NEARLY 100 YEARS AGO

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, June 6, 1890.

NEARLY 100 YEARS AGO.

Recollections of one of Cortland's Pioneers—An Interesting Narrative of the Olden Time.

   Probably there is no name in the vocabulary of Cortland county which causes the hesitancy that is experienced by the uninitiated in attempting the pronunciation of the assemblage of letters in "Tioughnioga." There is no doubt of its Indian origin, and that it will prove enduring is especially certain, serving to convey from generation to generation the key of the early history of the pioneer days of this town and county. The onward march of civilization is rapidly depleating [sic] the once heavy forests wherein were numerous marks of the early days of the white man's sturdy efforts to gain a livelihood from the virgin soil of the red man's hunting grounds.

   Death is also removing from our midst those whose childhood was in striking contrast with that experienced by the youth of to-day. The scenes and incidents of nearly a century past in the infancy of the town of Cortlandville in which the Tioughnioga river was a prominent factor, a prototype of the present gigantic transportation facilities offered by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad system, may be gleaned from the following narrative related from memory by Mr. Caleb Stebbins, now 84 years of age, residing on the original homestead with his son and grandchildren, about three and one-half miles north west of this village in the town of Homer.

   The first settlers upon lot number 42 in the present town of Homer, were Amos Todd and Henry Beebe and his wife, whose maiden name was Harriet Todd, sister of his pioneer companion. Starting from near the village of Windsor, Broome county, they brought the lady and their worldly possessions in a rude canoe, propelling the same by oars in deep water and drawing it with oxen over shallow portions of the river. In course of time they landed at Port Watson, for many years subsequent an important shipping port for our present flourishing county. After unloading the canoe and selecting such effects as they deemed necessary for immediate use, the trio started for the said lot number 42, having taken the precaution to hang all remaining property in the branches of trees until a convenient time arrived for its removal to the forest home, a rude structure of poles in which blankets served as a barrier to the elements and a protection from the beasts of the forest.

   Having built a "dray" they removed the balance of the ship's cargo from Port Watson and having supplied a store of provisions, probably not as elaborate as would be implied by the term at the present day, the two men set out for Delaware [presume Delaware County, N. Y.--CC editor], whither Mr. Todd went in search of a wife, returning late in the winter. During those long winter days Mrs. Beebe never looked upon the face of a white person and was visited only on one occasion by the roving animals then inhabiting the country. On this occasion she heard a noise about the cabin in the early hours of morning, and suspecting that the other members of the family had arrived, arose, dressed herself and lighting the fire proceeded to prepare the frugal meal for the expected guests; after waiting some time and hearing no sound outside she gently pulled aside the blanket door and saw some tracks but no person. In the morning the tracks of wolves settled the question as to the cause of her disturbed slumbers of the preceding night. The place designated as the site of the home of this little party is on a knoll close to a small stream between Mr. Stebbins' and Mr. Ralph Butler's, an apple tree now standing within a few feet of the spot.

   About 1794 Mr. Titus Stebbins came from Munson, Mass., and located upon the farm now occupied by Mr. Andrew Stebbins and family, erecting the first frame house known to have been built in this county, the same becoming prominent as an inn, being situated at that early day upon the main thoroughfare from the lake section to Utica and thence to Albany. Mr. Andrew Stebbins showed the DEMOCRAT representative the original sign, an oval-board hung in a square hardwood frame upon which was painted " TITUS STEBBINS' INN, 1809," on the opposite side was the same inscription, a fish appearing in place of the .

   Mr. Stebbins clearly remembers the days when Manlius Square was the only place possessing a mill for converting grain into flour or meal. How upon his father's first trip to Montville, he met a man named Alverd when about half way there and joining forces the two shoveled out a path for the oxen, camping during the winter's night by a log fire, reaching their destination near the close of the second day and returning home at dusk of the third day; compared with to-day it seems a dilliatory means of obtaining a supply of feed. In later years a saw mill was erected on the east side of the river nearly opposite W. H. Darby's flouring mills in Homer village, creating untold joy among the primitive denizens of this county.

   In 1816, Mr. Jabez Calkins, father to Jared and Chester Calkins of this town, came in from the east and settled upon a 600 acre tract to the south of Mr. Stebbins upon which now stands one of the old-time frame houses. In those days there was a man by the name of Tanner, who managed the manufacture of potash on lot number 42 carrying the product by ox teams to Albany, horses being beyond the purse capacity of our great-grandfathers. Religious services were held in the open forest and saw mills for a number of years prior to the organization of church societies in the twenties. The original school house of the town stood near the forks of the road on the present farm of Hiram Hooker, north of Homer village, to which children wended their way through the foot paths from miles around, many of the scholars being allowed to enjoy a nap before entering upon their daily studies.

   After reciting the details of this chapter Mr. Stebbins stated that he was the youngest and the only living child of Titus Stebbins and Sally Vinton, one of the first four families to settle west of the river and if the questioning was completed, he would take supper and feed the pigs and calves doing the latter as quickly as many men who first saw the light of day in 1870.

Enlarging the Gas Works.

   About two years ago the Cortland and Homer Gas Light Company got out plans which were partly carried out for increasing the capacity of their plant. The completion of the work is now under way. A boiler house has been built to the northward, additional retort benches are being put in, the old building raised several feet and other modern improvements for manufacturing gas will place the works among the foremost in Central New York. The capacity will be three times greater than heretofore. All this outlay is necessitated by the increased consumption of the illuminating fluid.

Change of Firm.

   Messrs. Ollie Ingraham of this place and D. L. Bauder of Gloversville took possession of the Messenger House last Monday, which they will conduct in future under the firm name of Ingraham & Bauder. Mr. Ingraham has had considerable experience in the business and has hosts of friends, not alone in this county but among members of the traveling public. Mr. Bauder is a younger brother of the former proprietor of the Cortland House, and is well known and highly esteemed by commercial travelers, having spent many years past as a member of the fraternity. That the excellent reputation of the house will be continued is conceded by all who have an acquaintance with the new firm. Captain Ashby and Mr. Sam Main will continue to occupy their old positions and will spare no pains in looking after the comfort of guests of the house. Mr. Ed Rindge, a deservedly popular young man of this place, will have charge of the sample room.

   Mr. W. F. Chadbourne, the retiring proprietor, has not yet decided to leave town and it is to be hoped he will conclude to retain his citizenship. He has been a very successful caterer and has many friends here who would regret his departure.

Struck by Lightning.

   At about 9:43 Tuesday evening a terrific crash of thunder warned our citizens that lightning had struck in close proximity to the central portion of the town. Investigation disclosed that the residence of Mr. George Loucks, 91 Lincoln avenue, had been the target but fortunately none of the family were seriously injured.

   A. H. Waterbury, who resides close by happening to look out of the window saw a ball of fire, as he expressed it, as large as an ordinary dish pan hang directly over a chimney on Mr. Loucks' house, then followed the crash and he hastened over to ascertain the damage. The chimney is split in half down as far as the floor of the attic. The bolt continuing inside the chimney, apparently entering the ground as the well water is affected. In its downward course six thimble covers were thrown out and the rooms filled with dust and pieces of brick. Two children sleeping on the second floor were thrown from their bed, one being unconscious for several minutes.

   The chimney passes through one corner of the sleeping room of Mr. and Mrs. Loucks, and Mrs. Loucks with an infant child in her arms was thrown a distance of five feet, a portion of the coverings going with her. Strange to say the only ill effects she experienced was a lameness of the back on the following afternoon. The chimney will at once be taken down and rebuilt.

Brakeman Claude Bryan Killed.

   Mr. Sabin S. Pierce, a farmer residing about one and one-half miles west of Truxton village, engaged Watson Haight to move a barn across the tracks of the E. C. & N. railroad. The building was moved near the track Tuesday and left close to the roadbed waiting a favorable time, when it would not interfere with trains, to draw it across. Unfortunately a large timber was left projecting from the end of the building some 12 or 15 feet from the ground.

   No knowledge having been received by the railroad officials of the intention to move or the location of the barn, local freight drawn by engine No. 14 bore down upon the scene between 6 and 7 P. M. Before the train arrived opposite the barn the engineer saw the timber and fearing it would not clear the smoke stack, signalled for brakes. Brakeman Claude Bryan, about 26 years of age, responded to the call, and was passing along the decks setting the brakes when the train passed under the beam which struck him in the head. The train was stopped and he was carried from the top of the car where he had fallen, to the caboose and brought to his home on Railway avenue. Cortland. Dr. Bennett was called but the unfortunate man remained unconscious, death ensuing at 1:50 P. M., Wednesday. The railroad officials speak in the highest terms of his sterling worth as a sober and industrious employe.

   Coroner Bradford was notified and immediately empanelled the following

jury: J. C. Seager, L. S. Hayes, Albert  Terrill, N. H. Winter, D. H. Yates, Fayette Reynolds. Yesterday morning accompanied by the Coroner, the jury went to view the scene of the accident in a special car over the E. C. & N., returning shortly after 12 M.

   A post mortem was made on the body by Drs. Edson, Bennett and Jewett during the forenoon, revealing a clearly defined break of the skull over the right eye 2 1/2x2 inches, together with a fracture extending inward along the orbit of the eye. The injuries were stated to be sufficient to cause death from concussion of the brain. The inquest is in progress as we go to press.

December and July.

   Last Monday afternoon an old gentleman alighted from the 3:15 train from Binghamton and enquired the way to the sheriff's office. After being directed, he lost no time in making his way thither and this is the story he told to that officer. He said his name was William C. Chanler and that he was 69 years of age. He owned three or four farms in the town of Jackson, Pa., not far from New Milford. Some months since he hired one Charles E. Lewis, aged about 30 years, to assist him in farm work. The latter proved to be a good man for the business for which he was employed, but he went further and made love to Chanler's wife, who is about 52 years of age, of medium height, has dark eyes, and is quite a buxom appearing woman.

   Some two months since the old man says, a man came to the house and held him by force while his wife packed up three trunks full of effects, and the two departed together carrying the booty with them. Until Monday, he had been unable to locate them, although his wife and the hired man had gone to Lanesboro, only ten miles distant and commenced boarding. They remained in Lanesboro ten or twelve days when they moved to Binghamton, where they stopped until May 18, when they came to Cortland and commenced house keeping at No. 69 Groton avenue, where they were found on Monday evening by Deputy Sheriff Eli J. Colgrove.

   A warrant was obtained from Police Justice Bull for the arrest of Lewis on the charge of grand larceny and the document was placed in the hands of Deputy Colgrove who served the same after experiencing some difficulty in finding his man. He was taken to Justice Bull's office at about 9 o'clock P. M., and an officer dispatched for his honor who had gone home. The woman stuck to Lewis and was in Court when the justice arrived. Chanler was willing to drop all proceedings provided his spouse would give Lewis up and return home with him, but this she flatly refused to do.

   Chanler's hair and whiskers are as white as snow, but he is as frisky as a boy, and as fond of his recreant wife as though they had just been married. His frequent attempts to converse with her and her absolute refusal to have anything to say to him caused much merriment to those present. As the hour of midnight approached the examination was adjourned until Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock, soon after which hour the parties appeared accompanied by counsel. Although repeatedly advised by the officers to return home with Chanler, she stubbornly refused until late in the day, when she finally consented and the 10 o'clock P. M., train moving south carried the reunited couple homeward. It is pretty generally believed that the union will be a short one, as the woman was apparently completely infatuated with her paramour, and it was undoubtedly to save him from serving a term in prison that she consented to go with Chanler.

   Wednesday morning Lewis was again brought before Justice Bull, but as no one appeared against him he was discharged The woman had succeeded before her escapade in obtaining the deed of a hundred acre farm from Chanler and he claims that she had become possessed of a considerable sum of money by selling quantities of apple jack which he manufactures quite extensively. On the other hand the woman charged that Chanler had been selling the stuff without a Government license and she threatened to inform on him if he pushed the prosecution of Lewis.