Historic Sketch, Settlement of New Berlin, Chenango Co. NY

 Historic Sketch of the Settlement of the Town of New Berlin

By John Hyde

New Berlin Gazette, New Berlin, NY, February 3, 1877

John Ambler in the early time of New Berlin settlement, took up  his residence on the Great Brook at the place now caller "Ambler Settlement," an appellation given to the little hamlet on account that Mr. Ambler was its principal founder and was a man of considerable energy and enterprise in matters appertaining to the organization of new up-country society, the establishment of good order, the establishment of religious institutions and for the intellectual instruction of young urchins, and in all things tending to promote the general welfare of the inhabitants. He was an active member of community.  The Presbyterian church in that place, was the first one built in town, was built under his auspices and chiefly by his individual exertion.  He was a prominent member of that church.

Charles Rich was early a settler on a farm adjoining the Ambler Settlement.  He was a good farmer, a prominent man in town affairs, sometimes a justice of the peace, held other town offices, and amongst all his good qualities, he was a good neighbor, and a good member of society.  He left a good property to his heirs, earned by his honest economical labor.

Jonathan Mathewson settled on a farm near the Ambler Settlement, was an extensive businessman.  Besides farming, he entered largely into lumbering business, erected a sawmill and sawed his own boards and timber from his large pine tree lot.  He left a valuable property to his heirs.

Daniel Sage established his up-country home in a log cabin in the woods on the Great Brook, above the Ambler Settlement.  He was a farmer and peculiarly qualified to endure the difficulties, privations and hardships of a backwoodsman, and was a plain, unpretending cultivator of the land.  Like the Patricians of old, he made the sacred cause of religion and public worship on the sabbath day an indispensable duty, and the outward rite of personally attending Elder Eastwood's Methodist meetings, he being a member, a thing not to be neglected.  The Summer's rains, nor winter's snow quenched his zeal.  He was always a regular attendant at those Sabbath day meetings.  His faith in Divine Providence proved, however, on trial not to have been equal to the faith of the Father of the Hebrew nation, when commanded to sacrifice his son Isaac. The place where Elder Eastwood held his meetings was a few miles down the river through thick woods from Mr. Sage's abode, and a marked tree wood path the line of communication.  On a winter Sabbath day, Mr. Sage, in pursuance to his accustomed practice, was proceeding on the snow path, when in midway, on the beaten track before him, a huge ferocious bear and her cubs, obstructed the passage, standing on her hindmost legs, with body erect and teeth grating, and paws ready to strike.  She presented a formidable barricade for an unarmed Christian to encounter.  On either side too deep snow prevented going around.  No alternative but a combat with the grim savage beast and abide the result or return home. He turned back, and the sin of neglect to attend public worship on that Sabbath was fixed upon the unconscious brute.