In the 1800's, what was important in the story?

was a short story
published in a collection called The Sketch-Book in 1819 and 1820 in
installments.   brought forth the popularity of the American short story with The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow in the 1800s.

The story itself took place
in the late 1790s.  There were several important happenings in the story.  One was that Ichabod
Crane became infatuated with Katrina Van Tassel.  He visited her often and tried to woo her.  He
went to a party at her father's farm, seeking to impress her.  Instead, he heard Brom Bones tell
a story of the Headless Horseman who was said to haunt the area.  Ichabod was already
superstitious, and he nervously rode his horse home later that night.  Suddenly he came across
what appeared to be the Headless Horseman.  He was chased away and never heard from
again.