A History of Oneonta from its earliest settlement to the present time by Dudley M. Campbell. Oneonta, NY G. W. Fairchild & Co. 1906 Transcribed & Contributed by Sandy Goodspeed

Recollections of Harvey BAKER.
AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF "BARN HILL."

Barn Hill, long before the white man beheld the Empire state, or it had a name and defined location in New Netherland, was occupied by the Iroquois Indians, and was numbered among their most noted "Susquehanna possessions." After the province of New York had been formed it was within that province as a parcel of Albany county. After the close of the old French war and before the days of the American Revolution, it was located in Tryon county. After the close of the war of 1784, the county name was changed to Montgomery, and in 1788 it was in the town of Otsego in that county. In 1791, when Otsego county was formed, Barn Hill was in the town of Unadilla in that new county. The towns of Otego and Suffrage were formed in 1796, and Barn Hill was then in the southern portion of the latter town. In 1801 the name Suffrage was changed to Milford, and in 1817, when the post office was formed and named, it was in the village of Milfordville, its first officially defined locality. In 1830 the town of Oneonta was formed by state legislative enactment and Barn Hill was then as now near the central southern boundary of the town and near the middle of the new-formed village of that name.

Its precise location is nearly south of the junction of Main and Chestnut streets and just on the southerly line of the Albany and Susquehanna railroad and distant about eighty-two miles westerly from Albany and sixty-one miles easterly from Binghamton. Barn Hill was originally an oblong hill of an elevation of about thirty feet above its surroundings, and in olden times embraced an area of about three acres of land. Its top was level and it was clear from trees or even shrubs when first seen by white men, although it was surrounded with an evergreen forest of large trees, dense in foliage and of great height.

On its northern, eastern and western sides it was surrounded by an impassable swamp, and close under its base on the south flowed the stream known as Silver creek, which furnished the power for the first mill erected within the limits of the town.

The hill was united to the highlands on the northwest by a ridge which, passing as a sort of roadway between the two northern and western swamps, also formed the route for the Indian trail which came down Main street. The trail passed close under the western base of Barn Hill, then followed westerly and southerly along the western bank of Silver creek to where its clear, cold waters joined the Susquehanna.

The ridge before named passed almost directly where the railroad line now is, and it was removed, when that work was constructed. This ridge also formed an easy passage to the top of Barn Hill, both on foot and with teams, and was for many years a means for ingress and egress to and from the top of that notable eminence. It received the name "Barn Hill," from the fact that years ago William ANGEL, a pioneer citizen of Oneonta, and a carpenter of remarkable skill, erected a barn upon it.

Previous to that time the eminence was called Indian hill from the fact that the Six Nations had long been accustomed to occupy it as a council ground and a lookout.

These traditions are confirmed by the fact that from the top of the hill can now be seen the site of the Indian orchards and the Indian village of Wauteghe, just east of the mouth of the Otego creek, and also the Indian village of Onahricton, located just westerly of the "Adiguatangue" or Charlotte creek, the exact location of which was correctly settled by the investigations pursued for its proof by our townsman, W. E. YAGER.

This level topped hill, ever since settlers began to form a hamlet in its vicinity, has filled an important niche in the village history. It was a place of athletic sports, quoits, ball plays, wrestling matches and foot races. It was the place for bonfires and for feats of marksmanship. It was the first and only place used for the booming of cannon in announcement of success of all important events. Here echoed forth the guns fired in honor of the opening of the Erie canal in 1825, of the passage of the turnpike and railroad charters in our county and state, of the triumph of free suffrage, of free schools, and every important public measure of our country's early civil and social advancement.

The McDONALDs early became the owners of this memorable hill, and its nearby surroundings. Some years later William ANGEL, one of Oneonta's pioneers in public improvements, obtained and for some years had possessing of this coveted hill, and erected a barn thereon, known then, as before stated, as Barn Hill, and first as Indian Hill, it was once called "Barren Hill," as not a tree or shrub grew thereon. It was but a trifling change of sound from "barren" to "barn."

In the decade of 1820 Mr. Angel took down the barn and moved it to the corner of Mechanic and Main street. The writer has himself moved some of the old foundation timbers and some of them still remain. After Sylvester FORD, the father of Eliakim R. FORD, purchased the place now known as the PETERS place, the barn was moved on the land of COLLIER & GOODYEAR, near where Fairview street now stands; and in 1842, by an arrangement with Collier & Goodyear, this barn came into the possession and occupancy of Mr. Ford. Later it came from Mr. Goodyear into the ownership of Mr. PETERS.

The old Indian trail passed down at the western base of the hill, and to-day (July 23d, 1895), I saw in the excavation for the sewer the base of one of the piles of stone gathered by the Indians. Another and larger pile was directly at the southwest corner of the hill and just east of the northeast corner of the old house which was torn down by M. N. ELWELL about two years ago. This pile of stone was removed in 1842 and used in repairing the saw mill dyke, which then had begun to form a breach. The large yellow willow now standing near the new mill sprang from one of several branches driven in at that turn to strengthen the embankment.

To-day (July 27th), the workmen engaged in excavating the sewer unearthed the bottom of the old mill dam at a depth of nine or ten feet and a few rods further south the flume and rack, which conveyed water to the first grist mill erected by the McDONALDs, were also unearthed. The water power to supply the saw mill, the clothing works and grist mill first erected by the McDonalds, was all furnished by Silver creek, and it was several years before any water was received for such use from the river.

In speaking of the Indian piles of stone it should be mentioned that it was the custom of the Indians to mark their trails by piles of small stones, each Indian passing adding one to the pile as they were journeying past them.

In May, 1841, the old McDonald saw mill was repaired. In 1843 I tore it down and built the one which was a few years ago removed. The sites of these mills are now buried beneath the earth of Barn Hill.

This hill and mill property was purchased by Peter COLLIER and Jared GOODYEAR of James McDONALD in 1829, and from that date until the present spring the title of most of this property was not changed, sixty years being a long time for lands in the very heart of Oneonta to remain unchanged in title or actual possession. From 1842 to 1850 I was half owner of the mill property, but Barn Hill was not included in the purchase.

I have stated that the booming ground for cannon had been on Barn Hill for almost an entire century. During these years two two accidents worthy of notice have occurred in that dangerous business. On the evening of May 18th, 1842, the young men of the vicinity met on the booming ground to try a new cannon. Among them was Roe, the youngest son of James McDONALD. He was an employe in the office of the "Oneonta Weekly Journal," which was then published by William J. KNAPP, a son of Roe's half sister. By some means Roe was struck by the discharge of the cannon and the flesh of his leg from the knee to the hip was blown or torn off to the bone. Dr. HAMILTON and Dr. S. H. CASE dressed the limb, and he was carefully carried to his home, the old McDonald house on the north corner of Main and River streets. For weeks these physicians together daily dressed the wound, their care and attentive nursing bringing Roe slowly but surely from death to life. It was late in September before the victim was able to move about the room and yard. During these long warm summer months of suffering Edgar REYNOLDS (the eldest son of John REYNOLDS, and brother of our townsman, George REYNOLDS of Grand street), was the constant attendant and nurse of the suffering boy and no doubt this care helped its full share toward final convalescence. A better or kinder man than Edgar Reynolds never lived.

Young McDonald recovered, and for ten years thereafter carried on his occupation of printer, and finally, on June 22d, 1852, he died at the home of his mother in Oneonta of consumption. His remains now rest in the family plot in the Riverside cemetery.

July 4th, 1872, another accident occurred on Barn Hill. It was a day noted as one of tea gift sales, clambakes, and sport of various kinds. General S. S. BURNSIDE loaned the state brass cannon to add its full share to the interest of the day. While Peter R. GREEN was engaged in ramming a cartridge into the gun the charge exploded and literally blew the arm from the young man's shoulder. Great as was the shock, he survived, and still lives and has a fair promise of still many years of useful life. After this accident the state called in the gun. The cannon which wounded Roe was never seen after that memorial May night in 1842. No doubt it rests in one of the nearby swamps, to which somebody trusted its future safety.

A short time hence Barn Hill, with its traditions, memories, incidents and accidents, will be numbered among the things of the past. The march of improvements has decided its fate, but its best days of usefulness are, no doubt, in the future. Its past is but history. Its future is opening a term of progress and great development, fulfilling in part at least the prophecy of the millennial day when every valley shall be exalted and every hill brought low.

THE ONEONTA MILITIA.

Oneonta's militia record will require but a short chapter. The first of such record found in the adjutant general's office which comes near our locality is of the date of 1806. At that date Mathew CULLY of Milford was made lieutenant colonel in the Sixth regiment, and Alfred CRAFTS of Otego, now Laurens, was made captain. The two commissions bear date March 19th, 1806.

The commission of John McDONALD as captain of an infantry company, which was the first company of militia ever formed in this town, bears date February 29, 1812. Joseph MUMFORD of Milford was lieutenant colonel. The company roll of 1928 shows Eliakim R. FORD its captain, David MARVIN lieutenant and Jacob NEWKIRK ensign. This roll is under date of September 1st, 1828, and is in Captain E. R. Ford's handwriting. John M. WATKINS was first sergeant, William SMITH second sergeant, Leander McDONALD third sergeant and Clark W. BAKER fourth sergeant. The roll contains forty-one names of officers and privates. The roll of 1831 shows David MARVIN as captain and John M. WATKINS as ensign. This roll contains fifty-eight names as attending drill September 4th, 1831. John M. Watkins was commissioned captain of the company to date from August 25th, 1832. But the commission was signed by Governor W. L. MARCY and Adjutant-General John A. DIX, the 5th day of January, 1833. The roll of September 3d, 1832, contains eighty-eight names, of which sixty-three were present at drill. Among the list are the names of most of the old citizens of this region. Jacob MORRELL and Sylvanus SMITH were fifers. Jacob HILLSINGER and Henry SMITH were drummers. Among the privates we find the names of John CUTSHAW, Levi TARBOX, Abram BLEND, Aaron FORD, Joseph and James FERN, Henry YAGER, David and Daniel SULLIVAN, Frederick BORNT, besides many other familiar names and old citizens of this vicinity. Joseph WALLING was first sergeant, John D. YAGER second, Harvey CARPENTER third, and Peter YAGER fourth. Solomon YAGER was first corporal, Chauncey M. BREWER second, Oliver McDONALD third, and David YAGER, jr., the fourth. In 1834 John M. WATKINS resigned his commission, and was granted an honorable discharge.

This shows sufficiently the standing and position of the militia of Oneonta at that early date. It also shows that its commanding officers were at the time receiving their commissions comparatively young men. John McDONALD was commissioned captain at the age of 27 years. He was the eldest son of James McDONALD, and was a man of fine physique, well educated for the times. Mrs. John M. WATKINS and Mrs. Andrew G. SHAW were his daughters. He was born in 1825.

John M. WATKINS was born in 1806. He was commissioned captain a the age of 26 years. His residence was in this town from his birth until his death, except the few years which he spent in the Merchants' hotel in Albany. He died April 25th, 1890, in his 84th year.

The Third Separate company was formed August 5th, 1875, with Henry G. WOOD as captain. Captain Wood's commission bears the date of July 26th, 1875. The general order for the organization of the company was issued August 10th, 1875, Franklin TOWNSEND, adjutant general. At its organization it had 103 members, including officers and privates. Its first officers were men who had earned fame in the great war of the rebellion. Captain Wood was an officer under Generals CUSTON and SHERIDAN in the cavalry. He was an able and competent officer, well versed in military tactics, and also in civil affairs as private citizen. The first lieutenant of the military company was William H. MORRIS, the second was Nathan HEMSTREET. Simply the names of the first three officers of the Third Separate company are alone enough to warrant its success.

To such an extent had this company inspired the public confidence that in 1885, on Thursday, the 18th day of June, the corner stone of a state armory was laid and the work completed that year. The public-spirited people of Oneonta, by private subscription, had the year previous purchased the site for the armory and conveyed it to the state. The result was the erection and sustaining of a state armory and drill room and shooting hall, which are alike an honor to the state and also to the village of Oneonta. The building occupies a prominent position on the eminence on the north side of Fairview street, at a point where it is in fair view of all the travel upon the line of the D. & H. railroad as well as from the public highways approaching the village. Captain Walter SCOTT was the second commissioned captain of the Third Separate company. His commission bears the date of September 28th, 1886. Under the command and able management of Captain Scott the company lost none of its prestige or high moral and military standing.

Captain Scott resigned in 1898, when he was commissioned as Major of the First regiment of the State guard. He was succeeded by Ursil A. FERGUSON, under whose command the company served during the Spanish-American war. Captain Ferguson retained the command until November 22, 1905, when he resigned. During the absence of the Third Separate, now known as Company G, a provisional company was organized, which, after the return of Company G was disbanded. This company was known as the 103d Separate Company, and Douglas W. MILLER was commander.

THE SITE OF THE BAIRD BLOCK.

Previous to the Revolution, the traditions of the early settlers name the site of the Baird block as the location of an Indian wigwam. The old Indian trail passed just south of it, nearly where the center of Main street now is. Upon this corner and the STANTON block corner and the lands of Chestnut street, between them was a high knoll or ridge with a steep bank upon its south and with its north side flanked by a narrow but almost impassable marsh. The marsh extended from near the old LINDSAY house on its west end to some distance above the Stanton block, its northeastern terminus. On the opposite or south side of the trail, at the foot of the bank, commenced quite a large swamp, which extended from the old river, at the hill east of the depot, and included all the flat lands now lying south of Main street and north of the mill race. The creek, now known as Silver creek, then wound its meandering course through the swamp, and found its discharge in the river at the same place and in the same channel as now does the waste water from the mill pond and the flow from the upper Main street sewer.

At what date the original forest was cleared from this lot, tradition tells not. There early stood upon the site an old log house, and the stumps of the former forest had then wholly disappeared. This old house was occupied by the parents of the late David MORRELL of Dietz street. He was born in that old log house April 15th, 1806, and there spent the early years of his boyhood life. These facts were related by Mr. Morrell himself.

As the swamp above named occupied all the space between this ridge of land and the river, of course the first road of the white man must have taken the line of the former Indian trail. Such is almost conclusive evidence that this land was cleared and occupied previous to the Revolution, as we know Oneonta had many occupants previous to that war. That the house was old and dilapidated at the time of Mr. Morrell's birth is evidenced by the further fact that it was torn down and others erected on the site previous to 1815. About that date a small frame house was erected on each front or Main street corner of the lot. The one on its southwest corner was afterwards occupied by David FAIRCHILD, the father of Mrs. DeWitt FORD, and the one on the opposite or southwest corner by William KNAPP.

The next building erected on the site of the block was a story and half house built by a firm known as SMITH & COUSE. Business complications broke up this firm, and the property passed into the possession of William ANGELL. That building formed the oldest portion of the hotel. It was a very good building for those days. Edmund MEIGS, about 1833, purchased the house and lot of Mr. Angell and took immediate possession of it. He also purchased a farm of him which embraced most of the lands in the northwestern part of the third ward of the village. These farm lands were afterwards owned by Enoch COPLEY and later by Solon HUNTINGTON. Mrs. Dr. S. H. CASE was a daughter of Mr. MEIGS, and her marriage was solemnized in the southwest front room of that house, it then being the front parlor. The ceremony was performed August 20th, 1834. Later another daughter of Mr. Meigs was married in the same room.

After a few years the property passed again into the possession of William ANGELL and from him to Elijah KING, and later to the possession of Roderick J. and Carlton EMMONS. They opened and kept the first hotel upon the premises. This was about the middle of the dark decade of 1830. They kept it as a public house a year or two, and were followed by a man by the name of GRISWOLD, who also kept a public house. Its next occupant was Elihu BROWN. He moved into it about 1837 or 1838. He continued the hotel business until the spring of 1841 when it passed into the hands of Alfred POTTER. Its name had now become the "Otsego House," and the hotel was advertised under that name in the Oneonta Weekly Journal, the first paper published in Oneonta.

In 1841 it started again under the firm name of FISH & GREEN. James GREEN was a son-in-law of the late William RICHARDSON. They soon commenced making arrangements for its enlargement, and the following year, 1843, another story was added to its height, it was enlarged, and a piazza added to its Main street front. They soon dissolved and James Green alone for a year or so carried on the business, when he failed and went west.

After this John M. WATKINS was its landlord for a year or two, and he was followed by Silas SULLIVAN. Then about 1850, came N. & S. M. BALLARD, who were followed by a Mr. WHITE about 1856. Then came PLACE & HUNTINGTON. They were succeeded in 1865 by PLACE & MORRIS. Then came John TICE. Some time during the decade of 1860 the name Otsego House was changed to Susquehanna House. Next it was kept by BALLARD & BOWEN. They dissolved and were succeeded by S. M. BALLARD, who continued for a while and was followed by W. M. POTTER. His successor was O. M. HUGHSTON. After Hughston came S. M. BALLARD again, after whose death came STANTON & CAMP. They dissolved and were succeeded by L. A. STANTON, and it finally closed in 1892 with MARSHALL & ODEKIRK. The number, counting two landlords while run by firms, is 27 in about 57 years. But counting the landlords as single individuals, the number would be nineteen, making an average continuance of about three years each on the business.

SUPERVISORS OF ONEONTA.

In 1807-8 James WESTCOTT was supervisor of Otego, of Oneonta was a part. In 1809-13, Ezra ADAMS was supervisor. In 1814 John MOORE was supervisor. In 1815, John DIETZ. In 1816-17, John MOORE. In 1818, John BADGER. In 1919-24, Peter COLLIER was supervisor. In 1825-26, Jacob DIETZ was supervisor. From 1827 to 1830, inclusive, Peter COLLIER was supervisor.

In 1830, April 17th, the town of Oneonta was formed, taking therefore a portion of each of the towns of Milford, Otego, Huntsville and Davenport, and the year following it commenced electing its own town officers. The following is list of supervisors in the order of their election and terms of service:

1830-3, William RICHARDSON; 1834-5, William ANGELL; 1836-8, Samuel BETTS, jr.; 1838-9, William ANGELL; 1840, Samuel H. CASE; 1841, William W. SNOW; 1842, Timothy SABIN; 1843, Carleton EMMONS; 1844-6, Eliakim R. FORD; 1847, Enos S. BROWN; 1848, John M. WATKINS; 1849, Carleton EMMONS; 1850, Jonathan BREWER; 1851, Luman S. OSBORN; 1852-3, Carleton EMMONS; 1854, James F. DEAN; 1855, David J. YAGER; 1856-7, Samuel H. CASE; 1858, Harvey BAKER; 1859, Silas SULLIVAN; 1860, Hosea A. HAMILTON; 1861, John COPE, jr.; 1862-3, Stephen PARISH; 1964-72, John COPE, jr.; 1873-4, William W. SNOW; 1875, George SCRAMLING; 1876-7, William H. MORRIS; 1878, Walter L. BROWN; 1879-80, Henry G. WOOD; 1881, J. R. L. WALLING; 1882-8, Walter L. BROWN; 1889, DeForest WILBER; 1890-9, Henry BULL; 1899-03, M. C. HEMSTREET; 1903---, Charles SMITH.

ONEONTA VILLAGE INCORPORATION.

The first corporation of the village of Oneonta was obtained in 1848. Application was made at the June term of the court of sessions of Otsego county, "in the matter of the incorporation of Oneonta village, in the town of Oneonta, county of Otsego, in which, upon the petition of Samuel J. COOK, Worthington WRIGHT, Collis P. HUNTINGTON, Samuel H. CASE and others, on reading and filing a surety, census, notice of application, etc., * * * on the report of Horace LATHROP, James R. ANGELL, and H. G. HARDING, dated August 15th, the county judge James HYDE" ordered that an election be held and a vote taken for or against such incorporation.

The order named the 14th day of October for such vote, and the hotel of John M. WATKINS as the place of holding such an election.

Such vote was taken and the certificate of the inspectors of such election, who were John McCRANY and E. C. HODGE, shows that "the whole number of votes given at such election was eighty-two, of which the number having thereon the word 'yes' was sixty-six and the number having thereon the word 'no' was sixteen."

Of all the eighty-two names contained in the above named poll list the following still live in Oneonta village, viz: Andrew G. SHAW, William McCRUM, Timothy D. WATKINS, and DeWitt FORD.

After a careful examination of the list, I can remember but a single voter within the corporate bounds whose name does not appear on the list. That one name is that of William H. OLIN. Why he did not vote I cannot assign an satisfactory reason, for he was the active party in obtaining the incorporation. This certified poll list becomes a part of the official incorporation papers. It was a move of much importance to our people, and my recollection is that nearly every legal voter cast his vote either for or against the measure.

The completed papers of Judge HYDE, the clerk's certificate and the map and bounds of the incorporated tract, containing 657 acres of land, all bear date of October 27th, 1848.

It will thu (sic) be seen that the affirmative vote of sixty-six of our citizens decided the question of our incorporation as an incorporated village, which was affirmed by Judge James Hyde at the date above mentioned.

Oneonta's first village election was held December 2d, 1848. The following are the names of officers elected: for trustees, Eliakim R. FORD, Hezekiah WATKINS, William BRONSON, William S. FRITTS, Samuel J. COOK; assessors, John CUTSHAW, Elisha SHEPHERD, Ephraim C. HODGE; village clerk, William H. OLIN; treasurer, Andrew G. SHAW; collector, John McCRANY; poundmaster, Solon HUNTINGTON; street commissioners, Collis P. HUNTINGTON, Harvey BAKER, Hosea A. HAMILTON.

The poll list of the village election shows that 28 votes were cast, and E. R. FORD was the only candidate who received the entire 28 votes. The town inspectors again acted as inspectors of this first officer election. E. R. Ford was by the trustees made the first president of Oneonta village.

William H. OLIN (the late Rev. Dr. Olin), was then a rising young lawyer in Oneonta, and on March 7th 1849, it was resolved and adopted to levy the sum of fifty-six dollars and five cents upon the taxable property within the incorporation for the purpose of paying Wm. H. Olin the necessary and proper expenses of procuring the incorporation. This resolution was indorsed by E. R. Ford, president.

We had already a fire organization and a small fire engine and C. P. HUNTINGTON was foreman of the company. I will relate an incident that occurred about 1845 or 1846. The fire company, under the command of their foreman, came down to the mill race between the saw and grist mill for practice, as was often the custom. After practicing for some time throwing water in various directions, some one proposed to try the stream on the grist mill window in its westerly gable. I was then half owner of the mill property with Messrs. COLLIER and GOODYEAR, and had it under my charge. Mr. Huntington himself had the hose pipe in hand and asked me, "Shall I try it?" "Yes, fire away, I will risk the window," was my prompt reply. No sooner said than done. The sash and glass were shattered in an instant. "Don't throw water in the mill, as I have grain there," was my immediate appeal, but the position was so oblique that scarcely any water entered it. A bin of from 100 to 150 bushels of wheat was nearly under the window but it received no damage. Mr. Huntington offered to pay me for the window, but I assured him it was my risk and not his. The quickness of its destruction was a source of much satisfaction as well as surprise to the fire company. Our townsman, William McCRUM, was one of the fire boys who had hold of the engine brake at the time. "How's the grist mill window and the bin of wheat?" was the inquiry I often heard for some weeks after the incident, when I happened to meet one of the boys. Mr. Huntington made a splendid head officer for a fire company.

The second corporation was held March 7th, 1849. The poll list is not preserved but the inspectors' list is. Eighty-three votes were cast. Eliakim R. FORD, Hezekiah WATKINS, William BRONSON, Samuel J. COOK were elected trustees. John CUTSHAW, David T. EVANS, and Ephraim HODGE were elected assessors. Hosea A. HAMILTON and Harvey BAKER were elected street commissioners. Solon HUNTINGTON, poundmaster, by eighty-three votes.

The third officer election was held March 10th, 1850. E. R. FORD, H. WATKINS, James T. WILD, S. H. CASE, and E. W. BENNETT were elected trustees. W. H. OLIN, clerk; John McCRANY, collector; Solon HUNTINGTON, poundmaster. On the 16th day of September, 1849, the trustees leased of Solon HUNTINGTON, "a piece of ground for the purpose of being used as a pound lot, and also a passage or driveway thereto for the said village, for the full term of twenty years in consideration of one dollar."

This pound lot was located nearly where the WINDSOR hotel barns now stand. The lease covers a full page of legal cap, and is signed and sealed by the trustees and Mr. Huntington. At a later date the first village prison or lockup was erected upon this lot. It was a structure of stone.

At the election of 1851, Eliakim R. FORD, Harvey BAKER, John T. WILD, Err W. BENNETT, and Hezekiah WATKINS were elected trustees, D. W. FORD was elected clerk, David J. YAGER, treasurer. An especial election was held April 9th, 1851, at which the following resolutions were passed:

Resolved, That the sum of fifty dollars be raised by tax in the incorporated village of Oneonta upon the taxable property therein to defray the expenses of building one or more water reservoirs in said village.

Resolved, That the sum of thirty-five dollars be raised by tax in the incorporated village of Oneonta upon the taxable property therein to defray the expense of purchasing some engine hose to be used in the extinguishing of fires.

Eighty-five dollars contrasts considerably with the thousands raised now.

At the election March 3d, 1852, Harvey BAKER, S. M. BALLARD, John McCRANY, John M. WATKINS, and William BRONSON were elected trustees; A. G. SHAW clerk; D. J. YAGER, treasurer; E. B. SHOVE, collector; S. HUNTINGTON, poundmaster. A tax of twenty- one dollars and ninety-nine cents was voted for this year.

A map of the village as incorporated in 1848 is preserved. It shows the east bounds of the village as then to be the west bounds of the Joseph WALLING farm, now the J. R. L. WALLING farm. Its west bounds are the east line of the Andrew PARISH farm, now the SCRAMLING farm. Its south bounds are the Susquehanna river. Its north bounds are the Otego patent line. This corporation continued in force until April 20th, 1970.

At that date an act was passed under the title of "An Act to incorporate the village of Oneonta, Otsego county, New York," which was passed at the date above named and Oneonta became an incorporated village by legislative enactment.

The following year, March 14th, 1871, an act was passed which extended the bounds of the corporation to their present limits, viz: the westerly line of the Conrad WOLF farm for its westerly bounds and its easterly bounds to the westerly line of the John I. COUSE farm. Its north boundary still remaining the Otego patent, and its south the Susquehanna river.

The people of Oneonta, finding the charter of 1870 unsatisfactory, in the fall of 1884 called a public meeting and appointed a committee to prepare a new charter. Harvey BAKER was by the meeting appointed chairman of such committee. The committee held many sessions and prepared the present charter with much care.

The village was divided into six wards and a trustee or alderman assigned to each ward and only two of them are annually elected; so that four members of the previous board remain over each year, thus giving a majority of experienced men continually in the board. This new charter was passed by the legislature February 23, 1885, which, with some amendments, is still in force.



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