Early Settlers of Brownville

In 1799 a great number came into this section to look for lands, many of whom settled farms on Perch river and between it and the Brownville settlement. They commenced clearing land, and arranged for the removal of their families in the spring. Among these was John W. Collins, who took up about six hundred acres of land, including the since-known “Dr. Green place,” the “Melvin Moffatt farm,” and the “Kilborn farm.” Upon the Dr. Green place he afterwards put up the first framed house,--a large two-story building, which stood many years. Richardson Avery, Nathan Parrish, Horace Mathers, and others came about this time. These early settlers on Perch river pledged themselves to clear a certain amount of land and build a house.

In the summer of 1800 a large number had settled about there, and the clearing extended from the banks of the river nearly half a mile.

In the fall of 1800 a saw-mill was built at the mouth of Philomel creek, the millwrights being Noah Durrin and Ebenezer Hills.

In 1805, John Brown (afterwards Judge Brown) bought the land on the south side of the river, and built the mills there; and in 1806 the first dam was thrown across the river at that place.

About 1805, Samuel Starr took up the farm knows as the Starr farm. He built a log distillery down by the brook near his home, where was made the first whiskey in the town.

Captain W. Knox, Robert Smith, Samuel Peck, Eliphalet Peck (father of the present sheriff), and Nathaniel Peck helped to clear the Starr farm. Nathaniel Peck married a daughter of Mr. Starr, and was in company with Starr, in the manufacture of whiskey; he afterwards removed the distillery to the farm known as the Nathaniel Peck farm.

Jacob Kilborn, father of Alfred, took up and cleared the farm now owned and occupied by John Prior. The old log house built by him in 1807 is still standing, in striking contrast with the modern and commodious dwelling by its side. Moses Cole settled in another part of the town, and cleared the John Cowan farm. Joseph Rhodes took up the Silas Spicer farm; a little later James Pride took up the farm now owned by Cyrus Allen. His father-in-law, Mr. Thomas, lived and died on the farm, which Mr. Pride afterwards sold to Wm. Vandebogart.

At a little later period Henry Ward brought a stock of goods from Otsego county, which, for a time, was kept in the house built by Collins, on the Dr. Greene place; the goods were afterwards removed to Moffattsville (Perch River). Ward was succeeded in the mercantile business by Jacob C. and Alpheus Greene, and followed by Isaac Moffatt. Since that time Hugh Smith, with Henry Spicer and other partners, has kept a stock of dry-goods, groceries, etc., for the accommodation of the neighborhood.

Alexander Moffatt, or “Conkey,” as he was called, settled about this time in the vicinity of Limerick, where his sons, Aquilla, Jonathan, Hosea, Alexander, and Hinman, lived many years; Orlando went west. Mr. Smith, the father of Hugh, Ely, and Elias, also located here, and Samuel Shelley, who owned afterwards a mill at Limerick, built by Nelson. Isaac Day also came about this time.

Among the early settlers in the neighborhood of Pillar Point were Horatio Sprague, Eleazer Ball, Peter and Solomon Ingalls, Mr. Sherwin, Eliphalet Peck, Isaac Luther, Mr. Burlingame, Daniel Ackerman, Jere Carpenter, Jesse Stone, Geo. Rounds, James Douglas, Henry Adams, Samuel Reed, Mr. Fulsom, Luther Reed, and Henry Ward. Samuel Knap bought and cleared up one hundred and fifty acres of land on the road to Limerick, a part of which is now owned by John Freeman. On one occasion, after the farm was well cleared up, Mr. Knap had under cultivation a field of forty acres of wheat, which was nearly matured. Judge John Brown, who held a mortgage on the farm, passing that way, called on Mr. Knap, and congratulated him on his prospect of a large yield of wheat. In the course of conversation, the judge offered to discharge the mortgage on the farm if Mr. would give him that crop. “No,” Mr. Knap replied; “I shall do better than that; I would not thank God Almighty of a big crop of wheat there!” It was not many days before the field was struck with rust, and the crop was an entire failure, not even the straw was fit for use. This produced a deep impression on Mr. Knap, and he soon after made public acknowledgment of his dependence on that divine power which he had before defied. During the greater part of his after-life, he was identified with the Methodist church of Brownville, and became one of its most efficient members and liberal supporters. He was for many years the owner of the large and valuable farm now the property and residence of his son, J. C. Knap, who in all good things follows in the footsteps of his father.

Jere Phelps, David Lyttle, and Solon Stone located at Dexter, and later Mr. Willis and Jere Winegar, and still later Kendall Hursley, Joshua Eaton, Jesse Babcock, Sylvanus Pool, John T. Wood, James A. Bell, Solomon Meyer, John P. Shelley, and others.

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Transcribed by Holice B. Young from Jefferson Co. History by L. H. Everts.