USA > New York > Otsego County > Otsego County, New York; geographical and historical, from the earliest settlement to the present time, with county and township maps from origional drawings > Part 5
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In 1788 came also George Scott from Yorkshire, England, and about the same time John Patton from Perthshire, Scot- land, Other pioneers were Abner Pier, for whom Pierstown
Paisville
Three Mile Point
0
sally
Leg Care
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OTSEGO
was named, and Major George Pier, a celebrated musician. Hon. Isaac Williams came in 1793. He occupied various im- portant offices. In 1813, 1817 and 1823 he represented his dis- trict in congress. Darius Warren came here from Connecticut in 1788, and was the first man who received a deed of land from Judge William Cooper. Erastus Taylor came from Bennington, Vt., and raised a family notable for longevity.
Other early settlers whose names have been perpetuated in this vicinity are George Roberts, Ira Tanner, Jesse Teft, Nor- man and Bingham Babcock, Martin Coates, Reuben Hinds, Platt St. John, Andrew Scribner, Levi Pierce, John Badger, Russell Williams, John Baldwin and Eleazur Loomis.
VILLAGES: There are four villages in this township, viz: Cooperstown (population 2,368), Fly Creek (population 238), Oaksville (population 149), and Hope Factory (popula- tion 130). Snowdon and Bourne are rural postoffices.
SCHOOLS: Number of school districts, 18; number of teachers, 32; children of school age, 803.
CHURCHES: There are ten churches in this township, viz: At Cooperstown, Baptist, Catholic, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Universalist. At Fly Creek, Methodist, Presby- terian, and Universalist. In the Hinds neighborhood north of Fly Creek, Methodist.
NEWSPAPERS: "Freeman's Journal," "Otsego Farm- er, " and "Otsego Republican," all published at Cooperstown.
COOPERSTOWN.
Cooperstown was founded by Judge William Cooper, the father of J. Fenimore Cooper, who in 1785 purchased from Colonel George Croghan (who had purchased it from the In- dians), a tract of 100,000 acres of land lying on the west side of the river and embracing the site of the present village and ex- tending both north and south of it. He purchased this land before seeing it, but in the fall of the same year, he came with a party of surveyors, and in January, 1786, took formal pos- session of his property, afterwards known as the "Cooper patent." William Ellison, a surveyor, came the same year, and in 1788, under Mr. Cooper's direction, he laid out the village.
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OTSEGO
In 1789, a large house having been built for them, Mr. Cooper brought his family from Burlington, N. J., their former home. The youngest member of this company was the child James, aged two years. The name Fenimore, the mother's maiden name, was later added by himself. This child was destined to become the most famous of American novelists, and the place to which he thus came to be famous as the scene of his romantic tales. The following is from a graphic description of Judge Cooper's arrival written in 1871 by G. Pomeroy Keese esq. of Cooperstown :
"One bright October afternoon eighty years ago, as the sun was drawing lengthened shadows over the landscape, bath-
COOPER PARK, COOPERSTOWN
ing in rich autumnal light the hills which surround the limpid waters of Otsego lake, there came around the base of Mount Vision a lumbering family coach, bearing, with its attendant vehicles, the founder of Cooperstown and his household to their new home. All the glorious beauties of the changing foliage which have since charmed so many thousands who have visited this still rural retreat, were in their virgin splendor, and as the new comers looked upon the scene and beheld in the reflection of the lake below the dark shades of the evergreens contrasted with the gold and crimson hues of the maple and the beech,
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OTSEGO
they must have been sadly insensible to the chief attraction of their future abode if they failed to see in it one of the most per- fect combinations of hill and valley, lake and forest, which the hand of painter could portray. The party, numbering fifteen in all, with the family domestics, was an imposing cavalcade in this primitive region just emerging from the wilderness. . The whole population of the place-thirty-five in all-were drawn up to receive the 'lord of the manor,' who, from hence- forth, as the first judge of the county and its largest landed proprietor, became the leading spirit of all that region."
The village thus begun more than a century ago, although of slow growth, has always prospered and kept pace with mod- ern progress. Its streets are broad and well kept; its driveways along the lake and river delightful, and its camping and boating facilities unsurpassed. It has an electric lighting plant, is sup- plied with pure water, and its spacious hotels and dwellings in- vite summer guests, of whom a great number are received every season. The work of the public authorities has been gener- ously supplemented by Mrs. Alfred Corning Clark, a distin- guished resident, to whom the place is indebted for a beautiful park and gymnasium, and for the splendid edifice of the Young Men's Christian Association.
To its natural beauty of situation and its advantages as a summer resort, Cooperstown adds the romantic interest that is associated with the " Leatherstocking Tales." Cooper excelled in his descriptions of natural scenery, and the reader who bears his vivid pictures in mind will easily recognize the localities along the lake made classic by his genius.
Cooperstown has been at times the permanent or summer home of some famous men, among whom, beside the great novelist, are Samuel F. B. Morse, Thurlow Weed, Gen. John A. Dix, Gen. Abner Doubleday, Gen. Geo. C. Starkweather, Hon. Samuel Nelson, Justice of the United States Supreme Court, and Col. Wm. L. Stone, editor of the New York Com- mercial Advertiser.
The Otsego County Agricultural Society holds an annual fair at Cooperstown, which is largely attended.
Important benevolent institutions at Cooperstown are the "Thanksgiving Hospital," in the establishment of which Miss Susan Fenimore Cooper, a daughter of the novelist, was largely instrumental, and the "Orphan House of the Holy Savior,"
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OTSEGO
which is under the control of the Episcopal diocese of Albany, but which receives inmates regardless of denominational lines.
THE COOPERSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL.
Th's institution is fully equipped for thorough instruction. It is supplied with all needed apparatus, and with a library of 4,000 volumes. The academic department, under the Regents, prepares for college and for law and other special courses. The faculty consists of a principal and eleven assistants.
COOPERSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
COOPER'S GRAVE AND MONUMENT.
James Fenimore Cooper died at his home in Cooperstown on the 14th of September. 1851, at the age of sixty-two years. Cooper sleeps in the churchyard beside his kindred, an unpre- tending slab marking the site of his grave. His monument is at Lakewood cemetery, on the eastern shore of the lake, just beyond the site of the panther scene in the "Pioneer." It is of Italian marble, twenty-five feet high, with a figure of Leatherstocking on the summit. Natty is represented as load- ing his rifle and gazing off on the lake spread out beneath him. while his dog by his side watches his master with eager interest.
Pittsfield
Area, 22,584 acres. Population 1,101.
1 MILE EDMESTO PITTSFIELD was formed from Burlington in 1797. It retained its original dimen- River & Pittsfield sions until 1806, when the New Berlin Wharton present town of New Lisbon Ketchum was set off from it. It con- PITTSFIELD sists mainly of fertile uplands lying between the valley of NEW LISBON N.Y. the Unadilla river, which con- Unadilla COUNTY CHENANGO stitutes its western boundary, M RRIS and the Butternuts creek val- AEB ley on the east. Some of the earliest settlers came from Pitts- field, Mass., and hencethe name. Among them were Dr. Joseph O. Cone, Capt. Aaron Noble and Samuel Tyler. The two lat- ter settled at Pittsfield village, locally called Pecktown, from Alvin Peck, who kept the hotel there.
Capt. Abel DeForest, a soldier of the Revolution, was an early settler at Meeker Hill. Gardner Hall came from Pownal, Vt., in 1797. His son, Wm. G. Hall, became the leading physi- cian of the town. Seth Harrington and Benjamin Eddy settled in the eastern part about 1793. Jabez Beardsley was a promi- nent settler in the western part on the river. He was supervisor for eleven years. Capt. Joseph Briggs, another veteran of the war, came early from Vermont. He and his son Silas were prominent citizens. Other early settlers were Augustus and Gardner Sheldon, Ezekiel Chapin and Stephen Hawkins.
This is a prosperous agricultural township and is chiefly devoted to dairying, the milk being sent either to the conden- sery at New Berlin or to the shipping station at Edmeston. It contains one village, Pittsfield, with a population of 70, and a rural postoffice at Ketchum.
SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 12; teachers, 10; chil- dren of school age, 189.
CHURCHES: There is a Union church at Ketchum. Ebenezer Chapel in the southern part is supplied by the Bap- tist and Methodist pastors from Morris.
Plainfield
Area, 17,142 acres.
Population, 897.
HERKIMER Co PLAINFIELD was set off · 1-MILE Bridgewater D .! L. & W. R.R. from Richfield in 1799. The surface is hilly, the bluffs 5 along the Unadilla river, River Unadilla Forks which constitutes its western PLAINFIELD boundary, rising to the height of 400 feet. RICHFIELD Plainfield Center The first settle- VALLEY Uradila ment was made in 1793, and Leonardovite the first settlers were Luther TER Smith, Elias Wright, Giles Kilbourne, Ruggles Spooner, EDMESTON BURLI Samuel Williams, Benjamin FAUNARILLA MADISON and Abel Clark. Among the most useful pioneers was Caleb Brown, who built the first grist mill in the town at "The Forks." He also built an oil mill and cloth factory on the east branch of the Unadilla, and a woolen factory a short dis- tance south of the Forks.
A noted family was that of Parley Phillips, who came from Massachusetts prior to 1800, and raised here a family of twelve children. Joshua Babcock and his nine children were also prominent in the olden time. He was a member of the as- sembly in 1818 to 1821, and presidential elector in 1836. Aza- riah Armstrong came from Vermont in 1812. He had nine children, several of whom have been leading citizens.
At Plainfield Center Joseph Sims was an early settler. His son Jeptha was the author of "Sims' Border Wars." Joseph Sims jr., a grandson of Joseph, was a noted author and lecturer.
VILLAGES: This is a fertile and prosperous township chiefly devoted to dairying. It contains only one village, Una- dilla Forks, with a population of 312. Plainfield Center is a hamlet, the seat of a Welch colony that still preserves its native language. Leonardsville is mostly in Madison county.
SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 11; teachers, 8; children of school age, 131. There is a Union Free school at Unadilla Forks with three departments.
CHURCHES: At Unadilla Forks, Baptist and Free Bap- tist. At Plainfield Center, Welch Congregational, with preach- ing in the Welch language.
Richfield
Area, 20,418 acres.
Population, 2,526.
This township was formed 1 MILE HERKIMER COUNTY Jordanville from Otsego in 1792. It then DELAWARE included the townships of Cullen Exeter and Plainfield, which were set off from it in 1799. Monticello (Richfield P.O.). .RICHFIELD Fish Greek RICHFIELD SPRINGS A The surface is rolling and moderately hilly with a mean elevation of 150 to 200 feet EXETER SPRINGFIELD above Canadarago (or Schuy- PLAINFIELD 0 ler) Lake. Several wooded ANADARAGO mountain peaks near the eastern boundary rise 300 feet higher. Canadarago Lake, the northern portion of which is within this township, lies in a deep valley and is fed by a number of streams which enter it from the northwest. Its outlet is Oaks Creek, through which its waters flow southward into the Susquehanna river. The settlement of this region was rapid as soon as the close of the Indian wars made it safe to establish homes in the wilderness. The northern portion of Otsego county was regarded with especial favor in consequence of its beautiful lake scenery, fertile soil, good timber and eligible millsites and water privileges.
The most important landed proprietor who located here in the early times was John Tunnicliff of Derby, England, who, in 1756, purchased 12,000 acres belonging to the Otsego patent. In the year 1774 he made a further purchase of 600 acres from the Schuyler patent, this purchase including a portion of the present village of Richfield Springs.
RICHFIELD SPRINGS.
The springs that have made this locality famous as a health resort were long known to the aborigines under the name of "Medicine Waters." The following beautiful description is given of the original spring and of Canadarago Lake: "At the
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RICHFIELD
summit of a gently-rising eminence in the mist of shrubbery, and overshadowed by the lofty and majestic branches of the fir and pine, there issued forth from beneath the roots of a gigantic tree a crystal mineral fountain of life and health. About three hundred rods to the south of this fountain was a romantic and beautiful lake silently sleeping in a quiet valley, skirted on either edge by heavily-wooded alpine ranges, whose giant forest trees were boldly reflected in the deep blue waters that were dis- turbed only by the screaming waterfowl or the light canoe of the red man as he glided swiftly over its silver surface. The elk, moose and timid deer drank from its silent waters in the wild solitudes of the primeval forest. Two wood-covered is- lands rested within the bosom of this picturesque lake, one of
MAIN STREET, RICHFIELD SPRINGS
which has since disappeared, and, as tradition says, the last of the once powerful tribe, the Canadaragos, sank with it far beneath its dark waters."
From the discovery of these springs and their preparation for public use by Dr. Horace Manley in 1820 the village dates its fame as a watering place. The efficacy of the waters was found to be very great in the treatment of many forms of dis- ease and with every returning season the number of visitors in- creased.
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RICHFIELD
"The location of Richfield Springs is remarkable for natural beauty, not only in its immediate surroundings, but it occu- pies a position in the midst of the most charmingly diversified mountain and lake scenery. The mountain sides, in many in- stances, and especially where bordering upon lakes and streams, are jutted with immense ledges of rocks, or cut with deep ra- vines that assist in giving that romantic character to this por- tion of the state of New York which it so eminently possesses. Six beautiful lakes are distributed in this vicinity, almost within sight of each other. This was a region of popular resort of the aboriginal tribes of the valley of the Mohawk and western part of the state before the whites encroached upon it."
To the natural advantages so plain to the red man the white brother has added those of art and culture. Electricity illumi- nates the streets and pure water from a mountain lake finds its way to the dwellings. Railroad connection is now perfect on the north with the "Delaware, Lackawanna and Western" and the "New York Central," to the south with the "Delaware and Hudson" system by way of Cooperstown and Oneonta.
VILLAGES: There are two villages in this township, viz: Richfield Springs (population 1,537) and Monticello (population 218). Brighton is a hamlet with postoffice at Richfield Springs.
SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 11; number of teachers, 20; number of children of school age 558.
The Richfield Springs Union Free school has an excellent building and is supplied with modern apparatus, charts, natural history specimens and a circulating library of 1,000 volumes. The academic department, subject to the visitation of the re- gents, awards classical and scientific diplomas and has also a commercial course and a teachers' training class. The faculty consists of a principal and twelve assistants,. Total attendance about 450.
CHURCHES: There are nine churches in this township, viz: At Richfield Springs, Catholic, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian and Universalist. At Monticello, Baptist, Epis- copal and Universalist. At Brighton, Methodist.
NEWSPAPERS: At Richfield Springs are published the "Richfield Springs Mercury, "weekly, and the "Richfield Springs Daily" during the months of July and August.
RICHFIELD SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL
Roseboom
Area, 19,739 Acres.
Population, 1,031.
ROSEBOOM was formed I MILE CHERRY VALLEY from Cherry Valley in 1854. MIDDLEFIELD Center The surface is diversified, Roseboom many of the hills rising to Co ROSEBOOM the height of 350 feet above ·Pleasant Brook the.valleys. It is embraced South Valley in the original grant to John Lindesay, and was divided SCHOHARIE WESTFORD DECATUR into the Belvidere, McKean, Long, and Beaver Dam patents. This was the last town organ- ized in the county and was named in honor of Abram Roseboom, who with John Roseboom owned, at the beginning of the cen- tury, a tract of 2,000 acres lying in the present towns of Mid- dlefield, Cherry Valley and Roseboom.
For many years the mercantile business of the locality was conducted at Cherry Valley, and it was not until 1832 that a store was opened within the present limits of the town. This was kept by Daniel Antisdel at Lodi (now Roseboom). The first grist mill was built by Cornelius Low in 1818.
Among the early settlers were John Boyce, William Pesco, Simeon Rich, John and Peter Sutphen, Smith Hull, Peter Low, Daniel Clark, Solomon Coats, Rufus Perkins, John Pear- son, and Isaac Keeling. Some of the early residents are now living at a great age. Mrs. Mary (Keeling) Pearson at Pleasant Brook is ninety-five, Mrs. Lucy Boyce at Roseboom is ninety- three, and Dr. John W. Sterriker of Roseboom is eighty-seven.
This is a prosperous agricultural township. The leading industry is dairying, the milk being sent to cheese factories.
VILLAGES: Roseboom (population 226), South Valley (population 227), and Pleasant Brook (population 127). Lowell's Corners is a hamlet on the eastern border.
SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 12; teachers 11; child- ren of school age, 148.
CHURCHES: At Roseboom, Baptist and Methodist, at South Valley, Methodist, Methodist Protestant and Christian ; at Pleasant Brook, Methodist and Methodist Protestant; at Bentley Hollow, Methodist Protestant.
Springfield
Area, 26,522 Acres.
I MILE
HERKIMER
COUNTY
El Semmit
Lake
RICHFIELD
Break
Springfield
Midal
-
SPF
Springfield
East
Center
I
GF
CHERRY
JEGO
OTSEGO
Population, 1,762.
SPRINGFIELD was set off from Cherry Valley in 1797. The surface is a roll- ing upland. A promontory east of the head of Otsego Lake, called Mt. Wellington, rises to a height of 400 feet. It is a prosperous agricul- tural township.
In the year 1762 five families took up lands in the town, viz; those of John Kelly, Richard Ferguson and James Young in the eastern part, Gustavus Klumph and Jacob Tynart at the head of the lake. Very few additions were made to this little community until after the Revolution. At the battle of Oris- kany in 1777 Capt. Thomas Davy, who has descendants now living in the town, was killed. In the following year Joseph Brant, the leader of the Six Nations, came to Springfield with a party, burned the town and killed or carried into captivity the men, but this famous chief was merciful. It is recorded that he "gathered together the women and children into one house and left them uninjured-an act not followed by his tory allies."
On the return of peace there was an immediate influx of settlers into this region. Among them were Benjamin Rath- bun and John Cotes, who as a lad of sixteen had taken part in the battle of Bunker Hill, John James and Robert Young.
Other pioneers after the Revolution were Moses Franklin, Abner Cooke, Calvin and Luther Smith. Elisha Hall, the in- ventor of the well known Hall threshing machine, was a pioneer at Springfield Center. Hezekiah Hayden was a pioneer and his descendants have been distinguished elsewhere.
VILLAGES: Springfield (population 160), Springfield Center (population 350), and East Springfield (population 190). Middle Village is a hamlet with postoffice at East Springfield.
SCHOOLS: Number of districts, 13; teachers, 16; children of school age, 309.
CHURCHES: At Springfield Center, Baptist, Episcopal and Universalist; at East Springfield, Episcopal, Methodist and Presbyterian.
E&L D
Villaa
Springfield
VALLEY
Unadilla
Area, 28,349 Acres.
Population. 2,601. .
BUJA
RNUTS
CHENANGO
Unadilla
Center
UNADILLA
Creek
OTEGO
well
Roger
Hollow
Bridge
DELAWARE
(Unádi
Co.
Sidney
THIS township was formed from Otsego in 1792. It lies at the confluence of the Sus- quehanna and the Unadilla, and is watered by the many tributaries of these riv- ers. It is believed to have been. settled to some extent before the Revolution, but where or by whom is not
known. Like all other parts of the county. it filled up rapidly as soon as peace permitted.
Unadilla village dates from about 1790, but its carly im- portance was due to the construction in 1802 of the Catskill and Susquehanna turnpike, an important highway which terminated here, the point being known as "Wattles' Ferry, " from Sluman Wattles, a leading pioneer in that region. The village was on lands of the "Wallace patent." Among the first settlers were Aaron Axtell; the village blacksmith, who purchased the first lot; Solomon Martin, a soldier of the Revolution and of the war of 1812, sheriff of the county and member of assembly, from whom Martin brook was named; Daniel Bissell and his kins- man, Guido L. Bissell; Dr. Gurdon Huntington, the leading physician of that region and member of assembly from 1805 to 1809; Joseph S. Bragg, whose son Edward S. Bragg, became brigadier general in the Rebellion, and a congressman from Wis- consin ; Moses Axtell, one of the "Boston tea party," and a hero of Lexington and Bunker Hill; Stephen Benton, a land- holder and merchant; Captain Uriah Hanford, William Wilmot, the first cabinet-maker, Samuel Crooker, the four Cone brothers, Dr. Adanijah, Daniel, Gilbert and Gardner, who, with their descendants, have had an important share in the develop- ment of the village; Elisha Luther, John Fiske, a soldier of
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UNADILLA
1812, Whitney Bacon, David Finch, Henry Ogden, who was member of assembly in 1820, Niel Robinson, John Eells, justice of the peace and supervisor, and Calvin and Lorin Gates, who purchased land here about 1810.
Among influential citizens of a later date were Sherman Page, an able lawyer, member of aassembly in 1827, member of the 23rd and 24th congresses and associate judge of the county; Major Christopher D. Fellows, who from his advent in the vil- lage at the age of fourteen to that of ninety-three, "was an ac- tive and intelligent force in nearly all that advanced the inter- ests of the place;" Dr. Gaius Leonard Halsey, author of the "Reminiscenses" included in "The Pioneers of Unadilla, " by his son, Francis W. Halsey; Clark I. Hayes, whom farmers have to thank for improved breeds of farm stock throughout this val- ley; Eli C. Belknap, a leading lawyer ; and Arnold B. Wat- son, than whom no more useful man has ever lived in Unadilla. Alike in educational, religious and financial affairs he was among the first and best.
Ebenezer Gregory came from Gilbertsville to Unadilla Center, where he built the stone house that is still standing. He reared four sons and four daughters, who with their descend- ants have contributed much to the social and business life of Unadilla.
Among the early proprietors in the vicinity of Sand Hill, in the eastern part of the township, were Daniel Buckley, John and Aaron Sisson, Samuel Merriman and Elisha Lathrop. John Sisson came as early as 1790 and settled in the vicinity afterwards called Sisson Hill. In the same vicinity were Cap- tain Seth Rowley, a veteran of the Revolution and Captain Elisha Saunders, who was both physician and soldier, and who was killed at the battle of Queenstown in 1812.
Unadilla is pleasantly situated on the north bank of the Susquehanna river, and on the line of the Albany & Susque- hanna railroad, 99 miles from Albany and 44 from Bingham- ton. It has a superior system of water works, with reservoirs 150 feet above the village, and an electric light plant furnishing 26 arc lights for the streets, with incandescent lights for the stores and dwellings. It is a manufacturing place of some impor- tance, having a large milk condensery, a carriage factory mak- ing the superior Hanford carriages and wagons, a large tailoring
KELLEY ENG. C.O.
UNADILLA HIGH SCHOOL
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UNADILLA
establishment and several cigar factories. It is one of the most attractive villages on the line of the railroad, being noted for its wide and shady streets, its beautiful river view, its handsome residences and its well kept private grounds.
VILLAGES: There are three villages in this township, viz: Unadilla (population 1,172), Unadilla Center (population 73), and Wells Bridge (population 165). Rockdale, on the Unadilla river, is mostly in Chenango county.
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