The Chronicles of Cooperstown/Chapter VIII

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During this period of thirteen years, Cooperstown witnessed comparatively few marked improvements or changes, and little or no increase in population &mdash; the removal of the Phinneys’ printing business and bindery to Buffalo, after the destruction of their establishment by fire in 1849, causing the change of residence of a number of families, some of whose members had found employment therein. The social life of the village was quiet and pleasant &mdash; more truly enjoyable, some of the old residents think, than it has been since the time when the "general lake party," some seasons repeated, was the one grand feature of the summer season, and the "select ball" that of the winter. The village newspapers of that period paid very little attention to local matters, and hence can be drawn upon for but few items of interest. But we are enabled to record the following:

[Skip to: 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848, 1849, 1850.]


 * E. Beach, C. E, was employed to survey a route for a railroad from Cooperstown to intersect the proposed Catskill and Canajoharie railroad, at a point near the latter village. He made a report at a public meeting held here January 30th, of this year, over which James Stowell presided. It proposed the construction of a road on the east side of the lake estimated cost for a road 29 miles long, $301,160. A meeting was held February 14th, at which a committee was appointed to apply to the legislature for a charter. That was the last of the enterprise, so far as Cooperstown was concerned. The people of Canajoharie were more interested, and we have heard it stated that a small piece of the proposed road was graded near that village.


 * On the last Sunday in May, Coroner Isaac Lewis of this village was called to Springfield, to hold an inquest on the bodies of five persons who were drowned in Lake Summit. They attempted to cross that pond in a leaky boat, which sunk with them.


 * A County Educational Society, whose object it was to improve the public schools of Otsego, with Hon. Samuel Nelson as president, existed in 1839. Mr. Cooper presided at the meeting held here which organized the Society. Horace Lathrop, Esq., was secretary.  ≈ 62


 * In September, President Martin Van Buren visited Cooperstown, and received quite an ovation. He was accompanied hither from Fort Plain by Judge Nelson and Col. Prentiss. He was met, about a mile out of the village, by a large cavalcade of men of both political parties. On his arrival he was formally welcomed by Judge Morehouse, and he made a brief response from the piazza of the Eagle Hotel. He remained from Saturday till Monday, and then went to Cherry Valley. During his visit he was called upon by a great many party and personal friends.


 * On the 27th of June, a Mr. Ballard and Mr. Minor were rowing on the lake. when accidently the boat was upset, and Ballard was drowned. Minor was rescued, although nearly exhausted, and revived after a short time.


 * Gov. Seward made the 4th of July oration at Cherry Valley this year. On the evening of that day, Dr. Russell, Wm. Nichols and Geo. W. Ernst of this village, as a committee, waited upon and brought him to Cooperstown. The next day was Sunday, and the Governor attended the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches. On Monday a lake party was given at the Point, in his honor, which was largely attended by the villagers and people of the surrounding country. L. J. Walworth, Esq., made an address of welcome to Governor Seward, who replied at length. The party that came down the lake on the old scow, stopped in front of the Echo, and several persons tried their voices to show off the wonderfully clear reverberation that would be given. "Joe Tom," who had been "chief cook" on the occasion, and who was now at one of the long oars, was asked to try the echo. "Hurrah for Governor Steward!" "You got it, to a t. Joe!" exclaimed the Governor.


 * Party politics ran very high in Cooperstown this year, and many meetings were held in and near the village. The village had long been noted for its many prominent and active politicians.


 * The County Jail, which succeeded the old log structure, was burned Dec. 17. Strong efforts were then made by other towns to change the location; but they failed, and in January, 1841, the sum of $10,000 was appropriated by the Supervisors for a Court House, Jail and Sheriff's residence. They were completed in October of that year.


 * Three of what Mr. Cooper would style "very respectable" residences, all of wood, were put up this year, and all in the same general style:
 * one by Mr. G. W. Ernst on Water street;
 * one by Mr. Levi Wood at the southern terminus of West street, and
 * one by Mr. Benj. F. Kipp on the same street, on the sight of his present brick building. ≈ 63


 * On the 23d of Feb., a little son of Mr. Alonzo Woodward of this village, in attempting to jump upon a sleigh, missed his hold and fell under one of the runners, which passed over his body before the horses could be stopped. The child expired in about 15 minutes.


 * The residence of Mr. William Nichols took fire in the attic, May 18th, and very narrowly escaped destruction. It was materially damaged.


 * At the Circuit Court held the week beginning Sept. 13th, occurred the trial of the libel suit brought by J. Fenimore Cooper against Park Benjamin, editor of the New World, in which the defendant was mulcted in $375 damages. At the Montgomery Circuit Court held the following month, Mr. Cooper received $400 against Mr. Thurlow Weed, in a similar trial for libel. S. S. Bowne, Esq., and Richard Cooper, Esq., were attorneys for Mr. Cooper in this and several other similar suits.


 * At the Circuit Court held in Cooperstown during April of this year, Mr. Cooper received judgments against two other editors, and in September of the same year a verdict of $200 was rendered for the plaintiff, in a libel suit instituted by Mr. Cooper against the Albany Evening Journal.


 * On November 8 Searle’s Tavrern, situated where the Central Hotel now stands, very narrowly escaped destruction by fire, the roof being burnt off and the third story much injured.


 * In December, the Rev. F. T. Tiffany, rector of Christ Church of this village, was elected to the place of Chaplain of the House of Representatives &mdash; an honor which gave much pleasure to his many friends here.


 * Unusual, and to a great extent successful efforts, were made in this town during this year to enforce the temperance laws. The "Washingtonian" movement was then in full blast. At the annual meeting of the County Medical Society, held in July, 65 members were present, and a resolution was passed adopting the Washingtonian pledge. The movement was one of great popularity, and it accomplished much good.


 * Governor Bouck, who had been in attendance at a meeting of the Board of Trustees of Hartwick Seminary, of which he was a member, stopped over night in Cooperstown at the Eagle Hotel. ≈ 64


 * Doct. John Russell, long a resident of this village, the father of Mrs. Judge Nelson, died the 2d of August, in the 71st year of his age. He had been much in public life, including Member of Congress and County Clerk. He was a large land-owner in the village, and a public-spirited citizen. His wife was a Miss Williams, whose near relatives were closely identified with large business interests in and near Cooperstown. Dr. Russell resided in the house which stood on the corner of Main and Pioneer streets, where is now the store of H. M. Hooker & Co. Judge Nelson afterward occupied this dwelling, and about 1835 put up the brick building adjoining, now owned and occupied by the Murphy Sisters. Mrs. Frederick T. Starkweather, a grand-daughter of Dr. Russell and youngest daughter of Judge Nelson, is now, with her children, a resident of Cooperstown.


 * A large convention of Town Superintendents of Public Schools was held here in September, which was also attended by others feeling an interest in the cause of public education, and a noted address was made by James Henry, Esq., of Herkimer, which was afterwards published.


 * Another "Presidential year," and the local papers taken up almost exclusively with politics.


 * Commodore Omar Boden, spoken of by Mr. Cooper as coming here in 1798, died in May, aged 78 years.


 * Only a few buildings were erected on the corporation during the past two or three years.


 * As early as January of this year, a Hop Growers’ Association was formed here, with J. W. Tunnicliff as president, and Geo. W. Ernst as secretary. It did not accomplish any thing of apparent benefit to the growers.


 * In this year, and again in 1847, additions were made to the water supply for the village, after which the company represented their total expenditures at about $8,000. The water all came from two large springs.


 * A County Temperance Society was formed here, with Col. John H. Prentiss as President. It was soon carried into politics, and did not long retain its organization.


 * Levi Clearwater was tried September 14th, for the killing of Nathan Tiffany, of Milford, on May 12, of this year, while under the influence of liquor. He was defended by ex-Gov. [William H.] Seward, and the verdict was manslaughter in the 3d degree, with a sentence of four years in Auburn State Prison. ≈ 65


 * On the 4th of March a large meeting assembled at the Court House to organize measures for the relief of the suffering people of Ireland. Robert Campbell, Esq., presided, and an address was made by James Fenimore-Cooper. The effort to raise substantial assistance was quite successful.


 * On the 15th day of March, a dwelling, house on Fair street, owned by Judge Nelson, and occupied by E. S. Coffin and S. McK. Thompson, took fire and was consumed, together with a large portion of the furniture of the tenants. The total loss was about $1,500.


 * During a large part of this "Presidential" year, the local papers were mainly filled up with discussions of the three-cornered political contest, and were very personal and bitter in their remarks.


 * In the spring there were several cases of small-pox reported on the corporation, which did considerable damage to the business of the place. Only two deaths occurred from that much-dreaded disease.


 * In April of this year, Judge Morehouse held his first Circuit in Cooperstown, and established his reputation at home as an able jurist.


 * Twice, during this winter, was the large establishment of H. & E. Phinney &mdash; embracing printing office, bindery and bookstore &mdash; set on fire. The first attempt was in February, on the main, four-story, brick building, on West (now Pioneer) street, in which was most of the machinery and stock. All were burned &mdash; except what property was on the first floor, most of which was removed. Other buildings were endangered, and some times on fire, but only that in which the fire originated was consumed. The loss to the Messrs. Phinney was upwards of $25,000. They also suffered large damage from derangement to their business. A second building near, in which they also had paper and other material, was not destroyed. Four weeks later, occuired the second and finishing incendiary fire, which destroyed the other building used by this firm in their business. It was discovered about five o’clock in the morning, and was probably set a few hours earlier. The loss was about $10,000; the insurance only one-half that amount. A large number of persons in the employ of the Messrs. Phinney, were obliged to leave the village after this disaster, from a lack of employment, and thus it was a serious affair in respect to the interests of the place, as the business was removed to Buffalo.

Whereas, several incendiary letters have been addressed to the Messrs.  Phinney, within the past two years, threatening the destruction of their buildings and property, received through the drop in the Post-office; and, whereas, on the morning of the 3d inst. their brick building was destroyed by fire, through which they suffered great loss, and the property of several other of our citizens was damaged and seriously endangered; and since that date, another of those incendiary letters have been received as aforesaid, in which the burning of the building is  avowed and other depredations threatened, in case the Messrs. Phinney do  not do a certain act; therefore, the undersigned deem it proper that the Trustees of the village of Cooperstown should offer a suitable reward for the detection and judicial punishment of such offender or offenders, and to that end authorize them so to do, and as an indemnification for such proceeding on their part, agree to pay to them upon such detection and conviction, the several sums set opposite their names hereto signed. Dated February 21, 1849. Calvin Graves,  -   -   -   $25 00    L. McNamee, -   -   -   -   $20 00 W. H. Averell, -  -   -   -  50 00    J. L Fox, -   -   -   -   -   5 00 J. R. Worthington,  -   -    25 00    H.C. Fish,  -   -   -   -     5 00 Henry Scott,  -   -   -   -  25 00    Schuyler Crippen, -   -   -   5 00 Theodore Keese, -   -   -    25 00    E. S. Coffin,   -   -   -    10 00 H & E. Phinney,   -   -   - 200 00    C. Thiny, -   -   -   -   -   5 00 Jno. H. Prentiss,-  -   -    25 00    R. Waterman,    -   -   -    25 00 Robert Davis, -   -   -   -  25 00    E. P. Byram,  -   -   -   -   5 00 E. & H. Cory,   -   -   -    25 00    Chas. McLean,  -   -   -     5 00 G. W. Ernst,  -   -   -   -  25 00    H. F. Clark,  -   -   -   -   5 00 Stephen Gregory, -  -   -    20 00    Russell Warren, -   -   -    10 00 J. H. Nellis & Co.,-  -   -  15 00    P. E Johnson, -   -   -   -  10 00 S. Doubleday,   -   -   -    10 00    P. G. Tanner,   -   -   -     5 00 Richard Cooley,   -   -   -  10 00    S. A. Bailey, -   -   -   -  10 00 James Stowel,   -   -   -    25 00    H. Hollister,   -   -   -     5 00 W. A. Comstock,   -   -   -   5 00    W. C. Keyes,  -   -   -   -   5 00 Alex. H. Clark, -   -   -    30 00    Levi Wood,  -   -   -   -    10 00 Chandler Root,    -   -   -  20 00    Levi J. Pierce,   -   -   -  25 00 Henry J. Bowers, -  -   -    25 00    S. W. Root, -   -   -   -    10 00 Z. Willoughby,    -   -   -  10 00    L. & D. Ball, -   -   -   -  10 00 Stillman & Wood, -  -   -     5 00    J. Fenimore Cooper, -   -    25 00 R. A. Lesley, -   -   -   -   5 00    Geo. A. Starkweather, -  -  20 00 Beadle & Bailey, -  -   -     5 00    S. Nelson,  -   -   -   -    50 00 William Lewis, -  -   -   -  25 00
 * The original of the following paper, in the handwriting of Col. J. H. Prentiss. was handed us by Mr. George W. Ernst, while on a visit to Cooperstown, the day on which the preceding paragraph was put in type, and we give it as of interest in this connection. All but three of the subscribers were living here when the editor of this book came to Cooperstown, in the fall of 1851; and all but eleven of them are now deceased: ≈ 66


 * During this year Mr. George W. Ernst constructed the stone block of two stores on Main street, one of which he occupied as a dry goods merchant until 1862. He was appointed the first U. S. Internal Revenue Collector for this District by President Lincoln. He is still living &mdash; at present a resident of Maryland, where he is closing up his business preparatory to returning to his old house in Cooperstown, his native place. Robert Russell is the present owner of this stone block. ≈ 67


 * Judge Morehouse died suddenly December 16. His death was severely felt, both in his profession and the social circle in which he was prominent. He had been recently chosen Judge of the Supreme Court. The Bar of Otsego county met on the 17th, and drew up resolutions of respect. He was one of the most genial, pleasant, witty gentlemen, who ever graced the society of Cooperstown.


 * On the morning of January 31, the dry goods and grocery store of Mr. James Cockett was seriously damaged by fire, being saved, with the adjacent buildings, only by the strenuous efforts of the firemen and citizens. The loss was covered by insurance.


 * During this year the Messrs. Phinney erected their building, now known as the "Phinney block." The firm occupied the first floor, the second was rented, and the third was engaged for an Odd Fellows’ Hall &mdash; now occupied by the Masons as a lodge room.


 * In July, Capt. Boden launched the "Leatherstocking," a pleasure boat capable of carrying about 75 persons.


 * The most noted village improvement made this year, was the building of Mr. Joshua H. Story’s large stone store, designed to be the best then in the county. In it, up to the time of Mr. Story’s death, in 1871, was transacted the largest dry goods trade in Otsego county. Mr. Story was a business man of great enterprise and energy, and at the time of his death a large real estate owner.


 * This year closed with a great excitement in Cooperstown, growing out of the robbing of the Otsego County Bank, on the night of December 28, by burglars, of about $30,000 &mdash; within two or three thousand dollars of the surplus of the bank. As the news spread over the county, the excitement increased. In the September following, Abijah Leonard was tried and convicted of the burglary; he undoubtedly had accomplices; some thought he was not here personally at the robbery, but made the tools and directed the movements. One of his brothers was here once or twice, just preceding the robbery, and stopped at the hotel opposite.


 * In this year the Empire House passed into the hands of Gen. Brown, who retained it till 1866. It enjoyed a just popularity under his excellent management. ≈ 68