BOUND VOLUMES

Dec. 12, 2019

200 YEARS AGO

Greensburgh, Kentucky – Peter Kingensmith of Hempfield County has returned to his friends after an absence of 37 years, 9 of which he was a captive of the Seneca Indians. He was captured when eight years old, by a party of Senecas,
who massacred his father, mother and aunt. His existence was recently and accidentally discovered in Canada. He has five children and has a farm on the shores of Lake Erie, to which he intends to return. He speaks good English and says he lives in a neighborhood of English people.

December 13, 1812

175 YEARS AGO

Good Loco Foco Times! Mr. Elijah French, of Hartwick, in this county has made the past season from the milk of twelve cows 2,425 pounds of butter, and this to without extra feed. The butter sold for 14 cents cash, yielding $339.50. Mr. F. feels secure against “hard times” and Whig panics, believing that diligence in any pursuit, with good management, will insure a fair reward for enterprise and labor, particularly under a democratic administration of government, which seeks stability in all things.

December 9, 1844

150 YEARS AGO

Local – Mr. George Clarke stated to gentlemen of the Agricultural Society living in this village, at the annual meeting on Tuesday last, that as soon as the transfer of Fair Ground property shall be made, and the Society gives up possession to him, the Trustees of this village will be at liberty to open a street through the same; and that, even at an earlier date they may with his free consent proceed to run Fair Street through the Cooper Grounds property – an improvement and convenience very much desired by our citizens.
Court: Aaron Cross, Agent vs. John D. Waldron – Action to recover for a mowing machine claimed to have been sold to defendant. The testimony showed that if on trial the machine suited, defendant was to pay for it; on using the machine it broke down, and defendant refused to take it. The jury found for the defendant, and reversed judgment of $40 given by the Justice in the court below. E. Countryman for the Plaintiff and Lynes and Bowen for Defendant.

December 16, 1869

100 YEARS AGO

Purely Personal: Philadelphia papers last week
announced the resignation of Captain Charles P. Wharton as Coach of the University of Pennsylvania football team, after 26 years of service. Captain Wharton is well-known in Cooperstown, having been one of the most popular officers at the late U.S. Aviation Hospital here. Captain Wharton is noted for having evolved the Pennsylvania system of defense in football, which has often been declared second to none.
Mrs. James Pepper, who teaches the fourth grade pupils was unable to attend to her school duties Friday on account of illness. Mrs. Donald Root substituted for her.
J. Harry Cook and Ben Reisman were in Detroit last week, returning with a shipment of new Dodge cars for the local agency.
Rowan D. Spraker and Franck C. Carpenter spent a few days in New York on business last week.
Miss Pearl Matson spent last Wednesday to Friday in Albany attending a Western Union Conference.

December 10, 1919

75 YEARS AGO

The body of Mrs. Minnie U. (Marsh) White was found in the fourth floor of her home on Pine Boulevard on Monday afternoon by her chauffeur, Joseph O’Malley who had been in her employ thirty years. Mr. O’Malley became suspicious when he had not seen Mrs. White for some time. Coroner Harry V. Frink of Richfield Springs gave a verdict of death by suicide. Mrs. White’s health had been failing for the past several months. Her household and friends had noticed increasing signs of despondency when her health failed to improve. Mrs. White was born in the Town of Middlefield on July 23, 1872 and was the daughter of John and Emma (Smith) Marsh. She came to Cooperstown with her family at
the age of five and resided at Carr’s Hotel for several years. They then moved to number 8 Eagle Street where the family
remained for many years. She was graduated from the Coop-erstown High School in the class of 1887 at the age of 15.

December 13, 1944

50 YEARS AGO

Second Lieutenant Terrance C. Graves, 22, a 1963 graduate of Edmeston Central School, has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, posthumously, for saving the lives of Marine comrades in Viet Nam. The nation’s highest award for valor was presented to his family in Washington, D.C. by Vice President Spiro T. Agnew.
His father, a former Navy officer was until 1963 the supervising principal at Edmeston Central School. Lt. Graves was killed February 16, 1968 while on a long-range
reconnaissance mission. After Lt. Graves’ eight-man patrol ambushed seven enemy soldiers the unit was counterattacked by a large force. Lt. Graves then called for air support and artillery fire. After tending to his wounded men Lt. Graves launched an assault against surviving enemy soldiers before coming under heavy attack a second time. Although wounded himself, Lt. Graves called for rescue aircraft. However, the helicopter in which he was rescued was
hit by intensive ground fire and crashed, killing all aboard.

December 10, 1969

25 YEARS AGO

For more than a hundred years Cooperstown has been home to a facility called the Alfred Corning Clark Gymnasium. That will change after the holidays, according to A.C.C. Gym Director J. Bart Morrison. The new name will be The Clark Sports Center. “It’s because there is a belief that it is time to modernize the name of the organization and arrive at something with more of an illustration of our breadth and scope,” Morrison stated.

December 7, 1994

10 YEARS AGO

Three people suggested the name “Hawkeyes” for Cooperstown’s prospective baseball team. But, Dave Pearlman of Leatherstocking Street suggested it first. So the Pearlman family will enjoy a free pass next summer when the New York Collegiate Baseball League team comes to Doubleday Field, according to franchise owner Tom Hickey of Fly Creek. Other suggested names included “Leatherstockings,” Barrelmakers,” “Mohicans,” “Ghosts,” “Trappers” and “Phinneys.” “The name Hawkeyes,” said Hickey, “is consistent with Cooperstown history and the association with James Fenimore Cooper and his books.”

December 11, 2009