History of Sherburne New York

SHERBURNE was formed from Paris, Oneida county, March 5, 1795, and its name is said to have been suggested by a member of the Legislature, who affirmed that the early inhabitants were in the frequent habit of singing the tune of Sherburne, which was a great favorite with them. It originally embraced the town of Smyrna, (Stafford,) which was taken off March 25, 1808. It was enlarged by the annexation of a small part of New Berlin in 1852. It lies upon the north border of the county, east of the center, and is bounded on the north by Hamilton, … Read more

Biography of Seth Stone

Seth Stone settled in Afton village, on the east side of the river, nearly opposite the Universalist church, where he died April 22, 1826, aged 65; and Eunice, his wife, July 12, 1815, aged 54. His son Horace married Rebecca Johnston and lived on the homestead farm. He built a tavern about 1825, the first in the village, on the east side of the river, which he kept a good many years. It stood where Noble Buck now lives. He and his wife both died there, the former December 2, 1845, aged 60, and the latter July 5, 1874, aged … Read more

Biography of Charles Roswell Hall

CHARLES ROSWELL HALL AMONG the young men of Albany, who, by a steady and unfailing devotion to the principles of professional and official duty, deserve a just recognition for representative character, is Charles R. Hall, deputy superintendent of the banking department of the state of New York. He is another example of many of those descendants of Connecticut pioneers who have helped so much to develop the resources and advance the civilization and prosperity of this country. He was born on the 17th of September, 1853, in the town of Guilford, Chenango county, N. Y., where his father, John P. … Read more

Charles Todd of New York

Charles Todd7, (Chauncey6, Jonah5, Stephen4, Samuel3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born June 3, 1820, died Feb. 25, 1891, married Oct. 13, 1844, Hannah Hall Miller, who was born Jan. 30, 1819, died April 22, 1885. He lived the greater part of his life on a farm, first near New Berlin and afterwards near Sherburne, N. Y. Children: *1250. Ruth Maria, b. Oct. 12, 1846. 1251. George, b. Oct. 21, 1854, d. Oct. 16, 1862. 1252. Charles Herbert, b. Oct. 15, 1858, m. Oct. 8, 1887, Ellen Kenyon Daboll; he is in business in Edmeston, N. Y. No children.

Fire Department Sherburne New York

The first recorded meeting was held at the house of Linus R. Hopson Oct. 12, 1850, by the “Sherburne Fire Engine Company.” Ira P. Barnes was called to the chair and B. W. Fay appointed secretary. A constitution and bylaws were then adopted and the following named officers elected: Isaac Plumb, Foreman; Deloss Burch, First Assistant Foreman; George Y. Knapp, Second Assistant Foreman; Byron Marks, Secretary; Sidney L. Starr, Treasurer. This company was disbanded June 7, 1858, and another organized under the same name June 9, 1858, of which T. H. Matteson was elected Foreman; L. N. Beers, First Assistant … Read more

The Iroquios Council

The Chippewa, however, furnished an exception to this rule. With them the son of a chief had a legal right to succeed his father. The rule, though binding, was very elastic, and capable of stretching to the farthest limits of the tribe–each tribe being allowed to select its chief from among its own members. Almost invariably the chief was succeeded by a near relative, always on the female side; but if these were manifestly unfit, his successor was chosen at a council of the tribe from among remoter kindred, in which case he was nominated by the matron of the … Read more

Iroquois Ceremonies

Among the Iroquois, and, indeed, all the stationary tribes, there was an incredible number of mystic ceremonies, extravagant, puerile, and often disgusting, designed for the cure of the sick or for the general weal of the community. Most of their observances seem originally to have been dictated by dreams, and transmitted as a sacred heritage from generation to generation. They consisted in an endless variety of dances, masquerading, and nondescript orgies; and a scrupulous adherence to all the traditional forms was held to be of the last moment, as the slightest failure in this respect might entail serious calamities. Dreams … Read more

Chauncey Todd of New Berlin NY

Chauncey Todd7, (Chauncey6, Jonah5, Stephen4, Samuel3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born April 24, 1835, died Jan. 6, 1887, married first, Feb. 16, 1858, Isabel Fletcher Begg, who was born Nov. 2, 1835, died Feb. 26, 1867, married second, Feb. 13, 1868, Jane Dodge, who was born Dec. 16, 1833, died May 10, 1919. He lived all his life in New Berlin, N. Y., engaged at his trade of cabinet maker. Children by Isabel F. Begg: *1263. Mary Elizabeth, b. April 26, 1860. *1264. William Henry, b. April 28, 1863. 1265. George Ambrose, b. Oct. 25, 1865, d. June 14, 1866. Children by … Read more

Biography of Devillo White, M.D.

The original of this sketch, Devillo White, of Sherburne, Chenango county, N. Y., was born Feb. 11, 1801, and was married to Caroline Pratt, oldest daughter of Joshua Pratt, Esq., (one of the respected pioneers of the town,) in 1824. Devillo White’s early life was passed in a hotel kept by his father, and was not of a character that generally precedes a record so full of interest and usefulness as his proved to be. At the age of 23 years, after having sowed his share of the wild oats of his day, he found himself educated and qualified to … Read more

Chenango County, New York Genealogy

This collection was extracted from the History of Chenango and Madison Counties, New York. The genealogy data we’re providing below is specific to the Chenango County portion of the book, except for the Native American History. It presently contains only the towns of Afton and Sherburne.

Lawyers of Afton New York

The first lawyer in Afton was probably George Smith, who was here in 1830. He came in a young, single man and married a daughter of Henry Olendorf. He practiced here several years and removed to Norwich, where he died. He was the only lawyer of any note who located here until the present ones came in. The present (1882) lawyers are Jacob B. Kirkhuff, George A. Haven and Josiah D. Merritt. Jacob B. Kirkhuff was born in Stanhope, N.J., September 12, 1836. He read law in Red Creek, N. Y., with Jacob B. Decker, with whom he remained six … Read more

Biography of Jonas H. Brooks

JONAS H. BROOKS A LEADING, representative young man of Albany – a banker by profession – who is identified with the commercial interests of the city, is Jonas H. Brooks. He was born at Rutland, Worcester County, Mass., on the 5th of January, 1848. He comes from a long line of New England ancestry, which dates back to the formation of the Massachusetts colony in 1630-1. He is of the eighth generation of this strong and sterling old race in this country. The parents of Jonas H. Brooks are Moses Brooks and Sophronia Greenwood. His grandfather was Jonas Brooks of … Read more

Hiram Burr Todd of South New Berlin NY

Hiram Burr Todd8, (Dyer7, Burr6, Samuel5, Samuel4, Samuel3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born July 26, 1848, Married twice, first, Elizabeth D. Ganoung, who was born July 3, 1854, died Dec. 11, 1888, in New Berlin, N. Y.?, he married second, Nov. 29, 1889, Mrs. Alice M. Starr. Mr. Todd writes from South New Berlin, N. Y., March 8, 1908. “I remember great grandfather the old soldier. I can see how he looked as plain as if I had his photo to look at. He showed me four bullet wounds on his person, two on one arm and two on one limb below … Read more

Tuscarora Incorporated into the Confederacy

From the conquered nations they exacted tribute, and drew conscripts for their armies. The Tuscaroras, who resided in Carolina, were incorporated into the confederacy in 1715, and thereafter they were known as the Six Nations. From the extent of their conquests, the number of their subject nations, and the tribute and military aid rendered them by the latter, they have been called the “Romans of the New World.” When we reflect that of their own warriors they could bring into the field barely 2,000 braves, and with this number subjugated nations numerically more than twice as large, and spread terror … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Guthrie

John Guthrie settled on the south line of the town, and after the death of his wife Polly, who was a daughter of Abner Purdy, (April 30, 1821,) he removed to Sherburne village. Stephen Kelsey settled on the Thompson Fisher farm, in the south part of the town, and died there Sept. 9, 1807, aged 70.

Susan Ann Todd Sprague of New Berlin NY

SPRAGUE, Susan Ann Todd8, (Jared7, Chauncey6, Jonah5, Stephen4, Samuel3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born May 13, 1850, near Morris, N. Y., died April 11, 1919, married July 7, 1881, Alfred D. Sprague. They spend their summers at their home in New Berlin, N. Y. In the winter season, they go to their cottage in Southern Pines, N. C. Child: I. Helen Ruth, b. Jan. 28, 1884, d. July 26, 1901.

Ruth Maria Todd Harrington of Sherburne NY

HARRINGTON, Ruth Maria Todd8, (Charles7, Chauncey6, Jonah5, Stephen4, Samuel3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born Oct. 12, 1846, married Sept. 21, 1871, Adelbert Harrington, who was born Sept. 16, 1846, died March 22, 1902. They lived in Sherburne, N. Y. He was a farmer. Children: I. George Todd, b. March 4, 1873. II. Emily Adelaide, b. July 13, 1875. III. James Alexander, b. June 4, 1879, m. Feb. 2, 1905, Fannie Maude Cutler, and had issue: (1) Helen Ruth, b. April 10, 1909; (2) Louis Adelbert, b. Aug. 24, 1911, d. March 24, 1912; (3) Hubert Alexander, b. July 26, 1914; (4) Howard … Read more

Hiawatha Speaks to the Tribes

At length he regained his composure and took his seat in the council, whose deliberations were participated in by the ablest counselors of the assembled nations. At the conclusion of the debate, Hiawatha, desiring that nothing should be done hastily and inconsiderately, proposed that the council be postponed one day, so that they might weigh well the words which had been spoken, when he promised to communicate his plan for consideration, assuring them of his confidence in its success. The following day the council again assembled and amid breathless silence the sage counselor thus addressed them: “Friends and Brothers: You … Read more

Early Settlers of Sherburne New York

The surface of the country and the disclosures of the plow revealed to the early settlers of this town evidences of its occupancy prior to their advent, and partially indicated the character of its occupants. On the farm originally settled by Timothy Hatch, on the west side of the river, about a mile and a half north-west of the village of Sherburne, were the remains of caches, where corn had been buried; while in the field adjoining it on the north numerous arrow heads, stone chisels, hatchets and pestles have been disclosed by the plow. About four miles north of … Read more