THE BULLETIN

Cortland County His torical Soci ety

Mindy’s Musings

November’s newsletter marks an end to the newsletter cycle. Fortunately it serves as a public

thank you to those who make the work of Cortland County Historical Possible, our volunteers.

November also serves as the beginning of the Holiday Season, a time to think about the people that

mean the most to us and be thankful for what we have. As this holiday

season begins I felt a look at the tradition of Thanksgiving would be an

appropriate musing.

I remember as a little girl (I think Kindergarten) dressing up

as a pilgrim and dining on food with our parents at the school. We

“weaved” our own placemats out of construction paper, and wore little

hats. This early remembrance focuses much of my thoughts of

Thanksgiving, but doesn’t accurately cover the meaning or history of

Thanksgiving.

Did you know that the first Thanksgiving Day Proclamation

was offered November 1, 1777? What about that George Washington

offered the first Presidential Proclamation on November 26, 1789? Were you aware that since

Thanksgiving Day 1863 there has been an unbroken string of Presidential Thanksgiving

Proclamations?

November 1, 1777 the Continental Congress offered the first in a string of Thanksgiving

Day Proclamations that lasted until 1784. The colonies had been at war since 1775, and still took time

to think about what they were blessed with.

“FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty

God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for Benefits received, and to implore such farther

Blessings as they stand in Need of: And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy, not only to continue to us

the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence; but also to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and

necessary War, for the Defense and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that he

hath been pleased, in so great a Measure, to prosper the Means used for the Support of our Troops, and to crown

our Arms with most signal success:

It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive Powers of these UNITED STATES to set apart

THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of December next, for SOLEMN THANKSGIVING and PRAISE: That at

one Time and with one Voice, the good People may express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, … That it may

please him graciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of these States respectively, and prosper the public

Council of the whole: To inspire our Commanders, both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom

and Fortitude which may render them fit Instruments, …

And it is further recommended, That servile Labor, and such Recreation, as, though at other Times innocent, may

be unbecoming the Purpose of this Appointment, be omitted on so solemn an Occasion.”

(http://www.pilgrimhall.org/GivingThanks3c.htm)

From 1785 until 1788 there were no proclamations issued until 1789 when George

Washington offers a proclamation. Expressing gratitude “for his kind care and protection of the People of

this country previous to their becoming a Nation – for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable

Continued on Page 2

Inside this issue:

Continuation of

Mindy’s Musings

2

Early Days of

Railroading in

Cortland Recalled

3

Early Days of

Railroading in

Cortland Recalled

continued

4

Arithmetic Answers 5

Thank you to our

volunteers

5

Membership Renewal 6

Harford 7

Special points of in-

terest:

• Join us Saturday,

November 20th for the

opening of our 85th

Anniversary Exhibit from

2 to 4 pm.

• Check our website for

Holiday Closings.

• We wish everyone a safe

and happy Holiday

Season.

November 2010

Volume 3, Issue 4

http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/2009/11/free-thanksgiving-clip-art-turkey-with.html

Continued from page 1

interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war –for the great

degree of tranquillity (sic), union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed – for the peaceable and rational man-

ner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and par-

ticularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and

the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors

which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.” (http://www.pilgrimhall.org/ThanxProc1789.htm)

From 1816 until 1861 the Proclamation falls by the way side and is resurrected with Presi-

dent Lincoln in 1863. In 1862 and 1863 Lincoln offers a Thanksgiving Proclamation in the spring for

recent successes in battle, but in the fall of 1863 at the urging and writing of Secretary of State William

Seward, Lincoln offers a Thanksgiving Proclamation and establishes a precedent that has continued

down through today. Lincoln’s Proclamation reads:

“The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To

these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others

have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the

heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to

invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the

laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military

conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful

diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested

the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron

and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily

increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the coun-

try, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with

large increase of freedom.

…

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with

one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the

United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and ob-

serve the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwel-

leth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such

singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedi-

ence, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamen-

table civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand

to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore if, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full

enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity (sic), and union.”

(http://www.pilgrimhall.org/ThanxProc1862.htm)

Cortland County Historical Society has the greatest volunteers. The society is blessed by the

work you do, and we give thanks for your friendship and support. Thank you for all that you’ve done

and continue to do.

Page 2 The Bulletin

http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/search/label/Thanksgiving%20Clip%20Art

It has seemed to me fit and

proper that they should be

solemnly, reverently, and

gratefully acknowledged, as

with one heart and one voice,

by the whole American people.

I do therefore invite my fellow-

citizens in every part of the

United States, and also those

who are at sea and those who

are sojourning in foreign lands,

to set apart and observe the

last Thursday of November

next as a day of thanksgiving

and praise

New for 2010

Images of Cortland

Author: Mary Ann Kane

$23.75 (includes tax)

Available at CCHS

PLEASE REMEMBER

Contact us to hold your newsletter: if you go on a long

term vacation around our publication date (February,

May, August, November). Due to new postal regula-

tions they are returned to us at cost. Help keep our

costs down allowing us to continue providing The Bulle-

tin.

Early Days of Railroading in Cortland Recalled

Railroad historian Richard Palmer recently found this faded old clipping while organizing the railroad historical files at the Cortland

County Historical Society. He is the author of the Society's publication, "Rails Through Cortland." The article is from the Cortland

Standard, Thursday, November 17, 1927}

______

Days when "railroading was railroading," on the old New York & Oswego Midland Railroad between DeRuyter and Norwich, now but

a memory, and of the building of the Cincinnatus branch of the Lackawanna, have been brought to light through a small news item

which recently appeared in different papers.

The little item which stirred up the tales of the old wood burning and hand brake days referred to the sale which was held in

DeRuyter, June 11, of bonds amounting to $21,000 to refund outstanding bonds issued to aid in the construction of the old Oswego

Midland Railroad, defunct for a half century.

Few people are to be found who remember much of the history of the road, but here and there may be found a gray haired individual

who recalls incidents of interest. In this group is John C. Kelley, 4 Maple Ave., who worked for several years on the old Midland, and

recalls several dramatic incidents of the old days.

Kelley took part in the building of the road in the years 1868-69 and later worked as a brakeman in '72 and '73. The section between

Norwich and DeRuyter was abandoned in 1879 due to the high cost of keeping the road bed in repair and the lack of business, other

lines having come into the territory and taken the traffic.

DeRuyter Bonded for $150,000

DeRuyter was at that time bonded for $150,000 and when the road went defunct bonds were issued for an additional sum of $10,000

to fight the payment of the first figure. Otselic, Plymouth, Pitcher were among the towns to issue bonds to promote the road and

Lincklaen, although not on the route, got in on the proposition to aid in the construction of the road.

The whole thing started when the late D.C. Littlejohn, then of Oswego, said that he could build a railroad from Oswego to New York

without a dollar of capital. And he did. The New York, Ontario & Western railroad is the monument to the enterprise of the people of

Central New York who wanted to develop their section through the building of a railroad.

But the plan grew. In the early dream for a gigantic network of railroads, it was planned to run a road from Norwich to Auburn and

the Auburn branch of the New York and Oswego Midland was started. The branch never got any farther than Cortland, and then what

is now the Lehigh Valley, built a line from Freeville to Auburn and the plan was abandoned. In 1906 the idea of a Cortland-Auburn

railroad was again revived, but after the route had been surveyed, the plan was given up.

But to get back to the early history of the Midland. J.W. Merchant, then of DeRuyter, was the man who had the most to do with the

laying out of the route. Merchant was interested in the road and he was also interested in a large tract of timber on Crumb Hill, east of

DeRuyter. Wood was burned in those days in the locomotives, and Merchant saw a market for his timber. It was largely through his

influence that after surveying several different routes, the road was finally laid out through the towns of Norwich, Plymouth, Otselic and

DeRuyter, with stations at Norwich, Plymouth, Ireland Mills, Lower Beaver Meadow, Otselic Center, Crumb Hill (a flag station), and

DeRuyter.

Wooden Trestles

The construction over this route required many long trestles, and all of these, in those days, were of wood construction. Mr. Kelley

tells of the old Lyon Brook bridge near Oxford Summit on the main line, which was 165 feet high. Trains had orders not to cross that

bridge faster than a man could walk, and to conform with this rule, a brakeman was always sent across on foot in front of the

locomotive.

Needless to say, these trestles soon began to wear out and this was one of the features which brought about the abandonment of the

road after 10 years of operation. From DeRuyter, the road, which has since been taken over by the Lehigh Valley, came to Cortland.

Homer was the only town along the route that would not bond for the construction, but despite this fact the road was put through the

eastern end of the township.

Continued on Page 4

Page 3 Volume 3, Issue 4

Continued from Page 3

"I can remember the first train that was run this side of DeRuyter", said Mr. Kelley, in recounting some of the incidents of the early

days of railroading. "They were laying the roadbed down past the old Countryman place, later known as the John Boyce farm. Mrs.

Countryman had never seen a train and came out on the knoll to watch the locomotive which was following the iron down as fast as it

was laid. The engineer blew a sharp blast on the whistle and Mrs. Countryman dropped dead. Tom Lynch, who is now a conductor on

the Lehigh, was a brakeman on the work train."

"I worked as a brakeman back in '72 and '73 and we used to have to take the trip over from Norwich to Cortland. Wages weren't very

high then and we used to have to stay over night here, at 50 cents and 50 cents for each meal, including putting up of a lunch, because

it would take all day to get back to Norwich."

Wood Burning Engines

"We used to wood the engine here and again at DeRuyter so that we would be able to get through to Norwich. In those days a

brakeman couldn't sit in the caboose all the time. Most of the time he had to be up by his brakes because there was no air then and

when one of those old coupling pins would snap, the brakes had to be put on by hand or the cars would run away. I saw three carloads

of wood get away on Crumb Hill one time and run the seven miles down into DeRuyter and then they pretty nearly made the grade

and came over to Cortland. No, the brakeman didn't get hurt but he had a wild ride.

"I saw 10,000 cords of four foot wood, which had been stacked beside the tracks, burn one time. It was set afire by a locomotive.

They used to stack the wood on Crumb Hill beside the tracks and then we would load it into cars and take it to the stations where the

engines took on wood. I'd like to see some of these firemen now keep an engine going with wood on those grades", he added

reminiscently.

"Things are a lot different now", he concluded. "They have a tunnel through the mountain at Hancock instead of going over the top

of it. The old Chenango canal swing bridge in Norwich is gone and the wooden trestles are replaced by steel so that the trains don't

have to to slow down for anything any more. But if you want to see where the old Midland railroad was", he added, "just drive over to

DeRuyter some time and then follow the state road down through Otselic Center and over toward Norwich. You can see the old

roadbed but all the iron is gone and the trestles have gone down."

Page 4 The Bulletin

Stereoptican slide of Rainbow Trestle at Otselic Center

on the Auburn branch of the New York & Oswego

Midland Railroad in the 1870s.

CALENDARS ARE BACK

This year Cortland County Historical Society has partnered with the East End Community

Center to bring back the calendar.

Calendars will be available for $15.00 at CCHS as well as the Youth Bureau.

Call at (607)756-6071 to inquire about availability .

Attic Treasures Sale

While we all think of Spring Cleaning as the time to pack up those unwanted items and donate them to Cortland County Historical

Society ; we would like to remind you that we collect items year round for our sales. Keep an eye out for an upcoming sale date.

Page 5 Volume 3, Issue 4

Arithmetic Answers

I was asked to provide the answers to the Arithmetic Exam found in last months newsletter. I admittedly am a history major, but undertook the

task of finding answers. A special Thank You to Craig Riha (JD Law, BS Mathematics) for helping me by double checking my answers.

1. Definitions from dictionary.com unless otherwise noted

Interest - a sum paid or charged for the use of money or for borrowing money, or such a sum expressed as a percentage of money

borrowed to be paid over a given period of time.

Longitude of a place - angular distance east or west on the earth's surface, measured by the angle contained between the meridian of a

particular place and some prime meridian

Brokerage – commission of a broker

Gram - a metric unit of mass or weight equal to 15.432 grains; one thousandth of a kilogram.

Power of a number - The power of a number shows you how many times to use the number in a multiplication. It is written as a small

number to the right and above the base number. (http://www.mathsisfun.com/definitions/power.html)

2. .132,068

3. If he travels 360 miles in 12 days he is going (360/12) 30 miles a day, so in 21 days he will have been able to go 630 miles (30 x 21).

4. $400.75 (used http://easycalculation.com/simple-interest.php for the answer)

5. a. 445.373 b. 445.227 c. 32.5069 d. 6100

6. 96 feet front and 180 feet side, sidewalk will intersect at 4 feet from end of both sides, so 92 x 4 = 368, 176 x 4 = 704 and 4 x 4 = 16 for a

total of 1088 square feet. Cost is $195.84

7. 2 for 5 cents becomes 30 cents for 12 instead of 20 cents for 10 which is .10/.20 x 100 = 50 for a 50% increase.

8. First discount 25% of 500 is 380 ($120 discount) second discount of 10% of 380 is 38 for a total of 342, which is a $158 discount.

Flat discount of 33 1/3% of 500 is $166.65 discount. The 33 1/3% flat discount is better.

9. If the AV =s 2,559,000 and they want to raise 11,515.5 divide 11,515.5 by 2,559,000 multiply times 100 to get a tax rate of .45%. To figure

the blocks value divide .45 by 100 multiply by $85,000 for a tax of $382.50

10. a = πr2, radius = 30 answer 2826 square feet

11. 198.838 miles (used http://www.metric-conversions.org/length/kilometers-to-miles.htm for the answer)

12. 4,000 total cattle, the farmer with 1253 has 31.3% of the cattle and the farmer with 2747 cattle has 68.7% of the cattle. Their shares would

respectively be $25.04 and $54.96.

Thank You to Our Volunteers

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.”

~Dr. Seuss

Cortland County Historical Society wishes to thank the following people for their continued service to our programs. They

make the work of our staff a little lighter and brighten our lives with their daily support of our work. As the director it is my

privilege to work with these loyal friends and am proud to consider them friends. In 2009 CCHS volunteers contributed over

3600 hours. Thank you from the staff and trustees.

Diane Ames, Ina Bean, Betsy Beardsley, Mary Alice Bellardini, Mary Bickford, Betty Bonawitz, Anna Brookes, Chris Buck,

Elaine Case, Joe Compagni, Elaine Contento, Charlie Cooper, Sandra Decker, Marti Dumas, Margaret Fiske, Toni Gallagher,

Johanne Halcomb, Jaff Harris, Nadyne Harris, Ed Hart, Byron Horak, Roger Horak, Sally Horak, Betty Hudson, Otto Janke,

Mary Ann Kane, Carl Kimberly, Mary Kimberly, Paul Lorenzo, Berniece Potter—Masler, Sue Maxwell, Gwen McCabe, Anna

McConnell, Therese McDonald, Jim Miller, Pamela Poulin, Wilma Puderbaugh, Len Ralston, Ed Raus, Linda Ruthig, Dottie

Sarvay, Jake Schuhle, Kevin Sheets, Lorraine Sherry, Joan Siedenburg, Esther Slater, Laura Spencer, F. Michael Stapleton, Ron

VanDee, Matt VanSchneider, Betsy Walters, Jennifer White, and Ginny Wright.

We also wish to thank the following businesses: Carbon Copies, Good News Computing, and Wright-Beard Funeral Home.

Ms. Marsha Powell

Mr. Gregory Reed

Mr. Peter Rice and Family

Mr. and Mrs. Robert and

Patricia Riehlman

Ms. Dorothy Roberts

Ms. Teresa Roberts

Ms. Margaret Robinson

Mr. Merton Sarvay

Ms. Reva E. Sias

Mrs. Laura Spencer

Dr. Robert Spitzer

Mr. and Mrs. F. Michael and

Kathy Stapleton

Mr. and Mrs. Donald and Con-

nie Steger

Ms. Angela Thurlow

Mr. and Mrs. George and Pa-

trica Walter

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth and

Janice Wheeler

Ms. Jennifer White

Mr. Ken White

Mr. and Mrs. Dale and Barbara

Wightman

Mr. and Mrs. Newell and Ardis

Willcox

Mr. Ron Wiser

Mr. George Wright

Honorable and Mrs. Paul and

Elizabeth Yesawich

2010 Memorial Donations:

Donald Lammers

Betty Palm

Barbara Brewer-Rogers

Markam Woods

Mr. and Mrs. Ted and Helen

Ackroyd

Ms. Rita Alcorn

Mrs. Patricia Arnold

Mr. Edward John Barry, Sr

Mrs. June Belknap Paser

Mr. and Mrs. Harry and Mary

Alice Bellardini

Mrs. Barbara Bergeron

Mr. Karl Blixt

Mrs. Rosemary Bracciale

Mr. James Bryan

Mr. and Mrs. John and

Christine Buck

Dr. Van Burd

Mrs. Joanne Canale

Ms. Joan Cannella

Miss Anne Caratelli

Dr. and Mrs. James and Patricia

Clark

Mr. and Mrs. Leonard and

Linda Cohen

Ms. Mary Louise Congdon

Ms. Elaine M. Contento

Mrs. Mary Jane Corey

Mr. Dick Crozier

Mrs. Carol Deloff

Ms. K. Ann Dexter

Ms. Elaine Eff

Mr. and Mrs. William and

Susan Eligh

Dr. and Mrs. C. Ashley and

Beverly Ellefson

Mrs. Connie N Eubanks

Mrs. Charlotte Farris

Mr. Louis Fiorentini

Mr. Roger Frain

Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Jean

Fryer

Ms. Ronda Garbin

Mrs. Barbara Gebhardt

Mr. and Mrs. Jeff and Gonda

Gebhardt

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen and

Deborah Geibel

Ms. Mary Giamei

Ms. Gayle Gleason

Ms. Jeanne Gleason Buhl

Mr. William J. Haight

Mr. and Mrs. Howe Handiboe

Mrs. Nancy Hansen

Mr. and Mrs. Edward and

Patricia Harrison

Mr. Thomas J Hennessey

Dr. and Mrs. R. Paul and Elima

Higgins

Mrs. Johanne Holcomb

Ms. Maureen Isaf

Mrs. Gladys Jacobs

Mrs. Ruth Jordan

Drs. Richard and Nancy Kroot

Mrs. Beatrice Lammers

Mrs. Diana Leisenring

Mr. and Mrs. Carl and Gayle

Ann Livecchia

Mr. Paul Lorenzo

Mrs. Joan Mack

Mr. Erling Maine

Dr. and Mrs. Raymond and

Patricia Malbone

Mrs. Gwendolyn McCabe

Mr. John Montville

Miss Ann Marie Mooney

Mrs. Judith Niederhofer

Mr. Robert Pearson

Ms. Patricia Perkins

Ms. Kaaren Pierce

Membership Renewals July—September 2010

Page 6 The Bulletin

"Volunteers are paid

in six figures...

S-M-I-L-E-S"

--Gayla LeMaire

Board of Trustees

Diane Ames—President

Dr. Leonard Ralston—Vice President

Joseph Compagni—Secretary

F. Michael Stapleton—Treasurer

Mary Alice Bellardini

Mary Bickford

Christine Buck

Marti Dumas

Toni Gallagher

Ed Hart

Byron Horak

Mary Kimberly

Paul Lorenzo

Dr. James Miller

Dr. Kevin Sheets

Ron Van Dee

Trustee Emeritus

Joan Seidenburg

Staff:

Mindy A. Leisenring, Director

Anita Wright, Collections Manager

Growth of Harford, Little Cortland Co. Town, Was Due to Early Rail

Facilities

optimistic anticipations of the

inhabitants of Harford village as to the

future of the place, led 22 of their

number to form a stock company for the

erection of a large hotel near the railroad

stations. This resulted in the building of

the Southern Central House, a three-

story structure, costing $12,000. It is still

in use.

The old Union Church was erected in

the year 1835 by all the Christians in the

vicinity. This was considered an

important event and most of the men in

the community joined the bee. The

omnipresent whisky jug was there and

circulated, as was the custom during that

period at all similar undertakings. It is

said a man named Lansing Hay mounted

the top timber of the spire after the

frame was up, swung the jug aloft and

christened the building, “The Union

Church of Virgil Flats.”

The structure was several years later

rebuilt and passed into control of the

Presbyterian denomination, later

becoming a Congregational Edifice.

The Methodist Church was built about

the year 1858, and was rebuilt in 1882.

The first school in the town was taught

by Betsey Curran in the winter 1806-07.

The first school house in the village was

built about 1820. An excellent school is

now maintained there.

First Postoffice.

The first postoffice (sic) was established

in about 1826, under the name of

“Worthington.”

The village of Harford Mills is situated

about one and a half miles south of

Harford village. Settlements on the site

of this hamlet was made a little later

than in the vicinity of Harford village

and what was called “Chicken Point.” A

post-office was established there about

1866, with David Wilcox as postmaster;

it was then called South Harford.

The first store in this hamlet was built by

Charles Baker. The hotel was built in

1870 by George W. Griggs.

Religious meetings have been held at

Harford Mills since an early day, in

private houses, schoolhouses, etc., by

various Christian denominations, includ-

ing Methodists. Methodists services have

been conducted by ministers from Har-

ford at different times. The church was

built by a union of Christians in the

vicinity in 1872.

Published in the Harold before 1893.

Cortland, Feb. 16—The Town of

Harford, the subject of the present

sketch of The Harold’s series on early

history of the various towns of

Cortland County, is the second small-

est in the area, being but 519 acres

larger then Preble. The Town of

Harford has 14,612 acres.

It comprises the southwestern quarter

of the original military tract, and is

now the extreme southwestern town

of the county. The town was not

organized until May 2, 1854, and

consequently much of its early history

is identified with that of Virgil, in the

preceding chapters.

Settlement in this town was more

backward than in most other sections

of the county, and the clearing and

improvement of the more remote and

hilly portions proportionately

retarded. Lumbering was consider and

important industry in this town for

many years.

Dorastus DeWolf was the first settler

in the town in 1803. Putnam DeWolf,

a brother of Dorastus followed soon

after, and located near his brother.

Haunt of the Wild Game.

The forests with which the town was

then covered abounded in wild game.

Wolves were numerous and it was

near the close of the first quarter of

the century before the few settlers

could leave their sheep unprotected at

night. The woods were traversed by

numerous deer, which were often seen

in droves; bears were plentiful and an

occasional elk was seen in the secluded

valleys.

Josiah Brown was tan early settler

coming into town from Chenango

County during the progress of the

War of 1812.

Of the settlers that followed De-Wolf

into town before the year 1815 were

the following: Jacob Hemingway,

Josiah Hart, Lemuel Barnes, Barney

Norwood and George Cooley, Asel

Sexton, Ebenezer Burgess, Lansing

Hay.

Calvin Totman settled on what was

long known as “Chicken Point,”

where he kept the first store in town.

Those that came in the year 1815 or a

year later included Levi Moore, Enoch

Allen, Charles Graves, Nathan

Heaton, Warren Hart, Richard

Collins, Samuel Crosby, Israels

Graves, John Straight, Gordon

Burlingame, Lorenzo Totman, Daniel

Allen, Stephen Cross and John Moss.

Nathan Heaton, Theodore E. Hart,

Levi Moore, Seth Stevens, Benjamin

Holden and Henry Ballard were

among other early settlers. The latter

died in 1853 at the age of 109.

Aided by Railroad.

This town was more fortunate than

some others in the county in the early

days, which might otherwise, perhaps,

have left it behind in prosperity, in the

fact of its having simple rail

communication over the line known

in those days as the Southern Central,

with Auburn on the north, connecting

with the New York Central, and

Owego on the south, where it

connected with the New York, Lake

Erie and Western. In the year 1852 a

company was organized under the

name of the Lake Ontario, Auburn

and New York Railroad Company

with a capital stock of $1,500,000.

A route running from Fair Haven on

the North to Pugsley’s Station on the

South was established and much right

of way secured. About $375,000 was

spent on grading, when the company

collapsed. In 1853 another company

was organized and $450,000 was

spend in grading. Operations ceased at

the outbreak of the Rebellion; but in

1865 the company was again

reorganized and its route changed to

its present course. The road was

completed and trains started running

over the road in 1869.

The first supervisor of the town was

Bert Morse.

The village of Harford is a pretty little

hamlet in the southwestern part of the

town, and contains two churches,

several stores, hotel, and shops. It is

situated towards the northern limits of

what was known many years ago as

“Virgil Flats.”

Totman First Merchant.

It is said that Calvin Totman was the

first merchant here but removed his

goods at a subsequent date to

“Chicken Point.” Theodore Hart

began selling goods here in 1830. He

was the first postmaster in 1825-26,

the village being then called

Worthington. It soon, however,

changed to its present name.

About this time Samuel Hart built the

original store. The building is still

standing but alterations have been

many.

The first Hotel in the village was kept

by Levi Moore. In 1871, soon after the

completion of the railroad, the

Page 7 Volume 3, Issue 4

Harford 1948, taken by Frank Place

CCHS Collection

We are prone to judge

success by the index of our

salaries or the size of our

automobiles, rather than by

the quality of our service

relationship to humanity.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

CORTLAND COUNTY

HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Phone: (607)756-6071

E-mail: info@cortlandhistory.com

25 Homer Avenue

Cortland, NY 13045

Your primary source for Cortland

County History

WE’RE ON THE WEB!

WWW .CORTLANDHISTORY .COM

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Non-Profit Org.

Cortland, N.Y.

Permit No. 50

Return Service Requested

Christmas Shopping at CCHS

Make CCHS your one stop for that hard to shop for history fan in your life. All prices include tax. Our Gift

Shop is open Tuesday—Saturday from 9:30 to 5.

$13.35 members $20.00 $25.00 $20.00 $21.95

$14.00 non-members

Also available: Bicentennial Plate ($25.00), Afghan ($53.95), Historic Note Cards ($5 for a set of 8, or $1 each), Coloring Books and Paper Dolls

of various prices, and MUCH more.