USA > New York > Chenango County > Sherburne > Reminiscences, anecdotes and statistics of the early settlers and the 'olden time' in the town of Sherburne, Chenango county, N.Y. > Part 4
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Dr. Asa White was the principal physician. In his management of this disease, he followed the standard medical works of that day, which directed the free use of stimulants, particularly wine and Peruvian bark. The fatality which accompanied this mode of treatment, was attributed to the virulence of the disease, until the sup- ply of bark, in this and neighboring towns, became exhausted. When, to the surprise of all, those cases which were, from necessity, treated without the stimu- lant, succeeded best. After this, Dr. White abandoned its use, (but not without opposition, from others of his pro- fession.) The fever soon became a manageable disease in all this region, which was, for a time, more or less
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exposed to it from the same cause. It was a difficult matter to obtain the requisite assistance to administer to the necessities of the sick. There were instances of persons riding eight or nine miles, to relieve some fami- lies only one night, and returning the next day, at the imperative call of urgent cases near home. It was no uncommon event, to travel four or five miles for watch- ers, and convey them home the next 'morning. Their comforts and accommodations at that day, were exceed- ingly limited. Many of them had but one room in their houses, in which, four or five sick persons might be lying at the same time, at one end of the room, in the various stages of the disease, and the necessary cooking going on at the other.
Rumors of this sickness circulating abroad, checked the tide of emigration for a time, and retarded the increase of the settlement.
SCHOOL HOUSE.
The first School House erected in the town, was located about one and a half miles north of the village, near the bridge on the Handsome Brook road. It was in later times designated "The Quarter School House." No trace of it now remains. The district embraced the whole town. Many would have to travel between three and four miles to reach it. The pupils sometimes num- bered between ninety and one hundred per day. From this district, others from time to time were formed, until the number had increased to twenty. The second School House was built, about one and half miles west of the village, near the residence of Daniel Newton. This district included all that part of the town lying on the west side of the river. Select Schools were early established and well patronized, especially during the
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winter months. About 1840, a building of moderate pretentions was erected, and a charter for an Academy obtained, which was maintained, with more or less fluc- tuations, until 1847, when a Union School was organized by combining four districts, and locating the school in the village. This drew many from the Academy, who would otherwise have attended, which had the effect to cause it to run down, and the corporation to give up its charter. After the Union School had been con- tinued about thirteen years, the distance, scholars living out of the village, were obliged to travel, and other causes combining, induced the old district, commonly known as the "quarter," by mutual consent, to with- draw, and they were accordingly set back as an inde- pendent district in 1859.
GOSPEL AND SCHOOL LANDS.
The act, authorizing the Surveyor General to survey and locate the Twenty Townships, was passed February 25, 1789, and among other provisions, required him to mark two lots of 250 acres each, as near the centre of the Township as might be, to be reserved for religious and school purposes. These were afterwards sold by the State, to speculators, without proper reservations. The intelligent and religious emigrants, who had taken up farms within the towns, remonstrated, and petitioned the Government with such energy and perseverance, that in 1811, the law-making power appropriated forty lots of 250 acres each, near Oneida Lake, which were divided among the towns interested ; and, as far as I am advised, have been sold, and the interest generally appropriated to the support of Common Schools.
The lot awarded to Sherburne, was situated in the town of Sullivan, Madison county. Joel Hatch, Esq., E
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was appointed agent, to superintend the sale of these lands. It was twenty-three years after the passage of the law, appropriating these lands for the purposes above mentioned, before they became the absolute property of the towns, which was in 1814.
The Permanent Fund, belonging to the town, for edu- cational purposes, is one thousand and eight hundred dollars, which is secured by Bond and Mortgage.
LIBRARY.
The settlers, before their removal to the Valley of the Chenango, feeling the importance of general informa- tion, and appreciating the necessity of providing the means of acquiring it, for the rising generation, formed a company, raised from their scanty means the sum of ten dollars, and appointed an agent to purchase suitable books, to form the neucleus of a future Public Library. This was styled Federal Library, and was maintained about thirty years. It had increased to nearly five hun- dred volumes, when, to the surprise and mortification of those who had maintained it from the beginning, a few individuals, who were mostly recent settlers, at an annual meeting (which was thinly attended) taking advantage of this circumstance, without regard to honor or moral honesty, ruthlessly voted to dissolve the same, and divide the books among themselves, thereby excluding all who had neglected to pay their annual tax at that meeting, from any participation in the division. The whole affair was a disgrace to the actors, and ought to go down to posterity as a monument to their shame.
WEDDING.
The first Wedding in the town was John Hibbard's, which took place about two years after the settlers came
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into the valley. There was no Clergyman, Justice of the Peace, or other officer legally qualified to adminis- ter at the altar, nearer than North Norwich, seven miles below-no carriage roads nor carriages, except ox-carts. There was then no alternative, but a ride on horse-back. Mr. Hibbard accordingly applied to Joel Hatch, saying, " Mr. Hatch, I want to get your horse to go to North Norwich; Betsey Sartel and I have concluded to get married, and I want to go to Esq. Purdy's and have the slop over with." He took his intended bride behind him, rode down to North Norwich, and, as a conse- quence, they came back husband and wife. The first fruit of this marriage, was a pair of twins.
Joel Hatch, Esq., being called upon, by Mr. Tillotson, to perform the marriage ceremony for him, referred him to the Rev. Roger Adams, who was the first settled preacher in the place. Mr. Adams readily complying with his wishes, mounted his horse, rode three or four miles over the hills into the north-east quarter of the town, through such roads as the primitive condition of the country furnished, and duly pronounced them hus- band and wife. The ceremony ended, the bride-groom inquired the amount of his fee. Mr. A. replied, "I never charge anything-they pay what they please." He thanked him heartily, adding, "If Esq. Hatch had mar- ried me, I'll warrant it would have cost me a dollar." The divine waited on the magistrate the next morning, and notified him that his popularity was on the wane. Two or three weeks after, the bride-groom presented Mr. Adams with a new wash-tub.
PARTY-RIDE.
When their sons and daughters began to mingle in social glee, as young gentlemen and ladies must and will,
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regardless of all inconveniencies that arise from the want of carriage roads, of splendid carriages, and correspond- ing equipages, they resolve to have a ride on horse-back, and go four or six miles through a newly cut road, to make a call upon a neighbor, as every family, for miles around, are near neighbors, and well acquainted with each other.
Every beau must furnish a horse for himself, and one for his lady, equipped with a side-saddle. In default of an extra horse, a pillion must be provided, lashed behind his own saddle, and his lady ride behind him.
Thus equipped, each young gentleman starts for his lady ; arriving at her father's house, he finds her tidily rigged in garments of her own manufacture, from the spindle to the loom. She is soon ready, and climbs upon the top of some newly cut stump, or recently fallen log. The horse is led along side, for her to mount. At the moment she springs, the horse makes an unexpected movement, and she leaps to the ground; nothing daunt- ed, she remounts, and makes another attempt, perhaps with better success; off they start for the appointed ren- dezvous, merry and laughing.
The scattered cavalcade gradually concentrates, until the whole troop greet and congratulate each other, in anticipation of the pleasures before them. They fall into line, chattering and giggling like a flock of black- birds-plunge into the wild forest-picking their way among old logs, stumps, and mud-holes, as best they can -now bowing their heads close to their horses' necks, to dodge an over-hanging half-fallen tree-now hauling to the right, and now to the left, to avoid this and that pool of mud and water-closely hugging some obtruding half trimmed log, in imminent danger of being precipi- tated into the mire below-now unhorsed by some pro-
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truding limb, with pride and spirit remounting, onward they move-now on the verge of some unbridged stream, they plunge down its short steep bank, calculating their chance of being precipitated over the heads of their horses into the stream below-now splashing through and defacing the crystal waters at their feet-now doubt- ing whether they shall be able to ascend the opposite and steeper bank, without coming out minus their horses, and themselves sprawling in the mud and water in the rear. The ladies dismount, and by the aid of bushes, and the help of each other, are enabled to ascend to the top. The young men, more delighted than otherwise, address themselves to their sport, eager to show their prowess. One of their number plunges forward, shout- ing and cheering his horse-which flounders and flounces, sending a due quantity of mud and water into the air, without partiality to horse or rider-the rest follow suit, with like success. With merriment they examine their wardrobe-" My shoes are full of mud and water," cries one-" So are mine," they all in chorus cry, with a vocif- erous laugh-right glad that their white stockings were left at home, if such an article as summer hose was own- ed by any of them. Their shoes are emptied of their contents, and, together with their feet, washed in the running stream-their pantaloons undergoing similar ablutions, especially near their feet-faces and hands not forgotten.
After gathering some of the wild flowers that adorn the banks of the stream, they mount their horses, and with more intense glee, move on. A beautiful spotted fawn is discovered crossing their path. "O! catch him, catch him !" from the lips of one and all. Some spur their horses in chase, others dismount, in hot pursuit they shout and rend the air with their cries, spurred to E2
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vigorous intensity, by the excitement the race and the occasion inspire. They soon lose sight of him, give over the chase, and resume their ride, vivaciously relat- ing their personal adventures in the scene.
At length they rein up to a stout fence, made of large round logs, a few rods beyond which stands a well built log-house, looking as aristocratic as any in town. Dis- mounting, they let down a pair of bars, made of round poles, leap with agile step, their closely packed ends, and wend their way along a narrow grass plat, bounded on one side by a huge fallen tree, on the top of which, small poles and brush are piled, to guard and keep back intruding cattle from the garden, in the midst of which stands the mansion they are seeking. They rap: the response, " Come in," is quickly answered by a pull at the latch-string, and shove at the door, revealing the good woman of the house, busy with her cards, and her daughter with cheerful industry filling every corner of the room, with the well understood music of the spin- ning wheel. The "How do you do? and how do you do ?" ended, the cards and wheel cleared away, the twig broom doing duty, the dust from the cards disap- pears, and they are seated with as much pleasure and heartiness, as ever reigned in any mahogany furnished parlor of the present day. "Where are the men-folks ?" one of the young gentlemen inquires. "They are down at the lower end of the clearing-I will send for them." "No, we will go ourselves and see how they are getting along." Seizing their hats, they are guided to the spot, by the "Whoa-haw-gee!" that echoes through the surrounding wood. They find them busy, rolling half- burnt logs into heaps. The usual compliments ended- " We will finish this log-heap, and then go the house." " That's right-we will help you;" and at it they go
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with right good will. One seizes a lever, ready at any moment to lend a helping hand. Here is a large log, evidently requiring more strength to roll than the far- mer and his two stout sons possess. It must be cut before it can be moved. One throws off his coat, seizes an ax, and mounts the log. Knowing that every blow will be strictly scrutinized according to the well known rules of the art, he takes pride and pleasure in display- ing his talent on this occasion." He having finished one side, another, with equal ambition, mounts and finishes the other. Then their united strength rolls it to its des- tined place.
Their task ended, they return to the house, where, instinctively, they seat themselves around the door, under some shade, on logs, stumps, or whatever else is at hand, discussing their progress and plans for the future among themselves. Let us see what is going on in the house. The tea-kettle is hung over the fire-the kind mother says, "Come, my daughter, you make some short-cake." The guests with one united voice, volun- teer their assistance, for the spirit of industry, and help- one-another, reigns in-doors as well as out. Suiting their actions to their words, all are in lively motion, inquiring with exhilarated chatter, "Where is this ? and where is that ?"
Here is the dish containing the ashes of burnt corn- cobs, the use of which they all well understand. In its stead, at the present day, pearlash, saleratus, or soda are substituted. The short cake in due quantity and quality, is soon swelling before the fire. The materials for the sweet loaf are paraded, which, after a full inter- change of opinions, are maturely compounded in the most approved manner ; and having been subjected to the process of baking, it is temptingly ready for the table.
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Now for the tea, what shall we have for tea ? “We have been out for some weeks." "So have we, and so have we," echoes from more voices than one-"there is none to be had in town."
After discussing the respective merits of sage, burnt crust, roasted acrons, evans-root, and parched-corn, the decision is made in favor of crust coffee. "Shall we sweeten it in the pot, or let each prepare it to suit his own taste?" The latter method is resolved upon. A cake of maple sugar, by no means diminutive in size, is produced. "Shall we cut it into small pieces ?" " No, let each one shave it off to suit himself." These impor- tant matters all settled, the table set out, noses counted, mathematical calculations made, it is decided that the cross-legged pine-table must be enlarged, or divide the guests and set the table twice. "Here are a couple of wide boards, lay them upon the table, then there will be room for all." "That's it; see how nice they suit."
The iron-bound chest is ransacked with care, until two neatly folded diaper table-cloths are produced, which, after being duly admired for their evenness and figure, (for mothers, at that day, well knew how to make "fine twined linen,") are spread upon the table. Pewter plates and dishes, in whose polished surfaces, your disturbed hair could be seen and rectified, together with wooden plates or "trenchers," to make up the required number, are arranged in order. In quick suc- cession, the variously prepared viands, grace the table. The ham and eggs, dough-nuts, &c., which, if I have neglected to mention, they had not forgotten to furnish. The tea-no, crust-coffee-poured out, the gentlemen called, the table surrounded, all standing, the blessing asked, they take their seats.
The gentleman of the house, as was the custom of
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those times, takes the meat, and after cutting it into small pieces, returns it to the middle of the table. " Help yourselves." All are busily engaged, at what their hands find to do. The good man of the house, casting his eye around, perceiving that all have finished their repast, rises to his feet. In respectful reverence, they all imitate his example, and return thanks for all mercies received, and soon after address themselves to preparations for their return, as there is no time to be lost. The usual parting compliments ended, they are soon in the saddle, and under a shower of good wishes for their safe arrival home, set forward in high spirits.
After the most difficult part of their road has been surmounted, the deepening gloom, and the declining sun, have the effect to cause, in sympathetic harmony, their united voices in soft melodious strains, to echo in song. Suddenly, "The bird of wisdom," perched over their heads, mingles his intense, unearthly note, causing an involuntary shudder, succeeded by peals of laughter, and the cry, "Who's brought up in the woods to be scared to death by owls !" Gradually they relapse into a moody, monotonous state of mind, when, instinctively, they place a wider space between each couple, as if to enjoy each their own partner's exclusive company. Their horses, by some invisible means, appear quite inclined to closer contact than usual, and their riders manifest no objection to be placed in nearer proximity to each other, and are soon engaged in all manner of chit-chat, evi- dently to their own satisfaction-now discussing the prospective marriage of this, and now of that couple, and perhaps their own.
Thus with slow and measured step, quietly they move along-none in a hurry-all in a little world of their own-deeply intent upon its internal organization. As
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the setting sun begins to entangle itself among the tree- tops, they find themselves sooner than they are aware, and than they desired, awakened from their pleasing reverie, by their arrival at her father's house. Dis- mounting, they pause for a moment on the steps, and are engaged in close, low-toned conversation-whether to renew their vows, or pop the main question, I will not attempt to decide, nor intrude upon their privacy, but leave them to their anticipations and dreams of future joy and happiness.
BRIDGE.
The first Bridge across the Chenango river, was built near the junction of the Handsome Brook, to accommo- date foot passengers. Teams forded the stream a short distance below. It consisted of only one large tree in width, and three of them in length, leveled on the upper side with the hewing ax. Stakes driven a few feet apart near the outer edges, were interwoven with withs, to protect women and children from falling into the stream. A woman by the name of Lathrop, rode across the bridge with a child in her arms, to the astonishment of her friends and neighbors, in safety. It was considered a hazardous undertaking, even to lead a horse over the structure. A Frenchman, rather than ride through the river, made the attempt, when, unfortunately, the horse fell upon the bridge, with his feet dangling on both sides, and was prevented from falling into the water by the stakes and withs, which held him there, until the neighbors could be rallied, from a quarter to one mile around, in sufficient numbers to lift and support the horse across the remainder of the bridge, which, with considerable difficulty, and great exertion, they were enabled to accomplish.
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ARK.
In 1803, there was built and launched into the Che- nango river, near the first bridge above the village, a boat, called by the inhabitants, an "Ark," for the pur- pose of conveying lumber down the river, with the expectation of finding a profitable market at Baltimore, in Maryland. Nathaniel Austin, and his brother, em- barked in this enterprise. The anxiety of the people to make the river available for purposes of navigation, was such, that they voted a tax upon the town, to clear it of obstructions. The launching of the Ark was a gala day. Men, women and children turned out to witness the performance. When the famous Ark was afloat, they must have a ride. Like the Ark of old, it was soon filled with living creatures, even to the dog. With tow- ing, setting and pulling by the willows, they were ena- bled to ascend the river towards half a mile, when, like boys after tugging and hauling their sleds to the top of the hill, they were well paid for their toil, by riding down again. It was freighted chiefly with pine staves and shingles, which did not prove as remunerative as they anticipated ; and they found more difficulty in keeping the channel of the river than they expected, especially when it was on the rise. There were one or two other Arks built, for similar purposes, near the south line of the town, one of which was freighted with grain, which became damaged during the voyage, and was a total loss. Mr. Austin and his son Seymour, while on this expedition, were both attacked with the yellow fever, with which Mr. A. died,* his son recovered and returned home.
* Mr. Austin was compromised by Shay's Rebellion in Massachu- setts, and was taken and sentenced to be hung. While confined in
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CHENANGO CANAL.
The Chenango Canal, running from Utica to Bing- hamton, nearly through the centre of the town, was commenced in 1833, forty years after the town was set- tled, and completed in 1837, at a cost of $1,737,703. When the bill of 1833 became a law, there was great rejoicing through the valley. In Sherburne, old boats were dragged from the river, mounted on runners, and drawn through the streets, by from four to six pairs of horses, with flags and streamers flying, drums, fifes and other musical instruments playing, which, together with the shouts and hurrahs from those assembled, gave unmistakable evidence of the joy that event occasioned.
When we contrast the present with the past, we can- not wonder at the enthusiasm manifested by the people. Their market was at Albany. Such was the condition of the roads in the primitive days of the settlement, that it usually required from nine to thirteen days to perform the journey, with loaded teams. For every cwt., the cost of transportation would be from seventy-five cents to one dollar fifty cents, besides freight from New York city to Albany. Now, even from New York, the expense is only from twenty-five to fifty cents, leaving a saving to the people, of from fifty cents to one dollar on every
prison at Springfield, Mass., his wife came the night before he was to have been executed, to make a farewell visit. She exchanged her cloak and hood with him, and in the evening twilight called to the keeper to be released. Her husband walked out unsuspected and made his escape. She remained quiet until he had time to get beyond dan- ger of being recaptured, when she called again to be released. The jailor, finding he had no legal authority to detain her, she was allowed to depart. Mrs. Austin lived in town an honored and respected widow thirty years or more. She always maintained a modest reserve when any allusion was made to the above transaction.
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cwt. exported or imported. Mr. Zacheus W. Elmore, who was an early merchant, relates that when he came into the place, 1801, he brought the second two-horse wagon into the town, and that he broke two axles be- tween here and Albany, and was nine days on the road.
THE PRESS.
The first Newspaper published in the town and county, was the "Western Oracle," by Abraham Romeyn, at the Four Corners, in 1803. It was a single octavo sheet, containing few advertisements, and but little domestic news. Its pages were in most instances, occupied with public documents, chiefly relating to the affairs of our nation with the French.
The next was the "Olive Branch," printed on West Hill, by Phinney Fairchild, May 1806. In 1808, John F. Fairchild became the sole proprietor.
The "Republican Messenger " made its appearance in 1810, pubished by Jonathan Pettit and James Percival, in the village of Sherburne.
The "Sherburne Palladium " was issued in 1836, by J. W. Marble, in the village.
" Sherburne Transcript " succeeded in 1855, published by James M. Scarritt. All these were ephemeral in their existence.
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