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).
|
