THE
SIDN]EY
ENTENk'IA, iUB1tLE
-AT
SIDNEY PLAINS, DELAWARE CO., N.Y.,
JUNE 43, 18'/2.
ANN ARBOR:
DR. CHASE'S STEAM PRINTING HOUSE.
875
-1875.
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what wouldl seenm  to be an unwarrantab)le (ielay ii its l)tulbliceatioll.
Witlhoutt atteIl)tiig an einumeration of tlhe realsons tor the (lel.y,
or sl)pelin(g) aniv consi(leral)le timi-e iii ianiu tifaeturing uiisa.tisf,ii'tory ones, it w-ill be as well to sa,y that thlere is little( excuse for it.
This llak1es ian al)ology a little awkwar(l, And(l, )erl()s, tle least
said( the l)etter.
Itl. Shernilan,  tlhe  Clhairitnan  of  the  }oIee        (ollmitte(,
)ronliptl  p)rel)pared thle (letails (thlere l)eing no  pi)rol'essioni.tl rep)orter,) but many of the speeches were  lot fiirnislhed for a lonlg'
tinie after.  O()ni the whlole it may  b)e as well to laty the p)riiicil)pl
liamie at thle (loor of the pub)lislher, who is a goodi Iinature(l n ial
and will not be likely to object to that (lispl)ositioni of a vexe(I
q Duestio l., it7.5.
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PROCEEDINGS
IPlIO TO TEI CELEBRATIONT
Who is entitled to the honor of first suggesting the propriety
of holding a Centennial Celebration at Sidney, as the oldest settlement in the upper valley of the Susquehanna, is not certainly
known; bnt it is believed that Bennett Woodruff, Esq., of Unadilla, a gentleman familiar with our early history, first suggested
it.  This was several months prior to June, 1872, the one liundredthl anniversary of the settlement.  This suggestion was made
to Milton Johnston, Esq., a lineal descendant of Domiinie Johnston, the pioneer; and he, perhaps, was more instrumental than
any other one person in calling attention to the fact, that as a
comnunlity we were about to pass the first century of our existence.  About this time sundry articles in our local papers were
published, calling the attention of the people to the historical
fact; and very soon sufficient interest was manifested to warrant
the calling of a public meeting.  This mteeting was held in the
lecture room of the Congregational church, and was well attended by those who had a direct and personal interest in the
early settlement of the place.  The feeling manifested was very
strong that this opportunity must not pass without making an effort to call home our " wandering ones"  to celebrate with us,
when the time should come, the one hundredth anniversary of our
settlement.                                                    p
It was, however, urwed  by soie, that as a community, we
were not large enrigh, and had not wealth and experience sufficient to warrant an un(lertaking of such magnitude; that our
village accommodations were too small, and that it would hardly
be wise to undertake what we could hardly expect to carry out to
a satisfactory conclusion. 
TIrE SI)DNEY (EY NTENNIAL.
Hal)ily this feeling did not very largely prevail; and it was
ordered by the meeting, that a conimmittee slhoutld be appointed to
correspond with those who had gone out from us, and whose residence was kinown, and ascertain as far as possible their feelings in
regard( to the enterprise, and  whether or not many would be inclined to return to the scenes of their "' boyhood days," and join
with us in the undertaking.'lhe meeting appointed  as  suich
committee, John  Baxter, Milton  Johnston, and Ira E. Sherman,
and the restult of this correspondence was to be reporte(l to an
adjourned meeting.
At an adjourned meeting held some little time after, the correspo(ndence that had been elicited, was submitted; and it is to
be reg,retted that this correspondence, inll part at least, cannot be
liveni, as evidlencing the feeling, and anxiety even, with whichl
those *who were addclressed exp)ressed themselves  in rega-(rd to a
Centennial Celebration.   In no instance was the matter treated
lighflltly; but all seemed desirous to be nutmbered among tlhose,
who were disposed to lhon-or the memory of our fathlers'lhe
inames of only a few of these can now be recalled, whose interest
from the outset was strong, and whose apI)eals to us at home were
potent in urging on all needful preparation.   Among  those, I
cannot forbear to mention s(uch names as Hfenry \W. Rogers, David IMcMaster, Benjamin and Witter Baxter.
'This correslpondence  completely removed  all doul)ts and
hesitation; and at this meeting it was resolved] to celebrate the
one hundredth anniversary of the settlement of Sid(ney; and as
the first settlement in the valley was made here, it was further resolved to invite our sister towns along the line of the Sus(lluehannia, from  Binghamton  to Cooperstown, to unite with us in the
(-elebration.
At this meeting a ccmmiittee of arrangements was appointed,
to attend to the btiiness of raising funds, issuing circulars of invitation, &c.  T'he following are the names of the committee
Messr)-s. IRA E. SHE-M4-N,       Messrs. J. J. ROG'ItS,
J(SIIN IlAXTEIB,                 A. HAPI'I)Y,
MILI,TON JOHNSTON.               T. G. SMITiT,
lnd ABNER JOHNSTON. 
7
PRIOR PROCEEDIZNGS.
Ira E. Sherman was chosen Chairman; A. Hardy, Secretary;
and G. Smith, Treasurer.
It was resolved at this meeting that the committee  be instructed to invite Judge David McMaster, of Bath, to act as our
Historian; Benj. L. Baxter, of Tecumseh, Michigan, as Poet;
and Henry W. Rogers, of Ann Arbor, formerly of Buffalo, as
Orator; and further, that Rev. James H. Johnston, of Crawfordsville, Indiana, be invited to preach the Historical Sermon in the
evening.  Accordingly, invitations were sent to these gentlemen,
req(uesting their acceptance of such appointments; and favorable
answers were received from all, except the Rev. James H. Johnston,who felt compelled to decline on account of feeble health and
advanced age. Rev. A. McMaster was substituted in place of
Mr. Johnston; but this change  was made too late to be announced in the circular of invitation.
Accordingly, the following circular wvas issued and sent to
all whose names and address could be ascertained, who formerly
were residents of Sidney.  Prior to the issuing of the circular,
Milton Johnston, Esq., resigned his place as a member of the
committee, and Martin B. Luther, Esq., was appointed in his
place:
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THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAIL.
CIRCULAR.
1772.                                                                       1872.
)K,^,'+;,,6L         *oi,                                      g
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IRV.
You are respectfully
i)nvited to visit the Sisqutehanna Valley, and attend the
3Rrivzt <r, gvtjznvxi~wxtiJtfo
of its.settlement, to be held at S~DIIV EY  PLAINAS,  tine  13th, 1872.
Exercises to co7mmnece at 10 o'clock A. M.
lHoN. DAVID  MIcMASTER,  Baithi, Steubeii County, Newi  Yo-k.
HoN. BFNJAMIN  L. BAXTER,  Tecuniseli, Mic1iigan.
HoN. HENRY  W, ROGERS,  Ainn Aibor. Micli.
REV.  JAMIES H. JOHINSTON,  of Iiid.
It is proposed to make this one of the most iitterestiig celebrations ever
held in the ra(illey.   Tenits 70ill be er ected, an(l ere)y/thioq doie to makle the
occasion ple(as('it a(ud entertaining.  Siiigii'g by a( full choir, dressed ii
Old Time Costume.
A ftill programme of e,ei'cises will be issued lie)eafter.
.Ira E. Shlermilin,   )
Jolhn Baxteil,               Conllll ittee
M.  B: Ltitliei,
A.,Hardy,.                       of
J. J. Rogers,
Abner Jollhnlstol,        Arrangements.
T. C. Smiitli.
8 
PRIORI PROCI,IEDIN(GS.
Many responses were received by the committee to these invitatiolns, some of which have been preserved for publication, on
accoiunt of their historical and social interest.
As thle tirme drew  near for thle celebration, imanry questions
arose of no little embarrassment to those who were interested in
its success.  Large accommodationlls  were  necessary, to l)rovide
for our expected guests, and in a sm?all country village these are
by no means easily found. In some way shelter must l)e )rovid(led
from sun and storm, and  but for our agricultural friends, this
woutld have proved an embarrassing question to the last.  Tlihe
Susquehanna Agricultural Society"  a(nd the " Delaware Agriculttral Society," very generously tendered to thle committee the
use of their tents; and tlhese, being large an(d commodious, made
it possible to provide for the speaking and the dinner on a scale
lairge eunoughl to wvarrant reasonable success.
Tlhe care of the tents, their erection, seating and airranging,
was entrusted to Messrs. S. R. Beckwith, Josel)ph Miles and James
Parsons.  This was a bturtlhensome duty to perform, requiring
much time and care to d(o safely and well; but thle committee
had every reason to be satisfied with the way in which the duty
was performed,   Messrs. A.  M. TLurner and Albert  King  had
chlarg,e of the decorations, and displayed great taste and skill in
this ldeparttment for the little time and  material afforded them to
carry out their plans.
The dinner was un(der the charg,e of Messrs. Henry A. Foster, Milo Phlelps and George A. King, assisted by the la(lies of the
place; and that this duty was  iperfo-rmed to the satisfa.lction and
pride of all interested, is the highest commendation that can be
offered.  To those ladies wlhose duties were so burtlhensomhe, and
who d(lid so cheerfully and well the task imposed upon tlhem, we
can only say, that our gusts gave to them the palm, of p)roviding
more and better fate than many larger places would have d(eemed
possible.  No citizen but hladreason to be protud of the la(lies of
Sidney for their interest aill skill in planning, gatlhering, and providing for a dinner on a scale so large, that it seemed almost an
impossibility to accoi*plish it, even moderately well.
1.9 
'I'HE CELEBRATION.
tor many ays prior to Tlhurs(lday, June  i3thl, the weather
had been unfavorable for an out-door celebration; but on the
mornincg of that lday the clouds lifted, givingl promise of a serene
tJune dav-suchl a dav as makes life out of doors at once plea.sant
an(l enjoyab)le.  The ground( had been thoroughly soaked by the
rains of the preceding (lays; but under the influence of a brisk
west wicnd, by ten o'clockl, little inconveiience was suffered by
those, who were compelled to thread thle streets on ifoot.
Earl) in the dclay the people l)egan to gather, a few throiugh
idle curiosity, but ver  largely thlrot,ugh real interest in the proceedings about to take place; and as the different trains on the
NewN York alnd Oswego Midland and Albany and Susquehanna
Railroads, in(cluding extratrains that those Roads had generously
provided for the special accommodation of those who could not
reach Si(idney in time on the regular trains, began to arrive, those
who had before doubted the success of the celebration, were convinced that this was indeed to be the greatest gathering that had
ever been seen in this p)art of the valle.  The extra train from
Walton on the " Midland" was literally loaded down; even the
tops of the cars were covered by those, who were anxious to be
present at this, the first centennial celebration in the upper valley
of the Susquehanna.
An interesting featre of this gathering was the great number
of aged people,-.some of these were indeed venerable, on account of their advanced  age.  One in his hundredth year, and
several past ninety.  Thi  bent and wvithered forms of so mally
of these Nwhite-hlaired  pilg,rimis, amid  the life and buloyancy of
middle age and youthl, was a scene, such as is seldom  witnessed
- n 0 
AI)1))RESS ()F (  LF CQM1:,.
in thle ordinary gathlerings of life; and lent an interest to thloughlltfill observance, not easily overlooked or soon forg,otten.
At IO:30 the MIarshlal of the dclay, I,ieut. CHARRLES S. BRAD[ORD, and Ills,lszasfltfls, [)roc(eededl to carry out the programnme
of arrangemenits, and the I)rocession was forme(l in tlhe following
order:
BIan(d of tlle (13',l Reg. fromr  Norwi(h,
Coolnli i ottue o(f Arrtigellen ts,
Persons over 70 yeatrs of age,
Iovite(d GCests,
Desce(ditl ts of the early set lers,
Citizens of Sidtiey atid adjoining towls.
After marching throughl the l)rinci)al streets of the village tlhe
procession turned towards the groundcs chosen for the celebration.
'his was on the farm, formierly owned by Ezra Clarke, antI near
what was knowvn as the'" Indian Knoll," on the southi  bank of
the Sustluehlanina, and but a shlort distance above  the mouthl of
the Unad(lilla River.   Here were erected two  large tents-one
rovided withi seats and a I)latform; the other with tables for the
-imuner.  The speakers'  )latform  wvas tastefully festoone(l  with
fla,gs; and over the l)latformi  were the following words, formed
withi evergreens on a white backgrotund:
Olne  hiliil(reti )ye(ars.
~' Go(  our Si;re,%,z."
On the speakers' desk lay a rotugh looking grooved stone-the
first mill-stone used for grinding in this part of the country.
Trhe tent was soon filled to its utmtost capacity, whlilst outside in
every available place for seeing or hearing were  grouLped  those
who could not be seated inside.  As soon as sufficient order was
obtained, the chairman of the Committee of Arrangemients, the
HonI. IRA E. SHERMXAN, pronounced the following
A,4DDRiSS OF W-'EI COMfE.
As chairman df the Committee of Arrangements it )ecomes
my  plleasanit duty to extend to you, whlo are gatlher-ed hlere, oir
greeting on this interesting occasion.   WVithl wlat more fitting
wor(ls can I express thle feelings of those I represent, tlhanl il thlis
siml)le, old-time  lantguage?-Friends,  one andi all!  \N'Ve are
I; 
THE SIDNEY CElNTEINNIAL.
glad-heartily glad to see you. Not with words alone would we
welcome you, but with such manifestations of regard, as we are
capable of giving. Need I say, that our hearts are in this welcome? You come to celebrate with us an event, the parallel to
which has nowhere been found in all our previous history. Today we close up the first one hundred years of our existence as a
community. WVhen first we thotughlt and talked of the prop)riety
of celebrating this centennial day, we little dreamed that your
response to our invitation would be as hearty and cheering as we
find it to-day.  In all of our correspondence with those whose
early lives were spelnt amid these scenes, we have found, not only
encouragement and cheer, but a willingness to (o, to add to the
interest of this occasion, that has been far l)eyond our expectatiOnIs.  Throughl these helps f{,om small beginnings, has this celebration grown, until now I find myself in the midst of a large
assemblage of people, surrounded by men distinguished in nearly
all the walks of life, and whose words will both interest and
instruct us all.  To those of you who have gone out from us in
the ),ears gone by, and now return to celebrate with us this first
centennial day, we have not words to express the feelings that stir
our hearts in this greeting.  Our hills and valleys-our fields and
streets, our hearths and homes are youtrs to-day.  Do with them
and ziu them, as your hearts may prompt, and we will rejoice with
you in all that shall stir the heart with gratitude and praise-in
all that shall awaken those dear old memories of the past, without which, our lives are but as a barren waste, and the present a
drudging round of daily toil.  To these memories let this day be
fully consecrated.
One hundred years of ou.r history has been told.  To us, these
years seeni long.  Such mighty changes have taken place that we
can hardly realize, that aimost  within the life of one man, now
present with us, Mr. St. John, have these things been done.  One
human life covering almost our entire history; and that the history of this valley; now tllck with villages of thrift,and full of
the happy homes of those, who glory in their fertile acres, reclaimed during these years from the dominion of a mighty forest;
12 
REV'. M. E. DUNHAMI'S  RESPONSE.
and through all which, as the mightiest agent of civilized life,
now glides the iron horse, the bearer of our burthlens to the marts
of trade-a carrier that, with our missions of love and affection,
tarries not, nor tires, until his journey is accomplished.  The
men who have made these things possible, these are they whose
names it is our duty to inscribe upon our roll of honor, and send
them down  the ages, as the founders of a communtity  happy,
prosperous and free. Never before, have I looked upon sllch a
scene as this,-so many whitened locks-so many  faces seamed
and scarred by time-so many forms bent and withered  l)y age.
Tenderly and lovingly do we extend to yon our greeting; nor
need we say that yot are more than welcome!  It is our joy,, our
rp/ivi'ege to greet you here; for ye are indeed living epistles of
the history of the past,-that history which to-day we celebrate.
Once more, and to all who are gathered here, in behalf of
the citizens of Sidney Plains, I extend a cordial welcome; trusting that this day will prove of interest and joy to all, and that
each of us may be strengthened in our love an(l esteem for those,
the benefit of whose lives we are reaping year by year; and vlwhen
another century shall roll away, may we too be remniembered with
those who have gone before, as benefactors of our race.
Rev. M. E. DUNHAM, of Whitestown, N. Y., made the following response to the "Address of Welcome "
-REV. E.   DUA. HE.    -AM'S RRESPOzNSE.
Gentlemen of the Commnittee an(l Citizens of Sidney Plains:
In response to your kind invitation, we are gathered here
to-day, coming from the north and the southl, the east and the
west to greet you on this festival occasion.   We have already felt
the warm grasp of your hands as your lips bid us a hearty welcome to the spot whercdur ancestors have lived and labored and
died, and where s~ome of us played in childhood, and all of us
have lingered in imaginationrl; and now we are assembled for the
more especial object whiwh has called us together.  And first,
permit us to congratulate you on the auspicious omens which
smile upon the opening of your exercises this day.   The heavens,
el 3 
T  ll,SII)N! Ci,NTI,.isIA,L.
wh'ich have l)-ell frowning  with gathered cloLud- and boun)tiftil
showers, have cleared away at the dawning of this morning,  and
the sun shines as l)ri(rhtly an(1 I)benlignly as though its gol(ldenl rays
were woven out of tlhe ap)I)roving smilles of our departe(d ances tors.  AWe,gladly accel)t this token of aI)l)roval, as we proceed to
do honor to the miemory of tlhe men who first l)lanted the sta(nd ardl of civxilization in this beautiful valley.  It is well to remember
the past, aid to recall the toil, dep)rivation and self-sacrifice of
those who plushed forvward into the wil(le-rness to l)rovide  hal)l)y
homes for thleir descendants.  It was no slight test of bravery to
face the hostility and d(lefy thle treachery of the Nwily savage of the
forest, as the nol)le Johnstoln, who first u)ilt a house on this historic
spot fiilly proved l)y his own personal experience.  It was no small
exl)pencliture of plhysical strengthl  and  har(ly endurlance  which
cleared awayn the stu-rdy forest and brotught these Plains into cuiltivattd fields, smiling with bountiful lharvests.  And  yet to those
early pioneers it was a lao)(-)r of love, as they  looke(-l forward to
the time when their descelndlants, real)ing,  the fruit of their toil,
dwNelling ami(l I)lenty, with all the comforts an(1 imany of the luxuries of life, should rise il) and call them l)lesse(l.  WVe are  here
to (lay to recog,ize, and  so far as  i,ny  be, repay this debt of
gratitude.  \We dlo call them blessed, while our gratefill heairts are
filled with thanksgiving.
If there be any one thing whlichl  characterizes the American
people more than another, it is an intense and absorbing interest
in the present.   Engaged  in their merclhandise, their  farming,
their mechanical pursuits, their strife after wealth, they find little
time for reminiscences and small space for tiougthts of tlle past.
They pause not to  wvorship) d(a(l heroes, twine few  wreaths for
departed greatness, and bestow their chief a(lmiration upon the
living winners in life's great battle.   In  many respects this is
well; and yet the (lel)t oT gratitude we owe to those who have
lived and labored for our- goo(l, should  be neither forgotten nor
left unI)aid.   \Ve are what we-are, largely owing to what they
did for us in making prepariiotas for the full and free exercise of
our activities.   WNe have been sowing an(l reaping in fields which
their hands fitted for cultivation  and, in imany ways, we are en
14 
REV. M1. E. I)UNHITAM'S RlISPONSE.
joyiniig blessings Nwhich have come to us as the results of  their toil
and self-sacrifice.  It is befitting, therefore, that our thiotu,hts today shlould recount their names and  deeds; our li)s shall speak
their praise, and  our hearts  pour  forth a  fill tide of grateful
remembrance.
\Ve look back to an hundred years ago! A  solitary  white
man, with the Olive Branchl of the Gospel of Christ in his hluld,
and tlhe Charity of that Gospel in his heart, plants himiself fir t,
and after a time, his family, here in a forest full of savages and
wild beasts.  The hundred years have passed, and  lo! what a
crowd of happy hearts gathler here, surrounded by fertile fields,
whlichl are covered with grains and grasses, and hlerds, al(l (lottedl
withl homes pleasant, peaceful, and luxurious;-a goo(-dly (compilany of grateful descendants.  And,  may we  not flancy there are
more assembled hlere to-day than we can see with our miortal eve?
The veil is so thlin which separates the living from the dea(I-the
seen from the unseen-that we miay well believe there are eyes
looking inll upon us, wNhich are radiant with the light of iimmortality, and hearts b)eating in sympathly  vitih us, whose l)pulses are
too delicate for our dull materiality to recognize.  Thley are with
us and of us, though their hands are too thini for our friendly
grasp, and their lang,uage too spiritualized for our friendly greeting. WVe are not separated, perhaps, from the deplarted so far as
we have been accustomed to believe.  The army of human life
is marching on in a solid phalanx, with unbroken  column-i, the
front ranks having passed through the mists of death, out of
sighlt, leaving that portion of the column whlich is passing the
point called to-day, alone visible.  As one advances another immediately takes the place thus made vacant; and so the activities
and industries of life know no cessation.  WhIere the hammer of
enterprise falls from olk hand, another is ready to pick  it up.
The work goes unceasinlgly on.  Our forefathers lived and lal)ored
for our good, and we have taken upl) the work just where they
left it.  They have passe4 on to the land  unseen, and  wve are
closely following thlem.  Soon our part will be done, and our
places vacated.  We'shall leave the ledger unbalanced on the
III 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNNIAIL.
counter, the hammer idle on the anvil of life, the plough still in
the furrow, and the harvest ungathlered.   Others will fill our
places in the public marts of trade, occupy our seats by the fireside, and stretch themselves uponI our couches.  Let us see to it
that they have abundant reason to bless God that He permitted
us to live and lal)or for their good.
And now permit us to congratulate you upon  thie evidences
of material prosperity which we see around us.  The spirit of the
age has caught you-or you have caught it-and you are miarchitg nobly on in the great enterprises of the day.  The hills no
longer shut you in fron  the great thoroughfares of traffic and of
travel, for the iron bands cross each other in the very heart of
your valley, and the iron horse brings its load of merchandise to
your very doors.  Business is quickening its pulse of activity,
trade is multiplying its commodities of exchange, and thrift and
enterprise rule the spirit of the hour. WVe feel a pride  in your
success and rejoice in your prospects; for, though drifting away
on the tidle of adventure, we have located our homes in other
valleys and upon other hillsides; still, we have lost none of our
interest in the home of our childhood and the dwelling place of
our fathers. May your village spread its pleasant houses and
busy stores and thrifty shops on'er these plains until vour citizens
shall be numbered by thousands where they now count only hulndreds.
We congratulate you upon the success of this occasion.
Your unsparing efforts have won a triumphant success. Never
dicd children, returning from their wanderings back to the parental roof, meet a more hearty welcome, or find more  ample provisions made for their comfort than you have prepared for us today.   We thank you for this reception, and feel our hearts  knit
more closely to yours bl the expression of this hour.  " It is
good for us to be'here," for here we learn that there are some
things more valuable than gol&and silver; and that among  these
is the friendship of tried anl true hearts.  It is well to learn this,
for we  are members  of one family, and should  cultivate the
bonds of brotherhoodt  Our hearts should be knit together, and
16 
THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.
our sympathy for each other should be deep and strong.  Nor is
anything better calculated to secure these ends than scenes like
this; and so we come together to join hands afresh and to unite
hearts anew. WVith gla(ldness, therefore, we accept your generous
welcome, and participate in this celebration of a century ended.
Together let us do honor to a hundred years ago!
At the close of Mr. Dunham's address, A. HARDY, Esq., announced the following gentlemen as the officers of the day:
Presihent. —Henry W. Rogers.
Vi'ce-Presidents -Col. Robert L-Itughston and S. L. Wattles,
Esq., of Sidney; Hon. Joseph Bush and Col. Richard Juliand,
of Bainbridge; Col. Samuel North, N. Hughston, Esq. and Dr.
E. Odell, ofUnadilla; S. R. Follett, Esq., and Hon. Ebenezer
Blakeley, of Otego; Hon. W. WV. Snow, E. R. Ford, Esq., and
Dr. Meigs Case, of Oneonta; D. A. Carpenter, and H. R. Caswell, Esquires, of Afton; W. L. Mudge, and Edwin Northrop,
Esquires, of Colesville; Hon. Ransom  Balcom,  Hon. G.  Edwards, and Cyrus Strong, Esq., of Binghamton; Z. Curtis, and
A. Miller, Esquires, of Guilford; Hon. John H. Edgerton, of
Franklin; Hon. A. Bolt, of Masonville; Nelson Hyde, and Isaac
S. Newton, Esquires, of Norwich; Hon. Stephen B. Leonard, of
Owego.
On taking the chair, Mr. RO)GERS, who was born in the Valley, made the following address:
THE  PRESIDENT'S A,DDRESS.
Sons and Daughiters of the Pioneers:
I am deeply impressed by these surroundings-and still more
to stand in this presence as your presiding officer, to guide
and in some measure to direct the movements and proceedings of
this vast assemblage!  How could it well be otherwise?   Gathered from many parts ooour widelye extended country, here we
stand, the living attong.the dead, on an occasion of more interest and importance than any-other that has preceded it in the
history of this valley.  Lilw hundreds of others who  have wandered from the old home, but much longer away than most of
them, I come to you from a distant State and after an absence of
2 
THlE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
nearly one-half of the century, to do homage to the memory of
the brave men and women who first developed alnd cultivated
these fertile acres; and laid the foundations of society in trial
and suffering, in privation and want, consecrating it to virtuous
industry, enterprise and thrift, and more than all, to the precepts
and observances of our Holy Religion. The events of the past,
which memory so vividly recalls,- the associations and thoughts
of this hour are almost too deep and absorbing for intelligible utterance.  Where are the Pioneers, with whose stalwart framres and
manly  forms we were familiar in our infancy and childhood?
Where are the eai ly settlers, the sons of toil, but men of the lion
heart, strong in mind and will, the Johnstons, the Smithls, the
Averys, the Baxters, the Farnhams, the Bradleys, the Redfields,
the Hoveys, the Dudgeons, the Bixbys,, and scores of others who
dignified labor, and whom I then held as we all do their memory
nowv, in grateful veneration?  Dead. alas! all are dead! yet not
forgotten,-their works have followed them; and the good thev
did in their day and generation, still lives.  Many of youl as well
as myself, during tl;e years that have intervened between youth
and advanced age, have sought other fields for the exercise of suchl
powers as God has given us, and we have made for ourselves
other homes where love and affection dwell,-and yet it seems to
me now, that there is no place on this earth so sacred, so fifled
with all the attractions, all the lovable things and hlallowed associations that allure while they impress, as our childhood home.
'This was the theatre of our childish and innocent sports.  Here
we first learned to play and to work-to read, to write and to
cypher.  Here, under the pious guidance of Christian Mothers,
our infant minds received their first impressions of "the beautiful and the good."   Here we were first instructed in the laws of
the two tables-laws which lie at the foundation of religious civilization and high culturee-and here too, is the sacred spot,
" Where my eyes first opened to the sweet and pleasant light,
WVhere I learned the poems (f the morning and the night,
Where baptismal watersbn my infant forehead fell,
And where I heard the holy precepts I remember now so well."
With most of us it is the final resting place of our beloved dead,
18 
A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
-with whl    m  are associated  precious,  sacred  and  endearing
memories.   In conteml)lating such a place, hallowed l)y so much
that is attractive and impressible in age as well as in  childhood,
we can but feel that it is not only the home of our youtth, but in
some sense that of our old age also.  Surely this is a festive day
-an occasion for congratulations and joy, and, if we will, for
making merry, and yet in spite of ourselves, reflections of a sober, sombre  hue, will obtrude upon  our thoughts and I think
may not unreasonably be set down to the account of rational contemplation, if not of positive enjoyment.  However this may be,
believing as I do that they are in strict harmony with the sensibilities of many if not most of those who hear me,  I do not feel
called upon to apologize for giving expression to them. And we
may indulge the hope that they will hallow the occasion and lend
grace and gravity to this imposing ceremonial.
At the close of the President's address, prayer was offered by
the    Rev. J. B. MORSE.  fThe Norwich Glee Club, consisting of
Nlessrs. BABCOCK, CAREY, LVITHAM and BROWN, then sang the
follo win    g       p iece, entitled
"A HUNDRED YEARS AGO."
Where are the birds that sweetly sang
A hundred years ago?
The flowers that all in beauty sprang
A hundred years ago?
The lips that smiled, the eyes that wild
In fl,ashes shone, bright eyes upon.
0 where, 0 where are lips and eyes,
The m.iden's smile, the lovers' sighs,
Thl.it were so long ago.
That were so long, ago,
Where, 0 where, that were so long ago?
Where are the graves where dead men slept,
A  l[ndred years ago?
WVho, where they lived, did oft times weep,
*   A hundred years ago.
By other men. they knew net then,
Their lands aro tilled, their homes are filled,
Yet nature tlen wais just as gay,
And bright the sun sh ne as to-day
A hundred  years ago,
A hundred years ago,
lhere, 0 whlere, a hundred years ago?
it) 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
We all within our graves shall sleep,
A hundred years to come,
No living soul for us shall weep
A hundred years to come.
But other men our lands will till
And others, then, our streets will fill,
While other birds,rill sing as gay.
As bright the sunshine as to-day
A hundred years to coinc,
A hun.dred years to come.
Where? VWhere? Where? a hundred years to come?
The skill and taste of the singers ill rendering the sentiment,
as well as the music of this song, was very fine, and left an impression on those who beard it not soon to be forgotten.  The
President announced as next in order "a Historical Sketch,  prepared by the appointed Historian, a son of Capt. David McMaster,
one of the first settlers, and a beloved and honored citizen of this
valley seventy years ago, and for long years thereafter, and the
great-grandson of Rev. William Johnston, the Pioneer.'l'his
important duty," continued the President, "I am only too glad
to assure you, could hardly have been entrusted to fitter, certainly not to abler hands. Allow me to introduce to you our
Historian, Judge DAVID McMASTER, of Bath, New York ":
HISTO-RICAL A4 DDRESS.
Mr. Plresideit,-Ladies and Gentlemnen:
Assembled, as we are, to do honor by a festive celebration,
to the inemory of the pioneer settlers of the Susquehanna Valley,
almost our first thought is one of sadness, that so many of our
friends, whom we should have rejoiced to have met here to-day,
are not here. We are
" Parted and sundered by mountain and wave,
And some in the cold, silent womb of the grave.'
I pass into yonder enclosure, and read on the pale marble the
names of more persons vom  I once knew, than there are persons present whoi- I know to-day. I walk through the long
street in this village, where once every face was familiar, unrecognized, and meeting only Strangers; save here and there a grayhaired old man, in whom I perceive a strange resemblance to the
friend of my youth.,
20 
HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
Events which, in their passing, occupy and interest us most,
soon pass out of mind and are forgotten. The effacing hand of
time passes over and obliterates the realities of to-day.  History
and memory alone can bring back to us the realities of yesterday.
Hark! To-day our century clock strikes one.  It is well ior us
to step aside, and let the day with its freight of universal humanity sweep by; while for a few hours we cease from the turmoil of
politics and the cares of every day life, to call back the years long
gone, and gather up the memories of men and events before they
are lost in forgetfulness; and more than all to cherish and cultivate
in our own hearts the memory of those virtues, the patriotism,
the courage, the perseverance, the piety, for which our ancestors
were distinguished, and to which we, their descendants, are in a
great measure indel ted for the prosperity which we enjoy.
But, before entering upon the task which you have assigned
me, allow me to express the hope, that no one has come here today expecting, in the brief hour allotted to me, a history of the
Susquehanna Valley, its settlement and occupation. The preparation of the few pages which [ propose to read to you, has satisfied me, that to give shape and finish, and the certainty of truth
to unwritten history, requires qualifications to which I can make
no pretension. The proper execution of such a work can only
be performed by some diligent, pains-taking student, who will
visit and make  himself familiar with every locality; and who,
with  no  other care, and  with  no  inducement  to slight or
hurry his work, shall consult every available source of information, and embody the result in an ample volume.
It has therefore seeme(d to me, that I shall best contribute to
the design of this gathering of the citizens of the Susquehanna
Valley, by confining my discourse to the personal history of a
few representative men, tgether with some events of general interest with which. they were connected; avoiding, as much as
possible, detail of facts already published.  And, as the place at
which we are assembled today, is the  point at which, it is
believed, the first settlement in the SusquehanPa Valley, in this
State, commenced; the interest of this occasion naturally cen
21 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
ters here.  And also for the reason  that many of the early settlers of this place were personally known to me, it has seemed
easier for me to gather items of their personal history, than to
have obtained similar materials among strangers. I do not doubt
that equal interest attaches to other places and to others of the
early settlers.  But an attempt to go over the entire field would
have resulted in nothing more interesting than a mere rehearsal
of names and dates.
One hundred years have elapsed since Rev. Williamt Johnston, accompanied by his son, the late Col. WVitter Johnston, then
nineteen years of age, first came  to this place.  The father died
in 1783, and there is probably no person now living who ever
saw and conversed with him. Col. Witter Johnston died in October, I839, at the age of 86 years, having actually resided more
than sixty years upon the premises selected by his father and himself as the future home of the family.  Members of Col. Witter
Johnlston's family continue to reside here, who are not  only familiar with facts as related by the first settlers themselves, and
well understood in the family, but whose memory goes back almost to the commencement of this century.
So that although the period of three generations as commonly computed has passed since the time froni which we date the
comtmencement of our history, and although no formal records
have been kept, with a view to the preservation of facts of historical interest, our evidence, so far as it goes, is as reliable as if
such care had been taken; yet, in respect to many important
events, not so minute and particular as could have been desired.
All the books and papers of Rev.  William  Johnston  were destroyed in the burning of his house at Cherry Valley by the Indians, as will be m,)re particularly related hereafter.
The history of almost every locality in this State is connected with the history offs previous occupation  by the Indians.
But the space to wuhich.I am limited, permits but a very brief reference to Indian history.   All that the most industrious research
c(an discover, as to the origin and character of the red man, his
wars with the white man and with those of his own race. is to be
found in many volunms of local and general history. 
HISTORICAL ADI)DRSS.
Commonly, the history of the first occupation by the whites,
of whatever portion of this country, has been the history of ag
gression upon the occupation of the native Indian tribes.  But
the immediate occupation and settlement of this valley by our
ancestors is an exception to the:remark just made; although the
Susquehanna Valley had long been the Indian's favorite haunt and
hunting ground.
The Susquehanna Valley originally was part of the domain
of  the  six nations.    The  tribes  constitulting  the  six  nations,   viz:  the   Mohawks,   Oneidas,   Onondagas,  Cayugas,  Senecas  and  Tuscaroras,  resided  mainly  along a line
running from  east to west through the central portion of the
State.  The Susquehanna Valley was border territory, in which
Indians from those and other tribes dwelt quite promiscuously;
and either temp)orarily or ill permitnient villages, as suited their
convenience.   These were sometimes spoken of as Susquehanna
Ind(ians, which indicated only Indians of this locality.  There
was no tribe bearing that name.  The  Aquagas, understood. to
have been IMohlawks, constituted a considerable village or settlement at Aqutaga, now NVindsor, Broome Co.  The Schohlary tribe,
so called, was composed of  Mohawks, Mollicanls,  Delawares,
Tuscaroras and Oneidas.   A part of the Indian settlement at this
place (Sidney Plains) were Husatunnuks, and the rest probably
Mohawks or Onondagas.
From public records it appears that the Onondagas and Cayugas, claiming the Susquehanna an(l lands a(iljaceint, to the exclusion of the other tribes of the six nations, so far as respects the
right to convey, in I683 granted the same to the )Dutchl Government.  And afterwards, when the Province of New York had
passed to the British Government, the grant was confirmed by
the Indians to the Kingof England.  These were not very formal transactions, but as much so as was customary in treaties with
the Indian tribes.  Tke consideration was nominal, and the territory quite indefinite, as respects location an(l boundary.
The line between this county (Delaware) and(l Broome, run
according to the treaty of Fort Stanwix, of I768, and known as
20 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
the "line of property," was the boundary settled with the In dians by that treaty.  From a marked  beech tree, the corner of
Otsego and Delaware counties, which stands or formerly did
stand, on what is now an island near the mouth of the Unadilla
river (formerly on the main  lanid and a part of Col. Johnston's
farm), this boundary line of the Indian territory continued tiup
the Unadilla river, through the town of Bridgewater, to near its
source, and thence to a point between Fort Stanwix and Oneida
Lake.  I take this line as described on an ancient map.  By this
treaty, the territory east of the line described, which includes the
Susquehanna Valley, from the mouth of the Unadilla up, is ceded
to King George the 3d. The territory west is recognized as In dian territory; not, however, excluding the Mohawks, who con tinued to reside on the Mohawk, east of the line described; but
who, as I suppose, had sold most of their lands.
This treaty is a very formal document.  Besides other considerations it acknowledges the payment of ten thousand four
hundred aud sixty pounds, seven shillings, three pence, sterling,
by Sir Wm. Johnson, agent for the King; and is executed by the
chiefs, on the part of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, Senecas and Tuscaroras.  The boundary line is recited at
length: Beginning at the mouth of Cherokee, or Hogohege,
river, where it empties into the Ohio river, and running from
thence up and along the south side of said river to Kittaning,
which is above Fort Pitt, and thence from point to point, to " opposite where Tiana derha falls into the Susquehanna; thence to
Tiana-derha,and up the west side of the west branch thereof, by
a direct line, to Canada Creek, at the west of the carrying place,
beyond Fort Stanwix."
The first particular account of the upper portion of the Susquehanna Valley, and meigion of this exact locality at which we
are assembled, of which I have any information, is contained in
a letter of Rev. Gideon Hawley, giving a narrative of his journey
to Aquaga in r753.  He hi,d been ordained a missionary to the
Indians, and had commenced his work at Stockbridge, under the
patronage of Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards.   In this letter,  which
24 
HISTORICAL ADDRISS.
is to be found in Documentary History of New York, Vol. 3,
quite interesting, but too long to quote, he first gives an account
of an excursion into the Mohawk country, in the course of which
he visited Schohlarry, where, he says, are three decent meetinghouses, and two domninies;  the one "a  Calvinian."   Quere.
Was  this Calvinian our dominie, Johnston?  Of whom  more
hereafter.
In May, i753, in company with Deacon  Woodbridge and
others, Mr. Hawley set out for Aquaga, by way of Albany, Schenectady, Mohawk Castle, the Otsego Lake, and thence down the
Susquehanna river by canoe to Aquaga.
Some persons in this audience will remember a stone heap,
which we used to pass many years ago, by the roadside a half
mile below Unadilla Village, and commonly called, the "Indian
Monument." The significance of this monument Mr. Hawley
explains.  In the course of his narrative he states, that during
his journey in Schoharie county, he saw their Indian guide
pick up a stone and cast upon a heap, which for ages had been
accumulllating by passengers like him.  He enquired why he observed that rite. The Indian's answer was, that his father practised it and enjoined it upon him.
The part), proceeded down thle river, with some adlventures,
which he describes, and "June 3, Lord's day, passed a considerable village; some families of which were  Husatunnuk  Indians,
speaking the same language as the Stockbridge tribe.  They stood
on the bank (he says) and beheld us.  At  this place, from the
northwest, rolls into the Susquehanna a river which is navigable
a day's journey.  Its liame, Teyonadelhloughl."  Here  they left
their Indian guide, who had proved himself a worthless fellow,
and the next day arrived at Aquaga. The description of the
river that flowed into tl-o Susquehanna, and the distance from
Aquaga, identify tlhis place.
The name of the river which we call Unadilla, in different
papers of ancient date is spelled so differently that we scarcely
recognize it.  This is accounted for by the fact, that the pronunciation by the Indians,is differently understood by different hear'
2rg 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
ers, and written accordingly.  Thus, by Mr. Hawley it is written,
Teyonadellhoughl.  On an old map in Documentary History, Tianaderhah.  The Chieftain Brant, in a letter contained in Mr.
Campbell's History of the Border \Warfare of New York, writes
"Tunadilla."  The  same  is true  in respect to other  Indian
names; as Aquaga, written by Mr. Hawley, Ouohoghlwage, &c.
Tile exact locality of the Indian settlement noticed by Mr.
Hawley is uncertain.  Indian relics, among whichl are flint arrowheads ill great n)umbers, indicate either the knoll near the railroad bridge on this side of the river, a few rods below us, or a
similai elevation of ground directly opposite, on the other side
of the river, or a table-land half a mile further down, on Milton
Jolhnston's farm.  Each of these l)laces exhibits similar evidence
of occupation by Indians.  The " knoll" on this side was an elevation of ground remarkable for its regularity of formation. As
I recollect it, some twenty rods more or less from the river channel, perhaps fifteen feet above the level of the flat on all sides,
twenty or thirty rods long and ten rods wide on the top, which
was as level as the flat below, and the banks sloping on all sides.
Tllis knoll was above high water mark.   Thie flat on all sides was
subject to be overflowed.  Apple trees were growing there, when
the place was first visited by white men, which continued long
since the time of my memory.   lhere were old corn hills on the
flats near by.  This  "knoll" was mainly removed, and used by the
Midland Company in constructing their embankmlent and road
from the river to the depot near by; an act of barbarianism
against which I here record my  protest.  In digging away and
removing this earth, Indian skeletons and relics were foun(i,whllich
indicated that it had been used as a place of burial.
It is stated in a note in Frcnch's Gazetleer that "at this
place was the site of angld Indian fort.  Three acres of ground
were enclosed by mounds of earth, surrounded by a ditch."  The
outlines of this work are remembered by persons still living, but
have now disappeared.   This is believed to hleave been the work
m
of a race of inhabitants more ancient than the Indian tribes who
occupied the country, when discovered by Europeans.  The John
26 
HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
stons lived for many years at the " knoll."'   I'heir first habitation
was built of logs.  It is proper to add that this Indian settlement
is the locality referred to as " Unadilla" in early official papers,
and during the Revolutionary war. The town of Unadilla, Otsego county, was formed in I7 792, which I think has led to some
confusion as to places.  For instance, in frenc/h's Gtzzetteer, tinder the article or head " Unadilla," meaning the town of Unadilla, it is stated that " a conference took place between General
Herkimer and Brant, the Indian warrior, at Unadilla, in July,
I777."   It is well known, as I shall soon come to state more particularly, that this conference took place at what is now Sidney
Plains, but ill 1777 was known as Unadilla.
It is stated in French's Gazetteer, in a marginal note, —and
truly (I presume) that the town Sidney was named for Sir Sidney
Smith, the British Admiral, and first applied by John Man(leville,
an Englishl school master, then living in Sidney Plains.  It is to
be regretted that instead of going so far for a name this place had
not been allowed to retain its original and more appropriate
name of "Tianaderhah " or Unadilla.
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
Rev. William Johnston and his son, Witter, (late Colonel
Johnston) cabe to this place on foot; driving a cowv from Cherry
Valley or beyond, arriving here May  10, 1772.  They came by
an Indian path, and conducted by anl Indian guide. T1he father
remained till fall, making such preparations as they could for the
accommodation and maintenance of a large fiamily, which was to
remove to this, their new home in the wilderness, the next season.
Dominie Johnston (as for brevity and convenience I shall
frequently designate the father of the Johnston family) returned
to his family in Curry'sdushl, now Florida, Montgomery county,
leaving WVitter to pass the winter alone, or with such Ilndian company as he might happen to live.  It may be remarked here that
the Indians remaining atethis place were ever kind and friendly
to the family, aiding them when in straits for provisions and also
affording such help in case of sickness in the family, as their ex
;7 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
perience and skill enabled them to do.  In June following, the
entire family, with the exception of the eldest son (who was then
married, and who died about the close of the war; and never
came here) removed to this place,-consisting of the parents, the
two sons,Witter and Hugh, commonly called Hlughy,(then about
ten years of age,) and four daughters.  They came with all their
effects, in canoes or bateaux, down the river from Otsego Lake.
Rev.  William Johnston  (born  in  Dublin, Ireland, in 1713,)
was then about  sixty years of age.   He  had received a thoroughl education at Edinburgh University, Scotland,-four years
in the literary and three in the theological department. He came
to this country a young man; and married a Miss Cummins, an
English lady.  I am unable to state where he had resided during
all the time prior to his removal to this place, principally, it is
believed, in the vicinity of Albany and Schenectady, and at Curry's Bush and Warren's Bush. His occupation had been that of
minister of the gospel, and of the Presbyterian Calvinistic faith.
His wife was a lady of education and accomplishments, and was
in the receipt of an income from England of rI5o per annum,
but whlichl was never remitted after the breaking out of the war.
The Dominie, it seems,went out fromr his former home somewhat as the patriarch Abraham did, "not knowing  whither he
went,"' nevertheless, " in faith that hlie should receive an inheritance."  One Bradstreet had a patent or grant of a large tract of
land lying south of the Susquehanna, which he claimed came to
the Susquehanna at its junction with the Unadilla. He had offered
Mr.Johnlston lands without other consideration than that of settling
on his tract.  When Mr. Johnston stopped at this place, he supposed he was on the Bradstreet tract.  It turned out, however,
that the Bradstreet tract did not come to the river; and the Johnstoiis, on discovering the mistake, chose to remain and purchase
of Banyer & Wallace, the true proprietors, rather than go back
from the river, and receive land without price, from Bradstreet.
The price to be paid was swenty-five cents or a dollar per acre.
Wallace turned out a Tory, and his property was confiscated.
After the close of the war, and after the death of Dominic John
28 
HISTORICAL ADDRPESS.
ston, payment was made by Col. Witter Johnston into the State
Treasury, and the title of the Johnston heirs was confirmed by
act of the Legislature.
The selection of this tract of 520 acres, was most judicious
a better could not have been niade between Otsego Lake and the
mouth of the Unadilll-.  The  hill opposite, commonly called
"Moses' Hill," was bare of timber, having been frequently burned over by the Indians to facilitate the pursuit of game; and afforded an excellent look-out.  From this hill the valley could be
surveyed for miles, and doubtless from this eminence the Johnstons often overlooked their estate, then mostly covered with
timber, and anticipated the time, when instead, they would behold green pastures and meadows, and fields of waving corn and
wheat, as we do now.  And yet they could have scarcely seen in
imagination the landscape as wve see it to-day.
I know no section of country presenting such a succession of
beautiful landscapes, as does the Valley of the Susquehanna,and nowhere in this beautiful valley, a more charming view than
from a point a mile west of the spot where we now stand; and
where at a glance you have the Susquehanna and Unadilla rivers
flowing together; small islands fringed with willows, broad mea(lows and plains; the Midland Railroad winding round the point
of old Moses' hill, and the valleys stretching up and away on
either side.
I confess myself partial to Sidney Plains and its surroundings. Nowhere, for me, does the sun shine so pleasantly on hillside and plain as here.  Nowhere does the Susquehanna flow so
gently aind sweetly as here; and notwithstanding the attachments
I have formed elsewhere, and that what of life's work I have
done, I leave done elsewhere; here, where I first saw the light,
would I for the last timeee the sun go down.
The family rethained, improving their farm, and encountering such trials and privations as their situation, distant from settlements of civilized people, necessitated, till the summer of 1 777.
There was no mill nearer than the Mohawk, and no highway but
the river. For several years, their only meal or flour was ob
4!9 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
taimed by pounding corn in a mortar,  which they did every
morning for the day's supply.   On Saturday a double portion
was invariably prepared. The first grist-mill in this vicinity, was
built by Carr, on Carr's creek, a few miles east of this place, on
the site of what was afterwards B-xter's  Mills.  The  upper or
running stone is exhibited here to- day, the table or desk from
which I now read.  The date of the construction of this mill I
am not able to give.  One had been previously built on the Ouleout.
After the declaration of Independence, and in the summer
of I777, affairs began to assume a threatening aspect to settlers
in this valley, though far removed from the theatre of regular military operations.  IThie Johnstons were warmly  attached  to the
Colonial cause.  The six nations, with the exception of the Oneidas, adhered to the King, and were become dangerous neighbors.
Brant, the Mohawk chief, with his warriors, traversed the Susquehanna Valley and the country adjacent: neither families nor settlements were safe from  his hostile incursions, unless protected
by a military force.  Like the wolf, his whereabouts to-day could
not be calculated from that of yesterday.
Brant (Thayendanegea), had been patronized by Sir William Johnson, the British Superintendent of Indian Affairs, on account of the talent he had exhibited when a boy; and perhaps,
also, on account of his (Sir William Johnlson's), relations to
Brant's sister.  Brant had been educated at the Indian Mission,
under Rev. Eleazer Wheelock, at Lebanon.  Mr. VWheelock's letters, bearing date  I762, (published  in Documentary History)
speak favorably of the boy Josepll (Brant), as being studious and
diligent.  Brant spoke and wrote the English language well.  He
had associated with well bred and educated people.  He  had
been in England, and *ell received there in aristocratic circles.
His portrait was lainted by an eminent artist in England, and he
is probably as faithfully represented in paintings and engravings
as is General WNVashlington. He was courteous and polite when
he chose to be, and knew howv to make  himself agreeable.   He
had been instructed in the doctrines of Christianity, and  was a
30 
HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
communicant in the church up to near the time of his eng,aging
in the war.  Both before and after the war, hle translated  por tions of the New Testament into the Mohawk  tongue for the
benefit of his people.
But, when the war of the Revo'ution broke out, having no
interest in the contest, and without motive, unless a mercenary
one, or the indulgence of a savage lust of blood and plunder, he
enlisted with his people in the service of the King.   He was, no
doubt, a brave and sagacious warrior; but his exp)e(litions against
quiet, unprotected settlements, and destruction of families without respect to age, sex or condition, relieve us from any obligationI of charity to his bloody memory.
Published accounts of Brant's visit or visits to this place in
the summer of 1777 vary somewhat.  Mr.  Caml)l)ell, whom I regard as reliable, in his History of the Border Warfare of New
York, says that in June of that year, Brant went up from Aquaga
to Unadilla, with a party of 70 or 8o warriors, and sent for the
officers of the militia company and Rev Mr. Johnston; " inform-ed them that they were in want of provisions; that if they
could  not  get thenm by consent,  they must  by force; complained  that  they had been threatened by General  Schuyler,
and  that the Mohawks were not at liberty to pass acnd repass as
formerly,"  &c.   That  they staid two days and  returned, the
inhabitants letting them have provisions.  And that in JuLly, General Herkimer marched to Unadilla with 380 militia, and was
met there l)y Brant with 130 warriors.   That threatening words
passed between General Herkimer and Brant, and their men;
but that the interview terminated without  bloodlshed.  General
Herkimer's object was to induce Brant to remain neutral.  Brant
avowed his purpose to adhere to the Kinig's party.
Another account, (as is stated in a pLublishled life of Brant),
attributes a treacherous I)Irpose on the part of General Herkimer
to seize Brant, which led to a hostile demonstration on the part
of Brant's warriors.           -
It is probable that thee were two  visits of Brant to this
place; although I have not met with the statement of that fact
in other accounts, which I have seen, of Brant's movements
34 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
and the family tradition, as I have it, is of only one visit by
Brant. And that tradition is, that Brant met General HIerkinier
l)y appointment in the summer of I1777, Brant with i1o warriors
encamping on the high plane or tablc-land(l, on what is now Milton Johnston's farm, a mile below; and General Herkimer on
the Huyck flat, one and a half or two miles above the place
where we now stand.  That they held their conference  on the
Bradley farm, midway between; perhaps a quarter of a mile up
the Railroad  from the station.  That  Domtninie Johlnston  was
present at the interview.  That Brant met the  Dominie  in a
friendly manner, and asked him on which side he was.  That
Mr. Johnston replied that he was on the side of the people; that
Brant placed his hand on his (Johnston's), arm in a familiar
way, and told him he was right, and that he was a brave man.
Another account, derived through another member of the Johnston family, mentions that threatening words passed between the
Dominie and Brant; and that the Dominie shook his fist in
Brant's face antd told him " he was not afraid of an Indian;" and
that Brant intimated that they might meet again.  These accounts are not inconsistent, and probably both are true.  Our
authority for the statement that threatening words passed between
Mr. Johnston and Brant, is also authority that Capt.  Cox, of
General Herkimer's party, drew his sword and threatened to arrest Brant; whereupon, Brant gave a signal, and  his warriors
suddenly appeared, prepared to protect hili..
All the circumstances, and the order in which events transpired at this interesting interview, probably cannot now with certainty be known. I am not aware that any written statement,
by any party then present, exists.  I see no reason to suppose
that treachery on either side was contemplated.  Although the
parties met for a friendly conference, it was not unnatural that in
the course of the convetlation they should become excited, and
use threatening language.  The fact that no violence or bloodshed was committed, should -be received as evidence that none
was premeditattd.  During their stay, some depredations were
committed in open day, on the clothes line at the Johnston house,
by one of Brant's party.  On complaint being made to the chief
32 
HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
hle passed it off lighitly:-" Ha! These Indians? I can't control
t le m.'"'
It is not unlikely thl)at some of these incidents of Bratit's visit to this place, as related by tlle Johnston fimily, took place at
the one visit, and some at the other.
Soon after these occurrences, the Johnston family removed,
for safety, to Chlerry Valley.   Before leaving, they secreted some
farminlg utensils, and such articles as thcy could not, or dlid not
choose to carry with them, burying them in the ground or under
the hearth.
On the I tthl of November, I778, occurred  the cruel  and
bloody massacre at Cherry Valley, under tiie lead of Capt. Wal
ter Bulter,  of infamous mem,)ry,  andc the Mohawk  Chieftain,
Brant.  I have not space for details of the events of this woefiil
day, further than they relate to the Johnston family.  Whether
others of the Susquehanna settlers had taken refilge in Cherry
Valley, and if so, what their fate was, I am not informed.
A fort had l)een erected at that place, and(l a military force
stationed there for the protection of the inhabitants.  Capt., or
Col. Alden was in command of tlhe fort.   He had received iiotice
on the 8thl of November, of an intended attack on thle p)la(e l)v
the Indians; but treated it lightly, supposing it unfounded.  On
receiving this information, the inhabitants had asked  permission
of Capt. Alden to remove  into tlle fort, or at least to remove
their valuables there for  safe keeping, which  request hle  had
denied.
On the night of the ioth of November, the enemy encamped
onl a hill, covered with evergreens, about a mile S. Wv. fromt the
fort.  Ol the morning of the  Ii thl, the day on which the massacre took place, (for details of which, probably Mr. Campbell, the
author before referred to, is the most reliable authority,) Dominie
Jolhnstoin's sons, WVittelrand Hughlly, were at the fort.  Witter
was thlere in the serVice,.and w'as p)robal)ly there on duty.   Huglhy
was a boy, fourteen years oll.  How,  or why he  happened to
be there, does not appear.    Fhle family resid(led one to two miles
distant, in  the direction ol)ljsite, as  I understand,  from  the
direction in which thi enemny were approaching.
3
3 
THE SIDNEY CENTEN'IAL.
A man rode up to the fort, with his arm shattered by a shot
from an Indian, and gave the first alarm, that the Indians were
coming.  The word passed between the brothers that they must
run home and alarm the family.  Hugh, who was a stout, active
boy, and swift of foot, started at once, and ran at his utmost
possible speed, supposing his brother was following him; and did
not look back, till passing over a hill which was in the iotoute, lhe
looked back and first knew that he was running alone. He had
heard guns, and the tumult which the alarm had given, and then
supposed his brother had been killed.   But he made no pause until he arrived at his father's house; and rushing in. he exclaimed,
Run for your lives-the Indians are comling!"  The  family
had heard the alarm gun at the fort; and the old gentleman had
got up his horse to ride down and see what it meant.  He was a
resolute man, and at first refused to flee.  One of the daughters,
(afterwards Mrs. Neally) who possessed a good deal of her fatlher's spirit, declared she would not go unless her father did.
That circumstance, and the earnestness with which  Hughly urged
them to hasten their flight, prevailed with the father to join the
family in an attempt to escape. The mother, wlho was feeble,
was placed on a horse, and, the rest on foot, all hastily left their
house, for concealment in the woods. The party consisted of
the parents, the son Hugh, four daughters, and a lad, seven years
of age, afterwards, and for many years, favorably known in this
community ns Capt. McMaster. Passing in the direction opl)posite that from which the Indians were approaching, they soon
came to a turn in the road where was an old ashery, which helped
conceal them from the sight of the enemy, who were coming up)
the road.  Directly, thev were in the woods, and secreted themselves as best they could.  The Indians came up so soon after the
familv left, that before they reached the woods they saw the smtoke
of their dwelling on fire.  They remained in the woods the night
of the I i th, a cold, rainy, November night; the Indians passing
so near as to be heard by them.  It is related that there was a
woman with the party in their place of concealm.nt, with a young
child.   Thlat while the Indclians were passing near them,  the
mother lay with her,handI close to the child's mnouth, with the
34 
HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
pu'rpDse, if the child should mitk  th, least noise, im- ndiately to
suffocate  it.  The  child slept.  The Indians passed on.   The
next day the Johnstons found shelter in the fort.  Soon  after
they went to the Mohawk, and after that to  Curry's Bush,  in
Montgomery or Schoharie Coufity, where they remained till after
the war.   The Dominie lived till after the proclamation of peace,
but never returned to this place.   He died in 1783.
I recur for a moment to the boy Hughy, and the  i  th November.   I regard his conduct on that day as an exhibition of
genuine heroism. It should be remembered that he was but 14
years of age.  He was at the fort, a place of safety, when  the
alarm was given in a manner calculated to appal the stoutest
heart. He knew the enemy and their mode of warfare. The
massacres at Wyoming, Harpersfield, German Flats, and other
settlements, were  of recent occurrence.  A  natural  instinct of
self-preservation would have led any one but a disciplined soldier
to seek safety in the fort.  But  he hesitated not  a  moment;
thinking only of the safety of the family, and exerting himsel'f to
the utmost to that end.   The discovery that his brother was not
with him, and the belief that he had been killed, did not dishearten him.   When arrived at his home, instead of placing lhimself utinder the protection of his father, a brave and experienced
man, he insisted upon the flight of the family as the only possible means of safety, and succeeded in carrying his point against
the first declared determination of his father.  The family were
all saved.   They could have been saved in no other way.  If the
boy had been  less prompt  or less efficient, beyond  doubt the
entire family would have been destroyed.  Brant had not torgotten the insult he had received from the Dominie, when the latter
defied him, and told him he was not afraid of an Indian.   The
boy's whole conduct seems like the result of an inspiration.  It
was the inspiration of true heroism, and deserver a record on the
enduring page of history.
Between thirty and fority persons were massacred in Clherry
Valley on that i i th November; among others Capt. Alden, who
lodged in town and Uas not able to reach tne fort.  Others were
3 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
carried away into captivity. Mr. Campbell makes no mention of
the Johnston family, for the reason, probably, that they were
saved.
That familv all survived the war. All lived to a good old
age, all brought up families, anid a numerous posterity still survive. Many have passed away.
Ttis is an original manuscript sermon of Rev. \William Johnstonl.  It appears to have been a Thanksgiving sermnon, and probably written in i782.  It is written in a neat  hand, but with
such  economy  of paper  and  words,  using contractions with
which we are not familiar, that it is not easy reading.
Capt. Johnston, of whom I have been speaking as the boy
Hughly, " was a resident of this place after the war, about fifty
)ears, universally esteemed and respected. He died in October,
I833, at the age of seventy. He was a man of friendly, genial
temper, always relished a good story and a hearty lau,gh.  In
action was ever prompt and efficient.  An incident will illustrate
better than any words I can select, though not otherwise important.
He  had been engag,ed one day at some woi'k on his farm
near the river, about where the Midland Railroad crosses, just
below us.  A hired man drove a p)air of oxen (hitched to a cart)
to the river to drink. On this side there was no bank, and the
water shallow, but towards the other shore deep with a steep
bank. The river was not high, but somewhat swollen. Through
the awkwardness of the teamster, instead of being turned around
and brought out, the oxen were allowed to go forward, and soon
were in deep water, making for the other shore.  The danger, of
course, was that they would become involved with yoke and cart
and b)e drowned.   Capt. Johnston perceived the situation at a
glance, and, without wanting for a canoe, although there was one
on the other sidehtlat.vould have come at a call, throwing off
his hat and boots, he plunged in after his property.  I happened
to be in the field on the (Apposite side, and not far from the river,
(a boy at that time,) and  hearing some  noise  that  indicated
trouble, I ran to the river.   There were the oxen, just landed
.36 
IHISTORI(AL AD1)RIgJS.
against thle bank, the water up) to their yoke, and thle Captain in
the middle of the stream swimming,  his broad shoulders heaving
above the surface with every sweep of his strong arms, and going
through the water like a steamboat. WVith some help), which wvas
soon at hand, the oxen were disengaged( from the cart and turned
back to the other shlore.  Capt. Johnston was then between fifty
and sixty years of age.
Another incident of the river will show lowv  women met
their responsibilities in the'' early times."
That those who are not acq(luainted with the river as it was
then may appreciate my story, it i: proper to state that, in time
of very highll water, the entire flat between the two rivers, on the
opposite side of the SLusquehlanna, as also on this side below
where the Midland Railroad crosses  the main street, and quite
out to the highway, would be flooldedi; so that opp)l)osite and below where Capt. Johnston then live(l (somie thirty to fifty rods
below tlhe railroa(l crossing), would be an expainse of water a mile
in widtih.   Oil this side of the main channel of the river, the
bank was linedl with large trees, buttonwoods, l)utternuts, soft
maples, etc., and extending the entire wi(lth of Capt. Johliston's
farm along the river.   VhIere the river broke over its balnks, the
current, as well as in the main channel, was very strong.  In nly
youuger days I hlave sat for hours at such a titne, vwat(chinug from
the opposite side, the flood(-wood( and ice as they went  crashing
thlrough and amongst those trees.
At a time of one of these very high floods, as related to me
by Mr. Abner Johnston, their family were astonislhed one day to
see a woman, who lived on the opposite bank, and is well remnembered in this community, Mrs. Capt. McMaster, come  paiddling
her canoe alone up to their very door   In crossing she must lhave
pa,sed through the line Q  trees I have described.  Tihe strength
of the current in tlle main channel, whi(ch at such time svwep)t entirely over the smiall Island it3 the middle of thle stream at that
point, would render it implssible to p)ass hligher ul).  Her errand
at the Johnston house was somethinlg in regard to a jol) of wveaving; p)erhlaps to get a skein or  t\vo ol' yarni to finish it up).
3Z 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
Having done her errand, she stepped illto her canoe again with
as little concern as a lady now-a-days would step into a carriage
to ride across a bridge, pushed her light shallop from the shore,
and returned the way she came.
To appreciate the courage, self-possession and skill necessary
for such a feat, one must have seen the Susquehanna at that place
and during such a flood. I do not believe there is a woman in
the State of New York at this day who  would undertake it.  I
doubt whether there is a man present to-day, who would volutnteer to undertake.it, without some stronger inducement than a
skein or two of yarn to finish a job of weaving.
('anoe navigation was much  more practiced in the "early
times" than now; and of necessity, before bridges were built
and roads opened. The canoe was the carryall and the river the
highlway-whether  to mill or to meetings,  or on  visits, and
whether lip or down the stream; though with the material difference that the descent, like all descents since the descent of Virgil's hero to Avernus, was easy; while of the ascent it might be
said, as then, h/lc Izbor, ihoc OptS est-this is work indeed.  Capt.
Johnston once took a canoe load of people down to Jerichlo to
meeting, and is reported to have said, that " setting the canoe
back, sweat all the good of the meeting out of him."
Col. Witter Johnston continued in the service till the close
of the war.  I am not able to give details of his campaigns.  His
services were with the State troops, and mainly in the Mohawk
country.  He was with Col. Willet, a very gallant officer, in some
of his expeditions.  It was in one of Col.  WVillet's engagements
with Indians and tories, at West Canada Creek, thlat Walter Butler, whose name is justly condemned to everlasting infamy for
his many atrocities, was killed.   He died, as he deserved to die,
by the tomahawk and salping knife, at the hand of an Oneida
Indian, who, as he lifted the bloody scalp from his head, shrived
the departing spirit with the words, Sherry Valley-Remiember
Sherry Valley! 
Most persons present to-day, who knew Col. Johlnston, will
remember him  only as an old man.   He did not possess the
38 
HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
robust frame,  the  vitality, and  buoyant spirit of  his brother
Hu,gh.   But he was a man of great force of character.  Although
the father was nominally the pioneer, Col. Witter is entitled,
more than any other, to be regarded as the foun(ler of this settlemeut, the first in the Susquehlalnna valley in this State.  lIe came
with his father at their first visit, and remained in charge when
the old gentleman returned to the family.  He contributed more
than any other to sustain the family, in their early trials and
hardships.   His pay as an army officer was all devoted to that
purpose.   In after life, when in prosperous circumstances, he was
accustomed to lead in all enterprises of a public character, whether
civil or religious, where means and effort were required. He was
a malt of strong will, sometimes called wilful, or, as some would
say, " set in his way."   If to be governed by his own conscience
and judgment in matters that concerned  himself, is to be wilful
or "set in his way,"  doubtless Col. Johnston was such a man.
His early training and experience  had taught  him self-reliance.
Perhaps this trait of character in him was in part constitutional.
It is said to crop out occasionally in some of his posterity. There
are some papers of his, of quite ancient date, which I shou'd like
to read if I had the time.  Here is one, a letter to Capt. Camnan,
as it is brief and characteristic, I will read it
"SCtlENECTADY, Decemlber 13, 1783.
SIR:-I have  the pleasure to inform you that McCoy is
taken, and has received one hundred lashes for the freedom he
had taken in disposing of your jacket, and soine other articles he
had in his care. I likewise inform you that I have received as
much c(ordui-oy and trimmings as will make a jacket, excepting
the lining, from said McCoy, and as I do not think it proper
to trust it with him again, will keep it and the c(oat till I hear
from you.?        am your humble servant,
WITTER JOHNSTON.
To CAPI'. CAMAN."
a
Froi  the pleasure that thie Colonel acknowledges in being
able to inform Capt.,Caman that McCoy had received one hun
3t9 
THE SIDNEY CENTENKIAL.
dred lashes for stealing his (Capt. Caman's) jacket, I have no
doubt tlhaLt, as a theological dogmia, Col. Johnston hleld thlle doctrine of retributive justice.
Col. Johnston used to speak with a just feeling of pride of
having met and dined( with Gen. WVashington.'Ihlat was, p)robably, at tlhe time of Gen. WVashington's visit to Fort Stawvix,
and to Otsego Lake, in 1784.
The famnily, name of Col. Jolhnston's wife was Camipbell.
Capt. Johnston's wife was sister of the late CyruLs Strong, of
Binghamton.  Both were woman eminent for piety and good
deeds.
Persons in this audience who attended public worship at this
place 45 to 6o years ago will rememlber the quite deaf and infirm
old gentlemian, who was accustomed to sit in the  pulpit, holding
an ear trumpet, Mr. SANIUEL ROGERs, who settled at Unad(lil!a in
the early spring of I796.  He  was born in North Bolton, T]olland  Co.,  Conn., January 3o, 1764, and was married to Sarah
Skinner in her native town of East WVindsor, itn the same State,
Nov. 4, I785.  In the year I790,  he  rem1ove(I to  Grainville,
Hampshlire  Co.,  Mass., where  he resided until his removal to
Unadilla.  In the fall of 18II, hle removedl to a house built by
himself in that )ear, on the westerly side of the Catskill and Oxford  turnpike, about  midway  between  the  Sts(stlelhanna and
Unadilla rivers; and here continued( to reside until his (leath, in
March, i829.   His widow survived  him, and died in Octobl)er,
185o, at the uge of 83.
MIr. and MIrs. Rogers wvere communicants of the Congregational Church before their removal  from New  Englandl, and at
the first organization of the (Con,gregational  Cilurchl at Si(lney
Plains, or soon after, connected themselves with that organizationl.  Mr. Rogers was a&-eclhanic, and wvorked at his trade, that
of a shoemaker, do%,n to the periodl of his death.  He had a great
love of books, and was a coinsntit reader from his early youth.
He acquired without a teacler, a respectable knowle(lge of matlhematics, and  b)e(camie an  accuirate surveyor, and occasionlally
dulring his life workedpat that bulsiness simply as matter of a(;(:om
40 
HISTORICAL ADDRFSS.
modation to his friends and  neighbors.  His eagerness in the
pursuit of knowledge led himi, while engaged at his trade, at odd
hours, and after his daily task wxas done, to study medicine, and
to acquire such knowledge of diseases and medicines, as wvould
have enabled  him to  have become a rep)utable p)r.t titioner;
thlough outside of his own famlily hle miadec little or nlo p)ractical
use of the knowledge he had thus acquired.  After he had arrived
at the age of 56 years, he studied and becamie master of the Latin
language.
I do not know  that Mr.  Rogers ever applied his mind to
legal learning.  But here is a contract drawn by him for the conveyance by Dovener, of the meeting-house lot to the Religious
Society of Sidney Plains, whlich, on account of the specialty of
the consideration (there b)eing no pecuniary considerationj), and
on account of other specialties in the agreement, required the
learnilg and skill of a lawyer to draw, and is as complete as any
paper  of thl  kind I ever saw.  I thlou,ght on first perusal that
there was a fault in the descrip)tion of the premises, an omission.
But on further examination I am satisfied that what a teclhnical
lawyer woulI(l have added, his acute and logical mind perceived
to be surplusage, or rather did not perceive at all.'lher-e is
neithler a word wanating, nor a word too many.   I will venture to
say that my learned friend, the President, cannot draw a better
paper, and in respect to pIemauship, not half as goodl.
There was no  man in this society, in his time, of so  much
intellectual culture as Mr. Rogers, except the minister; and not
always ex(-epl)ting the minister.  I remiember the friendliness with
which hle used to treat me, when a b)oy I wenet to his shlop of
errands.  I did not then know how imuch I could have learnied
fromi him.  He  was tlhe father of the late Chlas. S. Rogers, and
of the Rogers brothlers Iesent here to-day.
DEA. ISRAEL S3IITH  moved  on the farm  next  west of the
Johnston farm in 1790.   He was of Puritarn ancestry, came  here
from Brattleborou,lgh, Vt., ind received fromi tle State a grant of
640 acres in the "V \ermont sutferers" tract, in cotnpensation for
loss sustained by failure of title to land purchased from the State,
v 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
and afterwards surrendered by thie State to Vermont.   His father,
grandfather and great-grandfather each bore the remarkable nanme
of John Smith; and each was the youngest son of his father.
Dea. Israel was the youngest son of the last John Smith.   How it
happened that he too was not named John, I do not know, unless
as I suspect, some one of his elder brothers had appropriated the
name, thus defrauding my ancestor  it of his birthright.  This
course of descent did not result in the physical deterioration of
this branch of the Smith race.   Dea. Israel was a man of extraordinary stature, standing several inches over six feet.   He had
served in the Revolutionary War, and participated in the battle
of Saratoga in October, 1777, under Gen. Gates, which resulted
in the surrender of the British General Burgoyne. This [exhibiting it] is thie powder hlorn which he wore at that battle.  He
led his e:ompany as Captain on that memorable  day, in place of
that officer, who was temporarily absent.
His two ol(lest sons, Israel Jr. and Simeon, then young men,
canme on from Vermont the year before the rest of the family
came, and commenced an improvement on their tract, and  continued to reside upon it during their lives.
])ea. Smith's family consisted of four solns and four daughters.
All except one living most of their lives in this vicinity, and
attaining the average age of more than seventy-five years, and retaining during their lives the plain manners, and the industrious
frugal habits,  which  they brought with them from Vermont.
They were a family of scrupulous integrity, and strict religious
principles.
Tile crossing of the Susquehanna in the time of high water,
as before related, was by one of this family. An incident is related of another of the daughters, Mrs Redfield, which contrasts
pretty strongly with the~asy journeys made in palace cars in our
times; and that isa, that after the family had been several years
settled-l in this neighborhood, she returned on a visit to her former
home in Vermont on horseback, carrying an infant child in her
arms the entire distance.
De:l. Israel Smith died in i8ii.   His posterity are numerous
42 
HISTORICAL A DIDRESS.
and widespread over the country.*  The  name and  race seem
likely not to become extinct during the next century.
GOLD BACON is entitled to brief mention in these sketches,
not as a representative, but rather as a very exceptional chlaracter.  For the last twenty years of his life he o-nied and occupied
the farm lying below the railroad, between the Susquehanna and
Unadilla rivers.  He had been a soldier; came from  Connecticut, and first settled on a farm about four miles below this place,
in the then town of Jericho.
He never married; and lived most of the time entirely alone.
He was industrious and economical, aid accumulated considerable property.  I think he was regarded by those who did not
understand his character  as a very sordid miser.   His mode of
life would  naturally  lead a person  nriot well acquainted with
him to that conclusion.   He slept in his barn, and prepared his
meals, when he required a fire for that purpose, in a hut not
half as well furnished as the poorest cabin of the Irish laborer
on the railroad.  He had money which he used for what were
to him  the necessaries and  conveniences of life.  He  never
oppressed or extorted from the poor, and was more benevolent
to such than many a man who, for a pretense, bestows his money
in large sums on some ostentatious charity.  I find his nameon
the subscription for building the first meetinghouse in this place,
i8o6, containing about seventy names; and a greater number
giving less, than there were who gave more than he did   I also
find his name on subscriptions to ministers salary.   I make this
statement for the purpose of correcting a prejudice against his
memory, as being a miser in the worst sense of that term, which
he was not.
At some seasons of the year, especially in the haying season,
he often employed sevral hands, paying them liberally.  He
was rather a popular employer. Gold Bacon never risked his
money by depositing in banks.  Sometimes he would leave a bag
of specie, for safe keepiig, with a neighbor,  in whom he had
confidence; sometimes he would hide it in his barn.  Two of
* Gov. IHayes, of Ohig, is one of Dea. Smith's descendants.
43 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNX{AL.
his hired men, brothers by name of WVilliams, once found and
appropriated a considerable sum  ocf the old man's money, for
which thley were convicted of grand larceny and sent to State
prison.  He was reticent on the subject of religion, avowed no
religious creed, and did not atteind church.  He sometimes gave
offence to his neighbors.by taking care of his hay on Sunday.
In all other respects, so far as I ever heard, he was strictly
moral, and in this, I have no doubt, conscientious.
He was not sociable or social as we use those terms.  He never
entered into conversation on general topics, but possessed a remarkable talent at telling stories.  He  had had adventuLres by
field and( flood, and with wild beasts, and his fund of entertaining stories never failed.  He frequently came to my fathler's house
for p)rovisions, and sometimnes ate at table with the fam ily.  His
manner was, to come in, sit down in silence for some minutes,
and then appl)arently without anything to suggest, break out into
one of his wonderfll stories.  He did not affect the society of
women, but was kind and friendly to boys.  \Ve  used to go to
his hlut soimetimes of an evening or on a rainy (lay.   He  would
treat generoulsly withl butternuts and apples, and  then entertain
us with somre of his marvellous adventures.  He never hesitated
at dlialoguie, but where that came in he would rehearse withl great
particularity and effect.
OLle of his escapes wvas while he lived on  the farm in Jerichlo, and mentioned by Mr. Randall in one of his series of interesting sketchles, now or recently being  published in a Norwvich
paper.  Baiconi lived, or stayed in a lhut on the low flat.  Tlhere
ha)pened in the fall of the year a remarkable flood in the Susquelhanna river, referred to in after times as  " TFhe  PumIl)kin
Fresh, " from the fact that the corn fields along  tlhe river were
overflowed and the pumpkins  swvept off, and floate(l down in
great numbers.   As Bacoltused( to tell the story, he found in the
night tt, by stel)pping on the loose boardls which constituted the
floor of his cabin, that the water was rising fast, and that it wvas
necessary for himi to move.e  He  ha(1 a pail of col(  succotash
from which hl le made a hasty mleal, and taking his giun and axe,
started  for higher grouind, which, however, on account of the
44 
HISTORICAL AI)DRESS.
rapid rise of the water, he was unable to reach, and was ob)liged
to take refuige or passage on a floating log.  His log lodged, with
other flood.-wood against a tree; and thlere, on  the  flood-woold,
and not in the tree, as some times understood, he took iup) his
abode, till found and taken off in a canoe by Deacon Israel Smith,
2d, and another whose name I d(o not recollect.   While staying
there he had been able to kindle a fire an(d roast a pumpkin
which floated to hlim, and on which he subsisted very comfortably.  During his stay, as he used to relate, a " I)ainter, " which,
like himself. had been drovwned out of his log cal)in, came swimming towards Bacon's raft.  He  had  his gun; 1but having been
some time loaded, and on account of exposure to wet, he fcared
it would not "go."   It would  not do  to wait.   He  decided
promptly to try his giun.  If it missed fire he would be no worse
off.  If it " went,"  he thought hle could reload in time for a
close engagement, in case the'' varmint "  should insist iupon
landing.   Fortunately  the  gun  "went"  the first time.   TIhe
panther sought some other latnding, and  left Bacon unmolested.
From this sample of his adventures, persons may stuspect that
Bacon was accustomed to embellish  his stories somewhat liberally.  But I think he was entirely truthfiul.  As alrea(ly stated,
he had been a soldier in the war of the Revolution.   But he
never boasted of heroic exploits.  His stories of a(ldventure in the
war, so far as related to himself, wvere generally at  his ownvi  exl)ense.  According to his own account of -himiself, he would not
stand fire, and hle had been a deserter.   He  used  to relate that
once whlile on guar(l, two officers from the ellemiy's camp1) came
tup to him; that he failed to challenge them or give an alarm;
that one  of them  addressing him, said:  " Who  are  you?
Bacon replied, " I am  a sentry. "   The officer sai(l, "' You may
come with us."   "No,   said  the other; "let him  stay where
he is.  He will do us no harm.   He is a            fool. "   And  so
they passed on anct left -im.
Bacon's personal appearance  was pI)eculiar.  In walking he
used a long staff, vlwhichl h  clutched in the mid(dlle; an(l stoopimg forward at a very sharp angle, he mioved( quite rap)i(dlly.  When
in full dress, he wore, a checked shirt, a coat  cut after the old
45 
TIIE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
continental pattern, withl waistcoat to match, and a pair of buckskin breeches much faded  from long service, and  that seemed
never to wear out.
Gold Bacon died suddenly fifty years ago.  His final resting
plac     e           in  yonder grave-yard is marked by a plain brown stone, on
which         is th e appropriate inscrlption                  IHe toiled for heirs, he knew not who,
And straight wIs seen1 no niore.
Time fails me to speak of the Averys, the Bradleys, the
Baxters' the Clarks, and many others, who are justly entitled to
be remembered on an occasion like this.
WVhile collecting material for these sketches, I made note
of some items with the intention of saying somewhat of the character whichl this community  has always sustained as a religious
conmmunity.  But since understanding that a historical sermn,on
was proposed as a part of the exercises of the day, it seemed
proper for me to waive that topic.
On account of its bearing on another idea, however, I will
state that since the organization of the first religious society
in this place, it appears that there have been employed by that
society nineteen or more different ministers, all from  abroadnone of them born and raised here.  While of the boys born
and brought upl within the circuit of the school district, of which
this is the center, and the descendants of those born and brought
up here, I count about a dozen lawyers, viz: the Rogcrs's, the Baxters, Clark, Johnston, Myers, Garvin, and others not necessary to
name, every one of whom has gone abl)road to practice his profession.  So that we have the notable fact that while the people of
Si(lney Plains have always imported their ministers, they have always exported their lawyers.   Whether this persistent policy accounts for the fact that this has always been a peaceable, law-abid
ing community; or wh~her, being such a community, lawyers
have found it necessary to go elsewhere to earn an honest living,
I express no opinion.  Another quere suggests itself, viz:'lhat
is there in the conditions i  this place that so tends to the development or evolution of lawyers from commion country boys? and
to this quere I suggest no answer.
46 
HISTORICAIL ADDR+ESS.
Notvwithstanding this systematic policy of excluding lawyers,
lawsuits have not always been excluded. The first law trial which
I ever witnessed took place while I was a boy at school  here.  I
do not remember who the parties were, nor the sul)ject matter of
the suit.  What! especially re'member in regard to that trial is,
that Henry Page, of Una(lilla, and Mr. Griswold, of B13ailnbridge,
were opposilig counsel; and  the earniest elo(Itience with which
each maintained the honesty of his own  client, and  inveighed
against the wrong and dishonesty of his adversary.
I have.not time to speak, as I would choose to do, of the
material improvements  vwhich this valley has undergone in the
hundred years which have now expired. After the settlement by
the Jolhnstons and before the breaking out of the war, settlements
had been made at various points.  These at the coimmencement
of hostilities. were abandoned. After peace was proclaimed the
settlers, with the exception of tories, generally returned.  The
valley began rapidly to be occupied.  In less than twenty years
comfort and plenty abounded. Roads and bridges were constructed, mills erected, school-houses and churches built, religious societies organized, mechanical industries were introduced,
and all the appliances of civilization were il operation.
The achievements of this people from  the year I783 to the
commencement of this century are to me  matters of profound
astonishment.  It seems to me no exaggeration to say that, considering population and resources, more was dlone for this valley
in the first cquarter century than in any half century since.   Taking into account pecuniary resources, mechanical improvements
and inventions, and  the forces used in their application at the
present time, it should be an easier undertaking now to construct
a railroad from Albany to Binghamton, than it was then to make
a wagon road from this lace to Cooperstown.  In i8o6 the Congregational churclhedifice now occupied in this village was erected, and I verily believe with less effort than would be necessary
to-day to rebuild it in a stle suitable to the wants of the society,
in case this house should be blurned down.
And on the othes hand what contrasts are presented, of the
47 
THIE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
present withl the past of one hundred  years ago.  Then, if the
Governmenit would send a dispatch, oftell they would employ an
Indian runller.  If it was winter hle would travel on snow-shoes.
Now, besi(des the rapid transmission of mails by railroads to all
parts of the country, a communication goes  from  here to New
Orleans or London in less time tl-han you can write a letter and
carry it half a mile and del)osit it in the postoffice
Instead of the considerable business which farmers began to
do in this vallev about the year 1790 to i8oo, in carrying grain
by the sleigh road to Albany, to pay for their land, and to bring
back a few luxuries which could not be procured in the country
now, trains of cars traverse the valley east and west, north and
south, altmost lhourly, transpl)orting thousands of tons of merchlandise and merchantable products, and  depositing wherever  reqt'ired.  AVhere, then, you would travel all day and hear l)ut the
howl of a wolf, or the Nwhool) of an Indian, now, nowhvlere can
you get beyond thle sound of at church bell, or the steam whistle
of locomotive or factory.
Limiting my' discourse to -nmy time, I conclude by exlpressing
the hope that when the exercises of this day shall c(lose, and this
meeting shlall be reacdy to adjourn, it will adjourn to meet again
one lLhuldred y'ears lhence.
In making this suggestion, I would  not trifle withl  a serious
thoughlt.   Of course no one of this assembl)ly can ever be present
at another centennial celebration of the first settlement of the
Susquehlanna Valley.  Before the century hand shlall point /zwo on
the dial-face of time, we shlall all hlave pL)assed away.'Thle very
stones that mark otur graves will be moss.grown and falling to (leca)y.  But these hills and  this plain  will lastthle Sius(tuelhanna
will continue to flow.  The sun wvill shine down on this beautifiul
landscape, a Ihundred yers hence as it does to-dlay.   Des(cendants of the early s,ttlers of this valley will live.''Thle posterity
of Samuel Rogers, and of Deacon  Israel  Smithl, and  of  Rev.
W\illiam Johnston will live,  May thley live forever.
This address was listened to withl great attention and interest
and at the concltisionwvas loudly apl)lautde(1.
48 
CENTENNIAL ODB.
Tile pemn by Hlon. BENJAMIN L. BAXTER, of Tecumse!i,
Michi,gan, was then read by that gentleman, as follows:
SIDNEY PLAINS, CENTENNIAL ODE.
A thousand years, the patriarchs of Eld
The,glory of earth's setting suits beheld,
But not the triumphs, nor the changes, then,
Of centuries now, anioigi the sons of men.
One hundred years ago, and all was still
Along these valleys, and from yonder hill
No sounds canme echoing, save the panther's screamr,
To wake the wild-wood from its summer dream,
Or it may be, the famished gray wolf's howl,
The croaking raven, or the hooting owl.
The red man roanmed the forest, but in peace,Sought from the chase, nor glory, nor increase,
BuLt simply sustenance,-no war whoop then
Awvoke the echoes of the mountain glen,
No war-paint on his bow, nor on his brow,
The toymahawk was buried then, as now.
Yet not ats now, for hlie was master thei,
And his own heritage, both hill and glen.
The Susquehanna, fronm its thousand streams,
That grand old river of our childhood dreams,
Rolled then, as now, along its fertile shore,
Singing the same old song forevermore,\lhile suimmer suns, lit with their golden rays
This wild-wood Eden, of those earlier days.
Thither our fathers came,
From Erin's golden sand,
From Scotia's hills, from Albion's isle,
Switzer, and Frank, and Welch, the while,
And German, from his fatherland.
Passing the Pilgrinis bound,
New England's rugged strand,
Thither they caie, and here they found
Their Uomne, our native land.
Not with a troop they came,
But pilgrims, one by one,
By birch canoe, orandian trail,
Crossing the mountain or the vale,
They sought them out their home.
4
410 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
God and the Right," they sought,
The right to worship God,
Freedom for speech, and deed, and thought,
Freedom for them, and theirs, they sought,
Untraimmnelled( by the mists of schools,
Untramnielled by theechurchmian's rules,
Taught only by the living word,
And living spirit there,
No bondsman's heart, or spirit stirred
Our father's living prayer.
They dared the forest's glooni,
The haunts of savage men,
The wild beasts' lair
Around tbem there,
The reptile's poisonous breath,
Hunger, and toil, and death,
To build a home, perchance a tolmb,
Whither, in after years,
Their children's children fain should come
And gather round their fathers' home,
Beside the mountain glen,
And worship there their fathers' God,
Upon their fathers' burial sod,
Undimmed by doubts, or fears.
Yet not unblessed they canme,
Those sturdy men of old,
Seeking no heritage of fame,
Nor heritage of gold,
But only God's free air to breathe,
And God's free soil to till,
And God's free worship on the plain,
His freedom on the hill.
For though no outward sign
Of cloud, or fire was there,
Yet answering to a call Divine,
They felt, and knew, that inwar(l sign,
That silent call, from deep to deep,
That Madonian call from sleep,
* That wakes to work, and prayer;
And forth they went, and boldly trod
Uncheere(l by-man, yet blessed of God.
And woman too, was there to bless,
Her gentle voice, her soft caress,
The piroud glance of her sunny eye,
.50 
CENTENNIAL ODE.
As by his side she trod,
Bespoke an aim, and purpose high,
Her readiness to do, or (lie,
With him, the chosen, by her side.
Not the niere fondness of the brid(le,
But earnest faith, nd earnest prayer
His work to cheer, his work to share,
Her trust in manhood; and in God.
And yet not long in peace
Almong these hills they dwelt,
The miutterings of war increase,
The ravages of war are feltThe peaceful Indian, savage now,
Led by more savage men,
Butler and Brant, and traitor balds,
With darkened brows, and blood-red( han(ls,
Thirsting for vengeanlce, on they camke
From smoking WVyoiiiiiig.
Powerless to meet the foe,
Not knowing where to go,
WVith hurried hands the feeble ban(
Buried their treasures in the sand,
And with their wives and(l little ones
Fled to the forest hill.
But, ere its brow they passed,
One backward(l look they cast,
Like her of old in Sodoni's vale,
But only heard the war-whloop on the blast
Of angry foes, who found their vengeance fail.
Noiseless they hurried on,
Honmeless, and worn, and sad,
Over the mountain, thlroughi the vale
With hearts of oak, though fears assail,
And smiall the hopes they lhadl
Thus to escape their savage foe,
Yet all resolved, they onward go,
And with teir little ones and wives,
A previous trust, of precious lives,
Plod wearily and slow,
Up Susquehlanna's winding stream,
Along Otsego s silver gleam,
To where the Cherry Valley's waves
Its hanmet of the forest laves.
.51 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
Yet scarcely had they rested there,
Among their country's kin,
And prayed their grateful evening prayer,
And sang their evening hlynin,
Before the subtle savage foe,
Following their track of toil and wo,
Burst on this peaceful valley too,
With fearful yell, and wild halloo,
And hands of blood, and brands of flanie,
To wipe out Unadilla's stain,
And gave to Cherry Valley's plain,
The fate, the famie of Wyoming,And drave theni forth to wander still,
Along the banks of Cobleskill.
And there beneath its forest shade,
The patriarch of the flock was laid,That reverend sire, whose holy life
And words of love mid scenes of strife,
So long the aisles of prayer had trod,
Guiding their feet, their hearts to GodCalled to his Heavenly home away.
Beside its banks his ashes lay,
Ere yet the wanderers could return,
Or war's fierce fires had ceased to burn.
But when again,
On field and plain,
The sounds of carnage cease,
And, wrested fromn the tyrant's grasp,
Our patriot fathers won at last
Freedom, and Home, and peace,
Back to their forest plain,
These wandering pilgrims came,
To hold again their dwellings here,
Forgetful of their former fear,
And seek, once more, its shelter and increase.
Those sturdy men of iron will,
W\hose memiory lingers with us still,
With brawny armnis and placid brow,
Who laid -these lofty forests low,
The Hemnlock, and the towering Pine,
WVaking sweet music in the wind,
The gnarled)ak, the Chestnut grove,
Beneath whose shade the children rove.
The Beach, whose fruitage strews the ground,
;5 2 
CENTENNIAL ODEa.
The Maple, with its glory crowned,
Tottering before that iron blow,
Where are the men who laid them low?
"God's acre" holds them now,WVhile wve, their childreln's children tell,
The names, the deeds, we love so well,
As gathered from each distant shore,
We come to trace their memories o'er,
And on the past to dwell.
But where is now the Red Manla of the vale,
Before whose wild halloo the children q(uail,
Whose heritage we hold, while all around
Only the tracings of the past are found,
Those hero chieftains of our earlier dreams,
Whose names are on our hills, and on our streams,
Fading away before their pale-faced foe,
Where are they now?-and( whither shall they go?
Fronm yonder hill could he but gaze aroun(l,
Waving with harvests on his hunting ground,
The iron track has blotted out his trail,
The iron Engine steanming down the vale,
His wigwani hanilet, and the forest grove,
Whence rose his worship, to the God above,
Great Spirit of the cloud, and of the air,
The white man builds his house of worship there.
Call him not savage, that he died to save,
Like those we love, the land his fathers gave    The land held sacred to his father's Go(d,
His father's house, his father's burial sod.
Peace to the ReA Elau thea, whliere'er he roamGod grant him peace, and huntilng grounds, andl home.
'Tis said, no noble thought, nor kindly word,
Nor deed of love, which once the heart hlath stirre(ld,
Can fail or die,-but, strengthlening day by (lay,
While those who wrought, in silence pass away,
MIoves on from heart to heart, from shore to shore,
A blessing, and a boon, forevermore.
And so, while we with d(leep-felt reverence turn,
Towards that sacrerspot   which doth inurn
OuLr fathers' dLust, and consecrate, with tears,
These hallowed memories of those earlier years,
We, too, will make oui own, where'er we rove,
Their high heroic faith, and deeds of love,
Andti gathering here, around their burial sodt,
Re-vow their vonvs to freedom, and to God.
;59 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
A hundred years,-behold the change of tinime 
Our fathers, whom the past hath iad(le sublime,
Saw not in) dreams, what is but history now,
Hallowed by blood-bought freedorn's sacred vow;
Hallowed by toil, and hope, and faithl, iand prayer;
Wrought by the nien whose (lust lies sleeping there.
Marching to freedoni's conflict, when it camne,
They fotught the unequal fight, unknown to faiiie,
Or ponil), or power, unfurnished, and unfeld,
Scarce caring,) whithler freedoni's banner le(l;
For well they knew,'twas victory or doom,
A rescued country, or a felon's tomnb.
The fi,ght they won.  And well the gift they gave
Their sons have kept-the land they died to save.
And freedomr's gift, so dedicate with tears,
Again thely rescued-when in after years,
Reckless, the slaves of slavery sought its fall,
And gave, to rescue it, their life, their all.
And it was rescued.  And(l in deed, andl nanle,
Those heroes, too, are demii-gods of faiiie.
Pride of the nations, stands that counltry now,
W'ith freedojii's laurels on her youthful brow,
Hope of the nations, in her youthful sway
GCtuide of the nations, to the better way.
The long dark day of humnan serf(ioi o'er;
No slave, Coluni-bia, treads thy farthest shlore,
Swept by two oceans; thou art still the samie;
Upon thy shield no blot, thy flag no stain.
Froiii shlore to shlore, with peace and plenty crowned,
Thy hills, an(l groves are consecrate(l ground;
Thy fuittre none can tell, nor wlhat shaill be;
Thy protet(, trittimlhal-t  petst, is Iristory.
Thle reading of the Poem  was frequently interrupted  1)b
butrsts  of  applause.    When  it  was  finished  a  song  1)y
the Norwich Glee Club was sung; at the conclusion of which the
President introduced to the audience Mr. COOK  ST. JOhN, from
the adjoining town of Walton, who had just eltere(d Ul)Onl his
iooti1 year, a venterablt relic of a past generation.  Presently
there were standing by iis side upon the platform, his son, T.  S.
ST. JOHN, a         ged 75 1' is grandson, VVILLIAM ST. JOHN, aged 50;
his great-grandson, GEOR& ST. JOHN, aged 26, and his great-greatgrand(-sonI, BENJAMIIN ST. JOHN, aged 5 years, and each of them
the first born of his framily; all apparently healthy and vigorous.
5 4 
THE DINNER.,
This strange and remarkable incident created a sensation
that ran through and pervaded the whole assembly, and a strong
desire was expressed that the Patriarch would speak to the people, even though limited to a few words only.  He hesitated, but
being urged and encouraged by the kind and asstiring words of
the President, he moved with a firm step to the front of the platform, and addressed the audience substantially as follows:
"AMy Firiends:
I am glad to be able to see you to-day. I was ninety-nine
years old on the first day of this month. I suppose you would
like to know how it is that I am  so well at my age.  I will tell
you. I have been a laboring man, a carpenter and have always
worked, and in this way I have been blessed with health and durii)g my life have had all that I needed.  If you young people
want to be healthy and strong you must work, for in no other
way can you be sure of it, and of being good and useful men and
W o Illm en.'
The speech was listened to with marked attention an(l seemed to be regarded as very much to the point in these latter days.
It was vociferously applatuded.
There also appeared upon  the platform, by invitation fromn
the committee. other aged persons whomi the Presi(ldent courteously
presented to the audience, viz: PAT iYv THAYER-now Mrs. DALE~-aged 86, and who taught a school for small children at Sidney Plains, then a mere hamlet, in 1804, and NICHOLAs J. SLUY-I'ER, of the same age, mat,,rnally descended fromi DOMINIE JOHNSTON; and a Mr. RAYMOND, aged niniety-four.  At this point in
the proceedings, a call to dinner was announced, and a recess
was taken to 2 o'clock P. IM.
THE D lVIVER.
Thie hour for diinn  having arrived, the President stated to
the assembl)ly thatoall would be provided  withl dinner, (hle had
been so informed by the committee) butt the problem to him was,
howv so many could be fez? Said he, " Thle (lay of miracles is
past; and yet here is a multitude to whlom the invitation is extended, come ann? ea/  We  must all be patient thloughl, and in
IV 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
good time I have reason to believe that all will be provided for.
It will be necessary to discriminate a little, just now, and I am
requested to state that the invited guests and persons over 70
years of age, will first be provided with tickets that will admit
them to the dinner tent.  There are enough of these persons, I
suppose, to fill the tables; but in a short time the invitation will
be renewed, and all will be made welcome to the Centennial dinner."
As rapidly as possible tickets were issued to those entitled,
and directly the tables were filled to their utmost capacity.  The
dinner tent was ioo feet in diameter, and the whole floor of the
tent was provided with tables and seats, leaving only sufficient
room between for those who wished to pass and wait upon the
guests.  Besides the invited guests, it was estimated that over loo
persons, past seventy years of age, were seated at the first table.
The Norwich Telegraph, speaking of the dinner, says:  "The
dinner tent was a place of considerable interest, by one o'clock,
to the waiting multitude. Long tables were loaded with every
variety of good things, and to these immediate attention was
given. On every hand there were substantials, such as hungry
people would covet, followed by coffee, tea, and half a dozen varieties of dessert; and to make the feast doubly welcome, the tables were surrounded by the good ladies of Sidney Plains, wilo
seemed to know just what everybody wanted.   If others had provided a feast of reason in the other tent, they had prepared one
which called out the admiration and thanks of all who Mat down
to it."
Another journal says: " Thle dinner,whlich was prepared and
served in the tent, was a repast, slhowing that those getting up the
celebration were not lacking in good taste and liberality. Tickets were issued to more than i50 persons over 70 years of age,
and more than a thousated free dinners were served." Again,
and yet again, were the- tables filled, and yet the supply was
abundant; and even tlhose who came last had no reason to complain that they were not bointifulily provided for.
56 
DR. ODELL'S RESPONSE.
THE A'TE'R DIzNzER TA,LK.
At about two o'clock, the President having called to order
gentlemen representing their several towns were invited to addre.ss the assembly.  But little difference could be detected in the
numbers which gathered in the afternoon.'lhe tent was full of
quiet, interested listeners, as in the morning; and for nearly two
hours the audience remained quietly seated. listening to various
historical reminiscences, interspersed here and there withI music
from the Band or singing by the Glee Club.   A  full report of
these after dinner speeches cannot now be given, though some of
the gentlemen have kindly furnished us what we expected to have
had through the medium of a reporter..  The persons  maiking
speeches were: G. W. REYNOLDS, Esq,, and Col. WV. \W. SNOW,
of Oneonta, Hon. EBENEZER BLAKELEY, of Otego, Dr. E. ODELL,
of Unadilla, Hon. W. S. SAYRE, of Bainbridge, P. P. RO(;ERS,
Esq., of Binghlamton, I. S. NEWTON,  Esq., of Norwich, and
Hon. STEPHEN B. LEONARD, of Owego.
The town of Uiiadilla being called, Dr. E. ODEI, L responded:
DR. ODEZL'S RESPVONSE.
Mr. Presi,lent, Ladies and( GeiitIIleen:
I regret that some gentleman, better acquainted  With the
early history of the town of Unadilla than I am, is not  here to
speak for her.   The records of the early settlers. have only come
down to the present generation in indefinite and disconnected
items.
Unadilla was erected from Otsego in I792, then embracing
all the southern portion of the county.
Among the first settlers of Unad(lilla proper, were SOIOMION
MARTIN, DANIEL BISSELI4 Dr. GORDON HUNTINGTON and( ABIJAH
BEiAcH
Settleiment must have been in progress when the town was
organized, and probably ciiinmenced as early as I788.
DANIEL BISSELL kept a hotel in 1 798.  SOL()oION MARTIN kept
the first store.  He was elected to the State legislatulre in  i8oo,
7 
THE SIDNEY CENTENi\IAL.
and again in I 802.   GORDON HUNrINGTON was a member in 1805,
I8o6, 1807, and in i8o8.
Slowly but steadily these hardy men opened the valley to
civilization.  It was a work of Herculean labor, to remove  the
giant pines, to clear the swampl)  groun(ls of underbrush, and to
fit the soil for the plow- and  harrow.  Men are yet living  who
remember the spot where the railroad buildings are located as
a tangled thicket, from which the cry of the panther and howl of
the wolf were freqlIeintly hear(l.
SuLch imeL were not to be discouraged by want, nor intimidated by danger.  Possessing strong self-reliance and indomitable
energy, the pioneers of this valley p)roved themselves worthy sons
of the Pilgrim Fathlers.  Few in numbers, yet firm in resolution
and  united in purpose, they suldued  the forest, organized the
school, established the church and brought the com)forts and conveniences of civilized life to repay them for privations sustained
and hardships endured.
Perhaps no subject is more worthy of record in thle annals
of our town than the Unadilla Huint, organized about the year
IS20.  Here, for five consecutive years, assembled for sports of
the chase the most prominent men of the country fromn adistance
of sixty miles.  TI'here came from Clhenaugo Col. JAMIES CL,APP,
Gen. RANSOMI RXTHB3NE, Judge ROBERT M()ONELL, Gen. PETER
SKEN S,I I'H, H(),. S.ION G1 THIooP, GHol. JoHN C. CLARK, Col.
MOSES G. BENJANIN; from Oneida coIinty, Messrs. DEVEREAUX,
LANSING, GR[SwOIS D, HENRY R. Sr'ORRS, and MORRIS S. MILLER;
from Otsego, Judge JOHN Cox MOR,RIS, Col. SrARKWEATHER, Hon.
LEVI BEARDSLEY, JO,EPH Mll,t,ER, Esq., and others; Hon. SHIERMIAN PAGE, HonI. HELNRY O0DEN and DI)r. JOHN COLWEI.I., of
UnaLdilla, were also members of the Hunt.
Assetmh)ling in Nov*nber, thev generally marshalled for the
sport on a TuLesda, which continued until Friday.  From  eighteen to twenty-five deer were not unfreqllently captured during
the week, and piled in the hall of the hotel (Hunters' Hall) as
tr-ophies of their success.
Mr. Ogden was,distinguishled advocate, and though youuger
58 
RESPONSE OF A\. S.,iYRE.
than many, wvas noted for his splendid talents, as well as for his
ardent passion for hunting and fishing.   Hon  Sherman Page,
the " Grand Sachlem,'' was the mighty Nimrod and rightfuil hero
of the party.   His sparkling wit, his keen sense of the Itidicrous,
his inimitable powers of delineation, his retentive memory,-all
contributed to render him one of the most interesting mean of his
day.
Of this gallant array of worthies, probably noie now survive, unless it be Simon G. Throop, who, a few years ago, at the
age of eighty, was appointed Judge of one of the district courts
of Pennsylvania.
But the stately buck no longer roams over the hills of Otsego.
Occasionally a stray wanderer is brought down by the deadly aim
of the solitary hunter'n remote parts of Delaware county.    VIhen
a few years more are added to the century, the termination of
which we eow celebrate, these once I)roud natives of the forest
will be known only in story.
AVe recall with melancholy pleasure the times of our fathlers.
Their heroic deeds, their persevering industry, their temperate,
moral and religious lives are eminently worthy of cominemoration; and I hazard the assertion that, when another centennial is
celebrated, as I trust it may be, the records brought togethertoday will awaken an interest not fully appreciated by this generation.
RESPONSSE OF H0V. W. S. SAY RE.
MNr. President and Gentlemene  of the Conmmittee:
Although I had not the slightest idea that I should be called
upon, or have occasion to say anything at this tiime; yet, inasmuch
as it appears, by some accident, that there is no other one to respond for the town of Bainbridge, and you have done me the
honor to call on me  foethat purpose, I cannot refrain from exp)ressing the great-gratification I have felt in witnessing the( very
interesting performances on this occasion, and I should be derelict in duty to the peoplw  of my  town if I permitted  them to
ignore, or be indifferent to this exceedingly interesting celebration.   I know there are hosts of the most worthy and intelligent
49 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNJAL.
inhabitants of Bainbridge present, and listening with deep interest
and attention; and I am confident that I do not misrepresent them
when f say, that they have been highly entertained by the able
and learned address of the Orator of the Day, and the smoothly
flowing numbers of the eloquenit Poet. And I take this occasion to express our high sense of the appropriate, liberal and
unselfish manner in which the residents of Sidney Plains have got
up and conducted this celebration. They deserve much credit
for conceiving the idea. And Sidney Plains is eminently and
decidedly the spot on which such a celebration for this whole
valley should be held.   WVe, in this region, have reason also to
be thankful for the generous manner in which the former residents of this little hamlet, most of whom first saw the light here,
have responded to this call.  They have come from the cities and
villages, and prairies of the far West; from the banks of the Hudson, and from old Steuben and Broome; ministers, lawyers,
doctors and merchants, who have earned for themselves honorable
names in their distant homes, and have returned to the scenes oftheir
childhood, to contribute by their wit and eloquence and poetry
to the enjoyment of this most rare and unique gathering of the
descendants of those who cast their lot in this lonely vale ioo
years ago.
Though I was not to the zvaley born, and have no claims to
the honors of this occasion, yet I was grafted among  the early
settlers of the Susquehanna "long, long ago," and  have  had
many opportunities of appreciating the sterling qualities of the
fathers and grandfathers of many around me; and I have been
fortunate in having enjoyed the friendship and confidence  fromn
boyhood  of your orator, and many others on this platform.
Hence I have felt a deep interest in the proceedings at this time,
and am highly gratified to find them a complete success.
If, Mr.  President, I have been expected, because I have
attempted to respond for Bainbridge, to give any account of her
early history, the time of hersettlement, or the trials and hardshlips of her early settlers, I must confess I am an entire failure.
I can only say that Biinbridge was settled soon after Sidney
60 
SPEECH OF PERRY P. ROGERS.
Plains, to-wit, nearly one hundred years ago, and was called
Jericho; that the first settlers were mLuch such hardy pioneers
and worthy men as your eloquent orator has represented his forefathlers, the first settlers of these lovely plains of Sidney, to have
been.
But, Mr. President, I will not prevent my little impromptu
address from having one quality of a goodi speech, that is, brevity.
I therefore close by thanking you and thle audience for your kind
attention during the few moments I have attempted to interest
you.
THE SIPEECH OF 2PE' Y P. R O GERS, ESQ.
Mr. President:
Native and to this manner born, I feel no little embarrassmrent in being called upon to respond for the city of Binghamton,
where I am scarcely more than a " carpet-bagger."
Early in the day I saw here one of the oldest and ablest citizens of Binghamton, a man remarkable for his eloquence, and
who, a half century since, was a participant with those " Mighlty
Hunters " who made the " Oxford Chase " famous for its feasts
of reason; who, in ordlinary conversation,
"Pours out as hle goes,
A stream of transparent and forcible prose-"
And whose speeches always instruct and improve. And I had
anticipated a rare intellectual treat from him to-day.  I am sorry
to learn that he has left us, and that you and I shall be deprived
of the pleasure of listening to Hon. John Clapp.
I see also before me Hon. W. B. Edwards, a descendant of
the Rev. Jonathan of that ilk-County Judge and Surrogate of
Broome county.  I suppose that, by the expiration of his official
career. ihe will be able to give the world a treatise on "W ills,"
as useful if not as profound, as that of his distinguished ancestor;
while as County Jutlge hle will see so much of the innate "cussedness" of humanity-counsel, clients and witnesses, that he will,
on the subject of " Total depravity," be as orthodox as the great
President himself.
But Judge Edwards is a modest man, and declines to speak,
61 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
and as a last resort, I suppose, I must; for Binghamtoil, the city
of the valley, shall not go unrepresented on this occasion.
Seated at the confluence of the Chenango with your own
Susquehanna, Binghamton is like some floral queen of May-(lay
festi\vities.  \Vithl a growthl, healthy and permanent, if not rapid,
she is the center to which a large section of country gravitates.
An important railroad center, she is destined to yet larger growth
and expansion.  As the home  of the lamented Dickinson, she
will be the \MIcca of these who lhonor great talents, true patriotism, and inflexible integrity.
She has large and beautiful churches, so many that a carping
resident of the State of C(fltlen atid. A4Ilm)oy once said to me, that
there were m)re chlirches accardilng to the nourler of Christians in Bingohamton than in any other place he was ever in.  But
we must ii'-tke due allowance for the spleen of Jerseymen. WVe
boast of our public schools and school buil(linlgs.  In our borders
is located that great benevolent institution designed to restore the
inebriate to his p)ristine mtinhoo,d; an honor to our city and to
the Empire State.  But above all, we boast of our railway station,
which is unsurpassed, and unsurpassable by any similar structure
on the face of thie globe.  It has more and stronger odors than
are ascribed to Cologne, while for atcient and fish-like smells.it
can beat the pool of -Frinculo, and give fifty on the string and
discount at that.  Antiquarians differ as to the era of its probable
construction; some supposing it to have been erected during the
Revolutionary struggle, while others, with more plausibility, refer
its erection to the Northlmen who preceded Columbus to the virgin soil of this New World.   I shall not attempt to decide, but
say of the buildling as \Vebster said of the old Bay State, "' There
she stands.  Look at her!"
But other than satirical and boastful words become us to-day.
It is well amid tlheturmoil and din, and feverish excitement of
the present, to look back to the times and  the men, in whose
dangers, toils and sacrificei were the possibilities of to-day.
Among the patriarchs here to-day I am a young man, yet I
can remember \Vittel and Hutigh Johnston, who may not inap
62 
SPEEC(t OF PERRY P. ROGERS.
propriately be called the Romulds and Remus of this valley.   I
remember many others of the pioneers of this vicinity, S)penlcers,
Burchles, Keeches, Thorntons, Eastwoods, Morgans and Mersereaux; men  whom  the nations of antiquity  would have made
heroes and demi-gods; men who took part in our Revolutionary
struggle, and whose ancestral traditions ran back to  the " Old
French War."
From these, in early childhood, I received many legends;
moving incidents of flood an(d field, tales of suffering and privations of which the people of this d(lay can have hlar(-dly a conception; sufferings, privations and hardshil)s not exceeded by those
of the wolf nurtured founders of Rome.
And where are these heroes to-day? Go to the various
burial grounds around us                There, in their narrow beds securely laid,
The rude forclfathlers of the hamlet sleep."
In God's acre their bodies rest,
"And their souls are with the Lord, we trust."
WVe do well to celebrate this day, and we honor ourselves in
honoring the pioneers of this valley.  Let us cherish their memories; revere their virtues.   The wilderness and solitary place
were glad because of them; they caused the desert to blossom
like the  rose; they labored, and we are to-day reaping the
rewards of their industry.   An-d  the voices of " millions yet to
be " shall pronounce their benediction.
In conclusion, I move you, sir, that when this meeting adjourn, it adjourn to meet at this place on the i3thll of June, I972.
This resolution having been secondedl, was put and  unanimously carried.
At the close of the preceding address an  unsuccessfull call
was made for some oneto speak for the neiglhborilng county of
Chenango.   The President remarked that speeches and reminiscences were still in order, and he trusted some one would soon be
found to answer the call list made.   That  the after dinner addresses thus far had contributerl largely to the interest of the occasioti.  Continuiingt he said: "The presence of Col. SNOW, of
(43 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
Oneonta, recalls to my mind the fact that when the large p)ines
of this valley were being nuanufactured  into lumber, which was
rafted and floated upon this river (from  i8o8 to I826) to the
markets at and near to tide water, that the gentleman's town was
not only the head( of navigation, but the residence of a distinguishetl Pilot, PETER BUNDY, tile Admiral of the River.  Many
of you must remember his gigantic frame and stately form.  I
will not undertake to state his height or weight, but he stood
many inches above six feet, and could not have weighed less than
260 pounds, probably much more. WVho will dare to say that
the valley hlad not a giant in those days? It is no marvel that
()neonta was then better known as " Clip Knockie," in view of
its belligerent possibilities-aind practices, perhaps.  Albeit, PETER 1UNDY was a quiet, peaceable and orderly citizen.
The representative who speaks for Binghamton,  has, with
much truth, no doubt, represented his town as being distinguishedl for its rapid advance in high art and culture, and most especially for its pree/minence as a city of churches.  This is in such
marked contrast with the condition of things that existed there
within the memory of men still living," that I can hardly resist the temp)tation to repeat Mr. JOH,N A. COLILIER'S account
of the first settlement of a minister of the Gospel in that town,
then known as Clhenango Point.  A missionary to the Indians in
the far west, had l)een sent out by a Christian Association from
Massachusetts.  On his way, the minister's horse became somewhlat dilapidated, and when he reached the Point he halted a few
days for repairs.  While so detai ned hle took a survey of the hlamlet and its inhabitants and on an intervening Sunday, gathered
some of the settlers together for religious worship.  On winding
up his discourse, he announced to his hearers that although he
was commissioned to preach the Gospel to the Indians, yet he
had looked the ground o{r and had made up his mind to remain
where he was.  That if Chenango Point, and the moral and religious necessities of its people were not technically within the
letter of his commission, itewas entirely clear to his mind that
they were within itz spirit, and he should go no farther.  Thus,
my friends, we see it illustrated in the moral as in the vegetable
64 
MR. NEWVTON'S SPEEC!H.
kingdom,  that  remarkably large and  " tall oaks  occasionally
grow from rather small acorns."
At  thlis time, MR.  ISAAc S. NEwTON, of Norwich, N. Y.,
was discovered to have entered the tent, and the President invitedcl him to the stand, to speak for Chenango county.
Coming forward, Mr. NEWtON excused himself, saying that
the descending sun reminded him that this audience had for six
hours been listening to speeches, essays, histories, music, etc., uninterrupted, save an hour, while discussing the viands at the adjoining tent, an(d, as he had not the privilege of hlearing what had
been s:id, having comie to and been utp the valley on a professional engagement, just closed, he knew not where to begin, or
whit to say, and barely knew the object of the meeting; but as
cries of "go on " arose from all parts of the tent, he proceeded
to say:
SPEE CH OF MR. NE WTO0.
\\Well, Mr. President and friends, if I occupy a few moments
indulge me  with the remembrance that this call is unexpected,
and that I came here on another errand, and not to share in
these pleasant mem-ories; and so, if what I say is crude, heavy,
or a repetition, charge it to the circumstances.
You ask me, sir, to spleak for Clhenango county.   Chlenango
county lies yonder and speaks for herself to-day.   The sober industry of her citizen farmers; the white farm-houses, withl their
ampl)le out-buildings, that mark and  adorn her every hillside and
valley; the ninety church spires in her hamlets, with the worshipinlg people in each, and  her ninety Sal)bath-schlools; the
school-houses, in which are taughlt a larger portion of her childre, tlhan in any other county in the State save one; these sp-)eak
for her as I cannot speak.
None here have wandered so'far to the East or to the WVest,
but that the name and famie of "Old Chlenango'' has been there
too.
As I camne to your town lh the cars this morning, I said to
rmyself, how changed is this valley in a centulry!  If the first settler who planted his cabil (a ceizltlry plt/zt of wonderful growth
5
65 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
and blossom) on yonder bank an hundre(l years ago to-day, could
rise, and view the landscape, how would he exclaim at the change
of scenes about  him: the clearing for the open  pasture; the
stumpy field for the smooth meadow, or grain-laind; the log cabin
for the stately mansion; the rough log road for the smooth highway, and the gliding railway.
Has it ever occurred to you, favored citizens of this valley,
that this tent is in the center of one of the finest gardens of the
world?  Look at the strip of land one hundred miles wide, north
and south, and twice that length; the butter region.  It has not
its equal anywhere.  We stand here, a quarter of a mile above
the sea.  The summit of yonder hill is a quarter of a mile above
us.  These elevations represent the lowest and highest of the
lands of this dairy plat.  Cool springs and running brooks water
every farm.  Drive back the forest from these highest hill tops,
and( at once a thick carpet of grass covers the whole.   Not an
acre of these lands is barren.  Not a rocky slope, nor a field of
stunted evergreens can be seen in all this dairy  region.  Go
south, north, east or west, at home, or in foreign lands, and the
bare rock or stunted shrub mark such highlands. To this you
owe the liberal pay you receive for the products of your dairy.
But the smile of this dairy-woman at my  left, tells me that she
thinks that it is her art that makes her dairy famous in vonder
metropolis. Ahl, try it; go out of this garden belt, and my
word for it, your hand will have lost much of its cunning.
To the young men here, who have been listening to the call,
"young man go West," let me bid you stay at your homesteads,
and cultivate them to their highest power of production, for the
grass is a sure crop every year, while the grain field is exposed to
the frost, the blast, the drought, the mildew, and the thousand
other chances. 
The first settler; arising, would stare wildly at our railways.
Five years ago this summer, the railway crossed yonder bridge,
and, for the first time,?he engine's whistle sounded in Chenaugo.
To-day, that county, nestled among the hills, has more length of
railway than any other in the State.
66 
MR. NEWTON'S SPEECH.
And here the croaker tells us we are building in this country
too fast. Look out with me on the landscape before us, up and
down this valley, and up the sides of those Delaware hills.  See
the smooth, hard-beaten highways crossing in every direction
see the clean fields, and the fenced farms. WVho built the roads,
cleared and fenced the farms, and gave them to this generation
as a legacy?  It was these gray-haired  fathers, sitting at my
right hand and my left on this platform, and their compeers
now rested from their lalors."
They built these highways, and cleared the fields, and that,
too, before the mower  and the reaper, the hlorse-rake and the
thrasher, and the numerous other hels of to-day made it easy to
raise and gather their food from among  the roots and stumps;
when the spinning-wheel and loom and other slow processes made
their raiment.
HIalf the cost of these highways and clearings would Duild a
railroad thlrou,gh every town in the land.  WVIhy, then, shall this
generation not build them?   Vhlo shall say we are building too
much until every village and hamlet shall hiave its road.
Though not a native of this valley,, sir, I have one vivid
early recollection of it. My parents, a little over two score years
ago, spent two summners in a railroad shanty on tlhe motuntain
south of us, in Pennsylvania, building the first railroad on whic( lI
steam was used in America.   They took me, a thlree-year old,
along as a sub.  Our shanty had no room for such furniture as a
looking-glass. On our return north, we passed a night at the
home of a friend in yonder town of Windsor, down this river.
After tea, a bright fire in the parlor showed, at good a(dvantage,
a large mirror.   I was bound  to go throtugh it into the other
room; not the less so, because I saw a strange boy there struggling, to come at me, and I was ready to try his mettle  in fact,
desired to.  A  lmother's ltnd  on my collar failed to pre%vent
kicks and screams.   tut she stopped me.  She taught me one of
my early lessons there, down this valley.  I remember it.  I remember how it was done.  Itvas a practical lesson.  My mother
did not use Valerian then.  That was not what she gave me.  I
took something else.,
67' 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
But here, sir, let mne drop a tribute, on  this occasion, to a
friend, who is a native of this valley and  now living.  I wish lihe
was here, to-day, sharing  with us these festivities, and  himself
telling you what his life has been.   I refer to my classmate and
friend, Dr. Henry S. WVest.
As I came under this tent, Mr.  President, I heard you say,
that a missionary, as the report went, on his way to the Indians,
encamped for the night at " Old Chlenango Point," inow the city
oft' Binghamton, and,  from  the  p)rofanity and whisky lie heard
and saw there, decided hle had reached his true mission, and settled.  I believe, sir, that Dr. West is a direct descendant of that
sili-struck missionary.   If not, he ought to have )cen.  Born and
reared at Binghamton, hlie  there commenced l)ractice as a physician.   We remember him  as a college student, beloved by all,
modest, unassuming, yet excelling in every line of st(udy.  Like
modesty and skill marked  his practice.   A  call was  made for
Christian physicians to go out as missionaries.  h'le Dr. after
ten years' practice, with the "' Good-l)y" and " God bless you"
of his aged parents to their only son, took  his yoting wife and
went to Asia Minor to practice, and at the same time tell to the
men where Paul preached, the same "glad tidings."
Skillful in surgery, his fame soon spread far and wide, and,
now, the suffering travel hundreds of miles to avail themselves of
his h,elp.   Few, in any landl, are his peers, to-dlay, as surgeons.
The exaggerated stories  of the East give to  him  superhuman
credit.   For instance, the papers publlished and the p)eople believed, that lie took out a woman's disease(l heart, cut away dead
portions from it, replaced the rest, and  in time sent the sufferer
home happy an(-l well.
Sir, whlen next you visit " Old  Chlenango Point,"' look out
ul)on the tall spires of thle city, pointing  heavenward  from  hler
ampl)le, costly, graceful churches, and upon her other public edifices,an(l you will say that from the earlyi/afl//1z?, of that missionary
in good Susqcuelhanna Valley soil, grew a sl)lendclid crop of missioniaries, churclhes, schlools; that he was  the righlt man in the
righlt I)place.
68 
.IR. NEWTON'S SPEECIH.1
One thoughlt more, suggested by this Centiiry P/ant, my
friends, and I will relieve your patience.
f/zewor/e is growz'i  better.  Don't shake your heads, my
veteran friends of three-score and four-score years.  Not an old
mran, my whitening locks tell me that I am beginning to descend
toward the sunset of life.  On  the quiet, placid stream of life's
evening we look at the gay, joyous, and it may be, boisterous
young, and moutrn that the rigid virtues of our own early life are
departing, and that everything is going toward the bad.   Do we
not overlook, or forget, the gay and joyous part of our own early
life, and, perchance, its follies and waywardness, too?
I love to believe the world is growing better.  Average life
is longer than it was.  Why?  Is it not that men are more careful of the body?  Our colleges, our academies, our common
schools are better; are improving.  Knowledge, and the means
of knowledge, increase on every hand.  Material ties are binding
us, man to his fellow-man, more closely on every side.  Every
day new ways and measures are invented, and put in practice, to
relieve suffering of every kind.   The  orphan, the blind, the
aged, the fallen, the criminal, the unfortunate of every class and
of every land, are sought out and cared for.  Great charities are
reaching out strong hands of helpfulness.  The school is placed
within the reach of every child; the Bible in the hands of every
man.  The  terrors of war are softened by the kind,  impartial
offices of charity following in its direct wake. National crimes
are dying out in the sunlight of a highler knowledge.  Slavery is
vanislling from the world.  Liberty of conscience, and  liberty
of person, is increasing in every land. Despotic thrones are tottering to the fall.  Corruption in public private, and corporate
life, the natural outgrowthl of the irregularities and excesses of
our terrible war, is held up for the scorn of ioan; and the knife
of investigation is beingased without mercy, and the corrupt
mighty are falling. *Stern war has taught us how every man has
need of the help of his fellow.man, and made us mutually respect and honor all of ever,rank or class.
And to-day, sir, on the shores of thc beautiful Lake of Geneva sits a tribunal wit; power to arbitrate between two of the
(ig. 
70                THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL. 
mightiest and most cultured nations of the earth a casis belli
that once could only have been solved by a bloody appeal to
arms.
Reason is on the throne, and the country growing better. An
hundred years hence, and-but I forbear.   It needs a prophet's
eye.
Let every man, in his place, day by day, do his daily duty,
and all shall be well.
Thanking you for your kind indulgence, I bid you a hearty
good day.
e
a
0 
THE LETTERS.
Tile President announced that the Secretary, Mr. Hardy,
would now proceed to read the letters which the Itomne Committee had received from some of our friends abroad, who were
unable to share with us in person, the festivities of the day.
That first in order would be the letter of an honored and greatly
esteemed son of the valley, whose very name was a synonym of
integrity; who never deserved an enemy and, so far as is known,
never  had one:  Deacon  Hughl  C. Johnston.   The President
added: "Fifty-four and fifty-five yearsago he was our village schoolmaster, and such was our respect for his knowledge and wisdom,
that of him, as of Goldsmith's ideal of that important  fulnctionary, it may be said:
'And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew,
How one snmall he.d could carry all he knew.T'
The several letters were then read, as follows:
I E TTER FROXf HUGH C. JOHNS TO., ESQ.
"CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, June 7, I872.
To the Centeninial Celebrationi Comnmittee:
DEAR FRIENDS, —I am in receipt of your kind invitation to
attendt the celebration in commemoration of the settlement of
Sidney Plains, ioo years ago. Mrs. Johnston and myself regret
we cannot be with you, but age and infirmities must prevent our
attendance.   WVe shall, notwvithstanding, feel a deep interest in the
day and the occasion, all which must awaken tender recollections
of the past. Oft hlavei listened with thrilling interest to my
clear father's recital of the privations and discouragements of
those who settled the Susquehanna Valley, in that locality.  It
is just and proper that theday and the occasion should be commnemorated.   For  more than three score years I was identified
with its interests.
-. o 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
In the providence of God I am separated from you, but
find no place so dear to me as my early home.  Many are the
changes time has wrought since my early recollection.   Fhlere I
spent my infancy, childhood and mature years.
Imagination often carries nie back to the scenes of early life,
buit I fear it will be only in ii~a,inaloiz.  I often think of childhlood's days, when with dear brothers and sisters we were an unbroken circle around our dear parents' hearthstone.
I remember witlh pleasurable emotions, my connection with
the Sabbath School for forty years, and the dear ones in attendance; of my union with the Church of Christ, and those who
composed it, more than three score years ago.
I think of the old church with its high pulpit, and square
pews, and of their occupants; of solemnn warnings, of the messages of love and the songs of praise that echoed within its wvalls
of the happy days I there enjoyed  with the dear companion of
my youth, in receiving the caresses of our beloved children.
Alas! six of them sleep in death.
I think of the many social gatherings in which, with my
family, I then and there participated; of the venerated and beloved dead who sleep in that lonely cemetery.
A review of the past is calculated to awaken  emotions, l)othi
pleasurable and painful.  The review appears much like a dream
and niow, at the age of almost four score years, I am admonished
that my fiture of life must be short.  May that God whose I am,
and whl-om I have endeavored to serve, strengthen and sustain ime
under the increasing infirmities of advancing age.
Be assured while life lingers, I shall cherish the fond recollection of my old, old home.   When the short-lived pleasures of
this world are ended, nmay we be prepared to enjoy a hapl)y future
in the better life. a
Please remember Mrs. Johnston and myself to our life-long
friends who may join in the ceiebration.
Sincerely yours,
H1. C. JOH NST1ON."
72
4 
LETTER FROMI HON. HENRY R. MIY(GATT.
LETTER FR OAf;  G UDE  LOiYGYEA-R.
"DETROIT, June 6, I872.
Ira E. Shermian, Esq., and others, Comnitlee:
MEssRs.-Please  accept lily thanks for your kind remem brance, and favoring me  withl an  invitation to  your proposed
Centennial Celebration of  the settlement of the Stisqtuehlnnaa
Valley at Sidney Plains, i3th inst.   I assu,re you it would( afford
me much more than ordinatry pleisure to accept your  kind invi tation and  revisit the scenes, and(l take l)y the hand the friends
and acquaintances of my earlier life, -nnd participate in  the an ticipated festivities.  But it is not so  to be.'lle U. S. ('CouLrts
at this place, over which I am now presiding, are in active session,
and will colititnue for probably a month to come, and it is thlere fore impossible for me to get away without miaterial injury to the
public service.
Please remember me kindly to all old friends and acquaintances, and accept for yourselves the sincere regards of
Yours very truly,
JNO. VV. LONGYEAR."
LE TTER FR OAf HOiV. HEL VR Y R. fYGA 7'T.
" OXFORD, Juie 13, 1872.
CGENrLEMEN.-'his mnorninig a protracted  trial in the Supren-me Court, in which Iatm egtLgcd,  deprived me of the an ticipate(d pleasure of being present as one of the representatives of
the ('iChenango Valley it youtir centennial festival of to-dly.
r regret extremely to sty that a p)rofess.,iolal op)ponent from
Ononidaga will not con.lsent that I unite witll you in recalling the
interesting events of a century ago, when an intrepid, hlar(ly ant(l
industrious population commenil   ced mIoving wvestward thiroig,) the
gates of tlhe Stlsquelhanna.   Thiey soon founlld thlleir wvay  to the
beautiful Chetiango.      a
T?e Chepango to the Susqueh.nna Iruns,
The Susquehlinna to the s-,a."
In your extended  vally, in your  hills, a(d p)lains, in Nyour
agriculttire, manufactures, and, commerce, are fotini( the n(ol)lt s
elements for national glory.   A  century ago, thle king of (;reat
;3 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
Britain pursued the system of concentrating all power over these
Colonies. Those were perilous times, and yet the patriot, Samuel
Adams, never forgot to sound "the glorious spirit of liberty."
The war whoop was then ringing, and the scalping knife gleaming; but on this day of your jubilee not a son of the forest will
disturb the civilization and liberty of the owners, settlers and
occupants of your soil.
Whilst I thank you for your obliging invitation, you will
allow me to offer to the public-spirited people of Sidney my cordial wishes for both the success of the occasion, and for their
continued prosperity and welfare.
Very sincerely and faithfully your friend and servant,
HEFNRY R. MYGATT.
To IRA E. SHER.MAN, EsQ., anti others of the Comminittee."
L ETTER EROM MR. CAL VIN 7. MIILLS.
" NEW YORK, June I I, I87'..
Hon. Ira E. Sherman:
MY DEAR SIR,.-Please, to yourself and the Committee,
accept thanks for the invitation to join in celebrating the completion of the century since the settlement of the Ulpper Susquehanna valley.
Doubtless it presented rare beauty to the reverend pioneer,
as utinder the fresh foliage he woke the echoes with the voice of
prayer and praise; the river rolled gloriously at his feettoward the
far off ocean when it first reflected from its shining bosom  the
pale face of the settler.
'Tis many years since I last saw the quiet valley and the
smiling faces of cherished friends and near relatives there.  Many
of those beloved now sleep beneath the grassy mounds near the
village church.  Since my last visit to my Mecca, you have wooed
for her benefit, the progressive genius of the age. Thie locomotive shriek pro laims thvictory of steam, and lightning messengers bring you ilfto immediate connection with the American
Metropolis and close relations with all the world.  Enterprise
and skill have reduced to lours the journeys of weeks, and bring
damp to your hands the Metropolitan journals with fresh news
from all quarters of the globe.
74 
LETTER FROM EPHRRAIM- LOLGYEAR, ESQ.
Pressure of daily duty precludes to me the great pleasure of
joining in your jubilee. I would gladly survey the scene which
charmed  my  childhood; more gladly press again warm hands
that have given me manv hearty greetings. Strong necessity forbids the enjoyment. Permit nme to hope no cloud may mar your
festivities; and that Sidney Plains, as a commercial center, may
in its greater prosperity retain those public and private virtues
which, during a hundred years, have been characteristic of her
population.          T'ruly your friend and kinsman,
CALVIN J. MILILS
LE TTER FROM EPHRAIM L ONG YEAR, ESQ.
"LANSING, MICH., June 4, I872.
Ira E. Shernman. Esq., anll others, Cormimittee:
I have received your kind invitation to visit the Susquehanna
Valley, and attend the Centennial Celebration of June  i3th;
and I should be greatly pleased to be there, I)ut my business
arrangemeints are such, that it will be impossible for me to do
so.  1 wish to convey to you my  sincere thanks for your kind
remembrance of one who, in his boyhood, was a resident of the
valley, and with which many of the pleasantest recollections of
his early life are associated.
I visited Sidney Plains, after about 25 years' absence, and
her valleys and green hillsides looked like the familiar faces of
old friends, that brighten the eyes and cheer the heart to meet.
Many of the old citizens had passed away, but some yet remained
to welcome an old friend.  I found that new life and vigor were
infilsed into your once sequestered town by the railroad and telegraph, and that your hills and mountains were no longer a barrier to be surmounted by slow processes, in communicating with
the rest of the world. Long may you live to enjoy your growing
prosperity.            e
Allow me to join you in hoping  that your celebration will
be one of the most interesting ever held in the old valley),, and
that the occasion will be Pleasant and entertaining.  Though absent, consider me as one who would gladly be with you on that
day at Sidney Plains!
;5 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
Allow me, again, gentlemen, to thlank you, and to subscribe
myself one who well and pleasantly remembers the old Susquehanna Valley.                              E. LONGYEAR."
I E TFTE R FR OM  DR. VI L I1A f D. P URPL E.
"GREENE, May Io, 1872.
GENTLENEN,-Your  very kind  invitation to participate in
the Centennial Celebration of the settlement of your valley was
duly received,  for which accept my thanks.  I am  personally
acquainted with Messrs.  Rogers and McMaster, and would be
happy to join in a celebration of the advent of their ancestors in,our  lovely valley.   Your  historic reminiscences  will
be highly interesting to nme, who spent son   six years in yoir
valley, and who has an actquaintance with miany of your ol(ler
inhabitants.  The Indian history of the valley, and the advent of
Gen. Jas. Clinton's bateatix in August, I779, on his way to Cayuga Lake to destroy the Indian crops; and  the very interesting
interview of Gen. Herkimer and Brant under the foliage of
some of your native trees, will be scenes worthy of the orator and
the p)oet on that occasion.
My health is not very good, an(l I am invited to give a public lecture at Sherburne on the i ith of June before the Che.nango
County  Medical Society, and shlall be unal)le to do myself the
honor to be in your midst.   Yours truly and kindly,
\W. D. PURPI,E.
Honi. I. E. SHERMAN anti others, Commnrittee."
At  the setting of the sun, whiclh  had slhone serenely tuloll
the day's proceedings tus f, a recess of a coupL)le of hours was
annllounlced; exercises to be a,gain restumed at the church.
.EV- AIJ.G EXFR CISEA.
The exercises in thoevening were  held in the Congregational Church; the lervices being openedl by the Rev. Mr. Robertson, reading of the Scriptures an(d p1rayer.  A fine selection was
rendered by the choir, afterovhich the Rev. J. B. Mo.rse rea(l the
following sketch of the church at Sidney, principl)ally fo,,atl in
the church records:
76 
THE FIRST RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF SIDNEY.
Thie church in Sidney d(lid not commence with the settlement.
This valley was not settled, like some parts of the WVest, by a
coloily, whlo take withl tlheml all the convelniences and institutions
of older settlements,-tbe mechanic, merchant, schloolmaster and
minister.  The settlement  was a small germ to begin with, and
grew slowly.
It was thirty-six years after the first settlement, before the
first Church of Christ in Sidney was constituted.   We are not
to suppose, however, that the early settlers were willingly without the stated means of grace, or that they were wholly deprived
of this blessing.
Occasionally an itinerating missionary  would find his way
into the valley and preach to the sparse  settlements scattered tip
and down  the river.  At quite an early date, the church was
formed in Bainbridge, wvhichl, in a measure, became the spiritual
center for a large section of country, including a part of Sidlley.
The Rev. Joel Chapin, who  was pastor in B3aimbridge from
I798 to 18o6, considered Sidney as belonging to his parish,-and
preached a part of the time here.  It is recorded in his diary,
that after he closed his labors with the church in Baimbridge, he
preached a part of his time, from 18o8 to I8S12, in Sidney, and
labored in a revival during that time.   He  speaks of the people
in Sidney  with great esteem and  love.  He records  that he
preached in the mneeting-house at Sidney in I8l2, "to a full and
solemnn assembly."
Thirough the instrumentality of Mr. Chapin, more than any
other human agency; a council was called on  the  i2zth day of
Jaiinuarr, I8o8, to colnstitute-a church il thiis p)lace. I callnnot do
better tlhan to give the rceord entire, as it was made at the tithe:
"At a council called and convened at Sidney, J.miitary i2,
I8o8, for the purpose of examininig, and, if thought proper, to 
TIIE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
constitute a church in this place,  there were present:   Revs.
Joel Chapin, David flarrower and Wm. Bull; Archibald Bassett,
Mo)(lerator, and Joel T'. Benedict, Clerk."
Joel Chapin was at that timne living in Bainbridge; Davidl
Harrower was an itinerating niisionary living at Ham(len, and
preaching a part of the time in Sidney; Rev. Archibald Bassett
was the pastor of the Congregational  Church in Walton; Rev.
Wm  Bull was a wandering preaclher, prea(ching where he chanced
to be.
"''lThe council opened with prayer.'lThe following persons
presented themselves, and after a cairefl examination of their
doctrinal and exp)erimental qualifications, they were considered
as qualified to be constituted into a visible Church of Christ;
namely:  Israel Smith and Elizabeth his wife; Samuel Rogers
and Sarah his wife; Israel Smithl, Jr.; Enos Goodman and Esther
his wife; Darius Smith and Lydia his wife; Samuel Bixby and
Hannahl his wife; David McMaster; Simeon Elmer and Hannah
his wife; Solomon Farnhlaln and. Sally his wife; Elijah Bryan
Peter Bradley and Phlebe his wife; Tralcott (Gould an(d Anna his
wife; Hezekiah Wells; Polly Taylor; Jane Jolhnston; Jemima
Judd, and Lydia Johnston; in all 26.
Voted that the council do proceed to conistitute a church in
this place, composed of the foregoing persons, to-morrow, at IO
o'clock A. M.  Voted that Mr. Benedict make the prayer, Mr.
Bassett preach the sermon, Mr.  Chapin make  the concltuding
prayer.
JAN. i3.-Met according to adjournment.  Council opened
with prayer.
The candidi(lates voted that they were satisfied with the sentiments and qualifications of each -other.
The existing confesion of faith and covenant were read,
examined and adopted.  The council and the candidates  then
repaired to the place of public worship) " (which, as the memory
of a living witness supl)lies was an upper room in the house at
present occupied by Mr.  WVeir, but which was then kept as a
public house l)y Mr. D)avid Smiith).
78 
THE FIRST RELIGIOUS SOCIEJY OF SID)NEY.
"The Rev. Joel T. Belledict opened the meeting with prayer.
Rev. Archibald Basset preached the sermon from Ps cxxxvii: 5,
6:  J If I forget thee, O Jerusalemt, let my right hand forget her
cunniing.  If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to
thle roof of my moutll, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief
joy.'
The churchl was then constituted and considered as bearing
the name of, the first Chlurch of Christ in Sidney.  ('oncluded
with prayer by Rev. Joel Chapin.  Joel T. Bene(dict, Clerk."
On the same (lay the church made  choice of two deacons:
Israel Smith and Enos Goodman.
The confession of faithl and covenant,  vlhich now follow in
the minutes, and which we cannot quiote, wvere, in those dlays,
considered short and simple; to our modern  notions, tlhey were
long, elaborate and strong.  IThlose who believed and confessed
them on that far-off day, as the charter members of this church,
have long since been gathered to their fathlers, and with themi
the  majority of the congregation  that  listened to  that constituting sermon.   The children that witnessed with interested
curiosity, or solemn thouglhts, the ceremonies of the clay,  have
passed away, or live amtotig us, or in other coimni-unities, as old
men and women.
The first year of the churchl's existence, ulnder the pastoral
labors of Rev. David Harrower, was a year of great p)rosl)peity.
DLring thle year there wvere added 35 new imembers, making in
all 6i.
A few extracts fromi the records of the church during thle
first two years of its existence, cannot fail of interest to many
who are present, as they mutst awaken many solemn  and  tender
recollections:
"JAN. 24, r8o8.-erthlena and Aurilie, children of Uzial
Taylor, were baptized."  This is the first record ma(le by the
newly conttituted chlurchl; -ld if I were now p)rea(:hing, I should
say a good recor(l to male, and one we are neglecting too mIuch.
IThle second is like unto it.
"FEB. 2, i8o8:-Rena, Lynda, Israel, Eber, Polly, RI\fis,
079 
THIE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
Eiihti, Otis and Electa, children of Israel Smith, Jr.,  vere baptize(d.
FEP. 22, iSoS.-Cyrus and DV1vid, children of l)avid McMIaster, were bap)tized.
M\ARCH 20, iSoS.-Thle clhurch( proceeded to the examination of l ois Bixby and Betsy, Re(lifield, and after examination,
vote(1 to receive them."
T'.e same day, March 20othll, the following persons were received into the church, viz.:  Witter Johnston, Lois Jolhnston,
Mary Johnston, Anna  Johnston, Peter Sliter, Simeon  Smitlh,
Dax id( Bradley, Sturgis L. Bra(lley, Fraacis Stoyell, Mary Baxter,
Electat Smith, Rena Smith, Polly Sliter, Hepsil)ah Smith, Betsy
Recifield and Lois Bixby; and Betsy Redfield was l)ap)tized.
'liiis was the first acquisition to the church.  A few of them
are still living, and still members of the church with whlich they
fiist united.
"APRII. 3, i8oS.0 The  following persons united with  the
chiurchl:  Nicholas Sliter, Hulgh  C. Johniston, Content Bryan,
Pollv Bryan,! Ruth Palmer and Betsy Hickock."
Passing many records that no doubt are interesting to those
who remiember the names and incidents, we find recorded May
20thl, ISO8S:' This church voted to form a union with the
Northierni Associated Presbytery,'whichi union was effected at the
session of Presbytery at Hartwick, the 8thi of June."'hle same
)ear the delegate fromi the Sidney chlurchi was Col. \Witter Johnston.
MIAY 29, i8oS8.-Jabez John and WVm. Henry (now known
as Henry \W.), children of Samiuel Rogers, were baptized.
AUG. 18, I8oS.-Abner, chiild of Huigh  Johnston, was bap
tizeld.
JANUARv, iSo9.-LeO,  Henry, Nanicy, John, Charles, Edgar, Frederick, WVilPiam and Thomas, children of Levi Baxter,
were l)al)tized."
March 5, I809, we hav  the following record: "The church
went into the consideration of other imemnbers, occasionally communin,g with us, and ca,mle to the following resolution, viz:-WVe
80 
THE FIRST RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF SIDNEY.
do not wishl to be understood to deny members of other churches
occasionally communing with us, but we do not conceive it to be
our duty to allow this practice with any one member more than
one year." But we must pass on.
The present church edifice was raised as a meeting house in
I807.  It was roofed that year, and clap-boarded the year following, but was not completed and dedicated until I814.
The dedicatory sermon was preached by the Rev. Isaac Garvin, who was at the time pastor of the church, from Gen. xxviii:
I 7: " How dreadful is this place.  This is none other than the
House of God." Allow me to quote from his most excellent
sermon
"Are you now prepared, in view of God, Angels and Men,
to dedicate this house to its intended use and purpose?  In testimony of our sincerity, let us all arise from our seats and dedicate
this house.
Blessed God; Father, Son  and Spirit who  bear record,
whose anger burns to hell, whose' mercy, altlhotgh set above the
heavens, distils upon this earth,-to Thee, the Triune God, we
dedicate this house,-to Thee, we dedicate these sacred walls for
the convention of Thy people, and for the public profession of
Thy Son's name; —to Thee we dedicate these sacred altars for
the administration of Thy  holy ordinances, baptism and the
Lord's Supper;-to Thlee we dedicate this sacred desk for the
dispensation of Thy holy word and prayer;-to Thee  we dedicate yondler seats for Thy sacred praise;-to Thee we de(licate
ourselves with solemn obligation to be Thine;-to Thee, the God
of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we dedicate our children present,
and our children's children to a thoLsand generations.  On this
2d (lay of January, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight
hundred and fourteen, wev humbly dedicate this house to Thee,
the Lord God Almighty,.praying that Thy special presence may
descend and fill this place, as-the Temple of Thy peculiar worship. And now brethren aid friends, in this consecrated house,
let us all sit down with our long A4mnen."
At the time of dedlication, there was a membership of a hun
6
8,1 
THE SIDNEY CENTENNIAL.
dred and nineteen.  During the whole time since the constituton
of the church, there have been connected with it 299 members;
of these, 239 have been added on the profession of their faith,
and 6o by letter.  There have been dismissals,-58 by letter, and
38 have died.  I would say this record is imperfect  as there are
now only 103 members, it leaves io00 menibers unaccounted for.
Since the dedication, the church  edifice has been twice repaired.  First in I839, when the square pews were taken out, and
the high pulpit and sounding board were taken down. In I870,
work was commenced, and in I87I tlhe church was finished as
you now see it, at the cost of $7,5oo00, all of which we rejoice to
know is paid, and the church stands dedicated to God, free of debt.
Since the organization of the church, the (congregation have
received the labors of 23 ministers, an average of not quite two
years to a minister, to say nothing of some long intervals when
the church was without a supply.   Whether the people exhausted
the ministers, so that they became dry to them, or whether the
m/,iisters exhausted the people, so that they could no longer live,
it does not belong to the historian to determine; but certainly
the church has not the glory of any extended pastorate, to which
to refer as an evidence of stability and conservative notions.
Mr. Harrower served the clurch from I807 to 18I2.  In reading
over tne list of ministers', kindly furnished by one who remembers them all, one is forcibly reminded of the chapter in I Kings,
where Elah, and Zimri, and Omri, and Tibni, one after another,
came to the throne of Israel all in the compass of half a dozen
verses.  My first thought was to give the entire list, but I find it
too long, or my time too short.
Rev. A. McMaster was then introduced and gave a powerful
historical sermon, reviewing not only the events of the past century, but those events peceding, which had been potent in shaping our history, arfid through which, under the blessing of God,
we had been lifted up and made a free and prosperous people.
At the close of Mr. McMaLter's sermon, the President announced
that these proceedings were about to close, and that if any action
remained to be taken, the same would now be in order. Then,
82 
RESOLUTIONS.'
On  motion of Dr. Win. Baxter, of Dutclhess county, it was
Re.sotve(, That the thanks of the entire delegations fromt
abroad are due to the Comnlittee of Arrangements and the citizeins of Sidney Plains for their kindlness and  thouJhtfultness, in
thus alffording to theni an opportunity for so pleasant a re-unlion
in comimemoration of the first settlement of this valley, and for
the compl)lete and amnple arrangemrents  iia(le by thleni for their
reception and entertainment whilst here.
On motion of Mr. Abner Johnston, it was
Rc.so!vcd, That the thanks of the Comminttee are due, and
should be tendered to the Norwich Glee (Club for the fine music
so kindly furnished by thenm to enliven the occasion.  Also that
our thanks be tendered to the representatives of the Press who
were present, for their interest in the Centennial anld for ftirnislhing (latta and material for a record of the same.
On motion of Hon. Ira E. Sherlnan, it was
Re.solh,cd, That the speakers and Poet of the day b)e requested
to furnish the Commiuttee at copy of their several addresses, tllhat
they may be published to the world, and kept as a part of the
record of the century just passed.
After the passage of these Resolves, thl)e colngregation rose
and sang to the tulle of " Old  Hundred":
'-Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Himn all creatures here below,
Praise Hil, above ye lHeavenly Host,
Praise F.atlier, Son and Holy Glost."
Mr. Rogers then addressing the assembly, bricfly acknowledged the courtesies extended to him during his administration
of the duties of the Chair, and closed with these words:
"The observances of this day are ended.   The first settlement of the Upper Suiqelhanna Valley, and the events which
have followed for One hunt,lred/years, now belong to history.   In
obedience to your command, I declare thLis Centennlitl Festivzal
at/oiurne1 lo the thlr0eenI (ay of   ine, In the year of our icr]
one thousai ind, nine huntred and seventy- two."
a
3 
APPENDIX.
OULEOUT AND CARR'S CREEK.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
BY
SLUMAN L. WATTLES, ESQ.
Thle generation having personal recollections of the earliest
settlement of the valleys of thle Ouleout an(l Carr's Creekl, has
passed away.  All knowle(lge, therefore, of the brave and enterprising pioneers of these settlements is traditionary; a(Tnd it is
sutrprising that so little of their history is now retained by their
(lescendants. We of the present (lay having so miany p)rivileges,
and(l possessing a cultivated country prepared(l for us by tlhem, can
hlardly appreciate the difficulties, (lang,ers and( lhardshli)s tlle y had
to encounter.  They  were compelled to traverse an  unbroken
wilderness, inhabited only by wild beasts and savages, fronm the
Hudson river on the east, andl thle Mohawk onl the north, without roads, or any guide except the courses of tlhe streanls.
The first explorer of the Ouleout Valley in the townl of Si(lney, after the Revolutionary War, was   \UMN  VATTLEs.  In
17,S4 he came there to examilne, survey and(l lay out in lots, a tract
of la(nd extendilng fromi a line near the Sus(luellann'i[ river, soutlhward(ly to tlhe D)elaware river, afterward(ls and now called(l l,ivingston's Patent.  It apl)ea.aithat Mr. NVrattles lhadl some interest in
this Patent then, anll afterwards he was kliiowni to be part owner
of it.  Vlhile there at that time lie selectedl a l)lace for himself
and built t log cabiii on the tract near the spot where Mr. Villiaiii Taylor's house now stali(lis.  In l78i5 hle moved his fiiiiily
there.  He was fromt Collnecticut.  He l)rotug,llt llis ftlaily, consisting) of his wife and'twto or three clhildrcen, on horseback. Mrs. 
HISTORICIAL SKET(H.
Wattles rodle the hlorse, carrying her bedI and one child behind
her, and one child before her.  The other child, a smiall iinflint
then, was carried most of the way in the armis of a brother of'Ir.
rVattles, whlo caInie with themi. This inffltnt child Vwas afterwards
the wife of the late Col. Dewey, of Sidney.  She was born on the
banks of the Delaware river, near the present village of 13looiii v-ille; Mr. WVattles, on his way, having stopl))ed tlhere awhllile in a
deserted cabin, supplosed to have been built by somle one before
the war, and who ha(l been driven off by the In(ials.  Thley
caiiie down the Delaware, thlrough the place  vlwhere Delhli lnow
stands, to Platner's Brook; thlence up) the brook an(l over the hill
to the Ouleout, following, an Indian patllh.  They live(l tliere six
iontlis before M\rs. AVattles saw the falce of a white woiiIlan.
The Indianis, claiming soIIIe title to thle latn(ls on which M\r.
\Vattles had settled, or to the Patent lie had surveyed, it becaene
necessary to negotiate witlh them, and lie and they held a council
on the banks of the Ouleout, near his house, a.tid made a treaty,
the preliinliItries of which were, that the li(iitans should ihave a
barrel of runi, and that they should give Ul) their klives and
weapons to Mr. hTattles while they hel(l their )powv-wow.
All this region of country was then in MTontgoliiery county.
In 1791 Otsego county was forniedtl and consisted of two towns,
Cherry \Valley and Otseg,o, and tlle preseit town of Si(lney was
tlhen a part of Otseg,o.  In 1,797 Delawar\ e coulnty was forned from
Otsego tand Ulster.  IMr.  Vattles was then a Sup)ervisor in Otsego,
and took a-n active plart in setting off the new county of Deltware.
He was also a magistrate at that time for a larg,e territory, iicluding the p)resent towns of Sidney, Franklin, Masoniville and llmatIy
others.  He took an active and leading part in all tlle local p)ublic
afftiirs of that towvn, and iniied(liately after Delaware county was
formed, was appointe(l one of the county ju(lges.
The OuleouIt being the largest streamni runnllillng thlrougllh Si(lley
should have given its beautiful namie to tlhe town.  Jul(g,e TVattles said that the signification of the Indian wordl Ol(,cotit or O(choi(lt was " Leafy  Vater," and that the stream  was  so nalnle(l
from the abundance of  l)aple leav\es that fell into the water in the
autu-mni. Its principal brach,''li"Han(lsoine B3rook,"  was so nainie(l
by the j tudgl,e liimiself.
About the tihIe that Jud;re Vattles caiitnie into tlhe counitry, a
cousin of his, Nathaniel \lattles, also iove\e(l i an(l settled on the
Sus(luelalina, below the iiioutli of thle Ouleoutt.  His place was
long known as" WatVtles's Ferry."  In 179) the Legi,slatureof the
,8.5 
APPENDIX.
State passed an act to construct a road from Catskill to the Ouleout, and appropriated six hundred pounds to make the same.
Nathaniel WVattles was one of the contractors to make the road.
Tlhe road commenced at the Ferry and ran up the Ouleout about
a miile and a half; thence directly up and over one of the steepest
and highest hills in the town, to the north branch of Carr's
Creek, which it crossed about two miles east of Sidney Center.
This road was partly cut out and worked, an(l was used a short
time in transporting goods fronm Catskill, by means of (Irays-a
sort of wooden sled d(rawn by one horse.  Mr. Wattles lived at
the Ferry several years, and raised a large family, not one of
whom went further west.  He kept the first tavern in the town,
the river there being used as a sortof a highway before any roads
were cut out. He was an active and prominent man. He was
one of the first two members  of Assembly  sent  to  the
Legislature   after  the   formation   of   Delaware   county,
and   he   died   in   Albany   while   a   member.    Mr.
Jamies   Hughston,   a   relative   of  Nathaniel   Wattles,
moved into the town soon after Mr. Wattles did, and settled on
the farm now owned by his son, Col. Robert Hughston.  It was
then a very dense wilderness, and so thick were the trees and
bushes that it was said to be impossible to drive a nair of oxen
yoked up from Mr. Hughston's house to Wattles's Ferry.  Mr.
Hughston moved his wife into the country on horseback, with
her bed and other articles strapped( on the horse; and she used to
relate, among other incidents of her early life, how shle ima(le a
cra(lle for her first child out of a piece of a hollow tree.  Mr.
Hughston lived all(l (lied ili Sidney.  He was a niagistrate in the
town about forty years, several times Supervisor, and once a
member of the State Legislature from Delaware county.
Very soon after the close of the Revolutionary War, Adam
Rifenbark settled on the bank of the Susquelhanna, a short distance below Crookerville.  He ha(d previously lived on the other
side of the river. It is said hlie was a deserter from the British
armly, and camne into this country to escape. And about the same
time Timothy Beach moied his family into a cabintl hlie had built
at the junction oftthe Ouleout and Susquehanna.  The place
where hle settled was afterwards called and kniownii as - the Betts
farm. The renmainls of his cellar are still visible. Mr. Beach
lived there a few years, an& was drowned in the river; it was
supposed, by an Indian.  He has numerous descendants resi(ling
in Franklin and Walton.
8(; 
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
One Abraham Fuller settled on the Ouleout and built a grist
mill on the site of the p)resent mills.  This imill was built probably in 1788, and was the first grist mnill built in Sidncy or ill any
of the adjoining towns.  Previous to the buil(ling of this miill,
the few inhabitants were obliged to go to Schloharie or Harpersfield to mnill.  One of Judge  WVattles's sons used to say that his
father had sent him forty miles oil horseback to mnill, through anll
almost unbroken wilderness.  The first grist miill built on the
Susquehanna, in Sidney, was built by a Mr. Bennett, who, it
seelms,ownel it for a considerable time.  It was afterwards ownIed
by MIr. Crooker, and he built a woolen factory there.
One Carr built the only grist mill ever built oil Carr's Creek.
It was built at an early date.  It was a small aftkir, and it is said
that C.trr brought his mill irons on his back all the way fromn
Cooperstown; a distance of nearly or quite forty miles.
In the year 1789 Isaac Hodges camie from the town of Florida,
on the Molhawk river, in the county of Montgomiery, to the OuLleout, to look for lands for his sons to settle onl. He selected and
purchased a tract of about o500 acres, being a part of the Patent
that had b)een surveyed by Judge Wattles, a few years previous.
His l)plr3',A.e exten l1}.t fro,n the line of lailml  now (1872) owned
by Tlhomas WVilliams, down the stream to a  line about a miile
from the Susquelihalinna river, and included extensive flats on both
sides of the OuLleout.  He paid ten shillings ($1.25) an acre, and
hle divided this land among his four sons, Hezekiah, Benjanm-ii,
Isaac and Josiah.  Early in thie spring of 1790 Hezekiali with his
wife iand his brothlers, Benijamnin and Josiah, moved on and took
possession of the land.  They came by the way of the Scliohlrie
to the head of the Delaware river, and thence crossed over to the
Outleout, and followed that stream d(own to their place.  They
move:l with a yoke of oxen and one horse, and carried their,few
household goods ani(d provender or fodder for their teaml, on a
sort of a sled, with very crooked runners, which in those (lays
was called a dray, and which was so constructed as to be easily
p:issedl over logs  lnd( other obstructions.  This sort of vehicle was
mutch used then, being cLeaply made, and, it is sai(l, tlhat barrels
of rumli  were broug,lt on them  all the way from Catskill to tlhe
Sutsquehlan pa.
They arrived at theiredestination on the 29tli day of April,
179a, with about 2)) lbs. of lihay for their teamis and a little corn.
On the (day after their arrival the snow fell two feet deep, and
$7 
APPENDIX.
they suffered much for the want of provisions, and also for fodder for their teamis.
After reaching their lands their first stopping  place was on
the lowest flat on the Ouleout, and on the fariii now ownedl by
William  T. Hodges, a grandson pf Hezekiah. There they camul)e(l
out, and imni-ediately l)roceeded to buil(   a cabin in this way
They cut logs and rolled theni ul) for two sides, leaving tlhe other
si(lde open, and in front of the open  side they piled a lar,ge log
heap and set it oil fire, and covering it with bark an(d brush they
managed( to kleep dry and warm.  In this cabin, on the 20th of
June, 1790, Elizabeth, oldest child of Hezekiah, was born.  She
is still living.  As soon as the sons had iniade a little iniproveiiient and built a house, their father caime to and live(l w-ith
thlem until lie die(l.  He  was buried on his own land.  Two of
the sons soon went further west.  Benjamniin died, in(l I-lezekiali
and \TMaria, his wife, both lived(l in Si(lney to goo( old( age, anll(l left
nuimerous descendants; niany of whonli still resi(le in this town.
Hezekiahl brougll apple seeds with him, and iimmiediately planted
a itnursery near his first cabin, and that nursery is the falther of
iany of the oldest orchards in that neighborhood.
In 1797 Stephen Dewey, with his sons, Williiamn, Roger and(
Daniiel, settled on the farni ii now owned(l by his grallndson, Rallph
Dewey. Soon after, his son Williani, afterwar(ls well known  asCol.
Dewey, purchased the farm  and resided on it until his death.
Col. Dewey filled miany public positions.  He was Supervisor of
the town of Si(lney and a nemnber of the Legislatture.  Aliiong
other early settlers on the Ouleout are renieinbere(l tlhe lames of
Jonathan Bush, at whose  house the  first towin-ileeting, was
held, and one Stevens, who had the grist-nmill onI the Ouleout and
ran the first and only distillery for making whisky in the town.
Oliv-er Gager, a captain in the nilitia, Nathaniel Wolcott, Josiah
Thaltcher, for imany years town clerk,Xlilliaiii EvanIs anid o(tlhers.
The first settler at Sidney Center, to remaini there, was Jaob
Bildwell.  He moved there with his fanlily in 179)3, an(l l)built a
cabin on the farni now owne(l by Williami Dewey.   He nioved
his famlily on a sled.  H~went over the hill froni the Ouleoutt to
Carr's Creek, probably on the old State road, wlhich was  tllen
just cut out and opened.  The ol( State road commeneced at Xeattles's Ferry and ran upl) the Oxleout a short distance; tleni(e (Iirectlv over one of the steepest and( highest hills in tlhe townl to
tlle north branch of (Carr's Cretk; tlhence easterly, towalr(ls Ca.tskill.  It was lnever completed.  In passing over the logs in the
88 
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
road,Mr. Bidwell's sled broke, and it being dark hle put Mrs. Bidwell and thle children on thle horses and(l went thlrougil.  He went
back for his goods the next dlay.  Mr. Bi(lwell found two or three
fanmilies about there, but their inamies are now unklnown-.  The
next winter, being a very liax(d one, tlhese falnilies all Inoved
away, which left tlhem  alone, an(l Mrs. Bidwell did not see the
face of a white  woman for tlhree months.  Tlhey encountered
great privations and hardships, p)rovisions being, scarce, a(1d( the
timber was so heavy that it took a long time to clear the land( and
raise a crop.
A short time after, Mr. John  \Vellinan ceanle and settled on
the farm now owned by Samuel Niles, and soon after, two fiiiilies of Bra(dshlaws camne, one of whiclh settle(l al)out where the
school-house now stands, and about this tiile Charles Tlollol)son
mioved in.  Capt. Samuel Smlithl also settle(l onI Carr's Creek ibout
this time.  He built farthler Ul) the cleek, and lhis llace went by
the namte of  Smith Settleitient'" for mnany years. Capt. Sll itih,
in liloving, had to cut his o\wn roadl fronlt Franlklin iup tlhe lhill,
about whlere the Shleriman Hill road now rulns.
Nearly all of these old( settlers raised large ftmilies, ani( l have
nunmerous descendants, some of whomn still remain  in Sidllney, but
most of thleni are widely scattered.  Mr.  Jacob Bi(ldwell was a
manl of energy and ini(lustry, notedl for his zeal and activity in
relig,ious matters.  He  was the father of the lal)tist clhurclhes in
Sidney, and conducted the first religious nieeting on Carr's C(reek.
The occasion of the mneeting was the death of the wife of Charles
Thonip)sonI, one of the early settlers, who was killed by lig,ltningl
under dlistressing, circumistances.  The few inhlabitants at that
time held a meeting at MTr.  \Vellman's house, an(l Mr. 13i(lwell
there miade tlle first public prayer ever offlredl by  i whlite mlan
onI Carr's Creek; a revival ensuedl, a society was forinel, an(lld this
was the foundation of tlhe Bapl)tist church in tlhat part of tlhe town,
also of the church that was afterwards constitutedl on tle Otileout.  M'r. andl Mrs. Bidwell are botlh buLrie(ld near their first lhome.
The nmarble marks the spot where they lie, but a living 1and( nobler nionunient to the memlory of tlhe wife staindls ol the land
they first cleared.. It is a large pine tree, nlow about eighty years
old, whichl was saved from the fire by her when the groulnd was
burned over for its first crop.  It was then a small bush, an(l she
saved it by throwing her a)ron over it and protecting it fronm thle
heat.  Mr.  Vellman was a captain in the Revolutionairy XVar,
a great hunter, andm,maily stories are told of his p)rowvess all
$9 
APPENDIX.
d(eeds in killing the bears, panthers and wolves, of which the
country was full at that time. The first school on Carr's Creek
was taulght by Charles Bidwell, a brother of Jacob, and the only
person now living, who attended that school is Mr. Simeon Bidwell, now of Unadilla, who was born at Sidney Center in 1798.
Jonathan Carley came  from Dutches county in 1795, and
settled on the banks of the Susquehanna, in this town, about two
nmiles below Otego village. He found one Collyer and Nathan
Hill there; Josiah Chase also came before that time, but at what
(late is not known. Some of Mr. Chase's fanmily still remain
on the farm.  Laban Crandall,John French and Jerry Reed came
immediately after; also one Godfrey Calder. The first school
kept in that part of the town of Sidney, was taught by MLiss Abigail Reed, in Mr. Calder's barn.
THIS subject of the following sketch (Rev. MIr. Johnston) is
the second son of Col. Witter Johlston, whose name is so often
and honorably mentioned in the procee(lings of the Centennial.
MIr. J. is well remembered by thle older residents of Si(lney Plains
as an amiable young mani, remarkable for his (liligence in the
pursuit of knowledge, his freedom  from  the frivolities and excesses of youthl, and perhaps, more than all, for his strictly conscienitious deportment al(l exemplary religious chlaracter, which
dates back almost to his earliest childhood:
REV. JAMES HARVEY JOHNSTON.
By Rev. J. F. Tuttle, D. D.
DECEcEMBER 9TH.
I have just been catting on the venerable patriarch of our
Church in Indiana the Rev. Jaines H. Johnston.  There was no
special reason for the call beyond the pleasure it brought the
visitor himself.  The dates under his honored namne indicate a
period of forty-eight years.e On the 9th of Decemyber, 1824, Mr.
Johnston reached Madison, Indiana, a date which he affectionately retains as the beginning of his miuistry and sojourn in this
90
1824.
1872. 
REV. JAMES HARVEY JOINSTON.
State. To-day I find him as cheerful and even hilarious as he
ought to have been when so many years ago he dismounted in
that pretty town on the Ohio for the first time. Itf any one has
thought to exercise a sort of pity for himn to-(lday, by reasoni of the
wide difference between the two dates above-named(l, I beg him to
dismiss it. It is true the good man is forty-eight years older than
when he came to Indiana, but amiong the nearly two nmillions in
this State, I am sure there is not a more cheerful man than he is.
He  relishes good things, loves a good joke or story, and tells as
good a one as anybody can.  I have not heard a mierrierI laugh in
many a day than his to-day, as lie told of the inquiries nla(le by
himself and his travcling companion for a suitable place to stop
at in Rising Sun, when on his first journey westward.  Tlley
were told of a Major Jelly as keeping a sort of " iinister's tavern," and asked their informant if the Major was a pious iman,
and the man replied, "He's only mniddlin-g!"
And after his hearty laughl Mr. Johnston add(l(led, "We found
the Ma\jor was not a church member, but his wife was, and they
gave us a cordial welcome."
I was saying our patriarch does not need much pity, for in all
our churches I am sure there is not a Christian man who so
ste,adily makes his way to all the services of the sanctuary on the
Sal)bathl and during the other days of the week.  It must be a
very heavy storm to keep him honie when God's people iiieet to
pray, and as for mnere darkness it has no terror for him.  An(l he
is not a silent member of "the meeting," but takes his partin
the p)rayers'a,(nd exhortations, and no voice is heard with greater
pleasure than his. His expositions of Paul's writings are chlarnming, andt taking him altogether, he seemis about as happy a mtlanl
as we have among us.
He is the grand(son of a north of Ireland man  that settled
near Schenecta(ldy, and just one-hundre(l years ago removed to
Sidney Plains on the Sus(quehanna, in New  York.  His father,
then a young man, spent the first winter at that parish among
the Indians, there being no white man with him.  The grandfather and father ended their (lays thlere.*  Mr Johlnston's miothler
was desirous that he should be educated to preach the Gosp)el.
And under that impulse he began to study and read.  To get the
means of an education he taught school in Utadilla, and in 1816
rode sixty miles to be pre.,nt at Hamilton  College Cotmmencement, in order to be examined' for a(ldmission to Freshmien.  He
* As to the grandfithier, this is an error. Ante p. 35.
91 
APPENDIX. 
remiained there four years, and in 1820 l)ronounce(l the class vale-.
dictory as first lhonor man.  The second hlonor man, the Salutatorian, a Mr. Humphrey, a lawyer, still resides ill Roclhester.  His
Senior year was nmade mnemorable by the addition of Albert Brniies
to the class.  After $Ir. Barles's conversion that year, hle and(l Mr.
Johnston became greatly attached to each other, an attacli)lent
that received its first interruptionl from thle deathl of Mr. 13Barnes.
The two friends corresp)on(ded with each other for over forty years,
and one of thle most charming of all the papers calledl out by )I[.
Barnes's deathl was one from the pen of his life- long frien(l Jolllhnston, inid delivered in Center church, Crawfor(lsville, an(l several
other places.  The richest part of this (liscourse consists in thle
extracts from MIr. Barnes's own letters to Mr. Johnston.  It is to
be regretted that this delightful discourse has not been l)rinte(l.
Mr. Johnston is not tan old( nal  yet, hlavTing been boni Oct.
14, 1798, so that he nhas just fairly entered his seventv-fiftli vear.
He was graduated at the age of twenlty-two, taunglit school in
Utica a year, adn( then studied theology at Princeton, where, I
think], he was also in the sanme class with Mr. Barnes for a )part
of the course.  In the fall of 1824 he caine on horseback to Indiaina, passing through Bu3ffailo, Cleveland, Dayton, andl (leaving
Cincinnati to the south), Lawrenceburg, Aurora, and Rising S(un
to MaIadison.
He was then a licentiate.  In the entire State there was only
one Presbytery —Salem-lI)elonging to tlhe Synod of Kentucky.
He was ordailued in 182.o, in the fall, atten(ledl the Syno(l of IKentuckyl at Louisville, andl in 1826 went to General Assentbly at
Philadeli)lia, carrying( a petition to divi(le Salemn  Presl)ytery
into three, and or,ganize the Synod of Indliana.  This re(luest
was granted, and the new Synod erected, inclu(ling all Ind(lianla,
Illinois, Missouri, and " the regi ons beyond.'  rTlle first meeting
was held at Vincennes, as was also the tlhird, in 1828, wic(ll was
renmarkable for a special revival in connection witll the sessions
of Synod.  " Large additions were made to the churchl at that
tinme."
IMr. Johnston  was ttledl at MIa(lison, where lie reiiiiiiied
for many years, and then renmoved to Criiwford(sville, whllere lie
has been pastor of Center church, an(l thle Princi)al of a Seilinary fobr younLg ladies, in bot'h of which positions he lhal great
success.  He is now ciRc'ri(s senior pastor of Center cllur('li. alid
so greatly is he beloved( that'for years lie perforici(l a larg part
of the marriages in this vicinity,.Iand( Senator Lane once, with a
92 
LETTER FROMI REV. JAMIES H: JOHNSTON.
happl)y tturn, said, " We ought to ask the Legislature to pass a law
that no marriage in Crawfor(lsville shall be bindingti unless solemnized by Father Johnston!"
He has lived to witness vast changes since he came to Indiana, and may he live iniany years inore among those who so
greatly love and honor him.
LETTER FROM REV. JAMES H. JOHNSTON.
CRAw,FORDSVILLE, July 2d, 1S8,2
Johln Baxter, Esq., an(l others, Meimbers of the Committee:
\Vhen I replied to your communrlication, inviting me to atten(l the Centennial you had in contemplation, I intended to
write to you again before its celebration woul(l occur, btut fiiled
to (lo so.  I would have felt great interest in being present onI
such an occasion, and regret that, un(ler thle circumstances, I
felt constrained to deny myself the gratification.
But little over twenty-six years of the century, now called to
niln(l, had passed away when I became a resi(lelt of Sidlney
Plalins, and it continued the place of miy residlence for twentv-six
years following.  At the close of this periodl, havinig comipleted
imy literary and theological education, I came   to Indiana, which
I had previously chosen as m-y adopted State.
During the forty-eighit years that have since elal)sed I have
never seen cause to reg,ret the choice I then niade.  The ol)portunitv has been allowed Ine, (luring, this period, of revisitilng, at
eight different tinies, the scenes of iiiy chil(llhoo(l.  Had I been
there,it the Centennial celebration it would( hav-e been a very fittin( close to these initeresti(,ng visits.  Blut I nlLust now be satisfied
to klow that others were allownved tlle gratification that was denied
to lie.
References niad 1   in the brief account of the celebration wlich
lhas,been publisliel, call to  imy  iimind( facts and persons tlhait are
well recollected.  Old  muan  ]Hacon, especially,  whlose  nanie is
nmentioned, I often saw, an( miany tiimes sat and listenedt to his
lon( stories, withl whichl  lie Nwas always readly to entertain  tllhe
youing when they would give liiiii a lecaril,g.
93 
APPENDIX.
But I cherish the recollection of Sidney Plains, and  tlhe
scenes and incidents connected with it, not solely or principally
as the place of mny b)irth aind residence, but miore especially for
the deeply interesting religious associations connected with it. It
was there I received, through the fidelity of pious parents and
Cliristialn teachers, mny first and(i miiiost enduring  impressions of
the imnportance of eternal thling,s, an(l was led to devote myNself,
at an early age, to the service of Go(l.  I recollect the lmleetings
of thlrilling interest it was iiiy privilege to attend, and the large
nunllbers, who, iat difflerent tiines, canie forward to make a public
profession of their faith in Christ.  In tlhose days, long since
gone by, the Gospel was attended with power, in that church,
an(l seasons of much spiritual prosperity were often enjoye(d.  I
hol)e the church llmay contillue to be blessed(l, and these visitations
of (livine grace be gla,iiteJ with still greater power in time to
comie.                              Affectioinately yours,
J.AMzES H. J<)x,r&).
DEACON NICHOLAS SLUYTER.
(D)ie. I March 1.% 1874, aged 88 Years.)
The following extracts are from the pen of Rev. S. WV. W'eiss,
of Guilford, Chlenang,o county, his friend and pastor:
Mr. Sluyter opened his eyes for the first timie to the lights
and shadows of this world, at Si(ldney Plains, July 21, 1875.  His /  I -_
mother was a (ldaughter of Rev. Mr. Johnstoni, a Presbyterian (iivine, who was the first settler in that village.  In 1778, just seven
years previous to his birth, the faimous Iiinlian chief, Joseph)
Brant, made a rai(i upon the valley from Aquag,o, (lrove off'tllhe
inhabitants and made his hleadquarters for a tiie at what lhe
called'Tuna(lilla.'  His mother fled  with  the inhabitants to
Cherry Valley for safety
At the time ofhlis birth, there was not a single inhabitant
within the present linits of the town of Guilford.  The w\hole
country was an unibroken wilderness in which wil(l beasts an(l
savage Ind(lians roamed at large.  W'hat wonderful changes have
come over the faice of nature, within the circle of his vision, since
that day, and what cfianges have occurred amnolig the different
94 
DEACON NICHOLAS SLTYTER.
nations of the earth! Then WVashington, Napoleon, and George
IlI. were alive and famous.
In those days boys were accustonmed to toils and hardshil)s,
which imparted to them great strength and goo(l health; an(d this
may account in a great meastre for the good constitution and(
long life of the departed octogenarian.
Mr. Sluyter and his bereaved conmpanlion were united in mnarria    ge    in 181 9, almost fifty-tive years ago; but as the closest union     s mu st be broken up, and the strong,est ties b)e severed(l, so they
are   separated at last by death-but not long, for she will soon follo          w       him. S he may truly say in the words of anothler
"My latest s,un is sinking flast,
My race Is nearly run;
My strongest trials now are past,
My tri,unph is beguin."
MAr. Sluyter embraced the religion of Christ in his nineteenth
year, or nearly seventy years ago, and united with the Presbyterion church, at Sidney Plains.  He was a true and faithful miellber of that church until about twenty-five years since, when lhe
changod his relation, and becanie a member of the M. E. Church
at Rockdale.  He renmained in this church until death released
him.  He was a faithful Christian at all tinies and in all l)laces.
For a few years past he has not been able to take as active a part
in public worship as fornmerly, increasing infirities rendering it
necessary for him to tarry at hoiiie except in iniost pleasant
weather. But he found God at homne, and served hiiii most faithfully.  Several weeks since, learnilig that he was (quite feeble, I
called upon himn, an(l in conversatioln founrd he was trusting fully
in the grace an(l miercy of God, and lie maintained this trust to
,the last iioment.
Thus the aged man of God lived(] and died.  For the last thirteen years hle has resided with his son, Williami, where lie found
a pleasant home and kind treatment.  His wants were all sulppliedl, and during his last illness he received all thle attention that
a faithlful son could best(gv upon his parent.  God will bless and
honor the love an(L care of such children. "
.
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APPENDIX.
MINISTERS.
Thle following is a list of ministers who have, from time to
time, lhad the oversight of the Congregational Church at Si(dney
Plains, since its organization ill the year 1808, with the length of
their respective pastorates, onmitting fractions of a year, except in
cases where the service was for a time less than one year.  It has
been furnished by Mrs. Mary, wife of John Baxter, Esq., and
second daughter of Col. -'itter Jonnston, who, at this date (Deceminber, 187,), resides on a portion of her father's first p)urchase,
and in the place where he lived several years, and where le (lied.
It is understood that MIrs. B. gives this upon her personal recollectionI, tlhou'gh now close upon eighty years of age, thus evincing
a soundn(ess and tenacity of imeimory, altogether unusual inii persons of atny age:
Rev. David Harrower, from 1807 to 1812.
Rev. Mr. Jewell, in 1812-three mionths.
Rev. Artenias Dean, fromn August, 1812, to May, 1813.
Rev. Isaac Garvin, from 1813 to 1817.
Rev.  Charles Thorpl), one-half the time for six monthls, in
1817 and 1818.*
Rev-. Mr. Pratt, for six months, from  Marchl, 1818.
Rev-. Ctaleb Clark, for three months, firoom the fall of 1818.
Rev. Jacob Burbanks, for six montlhs iii 1819.
Rev. Marcus Harrison, fromn 1819) to 1822.
Rev-. Isaac Flagler, ill 1823, for one year.
Rev. Samuiel G. Orton, from  1825 to 1828.t
Rev. J. B13. Fish, fromi  1828 to 1831.
IlRe-. Snamuel ManIning, in 1832, for one year.
Rev-. Mr. Shuiitway-, ii 1833, for olie year.
Rev. Josiahl Hawes, from 1834 to 1838.
Re-. Mr. Gaylor(l, froin 1838 to 1842.
Rev-. George Hall, froin 1842 to 1844.
Rev-. J. B. Fish, froi184l4 to 185s;i1.
Rev\. Clharles H, Force, fromi 18;52 to 18.56.
Rev-. Alfred Ketclhun, from 18)56 to 1864.$I
*Mr. Thorp was followtd by RWv. Mr. Atwood and Rev. Mr. Gray, revival missionaries, for a few weekls.
Al Mr. Orton was the first installed minister of thle clhutrch.
LIr. Ketchlum was the first occupalnt of a newly built parsonage.
96
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NOTICES OF EARLY SETTLERS.
Rev. Mr. Abbott, froni 1864 to 1868.
Rev. Ariel McIeaster, from 1838 to 1870.
Rev. J. B. Mlorse, from 1870 to, and after, the (Jentenllial Celebration in 1872.
These are the only ministers who  have preached to this
church on salaries.  It has always b)een the customi of the church
and congregation to convene oil the Sabbath, whether with or
without a preachler, and engag,-e in ielig,ious exercises and worship.
It is not known that any of thle mlinisters herein a-bove itamied
are now livitig, exepel)t Messrs. Force, Keteltlll, MIeMaster and
Morse.
NOTICES OF CERTAIN EARLY SETTLERS AT SIDNEY PLAINS,
As RE.MEMBERED OY ON'E WVHOsE  NMEMORY  GOIES  BACK  TO TIlE FIRST DECADE
OF TiiIS CENTURY.
jOHNNA VER F, ES..-'rhe farm of Esqutire Avery (a.s he was familiarly called)
bordered upon the river, and the south end of "Avery's Ferry" (namled for him) rested
upon his lantd.  He settled at the Plain about thle year 1798, and died in 1836, aged So80.
lIe was born at Ashford, Conn., and served in the Revolution. He was the father of
seven chlildren, wvho came to mature age; only one of whomn lived to witness the "Sidney Centennial "-Mrs. Selleck C. Boughton, aged 75, who resides (December. IS75,)
and h:is resided at Tecumseh, Mich., more than 4o years. universally respected.
LE VI BAXTER,  ES.T. —This worthy man, the father of a numerous family, of
which John Baxter, Esq., and his brother Thomas, only survive, settled in Sidney in i805.
He and his excellent wife were born in Hartford county, Conn., were married there,
and first settled, as pioneers, at Delhli, then in Schohtarie county, in 1792.  He was a nanl
of marvellous industry and energy.  In the vernaculair of that day, he was a  driving
man." He died in i851, at the age of 87. leaving behind him the fragrance of a good
name as a rich legacy to his descendants.  His venerable widow followed him at the age
of 92. Esquire Baxter was the son of Mr. Francis Baxter, a Revolutionary soldier, who
during the war was taken prisoner by the Tories and Indians, and after suffering much
ll usage and abuse, was incarcerated in that memnorable and  infiimous den, the New
York Sugar House
DEACON PE TER  BRADLE  F-VWas also a native of Connecticut, and settled
at the Plains about thle close of the last century, on a farm adjoining Esquire Avery's
on the southeast, and resided there until his death in about ISI4. He was a good citizen
and consistent Christian man. He had some six or seven thildren, nlot one of whom is
now living.  It wais on tlhe farm of Deacon B., where Gen.  Herkimer and  Brnit, the
Indian chief, held their talk iii 1777-Ante p. 32.
NtCROLOGICAL ITEMS.
a
Among those vwhlo took part'in the Centennial. proceedings, or whose   anames appear
in the afforegoing page%, the following namned persons are kInown to lhave since died, viz.:
DR.  GUS TA VUS.4. ROGERS, of Chlicag,o, III., Nov. 25, 1S72.
yUDGE  y,VO.  IV.  LONGrlAR, of Detroit, Miclig;tn.
IO.V. HENR  R  A i l' -GA TT, of Oxford, N.Y.. Mrchll 31, 1S75.
DR. IVIf. BAXTER, o XVWiappilig,ers F.ills, Dutclhess counity, N. Y., July i, 1875.
7
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Address of Welcome,....
After I)inner Speeches,....
Appendix,...
Avery, John-short notice of, Appendix,..
Baxter, B. L., Centennial Ode by,.
Baxter. Dr. William, Resolution by,...
~"  "    ~Death of, Appendix,.
Baxter, Levi, short notice of, Appendix,
Baxter, Mrs. Mary,...
Boughliton, Mrs. S. C.,"    "'.
Bradford, Chas. S., Marshal of Centennial,..
Bradley, Peter, short notice of, Appendix,
Carr's Creek, Historical Sketch of,...
Circutilar Letter of Invitation,...
Committee of Arrangements,..,
Committee on Te(nts. Decorations and Dinner,.
Dinner,....
Dunham, Rev. M. E., Response to Address of Welcome,
Evenin Exercises,....
Final Adjournment of Centennial,..
Historical Address,....
Johnston, Hugh C., Letter from,.
Johnston, Abner, Resolution by,..
Johnston, Rev. Jamnes H., Sketch of, Appendix,
"    "    "        Letter from,   ".
Longyea-r. J. W., Letter from,.....
Death of, Al)pendix,....
Longyear, Ephraim, Letter from,....
McMaster, David, Historical Address by,...
McMaster. Rev. Ariel, Notice of Historical Sermon by,..
Mills, Calvin J., Letter from,
Ministers of Congregational Church, Names of, &c., Appendix,.
Mygatt, Henry R, Letter frn.....
....s      Dath of, Appendix,.....
Newton, Isaac S., Speech by;...
No:wich Glee Club, Music by,
Odell, Dr. E., Speech by,....
Ouleout, Historical Sketch of,'Kppendix,..
Poetry, "A Hundred Years Ago,"....
Preliminary Proceedings......
Presiding Officers,.....
I
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Page.
76
Purple, Dr. William, Letter fromi....
Religious Society. The First...
Rogers, Henry W., Address, as President,..
~"  "      Remarks by..
Rogers, Perry P., Speech by,...
Rogers, Dr. Gustavus A.. D ath of. Appendix..
St. John, C'ook, Presentation of, with his Descendan rts,
i    Remarks by,,..
Sayre, WI. S., Speech by...
Sherman, Ira E., Address of Welcome by...
1"      "    Resolution by...
Sluyter, Nicholas, Obituary of, Appendix,..
Thayer, Patty and others, Introduction of,..
Tuttle, Rev. Dr., Sketch of Rev. J. H. Johnston by, Apl)endix,
Wattles, S. I,., Historical Sketch by, Appendix,
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