PROPOSED HISTORY OF CORTLAND COUNTY BY EDITOR H. P. SMITH

Marathon Independent nameplate.

The Marathon Independent, Wednesday, March 12, 1884.

THE PROPOSED HISTORY.

Work of Local Writers on Forthcoming Book.

   We have already taken occasion to refer to the general character of the forthcoming history of this county, as set forth by the publishers and writers—its scope, size, illustrations and mechanical excellence. The plans of the publishers, as carried out in other counties where they have issued similar satisfactory works, whereby the cooperation of local writers is secured, have now been so far perfected in this county that they are permitted to inform the public of the promised aid of well-known citizens in several departments of the work, where such aid is usually most needed.

   One of the chapters is designed to give a complete history of the medical profession of the county; this will be prepared by Dr. Green, of Homer, who has been for many years the secretary of the medical society. The chapter giving a similar record of the bench and bar and the political history of the county, will be prepared through the assistance of Hon. R. Holland Duell and Hon. A. P. Smith; the latter gentleman will also revise the history of the 76th Regiment, of which he was the Quartermaster and Historian. The history of the Masonic fraternity will be prepared and revised by Messrs. Geo. L. Warren and A. Sager, with the aid of prominent Masons in the other towns; the same may be said of the Odd Fellows and other secret societies.

   The ministers of the gospel have without exception, expressed themselves willing to do all in their power to assist in the production of a complete and reliable history of the churches. Dr. Hoose will prepare a full history of the Normal School, while the different business and manufacturing interests, and financial institutions, will be based upon information obtained direct from those who are most interested in the same.

   This plan makes, in reality, a history the material of which is largely furnished by local people and results in all cases in the best satisfaction to the public. It seems to be a feature of this class of publishing which deserves the attention of prospective purchasers of the book.—Cortland Democrat.

Fox Gets Two Years and a Half.

   CORTLAND, March 11.—Judge Knox this morning sentenced H. J. Fox, the Willett incendiary, to Auburn prison for two years and six months. James Riley was sent to the same prison for three years and three months for aiding a prisoner to escape from the county jail.

HOME AND HEREABOUTS.

   —Clean out your cellars now, and avoid fevers from decaying vegetable matter.

   —The Spring Term of the Marathon Select School begins March 31 and ends June 17.

   —Lisle has a Brass Band of 11 members.

   — Fred and Frank Sherwood of this village have gone west to grow up with the country.

   —Congressional garden seeds and Patent Office Reports are now flitting through the mails.

   —The W. U. Telegraph Company on March 1st made extensive reductions in its long distance rates.

   —Prof. Wardwell a lecturer on Astronomy and Geology, held forth to an audience of 9 at Peck's Hall last Wednesday evening.

   —The McGrawville Sentinel notes that Warner Ensign has gone to Pennsylvania to look after important lumber interests.

   —Mrs. H. Warn has disposed of 60 copies of Rev. J. L. Meagher's book, "The Festal Year," during the past winter, in this village.

   —Rev. J. L. Meagher, pastor of St. Stephen's Church, has been in attendance at the 40 hours devotion, which began at Binghamton, Monday.

   —Miss Hattie F. Kinney, formerly preceptress of the academy here, is now Mrs. Hamill Coon, of Homer, her marriage occurring last Wednesday at Cortland.

   —School closes Friday.

   —Trailing arbutuss in a few weeks.

   —The Howland case, which was expected to come on at Cortland to-day, has been put over the term.

   —The announcement of the sale of C. K. Boyden's barber shop last week, was a little premature. He has concluded to continue in the business here.

   — E. Dayton Gordiner, a young man well known in this village, died at his home in Rochester, on Saturday last, after a long and severe illness. Brain fever was the fatal disease.

   —Captain G. W. Lason, will be here Monday or Tuesday of next week, from Missouri, with a drove of horses, well broke, and weighing from 10 to 12 hundred lbs. For sale cheap.

   —Last Friday night, was to put it mild, inclement, but this did not deter a goodly number of the citizens from attending the donation to Rev. J. F. McLaury and leaving behind them $120 as a testimonial to a worthy pastor and a respected citizen.

   —The Commune "Extra" which will be held the 28th is designed to be a fitting close to a very successful series of parties. Beman's Orchestra of Binghamton has been engaged and every effort will be made by the officers to make the party a pleasant one.

Landed in Lock Up.

   Station agent Burgess on Monday missed a box of raisins and a box of herrings from the freight house in this village. Circumstances led him to believe that "Jim" Sterling and "Than" Knapp were the guilty parties, and last night, Deputy Sheriff G. R. Burgess succeeded in landing both these parties, together with what was left of the edibles, in the lock-up. They will be examined to-day.

   Later in the evening, young Jerry Griffin was arrested for creating a disturbance in front of Brown's Hotel, and placed in durance, and he will be examined to-day on a charge of being drunk and disorderly.

THREE VALUABLE BIRDS.

Purchased by a Townsman in the Frozen Metropolis.

   Our neighbor, George A. Hulbert, Esq., has recently been visiting the Arctic regions, or its equivalent in temperature. He represents that New York was intensely that way, at the close of winter--with a low mercury, boisterous winds, and vast floes of ice, which the high inward tide in its bay and rivers enveloped the whole city--making pedestrianism in its streets a dread to the sufferers who had to brave the elements. He demonstrated his tender feelings in rescuing some tropical birds from such a frigid atmosphere.

   His family—the musical part at least—can boast of the choice addition to its number of three strangers of fine cultivated voices, such as is seldom seen or heard in a northern climate. The warbling nightingale, the whistling mocking bird, and the talking minor will be rarities among us, and enliven the opening and bursting forth of all nature from the warmth and heat of the sun with the dawn of spring.

    The household will not lack for music. They will constitute a reliable choir, that will fill the vacuum when others fail, become luke-warm, or really backslide. The organist can enlist them at any time. These fellows will almost invariably respond to the call of the muster roll.

   Success to them.

Paying for the Accident.

Mrs. Wilbur’s $3,500 Check for Her Crushed Ankle.

   S. D. Wilbur, who is tenant on the "Russ" Smith farm at Upper Lisle, last Thursday had a check cashed at the Bank here, for $3,500, which had been paid by the N. Y. Central and Hudson River R. R. Company, in settlement for injuries received by Mrs. Wilbur, upon that road in 1883. Mrs. Wilbur had brought an action for damages against the company, which cause was on the Calendar of the Supreme Court now in session at Binghamton. The company sent their physician here a few days ago, and soon after sent the above check in settlement of the damages.

NEIGHBIORHOOD NOTES.

   CORTLAND, March 10.—One of the strongest evidences in favor of the abolition of the jury system could easily have been witnessed by one attending Court last week, and closely watching the evidence and then the verdict of the jury. The law contemplates that the people must prove a man guilty by actual and competent evidence, and should there be any reasonable doubt of his guilt, that the prisoner is entitled to an acquittal. But the present jury seem to act upon the principle that the prisoner must prove himself innocent beyond a doubt, or they imagine him guilty, and so find.

   Taylor Hall was crowded last Friday night. Baird's Minstrels called them out. They made a grand parade about noon on the principal streets. One of the finest bands that was ever here composed of 10 members and pieces. They played several pieces in front of the Hall at 12:15.

   Mrs. R. S. Randall is slowly gaining.

   The funeral of John D. Frederick took place Friday, here.

   Court adjourned last Wednesday at about 11 A. M., Judge Knox receiving a dispatch that his mother was dead. Adjourned to Monday, March 10, at 2 P. M. People vs. Hoffman will be the first case called.

   Should the editor of the Cortland News attempt to "punch the head," of your Cortland correspondent, he would be "L. D. G." Laid Down--Gone.

History of Cortland County 1885 by H. P. Smith: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycortla/smithhis.htm