Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, July 11, 1878
Hyer Family Reunion
June 19th, 1878 seems to have had its full share of festal gatherings, but I shall confine my pen to the full account of a reunion of the descendants of, and those related by marriage, to William Hyer who was the first of the name in Chenango County [NY], which was held on land owned by Irving Hyer, a great-grandson of William.
The day was lovely, and at an early hour those interested began to gather at the place mentioned above, which was chosen in order to be as near as possible to the last resting place of those of the name who had been buried in this vicinity. At 10:30 it was believed all were present who would be, and the tables were nearly arranged for dinner, when all were rejoiced by the arrival of Frank Hyer and his daughter, Celia, from Corry, Penn., and Mrs. Leroy Haynes, daughter and son, from Norwich. Greetings were again the order of the time. The croquet players left their game, and the ring of the quoits was unheard in the pleasure of welcoming them. The dinner hour arrived at last and led by Schuyler, the last surviving son of William, and Rev. Mr. Ripley of Masonville, to head one table, and the widows of William G. and Elijah, his first and fourth sons and Nathaniel R. (son of William's brother, Nathaniel R. (who would be remembered better if I say, "Uncle Natty," the preacher) to preside at the other, both were soon circled by the guests. After a blessing by Rev. Mr. Ripley (who is the minister who has buried many of those departed), Henry, son of Nathaniel (whose total deafness excused him from filling the place) was called upon for a history of the family's earlier days. We repeat here the most important of his remarks:
"Though the name of Hyer has been represented in this section from very early times, this is our first reunion. Owing to shortness of time, facts and incidents are left to our next gathering, except such as bear upon matters of family record. The earliest records show that two brothers of the name landed in New York, direct from Holland, one of whom is said to be the grandfather of Tom Hyer, the prize fighter. the other, Nathaniel Rosco, went up the Hudson River to Fishkill, where he worked at coopering, and some of his tools are here for inspection. He was twice married, having four children, William, Nathaniel, David and Sylvia, by his first wife. By the second he had seven - Walter, Frederic, and John, Betsy, Louisa, Sally Maria and Mary. The oldest son, William lived in Columbia county [NY] until he was thirty-two; had been ten years married to Lucretia Griswold, and his family numbered six children. Then he got the western fever and moved to Chenango County [NY] in 1800. Only think of "going West," now and then. The Gilberts and Shaws had located at Gilbertsville [Otsego Co. NY]. Gurdon and Wyatt Chamberlain, John Secor and Isaac Fuller at or near Mt. Upton [Chenango Co. NY], and he bought what is now [in 1878] the south half of William S. Moore's farm. They lived a short time in a log house while they were building the house now standing deserted, with the front lawn grown up to a locust grove. The log house stood in the north-west corner of the lawn, nearer the road. There six more children first saw the light. The older ones were married from there and many of the grandchildren played in and around that house, still lovingly remembered as "grandpa's." There they lived, cared for their children, suffered the hardships of pioneer life, William and "the boys" clearing land and getting in crops &c, while his wife and daughters dressed the family in homespun, sending it to New Berlin to be dyed and pressed, it if was wanted extra nice. "Mercereau's Mill" at the mouth of Guilford Creek, or a mill afterwards built up at Holmesville was the nearest place to go for grinding and William's oldest boy, William G., were he here today, could tell some wild tales of returning from mill after dark, with owl hoots and wolf barks for company.
"Nathaniel, brother to William, came with four children, (the youngest of whom is present, aged seventy-one) to this County in June 1807. He was well known as a preacher in the town of Unadilla [Otsego Co. NY]. Himself and wife lie down yonder with his brother and wife and many others (fifty-one in all, I think). Of his family are present Nathan and wife, his son, Henry, and wife, son and daughter, six in all. The north half of the Moore farm was his, and the house opposite William S. Moore's was built by him. Six of his grandchildren and about ten great-grandchildren are now living. Sylvia, own sister of William and N. married a Shaw, and lived and died in Butternuts [Otsego Co. NY]. David, Walter and Betsey came here for a time but went to other parts of the country. David died in Wisconsin last year. Walter and Betsey are supposed to have settled in Oneida County. Sally Maria married a Morgan and resided in New York City. Of this company, sixty-four persons are descendants of William Hyer. Sixteen are related to those sixty-four by marriage. Four are descendants of Nathaniel, and two related to them by marriage. Hoping this may be the first of many more reunions and but a prelude to our long reunion "over there," I close this history of our ancestors in America.
Henry J. Hyer
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