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 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Mr. Marsh was enabled to advance so near the animal,
77
HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
on account of his attention being wholly drawn to his victim, as to get a close shot upon him, which he gave with such effect as to bring him to the ground. The porker, for a moment, appeared to be in a quandary about the sudden relaxation of the grasp of his captor; slowly raising his head, and cautiously making a move- ment, he walked off a few feet, halted-looked round as if wondering what it all meant-turned back, grabbed him.by the ear, gave one indignant shake, accompanied by a significant grunt-then apparently satisfied that he had shown proper resentment, wheeled about and start- ed for the farm house upon a run. This bear measured over seven feet in length, and was killed within, or near the corporate bounds of the village.
WOLVES .- Wolves were more numerous and trouble- some, frequently making sad havoc among flocks of sheep, so much so, that the town voted from year to year, a premium of ten dollars a head for every full grown wolf killed, until their depradations ceased. The last wolf killed in town, was by Smith M. Purdy, Esq.
PANTHERS .- I never heard of one being seen in the town, but certain effects and frights which were now and then encountered, were supposed to have been caused by the panther. Young cattle were sometimes found killed, under circumstances which led to the belief that they had been slain by some ferocious animal, other than the bear or wolf .*
* Since writing the above, Mr. Benjamin Church has informed me, that while passing through a piece of woods, one and a half miles east of the village, at a late hour one moor .- light winter's evening, he distinctly saw a panther in the path directly before him, reared upon his hind legs. By swinging his hat, and giving as shrill a shout as he could, he so frightened the animal, that he gave a sudden spring, and F2
78
HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
DEER .- Deer were occasionally taken for twenty or thirty years, and the recollection of the saddle of venison smoking upon the table, would almost reconcile us to the idea of a return to the days of Nimrod, log-houses, and spinning wheels again.
BEAVER .- Beaver were in a few instances caught by the Indians, but soon disappeared.
OTTER .- Otter were more plenty, and occasionally taken, forty or fifty years after the settlers came in, but at this day few traces of them are to be seen.
HEDGE HOGs .- A few hedge-hogs were killed, at an early day, but have long since been exterminated.
FOXES, RACCOONS AND RABBITS .- Foxes, Raccoons and Rabbits are yet caught, but comparatively rare.
FLYING SQUIRRELS .- Flying Squirrels were frequently seen, but at this day seldom if ever.
SKUNKS. - Skunks were not original inhabitants. They did not honor the town with their company, until some fifteen or twenty years had elapsed.
VENOMOUS REPTILES .- Of Venomous Reptiles, none were ever known in the town.
BIRDS.
QUAILS .- Quails were repeatedly seen in flocks at an early day, but are now extinct.
BLACK BIRDS .- Black Birds, in large bodies, would grace our forests, but now in greatly diminished num- bers, and generally of a smaller species.
disappeared in the woods. His first leap was found by measurement the next day to have been twenty feet.
79
HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
WILD PIGEONS .- Wild Pigeons in successive flocks, would be seen for hours at a time, passing overhead with great rapidity, but now their visits are few and far between.
WOOD DUCKS .- Wood Ducks would often be seen making their nests, in bodies of old decaying trees, but now seldom, if ever.
PARTRIDGES .- Partridges were plenty and frequently caught, but now in diminished numbers.
HAWKS .- Hawks were daily seen in considerable num- bers, sporting on the wing for hours at a time, a circum- stance which, at the present day, has no parallel.
PRODUCTS OF THE SOIL.
The trees of the forest consisted of Beech, Birch, Hickory, Ash, Elm and Basswood, with large Oaks, white, black and red, standing here and there, in tower- ing grandeur like so many aged sentinels; and tall and stately Pines, which, if now standing as they then stood on certain localities, would sell for more than the lands they occupied, with all their improvements. On the hills, were Hemlocks, interspersed with orchards of sugar Maples, on which the inhabitants depended for their main supply of sugar for a number of years. Chesnuts, although more or less plenty in the lower part of the county, are unknown in the town, excepting on a few lots bordering upon the towns of North Norwich and New Berlin. The Whortleberry also, is rarely seen north of the southern boundary of the town.
Apple-trees were found near the river, which were supposed to have originated from seed accidentally scat- tered by the Indians, and bore fruit for half a century. The Apple and Pear, improve as the country grows
80
HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
older. The Peach and Quince never did thrive in this locality.
Thorn-apples, of three-fourths of an inch in diameter, were not uncommon, which the inhabitants frequently cooked. The largest kinds were of rich, yellow color. When ripe they exhaled an agreeable odor. This fruit appears to come to its greatest perfection in the shade, for, as soon as the lands are cleared around them, they rapidly diminish in size and odor, and become unpala- table.
Meadow Plums of good quality were numerous.
The Gooseberry, smooth and prickly, together with Black Currants of a nauseous flavor, abounded on the flats.
A few Red Currants were found, supposed to have been scattered by birds or Indians.
Wild Onions were plenty, on the low grounds near the river, in beds of various dimensions-their bottoms seldom exceeding half an inch in diameter-and were frequently gathered and cooked by the inhabitants. They are now extinct, or nearly so.
Leeks were very numerous and annoying to dairy women, on account of the nauseous and disagreeable flavor imparted to the milk, when, in grazing, the cows fed upon their tops. It would taint their butter to such a degree that it could not be eaten, without first biting a piece of the root. In eating milk, in any form, all all would resort to this, before that otherwise delicious article could become palatable. They are almost, if not entirely, eradicated.
The Ginseng, Sweet Scisley and Tallow roots, were
81
HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
often met with, but at this day, it is doubtful whether a root of any of them can be found.
POTATOES .- Humbolt, in the history of his travels in South America, remarks that the Potatoe was before the arrival of the Spaniards, in use in Chili, Peru, Quito and New Grenada, and seems to think those countries the original source of it ; and adds that Sir Walter Raleigh found it in Virginia, in 1584, and raises the question, whether it was introduced there, from the North or South ? One thing is certain, they were found in the town of Sherburne, by the emigrants, in various locali- ties-the root under, rather than over, half inch in diameter. Conversing with an octogenarian,* who has resided in the town since 1795, he remarked, "that Potatoes were so plenty that no one need have starved, in the season of them, if he had nothing else to live upon," adding they were small. They covered the ground extensively, on both sides of the river, and around the mouth of the Handsome Brook. Abra- ham Raymond's family, by repeated plantings, obtained fair sized Potatoes from them, which, after they had come to maturity, were gathered promiscuously with others, and no further notice taken of them, Cornelius Clark, also raised from the Potatoe plant found on his lot, full sized Potatoes, which became part and parcel of his supply, from year to year. They were exterminated mainly, by cattle feeding upon their tops. At that early day, every rood of ground reclaimed from the forest, must be appropriated to raising grain, roots and vege- tables, to sustain themselves and their cattle through the winter. For a number of years, they were obliged to cut trees, on the buds and small twigs of which, by
* Asa Northrop.
82
HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
" browsing," their cattle were enabled to eke out a pre- carious living. Their only resource in summer, was to strap a bell on the leading cow and let their cattle run at large in the woods; as a consequence, in grazing, they would crop the Potatoe plant, and by so doing, destroy the blossom which produced the seed, from which the root was annually propagated. The Potatoe being so near the top of the ground, would be annihi- lated every winter by freezing, which accounts for their diminutive size, being reproduced only from the ball each year. The inhabitants, understanding but little of its early history, or the philosophy of its propagation, generally discarded it as a useless weed, and would allude to it only as the wild Potatoe.
DISTILLERIES.
There have been nine or ten Distilleries and one Brew- ery established in the town, all of which, save one, it is generally believed, have proved to their owners, an unprofitable investment. One was burned down; one man lost his life in another, by being scalded with steam. Three or more of the owners of these establishments died drunkards.
The town has wiped the stigma of manufacturing " fire water " from her escutcheon, about twenty years, and the county for nearly the same time. According to the State Census of 1855, there was not a Distillery in the county of Chenango. The following extract from Spafford's Gazetteer, of the State of New York, pub- lished in 1813, may not be inappropriate here : " While the people of the county are entitled to credit for their Common Schools and social regulations, they ought to exclude a multitude of small Distillers. No invidious discrimination prompts this remark too generally neces-
83
HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
sary throughout the State, but thinking and sober men would do well to consider the tendencies of these little establishments, and observe their effects in a neighbor- hood. Will they fail to contract habits of drinking more than is conducive to health or comfort, when a jug of whiskey is constantly at hand, or can be had in a few minutes, fresh from the Distillery ?" Clark, in his history of the county, remarks: "As Mr. S. compli- mented our citizens highly, in 1813, except they patron- ized Distilleries, and as they had not one of these estab- lishments in the county, in 1845, it follows, we must be an unexceptionable people, in this latter year. Long may we continue so."
The pioneers considered it very essential to their health and comfort, to have ardent spirits with them, in order to " warm them when too cold, or to cool them when too hot." Accordingly they purchased a barrel of rum in company, and brought it into the valley the first year when the twenty proprietors came on to make a beginning, and left it in the care of Abraham Ray- mond, who placed it outside of his shanty, and built a roof over it of bark and brush. This building you will recollect, was near the mouth of the Handsome Brook, and on the east side of the river. A daughter of Mr. Raymond's, only seven years of age at that time, relates to the writer sixty years after, that she had somehow imbibed the idea that liquor was very bad for the Indians, and that she had no fear or dread of their pres- ence, if it was kept from them. Hearing them paddling their canoes along the river, and expecting a visit from them, she flew to the rum barrel, and covered it up in the best manner she could, and watched the issue as if her life depended upon the result. Their swarthy vis- ages-their half clothed bodies-their tomahawks and
84
HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
knives suspended from their belts, were all harmless in her eyes, provided they did not discover the hidden barrel. They landed, walked up to the hut, and looked around, but finding no one there except Mrs. Raymond, and two or three small children, quietly returned to their canoes and departed ; the girl, in the mean time, con- gratulating herself for her prudence and discretion, as having thereby saved herself and mother, from the tom- ahawk and scalping knife! At that day, the use of intoxicating liquors was almost universal. It would be considered a breach of hospitality, not to present the bottle to their friends and neighbors at almost every interview, especially if they were rendering assistance as laborers or otherwise. It had grown into a proverb, " as bad as a raising without rum," which they frequently applied, when they wished to draw a disparaging com- parison. Whenever they assembled to assist at the raising of any building, before they commenced opera- tions, the bottle or jug must be passed around, each drinking directly from its mouth, and handing it to his neighbor. if this had been neglected, they would take their places and wait the order to "Heave O! heave !" when, with much apparent exertion, they would not be able to make any progress. The master workman would call for the bottle, after which, they were able to finish their work with ease and alacrity.
If my recollection does not fail mne, there was but one of the twenty proprietors, who might be considered as a subject of " king alcohol," and he not sottish and brut- ish, but occasionally under his power, although there were too many of that class in town. In 1815, the town voted to petition the legislature, to pass laws "to prevent men from drinking," (intoxicating liquors.) I believe nothing further was done about it at that time, except to forward the petition.
85
HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
It is not to be disguised that they paid too much tri- bute to his majesty, by allowing themselves to go in the way of temptation, not duly considering that his ranks are always recruited from the sober and temperate part of community.
CHURCH.
The fathers, with their families, arrived Saturday night, March, 1793. They assembled for public relig- ious worship, on the second Sabbath after; and it has been continued by them and their descendants, without intermission from that day to this, whether they had - the preaching of the Word or not. A Congregational Church was organized the 6th day of July, 1794, by Rev. Mr. Campbell, consisting of the following indivi- duals : Nathaniel and Bethiah Gray, Elijah and Sarah Gray, Abraham and Betsey Raymond, Timothy and Ruth Hatch, Josiah Lathrop, Eleazer Lathrop, Mabel, wife of Newcomb Raymond, and Ruth, wife of Joel Hatch, Melissa, wife of James Raymond, Ezra Lathrop and Mariam his wife. Nathaniel Gray and Abraham Raymond, were chosen Deacons. Although the above differs from the printed list of the members of the First Church, it is believed to be as correct as can be obtained. The records having been burned, positive accuracy cannot be claimed. March 15, 1798, the society was incorporated The First Congregational Church and Society of Sherburne. Eli Marsh, Joel Northrup and Orsamus Holmes were elected Trustees. This was the first church and society formed in this region. There were only three churches organized previous to this in western New York, and these but one year carlier .*
* Hotchkin's History.
H
86
HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
Rev. Blackleach Burritt preached the first sermon in the town and county, 1792-he tarried but one week. It was thirteen years after their arrival, before they had a settled pastor. During these years, this and other . churches subsequently formed in this region, were occa- sionally supplied and counseled, by missionaries sent and supported by churches in Connecticut and Massa- chusetts. They would be received with marked atten- tion and unusual delight. Their advent would be hailed as an era, long to be remembered. Messengers would be sent in every direction, untill all, however scattered or remote, had heard the news. Such was their hunger- ing and thirsting to hear the living preacher, that, at the time appointed, the women and the aged would be seen on horse-back, slowly wending their way among the trees of the forest ; and pedestrians of both sexes and all ages filling up the picture, until they arrive at the place appointed. "Their house of worship has no tall spire pointing to heaven-no bell to summon the people to prayer-no ceiled walls, nor cushions filled with soft- est down." Its walls are round logs, its roof of boards, or perhaps of bark. When their increasing numbers require a more commodious building some newly erected barn would be substituted, until school houses were built. Rev. Nathan B. Darrow was the first minister employed by the people. He 'was engaged to preach one year, and also to teach a winter school, which num- bered for weeks, over ninety scholars per day. He set- tled in Homer, Cortland county, Feb. 1803. Four or five years after, he removed to Ohio, where he died many years since.
During these days, peace and harmony prevailed in the church. It would almost literally be said, that they saw "eye to eye;" but alas for poor human nature!
87
HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
when meeting and school houses began to be topics of conversation, they found here an entering wedge of dis- cord; they could not be agreed upon their location, especially the meeting house. Enough was said and done to demonstrate that they, in common with the rest of human kind, possessed selfish and depraved natures. They had their failings, who has not ?
The Chenango river, dividing the town nearly through its centre, those on the west side argued that the church ought to be built there, in order to accommodate the people of Smyrna, which was at that time part of Sher- burne. Those on the east side contended that the town would in time be divided, and in that case the house would be quite one side of the centre of business and population. A council was called, many arguments advanced pro and con, but all to no purpose. In 1802, those on the west side of the river withdrew, joined with Smyrna and formed a Church, styling themselves The Second Congregational Church and Society of Sher- burne. They built a house of worship on what is known as West Hill. This was the first house erected for relig- ious worship within the present bounds of the county of Chenango. Rev. Joshua Knight was their first and only settled preacher. Four or five years after, the Eighth and Ninth Townships were divided-the Eighth taking the name of Smyrna. From this time, the Church and Society began to wane. The death of Mrs. Knight, and the marriage of Mr. Knight to her daughter, who had lived in his family, and had uniformly addressed him as her " father," resulted in his speedy dismissal from his Church, and accelerated its removal to the village of Smyrna. It is creditable to the Church and Society, that this affair caused no division among them. Although Mr. Knight labored strenuously in his own defence, he carried no party with him.
88
HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
Those on the east side of the river, which are the pre- sent Church, located their house one and a half miles north of the village, in 1803 or 4, near the residence of Asa Foote, jr. In 1810 it was removed to the village. After it had been moved about half the distance, the interest taken in the operation was such, that the ladies must have something to do about the matter. Accord- ingly, one beautiful morning, they were assembled, and placed themselves at the levers, the word was given to 'heave,' when the building was seen to move some feet, amidst lively cheers from the gentlemen around. How much help they had from some unobserved corner, it may not be necessary to relate.
They worshiped in this house, nine or ten years, before it was lathed and plastered, or in any measure done off' inside. The seats, at first, were loose boards, in their rough state, resting on blocks. Even the pulpit had never seen the smoothing plane, if we except the top shelf or table, and the seat. For two or three years, it was not glazed around the galleries, and for the first one or two winters, some of the windows were not even boarded up. A certain clergyman from abroad, who occupied the pulpit, (which was nearly on a level with the gallery,) one stormy winter's day, after he had closed the service, thus addressed the congregation : " It is a shame for any people to let their minister stand in his pulpit, with the winds blowing directly upon him, while they are secured from the storm below. You ought, at least, to do as much as to board up the wind- ows in the galleries." This hint was duly attended to before the next Sabbath day.
It was over twenty years, before stoves were intro- duced. The only provision for their comfort, was foot- stoves, which were filled with coals, before they left
.
89
HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
home. At intermission, they would resort to the near- est dwellings, to warm themselves before their ample fire-places, and replenish their dishes of coals for the afternoon service. They occupied this house for more than half a century. While yet a few of the venerable fathers remained, the subject of building a new house was gently broached ; but out of deference to their strongly expressed attachment to the old house, and the cherished associations connected therewith, the subject was waived, until the last of them had been "gathered to their fathers," which was in 1855. Their successors, in 1857, erected a new house, better adapted to their circumstances and the times, which was dedi- cated in June, 1858.
The first settled pastor was Rev. Roger Adams. He was installed August, 1806. An interesting revival, by which the church was quickened and enlarged, followed as the fruit of his labors. Mr. Adams' voice failing, he was obliged to relinquish preaching, and was accord- ingly dismissed in 1809.
His education was limited. He was modest and unas- suming. His style and matter were plain, forcible and convincing. He was not a great, but a good man, win- ning the affections of all who knew him, and well calcu- lated to foster and promote union among brethren.
Their next settled pastor was Rev. Abner Benedict, who was installed in 1811. During his ministry, there were thirty or forty added to the church. He left in 1813. He was the antipode of Mr. Adams, having the advantage of a good education. He was much inclined to hold forth the terrors of the Law, and harp (exces- sively, perhaps,) upon predestination and election. He was a Boanerges. His matter and manner would often н2
90
HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
startle weak minds, and offend those less favorably inclined, creating for him warm friends, or strong opposers.
Rev. John Truair, their third settled pastor, was installed 5th July, 1815. During his ministry, in 1816, there were about one hundred added to the Church. In 1819 and 20, there was another addition of one hun- dred and nine. He was dismissed in 1820.
Mr. Truair was a self-made man, and of Spanish descent. (His father, when quite a lad, emigrated to this country, and was sold for a limited period, to pay his passage.) He possessed a fearless, untiring energy, and unaided, persevered until he had acquired a good academical education. His natural talents were of a superior order. He was apt and appropriate, on any emergency. He spoke with a rolling eloquence, that would rivet the attention of his audience at times, to such a degree, that you may almost hear the dropping of a pin. At the close of a rousing discourse, one of his hearers remarked to another, as they were leaving the house, "I hate to hear a man preach as if he was mad." This coming to the ears of Mr. T., he announced as his text the next Sabbath morning, "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness." In the pulpit, he had few superiors ; out of it, some felt that he was not as careful as he ought to be, to avoid, at least, the appearance of evil. A mother in Israel, one of his admirers, remarked, "He ought to go into the pulpit, and stay there."
Rev. I. N. Sprague was installed June 7, 1825. Dis- missed Sept. 7, 1834. In 1831, there were about ninety added to the church, by the blessing of God upon his labors. Dec. 14, 1827, his dwelling-house, together with
91
HISTORY OF SHERBURNE.
most of its contents, including the book of Records and Sacramental Vessels, belonging to the church, was pro- videntially destroyed by fire. In consequence of this calamity, the church and community are deprived of many of the statistics and facts relating to its history, for the first thirty-three years. A committee was ap- pointed by the church to remedy this misfortune in the best manner practicable. Their report is, undoubtedly, the most reliable history of that period, which can be obtained.
George E. Delevan was installed pastor of this church, 14th of March, 1838, and was dismissed in 1839.
Amos C. Tuttle was settled October 30, 1845, and dis- missed September, 1853. During his ministry, the church enjoyed two interesting revivals, by which there were about eighty added to its communion ; and passed through a trying ordeal, arising out of the anti-slavery excitement. About sixteen of their number presented a petition to be dismissed from her watch and care, in order to form themselves into a separate body, assign- ing as a reason why they wished to withdraw from her fellowship, that the church would not conform to their views of the matter, religious or political, accompanied with such demands and ultimatums, that out of self-re- spect and due regard to her obligations to the Great Head of the Church, she refused to grant their request.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.