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Township Sections of Mini-Biographies
from
The History of Otsego County, New York
1740-1878
D. Hamilton Hurd
Published by Everts & Fariss, Philadelphia
MILFORD
MUMFORD- Among the first who located in the town after the war
were David, Thomas and Mathew CULLY, from Cherry Valley,
and the MUMFORDs, from Bennington, Vt. They came in 1788,
and settled at Milford Centre.
The MUMFORD family consisted of the father, Thomas Mumford,
and four sons, George, Gardner, John, and Joseph, and five
daughters. Mr. Mumford purchased a grist-mill of David CULLY,
and four hundred acres of land from David and Mathew Cully. He
settled, with his sons, on the farm. In the year 1800, Joseph,
desiring to change his location, purchased a farm on the site of the
present village of Portlandville, on the west side of the river. In
1807, John purchased a farm on the east side of the river. One son,
Alonzo, now resides in the vicinity. The only descendants are Delora,
residing in Otego; Robinson, below Portlandville; and Captain Jesse
Mumford. The latter now resides at Portlandville, at an advanced
age. He has kept a public-house in this town more than forty years.
The village of Portlandville was formerly known as Mumfordsville;
but the Mumfords, not caring that their name should be perpetuated
in this manner, decided to change the name of the village, and
finally, at the suggestion of Captain Jesse Mumford, it was called
Portlandville. This designation pleased the inhabitants, and it has
since retained that name.
The establishment of a post-office was an event hailed with much
satisfaction by the people of Portlandville and vicinity. This was
established in 1826, and Captain Mumford appointed postmaster.
After officiating in this capacity four years, the office was removed
to Milford Centre, and was subsequently removed to Portlandville,
and Captain Mumford reinstated as postmaster.
The first tavern was built in 1825 by Captain Mumford, which he
kept for a period of forty years.
The excellent water-power afforded by the Susquehanna at this
point early stimulated the erection of mills, and in 1814 a large dam
and saw-mill was built by a company, consisting of George GARDNER,
Joseph and John Mumford, John LOWE, Sr., Jon LOWE, Jr., and
David CULLY. In the following year, 1815, a grist-mill was also
built by the same company.
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Levi ADAMS was also an early settler in this vicinity. He came from
Pawlet, Vt., and located here in 1790. He was the first carpenter
in the town. He built many of the pioneer houses, and was in many
respects a useful man in the new county. A daughter, Polly,
married Joseph MUMFORD. She lived to the advanced age of
ninety-seven years, and died in 1876.
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MOORE- A prominent settler below Portlandville was Colonel John
MOORE, who was born in Cherry Valley in 1767, and located in
this town, then known as "Suffrage," in 1784. He afterwards moved
to the village of Milford, and settled on a farm on the east side of the
river, upon which a portion of the present village is situated. A
daughter of Colonel Moore, Mrs. Mary M. SWEET, was born on
the farm, and lives in the vicinity. Colonel Moore was a member
of assembly in 1818. He was postmaster for a period of nearly
forty years, supervisor three years, and a colonel in the militia. He
died in 1855, aged eighty-eight years.
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BISSELL- Conspicuous among the many prominent men who have
at various times resided in Milford is mentioned the name of William
H. BISSELL. He was born in the town of Hartwick, and came to
this town when an infant. Here, in this picturesque vale of the
Susquehanna, he grew to manhood, in the mean time preparing
himself for the medical profession. This he finally abandoned, and,
removing to Illinois, commenced the study of the law, and was
subsequently admitted to the bar of that State. At the breaking out
of the Mexican war he entered the United States service as the
colonel of a regiment, and served with distinction. Among the many
contests in which he participated was the battle of Buena Vista.
At the close of the war he returned to his adopted State, and was
twice elected to congress. His faithful attention to the interests of
his State in that body won the confidence of the people, and he was
elevated to the gubernatorial chair. He was re-elected, and died
during his second term.
A prominent pioneer was Norman BISSELL, who purchased land
near the village. Three children reside in the town, viz., Amos
Bissell, Esq., a farmer, real estate and produce dealer, in Milford
village; Mrs. Margaret LUTHER, in Hartwick; and Mrs. KING, in
Milford village.
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A soldier of the Revolution was Artemus WARD, who enlisted from
Worcester, Mass. He was stationed at West Point during the gloomy
days of Arnold's treachery to the colonial cause. Mr. Ward located
near Milford village prior to 1800. He died in 1827. Amos BISSELL,
Esq., mentioned above, is a grandson.
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Jonathan SWEET was a prominent man in the early days, and did
much to advance the interests of the pioneers. He came from the
town of East Greenwich, R.I., and located in this town, one-half
mile north of Milford village, on the Outhout patent. He had two
sons, Amos and Abel. The former died here, leaving a large family.
Abel, after residing here several years, moved to Oneida county.
A daughter married Asa EDDY, who emigrated from Hoosick,
Rensselaer county, N.Y., in 1805, and settled on lands a short
distance north of the village on the Outhout patent. Mr. Eddy was
an enterprising citizen, and built the first tannery in the town. This
primitive establishment was in operation in 1806, and during a
period of sixty-five years was conducted by the father and son.
He had a family of four daughters and four sons. Two of the
daughters, Mrs. Mary RUSSELL and Mrs. L. E. BOWE, reside
in the village of Otego. A son, John Eddy, Esq., a prominent
citizen, was born and resides in the town. He was a member of the
constitutional convention in 1867.
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FRENCH- A pioneer on Clark's patent, below the village, was
Daniel FRENCH, who came from Massachusetts at a very early day.
He was accompanied by his brother, Mr. David French. A daughter
of Daniel French, Mrs. Chauncey BROWN, aged seventy-seven
years, is living in the village. As an instance of the privations and
hardships encountered by the settlers in a new county, it is
related by Mr. French that during a year of great scarcity they
subsisted on leeks and milk during six weeks, and before the
ripening of their wheat it was gathered and boiled for food. So
reduced did they become that he gave a yoke of cattle in exchange
for seven bushels of corn.
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SCOTT- The "Emerald Isle" sent few worthier representatives to
the new county than Henry SCOTT. Mr. Scott, accompanied by
his wife and daughter, emigrated from Ireland prior to 1796, and
settled on lands north of the village. He was a successful farmer,
and paid the purchase-money of his farm with the first crops of
wheat. He was a prominent pioneer, the first clerk of the town, and
was also a justice of the peace. A son, Henry Scott, was many
years cashier of the Otsego County bank, located at Cooperstown.
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A well-remembered pioneer was David L. SAYRE, who came from
Greene county, N.Y., in 1868. He settled in the village, and opened
a general store. He died in 1835. A son, George W., was born in
the village in 1811, and died there in 1871. His widow occupies
the old homestead.
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COLLIER- Prominent among the early settlers who chose Milford
for a home was Isaac COLLIER, who located at what is now known
as Colliersville. A son, Peter Collier, of honored memory, was a
prominent man in the vicinity, being supervisor from 1818 to 1825,
and from 1827 to 1839. He was also presidential elector in 1832.
A daughter married Jared GOODYEAR, who was supervisor of
the town for a period of six years.
{Note: See bios for Peter COLLIER and Jared GOODYEAR]
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The first child born was David BEALS, in 1786, and the first
death that of Mrs. BEALS, in 1788.
The first marriage as that of James BROWN and Rhoda MARVIN,
in 1788.
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