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In 1815 Cherry Valley had reached its greatest relative importance. It continued to grow in wealth and size, but its growth, in the latter respect especially, was slow and it was soon left far behind by the now rapidly growing villages of Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, and many others. The great ability and reputation of many of its citizens continued to give it, for many years, a prominence far greater than that of many places greatly exceeding it in population. The rapid growth of the country to the west also added to the business and wealth of the place, as the greater part of the travel, to and from that section, passed through it. How great this traffic was, is shown by the fact that, at this time, there were 62 Taverns between Albany and Cherry Valley,--a distance of 52 miles. That this place must have benefitted enormously from, and been a great centre for, this trade, is clearly indicated by the fact that there were fifteen Taverns and ten retail liquor stores in the town. In addition to these there were four distilleries--on the present Thomas

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Wikoff farm, at Flint's, on East Hill and at Salt Springville,--and one brewery; the latter being also on the Wikoff farm. There were eight blacksmith shops, giving employment to from four to eight men each, and at one time 110 stage horses were kept iii the village. In addition to the through stage lines from Albany and the New England States to Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and the West, local stage lines connected Cherry Valley with Albany, Schenectady, Catskill, Canajoharie, Burlington, Monticello, the Worcester towns, Cooperstown and Utica. Stages were usually drawn by six horses, though eight, and even ten, horses were used at times. Regular freight transportation lines were also run between Albany and Buffalo. Huge wagons capable of drawing from three to four tons, drawn by seven horses, were used on these lines. They moved slowly, the journey from Albany to Buffalo often taking two weeks. These wagons had tires six inches wide and were allowed to pass through the numerous toll-gates free of charge, owing to the fact that their wide tires were of great benefit to the roads by filling in the ruts made by ordinary wagons. This enormous traffic caused a great demand for horses and the price of those animals, which had been from twenty-five to thirty dollars, in 1800, had risen to from seventy- five to one hundred and fifty dollars by 1820. Much above the price which ordinary horses now command in this section. It is said that the first horse in this part of the country which sold for an equivalent of

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over a hundred dollars, was an unusually fine one belonging to John Wilson. He sold it, about 1809, to Thomas Shankland of Cooperstown; receiving in return twenty thousand feet of pine lumber. A great "bee" was held and the lumber was drawn from Shankland's mill, below Cooperstown, in one day.

In 1818 the Central Bank was chartered and began operations on Tuesday, Oct. 8. It was, we believe, the first Bank in the State west of Albany, with the exception of one started the year previous, at Schenectady, and was for twenty years the most powerful financial institution in Central New York. It was frequently asserted that its great influence was used to prevent the chartering of other country Banks by the Legislature. The idea of a country Bank controlling the Legislature, in this age, would seem little short of ridiculous. But the fact that Beardsley, who was, at the same time, President of the Bank, and President of the State Senate, takes pains, in his "Reminiscences," to explain his position on the subject of country Banks, leads to the inference that there may have been some foundation for the accusation; more especially as the Bank was represented in the Legislature for many years, and numbered among its Directors and Stockholders some of the most powerful men in the State. The first President of the Bank was Dr. Joseph White; the Cashier being Abraham M. Schemerhorn. The latter afterwards moved to Rochester and was for many years the leading financier of Western New

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York. The Directors were: Joseph White, David Little, Elias Braman, Jabez D. Hammond, Barnabas Eldredge, Levi Beardsley, James 0. Morse, William Campbell, Delos White, Peter Magher, William Beekman, Henry Brown and Isaac Seelye. Several of these men were residents of neighboring towns. In 1819 nearly all of the country Banks in the State failed, or temporarily suspended; the Central, however, weathered the financial storm without trouble, although the Directors deemed it advisable to personally guarantee the redemption of its notes. The Bank since its organization has had but six Presidents, viz: Dr. Joseph White, Dr. David Little, Senator Levi Beardsley, Senator David H. Little, Horatio J. Olcott and Wm. II. Baldwin.

The same year (1818) the Cherry Valley GAZETTE was started by L. and B. Todd. Two papers had previously been established here the Otsego Republican, in 1812, and the Watchtower, in 1818. The latter was removed to Cooperstown in 1814. How long the former was published we have no means of knowing. With the exception of a short break in the later sixties, the GAZETTE has been published down to the present time.

On Monday, Dec. 7, 1818, a lime kiln, belonging to David Hamilton, gave way and instantly killed his son, John Hamilton, aged 14 years. This was the first fatal accident known to have occurred in the town.

There were at this time four companies of infantry

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in Cherry Valley, composing the greater part of the 112th Regiment, which had its head-quarters here. There were also three companies of artillery. Of the higher officers in the Militia, Levi Beardsley was Judge Advocate and Delos White, Hospital Surgeon of the 16th Division of Infantry; Abraham M. Schemerhorn was Paymaster of the 2nd Brigade and Major Lester Holt was Inspector. In this year (1818) there were 4000 Militia in Otsego county, divided into seven Regiments. The head-quarters of the several Regiments were as follows: The 112th at Story's Tavern in Cherry Valley; 7th at Todd's, in Worcester; 2nd at Munn's, in Cooperstown; 60th at Craft's, in Laurens; 125th at Danielson's in Butternuts; 54th at Sheldon's, in Burlington; 135th at Loomis', in Richfield. In this year of our Lord, 1898, one lonely company, of less than 100 men, constitutes the Militray force of Otsego county.

The population of the county was about the same as now. The country, outside of the villages, was much more thickly settled than it now is. The increase in the prices of farm products, in the eighteen years since the Century opened, was remarkable, and it is somewhat singular that prices for them were practically the same as at the present time. Butter was worth 18cts a pound and cheese lOcts. Cows sold for from $25 to $35; and farm horses were worth bout $60. The estimated amount of woolen and linen cloth made in families was 456,156 yards. Now more is made. The shipment of pine lumber was

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then an important industry. Much wheat was also shipped. Both are now imported in large quantities.

In 1819 the "Bachelor's Club" was formed. It was originally started as a debating Society, but gradually took on a more social form and finally became the leading social organization in this section. Its parties were attended by the young people of the neighboring towns, whose social position was considered sufficiently high to entitle them to recognition, and were, what would now be termed very "swell" affairs. The Club continued in existence about ten years. It was composed largely of law and medical students, of whom there were many in the offices of the famous lawyers and doctors then resident here, and of the older students in the Academy.

In this year numerous meetings were held, through- out the country, to protest against the extravagance in the management of public affairs, especially in the payment of high salaries to officials. A meeting was held at the "Bank Coffee House," on July 31, 1819, at which Alfred Crafts presided, and Alvan Stewart acted as Secretary. The following Committee was appointed to draw up and circulate a petition to the Legislature demanding a reduction in the expenses of the State government, viz: Peter Magher, James S. Campbell, Delos White, James Brackett, Oliver Judd, Levi Beardsley, James 0. Morse. In that year the total amount raised for taxes of all kinds,--village, school, town, county and

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state,--in the town of Cherry Valley, (then including Roseboom) was $1247.38. About $17,000 a year is now raised by tax, in this town, although it has declined in wealth, size, population and importance, since 1819.

In 1823 an attempt was made to form a new county, of which Cherry Valley was to be the "county seat," to be composed of the towns of Cherry Valley, Springfield, Middlefield, Westford, Decatur, Maryland and Worcester, in Otsego county; the town of Sharon in Schoharie county, and Canajoharie and Minden, in Montgomery county. The ill feeling which had existed between. Cherry Valley and Cooperstown, since the formation of Otsego county, was the indirect cause of the attempt to form a new county. There was a strong sentiment in favor of the project in most of the towns, but the men in Cherry Valley, who had the greatest influence refused to take an active part in the matter, doubtless from political motives, and the Legislature declined to erect the new county.

It was customary, after the establishment of a newspaper here, to publish a list of the letters lying uncalled for in the Cherry Valley post-office,--as is now done in many of the larger town and cities. The lists published by J. B. Walton, P. M., in 1818, and Oliver Judd, P. M., in 1824, give the names of from a hundred to a hundred and thirty persons, for whom letters were lying "uncalled for." Showing that this office must have been of considerable im-

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portance, and that it must have furnished postal facilities for a large territory.

Every business carried on in Cherry Valley in 1898, was represented here in 1820; including Marble Works, Cabinet Shop, Iron Foundry, Bookstore, Drug Store, Millinery Shop, Dentists, etc. Establishments we should not expect to have found in any but the very largest places, at that time. Among the industries, not here now, were Tanneries, Distilleries, Hat Factories, Last Factories, Truss Works, a Brass Foundry, etc. Some of these were small affairs.

On the 12th of September, 1824, died Col. Samuel Campbell, the last survivor of the original settlers of Cherry Valley, at the age of eighty-six years and four months. Few men have ever passed through a more eventful life than Col. Campbell. Coming, as a child, to this, then, wilderness, he had seen it grow into the most prominent and flourishing settlement west of Schenectady; only to be completely destroyed by the Indian and tory hordes. Returning to the valley, once more a wilderness, he had watched it grow into the most important and influential village west of the Hudson. As a youth he had numbered among his playmates the wild and uncivilized Indian youth, and as a man among his friends Washington, the Clintons, and most of the great men of the post-Revolutionary period. He may be said, literally, to have lived in Colonial, Revolutionary and modern times, and to have been a companion

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and associate of representatives of the wildest and most bloodthirsty races of red men that have peopled America, and of the most cultured generations of Anglo-Americans, for whatever may have been the advance in the various branches of learning, and the improvement in the arts and sciences, no later generation has equalled the higher classes of the post-Revolutionary period in true culture and refinement.

In the same year (May 31, 1824,) died Mrs. Catherine Clyde, widow of Col. Samuel Clyde, whose escape, with seven small children, at the time of the Massacre, is recorded in a previous chapter. The early records show her to have been a very superior woman--a true type of the American woman of the Revolution.

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The opening of the Erie Canal, in 1825, was a serious blow to Cherry Valley. Prior to this the great bulk of the travel and traffic from the New England States to the west, passed through Cherry Valley and paid heavy tribute to it as one of the leading commercial centers on the route. The greater part of this trade was henceforth lost to it, although emigrant trains continued, for some years after, to roll through the village, on their way to the great west. The growth of the country, south of the canal, helped, in a measure, to offset the loss caused by the diversion of the general traffic to the Valley of the Mohawk, but the almost continuous line of stage coaches, which contributed the most liberally to the business of the place, no longer passed through its portals, and the literally unending caravan of horses, wagons, sheep and cattle, dwindled into a broken succession of teams and droves.

It was at this time, however, the home of many men of great ability, and extended reputation, and these gave it, for many years, a reputation great-

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er than any other place in the State, outside of the larger cities. Especially was this true of its lawyers. Among these were Jabez D. Hammond, Alvin Stewart, James 0. Morse, James Brackett, Levi Beardsley and Isaac Seelye. The history of this country, and probably of the whole world, presents no other case in which a village of less than a thousand people has possessed, at one time, so great an array of legal talent, in active and successful practice. How extensive the practice of these men must have been, is shown from the fact that, coming here as poor young men in the early part of the Century, (Seelye 1797, the others from 1802 to 1810), they had, in a country where money was scarce, all, with the exception of Brackett whose jovial habits prevented, become wealthy men by 1825. At this time these five were considered among the rich men in Central New York.

Jabez D. Hammond, LL. D., was at various times State Senator and a Member of the Council of Appointment, Congressman, a Member of the Board of Regents, Commissioner for the State in the settlement of claims against the National Government and for the laying out of State Roads. He also held many minor offices such as Member of Assembly, County Judge and County Superintendent of Schools. His "Political History of the State of New York," was one of the famous books of his day and gave him considerable literary prominence, both at home and abroad, which was increased by his "Life and

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Times of Silas Wright." Both works showing marked literary ability, much research and an intimate knowledge of, and acquaintance with, public men. Beardsley says of him: "As a Member of Congress and State Senator, and in short in all his official relations, which have been many, he has acquitted himself with distinguished tact and ability. Few men in the State have been more shrewd and adroit politicians than Judge Hammond. His suggestions, in reference to public policy, and his influences have frequently extended to remote parts of the state, though the mover was not publicly visible, as the suggestor. Devoted to Gov. Clinton and one of his principal advisors for many years, he probably contributed as much as any one in the state, in sustaining the fortune and ascendancy of that truly great man."

Alvan Stewart, became one of the most celebrated and widely known of this sextette, and was said to be one of the most effective men before a jury, the State has ever known. His drolleries and satires of wit were irresistable and always carried a jury. Lincoln was an exact prototype in manner and wit but he lacked Stewart's culture and education. It was characteristic of him that when he came to Cherry Valley, not having a penny in his pocket, he made a bargain with the stage driver to amuse him with stories enough to pay for the ride. He commenced life by teaching in the Academy, at the same time studying law. He accumulated a very hand-

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some fortune in his profession. As a politician he was a failure; always managing to enlist on the weaker and unsuccessful side. He was a candidate for Governor in 1842 and again in 1844.

James 0. Morse was the most scholarly of this line of great lawyers. His tastes were literary and he was a frequent contributor to the leading periodicals of the day. Through his pen he exerted a wide influence on the politics of the state. His acquaintance with the leading men of the country was very large, and he entertained many of them at his hospitable mansion in this village. He was President of the Central Deaf and Dumb Asylum and held the office of County Judge, then a position of considerable importance. (Prior to the revision of the Judicial Department by the Constitutional Convention of 1846). He was a wealthy man and contributed very liberally to the support of Colleges, Academies, and religious and charitable institutions. Beardsley says of him: "In many respects he had few superiors in the state ;" and in speaking of his death adds, "few men have died in Otsego County, whose death was a greater calamity to the community, than that of James 0. Morse."

Isaac Seelye was the superior of any of his compeers in legal knowledge and it is questionable whether he had an equal, during his lifetime, in Central New York, in this respect. He was often spoken of as the "country law library." He early amassed a handsome fortune, from his extensive

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practice, and during his later years mainly confined himself to office business. The Otsego County History says of him: "He was one of the ablest and most forcible exponents of the law the county has ever had."

James Brackett, was a graduate of Dartmouth College, a brilliant scholar, a learned lawyer, and, perhaps unfortunately for himself, a very jovial gentlemen. His love of sports and pleasure led him to avoid the worries and frets of politics, and the only political office held by him was that of Surrogate of Otsego county. His ability was, however, so marked that he has passed down to posterity a reputation as great as that of his more prominent compeers. He died possessed of a comfortable competence.

Levi Beardsley, LL. D., was not only a distinguished lawyer, a politician of National importance and a prominent and able financier, but he was also possessed of considerable literary ability; his "Reminiscinces" being one of the most ably written books of its kind. He was State Senator from 1830 to 1838, and was President of the Senate during the latter part of that period. He was also a Member of Assembly, President of the Central Bank, then the leading financial institution of Central New York, President of the Oswego Bank, and a State Director of the Farmers' Loan and Insurance Company, of New York,--the largest financial concern in the State, having a capital stock of $2,000,000. His large for-

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tune was swept away in the panic of 1837.

The other lawyers in active practice in Cherry Valley at this time were Geo. Clyde and Horace Lathrop both men of very respectable ability. The former was County Clerk of Otsego County 1834-7, and later Judge of Columbia County, and also a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1846, from that county. Lathrop was County Clerk from 1831 to 1834.

The members of the Medical profession, though fewer in number, were no less prominent than the legal fraternity. Of these the most distinguished was Doct. Joseph White, who was.not only the leading surgeon of the State, but whose general practice covered a greater extent of territory than that of any other reputable physician in the State, before or since. He was President of Fairfield Medical College, President of the New York State Medical Society, and the first President of the Otsego County Medical Society. Nor was it in Medicine alone that he was prominent, but in social, political and business life as well. Although he had no legal training, he was, for 23 years, First Judge of Otsego County. He was also, for several years, State Senator and a member of the powerful Council of Appointment. He was the first President of the Central Bank and, indeed, was prominent in all the leading affairs of Central and Western New York. His vigorous and versatile intellect seemed to fit him for every position to which he was called. All in all,

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he was unquestionably one of the greatest men the State has produced. Beardsley, whom we quote frequently, as the best authority, says, in speaking of him: "As an operator in Surgery he was highly distinguished, and for many years justly regarded as standing at the head of his profession. * * * In his politics he was a high-toned federalist, and exercised much authority and influence with his party, to which, from his position and standing in society, he was justly entitled." Hammond's Political History states that Dr. White's influence was so great with the Council of Appointment, that he was able to secure the appointment of Major Daniel Hall, of Albany, to the vacant office of Secretary of State, despite the strong opposition of Gov. Jay. (1799).

The following extract from the Biography of Dr. Joseph White in "Williams' Memoirs of Eminent Physicians," (1840), is interesting as showing the great change that has taken place in the habits and means of conveyance of doctors, since the early part of the Century: "He filled a large space in his profession and his calls and rides extended from Albany to Buffalo, about three hundred and fifty miles. His mode of traveling was on horseback. Few men could endure so great a measure of fatigue from this method of traveling. He at one time rode from Albany to his place of residence in Cherry Valley, fifty-three miles, without stopping. At another time he rode from Buffalo to Batavia, forty miles, before taking his breakfast."

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Dr. Delos White, although his life was cut short before he had reached the age when men usually attain their greatest prominence, enjoyed a reputation for ability, in surgery especially, little inferior to that of his famous parent. Beardsley says of him: "Dr. Delos White, had for several years before the death of his father, acquired a reputation in his profession of nearly equal celebrity. He too had been at the head of one of the departments (anatomy) in the medical college, already mentioned, and on the decease of his senior was looked upon as almost the only man who could fill the place of his deceased but distinguished ancestor, whom he survived but a few years, having died in 1835." An old Ledger, of Delos White's, shows an extent of practice both as regards territory and remuneration, which would seem almost incredeble to a country practioner in these days.

Dr. Menzo White, whose active practice began prior to 1830 and extended into the present half of the Century, enjoyed a reputation with the medical fraternity, of Central New York, nearly equal to that of his distinguished father. His practice extended over a radius of a hundred miles and was only confined by his inability to attend to his calls from beyond these limits. He always had from six to ten medical students in his office; young men who had graduated from colleges or other institutions and came to him to take a post-graduate course. Practicing physicians from all parts of Central New York

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came to watch him perform surgical operations. It was no uncommon sight to see him start out to perform an operation, at some distant point, accompanied by six or eight students and as many doctors all on horseback. His office days were always known in the village by the concourse of people that gathered to consult him,

Dr. Wm. Campbell, LL. D., a very learned man in many branches of science and literature, although enjoying a very respectable practice, was more celebrated as a Civil Engineer and Surveyor than as a physician. He surveyed several of the State Roads, including the Second Great Western Turnpike, of which he was for many years one of the Directors. It was through his influence that this road came through Cherry Valley. He was Surveyor-General (now State Engineer and Surveyor) of the State; a member of the Board of Regents; a life Trustee of Union College, and held various minor offices.

Among the most prominent men, during this period and for many years after, was Jacob Livingston, a member of the distinguished family of that name, who had married the daughter of Dr. Joseph White and settled here about 1830, where he spent the remainder of his life; keeping up a very handsome establishment and living in a style previously unknown in the town. He was a man of ability and, though taking no active part, by reason of his position exerted a very considerable influence on the politics of this section. He was a National Elector

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in 1840. The history of this branch of the White family is sufficiently remarkable to be worthy of mention, presenting as it does one of the very rare instances--in this country where one generation usually suffices to destroy the reputation and wealth acquired by the preceeding generation--of the female line, by successive marriages, not only keeping intact the wealth, and preserving the prestige of a prominent family, but even greatly augmenting them. In 1793, Dr. Joseph White, already one of the wealthiest men and a prominent social leader in Central (then Western) New York, purchased the handsome property now owned by his grand-daughter. At his death it descended to his daughter, Mrs. Jacob Livingston, and then to the latter's daughter, Mrs. A. B. Cox; the family having, during the intervening hundred and five years, continued the social leaders of this section. It is now accounted one of the wealthy families of the state, and is connected by descent and marriage, with many of the oldest and most prominent families in America.

Abraham Roseboom, a member of a family prominent in mercantile circles in Fort Orange (later Albany) for 150 years previous, moved to Cherry Valley and settled, in 1806, on the farm now owned by A. II. Roseboom. He was a wealthy man and his property was largely increased by early investments in the Mohawk & Schenectady and the Utica & Schenectady railroads, and, after their consolidation, in the New York Central. He was an influential

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man in the town. It is an interesting fact that the farm, now owned by his grand-son, was a part of the original Patent granted, in 1688, to Jacob Roseboom and others.

Joseph Clyde, son of Col. Samuel Clyde of Revolutionary fame, was prominent in political affairs and occupied an excellent social position. He was a Member of the Constitutional Convention of 1821, and a Member of Assembly in 1828.

The Rev. Eli F. Cooley, LL. D., during this time, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, was a man of distinguished ability and scholarship, and added, by his reputation for scholarly attainments, to the fame of the place. (1810-20.)

Rev. John Truir followed the Rev. Dr. Cooley as pastor of the Presbyterian Church. The History of the Presbyterian Church speaks of him as "an educated man, talented and full of vim; of excessive activity, of great and persuasive powers as a speaker, and so successful in bringing souls to Christ as to merit comparison with preachers of the type of Mr. Moody."

The Academy enjoyed great prosperity during the early half of the Century, and added greatly to the fame of Cherry Valley. Its Principals were, of necessity, men of classical education, and several of them were men of great learning. Of these the most noted was --- Cogswell, a man of rare mental attainments, who was the Principal between 1825 and 1835.

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Among the famous merchants of the very early part of the Century were Cullen & Livingston and the Kanes--well-known names in New York commercial circles. Gen. Watson Webb, who died recently at the advanced age of 90 years, was a clerk in the store of the former firm. The Kanes were West India merchants and their intention was to make Cherry Valley a distributing point for all the country west. The location of these famous firms in Cherry Valley was due to the attempt, very early in the Century, to make the city of Hudson the port of entry for foreign goods, instead of New York. Among the locally noted merchants, who started in business here previous to 1818, were A. W. & H, Flint, Peter Magher, F. & P. May, and a little later Alfred Crafts arid Robert Dunlap. The stores run by these men were to a great section of territory, especially to the west, what the huge Department Stores of New York are to the state to-day.

In the mechanical arts were several men whose exceptional skill gave them as great a reputation in this line as was enjoyed by any of the professional men. Notably among these was Edward Prescott, a famous clock-maker of his day, whose clocks, made entirely by hand and largely of wood, are still to be found in various parts of the country. They are much prized and when sold command high prices. Prescott mainly made clock "works", which were sold to New York clock-makers and by them encased. Harry Smith was noted as a skilled Silversmith. He

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was also a Truss Manufacturer on quite a large scale for those days. He bought the first Steam Engine ever seen in this town, for use in his Foundry, which stood back of the present Pearson Block. A silver truss made by Mr. Smith for the Marshs', of New York, for exhibition at the Crystal Palace Celebration, is said to have been the finest piece of workmanship shown at that exhibition. John K. Forester, came to this country originally to build the mantles, fire-places and other marble work in "Hyde Hall", in Springfield; at the time it was built the most splendid and costly mansion in the country, and on the interior of which only the most skilled workmen were employed. Forester settled in Cherry Valley and built up a very extensive marble business. The marble was dug out of the knoll back of the present John Skinnion house and when polished made a very handsome stone. It was known throughout the State as "Cherry Valley marble." He had a shed, for polishing the marble, near the present home of Mrs. Burns, and another shed on the Norman Waterhouse place in which he trimmed hearthstones, etc., which were quarried on the same place. He also had a mill in Livingston's Glen for sawing stone and marble. He employed quite a number of excellent workman and himself had the reputation of being the finest workman in the country. Amasa Belknap was for many years a famous gunsmith. His rifles were much sought after in all parts of the country and especially on the western frontier. He filled an

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order, from Texas, for 1,500 rifles then considered a very large order--just previous to the Mexican war.

Among the other institutions, which early contributed to the prominence of Cherry Valley, were Holts' Tannery, (started prior to 1800) a very extensive concern for those days; North & Rudd's Brass Foundry and Judd's Iron Foundry. The latter was established by Oliver Judd, a very ingenious and inventive Yankee, who came here from Connecticut, in 1805, as a Blacksmith. He soon after started a Foundry in the village, which was later moved to Tekaharawa Falls, (now commonly called Judd's Falls), on account of the water power. It was still later removed again to the village and the Foundry now owned and operated by John Judd was built. The Judds' were among the earliest manufacturers of cast-iron plows, in the state, and their implements gained a wide-spread reputation. Much of the virgin soil of Western New York and Ohio was over- turned with them.

The North & Rudd Brass Foundry was located on the site now occupied by the Presbyterian Church and occupied half a dozen one story buildings. A large business was done in the manufacture of buckles, harness trimmings, saddle-irons, bells and various brass articles. A number of wagons were kept on the road, selling these goods, in this State and Canada.

In the house, which, up to about twenty-five years

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ago, when it was torn down, stood east of the Bank, were born in the early Century, two men, James Lathrop and John May, who afterwards, by a singular coincidence, became famous circus Clowns. Both traveled extensively abroad and gained a great reputation both in England and on the Continent.

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The decade beginning with 1826, presents little of interest, except as regards religions matters.

In 1828, the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized, by the Rev. Ephraim Hall, with 16 charter members. Services were held in the Lancaster school-house until 1835, when a Church building was erected. The Church, in its existence of seventy years, has had thirty-four ministers. Of these the most noted was John P. Newman, now a Methodist Bishop. Following is a list of the ministers who have been stationed here, since the organization of the Church: Ephraim Hall, James Kelsey, Isaac Grant, Calvin Hawley, Lyman Sperry, Joseph Baker, Leonard Bowdish, Lewis Anderson, Lyman A. Eddy, H. Ereanbach, Rosman Ingalls, C. Harvey, William Southworth, George Parsons, Barlow Gorham, John M. Searles, John P. Newman, Moses L. Kern, L. D. Pendell, H. S. Richardson, John T. Crippen, Joseph Shank, John W. Mitchell, R. W. Peebles, George W. Foster, J. B. Sherar, Gordon Moore, Wesley F. Tooke, M. G. Wadsworth, Lemuel B. Grey, Geo. H.

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VanVliet, S. W. Brown, H. B. Fritts, A. G, Markham.

In 1827-8 the frame Presbyterian Church erected by the returning survivors of the Massacre was torn down and to quote Swinnerton's History of the Presbyterian church, "a new building reared its handsome steeple to a height of a hundred feet. It was in the classic style. In front was a portico with four elegant Tuscan Pillars, above which rose the steeple, story on story, to the summit, which was adorned with a tinned ball and vane, the latter being the same that surmounts the present spire."

From 1822 to 1829, services were held in Cherry Valley, at stated intervals, by the Rev. Frederick T. Tiffany, the Episcopal clergyman stationed at Cooperstown. Whether the Episcopalians had a regularly organized society here during this time is not known; though in view of the fact that several of the Vestry of the original church were still alive it would seem probable that such was the case; more especially as we find the Rev. Timothy Miner stationed here in 1838 as the Rector of Trinity church --the name of the original corporation. This matter is interesting to Episcopalians as deciding the question whether an Episcopalian organization has legally existed since 1803, or only since the formation of the present corporation in 1846.

The Protestant Methodists established a church here soon after 1830 and erected a church building in 1835. The church never had a large regular

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membership, though it was a popular place of worship, with the younger classes, on Sunday evenings. The church had an existence of only a few years. The minister was the Rev. John L. Ambler, a circuit rider of this denomination. The former church edifice was used as a barrack during the early part of the civil war and is now a Cooper Shop.

The only murders which have ever occurred in this town both took place in the year 1826. Neither was premeditated. The first murder was on the Western Turnpike about two miles from the village, on the present Blumenstock farm. Philo Thompson, a lad of about 16, in an altercation with his employer, Samuel Campbell, struck the latter with a hoe, killing him instantly. Thompson was sentenced to State Prison for seven years. A little later David Darby, employed in the blacksmith shop of Smith B. Reynold's, in the upper part of the village, also killed his employer in a quarrel. Darby was sentenced to be hung, but the sentence was commuted, and he was finally discharged, after a brief imprisonment. Both murders were looked upon as, in a measure, unintentional, and much sympathy was expressed tor all the parties.

In 1827, the locally famous "Cherry Valley Volunteers" were organized, with Jonathan Hall as Captain. The early militia companies were often ununiformed, and little regard was paid to size and appearance. The "Volunteers," or Capt. Hall's Company, as it was called, were, however, very carefully

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selected and dressed in grey coats, trimmed with buff, generously besprinkled with silver buttons, white pants and high black hats, trimmed with silver braid, with tall white plumes, having red tops, presented a very handsome appearance, and were the center of attraction at all military and Fourth of July celebrations in this section. The organization was kept up for many years. The original officers,--Jonathan Hall, captain; Edwin Judd, 1st lieutenant, and Charles McLean, 2nd lieutenant,--continued to hold their several positions until in the fifties, when Edwin Judd was advanced to the captaincy.

Sometime during the thirties the Cherry Valley Agricultural Society was organized and for a number of years Annual Faire were held on the Academy lot on the corner of Church and Montgomery streets. The records have all been lost and we can learn nothing regarding the officers of the association except the bare fact that Levi Beardsley was president of it in 1838.

A very unique arrangement existed with reference to the postmastership during the thirties and forties. William McLean was a pronounced Whig in politics, while his son, Charles, was an equally strong democrat. When the Whigs were in power the elder McLean was postmaster. When the democrats were victorious the office was turned over to the younger McLean. The public suffered little inconvenience from the change in the administration, since the post-office always remained in the same

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place and the business of the office continued to be attended to by the two McLeans, jointly.

In 1835 a Charter was obtained "for the building of a railroad from a point on the Utica and Schenectady railroad, near Canajoharie, to Cherry Valley; thence along the Cherry Valley creek and the Susquehanna river to a junction with the Erie". The difficulties in the way of grade were so great that the project was abandoned.

This period was one of great financial prosperity for the village, which continued, up to the panic of '37, to be one of the wealthiest places in the State. In an earlier chapter it was stated that, although, in 1800, it was accounted the wealthiest place west of Albany, it was doubtful if it contained a person worth over ten thousand dollars. The great increase in wealth, in the intervening thirty years, is shown by the fact that, in 1830, there were a dozen men in Cherry Valley worth upwards of fifty thousand dollars,--a great fortune in those days. It is, of course, impossible to determine the exact size of the fortunes of the wealthiest men but the following will give some idea: Dr. White at his death, in 1832, left an estate valued at $100,000; Abraham Roseboom, accounted the wealthiest man in the town, was worth somewhat in excess of that amount; Dr. David Little, (lived in Springfield), president of the Central Bank, and whose financial interests were in Cherry Valley, was worth over $200,000; Levi Beardsley, in 1833, after he had lost a portion of his property,

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valued his estate at $60,000; Alvin Stewart, Isaac Seeley, Jabez Hammond, James 0. Morse and Delos White were worth about the same as Beardsley, as was also Joseph Phelon, who came here in 1832; and Jacob Livingston was worth considerably more. Howard Flint, Peter Magher, Robert Dunlap and Alfred Crafts were wealthy merchants, but their fortunes fell far short of $50,000., with the possible exception of Flint's. The panic of 1837 played sad havoc with the wealth of nearly all of these men. Beardsley, Morse and Stewart lost heavily in western lands, as in fact did nearly everyone, who had money to invest, to a greater or less degree. (People now speculate in Wall Street; then they speculated in "western lands"). The mercantile panic nearly ruined Magher, Dunlap and Crafts, and Flint went west and lost his fortune speculating in "pork."

At this time skilled mechanics were paid from seventy-five cents to a dollar a day and the wages of common laborers was fifty cents. There are yet living in the town several men who, as boys of from fourteen to eighteen, were accustomed to drive cattle to Albany and Catskill. They were paid twenty-five cents a day while going and paid their own way back --of course walking both ways. The cost of living in 1835--at least for the necessaries of life--was fully as much as now. Loaf sugar cost 16c a pound and common sugar 11c; Hyson tea was 54c; ordinary tea 42c; raisins 12 1/2c; currants 18c; molasses 50; rice 6c; starch 12c; lemons 3c; nails 9c; peas 75c

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a bushel; oats 40c; eggs lOc; powder 30c a pound; shot lOc; thread was 9c a spool; calico 30c a yard; sheeting 19c; ordinary cambric 12c; muslin 66c; shirting 25c; blue jean 25c; gingham 30c; lamp oil, $1.25; whisky was 40c a gallon; Malaga wine 75c; rum 5Oc; sweet wine 60c; gin $1.00. Of course there were different qualities of many of these articles but these were the average prices.

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The opening of the New York Central railroad, in 1836, may be said to have put an end to Cherry Valley's through trade and to have commercially isolated it. The great rivers of travel had changed their course, and Cherry Valley was left forsaken, on the banks of the now useless "Great Turnpikes," while the traffic, which once surged over them, now passed through the lowlands below, by way of the great canal or still greater railroad.

The great panic of 1837 was, too, a severe blow to the place. Immediately following the loss of trade, from the causes mentioned, its effect was doubly severe. It lasted, so far as this town was concerned, until 1844, and during that time every prominent merchant either failed or went out of business.

The history of Cherry Valley, during the decade beginning with 1838, is perhaps the most remarkable in its existence. Certainly no other village, of a thousand people, has ever played so important a part in the politics of a great State.

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During this time Cherry Valley furnished to the State, two Members of the Board of Regents, (Dr. Wm. Campbell, LL. D., and Jabez D. Hammond, LL. D.); a President of the State Senate, (Levi Beardsley); a Surveyor-General, (Wm. Campbell); a Canal Commissioner, (Geo. W. Little); two Members of Congress, (Jeremiah E. Cary, and Wm. W. Campbell); a State Senator, (David H. Little); a National Elector, (Jacob Livingston); a Justice of the Superior Court, (Wm. W. Campbell, LL. D.); and a member of the Court for the Correction of Errors, (Levi Beardsley). It also had two life Trustees of Union College, then the most famous educational institution in the country, outside of New England,--and it was represented. on the Boards of many large institutions and corporations.

Its influence in county politics was very great, as is indicated by the fact that at one time (1848) it furnished three of the seven county officers--Charles McLean, County Clerk; Dewitt C. Bates, District Attorney; Jonas Platner, Sheriff, and a member of Assembly, (Benjamin Davis). The important part it took in county matters is further shown by the fact that, upon the reorganization of the County Agricultural Society, in 1841, the President, Secretary and Treasurer were all chosen from Cherry Valley.

Its activity in local matters was fully as great as in county and state affairs. There were here at this time three companies of infantry--commanded re-

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spectively by Capt. Wm. C. Wilson, Capt. Harmon Howland and Capt. Jonathan Hall--and three companies of artillery (strictly one company of 3 guns) commanded by Capt. Sutphen. There were also two Fire Companies, a Brass Band and several other organizations.

During this time Cherry Valley acquired considerable literary importance by the publication of Hammond's "Political History," and "Times of Silas Wright"; Beardsley's "Reminiscences", and Campbell's "Annals of Tryon County" and "Life of Judith Grant,"--all of which attracted attention in the literary world, as well as by the activity of several other of its residents in literary affairs.

The industries, giving employment to a number of men, included Watt's Tannery, which stood on the site of the stone building opposite the grounds of the Episcopal church; Judd's Iron Foundry; Luke Brewer's Furniture Factory below the corner of Main and Genesee streets; Harry Smith's Truss works, and Benj. Davis' Hat-making establishment. Several wagon, tailor and shoe shops also gave employment to quite a number of men.

At this time the Academy, of which J. Washington Taylor was principal and Miss Caroline F. King preceptress, was enjoying a period of great prosperity. Connected with it was a Musical Department under the charge of Jonathan Fowler, a music teacher of reputation, which attracted hither many students of music. The large number of old and wealthy

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families also gave the place great social prominence. Indeed the whole history of Cherry Valley during this period shows a prominence and activity that would be deemed incredible in a village of a thousand inhabitants, did not the official records testify to its truth.

In 1838 President Martin VanBuren visited Cherry Valley. He was entertained while here by Jacob Livingston, Esq., (a strong Whig and an elector on the Harrison ticket in 1840). A public reception was tendered him at Wilkin's (formerly Story's) tavern in the afternoon, and a private reception was given in his honor by Mrs. Levi Beardsley, in the evening.

The one hundredth anniversary of the settlement of Cherry Valley was celebrated on the Fourth of July, 1840. The event called together an enormous crowd estimated at 25,QOO--including many distinguished men. The speakers were the Rev. Dr. Eliphalet Nott, president of Union College, Wm. H. Seward, the Governor of the State, and the Hon. W. W. Campbell. The latter was one of the men who, both by their ability and prominence, added to the fame of Cherry Valley. He was at various times Circuit Judge, Judge of the Supreme Court and Member of Congress; a life Trustee of Union College, and author of "Annals of Tryon County", "Life of Judith Grant", and several other works, as well as many magazine articles and pamphlets. He had also a very considerable reputation as a speaker.

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The greatest political celebration ever held in this or adjoining counties, was in the famous "Log Cabin and Hard Cider Campaign" when Harrison and Tyler were the Whig candidates. Several days before the celebration a log cabin was erected on the site of the present Francis house, next to C. B. Platner's. The cabin was built in a single day, all the Whigs in the town who could find room to drive a nail aiding in its erection. The day after it was completed several of the leading Whigs decided that they would whitewash the interior. Accordingly armed with whitewash pails and brushes they took possession of the cabin. Fortunately, or unfortunately, for this is one of the cases in which opinions might honestly differ,--a cider barrel or two was considered a necessary part of the furnishings of a log cabin, and the builders of this particular cabin had finished their labors by "rolling in" several barrels of cider. The result may be easily imagined. After a day spent in the cabin the company towards evening appeared, themselves decorated from head to feet with whitewash, and with unsteady steps, but with happiness depicted on their faces as the result of a good deed well done, sought their several homes. It is illustrative of the times that this proceeding, which would now be considered "disgraceful," attracted no special attention and was not looked upon as anything especially out of the way. Among the party were Judge Hammond, Judge Brackett, Counselor H. J. Campbell and several other of the first

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men in the village. The only special comment on the subject was that of a radical democrat who expressed the opinion that "it almost made him wish he was a Whig." Which doubtless expressed the opinion of a good many other prominent democrats.

The celebration itself was held in Ripley's Grove, (now the Bates' farm). Connected with it was the inevitable "Ox Roast." The sticks sustaining the Ox bad burned off during the roasting process the preceding night, allowing the animal to drop into the huge dripping pan and thence into the fire, so that portions of the outer part were more thoroughly Cocked than absolutely necessary, but with the assistance of the hard cider, which stood in barrels all over the lot--free to all--this was easily over- looked. A novel sight was a large number of small log cabins, some used for refreshment booths and others merely for show; the latter gaily decorated and having, as their occupants, girls, women and men, in various costumes, representing early settlers, indians, etc. Some of the smaller of these were built by farmers on wagons, or ox carts, and drawn to the grounds. Seth Pope, who lived on the hill back of the Roseboom place, narrowly escaped a fatal accident by the tipping over of a log cabin he was bringing down the hill on his ox cart. Fortunately the bevy of girls; dressed in white, who were to occupy it, were walking and escaped injury, as did also, by singular good fortune, the driver.

In 1844 another very large political celebration

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was held in Campbell's grove, at which the "Speech" was delivered by Horace Greeley. In connection with this was also an "Ox roast"--apparently a necessary concomitant of all the early celebrations.

Cherry Valley was itself too full of life to pay much attention to the Mexican war and there were few volunteers from here. Several reached the recruiting station at New York but the only ones who took an active part in the war were Lieut. Edward Gilbert, who was later the first Representative in Congress, from the new State of California, and Capt. John Brackett, who served for many years in the regular army.

The present Episcopal Society was incorporated on April 13, 1846, under the name of Grace Church.--The first rector was the Rev. Joseph Ransom.--The vestry was composed of the following: James W. Brackett and Henry Roseboom, Wardens; Benjamin Davis, George W. White, Charles Mc Lean. B. B. Provost, David L. White, Joseph Calder, Amos L. Swan and Wm. Owen, Vestrymen. Of the charter members of the society Mrs. Henry Roseboom, Mrs. A. B. Cox and Mrs. Brayton A. Campbell alone survive. Of the vestry not one is now living. The following is a list of the Episcopalian ministers and rectors who have held services here: --- Russell, 1787 to 1793; David Nash, 1798 to 18O6; Timothy Miner, 1838 to 1841; Joseph Ransom, 1845 to 1850; J. Leander Townsend, 1850 to

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1852; John Dowdney, 1852 to 1853; George H. Nichols, 1854 to 1865; Flavel S. Mines, 1865 to 1867; David L. Schwartz, 1867 to 1872; Henry H. Oberly, 1873 to 1874, J. H. De Mule, 1874 to 1876; Reeve Hobbie, 1876 to 1884; J. E. Hall, 1885 to the present time.

About the year 1847, John W. Fowler established a Law School here, which was very successful, for some years, and attracted hither a number of young men of ability who, later in life, attained prominence. Fowler gave his chief attention to oratory and many of the public speakers and campaign orators who became noted in the west--for that section attracted most of the youth of that time received their training at the "Cherry Valley Law School."

About 1849 Amos L. Swan began the manufacture of Melodeons, and, two years later, 0. H. Eldredge engaged in the manufacture of Cabinet Organs, on quite an extensive scale. The former's business was broken up by the civil war. The Eldredge Factory was run until 1874--during the later years by Alex, Fea & Sons,--when it was also abandoned.

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The history of Cherry Valley, so far as its general influence and prominence is concerned, may be said to have ended with the close of the first half of the Century. Perhaps the most remarkable thing in its whole history is the suddenness with which it dropped from a place of leading importance into a commonplace country village. The town, which had, between 1838 and 1848, been the home of State officers, members of the Board of Regents, Senators, Judges and Congressmen has, during the fifty years since then, with the exception of one Congressman, (Oliver A. Morse 35th Congress), never had an official of any importance. Its decline in wealth and social importance was more gradual, and it continued, for thirty years after the date mentioned, to hold an enviable position in the social world, by reason of the wealth and standing of many of its families.

In 1854 Cherry Valley was further reduced, both in size and population, by the formation from it of the town of Roseboom. So named in honor of

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Abraham Roseboom, one of its oldest and most prominent, as well as its wealthiest citizen. At this time Cherry Valley was the first town in the county in point of population. The village itself was, however the second in the county, Cooperstown being first. The village of Cherry Valley attained its greatest numerical size during the later fifties. It at one time contained over eleven hundred inhabitants. It was a far less prepossessing looking village than it now is, and contained many old rookeries and unpainted houses. But what is somewhat remarkable, it did not possess nearly as many buildings as to-day. Genesee street had only four or five houses; there were only a few houses on upper Main street; Upper Montgomery street and its lanes had not half the present number of houses, and Maple Avenue was unopened. It was however not unusual to find several families in a house and a dozen people in a family.

In 1854 Lodge Rooms were built for the I. 0.0. F. Society; which had been established here in 1847, by the addition of a third story to the building known as the "Bates Block." The Odd Fellows continued to occupy these rooms until the building was destroyed by fire in 1894. In the same year (1854) an Encampment was organized in connection with the Lodge. No member of the original Lodge is now living and of the charter members of the Encampment, we believe only two--James Young, Esq., and Robert Wales. Both organizations are now in a

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flourishing condition.

The following account of the part taken by Cherry Valley, in the late civil war, written by Rev. H. U. Swinnerton, Ph. D., in 1876, is so concise and complete that no later account can improve it.

"A company was raised in April, 1861, immediately after Sumter, its quarters being in the school house near the cemetery, on the site of the old revolutionary fort. It was offered at Albany, under the first call for 75,000 men, but the call having been filled it was not received. Its captain was Geo. S. Tuckerman, and its lieutenants, Egbert Olcott and Cleveland J. Campbell. All or nearly all its members enlisted in other organizations. Some of them, with others from the village, making ten in all, enlisted as privates at Albany in the 44th ("Ellsworth Avengers,") which went out in the Fall. Among these Campbell rose from one grade to another in line and staff and in different corps, becoming a colonel, and brig. gen. by brevet. He died before the close of the war. Olcott passed to the 121st of which he long held command, after the promotion of Gen. Upton, and becoming a colonel; and William Crafts received a captain's commission on the day he died.

For years preceding there had been a fine military company of which Amos L. Swan was captain, and in which the people of the village took great interest. It was attached to the old 39th militia, of which Cherry Valley was the head-quarters. In September 1861, on the call for three year's men, Gen.

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Danforth, of the local militia brigade, was present at a parade of this company. On his asking how many from it would go, the order was given, for such as were willing, to advance from the ranks when nearly the whole company stepped forward. There was then no bounty, and the men did not even know the pay. The general at once decided that the enlistment of the 39th should be proceded with at Cherry Valley. Bates' hop-house was used for barracks, and the old M. P. Church as mess room. Over six hundred men were recruited by the 1st of January 1862, when they were suddenly ordered to Albany, and there summarily consolidated with the 76th N. Y. S. V. Two of the companies, however were put in the artillery under Col. Laidley.

The 39th thus lost its identity, and the interest of the people here, followed the 76th through its long career down to Appomattox; what was left of it taking part there in the closing strokes of the war. For it the flag was made. The officers from Cherry Valley were as follows: Capt. A. L. Swan, who was brevetted Lieut. Col., Lieut. Robert Story, (a most gallant soldier,) who became Capt., and was killed at Gettysburg, Capt. John W. Young became a major. James D. Clyde subsequently entered as Lieut. and became a captain. Of those who entered as privates in it, Edwin J. Swan became a captain, and Barnard Phenis, a Lieut., (killed at Weldon, R. R.) Samuel Ludlam and James George became serjeants, and Albert Gross several times declined the office,

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as did Solomon Howe, though called by Col. Swan the "banner soldier" of the regiment. John Stevens was made color serg't at Gettysburg, and Irving Baker at South Mountain for bravery.

In the Fall of 1861, after the defeat at Bull Run, a troop of cavalry was formed under Lieut. Philip R. Wales (who became a Capt.) and received at N. Y., into the Ira Harris Cavalry, (afterwards 6th N. Y.)--John Ramsay became a first lieutenant in it, and James J. Fonda an ordinance serjeant. Morgan Lewis went out as a private and became a captain. Also, that Fall, a squad of near a score for Berdan's Sharpshooters, raised by Geo. S. Tuckerman as Capt. and Lieut. Charles McLean, who was killed. Wm. McLean; his brother was a serjeant, and was also killed. In this corps John E. Hetherington afterwards became a captain, and Oliver J. Hetherington was a serjeant, William Story several times persistently refused a commission on account of a romantic friendship, for the sake of which he preferred the ranks. He and James Kraig, his alter ego were first in, and last out, of everything that was lively.--James Hetherington, the third brother of the two above, went in the volunteer navy, as, did also William V. S. Bastian, John Nelson, and Thomas Brien. Charles Nichols (son of the rector of Grace Church,) George Engle and William Nelson lost their lives in the navy. The residence of Lieut. Coin. George Ransom U. S. N. was here though now changed to Richfield. He commanded the cruiser, Grand Gulf,

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was Post Capt. at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, and now ranks as Commander in one of the finest vessels of the Navy. In August 1862. upon the second call for three year's men, two companies were raised for the l2lst, whose head quarters were at Herkimer. Egbert Olcott, as stated above, long held command. He received some remarkable commendations for the efficiency of his regiment, and his own merit as an officer. It was attached to the 6th Corps. and was engaged in all the battles of the army of the Potomac up to Winchester. Thence under Sheridan in his campaign to Richmond. It got the honorable nickname of "Upton's regulars." Other officers from here were captains Edwin Clark and Douglas Campbell, the latter brevetted major, Lieut. and Adj't. Francis W. Morse who became captain on the staff, and major by brevet, and Lients. James D. Clyde and Wm. Tucker; Edward Wales and John Daniels both brave fellows, became serjeants and were killed. The three Wallaces, Spencer, Benjamin, and John, sons of a clergyman, (the last of whom was killed,) were among the many privates, whose services were as valuable as those of many an officer. And John Skinnon, an old veteran of the British Army, was another of the same kind. When examined for enlistment the doctor pointed to a bullet scar in his chest, remarking "If that had gone an inch this way it would have killed you."

"Begorra," said John, "and if it had gone the wan inch the other way, it wouldn't have hit me at all!"

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Besides these bodies of men, there went from the place numerous individuals in other organizations; including the following:

David Little, M. D. went out as Assist. Surgeon of the 14th, New York, and became a Surgeon, with the rank of major. Egbert Olcott (a cousin of the before mentioned of the same name,) became a lieut. in the Regular Army. Delos Olcott, his brother, became a Capt. in the volunteers. George Little became a Capt. in the 127th, Louis Campbell became a lieutenant in the 152d, Charles Fry was an Assist. Surgeon in the 26th.

Col. Olcott, Capt. Delos Olcott, Major Young, Capt. Ed. Swan, Capt. Clyde, and Lients. Casler of Springfield and L. Campbell were all prisoners and were among the officers placed under fire at Charleston during the bombardment. Some were exchanged, but others endured unspeakable horrors in the prisons at Savannah, Macon and Columbia, gaining their liberty, with constitutions in some cases totally impaired, only at the end of the war.

I feel that this list is very imperfectly made up, as almost every day adds a name or an item which ought to go in. My only fear, however, is that the reader a hundred years from now will not believe that out of the two or three thousand people in this town so many could have been sent; that the officers alone so far as named should number so many as thirty-seven;--embracing eleven of the rank of capitan, ten of higher grade seven lieutenants, and at

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least nine subalterns; and that the dead whose fate was ascertained should count up to forty-two.

The taking away, by the war, of so many of the young men of the village, not only reduced its population, but also injuriously effected its business interests. It was the main cause leading to the closing of the Academy and it caused the permanent abandonment of one, and the temporary stoppage of the other, of the melodeon factories. In the midst of the depression, brought about by the war, came the opening of the Albany & Susquehanna railroad, which diverted from Cherry Valley the trade of the lower part of Otsego and adjoining counties. The greater portion of which had, up to this time, passed through it, on the way to Albany or the New York Central railroad.

In the early part of June, 1866, the Tryon House, a locally noted hotel, was destroyed by fire, and a month later, (July 6), a still more disastrous fire swept away all the remaining business portion of Main street, on the north side, with the exception of the Central Hotel and the building east of it.

In 1867, the last "General Training" was held in Cherry Valley. Immediately afterwards the old 39th Regiment, which had long had its head-quarters here, was disbanded. The Militia equipments were removed and the old Arsenal abandoned to the village youth and to the elements. The combined efforts, of these two destructive agents, soon made a wreck of the building, and a number of years ago it

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was torn down and burned.

In 1868 a company was organized for the development of the "White Sulphur Spring," two miles north of the village. The existence of the spring had been known since the settlement of the place, and is said to have been much visited by the indians for many years previous. A commodious bath-house was erected and a very considerable amount of money was expended in laying out roads and developing the property, but the enterprise, owing doubtless. to its distance from any hotel, was never a success. A fact much to be regretted, for there is no question of the medicinal value of the water. A little later a phosphate spring, know to the indians, was re-discovered. The water was thoroughly analyzed and found to be heavily impregnated with phosphates but, in developing, it became mixed with other water, and it was also finally abandoned.

The building of the New York Central and the Albany & Susquehanna railroads had so completely isolated Cherry Valley from the rest of the world, that it was deemed almost essential for the existence of the place that it should have railroad communication with the outside world, and, a charter having been acquired, the building of a road from Cherry Valley to a junction with the Albany & Susquehanna at Cobleskill was begun on Dec. 1, 1868, and on June 15, 1870, the first train ran over the newly completed Cherry Valley, Sharon & Albany railroad. The following day trains began running regularly. The

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officers of the road from this town were: Wm. W. Campbell president; H. J. Olcott, treasurer; A. B. Cox, Dewitt C. Bates and James Young, directors. Mr. Bates was also the superintendent of the road. The road was never a paying affair and after a few years it was sold to the Delaware & Hudson Canal Co., the present owners. The town was bonded for $150,000. to build the road, the bonds drawing seven per cent interest. The payment of which has been a heavy burden on the town for many years, but is now rapidly becoming less burdensome both by the reduction in the rate of interest and the payment of the greater part of the principal.

In the year 1869, James S. Campbell, the last survivor of the Massacre, passed away, at the advanced age of 97 years. He was a child of six years, when the tories and indians descended upon the ill-fated settlement, and was, with the rest of the family, taken captive. He was carried to Canada and adopted into an Indian family. More remarkable even than his great age or his connection with the revolutionary period, is the fact that he was a son of Col. Samuel Campbell, one of the original settlers of Cherry Valley. Probably no two generations in the same family ever covered a longer period in the history of an American village. Certainly none ever witnessed greater changes nor passed through a more exciting epoch.

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The history of Cherry Valley, since 1870, has been but a constant record of disasters and deaths; of devastating fires, of loss of population by removals, and of business through these and other causes. But of far more serious moment has been the loss, by death, of the men who, by their intellect, position, or wealth, gave the town a character and standing unequalled among the smaller villages of the state. Among the men having an extended reputation for literary and scholarly attainments, living here in 1870, and who have since died, were Judge Wm. W. Campbell, Hon. Oliver A. Morse and Prof. John L. Sawyer. The men of wealth and high social standing included A. B. Cox, Henry Roseboom, Joseph Phelon, Horatio J. Olcott, G. W. B. Dakin, Horace Ripley and Samuel Campbell. Of these the first three were members of old and wealthy families previously mentioned; types of the older generation of country gentlemen, now so nearly extinct. Mr. Olcott, a member of the family, of that name, long prominent in banking circles, was for over fifty years

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connected with the Central Bank; a portion of that time as President. Mr. Dakin, a very gentlemanly man, of scholarly tastes, succeeded Mr. Olcott as president of the Bank. (His name was inadvertently omitted from the list of the presidents in a previous chapter). Mr. Ripley, a member of an old Cherry Valley family, was a retired city merchant. Samuel Campbell, Esq., for many years a prominent New York lawyer, having amassed a large fortune, had returned to his native village to spend the rest of his days. Of the lawyers Judge George C. Clyde, Dewitt C. Bates, Davis Bates and Wm. Burch, enjoyed more than a local reputation. The superior abilities of the latter were not fully appreciated by later generations. They did justice to his ability as a lawyer, but his broader scholarship and knowledge --so rare among country lawyers of the present generation were not appreciated at their full value. Among the medical fraternity Joseph White and George Merritt held an excellent position; the latter especially in surgery. In local and county affairs Charles McLean long occupied a leading place. There were also a number of others, whose respectable talents and standing entitled them to consideration.

That these men did not do more to extend the reputation and improve the material prospects of the place, was due to the fact that many of them came here after the prime of life--having acquired prominence and wealth in other fields--and preferred a

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life of retirement. They sought rather to keep it, as it then was, a quiet, cultivated, country village, than to make it an active, stirring, bustling town; as with the wealth and influence at their command they might easily have done.

On June 21, 1871, fire again visited the place and destroyed the old two and a half story building standing on the corner opposite the Tryon House lot. Like most of the fires that have taken place in the village, this proved but a temporary disaster as a more modern three story block was soon erected on this site.

In June 1872 the old Presbyterian church erected in 1827-8, was torn down, and on October 1st, 1873, the handsome stone edifice which now adds so much to the beauty of the village, and attracts the attention of all visitors, was dedicated. The church was erected by the munficience of Miss Catharine Roseboom and is a memorial both of her generosity and her interest in the cause of christianity. The only outward show of an extended liberality and deep interest in religious matters, which she has evinced privately in many instances.

The Historical Account of the Presbyterian church of Cherry Valley says: "It can probably be said of few churches in this country, that there have been erected for their use, so many as five successive houses of worship. The edifice we now occupy is the fifth building that has been raised and dedicated to the use of this congregation in the

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worship of God." Following is a list of the Pastors who have been stationed here since the organization of the Presbyterian Society: Samuel Dunlop, 1741-78; Eliphalet Nott, 1796-98; Thos. K. Kirkham, 1803-04; Geo. Hall, 1806-07; Jesse Townsand, 1810; Eli F. Cooley, 1810-20; John Truair, 1820-22; Charles Jas. Cook, 1822; Charles Fitch, 1822-24; Evans Beardsley, 1825; Jas. B. Ambler, 1825-27; C. W. D. Tappan, 1828-29; Alex. M. Cowan, 1830-33; Wm. Lochead, 1834-38; Albert V. H. Powell, 1838-39; William Lusk, 1841-46; Geo. S. Boardman, 1847-49; John G. Hall, 1850-57; Jas. H. Dwight, 1857-58; Alex. S. Twombly, 1858-62; Edward P. Gardner, 1862-67; Henry U. Swinnerton, 1868 to the present time.

The remarkable decline in the importance of Cherry Valley, is made most strikingly evident by the statement that there were seventeen lawyers in active practice in 1843, but by 1873 the number had declined to four.

In 1876, Miss Catharine Roseboom purchased the lot at the corner of Montgomery and, Church streets and erected thereon a building for Academic purposes. A Conservatory of Music was started, in 1878, with a competent corps of instructors, but it proved a failure and was soon abandoned. In accordance with the original intention, an Academy was established, in 1881, and was run until 1895, when, through lack of support, both moral and material, it too was given up. Educationally the

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Academy was always a success but it was financially a failure, and was only kept up by the liberality of Miss Roseboom.

The Centennial of the Massacre of Cherry Valley and the unveiling of the Monument which, to quote the late Roscoe Conkling, "testifies of the sorrow of one generation and the appreciation of another," was held on the 15th of August, 1878. The names of the honorary officers, on that occasion, will be of sad interest to those whose memory carries them back to that date, not only as showing the class of men who then formed a part of the village, but also as showing the sad ravages of death in the comparatively short time that has since elapsed; for of these men, most of whom were little past the prime of life, but two are left--John Judd and Wm. H. Waldron. The list is as follows: President:--Chas, McLean. Vice Presidents:--W. W. Campbell, H. J. Olcott, Samuel C. Willson, Henry Roseboom, J. N. Clyde, Jacob Sharp, John Judd, William W. Holt, Joseph Phelon, George Merritt, J. L. Sawyer, James 0. Morse, Thos. 5, Wells, John C. Campbell, Horace Ripley, William H. Waldron, Amos L. Swan, John C. Winne, James Horton, Sen., DeWitt C. Clyde, William Burch, Samuel B. Campbell, Hiram Flint.

The following account is taken from the "Proceedings of the Centennial of the Cherry Valley Massacre" by John L. Sawyer: "The 15th of August was a marked day in the calender of Cherry Valley;

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--not from the number of those present, though it was great; nor from the character of the guests, though many of them were distinguished; but from the fact that it was the day set apart for the final act of a duty that three generations of men had neglected to perform. The procession was formed promptly at one o'clock P. M., under the direction of the Marshal, Capt. J. E. Hetherington, and proceeded to the cemetery where the following program was carried out: 1. Dirge by the Band, 2. Prayer by Dr. Eliphalet Nott Potter, President of Union College, 3. Singing of Ode, written for the occasion by John L. Sawyer. 4. Remarks by the President of the day, 5. Address of Hon. Horatio Seymour. 6. Unveiling of the Monument by Hon. Thos. L. Wells, of N. J., Hon. W. W. Campbell of Cherry Valley, N. Y., DeWitt C. Clyde, Esq. of Middlefield, N. Y., Hon. S. C. Willson of Indiana and J. B. Thompson, M. D., of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., decedents of those whose names are inscribed thereon. 7. An Idyl of Cherry Valley, Poem and Chorus written for the occasion, by S. E. Johnson of Boston, 8. Address by Douglas Campbell, Esq., of New York, 9. Singing by the Choir, 10. Address by Hon. S. C. Willson of Indiana, 11. Address by Col. Snow of Oneonta, 12. Address by Dr. Potter, 13. Benediction by Rev. H. U. Swinnerton.

On March 29th, 1891, that part of the business portion of the village known as 'Harmony Row' was destroyed by fire, as was also the house and store

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occupied by Alexander Oliver.

In 1893, Messrs. Rudd and Harris, of Brooklyn,-- the former a native of Cherry Valley--purchased the Grand Hotel property, (formerly the old Academy) and spent much money in beautifying and improving it. The lithia water (from the lithia spring) was also brought to the village, and a handsome fountain erected on the hotel grounds. It was hoped that through the efforts of these men Cherry Valley would develope into a summer resort, rivalling its neighbors,--Sharon and Richfield,--but on July 6th, 1894 a fire, the most disastrous in its result, that has ever visited the place, destroyed the hotel. A most serious loss both to the beauty of the village and its material prospects Five days previous fire had also destroyed the Central Hotel, for many years the most popular hotel in the town. The latter has however been replaced by a larger and much more modern building.

Since this time nothing of moment has taken place in this town, excepting the building of the water works system in 1896-7, and the death of several prominent men.

The only man, properly belonging to the present generation, who has contributed to the fame of Cherry Valley was the late Douglas Campbell, whose great work "The Puritan in England, Holland and America", was written in Cherry Valley, in the years immediately preceding his death. A work that will stand as a lasting monument to the talents of

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the author, not less than to his indomitable will, which alone sustained him, wasting with disease and suffering from physical pain, to complete a work which required the keenest perceptions and the deepest thought. As a literary feat it is unsurpassed in the annals of literature.

Of the historic buildings of the village the residence of Mrs. Sarah Morse O'Connor, has been alone preserved in its original form. A house of much local interest from the great number of distinguished guests who have been entertained there both by Mrs. O'Connor's father, Hon. Oliver A. Morse, and by her talented grand-father, Judge James 0. Morse; of great interest, to many Collegians, as the house wherein was founded the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity; and of world-wide interest as the roof under which Prof. Morse, the inventor of the telegraph worked out many of his theories of the system that bears his name. Here too, as a young artist, the guest of his cousin, James 0. Morse, he painted several of his pictures, which have since become famous. It has an added interest as being for many years the home of Mrs. Oliver A. Morse, at the time of her death, at the beginning of the present year, one of the few real surviving daughters of the revolution. A woman of rare lovliness of character, of superior culture and of unusual refinement.

The Cherry Valley of to-day differs in little from other small villages. A few of the older families, growing yearly less, still linger, and give to the vil-

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lage a certain social prestige and an unconscious air of refinement, unknown to more modern country places. Its clergymen hold a somewhat higher social position and are possessed of greater learning, if not eloquence, than the average country minister. Its lawyers and doctors rank fairly well in their professions, and its merchants are fully the average in enterprise, honesty and respectability. Its moral tone is unusually good and its churches are supported as well proportionately as elsewhere in the country. It has the usual secret organizations, fire companies, Union School, water works and other concomitants of villages of its size and class.

Whether it will ever again become an active factor in the doings of the world, or whether it has accomplished its part, the future only will determine.--The present of the American village is epemeral, the future uncertain, but the glory of such a past as Cherry Valley's will last as long as this country endures. While the younger generations, in whom the fire of ambition burns, wilt lament that the advance of civilization and the growth of the cities, those great vampires which suck the life blood of the smaller villages, have destroyed the prosperity of this once famous village, there are many who will rejoice that the same causes have preserved to the place its natural beauty; that the hills still wear their wooded crests; that the landscape is unmarred by unsightly buildings, and the pure mountain streams unpolluted by the refuse of factories and mills.

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My earliest recollections of the place began when I was about four years old, when I came to live with my grandfather, Dr. or he was usually called, Judge White. What a lovely village it was then, and how many people of position and cultivation were in it! As the late Douglas Campbell said, "all the good people are dead." My grandfather and his two sons, Menzo and Delos, stood at the head of the medical profession as physicians and surgeons. James 0. Morse, Levi Beardsley, Isaac Seeley, Alvin Stewart, Jabez D. Hammond and James Brackett, were well- known lawyers all over the state. So many men possessed of so much talent and culture could be found in no other place of equal or superior size. A flourishing Academy kept up the teaching of the young for their future destiny, or work, I should say. Among the mechanics was Amasa Belknap, whose rifle shooting, and rifle making was well known; also Harry Smith, a scientific jeweler, and Prescott whose clocks and scissors are still prized by the descendants of

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the old inhabitants. Besides these villagers the surrounding inhabitants were people who were deserving of being remembered. Down about four miles below the village lived the Rosebooms, and a mile or two nearer, the Dixons, a little farther on Jesse Johnson, and a little farther away still, lived his son Erastus; under the bill lived the widow Henn and her four children, and on the hill above some of her family, the descendants of her father, Judge Hudson, I think Mrs. Davis and her two daughters lived there. The old Presbyterian church stood in the grave yard, and it was the only church here; there were a few Episcopalians, who had organized a church in 1803, but it had frittered out, and. only now and then had visits from father Nash or Mr. Tiffany. There were no Methodists here then.

In my mentioning the mechanics, I omitted the Judd family, who were very prominent here and most excellent citizens.

In those times people had to be very economical, for there was very little money in circulation. Every one had the comforts of life, but there was not the ambition for elegancies in furniture and dress that there is now. Consequently people had more time and leisure for the cultivation of their minds. Bric-a-brac was an unknown word. In those times people were not conventional, but gave utterance to their thoughts in an honest and original way. In reading the sayings and doings of some of the old English worthies I think they are no more worthy

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of being recorded than some of the witticisms of "Our Village." At the head of the list stood Alvin Stewart, a Green Mountaineer. He was a tall, large boned man, of sallow complexion, and showed the white of the eye a great deal. Like Artemus Ward he could convulse people with his sayings and doings, without changing his countenance. I was too young to understand and remember all I have heard about him. He went to Europe, about sixty years ago, in the time of sailing vessels, when the voyage was long enough for the passengers to become acquainted with each other, and the Captain said, he would willingly take him for nothing for the amusement he afforded. He was a teacher at first, in the Academy, and always kept his eyes open when he made the prayer, at the opening of the school. One scholar, bolder than the others, said: "Mr. Stewart, why do you always keep your eyes open when you pray?" He said, "we are commanded to watch as well as pray." But he was much liked by his pupils. I wish I could remember all the funny things I've heard of him. An old lady told me that once a boy did something against the rule, and he told him to go and get some withes. When the boy came back he told him he thought he should have to kill him; and, as he threatened, he kept poking the withes in the ashes, to season them. When school was dismissed he took up the bundle of sticks and told the boy to run; and he whipt all the benches and chairs, and the boy escaped un-

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scathed. He was addicted to taking too much sometimes, but he afterwards reformed and became a great temperance man. He was also a great abolitionist and became very prominent as one. He married a Miss Holt. They had three beautiful little daughters, two of whom fell victims to the scarlet fever; the surviving one was Mrs. Marsh, who is immortalized as "Jennie Marsh of Cherry Valley," by the poet Morris. I have forgotten to mention that there was another daughter, who married Judge Dean, of Poughkeepsie, and I believe is still living. He had a son Alvin, who died young.

They told a story about Mr. Stewart and a young lawyer, who was opposed to him in an important case. The young man fully aware of the strength of his opponent, made great efforts to prepare himself for the battle. He wrote a fine speech but he had the misfortune to have a very weak voice. After he had finished, Mr. Stewart arose, in a very deliberate manner, with a handkerchief wrapped around his head, and, rising still higher on his tip-toes, said, "wee! wee! wee!" Which brought down the house, and totally defeated the young man in his first attempt at eloquence. His quotations, or mis-quotations, of Shakespeare, and other classical writers were too funny for anything. In speaking of some women in court, he said, she "stood like patience at a wash-tub."

Another pair of funny lawyers were Mr. Levi Beardsley and James Brackett. They were mighty

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hunters and in those days there were no foxes in the country to rob the farmers of their geese and turkeys, and we could hear the hounds baying about the hills very often. They used to take a bottle to refresh the inner man, and one day after tasting it they found it was Adam's Ale, whereupon Mr. Beardsley said: "It was some of Elizabeth's work." It is said, altho' I do not vouch for the truth of it, that Elizabeth once decapitated one of her husband's hounds.

Judge Morse was a very talented lawyer and one of the most amiable of men. His wife was also a a very gifted woman. She was a great lover of flowers and her garden was one of the show places of the town.

Judge Hammond was another distinguished lawyer. He wrote the "Political History of New York." Personally he was one of the ugliest men I ever saw. He was a widower, with one son, when I first recall him. He married soon after a lady who was recommended to him; one of the lovliest characters I ever met with. She was dreadfully scarred with the small-pox, but was so agreeable that one forgot she was not beautiful. She devoted her life to him, and said it was worth something to have such an agreeable companion. She read all the proof sheets for his history, read to him, conversed with him, and did everything to make him happy. Altho' of a strong vigorous constitution, he had to be indulged in all his whims; she had to make his brown bread, cook his rice, and when he was judge she had.

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to accompany him to court and carry his bread. He must have a fresh egg for his breakfast, and one lady said: "If there was but one hen in the world, and that hen laid but one egg, Judge Hammond must have it." Perhaps the Judge had some appreciation of her, for after her death he wrote on her bed Adam's discription of Eve:
"Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye;
In every gesture dignity and love."

Another lawyer who was quite prominent was Mr. Seeley, He had two daughters who were agreeable, accomplished ladies, Mrs. Wm. Oliver of Penn Yan and Mrs. David H. Little. Their house was the resort of all the pleasant people of the village and county.

In my time the principal of the Academy was Mr. Cogswell, an excellent teacher and a man very much respected. He died in the western part of the State not many years ago. His successors were nearly all fine scholarly men and it is a great pity such an institution which prepared so many young men for doing good work in the world should have been closed. It was endowed by a Mr. Dwight Ripley, but by what means the property was ever diverted from its rightful use I never could find out. There were several other families that ought to be remembered. Among these were the Clydes, who lived above the village, and whose ancestor in the revolution was one of the principal men here.

Judge Hudson, who owned the place now occupied by Edward Phelon, was an Englishman. He was

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a very fat man and a good farmer. I've heard my father say the Hudson and Tunnicliffe cheese used to sell for fifty cents a pound on the North River. He used to import his cattle from England and lived in the style of an English grazier. He was so fat he could not walk and used to be driven about in his ox-cart. He was very fond of good eating and partook too freely of his home brewed. He would get very ill and send for my grand-father and say to him: "Dr. White, if you will only cure me this time I will neither eat nor drink any more. But he broke his word and the last time my grandfather said: "Judge, I can do nothing for you." A short time since a person told me that her uncle had a large chair, almost big enough for two persons to sit in, and it was called "the Hudson Chair." I asked her if she had never heard of the "Hudsons."-- She said. "No." "So soon do we pass away and are forgotten." Some idea may be had of the size of Judge Hudson: when his coffin was carried out of the house, the sides of the door had to be taken off.

There was a family of Tuckers on the East Hill. One of them, Josh, was considered a great wit. His son also named Josh was down in the village, and he made the acquaintance of a young woman sitting in a wagon under a shed. She was journeying with her family in a big covered wagon out west to "the Ohio" as it was then called. Josh and she were mutually pleased with each other, and so they were married. My grand-father said to the old

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man: "Mr. Tacker, what kind of a wife did Josh get?" "I will tell you Doctor. The Israelites they wanted bread,
The Lord did send them manna;
Our Josh wanted a wife,
And the devil sent him Hannah."

There was another Tucker, in my time, named Joe; whether he was a descendent of Josh and Hannah I cannot say. He one day gave Mrs. Joe a whipping, and the reason he gave was this. He told his wife there were two things she should not lend, one was the fine comb, the other was the darning needle, but she had the temerity to lend the darning needle, and a little girl in crossing a bridge let it fall between the planks, so she got the whipping for her disobedience.

There used to be a beautiful farm about two miles north of the village, owned by Mr. Benoni Rose. He was a pleasant, jolly old man; inclined to be fat and loved a good dinner. He was originally a carpenter, and went to the West Indies with the Kane brothers. Before he left, he was engaged to Miss Maria Betts, whose father resided on this pretty retired place.--She was tall, thin, ladylike, and as unlike him as could be, but she was his beau ideal of all that was lovely and beautiful in a woman. All his ambition was to get enough to support her in comfort and luxury. He went away with the understanding that if he did not return in two years she could consider herself free of her promise. She was not anxious to

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marry him, but the father, a selfish old man was determined she should, so that he could save his farm. She did not hear from him, and became engaged to a man after her own heart, but just before the time had expired, he came. He said he had written, but the letters had not reached her. Her lover was poor and so she had to marry him. It was a sad case. Altho' he was devoted to her she was sharp and tart in her bearing towards him; they were both to be pitied. They had no children. They came down and lived in the village and her brother lived with them and was always at logger heads with Mr. Rose, which could not have added to her happiness. Old Mrs. Campbell said there were two brothers Betts, and each of them had two children, but the latter had no descendants. Miss Deb Hudson, whose sayings have lived after her, said it was well, for the Lord knew there was enough of that pattern. The Betts came from Newtown, Long Island, and they brought with them an old negro woman named Betty, whose manners were most ladylike and finished. My mother said she was a good imitation of her mistress, Mrs. Betts. She had a daughter named Mary and her husband's name was Prince, who was as old if not older than Betty. He was in the employ of Mr. Roseboom and as the Cooperstown stage was going up the hill, a trunk fell off; whereupon old Prince got it. A very respectable man passed over the road soon after, and he was arrested and imprisoned in the jail at Cooperstown for several weeks. Finally

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the theft was discovered by some silver spoons Mary had in her possession. The poor old man was released, but his reason had given away, and he never fully recovered. One of his daughters, I was told always wept when she told of his unjust imprisonment.

We had romances and tragedies here as there are everywhere, and altho' people did not make large fortunes, they did not seem to do much better when they went away, and some who left, returned to pass their last days here. We usually had three principal stores, and our hotels have been famous. Before the days of canals and railroads all the travelers were anxious to reach Story's tavern, and in later times Sterns' was quite famous too. This was the thoroughfare, the great Western turnpike, and every morning the stage horn used to come down the hill, a much more joyful sound than the shrill whistle of the steam engine.

About two miles above us lived a family of Prevoosts. He was the son of the first Bishop of New York. He was very unsteady in his habits and his family sent him to New Jersey, where he married a good woman, and they had a large family of children. He had but two sons, and one of them is now an occupant of the asylum at Utica. The other one was a civil engineer, and a most respectable man. He died and left a widow and four children, one is a son; the daughters are dead with one exception. I think there is not one of his descendants in the Episcopal

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church. I heard Dr. J. W. Francis say he was one of the most learned men of his time, and a great botanist. His gardens were in the upper part of New York, on the land which now belongs to Columbia College.

My grandfather, carne here in 1787, when he was 21 years old, and he said he had a horse, a valise, and fifty dollars in his pocket. The records say he was a descendant of Peregrine White. His father was a surveyor under the crown, and died when my grandfather was a little boy. My grandfather ran away from home when only eight years old and shipped on a man of war at Boston. He went nearly around the world, he said, and was a powder monkey in an engagement and a man was shot down beside him. He was a very handsome man, six feet in his stockings and very active and powerful. He usually wore a dark green coat, long stockings and breeches; when riding he wore Wellington boots. Among the patients that he had here were two sons of the celebrated Timothy Pickering. Both of them stayed with him a long time. My grandfather died when I was only nine years old. He used to go sometimes a day or two without eating and then eat a great deal. He went off below Cooperstown, and to several other places to see patients. At one place a woman asked him if he would not have something to eat? He said yes for "he was very hungry." She gave him some ham, which was hard and tough. It distressed him greatly. He reached the house of

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Mr. Cushman, in Monticello, but lived only a few days. He said be had inflammation of the diaphragm and could live but so long a time, and he died as he predicted.

I have been asked if I remembered the visit of President VanBuren in the year 1838, and been told that it would interest people to have an account of it by somebody who was here then. I was a young girl, about fourteen, at the time, and, as my father was a stanch whig, I did not admire the democrats; but considered them as bad as people could be. One day Mr. Levi Beardsley, who was the leading democrat here and a state Senator, informed my father, that Mr. VanBuren was coming and asked him if he could entertain him. He said lie could if my mother was willing, which of course she was. So, upon the appointed day, a procession of two or three carriages went down to meet him, on the old Fort Plain road. When we reached Mr. Ough's, we saw the front yard filled with lovely red roses. We made a halt and Mr. Roseboom went into the house and told Mr. Ough that we were on our way to meet the president and asked him for some of his roses to present to him. He said, "Who is the bresident?" Mr. Roseboom answered "Mr. VanBuren." "Is he a goot man?" Mr. Roseboom said yes. "Then he may have my roses" he answered. A little further on we met the "goot man" and pelted him with the roses. In the evening there was a reception at the Old Story Tavern, and the people from the neighborhood

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all came to see him and Were highly pleased. One man, perhaps a little overcome with something more potent than patriotism, called him "Mattie" and others claimed some kindred with him or some of his family. It was what would be called in these times "a grand ovation."

After this was over we were invited to a reception at Mr. Beardley's, where we were entertained with a liberal supper. Mrs. Beardsley insisted upon the president partaking of a piece of pumpkin pie; which he was too polite and kind too refuse. In the middle of the night the pumpkin pie was heard from, and my father went up to see what was the disturbance in Mr. VanBuren's room. He told. him, "pumpkin pie." My father hurried to get something to allay the trouble, and he said to him: "President, I would not have you die in my house for anything;" which amused the president very much. He had with him his youngest son, Smith, and a colored valet. We had a very clever cook who, like Caleb Balderstone, was anxious to keep up the honor of the family. The valet said to her: "Does not Mr. Livingston keep a man?" She answered, "yes, but he is away now."

Mr. VanBuren was rather a small man, of florid. complexion, most polite and refined in his appearance and manners, and winning in his address.--Altho' Cherry Valley is a small place its worth talking about. You find its inhabitants in every part of the Continent from New York to the Pacific and.

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some of them are people to be proud of. In all the American Histories of the revolution there is an account of the massacres at Cherry Valley and Wyoming. It was originally patented by a Mr. Lindsay, a Scotchman, and an officer in the English army. It is a legend that he killed his friend in a duel. It was settled by a colony from down east, as the saying goes, and our hills are all named after the hills in the North of Ireland, Lady Hill, and several others. The colonists were Scotch Irish, from the North of Ireland, and consequently protestants. The farm on which we live, which was the residence of my grandfather, Dr. White, was the home of the dominie Mr. Dunlop, a Scotch man, and we may call it classic ground for it is said that he used to teach boys Latin and Greek while plowing his fields. He was engaged to be married when he left Scotland, and if he did not return in seven years, his lady love could be at liberty to choose another lover. The time passed away and she was about to get married when lo! he appeared and so she had to marry him, and come to this wilderness. When the Indians came here, the old man hid in a wood pile, but she poor woman was killed. They cut off her arm with a tomahawk, and threw it up in an apple tree; the tree was standing when I was a child. I believe they were the parents of Mrs. Wells, and consequently the grandparents of John Wells, the celebrated lawyer. The family lived on the opposite hill, and were all murdered except the young John, who was at

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Schenectady at school. My father, Jacob Livingston, was a student in his office. I had forgotten to say that the original name of the place was Lindesay's Bush. It is not neccessary to tell of the capture of the Campbells, as the story has been told by the late Judge William Campbell in his "Annals of Tryon County." I remember the old Judge, who was taken captive, with his mother, when quite a young boy. When a very old man, over 80, he went to Canada to visit the tribe of Indians with whom he had lived. He was very fond of their way of living. They asked him if he could remember any of their language. He said only one word, and that was his name, and he would like to know its meaning. When he told them his name, they said it meant, "big eyes." He and his wife lived to a good old age, she was about 91 if I recollect and he 97. They celebrated their "Diamond Wedding." Her name was Elderkin, and she came from Wyndham. There is a funny story told about that place: there were two ponds near it and there was a great drought, and one pond was nearly dry, so the frogs migrated from the dry pond to the adjoining one, in hopes of getting water. On their march they croaked, and an old negro got awfully frightened for he said, the Indians were coming for he heard them say: "Col. Dyer! Col. Dyer! and Elderkin too! Elderkin too!" Col. Dyer was one of the principal men in Windham.--The son of Judge Campbell, who wrote the "Annals of Tryon Co.," has written a book or rather a history

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of the "Puritan in England and America," which has produced quite a sensation, and I should think would be much prized by the admirers and adherents of Calvin. This is a little hamlet among the hills, I sometimes think of the discription of Jerusalem; as the Mountains are about thee, 0 Jerusalem, so are the hills about thee, 0 Cherry Valley! It is a bright pleasant place in summer, and people are glad to come here, to enhale our cool fresh air. The world has moved on beyond us, and if we are behind in some of the modern improvements and luxuries, we have escaped some of the troubles and vexatious attending them.

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The proof reading of some of the early portions of this work was not as carefully done as the author would wish, but, fortunately, the mistakes are in the main mere typographical errors. There are, however, three mistakes to which especial attention is called: In the first, Harpersfield is called Harpersville; in the account of the first massacre, in one place Alden is spelled Allen; and on page 96, Major Daniel Hale, of Albany, is called Hall.