Early Settlement and Development

Many of the early white settlers of Chemung were veterans of the Sullivan Campaign of 1779. The earliest recorded settlers were David Bosworth in 1780 and Isaac Baldwin and his family in 1784. Others including Maj. William Wynkoop, William Buck, Daniel McDowell, Thomas Burt, and Enoch Warren arrived two years later. In 1788, Wynkoop established a tavern and gristmill. Starting in 1795, students went to school in the weaving room of his home. The first schoolhouse was built in 1799. The post office was established in 1801 with Sgt. Elijah Buck as postmaster. Buck also operated the town’s first general store and hotel.

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Chemung

Map of the Town of Chemung This map was laid out by the Commissioners in the year 1788 per Moses De Witt. Chemung was incorporated on March 22, 1788 as part of Montgomery County. It became part of Chemung County when it was established in 1836. Some of the town’s land was incorporated into the towns of Erin in 1822, Baldwin in 1856, and Ashland in 1867.
Buck’s Hotel, c. 1853 Buck’s Hotel was built in 1828 by Asahel Buck to accommodate travelers passing through Chemung. The hotel covered nearly a quarter acre of land. It burned to the ground in 1874.
Green silk dress worn by Mrs. George Washington Buck of Chemung, 1850s
School bell, c. 1880s Students met at Maj. William Wynkoop’s home until 1799 when the first log schoolhouse was built.
Chemung School #2, c. 1910s Chemung School #2 on Washington Street was open from 1851 until 1928. By 1877 the town was divided into 17 school districts with 15 framed school houses. There were 601 students, 9 male and 19 female teachers, and 677 volumes in the schools’ libraries.
Letter sent to Alonzo Wynkoop in Chemung, November 12, 1854. From the collection of Mary Ellen P. Kunst, Chemung town historian
Yarn winder from the Hillman home John and Elizabeth Hillman came to Chemung in the 1780s. They were founding members of Chemung’s first church in 1789. From the collection of Mary Ellen P. Kunst, Chemung town historian
Tongs from the Parshall Farm Asa Parshall and his son built and operated the first gristmill in Chemung from 1819 to 1839.

Early Settlement and Development

Map of the Town of Chemung

Buck’s Hotel, c. 1853

Buck’s Hotel was built in 1828 by Asahel Buck to accommodate travelers passing through Chemung. The hotel covered nearly a quarter acre of land. It burned to the ground in 1874.

Green silk dress worn by Mrs. George Washington Buck of Chemung, 1850s

School bell, c. 1880s

Students met at Maj. William Wynkoop’s home until 1799 when the first log schoolhouse was built.

Chemung School #2, c. 1910s

Chemung School #2 on Washington Street was open from 1851 until 1928. By 1877 the town was divided into 17 school districts with 15 framed school houses. There were 601 students, 9 male and 19 female teachers, and 677 volumes in the schools’ libraries.

Letter sent to Alonzo Wynkoop in Chemung, November 12, 1854. From the collection of Mary Ellen P. Kunst, Chemung town historian

Yarn winder from the Hillman home

John and Elizabeth Hillman came to Chemung in the 1780s. They were founding members of Chemung’s first church in 1789. From the collection of Mary Ellen P. Kunst, Chemung town historian

Tongs from the Parshall Farm

Asa Parshall and his son built and operated the first gristmill in Chemung from 1819 to 1839.