Early History of Binghamton, Broome County, NY (1849)

 Early History of Binghamton, Broome County, New York

Broome Republican, Binghamton, NY, April 11, 1849

The village of Binghamton was first surveyed in 1800.  It was surveyed a second time in 1808, and in 1835 a full and complete survey was made by William Wentz, Esq. our present [in 1849] competent surveyor.  From this survey a map was made in 1836 by F.B. Tower.  The extent of the village was then fixed at about two miles east and west, and one and a half north and south.

The place on which Binghamton stands is classic ground - consecrated by the recollections of the Revolution.  Here encamped a brigade of American troops under the command of Gen. James Clinton on their march to join a large division of the army under Gen. Sullivan moving against the Indians.

John Rush, the well-known Revolutionary hero, who but a few years ago departed from among us, was in Sullivan's expedition, and was in the detachment that was sent from Tioga to Meet Gen. Clinton. During a portion of the Revolutionary War, he belonged to the body guard of General Washington.  He was one of the guards over Major Andre, after his capture.  He was appointed to escort Lord Cornwallis after his surrender.

Clinton, on his march, destroyed the Indian settlement at Oquaga and one or more of their villages on the Chenango River.  The first while settlers found the vestiges of an Indian village on the west side of this river, about three miles above Binghamton.  In this vicinity cannon balls were found, the marks of musket shot, the remains of Indian forts, and other indications of those bloody strifes which marked the track of the white man to place & power over the deserted wigwams and extinguished council fires of the unfortunate Aborigines.  More than half a century has since passed away! and few of that early day survive among us.  But recently a lingering link that bound us to those rude times was snapped! and soon the wave of another generation will sweep away the yet trembling survivors of that revolutionary period.  Time moves on and heeds not the wrecks in its pathway. The wilderness has been converted into fruitful fields.

Our graceful village has risen from our rivers like the fabled Goddess from the Ocean.  We are now [in 1849] a smart little town of 5000 souls (with perhaps a few exceptions) snugly seated at the depot of the Chenango Canal, and at the present terminus of the New York & Erie Railroad which leads us to the great Emporium.  We have churches, stores, artisans in abundance and all the comforts with many of the evils of civilized life.

With the opening buds of spring, a new tide of enterprise and growth has set in upon us.  Introduced to our attractive valley by the facilities presented by our Railroad, businessmen from other sections of the State are selecting their residences among us.  Our step in the path of prosperity is firm and elastic, our spirit buoyant and our hope by no means "small."

Already in the clear distance of the future we see the rising shadow of a proud and stalwart city, the half-way breathing place of the iron horse, as he strides along from the Atlantic to the Lakes.

May no cloud darken the glowing picture; nor the hand of fate cut into smaller fractions, our slice No. 2!