Recollections of the Early Settlement of the Town of Greene
Chenango American, Greene, NY, January 7, 1858
Part 6
The social and moral habits of the pioneers of this town is supposed to be a fair sample of that of other settlers in a country heavily timbered. They mostly came from the New England States, though many of them had settled in the eastern counties of this state [NY]. They came poor. Few were able even to make a small payment for their lands.
Much want and even sufferings was the consequence. But common necessities produced common sympathy. They evinced to the new comers the spirit of genuine hospitality and in all the relations of life, from the raising of the log cabin to the supplying the destitute at their tables, they exhibited more the spirit of family affection than of mere neighborhood sympathy.
Their only resources were derived from the manufactory of shingles for the Baltimore markets, or in felling the trees of the forest cutting and burning them, and from the ashes making black salts for an eastern market, and until they could have time to clear the land and raise food from the earth, they were very dependent on their more fortunate neighbors. This appeal was responded to with alacrity "not grudgingly" but freely even to the dividing the last loaf. In this respect at least they exhibited Christian principles that would not unfavorably contrast with their more fortunate and refined descendants.
The first grist-mill was erected on the creek about one mile north of C. Sharp's in 1794. It was built by Abraham Storm and Henry Vorse. The second was by Deacon Richards, a short distance south of Coventryville, in 1797. The first saw mill was erected by Mr. Sharp, near the former mill in 1795.
The first tavern was by Conrod Sharp in 1794. The second by Aden Elliott, in 1795.
The first store opened in this town was by Jotham Parker, in the south part of what is now Coventry in 1799. the second was by Elisha Smith in the village in 1801.
The first framed house was erected by Thomas Wattles, as a public house on the spot now occupied by the "Chenango House" [in 1857]. This was in 1803. A store on the opposite corner was built by Mr. Smith the following year.
Greene Post Office was established in 1806. David Finn was the first Post Master. The mail route was from Cooperstown to Oxford and then to Chenango Point (now Binghamton) semi-monthly. The first mail carrier was Charles Thorp.
A weekly mail was carried on horseback on this route and also on the east and west route, as late as 1819, when a semi-weekly stage route was formed from Utica to Binghamton.
In 1822, a tri-weekly stage route was formed from Catskill to Ithaca, which soon became a very general thoroughfare for the traveling public. This was regarded as one of the best stage routes in the State. But the advent of the Iron Rail and the Steam Engine, soon diverted the human tide to other channels and left it in solitude.
The village of Greene was laid out under the direction of Elisha Smith, the local agent on the Hornby estate in 1806. It was named Hornby and has ever been the residence of the local agent on the "Chenango Triangle." The Post Office being called Greene, the recorded name of Hornby was never brought into general use. It [Greene] is situated on both sides of the Chenango near the center of the town. It is regarded by strangers as possessing peculiar attractions, and is surpassed by few villages of its size in its beauty of location and its scenery of surrounding country. It was incorporated in 1842, and contains about 1000 inhabitants.
East Greene is situated six miles up the river, is a pleasant village of about thirty houses.
The Chenango Canal which passes through this town was completed in 1836. It is the principle channel for local exports and imports. The Chenango Forks Depot, on the Syracuse and Binghamton Railroad, is eight miles from the village. This brings us within twelve hours of the city of New York, and by means of a daily freight line our merchants have all the benefits of early transmission through this channel.
The surface of this town is broken and uneven. The intervals on its streams are broad and fertile. The gradual slope of its hills rendered nearly every acre susceptible of cultivation. A large portion of its cultivated surface is devoted to grazing. The farmers are principally dairymen, and butter is the chief article of transportation. In addition to this article for transportation, cattle, beef, pork, oats, corn and wool make quite large items in the yearly products of our farms.
This town was originally one of the best lumbering regions in the State. Pine, hemlock, oak, maple and other choice timber made up much of its forest. The early inhabitants devoted their energies to the manufacture of lumber which was taken on the spring flood tide to the Baltimore markets. Millions of feet of lumber were annually taken to tide water from this town, and it was not until the supply became measurably exhausted that the inhabitants turned their attentions to agriculture. The transition was doubtless accelerated by the opening of the Chenango Canal, which afforded a convenient outlet for agricultural products. Previous to this period we were in a very sequestered position Our imports from tide water were brought from Catskill, a distance of one hundred and twenty miles.
The topographical and geological items of the town of Green are as follows:
The surface of the country is hilly, but not mountainous. The valleys are deep, beautiful and fertile and the hills are susceptible of cultivation to their very summits. The underlying rocks are of the transition class and belong partly to the Erie division of the "New York System," and partly to the Catskill group or old red sand stone. Rock, of the Catskill, Ithaca and Chemung groups are found in the town and of course the fossils which are the distinguishing characteristics of these groups are also found abundantly. The valleys are alluvial and over the hills in many places are found "transported materials" from other groups such as Oriskany Sandstone, Tully Limestone and even boulders of the primary class such as gneiss and granite, all which have been apparently brought from their northern locations by some unknown agency.
There are no minerals of course to be found and indeed none could be expected, at least in any quantities. A little sulphuret of iron is occasionally found among the rocks, sometime a mere trace of lime and in a few instances scales of anthracite.
A few Springs are found slightly impregnated with Sulphur.
There is nothing grand or imposing in the geological character of the town, and it is only interesting as furnishing those organic remains which serve to show that the "great globe itself" has undergone strange and terrific changes at a time before the "morning stars sang together."
This town is emphatically one of the most healthy regions of the State. Prevailing diseases are rare, and since the drainage and cultivation of marshy places miasmatic influences seem to have disappeared. Consumption is a prolific cause of death. This disease however is usually traceable to hereditary causes and not to endemic influences.
The first news paper established in this town was the Chenango Patriot, in 1830. It was published by Nathan Randall. It was neutral in politics. This was succeeded in 1833 by the Chenango Democrat by the same gentleman. It continued about two years. In 1852 the Chenango News, a neutral paper was established by A.T. Boynton. The Chenango American was established by Denison & Fisher in 1855. At this time [1858], it is in the third year of its publication, and "in full tide of successful experiment."
To be Concluded
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