Historic Sketch, Settlement of New Berlin, NY

 Historic Sketch, Settlement of the Town of New Berlin, Chenango County, NY

By John Hyde

New Berlin Gazette, New Berlin, NY, August 5, 1876

Samuel Anderson and Silas Burlingame were the first settlers on Lots 76 and 77, being the two lots, which are now the village of New Berlin.  Samuel Anderson came up from the old Bay State and made his settlement the late part of the last century and erected his dwelling on the north bank of the creek running through the village and between the creek and where now [1876] stands S.L. Morgan's store. Mr. Anderosn was active and industrious and possessed good abilities; was appointed a justice of the peace under the old Council of Appointment.  He sold some of his land for building lots and other parts of it for agricultural purposes, until all was sold, and he went to live among his children.  By trade he was a carpenter.  His wife died several years before the family left the old house to strangers.

Silas Burlingame immigrated from Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and came on to lot 77 about the same time Anderson came on to the other lot.  He built his dwelling house some rods east of the south village street and southeast of the Bank.  He had several children, some of whom settled near him.  Josiah Burlingame, his eldest son, built his house near where the old factory store now [1876] stands.  His barn yet remains as one of the old landmarks of former times.

Josiah [Burlingame] taught the first school in New Berlin.  Another son, Daniel [Burlingame], was a preacher of the gospel and he built his dwelling house on the village east street near the river bridge.  Joel Burlingame was born in that house, and he was the father of Aaron Burlingame who will claim particular attention, not only as a prominent man of the Burlingame family, for his [active] public life.  Joel, his father, emigrated to Oregon, and was a delegate to the convention which nominated Abraham Lincoln as a candidate for the office of President of the United States. At that time, he revisited the place of his nativity and gave to the writer of this article much information relating to his son Amos and his younger days.

Anson Burlingame, whose native place New Berlin claims, received in his youth a common school education, under old fashioned school masters in old fashioned times when pure English language in its true proper idiom was considered an important branch in a young man's education.  He was faithful and diligent in acquiring a thorough knowledge of the art of speaking his own language with propriety and effect. As he advanced in years, he made the science of government and the social relations of nations with each other his peculiar study.  He was elected a member of Congress from the city of Boston, where he had resided some years and was a member of Congress when the disgraceful attack was made by Congressman Brooks upon Charles Sumner.

On that occasion Anson Burlingame, in language strong, earnest and energetic, exposed the brutal conduct and cowardice of Preston Brooks to the indignant scorn and contempt of the public.  For this public arraignment of Congressman Brooks for his misdeeds, he is now sensitively affected.  His southern courage has been called in question; his honor tarnished.  Blood must wipe out the stain.  The code of chivalry must be enforced. A challenge is promptly given and accepted.  But Bob Acres courage oozes out, he withdraws his challenge and remains a stigmatized coward the rest of his life, shunned by all good citizens for his dastard and treacherous assailment of his defenseless victim.

Mr. Burlingame attained a high position in the estimation of his constituents for his manly defense of his fellow townsman and intimate friend and for his stern and inflexible integrity in the discharge of his duty while a member of Congress.

President Lincoln appointed him on a mission to the Chinese government.  In this new employment he broke through all the barriers which for ages had prevented any national intercourse between the Chinese people with the outer world.  He induced the Chinese government to enter into a treaty with the United States, a condescension never before yielded to any nation.  and so skillfully and prudently did Mr. Burlingame proceed in his negotiations that the pride and pomp and circumstance of this oriental nation was quieted and gave way to the reasoning powers of the plain American statesman.  Their grave men listened and became convinced of the advantage of entering into treaty of commercial intercourse with the western nations and the Chinese government took Mr. Burlingame into their councils and appointed him plenipotentiary to negotiate treaties of commerce with all other nations.  But in the midst of this extraordinary and arduous undertaking, he fell a victim to the rigor of a Persian winter.  This brief references to Hon. Anson Burlingame belongs to and forms a part of the history of his native town, New Berlin.