Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Chenango & Unadilla Valleys 50 years Ago in 1872

Chenango and Unadilla Valleys Fifty Years Ago
by S.S. Randall
Chenango Union, February 28, 1872

Norwich, Chenango Co., NY
[A walk about the downtown of the 1820s]
 
Continued from posting of October 16, 2017
 
Immediately north of the Fenton store, on the west side of North Main street, stood and still stands [in 1872] the "Bank of Chenango," first incorporated in 1818; a fine substantial brick edifice--and with the exception of the Clerk's Office, then the only brick edifice in the village.  James Birdsall was at this time its Cashier, and George Field, Teller.  Next to this was a large store, belonging to Asa Norton--a portion of which was afterwards occupied as the office of the "Telegraph."  Then came the residence and shop of Jeduthan Hitchcock, painter; that of Bela Farr, silversmith; that of Samuel Pike, the Rev. Edward Andrews, O.G. Rundell, Dr. Henry Mitchell, Capt. William Church, James M. D. Carr, Josiah Dickinson, Elisha Smith, and at the extremity of the street on that side the extensive farm now owned by Col. Hewitt of Sam. Randall--known as "Leather Stocking," from his unflinching honesty and primeval simplicity of manners.
 
Bela Farr somehow always reminded me of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates.  He was one of the best and apparently--though not really--one of the laziest of men; seeming never to have anything to do which might in any manner interfere with his public discussions with his fellow citizens, in the market places, stores, shops or offices.  He was a great reader, and a sound thinker and critic.  The Waverly novels had just then made their appearance, and were purchased in paper covered volumes as they appeared, by a small literary coterie and deposited in the Clerks' Office for distribution among the subscribers.  Here was Mr. Farr to be met with, at almost any hour discussing with Noah Hubbard, and his brother the editor, Abial Cook, Geo. Field, my father, and others, the merits of Waverly, Ivanhoe, Rob Roy and his Antiquary. Although a mere boy, I was a pleased and interested listener to these animated discussions, and derived great benefit from them.  Noah Hubbard, in especial was an admirable critic, and a thorough and well read scholar.  he was himself a vigorous poetical writer, and familiar with all the poetical and classical literature of the eighteenth and the first twenty years of the nineteenth century.
 
Samuel Pike would have been an invaluable Chief of Police, from his varied experience in the arts and devices of the criminal population, to escape the punishment due to their misdeeds.  Many an exciting recital have I heard from him of "hair-breadth escapes and perils imminent by flood and field," in the pursuit, reclamation and oversight of the prisoners committed to his charge as jailor.  He seemed to be perfectly at home in this business, and to have entered into it with the utmost enthusiasm.  He was moreover a man of great personal worth and integrity.
 
Dr.  Mitchell was highly eminent in his profession, and commanded the most implicit confidence on the part of his patients and the community at large.  He was prompt, decided, brusque, and occasionally quick tempered when occasion called; well read in his profession, a close student, and an indefatigable practitioner.  He too, was a frequent attendant at the literary coteries of the Clerk's Office.
 
Judge Elisha Smith was one of the earliest settlers of the village, and was a man of far more than ordinary mental abilities and attainments.  Capt. Church was a veteran soldier of the revolution, and a gentleman at all points.  I have often heard him and my grandfather Edmunds "fight their battles over again" in our cozy sitting room at home; and been honored at occasional intervals in the recapitulation of those "times which tried men's souls" by voyages to and from the well stocked cellar for bringing flagons of cider, to wash down the frequent pipes of tobacco, and the memory of many a heroic exploit.
 
Opposite Col. Sam Randall's farm, on the east side of the street, was the farm of Samuel Hammond, and for many years afterwards, in the possession of his son-in-law, Joseph H. Moore.  Next south lay the Harris farm, then occupied by the venerable Samuel Hull, who had succeeded to the proprietorship by marriage and was then, in 1820-1 quite an old man--wholly devoted to the spread of Universalism and who was often to be found on Sunday with his venerable colleagues, Col. Wiliam Munroe, Uriah Avery, Benjamin Edmunds, Capt. Church, and eon or two others seated in the Clerk's desk, in front of the judges' bench in the old Court House, greedily drinking in the discourses of Hosea Ballou of Boston, Stephen R. Smith of Clinton, Elders Jones and Underhill.  These distinguished divines were then well known and highly appreciated as among the immediate disciples of Murray the great founder of Universalism in America.  Blinn Harris, a son of the original proprietor of the Harris farm, also had a dwelling a little north of the homestead, and Archibald Clark, a builder, and partner of David Oviatt, and who had also married "daughter of the house" (and a beautiful woman she was) another on the south.  Next below this was the residence and farm of Judge Noyes; adjoining on the south, that of Squire Harris; and then came, situated a little back of the street, with an open playground in front, occupying the site of the old school house, the Academy, a large, two story edifice, with two rooms and a hall on the first floor for common district school purposes and two large rooms on the second for select or high schools. 
 
The End

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