Class Book. COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT ONLY ILLUSTRATED >1AGAZINE PUBLISHED AT THE STATE CAPITAL "Grip's" Valley Gazette Vol. IV, No. 12 — 12 Numbers, $i ALBANY, N. Y., DECEMBER, 1896 1 Kntered at the Albany Post Office as second-class mail matter.] A MONTHLY MAGAZINE • . social, personal, historical . . Trade and News EVERY COPY a VALUABLE SOUVENIR sWistOFical J iW gouneniF OF ONEONTA, N. Y. Price, 35 Cents Copyright, 1896, by "Grip.' ^ ^gar L.W«-\c.W , / .^' JOHNSON'S DREAMLAND. GRIP'S" ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT. \\lh don't ^ ^ 11 OW act wisely and well by placing your order with us now for your stationery for the year 1897 ? Get out of the old rut, and let us furnish you with something up to date. There is a touch of style and elegance about our work for which first-class printers are supposed to hold the patent right WE EXCEL IN THAT LINE (^atatoClUSS We have but few equals and no superiors. Not- Tf and withstanding the remarks of the "hard times ^ ^ ^ shouters, everywhere the fires in factory furnaces ^ N*llip^l»P W l-^ are being started, the wheels of the mills are turning with unwonted activity, preparations are under way to fill orders, and business generally is becoming active. You must place your goods before the public in an attractive way, so consult us. l^lTllOai^dtiilltia We want your work in these lines, and l^^^l^fltff^ assure you that you will find it to your advantage to let us make your blank books. Estimates free, and correspond- ence invited. Weed-Parsons P|(inting Co., 39 and 41 Columbia Street, ALBANY, N. Y. We print "Grip's" Valley Gazette. / I'holo. by H. N. Smith. BIRDSEYE VIEW OF ONEONTA, N. V. ^ MRS. A. E. GARDNER. Copyrighted nv "Grip," 1896.] "GRIIf g" VALLEY GAZETTE J. Voi,.^. No 12. Albany, N. Y., December, 1896. [Entered at the Albany, N. Y., Post-office as second class mail matter.] 12 Nos. |;i.oc Qri^\.' Historical Souvenir, Series No. 3 ONEONTA -AND- VICINITY LLUSTRATED ONEONTA in population is a cit)'. The federal enumeration of the town of Oneonta in iSg2 was 8,347. From the fact during the past four years the increase of inhabitants within the corporate limits of Oneonta has been remarkable, as shown in the statement that at least fifty new residences and two solid squares of business blocks have been erected, it is fairly assumed that a census would show a pop- ulation in Oneonta of 10,000 people. Notwithstand- ing its eligibility for the assumption of the name •' city," there has been no disposition to apply to the Legislature for the formality of an enactment giving to it that title. The present charter gives the people all the blessings that might follow the actual decree without any of the impositions sure to accompany it. The people have ample authority to make all of the improvements that the most advanced community may desire, with ample protection to those who con- tribute directly to the expense. In fact, no town enjoys more of the good things which conduce to the comfort of a large population. Clear and pure water, the greatest of all, is supplied from living springs, and that net-work of cold streams which are ever flowing in great abundance down the hillsides, across the meadows and through the fertile valleys of the Susquehanna country. The village is lighted with electricity, dispelling the darkness from the streets b}' arc lamps, which are in use in many of the large stores, and furnishing to the home and the assembly rooms light by means of the incandescent burner. A new .S3'Stem of sewers built after the best plan, which contetnplates expansion adequate to the growth of the town, has been in use a sufficient time to demonstrate that drainage is properly effected. The paving of the streets is in its infancy, but as there is a movement to introduce an electric car line in the place of the present horse car road, which con- nects the eastern and western ends of the town with he business district, the prospects of additional and better pavements are flattering. The village is located in Otsego count}^ on the line of the Susquehanna division of the D. & H. rail- road midway between Albanj' and Binghamton. It is the center of a very wide stretch of splendid farm- ing country, situated in a broad valley and protected from violent winds by high hills. The intersection of the Susquehanna and the Charlotte valleys near this village afford a radiation of favorable turnpike and railwa)' communication with the four cardinal points of the compass, giving easy communication to the east direct to Alban)' and Schenectady, and through Delaware county to the principal points in the Catskills; also north and west, either by Bing- hamton and the Erie, or via Cooperstown and Utica. The best portion of Oneonta, which is the largest, consists of new and modern dwellings and orna- mental stone business blocks- The streets are broad and heavily shaded, level and kept in good order. There is no unsightly, squalid tenement dis- trict. The poor we always have with us, but in Oneonta that class is small and almost wholly self-sustaining. The remark of strangers, on visit- ing the least pretentious sections, is: " Is this what you call the poorest locality?"' Surprise is invari- abl}- expressed at the general cleanliness and good order shown in every part of the town. Oneonta is blessed with abundant provisions for manufacturing. No better artificial water power can be found anywhere, and the large area of railroad trackage reaching across wide, level country offers plenty of switching room. It has grown to be a large distributing point, as is evidenced by the large whole- sale stores that are doing a successful business. Referenf^e to the sketches of the business houses in these columns will give valuable statistics in that line; and will also show that a great amount of re- tail business is also carried on here. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. he Oneonta Normal School. IF AS EMERSON says: "Every institution is Oneonta Normal School. His commanding legis- the elongated shadow of some great man," then lative position, his wide-reaching public influence, the establishment ol the State Normal School at his political sagacity and his strong personality were Oneonta must rest as a benediction on the inemory of the potential factors that changed vague and in- the Honorable Frank B. Arnold. To others undoubt- definite desires into living verities. / "? f f*«| '^IdJT,:-?" THE FACULTY, PAST AND PRESENT. ediy belongs the honor of suggesting the desirability The work of establishing a State Normal School at of such an institution, to others should be granted Oneonta was not the mere locating of another public unmeasured praise for numerous and unquestioned institution, but was also the inauguration of a new sacrifices and for devoted and unstinted toil, but to line of state polity in regard to normal schools. Mr. Arnold must be given the title of Father of the Hitherto normal schools had been established at THE ONEONTA HLSTORICAL SOUVENIR. different points in the State, but invariably tlie local- ities in which the schools were established had fur- nished the sites, erected the buildings and equipped them and had deeded the whole property to the State with the single condition, that the pupils in the train- ing school and academic department should be taught free of charge. In a certain sense the normal schools thus established were State schools in part- of a school in the Susquehanna valley, and Oneonta had been mentioned together with several othe places. In the summer and autumn of i8S6 desires began to take on a more definite form. That year, preceding the election of Mr. Arnold as member of the Assembly, it was generally understood that he was committed to the project. On the organization of the Assembly, Mr. Arnold was appointed to the THE FACULTY, PAST AND PRESENT. nership with the several localities. The Oneonta Normal School is, then the first, purely State Norm.al School. The difficulties in the founding of this Normal School are only apprehended when these facts are considered in connection with the problem. When the first mention was made of a Normal School in Oneonta, is not known. In a vague way, from time to time, various individuals had urged the need pivotal position of Chairman>f the Ways and Means Committee. Early in the session he introduced a bill appropriating $45,000 for the establishment of a Normal School at Oneonta. On March 28, 1887, this bill passed the Assembly with but two votes against it. The bill was then given in the charge of Senator John E. Smith. May 5 it passed the Senate unanimously and on May iS was signed by Governor THE ONKONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 5 Hill. A telegram from George I. VVilber, that the bill had been signed, was the occasion of Oneonta's first rejoicing over a school in sight. The bill provided for a commission to select a site for the school and on June 30, of the same year, Honorable Andrew S. Draper, Superintendent of Public Instruction ; Honorable Lawrence J. Fitz- gerald, State Treasurer ; Honorable Charles R. Hall, village. The village, through its trustees, of whom George Kirkland was president, entered into con- tract to carry out the stipulations imposed by the Commission. The State Superintendent, on Sep- tember 7, 18S7, appointed the members of the local board, and on September 13 the board met and organized. Messrs. Fuller i^ Wheeler of Albany were em- THK LOCAL BOARD, PAST AND PRESENT. Deputy State Comptroller, and Honorable Denis O'Brien, Attorney-General, met in Oneonta. Twelve different sites were presented to the con- sideration of the Commission and on July 8 the site offered by Delos Yager, at the head of Maple street, comprising about ten acres of land, was accepted. The acceptance, however, was conditioned on the fulfilment of certain^ requirements imposed on the ployed as architects. A committee from the local board visited several state normal schools and ob- tained practical information regarding the needs of a normal school. When plans were prepared it was found impracticable to build a suitable building for the amount of mone}' appropriated. On consulta- tion with the Superintendent of Public Instruction, it was decided to wait and present the facts to the THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. next legislaiuie and ask for an additional appropria- tion. Andrew S. Draper in his annual report for 1888, urged the legislature to make an additional ap- propriation for Oneonta on the ground that the best THK JANITORS AND KNCIXEKKS. interests of the State would i)e subserved by such a course. Mr. Arnold, who had been elected State Senator, introduced a bill into the Senate on January 23, 1SS8, asking for |;6g,ooo additional appropriation, and on Februar\- 2d the bill passed the Senate with only two votes recorded against it. Honorable Walter L. Brown took charge of the bill in the Assembly and on March 8 the bill was passed with only four votes in the negative. The bill then went to the Governor and on March 20, was withdrawn from the Gover- nor's hands to prevent a veto. Later it was presented to the Governor and the following tele- gram marked Oneonta's second period of rejoicing: "April 17, 18S8, Governor Hill has just signed the Normal School bill in my presence. H. D. Nelson." On April 19, iSSS, Dr. James M. Milne, of Cortland was elected principal. Plans of building were speedily completed, bids adver- tised, .-uid on June 30, 1S8S, the contract for erecting the build- ing was awarded to R3'an, RafTerty iS: O'Hara and to Baker & Mc- Allister, of Syracuse, N. Y., and the contract for heating and ven- tilating was on the same day let to Pierce, Butler & Pierce, of Syra- cuse. On July 17, 1S88, ground was broken and excavation for the new building was commenced and on August 21, iSSg, the building was completed. In the legislature of 1SS9, an aj^propriation for !J!47,ooo for furnishing the building passed both branches of the legislature, but failed to become a law through Governor Hill's withholding his signa- ture. Seats and desks were procured, text books VIEVV FR(JM THE NORMAL. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAIv SOUVENIR. were donated and with scant equipment the school was conducted the first year. The building was formallj' dedicated on September 4, 1889. The principal address was made by State Superintendent Andrew S. Draper. He, at tliat time, bestowed marked praise on George I. Wilber, Wil- lard E. Yager and Walter L. Brown for the energy and push evinced in the Normal School enterprise and at the close of this address he presented to the school a beautiful national flag. This flag was ac- cepted for the school b}' Mr. Eugene Raymond. School opened next day with nearly one hundred students in the Normal Departm., Modern Languages. SCIENCE— NORMAL SCHOOL. and Science, and Wilbur H. L5'nch was elected prin- cipal of the Intermediate Department and teacher of Gj'mnastics. Earl)' in the fifth year Gertrude M. Stewart re- signed, and Cora H. Pettit was elected to fill the position of principal of the Primary Department. At the end of the sixth year, Elizabeth Weingand severed her connection with the school, and Kate M. Denison was chosen teacher of Methods. Percy I. Bugbee resigned the Chair of Mathematics, and Arthur M. Curtis was chosen to fill the vacancy. Wilbur H. Lynch resigned his position, and Charles A. Schumaker was elected to the vacant position. Genevieve lugersoll was added to the faculty as critic and teacher of Grammar, and Heleu E. Scramling was elected to the position of Elocution. Early in the seventh year Alice Gray Bothwell oiTered her resignation, which was accepted, and her literature work was carried on throughout the year by Marian Yager. At the end of the seventh year Grace Bell Latimer and Winifred Parsons resigned. Charles A. Schumaker was appointed teacher of FRANK D. BLODGETT, A. B.. A. M., Ancient Languages. HOWARD LYON, A. B., M. S., Science. KATE M. DENISON., Methods. ANNA GERTRUDE CHILDS, A. B., A. M., Music and Criticism. HARRIET A. GATES, Drawing, Methods and Criticism. HELEN E. SCRAMLING., Expression and Read- ing. FRANCES A. HURD., Science, Writing and Criticism. CHARLES A. SCHUMAKER, A. B., Ph. D. Rhetoric, Literature and Historj'. WINCHA L. COLLOM., Physical Culture and History. GERTRUDE L. CODDINGTON, A. B., Assistant in Mathematics and Languages. FRANCES TAPPAN., Science and General As- sistant. CHARLES J. STAPLES, A. B., Gymnastics and Principal of Intermediate Dept. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. CORA H. PETTIT., Principal of Primary Depart- ment. FLORENCE M. MATTESON., Physical Geography and Criticism. GENEVIEVE INGERSOLL., Grammar and Criti- cism. School Organizations. — Within the school, quite a number of societies and organizations have sprung up, which have for their aim mutual helpfulness, re- laxation and special general culture. Tlie following are the more general bj' name, with the dates of their organization or establishment ; Dec. 13, 1SS9. Beta Chapter of Delphic Society. (Gentlemen.) Feb. 4, i8go. Beta Chapter of Clionian Society. (Ladies.) Feb. 26, 1S90. Base Ball Association. Oct. 15, i8qo. Oneonta Musical and Lecture Course Association. April 15, iSgi. Normal Orchestra. (Ladies and Gentlemen/* passed over as a legacy to those managing the af- fairs in the school or out of it. Although the total attendance of the first year was only 143 Normal students, the last year nearly 600 Normal students were in attendance, and over 100 were graduated. Over 400 have already been graduated from this in- stitution, and nearly every one has taught in the public schools of the state. A large number are al- ready holding commanding executive or class-room positions. No Normal School can show a record in whicti as great a proportion of graduates has taught, or in which as high salaries have been paid to gra- duates. The desire for Oneonta graduates through- out the State is constantl)^ increasing, and the demand is always greater than the suppl}'. Whatever may be the future of this institution, its past, at least, is secure and honorable. Its efforts to-day are full of that spirit of progress which keeps in touch with varying and ever widening demands, full of the spirit of truth that rests on everlasting foundations, and full of the genius of that courage and hard work which will command success and bring things to pass. I,IBR.\RY. April 17, 1S91. Beta Chapter of Agonian Society. (Ladies.) May 15, 1S91. Beta Chapter of Philalethean So- ciety. (Gentlemen.) June 30, 1891. Alumni Association. March, 1S93. Oneontan. (School Monthly ) Sept. 30, 1893. Hermania. (German Society.) March, 1S94. Hermania Monthly. (German ) Sept. 18, 1S94. Athletic Association. Oct. 20, 1S94. Epsilon Chapter of Arethusa So- ciety. (Ladies.) Sept. 14, 1S95. Beta Chapter of Alpha Delta So- cietj'. (Ladies.) Sept. 20, 1895. T^mes M. Milne Hose Company, Oct. 23, 1895. Students Guild. Oct. 2, 1896. Normal Glee Club. (Gentlemen.) The School Growth, — The growth of the Oneonta Normal has in a sense been phenomenal. Without a large body of Alumni to herald its worth, it has gradually forged to the fore-front. The hard work of the founders of the institution seems to have been M. Gurney was born of Quaker parentage in the town of Maryland, August 29, 1830, and he was the second of eight children, of whom six are still living. While a lad he entered the employ of the late John T. Thompson as clerk in his store at Maryland. Later he was employed by Elisha S. Steere of Laurens and in 1854 he was married to Miss Margaret Every of that place. In partnership with Mr. Comstock, his brother-in-law, he succeeded Mr. Steere in business, establishing the firm of Comstock & Gurney, which continued until the death of the senior partner, when the late LeRoy Tucker entered the firm, which car- ried on for several years a prosperous business as Gurney & Tucker. Mr. Gurney's business career at Laurens extended over a period of fifteen years, at the end of which time he removed to Michigan, where he remained only one year, returning on ac- count of ill health, and soon after settling in One- onta. For sixteen years he was postmaster and justice of the peace at Laurens, and he was the third chief of the Oneonta fire department and one of the THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. charter members ut the Hook and Ladder company. For many years, also, he had been citizen member of the board of health, and since its organization secretar}' of the Glenwood cemetery association. He belonged to the Oneonta club to the Masonic order, being a member of the blue lodge at Oneonta and of the Malta commander}' at Binghamton. He was a regular attendant and a liberal supporter of the Methodist church. His wife died in 1S90. On the day of his funeral all places of business in town were closed. By the request of the family there was no parade or display, but all prominent organizations were represented and the attendance of citizens was large. The Woman's Club of Oneonta. — The Woman's Club of Oneonta was organized Februarj' 13, 1S94, with one hundred and eleven members, its first of- ficers being Mrs. Ida Bugbee, President ; Mrs Elizabeth A. W. Case, Vice-President; Mrs. Nellie in French, Spanish, English and American history, current topics, botany, parliamentary usage, art, embroidery, cooking, physical culture, harmon}-, a ladies' chorus and a mandolin and guitar club. The first Tuesday evening of each month is devoted to a musical and literary program for the whole club, the last one being a review of the year's work in all of its divisions. The third Thursday of each month an informal reception is held, four of the ladies receiv- ing from three to half after five o'clock. Aside from the entertainments by the club members during the present year parlor entertainments are to be given bj' distinguished women, also cooking lessons b}- one of the most celebrated cooking teachers. Through July and August the regular work is sus- pended, the rooins being accessible to the members during the whole year. The present officers are. 4.SSEIMBLY- H. Miller, Secretary; Miss ^L^y Whipple, Corres- ponding Secretary; Miss May Wilson, Treasurer: Mrs. Susan Baird, Mrs. Mary A. Miller. Miss Grace Bell Latimer and Mrs. Ella M. Ford, Directors. Under the laws of the State of New York the club was incorporated September 7, 1S94. At the close of the first year the 200 membership limit h.id been reached, and it was found necessary to remove from the flat in the Ray block to the pleasant suite of rooms now occupied by the club in the Exchange block, Dietz street, consisting of an auditorium seating about 200, a handsome parlor, reception room, well lighted reading room and class ro.om, which were handsomel}' decorated and furnished to meet the needs of the club. On account of its size the club is divided into classes, members choosing the lines of study. With the exception of the lan- guages, the classes are conducted by the members in weekl}' meetings. Classes have been maintained NORMAL SCHOOL. President, Mrs. Harriet E. Stone ; Vice-President, Mrs. Miriam Lyon ; Recording Secretary, Miss Elizabeth M. Blaicely ; Corresponding Secretary, Miss Kittle A. French; Treasurer, Miss May Wilson; Board of Directors, Mrs. Lillian Kirkland, Mrs. Helen Scramling, Mrs. Ada Morris, Mrs. Maria Young. Directors of classes are: American His- tory. Mrs. Bugbee; Art History, Mrs. Winifred Ford ; Chorus, Miss Anna Gertrude Childs ; Cur- rent Topics, Mrs. Elisabeth Case ; Embroidery, Mrs. Flora Gurney ; English History, Mrs. Susan Baird ; English Literature, Miss Mary Woodin ; French, Miss Gregory; Harmony, Mrs. Ella M. Ford; Mandolin and Guitar, Mrs. Nellie H. Miller. The First National Bank was organized in 1871. The officers have shown themselves to be men of good judgment. Aside from the regular routine of business this bank enjoys an enviable reputation as a reliable agenc)- for safe and profitable investments THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. in National, State, County and various municipal bonds. The negotiations of first class securities on an extensive scale are frequent, and the informaiion cheerfully given to investors is often most valuable. Passage tickets to and from Europe ma}'- be pur- chased at this institution. Although not generally known, the First National Bank for the last eight years has been one of the few to be included in the National Roll of Hojior among the man}' banks of the United States. Ten years ago this bank erected a large four-story brick block, which affords fine quarters and plenty of room for increasing business. It is provided with a Herring's Patent Champion Safe, made expressl}' to order, and weighs 12,000 lbs. The loan and discount account shows that the funds of the bank have been put to good use. Its surplus fund and undivided profits also attest the same fact. The steady increase of deposits bespeak the confidence of the com- munity. This is regarded as one of the safest and most conservative banking institutions in this part of the nine j'ears. He came to (Jneonta in April, 1883, and formed the copartnership with Mr. Bennett above mentioned. He married Ida Groat, of One- onta, April 25, 1888. He is a member of the Odd Fellows. Henry Bull was born in Oneonta April 15. 1S55. At fourteen years of age he entered the employ of J. T. Mygatt, paper jobber, Binghamton. Twenty-one years ago he went into the store of W. L. Brown, where he remained until the present firm was organized. He was elected supervisor from Oneonta in iSSg and has been re-elected for each succeeding term. He served as chairman in 1894-95. He married Mrs. G. D. Rockwell in 1887. He is a member of the Oneonta club. The F. A. and V. Reading Circle is a small club of sixteen ladies. It was organized in 1893, with the purpose of carr3'ing on a course of pleasant reading in a pleasant manner, and to this end it meets one evening of each week at the house of one of the difl'erent members, where an hour and a half — from GYMNASIUM- countrj-, showing a wise and careful management under the following officers: Ransom Mitchell, President; W. T. Keyes, Vice-President; M. L. Keyes, Cashier; E. C. Slade, Assistant Cashier. The Firm of Carr & Bull, clothiers, in the Ford & Stewart building, is one of the largest establish- ments in that line of business in this count}'. It has the reputation for fair dealing and for selling the best class of goods. The business has been built up from a small beginning to that second to none between Albany and Binghamton. It was started on April i, 1884. by Bennett & Carr, who, during the preceding year had been engaged in the grocery trade. On August i, 1892, Mr. Bennett was suc- ceeded by Henry Bull, and the firm from that time continued the business under the name of Carr & Bull. The stock comprises a large selection of ready-made clothing, hats and caps, tuinks, bags and men's furnishing goods generally. .Mr. A. W. Carr was born in Cooperstown, March 4, i860. He was employed in the Journal office at that place for NORMAL SCHOOL. 7:30 to 9 o'clock — is spent in reading aloud b}' one of the number, the others being at liberty to inter- rupt and discuss the subject at any time. The hour following is spent socially, refreshments being served by the hostess during the time. Both as a social and a literary club this circle has been greatly enjoyed. For the last two years the course of read- ing has been in the line of travels, and special inter- est and charm have been added to it by personal ex- periences of two of the members who, during these years, have traveled quite extensively in our own and foreign countries. For the purposes of the circle the onlyofficer needed is a president, who is chosen at the first meeting in each year. Socially the meet- ings are very informal and delightful, and they are rarely held without the full meinbership, which is limited to sixteen to avoid inconvenience in the or- dinary drawing-room. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 13 D. J. Yager, police and civil justice, is one of the oldest and best known business men of Oneonta. With an interval of but a few j-ears, during which time he was engaged in the coal business, he has served in that office since 1862. He has been prominently identified with the public improvements in the village, having been one of the promoters of both banks, and of the water supply, all of wliich associations, excepting the Wilber Bank, he is a stockholder. From 1S45 to 1857, he was a leading dry goods merchant, being a member successively of the firms of D. J. Yager & Co., Yager & Dietz, Yager & Reynolds and Yager & Ford. During his most active business career, he constructed several buildings in the village, including a number of fine residences ; also the large hotel near the depot, known as the Hathaway House. Mr. Yager was born in Onconta, September 6, 1S25. He attended the district schools, and at the age of thirteen years E. D. Hirshey, the fashionable mtrchant tailor, in the Reynolds block, learned his trade in Paris, where he began at 15 years of age under the instruction of the best tailors, learning to cut and make up stylish goods. He came from France five years ago, and after working in New York awhile located in Oneonta, Feb. i, r894. He carries a large line of both domestic tind imported goods, and all work in his shop is under his personal supervision. His business includes all kinds of merchant tailoring and his customers are among the best people in town. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. The Oneonta Water Works Company draws its suppl}^ from the Oneonta creek and living springs adjacent thereto. This was formerly a trout stream and the water is soft, pure and clear. The works were built in 1882, with a distributing reservoir having the caparit\- nf 25,000 000 of gallons and DRAWING ROOM.— NORMAI, SCHOOL entered the emplo}' of Cook & Brown. Three years later he engaged as a clerk with George W. Ernst at Cooperstowi), where he remained for two years He then returned to Oneonta and entered a clerkship for the firm of Solon and C. P. Huntington, the two men who have since become world-wide known as railroad magnates. When he left their employ tw > years afterwards it was to engage in the business for himself, in which he became successful. David Yager, his father, was a native of Rensselaer county. He came to Oneonta in 1808 and settled on a farm. He died in June, 1851, and his wife was buried three days later. They left a famil)- of nine children. The survivorsare : lYrs. Julia Tuttle of McConnellsvilie, Oneida county, and the subject of tins sketch The latter married Emogcne L., the daughter of Elisha Shepard of Oneonta. on Ma}' 23, 1849. There are four children : Willard E., and Miss Marion of Oneonta, Mrs. Florence Y. Loomis of New York ; and Mrs Alice, the wife of Mr. Frederick G. Mather, the well known writer and legislative correspondent of Albany. covering about ten acres of ground. It is at an elevation of 202 feet above the Albany and Susque- hanna tracks and about two miles distant from the village. The water is brought into town by gravity and the fall is sufficient to raise a stream above the tallest buildings. In order to keep ahead of the increased demands made possible by the growth of the town, a storage reservoir was begun in 1886, which was nearly two 3'ears in building, and when finished it proved to be the largest artificial lake or reservoir owned by any water works compan}* or city in the State outside of greater New York, covering 75 acres and having the capacity of 500,000,000 gallons. The embankment alone is 60 feet high. The site of this reservoir is 450 feet above the town and four miles distant. Its cost was more than twice the amount spent in building the original works. Pure water drawn from living springs and running brooks is the 14 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR chief factor insuring the general good health for which Oneonta is noted. That was the main point kept in view when the plans for building the water works were finall}^ adopted ; and the question of expense was made subordinate to the necessitj' of obtaining pure water. The water company has not spared expense or trouble in protecting the supply. It has gone so far as to secure the passage of a special act of the Legislature protecting this water shed in a greater degree than is obtained under the general law. The officers and board of directors: George I. Wilbur, President; T. A. Norton, Vice- ness is done is shown in the fact that the total losses on loans and discounts from the beginning to the pre- sent time, aggregate less than $1,000. This is almost an unparalleled record. The bank was or- ganized in 1874, with the Hon. David VVilber, presi- dent ; the Hon. Wm. C. Fields, vice-president ; George I. Wilber, cashier ; E. A. Scramling, assist- ant cashier. The first report of the condition of the bank, issued in June, of that year, showed the de- posits to be $78,729.64. The deposits as shown by the report of this year had increased to $778,116.65. The total resources in the first report were $167,- 774.09. At this time, or rather when the last report was issued, they were $1,199,237.82. The present board of officers : President, George I. Wilber ; M ■m CHAPIN MEMORIAL CHURCH, President and Secretary ; J. G. Hoyt, Superin- tendent; William Morris, George W. Fairchild and James Stewart. The Wilber National Bank is one of the best known of banking institutions in the State. Its capital is $100,000. The surplus $200,000 is the largest in proportion to the capital of that held by anj^ National bank, except one, between Albany and Buffalo. The amount of business now being done by this institution is shown in the last government report which discloses the fact that the undivided profits, in addition to the surplus, is $31,823.67. The very careful and safe manner in which the busi- vii:e-president and cashier, E. A. Scramling; assist- ant cashier, Samuel H. Potter; teller, Silas 1. Wright. Henry Saunders has carried on the book and stationery business in Oneonta for more than twenty- five years. His place of business is in the McCrum block at the corner of Main and Broad streets, and it is one of the largest established stores in this vil- lage. As a dealer in that line of merchandise he is very widelv known, having the reputation of being the leader, and of being first to place before local trade the newest and most popular publications. Mr. Saunder's was born in Burnt Hills, Saratoga county, December 25, 1852. When he was thirteen THE ONEONTA HIvSTORICAL SOUVENIR. 15 years old he came to Oiieonta to live with his grand- father, Mr. E. R. Ford, and attend school. At eight- teen years of age he entered the employ of A. D. Dye as clerk, and the following year was admitted as a partner. Their store was, at that time, at the foot of Chestnut street, but has since been swept away by fire, and the old site is now the beginning of FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. the street, known as Chestnut extension. In 1S73, the firm moved into the store, which he now occupies, and where, during nearly a quarter of a century the business has increased in importance, keeping pace with the growth of the town and the demands of trade. This building was constructed b\^ his father and Mr. McCrum. In 1875, Mr. Saunders succeeded Mr. D3'e, as sole proprietor. He has from time to time added very largel}* to the stock until the scope of his trade includes every article customaril}' kept on sale in large retail book stores. He married Carrie, the daughter of Sherman Hine of Franklin, Delaware county, October 16, 18S4. Frederick L. Dibble, who does a successful grocer}- business at No. 15 Diet/, street, and whose trade in- cludes man)' of the best families, opened the busi- ness on Broad street, on January i, 1892, and three months later removed to No. 176 Main street, where he remainetl until April 1. 1S96, when he moved into his present quarters. He was born September 16, 1854, in Davenport, Delaware count}'. On March. 4, 1886, he married Miss Jane Catharine, the daugh- ter of Robert Tunnard of Waierford, Saratoga couniy. The business he is conducting includes all branches of the grocery trade. Hy strict attention to the wants of his patrons and by fair and conscientious dealings Mr. Dibble has drawn to himself a large ciicle of desirable patrons. Although the business is comparatively new it is constantly expanding with flattering prospects for the future. The stock em- braces many lines of fine and imported groceries. Mr. Dibble handling none but the very best. He is a member of the Oneonta Lodge I. O. O. F. and the Knights of Pythias. Marquis L. Keyes was born in Mt. Vision, Octo- ber 24, 1841. He was educated at the Franklin Literary Institute. After leaving shool he spent five years at Aurora, 111., was principal of the graded school, and engaged in financial investments. In 1874 he entered the employ of the First National! Bank of Oneonta, N. Y., and in 1875 was elected cashier, and has held that office continuously up to the present time; he had had no previous experience when he assumed his duties, nevertheless he has proved the right man in the right place. He has large investments in real estate, is Vice-President of the Oneonta Gas and Elec- tric Light Co. Mr. Keyes is a charter member of the Oneonta Building and Loan Association of which he is one of the directors, also a director of the First National Bank at Bain- bridge, N. Y., and First National Bank of Morris, N. v., besides being con- nected with various other enterprises. He has always been like his father before him, a life -long democrat. In 1873 he married Helena, daughter of Martin Pruyn, of Mt. \'ision. He has two children, a daughter, Eva B., and son, De Forest Keyes. Hervey Keyes, the father of the subject of this sketch, Marquis L. Keyes, was born in 1803. He was a merchant at Mt. Vision for a number of years, and was prominent in the days of State mili- tary training. He was ap- ^..ASjaaSSHi ^Bwimmm t pointed and held various offices, was made Colonel of the Eleventh Regiment of Cavalry, and per- forrned the duties of his office acceptably, was ten- dered the office of General, but declined. In 1851 was elected member of Assembly from the second assembly district of Otsego County. He married Margaret, the daughter of Peter and Elizabctli Marlette of the town of Milfor 1. PRI.VI.\RY SCHOOL. The First Presbyterian Church justly claims prece- dence as the oldest in town and one of the oldest in this section. It was founded in 1786, Rev. John Toll being the first pastor. The church was not in- corporated, however, until 1815. Oneonta at that time did not exist as a separate town. The old articles of incorporation read as follows: " At a meeting of a part of the inhabitants of the towns of .Milford, Otsego Co., and Kortright, Delaware Co., i6 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. held at Milfonl on the 24 of June, 1S15, for the pur- pose of organizing themselves into a religious bod}', Asel Marvin was chosen chairman and Jacob Dietz clerk. Resolved: That we be incorporated into a body to be known as the Second Presbj'terian Church of Milford." The parchment record books of the sessions dating back to 1799 are in the posses- sion of the church and contains much quaint and curious information in regard to the early life of the community. The first building v/as erected in 1816, and the present structure was dciiicnted with im- KIRST B.\PTIS'r CHURCH. pressive "ceremonies in 18S7. During its long ex- istence the church has been served by twenty-two pastors. Its liistory is largely that of the commu- nity in the midst of which it has stood and whose vicissitudes, struggles and prosperity it has shared. Many of the names of its honored and success- ful citizens are on its long roll of mem- bership and many in other communities re- member it with alTection and gratitude. It is believed that the church is to-day in the most flourishing and prosperous condition of its history. It is absolutely out of debt, and even in the present "hard times" has been making splendid gains in every direction. To illustrate its financial prosperity, it may be stated that its income has more than dou- bled during the past ten years. During the same time its membership has increased by 79, which is the largest gain ever made during a similar period. The official boards of the church, under whose effi- cient and liberal management such pronounced suc- cess has been achieved, are as follows: Rev. Ne\^ ton M. Hall, pastor and moderator of the session. The session: D. A. H. Brownell, clerk; H. D. Alden, A. C. Holley, H. W. Morenus. T D. Watkins, F. H. Stone. A. B. Tobey, G. N. Rowe. The trustees: I. L. Miller, president; C. E. Ford, W. P. Blakeiy. T. A. Norton, C. K. Lauren, A. Morris; clerk. Giant Pelton. Deacons: G. L. Pratt, B. C. Lauren. Deaconesses: Mrs. S. Hill, .Mrs. (). W. Peck, .Mrs. C. K. Lauren. The church edifice occupies a commanding position in the heart of Oneont;i, situ- ated on Main street, facing Elm. The buildings, which constitute the valuable propert}', rise from terraced lawns somewhat back from the street. The church edifice is of brick, with stone trimmings. The interior is attractiveh' furnished, lighted by stained-glass windows, and fitted with beautiful electric chandeliers. Adjoining the church is the brick parsonage, a comfortable and handsome resi- dence. The pastor is assisted in his work by vari- ous societies and organizations. All of which are most active and enthusiastic in their co-operation. Chief among these auxiliaries is the Sunday-school. No branch of the church work has shown more encouraging activity and advancement than the Sun- day-school — Ai the last "Rally Day." It reached high-water mark in attendance, the number present being 367. Still more striking as showing the gain in the past two years is the average attendance for the month of September. In 1S94, it was 204; in 1S95, 227; in 1896, 299. Better still than mere num- bers is the enthusiasm and ioyait}' of teachers and scholars. The enthusiastic, devoted and self- sacrificing superintendent is A. H. Brownell, M. D., who is ably supported by the following officers: Assistants, B. C. Lauren, Lulu Hurlbutt, George Norton, Arthur Palmer: treasurer, J. S. Lauren; secretar}-. II. S. Rowe; assistant secretary, Bert Hitchcock; librarian, H. P. Tompkins; assistant, Edith jM. Wheeler. A kindergarten department is in charge of Mrs. A. H. Brownell, assisted by Miss May Scott. Bible classes are taught by Dr. [, M. Milne, Mr. A. B. Tobey, Prof. F. D. Blodgett, Mrs. A. B. Tobey and Miss Kittle French. The Y. P. S. C. E,, organized in i8Sg, with a membership of 13, has had a most prosperous history. Its membership is now about 125. During the past three years it lias given over $250.00 to home and foreign mis- sions. It holds frequent social entertainni e nt s . and its loval support o the church in e\ cry particu- lai is most ni;nked. The ofiu er s are: Prt^idtnt, A. ( Palmer; TOWN CLOCK BUILDING, vice-president, Elizabeth Miller; recording secre- tary, Carrie Robinson; corresponding secreiar}", Elizabeth M. Blakeiy, 26 Elm street; treasurer. Bur- ton Hotaling; assistant treasurer. (3hloe Olmstead; missionary treasurer, H. S. Rowe; and the chair- men of committees: Lookout. Lilian Cowan; prayer meeting, Martha Marters; social, C. I). Vosburg; missionary, Lulu Hurlbutt; music, Albert Hitch- cock; Sunday-school, Clara \'an Dycke. No branch of the church work is more faithfully performed than that under the direction of the Ladies' Missionary Societ)'. Missionary spirit is fos- THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 17 tered by monthI\' meetings for the discussion of the active work in the field, and twice a year a supper is given, the proceeds of which swell the missionary funds. The last semi-annual report shows that over .f 100 had been contributed. The officers are : Presi- dent, Mrs. Alva Seybolt ; First Vice-President, Mrs. H. D. Alden ; Second Vice-President, Mrs. Nathan- iel Compton ; Secretary, Mrs. C. K. Lauren ; Treas- urer, Mrs. D. B. Holmes. The social activity of the church is maintained by the Ladies' Aid Society, whose membership includes nearly all the ladies of the church. Most popular are the appetizing suppers which are served, and the " New Year's dinner" has become an annual event which has spread the fame of the ladies as successful enter- tainers. Concerts and ent e r t a i n - ments of various kinds prove at- tractive features, promoting socia- bility and swell- ing the exchequer of the society. The officers are : President, Mrs. Albert Morris; Vice - Presidents, Mrs. E. M. John- son, Mrs. A. B. Tobey, Mrs. F. H. Stone, Mrs. C. K. Lauren, Mrs. A. Seybolt, Mrs. J. A. Millard, Mrs. S. H. Taylor, Mrs. Anna Blac kail, Mrs. Robert Fur- man, Mrs. Etta Parish, Mrs. G.N. Rowe, Mrs. C._F. Shell and Miss Harriet Glazier; Sec- retary, Elizabeth M. Blakeley; Treasurer, Mrs. A. D. Getman. A 3'oung men's society, composed largelj' of members of Prot. Hlodgett's Bible class, has been formed. The work of the societ)^ has not yet been fully developed, but special efforts will be made through it to interest voun? men in the work and life of the church. Informal receptions are given, and a course of " talks" by prominent men is planned for the winter. The officers are as fol- lows : President, A. C. Palmer; Vice-President, John Nailor ; Secretary, .A. R. Brown : Treasurer, Albert Bush. Among the recent organizations of the church none is more thoroughly earnest and "alive" than the Boys' Brigade, numbering forty members. It holds a weekly drill and a Sunday morning prayer meeting. Last summer the first annual " camp " was held at Lake Crumborn. The week's outing was a source of great enjoyment to the boys. Plans are on foot for srreatly increasing the efficiency and value of the organization. The officers are : Captain; Fred. N. Van Wie ; First Lieutenant, Albert Bush : Second Lieutenant, Clif- BURR MATTICE, JUSTICE, 6th JUDICIAL DISTRICT. ford Morris: Sergeants— First, Burton Hotaling ; Second, Vernon Holme ; Third, Frank Howard ; Corporals — First, Oakley Hogan : Second, How- ard Alden ; Third, Clarence Hall ; Fourth, Wil- liam Thompson ; Quartermaster, Frank Johnson. The church makes its music a prominent feature in its service, and employs the best singers that it is possi- ble to obtain. The followiuir is the musical organ- ization : Director, William Lloyd ; Organist, Miss Emily Abell. Quartette: Tenor, William Lloyd, Miss Lulu O. Tanner, soprano ; Miss Josephine Axtell, alto ; Fred W. Davies, basso. Male Quar- tette : William Lloyd, Fred Davies, George Purick, H. W. Terrell. Chorus Choir : Ethel Dillenbeck, Mabel E. Robin- son, Chloe 01 m- stead, Lulu Den- nis, Elsa Gard- ner, Grace Vos- burg, Carrie Head, Ophelia MacDon- ald, Anna Mac- Don aid, Inez Gray, Minna Crum, M. E. Bax- ter, Henry Mc- Donough. The church is not con- tent to rest upon its past achieve- ments and suc- cesses. It is look- ing forward to a future which shall make it a still larger factor in ' the moral growth of t he commu- nity, and enable it to occupy a still wider sphere of usefulness. The present accommodations are too small and cramped for its rapidly increasing membership, and its fac- ilities for active church work far too limitt^J. Plans are being considered for the erection, in the near future, of a " parish house" for the accommodation of the Sunday school, and for the many social activities of the modern church. This house will contain a large assembly room to be used for prayer meetings, and the Sunday school. Separate rooms for Sunday school classes and the various organizations of the church, dining room and kitchen, drill hall and armory for the Boy's Brigade. The church will then be most eflfectually equipped for the aggressive Christian work, for the broad activities which are demanded of the city church of the present day. To this field of enlarged and increased usefulness the church is looking forward with confidence and ex- pectation. Rev. Newton Marshall Hall was born in Manches- ter, N. H. He was educated at Dartmouth college, from which he received the degrees A. B. and A. M., and at Andover Theological Seminary. Before graduating at Andover he was appointed "Ames i8 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. Professor of English Language and Literature " at Iowa college, the oldest and most important denomi- national college in the west. After two years of suc- cessful service here he was obliged to resign on account of ill-health. After a period of rest he ac- cepted the call of the First Presbyterian church at Oneonta. Mr. Hall has found time amid other duties for considerable literary work, articles and poems from his pen having appeared in some of the leading periodicals. He is a member of the " Society of the Sons of the American Revolution." Briggs & Miller, contractors and builders, and extensive dealers in lumber, wool, butter, hides and tallow, do a business amounting to !J|!ioo,ooo a year Both are prominent in public affairs and are identi- fied with sev- eral local en- te r p r i se s . Mr. Nathan H. Briggs has been in the lumber busi- n e s s for many years. He was born in R o s e - bo o m , O t - sego county, December30, 1846. Learn- ing the car- penter's trade at an early age he fol- lowed that occupati on, largely, until March, 1883. vvnennecame to Oneo n t a and began taking c o n- tracts for large work. Two years later he for- med a co- partners h i p with W m . Scot t , who soon after withdrew. On July 7, 1888, the part- nership of Briggs & Miller was formed, the latter, having already established a considerable business in produce. This firm has given employment to as many as sixty men, although on the average it keeps thirty hands at work. It has built several buildings in Oneonta including churches, schools, business blocks and many fine residences. The Briggs & Miller building on Main street, comprising three stories with an imposing front was constructed three years ago: also the Stevens & Hills and the B. L. Piatt blocks. Mr. Briggs served as a village trustee for six years. He is a member of the Free Will Baptist church, is a zealous supporter of the Y. M. C. A. and is oneof the directors of the Building and Loan Association. He married Hannah E. Con- gor, of Meredith, Delaware county, December 15, - \ SENATOR WALTER L. BROWN. 1870 R W. Miller was born in Oneonta March 26. 1S46. For nineteen years he was engaged in the produce business, also buying hops; first with his father, D. M. Miller; afterwards in the firm of Miller, Vusl.urgh it Co for five years, and about the same length of time in the firm of Vosburgh &: Miller. He married Julia Del incy of South Edmoston, in 1871. He is a member of the Free Baptist church. Hartford D. Nelson was born June 9, 1852. studied law with Hon. Jas. Stewart and was admitted to the bar September 16, 1S75. Judge Nelson has been a justice of the peace in Oneonta from January i. 1S77 to December 31, 1884; member of assembly from the second Otsego district 1883 and 1S84; and post- master of Oneonta from July i to October i, 18S6, at which time he resigned that po^^ tion to return to his law practice. Hon. George Scr a m 1 i n g died January 30, 1887, being at the time of his death Otsego county judge, and on the i6th of Feb- ruary of the same year (lOvernor Hill appoin- ted Judge Nelson to fill the vacancy. At the suc- ceeding elec- tion he was ele|cte'd as -. county judge ' '. and at the end / of his term ' Jan u a ry i , ,, 18S4, he re- turned to his law practice. Judge Nel- son was mar- ried to Eliza- beth Porter. There are two Seward Nelson and children now living, viz Samuel B. Nelson, both of whom reside in Oneonta. Mr. Nelson is at present a trustee of the Normal training school, and is an ex-member of the board of trustees of the union school. D. A. Boardman, the well-known manufacturer of harness, has been in business in Oneonta for the past twenty years. During that time he has made a reputation as a manufacturer of high-grade harness. He is the only man to cut and make an English coach harness, 'and his work has always been in great demand. The manufacture of harness, accord- ing to Mr. Boardman's policy, is gauged on the broad principle that a majority of the injuries to horses are due, in a measure, to the improper fitting thp: onkonta hlstorical souvenir. 19 and adjustment of harness, and in all cases he guar- antees to remedy that evil. Mr. Boardman takes pride in the fact that his representations are al\va)'S carried out to the letter. Things have greatly changed since Mr. Boardman learned the trade, and the prospects are that he will be obliged to put in machine-made harness. This will not prevent him from manufacturing to order when a customer de- sires hand-made work, both stylish and durable. ONEONT A- Traditions and Growth. [By Harvev Baker.] Oneonta is a pleasant Indian name. It date? back to a time when no European had entered the pro- vince of New York. Its early Indian name was spelled by the English Onahrieton, and is so spelled in the Otego land grant, which embraces a part of T. E. MARSH'S He learned the trade in i860, and for years worked for Sheldon & Moore. Mr. Boardman has for years been actively interested in horses and all that per- tains to their improvement. He is well known in trotting circles, and is interested in the movement to elevate that pastime. W. D. Fitzgerald. — "Grip" takes pleasure in sajMng a few compli- mentary words of W. D. Fitzgerald, the popular manager of the Metro- politan Theatre. He is well known, a nd, above all, well liked by travel- ing managers and the theatre-going public. The latter have learned that he knows how to provide good at- tractions. Although one of the youngest managers in the countr}'. he has proved to be a veteran in handling big attractions, handicap- ped as he is with a poor theatre. It is to be hoped that the time is not far olT when he may have a theatre that will be a credit to Oneonta The Oneonta Star Fife and Drum Corps was organized in August, 1S91, and the first appearance of the corps in public was on October 31st of that year. The name was given by The Star, Oneonta's lively daily newspaper. The corps pre- sents a ver)' nice appearance on the street and it is a pleasure to hear their music. Their motto is: "The Best in Central New Y^ork." DRUG STORE. the town of Oneonta. The same name was given the creek passing through the village, and also to the old Indian village which once occupied the lands south of the .Susquehanna and west of the Charlotte river. (In Indian the Charlotte river was called Adiqua- tang.) The later Indians and early white settlers THE HIGH SCHOOL. abbreviated many of the early names to the shorter ones now in use. Oquaga was formerly spelled Onuhhuhquaugch. Our first knowledge of our State and country dates back to 160S, when the river St. Lawrence was dis- THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. covered and partially ascended. Previous to that time our State was occupied b)' a powerful tribe of Indians called Tuscaroras, and that north of the river St. Lawrence b)' a confederac}- known as the " Five Nations." CONCrKKSSMAX D. K. WILBER. When the French ascended the river, at a place now known as the "Three Rivers," they found the "Five Nations" engajicd in a bloody war with a tribe by the name of '■ Adirondacks.' The French, not knowing cither's strength, at once espoused the side of the weaker party, and by the use of fire- arms they overcame the " Five Nations" and drove them across the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario into the province of New York, where they at once formed a friendship with the Tuscaroras, who years afterward settled in the Carolinas. The valley of the Susquehanna was found to be the most desir- able of all the Iroquois hunting and fishing grounds, and many important Indian villages were located therein. One was just east of Colliersville and north of the mouth of Schenevus Creek, one south of the Susquehanna and just west of the mouth of the Charlotte. This village was called Oneonta, and spelled as was the creek of the same name, about a mile west and north of it. The site of this old Indian village has produced the most advanced in ancient pottery of any within our valley. Willard Yager, and others of Oneonta, collected many valuable specimens of their old time Indian skill, which were mostly destroyed in the recent Normal School fire. Another large Indian village north of the Susquehanna river and east of the mouth of the Otego creek was called Wauteghe, with large clearings. Johnson's Dream Land, of which Sims and other historians have wrtiten, is a part of Oneonta. In March, 1S41. when I was stopping with Major Colliers, at Colliersville, he related to me what I believed to be the true version, viz.: "On one occasion when Chief Hendricks was the guest of Sir William Johnson over night he coveted a flashy gold trimmed suit of clothes. In the morning he said to the baronet : ' Me dream last night ! ' 'What did my brother dream?' 'Me dream you gave me that suit of clothes.' His dream was realized. Some months later the Baronet and chief Hendricks happened to spend a night at the village of Wauteghe. Nearly opposite on the south side of the river rises three high hills, one nearl}^ opposite, one above and the other below, either of which commands a view of the lands north of the iver for about two miles below the village, and for a distance of about eight miles, to above Oneonta. with a clear view of the range of hills westerly and northerly of the river between these points. On the following morning on meeting the chief Sir William said: 'I too had a dream last night.' 'Ah,' quoth the chief, ' What did m}' pale-faced brother dream.' ' I dreamed that you gave me a deed of all the_^land I could see from yon eminence,' said Sir William at the same time pointing to the high hill opposite. Chief Hendricks stood for a few moments as if fully considering the matter. After a few moments thought he replied, ' You shall have it, but we will neither of us dream again.' " The promise was kept and surveyor Cockran made the survey in 1750. Ten )'ears later when the Otego grant or patent was surveyed the lines followed the Indian survey and the deeded grant from the English Crown in 1770. One thousand acres of that dream- land was sold by Johnson to Henrj^ Scramling during ti>e decade of 1760. The titles have always been known as the Johnson dreamland. Notable expeditions. — On October 28th, 1778, Colonel William Butler, with an army of 260 officers and men, started from Fort Defiance, Schoharie, and marched by the way of Middleburg and the Char- lotte to the ford above Colliersville, thence down the Susquehanna river, on its north side, along the old Indian trail, which passed through Oneonta vil- EX-CONGRESSMAN WILBER'S MONUMENT, lage near the present line of Main street. They crossed to the south side of the river near Ouleout creek; thence to Unadilla, destro)'ing the grist and THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL vSOUVEMR. saw mills, and most of the otlicr buildings in that early town. They continued their raid down to Oquaga, and a few miles below, and then returned home via Oleout, the west branch of the Delaware and the Schoharie creek. The expedition was for the purpose to destro}' the Tor}' and Indian prop- HARTFORD D. NELSON, EX-COUNTY JUDGE. erty in this village. The next important passage down the Susquehanna valley and river occurred in 1779, under the command of Gen. Clinton. This party, on the night of August 10, encamped on the farm of Joachim Van Valkenburgh, nearly opposite the present depot. The Town of Oneonta. -About 1608, the Iro- quois, or Five Nations, became its joint posses- sors. March 7th, 17S8, a town cal- led Otsego was formed, of which Oneonta w as a part.^j, February i6th, 1791, Ot- sego county was form ed . The town of Unadilla waserected April 10, 1792. Otego and S u ff r a g e were taken from Unadilla in 1796. In 1801 the name SufTr age was dropp e d , and Milford substi- tuted. In 1822 the town of Huntsville was formed, and one tier of lots south of the river was taken from Delaware county and a part of Otego. When that change was made, Kortright, and later Daven- port, extended down to the Huntsville line. In 1830. a new town of Otego was formed, and Huntsville discontinued, and the line of Milford extended west- ward to a line southwest of the Otego creek. The portion of Huntsville Iving south and east of that, and south of the Susquehanna river was added to Oneonta, and all west of Milford, as then made, was changed to. and still continues, to be Oneonta, Morris Brothers. — The wholesale grain, flour and feed house of Morris Brothers, probably the largest establishment in that line on the D. &: H. railroad between Albany and Binghamton, was established by George Reynolds and Albert Morris on Novem- ber 2, 1866. It was first opened as a retail feed store in a small frame building which stood on a plot of ground which now constitutes a part of Chestnut street extension, facing Main street. Mr. Reynolds died in June, iS6g, and was succeeded by Mr. Will- iam H. Morris, brother of Albert Morris, the two gentlemen who constitute the present firm, and who have since built up the large and extended business under the present firm name. In 1870 the business was removed to n two-story frame building, con- structed for that purpose on Chestnut street, the site on which now stands the handsome and commodious three story brick block adjoining the Windsor hotel, constructed in 1882, in the place of the original building destroyed bj' fire. The latter had the ground area of 56 x 26 feet. The growth of the busi- ness demanded more room and the new building was constructed with an area of box 30 feet. It was the policy of the firm to build wisely and well — and their Chestnut street block is one of the most substantial in town — an ornament to the street. The growth of the business of Morris Bros, was stead}' and in ten years following their removal to their new quarters, they had determined upon what G. E. MOORE'S DRUG STORE. has proven one of the most important departures in business enterprises that has marked the growth of the town. This was the erection of a four-story brick warehouse connected with a large store house and elevator facing Mechanic street near the head of Chestnut and overlooking the D. &: H. railroad yards in the rear. The building is 40 feet wide and iSo feet in depth. The elevator 40 feet square and 65 feet high. The store has a floor space of 22,400 feet, THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL vSOUVENIR. exclusive of the elevator. One thousand seven hun- dred and twent3'-eight feet was sufficient in the be- ginning — thirty 3'ears ago. Four years afterwards it was increased to 3,368 feet and subsequently to 7,200 feet. The warehouse capacity, which is used only for flour and feed in barrels, sacks and packages, is 50 car loads. The elevator contains eighteen bins with the total capacit)'^ of 30,000 bushels or 1,800,000 pounds of o-rain. It is approached over a private side-track with room for eighteen cars. The weight of the grain and feed is obtained in car loads by means of a 60-ton BufTalo track scales, testing v.'ith the utmost accuracy to the maximum of 120,000 pounds. Crosby k Co. (both Minneapolis mills), and the " Bridal Veil," from the Niagara Falls Mills. The firm has representatives constantly on the road extending its trade through Otsego, Dela- ware, Schoharie, Broome, Chenango, Ulster and Greene counties. It also supplies dealers and farm- ers direct with salt, all kinds of grains, seeds and seed grain, having a large trade in timothy and clover seed, seed oats, corn and barle3\ Alsike clover is also largely handled by this firm, who deal largely in rich, full cream cheese. The Morris brothers are natives of the town of Milford. Otsego county, as was also their father, Richard B. Morris. Their mother was a Westcott, whose parents came from Connecticut. Both gentlemen are largely identified with the busi- ness and social interests of Oneonta and are foremost in projecting pulilic iinprovpment. PROFESSOR N. N. BULL, Father of Oneonta Public Schools. A portion of the building is divided into a suite of tastefully and conveniently fitted offices. The ma- chinery for driving the elevator is set up in the base- ment and driven by water motor. The site upon which the building stands was originallj' a marsh, and it is therefore an important improvemant in that part of the town. Morris Bros, are large dealers in flour. One of their leading brands is the celebrated winter wheat production known as " Windsor's Best," made at Dowagiac, Mich., the large portion or nearlj' the whole output of which has for eighteen years been taken by this firm. Thej- also handle the " Em- peror," and the " Crown Roller," the productions of of the Consolidated Milling Co.: the "Gold Medal," and the "Superlative" from Washburn, Their great grandfather. Charles Morris, came from England and served in the American army in the battles of the revolution. Albert Morris was born January 2, 1S40. His early years were occupied in getting an education by his own efforts, earning means to carry him through school by working on a farm. He attended a se- lect school at Oneonta when 18 years of age, after- wards attending the Hartwick academy, the school that was conducted in the old Cooper mansion at Cooperstown. and finally the Delaware literary insti- tute at Franklin, Delaware county. On November 5, 1S68, he married Miss Mary Birdsall of Oneonta. He is the president of the local board of education, of the Oneonta club and the Glen wood cemetery association; also a director in the Wilber National bank. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 23 hoto. bv Yo\in,£ A. L. KELLOCC, Mr. William H. Morris was born July 21, 1S41. He was educated in the Oneonta school and the Dela- ware iiterarj' institute. At 20 3'ears of aj;e he en- listed in the First Engineerinj^ Corps, mustered in at Cooperstown, and served three years and four months in the war. He came to Oneonta in the spring of 1865, and during the balance of the j'ear was engaged in the manufacture of cigars in the small frame building whicli still stands adjacenttothe First National Bank. For about a year he was a member of the tirm of Place iV Morris, proprietors of the Susquehanna House. He is president of the local Normal school board, of which he has been a mem- ber for nine )'ears, and is a director in the Oneonta Water Works Company, of which enterprise he was one of the projectors. He is a member of the Oneonta club. On Januar)' 23, 1S66. lie mairiid Ada. the daughter of George Angell, of Schuy- ler's Lake, Otsego county. From a small beginning in the nature of accommo- dation loans sprung the David Wilber bank, which was started at Milford about 1868, and which six years later gave place to the Wilber National bank at Oneonta. The Hon. David Wilber at the time of his death, April i, 1890, was a large property owner, a man who was widely known as having served in Congress from what was then the Otsego, Schoharie and Herkimer district, and a public spirited citizen who had done very much in advancing the interests of the town. He left two boys, George I. and the Hon. D. F. Wilber, now representative in Congress. The former, the subject of this sketch, attended school at Cooperstown and at Cazenovia Seminary, •Tnd was graduated from the latter institution in 1866. From 1867 to 1873 he was engaged largely in the hop business, with headquarters at Milford. Upon the removal of the bank to Oneonta in 1873 he was ap- pointed cashier, which position he held up to the time of the death of his father, when he succeeded the latter as president. Mr. Wilber has since man- aged the business and the large property interests, for which the foundation was laid by his father, and which have grown to considerable importance, by conservative methods and careful attention to details. His time is occupied with a large number ot outside matters in addition thereto, and withal, he is a busy man. He is a director in the Albany & Susquehanna railroad, a director of the Oneonta Union Agricultural Society, the president of the New York State Association of Union Agricultural Societies, of which he was one of the promoters, and a member of the local board of the Oneonta State Normal school. He has spent much of his personal time for the purpose of enhancing the wel- fare of the Union Agricultural Societies, and was active in the procurement of a law placing such so- cieties on the same basis as the county societies. He was the first to suggest a State normal school George I. Wilber, the president of the Wilber National Bank was born on Crumborn Mountain in the town of Milford, Otsego count)', September 30, 1845. His father, the Hon. David Wilber, was a native of Duanesburgh, Schenectady county. He founded a business after moving to Otsego county which was one of the most important in this part of the state. THE ONEONTA CIA'B. DIKTZ AND REYNOI^DS STS. for Oneonta, making the proposition to the Hon. Frank Arnold, who was then member of assembly, and securing th.it loyalty on the part of the assem- blyman, which resulted in the passage of the bill. Before the mntter was discussed in the least, either bv word or mouth or in newspaper columns, Mr. Wilber had secureil the promise of the Hon. Frank 24 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. C. F. SHELLAND. GEORGE BAIRD. Arnold to introduce such a bill and get it passed; and in spite of the opposition he encountered, much of which came from his own home, he kept his pledge and Oneonta was the beneficiary. Until this year Mr. Wilber was at the head of the One- onta street car line which was established bj' his father and brother. He is the president of the One- onta Water Works Company, of which he is one of the organizers; president of the Worcister Water Co., of Worcester, N. Y., and a trustee and the vice- president of the Glenwood Cemetery Association. He married Anna Diefendorf of Seward, Schoharie count)\ July 31, 1872. He is closel}- identifii-d with village affairs generally, and renders considerable assistance to worthy objects which appeal to private means for support. The Firm of L. H. and C. D. Townsend, successors to L. B. Lennon in the hardware business, located in Oneonta, at the place they now occupy, January 14, 1896. The store is 120 feet deep by 24 feet wide, with a cellar comprising the same amount of space and with go feet on the second floor and 60 on the third. It was found necessary to enlarge the store by adding 30 feet after this firm took possession, such was the increase of stock over that catried b}' its predecessor. Its trade in stoves, ranges and heaters started in the first year with flattering pros- pects. The firm also engages considerably in cop- per and tin work, and carries a full line of hardware, including paints, oils, glass, etc. It does all kinds of plumbing after approved methods deemed neces- sary to insure perfect sanitary conditions. A lead- ing range is the Sterling, for which this firm has the exclusive agency in Oneonta and vicinity. The Townsend brothers are from Greene county. Both were born in Greenville: Lucius H., March 21, 1S60. and Charles D., June 24, 1865. The former, after teaching for six years, went into the hardware busi- ness with S. H. Atwater, at Windham, lie traveled a year and a half for Sahler, Reynolds iS: Webster, wholesalers of Kingston, and was bookkeeper for Henry E. Wieber of that city. He married Ella Graham of Windham, March 26, 1886. His brother was engiged in the produce and general store busi- ness in Greene count)' for five years before coming to Oneonta. He married Lucia M. Osborne of Windham, February 26, 1S96. Both arc members of the masonic order. The Methodist Episcopal Society, of Oneonta, was organized by the formation of the first class in 1830 by the Rev. George Harmon. It consisted of fifteen members, with D. F. Clark as leader, and was for THE McCAMMON PIANO GO'S WORKS. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 25 many j'ears a part of the old Otsego circuit. The first house of worship was built in 1844. .At that time the Rev. George Elliot was the preacher in charge and Rev. Lyman Sperry, presiding elder. The building cost $1,500. The first stationed preacher at Oneonta was the Rev. W.C. McDonald. A new church building was erected during the pastorate of Rev. R. W. Peebles. It was dedicated June 3d, i86g. It cost f 8,000. This building was enlarged during the pastorate of Rev. A. B. Richard- son at a cost of $13,000. In iS()5 Mrs. David Wilber presented the church with a handsome pipe organ built by Hook & Hastings, of Boston, costing $3,500. To provide a place for the magnificent organ, and to afford added seating capacity, the church was again enlarged. The present membership of the church is 783. The church property, which includes church, pastors home and district parsonage (the latter a gift from George I. Wilber), is valued at $45,000. The officiary of the church at the present time is composed of Rev. A. J. Van Cleft, presiding elder; Rev. J. Elliot Bone, pastor. Board of Trusetes: George I. Wilber, George Reynolds, James Roberts, J. O. Rowe. Board of Stewards: J. O. Rowe, P. R. Young, William Ed- munds, Charles Au- sicker, L. B. Lennon, T. K, Mosher, S. C Niles, Harry W. Lee, A. D. Rowe, M, H. Bissell, I. S. Dauley, E. T. Uan Buren, O. B. Rowe. The pastors w h o have served the church since its organ- ization, and in the order given, are: C. Robinson, W. G Horde, D. L. Pendell, G. Parsons, P. T. The Junior League of the M. E. church was or- ganized July 2C, 1891, with a membership of forty- seven, and with Miss Elvira Chandler for superin- tendent. The membership now numbers eighty. The league has been divided into three classes, pri- mary, intermediate and graduating class. The last class is being prepareti for entrance into the Senior League. Each department has a leader, Mrs. A. W. Abrams having charge of the primary class, Mrs. A. E. Merritt the intermediate, and Mrs. H. T. Conk- ling the graduating class. At the last election the following officers were elected: President, Otis Eaton; first vice-president, Sarah Marsh; second vice- president. Laura Disbrow; third vice-president, Cora Eaton; fourth vice-president, Stanley Young; secretary, Edwina Franklin; treasurer, Arthur Hurl- butt; organist, Nellie Hague. The Railroad Business at this station is the largest of any on the Susquehanna division of the D. & H. railroad. During the past fifteen years there has been a marked increase in local freight. Upwards of one-hundred million pounds of freight, exclusive of coal, is received annually for local delivery, con- sisting chiefly of I grain, flour, feed and I lumber. The cash re- ceipts for freight char- ges are more than one hundred thousand dol- lars annually. The passenger business is proportionately large. Passengers from East and West trains bound for several small but flourishing, towns which are connected with Oneonta by stage lines, get off at this station, as Oneonta is considerable of a dis- tributing point. The cash receipts for the sale of tickets amount to $50,000 annually. Up to about five years ago the ticket busi- At that time Hugh- ston, H. N. Van Deusen, R. W. Peebles, A. Griflin, I. N. Pardee, W. B. Westlake, Y. C. Smith, A. B. Richardson, D. C. Olmstead, O. H. McAnulty, J. Elliot Bone. The Oneonta chapter of the Lpworth League of the Methodist Episcopal church was organized No- vember 23d, i88g, with twenty-seven charter mem- bers. Mr. Harry W. Lee was the first president. The devotional meetings are held Sunday evening one hour before the preaching service, and are large- ly attended. Business meetings are held once a month. Each department of the league is doing good work, and no auxiliary of the church is making itself felt more than the Epworth Le.igue. Its pres- ent membership is iSo. and its officers are: President, Henry T. Conkling; first vice-president, Edgar T. Van Buren; second vice-president, Mrs. A. P. Dis- brow; third vice-president, Silas I. Wright; fourth vice-president, Mrs. Maria Van Cleft; secretary, Charles J. Beams; treasurer, Herbert W. Scott; or- ganist, Mrs. Zilpha Church; chorister, John B. Van Dusen. GEORGE I. WILBER. Oueal, S. M. ness was in charge of the freight agent the present ticket agent, Mr. Thomas H. White was appointed and he has proven to be the right man, being courteousto all and consequently popular. Mr. Henry T. Conklin is the freight agent. He is an active, conscientious business man and has given the best of satisfaction. He was appointed August i, 1895. Paul Wadsworth is the general freight agent with headquarters in Albany, and Charles Wadsworth, his brother, is the freight agent at Binghamton. The Oneonta freight office was opened for business Au- gust 2S, 1865. The freight office has been burned twice. Peter M. Banta was the first agent. Follow- ing came A. L. Sabin, Jeffers Emmons, Paul Wads- worth and Charles Wadsworth. each serving from one to three yeais. In the fall of 1875, Mr. B. H. Loring was appointed to that position and he served until he was succeeded bj' Mr. Conklin. Fifty Thousand Dollars a month. Th.it is he approximate amount of money which is paid out by the D. & H. railroad company in wages to men who live in Oneonta. The principal car and locomotive repairing and building shops are located at this place. 26 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. ALBERT MORRIS. WILLIAM MORRIS. They were built in the spring of 1872, occupying a central position relative to the 3'ards, with excellent drainage and a large tract of surrounding country upon which pretty residences have since been erected. Here are the headquarters for engine dispatching and also where most of the rolling stock for the Susque- hanna division is kept in order. Oneonta is a divi- sion terminus for all engineers and firemen and all freight crews. There are reporting at this point about 500 railroad men, besides there being employed in the shops about 450 men. The shops built of iron and brick include six large buildings aggregating about 2,000 lineal feet in extent. This does not in- clude two round-houses with the capacity of accom- modating 35 engines. There are in service on this road, between Albany and Binghamton, 130 engines and from goto 95 are put through the shops every year. The re- building of locomotives constitutes a considerable part of the work in the Oneonta shops. In not a few instances, entirely new locomotives are con- structedihere, the shops being fitted with all the modern improvements for lifting by hydraulic power and moving heavy work. Since 1S89 the following locomotives have been built here : Nos. 182, 183 and 205, large passenger engines. Nos. 264, 226, 227, 150. 228, 24S, 147, 270, 259, 258, 268, 257, 260, 254, 255, 271, 274. Mr. R. C. Blackall is the superintendent of locomotives and rolling stock with headquarters in Albany. Mr. C. O. Beach is the des- patcher of engines between Oneonta and Binghamton. His office is in the Oneonta shops. Mr. H. C. Smith is the master mechanic in charge of the work at this place and Mr. J. R. Skinner is the master car builder. The master mechanics office, together with the engine despatcher's and Store keeper's department, occupies a building 80x40 feet. The clerks in the master mechanic's office are : C. J. Norton, chief clerk ; James Richmond, assist- ant, J. C. Ritter and Earll Hall: storekeeper, F. I. Helm ; J. Norton and Stanlej' Barber, clerks. The boiler shop, in charge of Floyd Harris, is 75 x 75; the blacksmith shop, George Powell, foreman, 150 x 40. Horace Card is general foreman of the machine and locomotive lepair shops ; E. R. Norton is clerk. This building is 350 x 80. The car shop, main building, is 250 x 80; there are two other buildings for this work. R. Downes is foreman in the paint shop. There is coal storage for 300 tons, for the use of ilie engines, with pocket capacity for loading six or eisht tons in a tank in one or two minutes. The Mutual Benefit association of the emploj^es of the railroad shops was organized in June, 1879. This provides for^ every member in good standing while sick five dollars a week, the payments limited to thirieeen consecutive weeks.^j The assessment on the death of a member is $r per capita , on the death of a member's wife, 50 cents per capita.-^^The num- ber of members June, 1896, was 189. The benefits paid in seventeen \'ears, amount to $16,366.80. The officers : President, E. A. Matteson ; Secretary, F. Avery; Treasurer, J. S. Massett. The McCammon Piano Company was organized under the laws of the State of New York, September I, 1891. It was practically the reorganization and removal from Albany to this city of an old and well established piano manufacturing company, which was founded in 1832, and which had acquired a well deserved reputation throughout this country. Pass- ing into the hands of Oneonta parties as it did at that time with an infusion of fresh capital and busi- ness energy, the plant was placed on an entirely new fooling, where it has since grown and developed into what is at present an institution second to none in this State. With all the modern facilities, in quarters furnishing an abundance of room, with the employment of expert help and having the ad- MORRIS BRO'S STORE AND ELEVATOR. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. vantages of modern machinery and the utilization of the very best conveniences, the Company is manu- facturing instruments that are unrivaled in me- chanical construction, unsurpassed in elegance of de- •sign and unexcelled in tone. The works are equipped with the latest and most .approved facilities and the construction of the instru- ments comprise the best and most delicate inventions calculated to produce those superior qualities that have placed the McCammon piano in the lead. The tone of this instrument, adjusted by patent scales, used exclusively by this company, which guarantees additional merits not found in an)' other make, is at -once striking and pleasing, combining great volume and richness with sympathetic timbre throughout. A deep, resonant bass, round brilliant treble, great works. All kinds of wood are used, such as light and dark mahogany, circassion, French, Japanese and Italian walnut, quartered oak, rosewood and ebony. Three styles of instruments are manu- factured : Style 7 (upright) ; height, 4 feet 6 inches ; width, 5 feet ; seven and one-third octaves ; over- strung scale : three strings throughout ; patent action ; new sliding desk ; engraved and carved panels ; three pedals ; full iron plate ; continuous hinges ; ivory keys. Style 14 (upright) : height 4 feet 8 inches ; width, 5 feet 2 inches : seven and one- third octaves ; three strings throughout ; grand roll- ing back-board, etc. Style 21 (upright) is partic- ularly designed to fill the place of a large parlor grand without requiring as much space. It has all the vol- ume and tonal attributes of the best grand. Height, 4 feet 10 inches ; width, 5 feet 6 inches. All pianos Photo, by Smith. MAIN STREET LOOKING singing quality and evenness of scale, have made it justly popular with pianists and vocalists. This company uses a patent upright piano action which enables it to produce a remarkable touch, light, re- sponsive and elastic, the performer being enabled without apparent eflTort to produce the most difficult pianissimo or fortissimo effects by the touch alone. Nothing but the best material enters into the con- struction of these piarios and none but the most skilled artisans are employed. Each department is under the supervision of an expert foreman. A ■complete record is kept of each and every man's •work for each day in the year, his position depend- ing upon the quality of his work. All material is carefully tested, and every detail of the slightest nature is looked after. The dry kilns having ac- commodations sufficient for seasoning a half million feet of lumber, are important adjuncts to these large EAST FROM CHESTNUT. are constructed with the McCammon patented separ- able cases, their improved rolling fall board, their pin block, constructed of veneers of maple to prevent splitting or warping, their patent music desk to be drawn out for use and their improved key and action buttons to insure lineage of ke3-s and free action. The works are located at the foot of Rose avenue, near the street railway, and alongside of the D. & H. railroad from which they are entered by a branch track. They comprise eight buildings with facilities for turning out fifty high grade pianos a week. The grounds comprise five acres affording ample room for enlargement. The buildings are connected with an internal railroad, communirating with various de- partments, and are filled with electric bells and speaking tubes which connect the office with every department. There is here in use the Bundy time recorder. The board of directors are : George B. Baird, President ; R. B. Baird, vice-president ; C. F. Shelland, secretary and treasurer ; Hon. D. F. Wilber and S. M. Baird. 28 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. R. W. MILLER. N. H. BRIGGS. OINEOINTA. [Contributed.] Professor Brander Matthews, in an article entitled " On the Poetry of Place Names." quotes Robert Louis Stevenson as follows : " When I heard that the stream over which we passed was called the Susquehanna, the beauty of the name seemed part and parcel of the beauty of the land. As when Adam with divine fitness named the creatures, so this word Susquehanna was at once accepted by the fancy. That was the name, as no other could be, for that shining river and desirable valley."' It is eminent!)' appro- priate that the fair city which sits by the "shin- ing river," and is the pride of the " desirable valley," of the Susque- hanna should also have a distinctive American name. Other towns may boast the distinguished name of some worthy progenitor and flaunt the proud title of "Higgins- ville" or "Piatt's Cor- ner"or "Griggstown" in The sun looks down upon no town more active, energetic and enterprising. Who has not heard of the name and fame of the " Oneonta Normal School." the finest in the United States, so it is uinked by competent judges. If you examine the magnificent locomotive which carries your flying I rain over the " Delaware and Hudson " system you will very likely find that it was built at the " Oneonta shops." Upon pianos, bicycles, woolen goods and other manufactured articles the "Oneonta" stamp is the sufficient guarantee of excellence. Taking Oneonta as a center and drawing a circle, you must make the radius near!)' sixt)' miles before the wide sweep of the circumference will touch a city of equal size and importance. This broad extent of territorj' is a rich agricultural and dairy district. Twenty-two smaller, tributary towns make Oneonta the objective point of business, and find here their railroad, shipping and billing point. This fact ac- counts for the important wholesale trade in grocer- ies, flour, feed and hops which is managed so suc- cessfully by our large business houses. It is a factor also in the active retail trade, which contributes sO' much to the prosperit}' of the town. With its fine water supply, its complete sanitary system, electric lights and electric road, soon to be, Oneonta is a most delightful place of residence. It is emphatically a city of homes. Few communities can boast a larger proportion of people who live in comfortable, homes of their own making. This is the reason, perhaps, why societ)' is so homogeneous and hospitable so gracious and unassuming. The peo- ple are not wholly devoted to business pursuits; while they labor with great energy to develop their commercial resources, they are not unmindful of the higher interests of life. The public schools have a wide reputation for careful and thorough instruction. The churches are, without exception, well attended and well supported, while various societies and clubs minister to social and literary tastes. Photo, bv Smith. BURR MATTICE'S RESIDENCE, MAIN STREET. the face of an envious world, but when I climb our surrounding hills and look across, through autumn haze, or the clear air of spring, to the opposite mountain wall, I am glad that the city which nestles below me has a name which rhymes with the flow of brooks and the rustle of the wind among the leaves. But if anj' misguided individual, who sees our poetic name in atlas or railwaj' guide, fancies that we are a Rip Van Winkle community of day dreamers he is much mistaken. It maybe said, with truth, by one who is disposed to be critical, that we have few public buildings, nnd are deficient in those institutions which are so im- portant to the public life of a cit}'. It must be rememoered, however, that Oneonta is young, that its growth from a country village to a town of import- ance has been a matter of a few yeais. With inci eas- ing size wealth and opportunity will come; no doubt a l.irger civic consciousness, a more generous provision for the enjoyment of our common muni- cipal life. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 29 Dr. George F. Entler, widel)- known as a succes- ful surgeon, was born in Windsor, Berkshire County, Mass., February 4, 1850. His father, George R. Entler, was a congregational clergyman, Photo, bv Smith. HENRY SAUNDER'S BOOK STORE a Virginian bj' birth, of German descent. jBotli parents are buried at Pittsfield, Mass., where Her- bert L., one of their two children, is living. Dr. Entler attended school at Riverhead, L. I., and at Meredith and Franklin, Delaware County, graduat- ing from the Delaware Literar}' Institute at the latter place in 1867. Having inclinations for the drug business, he found emploj^ment as clerk with Dr. Calhoun, in Delhi. In 1871-2 he was in a drug store at Oil Cit3\ Pa., and in 1873-4 was with Wil- liam Dickerman on South Pearl Street, Albany. In that city he took two terms in surgery. Then he obtained employment with Thomas H. Rockwell, Oneonta, and subsequently with C. C. Jadwin, at Honesdale, Pa. In the spring of 1877 he entered the lefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, pro- vided with means from what he had saved up to that time. He took three courses in surger)' lectures, replenishing his funds from his earnings as a drug clerk, and on March 12, 1879, he was graduated with honors from that institution. He then came to One- onta and began the practice which he has since con- tinued with remarkable success. The doctor has performed many difficult operations, which have given him a deserved reputation. Being an author- ized surgeon for the D. & H., the number of acci- dent cases among railroad employees which have come into his hands is probably much larger than falls to the lot of the ordinary surgeon. He is a member of the State Association of Railwaj- Sur- geons and the Otsego County iNfedical Society. In 1876 he married Mary C. Peck, of Delhi, and she died a 3-ear afterwards. On June 3, 1879, he mar- ried Nellie E., the daughter of Charles VV. Lewis, of Oneonta. Rev. J. Elliot Bone, pastor M. E. church, was born in England June 25th, 1856. He was educated at Honesdale Academy. Wyoming Seminary, Central Pennsylvania College and Drew Theological Semi- nary. He united with the Wj-oming Conference in April, 1S86, was appointed to tiic Yaiesvilie charge, remaining there two years. In the spring of 1888 he was sent to VVilkesbarre, Pa., where he remained five years. In 1893 he was stationed at Oneonta, where he is serving his fourth year. W. W. Darbee, who owns one of the largest stores in town, doing a leading busi- ness in books, periodicals, wall paper, and in fine print- ing and engraving, was born at Libert)', Sullivan Count)', September 15, 1850. He was educated in the Liberty Nor- mal Institute, from which he was graduated. He started in business in Oneonta, Sep- tember 15, 1874, in the Cohn Block. From there he re- moved to the Fritz Block, cor- ner of Main and Chestnut streets, where he was burned out on the morning of March 22, 1888. A week after the fire he rented space in Stevens &: Hill's store, then on Chest- nut street, where he conduc- ted a small news and sta- tionery business. During that year the Reynolds Block was built, and in March. 1889, he moved into it. Early in January, 1893, he moved into the corner store, now oc- cupied by Reynolds & Son, and in March, 1896, he located in his present handsome and con- venient quarters, the Ford & Ford Block, No. 141 Main street. His business has largely in. creased since then, and as he always carries the best in his line, his patrons are among the best in the town. On April i, 1894 he added a department of job printing for supplying the demand for small sta- tionery, including cards, letter and bill lieads, wed- ding cards and invitations, and everything that is called for in that line. He makes a feature of fine ■■"9^ H. N. SMITH, (The View Photographer for thi.s Souvenir.) engraved work. His stock includes all the popular works, stationery, law blanks, newspapers, periodi- cals, and all grades of wall paper. He is a member 30 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. of the Order of United Workingmen. in which he holds the office of financier. He married Jennie L. Palmer, of Oneonia, October i6, 18S2, and Mrs. Darbee has assisted in the store ever since that time. P. R. YOUXO. Mail Routes and Roads.— Oneonta's first mail route was established in 1817. On May gth James McDonald was appointed its first postmaster, and the office was kept for nearly a dozen years in his tavern, the building now standintj on the northwest corner of Main and River streets. The route was up River street from Unadilla, thence up the river road to Cooperstown. Oneonta was first called McDonald's Bridge, then Mc- Donald's Mills, and when a post-office was established it was named Milford- ville. That name continued until 1832, when it was at the general United States post-office changed to Oneonta. The first sawmill was erected east of Main street, just northeast of the old McDonald house. The first wool- carding works was erected just below the sawmill a couple of years later. The first successful grist-mill was built about 1812, on the same site, and the same mill, only enlarged, still stands. In 1S30 a law was passed ordering a survey of the Susquehanna river from "Otsego Lake to Tioga Point, or Chemung river, to ascertain the feasibility of slackwater navigation between those points." April 22, 1831, a charter was granted for the Oneonta and Franklin Turnpike Companj'. A part of the line, with one toll-gate, is still owned and managed by its successors. April 26, 1832, a charter was granted for a railroad from Cooperstown to Colliersville. At the same date a charter was granted for the Otsego and Schoharie railroad. April 25, 1832. a charter was granted for the Utica and Susquehanna railroad. These three charters were intended to connect Utica, Oneonta, Coopers- town, Colliers and Schoharie by railroad. May 18, 1836, a railroad charter was granted from Cherry Valley by the way of the Susquehanna to intersect the Erie. At this early day Collier and Good)'ear, of Milford, and Dietz Angel and others, of Oneonta^ were the moving spirits in these earl}' turnpike and railroad enterprises. Angel was the moving spirit in pushing through in 1835 the construction of the turnpike line through Oneonta by the way of Gil- bertsville and Otsdawa and the Charlotte to Cats- kill. In November, 1845, a railroad meeting was held at Van Tuyl's tavern in Richmondville, Scho- harie county. Jared Good3'ear, of Colliersville, and Harvej' Baker of Oneonta, attended the meeting and were efficient with others in arranging for putting the proposed railroad in progress. It was to extend from Schenectady to Binghamton. At that meeting Harvej' Baker of Oneonta, and Demosthenes Law)'er, of Cobleskill, were chosen secretaries. The meeting was large and enthusiastic The crowd was ably addressed b)' Jedediah Miller and General Lawyer of Lawyersville, and Lawj-er Smith and others, of Cobleskill, were able and efficient. It was arranged that application should be made at the approaching legislature for a charter, and the necessary action was- taken. Aid for such an enterprise had been prom- ised from Boston, and a committee was appointed to meet and confer with them. Harvey Maker was- elected one of such committee. The necessary no- tices were published, and at the openting of the legis- lature Colonel VV. W. Snow was sent to Albany to- attend to ihe passage of the bill. On the 4th day of May, 1S46, a charter was granted " For the Schenec- tady and Susquehanna Railroad to the Erie at Bing- hamton." Among the directors named in the charter in this vicinity were Seth Chase and Leonard Car\l P. R. YOUNG'S RESIDENCE, WEST STREET. of Worcester, Jared Goodyear of Milford, Eliakim, R. Ford of Oneonta,. and George H. Noble of Una- dilla. The Schenectady people failed to give satis- factory interest to the project, and a survey was made from Quaker Street through the Bosakill and Nor- manskTll creeks to Albany. The first meeting was held at the hotel of John M. Watkins in Oneonta, Harvey Baker sending the invitations. On April 2, 1865 the organization of the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad was perfected, 325 stockholders subscribing for 1,441 shares. The road was opened to Oneonta August 24th, 1865, and the event was celebrated on the 29th. In February, 1870, the road was leased to ' the D. & H. C. Co. for ninety-nine years. [Harvey Baker. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. Edward D. Lewis, the Jeweler at Main and Broad streets, was for fourteen years with C. E. Ford, whom he succeeded. On April ist, 1897. this business will have been conducted in the same place for twent)'- four years. Mr. Ford succeeded P. C. Burton on April I, 1S73. The latter had been in the business C. F. BAYLIS. for si.\ty years. So it may be said that it is the oldest in town, with the remarkable record of nearly a cen- tury duration. The stock carried by this house is equal in size, in variety of goods and in all that is new and stylish, to that of many large retail stores in considerably larger towns, comprising the best pro- ductions of leading manufacturers, and including an especially fine line of silverware. It is probably the largest between Albany and Binghamton. Mr. Lewis is a practical jeweler and is experienced in the repairing and regulating of time pieces. That de- partment is an important part of his business. Being the official watch inspector for the D. & H. Railway Com[any, at Oueonta, to whom the engineers and conductors are required to go for the certificate showing their watches to be reliable and accurate, he exercises supervision over several hundred time- pieces. Mr. Lewis was born in Cooperstown, Oct. 24th, 1854. In 1876 he entered the employ of Thomas [ohnson, at Elmira, and three years later came to Oneonta, where he married Mary E. Pardee in 1S88. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and the Oneonta club. The First Baptist Church. — The oldest record of the church bears date of April 6, 1833, and consists of the minutes of a meeting of a few brethren and sisters at the residence of Hiram McCall, on Maple street, at which it was voted to call a meeting for the organization of a Baptist church in Oneonta. Later, an organization was effected. James Slade and David Yager were chosen deacons and Ira Babcock clerk. The following eighteen names were enrolled as members : James Slade, Jacob Yager, Henry L. Miller, Polly Yager, Emily Yager, Phoebe Babcock, David Yager, Peter Yager, Nathaniel Edmonds, Samantha Yager, Catherine Miller, Maria Miller, John S. Yager, Solomon Yager, Ira Babcock, Sally Yager, Catherine Miller, Catherine Yager. At the close of the minutes, Sylvanus Smith, acting clerk, subsequently licensed to preach, records the follow- ing prayer: " Oh, that Heaven would smile on this little vine, which we humbly hope and believe Hehas planted in this place. For the sake of the Redeemer,, who stands praying the Father to bring the ransomed sinners home." April 24, 1833, a council, consist- ing of delegates from Milford, Huntsville, or Otego. as now called. East Meredith, Franklin and Lau- rens, met in the Presbyterian church, and the church was regularly organized. For a few months services were held once in four weeks in the Presbyterian church. Elder Sweet acting as supply. During the summer of 1833 Rev. D. B. Crane, of West Mere- dith, became the first pastor, and preached for two years in the old red school house which stood near the corner of Main and Broad streets. April 13, 1834, the land on which the church now stands was purchased from Roderick Emonsand William Angel, for the sum of $150. This included the lot facing Main street, now occupied by the Rockwell block, which was sold when the church was rebuilt in 18S3-4. March 23. 1834, Kliakim R. Ford was re- ceived into membership, one who from that time until his death, July 23, 1S73, a period of 40 years, was trul}' a " pillar of the church." One of Oneonta's most prominent and successful business men, ever taking an active interest in everything pertain- ing to the good of the town, he carried his business into his religion, and his religion into his business. Of him it may truthfully be said that he was " dili- gent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." It might not be inappropriate to state, at this point, also that his family has always been dur- ing the past, and is at present, one of the most prominent, active and faithful ever connected with the church. Among others mentioned who served the church faithfully and well during its early history were James Slade, Potter C. Burton, Deacon Josiah Farmer and Nathaniel Edmonds. In 1S35 the first church edifice was erected. The building stood upon the site not far distant from that now occupied b}' the parsonr.ge and faced the main street. The H. F. VAN WOERT. structure erected in 1835 still stands and is that portion now occupied by the church parlors and upon which is the belfry. The church building was repaired in 1867-68 under the direction of Rev. A. Reynolds, at a cost of nearly $3,000, and was finally, during the oastorate of E. D. Clough, entirely rebuilt. 32 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. and greatl)'' enlarged to accommodate the increased membership. This was during the years of 1883 and 1884, and was done at the expense of nearly $7,000. Early in 1836, according to the records bearing that date, " James Slade, David Yager and Silvanus Smith were appointed to hire a man to preach for us,'' Rev. D. B. Crane, the first pastor, having re- signed. The record continues, " Elder John Smith came and preached for us the Sabbath or two follow- ing, and we, the chosen brethren, agree to hire him; also agree to find him a suitable house to live in, furnish him with firewood, and give him $200 per year." The pastorate of Elder Smith was the most remarkable, at least for its length, in the history of the church, lasting, from December, 1835, to March. 1848, over twelve years, and after an absence of ten years he was recalled and again served the church from February 13, 1858, until March 11, 1S65, nine- mentioned. He was followed by the Rev. A. Reynolds, still living and still greatly beloved by this church. He ^entered upon his work June 11, 1865, serving the church as one of its most enthu- siastic and successful pastors for over five years, or September 25, 1870. During the second year of this pastorate the church enjoyed a second memo- rable revival, sixtv-five uniting with the church in one 3-ear. It was also during the pastorate of Rev. Reynolds that the church underwent extensive re- pairs and renovating. For a year after the resigna- tion of this pastor the pulpit was filled by temporary supplies. Rev. G. R. Burnside next became pastor, beginning his services November i, 1871, and con- tinuing until April 12. 1874. The following Sunday Rev. H. Brotherton began his labors with the church and remained six years until 1880. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. P. D. R(jot. who served three years, Photo, hv Smith. WALNUT STKKKT, LOOKINC, K.^ST. teen years and five months in all. In June, 1848, Rev. Homer Clark became pastor and served some- thing less than a year, closing his pastorate in March, 1849. In August of the same year Rev. A. B. Earle, who has since become the widely known and eminentl}' successful evangelist, entered upon the pastorate, and with great ability served in this capacity for four years, or until March 27, 1853. Durinif the first year of his work in the church, an extensive revival took place and fifty-one united with the church. From March, 1853, until January, 1S54, thi; church was again without a pastor. Janu- ary 7, 1854, Rev. Erastus Westcott was chosen to this office, and faithfully served the church until July 12, 1S57. From July, 1S57, until Februarj', 1858. Rev. C. M. Pattengil served as regular supply. On February 13, 1S58, Rev. John Smith entered upon his second pastorate, which has already been until 1S83. In 1883 the church entered upon its most successful decade. For a few years following the church received most substantial additions from neighboring towns, especiallj' Morris and Milford. During these j'ears the church had been thoroughly organized, the finances had been placed on a sub- stantial basis and the membership increased from 197 to over 500. In 1883 Rev. E. D. Ciough became the pastor of the church and served for three years, until 1S86. During this pastorate the present church edifice was built and the membership increased 121, or from 197 to 318. In 1886 Rev. A. B. Coats began a most brilliant and successful pastorate of over four years, during which the parsonage was built and the membership increased by 122, or from 318 to 440. May I, 1891. Rev. C. C. Pierce began his work with the church. During his pastorate 149 were added to the church. 87 bv baptism. The greatest THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 33 number of additions by baptism during anj' one year of the church is 71. On April 19, 1896, Rev. C. C. Pierce tendered his resignation, which was accepted, and on July 12, 1896, the churcli extended M. CUKXKV. a call to the Rev. E. J. Farley, who accepted and began his labors September i, 1896, since which time the church has been crowded to its utmost capacity at every service. During the sixty-three years of its history the church has contributed to all benevolences something over $8,000, of which $4,200 has been contributed duiing the past thirteen years. Tlie church is in a very prosperous condi- tion at the present time, and will soon need a larger house of worship. The Home Mission Society of the First Baptist Church was organized in the church parlors October i, 1892. Mrs. P. Holmes was appointed chair- man of the meeting and Mrs. C. C. Pierce secretary. The following officers were elected : Miss Carrie Andrews, president ; Mrs. C. C. Pierce, vice- president ; Mrs. P. Holmes, secretary ; Mrs. E. E. Beals, treasurer. On ac- count of other duties. Miss Andrews resigned and Mrs. Beals was elected president. The object of the society is to culti- vate a missionary spirit in the church and aid the National Woman's Baptist Home Mission Society in its work of Christianizing the dark homes of our country. The society also helps the poor of the church and congregation, clothes destitute children to enable them to attend Sunday school, raises money to help carry on missionary work in the cities and support women missionaries in the west and south. Mrs. C. C. Pierce organized the society, and was one of its most earnest workers while Mr Pierce was pastor of the church. Mrs. D. R. Kenyon is president at the present tihie. Rev. E. J. Farley, pastor of the First Baptist church, situated on (irove street, is a native of Washington county, this State. There he was born and lived, toiling on the farm and teaching school till 1879, when he entered Colgate Universit}'' to se- cure an education as a preparation for the ministry. Nine years of study and he graduated in June 1885 from the Hamilton Theological Seminary. In the meantime he has preached continuously four and one-half 3ears in connection with his college and seminary course, supplying for six months the Bap- tist church of liion and Mohawk in this State, act- ing as pastor for two years of the East Green Baptist church in ('henango count)', N. Y., and later taking charge of the South New Berlin Baptist church in the Unadilla valley. At this place he received papers of ordination to the Uospel ministry. Sep- tember 16, 1885. In the spring of "86 he was called to the pastorate of the Stillwater Baptist church, Stillwater, N. Y. 'I'here he labored successfully almost seven years, during which time, substantial additions were made to the churcli. and the church property was greatly improved. The next three ye.irs and one-half were spent with the First Baptist church, Malonc, N. Y., where large additions were made and Mr. Farley strongly intrenched himself in the alTcctions, not onl}' of his own people but of the entire community. The first of September '96, he entered upon the pastorate of the F"irst Baptist church of this village, and already has a large place in the hearts of the people. He is evangelical and earnest in his preaching, warm hearted and sympathetic in his pastoral labors and believes profoundly in the Old Gospel. He is happj' in his family, consisting of wife and four children, and is looking forward to a long and happy pastorate with the Oneonta people. St. James Church. — The history of the Episcopal church in Oneonta is that of a weak little mission, with a half dozen communicants and no propert}' in GEORGE B.^IRD'S RESIDENCE, CHESTNUT AND CHURCH vSTS. Photo, by Van Woert. ^ 1839, struggling persistent!)' on through successes and failures, into a vigorous and influential parish of two hundred and fifty communicants in 1896; with a subs'antial and well-furnished stone church, and a handsome and ( onvenient rectory. In 1839, under the direction of Bishop Onderdonk^ 34 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. of New York, the Rev. Andrew Hull was appointed At this time the services were held in Blend's Hall missionary for Otego and Oneonta. He officiated at on Main street, and there were connected with the Oneonta in the village school house every other Sun- church seventeen families, including about twenty day for about a year. Meanwhile a small chapel communicants and a small number of children in the was being erected on Main street opposite Broad, Sunday school. and on its completion the owners of the property, R. J. Emmons and others interested in the success of the church, gave the use of the building to the congregation. It was used as a place of worship for only a few months, when the missionary resigned his post; the building reverted to its owners, and was finally sold and used for secular purposes. Bishop Onderdonk visited Oneonta soon after the congregation began to worship in the chapel, and confirmed three persons. This is the first record of a confirmation in Oneonta. Bishop Wainwright, of New York, visited the town in 1853, and again the next j'ear, but there is no record of any confirmations by him on either occasion. Indeed, it seems that very little was done for sus- taining the work after the departure of Mr. Hull, until in 1864 the rector of Zion Church, Morris, the Rev. D. S. Tuttle, gave the mission a new start by holding occasional services in the Free-will Baptist Church. In this building four persons were con- firmed by Bishop Horatio Potter on the 31st of July. 1865. And here services continued to be held by the successive clergymen in charge for the next four or five years. In 1869 Otsego county, having become a part of the newlj' formed Diocese of Albany, Bishop Doane visited Oneonta and confirmed three persons. Since that time he has visited the parish nearly every year, and there have been confirmed in all about two hun- dred persons. On April 7th, 1870, the mission was organized as St. James' Mission, the Rev. L. H. Lighthipe being the minister in charge, with John Cope, warden ; Dr. Meigs Case, treasurer, and James Cope, clerk. POSTMASTER KIRKLAND AND STAFF. The 3'ear 1871 was marked by two important events. For on the 4th day of April in that year the mission was legall)' incorporated as St. James' par- ish, electing two wardens and eight vestrymen ; and on the 27th day of June in the same year the corner- GEORGE F. ENTLER, M. D. stone of the church, which now graces the junction of Main and Elm streets, was laid by Bishop Doane. In both these events the Rev. Robert Washbon, the rector, and Mr. John Cope, the senior warden, were the moving spirits, and to their personal lib- erality and persistent efforts the oarish is largely indebted for the success which, after several years of anxious toil, finally crowned the undertaking. It was not until Nov. 7th, iSgo, however, that the THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 35 church, being enlirel}' finished and paid for. was set apart by Bishop Doane from all worldly and unhal- lowed uses, and solemnly consecrated to the service and worship of Almighty God. Ground was broken for the foundation of the rectory late in December, 1S92, and the building was completed and ready for use by the ist of June the following year. In the basement of the rectory a large room is provided for the meetings of the various parochial organizations. Of these there are several devoted to earnest Christian work along vari. ous lines, and they are intended to include all parishioners who are willmg to take an active part in the Master's service. The present officers of the parish are : Rev. J. E. Bold, rector ; John Cope and Richard Downes, wardens ; J. D. Beach, A. W. Carr, S. S. Matteson, I. L. Pruyn, B. F. Sisson, H. B. Somers, James Stewart and R. M, Townsend, vestrymen. F. L. Dibble, vice-president ; Mrs. C. H. Bowdish. treasurer ; Miss Vivian Herineton. Secretary. There is also a junior branch of the guild, and a boys' club, under the direction of proper officers. KEY TO THE POST OFFICE FORCE. [See page 34.] I— G. Kirkland, Postmaster. 2— J. F. Hynes, Assistant. 4— John W. Telford. 6-Wm. K. Wilson. S— Charles Southworth. 10— M. J. Hickey. 3 — Solon E. Hopkins. 5— George K. Bond. 7 — Charles H. Mahan. 9— Clarence A. McMinu. II— Homer J. Rogers. KEY TO STAR FIFE AND DRUM CORPS. I— Harry Bissell. 2 -Louis Thurston. 3— Charles Rollins. 4- Charles F. Farmer. -Charles White. 7 — Lyman J. Fisher. 9 — Charles W. Coy. II— Rudolf Powers. 6 — Allen Rounds. 8— William H. Howard. 10— Albert B. Bush. Powhattan Tribe, No. 51, I. 0. R. M., consists of ninety members, and is constantly growing. A suite of four rooms on the upper floor of the Reynolds Block, which includes the wigwam and adjacent THE STAR FIFE AND DRUM CORPS. The Parish Aid Society was organized on March 15th, 1889, as an auxiliary to the vestry in raising money for the various departments of parochial work. In the fulfillment of its purpose it has been a marked success, having rendered efficient aid in many directions, especialh^ in the improving of the church edifice and in the building of the rector}\ The officers are: Mrs. Peter Weidman, president: Mrs. Silas S. Matteson, vice-president; Mrs. Meigs Case, treasurer ; Mrs. R. M. Townsend, secretary. The St. Marys' Guild was formed Oct. 15th, 1889, out of a Young Ladies' Society, which had been a working force in the parish for several years previ- ous to that date. Its object was an increased earn- estness in religious zeal, and more efficient work for Christ and His church. Its members take care of the chancel and altar, raise funds for parochial and mission work, and render assistance to the rec- tor and vestry along other lines. Altogether, the guild is a very important factor in the work of St. James' Church. The rector is president ; Mrs. apartments fitted up for a parlor, dining-room, and club purposes, constitute as cosy and comfortable quarters as any lodge or other organization in One- onta enjoys. The tribe has a collection of Indian weapons and belts, scalp locks, head-dress and buckskins, which are prized very highly. A wam- pum belt from the old Powhattan reservation in Virginia is one of the most valuable of these relics. The membership comprises many leading citizens. The charter is dated October 8, 1S84. The officers are: Sachem, P. C. Tompkins; senior sagamore, Benjamin Pierce; junior sagamore. Dr. J. C. Smith ; chief of records, E. J. Cass ; prophet, C. M. Bing- ham ; board of trustees, A. E. Ceperly, S. B. Borst. S. H. Brown. Stevens & Hills are extensive dealers in all kinds of hardware, builders' supplies, stoves, ranges, etc. This business, established in 1881, under the firm name of Lennon & Stevens, has shown by its steady growth the possibility of that remarkable develop- ment in trade which has marked the past few years in the building up of Oneonta. In 1886 Mr. Lennon retired from the business, and in December, 1887, 36 THB ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. Mr. Hills bought a half interest. The business was then conducted at No. 103 Main street. On April i, 1892, it was removed to No. 124 Main street, where it was soon demonstrated that new and much larger quarters were needed. The firm broke ground for the large building which it erected especially for its own use in April, 1896. On Sept. i, 1896, the firm H. C. SMITH, MASTER MHCH.AXIC D. & H. had settled in its new home. This is a three-story and basement brick block with Ohio stone trim- mings, 100 feet deep and 22 feet wide. It is a very handsome structure, enclosed with massive walls, and having a plate-glass front affording the prettiest show window fur stoves and hardware between Albany and Binghamton. One feature of the busi- ness is the remarkably large and handsome variety of lamps, in which the firm has a flattering trade. The firm has all the facilities for turning out work in tin of all descriptions, includ- ing tin roofing, etc. Stevens & Hills handle the famous Dockash stoves and ranges exclusively. These stoves have become very popular, nearly i.ooo having been sold by this firm in this vicinity. Mr. Thomas W. Stevens has been en- gaged in the hardware business since 1S73, in which year he entered the employ of B. S. Dartt of Canton, Pa. In 1S80 he went with Pratt & Co., Elmira, wholesale hard- ware and jobbing. He was born in Franklin. Bradford county, Pa., Feb. 6, 1855. He came to Oneonta in 18S0, and during iSgo and 'gi he served as president of the board of village trustees. He married Hattie T- Pierce of Alba, Pa., Sep- tember, 1876. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, and director and treasurer of the building and loan association. Mr. Charles E. Hills has been in the hardware business since 1879, ^^ which time he engaged with Floyd. Chamberlin & Co. of Binghamton. In 1884 he went to SjTacuse, where for two and a half years he was with Robert McCarthy & Son. During a year and a half he traveled for Maurice E. Viele of Alban)'. He located in Oneonta in 1887. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and chapter and the Malta Commandery; also of the Mystic Shrine of Utica. L. Lendall Curtis was born at Lewiston, Me. At the age of sixteen took first prize for free-hand drawing and designing at city school. At eighteen was teacher of penmanship and drawing in the Acad- emy at Norway, Me. Three )'ears later was princi- pal of Commercial and Art School at Lewiston, and at twenty-five became a pupil in drawing and paint- ing of John Raphael, a noted artist of Montreal, Canada. He has sketched for the Berlin Litho- graph Company, Picturesque Canada, Harper's and Frank Leslie's Magazine®, and contributed to the New England Fireside. For eleven j'ears he had a studio in Boston, Mass., where he devoted his time to portrait painiinar and sculpture, having for his subjects many distinguished and noted persons, among whom was Mrs. Grover Cleveland. Of this work President Cleveland said in an autograph let- ter : " 1 am much pleased with it, both as a work of art and a likeness." Of the portrait'of Henry W. Grady of Atlanta, Ga., Mayor Glenn said : " It is a beautiful portrait, true in its likeness and exquisite in its art." Mr. Curtis located in Oneonta in Decem- ber, 1894, and has a studio at 269 Main street. Mr. Curtis is an artist in crayon, India, pastels and sculpture, He made a remarkable likeness from memory of J. R. L. Walling and a large portrait of Prof. Bull, which he gave to the Union School. Colburn Bros., the large, one-priced clothiers, has one of the best stocked and most complete establish- ments in this countr3\ C. C. and H. B. Colburn constitute the firm. When they located in Oneonta, October 15, 1892, it was in the Baird block. The}' opened a new and thoroughly up-to-date assortment of goods, which attracted attention at once. The COOPEKSTOWN, OTSEGO LAKE— SOrRCE:.OF SUSQUEHANNA. Styles that were shown were plainly selections from the best manufacturers and were the work of a buj'er who understood just what the trade wanted. So business began, and the firm started in on the one- price basis only, all goods marked in plain figures. Since then it has stuck to that text. It was soon found that the store was inadequate fur displaying the stock this firm carried and for accommodating the increased trade. Consequently, on April i, 1895, the business was removed to the spacious store in the new Doyle & Smith block, No. 155 Main street. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 37 This enables the firm to carry on the average, in all seasons, not less than $15,000 worth of goods, not at all in the expensive nor the cheap lines, but in the inediiiin, principally with the grades ranging to the Photo, bv Smith. H. P. TOMPKIXS, JEWEIyRV. best. The stock comprises ready-made clothing, gentlemen's furnishing goods, trunks and bags, hats and caps, gloves, mittens, etc. The store, 100x26 feet, is well lighted, affording the customer the best opportunity for selecting cloths. The specialty in hats with the firm is tlie Retsel, a splendid stjde of hat and very popular. IMPRESSIONS. The impressions of a three month's sojourn in Oneonta cannot do justice to the town, but they are all in its favor. It is beautiful for situation; a gem set in the midst of Nature's grand hills and inspiring scenery. Its location is central, and within easy reach of Binghamton, Syracuse, Albany, Philadel- phia and New York. Its climate is reasonably dry, and regarded as healthful. Its winters mild and summers comfortable. Its educational advantages are unexcelled. A splendid corps of teachers, capable and obliging, are found in both the village and Normal schools. The village is famous for its schools. Oneonta is justly proud of her churches, large in membership, strong in standing and character, earn- est in effort, christian in their relations to each other and to the world. She counts them foremost among her efficient and effective preservers. j> The people are free from caste feeling, frank and open in expression, broad and generous in sympathy, large-hearted and kindly in their relations to each other. Oneonta is a village of homes, and neigh- borly feeling prevails. Come and try it. Rf.v. E. J. Farley. Henry C. Smith, master mechanic of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad shops, came to Oneonta in 1872 to put the machinery in the shops under the direction of Mr. Blackall. He was employed as a machinist until 18S4, when he was promoted to as- sistant foreman. In 1889 he was raised to the position he now occupies. He was born in Albany April 8, 1844. He served apprenticeship in his trade with Townsend & Jackson of that city, after- wards working' for the Delawarefand'Hudson company there until he came to this place. He has charge of the work of usually about 450 men, who are employed in repairing all engines on the division between Albany and Bingham- ton. Much of this is of the nature of new work. He has pleasant offices, in which are employed seven clerks, of whom C. J. Norton is the chief. Mr. Smith takes consider- able personal interest in the welfare of all his men. and his aim is to surround himself with that class of workmen who are conscien- tious and interested in doing their best in the interests of the" company. Under his direction the shops have been surrounded with pleasant yards, and the approaches are beautified with plats of flowers, which are taken from his greenhouse during summer. Mr. Smith married Mary Proctor, of Albany, in July, 1867. He is a charter member of the Odd Fel- lows and of the Knights of Honor, and a member of the Royal Arcanum and the United Friends. He is H. \V. LEE, EDITOR OF THE STAR. a patriarch militant of the first-named order. He is a charter member of the Y. M. C. A . , in which he has devoted much time in advancing the local order. He is a member of the educational committee. 38 THE ONEONTA HLSTORICAL SOUVENIR. A. E. Nye, baker, No. 6 Chestnut street, having had seventeen j'ears' experience, is giving that satis- faction which brings him the best class of trade. There could be no better arranged shop anywhere. The public appreciates delicacies, for the stomach's F. S. PATTRIDC.E, RESIDENCE. T. W. STEVENS, RESIDENCE A. E. KELLOGG, RESIDENCE. sake, and the public is served at this place with the ver}' best. It is a large bakerj', four bakers being employed and a thousand loaves being the dail)' pro- duction of bread. Two carts are run in town and two outside. Fifty barrels of molasses are used an- nuall3\ Mr. Nye was born in Cortland county July lo, 1S58. He learned the trade of Cobb & Perkins, with whom he remained six years, afterward.s open- ing a shop in Owego with his brother. When he came to Oneonta he obtained employment of O. A. Benton, of whom he subsequently bought the busi- ness, moving it to his present stand in December, 1893. He married Harriett Batterson. of Elmira, September, 14, 18S4. M. E. Wilder & Son opened their large dry -goods store in (Oneonta May 8, 1895, at No. 149 Main street. It is a completely stocked store, with spa- cious plate glass show windows, in which consider- able taste is shown in displaying the goods. The interior is very prettily finished, with the newest and best fixtures and the most modern equipments, in- cluding one of the large-sized Lamson cash carriers, and fine nickel fixtures. The business started off with a flattering patronage, which is showing a stead)' increase, giving seven experienced clerks steady employment. This is one of the largest single- floor establishinents in this part of the State. The specialties of this firm are dress goods, cloaks and fine kid gloves, comprising the latest and best manu- facture, and affording a large variet}' from which to make selections. There are also the many lines usually carried b}' a house doing an extensive busi- ness, such as ladies' garments of every description, linens, notions, draperies, hosiery, underwear, etc. M. E. Wilder was born in New Bremen, Lewis Co., July 24, 1S49. He carried on business there for many years. In 1885 he removed to Westfield, Pa., where, on February i, 1895, his son was ad- mitted as a partner. He married Hattie L. Wood, of Onondaga, in 1S70. L. E. Wilder was born in New Bremen Jul}' 26, 1873. After graduating from Genesee Wesleyan Seminary he entered the employ of Adam, Meldrum &: And- erson Co., of Buffalo. N.Y., to prepare himself for active business. On Thanksgiving day. 1894. he married Helena S. Williams, of Tonawanda, N. Y. The League of American Wheelmen, Oneonta. — I n enumerating the various or- ganizations in Oneonta The League of American Wheel- men should not be over- looked. This grand organi- zation, which extends to every State in the Union, and which has during the past season, made such great strides of progression, is well represented in One- onta. Previous to this year the membership here was nominal, but through the earnest efforts of the local consul. Ralph P. Stoddard and the ex-consuls, George Bierhardt and Frank A. Herrieff, the membership has been increased b}' about sixt)' names. The veteran League member of Oneonta is F. M. H. Jackson, who is also worthy of much praise for the interest he has taken in League matters. He was for a number of years the only League member in town. These young men, as well as many others who assisted them, have at heart the interest of c)'cling, and their efforts were not confined to the increasing of membership alone. The influence of the League has been exerted to the benefit of every wheelman and wheelwoman in the con)iminit\'. Through their L. L. CLRTIS. influence guide boards have been erected at every highway crossing and fork of roads in the town, giving distances and directions, and in another sea- son the work will be extended through this county THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 39 and the adjoining counties. The League members make it a point to welcome every visiting wheelman who comes to Oneonta and assist him in whatever way possible. The League headquarters are at the cyclists. Tourists visiting Oneonta who desire in- formation regarding routes, etc., will find the local consul, Mr. Stoddard, at the Daily Star office, ever willing to assist them. On account of the royal welcome shown tourists, the Oneonta League wheel- men have won a wide reputation, and courteous treatment is assured all strangers who will make themselves known in this progressive League town. The members are : R. W. STODDARD, CONSUL L. A. W. Windsor Hotel, Chestnut street. This house allows a discount of 25 per cent, to League members and gives them the best of attention. A League club will be organized before another season and a club room, at some convenient location, will be main- tained. The amount of good the members have been able to do for the cause of cycling in the past will be greatly increased by local organization, and it is expected every League member will lend his aid to the perfecting of a club for League members in Oneonta. The expense of joining the League is $2.00, which amount pays for one 3'ear's member- JAS. W, TAYLOR, F. K. TAYLOR, H. E. WHITNEY, J. J. WOOD, S. J. WRIGHT, W. W. DARHEE, C. M. DICKINSON, S. B. ELLIOTT, C. E. FORD, CHAS. GARDNER, F. A. HERIEFF, HENRY HEGEVVALD, R. HOLMES, W. F. HUNGERFORD, W. H. IVES, L. J. PATTON. A. C. POTTER, S. H. POTTER, E. W. POPE. G. I. REYNOLDS, L E. ROGERS, "R. P. STODDARD, THOS. W. STEVENS, A. C. SPENCER. E. B. SMITH. JAS. SKINNER, E. W. SPENCER. Photo, bv Smith. E. D. LEWIS' JEWELRY STORE. ship. A renewal costs $1.00 a year. Each member receives The Bulletin, a lively and interesting weekly magazine, and all road books and maps. The new road book will contain manj' routes through this section of the State available to Oneonta C. E. AIKINS, JACK BLAIR, G. A. BIERHARDT, L BIDFORD, "Mrs. J. BIDFORD, L L. BOWDISH, "G. A. BURNSIDE, A. M. BUTTS, C. W. BROWN, L. O. BURDICK, G. CHAMBERLIN, H. T. CONKLING, M. G. CON NELL, T. M. H lACKSON, H. D.JENNINGS, C. E. KENNEDY, H. W. LEE. THOMAS LORD, E. D. LEWIS, G. A. LANE, L A.NILES. "G. E. MOORE, RALPH McCUNE, C. F. MAYHAM. C. H. McGONEGAL, FRANK MONROE, |. W. NORTON. "GEO. U. NORTON, Charles E. Dibble, the Chief of Police, was ap- pointed to that post in March. i8q6, after serving as patrolman since the spring of 1S92. The police de- partment is not as large as it should be, and with but four officers to patrol a place having 10,000 in- habitants, serve all war- rants, protect propert3'and preserve good order, when the 7>iorale of the town is above the average, as it is here, there is no sinecure in holding the office of chief. The present in- cumbent was appointed because he had become popular, was widely ac- i|uainted, and had proven himself to be a careful and observing officer. He had worked for the railroad company for about two years, having come to Oneonta in 1890. The chief of police in a town of this size is left to exer- cise his own judgment to a greater extent than in a larger place, and in man}' cases a great deal of res- |)onsibility rests upon iiim, having less means at his command and being required, as a matter of course, to perform in part patrol duty. The chief has given good satisfaction and made man)' friends. He was born in Daven- port, Delaware county, November 11, i860. He was married to Catharine D. Simmons, of that place, November 10, 1885. 40 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. Edmunds Brothers are large retail dealers in gro- Dr. Charles F. Baylis, a leading dentist of this ceries at No. 218 Main street. Their business dur- ing recent years has grown with rapid strides until it is now one of the largest in that line in town. The members of the firm are Arthur N. and Charles B. The business was originall}' conducted under the name of McMinn & Co. Arthur N. Edmunds first bought out the interest of J. O. Rowe, and for four years the firm was McMinn & Edmunds. His brother then succeeded Fred. McMinn, and since that time the business has been conducted under the present name. It comprises all kinds of domestic and the many leading brands of imported goods usually sold in a grocery. Three men are kept busy place, whose practice is quite extensive in all forms of modern and skilled dental work known to the profession, is located in pleasant and centrall)'^ situ- ated parlors on the second fioor of the Ford Block, No. 184 Main street, where Dr. George W. Gold- smith, whom he succeeded, was formerly located. Dr. Baylis was born in Waterville, Oneida count)', April 8, 1870. His parents. W. Fred. Baylis and wife, whose maiden name was Mary Burch, were natives of this state. The doctor was educated in the public schools and in the University of Mary- land, at Baltimore, where he completed his studies in dentistry and was graduated March 17, 1S92. He Photo, by Smith. JI.\PLK .STRICET. CllH^T.XL T ^^ 1 REHT, I.UtiKIXi., WKST. CENTRE .STREET. waitingon customers most of the time. The delivery of goods extends over a considerable part of the town, which is a proof of the popularity of this firm. Arthur Edmunds was born in Oneonta June S, 1S65. At 18 years of age he began as a clerk for M. Bene- dict at Sidney Centre. Fours years later he came to Oneonta, and remained a year with Fletcher & Mur- dock. After spending another year at Sidney Centre, he returned to Oneonta, and went into the business, of which he is now a part owner as a clerk. He married Alice C. Reynolds, of Sidney Centre, December 30, 1885. Charles B. Edmunds was born in Oneonta. No- vember 27, 1865. He was first employed by George E. Hally at Sidnej' Centre, and subsequently, for a year, for Reuben Reynolds, of Oneonta. He mar- ried Nellie M. Somerville, of Davenport, January 27. 1893. married Miss Lillian, the daughter of Mr. George Hufford, of Oneonta, March 25. 1896. He is a pop- ular member of several organizations, comprising the Masonic Lodge, the Oneonta Chapter and the Oneonta Club. He is an active member of the First Baptist Church and of the Y. M. C. A., in which latter association he is deepl}' interested. The Daily Newspapers. — The years previous to 1887 had marked so rapid and substantial a growth in Oneonta that the subject of a daily paper was then strongly canvassed, and the necessity becoming apparent, on Maj' 2 of that year the Oneonta Daily Local made its appearance. The paper was diminu- tive in size — 12^ x 10 inches, 4 columns, 4 pages. On May 31, 1887, two inches were added to the THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 41 length of the columns, and a similar addition was made Januar)' 2, 188S. On February 6, same year, the Local suspended. It is but just to say here, however, that the failure of the Local w^s not the lack of support on the part of the villagers, but was brought about from entirely different causes. That C. II. McGONKGAL. this deduction is a true one is demonstrated, for but thirteen days were allowed to elapse, when a new paper, the Oneonta Daily Nezvs, made its appearance, on February 20, 1888. This paper, with varying ex- periences and numerous enlargements, continued to occupy the field for over two 3'ears without opposi- tion. The size of the first News was. 17 x 11 inches, 4 columns, 4 pages. On Tuesdaj', April 24, 1888, the Newsw^s enlarged to a 5-column paper; columns lengthened 2| inches, February 22, iS8g; a six-col- umn paper was issued September 25, 1889, and these columns were lengthened October i6th. This was the size of the paper at the time its good will and subscription list were sold to, as stated in its valedic- tory, " a worthy rival," April 30, 1891. In answer to a demand for a paper that would better reflect Oneonta, its business enterprise and constantly widening borders, on June ig, iSgo, the Star issued its first number. The publication was started with ^n entirel}' new outfit, such as could be obtained only by an outlay of a large sum of money, and it was fortunate for The Star, and the village, that the financial backing of the paper was ample. On its first appearance, The Star was a 7-C0I., 24x36 inch 4-page paper. The reception of The Star by the Oneonta people, was so marked, and the patronage in advertising so far exceeded expectations, that the second edition had not been printed before an order for more type, to meet urgent needs, had been sent to the type founders. With hosts of friends constantly flocking to it, 7"^!? Star has had an onward march, and on September 19, 1891, it was not considered too hazard- ous to increase the size of the paper. Accordingly, on that date, another column was added to each of the four pages. At no time since its first issue has the support of The Star been other than gen- erous, and the management has appreciated the public favor, ever putting forth the effort to make the paper, in all its 'details, an Oneonta paper, devoted to and advocating every interest that would tend to its growth in wealth and moral force. It is impossible to over-estimate the influence and benefit of such a paper as The Star has been to a commu- nity. Circulating largely not only in the village, the county, and adjoining counties, but having an ever- increasing number of subscribers, mostly among former residents or those who have interests here. The Star is read daily in many parts of the Union, and often falls into the hands of people who hereto- fore did not know of the importance of the vil- lage, and are attracted to it by its daily paper, which in its editorial news, typographical appear- ance and general make-up, is much the superior of papers printed in similar towns. In interviewing T/te Star, Grip found a special characteristic of the paper that showed how completely it is dominated by the policy of Oneonta, first, last, and all the time. The Star, hyh\gh rates to outside advertisers, whose business would clash with home firms, practically excludes other than local advertisers. Not long ago a city firm asked for rates for half a page, and was anxious to secure the same. This firm was friendly and funny enough, when it received terms, to re- ply that its wish was to advertise, not to buy the paper; and though it made a flattering offer, hav- ing ascertained the value of TheStar as an advertis- ing medium, it was declined. The Star is firm in its convictions that a loyal support of the interests of Oneonta will bring as earnest a support from Oneonteans to the paper. For the success of this leading enterprise of Oneonta, great credit is due to the present editor and proprietor, H. W. Lee. He is the son of Rev. J. N. Lee, and though born _]at Kerkurro May 30, 1870, during his early days he was so much in Oneonta and vicinity, having been a pupil of the C. E. DIBBLE, CHIEF OF POLICE. Academy street school, a teacher at Mt. Vision, and a member of The Ne%vs staff, that he is regarded al- most as a native of the village. But a trifle over 20 years of age at the inception of the paper, he threw all the vigor of his strong constitution and sanguine temperament into the enterprise, and has recognized 42 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAIv SOUVENIR. nothing too arduous in his eftbrts to keep The Star in the first ranks of provincial journalism. Though the paper is independent in policy, it has been by no means neutral, and so conscientious has it been in all matters pertaining to the public good that its influence in the community is large. Mr. Lee has always expressed himself as being most fortunate in securing as a right-hand man the services, in the general conduct of the paper, of William J. Mason. Being older in j^ears and with a larger experience in newspaper work, Mr. Mason's judgment as to detail, etc., has been recognized and valued. The first man to occupy the position of bookkeeper and collector on The Star was F. W. Whitcomb, now one of the prosperous grocery firm of Whitcomb & Hecox. E. E. Giles, who first onta, is Ralph P. Stoddard, formerl}' of Bridge- water, who is an earnest worker. He is a graduate of the Albany Business College, a short-hand writer and an expert manipulator of a tj'pewriter. In con- nection with the Star, it is the boast of the office that every man engaged on it has its interests most at heart, and the force is ever ready to make whatever sacrifice is necessary to accomplish a purpose. The work is done with the utmost good fellowship, and in the printing office, in charge of F. A. Jennings, are four of the graduated apprentices : F. A. Bissell, W. H. Howard, Wm. B. Mason and H. C. Fish. The present apprentices are Dorr Horick and John McCabe. The paper has a loyal staff of corre- spondents and its contributors are among the best citizens in the community. No paper ever had a more hustling and wide-awake lot of carrier boys, and several heretofore and now are employing this Photo, bv Younc SCENES .'iT THE CENTRAL HOTEL. assisted in reportorial work, assumed Mr. Whit- comb's office on his retirement. F. M. H. Jackson in turn succeeded Mr. Giles, he going to New York, and under able instructors has taken an enviable rank in Gotham as a tenor singer. Mr. Jackson, at this time, still occupies the position, and, in addi- tion, renders valuable service to the paper in report- ing, he being an expert short-hand writer. He is the son of M. L. S. Jackson, is a popular Red Man and a sergeant in the Third Separate company. Later in the paper's history, J. A. Reynolds, son of George Reynolds, an influential citizen, residing on Grand street, this village, was added to the repor- torial staff', and at different times has been a most valuable adjunct to the paper. Alert, active, able and conscientious, he is to the manner born and makes an ideal reporter. Another capable reporter on the staff, who has made many friends in One- means to help them secure a higher education than they might otherwise obtain, and are pupils both at the Normal and Union schools. Mrs. S. Scott owns the largest green-house on the Susquehanna road outside of Albany, not excepting any in Binghamton. She built the first of the group of glass structures when there was not another sim- ilar enterprise on this road. It was onlj^ thirty-five feet long. To da}' the enclosures under glass at her place, corner of Grove and Cliff streets, aggregate over 5,000 square feet of floor space. It was on May 1, 1S81, that with pluck and determination, in spite of contrary advice, she started in the business in the limited way above mentioned. In the fall of 1883 she required more room, and tore down the THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 43 ■original structure and built what are now the main green-houses. Up to five years ago last Marcli she did all the work herself. Then she liired a jjardener, and now has an extra hand to keep up with the de- mand that is pressing upon her. In 1892 she boujrht additional ground and constructed two additional houses, each a hundred feet long. This fall she M. H. RIDDELL. added another building for violets, and enlarged the office. She has put in a large Furman boiler, manu- factured by the Herendeen Manufacturing Company, which furnishes the heat for both her residence and the green-houses, and to which she lias attached a hot- water tank for supplying the sprinklers. The main green-house encloses the space for chr\sainhemuins, 59x12 feet; that for smilax and lilies, 50x16 feet, and the office. The double- span house for roses is iS x8o, and that for carnations 100 x 10 feet. Then there is a house for palms, orchids and ferns, 12x18 feet. The violet and coU!- house is 100x8 feet. The houses are all equipped with thebest conveniences, including sectional venti- lators, iron supports, raised benches, and wire trellis. She ships verj' largely to Binghamton and New York, and in the summer supplies m a n }• summer resorts. Her hoiTie trade is quite large. Dauley & Wright, deal- ers in monuments, are very widely k n o av n through the eastern part of the State. A great deal of very fine work has been placed in Albany. Scho- riioto. by Smith. M harie, Otsego, Delaware and Broome counties, including many large and expensive monu- ments, which have made for the firm an enviable reputation. In some cases, notabh' those of the Hon. David Wilber, Augustus D. Ferguson, Oneida, and Annie Louise Greer in Rural cemetery, Albany, Dauley & Wright produced life-sized statues which were pronounced to he excellent re- productions of the originals. The work in marble and granite is equal to that turned out by the largest dealers. It has been set up where competition with those houses was the sharpest. In Otsego, Scho- harie and Delaware counties this firm has the lead over all rivals. One very great advantage is offered to the customer, and that is because the stock on hand offers a great variety of selections, its aggre- gate value being $12,000 and upwards. During the past year the shop has been fitted with pneumatic tools for carving granite, operated by compressed air, and enabling one man to do the work of three a great deal better than can be done by hand. The firm, I. S. Dauley and C. M. Wright succeeded to the business of Howe Bros. January i, 1889. During the first year the sales showed a marked increase, which has become larger each succeeding year. At the time the business changed hands Mr. Dauley was the foreman in the shop and Mr. Wright was the salesman. Both were practical men and had a large acquaintanceship. The former had twenty 3'ears' experience in marble cutting. In 1S86 he came to Oneonta from Iroquois, Canada, where, at seventeen years of age, he began learning the trade. He was born in Ontario, May 25, 1859 ; married Antoinette Ostrander, of Oneonta, February i, 1887. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the M. E. church. Charles M. Wright was born in Wor- cester, N. Y., June 21, 1854. Twenty years ago he began selling for Howe Bros, and continued as their salesman until they came to Oneonta and sold out to the present firm. He married Jessie Kelly, of Schenevus, June 25, 1875. He is a member of the Masonic order. H. RIDDEIX'S LAUNDRY. H. A. Fisher, dealer in pianos, organs, and other musical instruments, succeeded to the business of Fisher & Ogden in the Windsor Hotel building, Nov. 1st, 1896. Ou February i, 1882. the firm started the business in Main street, and in Nov. 1893, moved to the present quarters. Mr. Fisher came to Oneonta in 1881, and was in the employ of Shearer, 44 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. INGALL'S STONU YARD. the well known dealer in musical supplies until the copartnership between Mr. Ogden and himself was formed. He is a composer of instrumental and vocal music and has completed 35 manuscripts. For several years he taught vocal music, and upon com- ing to Oueonta, he became active in musical circles, being for some time a member of the Metropolitan Orchestra and for eight years the organist of the Fir.st Baptist Church. His business, however, has left him no time for outside matters. The instru- ments he handles are of the best manufacture, in- cluding principally the Kranich & Bach, the Everett, Harvard, Haines, and the Crown pianos ; also, the Packard, Estey, Kimball and the Lehr & Co. Organs. His stock of small instruments comprise the high grade goods. The territory in which he has made many large sales includes the counties of Otsego, Delaware, Chenango, and portions of Broome. Mr. Fisher was born in Burlington, N. Y., June 26, 1S60. ^At 16 years of age be entered the profession he has since followed. He came to Oneonta in 1881. He is a member of the First Baptist Church and the Y. P. S. C. P.. His assistants are Miss Mary E.Webster, bookkeeper. Miss Bertha Brainerd, clerk, R. W. Elmer. His business is rep resented by a local agent in Scbenevus, Afton, Nineveh, Binghamton and Norwich. The Press. — The first issue of the Oneonta Press bore the date of May 19th, 1877. and its editor and publisher was George W. Reynolds. It was a seven column folio paper, and was Republican in poli- tics. Mr. Reynolds conduc- ted T/ie Press for about eighteen months, and its new proprietor made it a Demo- cratic paper. It has been published continuously since its first issue, although there has been many changes in its management. On June 27th, 1S95, Henry G. Bishop changed the name to T/ie Otsego Democrat and Oneonta Press, and that name it will un- doubtedly continue to hold, although it is even now more generally known of and spoken of as The Press. On February 27th, 1896, its form was changed from an eight-column folio to a six-column quarto, and on June 22nd, 1896, Louis \V. Ferenbaugh (a sketch of whom appears else where in this souvenir) succeeded Mr. Bishop as editor and publisher. Under his management the business of the office has greatly increased, while his editorial work stamps the paper as a thorough and out spoken one that cannot fail to be of vast aid to that party. A finely equipped job office is attached, and the work that comes therefrom is at once spoken of as artistic, while a specialty is made of quick work as well. The office is finely located in the Lewis «& Wilson brick block, at 10 Broad street, and occupies the northern ground floor half of the block, which is finely lettered " l^he Oneonta Press." The presses, five in number, are run by water power. The pres- ent staff of the office is as follows: Editor and pub- lisher, Louis VV. Ferenbaugh: associate editor, S. H. Ferenbaugh; foreman, Arthur G. Weed; William O. Hibbard, Joseph Malle)'. Journeymen Tailors' Union, No. 112, Oneonta. — This union has been organized since October ist, 1894, by George Woodburn, organizer of Trades and Labor Council of Oneonta. It started with a mem- bership of seven ; George Yagel, president, and at the present time has a membership of thirteen. Mrs. Jennie Collins, president. The members of the union have received better wages since its or- ganization, and at the present time meet once a month in Critic Hall. Wilber Block. L.\rREXS & ROWE'S CROCKERY AND NOTION STORE, THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 45 THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. The first record of any organized fire companj- for the village of Oneonta was in May, 1S47, and was organized bj* authority of E. S. Brown, supervisor of the town; Elisha Sheppard atid Samuel J. Cook, justices of the peace, and was before any charter of the village had been granted. This company was com- posed of the following charter members : Ira In- man, Orlando Sullivan, T. D. Watkins, Wm. Mc- Crum, G. P. Dietz, DeVVitt Ford, Geo. H.Bond, J. D. Lindsey, Anthony White, John McCraney, D. J. secretary and treasurer, D. J. Yager; with T. D. Watkins, De Witt Ford and Gould P. Dietz, as a standing committee. The company was designated as Fire Engine Company No. i. The uni- form adopted was red shirt, gray pants, black belt and fire hat, and the engine named Yankee. This engine was probably purchased new and at some point in Massachusetts. No known record of the company e.\ists later than 1858, and the company went out of existence soon after, and the engine was sold in parts and used by several citizens of the town I Rev. J. Elliot Bone, Methodist (photo by Young). 5 Rev. C. S. Pendleton, Fret Win Baptist. THE CLEROY OF ONEONTA. 2 Rev. E. J. Farley, ist Baptist. 4 Rev. J. E. Boid, St. James'' Episcopal [photo by Van IVoert). 6 Rev. R. L. Welch, United Presbyterian. 3 Rev. N. M. Hall, 1st Presbyterian, 7 Rev. L. L. Greene, Universalist [photo by Curtis.) Yager, Geo. W. Murray, J. P. VanWoert, C. P. Hunting, Isaac H. Peters, Wm. H. Wild, Carleton Watkins, L. S. Osborn, Ira Derby and Lewis B. Smith. The charter list was filed with W. Wright, town clerk. May ig, 1847, and on the 20th of the same month the company met at the hotel of John M. Watkins, and elected the following officers : Captain, Collis P. Huntington ; first lieutenant, Ira Derby ; second lieutenant, John McCraney ; for various purposes, and ceased to exist as an en- gine. On Januar}' 22, 1S60, a meeting was held at the band room for the purpose of organizing a fire com- pany, and T. D. Watkins was made chairman, and John Cope, Jr., secretary. The president of the village was present and delivered certificates to 36 members. Who the members of the company were or the officers elected there is no record. The en- 46 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. gine purchased for this company came originally from the city of Albany, and was bought through a gentletnan by the name of Courier, of Cobleskill. The compan)' was named Resolute Engine Company, No. I, and in January, 1864, we find them with Saerl Hudson, foreman; Hiram J. Brewer, first assistant ; H. J. Collins, second assistant ; and John Cope, Jr., secretary and treasurer, with a member- ship of 43. In the meantime many of the old mem- bers of this company and of Engine Compan)' No. i had gone to the front, and the organization existed until about 1S69, when it ceased to exist. The en- gine was sold for junk, and the village was left with- out any fire protection but the bucket brigade up to June, 1876, when the board of trustees, composed of J. D. Primmer, Anthony White, Stephen Bull. Thos. H. Rockwell and Sylvester Ford, decided to purchase the equipment for a first-class fire depart ment, and a committee appointed by the board pur- chased a steam fire engine and hose cart of the But- ton Manufacturing Company of Waterford, N. Y., also a first-class hook and ladder truck, and steps were immediately taken to form a first-class fire de- partment. Oneonta Steamer Compan)', No. i, was first accepted b}' the board with the following charter members : L. S. Emmons, G. A. Hunter, Walter Scott, C. M. Smith, E. S. Bell, W. H. Mereness, M. Mandelbunn, L. B. Lennon, W, A. Pardoe, H. B. Skinner, Chas. Saxton, H. D. Jennings, F. A. Peck. Judd W. Mann, M. L. S. Jackson, L. H. Groat, Wni. H. Couse, J. H. Keyes, A. S. Reynolds, A. f. Whitney, H. Saunders, C. T. Bush, W. A. Laken I. Doolittle, T. H. Briggs, A. R. Allen, D. W.. Brainard, Wm. H. Wilson, E. H. Wright and J. T. Dewar. The first officers were : Foreman, Geo. A. Hunter; first assistant, Walter Scott: second as- pany, No. i, with the following charter;; members : Thomas Doyle, L. Millard. Fred. Whitenhall, George W. IngallF, Albert C. /|,Wolcott. E. Sherman, H. Merrihew, H. E. Bundy. J. McCaf- ferty, J. W. Mull, A. Snyder, C. L. Watson, G. Photo, by Smith. M. K. WII.DlvR ^: .SOX'S DRY GOODS STORK sistant, W. H. Mereness ; secretary, Henry Saunders, treasurer, E. S. Bell; engineer, J. D. Primmer; first assistant engineer, J. W. Mann. They were quickly followed by Centennial Hose Com- CHAKI.i;S .AND ARTHUR KDMUXDS. tiiles, R. C. Burgess, George Austin, J. O. Vor- hees, A. C. Lewis, N. E. Conant, M. Maloney, G. Ward, A. Jeflfers. J. H. Oderkirk, J. Stranahan, G. D. Bedford, W. C. Lewis, George Vincent, S. M. Ballard, J. C. Richmond, Leroy Mickell, C. A. Smith, Charles Smith and J. M. Ostrom. The first officers were: Foreman. J. M. Ostrom; first assist- ant, H. E. Bundy ; sec- ond assistant, Thomas Doyle; president, H. E. Conant; vice-president, C. A. Smith; secretar}', A. Jeffers ; treasurer, Charles Smith, and steward, George Vin- cent. This company was known as Centen- nial Hose Company, No. I, until June I3lh, 1877, when the name was changed to Lewis Hose Compan}', No. i, in honor of A. C. Lewis, also a member of the company, who became the second chief engi- neer of the new Oneonta fire department. The steamer and hose com panics were accepted by the board of trustees in Februar}' of the 3'ear 1876, and Oneonta Hook and Ladder Compan}', No. 3, was accepted the gih of March of the saine year, with the following charter members: R. L. Fox, Jay McDonald, C. E. Burns, W. H. Woodin, W. H. Jefferson, W. L. Brown, N. I. Ford, Fred. Wilcox, Samuel T. Brewer, Owen Philips, Milton Gurney, David J. Yager, D. H. Peaster, Will Hunt- THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 47 ington, O. C. McCrum, A. C. Moody, M. Keenan, F. A. Bissell, W. D. Bissell, William Dietz, C. S. Carpenter, M. D. Tipple, T. J. Gildersleeve, B. H. Loring, R. Reynolds, E. M. Johnson, J. B. Fletcher, John Amsden, G. F. Bristol. W. W. Darbee, Leroy Pratt, M. Yager, W. H. Hider, J. H. Tucker. The officers were: Foreman, R. L. Fox; first assistant, A. C. Mood}'; second assistant, Jay McDonald; record- ing secretary, C. S. Carpenter; corresponding secre- tary, O. C. McCrum; treasurer, N. I. Ford. The name of this company was changed July 7th, 1S86, to the D. F. VVilber Hook and Ladder Company, No. I, in honor of D. F. Wilber, a member of the company and the present Congressman from this district, who presented the company with one of the finest parade trucks in this section of the State. The village now had one of the finest equipped fire departments in the State, but a very poor water sup- ply, consisting of a few small cisterns scattered throughout the village, some of which had done ser- vice for the first fire company away back in 1S47. In the year 1S83 this was changed by the completion James Reynolds ; trustees, A. Northrup, William Thornburn and Samuel Coon ; members, A. V. Price, C. L. Duell, Fred. Schwaninger, William Wiscomb, Thomas Lord, D. Tregurthie, Thomas Thornburn, |. Mitchell, George Parine, Frank Craft, T. B. Kimber, Thomas I'ansell, William Marshall, Jack Turner, R. C. Harding. George Tamsell, W. W. Daley, J. W. Soloway, E. Noud, W. L. Foot, O. F. Carson, R. R. Cross, J. R. Patterson, S. D. Finkle, S. Bach, George Underdown and W. H. Mosher. This company is finely equipped and has a fine hose house and parlors located in the Sixth ward, south of the railroad. On September 30th, 1895, the J. M. Milne Hose Company, No. 4, was organized and accepted b)' the Board of Trustees with the following officers and members: President, Fred. Whitman: vice- president, Byron W. Baker: foreman, Albert Haynes: first assistant, L. F. Haumer; second Assistant, E. R. Pierce; financial secretary, Hud- son Perry; recording secretary, A. F. Hamil- ton; treasurer, .Arthur Firman; steward, George scene; on the f.a.ir grounds, September 16, 1S96. of the Oneonta water works, giving a splendid sj'stem for fire service, and in October of that year the George I. Wilber Hose Company, No. 2, was organized from a large number of gentlemen who had been members of the old steamer company. L. H. Groat, W. H. Mereness, George T. Bugden, M. Siedes, John M. Watson, S. B. Todd, A. L. Jordan, S. J. Howe, H. E. Conant, Fred. E. Lowe, Wm. Huether, Chas. Paul, M. G. Connell, Geo. E. Woodworth, L. Richards, Jacob Huether, W. F. Rowland, John Elliott, H.' R. Gaylord, H. McCulley. George E. Bond, I. Bugbee. Chas. Holcomb, F. Fairchild, J. T. Demar and H. H. Mills were the charter mem- bers, and L. H. Groat, foreman ; L. Richards, first assistant : Geo. E. Woodworth, second assistant; G. T. Bugden, secretary, and M. G. Connell, treasurer, were the first officers. The company was equipped with a four-wheel Jumper, pur- chased from Crystal Hose Company, of Bing- hamton, and presented with an elegant parade car- riage by George I. Wilber. In Januar}', i88g. the Mechanic Hose Company, No. 3, were accepted bv the board of trustees with the following officers and members : Foreman, W. L. Hotaling ; first assistant, Frank Fairchilds : second assistant, C. W. McGurk ; secretary, J. R. Gerling ; president, J. W. Telford ; vice-president, Wohlleben. Members: Wm. Nash, James Park, Geo. Dildine, Malcomb Baxter, Leroy Clark, Wm. Chapman, Chas. Davis, Wm. Dimmick, J. Dugan, L. Dugan, Frank Edwards, B. Edwards, S. Ferns, Wm. Holloway, L. V. Holmes, H. P. Hotaling, C. S. Loveland. Fred Mason, M. Messenger, H. Mooney, John Naylor, F. C. Pattengil, Frank Ren- ford, Chas. Sincerbrant, John Speer, H. Stewart, W. Stewart, H. N. Terrell. This company is com- posed almost entirely of Normal students, is well equipped and finely drilled, and is a credit to the Department, and Oneonta has to-day one of the largest, best equipped and finest drilled fire departments of any town of her size in the State of New York, a perfect S3'stem of electric fire alarm, with boxes located in handy reach all over the corporation, an abundant water supply, and is prepared to battle with the elements no matter in what shape they come. The following named gentlemen have held the office of chief engineer: Jas. H. Keyes, 1876-77; A. C. Lewis, 1878; M. Gurney, 1879; -^- ^- Moody, 1880: W. H. Mereness, 1881; J. O. Voorhees, 1882-83; O. H. Marshall, 1SS4-85; Henry Bull, 1886-87: L. H. Groat, 1888; W. H. Wilson, i88g; M. Dempsey, 1890; George E, Moore, 1891; A. Shafer, 1892-93; James O'Brien, present chief. — L. H. Gro.\t. 48 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. The Oneonta Building and Loan Association. The Remarkable Growth of a Substantial and Financially Sound Institu- tion — A Business in which Investments Yield Liberal Returns. The Oneonta Building and Loan Association is an inpoitant local enterprise established for the purpose of encouraging savings, industr}', economy in living and to provide a reasonablj- eas}' road b)' which the person with a moderate income may be enabled to provide for himself and family a home. It also af- fords the artisan, mechanic, professional and busi- ness man and laborer a comparatively safe means of investment out of which he may be insured an accumulation of wealth. The building and loan association is to-day a fixed enterprise in everj' town of an}' size, and the records of the local associations throughout this country show that in rare, if in any case, it fails to become a profitable and desirable means to the end for which it is established. The clearest explanation of its purpose is made in the statute (April lo, 1S51) and its amendments un- der which it is incorporated, viz.: * * * "for the purpose of accumulating a fund for the purchase of real estate, the erection of buildings, or the making of other improvements on lands or to pay off incum- brances thereon, and for the further purpose of accumulating a fund to be returned to its members who do not obtain advances " from the association, etc. It must be borne in mind that there is a great distinction between a local association and those which have sprung up in recent years calling them selves National associations. The former, such as that of which we are writing, places all investments at home directly under its own eyes, and where the attendant expenses, all told, are usually very light. Every member is a proprietor, in part, realizing a portion of the interest which he himself pays in for such loans as he may contract, and is in a position to know from dav to day the character of the busi- ness transacted and to have an eye on what course his investment takes. The onlj' salary paid is to the secretary, so it will be seen that there are no princely salaries to eat up the profits. Now, as to the char- acter of the business. An applicant is admitted to membership upon the purchase of stock, with the option of subscribing for from one to thirty shares and the payment of only one dollar fee on his total subscription. In other associations to which we have alluded he is required to pa}' a fee of one dollar for each share. The investments of the funds of the association are made upon unincumbered real estate, not to exceed two-thirds of its appraised value, secured with bond and mortgage, and also to mem- bers upon their stock; in the latter case no' to ex- ceed ninety per cent, of the amount paid in on stock. At any time a member can withdraw and take out all he has paid in with from 6 to 8A per cent, interest, according to the age of the stock. The member is not neccssaril}' a borrower, and if he should be, and at any time desires to cancel the loan, he has that privilege by giving thirty days notice, and is entitled to draw out all he has paid on the principal together with six percent, interest. The Oneonta Association was incorporated in April, 1888. At the first meeting, held for the trans action of business, on April 27, 18S8, the amount of paid-up capital was $750. During a little less than nine years, the time the association has been doing business, the total amount of capital paid in is about $200,000, a very flattering showing, es- pecially as it is in excess of that of any other incor- porated institution in town. In addition to that there has been paid back to members for stock can- celed $67,278.08. The net earnings of this association, as a result of the careful and strictly conscientious manner in which the business has been managed, have been eminently satisfactory, and compare very favorably with those of the most prosperous private business ventures. The dividends during the past year amounted to $10,517.73. It is a fact that building and loan associations weather panics much better than any other form of business ventures. The Oneonta Association has unquestionably been a very important factor in building up Oneonta, and it is a fact that it is recog- nized as a public institution. The books of the association are open for subscrip- tions at all times in the office of the secretary. The association does not employ agents, as it has been found that no solicitation has been necessary in or- der to keep alive special interest, and to keep up a maximum amount of business. The building and loan association offers to the in- dividual drawing a small salary the one notable means of investing small monthly savings. This has proven of great benefit to clerks and other em- ployes, who were never before offered a means of investing the small sums they were able to save as safely and with as good results. The OFFICERS. — The strength of an association consists no less in the character of the officers man- aging it than it does in the quality of its assets. How the Oneonta association is financiallv situated, the previous paragraphs have shown. The personal qualifications of the management will be equall}- THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 49 well understood when we state that the president is Walter Scott, captain of the 3rd Sep. Co., N. G. N. Y.,and a successful business man and capitalist. The vice- president is D. L. HECoxand the treasurer isT.W Stevens, both well-to-do merchants and owners of valuable real estate. The secretary is B. W. Hove, Esq., a lawyer of ability, who also has charge of the law de- partment of the association, and is the owner of much real estate in Oneonta. The re- maining directors are: Rich- ard Downes. a foreman in the large railroad shops in Oneonta ; Frank Avekv, a skilled machinist and a well- known railroad employe; S. H. Gardner, wholesale agent for the New York Biscuit comp- any, and also the owner of a large tract of Oneonta real es- tate; A. B. Foley, a capitalist and successful retired mer- chant ; M. L. Keves, cashier of the First National Bank of Oneonta, and Nathan H. Bru;(;s, senior member of the extensive contracting and building firm of Briggs & Miller. All of these men have been connected with the association since its or- ganization, and they are among its largest stock- holders ; all, moreover, are practically self-made men, having b}^ industry, perseverance and integrity won a high place in the regard of their associates, is a fact which establishes public confidence in any enterprise with which they are officially connected. The Oneonta Herald, the oldest newspaper pub- lished in Oneonta and the paper of largest circula- tion in the Twenty-first Congress district, was established in 1853 by L. P. Carpenter, the first issue appearing February gth of that year. Mr. Carpenter continued the owner until 1865, when the paper was sold to G. W. Reynolds, who transferred THE ONKOXTA SUPPLY CO'S STORE. \V. W. D.\RP.EE'S STATIONERY STORE. it in 1871 to C. S. Carpenter. Two years later E. M. Johnson and E. W. Capron became editors and proprietors, but in 1874 Mr. Capron disposed of his interest to his partner, who continued sole owner until 1882, when it passed inf^ the control of Wil- lard E. Yager and George W. Fairchild. In 1889 Mr. Yager sold his interest to his partner, and the paper has continued to the present time under the sole ownership and editorial control of Mr. Fair- child. The /A'rrtA/ has always been the leading Re- publican newspaper in the Susquehanna valley, and though its fiftieth birthday looms in the not-far-dis- tant future, it has lost uone of its old time popularity or of its pristine vigor as an exponent of part}' prin- ciples and as an all-around local and family news- paper. Its circulation has increased from year to year, and even in times of unparalleled financial distress its numerous sub- scribers, by their fidelity, have testified to the hold it has upon their esteem. The Herald office, at 230 Main street, besides being the largest and best equip- ped newspaper plant on the line of the D. and H., comprises also a job office which has few superiors even in the large cities. In it all kinds of job, book and fancy printing are done in a manner which has given it an enviable repu- tation far beyond the nat- ural boundaries of its bus- iness. In the management of the Herald Mr. Fair- child is assisted by Andrew B.Saxton, associate editor, and by Carr W. Peck, the efficient foreman, who has the reputation of being one of the best job prin- ters in the State. Both have been connected with the Herald in their present positions since i8Sg. 50 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAI. SOUVENIR. Chapin Memorial, Universalist Church. — The First Universalist Society, of Oneonta, N. Y., was incorporated December 12, 1877. About this time Rev. L. F. Porter, of Morris, N. Y., was called to serve the society as its first pastor. The new society being without a church building, services were held in such halls or rooms as were available until some time in 1879, when its first house of worship was erected on the site occupied by its present beautiful brick edifice on Ford avenue. The first church was a small wood building, but sufficient to meet the then existing needs of the societ)'. It was dedi- christ, Mrs. P. C. Gilchrist, Mattie A. Price, Har- riet E. Barnes and Lydia Ann Burnside. Rev. Mr. White continued as pastor until April i, 1884. The names of the succeeding pastors are presented below, the figures being the dates of installation and dismissal respecttively : Rev. L. F. Porter, 1877- 1881 ; Rev. H. K. White, 1S81-1884; Rev. B. Brun- ning, 18S4-1S85 ; Rev. E. T. Temple, 1885-1889 ; Rev. I. C. F. Grumbine, 18S9-I889 ; Rev. C. P. Hall, 1889-1890; Rev. W. T. Stowe, 1891-1892 ; Rev. E. F. Temple, 1892-1895 ; Rev. L. L. Greene, 1896, Early in Mr. Temple's second pastorate it S. H. G.\RDNER. M. L. KEYES. B. W. HOYE. FRANK AVERY. NATHAN BRIGGS. WALTER SCOTT. A. B. TOBEY. RICHARD DOWNS. D. L. HECOX. T. W. STEVENS. cated near the close of the year 1897, Rev. Edwin Hubbel Chapin. D. D., of New York city, preaching the sermon of dedication. Rev. Mr. Porter resigned his pastorate April i, 1881, on which date the Rev. H. K. White was installed as his successor. On December 9th, 1881, the Chapin Memorial church was organized in connection with the society, Rev. Mr. White administering the rite of baptism, and Rev. E. F. Pembee extending the hand of fellow- ship of the church to the following persons : Ira D. Woolf, George D. Swart, Mrs. George D. Swart, Lillian A. Swart, Mrs. W. H. Morris, P. C. Gil- became evident that the church building was inade- quate to the needs of the society, and on July 24. 1S93, a meeting was called for the purpose of considering the subject of building a new church, and a committee consisting of S. R. Barnes, William H. Morris and P. C. Gilchrist were appointed a building committee forobtaining plans and prosecut- ing the work of building the new church. Through the untiring effort of Pastor Temple and the com- mittee the old building was soon removed and the new one in process of construction on the old site. Services were for a time held in Merchant's Exchange THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 51 hall. As the church neared completion, a meeting of the society was called for January 28, 1894, at which time a committee on dedication was appointed consisting of David Whipple, P. I. Bugbee. Mrs. W. H. Morris and Mrs. P. I. Bugbee. The dedica tion took place in April 4, 1894. Rev. J. K. Mason, D. D., preaching the sermon. The present condi- tion of the society with its beautiful and tasty church edifice is an indication of prosperity and a predic- tion of progress. It is in good financial standing. Its membership, though small, is continually increas- ing. A society numerically small is by no means indicative that it is an inferior or unimportant or- ganization. In objects of worthy charity this society stands second to none. The generosity of the in- dividual members of the society is in this respect otherwise noteworthy. Rev. L. Q. Greene, the present pastor of the Chapin Memorial Church, is a native of Roc- hester, Vt. He is a son of Milton and Aurora — Goodno — Greene, and was born sometime in the 19th century. He resided in his native town until he was ten years of age, when he removed, witii his parents, to Granville, Vt., where the family remained six years. During his boyhood days he attended the common schools where he resided. He then removed to Stockbridge, Vt., and attended the State Normal school at Randolph. He afterwards went to Canton N. Y., at which place he pur- sued a theological course of study at St. Law- rence University. He was graduated from that institution in June, 1879, and in the fol. lowing July assumed charge of the Univer- salist Church at Churchville, N. Y. He re- mained at that place till May, 1880, when he was called to Williarnstown, Vt. He was ordained as a clerg\-man at that place in June, 1880. He preached at Williamstown and also filled the pastorate at Washington for nearly four years. January i, 1SS4, he went to Bath, Me. At the latter place he continued in the ministry until December i, 1887, when he was called to Springfield, Vt. He remained there until he was called to Wakefield, Mass., in May. 1889. There he continued his pasto- rate for six years and nine months, coming to Oneonta on Februar)' 1. 1896. Rev. Mr. Greene belongs to a large family. His father, Milton Greene, now resides in Ran- dolph, Vt., and his mother passed to the home above in July, i88o. Mr. Greene has five brothers and two sisters living. The)-^ are Rev. R A. Greene, pastor of Grace Universalist Church, in Lowell, Mass.; Dr. L. M. Greene and Dr. O. D. Greene, of Bethel. Vt.; Mr. O. R Greene, of Randolph, Vt. ; Mr. O. E. Greene, of Clen Cove, L. I.; Mrs. F. P. Tvvitchell, of Bethel, Vt.; and Mr. H. P. Chadwick, of Ran- do'ph, Vt. ; an older brother, Mr. R. E. Greene, died at Granville, Vt. . in 1883, at the age of 33 years. In .August, 1879, Mr, Greene married Miss Jennie E, Martin, of Salisbury. Vt. They were married at Gaysville, in that State. Rev. and Mrs. Greene have an only son. Ransom A. Greene. Albert H. Tipple, succeeded D. E. Hubbard in the business conducted in what is known as the Rac- quet store. No. 12 Chestnut street. May 16, 1894. Since then he has made many improvements, putting in a cash carrier system and electric lights. enlarging the conveniences for the accommoda- tion of his patrons and adding very largely to the stock, so that now the store contains one of the best selections of a large variety of that kind of useful and ornamental goods, making the Racquet store popular to all classes o( customers, not- ably all grades and patterns in stationer}', crockery, china, artists' supplies and notions. .As Mr. Tipple is a practical workman and designer in picture frames and has excepiionai facilities for that work, he makes it a specialty. The Racquet is an interesting place to visit, so much that is beautiful filling the shelves and covering the counters in such profusion as to create wonder where it all came from. Mr. Tipple . was born in Valatie, Columbia Co., N. Y., Decem- ber 3. 1S58. At sixteen years of age he began sell- ing goods on the road, which he followed for seven years. For three years he was at CoUifrsville, and in i338 he came to Oneonta, He married Libbie L. W. FERENIi.-iUGH. Nelson, of East Durham, Greene Co., N. Y., Decem- ber 25, 1878. He is a member of the Royal Arca- num. The Glenwood Cemetery Association was organ- ized on May 10, r886. The grounds comprise sixty acres, lying upon the northerly side of the valley, with an outlook of fifteen miles along the Susque- hanna valley either north or south. The incorpo- rators are : William McCruni, George Smart, D W. Ford. A. F. Wing, W. L. Brown, George Fairchild, W, .A, E, Tompkins, Reuben Reynolds. Henry Whitman, F. A. Norton, Hiram Brewer, James Stewart .Meetings are held the second Monday in May of each year to elect two trustees, the full board constituting six. The officers are : Trustees — Albert Morris, president ; George I. Wilber, vice- president : W. L. Brown, treasurer ; L. C. Gurney, secretary ; James Stewart and Reuben Reynolds. 52 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. FORD & ROWH, STORK AND ELEVATOR. Burr Mattice, Justice of the Supreme Court of the Sixth Judicial District, bj' the appointinent of Gov. Morton on December 31, 1895, made to fill the vacancy caused by the election of the Hon. Ceolra E. Martin, as Judge of the Court of Appeals, was nominated to succeed himself at the Republican Judicial Convention in Binghamton in the fall of 1896, and was afterward endorsed bj- the Democratic convention. Of course he was elected, without opposition, for the usual term, fourteen years, beginning January i, 1897. By a succession of personal triumphs, Judge Mattice had achieved a public prominence, and nf;xt to the highest eleva- tion as a jurist of this State before entering his 41st year. His promotion from private life to district attorney, then county judge, and, comparative!)', recently, to his present exalted station, was due more largely to a just recognition of his ability, his broad statesmanship and his high character in private life. At each successive step he was re- warded with signal success. In the position of district attorney, to which he was elected in the fall of 1889, his services were so highly estimated by voters of both parties, that upon receiving the nomination for county judge in 1893, he was elected to that position by one of the largest majorities eve r awarded to a candidate for county office in Otsego county. The Utica Herald {Oci. II, 1893) referred to him as follows: " His record as district attorney has seldom been equaled. Trying his cases alone and without ex- pense t(i ihe county for counsel, he convicted every defendant brought to the bar save only one." Many other papers spoke of him in equally high terms. As a district attorney he acted in all cases judiciously and conscientiously, and with such regnrd for public interests and justice, that the county was not burdened with the expense of fruitless and unjust prosecutions, and in no case was an indictment drawn by him set aside for being defective. The Oneoiila Herald, at the close of Judge Mat- tice's term, said : "The records show that during Mr. Mattice's administration the annual expense of the criminal department of the county has averaged about 12,000 below the average of the twelve preced- ing years." .4s count}' judge, which office he resigned to enter upon higher duties January i, 1896, he won that distinction for impartiality and dignity which recom- mended him to Gov. Morton for appointment as Supreme Court judge. He was a candidate for the Supreme Court bench in the fall of 1895, to fill the office created by the new Constitution in the Sixth Judicial district, and was defe ted in the convention by Judge Lyon. Judge Mattice was the son of a farmer, and was born in Jefferson, Schoharie county, Jul}' 10, 1856. At fifteen years of age he entered the public school at Oneonta. In 1879 he was ad- mitted to the bar. The Republicans of the county retained him as chairman of the county committee for several successive terms, and under his leadership the normal majority was more than doubled. He has served as corporation counsel. Judge Mattice is an active supporter of all public measures. He occupies a prominent place in the councils of the Masonic fraternity ; is a member of the Oneonta club, and has served in the Third Sepa- rate company of the National Guard, as private, as sergeant and as lieutenant. In 1880 he was married to Miss Charlotte Johnson, of Meredith. Delaware county- P. P. Cooper Encampment, No. 112, 1. 0. 0. F., was instituted June ig, 1889. The regular meetings are held every evening of the fourth Wednesday of each month, in the Wilber block. The officers are H. P., Geo. Riley; C. P.. George Chandler; S. W., C. M. Hollister; scribe, F. Olin: treasurer, E. R. Norton. THE WINDSOR|HOTEL. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 53 Photo, by Smith. A. E. CEPERLEY'S RESIDENCE. The United Presbyterian Church. — This congre- gation worships in tlie neat brick church on Dietz street. It is the youngest societj' in Oneonta, yet during its brief life, it has made substantial progress and secured for itself a pleasant home. The need of a United Presbyterian Church in Oneonta had long been recognized by the Presbyterj-of Delaware, which has the oversight of the interests of United Presby- terianism in Otsego county. But beyond occasional preaching, nothing was done to secure a congregation until the spring of 1889. Rev. J. R. Frazier had been most active in promoting the interests of the denomination, and was appointed by the Presbyter}'^ a committee on organization. Elder C. M. Hendry was also on the committee. On the 5th of May, 1S89, Rev. Frazier met the people, preached from Romans 14: 10, and organized the congregation by receiving six persons as members. An election of elders was held, and Mr. Jas. Dougherty and Mr. Benjamin Tiffany were chosen to the office: at the same time Hon. H. D. Nelson, A. R. Gibbs, Esq., and Benjamin Tiffany were elected trustees. Although organ- ized for work, the little congregation was with- out a home and without a pastor. In September. 1889, Rev. L. E. Hawk took charge of the field by appointment of the Presb3Mery. The society prospered under his care. Soon property was purchased on Dietz street. The building upon it was used as a place of meeting for several years. The erection of a church building was begun in 1893. The difficulties to be overcome by so small a band of workers begat discouragements. Under the influence of these and other causes, the con- gregation was much troubled. Before the church building was completed, Rev. Hawk accepted a call to a large church in Omaha, Neb. The con- gregation, being left without a pastor, completed their church, and August, 1894, requested the appointment of Rev. R. L. Welch as pastor by the Presbj'tery, which was granted, and under his charge the work has gone forward. Growth has been substantial and rapid, perfect harmony has prevailed, and the spiritual life of the people has grown stronger. During the past two years the efficient membership has almost doubled. The church uses entirely the S)Stem of voluntary support. No assessment rates or sale of seats has ever been used; yet, during the past year, the contributions averaged a little less than $14.00 per member. The present officers of the church are: Elders: Jas. Dougherty, John McLaury, G. W. Laidlaw and Wm. j^ IH Wright. Trustees: J. P. Elliott. M. iB v58 D., treasurer; R. R. Mackey, Wm. .", "3 Wright, Samuel Nelson and Jas. Dougherty. The Sabbath-school is well manned and efficient. The high average attendance, about 70 per cent of enrollment, is a token of the interest and efficiency. The officers are: Superintendent, Dewhurst McLaury; assistant, John G. Wright; secretary and treasurer, Miss Anna Phyfe. The Ladies' Missionary Society, organized in i8gi, has been one of the most helpful of the church's auxiliaries. It provided the windows and the furnish- ings for the church. The officers are: President, Mrs. R. L. Welch; secretary. Mrs. G. W. Laidlaw; treasurer, Mrs. Albert Scramling. The Christian Endeavor Society numbers 31 members. These are all active, and are well trained and efficient in their work. By means of a committee, the society has charge of a junior society of 12 members. The officers: President. Miss Elizabeth Lawson; vice- president, Mrs. Wm. Hastings; secretary and treas- urer, Miss Mary Russell. With the aid of these organizations the United Presbyterian Church carries on her work with growing power. Susquehanna Lodge, No. 71, Brotherhood of Loco- motive Firemen, was organized May 8, i88i, with twenty-nine charter members. It has an efficient set of officers and ninety-five members, and is in good condition. Its regular meetings are held in I. O. O. F. Hal! the second and fourth Sundays of each month. / .:^^^9 HHfllkiirtt^ 5 1 1^ ' '^^f^^sSm 1 =^^3 HMir^tilA^ hH^^H H 1 ^H^^KLSH' UK^^-^i*' |€^^^^^| 1 ■l^gp^^^SmRH 1 ^m J 1 ON THE SUSQUEHANNA. 54 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAIv SOUVENIR. J. i:. lloI.IiRKI-X'.E'S STOKK The Firm of Mills, Stone &Co., one of the largest dealers in coal in the Susquehanna valley, consists of Wm. M. Mills, F. W. Stone, S. C. Miller and Wm. M. Mills, Jr. The business was started on Julv r, 1886, by the first two named gentlemen under the name of Mills & Stone. The present copartner- ship was formed on July 8, i8g6. The office and 3'ards are situated at the foot of Broad street, oppo- site the depot, where the firm has ample track facilities for loading their wagons and bins. The anthracite coal handled by this firm is from the D. & H. and the Berwynd-White mines. The prin- cipal soft coal is the Eureka. An important part of Mills, Stone & Co.'s business is butler, made in a large creamery in the town of Franklin. Delaware county, from the product of 300 Jersey cows. This butter, rated as No. i, finds a ready market at to]) figures. At the World's Fair in Chicago it was awarded a certificate for flavor, showing the credit of 97 out of the possible 100 points. Mr. William M. Mills, the senior partner, is a practical butter maker, and he established the dairy business which has grown to the importance we have indicated. On a farm of Soo acres near the village of North Franklin is his home, and there he spends the most of his time devoting personal attention to the creamery. He was born inTyringham, Berkshire county, Mass., Sept. 15, 1828. The following spring his parents located on the Franklin farm, the owner- ship of which has remained with the family. He has served as justice of the peace in that town for sixteen )'ears, and as supervisor two years- On October 24, 1854, he man led Eunice, the daughter of Morton B. Emmons of Davenpor:, Delaware county. Their children are Mrs. F. H. Stone, Mrs. Dr. A. H. Brownell, Mrs. S. C. Miller and Wm. M. Mills, Jr., of Oneonta ; Morton L.Mills,of Oneida, and Mrs. E. A. Scott, of New York. F. H. Stone was born in Scranton, Pa , Oct. I. 1848. He was engaged in shipping milk from Nov. 15, 1869, to June I, 1873. He then took a two years' course \n the Franklin, Delaware county, literary institute, and returned to Scranton iniS75. In 1884 he entered the First National Bank in Oneonta, where he re- mained until he became one of the present firm. Samuel C. Miller was born in Springfield, Mo., June 13, 1S69. For four years he was engaged in the drug business in Washington. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and Oneonta Club. William Mills, Jr., was born in Franklin June 11, 1865. He attended the Franklin literary institute, afterwards entering the employ of Mills & Stone as bookkeeper, where he remained until he became one of the firm. The Board of Health comprises the following: Supervisor Henry Bull, chairman ; D. J. Yager, G. L. Huntington, James B. Galen, B. W. Hoye, A. B. Tobey, O. W. Peck, M. D., health officer, and A. D. Hitchcock, clerk. The members draw pay only for actual service, and the health otficer draws a salarj' fixed by the board. During recent years the board has been very active in abating all forms of public nuisance and whatever proves to be a menace to good health. It ma}^ be said that the average good health of the community is largel}' due to the active and unremitting efforts of the board of health. MIIJ.S, STONK & CO , CO.\L THE ONEONTA HISTORICAIv SOUVENIR. 55 The-Up-to-Date wholesale and retail grocery has in about a year developed into one of tlie largest retail houses in this part of the State. Its business has increased so steadily that it outstrips some of its older competitors. When Conant retired, on Nov. 23, 1895. and the Oneonta Grocery Company took the business and swung out the legend: " The- Up- to Date Grocery, " the people observed that a spirit of progressiveness and hustle was inspiring the new house. The retail trade at once increased to such an extent that it was found necessary to obtain more ployed, until at the present lime the entire force consists of eight people, and four teams are required to deliver the goods. This fall one of the large stores in the new Niles building, on Broad street, was leased and to that place has been assigned the job- bing department. The company handling oil in car load lots, has leased a store-house standing on the switches in the D. & H. yards. Through these additions the Ui'-to-Date has gained ample room and can accommodate all who choose to trade there. Mr. W. F. Eggleston, the manager of this corn- Photo, by Smith. THE UNEUNTA GROCERY room, the company having in the meantime branched into jobbing. The store, located in the Central Hotel building, is one of the largest in town, com- prising a main floor 117x25 and a cellar enclosing a much larger space. The public found that the new concern was buying in jobbing lots and discounting its bills and that its patrons were getting the benefit. The result was that while every inch of room was taken up with strictly groceries, no mixed lines being carried, still larger quarters were needed. Every clerk that could be worked to an advantage was em- CO. AND ITS COURTEOUS STAFF. pany came to Oneonta with experience in the grocery business. He was born in Allegany, Cattarraugus county, Feb. 4, 1871, and at 12 years of age went into the store of B. H. Green, wholesale grocer, where he remained eight years. For five years he was general agent for the Dingman Soap Company, traveling through twenty-three States. In the Up- to-Date whicli he has made popular and widely known outside of Oneonta, there are employed Miss Helena Shields, bookkeeper, arid J. H. Potter, F. J. Campbell, S. B. Elliott, C. H. Walling, C. E. Ken- nedy and E. D Munson. 56 THE ONEONTA HISTORIC AI. SOUVENIR. Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. — "To live is not to live for one's self alone ; let us help one an- other." This was the sentiment that prompted a small number of railroad brakemen in Oneonta, N. Y., some thirteen years ago, to lay the founda- tion of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen ; the object of the organization being to advance their moral and intellectual interests ; to protect their families by a systematic benevolence ; and a desire at all times to bring about a fair understanding be- tween employer and employe. A few brakemen of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company employed at Oneonta, N.Y., met Sept. 23, 1SS3, and organized tially understood when it is known that over $3,460,885 has been paid in claims. They publish the Trainmen's Journal, a monthly magazine of 120 pages, consuming nearly six tons of paper each month, and requiring one hundred and twenty-five (125) U. S. mail sacks to carry them to their destina- tion. Railway managers have come to recognize in the brotherhood a school for the mental, moral and physical development of their men, and as fitting them for the great trust of life and property placed in their keeping. The local lodge consists of ninety members, and not only bears the distinction of being lodge No. I, but also the name of our esteemed Photos, by Smith. the first lodge of railroad brakemen. The order from this small beginning grew so that in the following year they assumed the enormous task of uniting into one order the brakemen of the United States and Canada, thus giving the organization national scope and importance. To-day there are over 500 lodges, with over 30,000 members, scattered all over the United States and Canada. Each member carries at his own option $400, $800 or |i2,ooo, any one, two, or all three amounts, which are payable to the mem- ber on his becoming totally incapacitated for rail- road work, or to his family on his death. The amount of good accomplished by this may be par- THE D. & H. R. R. SHOPS AND Y.\RDS. townsman, Daniel Hopkins, who is also for the L. A. to B. of R. T. The present corps of officers are : Master, F. L. Hathaway ; vice master, J. H. Steffen ; past master, H. S. Brown ; secretary, L. D. Slade ; financier, F. W. Miller ; chaplain, T. M. Earles ; conductor, J. Redmond ; outside guard, A. M. McKenney; inside guard, J. L. Card ; Journal agent, J. Volwider ; warden, J. C. Carr. S. G. Camp, a well-known horseman of this place, owns the largest livery outfit on the Susquehanna road, and the most important boarding and cab sta- bles. He went into the livery business at the latter place in the rear of the Union block seven years ago. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 57 (;H0RGK I. WILBER'S RESIDENCE, FORD AVENUE In March, 1896, he bought the old Sitt's stand on Broad street, adapting that exclusively for the liv- ery business, by enlarging and improving the premises, so that now it is equal in conveniences and in equipment to any livery in the city of Bing- hamton. The Main street stables are used wholly to accommodate boarders and the rigs he used in the public cab line which he established three j'ears ago and which has proven a success. Upon taking possession of the Broad street stables he sold out the old rigs and put in a large number of new and modern vehicles. These included three and four seaters, surreys, barouches, coupes, light and heavy spring and platform wagons, not forgetting to men- tion a four-horse tally-ho which is quite popular for large parties during the summer season and the best outfit of conveyances for funeral purposes. The latter includes two large hearses, one of which cost $1,400, and a white hearse, the coupe for the minister and the three-seater for the bearers. The livery comprises 28 horses, 40 sets of new harness, 40 light and iS heavy wagons, with a large line of sleighs. Mr. Camp is the owner of Maud Adair, who was generally the winner the past year, and two other trotters. Walter L. Brown, State Sena- tor, was elected for the long term of three years, provided under the new Constitution of the State, taking his seat from the Thirty- third Senatorial district, which comprises the counties of Otsego and Herkimer, on Januar)^ i. 1896. Prepared by his legislative experience of five years in the Assembly, he assumed his duties as member of the higher house with the ease and readiness of a tried legislator. The Senator was a working member in its best sense. He was alwa)s found Photo by Smith in his seat during the sessions, getting at his mail long before the house was called to order, and attending to the demands upon his time by his constituents, who had business of some nature calling them to Albany. The Senator is chairman of the miscellaneous corporations committee and a member of finance, and internal affairs of towns and counties. The result of his first winter in the Senate is measured not alone by the bills he introduced but by the efforts he put forth in aid of the party measures, which called forth the most untiring and loyal support of ever}' member of the majority. Although he was faithful to the interests of his party, for which he has spent much time and money in years past, still he preserved that independence of per- sonal action which every faithful legislator recognizes as the basis of a clean and proud record. His success in business nspired him with that confidence which aids any one in maintaining what he believes to be right. At home he is regarded as the promoter and most active supporter of all matters tending to public improvement. He is interested in all local organizations, a contributor to everything that any body of his fellow citizens endorse, and a giver of many private charities. He has been in business there since September i, 1872, when he left a profita- ble clerkship with L. h'ruyn & Son of Albany, where he had been since 1868, the time he left his father's home. He was one of the projectors, and is now the president, of the Central New York Agricultural Societ3\ He has been practically the main stay of that organization, ana it is in a large measure due to his personal means that it has succeeded. Mr. Brown was born in Carlisle, Schoharie county. September 5, 1846, and was educated in the common schools, supplemented with active business life. Since 1878 he has been very active in politics. He served as supervisor for seven years, occupying the has COLBURN BROS. FURNISHING STORE. 58 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. most important places on the committees. In 1888 he was elected to the Assembly, and also served in 1889, '91, '92 and '93. The first four years he repre- sented the Second Otsego district. The last year the county had but one member. The first two )'ears he served on the appropriations committee. Taking a deep interest in all public matters, he en- listed in what w.is at that time the Thirty-third sep- arate company, and served his time of enlistment. He has been a member of the Normal school local board, the fire department, and one of the trustees of the village, of which he has also been president several years. He built up a large hardware, plumb- ing and heating business, and during the past year took in a partner, the firm now being Brown & Ward. Nathaniel Niles Bull was born Feb. 28, 1823, at Broome, Schoharie count}', N- Y. His mother was a daughter of Nathaniel Niles, one of the early settlers of the town of Oneonta, and whose name he bears. His early years were spent on his father's farm, and his early education such as the district schools of the time and place afforded. He has a grateful recol- lection of one of his earl}' schoolmates, Frederic He afterwards went west and taught in the city schools in Oskaloosa, Iowa. In i860 he returned from the west and taught for a time in Burlington, N.J. He was again in Oneonta as teacher, in 1863, 1804 and 1865. He was connected with Lowell's Commercial College in Binghamton for some years, most of the time as principal teacher. In 1870 he was offered, and accepted, the principalship of the Oneonta Union School, which had then been established two j'ears. He held the position as principal until about 1888, when the office of Super- intendent was created. This he was chosen to fill, and held the same until the close of the school year 1895, when he retired. His school work, with some inter- missions, extends from 1838 to 1895. He is now a resident of Oneonta and still maintains an active interest in whatever concerns the prosperity of the village of his adoption, and of the affairs of the day, political and otherwise. The Oneonta Wheel Club was organized in 1893 with about fifty members, George B. Baird being the first president. The following year the club leased grounds for five years, dating from April i, 1894, and built a quarter-mile bicycle track, at a cost of Photo, by Young. JWILRER'S T.AKH, THR SOURCK Stewart, at the time a somewhat elderly man, who owned a small farm and devoted his winters to teaching: he was a born teacher and had a wonder- ful influence over his pupils. From him the subject of this sketch claims to have received the impulse which was the basis of whatever success he may have since achieved, He was afterward a student in the Nine Partners (Friends) boarding school, in Dutchess county, at that time an institution of some note, since removed to Union Springs, Cayuga count)'; and after that, at Delaware Literary Insti- tute, Franklin, N. Y. His first venture in teaching was in the winter of 1838, and 1839, in Schoharie county; the next, as assistant teacher in the Friends' boarding school; after that he taught in district and village schools. He taught at Laurens in 1844, in Oneonta in 1848. In the Spring of 1848 he was agreeably surprised to receive from the office of Public Instruction a State certificate, dated Feb. 7, 1847, and signed by N. S. Benton, Secretary of Slate. This was the more gratefully received from the fact that it had been issued without his solicitation or knowledge, more than a year before it was received. OF ONEON'IW'S W.\THK SfPl'LY. $1,500 for fencing and grading. At the opening of the track Johnson, Bald, Sanger, Tyler and about twenty-five other crack class-B men, in fact, all the prominent riders of the country, were in the races, besides about forty of the local class-A men. During the same year Jenny, of Utica, made the world's one-half mile unpaced record in i minute, 2 seconds, on this track. The track is beautifully situated, a grove of pines on the north-west side shading the grand stand and home stretch. While the track has not developed any phenomenally fast riders, it has been a pleasant place to learn to scorch and to take a spin when the roads are not in good condition, the surface being well drained and hard. It has, no doubt, done much to add to the popu- larit)' of the pleasant and exhilaraiing exercise of bicycle riding. The Bachelors' Club, a well known young men's society, was organized January 28, 1894. The charter members were : Clarence A. MarMinny, Harry J. Baker, John L. Fletcher, George W. Norton, Elmer B. Langdon and Charles J. Beams. The first place of meeting was in the Reynold's block, but as the THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 59 HAYKS ^: BOWDlSll, CU'.AR lACToRV. club increased in number it removed to the G. A. R rooms, and finall}' to the I. O. O. F. Hall, the present place of meeting. This club was formed chiefl}' for the purpose of literar)^ work, and along this line it has become noted. It has also been pop- ular socially, having given many entertainments and receptions to its friends, besides closing two of its seasons with highly successful banquets. The Bachelors' Club has an active membership of twenty-five, and during the three years of its ex- istence has done inuch for its members. In begin- ning this, the fourth season, it is the wish of its many friends that the high standard maintained in the past may be the guide for the future usefulness and popularity of this organization. Hon. Abraham L. Kellogg was born at Treadwell, Delaware county, N. Y., May i. i860, at which place his father and mother, Marvin Douglas and Hannah Kellogg, were residents for more than half a centur}'. On his father's side he is of Puritan an- cestry. His mother was descended from the ancient and well-known Schermerhorn family of Schodack. Rensselaer county, N. Y. Mr. Kellogg was edu- cated in the common schools and at the Delaware Literary Institute at Franklin, N. Y. He began the study of law with the well-known lawyer. L. L. Bundy. at Oneonta, N. Y.. August 26, 1S81, and was admitted to the bar in November, 1S83, at Albany, N.Y., entering at once upon a practice which has been lucrative. His offices in the First National Bank building are among the finest in the county. In 1883 he was elected corporation clerk, and in 1884 was elected clerk of the board of supervisors of Otsego county by acclamation. During the years 1S84-5. he was a clerk in the New York State Senate. He served eight years in the State National Guard and five years in the Oneonta Fire Department. At the present time he belongs to the Veteran Fire- men's Association of Oneonta, is a member of One- onta Lodge, No. 466, F. & A. M., of Oneonta Chap- ter No. 277, R. A. M., and of the Oneonta Club. Mr. Kellogg was one of the active and prominent organizers of the Otsego County Firemen's Associa- tion, and was selected as its first State representative. During the last two years he has been a member of the law committee and participates actively in all that pertains to the welfare of the association. He is also an honorary and life member. In politics, always a Republican, he has done active and zealous work for his party, and has also attended many of its conventions, both county and Slate. At the gene- ral election in 1S93, he was chosen to represent the Twentv-third New York senatorial district in the State constitutional convention which convened in the city of Albany, May 8, 1S94, for the purpose of revising the Constitution of the State. He served in that body on the important committees of State finances and taxation anu taxation and charities and charitable institutions, and took an active part in its debates and proceedings, his speech on sufTrage calling forth much favorable comment. He is fre- quently called upon for orations and addresses, which fact has given him a wide acquaintanceship. Mr. Kellogg is a constant student of history and of public afTairs, and his name has already been men- tioned in connection with other public positions, should he choose to again enter the field of politics. Besides a splendid law library ,he has a large and well-selected private library in which he takes much pride. He was married to Miss May Blakeslee Lewis of Otsego, N. Y., June 21, 1893. They have one child, Lincoln Lewis, born September 23, 1894, and reside on Ford avenue, where he owns a fine residence. Mrs. Olive G. Richmond, wife of one of the pro- prietors of the Windsor, and the owner of that prop- erty, was born in New Lisbon, Otsego county, where her father, Clark Gardner, was for many years a farmer. During the life of her first husband she was actively engaged in hotel management, showing her business capacity and tact by successfully conduct- ing a house in Albany for eight years, by the means of which she acquired much of the properly she now possesses. KLI RO.SE. St. Mary's Church (Roman Catholic), on the corner of Main and Grand streets. This was the first Catholic church built in Oneonta. The cornerstone was laid October 5, 1884. Rev. James H. Maney was its first pastor. This is a prosperous church, and has a membership of 500 communicants. The present pastor is Rev. D. E. Murphy, and the trus- teees Jeremiah Whaleyand Charles Morrison. 6o THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. CHARI^ES SMITH. THOMAS DOYLE. Doyle & Smith are among the largest cigar manu- facturers in the State. The firm was organized March 2, 1885. Some idea of the amount of busi- ness transacted by this firm is obtained from the fact that its output is six millions of cigars a year, and that during the most ordinary season it employs at least' one hundred and twenty-five people. Through this single channel the monej' that is placed in circulation in this town is of great import- ance. The trade is extended over a large scope of country. The members of the firm are public spirited, and have shown in many ways practical earnestness in their devotion to the welfare of the town. They have constructed a large, substantial and imposing factory building on Broad street and a handsome brick business block on Main street. Their homes are large, pretty residences. They be- gan business in the second story of the E. R. Ford block. Two years later their business had out- grown its modest quarters and they leased four floors in the Westcott block. In 1889, finding that trade was still crowding them for more room, they built their pres- ent factory. It comprises four floors and a basement, with a width of twenty-five feet and a depth of sevent)'^ feet. The base- ment is used for the storage of leaf tobacco. On the first floor are commodious offices and a large shipping room. The three upper floors were devoted to manufacturing, but finding that amount of room inadequate, three years ago they had erected au additional three-story building 40 X70, on Mechanic street. Uniting the two buildings vvith,a connect- ing way in the rear, they have one large factory with six floors, constructed with the special purpose for which it is used and aflbrding conve- niences not excelled b}' any factory in the State. This firm advertises very largely, and its goods wherever introduced are recognized as leaders, notably the " Headlight " and the "Main Line," which have a wide reputation. They have lately in- troduced a new brand which bids fair to become just as popular, the " On Top. ' Thomas Doyle was born in Norwich, October 11, 1855, and removed to Oneonta in September, 1S75, he is a practical cigar maker, having had charge of large shops up to the time of the organization of the firm. He is a member of the Oneouta Club, and of the Veteran Firemen's Association, and was one of the organizers of the Lewis Hose Company. He married Sarah A. Naughton, of Norwich, on April 24, I875. Charles Smith was born in Albany, i'ugust 6, 1S55, and moved to Oneonta in October, 1872, where he was employed in the car shops. Two years later he started the retail tobacco business which he conducted until the for- mation of the present firm. He married Miss Charlotte T., the daughter of Wm. D. Bissell. of Oneonta, on June 7, 1879. He is the Master of the Oneonta Lodge, No. 466, F. & A. M.. and a member of the Oneonta Chapter and the Malta C'ommanilery; also, a member of the Little Falls Lodge of Elks, the Centennial Lodge I. O. O. F., and is one of the board of Governors of the Oneonta Club. He was one of the organizers and was an active member of the Lewis Hose Company for fourteen years; also, one of the board of trustees of the Oneonta Hospital. The Rev. John Evans Bold, the present rector of St. James' church, was born in Beaufort, South Carolina in ante-bellum times. Having moved to Charleston a short time before the close of the war, he was prepared for college in that city at " The Holy Communion Church Institute," now known as the " Porter Academy." Here he took the gold medal, the highest prize for general scholarship in the classical department for three successive years ; and, as a member of the vested choir, and a lay reader, was the rector's assistant in rendering the ser- vices of the church. In 1874 he entered Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., and was graduated in the class of "78. At Union Mr. Bold organized the '■ Union College musical association," and was its THOMAS DOYLE'S RESIDENCE. CHARLES SMITHS RESIDENCE. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 6i director until his graduation. He also gave much time to military tactics, and athletics, was a member of tlie University boat crew, and captain of company A. of the college cadets. In Sept. "79 he entered the General Theological Seminary, New York city, and was graduated in the class of "82. During these three years he had the advantage of working in Old Trinity Church, as a teacher in the Sunday school, a member of the choir, and a visitor among the west side poor. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Doane in all Saint's Cathedral, Albany, June ist, '82, and was advanced to the priesthood by the same bishop, in the Church of the Cross, Ticonderoga, N. Y., May 18. 1SS3. On Sunday. July 2d, '82, .he became rector of the Church of the Cross, Ticonderoga, where by his untiring efforts a new and beautiful church was built to take the place of one destroyed by fire, and new life was infuseri into every de]:)art- were left in Johnstown as an indication of some of the activities of a three years' rectorship. At One- onta Mr Bold found an enthusiastic and growing parish which attested its zeal by proceeding at once with the building of the rectory, and again, the next year, by the purchase of a suitable pipe organ to complete the equipment of the church, and to-day the indications of this continued prosperity are evi- dent in the well-filled church, the faithfulness of communicants, and the readiness of parishioners, generally, to lend a hand in every good work. Laurens & Rowe, jobbers and wholesalers of crockery and notions, succeeds the firm of C. K. Lauren & Son. to the business which was estab- lished by C. K. Lauren in 1S56. The members of the present firm are C. K. Lauren, B. C. Lauren and H. S. Rowe. The change in the firm dates January I, 1887. For ten years the business was the retail DOYLE & SMITH'S CIGAR F.\CTORY, BROAD AND MECHANIC STS. ment of church work. In the early part of '87 he accepted a call to be as'^istant in St. James' Church, Buffalo, N. Y., and in August of the same year was elected to the rectorship of that parish on the resignation of the Rev. Chas. H. Smith. In Septem- ber '89, being asked by the Bishop of Pittsburg to take charge of the re-establishment of the Episcopal Church work at Johnstown, Penn., Mr, Bold deci- ded, after serious deliberation, to undertake the try- ing task, and entered upon his duties there Novem- ber 1st, 1889. Besides the regular work of caring for the spiritual and bodil}' needs of an afflicted and scattered people, there was the grading of lots, and the erection of buildings to look after, and when on November 1st, '92, a call to St. James', Oneonta, was accepted, two churches and a rectory, represent- ing the expenditure of over^fifty thousand dollars, of groceries, crockery, lamps, vases and all styles of plain and fancy earthen and china ware. With the addition of Mr. Rowe, who resigns a profitable clerkship in M. Gurney & Sons to enter the firm, the scope of its retail trade will not onl)' be consid- erably enlarged, but its wholesale business in crockery and notions will become one of the most important in this section of the State. Mr. C. K. Lauren was born in Roxbury, Delaware county, N. Y.. June 8, 1837. Nine years ago he came to One- onta and bought out Fletcher & Murdock. He married Martha Fletcher, of Oneonta, April 28, 1892. B. C. Lauren was born in Kortright, Dela- ware county, June 8, 1869. For two years he was a clerk with Ford & Rowe. He married Grace Rowe October 3, 1894. H. Spencer Rowe was with M. Gurney & Sons four years. In 1894 he was gradu- ated from the Oneonta Normal school. Mr. Rowe will do most of the selling for the house on the road. 62 THE OMRONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. "Grip's" Valley Gazette Vol. IV, No. 12. "Grip,' Albany, N. Y., Dec, iSg6. 12 Nos. Si. Publisher, Office 403 Clintou Ave. Copyrighted, 1896, by "Grip." A [Monthly Gazette of social Events and .\fFairs in Gen- eral in the Empire State. Biographical and Historical l>lonthly, the only magazine of this nature in print. Sketches and Portraits of the tread- ing Characters in Daily lAfe. A valuable publication for reference. A Local Hotel Record and Guide with more than two hundred of the Best Hotels on the list. Publisher and Designer of Mementos, Souvenirs, Favors. Menus; Designs for Advertising Purposes for all kinds of Business; Summer Resort and Hotel Stationery of New and Unique Designs; Everything in plate and paper that is new and rich, and where beauty is not sacrificed for economy. Rev. N. M. Hall's article on Oneonta on page 28 is a briefly, pithy summary of what Oneonta is to-day. Thk History of the fire department on page 45 represents more wearisome search of statistics than one would suppose. It is the first compilation of important facts. Thic Ndrmal School sketch is a valuable sum- marization of the beginning and the growth of that important institution. It is especially valuable as presenting historical data never before compiled in. print. The Photos from which the portraits in this Soi'- VENIR are made are the work of Messrs. Young, Van Woert and Curtis. The former made most of the negatives for the group of the Third Separate Com- pany, and Curtis made the rest. Mr. Van Woert assumed no small task in photographing the firemen for the two large groups shown elsewhere. It is to the patience, skill and experience of the photogra- phers of Oneonta that the excellent results of some of the best features of this work are due, and in years to come the pages of the Souvenir oe Oneont.v will bear witness to their enterprise and ability in a monument more durable and attractive than were the summary of their virtues graven in stone. The Splendid Views of town and country, build- ings and stores shown in these pages are the work of an artist, a young man who, while attending the Normal school, divides his ;afternoon and evening hours for study and for photographing views by which he may acquire means to obtain an education. Howarrl N. Smith, a sketch of whom appears in another column, is, at the age of twenty-seven years, a master of the profession he has chosen. That is to say, he possesses that natural ability which is rare, lacking only the experience which many older view photographers have acquired without possess- ing the accomplishment. Many of the views were made in unfavorable weather, and we defy any artist to compare results under the same conditions. The negatives represent many hours of patient and per- sistent labor, and as a collection of local views they are worth a good many dollars to any one who is especially intexested in the town. The Masterpiece is the bird's-eye view taken from the hill above Clin- ton street. This was a difficult undertaking and 3 pronounced success. Four plates were exposed to take in an extent visible to the eye of about five miles. The prints were joined to complete the single view. Most bird's-eye views are made in drawings. This shows the town very clearly as it is to-da3^ Mr. Smith should realize a large sale of these prints. In conclusion we desire to acknowl- edge ourselves greatly indebted to him. Howard Nathan Smith was born January iS, 1873. in Middlefield, Otsego county, N. Y. He was grad. uated from the Cobleskill High school, class of '93. at which time he received the Reed Hogan gold medal for the best oration, (^ame to Oneonta in July of same year and entered the emplo}' of R. P. Young, remaining with him three years. In July. 1896, started in the viewing branch of photography, which he carries on while pursuing studies in the Normal. Has been superintendent of First Baptist Sunday school for two years; president of Town S. S. Association; one of the assistant editors of the Oneo)ita)i\ one of the instructors in Y. M. C. A. evening classes, and is much interested in the Y. '> . C. A. work. Has a complete e([uipnient for making views of every description. H. B. Gildersleeve, druggist in the Ford & Ford building. No. 145 Main street, carries a very large line of drugs — equal to that of many stores in more pretentious towns. Having ample room for the dis- play' of goods he presents to the public an attractive store, showing very good taste in the interior arrange- ments. It is complete in every line he handles, and does him and hisassistantsgreat credit. Everything is modern and new in style. He has a large stock of toilet articles, domestic and imported perfumes, and numerous other things usually sold b}' large retail druggists. The store is high and spacious and handsomely finished. In 'he rear is a department for the manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations, which is an important part of his business. He has a large and cosy private olTice. This is a popular place for hot and cold beverages, which has become an indispc-iisiiMe .■iniu-\ to the drug business. The OTSEGO COUNTY SCENERY. summer drinks are drawn from a very pretty onyx fountain, having a superstructure with beveled mir- rors framed in white and gold. The hot draughts come from a tile fountain which is a beauty, some- thing entirely new. Mr. Gildersleeve was for seven years with E. R. Ford. He started in business for himself at No. 146 Main street, on November 23, 1895, and moved into his present quarters on April I, 1896. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 63 ONEOXTA KXlTTINtV MILL- The Oneonta Knitting Mill is located at 82 West Broadwaj', occupying one-half acre of land between that street and the D. & H. R. R. This important industry produces ladies', men's and misses' hosiery in plain and fancy assortments, fast black and leather shades being at present the prevailing fashion. The mills do not spin any yarn, but knit and dye all their production. The business was started in October, 1881, in Kensington, the great manufactur- ing district of Philadelphia, by Messrs. Scatchard & Eddishaw, trading as E. E. Scatchard & Co. In March. rSSg, their business was moved to Oneonta, Mr. J. F. Burton becoming associated with them at this time. In July, 1891, Mr. .Scatchard, the present proprietor, bought out the interests of Messrs. Eddishaw tS: Burton, and continued the business alone, Mr. Burton remaining with the mills as salesman, Mr. Thomas Osborn, the pres- ent eflicient superintendent, taking charL'e of the mills at this time. The business increased until in 1892 it produced over eighty thousand dozen pair of hosiery, employing between eighty and one hundred operatives. Mr. Scatchard is a grandson of Joseph Scatchard, who emigrated from Yorkshire, England, in 1842, and in 1850 began the manufacture of woolen yarn in the vicinity of Philadelphia. The business is still continued by the father and two uncles of Mr. E. E. Scatchard, and is probably the largest concern in the coiintrv which is to-da}' spinning woolen yarn for the trade. Mr. Scatchard was born in East Coventry, Chester county, Penns3'lvania, on May 27. 1S61. In 1883 he married Miss Fannie L. Harmer of Germantown. He is a member of the following ilasonic lodges : Oneonta Lodge and Chapter, Philadelphia Commandery, Lulu Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., and Albany Consistory. He is a past high priest of Ciermantown Chapter, Penn s\'lvania, and a past chancellor of Banner Lodge. K. of P. On October I3lh. i8q6. Mrs. Scatchard was granted a patent for an entireh- new article of clothing. A sleeping sack for infants and small children. This article is designed to prevent children from kicking off the bed covering at night, a thing which every mother of a child from three months to seven 3'ears old will readily appreciate. This consists of a bag made with a flap continuing from the back part of the bag, with an opening for the neck of the infant, and the flap being drawn over, leaves room for the arms to protude through the sides. The article had been in use for several years prior to taking out the patent, and it fully answers the purposes for which it is intended. All phys- icians who have seen it pronounced it to be useful, convenient and healthy. And any person, after having used one, will be surprised: that such a simple and convenient article has not been in common use before this time. The sack is made with cotton batting inside, quilted or mattressed, and reall)' makes a desirable bed cov- ering for the child which kicks off ordinary bed clothing. The cut* shows the sack with the flap up, and also one enclosing a child. It is the intention of Mr. Scatchard to manufacture these sacks in con- junction with his other business at the knitting mills. Beside going to the trade, he will probably employ- several lady agents to canvass. Any orders senti direct to the miUs will receive prompt attention. * See cut on another page. ON THE OULEOUT. 64 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. M. Gurney & Sons succeeded lo the large and prosperous business in dr)' goods, cloaks, carpets and draperies, which was established in 1873 by the late Milton Gurney and A. B. Tobey. In 1882. Everett J., the oldest son of Mr. Gurney was ad- mitted to a partnership in the business, and the firm was then known as Tobey &: Gurney. In Au- gust, 1S94, Louis C, the second son, also became a partner, and Mr. Tobey retired. THH 1). cV H. R. R. STATION. Monday, July 6, 1S96, Mr. Milton Gurney died of heart disease at his home on Main street, closing a prosperous and honorable business career of forty years in this county. Inspired with the conscien- tious convictions which guided their lamented father in a thoughtful, intelligent and strictly scrupulous course of dealings, the sons assumed the entire pro- prietorship of the business which they are now con- ducting, and which they have, since their father's death, greatly enlarged — a business which stands upon the same broad basis upon which it has rested for nearly a quarter of a century. The store, located at No. 161 Main street, is the largest in the county, having a floor space of a quar- ter of an acre. It comprises the general goods de- partment occupyina the main floor and basement, the cloak, curtain and drapery annex on two floors, and the carpet and rug floor occupying the , — __ entire second story. The third floor is used as | a stock room and for making up carpets. The store is fitted with the cash carrier system, and is throughout modern in every respect. The rooms are higli and well lighted, and the ar- rangement of goods afTord the shopper tlie best facilities for selecting whatever may be desired. The stock includes all that is found in the best regulated stores in many larger towns The secret of the increasing popu- larity of M. Gurney & Sons is in the good taste and calculation shown, and the ample capital commanded bv the buyer, reinforced with skill and good judgment, and the court- eous attention shown customers on the part of the clerks. Every step taken along the in- terior of the store presents a display of the freshest and most attractive lines of the newest goods. It was not many years ago that a store embracing such a line of goods would have been deemed impracticable, if not a losing venture in a town so far inland as that of Oneonta. Mr. Everett J. Gurney was born in Laurens, September 2, 1858, and obtained experience in the business as a clerk for his father. He is a member of the Oneonta lodge and chapter of Masons, and first vice-president in the Oneonta Club. Mr. Lewis C. Gurne}' was born in Laurens, December 5, 1864. He is well advanced in the order of masonry, and is a member of the Oneonta Club. J. E. Holdredge, the merchant tailor who has built up a profitable trade which is now conducted at No. 236 Main street, the Herald Block, began business in 1880, in the McCrum Block, where the Butterfield store is now located. Nine years later he bought the business in his present store, which afforded him more commodious quarters, enabling hull to carry a more extensive line of goods, and to cater to the best trade in this section. His custom work is of the very best, and has grown to such pro- portions as to require the work of from twelve to fourteen hands during the busy season, turning out the finest line of work. Dealing fairly and squarely with all, he has secured the confidence and the pa- tronage of the most desirable class of customers. Mr. Holdredge is a practical cutter and tailor, whose experience dates from 1869, when he first engaged with H. |. Ordway, at Unadilla Forks, as an ap- prentice. He was born in Burlington. Otsego County, July 6, 1848. He followed the trade he had chosen in the east until 1873, working for James Brand in Utica, and for a time in Morris, this county. For a year and a half he was located in Macomb, 111., returning east in the fall of 1875, and entering the employ of Smith 6L Williams, in the old Collins Block, which then stood on a part of the present site of the Central Hotel building. Three years afterwards they went out of business, and he then entered the employ of Cohn, where he remained until the time he started in business for himself. He is well advanced in the Masonic fraternity, being a member of the Blue Lodge, the Oneonta Chapter, and the Malta Commandery of Binghamton. He is an active member of the Oneonta Club. In 1889 he married Ella, the daughter of Homer Wallace, of Burlington, Otsego County. i S. G. CAMP'S LIVERY STABLE. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 65 Photo, by Smith. TOWNSEND BROS.. HARDWARE. Ford & Rowe, the leading wholesalers and job- bers in flour, feed, seeds and provisions, began business in the Wilber block, Main street, in 1887. This increased until their requirements demanded larger quarters and all of the facilities for handling goods in carload lots. In 1894 they constructed the large store and elevator on Mechanic street. It is a four story and basement structure of brick, with platforms for loading and unload- ing teams, and with an elevator approached from the rear b}' a private track switching to and from the D. & H. tracks. The area of each floor is 30 x 100 feet. The facilities are of the best for handling goods in large or small lots. The business of this firm is spread over the counties of Otsego, Delaware, Chenango and Schoharie, and requires the services of two traveling men for taking orders. The firm handles the products of several large western flouring mills, having the exclusive sale of " Pillsbury's Best " and "Columbia," also including the product of several large winter wheat mills. A great deal of its trade is in the shipment of full cars direct from the mills to its customers. The specialty of this house is corn, oats and wheat feed, bran and middlings and all kinds of corn goods, including gluten feeds, homin}^ meal, cotton- seed meal direct from Southern cotton mills. The trade is also very largely in choice grades of family lard, all grades of pork, sugar-cured hams, etc. They are large dealers in cheese. State full cream, and the}' contract the entire products of large factories. M. H. Riddell, proprietor of the Oneonta steam laundry, situated on Mechanic street, assumed control last March, and during the short space of time ensuing has built up a large and extended business. This was the first laundry in Oneonta. It was established in 1882 in a building opposite the present site. At that timeit wasanindustry which cameoppor- tunely for a growing town. Being appreciated, it was well patronized. But it remained for the present proprietor to infuse an active, progressive busi- ness spirit, and during the last few months, under Ills well directed efl'orts, it has grown in importance, :Hid has obtained a well- earned reputation second 10 no other laundry in this part of the state. During I he past year it has been titled with an entirel)' new set of modern machinery, such, for instance, as a boiler and engine, hy- draulic washer, stationary tuhs, centrifugal wringer, steam starcher, pressers and shapers, and all the latest and best improve- ments. There are ironers for four different styles of work, so that no matter how fine the fabric or how delicate the color, the best results are obtained It is really interesting to ob- iii doing up the goods serve in this laundry the peculiarly perfect machinery that is used for the best class of work. Some idea of the importance of the business may be obtained from thefact that its present capacity is far in excess of $150 worth of work per week. By strict attention to busi- ness and the most scrupulous regard for the interests of his customers, the proprietor has reached out into a large field of patronage, comprising not only a large village trade, but the very best in the largest towns in this and adjacent counties notably Scho- harie, Delaware and Chenango. The laundry is located in a large brick building but a few doors from Broad street, near the centre of the village. The class of work is of the very best, experienced workmen being employed. Mr. Riddell was born at Elk Creek, Otsego County, September 11, 1867. He was in the employ of Ford & Ruwe for a year and a half, coming to Oneonta from Davenport. For four years and four DR. GEO. F. ENTLER'S RESIDENCE. H. C. SMITH'S RESIDENCE. ■66 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. BROWN & WARD'S HARDWARE STORE. months he was engaged in the laundn' business in Sedalia, Mo. He is a tj^pe of the hustling j'oung business man, who is doing much towards forwarding the interests of the village. Edgar Dunning Van Cleft, M. D., elected coroner January i, iSg6, the son of the Rev. Asa Jessup Van Cleft, the distinguished Methodist divine, was born in Wyoming, Pa., December 31, iS6q. He was edu- cated at the Cazenovia Seminary and at the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania, from which institution he was graduated June 30, 1S94. He also had an experience in hospital practice for about a year, and about three years ago located at Oneonta. On his mother's side he is descended from the well-known financier and coal operator, John Wood, of Wilkesbarre, who is probably the largest property owner and banker in that part of the State. Dr. Van Cleft is a member of the Oneonta lodge, F. and A. M., and of the County Medical Society and the Oneonta club. Oneonta Typographical Union, No. 135, chartered November 14, 1894, with the following members: R.F.Allen, F. A. Bissell. J. D. VanDycke, C. S. Hitchcock, M. R. Barnes, Wm. J. Mason. A. G. Weed, Wm. H Howard, C. A Burnett. R.P.Hill, G. A. Smith, F. M. Baldwin, E. R . Colegrove, A. D. Hitchcock, F. A. Jennings, A. C. Reynolds. Present Officers : President, — Wm. T- Mason ; vice-president, F. A. Jennings ; secording recre- tary, Wm. H. Howard ; financial and correspond- ing secretary, A. G. Weed ; treasurer, F. A. Bissell; Meets second Saturday in each month at Lewis hose parlors. Tillinghast & Son bought the business in music and musical instruments, which had been for years successfuU}' conducted under the name of Shearer, and took possession Januar}' i, i8g6. This is a large store located at No. 259 Main street, comprising two large floors for ware and display rooms. Here are shown an unusually large number of musical instru- ments of all kinds, the stock comprising the best grades and the most popular manufacturers. The display of pianos and organs compares favorably with many well-known music stores that are situated to draw much larger trade. It includes the Stultz & Bauer, which the firm has made a leader in pianos, the Mason & Hamlin, Behr Bros., and the Decker. The organs largely handled by this firm comprise the M. & H., Farrand & Votey, Wilcox «S: White, Car- penter and the Needham. The firm deals largely in violins, harps and all kinds of new and improved small instruments. Mr. George S. Tillinghast and his son came from Morrisville, Madison county, where the former was for many j'cars prominent in business and political circles. Three times he was elected count}' treasurer, which position he resigned, after serving eight years, to com.e to Oneonta. At 19. years of age he was errgaged in the boot and shoe business, and during 20 years in the tanning busi- ness; he was also engaged in the brokerage of west- ern loans. He married Attie A. Barrow, of West Eaton, Madison county, December 28, 1859. Charles C. Ingalls, contractor in cutting and sup- plying stone for all kinds of work, occupies a large yard near the depot, with 400 feet track front, where he has all the facilities for dressing and shipping. He has furnished the stone for man)' of the largest buildings in this section, including the business blocks on Main street, Oneonta, and the Univer- salist Church, several buildings in Sidney, the Opera House at Hamilton, the school at Earlville, the Worcester school-house, and the bank at Schene- vus, and buildings at Walton and other places ; also Mrs. Clark's fine residence at Cooperstown. He controls the large brown-stone quarries at Kortright, Delaware county, also building stone and flag quar- ries at Oneonta, and a flag quarry near Davenport, Delaware county. He contracts for mason work of all kinds; having done all the corporation work for the past six or seven years. He draws large quanti- ties of lime, sand, blue and brown stone, from Massachusetts, Ohio and Wisconsin. Mr. Ingalls was born in Oneonta April 11, 1866. He began stone cutting at Howe's Cave, Schoharie county, at 14 years of age. Five years later he worked ai Gloversville, and two years afterward went to Sj'ra- cuse. He started in business in Oneonta in t88S. He married Mary Wolford, Howe's Cave, August 21, 1SS9. He is a member of all the fraternal or- ganizations. THE CHILD AND THE) SLEEPING .SACK. (See page 63.) THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 67 Photo, bv Smith. W. L. l!Ki IWN KH.SIDENCE. Dr. George W. Thomas. —The oldest practicing dentist in Oneonta to-day is Dr. George W. Thomas, who has recently opened new dental parlors on the second floor of the McCrum block, at No. 192 Main street, over Henry Saunders' book store. Dr. Thomas experience covers a period of twenty-five years, and in the use of local anesthetics he is skilled and relia- ble. The doctor is widely known through this and adjacent counties. He has practiced in all forms of dentistr}' in the several towns along the Susquehanna railroad. His present offices are fitted with all modern improvements for repairing and preserving or re- placing teeth. His parlors are conveniently located and comfortably arranged. His experience recom- mends him to the public where he has so long and faithfully practiced. He was born in Unadilla, Julj' 4, 1S50. In 1S75 he began the stud}' and practice of dentistry with Lemon Thomas in that town. Four years later he was with B\'ron Peters, and they pursued the practice quite common then of visiting adjacent towns. For ten years succeeding 1880. he was with Dr. Morgan, and afterwards with Dr. Huntington, in the Yagel block. Dr. Thomas mar- ried Fanny Fleming of Sidney Plains, in 1869. His work consists of all branches of his profession, including the most difficult as well as others; his prices are moder- ate and results are guaran- teed. C. H. Borst, the grocer, at No. 246 Main street, has one of the best stores in town, and in a few years has built up a large trade in all branches of the grocery business. He carries a large line of fine imported and fancy groceries. He employs three men and two delivery wagons. He was born in Cooperstown, June II. 1863, and attended school photo. by Smith. at Albany_and Cobleskill. He entered the store of his father in the latter place as clerk in 1878, and remained there until 1893. when he came to Oneonta and established the present business. It has proven a successful venture be- cause he deals honorably with all and furnishes only the best goods. In 18S8 he married Laura B., the daughter of Martin Schaeffer, of Schoharie. The business is altogether a family trade, which includes the most desirable class of customers. Mr. Korst is a member of the Oneonta club. H. P. Tompkins, a practical jeweler, with inore than 16 year's experience, displays as fine a line of goods as any dealer in that branch of trade in this section. His place of business in the Wilber Block is furnished with the best, high-grade productions of popular man- ufacturers, including plated and solid silver ware, cut glass articles, both useful and orna- mental, watches and clocks, decorated china, etc. Tompkins makes a specialty of optical work. Mr. He is a leading optician and is able to fit the eyes, and guarantees, to overcome any defect that it is possible to remedy with the use of glasses. He is also a practical workman in all kinds of engraving on metal. At seventeen years of age he began a course of instruction and practical work under his brother in Hamilton, Madison county, wliere he was born January 20, 1863. Altogether he devoted eight years in learning the business. He came to Oneonta in January, i8go. He married Genevieve Wilcox, of Hamilton, in 1889. Is a member of the Masonic order. A. E. Gardner, who has handled many valuable horses, last year secured the famous trotter, " Big Ben.'" This is one of the largest trotting horses in this country, He stands seventeen hands and an inch, weighs 1,300, has a record of '27, and can beat 2:20. He is gentle and kind and inakes a fine car- riage horse. H. B. GILDERSLEEVE S DRUG STORE. 68 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. Thomas E. Marsh, corner Main and Chestnut streets, who came here ten years ago and now has one of the leading drug stores in Oneonta, has with his 25 years' experience, and ably assisted by Ralph McCune and Worden Lasher, made it a popular store. The stock is bought with great care and plenty of cash, as a consequence quality and prices are guaranteed. J. K. HOLORIDGE. Hayes & Bowdish, a large firm of cigar manu- facturers, occupies a spacious building on Chestnut street. This firm consists of James Hayes and C. H. Bowdish, both enterprising and successful business men. Mr. Hayes has personal charge of the manufacturing and Mr. Bowdish the office work and the marketing of the goods. The productions of this firm are very large, it emplojdng two travel- ing men and finding a steady demand for its goods in four States. Some idea of the extent of their business is shown in the fact that there has been sold eight millions of one brand of cigars, the Rambler, a leading five-cent article. The sale of another leader, " Two Sisters, " a ten-cent cigar, is very large. About twice a year they put out entirely new brands. Mr. James Hayes has worked at the business for 20 years. He was born in Norwich, Nov. 19, i86r, and came to Oneonta in 1880. Ten years ago he estab- lished the business with a partner, under the firm name of Ha3'es & Potter, succeeding the latter in 1890. The present firm was organized June i, 1892. He married Caroline Ciesielski, Feb. 9, 1893. Mr. C. H. Bowdish was born in Charlestown, Mont- gomery count)'. May 21, 1864. He came to Oneonta in 1884 and was a bookkeeper and teller in the Wilber bank until he entered the present firm. He marricil Catherine M. Whyte, Sept. 26, 1884. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, and Chapter, and the Commandery of Bing- hamton. Photo, by Smith. Hon. David Wilber was one of the leading busi- ness and public-spirited men of Otsego county. His death, April i, 1890, was the cause of general public regret. Asa business man he achieved remarkable success. After accumulating a fortune he turned his attention to public affairs and felt the deepest interest in the advancement of Oneonta. He gave to the use of the public a pleasant, shady plot of picturesque woodland, in which was placed a small collection of animals; and associated with his son, D. F. Wilber, established a street car line which, in those days, in a town the size of Oneonta, was finan- cially a daring venture. The present Wilber Na- tional bank was established and largel}' built up to its present large and substantial position among financial institutions by him. He started at the bot- tom of tlie ladder and achieved remarkable success. The town observed the daj' of his burial in a manner which attested the affection in which he was gene- rally held. In the earl)' years of his life he was a modest farmer and country banker. In all his busi- ness dealings he was the soul of honor. In political matters he served his district earnestly and effect- ively in four congresses, was delegate of his party to two national conventions, served once as presi- dential elector, was for some time State railroad commissioner, and was a director of the Albany and Susquehanna railroad, being one of its chief sup- porters and builders. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Belinda Jones, was born in Connecti- cut, of a prominent family, her ancestors coming from England. Oneonta Council, No. 4, Order of United Friends, was organized March 17th, 1883- The officers *'or year 1896 are : Chief councilor, Henry Bull ; vice councilor, O. W. Peck ; recorder, Wm. White ; financier, A. A. Whitcomb ; treasurer, E. H. Scramling. It meets the second and fourth Mon- days of each month in Odd Fellows' Hall, Wilber Block. C. H. BORST'S GROCERY. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 69 HAS. C.ARDXKR. A. H. CKPEKLEY. h. I-. GARDNER. Occupying a Prominent Place among the business interests of Oneonta, is tliat of Ceperle}^ & Gardner's Steam Laundr}', known far and near as the leading laundry of this section of central New York. This business was started b}' two of the present proprietors, A. E. Ceperley and Chas. Gardner, in 1S87, in a low wooden building, at the foot of Ford avenue. In i8q2 the business, having outgrown its limited quar- ters, was moved to the new brick block then just erected at 300 Main street. Two floors were occu- pied, giving several times the space formerly occu- pied. Additions were made to machinerj' and fix- tures, boiler and engine added, making a complete plant in every respect. In 1894 L. L. Gardner, who was employed as collector and had become familiar with this part of the business, was admitted to partnership, taking the entire supervision of the outside work of the firm, collecting, delivering, etc. Each member of the firm has constantl)' given his time and attention to the business, and being practical men, and keeping fully abreast of the times, they have succeeded in building up a large and flourishing- business. Each yearnew ma- chinery of the latest improved construction is added, and everything kept in the best possible shape for the turn- ing out of the fine class of laundry work for which they are noted. The firm early commenced doing work for surrounding towns, by estab- lishing agencies for handling the same, and their reputa- photo, by Smith. tion has so extended that thej' now have many flourishing agencies, and even in a number of places where steam laundries are in operation. A large force of experienced help is employed, and everything is done systematically and in the most careful manner. Thousands of pieces are laundried each week, with rarely the occurrence of a single mistake. Of the individual members of the firm, the senior member, A. E. Ceperley, came to the village in 1885, having previously been engaged in farming and teaching. Was engaged for a short time in the mercantile business, disposing of this, soon thereafter started the present laundry business. Mr. Ceperley has been quite prominently identified with church and kindred organizations, having served several years as Sunday School Superintend-- ent. Church Treasurer and President of the Y. M . C. A. In this line of work he has also been President of County and Town Sunday School Associations. Is a member of the Oneonta Club, Improved Order of Red Men, and other social organizations. During the past season Mr. Ceperle3'has erected for himself a fine residence at 63 Maple street, a cut of which is shown on another page. Charles Gardner came to Oneonta from Gilberts- ville in 1885, engaging at once in the only steam laundry in town at that time, that he might thor- oughly acquaint himself with the business before embarking in it for himself. Staying for more than a 3'ear, and until he had mastered the details of the business, he resigned his position, and soon with Mr. Ceperley started their present business. Mr. Gardner built for himself a commodious residence at Gardner Place, where he still resides. He is a member of the Masonic Order and the Oneonta Club. The junior member of the firm, L. L. Gardner, when a boy resided in Gilbertsville. His first work being in the mercantile line, which was followed for three years, and until he accepted a position in the Wilber National Bank, and removed to Oneonta. After three years' service in the bank he resigned his position to enter the laundry business in which he has gained the reputation of being a hustler. He is a member of the D. F. Wilber Hook & Ladder Co., Masonic Order and Oneonta Club. CEPERLEY & C.^RDXERS' LAUNDRY. 70 THE ONEONTA HLSTORICAL SOUVENIR. i I. S. DATLRV. C. S. WRICIIT. The Oneonta Young Men's Christian Association was organized in 1877, and the following gentlemen have seived in tlie capacity as presidents and general secretaries since that date : Presidents — O. C. Pratt, four years ; A. C. Hol- iey, five years; S. C. Niles, two rears; N. H. Briggs, elected three terms and served one year each term ; W. H. Bush, one year : A. H. Brownell, one year; A. E. Ceperley, two years: Albert Morris, one year. General Secretaries — M. H. C. Grant, one year ; H. L. Bundy, one year ; Theo. F Judd, two years ; W. H. Bush', three years; C. C. Swift, six years; Dana Conkiing, two years ; A. E. Merritt, four years. To any thoughtful person it is not necessary to mention facts or figures to show the importance of the Young Men's Christian Association in Oneonta ; its influence demonstrates its value. We wish to call the reader's attention to a few of the most im- portatu features of the work in Oneonta during the past four years. The following statistics will partially show what has been done, also some of the many wavs wherein the association is helping young men. For want of records we can only produce _^ statistics showing some of the results since the close of the year 1892, and during this period of lime the approximated at- tendance at the room has been 89,730 ; sit- uations secured for 32, and otherwise as- sisted 519 _voung men, besides 536 visits to the sick and injured ; 115 men's Gospel meetings held, with a total attendance of 15.192 ; number of members secured, 693. The annual expense of the association for 1895 was $21,136.51. This amount is raised largely through subscriptions ; the Delaware and Hudson Canal Com- pany's annual appropriation of $600, be- sides coal for fuel amounting to about $175. The remainder is secured by local subscriptions and membership dues The Oneonta Union Agricultural Associa- tion is an incorporated organization for the purpose to give the people of Central Ne\y York an annual exhibition, in which there shall be that honest and healthful rivalry that promotes agriculture and other occupa- tions. This society has become famed for the first- class manner in which it conducts the annual fairs, and is now regarded as among those which are the most largely attended. The view we give on an- other page is from a photograph taken on a day when 20,000 people were present. Its success is primarily due to the public spirit and broad gauged ideas shown in its conduct. It is fair, however, to say — and we do so at the suggestion of some of its leading officers — that the lion's share of credit is due to Senator Walter Brown, who has been untiring and persevering in promoting its welfare. The society owns twenty acres of valuable ground in one of the best building locations in Oneonta, and the property would to-daj' net the association a handsome revenue if sold. The grounds are natu- rally amphitheatrical in topography. The stock of the association is high. R. M. Rose is the onh' life member. The officers : President, W. L. Brown ; secretar}', S. L. Huntington ; treasurer, Henry M. Bard ; executive committee : W. L. Brown, George I. Wilber and D. F. Wilber; directors: D. F. Wil- lier. A. C. Moody, G. I. Wilber, M. N. Rowe, A. C. Lewis. E. R. Ford : general superintendent, Major C. P. Root ; superintendent ladies' depart- ment, Mrs. F. C. Edwards. P. R. Young, the artist, has achieved the reputa- tion in the Susquehanna valle}' for turning out high grade photographic productions. He has made photography a study for many years, having worked with marked success in manj' places in Pennsyl- vania and this State. In recent years he has taught and drilled men who have proven that in his gallery they laid the foundation for their own success in after life. He is a native of Schoharie county. Sixteen years ago he located in Oneonta, where he has acquired the patronage of the leading and best known families. He has branch galleries in Worcester. Schenevus and Sidney, N. Y., where he does a considerable business. Prob- ably he is the oldest established photographer in the eastern part of the State. Most of the portrait work of the Normal school comes from his gallery. Fifteen successive first premiums have been awarded him at the Central New York fair. He is a genial, public-spirited man, personally interested in the so- cial and best interests of the town. His work for T/io Soiivcuir\\s.s been a great help in making it an artistic up-to-date publication, representing, as it does, many of the best known citizens whose por- traits we have the pleasure of producing. H mto Hi DAULEY & WRIGHT'S MARBLE WORKS. THE ONEOXTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 71 A. E. Merritt, the present secretary, was born in Auburn, Wis., February S, 1S63. His father was a Wisconsin volunteer soldier of the late war, dying after about six months' service. His mother died February 18, 1881. Some time after her death he went to Niagara Falls to learn the trade of carriage painting, and while there was persuaded to visit the Young Men's Christian Association rooms for the first time, and through the friendly courtesies shown him, he gave his heait to Christ. He was sent to East Buffalo a.s assistant secretar)' of the railroad department connected with the New York Central and West Shore Railroad's and Wagner Palace Car Company's works. He came toOneonia, Sept. 1, 1S92, and took charge of the Y. M. C. A. !•■, "There was $460 indebtedness, with a mem- bership of onl)- 138. Of these, 28 were railroad brick church was built in the year 1890. Its present membership is 538. Sunday school has enrolled 475. The. pews are free; expenses raised by weekly offerings. The Christian Endeavor Society of the Free Baptist church was founded in July, 1887, by the pastor. Rev. A. E. Wilson, and is the oldest society of that name in Oneonta. There were eight charter members. The membership now numbers 125. The first money raised for erecting ihe present church edifice was the work of the Endeavor Society. On several occasions in the pastor's absence the so- ciety has conducted the usual church services, and in many ways it has been a source of inspiration and encouragement to the church. The music is a pleasant feature of the Sunday evening meetings, having an orchestra of stringed instruments, under the efficient leadership of Mrs. O. A. Miller. The present officers are: President, Miss Belle Wilson : Flashlight Photos, by Smith. D.\L"LEV ^: WRIGHT'.S men, and no local ; and in less than five months from the time he entered the work here, sufficient amount of finance was raised to pay all indebtedness and. to guarantee the support of the work for the coming year. As a result of four years' work, the present records show a membership of 155 railroad men, and 15S local : practically out of debt, with bright prospects of a new building in the near future ; a woman's auxiliary of 65 members. The Free Baptist Church was organized by Rev. O. T. Moulton in the year 1856. The charter mem- bers were sixteen in number, of which three are liv- ing, namely, F. Bornt, Mrs. F. Bornt, R. E. Marvin. In the year 1858 the first church building was erected. Since its organization it has had nine pastors. The present pastor, Rev. A. E. Wilson, en- tered uponHiis duties April ist, 1S87. A beautiful S.\LESROOMS .-VXD WORKSHOPS. vice-president, Fred. B. Graham; secretary, Mrs. Cora Bishop; treasurer. Miss Helen Congdon; cor- responding secretary, Miss Pearl Howe. There is also a junior society of sevent3'-five members con- nected with the church. Charles S. Pendleton was born in the town of Ox- ford, N. Y., April 25, 1S63. When quite young he moved with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stanton Pen- dleton, to Norwich, N. Y. He graduated from the Norwich High School in 1S82: from Bates College, Lewiston, Me., in 1887, and from the Hamilton Theological Seminar)-, Hamilton. N. Y.. in 1S90. He held a successful pastorate of seven years in connection with the Free Baptist church in Colum- bia, N. Y., where the membership was more than doubled. In November, 1S96, he accepted a unani- mous call to become pastor of the Free Baptist church in Oneonta, N. Y. 72 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAIy SOUVENIR. Photo bv Sniitli TIIXINC.HAST & SOX, ISUSIC STORK. The Howes Cave Lime and Cement Company was incorporated under the laws of tlie Stale of New York in 1867 b}' Hon. John Westover, of Richmond- villa ; Jared Good3'ear, of Colliers ; E. R. Ford and Harvey Baker, of Oneonta, as charter members and owners. Eli Rose, of Maryland, N. Y., entered their employ in the fall of the same year, and in 1868 became an interested owner by purchasing an in- terest in the company and has continued with them to the present time. The business objects of the company were the quarrying of lime stone for building purposes, mak- ing quick or common lime, liydraulic cement and gypsum or land plaster. Nature had been liberal in depositing material for those articles in bountiful supply, but the approaches and sur- roundings of the premises taken up for the purpose, amounting to some seventy acres or more, were rude and rugged in the extreme. _»-^-^— The Albany and Susquehanna Rail- road (now part of the D. & H. C. Co. system), was then in operation through the company's lands, and blasting often hurled large rocks on to the tracks, so close was the ledge to them. Nothinsx in the shape of an improvement amount- ing to a nail or a shingle was to be found on the plat, so that the houses, barns, shops, kilns, mills, derricks, engines, and countless other things requisite for executing the business in view had to be provided, involving a great amount of labor and large ex- pense. The limestone ledge has a front face along the railroad of over one hundred rods in length, with side track about one-half its distance, and might easily be extended the whole length if found desirable. The first series or ledge in sight from the rail- way cars is the dark blue limestone 44 feet thick, made of courses of varying thickness, from one inch to two or three feet, but stone comparatively thin and light predominate. Next above Photo, bv Smith. showing the blue limestone, and hardl)' visible from the cars, may be found the gray lime in large, massive blocks, Cclpable of yield- ing stone of most ex- cellent quality and sound- ness, and of any size within the limits of pos- sibility to handle or trans- port, making them emin- ently suitable for piers, abutments, canal locks, retaining walls and all kinds fof first-class masonry, either light or heavy and massive. This series of rock where now being worked presents an imposing front thirty feet thick and will gradually thicken as worked back further from the front. The lime burned here is ver}' strong, adhesive and of great durability. As a sample, reference is made to the stone fort at Scho- harie Court House, four miles from Howes Cave, built more than one hun- dred years ago from native no imperfections of stone or I materia mortar. Howes Cave cement has become a standard article on the market, and during the past twent}' years has gone into some of the best and most expensive struc- tures of this and other States with great satisfaction, under the direction of the best engineering talent and skill. We mention a few: New Capitol, Al- bany; Holland House, New York city; Scranton steel works; Troy steel and iron works; Fair Haven (Vt.) leservoir, and many others. In 1870 Eli Rose was appointed secretar}' and treasurer and general superintendent, and has con- tinued in that capacity up to the present time, and thus the details of construction and improvement, as well as manufacture and sale of products, have necessarily passed under his supervision, so that after nearly thirty years' of experience and continu- A. H. TIPPLE'S RACQUET STORE. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR, 73 ous practice he is finely equipped to carry forward the enterprise. From the above brief description of the history and present condition of the Howes Cave Lime and Cement Co.'s plant and its productions it will readily be seen to be in the interest of intendinji buyers of building stone, cut or uncut, lime or ce- ment, to communicate with their treasurer, l.li Rose, Howes Cave, N. Y. raduated with Till-; FIRST NATIUXAI. LX: 1-- George E. Moore, the druggist, occupies one of the finest stores in town. It is an imposing, four- story building, 22}4 X So feet, centrally located, and since Mr. Mcore started in business in Oneonta, 1884, has been a popular place, the focus of a con- siderable trade. In connection with the drug busi- ness, Mr. Moore carries a large line of artists' materials. He was born in Arena, Delaware county, June I, 1857. After a three years' course in the Ne York College of Pharmac}', he was honors. As will be seen by the engraving on another page, the interior of the store is spacious, .Tnd fine!}- fitted up. C. H. McGonegal, the proprietor of the Central Hotel, which is probablj- the largest house on the line of the road, has been in ihv business for twentj' years and is ver\' widely known, his house being a favorite headquarters for the travel- ing public. When he took possession of the hotel. about seven years ago, it was not a largely pat- ronized place. The many traveling men who came t 143 '-• w| r ^. f^ ^i l«^. ^*- . v^'li 1^, f-^ ; ,,:, s-is .7 146 '^^ 148^1 149 J^^ 150^ >^ WWW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT— Group 2. (Key on page 82.) THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. Sr KEY TO THE FIREMEN'S PORTRAITS. The Veterans. (See page yS.) 1 L. A. Groat, foreman 2 F. Fairchild, 3 A. Weed, 4 Geo. Smith, 5 Peter Weidniau, 6 F. Griffin, 7 J. Boughton, S Thomas Doyle, 9 John Fletcher, 10 John Johnson, 11 Arthur Pryn, 12 Jav White. 13 M."E. Gile. 14 W. D. Manson, 15 Jerome Wells, j6 Geo. Bond, 17 Wm. bloat, iS Arthur Stevens, 19 J. A Sperbeck, 20 E. E. Miles. 21 Thos. Glenn, 22 Geo. Riley, 23 Emory House, 24 J. D. Van Dyke, 25 Wm. McMinn, The Steamer Co. 51 Wm. SpolTotd, engineer. 52 Wm. V\hilmore, 53 Wm. Hickey,' 54 S. J. Preston, 55 B. Parisli, 26 John P. Primmer, 27 J. Elliott, 2S W. S. McLean,) 29 Samuel Coon, 30 F. Houghtaling, 31 M. J. Maler, 32 B. Hlatt, 33 D. Brewster, 34 B. Van Ostrand, "■^ A. Schafer, 36 John Smith, 37 H. R. Gaylord, 38 J. Kelford, 39 Chas. Halcomb, 40 Chas. Burnside, 41 Wm. Bronk, 42 L. B. Lennon, 43 H. E. Conant, 44 A. R. Smith, 45 H. L. Jordan, 46 James Roberts, 47 Jacob ISIayer, 48 B. A. Church, 49 James Smith, 50 George Rej-nolds. 61 M. Hickey, 62 L. D. Burdick, 63 H. G. Hughes, 64 M. .A. Garlick, 65 Ira Reynolds, ducted on modern lines. Their trade in flour alone is equal to that in the aggregate of several smaller stores, one very popular brand being made by the patent roller process from No. i hard winter wheat, exclusivel}' for the firm and bearing its own name. Frederick W. Whitcomb started in business with I. L. Pryun in October 1894,31 that time dealing only in hay and wood. In December, 1S95, Mr. Pryun retired and Mr. Whitcomb continued alone until May 20th, 1S96, in the meantime adding groceries to his lormer business when Mr. Hecox took a half interest and became an active partner. Upon enter- ing the new store, a more complete line of stock was added; a stock which is to-day second to none. Mr. Whitcomb was born in New Haven, Conn. June 14th, 1S58. At thirteen years of age he found employment in this village with W. A. E. Tompkins, hatter and men's furnishings. He was employed in the Herald office for eight years and afterwards con- ducted a bakery and confectioner)' business. He was a partner with C. W. Peck in printing and sta- tionery for three years ; afterwards with Morehouse & Munson. He was a collector for the Star the first two years it was published and subsequently employed by Conant, afterwards with F. L. Dibble. He married Nellie E. Dodge of Jersey City. N.J.,. March 21, 1SS3. He is a member of the Knights of A. E. GARDNER'S WELL KNOWN TROTTER " BIG BEN." 56 Geo. Hutchinson, 57 G. Murphy, 58 J. C. Warner,! 59 E. F. Mcl.aurj', 60 Harry Driggs^ Levis Hose Co. 71 C. W. ls\QG\xxyi, foreman. 72 G. W. Eggleston, 73 C. A. Card, 74 Charles S. Higgins, 75 Teddy Mooney, Mascot. 76 John O'Brien, 77 J. Palmer, 78 A. W. Schultze, 79 Wm. Higgins, 80 David Donovan, f6 C. E. Gifford, 67 Harry Adams, 68 D. E. Hubbard, 69 J. E. Hayes, 70 E. Colegrove. 81 Frank Haves, 82 D. Thur.<;t6n, 83 Wm. Van Deusen, 84 P. McHugh, Ss B. W. Voorhees, 86 J. Slatterv, 87 Geo. Smith, SS Chauncev Herrick, 89 C. J. Flanigan, 90 M. Dempsey, The Oneonta Supply Company began business in their big store in the Packer Block, Main and River streets, June nth, 1896. The opening was one that will long be remembered by their many patrons. To each of two hundred lady callers on that da)', they gave a sack of choice flour. The proprietors are Whitcomb &; Hecox. The supplies which ihey furnish comprise all lines of groceries, grain, feed, hay, straw and wood. Their store is without doubt the largest in the county, the business being con- Pythias and was for nine years a member of the Hook and Ladder Company. Danford L. Hecox. was born in Milford June 23d, 1846 At the age of seventeen he became a resident of Edmeston living there for five years and learning the trade of carpenter and joiner, after which he moved to Cooperstown, being engaged there a portion of the time in the contracting business, and in 1879 came to Oneonta where he has resided ever since. He was employed by the D. & H, C. Co. for three years and then entered the contracting business in which he was engaged for a number of years, building in the mean- time several fine residences He is the owner of considerable residential property in Oneonta, notably two rows of desirable dwellings on lower Main street. Mr. Hecox is a public-spirited man and has been very active in local afTairs, having been elected as Village Treasurer in i8qo, serving in 1891 as Com- missioner of Streets. He has been a director and appraiser of the Building & Loan association ever since it was started and has been first vice-president for the last four years. He is a member of all branches of the Odd Fellows having served in all offices in the local lodge. He is also an exempt fireman of both Cooperstown and Oneonta Depart- ments. He married Mary Jane Dennison of Coopers- town, November 3d, 1870. 82 THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. KEY TO THE FIREMEN'S PORTRAITS. D. F. Wilber Hook & Ladder Co. (See page So.) 91 N. il. Emmons, foreman 92 A. Hecox, 93 Will. Champlain, 94 James Miles. 95 Bert Marshal, 96 Fred Larrabee, 97 Arthur Coon, 98 Gus Demar, 99 Geo. Holdredge, 100 R. D. Tallmadge, 101 B. H. Gildersleeve, 102 Clarence Sewall, 103 Fred Van Wie, 107 M. Frisbee, 108 M. Dean, 109 G. E. Chamberlain, no E. E. Scatchard, III L. C. Frisbee, iia L. Gardner, 113 John Hine, 114 R. Westcott, 115 Harry Loveland, 116 Geo. Norton, 117 Barton Elliot, 118 G. A. Burkhart, 119 E. D. Tovvnsend, 152 W. W. Doniinick, 133 Irvin Tyler, 154 J. W. Park, 155 A. Hamilton, 156 Reid Pierce, 157 Fred Mason. 158 C. Sinarbeaux, Mechanics' Hose Co. 170 Win. Williams, 171 W. S. Foord, 172 J. A. Warner, 173 Thomas Thornburn, 174 Joseph Gwynn, 175 Howard Jayne, 176 Danie) Babcock, 177 Harry Coleman, 163 G. B. Springer, 164 Roscoe Briggs, 165 Thos. Smith, 166 C. F. Pettengill, 167 L. D. Holmes, 16S O. C. Babbitt, 169 Frank Edwards. 17S J. R. Garling, 179 G. Tansett, iSo W. Thornburn, 181 Chas. Eveland, 152 Jacob Walter, 153 James Perry, 184 Cowell Smith. THE WINDSOR. 104 O. M. Edgar, 105 Spencer Rowe, 106 E. C. Slade, George I. Wilber Hose Co. 123 Wm. T.,eventhal,/o;r>«are 124 I. D. Butts, 125 J. Foley, 126 James Kerwin. 127 H. Whitney, 128 Frank Wrfght, 129 F. Fairchilds, 130 E. K. Smith, 131 F. Bedford, 132 A. L. Joslyn, 133 A. W. Carroll, 134 Wm. Ochse, 135 R. Vandeburgh, J. M. Milne Hose Co. 148 F. R. Pashley, 149 A. Fornian, 150 E. L. Harmon, 151 C. A. Sanford, 120 T. A. Rowe, 121 Samuel Russell, 122 Jas. Desmond, 136 J. J. Mulkins. T37 lohn Lind, 138 Lester Mor.'-e, 139 John Dewar, 140 W. Richmond, 141 E. B. Smith. 142 Paul Link, 143 R. Adams, 144 E. Marsh, 145 L. W. Murphj','' 146 Chas. Opel, 147 M. G. Connell. 159 J. N. Conant, 160 G. H. Dildine, 161 Geo. Wohlleben, 162 Samuel Firn, J. B. Douglass, the proprietor of the Vienna bak- ery, started in the business in Oneonta August 10, 1896. This is next to the oldest established bakery in town, and it supplies a large number of customers, Mr. Douglass desires to cater to the best trade, and for that reason he draws his supplies from the large jobbers in the best flour, and is strictly conscien- tious in the use of ingredients, furnishing no sub- stitutes but those only which are pure. Before go- ing into business he was a pupil in the Oneonta public schools. He came from Davenport, Dela- ware count)', where his father died when he was a boy, leaving him to find a way of getting his own living. He has good business ideas, and deserves a large patronage. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 83 JOHN MILLARD L. G. RICHMOND. Oneonta Union School and Academy.— One of the time-honored institutions of the Susquehanna valley is the Oneonta Union School and Academy. Throughout its whole history it has been fully abreast of the times, and has advanced with the growth and prosperity of surrounding interests. It has to a great degree helped mould and fashion the social and intellectual character of Oneonta, and has impressed itself on its business interests as well. Grateful remembrances of what it has accom- plished are entertained, and it is worthily honored efficiency and well managed, with the following officers and teachers : The Board of Education : Albert Morris, president ; Alva Seybold, secretary and librarian ; S. 1. Wright, treasurer ; G W. Laid- law, collector : John R. Skinner, Charles K. Lau- ren, Charles Aussiker, J. Olney Rowe, William Edmunds. The Faculty : William C. Franklin, superintendent Academic department ; Alfred W. Abranis, Ph. B., languages and sciences ; Ella M. Briggs, mathematics and history ; Margaret Alton, English and science ; Franke Goss, commercial branches and history. Preparatory department : Harriet E. Stevens, Frances D. Kellogg Grammar and Intermediate departments : Linda V. Mead, Flora A. Shearer, Anna Lane, Jennie Green, Caro- line D. Hurlbutt, Julia M. Wright, E. Estell South- well. Primary department : Helen Downs, Kate Lane, Leila Tanner, Clara Bunn, Jennie M. Fair- child, River Street School : Mrs. Anna G. Cliurch, principal ; Primary department : Mila Frasier, Zil- pha Church ; special : Stella Bligh, supervisor of music and drawing. The Journeyman Barbers' International Union. — No. 168 of Oneonta, N. Y., was fully organized on lune 22d, 1894, the officers elected on June 26th, 1894: president, C. C. Wallace; vice-president, F. E. Bedford ; financial secretary, E. O. Suits ; cor- responding and recording secretary, E. J. Phelps ; treasurer, 1. E. Lamb. There were nine charter members about a year previous to the present organi- zation, the barbers of Oneonta had formed them- selves into an association of barbers, the bosses and journeymen combined, and at that time they closed by mutual consent all shops in the town on Sunday except two one-chair shops. The scale of wages was then from I7 to $10, and the hours were from AN OUTLOOK FROM THE OTSEGO HILLS. by its alumni. This school was organized in 1868, and an academic department under the visitation of the regents of the university was added in 1873. By a classification of the institutions under their supervision made in 1896, this department will henceforth be known as the Oneonta High School. Under the efficient supervision of Prof. N. N. Bull, which extended over twenty-five years, the school grew rapidly. At the present time two buildings are in use, with a registration of 1,100 students, and twenty-two teachers are employed. Under the pres- ent administration the school is in a high state of 7 A. M. to 9.30 P. M. Now the scale is from $10 to $12, and the shops close as follows : On Wednesday, 9 p. M.; Saturday, 12 m.; other days at 8 p. m.; legal holidays at noon. The scale of prices is fixed in the by-laws. The union is prosperous, having thirteen members in good standing, and one jurisdiction member. Martha Chapter, No. 116, Order Eastern Star, auxiliary B. of L. F., was organized March 30, 1895, with twenty-eight charter members. Regular meet- ings are held the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month in Masonic Hall. The chapter has a total membership of forty-three, and is in a prosper- ous condition. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. IN THE HOP FIELDS'OF OTSEGO COUNTY. THE ONEONTA HISTORICAL SOUVENIR. 8=; David Forrest Wilber was elected to Congress from the 21st district, including the counties of Otsego, Montgomer)', Schoharie, Greene and Sche- nectady, in November, 1895, by the very large majority of 4,677. He served the first year of his term with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents, and was uncommonly active in putting through several public measures, being more servicable in promoting legislation than customary for a new member. He is naturally a legislator, if that e.xpression may be used ; that fact being demon- strated by the audacious and the remarkably clever manner in which he secured legislation protecting the cheese industry, which he so largely represents. The measure to which we refer is what is known as the " Filled Cheese bill."' In brief, it secures the public against imposition on the part of foreign and unscrupulous cheese manufacturers, and makes the countrj' ; a herd which were prize winners for butter making. He was also the president of the Cheviot Sheep Breeders' Association, member of the New York State Agricultural Society, and in i8g3 he was one of the vice-presidents of the same ; member of the State Dairymen's Association, second vice-president of the Holstein-Friesian Association. The interest he took in agricultural affa;rs resulted in his appointment by Governor Flower as a mem- ber of the tuberculosis commission, the object of which was to investigate the ravages of that disease among cattle. He was born in the town of Milford, December 7, 1S59 < ^^^^ educated in the common schools, and after becoming sufficiently advanced in his studies, was sent to Cazenovia Seminary, from which institution he graduated in 1879. In 18S0 he removed from Milford to Oneonta, where he became engaged in the hop business with his father and ^Z;»^ --'^-'" ON THE SCHOHARIE. it possible for the maker of first qualit)' cheese to market his productions at remunerative figures. Ordinarily and by those unfamiliar with fact, this might be considered a very small matter, but when it is understood that a powerful coterie of cheese- makers, supported by experienced congressmen, made a hard fight against Mr. Wilber, endeavoring to forestall his measure by. getting through one which ostensibly accomplished the same end, but which really was intended as a "blind," it will be conceded that his success was really a creditable achievement. At any rate his services were re- warded with a re-election in November, 1896. The Congressman is deeply interested in dair}' matters. Until he became involved in public life, and when he had the time to look after other matters, he owned one of the finest herds of Holstein-Friesian'cattle in brother, George I., under the firm name of D. Wilber & Sons, which business was continued until 1883, when George I. withdrew and the firm became D. Wilber & Son, and so continued until his father's death. He also became largely interested in Oneonta real estate, and has conducted quite an extensive business in the same. He is the sponsor for the D. F. Wilber Hook and Ladder Company, after whom it is named ; is a member of the Albany Burgesses Corps, and has recently been elected a member of the Societ}' of the Sons of the American Revolution, He has twice represented the town of Oneonta in the board of supervisors, each time being elected by a handsome majorit)' ; member of the Republican county committee, of which he was chairman, and member of the Republican State committee. ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT ST. O E a\ o o en o 15> 03 03 P ed o o ^ ^ bj: U u _brj o c/) Massage.., Treatment Mrs. ALICE E. WILCOX has used her natural and cultivated powers in the practice of Massage many years with success that few have attained. She has testimonials from prominent physicians whose patients she has treated. Call and see them. Will treat patients at their residence or in her ofSce, 269 MAIN STREET. ivirs. Eva Ferine Rooms II and 12 Ford Building, Main Street, ONEONTA, N. Y. After takinjj; a full course under the best instructors in New York city, I am prepared to do all kinds of Scalp Work and to treat all kinds of Skin Diseases. Special attention given to Massage Treat- ment. I also dress hair and make switches, puffs and everything for a lady's toilet. The patronage of all the ladies of Oneonta and vicinity solicited. Satisfaction Guaranteed. ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT. 1845 THE 1896 JDQufufll^IBpnpfit 35.ifFlns,(Jo, NKWARK, N. J. Guarantees after payment of two annual premiums, viz: I, cash surrender value; 2, loan equal in amount to cash value; 3, extended insurance full amount of policy without request of policy holder; 4, paid-up policy. PAID POLICY-HOLDERS SINCE ORGANIZATION 1 1^ 1845. Policy Claims 177,843,972.91 Dividends 46,908,415 37 vSurrendered Policies 20,061,798.92 Total .1144,814,187.20 The Compan^-'s investments have yielded sufficient re- turns to pay all Expenses and Taxes, and still to add to the Policy-holders' fund for the fulfillment of existing con tracts $34,133,807 66 Assets, Market Value 158,269,197.06 L/iabilities, N. J., N. Y. and Mass. vStandard 54,187,724 54 Surplus ^,081,472. 52 Number of Policies in force January i, 1S96, 84,916 Insuring. _ ..' $218,917, T16 M. O. MULTER. DISTRICT AGENT, 160 Main STREET, ONEONTA, N. Y F IRST-class Dressmaking at modern prices. No one ever disappointed in the character of the work or in receiving it . Mrs. J. L. E\STON, No. 6 Fairview st., Oneonta, N. Y. D RESSMAKING, fitting, making Capes and Cloaks. An experienced dressmaker. The best needle and _fancy work . Mrs. W. R. WHITNEY, 1 6 West Broadway . F ASHIONABLE DRESSMAKING. Mrs. G. T. W11.BER, 57 Church street. FASHIONABLE dressmaking at home and out bv the day. Experienced cutter and fitter. Mrs. Channing Kellogg, Emmons' block, 300 Main, over Relyea's store. D RESSMAKING— Fitting a specialty. En- gagements promptly fulfilled. Mrs. HaTTIE RiLEV, No. 5 Hickory street. M RS. SCHNICKMANN, Fashionable Dress- maker and Cutter. Two flights over Lewis' jewelry store, corner Main and Broad Sts. MASSAGE and Face Treatment for ladies and children at their homes. Agent for De Medici's Hj'genic Toilet goods. Address Mrs. C. Mahon, No. i Fair street. ONEOMA insurance anb 1Real Estate te Hgenc^^ FIRE INSURANCE "^ '.'^"^ ^^"^ First-Class Com- panics, at as low rates as con- sistent with Sound Insurance. LOW, ( W^e also take charge of property, collect rents, pay taxes, etc., MS EASY. '(, at reasonable rates. FOFID &. TD'EA.'N, 223 jveaztst st. PRICES LOW, TERMS EASY. Don't Throw Away Money. Save your small change and you will be surprised at the variety of useful and pretty articles you can get for a song at our bazaar. ALL : KINDS : OF : CROCKERY-BEAUTIFUL : LAI^PS : OF : UNIQUE : DESIGN. FANCY CHINA TEA SETS from the least expensive to the best Haviland China. SILVER PLATED WARE— very nice and stylish, too; Knives, Forks, Spoons, etc. DRY GOODS AND NOTIONS— Gloves and Mittens. Everything in Linen. The Brainerd & Armstrong embroidery. Silk in all colors. Germantown and vSaxony colored yarns. BAZAAR, No. 151 MAIN STREET. ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT. DEAI^ER IN MEATS POULTRY, FRESH FISH, OYSTERS, FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. S.E.YAGER 1 Successor to Homer i G. Ford, CONTRACTOR OF PAIMING, DECORATING, PAPER- HANGING. Office and Shop, 262'/2 Main St. ONEONTA. HOTEL FENI^IORE, COOPERSTOWN, N. Y. COTT/\GE HOTEL— O'BRIEN BROS., Proprietors, No. 3 Chestnut Street, Oneonta, N. Y. New house; newly furnished; hot and cold water throughout. Board by ( li> the day or week; Transient rates, $1.50 per day. gfe^Send to Grip, 403 Clinton avenue, for copies of these famous Souvenirs. The finest in the world. Price 35 cents. "I^OTELlRVIfie 5iDl!^' li.) ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT. ]Mrs. ]M. A. COON, FINE . MILLINERY complete assortment ONE PRICE TO ALL. Rooms, second floor over Grand Union Tea Store. 172 Main Street, ONEONTA, N. Y. CA mateur pl7otosrQpl7ic Supplies, ::^^::!,^:^J^:2^, I \ Tags, etc. Fresh goods always in stock. If you want a good camera we have them on hand; ^*^ agent for the best cameras made . Mail orders receive prompt attention . J. W. BARD, 6 Broad Street, Oneonta, N. Y. HOTOGRAPHERS' SUPPLIES. Complete line of all material used by the best equipped galleries. LISTED PRICES FURNISHED THE TRADE Jobbers of Amatevir outfits. GEORGE H. GUARDINIER, 544 Broadway, ALBANY, N. Y. Th|G Vineerit JA^q. (So., manufacturers of Blank Books of Every Description. Sole owners of Patent and Copyrights of DRAKE'S TABULATED GROUPED AND INDEXED LODGE AND SOCIETY RECORDS AND ACCOUNTS. LODQE AND SOCIKTY SUPPLIES A SPECIALLY. Magazine and General Binding respectfully solicited. Workmanship guaranteed. Every job an adver- tisement. BINDERY, No. 10 Broad St, ONEONTA, N. Y. THE <^ord -^ and ^ ^tfvsr * I^oTrcirs MOST CENTRAL LOCATION. The Only European Plan Restaurant in Town, WITH BAR ATTACHED. MEALS TO ORDER AT ALL HOURS. 132 Main STREET, MENRYMLTLLS, ONEONTA, N. Y. Proprietor. ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT. THE CITY BAKERY CATERER FOR WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARIES, PARTIES AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONS .... WILBER BLOCK. BROWN AND WHITE BREAD, TEA ROLLS, BISCUIT, COFFEE CAKES FANCY AND PLAIN CAKES, JELLY ROLLS, SPONGE, COOKIES, PIES AND TARTS, Etc. THE BEST MATERIAL USED IN ALL BAKING. WhOIvESALE .*. CONKECTIONER 37 Centre Street, ONEONTA. N. Y. I NOVELTIES OF ALL KINDS. FERGUSON'S GLOVES AND MITTENS. 9 CH-ERTIsrTJT ST.. OIsr:E:OITT.A.. IsT- IT. Largest assortment of TOBACCO, CIGARS, PIPES, and SMOKERS' SUPPLIES in Central New York. All kinds of FRUITS, NUTS, CONFECTIONERY , Etc. Finest Goods. Maker of Ferguson's Popular Ice Cream, 30c. qt., fi.oo per gal. F. W. JORDAN, DEALER IN Fine ^ Groceries * and # Provisions, ONEONTA, N. Y. OLES & ANDERSON, DEALERS IN ALL KINDS OF CHOICE GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS, 263 MAIN STREET, ONEONTA, N. Y. Davison's Meat Market Opposite Howes' Candy Kitchen Main Street. Best of all kinds of Meats at Lowest Prices. Special attention giv enjo V-\e.\^ " V.Or^^ F'r\V^\:\r^S- EARL R. COLGROVE, Engraving and Printing WILBER BUILDING, 252 MAIN ST., ONEONTA, N. Y. KIMBALL.. HOUSE, WASHINGTON AVENUE, Opposite the upper end of the capitol. First-class accom- modations for transient guests or boarders. Headquarters for the stage lines. J. n, BORTHWICK, Prftprietar* G. M, HURLBUTT, Successor to Hurlbutt & Chaffee. Choice Family Groceries and Provisions, No. 7 Chestnut St., OneonTa, N. Y. ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT. F. S. PATTRIDGE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALER IN OO T i! 1 1.*" 1''' ■'■' "-"^1 ' * "*--fil^. Wl tR — CO CO C/3 CO CT3 CX> CO onc5 CO KENTUCKY LIQUOR ©STORE 34 and 36 Broad Street Oneonta, N. Y. F. V. SCHENK, OK LONDON, ENGLAMi, PRACTICAL WATCHMAKER 20 YEARS' EXPERIfNCE. \\'in do all kinds of fine watch repairing. Work for trade solicited. 259 MAIN ST., ONtONTA. N. Y. Watches adjusted. Dr. WINANS, RUPTURE SPECIALIST. Main Office— Room 19, Central Hotel, WEDNESDAY. ONEONTA, N. Y. Office hours, 10 a. m. to .^ p.m. W. A. LAKIN, The Eureka Fashionable .... vSHAVING AND HAIR DRESSING ^=— PARLORS Central Hotel, ONEONTA. N. Y. L. S. PITCHER, Electrician and Practical Engineer Manufacturer of and Dealer in Telephones, Electric Bells, Burglar and Fire Alarms, Batteries, Watches, Clocks, etc. Oldest established and practical electrician in Otsego county. All kinds of mechanical work repaired. 68 RIVER ST., ONEONTA. N. Y. BOOTS AND SHOES NEATLY RKPAIRED. SOLON BARNES, Basement Westcotl Block, 214 Main Street, ONEONTA, N. Y. A. R. SMITH, MANUFACTURER OF AND DE.\LER IN Harness, Blankets, Robes, Whips and Stable Supplies. No. 4 Broad St., ONEONTA, N. Y. , A. A. KRASIER, Dealer in Foreign and Domestic VV j tl 6^^ ^flCl I fClllOf*^ TOBACCO, CIGARS AND SMOKERS' SUNDRIES. 14 Broad Street, - - - ONEONTA, N. Y. HI. ID. vJEnsr.Tsrxnsra-s, Plumbing, . Steam . and . Gas. Fitting, Steam and Hot Water Heating. Agents for the Welsbach Gas Light. Chestnut Extension, - ONEONTA, N. Y. G-. B. RAYlMOlNriD, Furniture Enamel];d any Color Desired. Sign Writing, Paper Hanging, House Painting, Paints Mixed to Order. M\S\k^17?.os^7%\o\^:so...u ONEONTA, N. Y. Westcott Block, under A. D. Rowe's Drug Store. Shop ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT. ALBANY B ndramng ^ompaii\' Makers of' FINE ENGRAVINGS IN HALF-TONE ■ AND LINE FOR CATALOGUES, BOOKS, STATIONERY, ETC. Estimates furnished on application. NATIONAL EXPRESS BUILDING, MAIDEN LANE AND DEAN ST. ALBANY, N. Y. Veterinary Surgeon and Dentist. No. i6 Broad Street, mm ^9 ONEONTA, N. Y. Graduate Ontario Veterinary College and member of New York State Veterinary Medical Society. Experienced and capable of treating all diseases and injuries affecting domestic animals. CONSULTATION FREE.— Horses examined and certificate as to soundness given. I use the Thermo-Cautery which burns without pain, leaving no scar in treating Spavins, Ringbones' Splints, Broken Tendons, etc. TO MAKE A. Y 260 Main St., ONEONTA, N. V OUR heating and plumbing must be done on sanitary and scientific principles. A poorly constructed heater job or slip shod plumbing will spoil for comfortable living purposes, any house that an architect can plan or a builder construct. For that reason I am paying special attention to heating and plumbing. Being a practical mechanic myself I know when work is well or poorly done, and as I lay out and oversee all work done from my store, I can guarantee good work on sanitary principles, and at rea- sonable prices. Give me a call and you will not regret it. M. F. DOLAN. GRIP'S" BEST HOTEL GUIDE. ^'THE '^ J. W. SHARPE, Prop., • SHARON SPRINGS,"N. Y. It^GRIP'S BEST HOTEL GUIDE. H m n o 2 2 ^ t^ o H n r Hotel . Altamont D. O. STITTS, Prop. First-class for Travelers. Altamont, N. Y. First-class Large Hotel. Modern Spacious Rooms Sample Rooms Home for the Traveler Livery . C. BRADY, Prop. GRIP'S" RELIABLE GUIDE FOR TRAVELERS. pr-RESPONSIBLE TICKET AGENTS.^^ MILEAGES Bought and Sold. LOCK BOX, 44. BAINBRIDGE,N.Y. Reduced '» Rates On all connecting lines. Correspondence Solicited. I. H. PRIDE, Ticket Broker, SIDNEY, N. Y ivi ILEAGE BOOKS on the D. & H. and connecting Railroads. -S E. CRO.nKHITE, First National Bank, Cooperstown, N. Y. «»=-THE BEST LIVERY STABLES.=1» ALTAMONT LIVERY. Dayton H. Whipple, Fred. V. Whipple, props Inquire at either hotel. Orders received by telephone. CENTRAL BRIDGE LIVERY, a. c. Hutton, Proprietor. Open all hours. Dealer in WAGONS, SIvEIGHS, Etc. LAW-YER'S LIVERY- W. S. Lawyer, proprietor. Office: Parrott House and at Lawyer's Stables, Main Street, SCHOHARIE, N. Y. OTEL SCHOHARIE LIVERY, J.Young, pro- prietor, SCHOHARIE, N. Y. H 4®=-THE BEST HOTELS.-®* KEELER'S HOTEL AND RESTAURANT, Broadway and Maiden Lane, Albany, N.Y. European plan. w'm. H. KEELER, Prop. H OTEL PHELPS, Afton, n. y. PHELPS, Proprietor. Livery. WM. H OTEL ALTAMONT, Altamont, N. Y. Modern improvements; steam heat; livery and headquarters tor all stages. J. O. STITT, Prop. COMMERCIAL HOTEL (formerly Union), Alta- mont, N. Y. Under new management. Livery. M. GRIGGS, Prop. THE EXCHANGE HOTEL, Cobleskill, N. Y. M. DEVANEY, Proprietor. ► ARK HOTEL, Bainbridge, N. Y. A. L. BEVIER, Proprietor. /CENTRAL HOTEL, Bainbridge, N. Y. T. D. er-THE BEST HOTELS.-®* w J. F. SPOHN, RAILRO.VD ^ TICKET BROKER. T ESSELL HOUSE, Carlisle, N. Y. S. R. WBS- SELL, Proprietor. Caters to driving parties. HE AUSTIN HOUSE, Central Bridge, N.Y. Bar- ber shop, liverv, stabling and sheds connected. Mod- erate charges to all. HENRY AUSTIN, Prop. ► ARK HOUSE, Central Bridge, N. Y. Good accom- modations. Terms, Si.oo per day. Ijvery attached. K. BARTON, Proprietor. /^ARR'S HOTEL, Cooperstown, N. Y. Livery at- tached. L. A. CARR, Proprietor. N EW CENTRAL HOTEL. Cooperstown, N. Y. Electric lights. Steam heat. W. M. POTTER, Pro- prietor. M ACOMBER'S HOTEL, Delanson, N. Y. Meals ready on arrival of trains. Livery attached. HOW- LAND MACOMBER, Hroprietor. CENTRAL HOUSE, East Worcester, N. Y. New building and furniture. R. H. PITCHER, Proprie- tor. STARIN HOUSE. Fultonville, N. Y. Newly fur- nished. First-class. Good bar. Livery. CHARLES DOPP, Proprietor. COOKSBURGH HOUSE, Cooksburgh, N. Y. On the Middleburgh and Calskill road. H. R. RUSSELL, Proprietor. ^'^' ^HE UNITED STATES, Cobleskill, N. Y. Best «i a day house. W. J. KILTS, Proprietor, JASON KILTS, Clerk. H OTEL GRANT, Fort Plain, N. Y. Steam heat. Gas and electric bells. Stables connected. HENRY A. OAKES, Proprietor. EUROPEAN HOTEL CAFE, Fort Plain, N. Y. ' Meals at all hours. WM. GREELEY, Proprietor. "^ILBOA HOUSE, Gilboa, N. Y. Livery attached. ' W. H. BECKER, Proprietor. ^UTTLE HOUSE, Gilboa, N. Y. Livery. CHAS. L. TUTTLE, Proprietor. ^AFE, Middleburgh, N. Y. R. D. GORDON, Proprie- tor. Liquors and cigars. Late Lunches for Late Ar- ' rivals in town. AKER'S HOTEL, Middleburgh, N. Y., opposite the depot. Livery attached. M. W. BAKER, Proprie- tor. B B H LENHEIM HOUSE, North Blenheim, N. Y. M. C. WRIGHT, Proprietor. Proprietor Middleburgh and Gilboa stage line. OTEL CHAPMAN, North Blenheim, N. Y. Com- mercial rates. Daily stage to Middleburgh. FRANK CHAPMAN, Proprietor. OARHYDT HOUSE, Schenectady. N. Y. H. D MANSFIELD, Proprietor. W. N. EATON, Clerk. WILLSEY, Proprietor. Steam heat in every room. ^HE PARROT HOUSE, Schoharie, N. Y. P. O. WINTER, Proprietor. Accommodations first-class. "GRIP'S" RELIABLE GUIDE FOR TRAVELERS. ^-THE BEST HOTELS."®* w HITE HOUSE. Middleljurgh, N. Y. Livery. L. ^" C. WHITE, Proprietress. 'REEMYER HOUSE- Middleburgh, N. Y. M. w. BAKER, Proprietor. CENTRAL HOTEL. Springfield Centre, N. Y. Head of Otsego Lake. Livery attached. Accommoda- tions for winter and summer parties. CLARK ELLS- WORTH, Proprietor. I^°THE BEST HOTELS.-^a H OTEL SCHOHARIE, Schoharie, N. Y. TWITCH- ELL & CULLEN, Proprietors. Newly reconstructed; newly furnished; newly re-arranged. NEWMAN HOUSE, Seward, N. Y. This hotel is now under new management and will be conducted in first-class manner; electric call bells; good livery and bar. JAMES NEWMAN, Proprietor. HOTEL FETHERS, Sharon Springs; all year round; Bus to all trains. First-class accommodations for com- mercial and summer trade. D. L. FETHERS, Pro- prietor. IVl ANSION HOUSE, Sharon Springs, N. Y. J. W. SHARH, Proprietor. Open all the year. Bus to all trains winter and summer. H OP EXCHANGE HOTEL, Sharon Springs, Scho- harie Co., N. Y. Opposite depot. Liverv. Open all the year. C. M. VAN DEUSEN, Proprietor. SOUTH WORCESTER HOTEL, South Wor- cester, Otsego county, N. Y. J. O. VAN BUREN, Pro- prietor. CENTRAL HOTEL, Worcester, N. Y. Livery. Telegraph. Rooms all heated. Barber. Electric bells. SQUIRE SHAFER, Proprietor. THE WORCESTER HOUSE, Worcester, N. Y. First-cla.ss Opera House attached, C. L BALDWIN, Proprietor. u NADILLA HOUSE, Unadilla, N. Y. Free 'bus to and from all trains. Mrs. S. TINGLEY, Proprietor. D. D. TINGLEY, Manager. H OTEL BISHOP, Unadilla, N. Y., one block from the depot. Kirst-class hotel. CHARLES BISHOP, Proprietor. THE BALLARD HOUSE, COOPERSTOWN, N. Y. George J. Vanderwerker, Proprietor. This hotel ranks second to none in the interior of the state. Within the past two years it has been Enlarged and Refurnished. LARGE, COOL ROOMS. Fitted with sanitary conveniences of the most approved pattern on every floor, and modern forms of ventilation for every room. In one year twc» large annexes were added, opening directly into the main building, making the whole a large and complete hotel, as well arranged as though included in the original plans. Upper balconies with splendid views of scenery. Baths and all accommodations. Hotel Wagne HENRY JOY, PROPRIETOR. Canajoharie and Palatine Bridg< N. Y. THE .... Finest Hote In Central New York. No better on the line , Ithe N.»Y. Central' "GRIP'S" ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT. ig >■ ♦ ♦' V^ V V '♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦; If M M M M W, M 3C 3t ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ « Ilk ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ * w, M M M.M M M M aC *.♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦ ♦/, DELAWARE & HUDSON E. R. The Shortest, Quickest and Best Line Between New York ^^' Montreal "It may be questioned whether there is a railway journey in the world which gives in one day a variety and splendor of landscape to equal that which is enjoyed by the traveler taking the morning express by this line between Montreal and New York." — Scollish /Review. Tourists desiring to travel through the finest sections in the Adiron- dacks, will find these attractive routes of most interest, viz : All rail to Lake Placid, via^'D. & H. and Chateaugay R. R. The Stage ride between Au Sable and Lake Placid, via Wilmington Pass (25 miles). stage ride between 'Westport and Lake Placid, via Elizabeth, Keene Valley and the Cascade Lakes (32 miles). Send 6 cents postage for fine Descriptive Guide to J. W. BURDICK, G. P. Agt, Albany, N. Y. /