History of Chenango and Madison Counties

Chapter 1 - History of the Aborigines --- The Iroquois Confederacy --- Its Origin and Organization --- Tribal Relations --- Secret of its Power --- Its Superiority and Supremacy --- Its Degeneracy. --- Page 9 - 18.

Chapter 2 - History of the Aborigines, Continued --- Indian Mutability --- Indian Habits and Usages --- Indian Dwellings --- Manner of Constructing Them --- Their Uses --- Indian Towns --- How Built and Fortified --- Social Usages --- Dress and Ornaments --- Law of Marriage --- Experimental Marriages --- Family Discipline --- Home Employments --- Gambling Universal --- Dances and Feasts --- The War Dance --- Tortures --- Religion and Superstition --- Stated Annual Festivals --- Medical Feasts --- Dreams --- Wizards and Witches --- Burials --- Wampum --- Hospitality. --- Page 19 - 30.

Chapter 3 - History of the Aborigines, Continued --- Early Discoveries --- European Competition in the Western Continent --- French, English and Dutch Settlements and Claims --- The English Supersede the Dutch in New Netherlands --- Iroquois and Early Colonists --- Champlain's Invasions of 1609 and 1615 --- Iroquois make Peace with the French --- Iroquois Conquests and Supremacy. --- Page 31 - 38.

Chapter 4 - History of the Aborigines, Continued --- French and English Rivalry --- French and English Colonization Compared --- Expedition of M. de Courcelle against the Mohawks M. de Tracy's Expedition against the Mohawks --- Conditions of Peace between French and Iroquois --- Peace of Breda --- French and Iroquois again at War in 1669 --- Peace of 1673 --- M. de la Barre's Expedition against the Senecas --- M. de Nouville's Expedition against the Senecas --- French and English War of 1689 --- Schenectady Sacked and Burned --- Attack on Montreal and Quebec --- Frontenac's Barbarity ---French Destroy Three Mohawk Castles --- Peace Negotiations Fail --- Frontenac Invades the Onondaga Country --- Treaty of Ryswick --- Iriquois Alienation --- Treaty of Utrecht --- Tuscaroras Admitted in the Iroquois Confederacy --- French and English War of 1744 - 1748 --- Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle --- War Renewed in 1755 --- Treaty of Paris --- Pontiac's Conspiracy --- War of the Revolution --- Sullivan's Expedition --- Present Status of Iroquois. --- Page 39 - 54.

Chapter 5 - History of the Aborigines, Concluded --- The Oneidas --- Their Origin, Symbols and Town Sites --- Frontenac Destroys their Village in 1696, and Brant during the Revolutionary War --- Jesuit Missions --- Jogues' Mission to the Mohawks --- LeMoine's Mission at Onondaga --- Jesuit Missions Renewed --- Mission of St. Francis Xavier at Oneida --- Father Pierre Milet succeeds Jacques Bruyus in that Mission --- Decline of Jesuit Missions --- Cause of the Failure of the Jesuit Missions --- Episcopal Missions --- New England Missions --- David Fowler --- Rev. Samuel Kirkland --- Episcopal Missions Renewed --- Rev. Eleazer Williams --- Methodist Missions --- Brotherton Indians --- Rev. Sampson Occum --- Stockbridge Indians --- Skenandoah. --- Page 55 - 65.

Chapter 6 - Chenango and Madison Counties, Early Land Grants in --- Indian Title Extinguished --- Line of Property --- Treaty and Cession of 1784 --- Massachusetts' Claims --- Treaties and Cessions of 1785, '88 and '95 --- Chenango Twenty Townships --- Military Tract --- Original Owners of the Twenty Townships --- Area of Twenty Townships --- The Gore --- Brakel Township --- Road Township --- Proceeds of Gospel and School Lots in Twenty Townships Misappropriated --- The Gore in Oxford --- Fayette Township --- Clinton Township --- Harper Patent --- Township of Greene --- Livingston Tract --- French Tract --- Chenango Triangle --- Vermont Sufferers --- Oneida Reservation --- New Petersburgh Tract --- Canastota Tract --- Cowassalon Tract --- Other Minor Tracts in Madison County. --- Page 66 - 70.

Chapter 7 - History of Chenango County --- Early Civil Divisions --- Formation of Chenango County --- Its Boundaries --- Original Towns in Chenango County --- Origin of Name --- Topography of Surface --- Area --- Streams and Ponds --- The Susquehanna --- The Unadilla --- The Chenango --- The Otselic --- Soils --- Climate --- Death Rate of Chenango County --- Industries --- Agricultural Productions --- Dairy Interests of Chenango County --- Comparisons with other Counties in Agricultural Productions. --- Page 71 - 76.

Chapter 8 - History of Chenango County --- Geology --- Hamilton Group --- The Lowest Rocks in the County --- Tully Limestone --- Genesee Slate --- Portage or Nunda Group --- Ithaca Group --- Chemung Group --- Catskill Group --- Deceptive Indications of Coal --- Quarternary Deposits --- Clays --- Sulphur Springs. --- Page 77 - 80.

Chapter 9 - History of Chenango and Madison Counties --- First Settlements and Measures Leading Thereto --- Population at Different Periods --- Homes and Privations of the Early Settlers --- Their Clothing --- Primitive Methods of Grinding Corn --- Pioneer Sociability --- Condition Ameliorated by the Introduction of Improvements --- Settlement Retarded by remarkable Ice Freshet --- Evidences of Wealth and Prosperity of Present Inhabitants --- Routes and Means by which the Pioneers reached their Wilderness Homes --- Navigable Streams the Public Highways --- Indian Trails --- Routes Indicated by Blazed Trees --- Chenango Road --- Rapid Multiplication of Local Roads. --- Page 81 - 84.

Chapter 10 - History of Chenango and Madison Counties --- Internal Improvements --- Western Inland Lock Navigation Company --- Old Genesee Road --- Seneca Turnpike Co. --- First Mail Through Madison County --- Other Turnpikes --- Other Means of Transportation --- First Survey for Erie Canal --- First Board of Canal Commissioners --- Remarkable Instance of Engineering Skill --- Construction Authorized --- Commissioners of the Canal Fund --- First Contract on Erie Canal --- First Packet Boat on ---- Celebration of Erie Canal Completion --- Erie Canal Enlargement --- Chenango Canal --- Preliminary Measures --- Construction Authorized --- Abandoned --- New York Central and Hudson River Railroad --- New York, Ontario & Western Railroad (N. Y. & O. Midland) and its Branches --- Albany and Susquehanna Valley Railroad --- Cazenoiva and Canastota Railroad --- Utica, Chenango and Susquehanna Valley Railroad --- Utica, Clinton and Binghamton Railroad --- Utica, Chenango and Cortland Railroad --- Syracuse and Chenango Valley Railroad --- Railroad INdebtedness of Chenango and Madison Counties. --- Page 85 - 96.

Chapter 11 - History of Chenango County --- Societies --- County Medical Societies Authorized --- Chenango County Medical Society --- Its Organization and First Officers --- Seal --- Schedule of Charges in 1807 --- Provisions of By-Laws --- Public Library --- Medical Library --- Disposition of Library --- Succession of Presidents of the Society --- Names of Members from its Organization --- History of Homeopathy --- Its Introduction into Chenango County --- The Homeopathic Medical Society of Chenango County --- Its Organization and First Officers --- Professionial Status --- Presidents of the Society --- Members --- The Chenango County Bar Association --- Its Organization, Object, Officers and Members --- The Chenango County Agricultural Society --- Preliminary Measures --- Town Societies. --- Page 97 - 105.

Chapter 12 - History of Chenango County --- The Press of the Country --- Its Marvelous Growth Compared with that of Other Nations --- Present Publications in the County --- The "Western Oracle," the First Paper Published in Chenango County --- "The Chenango Union" "The Chenango Telegraph" --- "The Oxford Times" --- "The New Berlin Gazette" --- "The Chenango American" --- "The Bainbridge Republican" --- "The Sherburne News" --- "The Home Sentinel" --- "The Guilford Wave" --- "The Entomologist's Exchange" --- "The Quill and Press" --- Obsolete Newspapers. --- Page 106 - 110.

Chapter 13 - History of Chenango County --- Early Courts --- Chenango County Courts --- First County Officers --- First Courts in Chenango County --- Court Houses in Norwich --- First Courts in Norwich --- Trial of General David Thomas --- Brilliant Array of Legal Talent --- Jail Limits --- Jails --- County Clerk's Office --- County Poor House --- Chenango County Civil List --- Circuit Judges --- Surrogates --- First and County Judges --- District Attorneys --- County Clerks --- Sheriffs --- Special Judges --- County Treasurers --- Superintendents of Common Schools --- School Commissioners --- State Senators --- Members of Assembly --- Members of Constitutional Conventions --- Presidential Electors --- United States Senators --- Representatives in Congress. --- Page 111 - 119.

Chapter 14 - History of Chenango County --- Capital Criminal Calender --- Trial and Conviction of Rufus Hill --- Trial, Conviction and Execution of George Dennison --- Trial and Conviction of Robert Maynard --- Trial and Acquittal of Russell Cady --- Trial and Acquittal of Dan Foote --- Indictment and Discharge of Horace R. Burlison --- Examination and Discharge of Lavinia Hilliard --- Trial and Conviction of Robert Corbin --- Trial and Conviction of Albert Holmes --- Trial and Conviction of George H. Rogers --- Examination and Insanity of John P. Hall --- Examination and Insanity of Matthew Brady --- Trial and Conviction of William Brushell --- Trial, Conviction and Execution of Felix McCann. --- Page 120 - 122.

Chapter 15 - History of Chenango County --- The War of the Rebellion --- 114th Regiment --- Its Commander Chosen --- The First Company --- Efforts Attending the Organization of the Several Companies --- Muster into the United States' Service --- Its Departure for the Seat of War --- Interesting Presentations and Speeches --- The 114th joins Banks' Expedition --- In Camp in Brashear City --- Battle of Bisland --- Death of Colonel Smith --- Siege of Port Hudson --- Texas Expedition --- First and Only Case of Capital Punishment --- Casualties in the 114th --- Red River Expedition --- Battle of Sabine Cross Roads --- Battle of Pleasant Hill --- General Dwight's Testimony to the Bravery of the 114th in these Engagements --- Perilous Situation of the Red River Fleet --- Its Salvation Credited to the Suggestion of a Member of the 114th Regiment --- The 114th Transferred to the Army of the Shenandoah --- Battle of Opaquan --- Severe Losses of the 114th --- Battle of Fisher's Hill --- Disastrous Defeat and Glorious Victory at Cedar Creek --- The Signal Bravery and Fearful Losses of the 114th --- Close of the War --- The 114th Mustered Out --- Its Welcome Home. --- Page 123 - 133.

Chapter 38 - History of Madison County --- Geology --- General View of the Geological Formation of the County --- Clinton Group --- The Lowest Rock in the County --- Niagara Group --- Onondaga Salt Group --- Red Shale --- Gypseous Deposit --- Vermicular Limerock --- Localities of Gypsum --- First Plaster Discovered in Sullivan --- Water Lime Group --- Pentamerous Limestone --- Oriskany Sandstone --- Onondaga Limestone --- Corniferous Limestone --- Marcellus Shales --- Hamilton Group --- Tully Limestone --- Genesee Slate --- Ithaca Group --- Quarternary Deposits --- Boulders --- Lake Marl --- Calcareous Tufa --- Peat --- Sulphur Springs --- Petrifying Springs --- Saline Springs. --- Page 492 - 504.

Chapter 39 - History of Madison County --- County Societies --- Madison County Medical Society --- Organization and First Officers --- Officers of 1879-'80 --- Names of Members from its Organization --- Madison County Homeopathic Medical Society --- Organization and First Officers --- Present Officers --- Officers from 1865 to 1876 --- Members Elect --- Madison County Agricultural Society --- Organization and First Officers --- Its Influence Upon the Agriculture of the County --- Local Agricultural Societies. --- Page 505 - 509.

Chapter 40 - History of Madison County --- Shire Towns --- Early Courts --- First County Officers --- Justices of the original Five Towns --- Cazenovia Designated as the County Seat in 1810 --- First Court House --- County Seat Removed to Morrisville in 1817 --- Court Houses and Other County Buildings at Morrisville --- County Poor House --- Pauper Statistics --- Home for Destitute Children of Madison County --- Increase of Insane Population --- Civil List --- Delegates to Constitutional Conventions --- State Senators --- Members of Assembly --- County Judges --- Surrogates --- District Attorneys --- Sheriffs --- County Clerks --- County Treasurers --- County Superintendents of Common Schools --- School Commissioners --- Presidential Electors --- Representatives in Congress. --- Page 510 - 515.

Chapter 41 - The Press of Madison County. --- Page 516 - 519.

Chapter 42 - History of Madison County --- Schools --- Progress of Education --- Pioneer Life Unfavorable to Mental Cultivation --- Early Scholastic Disadvantages --- School Discipline --- Early School Buildings, Books and Teachers --- State Patronage --- Common School System Established --- State Legislation in the Interest of Education --- County Supervision of Schools --- Teachers' Institutes --- Free Schools --- Compulsory Education --- Schools of Chenango and Madison Counties --- Decadence of Academies. --- Page 519 - 524.

Chenango County
Madison County