Gc 974.702
ri36h 1141241
OBNEAL-OGY COL.L.ECTIOM
^
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01177 8427
A CONCISE HISTORY
OF THE
im
It! FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT.
Its Geogfaplii, Prorfuctioos aod Slnig [vents
ALSO, THE HISTORY OF
The First Ssttlsmsnt of the Yillags of Schenevus^
ITS ORIGIN, ITS EARLY AND LATER PROGRESS, ITS
VILLAGE ORGANIZATION AND DATE OF CHARTER,
WITH ITS PRESENT POPULATION, NUMBER
OF BUILDINGS, AND ITS BUSINESS
DIRECTORY.
BY A. HOTCHKIN.
SCHEMEVUS :
MONITOR BOOK AND NEWSPAPER PRINTING ESTABMSHMENT.
1876.
Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1875, by A. Hotchkin, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Wasliiugton, D. C.
1141241
So brief a title can only indicate the contents of the work in the gross, or aggregation ; but it may be said it was prepared at the request of many worthy persons, that in as brief and cheap a form as possible (accessible to all) the history of the first settlers in an unbroken wilderness, their toils, privations and hardships, with their names, might be handed down to posterity ; also amusing anecdotes, humor and wit of early times.
With other things, it gives the date and organization of the several churches, and erection of their houses of worship, cost, seating capacity, &c. ; number of school districts, aggregate value of school houses, number of scholars, and average attendance at school ; number of square miles within the town boundary ; number of acres of land, assessed value ; names of owners of tracts of land, called patents, &c., &c.
In short, a great amount of valuable and interesting information in small compass. Unlike gazetteers, which are " made to sell," and the contents of which are usually drawn from the imperfect and treacherous memory of the " oldest inhabitant," facts have been gathered from the best and all availal)le sources. Kecollcctions and statements of the "oldest inhabitants" have not only been compared with each other, but with written mem- oranda, and been digested, criticised and sifted till the facts alone were left.
Family records and papers, title deeds, conveyances, and all available papers bearing on the subject, have been examined. Records in the clerks offices of Wor- cester and Maryland ; also, records in the clerks offices in Tryon, Montgomery and Otsego counties have been carefully searched and examined, and some papers re- latins' to the old town of ^V^)rcester, never in the clerk's office, but found among the papers of the first Super- visor ; the " Annals of Tryon County," l)y Judge W. W. Campbell, a sufferer in the massacre of Cherry Vallc}' ; and all books, charts and maps bearing on the matter have been examined, and the utmost care and pains taken to make the work correct and reliable. Yet, should any material error be detected, before all landmarks are removed by death, and be pointed out, the discoverer will receive the thanks of
THE AUTHOR.
o
CHAPTER I.
Erection of the Town of Maryland — Its First Settlers —
Where they Located — Where From — Early Remin-
iscenes.
CHAPTER H.
Churches and Schools.
CHAPTER HI.
First of Roseville, now Chaseville.
CHAPTER IV.
Geography of Maryland — Its Productions— Its Pros- perity.
CHAPTER V.
Striking Events — Wit and Humor.
CHAPTER VI.
Schenevus — Its Origin — Its Settlement — Its Progress, and its Business Directory — Conclusion,
CHAPTER I.
o
ERECTION OF THE TOWN OF MARYLAND.
Otsego coiiuty was erected from ]Moutgou)ery Feb- ruary 16th, 1791, and had two towDS — Otsego and Cherry Valley. The town of Worcester was formed from Cherry Valley March 3d, 1797, and Westford, Decatur, and Maryland, were taken from Worcester and formed into towns March 25th, 1808.
The close observing reader will notice that while this work purports to be the first settlement of the town of Maryland, and gives the names of first settlers, that those persons actually settled in the town of Cherry Valley, and after a residence in that town, and in the county of Montgomery one year, they became residents of Otsego county, but still were residents of the town of Cherry Valley six years longer. They then, in 1797, became residents of the town of Worcester, and so con- tinued to be eleven years longer.
There were earlier settlers in Cherry Valley, and earlier settlers in that part of the town now called Worcester ; but as this work was intended to treat, and that briefly, of Maryland, it was thought it would be better understood by the mass of readers, and to make less confusion if tiie settlers were placed under the name
8
of the town, which was given afterwards to the place where they settled.
As the forest was gradually felled, more settlers came in, the subject of a division of the town, to lessen the traveling distance of many voters, sprang up, was dis- cussed, and in time produced considerable agitation. To halve it, divide east and west, or north and south, did not please all the people as nearly as it did to quarter it ; yet the population was so sparse the latter division seemed objectionable. But time wore along, ^jopulation increased, and in 1808 the people agreed the town should be divided into four parts. But names for each division now came up, and produced considerable agitation. The Creator, according to the best of His wisdom, saw fit to number the days and months, but the gods who came after him, called heathen, desired names for each, and their followers, agreeing with them, gave each the name of a god. Each division, probably, had no heathen god to name after, yet they might have had idols, pets, or hobbies. At any rate the people were descendants of English ancestors, and it will be seen they gave each division a name which is to this da}' familiar to many of their cousins across the water.
It has been reported one white man, a Tory, was in the new town of Maryland at the time of the Revolution- ary War. It may have been so, for Indians were there in 1776 and before, and a white man mioht have been with them ; but, if such is a fact, the writer would like to find some evidence of it, and more especially if he struck any blows towards a settlement. It is certain white men were there during the war, but they were the
9
men who wero in pursuit of Tories and Indians, and if any Tory had made a settlement there it would seem prett^^ certain he would have been found and have been exterminated. The Indian-slayer, Timothy Murphy, and his co-worker, Colonel Harper, scouted some through the (so-called) Worcester towns.
The first settlement of which there is any authentic evidence was in 1790. This year there came in from Columbia county Israel and Eliphas Spencer, brothers ; Phineas Spencer, a cousin, and Elisha Chamberlin, and settled near the center of the now town of Maryland and the Maryland station on the Albany and Susquehanna railroad.
The two latter settled on " State's land," on the hill, about one and one-fourth miles north of east from the Maryland station. Eliphas Spencer built a house about three-fourths of a mile east from the station, at the foot of the hill some ten rods north of the present highway. The site is now marked by some square and smooth-faced rocks that then formed his cellar wall, a little north of the house, called the Jared M. Chamberlin house. Near those rocks there is now standing a Lombardy poplar which was brought as a whip stick from Columbia county and there stuck in the ground.
Israel Spencer settled on the south side of the Schenevus creek, on lands that were long afterwards occupied by his descendants.
Josiah Chase and Joshua Bigelow came in in 1791, and bought a thousand acre lot of land on which they each put up a log house ; the former a little east of the junction of the Elk creek with the Schenevus creek, and
10
where now stands the house occupied by J. T. Thomp- son ; and the latter where now is the junction of the Elk creek road with the Schenevus creek road, and oti the site of the house now occupied by S. R. Slingerland.
As much of the village of Schenevus is on that lot, it requires something more than a passing notice : Its eastern boundary crossed what is now called Main street of the village, near the foot of the hill, and between the premises of the widow Caroline Cyphers and of that occupied by O. D. Walker, and on the east side of the premises of A. Hotchkin, and extended north and south on the hills or mountains. Its extent west was over a mile, and crossed the road some fourth of a mile west of Elk creek, and near some rocks at the side of the road, and which did somewhat obstruct it before being partially removed. It covers all of what are called the " Flats."
The owners of the tract or lot made a division of it, north and south, and Chase, who took the west half, sold a piece of it, on the north end, to John Tuthill, who came in and made settlement soon after Chase. Another lot, next to Tuthill, he sold to his son-in-law, Daniel Seaver, mentioned hereafter, who came in with him.
Bigelow sold the north part of his half to Asa Hough- ton, a relative of Jothani Houghton, mentioned in another part of this work, who built a house on a spot afterwards called the " Fellows lot," and at the time of writing occupied by Mr. Banner. Asa Houghton married his cousin, a daughter of Jotham Houghton, and by her he had a son to whom he gave the name of his mother's father.
Peter Roman, mentioned hereafter, bought the re-
11
maiucler of Bigelow's land. Edward Goddard, mentioned hereafter, came in about 1793, and bought part of the Tuthill lot, the " Flats," twenty-five acres of State's land, and he afterwards became owner of the Asa Houo;h- ton farm. Not far from this time came in Nathaniel Hazen, mentioned in other portions of this work, from New Hampshire, as were Josiah Chase, Bigelow, Daniel Seaver and Edward Goddard.
About 1793 came Jotham Houghton, with his two sons, Jerahamel and Daniel, and settled on the south side of Schenevus creek near where now is Chaseville. Not far from this time came Wilder Rice, Ezekiel Rice, and John Rice, and settled not far from Houghton. Soon came Caleli Boynton and settled higher up the Schenevus creek near what is now the line between Worcester and Maryland, and about the same time Joseph Howe settled on the Elk creek.
About 1794 came John Thompson with his two sons, John and James, aud settled near where has been called the " foot of Cromhorn," and near the same time James Morehouse, who, like the Thompsons, was from Colum- bia county, N. Y., and settled at the junction of the " Piatt and Schenevus" creeks. At an early day came Jacob Schemmerhorn and settled a little east of the present boundary of Schenevus. After the " Spencer mills," mentioned hereafter, were built, he built a grist mill not far from his residence, on the Schenevus creek, which did some business, but was soon destroyed by fire. A portion of the timber and lumber saved from this fire, was used in building the " frame " house after- wards known as the " Silas Follett house." A Mr. Cole-
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grove, and Silas and Luther Follctt, from New Hamp- shire, soon came in ; the latter settled within the now limits of Schenevus, and erected a house where now stands the house of R. C. Wilson. About 1794 a Mr. " Sisko " built a log house on the site of the upper or east tavern in Schenevus, of whom this work treats here- after, and kept a tavern.
The first mills were built in 1794, and were called the " Spencer mills." It may be mentioned that about that time Jotham Houghton erected a saw mill near where the road now crosses the Schenevus creek east from now Chaseville,and when nearly finished Ijuilt a dam across the stream. But it Avas found that in the filling of the dam and raising of the water it overflov/ed the " flats," and Mr. Rice, who had a house on the south .side of the stream and near the bridge, and owned the "flats," ob- jected to having a dam there, and thereupon Mr. Hough- ton abandoned the project of having a mill in that place, and built his saw mill near where the Spencers built their grist mill, and drew water to turn the wheel from the same pond.
These mills were built near wdicre now is the Maryland station on the Albany and Susquehanna railroad, and where there are now mills.
The grist mill was built by Israel and Eliphas Spencer. A laughable anecdote has been related, showing the temper and and humor of " early times," and has its date at the building of these mills. A " dandefied" personage, for those times, and not overstocked Avith brains or love of work, was Avith the company who Avere at work on the dam. Sitting about, and often in the
13
way, he comphiiiied of thirst, — wanted water, water, water, until he exhausted the patience of the "boss," Phineas Spencer, w^ho, being a man of muscle and action, seized the fellow by the nape of the neck and plunged him headlong into the pond where the water was ten feet deep, with the sharp expression, " Get some
water and be d d ! "
This grist mill was considered a ffreat thing in those early tkiys, and caused a great amount of talk and re- joicing. The frequent weary .pilgrimage with a little grist to Schoharie, or to Cherry Valley, and the going supperless to bed because disappointed in the early arrival from the mill wit'h a little flour or meal, was at au end. It can hardly be realized now.
It may here be mentioned that Mr, Phineas Spencer was the first carpenter and joiner in town, the first stone mason, chair and cabinet maker, plow maker and cofiin maker. Carpenters in those days worked by " scribe rule" instead of "square rule." "Pod augers" were used, no " screw augers " being then made. All fram- ing timbers were hewed — rafters, girts, braces and all. Joists and studs were little used, as no houses were plastered, and posts, sills and beams were so near together the floors could be laid and the houses be "sided" and ceiled on them. Heavy, strong timbers were used. There is now standing a barn, built by Mr. Spencer, that has a white oak sill ten by eighteen inches.
The " bull plows " of those days might be quite a curiosity to those who never saw one. All of wood, except the share, which was of " wrought iron," with
14
;i steel-pointed front end, or " shear," as it was called. The mould board was split from an oak tree that " woind against the sun." Harrows, or " drags," as they were called, were "three-cornered" and were made from the fork of a " crotched " tree.
As the dead could not then as now ride to the " city of the dead" in "splendid" carriages, and be " buried " with pomp and splendor, the poor went to the grave as "decently" as the rich. Coffins were pine boards, nailed together with " wrought nails," as no " cut uails " were then made, and the black ashes of straw burned in an iron kettle and wet with water were used to color them black. This was put on w*ith a woolen rag, brushes being scarce articles. For many years Mr. Spencer made all the coffins for a large circuit, and would take no pay for them. The dead Avere buried by their neigh- bors free of charge.
The first tavern was by Josiah Chase, familiarly called " Landlord Chase." It was in a log house about eighty rods north of east from the ji.nction of the Elk creek with the Schenevus creek, and occupied the site where now is the house owned and occupied by J. T. Thomp- son. There is a yarn told of the-power of Landlord Chase's lungs, which, although his were considered a little above the average for strength, is a pretty strong point in evidence that in those days when people neces- sarily had to breathe purer air than now in their tii>ht and illy ventilated rooms they can, their lungs were more sound and strong than now.
Landlord Chase had a little sou named Josiah, a mettlesome fellow, who, for sheer fun, mounted a
15
m
spirited but tame colt in a pasture, with neither bridle or halter on him. The colt, seeming to enjoy the sport as well as the bo}^ commenced a race around the field, with evident signs of darting into the woods. The father, seeing the imminent danger the little son was in, called out to him, " Stick to him, 'Siah ! — Stick to him, 'Siah ! — Stick to him, 'Siali !" — and 'Siah did stick to him, and was safely rescued, and the father's voice was distinctly heard by men in the now town of Worcester, three and a half miles away.
In 1795 several more families came in from Columbia county, and among them were Samuel Hotchkin and Nathaniel Rose, and the latter soon opened a tavern at the now Maryland railroad station, or a few rods north. The house stood on the corner formed by the junction of the " Whitney brook " road with the Scheuevus creek road, on the noilh side of the latter and the west side of the former. We will here anticipate a little : A tavern was opened and kept by Amos Spencer about three miles west of the Maryland, station, and at the place where the late Uriah Spencer was born and died. The sign, at the time of this writing, is still in existence, and bears the date of 1802.
Soon after opening his tavern Mr. Rose bought a farm adjoining his for his brother, Eli, and built a tavern house on it about half a mile from his own house. In 1813 this farm and tavern were sold to Jonathan Milk, and the house was burned down and another one erected on the same site some eight years thereafter. Previous to this, 1817, Simon Shutts had lost a log house and barn by fire, and Allen Ainsworth a blacksmith shop, the latter near the tavern.
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r It is claimed the first inarriage was that of Amaziah Whitney to Sally Boynton, and the next, Daniel Seaver and a daughter of " Landlord" Chase ; but the earliest record found of a marriage is that of Samuel Hotchkin and Mary (then called Polly) Spencer, in January, 1804. The earliest records of a school taught was by Mary, or, as then called, Polly Spencer, near the now Maryland station, and the second by Luna Chamberlin.
The first birth is claimed to be that of Warren God- dard, and the next that of Hainiah Seaver; but, it is claimed. Leafy Seaver was the first birth after the town was set off from Worcester and christened with the name of Maryland, and that she received her appropriate name from the fact of her being born in a leaty forest.
The first death was that of John Rice, .who was killed by the falling of a tree near the place where the Schenevus station of the Albany and Susquehanna rail- road now is. He was interred where now is the Sche- nevus cemetery.
Rufus Draper had the first wool carding machine. It was located on the Elk creek not far from where H. M. Hanor's savv mill is now.
- Stephen G. Virgil had the first cloth dressing and fulling mill. It was at the place now called Roseville.
Records make it appear that Edward Goddard was Supervisor of the town of Worcester before the division of the town, and Supervisor of Maryland from its erec- tion in 1808 to 1825, when he declined a re-election, from a desire to visit his friends in New Hampshire. Evidently of the old school of office-holders — old fogy.
It appears John Chase was the first Town Clerk, D.
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Houghton the lirst Justice, with John Tuthill and A. Colegrove, J. Hougliton and Hem:m Chamberliu the first Commissioners of Highways. Tlie first higliway work of the Commissioners was to " lay out a road by Daniel Seaver's south to the Schenevus creek road," now Main street in Schenevus, and intersected the latter near where the road now is that passes Morse & Gleason's tannery. In the corner formed by the junction of these two roads was a log school house, the first in the naw School District No 4, and believed to have been built as early as any in the new town.
The next road w^as in 1810, and was the straighteninsf of the road running by Josiah Chase's and Peter Roman's to a stake standing in front of Nathaniel Hazen's black- smith shop. This is what is now called Main street in Schenevus, and originally run around or south of the hill called "burying ground hill," or south of the now M. E. meeting house in Schenevus. In making it straight was running it north of the present house and over the hill.
Nathaniel, or Doctor Hazen, as he was called, had a house some feet south of the house occupied by the widow Hannah C. Cooley, or the bank of J. T. Thomp- son, and his blacksmith shop stood some feet south of German Wright's house. His cellar was built of tim- ber, and was in the bank, or hill, about where the sash and blind factory now stands. He made " hatchets," a few tools, and some other light articles.
The road from Chaseville east originally run on the low ground near the creek to the Sparrowhawk.
In 1813 the Schenevus creek road, now Main street.
18
was again improved — rim straight from the south side of the burying ground to the south side of David Benedict's house, now the upper or cast tavern. This was the north side of the road; a blind record, but, of course, would be understood to cover the then road to the stake of 1810, opposite Dr. Hazen's shop, and then pass east- ward the same width.
Not far from this time the road known as the Elk creek road was " laid out," and the road passing Daniel Seaver's was discontinued. The latter was a private road, or a road to accommodate the Seaver family ; and as the Elk creek road touched the Seaver farm, the family could reach it without crossing the land of neigh- bors. The Elk creek road intersected the Schenevus creek road where it now does.
Edward Goddard was the first tanner and currier and the first boot and shoe maker. His tannery was located on the west side of Elk creek, where the bridge crosses the stream north of Schenevus. He some time after- wards built a saw mill near it.
Daniel Seaver was the first cooper and the first stone mason where now is Schenevus, and as early as 1793. His shop was near his house.
Nathaniel Hazen was the first " root doctor," and Enos J. Spencer the first doctor of the alopathic school. The latter was located at or near the now Maryland railroad station. The first post-office was at the latter place, and Enos J, Spencer was the first Postmaster ; Jared M. Chamberlin, the second.
The first church (Baptist) was organized September 22d, 1808, and their house of worship was erected
19
in 181(5. It stood a few rods west of north from the Maryhmd raih-otid station. Rev, N. D. AA'right was the first, and for twenty-five years the only "settled" pastor.
A Presbyterian church was organized near the time the Bc^ptist church Avas, and their house of worship was erected in 1820. It was located about one-fourth of a mile east from the Baptist house. Rev. Mr. Ralph was the first pastor.
The first house struck by lightning was in 1821, and was owned by William Bowdish. The house was con- siderably injured, but no person hurt.
The remains of the first settlers, and many of the earliest, were interred in the "burying ground " near Maryland station. Such were the customs of the early settlers to show respect and veneration for the dead, their remains were borne on a bier to the grave by their neighbors. The remains of the first wife of Samuel Chase, a- "step-daughter" of Phineas Spencer, were, on a sweltering day, borne to the grave by neighbors, a distance of seven miles. One of the bearers, James Wilse}^ died in 1872, at the advanced age of ninety- two years.
Among the official papers of Edward Goddard is found a report from the Comptroller of the State, Archibald Mclntyre, to Henry Phiuuey, County Treasurer, of the tax of the town of Worcester for the year 1802. The report bears the date of 1811, and has interest of the portion not paid by resident rateables added, together with costs, and the entire tax, with interest and costs, was $11G.38. In 1810 the number of rateables in the town ui Maryland was two hundred and thirty -two,
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seventy-three of whom were residents and the balance non-residents. The total tax was $117.48. The grand levy was $97,903, and the average assessed value of the land was $2.90 per acre. The fee for collection was three per cent. Daniel Houghton was collector.
CHAPTER II.
CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. O
The Baptist house of worship, before mentioned, was built for the church by Nathaniel Rose, at a cost of $800, The seating capacity was some four hundred. It had no gallery, was built on the amphitheatre style, the seats rising from the aisle, one above another, to the walls, and the pulpit was at one end, while the door and entrance was at the other.
In 1834 this denomination built a second house at Roseville, since called Chaseville, with a seating capacity of four hundred and fifty. The church and parsonage are valued at $4,050. The membership in 1871 was eighty-five, and Rev. Hiram H. Fisher was the pastor.
In June, 1871, a Baptist church was organized in Schenevus by Rev. A. Martin, with a membership of twenty-five. The church has seating capacity for three hundred and fifty, and was erected in 1868, at a cost of $4,000.
The Presbyterian house, spoken of before, had a seat- ing capacity of some four hundred, and cost $3,000. It had a gallery and pews.
An Episcopal Methodist church was organized in 1810, v/ith a membership of thirteen, and John Catlin was the
first preacher. In 1842 the first house for this denomin- ation was built at Schenevus, and has a seating capacity for four hundred. At the erection of the house the church had a 'membership of eighty-five, and in 1871 of one hundred and forty. The house and parsonage, at the present writing, is valued at $7,500. The preacher now, in 1875, is Rev. Mr. Wells.
A Methodist church was organized at Elk creok about 1830, Rev. Lyman Marvin, the first preacher, and had a membership of some forty. A house was erected in 1857 at a cost of $800, and had a seating capacity of three hundred. At the time of writing the church property is valued at $2,000. Present preacher, Rev. Mr. Brown.
In 1840 a Methodist church was organized at Crom- horn Valley, with a membership of fifteen. A house was erected in 1841, with a seating capacity of three hundred; repaired in 1867, and the present estimated value is $2,000.
A Methodist church was organized on South Hill about 1840, and has a membership of twenty-five ; house, with seating capacity for two hundred, erected in 1850, at a cost of $2,500.
Zion's Evangelical Lutheran church, of Maryland, was organized in 1866, by Rev. George W. Enders, the first pastor, with thirteen members. Their church was erected in 1867, at a cost of $3,400, with seating capacity of three hundred. Present membership, fifty- nine.
The Society of Friends, at an early day, had a " meet- ing " house in the west part of the town, but after the
23
schism of 1828, caused by EMas Hicks, a house was erected just within the bounds of the town of Mil ford.
There are nineteen school districts and parts of dis- tricts, with seventeen school houses. The number of children of school age is seven hundred and forty-ninOj the number attending school is five hundred and ninety- nine, and the average attendance is two hundred and eighty-five. The value of school houses and sites is $7,405.
In the above is not included the school and school property of Schenevus. Of that, the cost of gix)unds, house and furniture, is some $10,000 ; the number of teachers, three; and the average number of scholars is one hundred and fifty.
CHAPTER III.
FIRST OF ROSEVILLE, NOW CHASE VILLE.
This place has "figured" considerably at various times, for many years, and, though more by individuals than by the public, it still possesses interest enough for the reader to be afforded a place, but it will be in as condensed form as possible. Jerahamel Houghton was the first actor, and made the first movement and struck the first blow as a commencement for the settlement of the place. He built the house now standing and known as the " Carpenter House," with stone basement, in the '* bank " at the foot of the hill, on the east side of the brook that passes the eastern portion of the village. In the basement of that house he had a store of goods as early (as is shown by his still existing sign) as 1794. Soon after this he built a distillery for the manufacture of whiskey, which was the first in town ; and pot long after he erected a building for an asliery, and commenced making potash. Being a " business man" he soon had an extensive business for those early days. Having arisen by regular gradations in military office up to that of colonel, he was in a position to be looked up to and be held in high respect. The recently closed Revolu- tionary ^Xav, and the then threatened second war with
25
Great Britain, aud finally proclaimed war of 1812, created and kept alive an active and hot war spirit and venera- tion for military men.
Military trainings were frequent, and company train- ings for an extended district, population Ijeing sparse, were held at Colonel Houghton's, which drew together a multitude of people aud much patronage to his busi- ness.
The natural excitement caused by the war was in- creased by the volunteering of men for the army at the company trainings, aud afterwards by the drafting of men. On the flat land across the creek south of Colonel Houghton's, on the farm of Mr. Kice, afterwards of Mr. Cable, was a clearing on which Colonel Houghton's regiment sometimes paraded and trained, and the evolu- tions of the troops among the stumps was quite amusing, but said by military men to be good.
For several years at " Jaff's," as Houghton was fam- iliarly called by his friends, was a stirring and busy place. About 1814 Houghton sold out to a school teacher by the name of Nathaniel Carpenter and went to Ohio. But, before discharging him, Ave will relate an amusing anecdote in which he was an actor. In early times, before there was any road from Chase ville north, people in the settlement in that direction, if no more than one mile off", must, to get on the " creek road," go some two or three miles round and come out at the now Maryland station. A road was much needed and much talked of, but any close observer now will see that, as the steep and abrupt side of " Pine hill " extended into the gulch or brook, the difficulty in the way of getting a
26
road was very great, and especially with the limited means and amonnt of highway work of those days. At length, however, a road was " laid out" and work com- menced on it, but the process of building it was tedious and slow. Houghton, of course, was as anxious as any one the road should be opened and be made passable, and encouraged it all he could, for he very well knew it would increase his " trade." Among other things, to encourage and hurry the work, he offered to give a gal- lon of whiskey to the men who should first drive a pair of horses and wagon over the road. Now, none inter- ested " got drunk," yet all loved whiskey, except Phineas Spencer, who was " odd " in relation to the use of intoxicating drinks, as are his descendants, and drank none, and resolved to practice a joke on " Jaff" and at his expense, and get the whiskey. Accordingly the logs crossing the road were cut and rolled away, then a pair of horses were harnessed before a wagon, levers and ropes procured, which, with a sufficient number of men for help to keep the wagon " right side up," the team was driven over the road and " brought up" at *' Jalf 's." The whiskey was obtained, and a regular "jollification" ensued. They drank and told stories, joked and sang songs, laughed and danced to their hearts content, until the whiskey was used up. How- ever, the joke, as Houghton anticipated, and no doubt as intended by the participants, operated to his advan- tage, for the work on the road was driven forward, and it was soon made passable, and he had their patronage. Where the village now is there was at an early day a saw mill built, a cloth dressing and fulling mill, a
27
tavern opened, and various mechanics opened shops. In 1822 Daniel Houghton, brother to Jerahamel, opened a store a little east of the present village. A tannery was built and tanning commenced about 1830, which did, for a time, considerable business, but by misman- agement it involved many wealthy men, and by trickish outsiders, pretended friends and helpers, the property, for a mere song, was wrested from the owners, and a general crash or " break down " folloAved, crushing many of the bfest families and entailing much distress and misery. It was finally consumed by lire, causing a loss to insurance companies, but a benefit to the town and vicinity in the saving of timber from destruction. The name of Mr. Cable has been mentioned, and of whom an amusing " yarn is spun," which we will relate : He was a Dutchman, (pure blooded) being honest, upright, in- dustrious and a good farmer, and he had a son, Jona- than. In the season for planting corn he had manured, highly cultivated and nicely planted a field to corn, and in telling his neighbors of it he said, " Jonathan and / have done our duty, now if God does His we will have a fine crop ;" meaning, no doubt, the common expression, " if God blesses it," for he was a good Christian.
CHAPTER IV.
-o-
GEOGIlAPiEiY or MARYLAND — ITS PiaJDUCTIONS — ITS PROSPERITY.
-O-
The town of Mary land is one of the southern tier of towns in the county, and the second one from the eastern boundary. It is bound south l>y Delaware county, east by the town of Worcester, north by Westford, and west by Milford. The principal stream is the Schenevus creek, to which all others are tributary, and this flows westerly and empties into the Susquehanna river. The valley of this stream is one thousand feet above the ocean, but some fifty feet less above tidewater. It has its rise at a spring on the summit of the Albany and Susquehanna railroad, the same from which rises the Cobleslvill creek, which flows easterly and empties into the Hudson river. The Schenevus creek has many tributaries, but the largest, in Maryland, are the Elk creek and the " Piatt" creek, and it receives the dis- charges of several small lakes, two of which are in the town. One of some two miles in circumference, near Schenevus, and a quite small one, and that about half grown over with a floating deposit of leaves and other vegetable matter, on " South Hill." There is a lake on the summit of " Cromhorn" of some three miles in cir-
29
cumfereuce, and which, though within the boundaries of Maiyland, discharges its waters into the Susquehamia river. The streams in early days were bountifully stocked with trout ; but in later times the fish in small streams up which the female trout ascended to spawn were taken by bushels with the hands, baskets and nets, the shallow waters being dammed on the rifts or shoals, and the young, small trout by thousands driven into the the pools and then skimmed out. Again, lakes contain- ing piclvcrel were dammed to raise the water for mills or to operate machinery, and these breaking away discharg- ing their waters carried out the pickerel, which destroyed the trout in the largei" streams, and now they are very scarce.
Within the boundary of the town are a portion of five tracts of land. Two called " State's land," one called Spencer's patent, one Provost's patent, and one Frank- lin's patent. The town is hilly, but all hills are culti- vated from base to summit, and produce good crops, even such as descend towards the north. " South Hill," a spur of the Catskill Mountains, has the greatest eleva- tion, and rises from two hundred to three hundred feet above the valleys. The soil is vegetable mold, inter- mingled with disintegrated rocks and rests on hard pan. Its productions are those growing on a rather cool soil, such as grass, potatoes, oats, buckwheat and rye. On and near the surface are found an abundance of excellent building stone, the newly formed sandstone of red, grey and white colors, and the mountain rests on a layer of great depth of a species of limestone.
The productions of the town are wheat, rye, barley,
30
corn, o:its, buckwheat and potatoes, and it produces abundantly of hops, peas and beans. Fruits, as apples, pears and plums, are good ; grapes are a fair crop, of the hardiei' kinds, and the small fruits are abundant. It has o'rounds for tairs or cattle shows cont^aining eighteen acres, in ijood condition and having ofood buildino^s. The annual exhibitions of horses, cattle, sheep, &c., compare favorably with those of other annual Fairs.
When the "country was new" wild beasts were numerous ; deer in multitudes, and some elk were found in the valley through which flows the stream which received its name from those animals, and bears, wolves and panthers were so many that calves and sheep were destroyed almost entirely if allowed to " run at large," and even older cattle were frequently killed. There is one sulphur spring, the only mineral spring at present known. This is some one and a half miles from Schenevus. Lead, nearly pure, was found and used by the Indians and one or two white men, but the place has been lost because the parties to whom it was known refused to divulge their secret. Traces of copper and zinc have been detected, and a 'beautiful specimen of graphite was found at the mouth of a mountain stream near the eastern boundary of the town, which indicated there was more higher up the stream. Various kinds of iron ore are found, and of some kinds an abundance. A stream called " Eed brook," flowing from a swamp on South Hill, deposits an oxide from bog ore on the stones throughout its entire length in such abtuidance the water appears red as it passes over the stones, but clear when dipped up. Near the above swamp, but on higher
31
ground, UDtl found by its cropping out, is a vein of franklinite iron ore some nine feet thick, and with it is evidently some zinc. This kind of iron ore is considered very vakiable for some purposes, and indeed for some purposes no other iron can take its place. This ore possesses a curious peculiarity : when calcined, one end of a piece applied to a magnetic needle will attract it, and the other end will repel it, and the same operation with the opposite pole will produce a vice versa effect. Not far from the above vein is found ore, and near the sur- face of the ground a stone, the under side of which con- tains a coating of a tarry consistence, and this stone is highly attractive to the magnet needle, so much so that a surveyor's compass v/ill not traverse in the vicinity of it. In the village of Schenevus and vicinity are abun- dant traces of clay iron stone. On the lands of Henry Wilcox crops out a vein of this ore of considerable thick- ness. It will readily melt in a " blacksmith's " fire, and then, like putty, can be formed into any shape, and, no doul)t, might be made available for valuable purposes. Among specimens of iron ore presented by the writer to an analytical chemist, due of magnetic ore, found near Cromhorn lake, contained ninety per cent, of iron.
Under the franklinite ore there has been discovered a vein of bituminous coal of good quality, and it is thought by experienced miners that while it is geographically high that it is geologically high enough to be an exten- sive deposit. Still lower down, and at the foot of the hill, there is a large stream of water, which proceeds from beneath the al)ove layers, and that constantly, but irregularly, ebbs and flows. This, and for some distance
32
down the stream, deposits on the stones a coating of a kind of lime.
Originally large quantities of white pine, about the only species found in this vicinity, of excellent quality, was distributed in various parts of the town, both on high and low grounds, and also on wet and dry grounds. Even where Schenevus now is stood enormous pine trees. Besides pine there are several kinds of oak ; several of maple and birch ; then of the walnut family there is hickory, shagbark, bitternut, pignut and black walnut; of beech there are two kinds, cherry two, hem- lock two, ash four; then there is a spucc, balsam of fir, butternut, whitewood, hackmatack, tamarack, l)oxwood, chestnut, and a great number of other kinds. Wild fruits are abundant and of great variety.
The town has an area of thirty-two thousand and two hundred acres, with an assessed value of $430,445. The population in 1870 was two thousand four hundred and two. It manufactories and mills, except six saw mills, are within the villages.
It is difficult for the present residents of the town to realize the hardships endured by the first settlers. In a dense wilderness, amidst howling beasts of prey, and far away from relatives and friends, with no means of see- ing or hearing from them — no postoffices, no mails. Their houses were merely rough shelters of logs, through which the piercing l)lasts freely entered and cold storms and snows beat. The windows were paper and floors were the earth, as there were no boards before there were mills, and roofs were of brush and bark. The coarsest food sustained animal nature, and coarse and scanty
33
clothing covered their limbs, many times the skins of beasts. Sugar, coffee, tea, and the spices and condi- ments now so freely used were nowhere to be found among them. Their physicians were — abundant exer- cise, the pure air, abstemious diet.
Their crop of agricultural productions were small, because the limited space of cleared land could produce but little. Often was a day's work given for a peck of corn, and often did families go to bed on a supper of roasted potatoes. The nearest mills were at Cherry Valley and Schoharie, and the roads to them were mere bridle or cow paths, so that if horses could be had to " go to mill," it would take to go and return two days with a little grist, and often had the grist to be " carried and brought " on the back of a man, and many the tale of the descendants of early settlers, told as handed down to them, of families, "when the grist did not come and the cow could not be found, going supperless to bed." For some years the only fruits the first settlers ate were the wild fruits of the forest.
But the forest fell before the axeman, and the sturdy pioneers widened their domains of "clearings." The forest was " slashed," the trees felled in winrows as tar as they could be, and the others and larger ones were srirdled. When the leaves and small boughs of the fallen trees became dry the " slashing" was fired, and then, with some " picking up " of the smaller remnants, the ground was considered ready for seed. As the climate was healthy, the water soft and pure, and air " bracing," the people were healthy, and as they were industrious,
34
honest and truthful, with the warmest and truest feelings of friendship for their neighbors, it is doubtful, notwith- standing their hardships, it any people amidst the ease and luxuries of the 'present day, are as truhj happy as they were.
As population increased and the " country improved," for the youth amusements began to spring up, and for many miles around the lads and lassies occasionally congregated togethei-. Huskings were of the first that drew a merry company together of an evening. Old and young commingled to husk the loads of corn that were stored on the barn floor, and while in joyful mood stories were told, jokes, laughter and songs had a place, the husked ears constantly flew to increase the golden piles. If among the " young ones" some ears " acci- dentally " went the wrong way and hit some mate it increased the sport. As nine o'clock came the husking was closed up, "pumpkin pie" was " handed around," and it was not uncommon the " youngsters " went to the house, the " things " were " cleared out of a room," and the company had a pla}^ of two or three hours. Next came pumpkin, or " pumpkin bees," as they were called, At these, after the company had assembled and was seated in a room " cleared " for the puri)ose, the pump- kins were brought in and one man with a long knife, a " case" knife or a " butcher" knife, cut the pumpkins through the middle into two parts, or " halves," and then men or girls with iron spoons took out the seeds and " innards," The next move was to " ring them," cut them into rings some half an inch thick, and then they were pared. The ends that would not make rings
1141241
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were cut iu small pieces after being pared and " stewed " for pies. Previously poles, the thickness of a mau's wrist, had been placed at short intervals " overhead iu the kitcheii," find on these poles the puujpkin rings were hung; then the girls and the boys " fell to," " cleared the things away" and "put all to rights ;" then was " carried around" the " pumpkin pies," and after this the play began and was " carried on " with spirit.
Soon as the land was cleared and in condition for flax, much of that commodity was raised and prepared for spinning, and spinning bees were in vogue. The flax, carefully hatcheled, was nicely " done up," put up in a very curious manner in packages that would make, of some number of yarn, a "• half run " or a " run," as the case might be. Some one of the family went among " the neighbors " from house to house with packages of flax, and each female, and particularly the girls, took what they could spin, (and a pretty generous stock was taken, too) Avith instructions to spin it such a " number " and return the yarn on a certain day. \Mien the day arrived the girls were " on hand" with their yarn, (and their beaus were there, too) and the yarn was carefully examined — all good, none condemned ; but it would "leak out " which girl was the best spinner, and close observins: mammas would see their daughters' beans' eyes " sparkle." In those da^'s " works " told."
Soon " the table was set "for supper, and the boun- teous and generous repast partaken with a keen relish. Appetite good, and unbounded good will and good feel- ing pred(>minant. Supper over, the girls " fell to " to help clear away the things, and the room was soon in
3G
readiness for the play. But the surprise ! Soon one <rirl was asked to " dance a fiojure," and another jrirl was asked to " dance a figure," and soon there was a " flooring " in readiness, and the fiddle began to scrape in tuning, and, oh, the mazy dance ! It had been learned by a few individuals a fiddler had "moved in " a few miles away, and while this was kept a secret he had been privately engaged f(>r the occasion, hence the sur- prise. Orchards had been planted, and apples began to grow, and in the early years " apple bees" came, ia vogue. These collected the young people from miles around, and these " bees" were generally attended with a dance. There was exhibited at the " rustic reels " of those days an agility and a suppleness in their " double shuffles " and " cut downs " that w^ould put to the blush many of the gay and " fashional)le " dancers of the present time, and there are now living of the dancers of half a century and more ago many that could pVobably still do it.
With all the hardships and disadvantages of those early days there is no doubt the youth had more true and innocent enjoyment, and more genuine happiness than do the youth of the present day. Instead of being reared to lives of ease, amidst plenty and luxury, and taught indolence was refinement and an introduction to the refined circle, they were reared when coarse fare and honest, earnest industry gave health and strength to liml) and body, and taught true, noble and manly inde- pendence consisted in producing the necessaries for supplying their own wants. The boys helped clear and fence lands, and " to plow and sow, and to reap and
37
mow," and the girls " spun and wove, and parents throve." Girls spun and wove and made their own clothing, linen and woolen, and earned their own " set- ting out" in beds and bedding, in "table linen and towels," and mothers and daughters spun, wove and made the clothes worn hy the " men folks." Cotton cloth, if known, was not worn, and " tinware," if known, was not used. There was very little crockery for table use, some pure " china," or porcelain. Pewter was much used for plates, platters, pans and l)asins, and " l)rown earthern " pans for setting milk.
From those sturdy, worthy and just pioneers has sprung an intelligent, temperate, moral, industrious and frugal population, and pros[)erity has followed. Mary- land has grown to be a [)lcasant and prosperous village, with stores, manufactories and mechanics. The site of the Spencer mills is still occupied by mills, and the Xathanlel liose tavern, much enlarged and improved from the original, still stands. Rosevillc — Chascville — has grown to be a village only second to Maryland, and Elk CreeU has arisen to the dignity of being called a village ; while Schenevus has arisen to the importance of claiming space for cons dcral)ly extended note here- after. \\'ealthv farmers, with well-cultivated farms and good farm houses are in every direction, showing im- provement and a general prosperity throughout the whole town. How great the contrast of 1790 with 1875 ! From no postotfice the town now has four. From no comfortable roads, they are now in everj^ direction, and far more, there is the " iron track " trampled by the iron steed, transporting the people where desired in parlors
38
for carriages hundreds of miles away in a single day, and in a few days to the remotest parts of the continent ; and then their messages, winged like thoughts, fly to the remotest cities of our own and other countries with almost instantaneous speed.
CHAPTER V.
o
STRIKING EVENTS WIT AND HUMOR.
That the Indians, if not residents in this town any great length of time, there is good evidence they were at least encamped for a period. Innnraerable flint arrow heads have been fonnd in the valleys and on the hills, which is evidence they were shot at game in hnntmg. Elisha Chamberlin, a first settler, had on his farm a rocky ledge, and in those rocks was a spacious room, afterwards called the stone house, which gave evident signs some of it was the work of hands, and there was found in it charcoal and wood partially burned. In excavating around the lake near Schenevus, arrow heads, flint tomahawks, trinkets and various Indian notions were found, also human bones in such positions as the Indians bury their dead.
A granddaughter of Timothy Murphy resided for some time at Schenevus, and she had heard him tell of his and Colonel Harper's scouts with the redskins in the place and vicinity. She had also heard him tell that Brant and his Tory and Indian allies had twice passed through the now tov/n of Maryland, once going north toward Cherry Valley, and once to the Susquehanna.
A vague and " undefinable" belief always existed that
4a
Tories :intl Indians hid stolen or "British" gold netir ScUc'nevii;j, and this was hnnded do^^'ii to .successors and kept alive ,by Indians at various times visiting the place, and their supposed strange movements, and also strange movements of" some white visitors. In 1870 an Indian claimin<'' the suffix of M. D. arrived, and hung around for a long time. After this two strangers, white men, drove up to a farm house a mile or two from the village and had their horses put into a stable, and themselves went ofl'. They were, however, soon seen in certain fields apparently recon)ioitering, and as it in close search. After a few hours they returned, got out their horses and drove off. Some days after this they returned at early evening, and after putting their horses in the stable went away ; but some time in the night returned, took their horses and drove off. These strange movements excited the curiosity of some persons, wdiich was greatly increased from the report that the men of mysterious movements were descendants of Tories living in Schoharie county in Revolutionary \A'ar times. A search was instituted for the cause of their strange con- duct, when it was found measurements had been made from certain springs and other permanent landmarks, stakes stuck, an excavation of earth made at a certain point, and the dirt thrown out had been returned. On re-opening the hole, at the clay bottom was the plain form, legs and all, of a " fire place dinner pcjt," of early pattern, and near it a flat stone, evidently hammered to tit it as a cover.
Dr. Nathaniel Hazen, mentioned as an early settl<n*, or some years previous to his death dwelt alone. In
41
the autumn of 1857 he weut iiw:iy, and as he was fre- quently absent for many clays, or even two or three weeks at a time, nothinsr was thoui^fht of his continued absence for some time, but after a time his friends made enquiries for him, and learning nothing, they felt anxiety, and with more enquny and search, and the protracted absence, anxiety became fears for his safety, and a diligent, closer and more extended search was made. It was o^iscertained he started to visit, on invitation, a family some live miles away, that they wished to buy some of his valuable medical recipes and some other things. On the way he was seen by several persons, who conversed with him and learned where he was going. Within one-fourth of a mile of his visiting place, but not in sight of the house, he found several men at work, sat down and rested and conversed with them, and they learned of his visit and the cause of it, and that ended the trail. The family denied his having come there, or of having seen him. Suspicion and excitement were created, and hundreds of men made enquiry and search. At length spring came, and hundreds turned out' to search the premises, the house, the fields and vicinity, without avail ; but after some days his lifeless body was found lodged under a stick of wood in a mountain stream some half a ujile from the above-named house, where the water, in spring freshet, had run over him. Ills mittens, rubbers and bits of clothing were found in the stream below him, but the diligent and careful search of hundreds found nothing of the considerable amount of silver coin it was known he had carried in his pocket, his metai tobacco box, his watch, or even his
42
heavy pocket knife. At a protracted and searching coroner's inquest it was found some bones were much broken, and some other bodily injury sustained, but no leijal evidence was adduced to convict any person.
Fires. — Besides those mentioned elsewhere are the following : A distillery near the now Worc(^ster line ; the dwelling house of Joseph Worden, about 1827 ; an old house of Daniel Seaver ; In 1873, the house for years known as the C;iptain Rose tavern house ;^ two saw mills and barn of J. C. Burnside and H. Spencer ; in or about 1872, at Maryland station, steam saw mill of Mr. Ray ; and not far from the same time, at the same place, a wood-working mechanic shop ; the dwelling of B. Wightman, of Maryland, burned about 1855 ; the Crippen flouring mill, at Chaseville, burned about 1870. At Schenevus, the tannery of A. H. Brown, hardware store of John Milk, and shops of P. Brown; a barn of J. E. Tyler, in 1872, or near that time, burned; about 1840, a blacksmith shop belonging to A. Hotchkin ; August 21st, 1875, sash and blind fectory of Lane & Hotchkin and other buildings ; In 1875, C. Brownell's house burned; about 1873, M. Webster's house burned.
When long concocted rebellion broke forth with mur- derous fury to destroy the free government of the people, and beloved by them, two hundred and twenty- five sons of the town of Maryland met the enemy on the gory battle field to join in the terrific struggle. Some fell, and are deeply mourned by the people, and with the wounded and the afflicted all the good people mourn and sorrow.
The stru<:;<>-lc of 1812 with England called to the battle
43
field from Marvland the following' : Samuel Chase, Heman Chamberlin, Elisha Chaniberliu, Stephen Scudder, Wil- liam Spencer, Jesse Dunham and Henry Crippen ; the latter died on the battle field. If there were others their friends will please give their names to the writer.
The wit, humor and anecdotes that might be related of early times would fill a volume, but for only a little can we find space and time to write. The first trial under " lynch lav/" and summary punishment in town was within the now village of Schenevus. This was for larceny, kidnapping and murder. Daniel Seaver — Uncle Daniel, as he was familiarly called — heard one of his hogs calling for help with a tremendous squealing, and being satisfied the trouble arose from a villainous bruin, he instantly seized a heavy handspike that lay near by and made pursuit. The bear took an easterly direction through the woods, and could easily be followed, from the constant squealing of the hog, and was overtaken about where the sash and blind factory now stands. To save his prey the bear took an instant to kill him and prepare for defense, and this instant was occupied by the pursuer in making complaint, getting the court organized, empaneling a jury, getting a trial and c(>nvic- tiou, and sentence of immediate death, and by the execu- tioner, who, suiting the action to the sentence, with his muscular arms brought with great force the heavy hand- spike on the animal's ugck and felled him dead to the ground.
"Uncle Daniel " was one of those spoken of by St. Paul as being " a law unto themselves ;" would do as they would be done by. Of the productions of his farm,
44
if he had a surplus of such as would " keep over," unless in large amount, he declined selling in ordinary seasons, but if the article became scarce and suffering was likely to ensue, call on " Uncle Daniel " for it, and " O, yes, he could spare some," and did " divide with his neigh- bors " so long as he had anything to divide, and on settling and paying for it not one cent more for it would he take than the price it sold for at when plenty. He had a loud voice, and his ordinary conversation was humorously called " whispering," and said to be heard half a mile. Ephraim Boardman was among the earliest settlers and lived something over a mile north of Chase- ville, "that now is." He was a man of a great deal of pleasantry and humor, and greatly enjoyed a "rich" joke, and he was much liked particularly by young people. One winter morning, after a considerable fall of snow, Jacob Spencer and Leander Chamberlin, (sons of the first settlers Phineas Spencer and Elisha Chamber- lin, mentioned before) with their guns, were passing Boardmau's house, when one remarked to the other, " Let us go in and hear ' Uncle E[)h.' lie some." This was overheard by him ; so w4ien the boys entered he was, as usual, very sociable and very glad to see them, " wished they had come earlier, it was such a good time to catch foxes — there lay (jne under every clump of pine bushes over on ' Esquire' Tuttle's side hill, where there was no snow, and there were partridges there, too. Mart, (he had s), son Martin, a comrade of theirs) had waited for them some time, but had gone on and left instructions for them to follow, and if the wind had filled his tracks with snow they must come over on the
45
brink of the hill and hollow and he would answer." The brink of the hill was in an easterly direction, more than half a mile distant, and the side hill was a " chopping;" which extended down to the Elk creek road, where was the dwelling of John Tuttle, Esq., now Samuel Hubbard's. Elated with the prospect of catching foxes, the boys trudged through the snow to the brink, and called for Mart., but no Mart, replied, " so he must bo so far down the hill he could not hear, and they must go down." But here was a ditficulty : The west wind had blown the snow over the brink till the perpendicular or overhanging east side of the drift was twenty-five or more feet high. After thinking, studying and planning for some time, they resolved to go to the edge and slide down, but on nearing the edge the hard drifted snow broke, and with them went to the bottom. However, after much fioundering, they escaped from the avalanche, and re-commenced their search for Mart. But after tug- ging amidst stumps and bushes and climbing over logs till they were tired out, and hollowing and shouting for Mart, till they were hoarse, the thought flashed into mind " Uncle Eph."had heard their unmannerly expres- sion, and they were getting their punishment and the full benefit of " Uncle Eph.'s lies," and commenced a move for home. Their only way was down the Elk creek road to the bridge at the main road, then to Mary- land Centre, now station, and thence eastward up the hill home, a distance, in all, of some four or five miles. However, they succeeded in finding Mart, enjoying the day at Col. Houghton's.
There is an amusing yarn spun from a trade between
46
Boardniiui and said Jacob Spencer. The former had a very pretty gun, which the latter wanted, and there had been some chaffering between the parties in relation to a trade, the gun on one side and a watch on the other. By some means the barrel of the gun had become bent, and was quite crooked. This the owner contended " was a very great advantage in shooting deer around 'Round hill.'" There was a hill called " Ronnd hill," and near it was a grass plot where deer congregated, but in attempting to get a shot at them they ran round the hill and were quickly out of reach. " But this gun," the owner said, "would spin a ball around that hill farther than any gun could send a ball straight ahead ; for in going straight ahead the ball pressed the air together till it was so hard it produced great resistance, and greatly retarded the l)all ; but spinning around it cut through the air, and that little gun would shoot, I tell you now, Jacob. Why, the first deer I pointed it at after it was bent had got half way around the hill when I pulled the trigger, and hang ivent the deerT
On the other hand, " the watch," the ov/ner said, " was a most dreadful good one, and could outrun any watch about there, if that little defect, that broken wheel, was mended, and that was nothing, for he had a piece of brass, and a wheel could be cut out with a knife." The gun and watch were exchanged.
It has been said " bang goes the deer" was the origin of " pop goes the weasel," and that Aaron Day, who sometimes "coined music" and "figured" some in. the time of or just before the noted fiddler, the elder Peter Van Slyck, was the author.
47
Joshua Knapp, or Uucle Josh, as he was called in the early days of Seheuevus, caused considerable auiusemeut and laughter material. " He would drink Avhisky and get boozy and happy, but not drunk," as he said.
In the eastern part of the town the hill called Pine hill was covered in early days with a growth of fine pine timber, and Uncle Josh was a shingle weaver and ob- tained his stock from that hill. The owner, whom we will call Provost, knew of his depredations, and through others sent requests for him to let the timber alone, and finally sharp remonstrances ; but it availed nothing in saving the timber. At lens-th he came on himself, saw Uncle Josh, and remonstrated, but could get no promise or assurance of better conduct. Failing in this, he told the trespasser " he would make him an offer and buy him off. If he would let the rest of the timber on the lot alone, he would give him all he could get from such a portion of it ;" said to have been some forty acres of good timber. Uncle Josh listened attentively, and after apparently considering it some moments, exclaimed : " Mighty generous, Mr. Provost, mighty generous, but I can't do it — I can't take your offer, for if I should when the timber you would give me was used up I would have no place to get any more !"
Uncle Josh planted with corn, on shares, a piece of land on the farm of L. Griswold and had done every- thing necessary and in good order till it had been hoed the second time, which he supposed to be enough; but Griswold thinking differently, and urging a third hoeing, an altercation ensued. Meetino- when both had been " taking a little," but Uncle Josh a little the " deepest,"
48
Griswold commenced the subject with the question, "Will you hoe that com, Uncle Josh :" and received for reply, "I shan't do it. Neighbor Griswold!" The latter stormed, and threatened to whip Uncle Josh if he did not promise to hoc the corn again, and receiving constantly for answer, " I shan't do it, Neighbor Gris- wold !" pitched in, and, for reasons before mentioned, fell on " top of the heap," and gave the culprit a severe " drubbing ;" then again, " Will you hoe that corn again. Uncle Josh?" and again the response, "I shan't do it, Neio-hbor Griswold." Then followed another " drub- bing,"and then the stereotyped question and the response, " 1 shan't do it, Neighbor Griswold," till the latter, from exhaustion, stopped the "drubbing," and Uncle Josh was the victor.
As we are about to take leave of Uncle Josh, an inclination arises to record a just tribute to liis son. Carpenter, or Carp., as he was called, as it may find and stimulate something good in other barren or weedy places. When a lad the closest scrutiny could scarcely detect one particle of the valuable in his composition, till attending writing school the surprising discovery was made his forte was penmanship. His proficiency was so rapid he soon passed from the pupil to the teacher ; first in country places, then in larger places, and, finally, in cities. His ability and skill soon attracted the atten- tion of a noted penman (Rightmyer) who called on him and made overtures for a copartnership, which were accepted. The latter having some money, they com- menced getting out copy writing books for learners, of various kinds, for diff'erent ages and degrees in profi-
49
ciency ; and, then, soon followed the publishing of several works on penmanship, exhibiting by cuts and explanations his system, and showing its beauty, ease of learning, and its advantages over other systems, accom- panied with beautiful specimens of pen cuts and flour- ishes, scarcely to be equaled by engravings and types. They furnished and sold vast quantities of steel pens, of difierent sizes, forms and styles, originating with them, for the difierent business hands of Kuapp's system, and for cuts and flourishes. These pens were manufactured expressly for them in Liverpool. Knapp lectured con- siderably before public schools in cities, and his system was decidedly popular, literary men and leading jour- nals commending it, and to this day is more used, per- haps, than the extolled Speucerian or any other system. " Carp." felt the importance of bis position and standing, and often, in speaking of early mates, remarked : "Why could not such and such boys leave the vulgar throng, who are as good by nature as I am, and have a father's money to help them, push forward and be somebody, instead of jockeying " bosses," as they call those noble animals, or have traced to their doors by feathers and blood chickens from their neighbor's henroost !"
If " Carp." had failings and filled an early grave, how cuttino; the evidence ao;ainst those who make and sell the " accursed stufi"," and those who uphold and encourage such things. Though he did not idolize money, or think the accumulation of it denoted superior v/isdom, or more than a selfish tact ; yet he exhibited a noble trait in leaving to a worthy mother a sufficient sum to make her comfortable for life, and some to a sister.
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Variety. — Some items, since writing the foregoing, press forward for a place for record, if not of particular interest to the present reader, and if not in chronological order, will be inserted here :
While in a confessional mood and acknowledging the reception of much valuable material for this work from an intelligent and Avorthy octogenarian, Mrs. Olive Waterman, we confess we write this wolf story, as related by her, without her knowledge or consent, and, therefore, owe her an apology and thanks for material : " One sugar making season, when about twelve years old, I was sent with an eight-year-old brother to a sugar camp in the woods on South Hill, to assist another brother, who was about fourteen years old, in the eve- ning. Some time after dark I asked my brother what made the brush crack a distance from the fire, and he rather carelessly and evasively said, the squirrels ; but I knew they were not about at that time of night, yet said nothing to frighten my younger brother. When the pails were filled with the syrup, the neck yoke to carry them in readiness, and we were about to start for home, an axe was given to my little brother and a lighted torch made of splints and bark to me. The brush-cracking continued at a distance until we got into the hemlocks, near the creek, when from the burning ofi' from the torch a bark band, the light fell to the ground and we were in almost total darkness, when the cracking came rapidly near us and eyes like stars flashed very near us. My elder brother seized the axe and had us children kindle the tire fast as pos- sible, and soon as a good chance offered we sprung into
51
the canoe and pushed across the stream. When we got into the clearings on the flats near the house the wolves howled their anger for the disappointment of losing their supper.
In 1847 a building was erected by Isaac Slingerland on the corner formed by the intersection of the Elk creek road with Main street for a co-operative store. Many who took stock, not considering store keeping, for obvious reason, was overstocked, were misled as to profits made by merchants, and were, after experience, dissatisfied, yet charged much to the mismauagement of the store. However, it soon became a private or indi- vidual store.
In 1833, Abram Stever made spinning wheels in the shop of Alden Chester. This may seem strange to com- positors, since they made the types on page 17 say Dr. Hazen made " hatchets," when, in fact, he made hatchels, to hatchel flax for mammas and lassies to spin.
A hop yard was planted in 1825, in Schenevus, by Samuel Chase. It was one of the first in town if not in the county. Jacob Vandusen obtained the roots of his friends in Madison county. Hops sold in those years, almost invariably, for fifty cents a pound.
The first cast iron plow in town was bought by Dr. 'Carpenter, and tried by his "hired man," it is thought Daniel Hubbard, who pronounced it a failure, and said, " the devilish thing will break all to pieces." However, Mr. Green Blivin, a good farmer, who used the plows in Greene county. New York, was engaged to test it. It was scoured by use in gravelly ground, the gauge " to run it to or from land " was properly adjusted, and the
52
recommendiition changed to perfection. A Quaker by the name of Wood, in Madison county, N. Y., indented the plows, and another Quaker, Aaron Wing, of Laurens, Otsego county, made them. Wing's first use of them was to plow, for wheat, an hundred-acre field — an advertisement.
The medicinal vegetables, Avhose names, if not botan- ical in a strict sense, graced Dr. Hazen's pharmacopoeia, after acquiring his medical knowledge of his brothers of Little Falls, N. Y., and found in his yard, it is said, were brought by seeds and bulbs, by the first set- tlers, from Spencertown, N. Y., and a few names are as follows: Pennyroyal, catnip, peppermint, spear- mint, mother-wort, Peter-wort, Johns-wort, spignard, (spikenard) rhubarl), smellage, comfrey, caraway, may- weed and tansy. The latter, concocted in whisky, was always used by farmers in haying and harvest to prevent hard work making them sore. Well, in early days, when Maryland had four whisky mills, or dis- tilleries, and made one and a half or two gallons as chemically could be, from the saccharine matter in a bushel of rye or corn, instead of the pretended our or five gallons of whisky from a ])ushel of the present time, when l)edeviled with drugs, it might have had a beneficial efll^ect, while now it has a poisonous. And, it is said, from Spencertown was introduced apples, plums, quinces and currants ; and, it is said, wheat, that would grow in Maryland. AVell, the large percentage of potash from the ashes made by clearing land, which necessarily would be mixed with vegetable mold, made
53
the wonderful wheat and probably would do the same now.
The flood of August 29th, 1873, for which a desire has been expressed might have a record, scarcely reach- ing beyond Maryland, and its greatest fury was spent on Schenevus. The day was one known by those well- informed and close observers, to portend a fearful storm ; " could not breathe " was an expression. The heat of the sun was reflected by the earth, and so rarefied the air breathing was difficult to some. Two clouds, or showers, not far apart, arose nearly southwest and passed northward till northeast from the village, when they encountered a cold blast from the north, Avhich con- densed the water}^ vapor, the direction of the storm was chahged — "driven back" — and the earth was imme- diately deluged with water; as vulgarly expressed, " a cloud was broke." Some idea of the deluge and its destruction may be gathered from the fact that the water commenced to fall at four o'clock p. m., and at five, one hour, the stream on flat ground back of the writer's house, before dry, running at a rate of forty miles an hour, \vas from four to eight feet deep and twenty rods wide.
In 1864, J. T. Thompson, grandson of J. Thompson, who came in in 1794, and on the maternal side of James Morehouse, who came from Duchess county (types erroneously said, on page 11, Columbia county) built a stone general store and with other goods put in a stock of drugs and medicines, the first in town. In 1868, he built the first jewelry store, and in 1870 he erected a building for a bank, and opened a banking and exchange business.
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About 1870, E. E. Ferrey and Mr. Guy opened a shop for the manufocture of bedsteads.
About 1795, Wilder Rice bought a farm adjoining his father-in-hiw, Mr. Tainter, near the east town line, and in after years known as the Griswold fjirm, on which is a stone house, put up a double log house and opened a tavern. The road ran around the foot of the hill, in- stead of over it as now, and the tavern stood south of the present stone house. It had a department for the family and one for the tavern, and has been said had doors opposite each other so a pair of cattle could be driven through to leave a back log in the fireplace. This was made several feet wide and without jambs, the flue for conducting off the smoke was made of sticks plastered with clay above the mantlepiece, a log crossing the house some eight feet above the gn^nid. This farm and tavern was sold to Elijah Griswold, who, with his three sons, Ezekiel, Lyman and Wickham, came in from the Helderberg.
CHAPTER VI.
8CHENEVUS — ITS ORIGIN, SETTLEMENT, PROGRESS, AND ITS BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
Ske-ue-vtis, meaning when translated " speckled fish," or trout, was the Indian name of the main stream passing through the village and town, and when angli- cized was taken for the name of the second postoffice and for the name of the village.
In 1793 a small log house was built by a Mr. Sisko, and he soon commenced keeping a tavern, but it soon passed into possession of a Mr. Freeman, and afterwards it again changed hands and passed into possession of Obadiah Benedict, who, with his son Hezekiah, kept the tavern for some time, and from whom it received the name of the Benedict tavern, which it has retained to this day, some sixty years, and was for most of the time owned by some member of that family. The first house stood on the grounds now occupied as the site of the present house, called the upper or eastern tavern in the village. In 1805 the property passed to David Bene- dict, brother ot the former, who kept the tavern during his lifetime, when, at his death, it descended to his son, Philor, and from him to his heirs. The Benedicts, as were Sisko and Freeman, were from Connecticut.
The season previous to David Benedict taking posses-
56
siou of the tavern he sent his son, Philor, a hid of some fourteen years, with his farm stock, and as the roads were mere bridle or cow-paths in many places through the woods, and particularly over South Hill, so-called, and often in close contact with wild beasts of prey, the undertaking can be better imagined than realized. A wolf story is told by a member of the family, and we give it as related :
As said before, wild beasts were numerous and troublesome, often making sad havoc among sheep and calves, and sometimes with full-grown horned cattle and hogs. There v/as a " chopping " of a few acres around the tavern, and in a portion of this and in the woods Benedict let his stock run in the day-time, but " yarded " them at night. Hearing one night a noise, which he at once attributed to the " varmints," he immediately sprang up, and discovered a wolf on the top of his yard fence on the point of springing on to an animal. This fence, although ten feet high, the wolf had by some means succeeded in mounting. Calling his son, the upper part of his bar-room door, a double door, was thrown open, and with a gun the best aim that could be, in the dim light, was taken, and a discharge made, when the. wolf dropped dead to the ground.
Gershom Bostwick, a son-in-law of David Benedict, built a house and shop on the soutb side of the Schenevus creek and on the west side of the road ruiniing south and passing east from the Albany and Susquehanna railroad station. Probably the county has never pro- duced a man of more mechanical skill and inventive genius than Bostwick. He convinced his father-in-law
57
a saw-mill would be a good investment, who, al)out 1811, in connection with Stephen Brown and Luther Follett, built a mill not far from his shop and raised a dam, making a pond, from which Bostwick drew water to turn a wheel at his shop.
He soon drew around him a knot of mechanics and machinists, among whom was Josiah Crouch, who built and dwelt in a house at the corner formed by the road that crosses the railroad and the road south of it. Bost- wick and Crouch opened a wheelwright and paint shop, also a shop for " wooding" cast iron plows, and the former beins; skilled in making wool-carding and various other machines, had much to do in that line of business, <ind was much abroad to " put up " and repair machinery. At an early day he made and put in use a wool-carding machine for himself, and afterwards he bitllt machinery and commenced fulling and dressins: cloth near his machine works. The first threshing machine was in- vented, patented and applied to use by him and Harry Spencer. The first cylinder and spike cider mill was invented by him. He invented a machine for fluting or corrogating boards for washing-boards, of suitable width, any length, at one operation. A machine for turning spokes for carriages, a machine for making shoe pegs, and one for turning shoe lasts, were all of his invention. The endless belt horse power was invented by him, but O. Badger, of Fly Creek, substituted chains for belts, which he claimed was an improvement, and on which, as Bostwick did not oppose him, he applied for and obtained a patent for the mere change of material. Bost- wick and Bradford Rowe invented and patented an
58
" endless screw " horse-power of great power, so much so it was difficult if not impossible to make it of strength sufficient to sustain it or prevent its breaking. Num- erous other improvements that have greatly benejfited the world were due to his fertile brain and active inven- tive ingenuity" ; but, like thousands of others whose labors have been of incalculable value to their race, he received but little pecuniary reward. In old age his beloved shop, machinery and tools were swept away by water — a very great damage and loss, not only to him, but to many who needed labor and machine work which he alone could do.
Near the wool-carding and cloth-dressing works of Mr. Bostwick, James Tyler commenced similar business in 1833, but was soon burned out.
Peter Koman sold fifty acres on the east side of his farm to his son, Cornelius, and in 1810 they built a saw mill where the present grist mill now stands, on Race street, and a dam where the present dam is now ; and they also constructed a race to conduct the water to the mill.
In 1823, David Shellend built a blacksmith shop a little south of west from the place where J. A. Butts built his cabinet shop. After that he built a wagon shop nearly opposite to it.
In 1832, Alden Chester built the wagon shop on the north side of Main street, now occupied by L. T. Brown and L. Grasslield, and had water machinery. Joseph Carpenter, the first alopathic phj'sician, settled in about 1812, and had a house and office about where now stands the house of 11. C. Wilson, puichasing the place occu- pied by Luther Follett.
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A postoffice was established iu 1829, called Jackson- boro', and Joseph Carpenter was the first Postmfister. This office was afterwards removed, but some time after re-established with the name of Schenevus, and S. H. Gurney for many years Postmaster.
In 1816, Peter Johns, of the city of Hudson, opened a store in the east room of David Benedict's house. Some matters in relation to the store, and some amusing and laughable anecdotes of himself, are told by Johns' store clerk, Isaac Slingerland, which we will here relate : " Five wagons brought the goods from the city, and himself, a lad of some fifteen years, had charge of the goods and of the store for some mouths afterward. Arriving at Todd's tavern, four miles east from their desthiatiou, uear night, they were told by the tavern functionary they were on the wrong road some twenty miles from Benedict's tavern, that it was over ' South Hill,' and the nearest tavern was twelve miles away. But, mistrusting it a falsehood to detain them, they drove on, and arrived at Benedict's iu the evening, put- ting their wagons aud goods in a yard for the night. A change from city to country life soon produced home- sickness, and a change of diet nothing bettered it. A standing dish at table was salt pork fattened ou mast (beechnuts), and the landlady (four years after his mother-in-law) was unable to get it on the table in little better shape than rinds and grease." At sugar season he was told trees yield a sap that produced sugar, and on eating molasses made from sap his marvelousness was further excited, aud to such a degree he enquired the process of obtaining the sap, and being informed
60
and furnished with tools and implements to tap the trees', and vessels to catch the sap, he bounded forth in high glee, and in time returned and joyfully reported the number of trees he had tapped. But wet blankets sometimes dampen or put out the flames of joy. Philor Benedict, who had given him the molasses, and so greatly elevated his spirits and his joys, when he returned from the woods where his and the other trees were tapped, reported the fact that the trees tapped by Isaac were all hemlock, and dead and dry. Slinger- laud, after his marriage, and for a short time had a store in Westford, but his mother bought a farm, (a piece of the Eoman farm) built a house in 1825 at the corner formed by the Elk creek and Schenevus creek roads, and opposite the house of Peter Roman. In one room of this he for a time had a store of goods. " On this farm," he says, " I was intending to have a tine piece of corn, and when planting it Mary (his wife) came, and in a surprised way enquired how he planted, when he replied he put a handful of corn in each hill, she took the hoe, and putting four or five corns in a hill covered it."
Colonel Magher, of Cherry Valley, opened a store about 1830, nearly opposite the upper or east tavern, and in the building now occupied as a dwelling by E. E. Ferrey.
The Peter Johns store was sold to Daniel Houghton and removed in 1822.
Ezekiel Miller and Amos H. BroAvn opened a store about 1831 in a house on the south side of Main street and west of the M. E. church, built by Alexander Smith
61
in 1822, on the Peter Eoman f:irm, he being a son-in-law of Roman. Now I. Carpenter is in the house.
In 1832, Miller & Brown built a store on lands bought of A. Hotchkin, on the north side of Main street, on the east side of Thompson's stone store. Land then worth $100 per acre.
A cooper shop was built on Main street in 1826, about where the building of B. Manzer now stands- Willow baskets were made by G. Virgil soon after. John Wilcox opened a boot and shoe shop on Main street about this time, he and his cousin Josiah having bought C. Roman out, and he then bought the whole.
The first tin shop and hardware store was opened in 1844 by A. Hotchkin and A. Swartout, on Main street, where Cleveland's boot and shoe store is now.
In 1832, I. F. Romain had a tailor shop on Main street. In 1832, six buildings on Main street.
Eli Howe and Philor Benedict, in 1827, built a grist mill where the mill now is, and some time after, in con- nection with Mr. Belknap, built a stone rifle fiictory near the mill, and soon commenced the manufacture of rifles. The water-power was taken from the mill race. John Howe built a saw-mill south of the grist mill and a blacksmith shop near b}'.
About 1835, a Mr. Hoag had a harness shop, and in 1836 J. Cooley and E. E. Ferrey had it.
In 1834, Dr. George Hastings, a pupil of Dr. Dolos White, of Cherry Valley, came into Jacksonboro'.
S. S. Burnside, the first counselor and attorney-at-law, and first resident Justice of the Peace.
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The Sp«arrowhawk road, leaving the Scheueviis creek road a little east from W. Bennett's and west from A. Brownell's, and from thence running northerly up the hill, and east from the " old Elias Bennett house," was discontinued and closed about 1850, and the "■ Smoky avenue " street or road " laid out " and opened to travel.
Under an " act for the incorporation of villages," passed April 2Uth, 1870, Schenevus^was incorporated, and received a charter the same year. Its present population is seven hundred and twenty-six, (726) with one hundred and forty-nine families. There are one hundred and fifteen dwelling-houses, and one hundred and twelve barns ; whole number of buildings, three hundred and thirty. The assessed valuation of real and personal property is $87,735, $7,000 of which is railroad property. Within the corporation limits there are two churches, one a Baptist and the other an M. E. church, with each an organ and a singing choir.
Clergymen. — Rev. Mr. Wells, Rev. Mr. Hill, Rev. Mr. James.
Schools. — Free, graded — Mr. Lowell, Mr. Wickham, and Miss M. Kelly, teachers.
Writing. — P. R. Young.
Hotels. — I. Becker, P. VanEtten, D. Chamberlain.
Banking and Exchange Business. — J. T. Thompson.
Pltysicians and Surgeons. — E. E. Houghton, H. W. Boorn, P. Simmons.
Dentist.— R. Follett.
Attorneys and Counselors-at-Lan\ — J. R. Thompson, C. H. Graham, E. E. Ferrey and P. Benedict, George Spencer, W. C. Smith, Robert Bush.
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Dry Goods and General Stores. — J. M. Thompson, J. McHarg, P. M. Hiimmell, I. Slingerhmd.
Drugs. — J. M. Thompson, J. McHarg.
Clot/ling Store. — W. H. Bennett.
Hardware Store and Tin, Copper, and Sheet-iron Shop. — Mills & Gletison.
Grocery Stores. — D. W. Stever, L. Cyphers.
Grocery, Books, Stationery and Fancy Store. — A. J. Bates.
Boot and Shoe Store. — F. H. Cleaveland.
JVeu'spaper, Book and Job Printing. — J. J. & M. M. Multer.
Justice of the Peace. — S. H. Gurney.
Notary Public. — J. K. Thompson.
School Commissioner. — N. T. Brown.
Watcltmakers and Jewelers. — C. Dumont, G. W. Miller.
Marble Works. — A. Albert and C. M. Aylsworth, O. P. Toombs and H. Lake.
Cabinet, Furniture Dealers and Lndertakers. — O. D. Walker, E. Butts and J. Ferry.
Bedstead Manufacturers. — G. Guy and E. E. Ferry.
Mills.— Guy & FoUett, E. E. Ferry, H. M. Hanor.
Harness. — L. Waterman.
Boots and Shoes. — George Holland Spencer, H. Wil- cox, E. Flynn.
Wheelright or Carriage Manifacturers. — P. Brown, T. L. Brown, F. T. Starr, H. E. Carpenter.
Carpenter and Joiner Builders. — J. Manning, John Chase, E. Chamberlain, F. Kurej^
Tannery. — H. E. Gleason.
Gun Making. — R. Seward.
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Photographers and Picture Gallery. — P. R. Young and E. E. Browiiell.
Baker. — J. W. Sullivan.
Blaclcsmiths.—R. Follett. E. Sewarcl, W. O. Mills, P. Brown, M. O'Brian.
Cooper. — P. J. Brady.
Meats and Vegetables. — T. J. Lewis.
Painters. — W. J. Merrihew, M. Kelley, W. Kelley.
Livery. — C. H. Stever.
Dressmaking. — Mrs. M. A. Kelley, Mrs. B. S. More- house, Mrs. I, L. Bulson. Mrs. \Vm. Howe.
Milliners. — Mrs. G. E. Guy, Mrs. G. Wright, Miss A. D. Gilland.
Tailoresses. — Mrs. C Ham, Mrs. A. H. Rathbone, Mrs. H. C. Cooley.
Music Teachers. — F. E. Page, Milo Kelley, Mrs. J. Mills, Mrs. H. C. Cooley.
Town Hall. — A. Chase, \\\ H. Bennett.
Cabinet and Variety Shop. — I. L. Bulson.
Bai'ber. — T. VV. Ennies.
Postmaster. — S. H. Gurney.
Organizations. — Schenevus Valley Silver Cornet Band. Lodge of F. & A. Masons. Lodge of I. O. of Good Templars. Brown Post, Grand Army of the Republic. Circulating Library. I. O. ofO. F.
A great number of names of families press forward and claim a place, and the task would greatly please us, could we give some written record of remembrance of those who, in our early days, were called "our people" ; but we fear it would so swell the size of this little vol- ume and increase the price, it would not be approved by
65
the general public ; yet we feel a laudable desire to give the names that come to mind of those who were in town three-fourths of a century "agone" — a little more or lit- tle less, the most of whom left worthy descendants.
In the western portion of the town the Burnsides were quite numerous, and of whom Gen. S. S. Buruside prom- ised to furnish us a chapter, but failed to redeem it. The Barnes, for some years there, were first, and for many years residents of the south-eastern portion. Coons, West, Tallmadge, Rowland, Aylesworth, Gur- ne3% Palmer, Piatt, Walling, How, Wilbur, Youmans, Jones, Peebles, Peterson, Peaslee, Dibble, Barber; and now presses forward names of families of the Dutch per- suasion ; Vanduseu, Vandenburg, Vandeboe, Vanalstine, Vanzant, Hoose, Hacket, Havens, Ketchum, Swift ; and again those of early in the seventeen hundred and nine- ties come forward: Andrew Willard, Elijah Smith, Daniel Wright, Roger Kelley — a little later, Stephen Brown, Porter Seward, Elisha Sperry, Moses Bennett, Crippens, Griswolds, Wilder, Wordeu, Wickham, Wheeler, Weston, Chapel, Hubbard, Tubbs, Cass, Steele, Gunn, White, Lewis, Simmons, Holbrook, Wilsey, Wilson, Wells, Dunham, Preston, Lawrence, Benson, Bennet — but memory must be held in abey- ance, probably final check.
In conclusion : The writer is not the "oldest inhab- itant" in town, but can distinctly remember events that have transpired in town in "three-score" and five con- secutive years, which, it is thought, is more than any other one can. In going back over life's beaten track, to commence with earliest dates for the return, necessi-
66
tates us to recall babyhood's orphanage ; persons and things known in infancy, in boyhood, youth and middle age ; and much during a whole life. Recollections of the dear old log school house, of our ABC days come crowding forward. Those who cared for us in infancy and childhood, our childhood and earliest boyhood mates, and our earliest school mates — where are they ? gone ! is the response. Not one that we are aware is living ! Our grand parents, our parents, our uncles and aunts, and all our earliest relatives are gone ! all that was once familiar, and that was near and dear is gone ! Hundreds of scenes and views, and of childish and innocent amuse- ment and pleasure — hundreds of things — of animals and of birds — and of human faces and forms ; of more than half a century ago, are as distinctly in recollection as if the time was yesterday, but now passed away — gone. Painful, indeed, is the panorama ! The reader may im- agine, but cannot realize. But gone will be said of us all ; and to the writer the prospect of being gone is grat- ifying. Death seems a friend, that relieves us from the ills, the pains and sorrows of earth, that we may enter Elysian fields and enjoy perpetual youth.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
YOUNG & BROWNELL,
SOHENEVUS, N. Y.,
PORTRAIT I LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHERS,
Dealeis in and Manufacturers of
Frames and Framing material of every description,
Chromos, Albums, Stereoscopes, Stereoscopic Views, &c.
Pakticular Attention given to Copyino old Pictures, and Finishinu in India Ink., Oil, Ckayon or Watek Colors.
P&~Engraviiig and Fine Pen work done to order, at Low Rates.
P. R. YouNn, E. E. Bkownell.
T. J. EE^VIS,
Dealer in
FRESH AND SALT MEATS, VEGETABLES,
Fish, Lard, Tallow, and Canned Fruit.
IW CASH PAID FOR HIDES, Nellis Block, Main St., SCHEHEVUS, N. Y.
G^ENERAL
INSURANCE AGENCY,
WESTFORD, N. Y.
Established in 18(59. Assets Represented, $30,000,000.
Our experience and familiarity with the princiiJes of the business, together with the character and standing of the companies represented, enable us to ofl'er all that is valuable in
LIFU AND FIBE INSURANCE,
at the lowest adequate rates. Prudent business men seek undoubted security and reliable Limrance at a fair rate of pi'emium ; and will have no business Intercourse with insurance quacks or with weak, reckless, inexperienced institutions. We make insurance a business, and present the record of our business career as our credentials.
J. K. TYLER.
FRED E. PAG^E,
Teacher of
Piano^ Resd | Pipe Qrgan^ Harmony! Thorough Bass.
TERMS OF TUITION :
1 Term, (^4 Lessons,) y, hour each on Piano, $12 00
1 Term, (24 Lessons,) % hour each on Re^d Orsjan 12 00
1 Term, (20 Lessons,) % hour each on Grand Pipe Organ, 20 CO
1 Term, (20 Lessons,) 1 hour each on Harmony or Thorough Base, 20 00
tuition patable quarterly. Mr. Page has studied six years \vith the best teachers of New York and Boston, and the system of instruction is the same as that of the (lopservatories of Leipsic, Geimany, and Boston, Mass. Lessons on Pipe Organ given at Cobleskill, or at other places where access can be had to Pipe Organs. Training of the hands for Piano made a specialty.
SCHENEVUS, N. Y.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
ALBERT & AYLESWORTH,
Munufacturers of and dealers in
ALL KINDS OF AMERICAN | ITALIAN MARBLE.
on hand and made to order oflje^t quality and latest designs. J^"A11 orders promptly attended to and satisfaction guaranteed in all casts.
Sutherland Falls Marble and Low Prices a Specialty.
Works in basement ol Butts building. Main Street,
SCHENEVUS, N. Y.
Andrew Albert, C. M. Ayleswokth.
A. J. BATES,
Dealer in
FANCY GOODS, BOOKS AND STATIONERY, Grx*ocei'ies, Emits and. Niits,
Tobacco, Cigars, &c., Walker B'.ojk, Miin St., SCHENEVUS, N. Y.
IRA L. BULSON,
Manufacturer of
Desxks, Wardrobes, Book Cases and Extension Tables,
SHOW CASES, ETC.
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED, BOTH IN STYLE AND FINISH.
Extension Tables at Wliolesale a Specialty.
JOBBING AND REPAIRING PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO AT MODERATE RATES.
Shop over Cleveland & Wright's Boot and Shoe Store, Main St., SCHENEVUS, N. Y.
J. M. THOMPSON,
Dealer in
iii iSiiS.iiSiiiiis,
CROCKERY, WALL PAPER,
DRUGS AND MEDICINES, PAINTS, OILS,
Dye Stuffs, Etc., Stone Store, Ma n St., SCHENEVUS, N . V.
AOVERTISEMETSTTS.
SUBSCUIBE NOW, FOIl
The Livliest, Spiciest Twenty-four Column Sheet Published in Otsego County. Only $1.25 per Year, in Advance.
JOB PR JNTING.— Our fiidliUes iire ampla for tlie executi 'ii of good work on short notice, iit very moda-ate rates. Coinmcrcial PrintiiiK a Specialty.
J. J. & M. M. MULTER.
D. ^^r, BRAIISTARD,
Builder and manufacturer of
FLORING, CEILING, IDx'essecl Lumber, Etc., Etc.,
Also, Dealer in
Sash, Blinds, Doors, &c.,
Main Street, QngOnta, It Y.
John Burt, Jr., Setmouk Scott.
B.URT & SCOTT,
FBITTS BLOCE, U&IS ST., ONEO^TA, N. Y.
ONEOPiTa cieaR waMUFacTOBV,
C. A. SMITH & CO., Proprietors, Wholesale and Hetail Dealers in
MEERSCHAUM & BRIAR PIPES, STEMS, AMBER
TIPS, ETC., ETC.
Fancj^ OlieAviiig aiicl Smolviiig Tobaccos, On^eonta, N. Y.
ADVERTISEMENTS. J. Mc HARG-, Jr.,
Dealer ix
Cr'ockery, Boots and Shoes, <£c.,
Main Street, ScllGneVUS, N. Y.
IRA E, CARPENTER,
Manufacturei' of
Open ^ Top Buggies, Democrat Wagons, ^^c.
JrW Rppiiiring promptly attended to. Stone Shop, Main St., SCHENEVUS, N. Y.
E. D. SEWARD, General Blacksmithing and Horseshoeing,
stone Shop, Main St., SCHENEVUS, N. Y.
HENRY FOLLETT,
DENTIST,
Gives Special Attention to Filling with Gold, Silver, Etc.
ALL WORK WARRANTED.
SCHENEVUS, N. Y.
R. M. HXTMMELL,
Dealer in
READY-MADE CLOTHING,
Foreign ayid Domestic Fabrics, G-eneral Merchandise, Etc., Etc.
SCHEMSVIJS, N. Y.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
ONEOHTA, N. Y.,
Are SelJiri;!; Drills, Medicines. Dye Stuffs. Toilet Articles,
Etc., Etc., in fuct everythiiii; pertaining to a
First-class Driiji; Store,
AT BOTTOM PRICES. PAINTS AND OILS AT THE LOWEST MARKET BATES.
We liLive the largest stock of
PAPER HATSTGMISrG-S
in tliis section of the county, WHICH W^E ARE SELLING AT LOWER PRICES THAN EVER BEFORE.
JS" Pure Liquors for Medicinal jmrposes.
HEISTRY SAUNDERS,
(Successor to Dye & Saunders,)
OJVEOJVTA, JV. Y.
1PW~SINGING BOOKS A SPECIALTY.
G. D. SCRAMBLING,
GENSML FIRE AHD LIFE IHSURANCE AGENT,
Oneonta, IST. Y. Policies written in First-class Companies.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
EERREY &. BUTTS,
Manufacturers of u^d Dealers in
FASHIONABLE FURNITURE
consisting in i^art of
Parlor Suits, Brussels Couches, Extension Tables,
MATTR ASSES, SPRING BEDS, BEDSTEADS,
LOOKING GL-ISSES, AlAUBLE AND WOOD TOP TABLES.
gW Chamber Suits a Specialty.
Cbairs in great Variety. Also UNDEETAKEES, and Agents for the Celebrated "STEIN OASSETS."
SCllEXEN TS, N. Y.
H. R. SKINNER,
Dealer in
WATCHES, CLOCKS, JEWELRY,
Solid Silver and Plated Ware, Si:)ectacles, Fancj' Groocls, Etc., Etc.
ONEONTA, N. Y.
Gold and Silver Plating anci Repairing done Pi'omptly,
W. H. ^VOODEN,
Dealer in
Lumber, Etc. Estimates Care In 1 1 3" m a d e .
ONEONTA, N. Y.
\\^ING^ & EUTHER,
Mamifactureis of and Dealers in
Parlor Sets, Cliaiiibor Scls, MaUresa'8, Spriii" Beds,
COFFINS, CASKETS AND SHROUDS CONSTANTLY ON HAND. ONEONTA, N. Y.
Undertaking in all itn branchex, jiroinptly atlended to.
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