Pioneer Days
Author: James Wheeler Smith (1820-1911)
Bainbridge Republican (Date unknown)
We insert in this issue an interesting article written by our townsman Mr. J. Wheeler Smith, on the pioneer history of the town of Guilford [Chenango Co. NY]; and which is reprinted here in order to satisfy the demand for it, among those who are immediately interested in its reproduction. And just here we would say, that there is much valuable history of the early days of our town, as well as the towns around us, that might be saved, if those who can recall the pioneer history of the different settlements, would interest themselves in rescuing it from oblivion.
The men and women who nearly a century ago faced the dangers, the toil and deprivation of frontier life; and thus laid the foundation for our present greatness and prosperity, are fast disappearing from our midst, and soon will be known to us only through the reminiscences of tradition; unless we make an effort to secure through history, a record of their heroic labors to secure the blessings of peace, prosperity and happiness, which we now enjoy.
We invite all -- specially those whose lot it was to mingle in the early scenes and heroic struggles of pioneer life--to use our columns for any interesting incidents connected with the early history of the town and surrounding territory - Ed.
The Youth Leaves Home
On the fourteenth day of April, 1812, Nathan Sawyer, a youth of twenty-one, stood at the door of his father's house in Gloucester, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation, bidding good-bye to his aged parents. he was dressed in the serviceable home made clothes of his day, with low cowhide shoes and over his shoulder suspended by a stout stick, was a well-filled bundle tied up in a large home made handkerchief. Starting onward he soon called at another house, occupied by another aged couple--and a young lady.
Taking a by-path across the meadow, in company with the aforesaid young lady, he came out upon the highway a little distance beyond, whence he must now pursue his journey alone. What was said in this short interview history does not inform us, as unfortunately the correspondent of the Providence Gazette, was not at hand then as now, to take note of all items of interest transpiring around him. And this brings to mind an incident of that day, which I think will bear repeating.
As newspapers were scarce in those days, a little boy was sent by his mother to borrow of her neighbor the above mentioned paper, but on arriving at the neighbor's house was utterly unable to remember the name of the designed article. After a while, however, brightening up he said, "I remember now, mother wants to borrow the Gazetteer of Providence." Now, as a Gazetteer of Providence may be construed to mean little or much, I take shelter behind its friendly cognomen, and make my introductory bow to the many readers of our favorite paper, The Bainbridge Republican.
But to return: Our hero having finished his adieux, strode bravely onward in the direction of the setting sun. His objective point was the 'Chenango Country,' a section of country lying between the Unadilla and Chenango rivers, with an indefinite stretch of territory to the west and north of the boundaries mentioned. Wonderful stories had lately come to the dwellers of the Eastern States, from this new country, of the fertility of its soil, its timber, its abundance of game and fish, and above all, that even apples had been found in a wild state along its different streams.
The road from Catskill westward being new and rough, the teams scarce and wagons of the most primitive fashion, our hero found as he justly expected, that his journey was altogether on foot, and mostly alone.
Arrives at Guilford
Having in due time arrived at the body of water in the limits of the present town of Guilford (then called Eastern) now called Guilford Lake, he was so charmed with the appearance of the place, that he decided to locate here, and his selection was on a tract of land overlooking that beautiful sheet of water.
Aside from the new road from Catskill to the Chenango river at the site of the present town of Oxford, and which at about this time was cut through the woods to Ithaca, the inhabitants were guided by marked trees or the rudest apologies for roads; and being poor, were subjected to inconveniences and privations, of which we of the present day know nothing.
A small band of Indians were located on the east bank of the Chenango river, within the present limits of the village of Oxford; and were probably a remnant of the Oneidas; their camp being on the site of an old fort which, although heavily timbered, still showed its circular outlines and approaches,and which were all clearly traceable as late as eighteen hundred and forty, when it was destroyed for building purposes.
A small band of Mohicans had a camp in the southern part of the present town of Guilford, on a stream emptying itself into the Susquehanna near Jericho, now Bainbridge. Aside from these, the country was a vast wilderness, broken only by small clearings of the few settlers, as they gradually worked their way into the unbroken forest, and the small clearings, with its log cabins and few inmates, would be separated by miles of heavy timber, the home of the panther and the bear.
The first business of the settler in a new country is the erection of a dwelling and this, of course, must be of the most primitive fashion, being composed of logs cut from the surrounding forest put up in their rude condition with a puncheon floor, that is a floor made of split logs, while the only nails used were made at the nearest blacksmith shop, from any scraps of iron obtainable, and were used mainly in the construction of the door. Some of the old doors of this description were to be seen upon old disused houses as late as 1835.
The summer having been utilized in making arrangements for a permanent residence is this new country, our hero returned in the autumn to his native State, and the next spring with his young wife and several of his neighbors returned to his new and, as it then seemed, far distant home. Their mode of conveyance was a wagon with a canvas cover in which the family could sleep, drawn by oxen, with a cow attached to the rear of the wagon and stopping at night by the roadside a fire was made, the johnny cake baked, the cow milked, supper was eaten, and the night passed in the wagon; and thus one day was a repetition of the one before it. After a long and tiresome journey our band of brave pioneers landed without serious accident in the Chenango country having been twelve days in covering a distance of something over two hundred miles.
Builds a House - Goes for Wife
The first business of the settler in a new country is the erection of a dwelling and this, of course, must be of the most primitive fashion, being composed of logs cut from the surrounding forest put up in their rude condition with a puncheon floor, that is a floor made of split logs, while the only nails used were made at the nearest blacksmith shop, from any scraps of iron obtainable, and were used mainly in the construction of the door. Some of the old doors of this description were to be seen upon old disused houses as late as 1835.
The summer having been utilized in making arrangements for a permanent residence is this new country, our hero returned in the autumn to his native State, and the next spring with his young wife and several of his neighbors returned to his new and, as it then seemed, far distant home. Their mode of conveyance was a wagon with a canvas cover in which the family could sleep, drawn by oxen, with a cow attached to the rear of the wagon and stopping at night by the roadside a fire was made, the johnny cake baked, the cow milked, supper was eaten, and the night passed in the wagon; and thus one day was a repetition of the one before it. After a long and tiresome journey our band of brave pioneers landed without serious accident in the Chenango country having been twelve days in covering a distance of something over two hundred miles.
[To be continued]
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