its completion in 1834, was made
the great highway from Catskill to the southwestern portion of the
state.

Any attempted sketch of our early history would be very far from
complete and far from just, were mention not made of a class of
citizens, some of whom are still living, whose labors were early
identified with the history of the town, a part of whom were here born
and here grew to manhood; a part of whom came to the village while it
was yet an outlying hamlet, but whose labors have largely aided in
advancing the growth and prosperity of the community.

Among these was Timothy Sabin, a native of the town, who, upon
arriving at the age of manhood, embarked in mercantile pursuits, and
continued to an advanced age to lend his aid to the management of an
extensive business. Another of the older class of men of the village
is John M. Watkins, who was born in Oneonta in 1806. For thirty years
Mr. Watkins was one of the leading hotel keepers of the village, and
during this long period in which he acted the part of host, his house
was known far and wide as the best kept hostelry in this section.
There are many more "to the manor born" whose names it would be a
pleasure to mention, but for lack of data which their friends or
representatives have neglected or failed to furnish, we are compelled
to forego any more extended notice.

Occupying a prominent position among those who, at an early date,
emigrated into the town was Eliakim R. Ford. Mr. Ford was born in
Albany county in 1797, and removed to Greenville, Greene county, when
quite young. From the latter place he removed to Oneonta in 1822, he
then being twenty-five years of age. He at once embarked in mercantile
enterprises and so conducted his business matters as to rapidly win
both the confidence and trade of his fellow citizens. His first store
stood near the Free Baptist church. From that point he removed to a
store next to the lot where now the opera house stands, and in 1828 he
again moved into a store which he had built near the residence of
Harvey Baker. His late residence and the stone store recently
destroyed by fire were built in 1839-40.

Dr. Samuel H. Case settled in the village of Oneonta in 1829. He was
born in Franklin, N.Y., in 1808, and at the age of twenty-one was
graduated at the medical college at Fairfield, N.Y. More than fifty
years he has continued the practice of medicine in the village and
throughout the surrounding country. There are but a