Recollections of the Early Settlement of the Town of Greene
Chenango American, Greene, NY, December 31, 1857
Part 5
The first permanent settler in this town so far as can be determined was Stephen Ketchum. He settled within the bounds of the present village of Greene in 1792. The was before the advent of the French settlers and before there was any road accessible to this section of the town by -?-. Mr. Ketchum was originally from Ballston in this State [NY]. He was a man of great energy of character, admirably fitted as a pioneer into the then unbroken wilderness and well and faithfully did he perform his duties. Although he did not keep a public house in the modern acceptation of the term, yet his home was made public by all the adventurers into the Chenango Country.
The French settlers on their first arrival were quartered on him until they could provide shelter for themselves and families. On their arrival they employed Mr. Ketchum to cut a road through the wilderness from the French settlement to the "Chenango road," at or near the point where the east line of the now town of Greene intersects it. The vestiges of this "French Road" are still visible [in 1857]. It seems never to have been used after the Colony was broken up. For a number of years, Mr. Ketchum was the most noted man in the town. He was its first magistrate, and held other important posts on its organization. He died in 1810. His children are yet with us [in 1857]. They, together with their descendants, are among the most respectable inhabitants of the town.
The settlers that succeeded Mr. Ketchum in the immediate vicinity of the present village, were Benjamin Robins, Daniel Brooks, Peter Perry, David Fitch and Eseck L. Hartshorn, who settled previous to 1800. Elisha Smith, Thomas Wattles, Hial Wattles, Jacob Holt, Platt Brush, Sherman Boardman, John Boardman, Stephen Ketchum Jun., Daniel Ketchum, Chandler Cummings, Joseph Rundall, Elias Forbs, Reuben Wilder, and Jeduthun Gray, 2d, became residents at or near the same place as early as 1802.
In 1793, Nathaniel Kellogg, Zopher Betts, Benajah Loomis, Cornelius Hill, and Daniel Tremain settled at what is now East Greene, on both sides of the river. They were followed the following year by Amos Gray and Samuel Wheeler, who became their immediate neighbors. About the same time Conrod Sharp, Derrick Race, John Hallenbeck, Abraham Storm and Nathan Smith took up their residence a few miles below them on the west side of the river.
In 1796, Isaac Rosa, made a location on the east side of the Chenango on the farm now owned [in 1857] by David Baird.
The first road that was cut through any part of this town was called the "Chenango road." It ran from the present village of Bainbridge to the mouth of Page Brook on the Chenango, a few miles below Chenango Forks. It passed through the southern part of this town. By whmo it was made or by what authority, it is difficult to determine at this date. It was evidently cut through its whole length some twenty-five miles, before there were any inhabitants upon it.
The first settlers upon this road, within the then bounds of this town commencing at the western portion, were Nathan Bennett, Joshua Root, Eleazur Skinner, Thomas Elliott, Joab Elliott, Roswell Fitch, Adam Elliott, Philo Clemmons, Capt. Mandeville, Simeon Jones, Benjamin Jones, Hardin Bennett, Record Wilber and Deacon Richards, whose respective settlements were made from 1792 to 1795.
Burage Miles, Moses Miles, Perez Gilmore, Philip Paddleford, James Wiley, Jotham Parker and Malcomb Nevins, became settlers on or near this road as early as 1797. Edmond Harrington, Joel Winston and Jared Page located themselves on Page Brook north of this road in 1801.
The settlers who located in the southern section of the town on the west side of the river as early as 1796 were James Terwilliger, Herman Terwilliger, Elisha Gilbert, Noah Gilbert, Stephen Palmer, Joseph Messenger and Cornish Messenger. At a later period and as early as 1802, they were joined by Solomon Harrington, Benjamin Harrington, Waters Hine, Asel Stockwell, Elihu Spencer, Samuel A. Shael?, James Burroughs, George Byram, Benjamin Townsend and Daniel Low.
The settlers on the Genegantslet in this town as early as 1801 were Lyman Noble, Daniel Boardman, Herman Carter, Joseph Anderson, David Bradley, Joseph Winchel, David Winchel, Zachariah Whitmarsh, Ezra Whitmarsh and William Driskall. Levi Farr, Elisha Sadd, Jeduthan Gray and John Forbes became residents as early as 1807.
Further north at or near Smithville Flatts, Robert Lytle, an Irishman, settled in 1797, Joseph Agard, Epehras Sheldon and Joseph L. Robins in 1799. Further east in the then town of Greene, William Knickerbocker, William Kirkland, Isaac Perry, Ichabod Marriam and Phineas Pond settled as early as 1801.
Isaac Sellick, William Whittenhall, Edward Loomis, Peter Rorapaugh, Squire Hamilton, Darius Towsley, Isaac Grant(?), John Perkins(?), Samuel Miller, [portion unreadable] Jerediah Brown, Elisha Harris, Woodruff Harris, Edward Purple, Bela Cowles, Sylvester Cowles, Whiting Edgerton, John Starkey and Levi Benedict, as early as 1808, when this section of Greene was organized into a new town name Smithville.
The pioneer settlers of this town, at least for the first few years, were the subjects of great privations. Their roads were little else than Indian paths along the streams. The canoe was the principle mode of conveyance. Their corn was pounded and converted into samp(?) by means of a mortar made in the end of a section of a log with a pestle suspended by a sweep, or taken to Tioga Point, a distance of sixty miles to a mill. These journeys were made in a canoe and occupied several days.
The road on the west side of the river was first traveled in 1794. That on the east side was not used until some years later. The road on the Genegantslet was made passable in 1802. Edward Loomis in the employ of the Hornby estate cut the road from Oxford to Smithville Flatts in 1804. The road north from Conrod Sharp's was cut through the same year.
The Susquehanna and Bath turnpike which passed east and west through the town was made in 1807. The first bridge over the Chenango was built the same year.
As has already been stated this town was organized in March 1798. This was a few days previous to the organization of the County of Chenango, which occurred the same month. The first town meeting was held at the house of Conrod Sharp on the First Tuesday in April 1798. Nathaniel Kellogg was the moderator, Benajah Loomis was chosen Supervisor, John Hallenback, Town Clerk, James Wiley, Isaac Perry and Allen Button, were made Assessors.
In 1799, Isaac Rosa became Supervisor,, who was elected for four years in succession, when Elisha Smith, became his successor; Mr. Hallenbeck was Town Clerk for eight years.
The first birth in this town among the settlers was Johnstone Rundall, son of Joseph Rundall, for which honor the mother subsequently received a deed of fifty acres of land from the Hornby estate.
The first school was opened near Chenango Forks by a Mr. Cartwright, an Englishman, in 1794. Two years after a school was started at East Greene by Enoch Gray, who taught some ten winters in succession.
The first church organization in this town was the Baptist Society at East Greene. It was organized by Elder Nathaniel Kellogg, in 1795, and was the first of that denomination in the county of Chenango. Elder Kellogg continued its pastor for some thirty years.
The 2d Baptist Society of Greene, was formed on the Genegantslet, in 1807. This society was organized under the auspices of Elder Jeduthan Gray, who continued its teacher for twenty-five years.
A Congregational Society was organized in 1811. Its members met at the house of David Bradley on the 13th of June and elected Elisha Smith, David Finn, Silas Reed, J.L. Robins, R. Dewey, and Levi Farr, Trustees. Rev. John B. Hoyt, became their first pastor in 1820. Their church edifice was consecrated in 1821. Mr. H. continued its teacher until 1833, when he was succeeded by Revs. Mr. Foot, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Raymond, Mr. Kaercher, A.G. Orton and H.W. Gilbert, its present clergyman [in 1857].
There were a few families residing in this village at an early day who were attached to the Episcopal Church. They occasionally enjoyed the services of the church, conducted by the Rev. W.B. Lacey and the Rev. L. Bush, successively Rectors of the church in Oxford. The Rev. E.G. Gear, than residing at Binghamton, performed missionary services here. The church was organized by the name and style of "Zion Church, Green," in March 1833, The Rev. Francis Tremain being the minister. Charles Cameron and Joseph Juliand were the first Wardens. Rev. J.V. Van Ingen became Rector in 1835. The Church edifice was consecrated June 5, 1836. The Rev. Mr. Van Ingen was succeeded for brief periods by the Rev. A. Lauderback and the Rev. W.E. Eigenbrodt, the last of whom was succeeded by the present Rector, the Rev. F. Rogers [in 1857].
It is proper here to remark that the Methodist organization early extended its influence over the pioneers settlers of this town and by their itinerating services with their local preachers and class leaders were eminently successful in moulding the moral sentiments of our sparse population. Nor is their early exertions without its reward. Their present position and influence is equal to any of the Chruch organization in the town.
To be continued
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