Otsego NY, Richfield Businesses

The History of Otsego, NY
Richfield Businesses

By Holice and Debbie

The location of Richfield is remarkable for natural beauty, not only in its immediate surroundings, but it occupies a position in the midst of the most charmingly diversified mountain and scenery. The mountain-sides in many instances, and especially where bordering upon lakes or streams, are jutted with immense ledges of rocks, or cut with deep ravines that assist so extensively in giving that romantic character to this portion of the State of New York which it so eminently possesses. Six beautiful lakes are distributed in this vicinity, almost within sight of each other; and this was known to be a region of popular resort of the aboriginal tribes of the valley of the Mohawk and western part of the State before the whites encroached upon the original possessors of the territory. Unlike the spasmodic growth of many western towns, with their restless and ever-changing population, this village has grown gradually in size and public favor, until it now has a population of nearly 21500. And it is represented by the following business interests:

Lawyers	Davenport & Tennant, P. D. Fay, Dwight Luce, and C. Gano.
Physicians	N. Getman, W. B. Crain.
Dentists	W. T. Bailey, M. D. Jewel.
Magistrates	E. W. Badger, J. L. Comstock
Surveyors	J. L. Comstock, E. W. Badger
Teachers-common school	H. A. Ward, Mrs. Ames
Insurance agents	W. D. Griffin, M. Tuller
Artists	F. M. Zoller, G. H. Broaner
Bankers	Elwood & Tuller
Print-offices	Richfield Springs Mercury, C. Ackerman & son, editors
Dry goods	Elwood & Tuller, E. A. Hinds
Hardware	R. Buchanan
Hardware, groceries and dry-goods	Wick & McCready
Drug-stores	A. J. smith & Son, J. F. Getman
Clothing-store	C. J. Hinds, O. Knapp, C. Wilder
Groceries	R. Russell, Frink & Armstrong, H.C. Watson
Jewelers	H. C. Walter, H. Greenman
Flour-mills	Frank Dana
Steam Saw-mills	S. Clemens
Book-store, telegraph, and express	J. A. Storer
Expressmen	William Conklin
Butter Dealer	Peter Allen
Cabinet and undertakers	D. W. Harrington, M. D. V. martin
Shoe-store	Guy Kinne
Farm products and groceries	P. Langdon
Lumber-yard and feed-store	W. B. Ward
Meat-markets	N. Vroman, James Steel
Harness-shop	W. E. Stillman
Tin-shops	R. Buchanan, H. Royston
Barber	G. h. Thomson
Carriage-makers	A. Barker, H. J. Freudenberg
Blacksmiths	Elias Young, J. Switzer, R. J. Dutcher
Painters	A. C. Cole, J. Harn
Coal-dealer	D. Ibbotson
Hotels	Spring House, T. R. Proctor, prop. American Hotel, Coleman & Tunnicliff, prop National Hotel, Dr. S. P. Barker, prop. Canadarago House, F. Stanton, prop. Central Hotel, E. W. Darrow, prop. Davenport House, J. S. Davenport, prop.

There are several private boarding-houses, viz.: the Tunnicliff Cottage, the Park House, , the Tuller house, the Rathbun House, the Conklin House, the Cary House, and the Tunnicliff House.

The first post-office in the village was established in 1829, under the administration of George Jackson, as East Richfield. James Hyde was the first postmaster, and held the office twelve years, or until the accession of the Whig party to power under General Harrison in 1841, when he resigned in favor of E. A. Saunders, his deputy, who held the office but a few months, when Horace Manley received the regular appointment, and was succeeded by A. R. Elwood in 1842, under the administration of John Tyler. During the time that James Hyde was postmaster, the office was kept in the old American Hotel.

In 1848, Moses Jaques was appointed under James K Polk; held the office but a few months, when Cyrus Osborn received the apppointment, and held the office until 1853, and was succeeded by James S. Davenport. In 1862, Samuel S. Edick received the appointment under Mr. Lincoln, but resigned in 1865 in favor of E. A. hinds, who was duly appointed and still holds the office.

Richfield Springs was incorporated March 30, 1861.