Reasearch bonanza !

[rip]

Hi all ! My Dad just gave me 4 old books by Edwin Moore that have numerous storys from the past of my area.Heres one i thought y'all might like.The title is "A wilderness tragedy"If Hanna Coopers horse had not shied at a barking dog that fall day in 1800,the otsego belle might very well have become the young nations first lady.At the time of her tragic death judge WilliamCoopers oldest daughter was said to have been engaged to a young army lieutenant named William henry Harrisn,who 40 years later was to become the ninth president of the United States.Almost half way between Morris and Gilbertsville and slightly west of the road stands a slender stone shaft surrounded by a fence which marks the exact spot were mrs Cooper was killed.The sister of the novelist James Fenimore Cooper was preparing to leave Cooperstown to spend the winter with her father in Washington.On the morning of Sept 10'th 1800 she set out with her brother Richard to say goodbye to the daughters of Gen.Jacob Morris at Morris Manor.They were on horseback since this was about the only way of travel in the wilderness.Otsego hall,the Cooper mansion was about 24 miles from the Morris home.The road which was little more than a bridal path through the woods,went through oaksville to burlington green and thence down the butternut creek to louisville(now Morris) and the generals home.When the party was nearly to its destination Hannas horse shied at the noise of some men threshing oats with flails on a platform by the side of the road.She kept her seat and had the horse quieted down when a dog ran barking from a nearby house.This time the girl was thrown violently from her horse,her head striking the base of a tree.She was killed almost instantly.It is not known positively that she was betrthed to Harrison but many claimed she was.It is known that Harrison visited the site several times.Theres more but my fingers are tired !I will post a picture of the monument soon ! Hope y'all enjoyed this story.

[JoAnne]

Interesting RIP - Thanks for sharing. Love that NY history.

[Dick from IA]

A nice historical account, Rip.

Now rest those fingers up and tell us another one. Anything to cure Cabin Fever is very much appreciated.

[rip]

Thanks all I will post more later.These books are full of great leads ! They tell of old indian sites,picknic groves,circus sites,and much much more ! I have found 3 campsites from Gen.Clintons route through this area during the sullivan clinton campaine! But for now i am unthawing my water Got most of it but now i cant shut off the hot water Ayi yi yi !

[YELLOWDOGDAVE]

Great story RIP. Let me know if you need any help searching these places come springtime I had the books From Raft to Railroad and Echoes of the Past , all about the history of Greene - unitl the pup chewed em all up. Alot of great stories in there.
I also read a real good one on the Chenango Canal. Alot of good stuff in that one too..

[rip]

Originally Posted by YELLOWDOGDAVE

Great story RIP. Let me know if you need any help searching these places come springtime I had the books From Raft to Railroad and Echoes of the Past , all about the history of Greene - unitl the pup chewed em all up. Alot of great stories in there.
I also read a real good one on the Chenango Canal. Alot of good stuff in that one too..

Will do Dave ! The books i have are "In old Oneonta" By Edwin Moore done in the early 60's Suns shining out there ! shouldent you be out there getting some more Pictures to post !

[rip]

Oh yeah,speaking of pic's heres some of The Morris Manor and Hanna's Memorial.

[rip]

"Year without summer"The Mcdonalds and Walling taverns at oposi t ends of the tiny hamlet filled up early that mid-July afternoon nearly a century and a half ago.What else was there to do ? There was haying to do but how could you cut grass that was frozen to the ground?The prespetarian church was far from finished but you couldent work on icy scaffolds with the wind blowing snow and hail in your face. It was an especially melancholy day for the kid's.Acording to the calender they should have been playing and swimming but shoes had been put away for the summer and the snow covered ground was unkind to bare feet.And how could a feller swim when there was an inch on the pond behind the mill !! The month was July but the time was 1816 The year without summer,from Jan-Dec there was not a month without frost,snow,and ice.The crop was small throuhout the country and the suffering intense.January was generaly mild although there were some frosts.Febuary followed suit March came in like a small lion but whent out like an inocent lamb.April started out seasonably but as the days lengthened the temp's kept dropping.The cold continued throuhout May and in June no roses grew.There was a frost nearly every day and on the 10'th a foot of snow fell in Oneonta.July was even worse.The crops that had survived gave up the struggle.A snow storm on the 4'th of july interupted the birthday of the young republic.On the 14'th came the storm that interupded the work on the church and drove Mchanics and farmers alike to the comforts of the grog shops.August was no better.Throughout the US and europe frosts killed about every green thing.There was little hay,no sound corn and fruits and berrys were non existant.But for the surpluses of food from the preceding good season and the fact that the forests teemed with game and the lakes and streams with fish,millions would have perished.There was no fall that year only an early winter Sept. and oct. were unusually cold and by Nov.King frost was in complete control of the sitcheeashin(can ya tell my fingers are getting tired lol) 1817was normal other than the after afects of 1816.acers of trees were felled so that the livestock could feed on there buds.What little could be purchased brought outrageous prices.One man was reported to have given 3 days labor for a bushel of rye.Just why 1816 was so diferent weatherwise from all the years before and after has never been satisfactorily explained. Yes the year of "eighteen hundred and starve" was quite a year ! Reflect upon it and shiver !

[rip]

Dont knowone be afraid to give my fingers a rest and tell us some of y'alls stories ! I know ya got some on ya !

[treasurehunter00]

Say that was very good reading and very interesting, keep up the good work ,your fingers will toughten up and it's still a while before you can detect, thanks for your time and effort.......treasurehunter00