arnet and Caleb Hill, brothers, and Michael Phillips were first settlers on the wild lands lying between Silas Burlingame lot 77, now part of our village site, and the Jabez Arnold lot. Caleb Hill died leaving his farm to his children, and from them it is passed away. The Michael Phillips farm is now owned by Darius Atherton, now one of the assessors of New Berlin. The Barnett Hill farm is yet in the ownership of his descendants. Mr. Barnet Hill was a prudent, industrious farmer, and was several terms one of the overseers of the poor. He performed the duty with caution and humanity.

    Reeve and John Dilley were brothers, and settled on a wild lot next west of the Simmons lots, west of the Great brook. Reeve was by trade a carpenter, and after making some clearings on his lot, he occasionally continued to work at his trade among the more thrifty farmers, changing their old family log houses into good substantial framed dwelling abodes. John kept a tavern many years, after the country round about became sufficiently settled to warrant the establishment of such a luxury to the traveling community, and an accommodation for town meetings and sometimes elections.

    Asa Williams settled on a wild lot some little distance from the Dilley's towards Norwich. He was a frugal and industrious farmer, and was some time a justice of the peace in the days of Federal party supremacy, over the Democratic party, he being a somewhat distinguished Federal politician, and likewise otherwise qualified for the office. He received his appointment from the Council of Appointment, and officiated to the satisfaction of all reasonable litigants, for his decisions were impartial to unreasonable litigants. The old adage might apply:

    Nehemiah Leach settled on a wild woodside hill lot beyond Asa Williams' location, which was known in after years as the Leach hill. He was an enterprising business farmer. Simeon Odle was an early settler on a wild lot in the neighborhood somewhat south of the Leach hill. He was a good farmer and one of our active town officers in the early days of town affairs.

    William Mayhew and his brother, John Mayhew, settled on a lot near one of the Simmons lots on the Great Brook, and cleared up their farms and left them to their heirs.

    Isaac Sherman settled on the brook running into the Great Brook west of the Mayhews, and built a sawmill on his farm which was a valuable affair to the early settlers. It was among the first saw mills erected in the town, and furnished much valuable pine lumber. His descendants are yet in possession of the farm.

    Isaac and Abner Burlingame, brothers, settled on a lot next north of one of the Simmons lots on the Great Brook. They were thrifty farmers.

    ature, in the fullness and plentitude of her creative power, fashioned a magnificent reservoir of spring water far up the mountain ridge, between the Unadilla and Chenango rivers. This pretty miniature lake, in the legends of the native Indians bore the name of "The Sleeping Fawn Waters." It was a vast basin three or four miles in circumference and continually supplied with water flowing up from fountains beneath the interior, and surrounded by lofty pines, sturdy oaks, intermingling with forest trees of lesser growth, and wild flower-covered banks, it presented a splendid, brilliant and unrivaled scene of nature's handiwork. A spectator, standing on the rocky eminence, in his mind's eye, might fancy the far-off objects floating on the curling waves to be veritable wood-nymphs, that Indian tradition held, were in morning mists or evening shades seen bathing and sporting on the blue waters, when on closer inspection, the illusion is dispelled, the etherial beings are only dun deer and their young fawns swimming across from one projecting point to another, in search of food, or perchance, bathing their heated bodies in the cooling flood, or fleeing from pursuing hounds or wolves.

    This primitive woodland scenery, well worth the poet's pen or artist's pencil, no longer exists. The picture is blotted, defaced, and its primeval beauty destroyed by the rude, undiscriminating hand of the innovator. The woodman's axe has felled the lofty pines, the sturdy oaks, and all the lesser trees of note that once encircled and made beautiful this inland sheet of water, and the wild flowers are withered, and no longer bloom on the banks. The Indian name is extinct and no longer remembered, and the modernized name of Mathewson's pond¹² is the substitute.

    This Noah Mathewson, a strong, robust Rhode Islander, a native of a small hamlet on the western coast of the Atlantic ocean, emigrated into the 16th township, among the first settlers and built his log cabin on the high land near the pond which bears his name, and commenced clearing up his farm upon the economical principles of Yankee enterprise, which soon enabled him to change his humble log cabin into a commodious, one-story framed dwelling-house, it being one of the first framed buildings erected in the town, and there it yet stands, and is now one of the oldest buildings in the town. He, with his family, lived through a long and laborious life of usefulness in that dwelling-house. The premises are now occupied by strangers.

    Mr. Mathewson was a good farmer and brought his farm to a good state of cultivation. He also united the trade of a carpenter, with the mechanical knowledge of millwright to his occupation of a farmer, and as a millwright, he was one of the principal workers and of much benefit to the people in the new settlement. Many of his mechanical works yet survive him. His son Noah resides on a farm near the old pond and is a successful farmer.

    Stephen Skinner, in the early times of the first settlers, located his habitation on the same highland ridge some miles north of Mathewson's farm and near the north line of the town. The place is known as Skinner hill. He had a large family of children who settled in after grown-up life round about him. He was a thrifty farmer, a reputable citizen, and belonged to the Episcopal church, of which he was one of the supporters on its first establishment in New Berlin, soon after the beginning of the present century.

    Stephen and Nathaniel Kinney were first settlers in the neighborhood of Mr. Skinner, and made to themselves valuable farms. William Robinson also was one of the first settlers in the same neighborhood. He was a genial, pleasant neighbor, and left a good property to his children. Mr. Ezra Huntly was also an early settler in the same neighborhood, a good farmer and industrious. He built for his family residence a nice commodious stone dwelling-house.

    HOMAS SARLE, a native of Rhode island, settled on a river lot a short distance below the Scribner tavern. This lot was heavily timbered and presented a formidable undertaking for a new beginner in chopping and logging, and clearing up business preparatory to raising crops. But he was strong, resolute and persevering, and lived to enjoy the fruits of his industry, and the gratification of owning one of the most valuable farms in the town as a reward for his honest labor and frugality. He lived to a good old age and left his property to his two sons, Elisha and Thomas. The south part of the farm which he gave to Elisha, is now owned by A. J. Sage, and the north part, which he gave to his son Thomas, remains in the family, and is owned by his grandson, a son of Thomas, Jordan Sarle, who is one of the best farmers in all the town. Order, neatness and regularity is a rule not to be violated in his farming business.

    Asa Angell settled on the lot next below the Sarle farm. He came from Rhode Island, moving his young family on an ox sled, was about four weeks on the road, arrived at the place of his future home some time in the month of June, and his wife had had her seat in the chair, (presented to her by her mother as a wedding gift on the day of her marriage) during the long, tedious journey up country, and the same chair, afterwards used by her to rock her children during their infancy, is now in a good state of preservation and remains as an heir-loom in the Angell family when they assemble at the old Angell residence to celebrate the centennial of the day that their ancestors came to the farm.

    Mr. Angell was a good neighbor and an exemplary member of society. He also worked at the trade of a cooper, as well as that of farming, and left a valuable property to the inheritance of his heirs. The old farm is now owned and occupied by one of his sons.

    William, Pliny and Joseph Phelps, brothers, settled on river lands adjoining to each other, and some little distance below the Doc. Foote farm. By their industry, economy and frugality they acquired themselves valuable farms, and in common parlance wee considered forehanded farmers. Mr. William Phelps, as he advanced in year, fancied it his duty to go out among the people and preach the gospel and in accordance with that belief, he occasionally went forth on his self-imposed mission; whether the seed fell on stony ground or otherwise, is left to conjecture. He has long since delivered up the stewardship of earthly labors. The peace and quiet of his declining years was disturbed by a litigious contention forced upon him by his daughter, to whom he had already bestowed much of his possessions, and of her it might be said, "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child."

    Mr. Pliny Phelps, having no children to support, and having a prudent wife to manage the household affairs, the surplus produce of his farm enabled him to accumulate money which he loaned out at 14 per cent. interest to his less fortunate neighbors. He died at a good old age, leaving his property to his relatives, who, perhaps, enjoyed the using of it as much as Mr. Phelps did in gathering it together.

    Mr. Joseph Phelps was a good farmer, a sociable, pleasant neighbor, and took great interest in the town business, in which he was a careful manager. He was usually chosen moderator at town meetings and presided with grave dignity and preserved good order on such occasions. The town officers were separately elected by ballot, except overseers of highways, who were chosen by the uplifted hand. On town meeting day, business was commenced by the strong, loud voice of Mr. Phelps as moderator proclaiming: "The town meeting is now opened, bring forth your votes for Supervisor." After a suitable time had elapsed for voting, as determined by the presiding board of town officers, there might again be heard the strong voice, saying, "The ballot box for Supervisor is now closed, prepare your vote for town clerk." The board then proceeded to count the votes for Supervisor, and on ascertaining who was elected, again the stentorian voice was heard, "You have elected Barnabas Brown your Supervisor for the ensuing year; the poll is now opened for Town Clerk, bring on your votes." And in that orderly manner was the business of choosing town officers proceeded in until all the town officers were elected, which was generally accomplished by the middle of the afternoon, winding up with good feeling and hilarity. In those simple days of honest industry before politics had a being, town officers were selected for their fitness for the office and the candidate was never known to ask his neighbor to vote for him. Town business was transacted with strict economy, and no man sought office for its emoluments.

    ob Vail, a pioneer in the first settlement in the valley of the Unadilla river, took possession of a lot near the Asa Angell farm and commenced the up-country work of clearing, and building a log house to live in with his wife and children. Rumor, with her thousand tongues proclaimed that during the war of the Revolution, he was a believer in the doctrine that the king could do no wrong, and was not finally convinced of his mistake until the king was compelled to acknowledge the independence of the thirteen old United Colonies. Whatever might have been his opinion, during the stormy period of the war struggle, he commenced the work of improvement in the new settlement with the energy and enterprise of a faithful and diligent citizen.

    After he had provided a place for his family his next undertaking was to build a mill to grind grain, and another mill to saw logs into boards, two conveniences greatly needed in the new settlement, and these two mills were the first mills built in the town, with the exception of Herrick's mills which were built about the same time. His mills were made profitable to himself and beneficial to his customers, who were enabled to make more commodious dwellings for their families, and places to thresh out their grain, and a mill to grind it, of which they had been destitute until the enterprising labor of Mr. Vail furnished the means. He lived to an old age, and left a valuable property to his children; the descendants of one of them are yet in the ownership of part of the farm. The mills and the residue are owned by Mr. Skinner.

    His son, Frederick Vail, married a daughter of James Smith, who was one of Tarleton's soldiers, at the battle of Cowpens, and was taken prisoner by Morgan's squadron and brought north and finally became a citizen of New Berlin.

    Nathan Taylor owned the lot whereon is now South New Berlin village. He was an honest, industrious and respectable farmer, and took an active part in the management of town business. He held town office from time to time, was a Justice of the Peace under the old Council of Appointment and sometimes a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, also a member of assembly to revise the laws, and it may be declared that he faithfully and honestly discharged his duty in the several offices entrusted to him and sustained the character of a good citizen. He left a goodly heritage to be enjoyed by his children.

    Mathew Calkins owned a farm a short distance below Judge Taylor's place on the river. The Calkins farm is one of the most pleasant and beautiful locations on the river, and in value has no superior of the same number of acres. Mr. Calkins understood the art of surveying and in the early settlement of the town, spent much of his time in surveying the different lots in the town, which enabled him to become acquainted with their particular value, and make his choice understandingly. His selection warranted the goodness of his judgment. He was influential and active in town business, and held the office of Justice of the Peace, by commission from the Council of Appointment of olden times. He was a member of the Methodist church. A Methodist camp-meeting was sometimes held in his sugar maple orchard grove, a beautiful place for such meetings. And of an evening when all nature seemed hushed in silence, the gentle breeze scarce ruffled the green leaves on the overhanging tree-tops, and lights innumerable shining bright from lamps suspended from sides of trees, made visible all the vast multitude within the encampment listening to the words of the speaker, standing on a high raised platform, or to the vocal sounds of praise resounding in harmonious cadence all around, and echoing throughout the woods, presenting a scene from which no one could withdraw without being convinced of the reality of religion, and the sincerity of its worshipers, whether in the field or in the temple.

    OHN AMBLER, in the early time of New Berlin settlement, took up his residence on the Great Brook at the place now called "Ambler Settlement," an appellation given to the little hamlet because Mr. Ambler was its principal founder and was a man of considerable energy and enterprise in matters pertaining to the organization of new upcountry society, the establish of good order, the establishment of religious institutions and for the intellectual instruction of young urchins, and in all things tending to promote the general welfare of the inhabitants, he was an active member of the community. The Presbyterian church in that place, was the first one built under his auspices and chiefly by his individual exertions. He was a prominent member of that church.

    Charles Rich was early a settler on a farm adjoining the Ambler Settlement. He was a good farmer, a prominent man in town affairs, sometimes a justice of the peace, held other town offices, and among all his good qualities, he was a good neighbor, and a good member of society. He left a good property to his heirs, earned by his honest, economical labor.

    Jonathan Mathewson settled on a farm near the Ambler Settlement, and was an extensive business man. Besides farming, he entered largely into lumbering business, erected a sawmill and sawed his own boards and timber from his own pine tree lot. He left valuable property to his heirs.

    Daniel Sage established his up-country home in a log cabin in the woods on the Great Brook, above the Ambler Settlement. He was a farmer and peculiarly qualified to endure the difficulties, privations and hardships of a backwoodsman, and was a plain, unpretending cultivator of the land. Like the patriarchs of old, he made the sacred cause of religion and public worship on the Sabbath day an indispensible duty, and the outward rite of personally attending Elder Eastwood's Methodist meetings, he being a member, a thing not to be neglected. The summer's rains, nor winter's snow quenched his zeal. He was always a regular attendant at those Sabbath day meetings. His faith in Divine Providence proved, however on trial, not to have been equal to the faith of the Father of the Hebrew nation, when commanded to sacrifice his son Isaac. The place where Elder Eastwood held his meetings was a few miles down the river through the thick woods, from Mr. Sage's abode, and a marked tree wood-path the line of communication. On a winter Sabbath day Mr. Sage, in pursuance to his accustomed practice, was proceeding on the snow path. When in midway, on the beaten track before him, a huge, ferocious bear and her cubs obstructed the passage. Standing on her hind legs, with body erect and teeth grating and paws ready to strike, she presented a formidable barricade for an unarmed Christian to encounter. On either side the deep snow prevented going around. No alternative but a combat with the grim, savage beast, and abide the result, or return home. He turned back, and the sin of neglect to attend public worship on that Sabbath was fixed upon the unconscious brute.

    he manners, customs, and habits of the pioneer farmers who settled in the wilds of New Berlin were in accordance with a community making their homes on the confines of civilization, and every individual family dependent on their own resources, expedients and perseverance for success. The men and women toiled, and worked, and good improved farms were the reward for their labor.

    Hospitality made pleasant their log cabin firesides to the strange sojourner and the neighbor. Reading meetings on Sundays, were held at some convenient place and a sermon from some printed volume of ancient sermons was read, Psalms in old fashioned ways and tunes were sung, and prayers were offered up in the sincerity of the Christians' faith.

    Instruction in the elemental principles of common school education was provided without the legislative aid of a school code examination to ascertain a teacher's qualifications.

    If the teacher understood the art of reading, writing and simple rules of arithmetic he was considered capable of teaching the farmer's children of that generation, how to read, write, and speak the English language with propriety, and to instruct the youth in figures sufficiently to enable them to add, subtract, multiply and divide correctly enough to keep fair and honest estimates in their dealings and transactions. Webster's spelling boo, a book of reading lessons, the New Testament, Root's Arithmetic and Dwight's Geography, comprised the school children's books of instruction and with the addition of a Bible, a complete family library of that period. No post office was within one or two days' journey of the settlement and newspapers and periodicals were not.

    But, however, in after years when the forest paths became somewhat passable, a postman on horseback with old fashioned saddlebags stuffed on one side with newspapers, on the other side laden with his luncheon, appeared among the subscribers, from a far off distant printing-office. His tin horn re-echoing among the forest trees announcing his approach was a more charming sound to the expectant ear that the family dinner-horn to call the laborer from the field to his noonday meal.

    Next came tradesmen, manufacturers and mechanicians with merchandise and tools and settled in and about the village. Captain Samuel Munroe was a worker in iron, erected his shop on the south side of the East street and commenced the trade of a blacksmith about the beginning of the present century. His shop and house stood on the premises now owned by Mrs. Chapin, the widow of Benajah Chapin, deceased.¹³ He was a middle aged man when he came to New Berlin with his wife and children. At his death he left his homestead property to Linus W. Munroe, his son, who carried on the business of chain-making and some other branches of work in wood. He was a good and faithful mechanic to his employers. His wife was General Welch's sister. He obtained the rank of Captain in the militia service and made a good officer to train and drill soldiers on the peace establishment according to Steuben's military drill book. He died leaving his estate to distant relatives, having no children to inherit.

    Jacob Brewer, another blacksmith, settled on the opposite side of the street. The old blacksmith ship is still standing, a wreck of its former usefulness.¹⁴ Mr. Brewer obtained the rank of Colonel from a regular promotion through the grades from a soldier up and made a good appearance on horseback at the head of his regiment of militia soldiers, for he was a portly man. He moved over into the town of Pittsfield, and from there he went into what was called the Broken Stream country, towards Lake Ontario.

    John Pike, also a blacksmith, purchased the old shop and carried on the blacksmith business several years. He also married a sister of Gen. Welch. After his wife died he sold his house and shop and afterwards married Widow Harris, who owned the house and blacksmith shop built by Orsamus Clark, deceased, on North street, and carried on the blacksmith business at that shop until his last sickness. The premises are now owned and occupied by Widow Howard.¹⁵ Pike was an ingenious worker in iron. When he first came to New Berlin he worked several years in the old cotton factory machine shop. He held the office of a Justice of the Peace for one or two terms. He had the reputation of being an excellent workman in all the different branches of his trade.

    Lewis Winslow (who built, owned and occupied the house¹⁶ where Mrs. Munn, widow of William Munn, deceased, and daughter of Mr. Winslow, now lives,) was a carpenter and worked at his trade up to the time of his decease. He built many of the old dwelling-houses in and out of the village. He was a good workman and gave general satisfaction to his employees.

    A Mr. Tammany had a tailor shop and worked at the trade of a tailor on the place where now Mrs. Spencer, widow of Albert Spencer resides.¹⁷ He was the first tailor who worked at that trade in New Berlin.

    UGUSTUS C. WELCH occupied a conspicuous place among the people in the early settlement of New Berlin. He was in the employment of nail making in a shop on the north bank of the village creek, between the creek and Morgan's store,¹⁸ where he manufactured nails, shaping and heading them by hand, a slow but profitable business, there being a ready sale at remunerative prices for all he could make at hand labor, to supply the wants of the settlers, who began to change their old log cabins into more commodious dwellings. Yankee ingenuity finally invented machines for making nails by a more expeditious method, which took the place of hand labor. Mr. Welch then changed his business of a nailer and became a merchant and an innkeeper. He purchased the tavern house on the corner now occupied by Gaskin. At that time is was a small building and has since been increased by subsequent owners, to its present size. He built a store west of his tavern, and during the most active period of his life, he carried on the mercantile business, and the business of tavern-keeper at that place. He purchased the building lot and built the house now owned and occupied by J. T. White, where he lived the remainder of his life. The part of the building now occupied by the bank¹⁹ he used for a store awhile, then purchased the premises on the corner, formerly owned by L. Blakeslee, and tore down the old Blakeslee store and built the present store²⁰ now occupied by Fuller, Ball & Co., where he traded until his last sickness, the better part of the time in company with John T. White, now cashier of the New Berlin bank, who had been his clerk. Mr. Welch had the reputation of being a prudent, careful and fair dealer in his mercantile business and he and his wife were respected and esteemed in society. If official civil service he occupied at different times the office of Justice of the Peace, Town Clerk, Supervisor, Member of Assembly, and Sheriff. In military service he passed through different grades from a private soldier up to the rank of Brigadier General.

    Chas. Medbury, an enterprising emigrant, took an active part in aid of New Berlin's early settlement. By trade he was a cooper, the maker of barrels. His dwelling-house was on the south side of the east village street, an old fashioned two story building, in which he resided with his wife, an amiable and much respected woman. They had a large family of sons and daughters, some of whom live in the neighborhood. Others of the family have located in distant lands and the house is now a deserted mansion,²¹ although the title yet remains in the family. Mr. Medbury had a shop on the premises, where he worked at his trade for some years, and a part of the time kept a tavern. He finally built a small store house, and leaving the tavern-keeping and barrel-making business, commenced the selling of merchandise for a while, then purchased the Van Dyke store²² and dwelling-house on the village south street, and entered into partnership with Ebenezer Bivins, and commenced the business of merchandise and selling drugs and medicines. Mr. Bivins was educated as an apothecary and vender of medicines, and had established the business at the Van Dyke store when Medbury made the purchase. They continued in partnership until Bivins married and went into mercantile business with his father-in-law, L. Blakeslee. Medbury & Bivens, while they were in the mercantile and drug business, also established a potash concern. Medbury built an ashery on his lot where now stands the red house opposite the school-house on North street, and they carried on the making of potash during their connection as partners.

    Mr. Medbury, at the time of his decease, was the owner of considerable real estate in the village. Besides his homestead place he owned the red house lot and several acres on the east side of the street next to the school-house, the Van Dyke property, where he and Bivins traded, and the Joel Bancroft farm which he purchased of his son Daniel. Nearly all of the real estate which he owned at the time of his decease yet remains in the ownership of his children, or some of them. Some of his sons have become wealthy and respected farmers.

    In town matters Mr. Medbury was an active participant and successfully held different town offices; was Constable, Collector, Justice of the Peace, Supervisor, Deputy Sheriff and Member of Assembly at different periods. His son Samuel married a daughter of Joseph moss, and built the dwelling house now owned and occupied by George Sage.²³ He owned the store²⁴ now occupied by Lull, Sage & Co., and carried on the mercantile business some time, was post master a while, Supervisor one term, and finally went west and entered into the lumber business, in Michigan's wild extensive pine woods, where he accumulated a great fortune by his energetic, good and wise management. A splendid monument erected to his memory by his widow marks his final resting-place in the New Berlin village cemetery.

    he next class, after pioneer farmers, who made settlements in New Berlin, were mechanics, manufacturers and tradesmen. Some of the individuals have already been mentioned. As early as the beginning of the present century, workers in wood and iron, and in other manufacturing trades, commenced building workshops along on either bank of the village creek from near its source down to its termination in the Unadilla river. The course of the stream is nearly east and runs about through the centre of the village.

    On the head waters of the stream near the west line of the village, Thomas Medbury, a gunsmith, built a shop where he manufactured rifles and smooth-bore shot-guns, for which he found purchasers among the Nimrods of up-country back-woodsmen, whose exploits, are not their histories written in the chronicles of hunting scenes of former times? Mr. Medbury's dwelling-house is the same owned and occupied by John Low.²⁵ Barnabas Brown, Jr., purchased the house and shop of Mr. Medbury, and made the gun shop into a clothing and cloth-dressing establishment, and with Buel Sherman, whose wife was his sister, carried on the cloth-dressing business several years, and then sold the premises and purchased a village lot on South street, and built a dwelling house thereon, where he resided until his death some years ago. The gun-shop and cloth-dressing house and apparatus have long since disappeared.

    Next down the creek was the Knap & DeForest woolen factory mentioned in a former number. James Denison purchased the factory buildings and water-works and entered into the business of making ropes from flax. While Mr. Knap owned the establishment, Aschel Edson carried on the business of carding wool in the same building. Mr. Denison sold the premises to Thomas Chapel, who made the building into a dwelling house and built a brewery near by, and made strong beer; also he had a cider-mill for grinding apples by water power on the premises. On the decease of Mr. Chapel, the property passed into the possession of other owners, and is no longer used for any manufacturing purpose whatever.²⁶

    Knap's oil mill, where he made oil out of flaxseed, stood on the creek near the place where Benjamin Haight has a workshop for planing boards by water machinery and a furnace for casting some kinds of iron ware, and down the creek below its junction with the north branch in the paper-mill pond, are yet to be seen the remains of an old sawmill, whose water-preserved timbers antedate this generation's memory as to the time when the mill was built or by whom owned.

    Up the north branch of the creek there stood another sawmill, also a carding machine and a cloth-dressing establishment. An accidental fire destroyed all the buildings with much of their contents. No mills were afterwards erected and the creek was left to tumble over a beautiful cascade and wind its way through a deep, rock-bound channel amid wild overhanging shrubbery, forming splendid scenery of nature's works in the midst of our village civilization. The old Blakeslee paper-mill, after it came into the possession of Daniel Harrington, was destroyed by fire, and he has erected a more commodious and elegant structure in its place.

    The ancient gristmill owned by Blakeslee and Maller, and lately owned and occupied by Nichols, who also attached thereto a cider-mill and cooper-shop, is next below the paper-mill.

    Below the gristmill,²⁷ at the foot of the hill, on the south bank of the creek, where now stands a dwelling-house built by Chauncey Babcock,²⁸ was a distillery where rye was made into whiskey before temperance societies had their being.

    Next in order were Knap's tannery and Field's trip-hammer works. The tannery was on the south bank and the trip-hammer on the north bank of the creek. Both were supplied with water from the same pond.

    Goodrich's tannery, near the junction of the creek with the river, terminated the long row of ancient workshops, and the water-power labor of the creek in aid of human industry. In the bygone days when all the workshops were in full operation, the village mechanics made their own wares, and supplied the neighbors with the products of their own labor, no ready made clothing, or ready made boots and shoes were imported from abroad, to compete with the industry of our own mechanics.

    RUNA WELCH, another early settler in New Berlin village, had his dwelling house on North street, now owned and occupied by Widow Howard; and he occupied the same shop where Augustus C. Welch made nails, for his paint-shop, be being a house-painter by trade. He was a sociable and genial man, and enjoyed the blessings of a happy disposition. About the year 1820, he moved into the Ohio country, as it was then called. He sold his homestead to Dyer Tracy, who afterwards sold it to a gunsmith by the name of Jackson, who acquired the name of "Stub-and-Twist" Jackson, for making stub and twist rifles, as he termed them, because he manufactured old nail heads and nail points, procured from blacksmith shops, into rifle barrels. Mr. Jackson had a numerous family of sons and daughters. Some of his sons worked with him in his gun-making trade. He was industrious, and a good gun-maker. He sold his house and lot to Orsemas Clark, a blacksmith, and moved back to Louisville. Mr. Clarke occupied the place some years, was an industrious worker at his trade, and built a new dwelling-house on the site where the Aruna Welch dwelling-house stood. His wife was Thomas Steere's daughter. He sold the place to widow Harris, and purchasing the corner lot opposite the Blakeslee premises, on Genesee street, built the house²⁹ now on the premises, lived there some time and finally went over into Pittsfield to a place where he carried on farming and hop-raising the remainder of his days, leaving to his widow and his son Charles his property, acquired by prudent, economical habits and honest labor.

    Vine Welch owned the next dwelling-house and lot north of the Welch lot. He was one of the first settlers in the village, and by trade a maker of spinning wheels, both great and small; the one for making yarn from wool and tow, the lesser wheel to spin flax into thread or yarn to be woven into linen cloth; and quill-wheels to wind skeins of yarns for the weaver's shuttle. In the spring season of the year the buzzing spinning-wheels made manifest that the farmers' thrifty wives and daughters were busy at their accustomed avocations. In the days when homespun cloth was made into wearing apparel for the men and women, Mr. Vine Welch found abundant employment in supplying his customers with the means of making their own clothing by hand. His widow and children remained on the place some years after his decease. The two daughters married and moved into the western states. His son remained on the place and worked at the carpenter's trade some years. He purchased the hatter's shop belonging to Sylvester Walker, which stood on the place where now stands the brick dwelling-house owned and occupied by Ira Butterfield, and moved it on to the premises, and used it for his workshop. The building is the long, two story part of the dwelling-house now owned by Mrs. Thurber. ³⁰

    Vine Welch sold the premises to Mr. Willard, who occupied them several years before his decease, when the title passed to his daughter-in-law, by will, who now owns the place and rents it to tenants.

    Sylvester Walker, of whom mention has been made, was a hatter by trade, served his apprenticeship with Mr. Worthington, at Cooperstown, married a sister of General DeForest's wife, bought the house and lot now owned and occupied by Frederick Furman,³¹ and bought the lot now owned by Mr. Butterfield, built the hat-shop as already mentioned, and carried on the hatter business several years, and finally sold out and went into one of the western states. He came to New Berlin about the year 1817, was one of the prominent citizens while he remained and was a sociable and good neighbor. Mr. Meacham first owned the premises and built the dwelling-house which he sold to Mr. Walker. He was a chair-maker, and many of his chairs are yet in being. In the early days of the settlement, wood was plenty and mechanics made their ware more for durability than for ornament. Mr. Meacham was an industrious worker at his trade, and after selling his homestead to Mr. Walker he departed for the west.

    Mr. Nehemiah Dyer worked in the old cotton factory several years and after accumulating a sufficient sum to enable him to buy a wild lot, he purchased the lot back of the Great Brook, which he cleared up and lived on until his decease, leaving a good property to his wife and children. His wife was a daughter of John Blackman, who worked in the machine shop with Dyer. This Mr. Blackman was by trade a cabinet and chair-maker, and a first-rate workman.

    Mr. Dyer was a good farmer and a much respected citizen. His wife made cheese of a superior quality, and better adapted to the taste of lovers of good cheese than can be found in modern cheese-making factories. Mr. Dyer left his estate to his wife and children. One of his sons married a daughter of William Jackson, a wagon-maker, who was an emigrant from England.

    AWSON JUDSON came up from old Connecticut and settled in New Berlin village about the year 1814. He purchased a building lot on South street, and erected a one-story dwelling-house and shop thereon, and in after years he raised the building to the dignity of a two-story dwelling-house.³² The premises now belong to Mrs. Cheney, her husband, in his lifetime, having purchased the same and transferred the title to her.

    Mr. Judson was by trade a tailor, and was esteemed as a good and respectable citizen, and an honest and industrious worker at the business of making garments for his customers, giving satisfaction to his employers. Writing his name brings back to recollection the pleasant times of trout-fishing excursions we had together, amid the woodland scenery in the spring season, when the forest trees were resuming their green summer dress. Early life's associations are not easily erased. Mr. Judson with his family went into the State of Michigan, and settled at Port Huron, some forty years ago. He lived to an advanced age, leaving his wife and one daughter to inherit the fruits of his labor.

    Russell Cheney, who became the owner of Mr. Judson's place, as before stated, was apprentice to the tanner's trade in Mr. Charles Knap's employment. On the expiration of his apprenticeship he continued to work as a journeyman for Mr. Knap some years. He married Phila Harris, the daughter of Charles Harris, already mentioned, and built a dwelling-house on a lot belonging to his wife, where he lived during his life-time of his wife and worked at the shoemaker's trade. Sometime after his wife's death, he sold the house and lot, having by the will of his wife become the owner thereof, and purchased the Judson premises, married Miss Pratt, and lived with her in her dwelling-house next adjoining his premises, during the remainder of his life. Before his death he conveyed by deed to his wife the Judson house and lot which his widow still owns. Mr. Cheney was a good neighbor and industrious.

    The gabled-roofed house³³ on the north side of the street next east of H. H. Harrington's dwelling-house is one of the oldest dwelling-houses in the village. It was owned and occupied by a Dr. Coleman as a druggist and apothecary shop in the early days of the first settlement of New Berlin. Mr. Coleman was educated to the science of compounding and dealing in medicine. Formerly no person unless educated to the business, sold medicine or kept a drug store; an apothecary was supposed to understand the art of compounding medicine by previous study and exclusive practice in that particular business, and physicians were carefully instructed into the mysteries of their profession, and their competence tested by examination before being admitted to prescribe the apothecary's medicine to their patients. Mrs. Howard, the mother of General DeForest's wife, purchased the Dr. Coleman shop and converted it into a dwelling-house, and with her son, Henry Howard and his wife, lived there some years, and then sold the place to Mrs. Rhodes, who is the present owner and its occupant.

    Asahel Hatch, after Dr. Coleman went away, came to the village and entered into the business of an apothecary. He was well instructed in the business of compounding medicine. He occupied the store built by Isaac Van Dyke on South street³⁴ now known as the Medbury store. Mr. Hatch was a young man, intelligent and possessed of an amiable disposition and well qualified in the science of compounding medicine. He left New Berlin about the year 1818, and went with General DeForest on a raft of lumber from Olean to New Orleans. On the way he stopped at Natchez and when ready to go on, Mr. Hatch could not be found. It was generally supposed by his friends that he had been murdered. His fate was never known.

    Ebenezer Bivens succeeded Mr. Hatch in the drug business, in the Van Dyke store. Charles Medbury, Esq., having purchased the Van Dyke property, he rented the store to Mr. Bivens. He served his clerkship with George Pomeroy, an eminent druggist at Cooperstown, and he obtained a competent knowledge of his profession. He married the eldest daughter of Levi Blakeslee, and purchased a building lot and erected a dwelling-house on the west side of South street. Tracy Knap afterwards purchased the premises and built the house which the late John Harris owned and occupied at the time of his decease.³⁵ Mr. Bivens, after a while, formed a co-partnership with Mr. Medbury and united the selling of merchandise with drugs and medicines. On the dissolution of the firm of Medbury & Bivens, Mr. Bivens formed a co-partnership with his father-in-law, Mr. Blakeslee, and traded in the old Blakeslee store for several years. He finally went into the western country, and became a farmer during the remainder of his life. Mr. Bivens was an active man of business. While in New Berlin he had occasionally held some town office. In the military, he arose from a private soldier up to the rank of a Colonel of a regiment.

    A Mr. David Atherton owned the premises on which Amenzo Cady's shop and the Medbury store now stand. He came from Connecticut and built a small, one-story dwelling-house thereon, about where the blacksmith shop now stands. He was a saddler by occupation, sold out to Isaac Van Dyke, and went into the adjoining town, Columbus.

    Isaac Van Dyke came from New Jersey and was a tailor by trade and worked for customers contemporaneously with Tailor Judson. His family was connected with the TenBroeck family of Pittsfield. He built the Medbury store now so called, and rented while he lived. He had but one child, Betsy Van Dyke, who married a Mr. Birdney DeForest and went into one of the western states. The store is now owned by Delos Medbury, a son of Charles Medbury, and rented. The dwelling-house has given place to a blacksmith shop.

    Calvin Thompson was one of the early settlers in New Berlin village, was a carpenter by trade, and one of our good old-fashioned citizens and much esteemed for his industrious and quiet habits. He left his homestead dwelling³⁶ and premises to his son, Alfred Thompson, who now resides on the place. It is situated a little below the Baptist Church on the west side of the road.

    ANIEL HILLS was an emigrant from the Yankee land of New England. He came to New Berlin in 1815 and settled on a farm on the bank of the Unadilla river, about a mile below the village. He was a cabinet and chair manufacturer by occupation, and worked at that business in conjunction with the cultivation of his farm. His cabinet and chair materials were of the substantial kind, and found a ready market among the old settlers, who found them more commodious than they were wont to have for household furniture.

    The old cabinet and chair shop which he built, and in which he and his sons, Spaulding and Albert, worked many years, is yet standing there. Mr. Hills was much respected by his neighbors and acquaintances, and was a fair and honest dealer in his business. His children inherited his property, and his son Albert now owns and lives on the farm.³⁷

    Joseph and Seth Hooper settled on farms above Mr. Hills'. Joseph Hooper was a chair-maker and a house-painter. Many of the old village buildings were indebted to his paint-brush for the new dress coat of paint. He left his property to his son Alva, who lived on the farm some years after his father's death and finally sold the farm to Thomas Beatty, whose heirs are now occupants.³⁸ Seth Hooper was a blacksmith. On his decease his farm passed into the hands of strangers. Robert Jeffrey is now its owner and lives on it, and by his practical farming operations has greatly increased its value.³⁹

    On the mountain ridge between the river and Great Brook, emigrants from the eastern states made lodgement, built log cabins and founded a settlement conjointly with the lowland river settlements. Joey Moffatt, and Elijah Moffatt, his brother, pitched their habitations on lands near what, in former times, was known as the Swan farm.⁴⁰ They sold it to Levi Blakeslee, and the farm is now owned and occupied by David Baird, a thrifty farmer. The Moffatts were active, energetic and perserving backwoodsmen. In the spring rafting-time the owners employed them to run their rafts of pine lumber down the river down the river to the Baltimore market. They were skilled pilots and were much employed in the rafting business. They left New Berlin many years agone, to find new homes in a distant western state.

    Alpha West and his brother David, were among the first settlers in the neighborhood of the Swam farm. It was the custom then to have company trainings, officer trainings and regimental trainings yearly, and Alpha and David performed their military duties as musicians, making the wild woods ring with martial music on parade days. They too, went west a long time ago to seek their fortune in other lands.

    Abner Angell, a brother of Asa Angell, settled on a lot near the Swan farm, about the same time his brother settled on his river farm. He was esteemed as an honest, upright neighbor and a good citizen. He left children to inherit his property, and one or more of his grandsons now live on the old homestead farm.

    On the creek which has its source some distance north of the old Thomas Brown farm, and running southerly nearly the length of the mountain ridge, then, turning east, pours down the hill into the valley and mingles its waters with the Unadilla river, saw-mills were built; the first one near the source of the stream, by David Adams and Thomas Brown, who owned and occupied it several years after it was erected.

    William Hill owned another saw-mill near where the creek began to descend into the valley and the Davises had another saw-mill on the creek in the valley, near where the river road crossed the creek.

    Charles Cowan was a silversmith, and a dealer in time-keeping instruments. He came to New Berlin about the time the village was incorporated, in 1816, and built unto himself a work-shop on the bank of the village creek, which building is now owned and occupied by Almon Babcock.⁴¹ In this shop Mr. Cowan repaired, regulated and put in order old family clocks, old men's watches, (in those early days of prudence and economy boys did not possess watches) hammered out and fashioned Spanish milled dollars into silver tablespoons and silver tea-spoons, and made and sold other trinkets. He introduced among the old settlers more expensive and elegant luxuries and wares than they had been wont to enjoy. He owned and occupied the gable-roofed house on East street, now owned by Mrs. Rhodes. Mr. Cowan remained in the village a few years, sold his estate and moved to an eastern city.

    Fabius M. Bradford was the next silversmith after Mr. Cowan. He worked in the same shop, married the eldest daughter of Peleg Field, Esq., and built his dwelling-house on North street, which is the same dwelling-house⁴² now owned and occupied by Mrs. Dodge. After the death of his wife, Mr. Bradford sold his place and went away to reside elsewhere. Other workers in the silversmith's business have in modern times carried on their business in the village, supplying the present generation with modern regulators of time, and modern, fashionable gold and silver ware.

    IVINES, doctors and lawyers formed another class of immigrants in the early settlement of New Berlin, and in their several professional departments contributed to the general welfare.

    The first church erected in New Berlin was a wooden building and was on the same site where now stands the stone Episcopal church in the village. It was an old-fashioned constructed building, in the old-fashioned style, with high, raised pulpit, old family seats or pews, with doors to admit the ingress and egress of the family occupants, and a singers' gallery on each side and the end opposite the pulpit, formed the inside arrangement of the old-fashioned church for the accommodation of the church-going inhabitants of the early days of New Berlin settlement; and on the Sabbath day might be seen parents and children wending their way to this house of public worship clad in clean old-fashioned homespun and homemade garments, some afoot, others on horseback, and now and then a family in an old lumber wagon.

    On the 14th day of April, 1814, Nathan Summers, Abel Adams, Stephen Skinner, Jabez Beardslee, Jonathan Hubby, Bildad Welch, Augustus C. Welch, Salmon Mallet, Hyatt Banks, Darius Jacques, Abel Adams, Jr., Salmon Fairchild, Reuben Stocking and Uri Tuttle formed themselves into an Episcopal society by n agreement in writing, by name, style and title of "Saint Andrew's church, in the town of New Berlin," and in the same day a meeting of the same persons was held at the house of Asa Perry, in New Berlin, to form an Episcopal society, and the Rev. Daniel Nash was called to the chair and Augustus C. Welch was chosen clerk, at which meeting Nathan Summers and Stephen Skinner were chosen Wardens, and Jonathan Hubby, Reuben Stocking, Jabez Beardslee, Levi Blakeslee, Trustee; Jonathan Hubby, Uri Tuttle, Bildad Welch and Augustus C. Welch were chosen vestrymen. By a resolution passed at that meeting the yearly meeting of "the Society of St. Andrews Church" was fixed "to be held on Wednesday in Easter week, in each and every year thereafter."

    The building having been erected, the next annual meeting was held in the church, on Wednesday in Easter week, being the 29th day of March, 1815, when besides wardens and vestrymen, two trustees, Jabez Beardslee and Augustus C. Welch were chosen, and for choristers, Elijah Turner, Dyer Tracy Asahel Edson and Lemuel Bennett were chosen. On the 6th day of September, 1816, John Henry Hobart, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the State of New York, consecrated the church of St. Andrew's Parish. It was a mild, pleasant, autumnal day, and a great gathering of people to witness the ceremony occupied the building at an early hour, waiting. At length the Bishop appeared, in his sacredotal robe of white surplice, and as he crossed the threshold and proceeded with measured steps up the broad aisle, in solemn cadence, and a deep, mellow-toned voice he proclaimed "The Lord is in his holy temple, let all the earth keep silence," thus announcing to the expectant gathering that the ceremony of dedication had commenced, and from the beginning to the conclusion, the vast concourse were held in silent wonderment. The scene was solemn and impressive and a beautiful illustration of the influence of the Christian religion on the happiness of the human race.

    The St. Andrew's Church of New Berlin was the first Episcopal church which had been dedicated west of the Unadilla river, and the event marked a new era to the first settlers of New Berlin.

    At a meeting of the vestry on the 14th of October, 1816, a resolution was passed to sell the seats of St. Andrew's Church for one year's occupancy, to raise money to hire a rector. The sale for that purpose amounted to $343, or thereabouts. On the 10th day of November, 1816, the vestry adopted a resolution to employ Rev. William B. Lacy, for the one-fourth part of the time of one year, to commence on the first day of January the next ensuing, for the sum of $175, and at the same meeting of the vestry, a resolution was passed "to purchase a house lot in the village, for the accommodation of clergymen," and that Jabez Beardslee, Charles Knap, and Levi Blakeslee be a committee to make the purchase. The resolution was afterwards carried into effect and a lot purchased on the south street opposite the church, and a parsonage house built.

    The Rev. William B. Lacy was the first Episcopalian rector, who officiated in St. Andrew's church after its consecration. He officiated a part of the time in Oxford, and the other portion of time in New Berlin. In the prime of life he was an energetic and active man in his clerical profession, possessing splendid oratorical powers, genial in disposition, liberal in sentiments, and with a well cultivated intellect, he was peculiarly fitted to preside over the affairs of the infant church. After Mr. Lacy left, the Rev. Daniel Nash was the next pastor, and from that period up to the present time, there have been many in succession employed to perform ministerial duties in St. Andrew's Church, whose names are unnecessary to write.

    The next church built in New Berlin village was the Presbyterian. It was erected on a lot on North street on the west side, nearly opposite the old elm tree, and afterwards moved down to a lot on the south side of the east street, nearly opposite to the ancient gable-roofed dwelling-house mentioned in a former communication. There are also a Methodist church on the east side of South street, near the common school house, on that street, and a Baptist church standing at the junction of the south street, and the road which passes over the Unadilla river into Otsego county. There is also one church at Ambler settlement, and another at South New Berlin, all of which were erected in the early days of the settlement of the town, and have been well supported by the people. The tree which Paul planted and Apollos watered, has borne some fruit in the western wilderness of New Berlin's first settlement.

You are visitor since 22 Aug 2011 -- thanks for stopping by!

There were 2312 visitors to our previous host from 14 Dec 2005 to 22 Aug 2011.

---

Last updated: 22 Aug 2011