A SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA

by

DUDLEY M. CAMPBELL. 

Oneonta, N. Y. :Herald and Democrat Press

1883

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A SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF ONEONTA

by

DUDLEY M. CAMPBELL

Preface. 

In the preparation of the following pages, I have not attempted togive a complete history of the town of Oneonta. My main object hasbeen to put into a more preservative form some of the facts that havebeen derived from the recollection of the older inhabitants as well asfrom family papers, which, in the lapse of time, would be forgottenand lost to the public. This is not so much a history as it is asketch of history, but it may be made a beginning of a morepretentious historical work. I have endeavored to make it trustworthy, and in my efforts in this direction, I have not relied upon anyinformation pretended to be conveyed in the recently published large"History of Otsego County, " which is better known as a voluminouscompilation of gross inaccuracies in which are transmitted to futuretimes the names of the good and bad, equally bespattered with praise. 

If the names of any of the older settlers have not received deservedmention, the omission is due to the fact that their representatives orthose having information to give, have withheld or neglected tofurnish facts which they alone could furnish. 

D. M. C. 

ONEONTA, _April, 1883_. 

_CHAPTER I. _

The territory comprised within the present boundaries of the town ofOneonta, previous to the war of the Revolution, was little knownexcept as the scene of many a sanguinary conflict between differentIndian tribes which contended with each other for its possession. TheDelawares, whose home was on the river bearing their name, had been inpeaceful possession of the upper Susquehanna valley from timeimmemorial; but long before the outbreak of hostilities betweenEngland and her trans-Atlantic colonies, the Tuscaroras, a warliketribe from Virginia, wandered up the Susquehanna from Chesapeake Bayand laid claim to the upper portion of the valley as theirhunting-grounds. From that time, with brief and uncertain intervals ofpeace, up to the close of the Revolutionary struggle, the war betweenthe contending tribes was waged with relentless fury. Many a proudchief and valiant warrior fell beneath the tomahawk and became thevictim of the merciless scalping-knife. 

Eventually the strife between these aboriginal tribes terminated infavor of the invaders, or Tuscaroras, who thereupon allied themselveswith the Six Nations occupying the more northern and western portionsof the state. They formed small settlements, one within the presenttown of Oneonta, at the mouth of the Otego creek, and another at ornear the mouth of the Charlotte. The former was on the farm now ownedand occupied by Andrew Van Woert; the other on what is known as theIsland on the farm of James W. Jenks. At both these places Indianutensils and implements of war have been found in large numbers; atboth, Indian orchards of some extent were standing a few years ago. 

These Indian settlements were destroyed by a detachment of Americantroops under Gen. Sullivan, who passed down the river from Cooperstownin the summer of 1779. Making a dam across the outlet of the lake, Sullivan succeeded in causing the water of the lake to riseconsiderably above the common level, when by removing the dam thestream was greatly swollen, and upon its current the colonial force, numbering about 1, 000 men, was borne down the valley. It is relatedthat the natives had become terrified at the sudden diminution of thewater of the river and had fled in great haste from their homes, leaving the way unobstructed for the safe advance of the patriotforce. Between the source of the stream and Unadilla, it is supposedthat but few Indian orchards, cornfields or huts were left standingnear the river. At the mouth of the Schenevus creek, a notableexception was made in favor of the Van Valkenburg family, residingthen on the old Deitz farm across the river to the east ofColliersville, where now may be seen a number of ancient apple treesof Indian planting, still in a vigorous and fruitful condition. ThisVan Valkenburg family being half-breeds and friendly to the Americancause, their property and possessions were not molested. 

Sullivan's passage down the stream was effected by means of batteauxand strong rafts, and owing to the windings of the channel, and thenecessary army luggage, his progress, notwithstanding the increasedvolume of water that bore his barks along, was somewhat slow. 

Unopposed by an enemy, through a country marked with rare beauty ofscenery, "Each boatman bending to his oar, With measured sweep the burden bore, "

and with the advance of this small but daring patriot force, theSusquehanna valley ceased to be the permanent abiding place of the redmen. A few scattered representatives of the once proud Tuscaroras andOneidas built their temporary wigwams where convenience suggested, andderived such subsistence as the chase and stream afforded, but theywere no longer a terror to the settlers. 

In the expeditions sent out to the southwestward from Albany, andlikewise in the marauding expeditions of the savages against thefrontier settlements along the Schoharie, the Susquehanna valley, wherein is situated the village of Oneonta, became the common highwayto both parties. The old Indian trail, it has been ascertained, fromthe Schoharie fort to the west, passed down the Schenevus creek to itsmouth, there crossed the Susquehanna, and continued down the northwestside of the stream, passed through the village of Oneonta nearly alongthe line of Main-st. , thence crossing the river near the lower end ofthe village, it continued westward on the south side of the stream forsome distance down the river, on toward the Chemung and the fort atOswego. There was also another trail leading from Schoharie toHarpersfield and thence down the Charlotte creek to the Susquehanna. 

"We had gone on about ten miles farther which brought us as low downas where Collier's bridge now crosses the river. Here we imagined thatthe Indians were possibly as cunning as ourselves, and would doubtlesstake the more obscure way and endeavor to meet us on the east side. Onwhich account we waded the stream and struck into the woods crossingthe Indian path, toward a place now called Craft-town. " (Priest'sCollection of Stories of the Revolution, published in 1836. "McKeon'sScouts in Otsego County. ")

On the high ground, a little distance beyond the southern extremity ofthe Lower or Parish Bridge, there has been found within the past fewyears a large ring, which from the inscription traced upon it, issupposed to have belonged to one of Butler's Rangers. This ring is nowin the possession of Dr. Meigs Case, and bears upon its outer sidethese words and letters: "Georgius Rex; B. R. " It is supposed that theletters "B. R. " are abbreviations for "Butler's Rangers. "--"George, theKing; Butler's Rangers. "

In 1683 two Cayuga Indians gave the following geographical informationto the justices of Albany regarding the valley. The quotation is fromthe Documentary History of New York, Vol. I, page 393, etc. :

"That it is one day's journey from the Mohawk Castles to the lakewhence the Susquehanna river rises, and then ten days' journey fromthe river to the Susquehanna Castles--in all eleven days. 

"One day and a half's journey by land from Oneida to the kill whichfalls into the Susquehanna river, and one day from the kill unto theSusquehanna river, and then seven days unto the Susquehanna Castle--inall nine and a half days' journey. "

"The Indians demand wherefore such particular information relative tothe Susquehanna river is sought after from them, and whether peopleare about to come there? The Indians are asked if it would beagreeable to them if folks should settle there? The Indians answerthat they would be very glad if people came to settle there, as it isnigher than this place and more convenient to transport themselves andpacks by water, inasmuch as they must bring everything hither on theirbacks. N. B. --The ascending of the Susquehanna river is one week longerthan the descending. "

In 1684, the Onondaga and Cayuga sachems made an oration before LordHoward of Effingham at Albany, from which the following extracts aretaken. I have preserved the original spelling:

"Wee have putt all our land and ourselfs under the Protection of thegreat Duke of York, the brother of your great Sachim. We have giventhe Susquehanne River which we wonn with the sword to this Governmentand desire that it may be a branch of that great tree, Whose toppreaches to the Sunn, under whose branches we shall shelter our selvesfrom the French, or any other people, and our fire burn in your housesand your fire burns with us, and we desire that it always may be so, and will not that any of your Penn's people shall settle upon theSusquehanna River; for all our folks or soldiers are like Wolfs inthe Woods, as you Sachim of Virginia know, we having no other land toleave to our wives and Children. "

In 1691, the governor and council of the province of New York sent anaddress to the king of England, from which the following extract ismade:

"Albany lies upon the same river, etc. Its commerce extends itself asfar as the lakes of Canada and the Sinnekes Country in which is theSusquehannah River. "

It appears that the ownership of the Susquehanna was the subject of nolittle dispute among the tribes composing the Six Nations. [A] TheOnondagas claimed the country. 

[Footnote A: From a record of a meeting of the mayor and aldermen ofAlbany in 1689 the Onondagas are called Ti-onon-dages. 

In an old map found among the papers of Sir Guy Johnson the Schenevuscreek or valley is called Ti-ononda-don. The prefix _Ti_ appears tohave been quite common among Indian names, sometimes used andsometimes omitted. Doubtless _Ononda_ is the root of the word_Ti-ononda-don_. As the Onondagas had claimed the Susquehanna country, the Indian etymologist might naturally inquire whether there was anykinship between Tionondaga, Tionondadon, Onondaga and the wordOneonta. His belief in a common etymon might be somewhat strengthenedby a quotation from a "Journal of What Occurred between the French andSavages, " kept during the years 1657-58. (See Doc. Hist. , Vol. I, p. 44*: [*Transcriber's Note: last digit illegible in original. ]

"The word Onnota, which signifies in the Iroquois tongue a _mountain_, has given the name to the village called Onnontae, or as others callit Onnontague, because it is on a mountain. ")

Perhaps the word Oneonta may have the same derivation or a likederivation as Onondaga--perhaps not. The reader is left to follow upthe query. Among the Hurons who had been conquered by the Iroquois, atribe is mentioned under the name of Ti-onnonta-tes. The name may haveno relation to nor any bearing upon the derivation of the wordOneonta, but that there was such a tribe, the fact is given for whatit may be worth. ]

"At fifty miles from Albany the Land Carriage from the Mohawk's riverto a lake from whence the Northern Branch of Susquehanna takes itsrise, does not exceed fourteen miles. Goods may be carried from thislake in Battoes or flatt bottomed Vessels through Pennsylvania toMaryland and Virginia, the current of the river running everywhereeasy without any cataract in all that large space. "

The last quotation is from the report of the Surveyor General to theLieutenant Governor in 1637. 

The foregoing extracts appear to contain about all the informationwhich the authorities at the provincial capital could glean of theIndians concerning the Susquehanna country, as it was called. 

The few scattered natives who remained here after the establishment ofpeace, were, in 1795, removed to the reservation at Oneida, and becamea part of the Indian tribes already settled there. 

In volume III of the Documentary History of New York, a quaintlyinteresting letter of the Rev. Gideon Hawley may be found. The letteris interesting, because it may be safely regarded as the earliestauthentic writing respecting this portion of the valley. Mr. Hawleywas sent out as a missionary teacher to the Indians. 

About this time a good deal of interest was being taken in theeducation of Indian youth. For the furtherance of this design, theRev. Eleazur Wheelock established a school at New Lebanon, Conn. , forthe education of young whites and young Indians. This schoolafterwards ripened into Dartmouth college, and was removed to Hanover, New Hampshire. From this new-fledged seminary, the Rev. Mr. Kirklandwas sent among the Oneidas, and his labors in that quarter eventuallyresulted in the founding of Hamilton college, at Clinton. From asimilar school established at Stockbridge, Mass. , and which appears tohave been favored by the influence and good will of the celebratedJonathan Edwards, Mr. Hawley was sent to Oquaga on the Susquehanna. 

Oquaga was the Indian settlement near the site of the present villageof Windsor in Broome county. Mr. Hawley's journey was from Albany upthe Mohawk, across the mountains to Schoharie, thence along the valleyto Schenevus creek and westward. As his letter, in the form of ajournal, contains the earliest account that is known of the presenceof white people within the present territorial limits of Oneonta, Ihope the quotations I make from it may prove of some interest. Theletter is dated July 31st, 1794. The first entry is as follows:

 JULY 31st, 1794. 

 "It is forty years this date since I was ordained a missionary to the Indians, in the old South Meeting House, when the Rev. Dr. Sewall preached on the occasion and the Rev. Mr. Prince gave the charge. The Rev. Mr. Foxcroft and Dr. Chauncey of Cambridge, assisted upon the occasion, and Mr. Appleton. I entered upon this arduous business at Stockbridge, under the patronage of the Rev. Mr. Edwards. Was instructor of a few families of Iroquois, who came down from their country for the sake of christian knowledge and the schooling of their children. These families consisted of Mohawks, Oneidas and Tuscaroras. I was their school-master and preached to them on the Lord's day. Mr. Edwards visited my school, catechised my scholars, and frequently delivered a discourse to the children. "

This quotation may serve to show what kind of man this earlymissionary was, and the deep interest then felt in the education andcivilization of the aborigines. The formality with which the clericalharness was put on in the historic Old South Church, is strikingly incontrast with the way the missionary to the Indians is equippednow-a-days. 

In the following quotations the dates are of the year 1753. May 22d ofthat year, a party consisting of Mr. Hawley, Mr. Woodbridge, a Mr. Ashley and Mrs. Ashley, set out from Stockbridge for Oquaga. 

May 30th, 1753, a little more than a week after leaving Stockbridge, the party had its first view of the Susquehanna at Colliers. As thejournal gives some description of our valley as it was then--onehundred and thirty years ago--I quote freely:

"Our way was generally obstructed by fallen trees, old logs, miryplaces, pointed rocks and entangled roots, which were not to beavoided. We were alternately on the ridge of a lofty mountain and inthe depths of a valley. At best, our path was obscure and we neededguides to go before us. Night approaches, we halt and a fire iskindled; the kettles are filled and we refresh ourselves; and we adoreDivine Providence, returning thanks for the salvations of the day andcommitting ourselves to God for the night, whose presence is equallyin the recesses of the solitary wilderness and in the social walks ofthe populous city. With the starry heavens above me, and having theearth for my bed, I roll myself in a blanket, and without a dream todisturb my repose, pass the night in quiet, and never awake till theeye-lids of morning are opened, and the penetrating rays of the sunlook through the surrounding foliage. 

"It may not be impertinent to observe that in this wilderness weneither see nor hear any birds of music. These frequent only theabodes of man. There is one _wood-bird_, not often seen, but heardwithout any melody in his note, in every part of the wildernesswherever I have been. In some parts of this extensive country, thewild pigeons breed in numbers almost infinite. I once passed anextensive valley where they had rested; and for six or eight miles, where the trees were near and thick, every tree had a number of nestsupon it, and some not less than fifteen or twenty upon them. But assoon as their young are able, they take wing and are seen no more. "

The next extract is from the journal of May 30th, 1753:

"We were impatient to see the famous Susquehanna, and as soon as wecame, Mr. Woodbridge and I walked down to its banks. Disappointed atthe smallness of its stream, he exclaimed, 'Is this the Susquehanna?'

"When we returned our young Indians, who had halted, came in, lookingas terrible and ugly as they could, having bedaubed their faces withvermilion, lampblack, white-lead, etc. A young Indian always carrieswith him his looking-glass and paint; and does not consider himself asdressed until he has adjusted his countenance by their assistance. 

"Mr. Woodbridge and Mrs. Ashley, our interpreter, could not travel anyfurther by land. We therefore concluded to get a canoe and convey themby water. From this place [now Colliers] to Onohoghwage is three days'journey; and how bad the traveling is we cannot tell. 

"May 31st, [1753. ] We met with difficulty about getting a canoe, andsent an Indian into the woods to get ready a bark, but he made smallprogress. 

"In the afternoon came from Otsego lake, which is the source of thisstream, George Windecker and another, in a small batteau, with goodsand rum, going down to Onohoghwage upon a trading voyage. We agreedwith them to carry the interpreter and Mr. Woodbridge in theirbatteau; and bought a wooden canoe to carry our flour and baggage. 

"We soon saw the ill effects of Windecker's rum. The Indians began todrink and some of our party were the worse for it. We perceived whatwas coming. 

"June 1st, 1753, is with me a memorable day, and for forty years andmore has not passed unnoticed. We got off as silently as we could withourselves and effects. Some went by water and others by land, with thehorses. I was with the land party. The Indians, half intoxicated, wereoutrageous, and pursued both the party by water, in which was Mr. Woodbridge, and the party by land. One came so near us as with hisclub to strike at us, and he hit one of our horses. We hastened. Neither party met till we arrived at Wauteghe [the name of the Indianvillage at the mouth of the Otego creek] at which had been an Indianvillage, where were a few fruit trees and considerable cleared land, but no inhabitants. Here, being unmolested and secure, we allrefreshed ourselves. But Pallas was the worse for his rum; was sorefractory that Mr. Ashley's hired man, who had been in the canoe withhim, was afraid. I reproved him; got into the canoe to keep him inorder; was young and inexperienced; knew not much of Indians, nor muchof mankind; whereby I endangered my life. "

In 1763, Rev. Mr. Wheelock made application to Gen. Amherst for a landgrant in the following words: "That a tract of land, about fifteen ortwenty miles square, or so much as shall be sufficient for fourtownships, on the west side of Susquehanna river, or in some otherplace more convenient, in the heart of the Indian country, be grantedin favor of this school. The said townships be peopled with a chosennumber of inhabitants of known honesty, integrity, and such as loveand will be kind to, and honest in their dealings with Indians. 

"That a thousand acres of, and within said grant be given to thisschool; part of it to be a college for the education of missionaries, interpreters, school-masters, etc. ; and part of it a school to teachreading, writing, etc. And that there be manufactures for theinstruction of both males and females, in whatever shall be useful andnecessary in life, and proper tutors, masters and mistresses beprovided for the same. "

_CHAPTER II. _

During the war for independence, the Susquehanna valley belowSchenevus creek was the lurking place of Indians and Tories, who, fromthis secluded territory, made many and frequent inroads upon thesettlements on the Schoharie and Charlotte. Owing to the remoteness ofthis section and the weak condition of the frontiersmen, the trail ofthe retreating savages was seldom followed to any considerabledistance and consequently but little knowledge concerning the valleywas derived by the settlers at the former points until the restorationof peace. 

In 1770, an extensive tract of land was granted to Sir William Johnsonand others, a large part of which lies within the limits of the townof Oneonta. This tract lies on both sides of the Susquehanna river, both above and below the Otego creek. It is supposed the firstsettlement within the town was made upon this patent. [A] It contained26, 000 acres. 

[Footnote A: Many have erroneously believed this patent to have beenthe grant made by the Indian chief to Sir William in accordance with adream the latter had, _i. E. _, he had dreamed that the Indian gave himall of a certain described tract, whereupon the Indian told him thathe supposed what he had dreamed must be true, but "be sure and notdream again. " "Dreamland, " by good authority, is said to be inHerkimer county. ]

Some years before the commencement of hostilities, Henry Schramling, a hardy pioneer from the older settlement at German Flats, on theMohawk, came into the valley and made a settlement at a point near theOtego creek bridge, but by reason of the troubled condition of thecountry after 1775, Mr. Schramling moved back to the Mohawk forgreater security. After the war he with his brothers, George andDavid, returned to the Susquehanna. It is believed upon good authoritythat he was the first white settler in the town of Oneonta. After thedeparture of the Schramling family, many years elapsed before anypioneers were found venturesome enough to settle in this portion ofthe valley. 

Abram Houghtailing, Elias Brewer and Peter Swartz became settlers herein 1786. Houghtailing and Brewer came from Washington county, andSwartz from Schoharie. About the same date, James Youngs settled nearthe mouth of the Charlotte and Baltus Kimball settled north of thevillage on the farm now owned by Jacob Morell. 

About the year 1790, Thomas Morenus[A] settled on the south side ofthe river. He was a German from Schoharie. About the same timeFrederick Brown came from Fulton, N. Y. , and settled on the farmformerly owned and occupied by Eliakim R. Ford. At this time Brown'shouse was the only one standing within the limits of the presentvillage corporation. About the year 1795, one Aaron Brink built alarge log house by the mill pond, or rather between the railroadcrossing on Main street and the mill pond. Brink's house was the firsthotel kept in the village of Oneonta, and perhaps the first that waskept in town. Between Brown's house and Brink's tavern there was onlya common wood-road, with a dense forest on either side. 

[Footnote A: Thomas Morenus, before settling here, had been a captiveamong the Indians, and had "run the gauntlet" at Fort Niagara. Theterrible scourging he had received at the hands of the savages leftmarks which were plainly traceable when he had become an old man. ]

About the same time John Vanderwerker built the first grist-mill. Thismill stood some distance east of the grist-mill now standing in thelower part of the village. 

In 1791, Asel Marvin came from Vermont and first settled at OneontaPlains. Shortly afterwards he removed on a large tract of wild land, about two miles from the village, upon the Oneonta Creek. He was awell-known builder and lumberman. For twenty-two consecutive years herafted lumber to Baltimore. He built the first school house on theOneonta Creek road, and when the first church edifice was built intown, he was one of the trustees of the church society. When Mr. Marvin moved into the valley of the Oneonta Creek, the country acrossthe hill from Oneonta to Laurens, was almost an unbroken wilderness. 

Some years later than the last named date, Peter Dinninny opened thefirst store kept in Oneonta. The store then stood where the operablock now stands. The first school-house was built soon after 1790, and stood on the rise of ground near the house of Horace Sessions, onthe south side of the river. 

Previous to 1816, when the Presbyterian church was built, churchservices were generally held in Frederick Brown's barn. The firstclergyman who regularly preached here was the Rev. Alfred Conkey, whowas settled at Milford. Mr. Conkey is yet remembered by some of theolder citizens as a very earnest and zealous man, besides being aperson of liberal culture. 

The first white child born in this town, or the first known to havebeen born in town, was Abram Houghtaling. He was born in 1786. 

John and Nicholas Beams were early settlers to the east of thevillage. Elisha Shepherd came from New England at an early day andsettled at Oneonta Plains. His sons, in after years, became activelyengaged in different branches of industry, and the Plains at one timebid fair to become the most prominent village in town. It contained ahotel, a store, two churches and a distillery. 

Andrew Parish was also one of the pioneers of Oneonta. He was born inMassachusetts in 1786, and moved from Springfield here in 1808. Hesettled on the south side of the river on the John Fritts farm, andafterwards on the hill near the "Round Top. " From the latter place hemoved to the farm now owned by his son Stephen, on the south side ofthe river. Mr. Parish reared a large family of children, all of whombecame successful farmers, and men of business. Andrew Parish was ajustice of the town for twenty years in succession. He was also acommissioner of schools under the old system. In 1809 he put up abrick kiln on the Elisha Shepherd farm at the Oneonta Plains, fromwhich came the first bricks that were used in town. 

Dr. Joseph Lindsay was the first physician who settled in Oneonta. Hecame from Pelham, in the old county of Hampshire, Mass. , in the year1807. Having received a liberal education in the advanced schools ofhis native state and at Williams College, in after years he became ateacher to many of the younger people of the country who wereambitious of extending their studies beyond the rudimentary branchestaught at that time in the schools of the neighborhood. 

In 1815, Frederick Bornt moved on the farm now owned and occupied byhis son, on the Oneonta Creek. He had been a soldier in the war of1812 and had served at the battle of Plattsburg. He came fromRensselaer county, N. Y. 

Before the date last named, Jacob Van Woert, a Dutchman, and father ofthe late Peter and John Van Woert, came from Albany and settled on thefarm lately owned by his son Peter, near the mouth of the Otego Creek. Asa Emmons about the same time settled on the south side of the river, near the Charlotte. He came from Vermont, and settled where DeaconSlade now lives. Jacob Wolf, the father of Conradt Wolf, had alsosettled in the southern part of the town at about the close of theRevolutionary war. Mr. Wolf had been taken as an Indian captive toCanada, where he had been detained for several years. His home, whencaptured, was in the valley of the Mohawk. While extinguishing a firewhich had caught in a tall hemlock, by night, he was surprised by acompany of Indians, by whom he was easily overpowered. He at lengthescaped from his captors, and making his way southward, after a longand perilous journey, he met with friends on the Tioga river. Herejoined his wife on the Mohawk, and afterwards removed to theSusquehanna, on the farm now owned by George Swart, southwest of thevillage. 

Elihu Gifford, with four sons, came from Albany county in 1803, andfirst settled at West Oneonta, on the farm now owned by Joseph Taber. In 1806, Mr. Gifford moved to the farm now owned by Henry Gifford onOneonta Creek. About the same time Josiah Peet and Ephraim Farringtonmoved into the same neighborhood. Later, Col. Wm. Richardson settledfurther up the creek and built a saw-mill and a grist-mill. "Richardson's Mills" became a well-known place in a few years, and athriving hamlet soon began to form around them. Col. Richardson was anenterprising man of business and took a prominent part in the affairsof the town. He served in the war of 1812-15. 

When Elihu Gifford moved to the Oneonta Creek there were only four"clearings" in that valley. A Mr. Armitage had made some inroads uponthe wilderness, on what is now known as the Losee farm; Asel Marvinhad made a clearing on the James Sheldon farm, and there were otherson Mrs. Richardson's farm, and where Peter Yager lives. The settlersalong the Oneonta Creek, after Mr. Marvin, moved in slowly. 

About 1804, David Yager came from Greenbush, N. Y. , and purchased thefarm now known as the Peter Yager farm. Solomon Yager, the father ofDavid, came afterwards, purchasing his son's farm. [A]

[Footnote A: For the purpose of showing the increase in the value ofreal estate, it may be mentioned that at the time David Yager sold tohis father, he was offered a farm lying between Maple street and thefarm of J. R. L. Walling, containing 150 acres, for $400. ]

James McDonald settled at the lower end of the village at an earlydate. Mr. McDonald was of Scotch descent, and an active business man. The lower part of the village was largely built through his enterpriseand at one time bid fair to become the business centre of the village. He built a mill and hotel, and also became an extensive landholder. James McDonald kept the first post-office established within thelimits of the town. 

The first settlers were mostly German Palatinates from Schoharie andthe Mohawk. The German was the language of common conversation, and socontinued until Dr. Lindsay and Asa Emmons came into the settlement. At this time the Emmons and Lindsay families were the only ones thatmade the English their exclusive language. 

These German settlers were a patient and persevering people, andbetook themselves to the task of felling the forest and rearing homesfor themselves and their posterity, with a noble and praiseworthyresolution. Beneath the sturdy strokes of the axe, the wildernessslowly but gradually disappeared around their rude homes, and in theplace of the gloomy forest, fields of waving grain appeared on everyside to cheer and encourage the industrious woodsman. The forestsabounded in the most ravenous animals, such as bears, panthers andwolves, while along the river and creek bottoms the ground was atplaces almost literally covered with poisonous reptiles. The climatewas severe, and the country remote from the frontier, yetnotwithstanding the obstacles and discouragements that beset them, these were not sufficient to cause the settlers to relax their effortsto rear comfortable homes for their descendants. 

The following story I have taken from Priest's Collection, for thereason that the scene of the exploit is said to have been near ourtown boundaries:

"Ben Wheaton was one of the first settlers on the waters of theSusquehanna, immediately after the war, a rough, uncultivated andprimitive man. As many others of the same stamp and character, hesubsisted chiefly by hunting, cultivating the land but sparingly, andin this way raised a numerous family amid the woods, in a half starvedcondition, and comparative nakedness. But as the Susquehanna countryrapidly increased in population, the hunting grounds of Wheaton wereencroached upon; so that a chance with his smooth-bore, among the deerand bears was greatly lessened. On this account Wheaton removed fromthe Susquehanna country, in Otsego county, to the more unsettled wildsof the Delaware, near a place yet known by the appellation of Wait'sSettlement, [A] where game was more plenty. The distance from where hemade his home in the woods, through to the Susquehanna, was aboutfifteen miles, and was one continued wilderness at that time. Throughthese woods this almost aboriginal hunter was often compelled to passto the Susquehanna, for various necessaries, and among the rest nosmall quantity of whiskey, as he was of very intemperate habits. Onone of these visits, in the midst of summer, with his smooth-borealways on his shoulder, knife, hatchet, &c. , in their proper place, hehad nearly penetrated the distance, when he became weary, and havingcome to the summit of a ridge (sometime in the afternoon) whichoverlooks the vale of the Susquehanna, he selected a convenient placein the shade, as it was hot, for the rays of the sun from the westpoured his sultry influence through all the forest, where he lay downto rest a while among the leaves, after having taken a drink from hispint bottle of green glass, and a mouthful of cold Johnney cake fromhis pocket. 

[Footnote A: Wait's Settlement is said to have been in the vicinity ofwhat now is known as North Franklin. ]

"In this situation he was soothed to drowsiness by the hum of insects, and the monotony of passing winds among the foliage around him, whenhe soon unwarily fell asleep with his gun folded in his arms. Butafter a while he awoke from his sleep, and for a moment or two stilllay in the same position, as it happened, without stirring, when hefound that something had taken place while he had slept, which hadsituated him somewhat differently from the manner in which he firstwent to sleep. On reflecting a moment, he found he was entirelycovered over, head and ears, with leaves and light stuff, occasioned, as he now suspected, either by the sudden blowing of the wind, or bysome wild animal. On which account he became a little disturbed in hismind, as he well knew the manners of the panther at that season of theyear, when it hunts to supports its young, and will often cover itsprey with leaves and bring its whelps to the banquet. He thereforecontinued to lie perfectly still, as when he first awoke; he thoughthe heard the step of some kind of heavy animal near him; and he knewthat if it were a panther, the distance between himself and deathcould not be far, if he should attempt to rise up. Accordingly, as hesuspected, after having lain a full minute, he now distinctly heardthe retiring tread of the stealthy panther, of which he had no doubt, from his knowledge of the creature's ways. It had taken but a fewsteps however, when it again stopped a longer time; still Wheatoncontinued his silent position, knowing his safety depended much onthis. Soon the tread was again heard, farther and farther off, till itentirely died away in the distance--but he still lay motionless a fewminutes longer, when he ventured gently and cautiously to raise hishead and cast an eye in the direction the creature, whatever it was, had gone, but could see nothing. He now rose up with a spring, for hisblood had been running from his heart to his extremities, and backagain, with uncommon velocity; all the while his ears had listened tothe steps of the animal on the leaves and brush. He now saw plainlythe marks of design among the leaves, and that he had been coveredover, and that the paws of some creature had done it. 

"And as he suspected the panther was the animal, he knew it would soonreturn to kill him, on which account he made haste to deceive it, andto put himself in a situation to give it a taste of the contents ofold smooth-bore. He now seized upon some pieces of old wood which layall about, and placed as much as was equal to his own bulk, exactlywhere he had slept, and covered it over with leaves in the same mannerthe panther had done, and then sprang to a tree near by, into which heascended, from whence he had a view a good distance about him, andespecially in the direction the creature had gone. Here in the crotchof the tree he stood, with his gun resting across a limb, in thedirection of the place where he had been left by the panther, lookingsharply as far among the woods as possible, in the direction heexpected the creature's return. But he had remained in this conditionbut a short time, and had barely thrust the ram-rod down the barrel ofhis piece, to be sure the charge was in her, and to examine herpriming, and to shut down the pan slowly, so that it should not snap, and thus make a noise, when his keen Indian eye, for such he had, caught a glimpse of a monstrous panther, leading warily two pantherkittens toward her intended supper. 

"Now matters were hastening to a climax rapidly, when Wheaton or thepanther must finish their hunting on the mountains of the Susquehanna, for if old smooth-bore should flash in the pan, or miss her aim, thedie would be cast, as a second load would be impossible ere her clawswould have sundered his heart strings in the tree where he was, or ifhe should but partially wound her the same must have been his fate. During these thoughts the panther had hid her young under some brush, and had come within some thirty feet of the spot where she supposedher victim was still sleeping; and seeing all as she left it, shedropped down to a crouching position, precisely as a cat, when aboutto spring on its prey. Now was seen the soul of the panther in itsperfection, merging from the recesses of nature where hidden by thecreator, along the whole nervous system, but resting chiefly in thebrain, whence it glared, in bright horror, from the burning eyes, curled in the strong and vibrating tail, pushed out the sharp, whiteand elliptical fangs from the broad and powerful paws, ready forrending, glittered on the points of its uncovered teeth, and smoked inrapid tissues of steam from its red and open jaws, while every hair ofits long dun back stood erect in savage joy, denoting that the fataland decisive moment of its leap had come. 

"Now the horrid nestling of its hinder claws, drawn under its bellywas heard, and the bent ham strings were seen but a half instant byWheaton, from where he sat in his tree, when the tremendous leap wasmade. It rose on a long curve into the air, of about ten feet in thehighest place, and from thence descending, it struck exactly where thebreast, head and bowels of its prey had lain, with a scream toohorrible for description, when it tore to atoms the rotten wood, filling for several feet above it, the air with the leaves and lightbrush, the covering of the deception. But instantly the panther foundherself cheated, and seemed to droop a little with disappointment, when however she resumed an erect posture, and surveyed quite aroundon every side on a horizontal line, in search of her prey, but notdiscovering it, she cast a furious look aloft among the tops of thetrees, when in a moment or two the eyes of Wheaton and the panthermet. Now for another leap, when she dropped for that purpose; but thebullet and two buck shot of old smooth bore were too quick, as helodged them all exactly in the brain of the savage monster, andstretched her dead on the spot where the hunter had slept but a shorttime before, in the soundness, of a mountain dream. 

"Wheaton had marked the spot where her young were hidden, which, atthe report of the gun, were frightened and ran up a tree. He now camedown and found the panther to measure, from the end of its nose to thepoint of its tail, eight feet six inches in length; a creaturesufficiently strong to have carried him off on a full run, had hefallen into its power. He now reloaded and went to the tree where herkittens, or the young panthers were, and soon brought them down fromtheir grapple among the limbs, companions for their conquered andslain parent. 

"Wheaton dismantled them of their hides, and hastened away before thenight should set in, lest some other encounter might overtake him of asimilar character, when the disadvantage of darkness might decide thevictory in a way more advantageous to the roamers of the forest. Ofthis feat Ben Wheaton never ceased to boast; reciting it as the mostappalling passage of his hunting life. The animal had found him whileasleep, and had him concealed, as he supposed, intending to give heryoung a specimen of the manner of their future life; or if this is toomuch for the mind of a dumb animal, she intended at least to give thema supper. 

"This circumstance was all that saved his life, or the panther wouldhave leapt upon him at first, and have torn him to pieces, instead ofcovering him with leaves, as she did, for the sake of her young. Thepanther is a ferocious and almost untamable animal, whose nature andhabits are like those of the cat; except that the nature and powers ofthis domestic creature are in the panther immensely magnified, instrength and voracity. It is in the American forest what the tiger isin Africa and India, a dangerous and savage animal, the terror of allother creatures, as well as of the Indian and the white man. "

The German Palatinates who settled in the upper Susquehanna were notedfor their physical endurance and their fondness for sports, but thesame can hardly be said of their desire for intellectual culture. Perhaps they were no worse, in this respect, than circumstances madethem. Poverty and hard work were their portion, and the share was notstinted out to them. There were no newspapers, that is, during theearlier history of the settlement, published at a nearer point thanAlbany. Even those papers were but poor affairs. They were filledwith the unimportant doings of the Dutch burghers--perhaps enlivenednow and then, with a highly seasoned article, full of indignationbecause some obscure man in Massachusetts had committed a trespass bycutting a forest tree on the manor of Livingston. 

School teachers were not numerous nor were they well qualified fortheir work. School houses were at a great distance from most of thehomes. They were both comfortless and cheerless. The snows were deepin winter and the weather was inclement. In summer, even little handswere helpful at home. 

In their sports, the settlers were often inclined to push a joke torudeness, and what began in fun often ended in a fight. Still, theywere good-natured, honest people. They were kind to those needingassistance, and if necessity became common so did the loaf of bread. 

There was no lack of social enjoyment, for their hardest toil was madethe occasion of a gathering. If a piece of woodland was to be cleared, or a fallow, the male portion of the community united in a "bee" andthe work was soon done. Perhaps, while the men were thus workingtogether in the field, the women had gathered within doors, and werebusily plying their fingers over the mottled patch-work of a quilt. In the lengthening summer twilight the men, coatless and barefoot, satin groups on the front steps or under the low Dutch stoops and talkedof the incoming crops, the weather or the watery moon. 

The forests, all over the hillsides, where now village streets arecreeping up and winding across, were frowning with great pines andhemlocks. The log road ran in every direction and was no moreexclusive than a common highway. The "shingle-weaver's" huts were onnearly every road and bypath. The most towering pines were regarded aslawful prize, and during the winter the men found plenty of employmentand slight recompense in hauling the pines to mill. Here they wereconverted into lumber, which was piled up by the bank of the riveruntil "the spring freshet. " On the swollen stream it was rafted toBaltimore, Harrisburg and other places. 

The "rafting season" was looked forward to with no little solicitudeby the more robust and daring of the young men. They waited for therafts to be cut from their moorings with keen anticipation, and thestories of some of the rivermen are still well remembered by the olderinhabitants. 

For a great many years, Albany was the only market to which thepioneers carted their wheat. The roads were barely passable and thetrip to Albany and back required from six to eight days. The wagons, upon which the produce was carted, were of rough and clumsy make. Itwould not be supposed that the driver would find much pleasure inmaking the distance to market and back on one of these clumsyvehicles, but the trip, especially to the younger men, was not withoutits enjoyments. They carried their provisions in a large, round, wooden box over which closed a round, wooden cover. They also carriedprovender for their teams and the only necessary cash expense was asixpence each night for lodging. The more sumptuous and lesseconomical might, if they chose, diminish their exchequer to theamount of an extra sixpence by indulging in a glass of "flip. " Nearlyevery farm-house of any pretension on the high road to Albany was ahotel, so-called, if not in fact. Seated at night within theseprimitive hotels, the farmers who had assembled from different partstold their tales of prowess--some true stories and a good many lies. 

Beside the ambitious house that gloried in a daub of red paint andwhich had been pushed up to the aristocratic height of one and a halfor two stories, before which flapped in the wind a wide, white boardwith the cheerful announcement, "Smith's Inn--Refreshments for Man orBeast, " stood a more modest structure. Brown, unpainted, unclapboarded, it stood by the wayside. Its log walls were stuccoedwith mud, and in the wide mouth of the doorway was the brawnyhousewife, bare-armed, peering from beneath a slatternly redsun-bonnet, while over the doorway the passer-by read the letters inred chalk upon a new pine shingle:

+-----------------+| "CAKES AND BEER || FOR SALE HERE. " |+-----------------+

After the farmer had sold or bartered away his wheat or other produce, he generally returned with a load of goods for the village merchant. 

_CHAPTER III. _

Prominent among the early settlers of Oneonta was Jacob Dietz, whoremoved into the settlement from Schoharie county about the year 1804. Mr. Dietz was early appointed a justice of the peace, and continued inoffice either by appointment or election for a great length of time. He was active in the affairs of the town and an energetic man ofbusiness. He was a long time in mercantile business, and his store, which was situated where now stands the brick building occupied by theFirst National Bank, was the center of a lively trade for those times. Mr. Dietz accumulated an extensive estate, and reared a large familyof children. He became the owner of extensive tracts of land, some ofwhich are now occupied by the streets and residences of the village. Some of his representatives are now living in the west and aredeservedly esteemed where they reside. 

At about the date last mentioned, one Schoolcraft erected a modeststructure on the site of the Susquehanna House. Schoolcraft's housebecame in a short time the leading tavern of the community, where poorgrog and worse food were dispensed to the villagers and wayfarers, doubtless much to the gratification of their primitive tastes. 

About the same period, 1804-5, one Joseph Westcott, from the presenttown of Milford, erected a store nearly opposite the residence of D. M. Miller. These stores--Dinninny's, mentioned in the preceding chapter, Dietz's and Westcott's--were all of the most primitive order, and, especially the first named, contained but a meagre stock of goods, thestock generally consisting of a barrel of New England rum of the mostviolent nature, several old bull ploughs, a little crockery ware, afew cooking utensils, and a small amount of dry goods. There was butlittle money and the merchant's trade was carried on mostly in the wayof barter, the tradesman exchanging his merchandise for grain, lumberand shingles. 

Early in the history of the town, a Mr. Walling, the grandfather ofJ. R. L. Walling, located to the east of Oneonta creek, near where hisdescendant above named now lives. One Newkirk also settled on Chestnutstreet, on the lot adjoining Philander Lane's. Lawrence Swart settledon the farm now owned and occupied by Henry Wilcox, about the sametime that Jacob Dietz came into the settlement. [A]

[Footnote A: There were other families among the settlers by the nameof Hillsinger, Couse, Whitmarsh, Harsen, Sullivan, White and Morrell. ]

At the time of Swart's settlement the land on the lower end of Riverstreet was covered by a dense forest of hemlock and maple. Over thoseattractive and well-tilled fields now composing Mr. Wilcox's farm, roamed at that time the bear and the panther, and glided with littlemolestation numberless rattlesnakes of the largest and most poisonousspecies. The settlement along the river, below the residence of GeorgeScramling, seemed to proceed slowly, as the land below this point wasconsidered of but little value, while the heavy growth of hemlockprecluded the rapid clearing away of the forest. To the north and eastof the village the hillsides yielded a vast quantity of the morevaluable timber. 

For news outside of the little settlement the inhabitants had recourseto the _Freeman's Journal_, at that time published by one of thepioneers of journalism in Otsego county, John H. Prentiss. The mailswere conveyed from one settlement to another by the postman, whotraveled over the hills and through the valleys on horseback, and madeknown his approach to each post-village by the winding of a huge horn, which was always carried by his saddle-bows ready for use. 

During the war of 1812-14, the winding of the postman's horn causedthe settlers both in the village and without to assemble rapidly andin full force, men, women and children, to learn the news from the"Canada border. " Early in that war a number of men entered the armyfrom Oneonta. Some of them were stationed at Sackett's Harbor andOswego, while others did good service at Lundy's Lane and the Heightsof Queenstown. But few of those veterans yet remain to tell

 "Of their strange ventures happed by land or sea. "

At the time of its first settlement, Oneonta was in the old county ofTryon, which was formed from Albany county in 1772. Tryon county thenembraced the whole western portion of the state, from a line extendingnorth and south through the centre of the present county of Schoharie, to Lake Erie. In 1784 the name was changed from Tryon to Montgomery. Oneonta was then in the old town of Suffrage. 

During the period of which we have written, Oneonta as a distinct townhad no existence. The village of Oneonta was then in the town ofMilford, and was known as Milfordville. Through the brawl of two oldbruisers, it was sometimes vulgarly called "Klipknocky. "[A] Thisnickname lasted a long while, and was known at a long distance fromhome. 

[Footnote A: On the banks of the Susquehanna, in Pennsylvania, thereis a thriving little hamlet known as "Klipknocky Jr. " It was firstsettled by an emigrant from Oneonta. While the river was the highwaythe most easily traveled, fugitives from the older settlement found alanding-place for their canoes and a safe retreat for themselves at"Klipknocky Jr. "]

In 1830 the town of Oneonta was formed from the adjoining towns ofMilford and Otego. It is said that it received the name Oneonta at thesuggestion of Gen. Erastus Root. 

Among the early inhabitants of Oneonta, whose enterprise contributedto the development of the resources of the town, was William Angell, who soon after his settlement here became the most prominentinhabitant of the village. He built the Oneonta House, where he actedas host for a number of years. He was also one of the proprietors ofthe Charlotte turnpike, which upon its completion in 1834, was madethe great highway from Catskill to the southwestern portion of thestate. 

Any attempted sketch of our early history would be very far fromcomplete and far from just, were mention not made of a class ofcitizens, some of whom are still living, whose labors were earlyidentified with the history of the town, a part of whom were here bornand here grew to manhood; a part of whom came to the village while itwas yet an outlying hamlet, but whose labors have largely aided inadvancing the growth and prosperity of the community. 

Among these was Timothy Sabin, a native of the town, who, uponarriving at the age of manhood, embarked in mercantile pursuits, andcontinued to an advanced age to lend his aid to the management of anextensive business. Another of the older class of men of the villageis John M. Watkins, who was born in Oneonta in 1806. For thirty yearsMr. Watkins was one of the leading hotel keepers of the village, andduring this long period in which he acted the part of host, his housewas known far and wide as the best kept hostelry in this section. There are many more "to the manor born" whose names it would be apleasure to mention, but for lack of data which their friends orrepresentatives have neglected or failed to furnish, we are compelledto forego any more extended notice. 

Occupying a prominent position among those who, at an early date, emigrated into the town was Eliakim R. Ford. Mr. Ford was born inAlbany county in 1797, and removed to Greenville, Greene county, whenquite young. From the latter place he removed to Oneonta in 1822, hethen being twenty-five years of age. He at once embarked in mercantileenterprises and so conducted his business matters as to rapidly winboth the confidence and trade of his fellow citizens. His first storestood near the Free Baptist church. From that point he removed to astore next to the lot where now the opera house stands, and in 1828 heagain moved into a store which he had built near the residence ofHarvey Baker. His late residence and the stone store recentlydestroyed by fire were built in 1839-40. 

Dr. Samuel H. Case settled in the village of Oneonta in 1829. He wasborn in Franklin, N. Y. , in 1808, and at the age of twenty-one wasgraduated at the medical college at Fairfield, N. Y. More than fiftyyears he has continued the practice of medicine in the village andthroughout the surrounding country. There are but a few among thelonger resident population of the community who have not, at one timeor another, been under the Doctor's treatment. He built the officestill occupied by him, in 1832, and his house in 1834--soon after hismarriage--and has never moved from either since he began to occupythem. When he moved into the village, the latter contained only twopainted houses, and the whole business prosperity of the hamlet wasthen centered in two stores--Dietz's and Ford's--one potash and twodistilleries. Dr. Case is of New England ancestry, his father havingemigrated to Franklin from Tolland county, Connecticut, in 1792. 

Col. William W. Snow came to Oneonta, a few years after the lastnamed, and early engaged in manufacturing. The Colonel was born in thetown of Heath, Franklin county, Mass. He became interested in theorganization and welfare of the militia. He was elected to acolonelcy, whence his military title. He was elected to congress fromOtsego and Schoharie counties in 1848. He has been several timeselected to our state legislature, and has been a member of the thirdhouse many years. 

Though not a resident of the town, yet his business relations havebeen such as to identify the name of Jared Goodyear with its history. Mr. Goodyear for a long term of years resided upon the borders ofOneonta, and from an early period was largely interested in thebusiness of the village. He was born in Connecticut, and while a boyremoved to Schoharie county, whence he came to Colliersville while yeta young man, and there he resided the remainder of his life. Bypersistent industry Mr. Goodyear accumulated a large fortune, and wona high reputation for integrity. 

The following is a column of business cards from the "ONEONTAWEEKLY JOURNAL, " of July 1, 1841. It is nearly a correct showingof what the business of the village then was:[A]

 Headquarters at the foot of Chestnut street. New Fall and Winter goods. Timothy Sabin is now receiving a fresh supply of Spring and Summer Goods, comprising a general assortment of Dry Goods, Groceries, Crockery, Hardware, Dye Stuffs, Paints, Oils, etc. , etc. , for sale as low as at any establishment west of the Hudson river. Please call and examine goods and prices; they are well selected, and will be sold cheap for Cash, Produce, or a liberal credit. 

 Oneonta, May 13, 1841. 

 Cabinet and Chair Warehouse, No. 10 Chestnut st. , Oneonta. The subscriber respectfully informs his friends, and the public generally, that he has opened a Cabinet Warehouse at No. 10 Chestnut st. , Oneonta, where he manufactures and keeps constantly on hand, a general assortment of Cabinet Furniture, comprising Mahogany, Cherry and Maple work. Also, a good assortment of Chairs, will be kept constantly on hand, and all other articles generally found at an establishment of this kind. 

 N. B. Most kinds of Lumber and grain will be received in payment. 

 Oneonta, Sept. 17, 1840. R. W. HOPKINS

 A Card Executed at the office of the Oneonta Weekly Journal with neatness and dispatch and on reasonable terms, Job Printing of every description. 

 E. Cooke, Attorney at Law, Oneonta, Otsego County, N. Y. 

 John B. Steele, Attorney, &c. , Oneonta, Otsego County, N. Y. Office, in the stone building opposite the Otsego House, Main street. 

 Mason Gilbert, Hatter, Main street, Oneonta. 

 Cooke & Brown, retail dealers in Dry Goods, Groceries, Crockery, Hardware, Iron, Steel, &c. , &c. Store under the office of the Oneonta Weekly Journal, Main street, Oneonta. 

 Potter C. Burton, dealer in Watches, Clocks, Jewelry. Silver and German Silver Ware, &c. , &c. One door north of Cooke & Brown's Store, Main street, Oneonta. 

 Timothy Sabin, retail dealer in Dry Goods, Groceries, Crockery, Hardware, Iron, Steel, &c. , &c. Store opposite the Oneonta House, Main street, foot of Chestnut, Oneonta. 

 Clyde & Cook, retail dealers in Dry Goods, Groceries, Crockery, Hardware, Drugs & Medicines, Dye Woods & Dye Stuffs, &c. , &c. Store nearly opposite the Otsego House, Main street, Oneonta. 

 Snow & Van Woert, manufacturers of, and wholesale and retail dealers in Tin, Sheet-Iron, and Copper ware, Stoves, &c. , &c. Over Clyde & Cook's Store, Main street, Oneonta. 

 C. Noble, manufacturer of, and wholesale and retail dealer in Beach's Patent Shaving Soap, Beach's Liquid Opodeldoc, and Black Varnish, &c. , &c. Main street, Oneonta. 

 Robert W. Hopkins, manufacturer of, and dealer in Cabinet Ware and Chairs of every description. Chestnut street, Oneonta. 

 Cushing & Potter, manufacturers of, and wholesale and retail dealers in Barrels & Firkins, &c. , &c. Main st. , Oneonta. 

 W. W. Snow's Wool Carding and Cloth Dressing Establishment. Opposite E. R. Ford's Store, Main street, Oneonta. 

 Bennet & Smith, dealers in Morocco, Boots and Shoes, Thread, Nails, and Findings, &c. , &c. , Chestnut street, Oneonta, Otsego Co. , N. Y. 

 George W. Andrews, Chair Maker, and House & Sign Painter, (Chestnut street, ) Oneonta, Otsego Co. , N. Y. 

 C. G. Cross, Waggon and Carriage Maker, Chestnut street, Oneonta. 

 E. R. Ford, retail dealer in Dry Goods, Groceries, Crockery, Hardware, Drugs & Medicines, Dye Woods & Dye Stuffs, Iron, Steel, &c. , &c. , Main street, Oneonta. 

[Footnote A: The following advertisement from the "Weekly Journal, " ofJuly 1, 1841, will show that people were not more honest in formertimes than they are now:

 FENCE IN THE FOG. 

 The fence around the Baptist Church in this village, has disappeared very mysteriously during the past winter. Whether _strayed or stolen_ it is not yet definitely ascertained; but from circumstances recently developed, the latter idea seems most conclusive. Rumor says it has been tracked going Westward; but still, as the Church is located on quite an elevated piece of ground, and near the brink of the hill, it is possible that it may have slid off to the Eastward. 

 Any person who will give correct information where said fence may be found, or where it was last seen after leaving the premises, will be liberally rewarded by the trustees of the Baptist society. Any person wishing to make any confession in relation to it, may rely upon having profound secrecy maintained by applying soon to _one_ of the Deacons of the Church. 

 Oneonta, May 20, 1841. ]

From the town book the following copy of the doings of the people, attheir first town meeting, has been made:

"At an annual town meeting held in the town of Oneonta at the house ofThomas D. Alexander, on the 1st day of March, present

 Eliakim R. Ford, } _Justices in_ Robert Cook, } _said town. _

"After the opening of the meeting by proclamation, it was resolved, 1st, That there be three assessors elected for said town. 

2d, That there be four constables elected for said town. 

3d, That there be four pound-masters chosen for said town. 

4th, That an amount, equal to the sum which may be distributed to saidtown from the common school fund, be raised by tax for the support ofcommon schools in said town. 

5th, That the sum of one dollar per day be allowed to the fenceviewers of said town. 

6th, That five per cent. Be allowed as the compensation to thecollector, as his fees for collecting the taxes for said town. 

7th, That all circular and partition fences, in said town, shall be atleast four feet and six inches high. 

8th, That widows, who have no land, shall be entitled to let theircattle run at large in the public highways, from the first of April tothe first of December. 

9th, That the annual town meeting shall be held on the first Thursdayof March. The following officers were then elected for the town:

_Supervisor_, William Richardson. 

_Town Clerk_, Adam Brown. 

 { John Dillingham, _Justices of the peace_ { Jonah Northrup, { John S. Yager. 

 { John Van Woert, _Assessors_ { John Fritts, { John T. Quackenboss. 

 { Isaac Shepherd, _Commissioners of Highways_ { Asel Marvin, { William Angel. 

_Overseers of the poor_ { George W. Smith, { Samuel Carpenter. 

_Collector_, Hiram Shepherd. 

 { Hiram Shepherd, _Constables_ { David Sullivan, { Emanuel Northrup, { Robert S. Cook. 

 { Obadiah Gifford, _Commissioners of schools_ { Peter Dietz, { Joseph Walling. 

 { Samuel H. Case, _Inspectors of schools_ { Washington Throop, { Amos Cook. 

_Sealer of weights and measures_, Eliakim R. Ford. 

 { Beers Peet, _Pound-masters_ { Joseph Walling, { William Dietz, { Elisha Shepherd. "

In 1835, five years after the organization of the town, the wholetax-paying population of Oneonta was 261. The grand total tax-levy ofthe town was $781. 48. The amount of public school money raised by thetown was $100. 45. William Angel was supervisor and David Sullivancollector for that year. [A]

[Footnote A: No historical sketch of Oneonta would be regardedcomplete that failed to mention another name which no one can recallwithout a feeling of good-will. Dr. David T. Evans was born inWashington county, in 1789 and settled here in 1829. He first beganbusiness as a tailor, but afterwards became a well-known andsuccessful farrier. He was a famous story-teller and everybody gave arespectful hearing to the Doctor's tales regarding the strangecharacters he had known or heard of. At least two generations of boyshave grown up and gone out from the village who have listened to hisstories. Wherever those boys are now--scattered far and wide--theyrecall no scenes or events of their springtime without a remembranceof Dr. Evans and his tales, none of which were wanting in pith oramusement. ]

In 1840, a newspaper was established here which was thereafterconducted by Wm. J. Knapp for about two years when, owing to poorhealth, Mr. Knapp was compelled to discontinue its publication. Itwas the "Oneonta Weekly Journal. "

The growth of the village of Oneonta from 1840 to 1850 must have beenvery slow. The building of a house in those days was an act of nolittle importance. For ten years there were but few dwellings erected, and those few were of a cheap and inferior class. The populationhardly kept pace with the building. The young went west, and thenumber of families that moved out was about equal to the number thatmoved in. 

From 1850 to 1860 there was but little building and but a smallincrease in population. There are no accessible figures showing thepopulation of the village at the different decades, but the censusreturns for the town may be taken as safe guides in forming anestimate of the village population at different periods. In 1830, whenthe town was organized, it contained a population of eleven hundredand forty-nine. In 1840 it had increased to nineteen hundred andthirty-six. In 1850 it had slightly decreased, then being nineteenhundred and two. In 1855 it was twenty-one hundred and sixty-seven. These are the figures for the town. If the village population hadincreased in the same ratio, it could not have been far from twohundred and fifty when the town was formed in 1830. It is hardly fairto infer that the village ratio of increase was quite equal to thatof the town. The western emigration was made up more largely from thevillage than from the farms. The same cause--lack of profitableemployment--that has transferred the young men of New England from theplow to the manufacturing centres, transferred our young men from aplace where no industry was encouraged, to remote but wider fields ofusefulness. 

In 1851 the Albany & Susquehanna railroad company was organized andchartered. Samuel S. Beach and Woodbury K. Cooke drew up the firstnotice of the railroad project and at the same time drew up a noticeof a meeting to be held in Oneonta for the purpose of enlisting theinterest of capitalists in the proposed road. These notices Messrs. Cooke and Beach caused to be printed and distributed at their ownexpense. This meeting resulted in the formation of the Albany &Susquehanna railroad company. High hopes of its speedy completion werethen entertained. But could its projectors have forseen thedifficulties and obstacles that they had to overcome, and the lengthof time that elapsed before the road was built to Oneonta, they wouldhave wearied of the project and abandoned the enterprise. The road wascompleted to this place in 1865--a little more than fourteen yearsafter the organization of the company. 

An improved appearance was at once given the village. New stores andnew dwellings were built. Old, weather-stained buildings werebrightened with paint, and the Dutch stoop with its half doors gaveplace to more pretentious verandas. 

Then about 1872 the machine shops were established here, and thevillage began to increase rapidly, and new industries were developed. 

In 1860, there was but one newspaper published in the village. Thatwas the HERALD, which had been established in 1853 by L. P. Carpenter, and his brother, J. B. Carpenter--the former now of theMorris Chronicle. L. P. Continued the publication of the paper, aseditor and proprietor, for a long time, and at last succeeded ingaining for his journal a firm foothold in the community. He laboredearly and late at the work that was before him--editor, compositor andpressman--often beset with discouragements, always feebly supported inhis efforts, but still hopeful and plucky. He could hardly, in 1860, have dreamed that within twenty years, steam presses would be broughtinto the same village to follow in the wake of the clumsy press whoseonly motive power was his own strong arm. But few of our citizens cannow justly appreciate the obligation the community is under to Mr. Carpenter for the large part of his life-work which he here sounostentatiously performed. 

In 1860 there was no bank here, and merchants were compelled to adopta round-about way of making exchanges with their creditors. Money wassent miles away, by the stage-driver, or by special messenger, to abank where at a round premium a draft was bought. The stores of thevillage had each a general assortment of merchandise, including silks, broadcloths, groceries, plows, and schoolbooks. On either side ofMain-st. Was a hard-beaten path, which served for a sidewalk. On thesouth side of the street stood a number of dingy rookeries, in a halftumble-down condition. Pigs and cows roamed at large, and were onlyknown to be home at supper-time, when old brindle, in more instancesthan one, might have been seen peering through the front window with acovetous look upon the family group around the table. 

Marked improvements are now to be observed in every direction. Withthe multiplication of industries, and the introduction of new ones, calling for the outlay of more capital and the employment of morelabor, the growth of the village, in population and wealth, bids fairto continue. A comparison of figures is, at least, encouraging. In1860, Oneonta was a thriftless hamlet with only about six hundredinhabitants. It is now a thriving village with a population of overfour thousand. 

_CHAPTER IV. _

Calvin Eaton, one of the first settlers about West Oneonta, settled onthe farm now owned by Isaac Holmes. He came from Wyoming, Pa. , dateuncertain. He was a famous story-teller. Many of his stories have beenpreserved by tradition, and are now told in the neighborhood withgreat zest. His wife, familiarly known as Aunt Olive Eaton, died about1844 or 1845, at a very advanced age, he having died many yearsbefore. They brought up several of their nephews and nieces, having nochildren of their own, William Holmes, father of Isaac Holmes, beingone of them. 

Elder Emanuel Northrup, a Baptist minister, settled on the farm nowowned by his grandson, Isaac Northrup, about 1794. He came originally, it is believed, from Rhode Island. He had lived in Connecticut, butcame last from Stephentown, Rensselaer-co. His son, Josiah Northrup, who was afterwards a justice of the peace for many years, having beenelected at the first town meeting, a prominent man in town affairs anda leading member of the Baptist church, was, at the time of hisfather's coming, about fourteen years of age; he died in 1844. 

The farm now occupied by the Niles family was settled by Abner Mack, aRhode Island man. He sold a part of his possession, what is now theNiles farm, in 1797, to Nathaniel Niles; there were two of the name, father and son, the father being the purchaser. He was at that timeabout seventy years of age; he brought with him some apple seeds, planted a nursery, raised trees, set out an orchard, and lived todrink cider made from the apples. The orchard became quite famous inthe neighborhood, and was known to all the boys for miles around; manyof the trees are yet bearing. Upon the death of the father, his son, Nathaniel Niles, who had occupied the farm with his father, became theowner, who lived upon the farm until his death in 1852, ateighty-seven years of age. 

Franklin Strait, another of the early settlers, came from Rhode Islandin 1797; he brought his family, and drove an ox-team. He first settledon the farm now owned by Enos Thayer, where he lived until 1808, whenhe exchanged his farm with Asa Thayer, another of the early comers, for the property at West Oneonta where the hotel now stands. Heenlarged the house that then stood upon the ground, took out alicense, and opened "Strait's Tavern, " on the Oxford turnpike, one ofthe old landmarks for many years; he died in 1822. Two of his sons, Rufus and Alvinza Strait, are now living. Before this property hadcome into the possession of Thayer, it had been occupied by DanielLawrence, father of Lewis Lawrence, of Utica, and where Lewis Lawrencewas born. 

Robert Cook settled early upon the farm owned at present by HammondCook. At the time of his coming the Indians were yet frequentvisitors. One day, as the story is, Cook was at work in the field, hiswife being alone in the house, an Indian called, and finding heralone, brandished his knife, and made some terrible threats, frightening her almost to death. Just at this time Cook appeared; theIndian took his departure precipitately. Cook seized his gun andpursued him. He returned after a little time, and the Indian nevertroubled them more. 

The place where Daniel Hodge now lives was first occupied by SamuelStephen. His father John Stephen, made a settlement at Laurens beforethe Revolutionary war. 

The Sleepers were from near Burlington, New Jersey. During the warthey became alarmed at the inroads of the tories and Indians, andreturned to New Jersey. On their way back, they passed through CherryValley the day before the massacre. They returned to the settlementafter the war. John Sleeper had several sons. One, Nehemiah Sleeper, built a mill below Laurens on the Otego creek, which was afterwardsknown as Boyd's mill. Samuel Sleeper took up several hundred acres ofland, of which the farms of Daniel Hodge and Horace White formed apart. He built a grist-mill and saw-mill on the Otego creek, justbelow the covered bridge, this side (east) of West Oneonta. He wassaid to have been an active business man, and was quite a notedsurveyor. He sold his property after some years to one David Smith, and went to Stroudsburgh, Pa. , and thence to Ohio. His oldest son, Ephraim Sleeper, married Jane Niles, daughter of Nathaniel Niles, andremained in the neighborhood. The latter died about twelve years agoat West Oneonta, at an advanced age. 

Other persons are mentioned by the old residents as being among theearly settlers. Samuel Green occupied a part of the farm now owned byJoseph Bull. A man named Ticknor, another part of the same farm. OneOgden lived where Joseph Taber now lives, about whom a few stories arecurrent in the neighborhood. At one time a company of Indians wasencamped at the mouth of the Otego creek, engaged in making basketsand trinkets of various kinds. Ogden visited them for the purpose ofgetting a pair of silver shoe-buckles made by an Indian who wasskilled in the art. It so happened that he had not silver enough tomake the buckles. Two or three of the Indians left suddenly, andafter having been absent a short time, returned, bringing a handful ofsilver. Ogden inferred from this that there must be a silver mine notfar away, but he was never able to find it. --A deer[A] often camearound his house; he shot at it repeatedly, but was unable to hit it. An old woman lived not far away, who was called a witch; he finallysuspected that she had something to do with the deer; he procured asilver bullet, which he put in his gun, and next time the deerappeared he fired at it, wounding it badly, but it escaped; he soonlearned, however, that the old woman was badly hurt. [B]

[Footnote A: The same story is told of other hunters and otherwitches. ]

[Footnote B: The author is indebted to Mr. N. N. Bull for the sketchrelating to West Oneonta. ]

_CHAPTER V. _

The first church organization in town was effected by thePresbyterians. The first meeting was held at the house of FredrickBrown, January 24, 1800, when John Houghtaling, Henry Scramling, JohnVanDer Werker and James Dietz were chosen elders; William Morenus, David Scramling, Aaron Barnes, and James Quackenbush were chosen asdeacons. The following are the names of the ministers of the churchwith dates of service: Wm. Fisher, 1823-33; Wm. Clark, 1833-37; Jos. W. Paddock, 1837-42; Fordyce Harrington, 1843-45; Gaius M. Blodgett, 1845. --[Reorganization. ] Eliphalet M. Spencer, 1849-52; Wm. B. Christopher, 1852-54; Wm. Baldwin, 1854-62; Geo. O. Phelps, 1863-69;H. H. Allen, 1869--. 

The next church organization was by the Methodist Episcopals. Thefirst steps towards forming the society were taken by Nathan Bennett, Silas Washburn, David T. Evans, David Fairchild, and David T. Clark. This society had no house of worship for many years, and held theirmeetings in the village school house. The first church edifice wasbuilt in 1844. In 1868-69 a new and large meeting house was built andfinished at a cost of $12, 000. Rev. George Elliott and Rev. Wm. McDonald were the first preachers. Subsequent ministers have been:Rev. C. G. Robinson, 1854-56; Rev. W. G. Queal, 1856-58; Rev. S. M. Stone, 1858-59; Rev. D. L. Pendell, 1859-61; Rev. Geo. Parsons, 1861-63; Rev. P. Y. Hughston, 1863-65; Rev. H. N. Van Dusen, 1865-67;Rev. R. W. Peebles, 1867-70; Rev. Austin Griffin, 1870-72; Rev. I. N. Pardee, 1872-75; Rev. W. B. Westlake, 1875-78; Rev. Y. Z. Smith, 1878-79; Rev. A. B. Richardson, 1879-82; Rev. D. C. Olmstead, 1882--. 

The First Baptist society was organized April 6, 1833. At a meetingcalled for that purpose, David Yager was chosen moderator and JamesSlade clerk. April 24, 1833, a council was held, of which Elder Alex. Smith, of Franklin, was moderator, and Elder Kingsley, of Meredith, clerk. The pastors have been Rev. D. B. Crane, 1833-35; Rev. JohnSmith, 1836-48; Rev. H. Clark, 1848-49; Rev. A. B. Earle, 1849-53; Rev. E. Westcott, 1854-57; Rev. John Smith, 1858-65; Rev. A. Reynolds, 1865-70; Rev. Geo. R. Burnside, 1871-74; Rev. H. Brotherton, 1874-80;Rev. P. D. Root, 1880-82; Rev. E. D. Clough, 1883--. 

The Free Baptist church society was formed at the Emmons school houseFeb. 25, 1856. [A] The council consisted of Rev. A. Wing, D. Green, O. T. Moulton, and laymen Joseph Jenks and Harvey Mackey. The meetinghouse was built in 1857. The pastors have been, Rev. O. T. Moulton, 1856-61; Rev. H. Strickland, 1862; Rev. E. Crowel, 1864-68; Rev. G. P. Ramsey, 1868-72; Rev. O. T. Moulton, 1872-75; Rev. Peter Scramling, 1875; Rev. M. C. Brown, 1875-78; Rev. D. C. Wheeler, 1878; Rev. DavidBoyd, 1880-83; Rev. C. A. Gleason, 1883--. 

[Footnote A: A Free Baptist church had been built at the Plains manyyears before. ]

The first Episcopal services were held in 1839, by the Rev. AndrewHall, a missionary to Oneonta and Otego. At first the society met inthe school-house of the village, and afterwards built a chapel on thelot now occupied by a part of the Central Hotel. The clergy have beenas follows: Rev. Andrew Hall, 1839; Rev. Stephen Parker, 1855; Rev. D. S. Tuttle, 1864-65; Rev. E. N. Goddard, 1865; Rev. Mr. Foote and Rev. Mr. Ferguson, 1866-67; Rev. Mr. Lighthipe, 1870; Rev. Mr. Fitzgerald, 1873-74; Rev. J. H. Smith, 1874; Rev. J. B. Colhoun, 1875-78; Rev. J. B. Hubbs, 1880-81; Rev. C. D. Flagler, 1882. --The society was organizedunder the name of St. James church, April 7, 1870. 

The "First Universalist Society of Oneonta" was formed Dec. 12, 1877. The meeting house was built in 1878-79. The pastors have been Rev. L. F. Porter, 1877-81; Rev. H. Kirke White, 1882--. 

The Catholic society now numbers about three hundred. Services havebeen conducted heretofore by Rev. J. J. Brosnahan, of Cobleskill, tillJuly, 1883, when the Bishop created a new parish at this place andappointed Rev. James H. Maney (of St. Mary's Church, Albany), who isnow the resident pastor. The parish under the charge of the Rev. Mr. Maney extends from the Cooperstown Junction to the HarpersvilleTunnel. This society is about to erect a church edifice on a lotalready purchased for that purpose. 

The "Oneonta Union School" was organized in 1867. The sum of $5, 000was first voted for the purpose of building a schoolhouse, andafterwards the sum was increased to $7, 500. The building was finishedand school opened in 1868 with Wilber F. Saxton as principal. Mr. Saxton resigned his position in 1870, and was then succeeded byNathaniel N. Bull as principal. In 1873 the needs of the school weremet by the building of a smaller schoolhouse in the lower part of thedistrict. In 1874 and in 1880 the main school building was enlarged toaccommodate the increased attendance of scholars. An academicdepartment was organized in 1874. The school is attended by about sixhundred pupils, and twelve teachers are employed. Mr. Bull is stillthe efficient principal, and his labor is shared by competentassistants. 

The business industries and enterprises of the village consist of anumber of large dry goods and clothing stores, several shoe stores, nearly a dozen grocery and provision stores, two or three bakeries, confectionery establishments, flour and feed stores, several builders'machine shops, three saw mills, three grist mills, furniture stores, three large hardware stores, the railroad machine shops, round-houses, carriage factories, coopers' and blacksmith shops, three drug stores, two well-equipped printing offices, each of which issues a carefullyedited and well patronized newspaper--_Herald and Democrat_ and_Oneonta Press_. There are two banks--the "Wilber National" and "TheFirst National"--both of which are doing a large business and areunder prudent management. There are a dozen or more lawyers and asmany physicians. Three roomy hotels care for and furnish entertainmentto the way-faring public, and another hotel is in course ofconstruction. 

The village is rapidly growing, and new industries are multiplying. Adesirable water power could be furnished to drive the wheels of alarge manufactory--a subject that must sooner or later attract theattention of some capitalist. Well-shaded streets and well-keptroadways add to the attractions of the village, while itssurroundings of cultivated fields--of hill-side and plain--of woodedslopes and mountains--render the scenery as grand and diversified ascan be found in the Susquehanna valley. 

[Illustration]

 * * * * *

ESTABLISHED 1853. 

HERALD AND DEMOCRAT. 

ONEONTA, N. Y. 

A REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPER, Devoted to the interests of Otsego County, of the Second AssemblyDistrict, and of Oneonta in particular. 

The most thorough local and general newspaper in the county. 

PUBLISHED WEEKLY AT _$1. 50 Per Year!_

BY

YAGER & FAIRCHILD. 

 * * * * *

W. L. & R. BROWN, --DEALERS IN--

HARDWARE!

STOVES, RANGES, _ENGLISH, GERMAN & AMERICAN_

CUTLERY, Tin, Copper and Sheet-Iron Ware. 

PLUMBING AND GAS FITTING. 

 * * * * *

Edwin P. Chapman, _THE JEWELER. _

Diamonds, Watches, Clocks, JEWELRY, SPECTACLES, SOLID SILVER AND PLATED WARE, GUNS, REVOLVERS, CARTRIDGES, CUTLERY, MUSICAL GOODS, Toys, Fancy Goods, &c. , &c. 

Fine Watch, Clock and Jewelry Repairing a Specialty. 

EDWIN P. CHAPMAN, ONEONTA AND UNADILLA. 

 * * * * *

WILBER NATIONAL BANK

ESTABLISHED 1874. 

DAVID WILBER, President, D. F. WILBER, Vice-President, GEO. I. WILBER, Cashier, E. A. SCRAMLING, Ass't Cashier. 

_AUTHORIZED CAPITAL_, $300, 000. 

Capital Stock Paid in, $100, 000. 00Surplus Fund, 49, 000. 00

Amount of Deposits reported for Quarter ending October 2, 1883, $452, 948. 10. 

While the business of this Bank is conducted in a safe and economicalmanner, the managers aim to please and protect their customers. 

The patronage of the public is respectfully solicited. 

BANKING HOURS: From 10 to 12 a. M. , and from 1*

[*Transcriber's Note: remainder of text missing from original. ]