Delaware County, New York

In issuing this centennial volume to the public the object has been to commemorate in some permanent and suitable way the events of the century which has passed. For this purpose the public celebration of the centennial anniversary was held, and the records of this memorial volume have been collected and printed. To those who have contributed to these pages we desire to express our most cordial thanks, and to hope that thereby a work has been produced which may be found in some degree worthy of the occasion. We trust that the impulse which has been given by this celebration to the spirit of historical inquiry among our people may be augmented by the effort which has been made in this book to gather together what is still remembered of our history.

It is impossible to name the almost numberless sources of help which have contributed to these pages. Without the encouragement and aid which have been so liberally afforded, it would have been impracticable to bring this enterprise to a successful issue: It is proper here to make grateful acknowledgement to the newspaper press of the county for the uniform kindness and enthusiasm with which the centennial celebration was commended and this forthcoming volume has been heralded.

It may not be amiss to apologize here for the delay which has occurred in the issue of this centennial volume. It has been found impossible to present a book worthy of the occasion at an earlier day. As it is, we fear our friends have often become impatient over the persistency with which we have urged the completion of the parts undertaken by them. We confidently commend the completed work to all those who are proud of their county, and who are anxious that her career during the first century of her existence may be worthily recorded.

It has been the publisher's aim to make this volume not only valuable with historic facts but with illustrations to present an accurate and quite comprehensive view of the county as it appears at the beginning of its second century. This feature will doubt- less be highly appreciated, and the durable and attractive binding gives added value to an important work.

Grateful mention should also be made of the interest and encouragement manifested by the good people of the county, and the hope is indulged that expectations will in a measure be realized.

 

Table of Contents

PART I.
INTRODUCTORY

SECTION I. - INDIAN OCCUPANTS: WILD ANIMALS
SECTION II. - PHYSICAL FEATURES
SECTION III. - EARLY SETTLEMENTS
SECTION IV. - PIONEER EXPERIENCES
SECTION V. - REVOLUTIONARY TROUBLES
SECTION VI. - ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY
SECTION VII. - MILITARY CONCERNS
SECTION VIII. - ANTI-RENT TROUBLES
SECTION IX. - THE CIVIL WAR
SECTION X. - EARLY INDUSTRIES
SECTION XI. - ROADS AND RAILROADS
SECTION XII. - EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS
SECTION XIII. - CHURCHES AND CHURCH MOVEMENTS
SECTION XIV. - EARLY PHYSICIANS
SECTION XV. - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

PART II.
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

PART III.
TOWN HISTORIES

APPENDIX

 

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Delaware county has played an important part in the past history of the commonwealth of New York. It is fitting, therefore, at the end of the first century of her organized life, to commemorate the circumstances of her establishment, and to gather up the facts of her experience which may serve as lessons for the future. The committee having charge of the celebration of the centennial anniversary of the county has deemed it suitable to prepare a volume, which besides containing the proceedings of the days devoted to the public exercises at Delhi, should also include historical notices of the towns and the county, and biographical sketches of some of her most eminent citizens.

It is impossible to enumerate all the sources from which information has been derived for the compilation of this story of a century. To the authors of the town histories whose names are given in the contents, the committee desires to express its special thanks for their valuable contributions. Acknowledgements are particularly due to Mr. John A. Parshall, the veteran antiquarian of Delhi, for his constant and willing assistance at all times; and to Mr. S.B. Champion of Stamford who for forty-seven years has edited and published a continuous newspaper and whose recollections cover more than half of the county's history.

For the illustrations which add so much to the interest and value of the volume w^e desire to express our obligations to those who have aided us in securing them — to Miss Foote who has permitted the photographing of a miniature bust of her ancestor. Judge Foote; to Mr. E.B. Sheldon for permission to copy the portrait of General Root in his possession; to Mr. Samuel Sherwood of New York for a portrait of his grandfather and a view of the venerable house which he occupied when he was a resident of Delhi; to Mrs. John V.L. Pruyn for a portrait of her father, Judge Amasa J. Parker; and to Miss Helen Miller Gould for that of her father, Jay Gould. Besides these notable illustrations, it is most fitting to make mention of the picturesque views of places and things gathered by Mr. Chas. T. Telford, the photographer, who has traveled over the county in search of what would add interest to the past life of the century.

It will be of interest here to enumerate the maps and books- which have heretofore been published in reference to Delaware county. In this statement we do not include the most important publications of all, viz: the newspaper press of which an account is given in the appendix. Mr. S.B. Champion has kindly furnished. a detailed statement of these publications from which this is chiefly derived.