on again, well kuowing that if they remained there, the " storm king" would soon chill their blood, and that they would fall frozen victims on the mountain side to the fieree and chilling blast. These thoughts, and the remembranee of loved ones at home, would stiumlate their courage, and with renewed efforts they would again rush on, until at length Mr. Perry gave out entirely, and said he could go no farther, and implored them to let him lie down and sleep a while until he got rested, and then he would go on. They knew very well it would be his last sleep if they permitted him to do so, and they used their best efforts to keep him awake and to urge him on, mutil it was by main force they lified and carried him on, until they themselves got so weak they could not carry him any farther. Que would then take hold of his coat collar and hold of each others' hands, and thus they toiled and dragged their ex- hausted companion through the snow and over the drifts of Decatur Hill, until at length themselves, nemly exhausted.

John Champion die I at East Worcester. Otsego Co., N. Y. Sept. 1, 1850, aged eighty-four years. Mrs. Champion diel at East Wor- cester, June 16, 1815, aged seventy-five years.

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reached the home of Gardner Boorn, a little over the top of the mountain, arriving there some time after midnight, having .occupied about six hours in going less than two miles. Here, after getting warm and partaking of re- freshinents, they stayed until morning, thanking God for their safe deliverance from the fury of the storm and from a death-bed in the snow.

A few years after this, Mr. Perry moved to the south- western part of the State, and settled somewhere near the Pennsylvania line; and after having been gone some thirty years, business again called him to Worcester, and the writer of this was present and heard him and Mr. Champion relate to each other the ineidents of that fearful night in the snow, while tears ran down their furrowed cheeks as they related to each other certain particulars which took place on that occasion, and said he should ever and always feel grateful to those men for saving his life.

It appears that in those early times land swindlers were as plenty as now, and some of the settlers had trouble by purchasing their lands of swindlers, and as a consequence were compelled to leave their improveinents or make new contracts with the rightful owners. Some of these lands were embraced in what is ealled the "Colden Patent ;" and for fear of being ejeeted from their improvements, the settlers got together and agreed to send an agent with a sort of petition to Mr. Colden to ascertain on what conditions they could retain their lands, and the following is a fac simile of the style of petition sent :

WORCESTER, May 9, 1800.

MR. COL.DEN, -- Sir : Wo whoso names air here under Wrighten air settlers on your Land, and have severally agreed to send Mr. John Champiou to see and know the condition that we can have it on, for we mean to do all we can for you, and want that you should consider our cireomstanceis and be as favourabel to us as possibel, and send in "Wrighten" by the barer, so that we may know what to depeud on the No. of the lots that wo want is at the end of our names, so we remain yours, etc. (The names hero are mostly torn off from tho paper.)

Abont the year 1805 or 1806, John Champion sold his claim at MeCarthy's Corners, and moved to what is called " Calentta street," near East Woreester. The country around was all a heavy forest. He just cleared away a

spot large enough for his purpose, and built a log house,

which stood about forty or fifty feet south of where the woolen-factory now stands.

THE FIRST GRIST-MILL.

The first grist-mill was built by John Champion, at East Worcester, in 1808. It was sitnated near the present loca- tion of the woolen factory. It was a hereulean task to build a grist-mill in those days. " As I have watched the hop- per," says S. B. Champion, " many days when hardly old enough to walk, and give warning to father when it became nearly empty, while he worked at something else, I ean deseribe. In the first place three great points were to be attained,-first, a waterfall ; second, a pond ; third, to place the mill where high water could not wash it away. To get the fall, water was diverted from the creek nearly half a mile from the mill-site, and a ditch dug through the woods to a small swamp about half way to the mill ; there a pond was made. A ditch from that led the water to the mill ;

there a deep wheel-pit was dug near a bank, and a hollow log conveyed the water to the over-shot wheel. The mill frame was made of the heaviest timber, so that the maehin- ery would not shake it to pieces, and about three stories high. As elevators to convey grain or meal were unknown, the mill-stones were elevated above the bolts, so that the meal could run from the stones into them. All of the wheels were made of wood, with wooden eogs ; belts were made of untanned hides."

Aaron Champion built a shop just below the old mill and rigged up a turning lathe and miniature saw-mill, in which he turned bed-posts and other articles, and made machinery for earding-machines; one of which he built at Sehenevus for Messrs. Bradford & Bostwiek, where Ferry's plaster-mill is now located ; afterwards burned down. This was in 1826. Near this old mill was the ashery ; afterwards converted into a whisky-still, the grain for which was ground in the grist-mill. It stood between the present woolen-factory and the bridge across the main stream.

THE FIRST SAW-MILL.

Mr. Isaae Lane, a Revolutionary soldier, settled near by, and built a saw-mill, which was the first one in this seetion of country.

In 1812, Mr. Champion took down the old log house and built a frame one near by, in which himself or some of the family lived for over sixty years. His family was quite large, there being twelve children, seven boys and five girls ; all lived to be men or women ; some to be quite aged, and several are yet living, having emigrated to the western prairies. The names of the boys were Reuben, Moses, Aaron, John, Joshua Kellam, James Arminius, and Ezra ; the girls, Samantha, Betsey, Polly, Ann, and Clarissa. Six of the sons and three daughters married and reared large families.

The carly settlers near East Woreester were Joshua Bigelow, Benj. DeLamater, Joseph Powers, Derick Living- stone, Andrew Little, Wm. Alvord, Lionel Sheldon, Allen Sheldon, J. Kelso, James Lockwood, Isaae Caryl, James Lamoure, David and Adolphus Gott, Jonathan, Jothan, and Calvin Jennings, Cary Pepper, and others.

The first house at East Worcester was built by Andrew Little, and on the farm now or reeently owned by the Thurbers.

The First Tavern .- About the year 1818, Reuben and Aaron Champion, eldest sons of John Champion, bought the farm then occupied by Andrew Little, and soon after Aaron Champion commenced keeping a hotel or tavern, the first at East Worcester .* His hotel sign was made by

# As the licenses in those days were so much different from those issued at the present time, we copy one :

" To all persons to thom these presents shall come or may concern : It appearing to us, whose names are hereunto affixed, commissioners of excise for the town of Worcester, in the County of Otsego, that Aaron Champion of the said town is a person of good character, and that an Inn or Tavern at the house in which the sail Aaron Cham- pion now resides, in the said town, is necessary for the accumula- tion of travelers; and the said Aaron Champion having applied to tos for a license to retail strong liquors at such place, we do therefore. in pursuance of the authority giveu to us by the Act for laying a duty on strong liquors, and for regulating fans and Taverne, heense the

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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

having two poles being tenoned in two sills in the ground, a cross bar on top, to which hung his signboard, about 3 feet by 5, on which was painted an enormous Anaconda snake, with simply the words, " A. Champion's Inn." This signboard was noted for hundreds of miles, and the hotel was called the " Snake Tavern" to distinguish it from others on the Susquehanna Valley road.

The licenses dated Jan. 13, 1820, to Aaron Champion to keep a hotel, were signed by Uriah Bigelow, Silas Crip- pen, and Abel Abbott. Those dated May 2, 1820, were signed by Henry Smith, Silas Crippen, and Setli Chase. Those dated May 1, 1821, by John Strain, Joseph S. Clark, and Jacob Wood. Those of May 7, 1822, by John Strain, Joseph S. Clark, and Jacob Wood. Those of May 6, 1823, by Joseph S. Clark, Jonathan Pickering, and John Strain. Those of May 4, 1824, by Joseph S. Clark, Jonathan Pickering, and Alden Markham. Those of May 3, 1825, by Seth Chase, Allen Markham, and Jonathan Pickering.

About the year 1812, Lionel Sheldon and Joseph Kelso put in a set of carding-machines for carding wool into rolls, and machinery for dressing eloth, in the lower room of Champion's mill ; the first in the four towns, if not the first in the county. Three or four years after, Sheldon & Kelso dissolved partnership, and Lionel and Allen Sheldon, iu company, built and put up carding and clothing works about eighty rods below the grist-mill, where they successfully car- ried on the business for twenty or twenty-five years, when Allen withdrew from the firm and emigrated to Ohio, the business being continued by Lionel Sheldon for near twenty years longer, when he sold out to David Anthony. The site is now oeeupied by the paper-mill owned by H. & W. H. Harder. A daughter of Lionel Sheldon, Mrs. O. La More, resides in East Worcester, and a son, D. L. D. Shel- don, M.D., in New York.

In 1820, John Champion left the mill in care of his sons Moses and John, and went down to what was then called " The Corners," now East Worcester, and, by an arrange- ment with his sou Aaron, came in possession of the farm. He then went on, and with the help of his boys built a carding-machine and elothing works, located just in rear of where the grist-urill now stands, digging a ditch about a quarter of a mile long in the side of the hill, some of it through solid rock, and some places cut the bank down over twenty feet, in order to make a ditch to convey water from the ereek to his clothing works. It was a great undertaking for his limited queans; but with him there was no such thing as fail in whatever he undertook, and he accomplished his projeet and set his machinery going, which was success- fully carried on for a number of years.

Keeping a tavern not being a congenial business for Aaron Champion (father of the editor of the Stamford Mirror), he went back (in 1826) to the mill, and his father took the

said Aaron Champion, to keep an Inn or Tavern, and to retail strong or spirituaus liquors under live gallons, as an inn-keeper, at his wel- ling-house afuresaid, and not elsewhere in said town of Worcester, until the first Tuesday of May next, and no longer. Given under our hands and seuls this third day of May, 1825.

"SETH C'HASE, " ALLEN MARKHAM,

"JONATHAN PICKERING, " Excise Commissioners."

tavern; after a while John Champion, Jr., came in posses- sion of the tuill, and removed it to East Worcester, where he rebuilt it. They also built a large dam across the creek, thereby making the water more available, and by iniprove- ment it has become one of the most desirable water privi- leges in central New York State.

John Champion and his sons were the founders of the village of East Worcester, as the many buildings which they built, including the mill and its water-power improvements, are yet monuments of their enterprising spirit.

After John removed the mill, James A. Champion came in possession of the old mill, in which he put a clover-mill; that soon after took fire and burned down. He then built the present woolen-factory, which is now owned by other parties ; and the name of Champion at East Worcester has become obsolete, all having either died or left the place.

All of the Champion boys, who were old enough at the time the War of 1812 was declared, were members of some military company, and but one of them was drafted. That was Aaron, the father of the Mirror editor. Business that he was engaged being of such a nature as to make it difficult for him to leave home at that time, he hired a substitute. The drafting was done different from what it was during the late civil war. The company was called together, and stood in line. Picees of paper, equal to the number of members, were prepared, and figures, from one to the number required to fill the quota, placed on them, and the balance were blaek. The slips were put in a hat, well mixed, and the drafting officer passed along the line, each member drawing a ticket. It was like a lottery for life or death ; and as each one drew his ticket, it was not long before it was known whether there was a figure on it or not.

"The first doctor I remember," says Mr. Champion. "was old Dr. Warner. He was one of the old-fashioned kind, and did not believe in people continually pouring down medicine to keep well. He used to say that people ' doctored too much ;' as some politicians now say, 'we are governed too much.' Near us settled a newly-married couple. The wife was neat as could be, and everything was in keeping with her personal appearance. Uncle Ezra used to say that she was so particular, that if a fly should happen to 'light on her dress and leave a speek while she was eating a meal, she would quit and wash it off. Their first-born was a son, and kept, like a doll-baby, in the house. It did not thrive, and Dr. Warner was called in to see it. He looked it over, admired its perfect form and features, took it up and started out of the house with it. The mother was alarmed, and said the doetor would kill it if he did not bundle it up. It was in the spring, and the father of the child was making a garden. The doctor put it down in a newly-made onion bed. The baby immediately took up a handful of dirt, and commenced eating it. The mother was more frightened, but it was allowed to eat all it wanted. Then the old doctor left them, with the remark. ' Give it plenty of pure air for its lungs, clean dirt for its bones, and you will have a large, rosy-checked, healthy child, instead of a poor, pale, weakly, emaciated creature.""

Dr. A. T. Bigelow, of Worcester ; Dr. Van Alstyne. of Richmondville ; Dr. Darrow, of Decatur ; and Dr. Tallulah were the doctors about our locality. In later years there

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was a Dr. Hess, Dr. MeLaury, and Dr. George II. Leonard. The latter was in the 51st Regiment New York Volunteers, and died at Brooklyn, N. Y., Feb. 4, 1862, aged thirty- seven years. His wife was Catharine Bradley, of Richmond- ville. She and four of her children now reside at Stam- ford, N. Y.

General Edmund B. Bigelow was elected a member of assembly in 1837. In 1838-39 he built a brick hotel, the first brick building in the village. It was kept by him until burned March 19, 1860, after which he moved to Albany and kept a hotel on Washington street, and then in another part of the city until his decease a few years ago.

During the ereetion of the hotel, a son of Abijah Barrett ran through a bed of lime that was being slacked, and burned his legs so badly that he died.

General E. B. Bigelow was a pioneer. He was a mer- chant at East Worcester, postmaster a long time, owned a large farm, a brigadier-general of a regiment of infantry, and was one of the leading spirits in that part of the county. His wife was Huldah Howe. His sons were Edmund B., Wallace, Jerome, Gouverneur, and Thaddeus. One daugh- ter (Jane) became the wife of William L. Gott, a man of considerable notoriety in later years.

On the lower side of the street was a hotel kept by Samuel Witt (after the Champions quit the hotel business), commeneing in 1836, and continuing some twelve years. He removed to Carylville, kept a hotel there several years, at which place he died. His wife was Susan Caryl, a sister of Leonard Caryl, and she is still living.

Derrick Livingston kept a hotel many years, just cast of the old school-house. The Livingstons were quite numer- ous, and in 1849 Chauncey kept a hotel near Richmondville.

Still farther east, Joseph Powers kept a hotel, not far from the present railroad crossing. After his death it was continued by Chester Powers. This was quite a large family, and one of them, Ingraham, became a Baptist preacher.

After the destruction of the Bigelow hotel, and about the time the railroad was opened, D. W. Thurber bought a portion of the Warnerville seminary, moved it to East Worcester, and erected a large hotel near the depot, nearly opposite where the old Champion hotel was located. This was kept by W. W. Babcock until 1877, when it was bought by other parties. It is the only one now kept in the place.

The next hotel west of East Worcester was kept by Captain Bela Johnson. Mr. Johnson was captain of a cou- pany in the 7th Regiment of Infantry, and company drills were held at his place, and in 1518 at a hotel kept by Nathaniel Todd, since by John P. Russ, and lately by E. F. Knapp.

In those days hotels were kept and managed differently from what they are now. Most travelers carried their own provisions; teamsters had large dinver-pails, and ate their meals on bar-room tables or sitting on their wagons. The hotels were depended on for places of lodging, and barn room for their horses. Price & were low : a shilling fox a lodging and meals, three cents for whisky and cigars, and three cents per horse for a baiting of hay. Offen I

have sat in the hotel, seeing them roast clams in the big fire-place, and listening to their stories of pioneer life.

As long time ago as 1807 or 1808 the mail was brought from Albany, on horseback, by Joseph Webb. After a while he drove a horse and wagon, and occasionally carried a passenger. For a great many years Mr. Elias Brooks, of Westford, was a post-rider, bringing and distributing the papers published at Cooperstown. I think he continued until about the time of the opening of the Albany and Susquehanna railroad. His route was by Middlefield, De- catur, Worcester, East Woreester, and then by the way of Calcutta street to his home.

An early settler was Isaae Caryl, who was born in Hop- kinton, Mass., April 19, 1771. His ancestors were from England, and when quite young his father, Jonathan Caryl, moved with his family to Chester, Windsor Co., Vt.

On May 20, 1792, Isaae Caryl was married by Elder Aaron Leland to Susan Snell, of Chester ; by her he had five sons and two daughters. Jolin, the oldest, was born at Chester, Oct. 1, 1792; Isaac, Jr., Nov. 8, 1794; Susan. Dee. 28, 1796; Leonard, March 20, 1799; Emily, April 20, 1801; Moses, Aug. 17, 1803; Joel, April 9, 1806. Susan, the mother of these children, died at Chester, Feb. 26, 1807, and a monument was erected to her memory by her sons. Her aneestry it is believed were also English.

Isaac Caryl, Sr., married his second wife, Mary Barnes, born March 14, 1774. Married by Rev. Aaron Leland. aforesaid, in 1808, aud moved to Sharon, Sehoharie Co., N. Y. ; thenec to Woreester about 1810, and bought the farm now occupied by William II. Ely, where he erected a distillery and carried on a large farm. His father was in the Revolutionary war with Washington uutil it closed; was then honorably discharged. Isaac Caryl, Sr., was highly esteemed by all who knew him. A few years before his death he moved to West Richmondville, a small village tak- ing his name, called Carylville, where he died Sept. 17, 1843, aged seventy-two years.

John Caryl, eldest son of Isaae and Susan, lived with his father at Worcester aforesaid. IIe was a member of Captain Giles Kellogg's company of artillery, composed of 100 men. They all volunteered in the War of 1812 for two years, to be in active service one year. They were called out and stationed on the Canada line. and were in the battle at Sacket's Harbor. Before leaving home he married Hannah Lampman, by whom he had five children, -two sons and three daughters,-the eldest, John G. Caryl, born May 5, 1813. He received a good common- school education, became a merchant in Worcester, afore- said, and traded for quite a number of years. He married Christina Ann Smith, daughter of Samuel Smith. of Cen- tral Bridge, Schoharie Co., N. Y., to which place he moved, and continued a successful mercantile business and worked a small farm. He has been a number of times elected supervisor of the town of Schoharie.

Joel Caryl, the second son, and his sister Susan are de- ceased ; the other two daughters married and moved West.

Isaae Caryl, Jr. married and lived in Worcester and vicin- ity many years. He moved to the city of New York, and thence to lowa, where he died. His wife died before leaving New York city.

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HISTORY OF OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Susan, the eldest daughter of Isaae Sr., was married at Worcester, to William Gott, by whom she had three chil- dren, Isaac D., Mary D., and William S. After her first husband's deccase she married Samuel Witt, by whom she had two children, John and Frances, both of them married and living in Nunda, Livingston Co., N. Y.

Leonard, the third sou of Isaac and Susan, obtained by his own industry a good academic education at Chester, Windsor Co., Vt., and at the age of seventeen entered the store of Caryl & Fullerton, at Stockbridge, in said Windsor Co., Vt., as clerk, and remained as such until he became of age, when he entered into a copartnership with Dr. Timo- thy P. Fay, under the firm-name of Fay & Caryl, buying goods in Boston, Mass. Doing a lucrative business for three or four years, he bought his partner's interest, and soon after closed business and removed to Worcester, in 1825. The year previous, in October, 1824, he married Mary, the youngest daughter of the Hon. Silas Crippen. She was born at Worcester, July 29, 1800.

Leonard Caryl after his removal from Vermont to Wor- eester built a new store and comuenced mercantile business near the residence of his father-in-law in 1825. In 1826 he purchased a store, two dwelling-houses, and other build- ings in the centre of the town, where he did an extensive business, not confined to Worcester only, but included the adjoining towns.

In 1841 he built the large brick building at East Wor- cester for a store and dwelling, at present occupied by his son-in-law, William H. Ely, the most expensive and elegant · building in Worcester. The same year he was elected to the legislature by a majority of more than 1400, and in the town of 140, when the political parties were nearly balanced in town.

The year following he was elected supervisor. In 1837 he ereeted the hotel opposite his store, the same now occu- pied by George Charles as a private residence. As early as 1835, he advocated the feasibility of a railroad through the Schenevus valley as a necessary outlet for the coal of Pennsylvania, as well as the accommodation of the traveling publie. At a railroad meeting of three counties at the court-house in Schoharie county he made the principal address; again at Oneonta and at different points on the route year after year, besides spending much time in Albany during the sessions of the legislature, advocating and look- ing after the interest of his favorite project. And it is but justice to claim for him the pioneership of this enter- prise. The company took 1878, acres of his land for the track ; he subscribed for fifty shares.

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History of Otsego County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 93

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) cn Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss Number of Pages: 988

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) cn
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 988