The Cortland Democrat, Friday, Aug. 16, 1901.
THE LATE EGBERT ROCKERFELLER OF HARFORD MILLS.
Another of Harford's well remembered residents was Egbert Rockerfeller of Harford Mills, and the Democrat takes pleasure in presenting a fine half tone to its readers. He was born in the state of Massachusetts February 8, 1827, his parents being Godfrey and Lucy Rockerfeller. He was one of nine children, among them being William, father of the Standard Oil magnate John D. Rockerfeller, and Norman Rockerfeller of Ontario county. He came to this state with his parents when only seven years of age, and settled on Michigan Hill, where his father purchased a farm and where he remained until his death. Egbert passed his younger days at home and married Sally Ann Boice of Michigan Hill January 2, 1851. Eight children were born to them, only one of whom is living, Lucy, now Mrs. Wallace Shaven of Michigan Hill, who resides on the old farm. Mr. Rockerfeller was a staunch adherent of the principles established in Democracy. He was a man of strong sterling character, and highly respected by his townsmen. In after years he removed to Harford Mills, where his widow now resides. His death came rather suddenly September 22, 1899, when in the 73d year of his age. He had been hunting the afternoon of the day before he passed away, and the next day breathed his last. He was buried at Harford Mills, N. Y.
NEW YORK POLITICS.
TAMMANY WILL HAVE THE FIGHT OF ITS LIFE THIS FALL.
Opposition Not Thoroughly Organized—Three Horses Go Over a Thirty Foot Wall—Cruel Joke Played on a Wealthy Young Man—Old Swindle Revived—Five Names For One Street.
New York, August 13.—The political situation begins to attract considerable attention. That the party in power in this city must face a very aggressive opposition in the coming election is now certain. That this opposition will be a united one, is more in doubt than heretofore. The difficulty in defeating Tammany Hall will be found in the inability of the opposition to concentrate its strength upon one man. Tammany will not only be united, but the old organization will surely put up the greatest fight in its history. It has been in power for four years and it is safe to say that the leaders enjoy the situation and will not relinquish their power until compelled to. They are resourceful politicians and will be supplied with all the money that can be used. Already they are reaching down into the wards and election districts and finding employment for men in city departments, with the big corporations and wherever work is to be attained. The opposition is as yet virtually unorganized. It will appeal to the voters in a different way from what Tammany will appeal, and if it succeeds in arousing public opinion as it did when Mayor Strong was elected it may be successful. The difficult thing will be to find a man broad enough and many-sided enough to enable all the elements of opposition to unite on him. The latest suggestion is Hon. Bourke Cockran, the silver-tongued orator, whose nomination for mayor would make a brilliant campaign, as he is the greatest orator in America.
◘ Three magnificent horses belonging to the New York fire department were forced down a steep hill by the heavy engine behind them last Friday morning, and over the retaining wall above the New York Central tracks on the west side of Manhattan, where after a drop of 30 feet they were impalled alive upon the stout iron fence, which had dropped to the tracks under them. It was at first thought that all the animals would have to be killed, but the department's veterinary finally decided that they could be saved, but would be useless for department purposes. The driver of the engine was making for a fire plug, when he saw a number of children had congregated in front of the house where the fire was located and to avoid them he had to keep in the middle of the street. The horses were coming at a rapid gallop and the weight of the heavy truck and the steepness of the declivity prevented him from pulling them up. With great speed horses and engine dashed down the hill and straight into the brick wall and iron fence. About twenty feet of the wall and iron fence was carried away and fell over on to the railroad tracks, followed by all three horses. As the three animals were suspended by the traces in midair, a train was seen approaching and there was danger that the traces would give way and the horses would fall to the track before the approaching engine. A fireman, however, swung himself down from the street above and flagged the train, thus preventing what might have proved a more serious accident.
◘ It may be the funniest joke in the world to drug a man and shave the top of his head and then coat the bald spot with wax, but Charles Cozine doesn't think so. This joke was played on him last Monday. Until then he had an abundance of curly dark-brown hair; now he looks as if a tornado had concentrated all of its energy on the crown of his head. So dexterously was the job done that Mr. Cozine is convinced a regular barber had a hand in it. Mr. Cozine is wealthy and is something of a practical joker. Pranks of many kinds he has played on his friends. Dozens of them have vowed to get even with him, and he admits that some of them have paid back all that was coming to him and something more.
He was in Jamaica Monday and suffered from heat. He drank several glasses of iced tea, soda water and ginger ale. He believes one of the beverages had been slyly drugged.
He became drowsy and lost all sense of location. The last he remembers was being told by somebody to lie down and go to sleep. He did not awaken until late at night, and then was half dazed. He managed to reach home, and the walk in the fresh air dissipated the effects of the drug.
It was not until he reached his room that he discovered that his head had been shaved and the crown covered with coating of wax half an inch thick. The wax had been polished until it shone and glistened like porcelain.
◘ A street extending from One Hundred and Seventy-seventh north was opened twenty years ago and during that time the residents have proposed as many names as are suggested by the numerous relatives of a new baby. The trouble has been that they couldn't agree, with the result that at the present time five well established names are employed in designating the street.
The first six blocks of the street are commonly known as Hughes avenue, and the next four blocks as Cambrelling avenue on one side and Jefferson avenue on the other. Thence for one block the name is Frederic street, and from One Hundred and Eighty-eighth street to the end St. John's avenue.
Residents have boomed their favorite names by displaying them conspicuously in front of their houses on signboards. Until a mail-carrier got his bearings he had a hard time delivering letters on the street.
Chapman vs. Chapman.
Our Homer, N. Y., correspondent writes: One of the most exciting events that has occurred in our usually quiet village was the trial of the case of Chapman vs. Chapman last Friday. On the evening of July 25 last, George and Irving Chapman and Harry Turner, after spending the afternoon in consuming a liberal quantity of beer, went to the home of Asa Chapman on Brewery Hill, and entered the home for the purpose of securing some matches. Asa, who is 78 years old and nearly blind, attempted to drive them out, when as he alleged, Irving struck him on the head with a piece of iron, Giles O. Rood claiming to have beard the blow, and further alleging that Irving remarked upon leaving the house: "There, I hit the—old gray whiskers, and wish I had hit him again.''
With the help of Giles O. a warrant was obtained for the arrest of Irving. The defendant demanded a jury trial and the case came before Justice Hyatt and the jury last Friday. Attorney E. E. Mellon of Cortland appeared for the plaintiff and E. L. Stone for defendant.
It was a red letter day for Brewery Hill and they never turned in greater number to a circus. Most of them knew something about the case, and it was with difficulty that the dignity of the court was maintained. Among the witnesses were Mary Dick, Lolly Pop, Betsey Chapman, Miles and Hannah Rood, Mary Rood, Dick Chapman and Dell Chapman, all of whom gave evidence which convinced the jury that Asa ran against the edge of a door and that he was not struck by Irving. Giles O. Rood alone swore that the witnesses were all liars, which led the attorney for the defendant to style him the king of liars.
The entire day was consumed in trying the case, and at 6 o'clock, after deliberating about thirty minutes the jury returned a verdict of no cause of action. Brewery Hill [residents] returned home after enjoying a delightful day.
THE COUNTY FAIR.
SPECIAL I'REMIUM LIST DISSECTED AND EXPLAINED.
The Society Deals Liberally With Producers of Good Butter—The Best Matched Geldings Will Win Something Worth Striving for—An Incentive for Good Bread Making.
Good butter is sought by all. To stimulate the work of breeding for butter purposes a class was introduced last year (No. 15 Dairy Test) for herd of Holsteins and thoroughbred cows, any variety making highest test of butter fat. Besides the cash premium, the Homer Republican offers a year's subscription; M. A. Case, dry goods, offers a $5 silk waist for best 5-lb. pail of dairy butter made by exhibitor; A. H. Wiess, 9 North Main-st., offers a $3.50 lamp for best 1-lb. print made by exhibitor.
At present potatoes are located on a lofty platform, but it will be economy to wear out an old pair of shoes looking for the largest potato to be displayed at Burgess' booth, winner receiving pair of $3 shoes; or a $10 suit from The Model if left at Tyler & Smiths booth. The Democrat again remarks that the booths of business men will be an interesting feature. Sure thing.
W. H. Morgan offers a $2.50 lap blanket for pair of 3-year matched geldings (class 6). C. D. Sanders, 7 Railroad-st., gives a $3 box of cigars for best single gelding (class 5); F. B. Nourse, 50 Main-st., $5 silver dish for best single turnout, and W. R. Hill, 51 Port Watson-st., $1.25 new shoeing for one horse. Geo. Stevens and B. B. Terry each offer service of "Nickle Plate" or "Racine" for best suckling colt raised by the above, respectively.
Pair 4-year mares winning blue ribbon will be new shod by Horace Kirk, Port Watson-st. F. H. Maricle again offers to best turnout owned and driven by a farmer on track at 1 :30 p. m. Wednesday, six month's hitching. This is worth considering, as there are many neat rigs in the farming districts, and the appearance will be of interest on school day, too. Make your entry, farmer friends, and do not let S. N. Holden's & Co.'s offer of $5 in cash or a ton of coal for the best single turnout driven by a lady at same time same time and place scare you out. J. C. Stevens, V. S., will be there all through fair week and Wednesday is also the day Dr. E. A. Didama's special holds good.
Yoke cattle are not as common as in 1801; but how they will delight the children between and over school age. The best pair 2-year old steers, capture a $2 Epicure brand ham given by the Cortland Beef Co., who also offer the same prize to owner of largest hog (4-footed breed); C. F. Brown gives sufficient quantity of Venetian Red to paint barn for best pen swine; F. A. Blanchard offers a $10 Berkshire boar pig for best pair Berkshire hogs; A. B. Frazier, one ham for best Berkshire sow and litter. There are others, but this will assure an exhibit of stock that will be worth any person's time in reviewing the stalls, pens, stables or coops.
Poultry netting from the Wickwire Bros. mills is for Belgian Hares, Leghorns, B. P. Rocks, Black Minorcas, largest exhibit of poultry, and one for last mentioned confined to this county. There are subscriptions to Ohio poultry Journal, Practical Poultry man. Fanciers Review, C. C. DePuy's celebrated works, Pratt's Food Co. and others of interest to breeders. The bench show is remembered by Mallick with a $2 shaving cup for St. Bernard dog , $3 box cigars from Ollie Ingraham, best Fox terrier; P. J. Peckham, $4 cup and brush for fox hound; David W. Hodges $5 worth of W. R. eggs, best W. R. cockerel; and A. W. Graham tops off the list with a Knox hat for largest and best exhibit of White Rocks.
"The bread that mother used to make!" Did you ever hear the expression? In 1901 it is the bread [that] wife or daughter can make that will capture the barrel of flour offered by W. V. Palmer, if made from "Golden Loaf" purchased of him, 11 Main-st; or by C. W. Strait, the Homer miller of "King Bee;" Wickwire Roller Mill Co., of "Red Seal;" John C. Seager, of "T. H." brand, (if baked with his grade of Lehigh coal) and the latter prize is a ton of coal. A $5 skirt from Mrs. G. T. Chatterton for corn starch cake; G. W. Bradford gives $1 worth vanilla extract for pound cake; Cramer & Hollister a $5.50 oil stove for apple pie; W. J. Perkins offers 5 pounds baking powder for layer cake; Mrs. A. H. Watkins will give a $2.50 outing hat to farmer's daughter under 16 years, making best custard pie.
A year's subscription will be given by Homer Republican for best exhibit of amateur florists; Filzinger gives 5 pounds of his creamery butter for best amateur hand bouquet; C. R. Merrill of Homer offers $5 umbrella for best amateur floral design; A. M. Jewett offers $3 clock for best exhibit of canned fruit, work of exhibitor. A $17.50 Eastman folding Kodak offered by McKinney & Doubleday for best amateur picture of live stock, and the Palace Star Laundry's offer of $2 worth of work for best display of amateur photography should create a competition among non-professionals.
A dozen of $4 photos given by Hyatt for best display Battenburg lace work; W. G. Mead's $2.50 lady's brooch for exhibit of fancy work; Mrs. T. Everts $3 hat to miss under 17 making best paper hat; "The Fashion" through Rea Shepard, of a $5 hat to best trimmed hat by a lady (milliners barred), and Bosworth & Stillman's pair "John Kelley" $3 ladies' shoes for fancy sofa pillow made by exhibitor makes a list of specials demanding consideration.
The fair opens August 27. That is the day to have your stock, fowls, articles, etc., delivered in the grounds. Stock and poultry will pass through carriage (north) gates. The United States express will have a branch office in building. Grounds connected with Home telephone service to all parts of the United States. Exhibition open to the world unless otherwise stated.
East Freetown School Meeting.
Quite a little excitement occurred at the annual school meeting last Tuesday evening in District No. 2, town of Freetown. A move was on foot for the election of a lady trustee. The scheme was successively planned and a goodly attendance of ladies was hustled out by a lady politician. The first lady candidate proposed withdrew, and another lady was named and a couple of prominent citizens and hustling male politicians were looking after her interests. On arriving at the school house it was discovered by her champions that she was ineligible and another hustle was made among the ladies present to find a candidate, but as none were willing to attempt the fight the idea of a lady candidate was regretfully abandoned and James Wright was chosen to represent the lady voters and the hustling male politicians.
The meeting was called to order with a well filled house and W. N. Tarbell, the ladies' champion, was chosen chairman, and his son Leon clerk of the meeting. In an eloquent address sincere regrets were expressed on the inability to get a lady candidate and forthwith James Wright was nominated.
James Doran nominated William Finn as candidate to represent the opposing factions against this host of mixed opponents. At this point the question of the eligibility of the voters present was raised and upon request, the chairman read the law under which a number of would-be voters were disqualified. On motion of the chairman an informal ballot was taken which resulted in 27 votes being cast of which William Finn received 15 to 12 for James Wright, the ladies' candidate.
Next a motion was made for a formal ballot, which was taken after considerable delay and more hustling by the ladies' champion. It resulted, to the disappointment and disgust of the ladies' faction, with the same result as the informal ballot, William Finn being chosen trustee by three majority. It is not fair to presume that all the ladies present followed party lines, for the red tape and the inability of their representatives to stick to one line caused considerable disgust among some of them. The rest of the meeting was completed to adjournment by the male voters, as the lady voters refused to vote on any question or had departed for their homes through the mud and rain which they had braved to elect some candidate, with many, many an inward vow to never again attempt to attend to men's business, much to the chagrin of their male champions.
After adjournment a last and forlorn attempt was made to prove the ineligibility of the chosen trustee, to which Mr. Finn announced he would hold his grounds or know the reason why. Thus ended the hottest contested school meeting known in the history of this town. While good fellowship reigns supreme, the ludicrous side of the thing will long be remembered.
One Who Was There.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
The Greatest Need.
The field of great usefulness and profit for the young man with a fair education is in the trades. There is a scarcity of tradesmen the country over. Go into a blacksmith shop almost anywhere, and you will find a man past middle age pounding away. A young blacksmith is so rare as to be a curiosity. Yet it is an honorable trade and a profitable one, and Tubal Cain has the distinction of being the first worker in iron, and no one knows who was the first shyster lawyer before Ananias was mentioned. A blacksmith, however, has hard work, and that is just what the average young man is trying to avoid. There are three times as many boys studying law (pretending) as there are learning trades, and in ten years' time you can hire one-horse lawyers for fifty cents a day, while good, skilled workmen will command three dollars.
Early Days In Scott, N. Y.
Away back in the early days of Cortland county, over a century ago, (1795) is the first time that early historians have any record of when the first white settler ever came within the present boundaries of the town of Scott. He erected a rude bark shanty and lived by hunting and fishing out of the cool spring waters of Skaneateles lake. He had spent about a year and a half in this then unbroken wilderness when he was joined by a half-breed Indian, who came here originally from Three Rivers Point, Canada. Not many months later they gathered up their furs and made their way to a French trading post, then established near Whitestown, where they sold out and went further into the woods of the far West. Who this early settler was or where he came from originally is unknown. He was an eccentric character and fitted for the rough life he must have had to put up with. An Indian who occasionally used to visit the Oneidas has told members of that tribe several interesting adventures this man had, which shows him to have been a man of more than ordinary ability. Who he was is a mystery. Years afterwards, the legend runs, he was seen standing on the banks of the Mississippi one day when he suddenly turned, gave a shriek, and plunged into the river. That was the last seen of him alive.
During the year 1799 several settlements were made. Among them was Peleg Babcock, who in company with Solomon and Asa Howard, came here from Leyden. Mass. Peleg settled in the south part of lot 82, Solomon on the northwest of same lot and Asa not far off. George Dennison came from Vermont about the same time and made the fourth settler on the same lot.
In 1800 Cornish Messenger and Daniel Jakeway came from DeRuyter and settled on lot 92. In 1801 Maxon Babcock came from Leyden, Mass., and located on lot 82. Gershom Richardson and two sons-in-law named Clark, came from Pompey, Onondaga county, same year and located on lot 71. In 1802 Henry Babcock of Rhode Island arrived from Colerain, Mass. He in company with John Babcock purchased 109 acres. Jared Babcock came in 1804 and remained a few years, afterwards going to Spafford where he opened the first store. He eventually resided in Homer.
In 1806 Daniel Doubleday came from Lebanon, Conn., and located in Homer. In 1809 he removed to Scott and settled on lot 82, where he passed the remainder of his days, it is thought. In 1805 Elisha Sabins and John Babcock cut and cleared a road through to Spafford Corners from Scott which was then known as Babcock's Corners. It was a hard task and their goods were taken on sleds to their new home. In 1806 Isaac Hull passed over the road with a wagon and after purchasing a load of lumber at Babcocks settlement placed it on a wagon and conveyed it to his home in Spafford.
In those early days bears were very troublesome and destructive to the corn crop. It was a common occurrence to find half a dozen at a time, and rather amusing to see them scamper around at the mere sight of the small dog that Solomon Babcock owned. One day, while accompanied by his brother Pelegs fierce, active dog, he went in the woods to secure a birch broom-stick. Before he secured what he wanted he had actually killed seven deer. The snow was about three feet deep and the crust strong enough to hold up a man, but would not a deer. Wild game was very plentiful in those early days, and the settlers' homes were kept well supplied with fresh meat.
The town of Scott was taken from the west part of Preble April 14, 1815. The first merchant in the town was Nathan Babcock. The first hotel keeper, James Babcock. The first postmaster, John Gillet. The first ordained minister was Elder Toun, and the first persons baptized were Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Babcock, the former in Homer and the latter in Scott. The first marriage, Solomon Babcock to Amy Morgan, which occurred in the fall of 1802. There being no authorized person on hand to marry them, they went to Homer on horseback and after attending church went to Squire Bishop's on East Hill, where the knot was tied. The first child born was Harriet Babcock, and the first death was the infant daughter of Peleg Babcock. Public religious services commenced about 1806. At one time the Close Communion Baptists, the Seventh Day Baptists, the Presbyterians and the Methodists each had a church of their own. To-day only the Seventh Day Baptist, Rev. J. T. Davis, and the M. E., Rev. E. Merring, remain, the others having ceased to exist.
The first postmaster at East Scott was Alvin Kellogg, the gentleman who learned Ex-President Fillmore the trade of clothier.
The town of Scott contains many excellent farms and its inhabitants are today among the most intelligent found in Cortland county.
In 1820 the population of Scott was 775, in 1825 it was 1,006, in 1830 it was 1,452, in 1835, 1,504, in 1840 it was 1,332, in 1845, 1,368, in 1850, 1,290, in 1855, 1,293 and in 1900, 852.
Ginseng Culture in Scott.
The cultivation of ginseng is no longer an experiment. For several years past it has been known that in almost every section of the state there have been those who have made the gathering of the wild roots a well-paying business. This has led some of our more interested hunters to make a study of the plant under cultivation and that it has proven a most profitable surprise is now an assured fact. Especially is this true of several of the inhabitants of Scott, and nowhere in this part of the United States at least can be found so many persons who are personally interested from a financial standpoint as there are in Scott.
Among the most prominent of the ginseng cultivators is Mr. E. D. Crosley, who resides near Tula post office about three miles east of Scott village and who is now known as one of the foremost ginseng raisers in the country. E. D. and M. S. Crosley are proprietors of the New York Hillside Ginseng Garden. During the past week a Democrat representative called upon Mr. Crosley, having heard several wild, fabulous stories concerning profits to be derived from the raising of ginseng and gleaned from him his experience in regard to this plant.
It was about four years ago last February that Mr. Crosley first decided to make a systematic study of ginseng. He had known ever since early boyhood that the roots had been hunted by a class of men who seemed to make this a very profitable livelihood. In different states came reports of those who were first commencing its cultivation under more of a business-like method, realizing that if it could be gathered wild at a profit it must become a hundred times more so by cultivation. The outcome of that daydream has turned out a "reality" because he has to-day in proof of it one of the finest and most profitable ginseng gardens in the country. His success is certainly phenomenal.
Strange to relate ginseng has but little medicinal root [sic] and is used but little in the United States. The bulk of the whole crop is shipped to China where over 450,000,000 of our celestial "cousins" stand ready to pay most fabulous sums for it. Ginseng to a Chinaman is as necessary as the air he breathes. It is one of his gods. The penalty of disturbing a ginseng garden in China is death. In rare instances a Chinaman has been known to pay hundreds of dollars for one root. To bring such a price the root must resemble the figure of a man [sic]. Gold bands are put on it, it is checked with ribbons and worshipped as an idol. It cures all diseases and if a patient happens to die, as they very generally do, the fault is in the manner the root is used, not in the root itself. It was first discovered in his country in 1717 near Montreal, Canada, by a missionary of the Iroquois Indians. Since then it has been hunted in its wild state until a few enterprising men commenced its cultivation. Dried ginseng root is worth about $10 per pound and an acre of ginseng roots alone is worth to-day over $70,000. It takes 193,440 roots to set an acre of ground. Is it any wonder that the good people of Scott are going ginseng crazy?
Mr. Crosley has a beautifully shaded spot of ground devoted to the business. It is fenced in and nicely covered to protect the plants from the hot rays of the sun. On less than a half acre of ground he has ninety-four beds, four by thirty feet long on the average, and will have over 100,000 plants under cultivation by next year. He has raised about 300,000 seed during the past three years. He has now 40,000 four year plants, 10,000 three year plants, and 15,000 two year plants. Last year he set out 2,000 wild roots alone, but considers one cultivated root as being superior in quality to three wild ones. The plants are looking fine and are a handsome sight worth going miles to see. He has one plant raised from a wild root three years ago that measures 35 1/2 inches in height. The seed culture is another important item, because from seed the roots are raised. When ready to gather they are a beautiful shade of red, which makes a handsome sight with the large green leaves. There is no crop raised to-day so inexpensive to start with and which yields such enormous profit, and when it is estimated that there can not be enough ginseng raised in the United States in the next fifty years to lower the market for China alone, is it not worth a few moments serious thought by every one who can borrow, buy or steal a small plot of ground and become millionaires with the rest of the good people of Scott? The roots, wild or cultivated, set out this fall will bear seed next year. Mr. Crosley has one plant alone which has raised him over $9 worth of seed. His best plants matured 160 seeds each on the average, without watering and which was one of the driest seasons ever known last year. At the present price of dry cultivated roots, each root should be worth five years from seed at least 40 cents. At this rate an acre of ginseng roots alone is worth over $70,000. Mr. Crosley gives a special invitation to the Democrat readers to call and see his ginseng garden, about August 15, and he will go with them to visit other ginseng gardens in that vicinity. Seeing is believing and every one who has read this article should see this garden for themselves.
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