Memorial Walkway
Neahwa Park


 

E-Gov Services
E-Gov Services



The Oneonta Calendar

The Oneonta Calendar


Sweet Home Oneonta Website

Sweet Home Oneonta

Main Street Oneonta

Main Street Oneonta


Incorporation as a City - 1908

The City of Oneonta was incorporated as a city by an act of the New York State Legislature on January 21, 1908 to become the forty-sixth city in the State of New York. The City of Oneonta was developed from the Town of Oneonta which was created from land that included the Towns of Milford, Otego, and Huntsville by Legislative enactment on April 17, 1830.

Prior to its incorporation as a city, Oneonta was an incorporated village. In June of 1848 Samuel J. Cook, Worthington Wright, Collis P. Huntington, Samuel H. Case, and others, petitioned for the incorporation of the Village of Oneonta. Then County Judge James Hyde directed that a vote be taken on October 14, 1848, for and against incorporation. Out of 82 votes cast, 66 voted for incorporation and 16 voted against same. The first village election was held on December 2, 1848. Trustees elected as a result included Eliakim Ford, Hezakiah Watkins, William Bronson, William S. Fritts, and Samuel J. Cook. Eliakim Ford was chosen as the first president of the Village of Oneonta.

Official city status occurred on January 1, 1909. Albert Morris was the first Mayor of the newly created City. Mr. Morris was born almost to the day of his inaguration as Mayor. His birthdate was January 2, 1840. Mayor Morris was born on a farm in Milford, New York. He was the son of Richard B. and Zilpha Westcott Morris. Mayor Morris had 3 brothers and 3 sisters. All had died by the time of the Mayor's swearing in with the exception of 1 brother, William Morris. Mayor Morris was married to Mary Birdsall of Oneonta on November 5, 1868 and had three sons -- B.H. Morris, A.S. Morris, and C.R. Morris.

Other newly elected and/or appointed City officials to hold the first offices under the new City Charter included the City Judge (Washington I. Bolton), Chamberlain (Clarence D. Sewell), Supervisors (R. Wesley Miller, Laverne P. Butts, Loren H. Groat) Aldermen (Fred N. Clark, John M. Brandow, William H. Smith, Fred N. VanWie, Merlin J. Platt, Edward J. House, J. Henry Potter), and the City Assessor (Morris Ackley).

 

 

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