Draper, Selecta

1788 - 1865  (76 years)

• Name	Draper, Selecta  [1]
  	20250720GHLn- AMOS DRAPER. The first white settler at what is how the village of Owego was Amos Draper, who came here as a trader 11 among the Indians and who by his .integrity obtained . their . friendship. and confidence and had great influenice over them. He was a son of Major Simeon Draper, who was one of the "forty"' settlers at Kingston, Pa., in the Wyoming valley under the Connecticut claim, and who settled there in 1768. Amos Draper had been living a few years, in a temporarily construct.' ed house on the south bank of the Susquehanna river on the flat called the old Mersereau flat at Choconut nearly opposite Union. His family came there from Kingston in the fall of 1786. During that . year . Mr. Draper built a log house at Owego. It stood on the eastern part of the lot on which Gurdon H. Pumpelly's house now' stands, in west Front street and was about one hundred feet from the bank of the river .. It faced south on the old Indian trail, which then ran , along. the bank pretty, closely. This. Indian trail struck the river 'about a mile above the bridge where the river road runs nearest to the river bank. Continu- ing down the river it followed the bank to the mouth of the , Owego creek: . In building this house Mr. Draper brought the boards for the floor up the river by canoes from Kingston, Pa. In May, 1787, the Drapers removed to Owego and began living in their new house. While living here Mr. Draper continued his business of trafficing with the Indians at Cho- onut. The first winter of their resi- dence here a christianized Oneida 12 Indian chief and his wife, who bore the title of Queen, lived in the house with Mrs. Draper, and acted as her protectors. Mrs. Draper's maiden name : was Lydia Williams, and at the time of her marriage she lived at Kingston. Several years afterward the Drapers . lived in another log house which stood a little back of where Mrs. John Brown's residence . now stands at the northwest corner of Main and McMaster streets. Amos Draper's brother, . Joseph Draper, was a later comer here. He was a surveyor. The brothers were entirely unlike. . The late William Pumpelly, who knew them well, in- formed the writer that Joseph Draper was a loud talker and very self-assertive, while. Amos Draper was the reverse in every respect-a quiet man and esteemed by every- body. Amos Draper's daughter, Selecta Draper, was the first white child born at Owego. She was born June 19, 1788. She became the wife of Stephen Williams,of Newark Valley, in 1809. He was born at West Stock- bridge, Mass., in 1783, and came with his father, also named Stephen Williams, to Newark Valley in 1801. Amos Draper had two sons, Amos and Benjamin Draper, and two : daughters, Selecta and Catherine Draper. . Amos Draper, Jr., died near Victor, N. Y., and Benjamin at Fairfax Court House, Va. Cath- erine . became the wife of Ewart Williams. Selecta died April 2, 1865, at the home of her son, Lucius Ewart Williams, at Newark valley. . 1 13 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Williams lived at Newark : Valley, then known as Brown's set- tlement, where they purchased & farm and built a house. At the time of Mrs. Williams's death, in .1865, the house was occupied by the widow of Chester Patterson. . Mr. Williams died af Newark Valley July 6, 1859, At the time. of Mrs . Williams's death six of of her ten children survived her as follows: Catharine Minerva, married An- brose Collins; of Berkshire. Dr. Charles Draper, of St. Paul, Minn. Horatio Spencer, of. Woodhull, N. Y. Myron Milton, of St. Paul, Minn, Joseph Edwin, of Cleveland, Ohio Lucius . Ewart, of Newark . Valley. Mary married Elisha Hurd, of Aurora, Ohio. Amos. Draper died in this village May 24, 1808. At that time the vil- lage burying ground was at the present corner of Main and Court streets, and extended south to about the east line of the lot on which the new Tioga county clerk's office now stands. Mr. " Draper's body was buried where the old clerk's office stood, between the present jail and the old academy . buildings. . When men were digging for the founda- tion wall of the first clerk's, office, in 1825, . they cut . through Mr. Draper's. grave. Lucius E. Williams, of Newark Valley, is a son of Stephen Williams and the last survivor of ten children. Joseph Draper was unmarried. He died of consumption at the home of. Lucius E: Williams in 1832 or 1833, and his body was buried in 14 the Newark Valley cemetery. Mr. Williams has an oil portrait of Joseph Draper. A historical society should be organized in Owego and this portrait and other portraits of early settlers should be gathered to- gether for preservation.
  Birth	19 Jun 1788	Owego, Tioga, New York, USA
  	1st white child born in Owego. -Kingman
  Gender	Female
  FSID	KHTN-SDM
  Name	Electa Draper
  Death	2 Apr 1865	Newark Valley, Tioga, New York, USA
  	20250720GHLn- AMOS DRAPER. The first white settler at what is how the village of Owego was Amos Draper, who came here as a trader 11 among the Indians and who by his .integrity obtained . their . friendship. and confidence and had great influenice over them. He was a son of Major Simeon Draper, who was one of the "forty"' settlers at Kingston, Pa., in the Wyoming valley under the Connecticut claim, and who settled there in 1768. Amos Draper had been living a few years, in a temporarily construct.' ed house on the south bank of the Susquehanna river on the flat called the old Mersereau flat at Choconut nearly opposite Union. His family came there from Kingston in the fall of 1786. During that . year . Mr. Draper built a log house at Owego. It stood on the eastern part of the lot on which Gurdon H. Pumpelly's house now' stands, in west Front street and was about one hundred feet from the bank of the river .. It faced south on the old Indian trail, which then ran , along. the bank pretty, closely. This. Indian trail struck the river 'about a mile above the bridge where the river road runs nearest to the river bank. Continu- ing down the river it followed the bank to the mouth of the , Owego creek: . In building this house Mr. Draper brought the boards for the floor up the river by canoes from Kingston, Pa. In May, 1787, the Drapers removed to Owego and began living in their new house. While living here Mr. Draper continued his business of trafficing with the Indians at Cho- onut. The first winter of their resi- dence here a christianized Oneida 12 Indian chief and his wife, who bore the title of Queen, lived in the house with Mrs. Draper, and acted as her protectors. Mrs. Draper's maiden name : was Lydia Williams, and at the time of her marriage she lived at Kingston. Several years afterward the Drapers . lived in another log house which stood a little back of where Mrs. John Brown's residence . now stands at the northwest corner of Main and McMaster streets. Amos Draper's brother, . Joseph Draper, was a later comer here. He was a surveyor. The brothers were entirely unlike. . The late William Pumpelly, who knew them well, in- formed the writer that Joseph Draper was a loud talker and very self-assertive, while. Amos Draper was the reverse in every respect-a quiet man and esteemed by every- body. Amos Draper's daughter, Selecta Draper, was the first white child born at Owego. She was born June 19, 1788. She became the wife of Stephen Williams,of Newark Valley, in 1809. He was born at West Stock- bridge, Mass., in 1783, and came with his father, also named Stephen Williams, to Newark Valley in 1801. Amos Draper had two sons, Amos and Benjamin Draper, and two : daughters, Selecta and Catherine Draper. . Amos Draper, Jr., died near Victor, N. Y., and Benjamin at Fairfax Court House, Va. Cath- erine . became the wife of Ewart Williams. Selecta died April 2, 186a5, at the home of her son, Lucius Ewart Williams, at Newark valley. . 1 13 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Williams lived at Newark : Valley, then known as Brown's set- tlement, where they purchased & farm and built a house. At the time of Mrs. Williams's death, in 1865, the house was occupied by the widow of Chester Patterson. . Mr. Williams died af Newark Valley July 6, 1859, At the time. of Mrs . Williams's death six of of her ten children survived her as follows: Catharine Minerva, married An- brose Collins; of Berkshire. Dr. Charles Draper, of St. Paul, Minn. Horatio Spencer, of. Woodhull, N. Y. Myron Milton, of St. Paul, Minn, Joseph Edwin, of Cleveland, Ohio Lucius . Ewart, of Newark . Valley. Mary married Elisha Hurd, of Aurora, Ohio. Amos. Draper died in this village May 24, 1808. At that time the vil- lage burying ground was at the present corner of Main and Court streets, and extended south to about the east line of the lot on which the new Tioga county clerk's office now stands. Mr. " Draper's body was buried where the old clerk's office stood, between the present jail and the old academy . buildings. . When men were digging for the founda- tion wall of the first clerk's, office, in 1825, . they cut . through Mr. Draper's. grave. Lucius E. Williams, of Newark Valley, is a son of Stephen Williams and the last survivor of ten children. Joseph Draper was unmarried. He died of consumption at the home of. Lucius E: Williams in 1832 or 1833, and his body was buried in 14 the Newark Valley cemetery. Mr. Williams has an oil portrait of Joseph Draper. A historical society should be organized in Owego and this portrait and other portraits of early settlers should be gathered to- gether for preservation. Selecta died April 2, 1865, at the home of her son, Lucius Ewart Williams, at Newark valley.
  Person ID	I106479	WETZEL-SPRING

  
  

  Father	Draper, Amos Sr,   b. 13 Sep 1758, West Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, USA d. 24 May 1808, Owego, Tioga, New York, USA (Age 49 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Williams, Lydia,   b. 1762, West Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, USA
  Relationship	natural
  Issue, jt	4- 2 sons, 2 daughters  [1]
  	20250720GHLn- AMOS DRAPER. The first white settler at what is how the village of Owego was Amos Draper, who came here as a trader 11 among the Indians and who by his .integrity obtained . their . friendship. and confidence and had great influenice over them. He was a son of Major Simeon Draper, who was one of the "forty"' settlers at Kingston, Pa., in the Wyoming valley under the Connecticut claim, and who settled there in 1768. Amos Draper had been living a few years, in a temporarily construct.' ed house on the south bank of the Susquehanna river on the flat called the old Mersereau flat at Choconut nearly opposite Union. His family came there from Kingston in the fall of 1786. During that . year . Mr. Draper built a log house at Owego. It stood on the eastern part of the lot on which Gurdon H. Pumpelly's house now' stands, in west Front street and was about one hundred feet from the bank of the river .. It faced south on the old Indian trail, which then ran , along. the bank pretty, closely. This. Indian trail struck the river 'about a mile above the bridge where the river road runs nearest to the river bank. Continu- ing down the river it followed the bank to the mouth of the , Owego creek: . In building this house Mr. Draper brought the boards for the floor up the river by canoes from Kingston, Pa. In May, 1787, the Drapers removed to Owego and began living in their new house. While living here Mr. Draper continued his business of trafficing with the Indians at Cho- onut. The first winter of their resi- dence here a christianized Oneida 12 Indian chief and his wife, who bore the title of Queen, lived in the house with Mrs. Draper, and acted as her protectors. Mrs. Draper's maiden name : was Lydia Williams, and at the time of her marriage she lived at Kingston. Several years afterward the Drapers . lived in another log house which stood a little back of where Mrs. John Brown's residence . now stands at the northwest corner of Main and McMaster streets. Amos Draper's brother, . Joseph Draper, was a later comer here. He was a surveyor. The brothers were entirely unlike. . The late William Pumpelly, who knew them well, in- formed the writer that Joseph Draper was a loud talker and very self-assertive, while. Amos Draper was the reverse in every respect-a quiet man and esteemed by every- body. Amos Draper's daughter, Selecta Draper, was the first white child born at Owego. She was born June 19, 1788. She became the wife of Stephen Williams,of Newark Valley, in 1809. He was born at West Stock- bridge, Mass., in 1783, and came with his father, also named Stephen Williams, to Newark Valley in 1801. Amos Draper had two sons, Amos and Benjamin Draper, and two : daughters, Selecta and Catherine Draper. . Amos Draper, Jr., died near Victor, N. Y., and Benjamin at Fairfax Court House, Va. Cath- erine . became the wife of Ewart Williams. Selecta died April 2, 1865, at the home of her son, Lucius Ewart Williams, at Newark valley. . 1 13 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Williams lived at Newark : Valley, then known as Brown's set- tlement, where they purchased & farm and built a house. At the time of Mrs. Williams's death, in 1865, the house was occupied by the widow of Chester Patterson. . Mr. Williams died af Newark Valley July 6, 1859, At the time. of Mrs . Williams's death six of of her ten children survived her as follows: Catharine Minerva, married An- brose Collins; of Berkshire. Dr. Charles Draper, of St. Paul, Minn. Horatio Spencer, of. Woodhull, N. Y. Myron Milton, of St. Paul, Minn, Joseph Edwin, of Cleveland, Ohio Lucius . Ewart, of Newark . Valley. Mary married Elisha Hurd, of Aurora, Ohio. Amos. Draper died in this village May 24, 1808. At that time the vil- lage burying ground was at the present corner of Main and Court streets, and extended south to about the east line of the lot on which the new Tioga county clerk's office now stands. Mr. " Draper's body was buried where the old clerk's office stood, between the present jail and the old academy . buildings. . When men were digging for the founda- tion wall of the first clerk's, office, in 1825, . they cut . through Mr. Draper's. grave. Lucius E. Williams, of Newark Valley, is a son of Stephen Williams and the last survivor of ten children. Joseph Draper was unmarried. He died of consumption at the home of. Lucius E: Williams in 1832 or 1833, and his body was buried in 14 the Newark Valley cemetery. Mr. Williams has an oil portrait of Joseph Draper. A historical society should be organized in Owego and this portrait and other portraits of early settlers should be gathered to- gether for preservation.
  Settled jt	May 1787	Owego, Tioga, New York, USA   [1]
  	In May, 1787, the Drapers removed to Owego and began living in their new house. While living here Mr. Draper continued his business of trafficing with the Indians at Cho- onut. The first winter of their residence here a christianized Oneida Indian chief and his wife, who bore the title of Queen, lived in the house with Mrs. Draper, and acted as her protectors.
  	In May, 1787, the Drapers removed to Owego and began living in their new house. While living here Mr. Draper continued his business of trafficing with the Indians at Cho- onut. The first winter of their residence here a christianized Oneida Indian chief and his wife, who bore the title of Queen, lived in the house with Mrs. Draper, and acted as her protectors.
  Family ID	F60469	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Williams, Stephen,   b. 19 Aug 1783, West Stockbridge, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA d. 6 Jul 1859, Newark Valley, Tioga, New York, USA (Age 75 years)
  Marriage	1809	Owego, Tioga, New York, USA   [1]
  	Amos Draper's daughter, Selecta Draper, was the first white child born at Owego. She was born June 19, 1788. She became the wife of Stephen Williams, of Newark Valley, in 1809. Amos Draper's daughter, Selecta Draper, was the first white child born at Owego. She was born June 19, 1788. She became the wife of Stephen Williams,of Newark Valley, in 1809.
  residence jt	Aft 1809	Newark Valley, Tioga, New York, USA   [1]
  	After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Williams lived at Newark : Valley, then known as Brown's settlement, where they purchased a farm and built a house. At the time of Mrs. Williams's death, in1865, the house was occupied by the widow of Chester Patterson. . Mr. Williams died af Newark Valley July 6, 1859,
  	After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Williams lived at Newark : Valley, then known as Brown's settlement, where they purchased a farm and built a house. At the time of Mrs. Williams's death, in1865, the house was occupied by the widow of Chester Patterson. . Mr. Williams died af Newark Valley July 6, 1859,
  Issue, jt	1865
  	10 children, 6 surviving her
  	At the time. of Mrs . Williams's death six of of her ten children survived her as follows: Catharine Minerva, married An- brose Collins; of Berkshire. Dr. Charles Draper, of St. Paul, Minn. Horatio Spencer, of. Woodhull, N. Y. Myron Milton, of St. Paul, Minn, Joseph Edwin, of Cleveland, Ohio Lucius . Ewart, of Newark . Valley. Mary married Elisha Hurd, of Aurora, Ohio. Amos. Draper died in this village May 24, 1808. At that time the vil- lage burying ground was at the present corner of Main and Court streets, and extended south to about the east line of the lot on which the new Tioga county clerk's office now stands. Mr. " Draper's body was buried where the old clerk's office stood, between the present jail and the old academy . buildings. . When men were digging for the founda- tion wall of the first clerk's, office, in 1825, . they cut . through Mr. Draper's. grave. Lucius E. Williams, of Newark Valley, is a son of Stephen Williams and the last survivor of ten children. Joseph Draper was unmarried. He died of consumption at the home of. Lucius E: Williams in 1832 or 1833, and his body was buried in the Newark Valley cemetery. Mr. Williams has an oil portrait of Joseph Draper. A historical society should be organized in Owego and this portrait and other portraits of early settlers should be gathered to- gether for preservation.
  Children	1. Williams, Catherine Minerva,   b. 1810, Newark Valley, Tioga, New York, USA d. 1884, Berkshire, Tioga, New York, USA (Age 74 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   2. Williams, Charles Draper MD  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   3. Williams, Horatio Spencer  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   4. Williams, Myron Milton  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   5. Williams, Joseph Edwin   d. Abt 1833, Newark Valley, Tioga, New York, USA  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   6. Williams, Lucius Ewart  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   7. Williams, Mary  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   8. Williams, Amos Draper   d. Amos. Draper died in this village May 24, 1808.  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
  Family ID	F60472	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 19 Jun 1788 - Owego, Tioga, New York, USA Marriage - 1809 - Owego, Tioga, New York, USA residence jt - After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Williams lived at Newark : Valley, then known as Brown's settlement, where they purchased a farm and built a house. At the time of Mrs. Williams's death, in1865, the house was occupied by the widow of Chester Patterson. . Mr. Williams died af Newark Valley July 6, 1859, - Aft 1809 - Newark Valley, Tioga, New York, USA Death - 2 Apr 1865 - Newark Valley, Tioga, New York, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos

  book_Owego Co NY- some Account_ 1907 LeRoy W Kingman 20250719GHLn- "McMaster" https://archive.org/details/owegosomeaccount00kingm/page/192/mode/2up?q=McMaster Owego. Some account of the early settlement of the village in Tioga County, N.Y., called Ah-wa-ga by the Indians, which name was corrupted by gradual evolution into Owago, Owego, Owegy, and finally Owego by Kingman, LeRoy Wilson, b. 1840;…

  
  

• Notes

  20250720GHLn- AMOS DRAPER. The first white settler at what is how the village of Owego was Amos Draper, who came here as a trader 11 among the Indians and who by his .integrity obtained . their . friendship. and confidence and had great influenice over them. He was a son of Major Simeon Draper, who was one of the "forty"' settlers at Kingston, Pa., in the Wyoming valley under the Connecticut claim, and who settled there in 1768. Amos Draper had been living a few years, in a temporarily construct.' ed house on the south bank of the Susquehanna river on the flat called the old Mersereau flat at Choconut nearly opposite Union. His family came there from Kingston in the fall of 1786. During that . year . Mr. Draper built a log house at Owego. It stood on the eastern part of the lot on which Gurdon H. Pumpelly's house now' stands, in west Front street and was about one hundred feet from the bank of the river .. It faced south on the old Indian trail, which then ran , along. the bank pretty, closely. This. Indian trail struck the river 'about a mile above the bridge where the river road runs nearest to the river bank. Continu- ing down the river it followed the bank to the mouth of the , Owego creek: . In building this house Mr. Draper brought the boards for the floor up the river by canoes from Kingston, Pa. In May, 1787, the Drapers removed to Owego and began living in their new house. While living here Mr. Draper continued his business of trafficing with the Indians at Cho- onut. The first winter of their resi- dence here a christianized Oneida 12 Indian chief and his wife, who bore the title of Queen, lived in the house with Mrs. Draper, and acted as her protectors. Mrs. Draper's maiden name : was Lydia Williams, and at the time of her marriage she lived at Kingston. Several years afterward the Drapers . lived in another log house which stood a little back of where Mrs. John Brown's residence . now stands at the northwest corner of Main and McMaster streets. Amos Draper's brother, . Joseph Draper, was a later comer here. He was a surveyor. The brothers were entirely unlike. . The late William Pumpelly, who knew them well, in- formed the writer that Joseph Draper was a loud talker and very self-assertive, while. Amos Draper was the reverse in every respect-a quiet man and esteemed by every- body. Amos Draper's daughter, Selecta Draper, was the first white child born at Owego. She was born June 19, 1788. She became the wife of Stephen Williams,of Newark Valley, in 1809. He was born at West Stock- bridge, Mass., in 1783, and came with his father, also named Stephen Williams, to Newark Valley in 1801. Amos Draper had two sons, Amos and Benjamin Draper, and two : daughters, Selecta and Catherine Draper. . Amos Draper, Jr., died near Victor, N. Y., and Benjamin at Fairfax Court House, Va. Cath- erine . became the wife of Ewart Williams. Selecta died April 2, 1865, at the home of her son, Lucius Ewart Williams, at Newark valley. . 1 13 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Williams lived at Newark : Valley, then known as Brown's set- tlement, where they purchased & farm and built a house. At the time of Mrs. Williams's death, in .1865, the house was occupied by the widow of Chester Patterson. . Mr. Williams died af Newark Valley July 6, 1859, At the time. of Mrs . Williams's death six of of her ten children survived her as follows: Catharine Minerva, married An- brose Collins; of Berkshire. Dr. Charles Draper, of St. Paul, Minn. Horatio Spencer, of. Woodhull, N. Y. Myron Milton, of St. Paul, Minn, Joseph Edwin, of Cleveland, Ohio Lucius . Ewart, of Newark . Valley. Mary married Elisha Hurd, of Aurora, Ohio. Amos. Draper died in this village May 24, 1808. At that time the vil- lage burying ground was at the present corner of Main and Court streets, and extended south to about the east line of the lot on which the new Tioga county clerk's office now stands. Mr. " Draper's body was buried where the old clerk's office stood, between the present jail and the old academy . buildings. . When men were digging for the founda- tion wall of the first clerk's, office, in 1825, . they cut . through Mr. Draper's. grave. Lucius E. Williams, of Newark Valley, is a son of Stephen Williams and the last survivor of ten children. Joseph Draper was unmarried. He died of consumption at the home of. Lucius E: Williams in 1832 or 1833, and his body was buried in 14 the Newark Valley cemetery. Mr. Williams has an oil portrait of Joseph Draper. A historical society should be organized in Owego and this portrait and other portraits of early settlers should be gathered to- gether for preservation.

  
  

• Sources

  [S3028] Kingman, LeRoy Wilson, Internet Archive, Owego. Some account of the early settlement of the village in Tioga County, N.Y., called Ah-wa-ga by the Indians, which name was corrupted by gradual evolution into Owago, Owego, Owegy, and finally Owegoby Kingman, LeRoy Wilson, b. 1840; Owego gazette, Owego, N.Y. Amos Draper (1) fact 20250719GHLn- 20250720GHLn- 20250719GHLn- "McMaster" https://archive.org/details/owegosomeaccount00kingm/page/192/mode/2up?q=McMaster Owego. Some account of the early settlement of the village in Tioga County, N.Y., called Ah-wa-ga by the Indians, which name was corrupted by gradual evolution into Owago, Owego, Owegy, and finally Owego by Kingman, LeRoy Wilson, b. 1840; Owego gazette, Owego, N.Y. [from old catalog] Publication date 1907 Topics Owego (N.Y.) -- History Publisher Owego, Owego gazette office Collection library_of_congress; americana Contributor The Library of Congress Language English Item Size 644.0M 2 p.l., 673, [3] p., 24 cm Addeddate 2008-08-06 11:12:01 Associated-names Owego gazette, Owego, N.Y. [from old catalog] AMOS DRAPER. The first white settler at what is how the village of Owego was Amos Draper, who came here as a trader 11 among the Indians and who by his .integrity obtained their . friendship. and confidence and had great influ- enice over them. He was a son of Major Simeon Draper, who was one of the "forty"' settlers at Kingston, Pa., in the Wyoming valley under the Connecticut claim, and who settled there in 1768. Amos Draper had been living a few years, in a temporarily constructed house on the south bank of the Susquehanna river on the flat called the old Mersereau flat at Choconut nearly opposite Union. His family came there from Kingston in the fall of 1786. During that year Mr. Draper built a log house at Owego. It stood on the eastern part of the lot on which Gurdon H. Pumpelly's house now' stands, in west Front street and was about one hundred feet from the bank of the river .. It faced south on the old Indian trail, which then ran , along. the bank pretty, closely. This. Indian trail struck the river 'about a mile above the bridge where the river road runs nearest to the river bank. Continuing down the river it followed the bank to the mouth of the , Owego creek: . In building this house Mr. Draper brought the boards for the floor up the river by canoes from Kingston, Pa. In May, 1787, the Drapers removed to Owego and began living in their new house. While living here Mr. Draper continued . his business of trafficing with the Indians at Cho- onut. The first winter of their residence here: a christianized Oneida 12 Indian chief and his wife, who bore the title of Queen, lived in the house with Mrs. Draper, and acted as her protectors. Mrs. Draper's maiden name was Lydia Williams, and at the time of her marriage she lived at Kingston. Several years afterward the Drapers lived in another log house which stood a little back of where Mrs. John Brown's residence now stands at the northwest corner of Main and McMaster streets. Amos Draper's brother, . Joseph Draper, was a later comer here. He was a surveyor. The brothers were entirely unlike. . The late William Pumpelly, who knew them well, in- formed the writer that Joseph Draper was a loud talker and very self-assertive, while. Amos Draper was the reverse in every respect-a quiet man and esteemed by every- body. Amos Draper's daughter, Selecta Draper, was the first white child born at Owego. She was born June 19, 1788. She became the wife of Stephen Williams,of Newark Valley, in 1809. He was born at West Stock- bridge, Mass., in 1783, and came with his father, also named Stephen Williams, to Newark Valley in 1801. Amos Draper had two sons, Amos and Benjamin Draper, and two daughters, Selecta and Catherine Draper. .Amos Draper, Jr., died near Victor, N. Y., and Benjamin at Fairfax Court House, Va. Catherine became the wife of Ewart Williams. Selecta died April 2, 1865, at the home of her son, Lucius Ewart Williams, at Newark valley. . 1 13 After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Williams lived at Newark Valley, then known as Brown's settlement, where they purchased & farm and built a house. At the time of Mrs. Williams's death, in 1865, the house was occupied by the widow of Chester Patterson. Mr. Williams died af Newark Valley July 6, 1859, At the time of Mrs . Williams's death six of of her ten children survived her as follows: Catharine Minerva, married Anbrose Collins; of Berkshire. Dr. Charles Draper, of St. Paul, Minn. Horatio Spencer, of Woodhull, N. Y. Myron Milton, of St. Paul, Minn, Joseph Edwin, of Cleveland, Ohio Lucius Ewart, of Newark Valley. Mary married Elisha Hurd, of Aurora, Ohio. Amos Draper died in this village May 24, 1808. At that time the village burying ground was at the present corner of Main and Court streets, and extended south to about the east line of the lot on which the new Tioga county clerk's office now stands. Mr. Draper's body was buried where the old clerk's office stood, between the present jail and the old academy buildings. When men were digging for the foundation wall of the first clerk's, office, in 1825, they cut through Mr. Draper's. grave. Lucius E. Williams, of Newark Valley, is a son of Stephen Williams and the last survivor of ten children. Joseph Draper was unmarried. He died of consumption at the home of Lucius E. Williams in 1832 or 1833, and his body was buried in 14 the Newark Valley cemetery. Mr. Williams has an oil portrait of Joseph Draper. A historical society should be organized in Owego and this portrait and other portraits of early settlers should be gathered together for preservation. book_Owego Co NY- some Account_ 1907 LeRoy W Kingman 20250719GHLn- "McMaster" https://archive.org/details/owegosomeaccount00kingm/page/192/mode/2up?q=McMaster Owego. Some account of the early settlement of the village in Tioga County, N.Y., called Ah-wa-ga by the Indians, which name was corrupted by gradual evolution into Owago, Owego, Owegy, and finally Owego by Kingman, LeRoy Wilson, b. 1840;…

  
  

TEST MARKER

TNG ID: I106479

FSID: KHTN-SDM