Otsego County History
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Cooperstown printing press was the source of 8,000 Bibles
The close of the Revolutionary War found the valley lands of the Susquehanna River and its tributaries still sparsely settled. However, strong factors now pushed colonists westward. In 1787, a treaty with the Indians had moved the so-called Indian Frontier to the far side of the Unadilla River, out of the area called Otsego. Also, most of the lands east of this had been sold or granted by the colonial government to men who were land speculators. The land had been surveyed and divided into lots ready for disposal. Frequently these grants required that these lands become tenanted.
One of these land owners had visited the northern part of the area and had been so impressed that he had an unusual approach for the newcomers. He knew they had very little money, so he suggested a small down payment with a mortgage on the rest, and only small interest. The colonist, thus, could anticipate the future ownership of the property and was given a definite incentive to improve it. This was how William Cooper formerly of New Jersey became the greatest colonizer in New York State, disposing of his lands and acting as agent for many other land owners.
As early as 1741, a settlement called Cherry Valley was made on the east-west turnpike. This and Cooper’s town, the village established by William Cooper, were in what had been called Tryon County, renamed Montgomery County in 1784. In 1791, the three towns of Cherry Valley, Cooper’s town and Harpersfield were put in Otsego County which was erected for that purpose.
Agriculture became the most important industry of the county. The other industries would depend on it and be determined by its demands. As early as 1800, due to the abundance of cheap water power, cotton was shipped via the Hudson River and hauled over the Catskills to be processed and woven. Another important factory involved the production of the tinsmiths. Phinney’s printing presses in Cooperstown was the source of 8,000 Bibles and many thousand other books annually. In the 1840’s hop raising became a major crop. 1860, New York State was raising 90% of the hops raised in the United States and one third of these came from Otsego County, considered of the best quality. But this hop raising required many supplies such as poles, string, bags, special drying and much labor. Then labor problems developed and disease hit the vines, ending the hop raising.
The town of Cherry Valley had the first church west of the Hudson where the preaching was in English. The town’s minister was the Reverend Samuel Dunlop of Trinity College, Dublin. He started a school for local boys. Popular demand produced a boarding school and this was the first classical school west of the Hudson, established 1742. After the massacre of 1778, when Cherry Valley was rebuilt, an academy was established there which rivaled Union and Columbia both in reputation and number of students.
Hartwick College in Oneonta, was an outgrowth of the old Lutheran Seminary. Long established on another of Oneonta’s hills was the training school which grew into the Oneonta Normal School. In 1938, the 4-year college course was inaugurated and became a part of the State University System.
Early settlers had been of many races including the Scotch Irish, Hollanders, Germans, Palatine Germans, English and especially Yankees or New Englanders. One, James Fenimore Cooper, son of the famous colonist, William, must be named. Many of his stories based on local and now called Leatherstocking land were the first to bring popularity to the area as young and old alike read them.
Today Otsego County is an educational center. The Baseball Hall of Fame and its library in honor of baseball founder, Abner Doubleday resides here. Several museums especially the Farmer’s Museum and the N.Y.S.H.A. building filled with valuables of all kinds, are found in Cooperstown. The lakes afford both winter and summer sports. Many Otsegans went west but do not forget Otsego County. If they can’t do more, they name a place after one left behind in Otsego.