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History of Edmeston, New York/1790s

The history of Edmeston, New York: 1790 through 1799

1790
There is something about a new country that beckons one to come. True it is, hunger and exposure are often stern and unpleasant companions, but there, and there only, may be found the work of the creator, untarnished by the relentless hand of man.

To such a land came Stephen Taylor in the year 1790 from Rhode Island, accompanied only by the faithful horse that bore him, to the then far distant western wilderness of Otsego County, to select the sight of a new home. Tradition records that the first act upon arriving was to kneel in the forest and pray that the new home might be dedicated to the uplift of God’s Kingdom. — Newell Talbot.

These first settlers came into Edmeston via horseback, oxen or foot; the road they used was an Indian footpath. — Sandra Lohnas Haggerty

Col. Gardner and Alexander Parker returned as civilians to purchase land near Otsego Lake. In Cooperstown, at the foot of Otsego Lake, they found the Judge. He had been put in charge of land that later became most of Otsego County. He was to sell plots to those who wished to buy land and settle on it. He did sell to our relatives that day, but an interesting story has been told about how that transaction transpired.

The young men introduced themselves and told the judge they wished to buy land to settle on. The Judge looked them over and thought "I wonder if they should be close to our settlement by the lake?" He asked them, "What is your religion?" Alexander is supposed to have replied, "What business is it of yours?" You see he was still a "free thinker". He did not wish to have any relations with the old Calvinism of Rhode Island and much of New England. Judge Cooper was a Presbyterian and had already built a Presbyterian Church in Cooperstown. He thought, "Well, lets get rid of them", so he sold them land on the western edge of his holdings as far west as Burlington extended. [At that time Burlington extended to the Unadilla River.]

Judge William Cooper who had sold Alexander and Sam Gardner their plots of land, had great wealth for his day. He was a generous person. He had a good heart and only demanded payment each year on as much money as the settlers could afford and not starve.

Alexander and the Col. came in the spring of 1790. They supposedly paid for the land mostly with their mustering out pay. The capital required to start farming was small indeed. A man with his neighbors could put up a log house 20 feet square, living room below and sleeping room above, almost without cost. Alexander is supposed to have put up a lean-to, then returned the next spring with his wife and built the log house with a good fireplace. — Winifred Wilcox Parker

Cooper was not a landlord as some who owned land and leased it, nor was he a speculator who acquired land for profit. Cooper was a colonizer. Wild lands were a challenge to him. He was eager to see them cut into farms, sold and occupied.

When he opened land sales here in the spring of 1786 his policies were firmly developed. He was born in Philadelphia and kept store in Burlington, N.J. At both places he lived with wealthy men who had interests in New York and Pennsylvania undeveloped lands. There was evidence that he served in some capacity in their enterprises. He always preferred to distribute land by deed on fee simple and would accept small down payments to attain this end, but money at the time was everywhere scarce and the prospective settlers were mainly poor. Cooper willingly altered his policy to fit the realities and often sold on land contracts. When "articles of agreement" were first contrived is uncertain but Cooper used them in ways of his own. He contrived "perpetual" leases whereby the tenant rented the land (for cash or produce) and at such time they were able to purchase the land they did so at the low pioneer prices originally quoted. — Roy L. Butterfield

In 1790 Ebeneezer Bennett moved from Conn. to Otsego County, which at that time was a long journey, and far west. He bought 160 acres of land of the Government, lying on the banks of the Unadilla River. He built a log house (near the Bank's homestead) close to the river and planted an orchard of apple trees. Your grandfather [Philo Bennet] was then six or seven years old and remembered some of the hard times of that pioneer life, and used to tell how the snow sifted through the roof, and the wolves howled about the door. There were five sons in the family: Eben, Lemuel, Philo, Elijah and David. — Matilda C. Bennett

When a girl, twelve and thirteen years of age, I used often to stay with my step-grandmother, while her daughter went away for a visit of a week or more. She was a heavy old lady and like the woman in the Bible, was "Bound of Satan" into a bent double position and walked about the house with a staff. a frame building had been added to the log house in which she lived; from the windows of the living room we looked straight down into the river, and at the south door was an immense wild cherry tree, black cherries, in which we children delighted. In the old days part of the house was one large room with a large fireplace and two bedrooms, in one of which was a shelf with books on it, while on the floor below was an old chest curiously carved, and bound with brass. To climb the chest, get a book or two, go into the orchard and hide myself among the branches of a crooked apple tree and read, was my special delight. One of these books was the "Sorrows of Neither" by Goethe. The others were loved stories abounding ghosts, and hobgoblins, and all were yellow with age. — Matilda C. Bennett

Lemuel Bennett who lived near us, was older than our father; his wife was a beautiful woman and lovely character. He had four daughters. Uncle Lemuel and our father had homes on the land their father gave them, not on the river, but on the main road that ran parallel with it and a half mile or so from it; between was meadow and pasture with a brook running though from the hills which bounded the farm on the east, to the river, the hills were covered with a growth of pine and hemlock, elm and chestnut trees. The home was a brown story and half house built on a smooth low hill, across the road was the large barn, through whose spacious doors came the great loads of shining wheat and fragrant hay, until the "bins" and the "mows" were full, and later on, the corn and pumpkins lay in great heaps. I can still recall the rhythmic sound of the flails as the wheat was thrashed on the large smooth floor, and just how father looked as he hatcheted the flax, as well as the sound of the wheel as our mother spun it. — Matilda C. Bennett

First U.S. Census: this area a part of Montgomery County, Town of Otsego, which covered what is now the County of Otsego. The Town of Otsego had 304 families, total population 1702. Local names included: Percifer Carr, James Canada (Kennedy), Chapin, Colegrove, Monroe, and Lull. — Myrta Kelsey

During the development of Edmeston as a town, Indians still lived around about on the hills. An interesting incident is told of the farmers experience with these Indians. It seems that this man had a rooster that always crowed at the same time in the early morning and therefore, served as an alarm clock to awaken the family. One morning, however, the rooster failed to crow. Upon making an investigation at the Indian camp, the farmer found his rooster already picked and being cooked. He frightened the Indians so they agreed to make baskets for him in payment for the rooster. — Janet Dockstader & Myrta Kelsey

A well-known pioneer was Rev. Steven Taylor, tradition says he made his first trip from Rhode Island to this town in 1790 alone on horse-back. He returned for his parents who moved in ox carts in 1792. The next year meetings began to be held and 30 years later Elder Taylor gave the land on which the Church was built in 1822. — Myrta Kelsey

Referring to Percifer Carr, Israel Colegrove informed me that the Indians were afraid of this man, looking upon him as a being of super-natural powers and allied, in some way, with the Great Spirit; this more particularly being their feeling after the Revolution. Carr was a large, strong, rough, resolute and dauntless individual, with "a voice like a lion's." He had served in the old French war, and nothing could frighten him. He had a pleasant side to his nature, and was kind to the first settlers, making them take along additional sustenance from his own limited supplies when departing from his house. — Huntington Papers

The Indians once stole a lot of Carr's personal property during his temporary absence from home and crossed back to the opposite or Chenango side of the Unadilla with their plunder. Upon returning and being informed of the larceny, the old frontiersman seized his hatchet and, crossing the river on a rude bridge to the other shore, strode angrily into their camp, exclaiming as he did so that he would kill them if they did not instantly carry back everything they had taken from him. Much impressed by his formidable personality, the Indians, it is said, quickly complied with his demands. — Huntington Papers

For a limited time, in early days white ash was principally used in building fences in the Burlington-Edmeston region. Log fences were made first; then rail fences; while later on, came stonewalls. — Huntington Papers

In the latter part of the eighteenth century, settlements were also made in the northeastern part of the present Town of Edmeston. Since the early settlers in this locality included Benjamin, Timothy, Thomas, William and Stephen Taylor, this section was appropriately called Taylor Hill. Other pioneers were; Major and Stephen Colegrove from Rhode Island, Jacob and Richmond Talbot from Connecticut, and Charles Burlingham. An idea of the hardships that these, endured is illustrated by the following incident: the first home that was built by Jacob Talbot was a long house that had a bed quilt hung up before the entrance for a door. Fire brands taken from the fireplace at night served as defense against wolves that prowled about the cabin. — Susan Hickling

Stephen Colegrove once stated that when he first settled in the Taylor Hill section it was the custom to tap maple trees about November first and to manufacture sugar following every frost, until well along in the Spring. For several years, the early settlers had little else to live upon besides maple sugar and corn pounded in a mortar. After 1790, the number of new settlers coming into Burlington rapidly increased. — Huntington Papers

I was talking to Dr. Phelps about the history of Edmeston. He said, "Donald Parker's great, great, great grandfather was the first occupant of Edmeston. He brought his first wife here and settled on what is now the Dorr Parker farm.  Shortly after he and his family moved here his wife died.  He put her body in an old hollow log and buried her in the swamp where the Indians couldn't find her.  He went back to Massachusetts with their one child and married again.  He moved here with his second wife and they started the original Parker Family." — Janet Dockstader

1791
Otsego County taken from Montgomery County in 1791 and consisted of two towns, Otsego and Cherry Valley.

Otsego County was erected Feb. 16, 1791. In its first form it was much larger than it is now [1990], including a very large part of Delaware and almost the Western half of Schoharie. Changes in its borders were made as late as 1854. The original Otsego town has been carved into sixteen Towns, and the Original Cherry Valley into eight, resulting in the 24 Towns now existing. — Roy L. Butterfield

Solomon Kelsey and wife, Anna Brown, with one child came from Easton, Washington County, N.Y. near Vermont before 1792, to the Kelsey home-stead (1500 acres) in the southeastern part of Edmeston [town]. All of their possessions were in an ox cart and they also brought a cow with them. It is impossible for us today to picture the privations and hardships endured in those times. A slight glimpse of conditions then is shown in the following tales handed down in the family. In order to get grain ground Solomon Kelsey took bags on horseback to the nearest mill, which was so far away that he must be gone over night. [John Tunnicliff's?] That night about dusk, Great Grandmother Kelsey milked to cow, set the pail of milk under a tree close by, and went to put the cow in the pasture. When she returned a panther was lapping milk from the pail. She called to the little children in the house and they pushed back the blanket which served as a door. It so happened that this allowed the light from the fireplace to shine directly upon the milk pail. The panther screamed and jumped into the tree over head, but she dare not pick up the pail and went into the house without any milk that night. — Myrta Kelsey

1792
The Town of Burlington was formed consisting of what is now Pittsfield, New Lisbon, Edmeston and Burlington.

In April 1792, the Township of Burlington was organized and Jedediah Peck, a farmer and millwright who lived on the eastern edge, was elected supervisor. Peck, short, ugly, one-eyed, a war hero, a poor speaker, and a political operator of genius, began as a Federalist and later switched to the Democratic Republican Party. — David Shillieto

Elder Stephen Taylor came from Rhode Island at the age of 20. According to and taken from the notes of a Mr. Pierson's letter:

 * On June 9, 1792, William Cooper, as attorney for Calwaller Colden conveyed 525 acres of land to Stephen Taylor, for 300 pounds, it being lot No. 13 in the Colden tract. On the same day Stephen Taylor gave a Mortgage for 300 pounds to Josiah Ogden Hoffman of New York City, covering the same premises — doubtless a purchase money mortgage — this mortgage being discharged of record June 28, 1800.  This discharge was given by William Cooper as agent and assignee. —  Hazel L. Jones

About 1792, Percifer Carr was in the habit of going to Tunnicliff's inn for his rum. Upon one occasion, having just returned home from the latter's, an Indian, living temporarily on the opposite bank of the Unadilla from Carr's house, came across the stream and asked the white brother for some of his liquor, claiming that he was suffering a great pain. His appeal, however, had no desired effect, Carr promptly replying; "You cannot have it" and then, a moment later, and as an afterthought, adding "God, Almighty, send the pain near the cursed villain’s heart!" — Huntington Papers

Not far from this time, Elder Stephen Taylor was employed on Carr's farm. From a point near his house on Taylor Hill, the dwelling being a little north of "Carr's road". Elder Taylor was in the habit of following that primitive thoroughfare through an unbroken forest in going to and from the scene of his daily labor in the fields of our old Tory acquaintance; the latter paying him in corn for his services. Elder Taylor repeated the anecdote just given of Carr and the Indian to Israel Colegrove, who, when a very old man, gave it to the writer. — Huntington Papers

There was no other method of travel except horseback, at that early date. There was a rude road, which had been an Indian trail, over the Catskill Mountains from the Hudson River at Catskill, to the Susquehanna Valley at Wattles Ferry, which was at the site of the present village of Unadilla. In 1802 an important trail was constructed over this trail by the Catskill and Susquehanna Turnpike Co. I think the eastern part of this route is the present beautiful Rip Van Winkle State Highway. All the earliest settlers of this western part of the county and the southern part probably came over this route There was another road to Cherry Valley from Albany and the Mohawk Valley. — Myrta Kelsey

One of the first settlers was Adin Deming, who came in 1792. He was born in Pittsfield, Mass. As his father claimed the use of his time until he was 21 years of age, young Adin did not strike out until he was 20. Then he bought the remainder of his time for $20 and hired out for four years at $60 a year. He married Martha Phelps and in 1792 removed to Edmeston performing the journey with an ox team. — Huntington Papers & Myrta Kelsey

Aside from his oxen, Adin Deming's worldly goods consisted of two beds, a few cooking and farming utensils, 200 pounds of pork and $18 in money. With these small beginnings and with the pluck and perseverance of himself and his wife he gradually accumulated a large fortune. Before he died he owned nearly 2000 acres of land on the south side of the Wharton Creek and in Pittsfield, and his estate was valued at over $75,000 his home was where Hayes Welch now lives. Before his death in 1847 he gave away nearly all his property. He and another settler, Mr. Goodrich, gave the larger part of the cost of the erection of the Universalist Church on South Street. He left in his will a sum of money for public school aid with the careful provision that the money was to be perpetually loaned out only on safe first mortgages. Each of his children received a home and a large portion of land. He gave land for the Deming cemetery adjoining his home.— Myrta Kelsey

My great grandfather and wife, Anna Brown, with one child came from Easton Washington County, New York, near Vermont before 1792 to the Kelsey homestead in the southeastern part of the town of Edmeston [at that time still a part of Burlington]. All their possessions were in an ox cart and they also brought a cow with them. We have the original deed which was given by Abraham VanVechten of Albany to Solomon Kelsey, yeoman. No neighbors mentioned in the deed but states "A certain tract of land situated in the County of Otsego, being part of a tract containing 1500 acres, formerly the property of William Jackson, being known and distinguished by the name of Lot No. 3 — beginning at a hemlock stake etc. etc." This land stayed in the family for 140 years. — Myrta Kelsey

It is impossible for us today to picture the privations and hardships endured in those times. A slight glimpse of conditions then is shown in the following tales handed down in the family. In order to get grain ground Solomon Kelsey took bags on horseback to the nearest mill, which was so far away that he must be gone over night. (I have wondered if it were not the mill built by Tunnicliff near Schuyler’s Lake). That night about dusk, Great Grandmother Kelsey milked the cow, set the pail of milk under a tree close by and went to put the cow in the pasture. When she returned a panther was lapping milk from the pail. She called to the little children in the house and they pushed back the blanket which served for a door. It so happened that this allowed the light from the fireplace to shine directly upon the milk pail. the panther screamed and jumped into the tree overhead, but she dare not pick up the pail and went into the house with out any milk that night. — Myrta Kelsey

1793
Mistress Percifer Carr used to make cheese there as early as the period of 1792-'93. In this connection is recalled the following incident. It seems that upon a certain occasion, a woman living in the neighborhood bought some of Mrs. Carr's product, and, after tasting it, declared to several of her intimates that it positively stank. Although Carr and wife were both religiously inclined, his good lady, upon hearing of the foul calumny through friendly gossip, solemnly averred that she would kill the slanderer if the latter ever put foot in her house again. — Huntington Papers

Upon the death of Col. Edmeston, the estate fell to the heirs and minor children residing in England from whom no secure title could be obtained for many years, which greatly retarded the settlement of the Town. [patent] Except for Carr, all the pioneers in the Patent came after 1793. — Myrta Kelsey

The second settlement of the patent was one in the northeastern part of Edmeston [not part of the Edmeston patent]. Elder Stephen Taylor came from Rhode Island at the age of 20. According to and taken from the notes of a Mr. Pierson’s letter: on June 9, 1792, William Cooper

 * "Judge Cooper, the novelist’s father, as attorney for Calwaller [Cadwallader] Colden conveyed 525 acres of land to Stephen Taylor, for 300 pounds, it being lot NO. 13 in the Colden Patent. On the same day Stephen Taylor gave a mortgage for 300 pounds to Josiah Ogden Hoffman of New York City, covering the same premises—doubtless a purchase money mortgage being discharged of record June 28, 1800.  This discharge was given by William Cooper as agent and assignee."

This settlement became known as Taylor Hill. A school was erected here about the same time.

The first internment in the Taylor Hill burying ground was that of the remains of one, Henry Hadley in about 1793. He had been working in the woods of Elder Taylor at the time of his death, which was caused by a falling tree. The chopper associated with him at the moment, it appears, had given him sufficient warning of the impending danger, but Hadley seemed oblivious to the peril menacing him and, instead of shifting his position to a place of safety, remained motionless and dazed as it were, until a small limb had struck him and crushed his skull.

Jacob Talbot, Elisha Johnson, Richmond Talbot, Timothy Taylor, Daniel Greene and others came soon afterwards and settled in the neighborhood of what is called Wrights corners (North Edmeston). Taylor gave land for a church which was erected about 1822. — Hazel L. Jones

Another very early pioneer was Jacob Talbot, born 1761 died 1814, He was the ancestor of the very numerous Talbot family in this community. He came to Taylor Hill from Connecticut in 1793 with his wife, Phoebe Chase, and three children, Isaac, aged 6, Jacob 5 and Joseph. They came in an ox cart and brought among a few other things, a bag of wool which served as a bed for the children on the journey, and later carded, spun and woven into cloth for family use. It has been said that he had to cut his was through the trackless forest, which doubtless was the case in this town at least. The nearest neighbors were the Carr family on the Unadilla and the Tunnicliff family near Schuyler Lake. One of the earliest roads in this region led from the Carr farm, over Taylor Hill (I think) to the Tunnicliff's, I have been told. — Myrta Kelsey

1794
The first church (Bap.) was formed at Taylor Hill, March 8, 1794; Rev. Stephen Taylor was the first preacher.— Gazetteer of the State of New York

The First Baptist church of Edmeston, located on what is known as Taylor Hill, was organized March 8, 1794, by Rev. Stephen Taylor, who came from Rhode Island and settled in the town in 1790. He donated the land on which to erect the church, and assisted in the construction of the edifice. He died in 1841, aged seventy-one years.

Among those who joined at date of organization were:

 * width="150"|Jonathan Pettit,
 * width="150"|Timothy Taylor,
 * width="150"|Jacob Talbot,
 * Thomas Terry,
 * Thos. Taylor,
 * Daniel Green,
 * Nehemiah Billings,
 * Robert Fuller,
 * Stephen Colegrove,
 * William Scranton,
 * Hugh Smith,
 * Jos. Case,
 * Lydia Taylor,
 * Dorcas Scranton,
 * Seviah Billings,
 * Agnes Pettit,
 * Hannah Green,
 * Sarah Terry,
 * Freelove Taylor,
 * Rosannah Taylor,
 * Marcy Phinney.
 * }
 * Sarah Terry,
 * Freelove Taylor,
 * Rosannah Taylor,
 * Marcy Phinney.
 * }
 * }

The church building was erected in 1822.

 * — The History of Otsego County, New York 1740-1878

1797
The Town of Pittsfield was set off from the Town of Burlington. Pittsfield consisting of what is now New Lisbon and Pittsfield. Burlington Consisting of the present Edmeston and Burlington.

Among the first settlers who came to Otsego County in the last decade of the 18th century [1897] were Reolff TenBroeck and his wife, Maria, called "Polly" and born a Vanderveer. They came from New Jersey.

We have no record of why they came. But being neighbors in far away New Jersey, and perhaps friends, of William Cooper who founded Cooperstown it is reasonable to suppose that some contact with him had influenced them to make the long journey north and found a new home in the incredibly rich lands to which William Cooper had recently acquired title.

Cooper came in the early autumn of 1785 from Burlington, New Jersey. In 1769 Col.Geo. Croghan of the English Army, Deputy Indian Commissioner and successor to the great Sir William Johnson had been granted title by the crown to 100,000 acres of the central New York wilderness. These acres had dwindled in various ways until but 40,000 remained and Croghan had gone back to England. William Cooper had acquired this tract of land and so in the early autumn of 1785 he came to look over these new holdings of his and determined their boundaries.

The land needed settlers in order to build the civilization in the wilderness which he visualized and Cooper set about the business of getting them. Within the year they began to arrive. They came mainly from New England over the marvelous new highway in this western empire!

In his will written sometime later, Cooper set down for his heirs instructions for caring for these infant settlements as follows:

 * And as I have influenced many families to settle in those new places on my land where numerous difficulties do, and for several years to come must, prevent their paying with that punctuality that is reasonably expected form older settlements where all the conveniences of living are easily obtained, I therefore wish that my heirs will deal tenderly with them.

May we not assume that our TenBroeck family was one of those influenced by Cooper. It is very probable that Reolff came first with his brother, John, or other male members of the family to choose the site for the new home. We know that John TenBroeck was early a land holder in Otsego County. Records in Cooperstown show many deeds made at various times during that period to other members of both TenBroeck and Vanderveer families.

Reolff, born in 1763, was then a man in his late thirties, well established at that age in his own community we may suppose — and tradition has it that Polly's wedding dowry had been $20,000 in gold and two black servants. What better proof of the golden dower can we have than that the wooden cash box in which they carried their money exists today! Alas for tradition that it is of a size more likely to hold two hundred dollars in gold than any twenty thousand!

But the two black servants were real. Husband and wife they were, and they made the journey with their mistress and her several small children to make a home in the wilderness. A few years later the black woman died and "Joseph" the husband, so saddened by the death of his companion, left Dutch Valley and "went to Cooperstown to work for Judge Cooper". How this came about when he was a slave we do not know. Could he have been "Joseph Stewart" who lies buried in the cooper lot in Christ Church yard in Cooperstown and whose simple stone records the fact that he was "born a slave but for many years was a much loved servant of Judge Cooper." He returned on several occasions to visit his former mistress and once Polly, sick and thinking she was about to die, sent for him and he went afoot over the hills in response to her summons.

The Dutch had been slave holders in the manors along the Hudson River from the earliest day. Personal relations with their negroes were most kindly. Frequently they were provided for by will, and daughters of well-to-do Dutch families numbered a slave or two in her wedding outfitting. Nor were they uncommon in central New York in those early days. A Gazateer of the State of New York written and published by Horatim Spafford in 1823 lists slaves in every community — In Otsego County were 235 free blacks and 16 slaves. — Aice H. Swinney

In 1797, from New Jersey, came Reolff TenBroeck and his wife, who built the relatively famous Dutch Valley Farm, just south of the village. Being Dutch immigrants, they brought new customs with them: he erected his buildings near the center of the farm, he raised and sold the best horses, he owned the first high blooded cattle in this section and he owned the first slaves in his area. — Sandra Lohnas Haggerty

title: History of Edmeston, New York/1790s


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History of Edmeston, New York/1820s

The history of Edmeston, New York: 1820 through 1829

1820
I remember attending school at the large school house on Taylor Hill, a little east of the church that was built in 1822. It had a pulpit and was used for Church purposes. Rev. Taylor was an exemplary man and a very acceptable preacher for thirty five years. He never took a salary, had a farm of 80 acres and the church helped him get his wood (cut and drawn by a bee), and also his hay. The old school house was burned about 1820. a boy built fires for the ashes, and one night set them in a wood box in the entry. The next morning all that was left was old iron, melted glass, and nails. The district was then divided into three parts. A few years before that Stephen Arnold of Binghamton, taught there, and one Sunday, at home, while hearing a young girl, six or seven years old, named Van Amburg, who lived with him, spell and pronouncing the word gig call it jig, he flew into a passion and whipped her several times until she was badly cut to pieces. When he see how she sank he ran away. His wife called Dr. Gains Smith to try to save her. He looked at her wounds and said "A man should not whip a child like that when in a passion." She reassured the Dr. he was not in a passion. He said
 * "then d—n him. Follow him to the end of the earth and gibbet him.  What would he not do in Passion?"

The child died, and he [Stephen Arnold] was taken, I think at Black Rock, tried, and sentenced to be hanged, but while in the scaffold at Cooperstown there came a reprieve from the Governor, and while riding back from the gallows he kept saying "good governor, good governor." — James Slocum

In spite of the fact that there were very few houses in Edmeston Centre in 1820, the town in that year had its largest population 2087. It is now about 1700. — Myrta Kelsey

In 1820 Edmeston Centre had a grist mill, a saw mill, a forge and triphammer and a carding and fulling mill. I have already spoken of the grist and saw mill. The forge and triphammer, for the manufacture of axes, scythes, and plow shares was operated by William Stickney and Samuel Simmons. the carding and fulling mill was erected and operated by Joseph Bootman on the site where Card's garage now stands. [1992, Tim's garage].

Honorable David B. St.John became a resident of this town in 1820. He did much to advance the interests of Edmeston as well as the adjoining town of Pittsfield. He at one time resided in Pittsfield where he served as supervisor for ten years. His record in the board of supervisors together with his general integrity and character, won him the esteem of the people and he was subsequently chosen a member of the Assembly in the years 1849-50-60, and was in the Constitutional Convention of 1846. Most of the people in this area were Whigs and later became affiliated with the Republican Party. — Hazel L. Jones

1822
Meetings were held on Taylor Hill starting around 1793, in 1822 Elder Stephen Taylor gave the land for the Taylor Hill Church. No church was organized in the village [hamlet of Edmeston] for nearly 30 years. Apparently the Taylor Hill section of the town was thickly settled much earlier than around the village. — Myrta Kelsey

[The lands in the Edmeston patent were settled later because they were tied up in the settling of the estate.]

The first meetings [Taylor Hill Church] were held in the open forests, then in a log cabin, then in a barn, a period of about thirty years presumably between 1793-1823. The school house was destroyed by fire in 1821. Elder Taylor felled the first tree for the building of the church proper and worked with the builders in its erection.

The church building was of one room, colonial windows, vaulted ceilings, a most rare piece of architecture for the time and place. The building was heated by two large box stoves. Bench seats lined the wall on either side, and across the door end of the auditorium, all facing the bay-window shaped pulpit for those at opposite end of the building. Chairs, home made, were placed directly in front of the pulpit for those who were deaf. Characteristic of the century which was to follow, a long row of sheds was built along the left side and along the back of the church. — Taylor Hill Church, Memories of West Edmeston

1823
The will of Andrew Edmeston:
 * This is the last will and testament of Mr. Andrew Edmeston, of Cooperstown, New York in the County of Otsego in the State of New York, in the United States of America, but now residing at the borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed in England. Esquire made published and declared this 3rd day of November in the year of our Lord 1823. I give and devise unto James Aitchison of Pelham in the County of Westchester in the State of New York, U.S.A. for and during the term of his natural life one annuity of annual rent charge of Three hundred fifty dollars to be paid to him or his assigns half yearly...

[There are six typewritten pages of the will in legal and out-dated terms, with codicils as late as January, 1826]. Andrew Edmeston appointed Edward Hyde Clark and George William Featherstone to hold his land for his sister, Mrs. George (Elizabeth Francis) Ridell and his nephew, Robert Edmeston.

 * ...all my mekuages lands, Tenements and Real Estate situated lying and being on both sides of the River Unadilla in the Counties of Otsego and Chenango.

There was a Seventh Day Baptist church in West Edmeston and was the only one of its kind in Otsego County. They differ from the regular Baptists only in respect to keeping the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath. The Church at West Edmeston was organized Sept. 28,1823. It first took the name of the Third Church of Brookfield. The meeting house which was built sometime before was located about a half a mile north of Babcock mills in the Beaver Creek Valley. The first members were connected with churches of Leonardsville and Clarksville in the same town. They believed that for their convenience, as well as their interests of the cause of God, required the formation of a new church so a council was called and the movement approved. Eighty members were enrolled at the organization. After fifteen years it was found that a majority of the members had become located in and near West Edmeston, and for their accommodation they built a meeting-house in 1843, which cost $800. Subsequently, it was enlarged to as to seat two hundred and fifty persons. For ten years after it erection the meetings were held alternately between the two chapels. They were all removed to West Edmeston in 1854 and soon the church was changed to the Seventh Day Baptist. ) — Hazel L. Jones

1824
Aden Deming set aside $4000, the interest of which was to be given to the schools of the town. He established this fund in 1824. (We still have the use of the interest-we call it the "School Fund." It took a special act of the legislature to set aside this fund for the school and it is understood it would take a special act of the Legislature to do away with it). — Hazel L. Jones

[''H. L. Jones wrote her History of Edmeston in 1953. The fund was dissolved and given to the Edmeston Central School in the 1980’s'']

John Bilyea built the first tannery where Charles Bain's apartment now stands [1992, Tim’s junk car lot]. The first regular store was opened in 1824 by Lyman White. The building was later used as a hotel by Delos Davis where the present Brady House now stands [1992, the fire house]. Other early tradesmen were Silas Burleson, Erastus Waldo and Benjamin Peet. — Myrta Kelsey

In 1824 the first regular store opened. This meant great changes in the way people bought supplies — great quantities were not necessary anymore. Twice a year merchants went to Albany to buy enough stock to last six months; each journey required over a week. — Sandra Lohnas Haggerty

Spafford’s Gazetteer of the State of New York, 1824:
 * Edmeston is a Post-Township in the western part of Otsego County, erected on April 1, 1808 from Burl;ington (the west end), 18 miles from Cooperstown and 84 miles from Albany; bounded on the north by Plainfield, east by Burlington, South by New Lisbon and Pittsfield, west by the Unadill a River (this being the boundary of Otsego County). The area is about 26,628 acres.  The surface is considerably diversified with hills and valleys and the soil is various, the pricipal part being moist and excellent for grass.  The timber is principally deciduous as maple, beech, ash, basswood, elm, etc.  There are some groves of pine also.  The Unadilla Creek and the Wharton Creek supply mill seats.  A tract of about 10,000 acres in the northwest part, principally wild, is owned by Mr. Edmeston from whom the town is named.

 * There is a valuable quarry of building stone in the southeast corner. The inhabitants are principally farmers and their agriculture and domestic economy are respectable, their household manufactures increasing and already supply the principal part of their clothing.  the Great Westen Turnpike leads centrals across it east and west and the other roads are numerous and good.  The population in 1810 was 1,317.  There were 497 farmers; 70 mechanics; one trader; taxable property.  $169.555.  There were 12 schools kept eight months; 8,415 acres of improved land; 2,096 cattle; 387 horses; 4,401 sheep; 21,477 yards of cloth; 1 trip hammer; 3 distilleries; 2 asheries.  Mount Edmeston, the residence of a large proprietor must be noticed as worthy of mention.

1825
Later, as there began to be considerable cleared land, we would have afternoon and evening huskings, and then a dance or a play after we got through. Those who had horses came on horseback, with their girl behind them. Then we began to have balls New years and Independence. We would meet two or three weeks before and choose four managers. They would get the tickets and distribute them, and engaged the music. the girl that had a nice bombazette dress with a plump six yard in it, and a nice pair of calf slippers was fit to go with the first manager. In those days I never saw a young man go into a ball room with his hat or boots on. We all had pumps, and the girls had slippers of either cloth or leather, and no young man thought to go without a partner, and some carried two, so that if there should chance to be some young man without a partner and wished to join the dance, he could do so. There was not much running around nights, especially alone, for there was occasionally a bear, and wolves were quite common, so they stayed at home and played fox and geese, or twelve men of Morris.

Speaking of wolves reminds me of several adventures with those animals. One of my earliest recollections was in being waked up one night by the firing of guns. I got up to see what was going on, and my father and Mr. Stephen Hoag, a neighbor of ours, who resided on the Hill east of us were building fires of the stumps and brush heaps, and firing their guns to keep off the wolves, which were collecting in great numbers on the hills to the west. Both men had sheep which the wild beasts had scented, and they had taken this means to drive them off.

After a few years we began to have apples; then we had paring bees and quiltings. Those were rich times for both young and old, and many of my readers can look back with pride and pleasure to those days when the hale and hearty aged people, as well as the ruddy and sprightly younger ones would meet together at the house of some one of the neighbors — first for work, and afterwards sport, with plenty of nut cakes and cider — and the various games and their "forfeits". — James Slocum

1827
NEW YORK BAPTIST REGISTER., Utica, New York, Friday July 6, 1827:

 * REVIVALS

 * Extract of a Letter from Brother Timothy Tailor to the Editor.

 * Dear Brother,

 *   It is with a good degree of satisfaction that I have an opportunity of informing the friends of Zion, that it hath pleased a merciful God, in the dispensation of his providence, to favour this people with a shower of Divine grace. The good work commenced the latter part of December, in a district school, taught by one of the students from the Theological Semenary at Hamilton. The pious instruction of their teacher, accompanied by the earnest addresses they heard him make at the throne of grace, were blessed in the hands of God, to the awakening of several of the larger scholars, who had hitherto been thoughtless about the welfare of their immortal souls.  The inquiry was most earnestly made. "What must we do to be saved?" A deep solemnity soon pervaded the school. The ususal hours for recreation were now spent in searching the Scriptures, and the big tear often bespoke the troubles of a wouned spirit; while the thoughtless began to inquire, "What meaneth this?" The light of eternity seemed to dawn. It was as solemn as silence in thick darkness. Meetings were thronged; Christains beheld the scene, and began to have great searching of heart. The Lord rolled upon Zion "the travailing pains." The Spirit helped the infirmities of the saints, and they began to agonize at the throne of grace, with groanings unutterable. It was the set time, the day of salvation, and souls were born into the kingdom. ... parents and children obtained 'joy and ...ness,' and came with singing unto Zion. The glorious fire proved electric. Scholars from neighboring districts, visiting this school, were made to share the blessings of the new covenent, and by this means, became the happy instruments of sowing the seeds of the Kingdom in their neighborhoods. I have baptizied, since the commencement of the revival, fifty-three; and there are yet more to behold the waters of Jordan, saying, "and there will I be buried." The work still continues, and we trust there are yet "berries to be gathered in from the uttermost boughs."

 *     Yours affectionately,
 *         TIMOTHY TAILOR.

 *   Edmeston, June 27, 1827

1826
Several other gentlemen became residents of the place [Cooperstown] during the period already mentioned [1805–1820], and continued to increase and improve its society; among these were Messrs. [Andrew] Edmeston, Atchison, Augustine Prevost, and G. W. Prevost. A singular fatality attended the first three of these gentlemen. Col Prevost was lost in the well known shipwreck of the Albion packet. Mr. Edmeston was drowned while bathing [in 1826], and Mr. Atchison fell by his own hand during an access of fever. Neither of these melancholy events occurred in the village. — James Fenimore Cooper, The Chronicles of Cooperstown, 1838

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: History of Edmeston, New York/1820s


text:
History of Edmeston, New York/1850s

The history of Edmeston, New York: 1850 through 1859

1855
Prior to 1860 [in 1855] a third school building was erected on North Street. Lucy P. Stickney (later Mrs. Solomon Hoxie) was the teacher of 79 pupils. — Hazel L. Jones

''[This building was moved to the east side of South Street, near the four corners. It has been used at various times as a fire station, garage, apartments and a used clothing store. As of 1990, in poor repair is idle]''.

1856
Post office established at East Edmeston (4/15/1856) closed 3/23/1857. — Dorothy Scott Fielder

Warren Chase postmaster of East Edmeston post office (discontinued 1861). — Flora Underwood

1859
Otsego County was the leading national hop producing area. Throughout the year weekly papers carried market quotations, crop prospects and news of the hop situation overseas. — The "hoop skirt" was all the fashion and occasioned much comment and caricature as the "hobble skirt" of a much later day. One New York City factory was employing a thousand girls, using 300,000 yards of steel spring wire and 150,000 yards of tape a week and turning out 3,000 skirts a day. Harper's Weekly commented,

 * "Smart girls, we are told, can easily make $4 a week...Four dollars a week, it need hardly be remarked, is very fair remuneration for work which is neither excessive or unhealthy."

When in August oil was struck in Pennsylvania, the modern petroleum age began. Before the end of the year kerosene was for sale in local stores at $1.25 a gallon. — This was the year the Colorado Potato beetle appeared here, and to stay. — Whisky could be bought for twenty five cents a gallon. Venison, bear meat, wild turkeys, and wild pigeons were displayed in the markets. — December, 1859, Abraham Lincoln consented that his friends might advance his candidacy as presidential nominee of the party. The result was that the first president born beyond the Appalachians entered the White House in 1861. — Roy Butterfield

title: History of Edmeston, New York/1850s


text:
History of Edmeston, New York/1880s

The history of Edmeston, New York: 1880 through 1889

1880
We were in Edmeston a year ago and when we saw the telegraph poles and telephone lines, thought it would not be long before the steam horse would arrive. And before this great change let us glance at some of the people as they are today, and whose example youth may well follow.

The owner of the splendid residence and large shoe store at the foot of the hill near the cemetery is William Joslyn, Fifty years ago he was a poor boy without parents to guide his way from the temptations that ruin so many; always kind and generous to his playmates, ready to help all and wrong none, with but little time at school, he learned the tanners and shoe trade with Mr. Bilyea about a mile from the village. Until sale shoes were made, shoe making was his only occupation, and by early learning Franklin's rule, "that he must keep his shop who would have his shop keep him," and by the superiority of his work attracting customers for miles around, always careful of unnecessary expenses, (we do not know that he ever owned a horse, for his business did not need one), he occupies a position that many, with all the advantages of wealth to start with, might well be proud of.

A short distance down the creek we find the master mechanic and Natures nobleman, Louis Green, standing perhaps at his forge, while in some of shops, iron is moulded in various forms, and in other plained as smooth as glass. And all of this machinery is run by water wheel of his own invention, said to be the best wheel in the United States. he also invented and manufactured for sale various farm implements — his plows and horseshoes are known the best in the section.

As we return, we pass the residence of James Ackerman, If fine Churches, academies, school houses, stores, hotels, and dwellings add to the beauty of the country and the welfare of the people, Mr. Ackerman should receive the thanks of the whole community, for it has been largely by his industry and executive ability, that both village [hamlet] and country presents so fine an appearance. He has been a large purchaser of timber from all sections. He paid five thousand dollars for what was on fifty acres of land. The logs were hauled to this village and sawed, and thence to his large machine shops for doors, window sash, blinds, etc. His son Burt now carries on the shops, while he farms it as health permits.

We saw at least forty bushels of wheat to the acre on his farm last year. — James Slocum

1882
The first local paper was published in 1882; The Wharton Valley Echo — later the Edmeston Echo and finally the Edmeston Local. This enabled the recordings of history from which people can learn the interesting facts, but to the editors, their main function was record current happenings and spread the word. the Edmeston Local left Edmeston to be published in Gilbertsville during the 1940's Even with the same name, the "hometown paper" feeling was lost and the publisher sold to the New Berlin Gazette, in which the Local is now swallowed. — Sandra Lohnas Haggerty

1883
Owners of the two Edmeston hotels up to 1883:

Benjamin Peet, a man of renown, Built and run the first hotel in town; Then Levi Goodsell bought the same, He closed it up and sold him out, Lost all he paid, I have no doubt. W. Burlingham run it one year, Then Benjamin Arnold’s records appear. I think I am right, but have not the dates, And then to Aunt Sarah Smith it was sold, She married Dan H. and she had the gold. A great many years it was run in his name, At last had to rent because he was lame. Uncle John Gaskin run it a spell, And E.G. Waldo, how long I can’t tell. It once was rented to Esq. Styles Gray, And Morgan to Nelson, how long I won’t say. It was run by Vandenburg, the miller, And then was sold to Dr. Wheeler. Was kept some time by his son John, Then Adams bought it when he was gone, And then John Davis was mine "host", He kept it until he leaf the coast; It next was taken by Deloss, And he believes he is the boss. It now is sold to T. R. Barrett, I understand he will repair it, He rented it to Hoffman next, I do not mean the Governor EX. A man by name of S. H. Preston, Built under the hill to learn us a lesson, That two hotels was better than one, And kept it himself when it was done. He run it quite a spell; But afterwards desired to sell. Then Lovett Hoag bought the stand, And opened it up to try his hand. Of course he kept a number one, Then rented to Walter, his son. Did not exceed his father a bit, Then E. G. Waldo hired it, He run it some years then left it off, It was then rented to Risedorf. In the time when things looked blue, It was rented to Donahue. I think that Waldo had it again, And run it and sold it to Chamberlain, I forgot to mention P. E. Kenyon, Remembered by all in this dominion, Then Chamberlain built over the whole, And sold it to Mr. Cole. Cole run it for a term of years; But did not make much it appears. He sold it to Hatheway & Co., The price he got I do not know. Then Barton bought and owned it through, Until the Spring of eighty-two, It was then sold to Arthur Wells, I need not tell of anything else. Except to stop all further asking, It now belongs to John S. Gaskin.
 * width="300"|
 * This first hotel was the Pleasant Street Hotel, built around 1800 on East Street where the current fire house is. High Street was the northern way out of town at that time. Bootman's Store was across from the hotel.
 * By 1890, the hotel was known as the Brady house. It had many different owners, and at one time was the center of hamlet life.
 * This was the second hotel in town. Preston bought the land from Adin Deming, the first settler in the area. He built the hotel sometime between 1840 and 1843 at the location of the current Bank/Post Office building
 * Gaskin, from New Berlin, New York was the owner in 1883.
 * }
 * — New Berlin Gazette, Jan. 23, 1883

Subsequent owners of the Gaskin House included:
 * Mager Mitchell came along, and Elmer Welch fits in there.

 * Not many wanted the business for more than a year or two.

 * In 1901 steam heat was put in, and Mr. Utter sold in 1901 to Earl Thomas.

 * In 1903 an addition was made to the west side (back).

 * A Mr. Beatty owned it 1909-1912.

 * David Chapin owned it a short time and sold to Harvey Johnson.

 * In 1923 James Monroe purchased the Hotel and sold it after 25 years to Thomas Pinto.

 * Clifford Bibbins owned it a while.

 * Then Edward Masterson, Roland Todd who sold it to Joseph Tasior.

 * By this time a couple of fires had caused the elimination of the third floor. The Tasior family resided on  the second floor.  Porches were removed and the only business transacted was a bar.

 * Joseph Tasior sold it to Central National Bank in 1987. They tore it down and put a new bank and post office on the site.

Some topics covered in the Wharton Valley Echo, Published in Burlington Flats, NY, Talbot Bros. Proprietors

Vol. 1 No. 9 — Jan. 13, 1883
 * Family Dr. corner features home cures
 * Dr. Lough has purchased the Merison Smith home and will leave Burlington

Vol. 1 No. 10 — Jan 20, 1883
 * Arthur Wells has sold his hotel to John Gaskin for $4,000
 * Hopkins taking inventory preparatory to a change in his firm
 * Shall we allow New Berlin to compel us to go to Silver Lake to attend the Edmeston Burlington Fair? I guess not.
 * Homer Underwood preparing to plaster his new house.

Vol. 1 No 11 — Jan 27 1883
 * A.A. Wells has sold his hotel to John Gaskin of New Berlin
 * The donation of Elder Santee held last Thursday evening passed off very pleasantly, the proceeds being about ninety dollars.
 * Shall we compel several mechanics and laboring men to leave town for want of a house to live in? We hope not.
 * There has been some talk of opening a new street across the lands of Mrs. John Barrett, if that should be done, it would make several splendid building lots, and business for our mechanics and at the same time help to build up the village. We think the idea a good one and hope all business men will work for it. [The street would have run from Donnie Talbot’s house on South Street west behind Chesebrough’s ending on Dutch Valley Road (1990)]

Vol 1 No 18 — Mar. 17, 1883
 * George Coman to work for N.N. Talbot — $28 per month for 8 months

Vol. 1 No.14 — Feb. 17, 1883
 * Comments on buying and selling being the order of the day

Vol. 1 No.16 — Mar. 3, 1883
 * List of people with measles
 * Mention of bad weather

Vol. 1 No. 23 — Apr. 21, 1883
 * George Hecocks sold his sawmill a short time past, two or three weeks ago, the latest freshet took away his dam, a great loss to him. John Lathrop says it was built 51 years ago

Vol. 1 No. 24 — Apr. 28, 1883
 * One would think Edmeston to be a city with the number of drummers in town

Vol. 1 No. 26 — May 12, 1883
 * The Underwood boys are nearly finished with Bramer’s Dam
 * John Gaskin took out a license
 * Cheese factory making 24 cheeses a day. Brockway was in town and shipped 75 boxes 13 1/8 cents per pound
 * Dr. has taken 40 feet of tape worm from Lynn Hopkins

1884
More topics covered in the Wharton Valley Echo, Published every Saturday at Burlington Flats, NY, Talbot Bros. Proprietors

Vol. 2 No. 4 — Dec. 8, 1884
 * The hammer rings, and the rearing of new structures goes on, and it is the prayer of our business men that it may never stop.
 * The hill west of the new hotel is gradually becoming "NON EST."
 * Pro baseball in Edmeston was mentioned

Vol. 2 No. 19 — Mar. 22, 1884
 * Truman Barrett has sold his hotel to Lyman Barrett, his brother.
 * Quite a number of sales of real estate this week
 * Delos Smith bought Ackerman’s house
 * Henry Williams bought the house of Richmond Talbot
 * Dr. Chesebro purchased house of Homer Underwood
 * Dr. Sumner Arnold is moving to Mt. Vision.
 * N.L. Greene is hauling stone for his house on South St.
 * C.W. Hopkins and son have timber for their new store. and Lucas boys for their marble shop.
 * Elwain Southerland to carry milk From North Edmeston for neighboring farmers

Vol. 2 No. 21 — Apr. 5, 1884
 * Half a column was devoted to people who recently moved into Edmeston
 * The Lucas Boys’ shop is nearly finished
 * Homer Underwood is remodeling the old hotel barn to be used by the new hotel

Vol. 2 No. 22 — Apr. 12, 1884
 * Now published in Edmeston by the Talbot Bros.
 * Edmeston Enterprises — Edmeston is a pleasant village situated in the Wharton valley and contains between four and five hundred inhabitants, and carries on quite an extensive business.
 * Wm. Talbot & Sons have one of the finest and best stocked store to be found in any country town; their stock consists of dry goods, groceries. drugs, medicines, crockery, hats, caps, ready-made clothing, paints, oils, etc.. They are also proprietors of the Edmeston Mills, where you get all kinds of feed, corn meal, flour, etc., and on with Mr. A. Voorhees as a miller you can get all custom work in a workman like manner.
 * Wm. Joslyn runs a first class boot and shoe store, and any one that has ever worn goods of his make will be likely to call him a second time.
 * C.W. Hopkins & Son are doing a heavy trade in stoves; their shelves are filled with as good goods and as fine an assortment as one is likely to find outside the city.
 * Wm. Humphry, our harness maker, keeps a well stocked harness store and anyone wanting a heavy or light harness cannot do better than to call on Will; he keeps on hand, whips, robes, blankets, etc.. He also deals in buggies and cutters.
 * T. Barrett deals in general merchandise, drugs, boots and shoes, flour and he has a heavy stock of wallpaper.
 * Joseph Talbot has just opened a store on South Street.
 * Homer Bilyea has a first class insurance office; he represents fifteen fire insurance companies.
 * L.D. Smith deals in musical instruments; he is having a store fitted for him; he is selling at present quite a number, and when he gets fairly settled in his new rooms we bespeak for him a heavy trade.
 * C.H. Horton is also a dealer in musical instruments. He also sells the "White" family sewing machine, and to anyone that is in want of a machine before you purchase I would say just step in Henry’s room, in Bilyeas’s block and he will very soon convince you that the “White” is the machine.
 * S.B. & E.L. Ackerman employ quite a number of men in the sash and blind shop, they manufacture a large amount of sash, blind, doors, mouldings, and are dealers in lumber. They have connections in what line of goods you may want.  They also do undertaking business.
 * If you want painting, kalsomining, white washing, or if your furniture wants retouching call on Halsey Underwood, he will do you a first class job.
 * Lewis Spencer has the tannery, where you can get the highest price for your deakin skins, hides or pelts.
 * If you want your horses shod call on Levi Brown or Aurthur Wells and you will get a job that will please you, or any other job in the blacksmithing line.
 * If you want any castings you can get them of Lewis Green, who runs a foundry and machine shop; and by the way Lewis is a “heavy weight” blacksmith, and what he does for you will be done in a mechanical and workman like manner.
 * If you want a house built you want to remember that Homer Underwood is the man that can do it in a manner that will please the most fastidious, both in design and finish. He has on hand a heavy stock of lumber and timber, and is prepared to furnish anything in that line.  He employs some fifteen men in the coming season.
 * Richmond Talbot employs quite a number of men and is doing a good business as a carpenter.
 * Brown Hopkins as wagon Maker is turning out some very well made wagons this spring. He has in his employ, Jason Powers who is as good a wagon maker as is to be found anywhere, and any one that is the least skeptical I would like to have them step in and see a light buggy that he is building for Dr. Lough, and be convinced.
 * The Lucas boys, manufacturers of marble work, can do a nice job, and at prices that will be satisfactory.
 * Dr.s Lough, Chambers and Chesebrough are physicians that are practicing medicine here and are men of skill in their profession.
 * We have two hotels; the Gaskin house and Lyman Barrett is about to open the new one on the hill, and then we will have the accommodations that will be second to none, and any one that has ever stopped with uncle John Gaskin well knows this to be a fact.
 * Erwin Davis has a meat market under the telegraph office where you can get the choicest cuts of veal or fresh pork.
 * If you want any mason work done Brooks and Morton are the men that can just do it all for you.
 * Gillas Hudson as stage proprietor is doing a paying business; all express matter entrusted to his care will be strictly attended to. He also draws the freight from Unadilla Forks to this place.
 * If your watch needs fixing or you want a good cigar, just step into the telegraph office and S.C. St. John can accommodate you.
 * Or if your hair needs cutting, or you want a nice shave, D.B. St. John in the same building can do it for you.
 * If you have any pictures that want framing or you want to surprise your wife when you get home, by binging her one of those large pictures that Lewis Gates is selling, then just step up North St. and he will show you a very nice line of goods.
 * We have two dressmakers, Mrs. George Brooks and Mrs. John Webster in the east part of the village, where you can get both cutting and making with neatness and dispatch.
 * In the millinery department Mrs. John Wood or Mrs. Emma Brooks can furnish the ladies with anything in this line of goods.
 * And last, but not least, when you come into town just step into the printing office on South St., and get your printing done, and patronize the printers leaving them a dollar and by doing so receive the Wharton Valley Echo for one year.
 * Lemons are being sold for 1 cent
 * The Cheese Factory started last Monday morning with 1900 lbs. of milk, the most they ever took in the first day.
 * Joseph Talbot is filling up the store formerly occupied by his son John with a general stock of merchandise.
 * Over 100 window frames at a time is the way the Underwood boys hand in their orders at the sash factory.
 * The barn for the new hotel is being refitted and Lyman expects to have the "Hotel Barrett" open soon to the public.
 * Wm. Talbot has bought the lot, opposite Lewis Gates house, of A.T. Gates, and is going to move the dwelling house near his store on to it. Homer Underwood is to move it for him and with his help is getting the rollers today.

Vol. 2 No 27 — May 17, 1884
 * Stage — a weekly feature
 * Edmeston Ma??s –Stage leaves Edmeston for Unadilla Forks at 7 AM. connecting with the morning train to Utica. Leaves Unadilla Forks on arrival of morning train from Utica, arriving at Edmeston at 1:30 PM
 * Stage from New Berlin to Cooperstown, leaves Edmeston on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9A.M.
 * From Cooperstown to New Berlin, leaves Edmeston on Tuesdays Thursday and Saturdays at 11AM
 * Anyone wishing to purchase a bicycle should call G.D.Barrett
 * The Ackerman Bros. Furniture wagon I s on the road every day now delivering the goods.
 * The carpenters have commenced framing Hopkins & Son’s new store. The masons have the wall nearly complete.
 * W.D.Medbury is having an attack of the improvement "fever", and judging by the fence in front, and the trees in his grounds, he is having it hard.

Vol. 2 No. 44 — Sep, 1884
 * The Edmeston Burlington Agricultural Society held its 18th annual fair. [the paper had a description of the three days]
 * The Edmeston Band had an out-door concert
 * Ely Chamberlain has a new store opened.

Vol. 2 No. 48 — Oct. 11, 1884
 * List of Premiums awarded by the Edmeston and Burlington Agricultural Society from animals to fruits and vegetables, to arts (including penmanship)
 * F.Hinman’s Comedy Company will give an entertainment in this village this (Friday) evening.
 * Lewis Spencer is having his house raised up from the foundation. Homer Underwood is doing the job.

1989
The Erie Canal was of tremendous importance to New York’s commerce and to farmers near its route, but it brought ruinous competition from the Western States to this remote region and others. The coming of the steam engines, which could operate in these regions and during the winter as well as in the summer, soon triumphed over river traffic. In 1889, the railroad was extended from New Berlin to Edmeston; it reached to Sidney at the opposite end. The coming of the railroad led to the building of a shipping station in 1890 for the exporting of milk. Farmers could then dispose of their milk more easily and get a better price, for instead of carrying their milk to cheese factories as they had to do, they could ship fluid milk directly to New York City; even then, Edmeston was recognized as one of the finest dairying section in New York State. The railroad meant much to the town. Edmeston was the rail head for a rich farming territory and the freight hauled was tremendous, both out and in. But with the coming of good roads "probably is only a short time until the right of way will be abandoned" F.T.50 This prediction was correct — in the late 1940's the tracks were removed.

The worst and first flood was in 1889; not much is recorded about this tragedy.— Sandra Lohnas Haggerty

title: History of Edmeston, New York/1880s


text:
History of Edmeston, New York/1930s

The history of Edmeston, New York: 1930 through 1939

1937
Scout’s Run to Warn Of Peril To Be Marked Edmeston Local June 25, 1937.

 * Plans are underway already to mark the 160th anniversary next summer of the run of John Adam Helmer, a Revolutionary War scout, from West Edmeston to Fort Herkimer of the imminent approach of enemies, it was learned this week. The exact course followed by the scout in his run, which is reminiscent of that from Marathon and that of Paul Revere.

 * Harry Bush of Canajoharie is chairman of the committee set up by the Mohawk Valley towns association to lay plans for the observance. Mr. Bush is now awaiting the historic facts from a descendant of Helmer in order that the exact route may be followed.

 * The run, which is famous over a wide territory and part of the lore of the Mohawk Valley, will go down in the annals of that section. It recently was brought before the eyes of the reading public in "Drums Along the Mohawk", Walter D. Edmonds’ best selling work and also was mentioned by the same author in a recent nationally known magazine article.

Question Over Famous Run Is Finally Solved — Authentic Account of Adam Helmer’s Feat by a Descendant, Edmeston Local, Oct 12, 1937.

 * Historical Setting — Start at Edmeston Manor, South East Outpost of Otsego Nearest Indian Stronghold.

 * The St. Johnsville Enterprise News of Wed., Aug. 4th, published an account of Adam Helmer’s heroic run of September 16, 1778, made to save the German Flats settlers from Brant’s raiders. Helmer’s run was successful and only two of the people of the western Mohawk Valley settlements met death when the red and white savages destroyed houses, barns and crops.

 * "Adam Helmer’s Famous Run" is the work of Mrs. Mildred R. Staunton, a teacher of Mount Vernon and a great-great-granddaughter of Scout Adam Helmer. As the Enterprise News Truly says: "It is a valuable contribution to Mohawk Valley history."  Leu D. MacWethy, editor of the Enterprise News, has done a real public service in securing and publishing this thrilling account, which should have printing in pamphlet form.  Through his courtesy this paper is enabled to publish Mrs. Staunton’s article.

 * Before the publication of Mrs. Staunton’s description, there had been many versions of Helmer’s run — as to where it started and the route taken. Her account now clears up the discrepancies and contradictions and the argument over the feat made famous in the popular novel "Drums Along the Mohawk".  One of these, which affected the length of Helmer’s run, or seemed to, was the statement in the Gov. Clinton papers, Vol. 4, p 39, that Helmer lay in bushes "about nine miles south of German Flatts and saw the enemy pass."  This was so but the brief report mentioned does not say that Helmer had previously run about 25 miles, as Mrs. Staunton’s account brings out.

 * Following is Mrs. Staunton’s article in full.
 * Adam Helmer's Famous Run by Mildred R. Staunton (external site)

1938
D.A.R. Marker in Plot Near West Edmeston — Edmeston Local June 24, 1938.

 * The marker erected by the Col. Israel Angell Chapter DAR. Of New Berlin on the Carr farm two miles south of West Edmeston and dedicated June 19, 1914, has been moved to a plot 12 by 20 feet farther south to the new road to South Edmeston.

 * The old road has been abandoned. The inscription on the tablet reads: "In memory of the Three Scouts killed on the estate of Percifer Carr by Brandt’s Indians.  September 1778.  Erected by the Col. Israel Angell Chapter, N.S., D.A.R."

 * It is fenced on three sides and is accessible from the highway. The Carr farm is famous for the beautiful old dishes unearthed on it a few years ago.  They were buried by the Carr family in the Revolutionary times when Brandt made his raid. (The spelling of the name Brant and Brandt are interchangeable)

Albert Talbot Buys Interest in Theater — July 1, 1938 Edmeston Local
 * Albert Talbot has bought of A.J. Menard his interest in the theater business and the opera block. Possession was given last week. Mr. Talbot has conducted a farm near Burlington Flats for a number of years but plans to move to Edmeston to make his permanent home.  It will be recalled that Mr. Talbot and Mr. Milton Shatzel, now of Edmeston, started the moving picture business in Edmeston way back in the silent picture days.  They held their first shows in the Grange Hall, starting about 1918, and later moving the business to its present location.  Mr. Talbot continued in the business until about 1924 when he removed to his farm at Burlington Flats.

Motorcade to Mark Famous Run — Adam Helmer’s Trip Started at the Carr Farm, Edmeston Local September 2, 1938.

 * A 35-mile run through Ilion which saved Fort Herkimer settlers from an Indian massacre in 1778, will be commemorated this month by a motorcade which will cover the same historic route.

 * The hero was Scout Adam Helmer, who ran from the Carr farm, Unadilla River, near South Edmeston, to Fort Herkimer, after eluding a band of redskins who were on his trail and intent on wiping out the Herkimer settlers.

 * Helmer was one of eight scouts dispatched by Col. Peter Bellinger, commander at Fort Herkimer, to attempt to locate a party of Brandt’s Tories and Indians. About 10 a.m. September 16, 1778, Helmer and his companions were surprised by a war party of 40 savages who attacked them at a spring on the Carr farm.  They were driven into the Unadilla River, but Helmer finally escaped and started his dash to Herkimer.

title: History of Edmeston, New York/1930s


text:
History of Edmeston, New York/1960s

The history of Edmeston, New York: 1960 through 1969

1960
[Circa 1960 Sandra Lohnas Haggerty concluded her history of Edmeston:]

CONCLUSION. None of these destroyed buildings has been rebuilt, which indicates the decline in business that our village has felt. With improved transportation, people are apt to travel to the cities for shopping and entertainment; there they find greater choices and lower prices because of the quantities with which city venders deal. About two weeks ago, our restaurant "folded" and the closing of our small clothing store is rumored. I'm afraid that the change in our culture hasn't helped the growth of our small village. — Sandra Lohnas Haggerty

title: History of Edmeston, New York/1960s


text:
History of Edmeston, New York/Houses

Historic Houses in the Town of Edmeston

The Five Sisters
The Five Sisters was a five-family house built by the Homer Underwood on the east side of South Street in the Edmeston hamlet. The building burned to the ground in the late 1990s, a victim of suspected arson.

title: History of Edmeston, New York/Houses


text:
History of Edmeston, New York/Schools

Edmeston, New York Schools

District 3 — North Street School, Edmeston Centre
In 1847 It was decided to raise $400 to build a new school on the site of the school they already had. The trustees were instructed to sell the old school and apply the money toward the new one. This was on the 19th of October. On the 26th, it was decided to reconsider the vote of Oct. 19th and purchase a new site form Col. Deming for $50. This would be on the northeast corner of his wood lot and in front of his horse barn. they were to spend only $300. Nothing more was done until September 1, 1854 when a special meeting of all Freeholders and inhabitants was called. It was then resolved to purchase land from Col. Deming on the lot adjoining the Baptist Church (on North Street) This was to contain one-half acre of land. Resolution was adopted. James Ackerman and Eri Deming were drafted to draft plans for the new school. In 1855 The new school was built. $550 was collected for building the school, but it only cost $526.93, so there was a balance on hand of $26.93 for the coming year.

In 1898, this building was moved to South Street to make room for the new building. While on South Street, it was used as a Town Hall, Fire Department, Gas Station, Apartment on the second floor, and a Second Hand Store. It was torn down in the 1980's. — Echoes of the Past

District 7 — Pleasant Street School
The District 7 school is on NY Rt. 80 east of Edmeston. When District 7 consolidated with District 3 in 1914, the land had an assessed value of $58,336.

District 10 — Heap Road School
The District 10 school was located on Heap Road. When it consolidated with District 3, it was assessed for $49,065. During a diphtheria outbreak the building was used to isolate patients and was called the pest house.

District 12 — Summit Lake School
The Summit Lake School building itself was literally picked up and moved to keep it in the center of the residences of students attending the school.

Edmeston Union School
The Union school was completed in 1898, replacing the District 3 flattop school on North Street. That year the Edmeston Local posted this review of the new building:

 * The new school is a beautiful structure combining Gothic and Corinthian styles of architecture. It is heated by steam, has an approved system of lighting and perfect system of ventilation.  All of the air in the entire building can be changed every twenty minutes without reducing the temperature. fresh air is supplied directly from out doors by means of flues.  It may be passed around the boilers and warmed and thus brought into the rooms, warm and pure, or it may come directly to the rooms if desired.  In any case every pupil and teacher has a constant supply of pure air and thus be considered a very important feature by every thinking person.  We have no more complaints about the head aching; and that dull, heavy listless attitude of the pupil has disappeared. The interior of the building is even more important than the exterior; it is finished with oak throughout; the casements and so on are fine examples of art and workmanship.  The walls are covered with stained paper of delicate green and finished with flowers and numerous specimens of animals and birds, nicely mounted and protected by glass cases.  In fact the air of the entire building must inspire within the mind of every student an admiration for the beauty of art and the simplicity of adornment, because while it is rich and complete in all its appointments, still nothing has been overdone. — Echoes of the Past

In the mid-teens, more space was needed and new rooms were added to the front of the school. A local architect, Floyd Robinson, designed the Tudor style addition.

Edmeston Central School
The K-12 Edmeston Central School (ECS) building was completed in 1939. The ECS district covered and small corners of the towns of The State has tried to encourage the ECS district to further consolidate with neighboring school districts, but the proposal has not been acceptable to residents.
 * all of the Town of Burlington,
 * most of the Town of Edmeston,
 * New Lisbon,
 * Plainfield,
 * Pittsfield,
 * Exeter, and
 * Brookfield.

Otsego School
The following excerpt from an article in the October 29, 1927 Edmeston Local described the 1922 founding of the Otsego School by Florence Chesebrough:

 * Edmeston Boasts Unique Venture: Interest in Unfortunate child lead to Establishment of Useful School in Edmeston

 * … Interest in an unfortunate child in this village of her nativity, going back to her own childhood, coupled with later contact with backward children in Utica during her professional duties prompted Florence Chesebrough, R.N., to undertake at firsthand the establishment of a school for the help of children not able to keep the pace in public schools. Associated with her as a co-laborer from the very beginning is Susanne W. Jones, B.A., M.S., who has had direct medical training.  These women bound together by personal friendship and common sympathy for the unfortunate have originated and developed this school to a point of great success, usefulness and interest. To chronicle its story, and voice appreciation of its methods and results is a pleasant task.

 * In the first place, a unique feature of this school is the fact that it is housed in a home. Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Chesebrough, parents of Miss Chesebrough, freely opened their own home for the beginning of the realization of the ideal of their daughter and her friend.  That realization is a growing success; and the older people are by no means the smallest element in its good fortune.  One needs to know these people  in order to understand how much the word home signifies in connection with the work of the school.  An atmosphere of quiet Christian dignity., a constant sympathy, a yearning love for children: these are some of the things which the parents contribute:  The Otsego School is a home in the most emphatic sense.

 * It was in April, 1922 that the settled determination to establish a school took place. …

title: History of Edmeston, New York/Schools


text:
History of Edmeston, New York/1770s

The history of Edmeston, New York: 1770 through 1779

1770
Captain William Edmeston, a veteran of the French and Indian wars, who was rewarded for his services in the 48th Regiment with a grant of some 5,000 acres under the terms of a royal proclamation of 1763. Edmeston and his brother, Lieutenant Robert Edmeston, who received a similar grant, first tried to locate in the disputed region of the New Hampshire Grants (the present state of Vermont), but in 1770 wisely chose to establish their claims east of the [[w:Unadilla River|Unadilla River and west of George Croghan's Otsego patent, in what is now the town of Edmeston, Otsego County. The negotiations were carried out by one Persafor Carr, a former sergeant in the Edmestons' regiment, who subsequently became their agent for the Mount Edmeston tracts when the brothers returned to England. — James H. Pickering

In the northwest [corner of Otsego County], on a patent granted to a British officer named William Edmeston in the township now bearing his name, Edmeston's agent, Sergeant Parsefor Carr, managed a small settlement that had taken root as early as 1770. — Lyman H. Butterfield

1773
In 1773, William Edmeston himself finally returned to America to supervise and develop personally his promising holdings west of Lake Otsego. But with the outbreak of the Revolution, Edmeston, now a British major, quite naturally attracted the attention and suspicions of the patriotic element in Tryon County; and it was not long before he found himself placed on his best behavior as a parolee in either Kingston or Albany (the accounts differ on this point). With Major Edmeston under the watchful eye of the Americans, the management of Mount Edmeston again fell to Carr, a known Loyalist who was strongly suspected by the patriot committees at German Flats and Cherry Valley of selling provisions to the notorious Joseph Brant. — James H. Pickering

1776
But the Revolution came along to ruin things. Edmeston, as w:colonel:colonel of the British Army, was viewed with suspicion and kept in Albany and Kingston. Carr was known to be a loyalist and to sell provisions to Joseph Brandt [Brant], so that the patriots at German Flats and Cherry Valley kept close tabs on him. — Mary E. Cunningham

1777
Upon the eastern shore of the Unadilla, opposite a portion of Brookfield, lay the Edmeston Estate. This was a large tract of land ceded to Col. Edmeston, a British officer in the French war of 1763. [The grant for this tract was obtained by Robert and William Edmeston, in 1770] About 1770, Col. Edmeston sent Percifer Carr, a faithful soldier who had served under him to settle upon the estate. Mr. Carr and his wife with their servants, were for a long series of years the only white inhabitants of the Unadilla valley. During the Revolution, Mr. Carr, it is believed, was friendly to the British Government. The following letter by Brant to Mr. Carr, in the Indian's own orthography, we extract from Campbell's Annals of Tryon County :

 * Tunadilla, July 6 1777.
 * M. Carr — Sir: I understand that you are a friend to Government With sum of the settlers at the Butternuts is the Reason of my applying to you & those people for some provisions and shall be glad you would send me what you can spare no matter what sorte for which you shall be paid you helping an account of the whole.
 * from your friend & hum'le Servt, Joseph Brant
 * To M. Persafer Carr. —

1778
That Mr. Carr was in sympathy with the cause of his countrymen and against that of the Colonies, can hardly be doubted, though there is no account that he at any time actually engaged in the struggle pending. There is no doubt, however, about one thing; that the Unadilla bore from this estate supplies to the British and Indian armies. The subjoined seems to confirm the view taken: —

 * Tunadilla, July 9 1778.
 * Sir: I understand by the Indians that was at your house last week, that one Smith lives near with you, has little more corn to spare. I should be much obliged to you, if you would be so kind as to try to get as much corn as Smith can spared, he has sent me five skipples already of which I am much obliged to him and will see him paid, and would be very glad if you could spare me one or two your men, to join us especially Elias. I would be glad to see him, and I wish you could sent me as many guns as you have, as I know you have no use for them if you any; as I mean now to fight the cruel rebels as well as I can; whatever you will be able to sent'd me, you must sent'd me by the bearer. I am your sincere friend and humble serv't,
 * Joseph Brant.
 * To Mr. Carr.
 * P. S. — I heard that Cherry Valley people is very bold and intended to make nothing of us. They called us wild geese but I know the contrary.        Jos. B.

In Sep., 1778 Carr’s house was burned by a band of British Indians despite his loyalist leanings, and Carr was hauled off to Fort Niagara. Enroute he is said to have been curiously treated by the Indians, being forced to lie down and serve as a bridge at shallow streams. — Mary E. Cunningham

George Langworthy bought the Carr farm from Oliver DeLancy and found a large lead kettle buried in the ground and several large axes were recently found [1926] which by their appearance had been buried purposely. There has been speculation as to the leaving of Carr and his family at one time. Some have maintained he placed himself in the protection of the Indians as the Oneida Indians were very bitter toward the Tories. Others claim he was taken prisoner by the Oneidas. However, the writer thinks he was taken prisoner by hostile Indians who knew nothing of his Tory sentiments.

Robert E. Russell acted as agent for the Edmeston heirs at one time surveying lands and selling them off as other settlers wanted them. Some of the finest lands in Columbus were received by Russell for his services. He was at one time a very wealthy man. However, his dissolute habits and time spent at the tavern of Greenwood and Champlin proved his final ruin. Russell boarded with Silas Button who lived in a Carr house when Warren DeLancy bought the Carr farm. A powder horn was found on the Carr farm and owned by the Solomon Hoxie family. It had the name of the maker, the date, and for whom made, with a map of the Hudson Valley, the Mohawk Valley and Albany and sketched at the top and bottom and forts and settlement in between New York and the upper lakes, etc. Col. Timothy Bottles, owner; coat of arms; the maker was Joshua Parmenow. — Ethel Edwards

The date is September 16, 1778 just one year and one month after the bloody battle of Oriskany. Since spring the western frontier in central New York has been subjected to raids and rumors of raids by Indian and Tory forces.

The enemy is centered around Onaquaga [''near present-day Windsor, New York where Rt. 17 crosses the Susquehanna''] under the Indian chief, Joseph Brandt ['Brant']. General Herkimer had met with Brandt at Unadilla, south of Edmeston on June 28, 1777 in a peace attempt to keep the Indians of New York neutral during the Revolution.

The attempt to make peace failed and raids on border areas were a severe hardship on farmers trying to produce enough food for their families and the new nation.

Scouts assigned by the militia to keep track of enemy movements were discovered as they encountered a raiding party of 500 Indian and Tories bent on destroying German Flatts, westernmost settlement in the Mohawk Valley.

All the Scouts were killed near Edmeston except Adam Helmer who began the 40 mile run to warn the settlers of the Mohawk Valley. Revolutionary Scout Adam Helmer was 24 years of age when on September 16, 1778, he ran 40 miles from Edmeston to Fort Herkimer to warn the settlers of an impending raid by 500 Indians and Tories under Chief Joseph Brandt. He was described by a descendant as thin, tall black haired, and a good runner.

Word of mouth, fact, and legend has it that Adam Helmer ran through 40 miles of wooded, hilly terrain toward [present-day] Schuyler Lake, up the west side of Canadarago Lake to [present-day] Richfield Springs to warn the settlers of the impending raid. The settlement of Little Lakes may have been avoided because of the Tory sympathizers.

He continued running with Tories and Indians in pursuit to Andrustown [near present-day Jordanville] where two months before, on July 18, the settlement was destroyed in an enemy raid. The enemy killed five and captured others before burning the buildings. Andrustown had also been destroyed in the French and Indian wars twenty years before. Members of the remaining families now living in Fort Herkimer had returned to harvest the remaining crops when Adam arrived in Andrustown. Helmer ended his 40 mile run at Fort Herkimer, enabling the settlers to escape with their lives. A few hours later Tories and Indians completely leveled their homes and crops on September 17, 1778.

The Adam Helmer Run was immortalized in the historical novel "Drums Along the Mohawk" by Walter D. Edmonds and made into a popular movie starring Henry Fonda. — anonymous

[The film version, directed by John Ford, omitted Helmer's run and a good deal else from the book.]

1779
Col. Gardner and Alexander Parker coming down from Bennington joined General Sullivan's army at Otsego Lake, New York. General Clinton had been responsible for damming up the Susquehanna River, holding back the water which would later carry the troops down the river, surprising the Indians. Col. Gardner and Alexander were impressed by the countryside and in 1790 returned as civilians to locate on the land. — Winifred Wilcox Parker

[''John Sullivan himself was probably not at Otsego. James Clinton was Sullivan's second in command during the Sullivan-Clintion Expedition and was leading his men south from the Mohawk River to meet Sullivan at Tioga.'']

title: History of Edmeston, New York/1770s