Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/59

DELAWARE COUNTY. 35 remain alone days, and sometimes even nights, while her hus- band and his companions were engaged upon a remote part of the patent. It is a historical fact and one worthy of mention, that this was the first domicile dedicated to civilization, erected within the present limits of the county; and that its fearless architect was unquestionably the first pale face of the fair sex whose presence lent a delectable charm to the lonely wilder- ness. In the spring of 1771, the survey and division of the patent having been completed, the family of Harpers removed from Cherry Valley to Harpersfield, and made a permanent settle- ment there. 1340282 The following incident was related to meby the Rev. Mr. Boyce, of Harpersfield, who married a niece of Colonel Harper, and who has been for many years intimately connected with the family. The first winter succeeding the removal of the Harpers into Harpersfield, was distinguished for its unprece- dented severity. The partial and incomplete arrangements they had been enabled to make, proved hardly sufficient for the unseen privations they were called upon to endure. During the summer and fa.ll preceding this memorable winter they had removed their goods, provisions, &c., to Schoharie, from which place to Harpersfield there was no road, and they had stored them at the former place — except a few provisions — intending to remove them to the place of destination upon the snow. Winter set in much sooner than was anticipated, and the snow fell upon the ground to a great depth, cutting olf all communications, and rendering it almost impossible to reach any settlement of which, the reader must be aware, there was none nearer than Schoharie, over twenty miles distant — Cherry Valley, their former place of residence, lying still farther olF. In the midst of this dilemma their stock of provisions became exhausted excepting a little corn, which was powdered in a mortar and converted into a rude bread, familiarly known