Image and text from Otsego county New York Geographical and Historical
by Edwin F Bacon, Ph B. 1902 Oneonta NY
| Page 61. SPRINGFIELD. Area 26,522 Acres. Population 1,762. Springfield was set off from Cherry Valley in 1797. The surface is a rolling upland. A promontory east of the head of Otsego Lake, called Mt. Wellington, rises to a height of 40 feet. It is a prosperous agricultural township. In the year 1762 five families took up lands in the town, viz.: those of John Kelly, Richard Ferguson and James young in the eastern part, Gustavus Klmph and Jacob Tynart at the head of the lake. Very few additions were made to this little community until after the Revolution. At the battle of Oriskany in 1777 Capt. Thomas Davy, who has descendants now living in the town, was killed. In the following year Joseph Brant, the leader of the Six Nations, came to Springfield with a party, burned the town and killed or carried into captivity the men, but this famous chief was merciful. It is recorded that he "gathered together the women and children into one house and left them injured--an act not followed by his tory allies." On the return of peace there was an immediate influx of settlers into this region. Among them were Benjamin Rathbun and John Cotes, who as a lad of sixteen had taken part in the battle of Bunker Hill, John James and Robert Young. Other pioneers after the Revolution were Moses Franklin, Abner Cooke, Calvin and Luther Smith. Elisha Hall, the inventor of the well known Hall threshing machine, was a pioneer at Springfield Center. Hezekiah Hayden was a pioneer and his descendants have been distinguished elsewhere. VILLAGES: Springfield (population 160), Springfield Center (population 350) and East Springfield (population 190). Middle Village is a hamlet with postoffice at East Springfield. SCHOOLS: Number of districts 13; teachers 16; children of school age 309. CHURCHES: At Springfield Center, Baptist, Episcopal and Universalist; at East Springfield, Episcopal, Methodist and Presbyterian. Transcribed by Karen Flanders Eddy. KARENE1@webtv.net |