Image and text from Otsego county New York Geographical and Historical
by Edwin F Bacon, Ph B. 1902 Oneonta NY
Page 29. EXETER. Area 11,895 Acres. Population 1,087. Exeter was formed from Richfield in 1799. The surface is generally hilly, some of the elevations being 300 feet above the valleys. It is drained by Herkimer and Sutherland creeks which flow into Candarago lake and by Butternuts and Wharton creeks which flow into the Unadilla river. The earliest landed proprietors in this township were Major John Tunnicliff and William Angell. Major Tunnicliff was a gentleman of intelligence, culture, and wealth, who came from Derby, England, in the year 1756, and purchased 12,000 acres of land belonging to the patent that had been recently granted to David Schuyler and others, his purchase lying to the west of Fly Creek and being mainly within the present township of Exeter but extending somewhat into Richfield. Here he built a cabin at a place called "The Oaks," and commenced a settlement, but danger from the Indians soon caused him to abandon it until the close of the French war, when he returned with his family and made here his permanent home. William Angell was from Rhode Island and located on what has since been known as Angell's Hill, in school district No. 3. His family consisted of six sons and several daughters. His son William G. Angell was an influential man, and represented his district in congress. Other early settlers were Jonathan Angell, Seth Tubbs, Jacob Goble, Caleb Clark, Bethel Martin, Amos and Hull Thomas, Joshua Gorton, Uriel Stone, Ashel Williams and Augustus Curtiss. John and Aaron Phllips of Cambridge, Mass., came to Exeter in 1790. They established a circulating library, and in 1822 a Congregational church. Among the early settlers was Hon. Levi Beardsley, an eminent lawyer and author of "Beardsley's Reminiscensces and Anecdotes." He came to Exeter in his infancy with his parents in 1790. The family settled on "The Herkimer Farm," but afterwards removed to Richfield. A PIONEER HOME IN THE FOREST. To give an idea of the trials endured by the settlers in those days we quote from the entertaining book of "Reminiscences." "We left our eastern home with a cart, one or two wagons, one or two yoke of oxen, three or four horses, and a few cattle, sheep, and hogs. The roads were excessively bad, and we took but little household goods with us. My mother was left behind with a sick child. My sister,about two years younger than myself, was with me, stowed in a cart or wagon among the chairs and furniture, and put under the care of a girl brought up by my grandfather. 'Some distance this side of Canajoharie they abandoned their vehicles, in consequence of the bad roads, and proceeded on their journey. Some of the party drove the live stock, and went on the best way they could. My father put a saddle on one of the horses, and on another packed a bed and bedding, on which the girl was to ride. I was placed on the horse behind him, on a pillow tied to the saddle, with a strap under my arms buckled to his waist to prevent me from falling off, and carrying my sister before him we pursued our journey, the girl Sukey, riding the other horse on top of the bed and bedding, and a yearling colt tagging after. This constituted the cavalcade, so far as my father and his family were concerned." Their destination was finally reached,and soon after Mr. Beardsley's father returned to the east and brought his wife and sick child to the new country. He says: "She rode the horse on a man's saddle, and carried the child, my father in a patriarchal manner walking by her side; and thus the family were at last re-united in the woods at the foot of the beautiful lake, and by the side of the fine little stream known as Herkimer creek, then full of fish, particularly the speckled trout.' "This house that we moved into was a small log cabin, the body laid up, and part, though not the whole, of the roof covered with black ash and el bark, which had been peeled from the trees at the season when bark is taken off easily. When opened out and put on the roof and pressed down with poles or small timbers, the rough side exposed to the weather, it makes a good roof that will last several years and shed the rain quite well. The house was only partially covered, and when it rained we had to put our effects and ourselves under that part which was sheltered.' "The floor was of basswood logs, split and hewed partly on one side, and then splice down making a substantial floor, but only about half was laid. We had no fire place or chimney, and till this was built the cooking must all be done out of doors.' "A mud-and-stack chimney and fireplace were afterwards added as the weather became cold, and to get earth or clay to make mortar to daub the house and make the chimney, a hold was dug under the floor which was our only cellar, in which, in winter, we put a few bushels of potatoes and turnips, and too up one of the flattened logs from the floor whenever we wanted something from below. I have said there was no door when we moved in. My father on reaching the house with my mother and family, suspended a blanket at the doorway to keep out part of the night air." THE FIRST WEDDING. Mr. Beardsley gives a further insight into the customs of those days in his description of the first wedding. He says: "Let me describe the first wedding, which was the marriage of a sister of my mother, who was married to Ebenezer Russell: the marriage was at my father's in the log house. I do not remember how the parties were dressed, but no doubt in their best gear. Judge Cooper, of Cooperstown, was sent for, being the nearest magistrate, and came eighteen miles principally through the woods, to perform the ceremony. The neighbors were invited, the old pine table was in the middle of the room, on which I recollect was placed large wooden bowl filled with fried cakes (nut cakes or donughts, as the country people call them). There might have been something else to constitute the marriage feast but I do not recollect anything except a black junk bottle filled with rum; some maple sugar and water. The judg was in his long riding boots, covered with mud up to his knees, his horse was fed, that he might be off when the ceremony was over. The parties presented themselves, and were soon made man and wife as his "Honor" officially announced. He then gave the bride a good hearty kiss, or rather smack, remarking that he always claimed that as his fee; took a drink of rum, drank health, prosperity and long life to those married, ate a cake or two, declined even staying to supper, said that he must be on his way home, and should go to the foot of the lake that night, refused any other fee for his services, mounted his horse and was off; and thus was the first marriage celebrated." VILLAGES: There are three villages in this township, viz.: Schuyler Lake (population 406), West Exeter (population 167), and Exeter (population 60). SCHOOLS: Number of districts 8. Number of teachers 11. Children of school age 158. The Union Free School at Schuyler Lake employs four teachers and is well organized for efficient work. CHURCHES: There are five churches in this township' viz.: at Exeter, Methodist; at West Exeter, Methodist; at Schuyler Lake, Baptist, Methodist, and Universalist. Transcribed by Karen Flanders Eddy. KARENE1@webtv.net |