In 1830 the town of Oneonta was formed from the adjoining towns of
Milford and Otego. It is said that it received the name Oneonta at the
suggestion of Gen. Erastus Root.

Among the early inhabitants of Oneonta, whose enterprise contributed
to the development of the resources of the town, was William Angell,
who soon after his settlement here became the most prominent
inhabitant of the village. He built the Oneonta House, where he acted
as host for a number of years. He was also one of the proprietors of
the Charlotte turnpike, which upon its completion in 1834, was made
the great highway from Catskill to the southwestern portion of the
state.

Any attempted sketch of our early history would be very far from
complete and far from just, were mention not made of a class of
citizens, some of whom are still living, whose labors were early
identified with the history of the town, a part of whom were here born
and here grew to manhood; a part of whom came to the village while it
was yet an outlying hamlet, but whose labors have largely aided in
advancing the growth and prosperity of the community.

Among these was Timothy Sabin, a native of the town, who, upon
arriving at the age of manhood, embarked in mercantile pursuits, and
continued to an advanced age to lend his aid to the management of an
extensive business. Another of the older class of men of the village
is John M. Watkins, who was born in Oneonta in 1806. For thirty years
Mr. Watkins was one of the leading hotel keepers of the village, and
during this long period in which he acted the part of host, his house
was known far and wide as the best kept hostelry in this section.