The Chronicles of Cooperstown/Chapter V

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Between the years 1795 and 1803 the growth of Cooperstown was gradual but steady. A document exists to show that in January of the latter year, the village contained seventy-five dwelling houses, thirty-four barns, and three hundred and forty-nine inhabitants. No account exists of the number of stores and shops, which probably would have raised the total of the buildings, exclusively of barns, &c., to about one hundred. The families were not yet large, as this account gives less than five souls to each dwelling house.

Apple hill was early selected by Richard Fenimore Cooper, Esquire, as the site for a house, and during the summer of 1800, he caused the present building to be erected. This was the second house in the place that was erected off the line of the streets, or which had the character of a villa.

John Miller erected a house in bricks, in the summer of 1802, also. It stands on his farm, but within the present limits of the village, and is the second building in the place that was not constructed of wood.

In 1804, Judge Cooper caused a stone dwelling to be constructed on the southwest corner of Water and Second streets, for his daughter, who was then married to Mr. George Pomeroy, a native of Massachusetts, who had become a resident of the place in the year 1801. This was the first stone building in the village.

Between the years 1795 and 1802, John Russell, Elijah H. Metcalf and Robert Campbell, Esquires, also became residents of Cooperstown, in which place they have since held conspicuous social or political stations. All three of these gentlemen married in the village, and their descendants in the second and third generations, now form a portion of its population. Judge Metcalf died in 1821. but the other two are still living. Mr. Russell was the second member of congress ever elected from the place, and Mr. Metcalf was in the legislature of the State two terms. &mdash; 40

In 1801, a man dressed in a sailor’s jacket, without stockings or neckcloth, but cleanly and otherwise of respectable appearance, and who seemed to be between forty and fifty, presented hiniself to Judge Cooper, with a request to know whether a small piece of low meadow land, that lies between Fenimore and the village, was to be sold. The answer was in the affirmative, but the applicant was informed that, on account of its position, the price would be relatively high, amounting to a considerable sum. The stranger requested that a deed might immediately be made of it, and he counted down the money in gold, giving his name as Esaias Hausman. Mr. Hausman left the Hall the owner of the lot in question, which has ever since been known as the Hausman lot. The habits, attainments and character of this man soon attracted attention. He spoke five or six of the living languages, and had a tolerable knowledge of the classics. He lived entirely alone, in a small house he had caused to be built on his purchase, and in the rudest manner. Occasionally lie would disappear, and his absences sometimes extended to months. He frequently spoke of his past life, though it is not known that he ever gave any connected or explicit history of his origin, or of the events that led him to America. According to his own accounts of his adventures, he had served in the imperial army, and he was once heard to say that the death of Robespierre alone saved him from the block. Casual remarks of this nature increased curiosity, when Hausman became more reserved, and he soon ceased to touch at all on the events of his past life. Sometime about the year 1805, he had been absent for several months, when it was discovered that he was teaching Hebrew to the President of one of the eastern colleges. This occupation did not last long, however, for he was soon back again in his hut on the lake shore. In this manner this singular man passed many years, apparently undetermined in his purposes, rude and even coarse in many of his habits, but always courteous and intelligent. He died in Elerkimer in 1812, and without making any particular revelations concerning himself or his family. As be died intestate, his property escheated, the lot on the shore of the lake being sold by the public. It is said that a considerable sum in gold was found in a purse that he wore between his shoulder blades.

Nothing further was ever known of Esaias Hausman. He was certainly shrewd and observant, and his acquisitions, which were a little exaggerated. probably, by vulgar report, were of that kind which denotes in Europe, a respectable education. He had not the appearance or manners of a Polish gentlemen, for he called himself a Pole, and the most probable conjecture concerning him, a conjecture that we believe is sustained by some of his own remarks, made him a Jew. The name is German, but the people of that persuasion often assume new appellations. &mdash; 41

The estate which is bounded by the Susquehanna and lake Otsego, on the west, belonged to Henry Bowers, Esquire. On the death of this gentleman, it descended to his only son, John M. Bowers, Esquire. At a very early period, the tand immediately around the outlet, and of course opposite to Cooperstown, was cleared and a farm house enmcted. On his marriage, however, Mr. Bowers determined to reside on his property, and to build at this spot. He came into the village in 1803, accordingly, where he resided, for a short time, and commenced the construction of the present house at Lakelands. ‘This building was erected in 1804, and its proprietor took possession of it in 1805. Since that time it has continued to be the residence of the gentleman who caused the house to be built. This place is not within the limits of Cooperstown, or even in the township of Otsego, but standing within musket shot of the former, its inhabitants properly belong to our community.

In 1797, the Masons erected a hall on the northeast corner of Front and West streets, which is still standing.

The population of Cooperstown underwent essential changes, between the years 180 and 1806. All the lawyers originally settled in the village, without an exception, had removed, and their places had been supplied by a new set. The same alterationsalso occurredamong the merchants, who have frequently changed since the settlement of the country. Of the latter, Mr. Lawrence McNamee, who opened a store in the village in 1802, is the only one who has continued in the same occupation, and in the same place, down to the present time.

The only bookstore in the village, or that has ever been in the village, that of the Messrs. Phinney, has been continued since 1795, also, in the same family.

Between the years 1800 and 1810, the growth of the village, without being rapid, was regular and respectable. Many places that, a few years previously, were [nuch inferior to it in size and wealth, now began to surpass it, but its own population gradually grew easier in their circumstances, and, as a matter of course, enlarged their manner of living. Still, the people depended chiefly on the trade of the few adjoining towns, on the presence of the county buildings, and on such of the more ordinary manufactures as found consumers in the vicinity.

On the 22d December, 1809, died William Cooper, Esquire, the original proprietor, after whom the village was named. Judge Cooper was in his fifty-sixth year at the time of his death, and his connection with the place had continued near twenty-four years. For nineteen he had been a regular inhabitant of the village. He died in Albany, and was interred in the burying ground of his family, in Christ church yard. To the enterprise, energy and capacity of this gentleman, the county of Otsego is more indebted for its rapid settlement, than to those of any other person. &mdash; 42

A law was passed in 1806, for the erection of a new court house and jail for the county of Otsego. The commissioners appointed for that purpose selected the spot a little remote from the center of the village, on the south side of the turnpike, and west of Chestnut street. Here a building wa.s constructed in 1806–7. It is 56 feet long and 50 feet wide, and has been used ever since for the public service. It is of bricks, and the court room is capacious and convenient. The jail is in the lower story, and is crowded and inconvenient. The jailer has also rooms in the building.

A fire-proof County Clerk’s office was constructed near the court house, in 1814.

The removal of the court house to the extreme western limits of the place, has had no sensible effect on the direction taken by the village in its growth. but a very few houses having been since erected in that quarter of the town. The old court house, jail and tavern, on the east corner of Second and West streets, were torn down in 1810, and a range of brick stores was erected on the lot in 1811.

In the year 1803, a market house was erected in the center of Fair street, about half way between Front and Second streets. The attempt to induce the butchers and the people of the surrounding country to use it, however, failed, and the building was removed into West street, and converted into a school house, in 1809, or soon after the destruction of the Academy by fire.

On the 3d day of April, 1807, a law was passed authorizing the inhabitants of the village of Cooperstown. to elect trustees, under an act of incorporation, which styled the place The Village of Otsego. This change of name arose from party politics, and the majority of the inhabitants of the village being opposed to the measure, elected trustees, who rendered the law a dead letter, by declining to do any thing under its provisions.

June 12th, 1812, a new act was passed, incorporating the place, by the name of The Village of Cooperstown, under which law, the people proceeded immediately to organize the local government. By the act of incorporation as since amended, the people elect annually five trustees, who choose their own president. The people also elect a clerk and treasurer, three assessors, a pathmaster, and constable. The board of trustees possesses powers to pass by-laws for the security of the village, in cases of fire; to prevent obstructions in the streets, or other nuisances; for regulating the streets; for lighting the same; erecting public pounds, and for making wharves, docks, &c., &c. No taxes, however, exceeding four hundred dollars in total amount shall be laid in any one year. The village charter was amended April 30, 1829, the limits of the corporation being considerably extended. By the plan of Judge Cooper, the village plat originally contained one hundred and twelve acres, as has been stated, whereas the present boundaries probably include more than four hundred acres, though not more than a third of this surface can be said to be actually occupied by the streets and dwellings. &mdash; 43

In 1812, at the time of the incorporation of the place, Cooperstown contained 133 houses, &c., 57 barns and 686 inhabitants. January, 1816, there were 183 houses, offices, shops, 68 barns, 826 inhabitants.

A small fire engine was purchased by the village, in 1812, and a second was presented to it by the heirs of Judge Cooper, in 1815.

The business of Cooperstown became enlarged in consequence of the establishment of manufactories, in its vicinity. This enterprise was commenced in 1809, by the erection of the Union cotton manufactory, on the Oaks [Creek]; since that time, many other similar works have been constructed in the neighborhood. In the village itself, works of various kinds have been gradually established, increasing the wealth and adding to the industry of the place.

After the erection of the range of stores on the old court house lot, a better style of buildings was introduced for similar purposes. Since that time, most of the stores, and many of the principal shops, have been constructed in brick or stone.

The late Isaac Cooper, Esq., commenced the house called Edgewater, in 1810, and removed into it in 1814. This building, which is 66 feet long, by 45 in width, is one of the best in the place.

The residence of Mr. Henry Phinney, on Chestnut street, was commenced in 1813, and completed in 1816. This is also one of the principal dwellings in the village.

Richard Fenimore Cooper, Esq., died in Albany, in March, 1813, and was brought to this place for interment. This gentleman, when a youth, accompanied his father to Otsego, and was one of the oldest inhabitants of the village. His son and grandchildren still exist in the place.

In 1808, a second newspaper, William Andrews, editor, was established under the name of the Impartial Observer. This print soon passed into the hands of John H. Prentiss, Esq., and its name was changed to that of Cooperstawn Federalist. At a still later day the title of this paper was changed to that of the Freeman’s Journal, under which appellation it is still known. With the exception of a short interval, the same editor and proprietor has been at the head of the establishment, for about twenty-nine years. [ The Freeman's Journal is still being published in 2005]

A paper called the Watch Tower, was set up in opposition to the Cooperstown Federalist, in 1814, Israel W. Clark, editor. In May, 1817, this paper was transferred to Edward B. Crandal, who remained its editor until its discontinuance, in 1831.

The Tocsin was established in 1829, but took the name of the Otsego Republican* in 1831, under which title it still exists.


 * [An anonymous handwritten note in the margin reads:
 * * In 1910 it {the Otsego Republican} was purchased by Crist & Co. and consolidated with Otsego Farmer.] &mdash; 44

In July, 1813, died w:Elihu Phinney:Elihu Phinney, Esq., aged fifty-eight. The arrival of this gentleman in the village has already been mentioned. Mr. Phinney was one of the judges of the county court for several years, and continued to control the Otsego Herald to the period of his death. The paper was published by his sons H. & E. Phinney until the year 1821, when it was discontinued, after an existence of 26 years.

In 1814, the children of Augustine and Susannah Prevost, who had purchased the judgment of John Morton, against their grandfather, George Croghan, which was the oldest judgment on record, attempted to revive the same by scire facias against all the terre-tenants on Cooper’s patent. This measure of course made all the freeholders in the village parties in the suit. The executors of Judge Cooper, however, managed the defence. The proceedings connected with this lawsuit, lasted several years, when they were discontinued in consequence of the statute of limitations. As the heirs of Susannah Prevost, who was the devisee of George Croghan, held assets to more than the amount of the judgment, in consequence of a failure of title through informality, under one of the judgment sales against their ancestor, there can be no doubt that had the issue been tried on its merits, the defendants would have prevailed, without having recourse to the agreement of 1 775, according to which, the lands were to have been sold, firstly to satisfy the judgment of Gov. Franklin, or that under which the terre-tenants held, secondly, to pay the mortgage of Thomas Wharton, and lastly, to satisfy this very judgment, which it was now attempted to revive, after a lapse of forty years.

On two several occasions, officers of the federal government established recruiting parties in this village. The first was in 1799, during the quasi war with France; Lieut. Joseph C. Cooper, who succeeded in enlisting about thirty men in the county, commanding the party. The second occasion occurred during the war of 1812, when a considerable detachment of riflemen was recruited in the vicinity, and collected in the village, under Capt. Grosvenor.

In the way of irregular troops, there have been several volunteer corps in Cooperstown, though none of any permanency, with the ex- ception of the artillery. The first artillery company was established in 1798. William Abbot, captain, Samuel Huntington, first lieutenant, and George Walker, second. The pieces of this company entirely supplanted the Cricket, and since that time the villagers have never been without regular brass guns for their parades and festivals. &mdash; 45

A volunteer company of horse was established in 1794, Captain Benjamin Griffin, commandant. Many persons now living, can recollect a celebrated sham fight between this cavalry and a party of men disguised as Indians. The charges of the horse, on that occasion, are described as having been infinitely severe. At that time, the log fences, a good deal decayed, inclosed a great portion of the two principal blocks of the place, and the manner in which the cavalry got over them and through them, probably caused as much surprise to themselves as to the spectators. In this part of the field especially, the Indians are said to have discovered much the greatest address, although both parties, as usual, claimed the victory.

The first regular organization of the militia, in this part of the country, appears to have taken place in the year 1798, although detached companies existed previously. |Jacob Morris, Esq., of Butternuts, was the first brigadier-general appointed, and Francis Henry, Esq., the first colonel of the regiment which included the village. John Howard was the first captain of the ordinary militia company of the beat. Capt. Howard was unfortunately drowned in the Susquehanna the next year, in making a noble effort to save a person who had got beneath some floodwood, and he was succeeded by William Sprague.

For a long time after the commencement of the village, Cooperstown suffered but little from fires; several small buildings, it is true, were burned at different times, but the first considerable conflagration occurred on the night of the 30th of March, 1809, when the printing office of II. & F. Phinney took fire. The flames were communicated to a new dwelling house belonging to William Dowse, Esq., and both were consumed. These buildings stood on West street. The next day the Academy was also destroyed in the same way, and no attempt has ever been made to rebuild it.

A dwelling house and store, standing on Second street, and occupied by Joseph Wilkinson, were destroyed by fire, March 17, 1814.

A long range of storehouses belonging to the estate of Judge Cooper, also standing on Second street, was burned down in the winter of 1813. A part of this range was composed of the old Manor House, which had been converted into a storehouse.

The next considerable conflagration occurred on the night of the 27th of April, 1818, when a fire broke out in the hatter’s shop of Ralph Worthington, and it was not subdued until it had consumed all the buildings on the north side of Second street, between the west corner of Fair street and the alley called Beaver alley, making six buildings altogether. This is much the most considerable fire that ever occurred within the limits of the village. &mdash; 46

But the summer of 1823, was a serious time for the inhabitants of the village of Cooperstown. A succession of fires took place, under circumstmices that scarce leave a doubt that they were mostly, if not entirely, the acts of an incendiary. The Tannery was consumed on the night of the 12th July. On a thorough examination of the facts, it was generally believed it had been set on fire. A stone house, which had been erected at Fenimore, by J. Fenimore Cooper, Esq., between the years 1814 and 1817, was the next consumed. This place which, like Lakelands, stands without the village limits, properly belongs to the village community, and the principal dwelling was of considerable size and of a good finish, having all the conveniences of a country residence. The house was not completed nor inhabited, though it contained all the wood work and a large amount of valuable lumber. As it stood quite alone in the center of an extensive lawn, there can be but little doubt that it was set on fire. This house was destroyed to the naked walls.

Several barns which stood in the most compact parts of the village soon followed. Fortunately the injury, in few of these cases, extended beyond the buildings which first took fire. The incendiary, or incendiaries, were never satisfactorily discovered, though plausible conjectures have been made.

Since the recent alterations and repairs of the Hall have been going on, a window has been opened and a place has been discovered where tinder, oiled cotton, burnt matches and other combustibles were lying together, leaving little doubt that one if not more attempts were made to destroy that building also, and probably about the same time.

There are other instances in which there is reason to suppose that incendiaries had been at work in the village, one of which is a recent case of fire in the court house. This building was discovered to be on fire about four o’clock on the morning of the 24th of May, 1837, but the flames were subdued before they had done much injury. One of the prisoners in the jail was suspected of having set the building on tire, though the charge could not be substantiated.

Of late, scarcely a year passes without one or more fires, which usually proceed from defective or badly secured stove pipes, but no structure of any importance has been consumed. Indeed, it is the subject of surprise that no considerable dwelling house has ever been destroyed by fire within the village of Cooperstown, with the exception of that of Mr. Dowse and of one or two of secondary value and size, which were burned in the great fire of 1818. Almost every other building that has been burned, has been either a shop. barn, or store.

Cisterns for the collection of water have been sunk in the streets; hooks and ladders, fire buckets and hose are provided, and ,considering the size of the place, the provisions against fire are respectable. The firemen have usually been found active and bold, and cases have often occurred in which they have saved large portions of the village. &mdash; 47